If we consider that the desire to steal comes from feeling like we don’t have enough or we’re missing something, the definition of asteya could include elements of respect and abundance. Cultivate deepened connections to these qualities by exploring your practice through the lens of asteya.

An example is to examine your relationship to time.

Think back to the last time you attended class. On the drive or ride there, were you relaxed or unrushed? Did you leave time to leisurely prepare for class?

For many of us, heading to class looks more like leaving 10 minutes later than we wanted, zipping through traffic, maybe a choice word when things don’t go smoothly, only to arrive late.

If this describes you on a regular basis—if rushing and tardiness have become a habit—you may be checking many things off your list and not deeply experiencing any of them.

The underlying feeling may be one of lack and scarcity. If I’m operating on the premise that there isn’t enough time, I’m more likely to cram a day or practice as full as possible. Yet full attention is what makes something rich, not necessarily the activity itself.

It could be said that we are addicted to doing. More is better. The lesson of asteya is that there is already enough.

Time for asteya:

• Arrive to class with ample time to set up and settle in.

• Consider declining that “one more vinyasa” invitation—what’s it like to slow down and do less?

• Even if yours is a fast-paced flow class, can you move swiftly without the feeling of hurrying or trying to steal off to the next pose?

Read the original full article here.