Lesley Hobbs Yoga

Yoga Days 482-486 my constant, loving companion

I took this past week off from my yoga practice because I was under the weather. I was able to go for slow walks but the deep breathing and even the gentle movements of yoga were too much for my out-of-balance head. I missed it in a way I cannot explain.

It's funny; I have often gone 4-5 days between practices without giving it too much thought. In fact, I am sometimes shocked at how long it has been and I had not even noticed. Maybe it was the constant awareness of my body this week that made me conscious of the gap.

When I made it to the mat today it was with an overwhelming sense of gratitude, not just because I am healthy enough to do so, but also for the fact that I have this practice in my life. I have said before and I will say again; yoga has brought nothing but grace, peace and bliss to my life. I feel blessed to have found such a practice to add to my life, to fall back on in troubled times and to turn to as a constant, loving companion.

As we each travel our journey, we seek pleasure, love, and happiness, often looking in the silliest of places!! The only way we ever achieve the ultimate in pleasure, love, and happiness is to uncover it within ourselves. We are already pure, perfect and complete; yoga simply allows us to see that.

If you knew you couldn't fail at finding bliss, would you be willing to walk the path?

Try a yoga practice; who knows, it might turn out to be the action that allows you to discover the bliss within.

What have you got to lose? (Me? I lost depression, anger, denial, fear, to name just a few)

Namaste.

Yoga Days 476-481 - it's not about the mat

It is a great blessing that I have been fighting an injury the past 6 months or so. There are days I am able to practice asana (poses) and there are days when other forms of yoga must suffice.

I admit to missing my time on my mat when it is restricted; I love how my body moves and feels when it is limber and energized from an asana practice. What I have come to learn though is that my yoga practice has deeper roots than I ever understood.

I think I am a yogi; it pervades every moment of my life and supports me in ways I cannot begin to describe.

My prayer for you tonight, dear reader, is that you have a practice in your life that is as nurturing and deep-rooted.

Namaste.

Yoga Days 467-475 - pay it forward

I love teaching yoga; I believe I get more out of it than my students ever could. The psychic income is extraordinary and I consider myself blessed to have this opportunity on a weekly basis.

Today I volunteered at a school health fair and taught to classes to over 50 students. What an experience. The floors were yucky, the acoustics were awful, there were no props, half the kids were in jeans and it was all perfect!!

I was not worried about giving the best class ever; I simply wanted to let the kids hear about yoga, experience something that might trigger further exploration.

We talked briefly about the breath; Pranayama is the extending of "Life Force Energy". After all, if you don't breathe, what happens? No big lessons, just a full belly/empty belly explanation and the opportunity ro practice a few times.

I used some Sanskrit, the kids loved the weird names of some of the poses. Some of the poses brought groans from all while others were greeted with relief. We worked hard and they laughed alot (especially during happy baby).

It is such a joy to witness a child being who he/she is; the quiet, thoughtful one who asks questions and wants to know "is this right?";  the natural leader who helps his/her friends better understand my instructions; the attention seeker who makes jokes. I could see aspects of myself in each student and I smiled in recognition.

I am not sure if I touched their lives at all. But I do know that they touched mine. It was a good reminder to have fun, be open, and explore. I am grateful to have been invited to pay yoga forward.

After Savasana, I quietly explained how I close each class with a Namaste; that this means, "that which is sacred, or special, in me honors that which is scared, or special, in you". Several of the teens raised an eyebrow, softly nodded and returned my Namaste. Now that, dear reader, is psychic income!!

Namaste.

Yoga Days 464-466 - seek and ye shall find

For more than 15 years I have been struggling to find a spiritual home. I grew up Catholic and I still feel connected in many ways to itsteachings, I just cannot subscribe to all the church teaches or mandates. I explored several other Christian options and always felt that the churches had somehow left behind Jesus, and I kind of like Jesus's message.

I have tried Buddhism and because of yoga, even explored Hinduism, both of which have offered me tremendous comfort and personal guidance. Neither has proven to be my spiritual home.

Last night I believe I may have discovered my spiritual path through the world. I read Swami Nithyananda regularly and find incredible jewels in his teachings each time. Last night, my breath was stolen by the most simple of sentences - the answer to my prayers.

"Gratitude is more important than any religion."

I remember using "Simple Abundance" in 1999, it transformed me. I realized all the wonderful things in my life. Each night I wrote a list of 5 things for which I was grateful and the night my close friend died was the most poignant. I mourned him, yes, but I also understood how grateful I was to have had him as my friend and "brother". I have been working to become more grateful since then.

Today as I moved on my mat, I was overwhelmed with peace and joy. How can I deserve such abundance? How is it that something as simple as breathing deeply in cat/cow can open a heart and create space for spirit to enter. I often sing to myself when I am in certain poses and the hymn I use for cat/cow is the line from "Oh Holy Night":

"Fall on your knees, oh hear the angels' voices"

Today I am grateful that I hear the angels' voices.

Namaste.

 

Yoga Days 459-463 - a simpler picture

I spent much of 2010 busy; we were actively building a new business, I was writing a book, took a role in a world-wide movie project to name just a few of my activities. It was fun and exciting and it had wonderful momentum.

Until it didn't!!

My husband left his lousy job at the end of Sept and we have been regrouping ever since. We have come to understand how much we love the space and time we have had together. We appreciate each other much more and we were given a glimpse of a future we had never imagined. We closed out the year feeling more connected, more in love and more content than either of us could remember.

I have said for a long time that no one needs to practice yoga like the models on the front cover of Yoga Journal; it is in the simplest of poses that one finds peace and joy. 6 days into this new year, I have been practicing what I preach on and off the mat.

We have completely shifted our "life goals" to a simpler picture, one filled with lots of time, space, love. On my mat I have been working with cat/cow, breath work, gentle twists - the most basic of poses that soothe the spirit and nurture the soul.

I am often amazed at the way my life and my practice intertwine; I had not seen the similarities until I sat down to write this blog post. For those of you with a yoga practice, perhaps consider adding to your practice those poses that bring the feelings you want in your life. For those trying to figure out how to add yoga to your life, try the "Yoga for Beginner's" practice on this site, and send me your questions.

I wish the world could feel as blissful as I feel these days and I credit it all to yoga so I guess my dream is to have the world practicing yoga!!

Namaste.

Yoga Days 450-458 - setting the tone for a new year

I love fresh starts; in fact I am excited every Monday morning with the prospect of a new week, a new opportunity to live better. Which is why I am somewhat surprised to find myself rather disinterested in the new year.

2010 was a full year for our family and I saw that coming. A year ago, I understood that we were in for a wild and crazy ride and I was prepared (and excited) for it. Now that I am at the other end of the chaos, I feel content and filled with joy. I am grateful for a long, long list of experiences, people and achieved goals and I want to sit in that joy and reflect.

I have only one intention as we begin a new year - to be fully alive which, to me, means making conscious choices and filling my life with events and people who bring love and peace. I love the simplicity of my only goal though I imagine I may not find it easy on a daily basis. I have disengaged from several concerns in order to create the space I need and I have tools in place to support me in the coming weeks and months.

I feel unburdened by outward goals and am ready to "let my own light shine". 2010 may have been a banner year for outer transition and change; I believe 2011 will bring more personal transformation. I am open to receiving the gifts that are in store for me.

Namaste.