Connections

Here's a marvelous quote that I want to share:
"When the heart is right, 'for' and 'against' are forgotten." Thomas Merton

So often in our lives, we get sucked into the mindset that some of us are "right" and some of us are "wrong." There is simply way too much time spent in comparison and contrast. Whether we are comparing our bodies to those of others, or comparing ideas and bickering or getting indignant about the fact that others disagree with us, we get pretty caught up in seeing what is different and distancing as opposed to what is shared or common between us.

When you spend some time on your yoga mat, remind yourself that yoga is not just a practice meant to "yoke" or bring union to the various parts of ourselves; it is also a practice that helps us get in touch with our sameness and our connection to all living beings. When we see that we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses, we can approach our interactions with more softness and compassion.

Get your heart "right" and watch as it helps you move through the day with more grace and a sense of connection to all.

Lose the Body Shaming!

There's a weight loss commercial that has been running now that irks me every time that I see it. A certain spokesperson says "As women, we carry it here and here.....don't ya hate it?" Personally, I hate that commercial! Look at the message it sends: as WOMEN (note, it is not directed at men. That's another rant for another day) there is something likely wrong with our bodies...and we should HATE it. Yuck.

I am all for healthy living and working toward maintaining a healthy weight, but when diet programs and supplements are sold by telling women that they should hate their bodies and how they look, I get mad. I think we are far more likely to make positive and life-long healthy changes when we honor and treasure the bodies that we have been given.

The word Namaste, that is used to close most yoga classes everywhere, roughly translates to mean 'the light of the divine in me, recognizes and honors the light and divine in you.' Divine light....sounds pretty fabulous and miraculous to me. If we all have this light at our essence, then how can we be so cruel to ourselves and others with our body shaming and judgments? 

The next time you find yourself saying something negative about your own body: STOP. Try to replace it with a statement that is neutral or positive. If you recognize that you have not been treating yourself well by eating too much, being too sedentary, etc, then see if you can name in a positive way one thing you will do to improve. Your body is the vessel that you have been given to walk around in during your time on earth. Treat your body with respect and care so that you can live a healthy, long,  and productive life, letting that divine light that lies within to shine brightly in the world.

Here's a lovely quote from Rumi that speaks to our our own true beauty, our gorgeous and sparkling light:

"Why do you run from room to room, searching for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck?"

Yoga and Back Health

Those of you who have taken yoga from me for awhile have probably heard me mention that many of the postures in yoga are often used by physical therapists and other health professionals to rehab and strengthen the back. I was just looking through a magazine today and saw yet another "back health" article and guess what? Only one stretch on the list was NOT a yoga posture! They might call them something new, but yup, it's yoga!

So next time you are on the mat, whether you have back concerns or not, know that you are doing something that not only improves strength, flexibility, and peace of mind; you are also working on all the muscle groups that support posture and a healthy back. No time to get to class today? Surely you have a few minutes for cat/cow, some bridge rolls and a spinal twist!

Remember the saying, 'you're only as healthy as your spine.'

Staying Present

Today I am going to keep it simple (yet it's hard to do!). I am going to try to stay 'present' and not overthink the day by getting caught up in worries about the future or re-hashing the events of the past.  I am going to try to slow down and be aware by staying connected to my breath and focused on what I can do today.
Expect this theme of patient presence in yoga classes this week. I'm guessing that I am not the only one that has a tendency to get caught up in over-thinking or trying to over plan the day! May your day be peaceful and productive. Enjoy and savor what today has to offer!

Restraint

This is an excerpt from an article by Deborah Adele on the Yamas by Patanjali. 
"Perhaps these are the things Patanjali considered when he laid out the eight-limbed path. The way to move from suffering to freedom, he tells us, is to begin with the yamas, or restraints. We don’t begin the path with grandiose attempts to be something we’re not. Instead we begin by stopping ourselves from being who we are: careless participators in the pain and suffering of the world. In the way a court restraining order protects someone from the abuse of another, Patanjali asks us to place a restraining order on ourselves to keep us from causing harm to anyone."

It's not often that we as individuals are asked to consider how we might be creating pain and suffering in our world. Usually, it is just the opposite; that we are looking externally for those people or things that are hurting or harming us in some way. I can't help but wonder what kind of community or world we would live in if we all were more mindful of our thoughts, words and behaviors and took a bit of time to reflect on their possible impact. 

I keep coming back to yoga practice for a variety of reasons, but one of the reasons is that yoga helps me find a place of calm and provides space for me to reflect and be quiet. I start to let go of some my need to rush, some of my need to control things around me, and some of my need to judge and criticize events and other people. Yoga helps me find some restraint and allows me to be less reactive in times of stress.

How can I try out this yama in daily life? Evey time I feel irritated or a bit miffed, I can try to breathe and pause and decide how to respond with quiet strength rather than lashing out or getting angry. This is a pretty countercultural idea as the theme in recent days (especially when observing our political process) is to find fault, to name call, and to generally tear down everyone who might disagree with us. I am going to work on moving from suffering to freedom by trying to be more mindful and aware of how my own words and actions can be a force for good and for reconciliation.

May you have a peaceful and non violent day, full of restraint and compassion for yourself and others.

Injury

Hey,
Did anyone else notice the similar theme between what I posted earlier today and what I posted at the end of January?? As I have said in class before, I often choose themes for classes that are about concerns or ideas that are emerging in my own life that I then hope resonate and make some sense to others. I guess I have been pondering and struggling with balance these days! I was going to delete my earlier post from today when I realized how similar the last 2 were, but decided to leave them so that I could use them as an example!

Those of you that are currently in one of my yoga sessions (new class sessions are starting now, by the way) know that I have backed off from some of the teacher demo parts of class so that I can manage a back issue I am dealing with. I guess it is just part of my nature and physicality that leaves me somewhat prone to injury. I find that I always have to be careful about pushing or practicing too extensively, as it seems that when I hurt myself, I am not aware of it until sometime later. My yoga practice has taught me and continues to teach me about my body and my tendency to injure myself with too much repetition. Too much of a good thing is never a good thing for me!

So, I guess that's the theme of the two posts that I am attempting to share: What has your yoga practice been teaching you? Do you also struggle with balancing life's demands and staying present vs. getting scattered and distracted?

For now, keep breathing, stay present, and see what your practice has to teach you. I'm with you on the journey and learning as I go!

Balance

In yoga class this week, I thought we would play with the ideas of effort and ease. For some of us, we don't feel quite right unless we are constantly pushing, rushing, or competing with ourselves or other people. For some of us, we feel vulnerable, frightened, or too embarrassed to really put ourselves out there on the mat or in the world in any substantial way. What if there was a place of balance to be found between these two extremes? We should be able to recognize that there are times when we need to push a bit and test ourselves, and times when we should withdraw for a time to reflect and rest.
As you practice on the mat this week, observe how you respond to the postures/asanas. Yoga has so much that it can teach us, not just about how we approach our physical bodies, but also how we respond to things that feel comfortable or challenging. There is no right or wrong in this, but over time, as we become more aware of our tendencies or typical responses, we can explore them and modify them when necessary. If you're holding back from challenge or effort, maybe there are some small ways to move out of your comfort zone. If you're pressing and insisting and constantly 'leaning into' effort, maybe you can soften and recognize that rest and simplicity also have deep value.