Saucha might help us enter the new year!

The year 2010 is coming to a close. What would the yoga sutras tell us about releasing an old year and welcoming a new year? If we look at the Niyamas we might find that the first niyama Saucha, has some wisdom in the principle of cleansing and purifying body-mind-heart. I like the idea of entering the new year with a "clean slate" so to speak. Some of us make resolutions or goals to accomplish in the year to come. This makes us hopeful. Yet we have learned that it is the "heart's intention" that lays the ground for our goals and aspirations.
For me personally, I have chosen to ask myself what it is that I can release in my conditioning that will help me to enter this new year. Maybe there are fears or assumptions that are holding me back from opening my heart to deeper wisdom and my imagination to a fresh creativity.
I can start clearing my heart and soul by just cleaning and recreating some part of my environment. Open a drawer, a cupboard, a closet.... What can I let go of!!! What fear can I come face to face with, dissolve and see with clean awareness?
This is the way I will enter the new year. Will you join me?

185 Yoga Calendars

This year was a record for my total calendar order.
To date my total order is 185 calendars. They are all gone or spoken for.
Feedback has been great and the consensus is that it is the best calendar yet.
A great way to start the new year and enjoy "IMAGINE" 2011.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you.
I am already thinking up ideas for calendar 2012!!!

A Poem for Winter Solstice

I read this poem in our last class together this week. Some students asked if I would post it.
I think this is one of the most beautiful winter poems I have ever heard. I hope it touches you in some way.

Winter Solstice by Rebecca Parker
Perhaps for a moment the typewriters will stop clicking,
the wheels stop rolling,
the computers desist computing,
and a hush will fall over the city.
For an instant in the stillness,
the chiming of the celestial spheres will be heard
as earth hangs poised in the crystalline darkness, and then gracefully tilts.
Let this be a season when holiness is heard and the splendor of living is revealed.
Stunned to stillness by beauty
we remember who we are and why we are here.
There are inexplicable mysteries.
We are not alone.
In the universe there moves a Wild One whose gestures alter earth's axis toward love.
In the immense darkness everything spins with joy.
The cosmos enfolds us.
We are caught in a web of stars, cradled in a swaying embrace, rocked by the holy night, babes of the universe.
Let this be the time we wake to life, like spring wakes,
in the moment of winter solstice.

Freshen Holiday Traditions

Sometimes what has worked and been enjoyed in the past becomes tired and worn out.
What is important about traditions and rituals is that they have meaning. It seems that every year we may need to evaluate all the ways we celebrate the season and decide which ones we want to keep and which activities we can let go of. Most of us know we have limited energy and if we try to cram in too many activities and requests, we end up overwhelmed and exhausted.
"Choose" might be a mantra for the holidays. Choose the things that you truly savor and release some of the tasks that have become a burden. Every day remember why and what you are celebrating this year. I suspect you will find each day more fulfilling, some new discoveries and a fragrance of joy and peace.

Holiday De-stressor YOGA

Hello everyone. I am just back from 8 days in Hawaii where I took my own little "holiday de-stressor"! This week we begin 3 weeks of "yoga tonic" for whatever ails us during the month of December. Weekly yoga gives us an opportunity to refresh what "Living Your Yoga" really means during demanding times. The theme for these 3 weeks is CELEBRATION. Each of us celebrates in our own unique way. What is it that you hold dear and sacred at this time of year? What can you let go of or allow less importance to simplify the weeks ahead? What will you "celebrate"?
Maybe this year you want to do things differently to experience PEACE, JOY and the beauty of winter solstice. Maybe less spending and more present moment awareness with the little things.
Whatever you choose to do, notice how it affects your wellbeing. When and if you do get overwhelmed or a somber mood visits remember to breathe, get out your yoga mat and take time to celebrate all that you are grateful for.

Last Week of Fall Simply Yoga Classes

It is already week 8 of our 8 week session... one more class to go before RESTORATIVES!!!
It has been a fun session.
Next week, .... something to look forward to.. Restorative Yoga. This is a class I only do once a quarter.
"Often I say to myself, I wish I could just be a student in this class, as I am teaching it. I want to receive all the goodness."
What a great reward and something to savor as we move towards Thanksgiving.
Wednesday class is full but there are still spaces in the Tuesday or Friday evening class. Sign up soon. You will be restored and refreshed and ready for the holidays.

Sign up for HOLIDAY DE-STRESSOR YOGA -3 week session... Starting the week after Thanksgiving.

Yoga Paintings at the Art Walk

I hope to see many of you at the Art Walk this coming Friday, November 5th.
I will be at 3 Oms Yoga Studio (Bay Street, across across from the Blue Horse Gallery and next to the Upfront Theater) from 7:30pm - 10pm with my new show, IMAGINE.
These are all paintings from the new yoga calendar for 2011. Can't wait to celebrate and see many of you there. Couldn't do this without your inspiration! THANK YOU so much!!!

Intention and Resolve

The Buddha talked about "right resolve". He was referring to a determination to set intention and then to live from that. Our intention comes from our inner values. We then practice living by what holds truth and meaning for us. We are able to notice if and when we are tempted to compromise our values for material gain or ego. Through practice we strengthen our ability to hold to our intentions no matter the circumstances. Our resolve needs to be fed daily, strengthened daily or it begins to weaken.. like a muscle. However, we know that if we allow that muscle to weaken we CAN strengthen it again.
The more we develop the habit of intention the more natural it becomes to the way we live in the world.

"Right intention is organic; it thrives when cultivated and wilts when neglected". P. Moffitt

Intention and Karmic Seeds

The Buddha tells us that Karma is one of the "imponderables"... we can never fully understand it.
However we do know that every action has a cause and an effect.
The primary factor that determines karma is intention. Every word or action comes from intention. This intention is what plants the seed of what is to occur in the future, but only when the right conditions exist. Our heart's intention is fed by our inner knowing our wisdom self, also referred to as the "awakened heart-mind".

At the same time whatever is happening in your life right now is affected by your attitude towards it. What determines your attitude is your intention.

" We reap what we sow"... Yet what do we do with what we reap is affected by our intention.

New Calendars for 2011

So excited to see the new calendars, hot off the press.
Wow, this one I think is the best yet.
Pick yours up in class or contact me to purchase one.

Also some of the paintings from this calendar with be in my show at 3 OMS Yoga during the November Gallery Walk (across from the Blue Horse Gallery) and for the months of November/December. I will have a little reception there Friday, November 5th. I will be there from 7:30pm - 10pm. Hope you will stop by.

Inner Values and Mixed Motives

Last week I gave everyone a handout of the inner values I collected from all three classes.
Very interesting and thought provoking. I asked each of you to pick 5 that you would most like to connect more deeply to. One way to do that would be to ask yourself 2 questions: "1. How am I living this value. 2. How am I not living this value."

We also discussed "mixed motives". It seems that recognizing mixed motives and intention is more important than trying to be perfect. How easy it is to harshly judge oneself.
If you have a mixed motive recognize it and make more room for the "bright intentions and less room for the dark ones".

Getting Current with Your Inner Values

"Do your outer choices reflect your inner values?"

This quarter we are exploring inner or personal values.
Inner values are important beliefs or ideals that we are taught as children, and then draw from other fellow beings and belief systems.
They exert great influence on our behavior and serve as inner guides in all situations.

To begin our exploration of living with "right intention", it helps to make a list of what you consider your inner values. Spend time this week thinking about qualities that you value. You can start with moral precepts. Then explore what you value, respect and admire in some of the significant people in your life. These people can include those you may not know personally but have influenced your thinking in some way.
Keep adding to your list throughout the week. You may be surprised and enlightened by what you come up with.

Bring you list to class.

Living with integrity...

" Goals help you make your place in the world and be an effective person. But being grounded in intention is what provides integrity and unity in our life." -P. Moffit

I have always had goals in my life. I have achieved many of them. It is very satisfying to set a goal and to see it come to fruition. However I have found it more essential to keep my eye on what is truly important and what I most deeply value. When I do that I find my goals are more fluid and can shift when they need to. Goals are always changing. Inner values and what has heart and meaning is a constant.

"Only by remembering your intentions can you reconnect with yourself during those emotional storms that cause you to lose touch with yourself." -P. Moffitt

The Heart's Intention

So good to be back in class again...
This quarter our theme is "Intention". That is the "heart's intention" or right intention as the Buddha teaches. Intentions are not the same as goals. Goals have to do with something in the future and outcome. Intention is about present moment and connecting to what we most deeply value. We cannot control outcome, but we can set intention from what has meaning and significance for us. That doesn't mean goals are not important. But intention can help us to reach and clarify and change our goals when necessary.
Each day we can set intention. We might do that by phrasing it as a question. "Can I be kinder and gentler with myself today?" If I value non- harm, kindness and compassion, can I live that now, in each moment, today. If I am kinder to myself, that kindness will flow out into the world. If we phrase our intention as a question, it will feel more like an invitation and less like an admonishment.
What intention can you invite into your day, in this moment?
What intention can you live, that becomes, more and more, part of who you are?

September Reflections

It is still summer, and yet it is feeling like fall more and more. I am still picking dahlias from the garden and feeling the warm sun as I walk the trails, yet I find myself noticing the early signs of fall. Noticing is part of mindfulness. Noticing is simple really. It is not coming to conclusions or telling ourselves a story about a memory, it is just observing. Being an artist requires a great deal of "noticing" and not getting caught in personal perceptions. It sounds easy yet it is not. It takes alertness and discipline to just notice, to just see, to just feel. Nature teaches us volumes about that kind of simplicity because it is not self-conscious. It is "unutterably" itself, as David Whyte says in his poem "Everything is Waiting For You".
The next time you go for a walk practice just noticing. Then the next time you have a shower do the same... feel, hear, smell, taste.... be in that moment and then notice how easily your thoughts fly off to solve some problem or go over some conversation.
"Living well is not about being calm, it is about being present". -Judith Lasater

Yoga Bear Cares

Watercolor Calendar 2011

Yoga Watercolor Calendar 2011 is almost ready to go to the printers, just 3 more paintings.
This year's calendar is going to be the best yet I think. It is very whimsical and fun. Orders are coming in so be sure to let me know if you are wanting one or more. Price is the same as last year if you order from me.
A big thanks to the wonderful models I have had this year. Can't do this without my models!!!

Wednesday Morning Yoga

I have a small group of students for 4 consecutive weeks Wed morning in my home studio. ( 2 weeks in Aug, 2 weeks in September).
There is still a space available for anyone who wants to join us for all or just one class. Give me a call or email me or just leave a comment... I will get back to you.

VISSUDHA: The Throat Chakra

This week I offered a quote by Martha Graham that seemed to speak of 5th chakra energy. It is here we express ourselves creatively. We are true to ourselves, we listen deeply, we are aware of resonance, we communicate clearly and we find our "own voice".

Martha Graham said this," There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action.
And because there is only one you in all time, this expression is unique.
And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium... the world will not have it.
It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable , not how it compares with other expressions.
It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, to keep the channel open."

Space or sound is the element of this chakra.
Lies is the demon.

ANAHATA - the heart chakra

From the solar plexus we now move up to the heart. The heart chakra is the place where we orient to acceptance of ourselves and others. We express love and compassion, empathy and altruism.
At the same time we engage in self-reflective consciousness. If we are not aware of our conditioning, physically, mentally and emotionally, we cannot evolve. We become caught in repetitive cycles and unhealthy patterns that we repeat over and over.
Our mind-body connection is part of the balance we discover here. What is the body telling us?

The heart chakra involves reaching out and taking in. It is important to reach out, yet also important to receive. If we cannot receive, the chakra is deficient.

Grief is the demon of the 4th chakra. Grief can block the heart as can fear. When our heart is heavy or broken we may feel a huge weight on our chest. If we deny our grief we may become hard, cold and rigid. When grief is given voice and acknowledged, there is a place for hope and the heart lightens.
Grief can come from loss, but also from denial of parts of ourselves. If we have denied our authenticity, our personal power or our own authority, we may experience a deep unexpressed or unconscious grief. In order to love fully we must develop ego strength (3rd chakra).

Air is the element of the 3rd chakra. The respiratory system pumps the heart.

"Give sorrow words: the grief that does not speak whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." -Shakespeare

MANIPURA- Solar Plexus Chakra

The third chakra is where our inner power resides. We are all responsible for our feelings of empowerment. This is where we take ownership of our feelings and our actions. If we blame others for our feelings or our situations then we have given our power away. Most of us have heard that in life it is not what happens to us, it is what we do with what happens to us that makes all the difference. This is the place where we make choices, where we discharge our energy out into the world, where we discern when impulses are appropriate or inappropriate. We become proactive, we can say yes or no when we want to. If we have a deficiency in this chakra, we may feel like victims of our circumstances and blame others. We have poor self discipline, weak will and may be easily manipulated. We comply and play it safe. If we have an excess, we may become angry, aggressive, inflated, with a need to control others. We are ego-centered and accomplishment-driven.

A strong ego is important to grow authenticity and autonomy. It is when our ego is healthy that we can begin to transcend the ego and see that our inner strength is fed by a higher power.

"Lack of autonomy is often characterized by blaming. If we still blame others for our problems, we have not yet individuated. Blaming places both will and responsibility outside ourselves."
-Anodea Judith

Shame is the demon of the third chakra.
Fire is the element.

SVADISTHANA- Sacral chakra

From the rootedness of the first chakra we make our way to the second chakra. Here we experience movement, feelings, sexuality, sensuality, playfulness and creativity. When we awaken to our senses, we feel more alive and stimulated. We are drawn towards pleasure. Think of the things you love... often they have to do with how they make you feel. You feel happy, free and open. You are curious and energized.
When we take in healthy pleasures, we are satiated and content.

"You are what your deep driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny. -Upanishad IV .4.5

Guilt is the demon of the 2nd chakra because it curtails the free flow of movement.
Water is the element of this chakra.

MULADHARA - root chakra

This week we began to explore the root chakra... the chakra that roots us in our bodies, the physical world and the earth. A healthy first chakra allows us to be energetically grounded. Being grounded gives us a source of strength. We can stand on our own two feet and move forward in life. We draw energy up from our base like a current of energy and we form healthy boundaries.
Boundaries allow us to maintain our ground and contain our focus . We feel validated in our existence and know that we have a right to be here, a right to take up space, a right to have needs in order to survive... a right to nourishment, shelter, rest... ways of taking care of ourselves, a right to pleasure, acknowledgement and love. We then feel a realistic sense of security, stability and freedom. At the same time we must be able to accept limitation.
In her book, Anodea Judith lists the issues of the first chakra as follows: roots, grounding, nourishment, trust, health, home, family, prosperity, appropriate boundaries.
The first chakra is located at the base of the spine.
Earth is the element of this chakra.
Fear is its demon.

Affirmation statement: "I love my body and trust its wisdom."

Summer classes!!

Yeh, summer classes start today.
There is still time to sign up. However just for Tuesday and Friday 5:30 pm classes. Wed morning is full, as usual.
Can't wait to see you all.
This quarter we will be exploring the chakras in relation to our practice... we will be listening and sensing the body-mind wisdom of these energy centers.
My reference book for the study of the chakras is "Eastern Body, Western Mind. Psychology and The Chakra System as a Path to the Self", by Anodea Judith. If you want to delve into the study of the chakras, this is definitely the book to guide you!!!

Coming home...

Coming home from a retreat, life always seems a little wobbly at first.
For a few days I seem to have one foot in "my retreat life" and one foot in my "real life". I find myself wanting to keep part of myself in "retreat memory" as there is so much goodness there... clarity and wisdom that I want to bring to my life and my practice. Yet I know I soon have to get both feet back into the here and now. However, my feet somehow are walking differently... maybe a little slower, a little more intentional, a little wiser and a little lighter. I am smiling more, laughing more. I feel more playful and open.
I remind myself... "You are changed. You are not the same person who left a week ago. The dust of the retreat is in your heart and soul. You are nourished on many levels and you are home once again."

Summer fun...

Ah, my dear friends, hope you are enjoying summer....
I have just returned from a lovely family visit in the Toronto area. Yes. I am a Canadian American. Still have lots of family there.
Tomorrow I fly to Helena, Montana for a week of yoga at Feathered Pipe Ranch.
YOGA RETREATS are rich on so many levels.
Great yoga, excellent food and wonderful company.
See you in July... if you are coming to summer classes. There is still time to sign up!!!!

Restorative Yoga

Two restorative classes to enjoy this week.... June 14th.
Tuesday evening 5:30 and Wednesday morning 9:30.
See you then.
Still one space in Wed. class. A few spots on Tuesday.

NO COMPLAINING!!!

We finished off our last class talking about what the Buddhists might consider "idle chatter". Idle chatter might include gossip, and conversation that has little value and may cause harm. We focused on "complaining" and took a close look at how it depletes our motivation .

Chronic complainers wear us down and create negative energy.
It is true that we all complain. How much we each complain may be something to explore.
Take one day and resolve not to complain... Each time you do complain make a note of it.
Try it for two days and then maybe a week. Notice how it feels when you avoid idle complaints.

There are, of course, times when it is right and proper to complain so something can change.
When we lodge a complaint we are acting to create change.
When we are doing it out of habit, it is without purpose and robs you and others of a degree of contentment and happiness.

Summer Reading

Just in case you are looking for some good summer fiction reads, here are some that I have enjoyed this year and would recommend.

The Help
The Art of Running in the Rain
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Water for Elephants
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

" A book must be the ax, for the frozen sea inside us." Kafka

Speaking of....

Do you pause before you speak?
Do you just say whatever is on your mind?
Do you ever wish you could take back what you said?
Do you wish you could express yourself more clearly or more kindly?
Ancient wisdom asks us to be full of care with our words. Of course being full of care means we have to consider the intent and value of what we share. Sometimes our intent is hidden, even from ourselves. We may speak from a place of misunderstanding, frustration, envy, hurt. Our words take on a power that we might not have intended at a conscious level. If we are not careful and conscious our words can betray us.
When we know ourselves and trust ourselves at a deep level our speech becomes more skillful.
Saucha, which means purification, can include our choice of words, when to speak, when not to speak, knowing our intention and also how we use humor.

REFRAME IT !!!

"Reframe it".
What exactly does that mean? Well, for me it means to step to a new vantage point and view the situation or the person through a different lens. It is so easy to get lost in one way of looking at a situation and the more we stay there the more our wheels spin and the rut deepens. We then begin to realize we are stuck. When we feel stuck our energy feels stagnant and heavy.
This is where "space clearing" comes in.
Can we start doing some "cleaning and rearranging" here? What if we took on a new way of seeing something, acknowledging that our immediate perception may be distorted in some way.
When someone says to us "sleep on it", it means that in the morning we may have a new take on it... we may see it differently with new insight. Insight flows, moods shift, inner guidance is available to us all and comes in many shapes and forms. As human beings we have all had moments of clarity. We often know when we are seeing more clearly.
So try it ... "reframing" is a wonderful strategy for living a happier and richer life.

Procrastination

"If you want to make an easy job hard, just put off doing it." Olin Miller

Procrastination ... why do we do it?
We had interesting discussions this week in class about the "P" word. Reading quotes from famous wise people we realize quickly that procrastination is the thief that lives in our homes and is the way we most often sabotage ourselves.
If we think we perform better by leaving things to the last minute, we really end up with our backs to the wall and think the pressure has somehow given us the" juice". Yet we have really just lost our freedom and are now under the control of the deadline. "It" is now controlling us.

The most common causes of procrastination are:
Fear of failure
Miscalculating how long a task will take.
Perfectionism.
Indecisiveness.
Thinking we work better under pressure.
Waiting until we are in the "mood".
Feeling overwhelmed.
Rebellion

There are many ways to deal with the above. What strategies help you deal with " putting things off" ?

Why do we roll to the right?

A number of students have asked me at different times why we roll to the right when coming up from the floor. My explanation has been somewhat incomplete as I only knew that it was an esoteric, symbolic gesture which had to do with the sun rising in the east. But mostly I just want students to all roll the same way so they don't roll uncomfortably into each other and keeping it on the right simplifies it. However a more thorough explanation is the following:
"It is considered, in India, more auspicious to enter a holy place with the right foot and in many parts of the world, we extend our right hand in greeting. The right side also represents the east: rolling towards the east or the rising sun symbolizes asking for blessings, grace and bliss.
Physiologically, since your heart is on the left, when you roll to the right it remains open and free of pressure. It also keeps one of the main channels of prana/life force active and helps keep your body in a state of calmness as you come into a sitting position."
-Desiree Rumbaugh.

Clearing Your Space Can Change Your Life...

Is it as simple of that?? Well it is true that your space does reflect your life.
What does your space say about your life right now?
Do you like this reflection?
Many of us have spaces that do not nourish us mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Think of the last time your were somewhere and it made you feel like you just wanted to STAY there. What was happening or not happening in that space that made you feel that way?
It may be time to look at the space where you live and become clear about how your personal spaces effect your energy. Does your space lift you up or weigh you down?
If your space drains you of your energy or dampens your motivations for life, are you willing to make some changes?

If you want to make changes my first suggestion is to start small.
Maybe start in your closet with a few brown bags and begin to eliminate things you have not worn for at least a year and a half. For those things you are not sure about, put them in a bag marked 6 months. If you have not missed them in 6 months you know you probably don't need them anymore. You do not have to be brutal, you may find you require more time with certain things.
You will be amazed at how light you will begin to feel as you release these items... giving them away, donating them. The process will become easier as you grow accustomed to letting things go.

Space Clearing is an ancient Feng Shui technique passed from one generation of wise teachers to the next. It gives us permission to clear out the old, stagnant and chaotic energy in any space, and create new ones for fresh beginnings and positive change.

Do we live in a world of NOISE?

George Prochnik's book, In Pursuit of Silence: Listening for Meaning in a World of Noise, made me think about sound in a more thoughtful way. I began to think about sounds that I love, sounds that I take for granted, sounds that I tolerate, sounds that I block out and sounds that I feel asaulted by. I decided this week to focus on sounds that I love and really listen and appreciate them. There are elegant and soothing sounds and sounds that make me feel content and happy. I want to bring more of those sounds to the forefront and experience them as a delight in my day. If I lost my sense of hearing I would no longer be able to experience those sounds. The sound of silence is one of those beautiful sounds too. The silence make the sounds I love more distinct and delicate. What are the sounds that you cherish, but have not really thought about lately? Can you listen and savor some of your favorite sounds?
Please share your favorite sounds with me.

Why do we "spring clean" ?

I wonder why people clean in the Spring??? Maybe there is just something about spring that makes us want to release the old and make space for something new or just make space!
If spring is the time of buds and blossoms and light, I suspect we all want to make room for that. That means clearing out, cleaning out, exhaling, letting go. How tightly we sometimes hold on to our "stuff".
Thankfully in nature, plants are able to go through a cycle of growth and then surrender to the earth again. Thankfully we can we learn from nature.
What can you surrender? What are you holding onto that needs to be released, that no longer affirms being awake and alive?
Can you release something today that is an act of preparing for something new and life giving to enter your inner and outer world?

Withdrawal Symptoms...

I must say I do love the break from teaching Simply Yoga when I have more time to do whatever... usually art and "artist's dates". However, I find I do less yoga than usual and my body actually starts to hurt and my joints feel stiffer. These, I hate to say, are what I call withdrawal symptoms. Yes I guess you could call me an addict of sorts. I need enough yoga weekly or my body rebels.
I suspect some of you are finding something similar being away from classes for awhile.
So get out your sticky mat and get some practice in... 10- 20 minutes a day will make the world of difference. Do the poses you love and a couple of the ones you don't love and breathe deeply.
Three part inhalation breath is waiting for you!!!!

Spring Break

The next 2 weeks I will not be teaching the Simply Yoga classes as we will be on break.
This would be a good time to work with your yoga at home and explore what you know.
Some of you already do this. It is challenging to practice on your own when you are used to a teacher talking you through your practice. However it can be very gratifying to see how much your really have learned and how you are able to breathe, quiet the mind, find your alignment, move into a stretch slowly, be curious about sensation, and know that you have claimed your practice. Don't forget to "play" with the poses a little... find something new in your body and be okay with not knowing and understanding everything. Enjoy.
See you in April.

Warrior Poses

Here we are in our last week of Simply Yoga classes.
It has been an interesting quarter with lots of learning and lots of Warrior Poses!
Warrior poses teach us to stand well with firmness, strength and intention. Learning to stand on our own two feet began when we were in the last part of our first year of life. Yet we are still learning to stand well. Standing in Mountain pose, we are still learning to find ground and rise up with confidence and purpose. How is it that we lose our confidence, our ability to accept ourselves as we are? How do we find it again? How do we know we are on the right path? How do we learn to trust our instincts, our intuition?
It is spring. Plant your feet in the earth, your sticky mat, wherever you are. Rise up to meet this day. Open your heart to what comes. Be in the moment. The circumstances of our lives have much to teach us. Listen.

"The Riptide of Strong Emotions"

This chapter in Farhi's book draws our attention to how a strong emotion can lead to a reactive, indulgent moment where we feel compelled to just vent. We have all felt that overwhelming need to release an emotion, to find a quick way to reduce the pressure that is building up inside of us.
We may even tell ourselves that it was the right thing to do because the receiver of our venting "had it coming".... it was justified!
However unskillful venting often leads to further problems for both the receiver and the doer.
We might ask ourselves " Am I a reactive person?" "Am I able to identify a feeling and then take a moment or more to decide what would be the most helpful response to this situation?" If we are reactive, our responses will probably create a greater emotional charge and defensiveness. When we actually take time to feel what is happening in our bodies, we can recognize what is going on.
Hurt and fear can turn to anger very quickly. If we catch the hurt first, we can catch the disappointment and sadness. We can then see it as something that we can open to in ourselves instead of harming someone else with a "knee jerk" response.
We can pause and then say something that is helpful to the situation. We can also decide to say nothing... saying nothing is sometimes a bigger statement.

The Seasons of Our Lives

Our lives are always changing and so should our practice. We move through different stages, phases and what Donna Farhi refers to as seasons of life. Like the seasons of nature we sometimes want to stay in one particular season... like summer for instance. However I suspect we would get tired of summer if we had it all year round. The seasons of our lives allow us to grow and develop all the different parts of ourselves. If we have lived well in one season of our life we are apt to look forward to the next season for its own particular newness and challenges. If we cling to one phase of our lives and attempt to relive it over and over, we will miss the beauty of where we are now.
In regards to yoga practice, the way we practice and what we practice needs to reflect the stage of life we are in. If we are in our 50's or 60's and still trying to practice like we did when we were in our 30's or 40's, we will be hammering away at beliefs or practices that no longer suit our body-mind spirit. We must always be evolving.

Blind Spots....

We all have "blind spots". Donna Farhi says we know we are in the vicinity of a blind spot when we keep experiencing the same dilemma over and over again. We complain about this to our friends or anyone who will listen, yet we are defensive if someone highlights what we are unwilling to identify in ourselves.
Most of us think of blind spot as negative traits, or behaviors. What if some of our blind spots are actually positive traits or habits. What if we are talented, skilled, smart, kind, beautiful, funny, loving, or courageous etc in ways we are completely unaware of? If someone has pointed this out to us did we dismiss it and continue to berate ourselves for not being enough??

We know we are becoming more conscious when we are willing to accept and learn from our "blind spots".

Slowing Down

Donna Farhi says it all in her chapter on "Slowing Down".
However she does not give us many reasons why it is so hard to slow down. Some of us have a deep belief that if we accomplish many things at a speedy pace we will be happier, not to mention more successful. If we come to yoga with this attitude, we will find it difficult to experience what we really long for and that is "peace of mind". Our minds will be racing and we will be uncomfortable if not frustrated learning the tasks of focus, concentration and meditation.
At some point we need to release the idea that faster is better, in our daily lives. There may be a few situations where speed is important, but slowing down is where most of us need to place our attention.
Today see if you can simplify your day in some way to make room for more pauses, more enjoyment. Do something that makes you happy. :)

Reverence For One Another

Andrew Harvey reminds us that we all hold a spark of the Divine within us. When we say NAMASTE at the end of class we are reinforcing that belief and also that we hold reverence for the divine in others. My "spark" sees your "spark", my light sees your light.... the beauty within me sees and honors the beauty within you. We can begin this practice of reverence with those closest to us and then expand to others from there.

Sacred Activism

We will focus on "sacred activism" as we begin this quarter and the beginning of a new decade.
Andrew Harvey in his article shares this quote by Robert Kennedy, " Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he or she sends forth a tiny ripple of hope. And crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." We can all make a difference with each act of kindness or consideration or holding someone accountable. However we must become current with what we hold true, what we value, where we want to direct our energy. We must be clear and honest with ourselves and know that we need continual renewal to stay with our intention.
Yoga helps us with that renewal, that "getting clear", that "right intention".

Home Practice Workshops

My Home Practice Workshops are now set for winter and spring quarters. The dates are as follows: Saturday. February 20th, March 13th, April 10th and May 1st at 9:30am to 12noon. I can only accommodate 6 students in each workshop in my home studio. The first 3 workshops are now full. I still have spaces in the May workshop. Registration is now open for this one.

These workshops will focus on creating and maintaining a home practice.
Prerequisites are:
1. You have been taking yoga classes for at least a year.
2. You are serious about establishing a home practice knowing it will involve commitment and change.
3. You are excited about a home practice becoming part of your lifestyle.

Registration is on a first come basis. Cost is $35. Payment should be made at the time of registration. Refunds for cancellations will be made only if your place is filled. There will be a waiting list for each workshop.

Please contact me if you have questions. :)

Toesox

If you are one of those students who want to keep their socks on during yoga practice, "toesox" might just be the thing for you. These socks have a non-slip sole. They come with full toes or half toes and with lots of different colors. Check them out at toesox.com

Winter classes registering...

Oh my, classes are filling up. Make sure you are registered. Don't wait or you might miss out.
New Year's resolutions find some of us releasing old habits and creating new "intention" and goals, unique to each of us. January is an exciting time to begin making 2010 a great year.
I am so looking forward to seeing you all soon.

New Year Collages

Do you love the beginning of January as much as I do? ... Maybe, maybe not. Well the reason I love it is because it symbolizes a fresh opening into a myriad of possibilities. I contemplate what I have, where I am now, what inspires me and get current with my "heart and soul". I then commit or recommit to what I would like more of, what I hold dear and true and what I can do to embody that in my life.
One way that I use to "get current" with what is resonating in my life is to do a "circle collage". These little collages only take about 1 hour to do. Basically you just go through magazines, catalogs etc and find images that inspire you or you are attracted to in some way. You find as many images as you can in the first 30 min with your intuitive sense. ( Don't think too much, feel instead and be decisive without questioning your decisions.) Then you cut, arrange and paste the images on a large circle of heavy paper ( I use poster board that I have cut into a 15 inch circle.) If you do this with a friend or in a group it is then fun to share what you have experienced and what these images seem to mean to you at this time. Later as you look at your collage they may take on new meanings. At any rate, it is a fun activity and you will learn things about yourself that were underneath the rational, thinking mind that sometimes hides our true selves. Above all have fun with this.