Lesley Hobbs Yoga

Yoga Day 496 - live by the heart

Today is one of those days when all feels right; there is balance in my world and I am actually aware of it!!

Like many business owners, I am encouraged to define my goals, create task lists, implement better systems etc... For the past 2-3 months I have been failing in all of the above subjects.

I cannot define my business goals because I don't really have any. My goal for 2011 is to live in gratitude and to honor my spirit in all I do. I am still in business but I am more concerned with aligning my business to my life than the other way around.

I have stopped making lists; I find them debilitating and harmful to my health and well-being. Honestly, there have been days when I have chosen not to practice yoga or walk the dogs because my to-do list was too long. I am, seriously??? Talk about screwed up priorities!!

Implement better systems. Now this is an interesting one for me because I am a person who loves systems and is very organized. What I have found is that the simpler the system, the better it works. In fact, I have simplified it to one item - ask myself "Is this going to be good my my spirit?"

At the end of a day, at the end of a year, at the end of a life, I want to know I lived by my heart, that I honored myself and those I came in contact with, that people know who I am by what I do rather than what I say.

Today, I am grateful to find myself at peace.

Namaste.

Yoga Day 495 - using discernment

Isn't life funny? 500 days ago I committed to this yoga experience as a way to deepen my practice and live my life with greater integrity and intention. Now I am ready to do something that feels even bigger!!

The 500 days of yoga pushed my yoga practice to a completely new level. Physically, I am in better shape than I have ever been; I still have injuries to address and I still have the same spine but I am better attuned to the physical needs and wants of this wonderful vehicle I am using in this journey. Mentally, I feel greater clarity, which is probably why I want to continue improving this particular aspect of my life!! Emotionally, I find myself in balance more often than not, though I admit to certain recurring struggles and again feel a growth that only opens my eyes and heart to the endless possibilities. Spiritually, I feel less confused about my path, more secure in my own beliefs, more confident that I am indeed a spiritual being having a human experience.

And yet, I find myself needing to make more big changes. For the past 2-3 weeks, I have found myself evaluating how I choose to spend my time and I discovered some inconsistencies. It has been a challenging few weeks as I rooted around in my life, in my values, in my behaviors. I saw lots of things I disliked and wanted to change; in fact, there were so many I felt paralyzed.

Until I read something 3 nights ago. Steven Cope (a wonderful yoga teacher) is quoted in Dani Shapiro's "Devotion": "Ayurvedic impressions...mean we become what we surround ourselves with. And so it stands to reason that we have to be discerning about what we surround ourselves with."

That line shifted everything for me. The question now is: "What do I want to become?" I listen to my answers and I surround myself with that. I use discernment more consciously, I develop greater awareness of what I am feeding my body, mind, spirit and through this, I will uncover, and step into, my true nature.

Won't you join me?

Namaste.

Yoga Days 491-494: the beginning of the end...

It is hard to believe I am in the final week of my 500 Day Yoga Commitment. I plan to post daily for the last week, just to go out as resoundingly as I began.

It has been a long journey, in terms of time and distance traveled. Do you remember where you were Oct 1st, 2009? I went to my first yoga conference and immersed myself for 3 days in classes, workshops and as much silence as I could find (I went alone). The experience opened me up to much of the growth I have enjoyed since then. And there has been plenty of growth.

I have been blessed to reconnect with a very dear friend (thanks in large part to this blog), we have launched our second child into the world (and she is happy beyond measure), I started 2 new business ventures and closed another. I have met some amazing people with whom I can share my heart and I have deepened my relationship with my husband. It has been an abundant 500 days and for this I am very grateful.

As I complete this last week, I will share more of my journey and some of the struggles I find myself facing now. Life is always a journey, there are aways choices to be made and I consider this 500 day experiment to be one of the better choices I have made in my life.

Thank you for being part of this journey, dear reader, I have appreciated your presence very much.

Namaste.

Yoga Days 487-490: better aligned intentions

I have discovered a new routine and with it a renewed passion for my yoga practice. After much discussion and soul searching my husband and I decided we needed to step in for our son and we are now homeschooling him. This is no small commitment (I know, I have done this for all 4 of our kids at various times) and I was very concerned about how this change would affect my spiritual practices and growth.

I have come to understand there is a direct correlation between my own personal growth and the amount of time I spend in certain practices (i.e. yoga, meditation, walking, reading and prayer). I knew I would have to shift my own daily schedule in order to better serve our son but I could not envision how I would possibly fit it all in.

We are now in our second week of this new venture and I am delighted to say I have figured out how to make it work more beautifully than I could have hoped. (In truth, this is a better plan than what I had before homeschooling!!)

We chose to let our son participate in several school activities and so I drive him to and from 3 times each day which could be cause for a fit of the grumps except ... when he goes at 6.20am I practice yoga; when he goes at 10.40 I walk the dogs; when he goes at 2.30 I have time to read, cook and catch up on life in general. What a blessing this has turned out to be.

My days are feeling lighter and more balanced, I no longer feel the tug of my to-do list (I threw it out knowing how precious time would be), I have a very defined schedule and I like that immensely.

My days are starting with yoga which is how my body, mind and spirit like it. Isn't it funny howmy true intentions so much better aligned in my schedule now that time is short? When I had all the time in the world I would go days between meditations or reading. I would find something on my to-do instead of going to my mat.

Who knew that accepting my full responsibility as a parent would allow me to create a stronger plan for my own personal growth?

Namaste.

 

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.

Yoga Days 442-449 - here's your sign!!

When the hustle and bustle of holidays casts a gloom over your heart; this is a sign that yoga could be part of your future.

When you realize you can't tie your shoes as easily as you could last holiday season; this is a sign you might want to consider yoga.

When you are making the same new year's resolutions for 2011 that you made for 2010 (and 2009, 2008 etc...); this is a sign yoga may be for you.

When being with your family makes you clench your jaw; this is a sign that yogic breathing may offer some tools.

When you are ready to take the steps to a better life; this is a sign you are ready to begin a yoga practice.

I credit all that is good in my life to my yoga practice. Yoga has taken me from pain to complete relief, from depression to deep-rooted happiness, from mediocre to fully alive.

Namaste.

Yoga Days 434 - 441: incessant ramblings

We are at a crossroads with our family and the last month we have been looking as far down every possible path to help us better decide where it is we want to go. The choices are not too important, at least not here, but I came to an interesting awareness this morning and credit my daily walks and yoga with bringing me here.

Many mornings in the winter it is dark, cold and wet and I have an ongoing conversation in my head... "Oh, I don't have to walk this morning... I can do it later... the dogs will be fine... I am too tired... not feeling great... blah, blah, blah". Seriously, how silly am I? I did this routine again this morning and took myself out anyway. Boy, it was freezing, I forgot the poopy bags and the trail was closed due to flooding,  which cut the walk a little short. And yet, I felt exhilarated when I returned home. I always feel exhilarated after my walk. In my lucid moments I understand why I go; it is the space I create for myself, the beating heart, the happy dogs, the feeling of being fully alive.

I confess to having similar conversations regarding my yoga practice and again, I see my silliness. I go to my yoga mat, my body feels stiff and often old, I have "stuff" to do that calls my name as I move from pose to pose. And as I lie in Savasana I feel peace and bliss and swear I will never again fight the draw of the mat.

Till the next time!!

How does any of this relate to big life choices? Simple. It's not about the walk or the yoga; it is about how I feel, how I am connected to something more, how I want to experience this wonderful journey on earth. 

I realized that we were looking at the choices from the wrong perspective. We need to look at the options from how we feel, what we want to feel, experience and how we want to connect to each other, our children and the greater community.

To tell the truth, I am not sure this has changed our options but it has certainly reminded me to ignore the rambling arguments and to make any decisions based on our core values and needs.

I wonder will I still fight myself tomorrow when is time to walk and practice yoga???

Namaste.

Yoga Days 432, 433 - back to class

I am not sure if you are aware of this, dear reader, but being a yoga teacher is a calling rather than a career (at least for me!!) and as such I don't make a whole lot of money from it. This is my choice; I love what I do and would hate to have to teach more classes just because I need to earn more money.

That said, one of the generous benefits I have received from studios where I have taught is the ability to take class from other teachers at no cost. This allows me to check out the various teachers, drop in as my schedule allows and enjoy a variety of yoga experiences. Sounds wonderful except I never take class!!

I have been more than a little remiss in my daily practice in the past few months and am probably down to 5 days a week. I decided I needed help and today took myself of to a lunch time class and had a great time.

I often use my physical limitations as a reason why I do not take class but as long as I listen to my body and take breaks as needed I can pretty much hold my own. The teacher today was great and offered me a chance to experience her style of yoga in my own way.

I believe in yoga, I believe in setting yourself up for success and I believe in asking for support and guidance from others. Taking a couple of classes each week checks each of these blocks in ways my home practice does not and for this reason I am declaring my intention to show up as a student more often.

Want to join me?

Namaste.

Yoga Days 427-431: Changing Kipling's "If" (just a little)

I hope you like my adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's "If" (see italics):

I have long struggled with some of the words while loving the poem in its entirety. Sadly, my version does not rhyme nearly as well as the original!!

If you can calm your head when all about you
there is chaos, and temptation to do;
If you can trust yourself when you want to doubt,
And make allowance for your doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, given option to lie don't deal in lies,
Given option to hate, choose not to hate,
And remember to breathe deep when needing to be wise;


If you can dream - and allow your dreams to soar;
If you can think - and not allow your thoughts to roar;
If you can meet with triumph and with pain
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you know
Twisted by your thoughts and those of others,
Or watch the things you love disappear and go,
And remain ready to help with open heart;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can turn your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve another long after you are weary,
And so hold on and give when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which manifests Divine love;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with the wealthy and not lose a humble touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can sway you;
If all can count on you, in every way;
If you can practice yoga every minute
Accepting grace and sharing it with all -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - even more - you'll find sacred peace within !

Namaste.

(That which is Divine in me acknowledges that which is Divine in you.)

 

Yoga Days 424,425,426 - Surrender it all

Isn't life funny??? I have been caught in a head-maelstrom and had to learn the same lesson (again) in order to find peace and calm.

I wish I could say I have only had this lesson twice but that would be a big, fat fib. It seems to be a regular occurrence in my life, if the truth be told. And what lesson is this? You may well ask, dear reader. Well, I pretty much gave it away in the title of this post --- surrender.

Now, I understand this may mean something different to every person on this planet, for me, it can be a painful process. Though, in my defense, it is taking less time as the number of repeated lessons increases!!

We (my family) have been presented several phenomenal opportunities recently and therein began my problems. You see, I am a fixer by nature; I love to solve riddles and find answers, preferably before I go to sleep for the night. Needless to say, with life-altering possibilities looming, overnight was not an option.

After 2+ weeks of sleepless nights, tight neck muscles and many worry-filled hours, the universe kindly hit me upside the head on Sunday (metaphorically speaking, of course) and reminded me to get out of the bloody way. In our experience when I stop analyzing, dissecting and poking our future, the universe opens doors, windows and more with options I could never have imagined. This happened when we chose to move here (big stuff) and daily as we parent (less big); why oh why do I keep forgetting this???

Instead of analyzing, dissecting and poking, since Sunday I have been meditating, practicing yoga, walking the dogs and cooking good food. I admit to feeling much more content and at peace and once again the universe is a show-off (gotta love it; this happens every time!!) and in just 2 days has given us several glimpses of what it may have in store and rest assured, the future looks bright.

Not sure what any of this has to do with yoga per se; perhaps it is all the years of forward bending into surrender; perhaps it is how loving my yoga mat has always been; or perhaps it is the big lesson of learning to accept what I cannot do and work in the sacred space between ease and pain.

I wish nothing but bright futures for any and all who read this post.

Namaste.

Yoga Days 409-423 - looking in the mirror

I am a little embarrassed that I have not written here in 2 weeks; I made a commitment to practice and write daily and I have fallen far short. I do have legitimate excuses and perhaps embarrassed is too strong a word. After all, my family is my primary focus and they have received most of my attention in the last 14 days.

We have just celebrated Thanksgiving and I find this the best holiday to reflect. There is little to do besides eat and be together!! It allows for wonderful conversations, deep personal exploration and lots of space and time to ask big questions. This year we were gifted more time than usual thanks to some freak snow here in the Pacific NW which closed schools, cancelled meetings and more.

Making time to practice yoga, creating space for reading and meditation all adds up to feeling better connected to the "big picture", a stronger sense of purpose and a realization that certain aspects of life need to change.

2010 has been a year of big change for our family and as we close the year, we are asked to look even more deeply, to make sure we are working towards our true purpose, to better align ourselves and our actions to that same purpose. This is not always easy but it is always rewarding.

As we move into December, my commitment is to get back to my yoga practice and writing, to work as I have promised in building our business and also to research the options we are considering. I know many people wait till the new year to do this but for me NOW is all I am given.

I feel blessed and grateful to have my life; I am surrounded by people who love and support me, I have practices that allow me to reach higher and I have true purpose. Yes, I am a very lucky girl.

Namaste.

Yoga Days 401-408 - finding balance in confusion

I was asked a while back what is my least favorite word and I chose blame. It drives me crazy that leaders in our society role model portioning out blame, that few are held accountable, that we point our fingers so readily. It is important to me that I take responsibility for my self and encourage others to do the same. I understand there are extenuating circumstances; I try not to use them as it is a slippery slope to a place I do not like.

I know I am tough on myself, that I set high expectations and get frustrated when I fall short of my own goals. It comes down to my belief that I have a purpose, a reason for breathing another day and I am the only person who can achieve my particular role.

I have fallen short this week. I have not practiced yoga more than 3 times in 8 days, I have not meditated and I even chose not to walk the dogs several days. I would never dream of being so mean to others in this way - yoga is my life's breath, it keeps me sane and happy; why do I choose not to unroll the mat?

Because sometimes we fall flat on our face!! Sometimes it is tough to do what we know is the "right" thing. Sometimes it is easier to take a break from my intentional life. The only one who pays the price is me - I feel disconnected, rather stiff and inflexible and certainly could use more happy.

The answer is simple - unroll my mat, move into a pose and let yoga nourish me once again. What do you need to do to honor yourself?

Namaste.

Yoga Days 399-400 - Holy Moly, that's a lot of yoga!!

Wow, 400 days committed to my yoga practice, I can hardly believe it!! That said, I have actually been practicing yoga for about 5000 days in total which helps keep things in perspective. (And reminds me how many more days are ahead of me)

Who knew 13+ years ago, or even 400 days ago, that my yoga commitment could make the difference it has in my life. As you know I believe we live in 4 realms - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual and I love to highlight how yoga has impacted each area. Today it seems appropriate to look back 400 days as well as 5000 days.

I had just had our 4th child when I began yoga, my back was pretty bad and I lived in constant pain. I had already been told I would need surgery before I was out of my 30s. I used to get up at 5am 3-4 days a week so I could practice before the kids took over my day. Within 6 months I was able to run a 5k and work out at the gym. (Not bad for a girl who had been crawling on all fours)

400 Days ago I was nursing a bad achilles injury, a gammy shoulder and ongoing tightness in adductors and IT bands. (Full disclosure - I also use, and now market, a line of nutriceuticals which has had a profound effect on my joint health.) Now, I have greater range of motion in all joints, and I especially have noticed a dramatic shift in my core strength.

Put yourself in my shoes - I was the mother of 4 young children, living on the other side of the earth from my family, with a husband who was gone to conflict areas more often than he was home... how do you think my mental and emotional health may have looked 5000 days ago?

You are right, dear reader, I was a bit of a mess. Mentally I was a perfectionist, this is a tough row to hoe but yoga gave me the courage to let go of being perfect, to accept being good enough and my oldest 2 kids can remember the shift. (They love my yoga practice as much as I do!!) Emotionally, I was still in a deep depression and found little outside my husband and children that gave me reason to breathe another day. I feel passionate about sharing this aspect of yoga with others because people make assumptions that I was always as contented and blissed out as I feel today. I cannot tell you how it works, but yoga has brought abundant joy to my life in myriad ways.

400 Days ago I was in the throes of building several businesses and running myself in circles trying to find success. Mentally I was exhausted and felt a failure (in the business sense). There has been an obvious shift in the past 2-3 months, when I was able to enjoy the space yoga has created to move myself away from this frenetic busy-ness to the calm, focused place of my business today.

Honestly, the emotional part for me is the most powerful part of my practice; yoga allows me to explore all of who I am, the good and the not-so-good and to embrace it all while continuing to practice. Yoga uncovers my deepest emotions, I dance with them each time I am on the mat and over the course of a week/month/year I am able to take this awareness off the mat and into the world.

As a child I had a strong spiritual connection to my Irish Catholicism (in Ireland, being Catholic is not so much a religion as a way of life). Spirit was present every day and I felt grounded and connected. By the time I was 30 (5000 days ago), I was a lost soul, disenchanted by the religion I had experienced and searching for something to fill the gaping hole in my life. I had no idea yoga could or would fill that hole, but I have learned that yoga allows each of us to explore more deeply that which is our own chosen spiritual path.

My strong commitment to as daily a practice as possible these past 400 days has brought me even greater spiritual awareness and connection. I want even more. Apparently a daily practice puts this part of my life into overdrive and for that I am grateful.

I wish for you, dear reader, the healing that you most need from your yoga practice.

Namaste.

Yoga Days 394-398: yoga offers me no help with my new blog

Over a year ago I learned how to set up this blog with the help of a friend. I thought I had a handle on what I was doing and when I decided to launch another blog I figured I would remember the process. Boy, was I wrong!!

I often tell students yoga is a progressive practice, inch by inch, row by row, you will develop your practice and it will become second nature to you. This is one of the most exciting aspects of yoga and something I truly appreciate. There are days when I feel ill-equipped to create my own practice but because yoga is such a part of my life, I manage to do it just the same.

Not so with setting up a new blog!!

It seems I am always able to make a correlation between life on and off the mat but I am at a loss today; I cannot find anything in my yoga practice to guide me through this process and I find that discombobulating. Whenever I struggle with anything in my life I turn to yoga for guidance and it has never failed me, until now. Perhaps there is a lesson here but I cannot see it - if you see it, dear reader, please let me know.

In the meantime, I plan to go to my mat and practice as much as my body will allow, find some peace and then get back to my new blog, figure out what I can and ask for help from the professionals!!

Namaste.

Yoga Days 386-393 - Practicing ahimsa

Ahimsa is the yogic term for "do no harm" and over the years I have learned about ahimsa from many different perspectives and from many teachers. It is always fascinating to me to realize that no matter how much I have studied or worked with a concept, idea, skill, there is always more to learn and experience.

This week has taught me yet another aspect of ahimsa and for that I am grateful. I have been dealing with an injury for about 4-5 months now and it flares up randomly. I am not inclined to go to doctors and tend to investigate and treat myself regardless of the ailment!! I am admitting defeat; this has beaten me. I have tried all the old stand-bys - practicing lots of yoga, practicing less yoga, walking more, walking less, doing specific exercises, taking my miracle nutra-ceuticals, and I am still dealing with the on-again-off-again pain.

In order to practice ahimsa I have realized I need to seek medical help - I plan for it to be informational only as I am unlikely to use standard allopathic treatments or recommendations but I do need help.

Ahimsa looks different on different days - sometimes it means not pushing oneself to do a task because the body most needs rest; other times it means pushing oneself to the limits, really exploring the edge because the body craves growth and hard work. For several years ahimsa meant that I was a vegetarian until I accepted that my lifestyle was causing bodily harm and ahimsa demanded I add some meat back into my diet. Ahimsa has guided me to find natural products that keep me healthier than I have ever been and now ahimsa is guiding to see advice in a place I tend to avoid.

Life is like ahimsa - the ups and downs, the hills and valleys, the good with the bad. I am grateful yoga has pried open my mind over the years, allowing me to move as I am guided, often making dramatic choices I could not have foreseen (eating meat again, going to an MD)

Ahimsa means "do no harm"; what does this mean to you today and is there an area of life where you are causing you harm?

Love to hear your thoughts :)

Namaste.

Yoga Days 381-385 - Busy, busy, busy and calm as can be!!

I mentioned to my beloved this morning that I feel busier than ever even though I took several things off my plate in the last few weeks. I am busier, yes, but I am also much more productive and focused. I feel a drive I have not felt in quite some time and with that has come a certain level of confidence and peace.

I have been trying to figure out for a while how to be more productive ... who knew it was as simple as removing huge chunks of "responsibilities" and giving all my attention to 3 areas!!

I am finding it easier to make decisions, to choose how I spend my day and to keep my calendar clear for the truly important things in my life (like walking the dogs in the sun).

I heard myself telling students today that I only ever teach 3-4 pranayama techniques and the reason is because I believe the more deeply we explore a particular aspect, the more meaningful and beneficial it will be to us. Then one of my students asked for "just the basics" and I agreed; most of the time, my own practice is exactly that, simple, predictable, heavenly.

Funny how often my life off the mat parallels my yoga practice. Don't get me wrong - occasionally I throw in a curve ball and you will find me in some crazy new pose, but in general I gain most benefit from the repetition of the basics. Doh!!! Sometimes I am amazed at what I learn through this blog... I never even put 2 and 2 together before that last sentence...I must be missing a connection.

On the mat, I stick to basics; in pranayama  I have 3 basic practices; in my meditation I use 1 technique almost exclusively - and the work has made such an impact on my life and happiness. How did I not see the application off the mat?

In the 3 weeks since I narrowed my life to 3 focuses I have felt calmer, happier, better able to cope and  take on any and all challenges. I have to say, it feels pretty marvelous and I plan to keep it simple for the foreseeable future.

Self, family, business ... works for me :)

Namaste.

Yoga Days 376-380 - AHA moments

Just had a delicious asana practice, followed by pranayama and meditation. I feel completely blissed out and ready for a wonderful weekend. It is hard to believe I do not make time to get to the mat every single day if this is the end result (which it invariably is). Why is it we humans do things that cause us harm (smoke, eat poorly, choose the wrong friends etc...) and do not always do those things which add to our health and abundance (yoga, moving outside, eating whole foods)?

I have had several AHA moments this week thanks to the support of some wonderful people in my life. A member of my discussion group shared her definition of creativity and how it manifests in my life and I was speechless (for those who don't know me - this does not happen often!!) I have never considered myself particularly creative and I admit to having a narrow view of creativity. This is an old lesson I now choose to set aside. Thanks to Christine and the others I feel powerful, connected and above all, I accept the possibility for creativity to exist in all its glory in my life.

A second AHA happened when I was coaching someone to make better health choices; I realized I was ignoring certain signals in my own life and hypocrisy is intolerable. As you know, dear reader, I am a harsh critic of myself and in that moment decided I would be more intentional in hearing my body and its needs. Already, my body is responding well.

My final AHA moment came over tea with my dear friend. She did not have to do anything except listen (which she does exceptionally well) to a story I was telling. I realized I could not continue to act in a way that was not in alignment with my highest self regardless of the business reasons for it. How liberating that was.

I feel grateful to have had these AHAs and deep gratitude to the people involved in each one; without you, I could not have made what feel like quantum leaps. May you know peace and the causes of peace, happiness and the causes of happiness.

Namaste.

Yoga Days 371-375: Balance

A friend asked me the other day to make suggestions of poses that might help with balance. It sparked some thoughts that may be useful to you, dear reader.

Balance is an interesting concept. Physically, we may think of balance as being able to stand on one foot or walk across a plank of wood without falling. We may also think of a balanced diet. Both are areas where we all can use additional support. For me, the key to physical balance type 1 is a strong core. Often in class I will notice a student scrunching their toes trying to force themselves to stand on one leg; I have observed in my own body that the more I rely on my core for most movements, the easier it is to balance. Type 2 physical balance - the diet - I have discovered that the healthier I become the more my body craves healthy options!! I start each day with a powerful blend of anti-oxidants, greens, aloe and other powerful herbs that keeps me focused and at peace throughout my day. I was quite surprised to find myself choosing almonds, prunes and apples over chips, chocolate and buttered toast and my body is healthier than ever it has been.

Mentally, balance may spark thoughts of work/life balance, less activity, fewer demands on your time and energy. I notice a dramatic (negative) shift in my mental balance when I allow circumstances to dictate my schedule; it is important to my mental well being to have a daily yoga practice, to keep plenty of space in my calendar and to take the time I need to walk the dogs, read my spiritual texts and breathe.

Emotional balance may be found through the habits mentioned above. Meditation is probably the single greatest tool in my emotional health belt. I also get emotional support by choosing to surround myself with people who love me enough to speak the truth. Three other habits that support emotional balance: holding myself accountable and having others do the same; embracing my life and asking others to support me; having a guiding light by which I make all decisions.

Spiritual balance is hard to quantify and share (at least for me). I often equate our spiritual life's journey to climbing a mountain - we each have an end goal in mind and there are many paths we can travel in order to reach the peak we seek. There is no right or wrong. The only being(s) to whom I must ultimately be accountable is myself and if I believe in a higher being, (I do) then that being also. 

More on poses for balance in a future post.

Namaste.

Yoga Days 367-370 - clearing the clutter

It has been a full few days and I am pleased to say I have squeezed yoga into the smallest of spaces!! (Amazing what you can do when you narrow your focus.)

I am often surprised when people tell me they have no time to xyz... We are each given 24 hours every day and some work wonders - run countries, raise children, grow our food while others seem to play catch up the whole time.

I have been guilty of multi-tasking over the years and I credit yoga with (mostly) breaking me of that habit. I was always under the illusion that I was getting so much done but my own experience and studies show that this is not the case. We are more productive when we focus on a single task. I love it!!

I am reading an interesting book on productivity and have learned several things already. The first big AHA was when the author told me to write down all my to-dos, that's right, all of them. I got started and worked at it over several hours, jotting things down as they crossed my mind. (I am still adding to it days later.) I have to say, this one activity created space for me like none I have ever experienced off my mat before. As I sat on the couch that evening, I found my mind completely free of worries or concerns; they were all written down and I had nothing to catch my attention. It was one of the kindest things I have ever done for myself!!

The reason I want to share this is to shine a light on those areas in my own life where it is so difficult to live yoga off the mat. When I am moving through poses, breathing deeply, I do feel spacious and liberated; my mind is completely at peace and all feels well. Off the mat??? not so often!!

One of the things I like to remind myself and others of is the fact that I live "down the mountain". I have chosen to have a family, to live in society, to be in business, and this lends itself to challenges and distractions and a seemingly never ending to-do list. Yoga is often spoken and written of as if we all lived in an ashram, far from the madness of family, society and work. It is important to cut ourselves some slack when viewing our lives.

I am glad to have felt space on my mat and I know I want more of it in my life; I also know I am not willing to walk away from the life I have chosen to attain this dream. I will continue to fumble my way through each 24 hours, clearing the clutter and chaos as I can. By narrowing my "meaningful objectives" (a term I learned in the book) I am able to live more intentionally and find greater abundance.

Namaste.

Yoga Day 366 - new beginnings

I am so excited to share the changes I will get right to it...

My yoga practice has given me the courage I need to let go; every time I exhale it is an opportunity to release and surrender. I have learned to let go of the expectations I have of my body (darn that left leg and hip!!) and be in a pose completely, regardless of how it looks. By practicing on the mat, I am able to let go of things I hold dear off the mat. And so I share I am letting go of my aromatherapy business. I will be closing the doors on December 31st this year and will spend the next several months clearing inventory, having a big sale etc...

Every day I go to my mat, I have to choose between poses, I cannot do every pose every time and this does not bother me in the least. I know I may get to that delicious back bend tomorrow, or my favorite balance next week; I take this setting aside for granted on the mat but off the mat I want to do it all. Yoga teaches me it is okay to only do some things today. And so I share I am setting aside my dream to write and publish a book. I know I just told you about this project and it has been a tough decision to postpone this but the time will come when it is perfect for me to focus my energies on the book.

One of my dreams for several years has been to have my husband join me in yoga more often and now I can share that he now sets his own schedule, he no longer works for "the man" and will be able to join me often on the mat. My heart is full with this new beginning.

I remember when I started yoga how difficult it was for me to move, I waved at my toes, never dreaming I could touch them one day!! In 13 years yoga has taught me that the impossible does not exist; everything is possible. When you set your heart to a vision and take a step or 2 each day, when you commit to a path, in time you will find yourself doing what you could not imagine. Yoga has taught me it is okay to play with the big poses and reach higher and higher. And so, I share that Tom and I will be working together to build a community where people can share dreams, purpose and happiness. Our focus for the foreseeable future is building our Univera business.

Every year I choose 2 poses that will help me grow; I work to incorporate one or both into every practice I have. It is remarkable what having specific objectives has done for my yoga practice. And so I share my 3 meaningful objectives for the coming months:

1. Myself - includes yoga (and this blog), walking the dogs, my spiritual reading.
2. My family - includes feeding us well, being fully present for my family, maintaining our home.
3. Univera - includes supporting others to health and abundance.

I look forward to sharing our journey, on the mat and off the mat.

Namaste.

 

Yoga Day 365 - Celebration

How do I write what my heart feels this afternoon? I am blessed by the gifts this yoga challenge and blog have brought to my life. For one year my yoga practice has truly taken center stage and the impact has been huge. As you know by now, I like to look at life from the perspective of 4 realms...

Physically, I am able to do more challenging poses, my endurance is greater and I feel more cofident in my body.

Mentally, I notice a fine-tuning, an ability to focus more clearly on the task at hand. And, I notice a lot less chatter in my head (thank God, it was getting noisy in there!!)

Emotionally, my heart feels more open and vulnerable at the same time it feels more resilient and stronger.

Spiritually I am better aligned with my purpose in this life, I feel a deeper connection to my own divine nature and I am ready to "play big".

I know I have 135 days left till finish the challenge I set for myself but this feels like such a remarkable hurdle, I want to honor this accomplishment and take the time to celebrate what this means to me.

Thank you, dear reader, for sharing the journey thus far. I am grateful for your comments and your emails, for your support and your feedback. Stay with me a while longer, who knows what may still happen.

Namaste.

 

Yoga Day 364 - commitment

I just had to write a few words as I come to the end of a full year of this challenge. I must admit to feeling quite pleased with myself; I have often used words in the past that undermine my commitment levels and I have been harsh in my judgments. I do believe I will change that habit!!

How can I be so mean to me? I have told myself and others that I am like a butterfly flitting from one thing to another and yet, is this the truth? Have I had experiences of flitting? Absolutely, yes. There was the time in Arizona when I took cake decorating quite seriously, and in North Carolina when I sewed everything we wore. What about the time in Virginia when I worked out religiously or the 2 years in Dublin when I was a vegetarian?

Do these episodes make me flighty? I cannot be sure but I have learned this past year that I am also deeply committed in several areas of my life. I have been married over 21 years, I have mothered for over 20, I have practiced yoga for 13 years and walked several times weekly since I was 10. I have been committed to natural health care most of my life and have had an active prayer life since I could say prayers.

As I enjoy the celebrations of one year doing this challenge, I now commit to looking at myself more kindly, to acknowledging the things I do well and to stop harping on about all my failings. I invite you, dear reader, to do the same. Write down your strengths and skills, commit to paper how "brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous" you truly are and read it daily.

Namaste.

Yoga Days 358-363; ch-ch-ch-change

What an interesting ride I have been on these past few months!! I have taken a small step back from several things to get a better view of what I am doing, what I want to be doing and how I need to change certain aspects of my life in order to be better aligned with my overall purpose and vision.

My yoga practice has held me steady though I have not been here writing as often as I may have liked. It was a necessary perspective shift and I am grateful for the lessons I have learned.

Yoga is an essential part of my life; it keeps me healthy in so many ways, it strengthens my values, it focuses my vision. In every way, my life is better because yoga sits at the foundation. As I sit here at the end of a year of this daily yoga practice I am poised to explore change and growth. My physical practice has evolved to mirror the changes in my life. I am becoming more adventurous and reaching deeper into myself to explore poses and breath work, I have been listening with intention and practicing with greater awareness and focus.

I am excited to share all my news but you must wait, dear reader. It is not yet time to unveil all. Let us instead, breathe in all that this magnificent year has given us. Can you remember where you were this time last year? Has your life moved in the direction you had hoped? Are you walking the path of yur dreams?

At the end of September 2009, I was preparing for a long weekend at a yoga conference; excited to embark on my 500 Days of Yoga. I had just started a new business and I had so many ideas and goals I scared myself!!

Enjoy the last few days of this beautiful month, make time for yoga (or whatever fills your heart) and be open to the possibilities.

Namaste.

Yoga Days 354-357 - want to start yoga?

Here are some ideas you might share with friends and family about how and why yoga might be a good option for them.

Yoga reduces stress!! It really is that simple. If you can get to a weekly class you will probably notice a change in about 2 months. If you can do it more often, the change is likely to happen more quickly.

Yoga makes you healthier!! There is an expression - you are only as young as your spine is flexible and yoga will certainly increase the flexibility of your spine as well as the rest of your body. What I have found over the years is that practicing yoga encourages me to be healthier in other areas of my life also (food choices, exercise options, sleep habits etc...)

Yoga improves sex!! Not only are you more flexible and better able to move freely during sex, your blood is flowing better, your breath is deeper bringing more oxygen and you feel more confident in you body.

You can practice at home!! While it is ideal if you can find a great teacher with classes at times that work for your schedule and budget, that is not always the case. I used videos for over 7 years to build my practice. I now use books and magazine practices if I want someone else to guide me. The internet is a great tool - there are classes available free on lots of sites. Please use me as a resource for questions and concerns you may have...I am happy to answer and help you find the best fit for you.

You don't have to be flexible to start!! I often hear this one from people who say they would like to do yoga but cannot because they are so tight. That is okay. This is when a home practice may be a better option for you. You can start very slowly and allow your body to open at its own pace, getting to know yourself can take time. Again, send me your questions by email.

Start here !! There are a couple of practices on this site and more will be coming in the future.

Start today!! Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today? If you enjoy it today, you can do it again tomorrow!!!

Namaste.

Yoga Days 352,353 - using yoga to write a book

I have a book in me and I have been thinking about it for 2-3 years, I had spoken to very few people about it until this past month. It is a book about yoga and that was all I really knew until recently.

I have shared here before that each year I choose 2 yoga poses and spend a little more time working with these poses. I don't really set a goal as such, it is more a commitment to play with the pose, to allow myself the time to explore it fully and feel how I respond. Today I understood I could apply this same philosophy to my book project.

A dear friend gave me a cook book last month and I finally saw what I could not describe ... now I have a clear vision of what the book must feel like. Now I have a specific "pose" in mind. 

I spoke with several people in the publishing field and heard lots of suggestions, ideas and advice. I found the "how-to" for my pose.

Today I spoke with an author friend of mine who inspired and challenged me in ways I had not expected; to try activities I'd rather avoid, to take myself far beyond my comfort zone. (Oh how often I say that in class!!)

Rationally there is nothing bad that can happen as I move forward with this book project, I cannot get hurt, I cannot lose my shirt, I cannot fail. So why am I nervous?

This final question is what brought me to my yoga analogy and therein lies my answer. I try poses I have no hope of ever accomplishing; I try them simply because they push me further than I tend to go.

I actually may finish my book and I may even publish it, more than I can say for my hopes of Viparita Salabhasana** My biggest hope for both projects is simply to enjoy the process, to allow my heart to grow and to breathe into each moment, fully awake to the experience.

Namaste.

(Now I have to add Viparita Salabhasana to my 2011 poses!!)

Viparita Salabhasana** LINK

Yoga Day 351 - my "overnight" success

I recently read "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell and loved it. He talks about people becoming "overnight" successes and shares the true story behind each sensational story. Each person had served his/her apprenticeship, oftentimes year after year (about 10,000 hours) before becoming an overnight success.

Another recent gift - my friend shared a quote with me "The harder I work, the luckier I get"

No one could ever accuse me of being a slacker; I work hard, sometimes too hard and demand a lot of myself. This past year I have been learning a new industry and doing everything my mentors told me to do. It has been challenging and nerve-wracking at times, and always fulfilling and inspiring. Some people in this line of work see enormous success in the first few months and there have been times when I want to roar my frustration.

(Thank God for my yoga mat!!)

In the past few days I am beginning to see the fruits of my hard work; it feels wonderful to know that all my effort has rooted and the sprouts are starting to show. I feel like an outlier!! And I am pretty sure some will call me lucky :)

I did not know my yoga practice was preparing the way for other work... my commitment to my business has not wavered, every day I practiced what I was being told to do. While I would have loved to see progress in leaps and bounds, I know I have benefited more from the inch by inch approach (so common in yoga). And now that I can see the correlation, I will remind myself daily that my work, like yoga, is a progressive practice and in order to reap the rewards all I need do is show up and practice.

In gratitude,

Namaste.