Maureen Braun's Yoga Blog

Practicing the Yamas

2012-01-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

We began classes this week by focusing on the five YAMAS. The first Yama is AHIMSA: non-harm, kindness and compassion. The best way to learn the yamas is to practice them. I have shared a few questions to invite the practice of ahimsa into your daily life.

1. Can I freely give a compliment, an affirmation a statement of appreciation or encouragement?

2. Can I go beyond what is expected of me?

3. Can I treat others the way I like to be treated?

4. Can I pay it forward when something good comes my way?

5. Can I PAUSE and LISTEN and not fill up the space?

Can you pick just one of these and practice it for a day, a week, a month? Then ask yourself what you have discovered about the practice of AHIMSA.

POSTURE

2012-01-23T07:47:00.000-08:00

Food for thought...

The word for posture in French is "attitude".

Alignment and posture is not to be experienced only in a physical sense, it is also about aligning with a "higher energy or spirit". Body posture may well be an important factor in a higher quality of attention and alertness.

What are you aligning with in your life?

Friday classes cancelled...

2012-01-20T09:28:00.001-08:00

Although the college is open today, yoga is cancelled for tonight due to me still being sick with respiratory flu. See you all next week.

Practicing yoga off the mat...Mindfulness and Refraining

2012-01-19T13:59:00.000-08:00

As I looked forward to starting classes this week I was met with a nasty respiratory flu and a snowfall that canceled the first two classes ( Tue, Wed). In some ways I was glad the classes were cancelled because of the weather as I had already reluctantly informed the college that I would be unable to teach. Truthfully, I was frustrated with myself for getting ill. I know, that makes no sense and yet there it was. Sometimes I lean so heavily into responsibility to my students it prevents me from "trusting whatever happens". I do believe that "everything happens for a reason"... so why torture myself?
Fortunately what I have noticed over the years is that I am less and less disturbed by events that
seem inconvenient or are not what I had hoped or planned for. If I get "hooked" by a feeling of disappointment, I can shake it off pretty quickly.
Pema Chodrun talks about mindfulness and "refraining". In my case I soon found myself "refraining" from moving towards frustration. Instead I discovered myself shifting gears and and enjoying the benefits of a forced retreat and different way of living for a few days.
This way of responding to events is an example of "Ahimsa" or non-harm. Non-harm includes"seeing clearly with respect and compassion for what is".

This quarter we will be discussing more insights into the Yamas, Ahimsa being the first yama, part of the "tree of yoga".

Classes cancelled...

2012-01-18T11:08:00.000-08:00

Well we didn't get started with classes this week as planned. :(
Snow storms got in the way and also I came down with a nasty respiratory virus.
Friday class is probably a go weather wise,
but I will see if I have recovered enough for teaching.
The WCC will be calling you, if you are a Friday student, to let you know if Friday class is cancelled.
Do not try to do a "make-up class" on Friday before first calling the WCC, or email or call me to see if the class is a go.
Hopefully see you next week. :)

To be empty...

2012-01-11T14:05:00.000-08:00

"To be empty, completely empty, is not a fearsome thing. It is absolutely essential for the mind to be unoccupied, to be empty, unenforced, for only then can it move to unknown depths." - J. Krishnamurti

A NEW YEAR HAS BEGUN...

2012-01-06T12:48:00.000-08:00

I am always inspired in January. Once the holiday decor is put away I can feel new energy and the "possibilities" awaiting. However I can only receive new energy and fresh perceptions by making space.

In the physical realm, most of us are saving things we don't need to save. We have too much "stuff". Just go through your closet or cupboards or garage and you will see it.

Sometimes these things represent memories... we are holding the memory.

Memories are great, we all need them, yet we don't necessarily need the physical representation of them. Think of the release of these objects as a way of moving forward and opening to a new chapter in your life. I went to Goodwill yesterday, with my donations. If felt great. I could do this on a more regular basis or at least more often. It is like taking 3 deep breaths, and savoring a new moment, feeling like a new, or renewed person. Happy New Year.

New Years is almost here...

2011-12-30T16:15:00.000-08:00

"New Years" is right around the corner... this may be a perfect opportunity to set intention for the year ahead.
You can start by setting intention for the month of January.
So many possibilites.     What old habit do you want to let go of or diminish?   What skill do you want to refine or polish? What attitude do you want more or less of? What energy do you want to support? Can you address that every day for 31 days?
I have some great ideas for myself.     I think I might even start today.
You may want to find a way to be accountable.     I like to keep a journal, however you can also just mark it on a calendar. This helps you to follow your progress and keeps your intention alive.
Happy New Year.

Setting Intention

2011-12-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

We have been "setting intention" these past few weeks together. I am always surprised at how effective it can be to connect with an intention. It is like putting on a different pair of glasses. Suddenly your perspective shifts and you get a new shape to your day, activity or practice. Of course this takes practice and the more you do it the more it becomes like a natural response.
What I find often is that setting intention bumps up against old habits, old ways of seeing and reacting.
One of my sisters used to say..."just give your head a shake". Setting intention helps to shake things up and lead us to more purposeful thoughts and actions.
GIVE IT A TRY.

Holiday De-stressor Classes

2011-12-08T09:28:00.001-08:00

Our 3 week session of yoga for the holidays has begun.   We are focusing on" how to set intention".
Setting intention is a skill that can keep us centered, focused and create meaning in our everyday
activities and interactions... It can keep unwanted thoughts and reactions at bay and make our days more purposeful.
You can set intention for the day or even just for the moment.   You can set intention as you write cards, hostess a party, buy gifts, grocery shop etc.   It is a practice of awareness.
Each week we are setting intention as we begin our yoga practice together.   Everyone sets their own intention.... a little gift to yourself.

Teaching Children Mindfulness and Meditation

2011-11-12T08:52:00.001-08:00

The past 2 weeks I was reading from an article that described teaching breath meditation to children in school. The author spoke of his experience at one particular elementary school in New York. I was touched by how he described the response of these children. Many of them developed skills that helped them when tense or anxious moments arose in their day. They would basically anchor their awareness in the breath, even for only a few moments. They learned that they could find a safe place inside themselves and they could go there whenever they felt the need of it, just by focusing on their breath. This is a life skill that they will take with them for many years to come. Maybe one day this will be taught in many schools and children will learn to access their own inner happiness and peace.

"31 Flavors of Craving"

2011-11-07T12:29:00.000-08:00

Phillip Moffet wrote an article about craving...   explaining the 3 catagories of desire.
He identified 3 distinct kinds of craving.   The first type is the craving for the 6 kinds of sense desires, the second is the desire for becoming what you are not and the third kind is feeling so overwhelmed or disillusioned that you want life to cease.
The first type is what we are most familiar with... and there are so many sense desires we can experience in any given moment.
Craving in these instances is a distraction from the present moment, with what is. Craving creates a sense of insufficiency and moves us away from contentment and gratitude.
Notice each day if you have a moment of craving.   Notice how it feels.   Notice how this leads towards some degree of suffering and away from happiness. Notice how it feels when you releases it.

ART WALK

2011-11-04T08:43:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder... the ART WALK for November is happening downtown tonight.

I will be at 3 OMS Yoga Studio (across from the Blue Horse Gallery on Bay St.) where my art is hanging- the new yoga calendar paintings.

If you are available please come and see me there... from 7:30- 9:30pm. I would love to see some of my wonderful students there.

Blessings and thank you for your inspiration.

The Namaste Blessing

2011-11-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

"I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells.

I honor the place in you which is of love, of light, of peace and of truth.

When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me,

We are one."

Namaste

CALENDARS ARE READY

2011-10-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

My 2012 calendars are hot off the press and looking fabulous.
If you have signed up for a calendar or are interested in getting one either contact me or bring your cash (or check) to class.   Again they are $15. - special pricing for my students.
This may be my last yoga calendar for awhile.    I am not sure what my next project will be.
But who knows.

Equanimity

2011-10-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

The article in Tricycle Magazine by Shaila Catherine highlights the qualities of equanimity. Some of you have asked me for a reference to this article. Google: "Equanimity In Every Bite- Shaila Catherine" and you should be able to find it.
Also Google: Equanimity: Our Greatest Friend- Shaila Catherine, if you want to read more.
Equanimity is a state of mental or emotional stability or composure arising from a deep awareness and acceptance of the present moment.

Mosquito Meditation

2011-10-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

Could you sit with a mosquito bite for 60 minutes and not scratch? Could you just sit with the sensation of itch and notice it... really observe the sensation? If you took a vow not to move or scratch for 60 minutes could you observe the thoughts going through your mind? Would the mosquito bite then become a bigger and bigger drama than you could have ever imagined?
Larry Rosenberg did just that... and wrote about it.
Each day we have the opportunity to experience a difficulty or inconvenience in our lives, to see the reality of it and then what our mind does with it.

Yoga Calendars for 2012

2011-10-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

If you would like one of my yoga watercolor calendars for 2012, please let me know. I have a list of students that want one or more and don't want to leave anyone out. I am placing the order with the printers this week. Can't wait to see the final product!!!

Blueberry Meditation

2011-10-09T14:56:00.000-07:00

This week in class we did an experiential exercise with a dried blueberry. A classic exploration in mindfulness, we each fully explored a dried blueberry with all of our senses and became completely engaged in the experience of slowly eating one blueberry. All of us discovered how much we normally do not really notice. By slowing everything down and really paying attention to all there was to the experience in consuming one little dried berry, we became much more observant and curious.
Paying attention and being in the moment is what we are exploring here... We are creating a foundation for being awake and aware. We may also begin to notice our likes and dislikes popping up and how often we make judgements about what is good or bad, what is right or wrong. We are observing all of this. We are becoming more and more MINDFUL.

Showing up

2011-09-24T08:36:00.000-07:00

We are now into classes for fall quarter and the classes are bubbling with energy and enthusiasm, which I love.     It is great to see so many returning students as well as some new faces.
When coming to yoga for the first time or starting a class with a new teacher it is always a little daunting for most of us.     However I am reminded how important that step is...the actual signing up and getting to that first class. "Showing up".   When you show up for anything in your life you are making possibility available.   When you show up consistently then change begins to happen.   That change might just be waking up in some way to who you are and what is important and what you are going to do with this "precious life", as Mary Oliver calls it.

This second week we are discussing "meditation" and how the mind is like a puppy in training.
We all know if you don't train a puppy then you end up with a very distracted, disobedient dog. The mind is like that if you don't train it.    We train the mind through meditation and mindfulness. Both these practices are part of our yoga journey. Both require consistent attention and intention.    The breath and the postures are our focus as we learn how to concentrate more deeply and for longer periods.     It is this part of yoga that I love the most as it is what allows me to live more authentically in my daily life.

Classes are starting today!!!!

2011-09-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

Tonight is our first class of fall quarter... I am excited to be back in the groove again.
This quarter we will focus on learning sequences and refining transitions... that place where we are linking one pose to another.
Transitions in yoga as in life can be bumpy, as you know. Making smooth transitions requires slowing down and being in the moment rather then just focusing on the destination.
If you are in a hurry to get somewhere you will miss what happens in between.
You may have found that change and transitions in life are hard and yet in some sense you are always in transition. There is always movement, there is always some level of change and the unexpected in our lives. That is what makes life interesting and that is what makes yoga interesting.
In every practice and every pose you can find something new, even if you have done that pose hundreds of times. Being in the moment, paying attention allows you to find that newness and to meet the transitions with awareness and curiosity.

Sign Up for Fall Classes

2011-08-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

Registration for fall classes begins this Monday, August 22nd.
Sign up early so as not to be disappointed.
Classes begin Friday, September 16th. and then the following Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hope you are enjoying summer. I certainly am!!

Private classes? Freeform classes?

2011-08-07T16:49:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in a private class or a freeform class, just give me a call or send me an email.
August is a good time for either or both of these as I have more time to devote to both.
The freeform classes are free, no charge.
Freeform is a class where everyone practices on their own. There is no instruction and no interaction. We each follow our own inner teacher. It is an intuitive practice, no set plan, just whatever comes up. The only structure is when we begin and when we end.... 1 hour.
Private classes are a wonderful way to focus on your own particular issues and needs and to build a stronger more intelligent practice.

Time Off

2011-08-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

This is the first week of my break from the Simply Yoga classes.
It is giving me some needed space for rest, creativity and renewed energy.
I read yesterday 'the world is YOUR YOGA MAT. What a concept! Wherever I am I can be in my practice and be the observer of what is, responding with the same focus and consciousness as I do when I am on the mat.
So even if you don't get to your yoga mat often in the next few weeks, although I hope you do, you can still practice. How you do that is up to you. :)

Appreciating the downturns...accelerating forgiveness.

2011-07-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

Gratefulness is easy when we have something really wonderful to be thankful for. How about the difficulties? Patrick Miller ask us to consider "accelerating forgiveness" through gratefulness and not just the so called "good" things. He suggests that, as we change our perceptions, our misfortunes seem to add to our strength, resilience, response-ability and alertness.
He says," Lately it seems that" bad things" are merely those which I'm not yet prepared to handle effectively- and it also seems that they present themselves in order to help me increase my competence."
I think this statement is quite enlightening and I suspect it is not only our competence that is enhanced, but also our empathy, compassion, insight, resilience and tolerance to name just a few.

A Personal Note...

2011-07-20T12:12:00.000-07:00

Linda Maxwell made a request in Wednesday class this morning...
Her email is: lmpmaxwell@gmail.com

Why do we roll to the right?

2011-07-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

Some of you have asked that I locate this post for you.
Check this in the archives : Sunday, May 2nd, 2010.

Remembering...

2011-07-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

Last week I read a poem* in class that pertained to questions that came up around forgiveness.
A few people asked about the idea of "forgive and forget". My response to that was that it was important to know that forgiveness is not about forgetting. Remembering what happened is often what makes us wiser. Forgiving is letting go of anger and resentment so we don't continue to carry toxic energy. Remembering what happened helps us to not fall down the same "hole again" and wonder why we are here once again. Portia Nelson says it so well in her poem, "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters".*
"Remembering" at its best invites us to realize that we all share "the wound of humanity" and that our wounds are not more special than those of others. "Our particular wounds have much to do with who we are as individuals and that history is important to understand." -Patrick Miller
However whenever you begin to reinforce an old grievance ask yourself ... "Do I want to go here again... will it make me feel better?" As P. Miller says, "What has fear and hurt done for me lately?"

Forgiveness

2011-06-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness is a huge topic.... a little daunting to be fitting this into our 6 week summer session.
However we will look at aspects of forgiveness that might dislodge some of our old perceptions and give us a clearer view of what it means.
Regarding self forgiveness Patrick Miller in THE WAY OF FORGIVENESS says," Forgiving your flaws and failures does not mean looking away from them or lying about them. Look at them as a string of pitiful or menacing hitchhikers whom you can't afford not to pick up on your journey to a changed life. Each of them has a piece of the map you need hidden in its shabby clothing. You must listen attentively to all their stories and win the friendship of each one to put your map together."
For me the idea of "listening to their stories" makes all the difference. What lies beneath our inability to forgive ourselves? We can begin to let go of and remove the armor that protects and keeps hidden our shame and guilt. We can bring it into the light and acknowledge it. We can learn the truth that surrounds it.
In yoga practice, we often feel that we have peeled away some of the protective layers of tension that we habitually store and hold in our bodies. That is one of the reasons we feel so good after practice. There is a freedom that is felt in the body... a new way of moving and breathing.
What if through a regular practice of forgiveness we felt that same lightness and freedom.
Similar to yoga, our first attempts may feel clumsy and awkward. However with practice it becomes easier more fluid and we begin to claim it as how we live. We catch ourselves holding a grievance and begin to wash it away little by little. We boldly stay present with our state of mind and how we are responding or reacting.
Forgiveness is a yoga... a practice of knowing ourselves and responding from a deep well of wisdom within.

Friday Class- cancelled

2011-06-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry to say... we did not get enough sign ups for Friday this summer. Understandable, as often people want to go off for the weekend.
For those of you registered in Tuesday and Wednesday classes that means NO MAKE-UPS on Fridays!!!! Sorry about that. I know some of you made full use of that option!!!
Ah well, Friday evening classes will be back in the Fall. :)

The Way of Forgiveness

2011-06-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought of forgiveness as a "provocative discipline"? Patrick Miller in his book The Way of Forgiveness describes it this way. I look forward to exploring this topic in our 6 week summer session beginning tonight. Attachment, refusal, ego and fear all participate in our inability to forgive. We may be stuck in our ability to forgive others but also very resistant to forgiving ourselves.
We will also of course be diving into some interesting postures and techniques and revisiting and refining some old favorites. Yoga is vast. There are so many ways we can learn about ourselves and continue to grow and become more of who we are.
See you soon...

Summer Classes

2011-06-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

Next week we begin our 6 week summer session...
Wednesday seems to be full at this point, but do get on the waiting list just in case someone has a change of plans. Otherwise Tuesday and Friday evening still have spaces.
I loved my two weeks off. It allowed for some refreshment and some down time from planning and teaching. However I am so ready to get back into the "simply yoga" rhythmn once again.
See you soon.

Hip Openers

2011-06-01T08:25:00.001-07:00

This week we delve into a variety of different ways to care for our hips and low back.
The class and the handout should give you lots of ways to work with your hips that will free you from stiffness, chronic tension and imbalance.
Then 2 weeks off and we start up our 6 week summer session. Starts the week of June 20th.
SEE YOU THEN!!!

8 Limbs of Yoga

2011-06-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

This past session we covered 6 of the 8 limbs of yoga. Clearly I got behind in posting a little of our discussion regarding Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara and Dharana. I guess I will just say you had to be in class to pick up those gems.... There is just a little too much to say to include all of that in a few posts. I think the discussion was of great value for all of us and underscored how much yoga offers us in terms of learning, self study and practice. It is vast and has layers upon layers. That is what keeps us coming back to class, and back to the practice over and over again.

3rd and 4th Niyama

2011-05-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

The third niyama is TAPAS. Tapas means fire or heat referring to the energy we invest in what we are committed to. Tapas is self-discipline especially in the areas that require consistency and dedication. That heat burns through our resistance, burns off negative emotions and distorted thinking. Tapas helps us to take action when it is required and to show up for what is required.
Your sticky mat is also referred to as a Tapas Mat. Your mat is where you do your practice. It takes tapas to show up and do your practice on a regular basis.

The fourth niyama is SVADHAYA which means self- study or self -inquiry. Knowing oneself is a continual journey. Learning about ourselves: our gifts, our weaknesses, our tendencies as well as our aspirations and our dreams. As we do this it is important that we come to accept ourselves as we are, to befriend all of it and be truthful. We then can offer ourselves compassion, understanding and listening in the same way that we would with a very close friend.

The First Two Niyamas

2011-04-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

This week we began our discussion of the first 2 niyamas or personal observances. The first niyama is Saucha which means purity. This includes both outer and inner purity or cleanliness. I think of it as a sort of washing clean, externally and internally. We are all aware of good hygiene and how the postures and the breathing practices purify and cleanse our internal organs and systems of the body. However, the more subtle aspects of Saucha are the internal cleansing of negative emotions. It is important to cultivate skills to release or diminish negativity but only after we have acknowledged it, feel it and identify it. It is easier, then, to begin to cultivate the opposite emotion. Examples would be anger and forgiveness, envy and abundance etc. It is important to recognize these negative emotions as part of being human and then develop skills to move toward a more positive state of mind. Another aspect of Saucha is keeping our living spaces clean and clear of too much clutter. We all know how much better we feel when we are not immersed in chaos.

The second niyama Santosa means contentment. In my view contentment is intentional not just something we sink into. How does one cultivate contentment? Maybe when we are able to get a clearer and more accurate perception of our lives in any moment. But of course that takes practice. Some days it may seem that nothing is going well. Yet by taking a higher vantage point we may see that we are dwelling on one or two events and stuck in an attitude of despair. Yet, if we instead choose to view our life as a tapestry of light and dark and a myriad of colors and textures, we may get a clearer picture and feel more at peace.
We can also choose to be fully involved in our lives, engaging fully in whatever we are doing. In his book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Mikail Csikszentmihalyi outlines his theory that people are the most happy when they are in a "state of flow " -a state of concentration or complete absorption with the activity or situation at hand.
This theory has stayed with me since reading his book many years ago. I know that when I am fully engaged with what I am doing, in any moment, I am much more content, peaceful and ultimately happy.

Summer classes!!

2011-04-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

Just found out... summer registration begins May 2nd.
This is particularly important for Wednesday morning students
as this class fills up very quickly.
I will also, of course, be teaching Tuesday and Friday evenings.

The Yamas

2011-04-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

The 5 yamas are: 1) ahimsa/ non- harm, compassion and kindness.
2) satya/truthfulness.
3) asteya/ non-stealing, non-envy.
4) brahmacharya/ right use of energy, non-indulgence.
5) aparigraha/ non-attachment, non-possessiveness.

In our discussion of these moral codes of behavior it is important that we continue to look deeply into our own thoughts and behaviors, not with judgement but with an open and curious mind.
If I am conscious I become aware for instance how I use my energy from day to day and where I am placing my values. I can ask myself, did I make really thoughtful choices today or did I react from my conditioning and old habits?

The Eight Limbs or Yoga Tree

2011-04-14T08:40:00.001-07:00

This quarter we are revisiting the classical teachings of yoga.
The eight limbs are the whole of a yoga practice. When we see yoga as a tree with parts we cease to think of yoga as just poses with breathing techniques. We see it more as a practice that engages the body, mind and spirit at a deeper level which then makes us accountable for how we live.
This is how I like to teach and share my experience of yoga. We all come from different backgrounds, yet we are all familiar with ethical codes of behavior that we hold up as right and good. In yoga we are privileged to make time to reconnect with our thoughts, our actions, our feelings, our faith, our belief systems and the burdens that wear us down. The teachings remind us that we can reconnect with what is pure and whole within. The light in me, the light in you.
We also give names to aspect of our nature and can then make conscious choices. In other words we wake up.
Yoga is an opportunity to wake up to our life, to being alive , to living well.

Monday Night Yoga

2011-04-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

Monday night is yoga at my home yoga studio with 4 intermediate yoginis.
We do mostly flow yoga with philosophy, pranayama and meditation at the beginning.
A wonderful group to say the least.

Guilty Pleasures

2011-04-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

At the first class of the each 8 week session, I typically do an introduction and have a "go around" so everyone gets to say a little something about who they are and why they are here.
This week I tweaked that and asked everyone to share their name and then one "guilty pleasure"! That was quite a step away from our usual beginning. However it brought forth not only lots of laughter but our unique humanness and imperfections.
Yoga is not about trying to be perfect or aggressively stomp on our tendencies. It is more about self awareness and conscious choices.
When we do that our guilty pleasure becomes more "just a choice" and something we can look at more deeply and honestly. Maybe we will cease then to feel guilty about it and just thoroughly enjoy it.

Missing You...

2011-03-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

Can't wait to start up Simply Yoga classes next week. But have so enjoyed my two weeks off.
It is a tonic for me ... like a "restorative class"... to have a little time off.
See you all soon.

Freeform Yoga Practice

2011-03-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Freeform is a way of practicing that I have enjoyed for a number of years. I am now sharing this experience with a few of my intermediate students who come on Monday nights. One Thursday a month these yoginis join me for an hour of practice. This methodless method of home practice has apparently been around for eons, but I first learned about it from a master of yoga, Erich Schiffmann. There is no "external teaching" involved. Everyone does their own practice.
Freeform allows us to practice from our own inner teacher... Choosing poses that we are drawn to in the present moment. This involves listening to the body and the breath and seeing where it takes us. It is learning to trust our own wisdom and daring to veer in and out of any prescribed ways of sequencing or aligning in the pose. It is going beyond what we have learned into an exploratory experience. "What happens when I do this? How does it feel? Where do I feel spaciousness... where do I feel compression? Can I breathe more into this place? Can I just pause and linger here? Yes."
It is hard to describe this experience.... At first it may be daunting or scary to have this much freedom when you are used to a teacher telling you what to do next. However, it won't be long before you find joy in knowing that you really can practice like this and you have owned your practice in a whole new way.
Let me know if you are interested in joining us one of these Thursdays.

Restorative Yoga and Spring Quarter

2011-03-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

Restorative yoga is coming up March 15th, 16th, 18th.
One morning class, two evening classes.
Sign up ASAP.
Registration: 383-3200
This will be the last restorative class I will be teaching for awhile.
During Spring Quarter I will do a Hip Opener class in place of the Restoratives.

Spring quarter registration is now open!

Open to All Possibilities

2011-03-03T09:59:00.000-08:00

Surrender includes being open to whatever is happening... being open to the "now event".
This is easier sometimes than other times. That was brought home to me quite clearly last weekend when plans shifted because of bad weather and I ended up with two commitments for the same day. If I choose one I would be missing a 'celebration of life' for a dear friend. If I choose the other I would hurt someone dear to me by not following through on a plan made many months ago.
For some this might be hardly a dilemma at all. Yet for me it was very difficult. I knew what I had to do but was mentally and emotionally in resistance. When we resist, as I well know, it creates suffering. Over the next few days, as I studied my mental process, I learned a lot about resistance. As I moved more and more into my "wisdom mind" I began to see what was real instead of what my old perception was viewing.
As I look back, I recognize it was okay to be disappointed that I would not be able to attend the celebration of life, to feel those feelings. However when I failed to move on I got stuck in old thinking patterns that were not spacious and not full of possibilities, they were rigid and focused on "doing the right thing".
Sometimes "the right thing" is not what we think it is at all.
Maybe sometimes we need to let go of our perception of right and wrong and listen to a Bigger Voice.

Humility

2011-02-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

Humility is a dimension of surrender, as Deepak Chopra reminds us.
I have been thinking about humility and managed to locate my little book entitled WABI SABI ( a pair of Japanese words).
I was gifted this book by a friend, who seemed to know how much I would appreciate it.
Wabi has been defined in English as austere elegance, irregular beauty, unpolished. Sabi is interpreted as the beauty that treasures the passage of time and the sense of impermanence it evokes... also the patina that age bestows.
There are many moments when I am drawn to something old that has withstood years of use or worn from exposure to the elements. I consider this a moment to pause and take in that kind of beauty.
It might be interesting to identfy the moments we are humbled and consider why we are touched in that way. At the very most it pulls away "self importance" and creates a bigger perspective for us to view what life is about and how we might live with greater awareness.

Reference: Wabi Sabi. The Art of Everyday Life by Diane Durston

Abundance and Surrender

2011-02-15T12:55:00.000-08:00

Last week we looked at the experience of abundance and how being attentive to everyday "grace moments" allows us to feel the richness of life. Seeing those grace moments requires "showing up" for them. Showing up for me means being present or surrendering to them.
We live in a world where distractions are the norm. Being present is almost counter culture.
There is a surrender involved in the experience of abundance and "beginner's mind".
Deepak Chopra gives us steps to practice to hone our ability to surrender in any moment:
Full attention
Appreciation of life's richness
Opening yourself to what is in front of you
Non-judgement
Absence of ego
Humility
Being receptive to all possibilities
Allowing Love

SEEING

2011-02-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

When we work with "beginner's mind" and "awesome, wow moments," we are teaching ourselves how to see, really see!
Annie Dillard describes it beautifully in the first few paragraphs of her chapter SEEING, in her book, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. She says it succinctly when she writes, "what you see is what you get".

There are so many opportunities for seeing from a place of wonder and amazement. Nature of course is probably the richest place to find these. Yet they are also sprinkled throughout our day. Often we miss them because we are distracted with our own agendas. However as we learn to look for these moments they come into view more and more often.
I found a beautiful moment recently as I watched a "checker in training" at the grocery store communicate so beautifully with a woman who was developmentally delayed and also physically handicapped. She helped her so compassionately it touched my heart as I watched. What was interesting too, was many shoppers were avoiding that particular line when they saw the "checker in training" sign. Ironically, that line, though slightly slower, was the richest of all. I felt nourished in the deepest sense to have chosen that line.

Healing Thoughts and Prayers

2011-02-02T17:03:00.000-08:00

This week one of our Wednesday morning yoga students, Vicki Smith, was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack. Many of you expressed wishes to send her your caring thoughts via a card.
If you wish to do that, here is the info.
Vicki Smith, 3550 Sunset Lane, Bellingham Wa, 98229.

Thanks so much.

The Car Wash

2011-01-29T09:38:00.000-08:00

In class this week, a student recalled an experience she had with her 4 year old grandson. They made a date to go to the car wash and of course be inside the car as it went through the ritual of soap, water and much scrubbing and blowing. The child was enchanted. My student said she engaged her "inner -4 year old" and the experience became something magical once again.

A simple moment transformed into something wondrous and delightful! How full of grace that moment was for both. It just may be our "solemn duty" to reach for the awesome every day.

"The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice." - R. D. Lang

Simple Pleasures to Savor

2011-01-24T12:29:00.000-08:00

The idea of finding and identifying simple, yet awesome moments is really just the practice of contentment. It is also the practice of taking on a new perspective, a fresh look.
Santosha, which means contentment, is the 2nd Niyama. Niyama is the 2nd of the 8 fold steps of classical yoga.
The Niyamas are practices that guide us.
Contentment is a practice. When we notice and feel discontent in our lives we have moved away from contentment. There is an old aphorism that says: "Enjoy everything. Need nothing". Santosha is intentional, it is more an action than a feeling.
What simple yet precious moments did you savor today? Begin with just one a day.
Record them if this keeps you connected to the practice. Share it with a loved one and let them know what this practice is about. Maybe they will join you.
What makes this practice particularly fun is to find something simple that you normally take for granted and let it become a "grace moment" in your day.
Example: Not knowing what I was going to have for lunch and finding some awesome leftovers that I had forgotten about in the fridge. SWEET, as they say.
It is as simple as that.

Yes! Classes back in full swing.

2011-01-19T08:39:00.000-08:00

Ah, so glad to see all of you back to do yoga with me. Yoga community is what makes it fun.

This quarter our theme is "beginners mind". We will engage that "child- mind" ... find new things to awaken to, refining our sensitivity and awareness.
As I sit at my computer, the sun is shining through the trees and into my window and there is a glow on the lake. A moment just to say "WOW". Finding those simple and spectacular "wow moments" in every day creates more happiness and peace of mind.
This is a perfect practice for the season of winter. Winter is a slow, earthy time that asks for contentment.

January Classes

2011-01-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

If you have not signed up yet for Winter Quarter you still have time. We start classes next week and I am very excited to see you all and some new faces.
We are having snow and ice this week which may keep people home and not heading out to "classes".
Hopefully by next week the weather may be a little more user friendly. However enjoy the beauty of the snow and clear skies, so pristine and magical.
See you soon

Saucha might help us enter the new year!

2010-12-29T10:28:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-28T08:53:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-09T07:05:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-30T07:36:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-08T22:40:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

"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...

2010-09-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

" 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

2010-09-18T06:56:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

Watercolor Calendar 2011

2010-08-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-11T15:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-31T09:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

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!!

2010-07-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-07-03T18:05:00.001-07:00

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...

2010-06-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-14T11:13:00.001-07:00

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!!!

2010-05-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

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....

2010-05-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

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 !!!

2010-05-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

"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

2010-05-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

"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?

2010-05-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-04-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-04-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

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" ?

2010-04-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-03-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

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"

2010-02-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-18T08:51:00.001-08:00

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....

2010-02-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-08T12:04:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-28T07:57:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-21T10:28:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-16T08:37:00.000-08:00

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