Could Organizing Be The 9th Limb Of Yoga?

Want to get organized? Do more yoga.

This has been something I have been thinking about and wanting to write about for a long time.

People often think of organized people (therefore organizers) as Type A, anal-retentive…maybe even OCD? Well….perhaps a little of all of them to some degree…….at least for me.

For a very long time, I was very high strung, a total overachiever…someone who recorded her school notes and then listened to them while she slept. (That works by the way!). I was driven, but all over the place and nothing much could slow me down……until I found yoga.

It may sound cliche but yoga calmed me, grounded me, and centered me. I became MORE productive. MORE focused and all-around a happier person. Because I am who I am, I couldn’t just enjoy yoga, I had to learn yoga. As I started to study, I learned that yoga is not all about stretchy pants and pretzel postures…….it is so much more! It is a lifestyle. A way of being. It becomes a part of who you are!

Yoga became as much a part of me as the organized Type-A qualities were. And I started to compare them……….what I discovered is that the foundation of yoga and organizing have a lot in common. It struck me the most within the first 2 limbs of yoga: The Yamas and the Niyamas: Let me know what you think!

[Tweet “Want to get #organized? Do more #yoga.”]

Yamas | Moral Precepts

1. Ahimsa: Non-violence to self or others. The starting point to peaceful living. Being Organized means less stress, taking care of yourself, and peaceful living.

2. Satya: Honesty commitment to the truth. Being Organized is being honest about when you have reached your limits or when it is time to ask for help.

3. Asteya: Nonstealing, not taking anything that is not freely given, not expressing a feeling of lack. Being Organized usually means you have what you need and you know where to find it. You are not always searching for something.

4. Bramacharya: Sensual Moderation. Being Organized helps keep everything in moderation. Do not overbook, overbuy or keep to much stuff.

5. Aparigraha: Nonpossessiveness. Being Organized helps you let go of the things that no longer serve you, that don’t fit or that you don’t use.

Niyamas | Personal Observances

1. Saucha: Purity, maintaining cleanliness in the mind. Being Organized keeps order in the mind which is then transferred into life.

2. Santosha: Contentment, the ability to feel satisfied in one’s immediate experience. Being Organized gives you the satisfaction of knowing you have what you need or that you have enough time to do what you need to.

3. Tapas: Austerity/discipline. Being Organized is knowing you can get things done. Knowing when to delegate and to avoid buying and keeping things we don’t need.

4. Svadhyaya: Spiritual and self-study, self-reflection. Being Organized helps you tap into your true self to make decisions that are in alignment with your goals.

5. Ishvara Pranidana: Devotion to that which you call God. Being Organized is devotion to order.

I know, some of these may seem like a stretch….but not really. I live it, I feel it and it’s a great place to live! What’s the moral of this story you ask? If YOU want to get organized…start doing yoga!

Please share your thoughts and comments

Do you think incorporating yoga into your daily routine will help YOU become more organized?  Please let us know in the comment box below – we would love to hear from you!

********

Thanks so much, Tracey for sharing your insights with us! Who would have thought that yoga could help us become more organized!

To contact Tracey directly, you may find her at www.organizeatoz.com

I’m excited to share a post by Tracey Shadley, owner of Organize A-Z, has been helping people organize their living and workspaces for over two decades. Tracey is a professional closet designer (a background with California Closets) and specializes in creating custom storage solutions for any space. She listens carefully to what you want, need, expect, and dream of and creates a customized solution as unique as you are. Tracey’s goal is to create systems and surroundings to help you live a more productive, effective, and peaceful lifestyle.

To learn more about Organize A-Z, visit the website and connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!