Yoga Offers Up What Money Can’t Buy

“If you want to feel rich, just count all the gifts you have that money can’t buy.” ~ Anonymous

Since 2008 came and went, many of us have been feeling the strain of the recession’s deep economic impact.  All of us know of businesses that have closed, leaving neighbors, friends, family members or even ourselves out of work. Financial uncertainty continues to leave many frightened about how to make ends meet. 

The uncertainty in the workplace and in our communities may lead our minds to an unhealthy focus on money.  We may begin to think, “If only I had more money, then I would be happy.” But have you ever noticed that the more we focus on money (or lack thereof), the more dissatisfied we become? Money  becomes the elusive key to happiness, and we begin to feel that without X amount of money, we will never be happy.

Of course, we do need money to survive. We cannot simply wave our hand and say that money doesn’t matter, because money matters very much. At what point, though, does money become something more than a simple tool to supply our basic needs? At what point does the quest to get more money take prominence and begin to feed the desires that we strive to negate on our yoga mat?

In contrast, what are we seeking when we practice yoga? Answers vary widely, but they  all describe intangible objects: happiness, lower stress, flexibility, strength, better breathing, or calmer minds. The list of answers could continue for pages without ever mentioning one monetarily available item. 

We cannot purchase any of these, because they are qualities—many of which yoga can give us when we diligently practice and seek them out. These qualities cannot be bought but must be built through practice and patience.

Apply this same principle to money, and you will realize that money cannot buy what we truly seek. When we desire to have more money to obtain happiness, we desire a quality that cannot be bought. Money cannot by qualities, it can only purchase objects that temporarily satisfy a certain desire within us.

ectively looking at our desires for money may help us to determine whether our relationship with money is healthy. A healthy relationship with money keeps us out of financial trouble, improves the quality of our lives and takes up very little of our mental strength. A healthy relationship with money requires that we save during times of plenty so that we can use the reserves during leaner times. Just as we practice yoga consistently, regardless of the events in our lives, we should practice good money habits at all times.

However, we can learn to look within ourselves to make peace with our desire for money. In doing so, we begin to accept that we will never have enough money to satisfy our infinite desires. Instead, we can seek our answers on our yoga mats, reminding ourselves that what we truly desire can never be bought. And in that thought, we can rest our uneasy minds.

Susan Grossman is a yoga teacher based in Warsaw, Indiana. She is a contributing author for three ebooks, including: “Get Fit for Your Pregnancy:  Simple Exercises to Look Great & Feel Energized Through Your Pregnancy,” “Body Sculpting Exercise for Women Over 40,” and “Fat Blasting for a Shapely Butt and Toned Thighs.” She teaches weekly yoga classes at her studio where she works with individuals in the beginning stages of their yoga journey as well as with individuals who are over 70 years of age with mild to moderate health considerations. Susan also instructs kettlebell classes. For more information go to: www.WarsawsSecret.com