Many people have experience with seasonal jobs. Maybe you do too, like being a ski instructor, camp counselor, or a Christmas tree farm manager.

If you've had that kind of job, you know it's short-term, but it can also be intense.

For those of you in aquatics, summer can feel that way as well. You've got to pack everything in while the weather's good.

And the intensity can lead to burnout. If you're feeling worn, you might have an internal dialogue you inherited from the Stoics; ancient Greek philosophers who prioritized living rationally, managing your emotions, and living a virtuous life.

That's a quote from Marcus Aurelius, whose book Meditations is a personal favorite (I like the Gregory Hays translation), and also a favorite of founding Americans like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

The Stoics meant for you to live a balanced life. But over time, and through the influence of cultural forces like consumerism, their essays got shortened into aphorisms less poetic than a sea rock and more like "Suck it, buttercup" (advice given to WWII pilots so they didn't aspirate vomit in the cockpit).

But stoicism, Buddhism, and yoga were all first active around the same time, approximately 500-200 BCE. It's been theorized that the scholars Alexander the Great brought with him to conquer Asia learned from those early Eastern scholars, and that Alexander's true success was enabling cross-cultural connections.

Yet, it's gotten lost that the Stoics weren't just about suppressing emotions so you could be a harder worker or more masculine. Their true contribution, like yoga philosophy, was how to live a more balanced life in the face of anything that life throws at you.

To help get through this busy summer season, here's a list of the 10 yoga Yamas & Niyamas with some accompanying thoughts from the Stoics. Use the thoughts that resonate with you the most. I hope they help you not just survive, but thrive this summer.

Ahimsa - Be kind

• Don’t be overheard complaining...even to yourself (Marcus)

Asteya - Be generous

• “The man who while he gives thinks of what he will get in return, deserves to be deceived” (Seneca)
• Don’t neglect your friendships (Seneca)

Satya - Be truthful

• Don’t conceal what you truly believe (Arius Didymus)
• Don’t go along just to get along (Agrippinus)
• Don't put on airs about your self-improvement (Epictetus)

Brahmarcharya - Moderation

• Don’t overindulge in eating or drinking (Musonius)

Aparigraha - Don't be greedy

• Don’t tie your identity to the clothes you wear, things you own (Cato)
• Don’t be all about business (Marcus)

Saucha - Cleanliness

• "The first and highest purity or impurity, then, is that which is formed in the soul." (Epictetus)

Santosha - Contentment

• "Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking." (Marcus)

Tapas - Do your best in all things

• Don’t put off to tomorrow what can be finished today (Seneca)
• Don’t avoid difficulty (Seneca)

Svadhyaya - Know yourself

• Don’t sleep the day away (Marcus)
• Don’t speak more than you listen (Zeno)

Ishvara Pranidhana - Surrender

• Don't waste time thinking you're going to live forever (all)
• Live in harmony with nature (Zeno)

And remember the Stoics didn't intend for life to be all work and drudgery...

Last Aqua Yoga Certifications

I am NOT offering certifications in 2027.

The July sessions are your last chance.

Starting July 11th, the online certification has slots.

St. Pete Beach, FL July 25th & 26th, has slots.

Get your summer aqua yoga gear:

The web's only aqua yoga STORE.

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