Aparigraha - Abundance

Acknowledging abundance (Aparigraha), we recognize the blessings in everything and gain insights into the purpose of our worldly existence.

Sutra 11.39 The Secret Power of Yoga

The latest Yama to grace my path has been Aparigraha - Abundance. As I sit with this, I see, feel and experience much abundance. Around me I see abundance, in my breath I feel abundance and in my heart I experience abundance.

Yesterday was the end of a 30 day challenge at Kula Yoga where I teach and practice. This brought an abundance of yoga to many of us. For myself, I have been practicing yoga almost daily for years now. Mostly this has been as my own home practice, especially as I take Level Three training and have specific poses to play with, but this challenge brought many more attended yoga classes to my life. With this came an abundance of connection, laughter, smiles, breath and warmth.

Right now I have an abundance of assignments to finish which brings an abundance of self-exploration. I have been finding many emotions as I go through this work as well as many thoughts, sensations, curiosities and awarenesses. As I write these other assignments, I find that I have an abundance of new tools for supporting myself and others. I also have found more appreciation of the abundance that is everywhere even if it's not how I think it should be.

Through Phoenix Rising, yoga and meditation I have found an abundance of wisdom that comes from my body. I have seen others find this as well and I feel grateful for the opportunities in all these experiences. May we all continue to find and honour the teacher within.

Core assets... acknowledging abundance.

What I Learned From My Niece

While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. ~ Angela Schwindt

In short... enthusiasm, directness and fun. I'll explain. I've been meaning to write this for a while. Since the original lesson on Halloween night (pictured above), and the time that it took me to get around to writing this, my adorable little (20 month old) niece taught me a few other things. I also gained a second adorable niece in that time :) 

Before taking her out, she was well versed in Halloween phrases... Trick or Treat and Happy Halloween. However, when she was brought up to the first door, after being reminded what she was to say when the door opened, her exclamation was only "Candy!" This got some laughs. She was reminded again and again of what to say, but it continued to be expressed as "candy!" When a lady showed up to the door with no bowl of candy in her hands, her phrase evolved to "Where's the candy?" Again, laughter. At another door, she had a conversation with a man and had us all laughing again. Someone said to her, "You're awesome." To which she replied, "Ya, I'm awesome." lol. Eventually, her phrase evolved further to "Gimme candy." She knew exactly why she was there and probably didn't understand why we kept telling her to say Trick or Treat.

Besides the laughter and ab workout I received from it, I gained the simple insight of speaking up for what you want and being direct. The idea of getting right to the point also comes to mind and I was reminded again how enthusiasm rubs off. Like when I speak about Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy or yoga.

The next insight she offered me was a few days before her baby sister was born. I went with her and my sister to the doctor and then the hospital to check on the belly dweller that was enjoying her stay. While mom was busy with the doctor, I watched Tiana play with the curtain that was blocking the open door to the room. She was having so much fun going around it and under it... letting it rub on her face and head as she played peek-a-boo with me. Her giggles and sometimes screams of enthusiasm had to be quelled with the statement that there may be babies sleeping nearby (of course then we had to go visit one lol). Who knew you could have so much fun with a hospital curtain lol. I later taught a Hatha class and brought the theme of play in from my life lesson with Tiana. We had fun with yoga, breath, music, our bodies, movement (inspired by Tiana) and of course Lion's face.

I loved the reminder of all this from my favourite little person. I love honouring the child within with play. Maybe why I love teaching kids yoga lol. It's great that other things can also be learned from watching those who have not forgotten how fun life can be and that it's great to speak your mind, be direct and enthusiastic. I'm off to play with Contact Yoga and see what kind of fun I can find as well as direct communication with a partner.

Core assests... have fun! Be direct. Play with enthusiasm.

What I Learned While Hiking

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

What do you see when you look at the picture above? When you look at a tree? A leaf? A mountain? Yourself in the mirror? Life? Beauty? A cause for amazement? Miracles of nature? All of the above?
 

While hiking the trail in the above picture, I was amazed by the colours and life all around me. As I watched leaves falling from the trees I was struck by the idea that the tree does not decide when the leaf will fall. It does not decide the exact time to let go of something that is no longer serving it in some way. Sometimes the wind helps, sometimes the rain, sometimes neither. It seemed that the leaf did not decide either, but nature did. Of course it may be said that trees and leaves do not really have decision making qualities as such, but it served as an interesting metaphor and could possibly be up for debate ;)





As I sit here writing this, I am curious about what really happens to make a leaf fall off. It is true that the leaf no longer serves the tree in the colder, shorter days of winter. When I searched, I found a few different ideas. Some say the tree makes the choice, some say the leaf and others that nature and a type of "hibernation" causes the trees to shed their leaves. Since the leaves can no longer serve the purpose of bringing in food for the tree as efficiently as they do in spring and summer, they are no longer needed and would freeze and die if they stayed anyway.

What does all this have to do with yoga? To me it is a great reminder of letting go of what no longer serves me. As one example, in Corpse Pose - Savasana, when the exhale lengthens and a releasing of tension, air and anything else that is no longer needed happens, so too the trees go dormant and keep only what they need to survive. Sometimes I can decide when to let go, sometimes what is leaving decides and sometimes life decides for me.  

 

Core assets... once again seeing beauty in everything and knowing when to let go.

Asteya - Generosity

Even after all this time

the sun never says to the earth,

“you owe me.”

Look what happens with a love like that.

It lights the whole sky. ~ Hafiz of Shiraz

The other yama I have been working with this past six weeks has been Asteya - non-stealing or generosity. Just as Ahimsa stands for non-violence towards ourselves and others, Asteya must be practiced towards myself as well as outward.

 

When I find I am being generous with my time outwards, I must remember to be generous with time for myself.  If I'm not generous with myself, it may be harder to be generous outwards. This was a great combination with Bramacharya - Balance. It would have been easy for me to practice generosity outwards and forget that I have to give to myself as well. The more I give to myself the more I feel able to give to others. I find that when I'm not able to be generous in some way, I must check where I am being less than generous with myself rather than force myself to be generous for the sake of being generous. That would not be true generosity.

 

In Yoga, I'm reminded to be generous with all parts of my body and my breath in order to "be" in a pose. If I am over generous with energy or strength in one part of my body it will tire out and may cause injury there or another part that was being forgotten. Or at the very least for that body part to be a little cranky with me.

 

In sessions, I am reminded to not only give to my client, but to be sure that I give thought to how I use my body. When I take generous breaths for myself this allows them to do the same. When I am kind to my body and able to relax, they can also relax more.

 

In life, when I give, both to myself and to others without asking anything in return, we all benefit. My body is asking for lunch and a break from typing as I just finished another assignment before this. I will give that to myself before I prepare for my afternoon Hatha class and pack for my trip to Vermont for Midterm.

 

To you, I give love and a short video for your body... Lunch Yoga. Feel free to request other postures.

 

Core assets... generosity for self and others.

The Dark Side

Out of the darkness there must come out the light. ~ Could You Be Loved, Bob Marley

Over the last few weeks, I've been rereading The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford. It's one of our assignments and synchronicity has been bringing up shadows elsewhere. They're always there of course, but showing up in interesting ways. Last night in a yoga class taught by Andrew Colyn was one. He had us all keep our eyes closed the whole time and turned the lights very low. He spoke of shadows, dark and light. We practice Phoenix Rising Yoga with our eyes closed, but this was different since we were practicing Anusara style yoga and even found some balances. I enjoy practicing with my eyes closed, but this was the first time having them closed for postures such as Bakasana - Crow and Virabhadrasana III - Warrior III. 

Before class began, Andrew told us of a blind man who had come to one of his classes and how this had inspired him to think of intermediate practice being more about how much you feel and stay present in your body and not what postures you can do. I strongly agree with yoga being more about how it feels than how it looks... kind of like life. Thanks Andrew for an amazing class.

One of our assignments has been to reflect on a challenging life situation in which our shadow had something to say. Though I can think of many, one in particular stands out at the moment. While booking all of my travel arrangements for my trip to Vermont for Midterm, I came across some delays and challenges. One company (who shall remain nameless) was having website trouble, but this was not mentioned on the website nor on the phone when I made numerous phone calls. I continued trying to buy a ticket for days. The discount for buying ahead of time expired and I was becoming increasingly frustrated that I could not simply purchase a ticket as I had before. My shadow was telling all kinds of tales about how I wanted to deal with the situation and I chose to see what I could get with honey rather than vinegar. What I got was a conversation with a supervisor who spoke with me as if I was stupid and did not now how to use a website because it was clearly working from his end (except for the fact that he was not actually purchasing anything). This led to more shadow talk and more phone calls. In the next phone call I was told the website was not functioning properly. The outcome is that I am purchasing my ticket in person at full price.

I was unimpressed to say the least and had all kinds of ideas about how my shadow "bitch" would deal with this. My critic, judge and ego all had things to say as well. If they had been allowed to deal with it, at least one person at that company would have gotten an earful. Since I worked in retail in the past I know that customers can take things out on the wrong person and I do not like to do this to anyone else, but the one employee that talked down to me was deserving in my mind. I see ego written all over this for me. "How could he speak to me that way?" My shadow would have told this person where to "place" the phone when we were finished our call. In all my imagining of how I "could" have handled this situation, I realized that I have a very nasty/bitchy side to me (not an epiphany), but that I hold it back to be "nice" even if my tone is dripping with that nastiness or my blood pressure is rising. I have also been known to shed a tear rather than anger. What I learn from this person is that I do not tolerate people speaking down to others or acting superior and I see that my feelings of unworthiness have caused me to do this at times as well. Out of the darkness comes the light.

What I learn from all of this is that my shadow is there for a reason and keeping it hidden is not serving me. It can "stand up" for me when I need it to. Allowing it to be my friend and serve me in appropriate ways would be much better than giving myself an aneurysm trying to be "nice" or having it show up inappropriately. I still have a chance to let it serve me in person at the ticket counter, so we'll see how it goes.

How does your shadow serve you?  

Finding Balance

A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life. ~ William Arthur Ward



Wow that was different. Next time I may edit lol. Now I'm reminded of something else I need to moderate... my critic and what it has to say about me ;) This has actually been one of those things that has shown up while working with Bramacharya. A little more kind self-talk is in order... lol yay me for stepping out of my comfort zone! 

 Tell me about how you find balance through moderation as well as in and out of your comfort zone.

Core assets... balance and moderation. Like mom says... everything in moderation.

The Sound of Silence

'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Core asset... May I always know when to be silent :)

On Saturday, I observed a day of silence which was another assignment. I have had silent days in the past and I normally would stay home and be in the silence, but this was different. Recently, I received an email from Sol Yoga, in White Rock, about a silent retreat they were having. Shortly after that I received my next set of assignments and noticed that one was a day of silence and journaling about it. The synchronicity helped me decide which day would become silent. Since Sol Yoga is in White Rock, and so are my naturopaths, I decided to combine a trip and made an appointment. I let them know I would not be speaking that day and was curious how it would go. I wanted to get biofeedback to listen to my body anyway, so what better way but in silence.

I must say, driving from Port Moody to White Rock (about a 45 minute drive), was the first test of my ability to be silent. Words found a way of escaping out of my mouth a couple times. When someone did not move at a green light until it was almost yellow (even after honking my horn) and when my blinker indicating I was merging, with the rest of my lane into the one lane through the construction zone on Lougheed Highway, was not quite enough to show my intent. How easily "come on" and "are you letting me in?" tumbled out of my mouth before I could catch them. Funnier still was that they were barely above a whisper, but not the silence I had intended on.

 My next "slip of the tongue" was while walking the path down Crescent Beach towards the yoga center. A little boy was walking behind his parents coming towards me and he and I smiled at one another. He said something as he passed me, to which I turned to wave at him and he waved back and said, "Bye!" An automatic "bye" was my response. Then I giggled silently realizing how quick my tongue can be and how reactive speaking can be.
I had gone to the naturopaths before this and spent the hours there nodding and writing anything that needed to be communicated. It felt awkward to have them speak and not reply, but I was able to stay silent besides the odd giggle. I even went to a restaurant/cafe for lunch and ordered by writing in my notebook. Somehow writing Tuna on salad, as they had in their menu, got me a tuna sandwich, but I didn't speak when it arrived at the table... mostly because I was in shock (lol) and I had to eat and get to the studio.

The silent retreat was 3 hours of yoga, pranayama, meditation and a walking meditation out to the beach and back. How divine. Though there was still sound from the street and beach outside and a singing bowl, my mind and body found some much appreciated silence. Thanks Marita :)

On the way home, I stopped to buy some groceries and a trip to the deli counter had me mouthing the words "I can't talk" to the girl behind the counter. As she helped me, she also became silent and mouthed "you're welcome" to my "thank you." This reminded me of the walking meditation and something Marita said afterwards... "Did you notice how others became more silent as well?" Very interesting to see that happen.

Today, I am still contemplating silence. In my silence, I noticed each sound become more alive. I also noticed just how noisy thoughts can be and the outside world as well. There is so much within silence. All sound comes from silence. The silence between is what makes all things... such as music, words, thoughts. Just as space and emptiness create everything. I'm intrigued to work with silence more. To see what it brings in life and in sessions. Space for what is and more. Silence really is "golden"... precious, rare and worth its weight. Lol and also sometimes loud.

Satya - Truth and Integrity

Dedicated to truth and integrity (Satya), our thoughts, words, and actions gain the power to manifest.
Sutra 11.36 The Secret Power of Yoga

My truth in this moment is that I'm tired, but I'm working on a homework assignment that was due by midnight, so I'm also pushing the envelope a little bit. This is the last assignment of all that were due and I'm intrigued by all that I have discovered along the way.

Another truth for me has been the enjoyment of taking things slower... of fully digesting. I find this in my yoga practice both for me and how I teach. I love for yoga to be one of those times when everything slows down. It's not a race to the finish or a way to exercise as hard as I can, but a chance to go within myself, find stillness, and movement that is more relaxed but also alive. I love to close my eyes and feel both my strength and my softness.

This digesting idea showed up for me today after realizing how much I eat on the go. I have noticed this many times and yet it had become a habit or samskara (groove or rut... like in the mud). Between classes, before going out or even while driving (a tendency from a job that had me in my car all day, every day). I was contemplating how I'd like to also slow down in that way because it has been showing up for me that I have stressed my body out (hence the rash that I spoke of that was me trying to cure psoriasis that was on the back of my neck and causing myself further stress and more discomfort and a further breakout of the first issue after treating the second). So today, when I got home from teaching Restorative and Hatha classes, I took time for a walking meditation from my car down the street to my door and then an eating meditation, which felt so amazing. I decided that I wanted to do the same with other things that show up in life. When I wrote another assignment on what I learned about receiving feedback from a learning session, during Orientation, this really hit home (I learned that compliments and constructive criticism have been harder to digest than I thought because I had been deflecting both, but feeling more comfortable hearing the negative).

I want to chew my experiences slowly, taste them, roll them around on my tongue, salivate all over them, then swallow and digest them (like the raisin meditation I bring to class sometimes). That way I can better integrate things into my life. I also experienced this on Wednesday when a lady came up to me after class with great feedback about what she experienced in my slow flow class. I was able to fully take in her honesty, gratitude and appreciation for what the class facilitated for her. I was truly touched by her heart within her words and felt so connected to her speaking her truth and confirming mine at the same time.

So my big truth now is to really practice what I teach... in all of the rest of my life off the mat... not just when I have time, but always. My body has been speaking of this truth for a while and I have always known the truth about the body being the best teacher... I guess I needed to slow down to hear it more.

The other truth in that is the "shedding of my skin" like a snake. Cobra has become my teacher and my friend, my partner, my truth. I united with Cobra once and have experienced Cobra's power since and it shows up in my life in every aspect. Not just on the mat. I have been shedding my skin literally and figuratively as I leave behind old aspects of myself and renew myself and become new. I'm reminded of the Phoenix Rising as well :)

Core assets... slow down, take time to digest food and life, and unite with yourself through yoga.

The Journey of Self-Healing

When I am able to resist the temptation to judge others, I can see them as teachers of forgiveness in my life, reminding me that I can only have peace of mind when I forgive rather than judge.  ~ Gerald Jampolsky

I would also say resisting the temptation to judge self reveals the teacher within forgiveness and the peace that brings. Finding space to just let myself be feels so much better than the judging mind and it's constant analysis.

As I near the end of the first packet of Level  Three Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy training, I find myself contemplating the journey of self-healing in many ways... for myself, for others, and for both within an assignment that is part of packet one. Part of that assignment is reading A Gradual Awakening by Stephen Levine (pictured at the end of this post). As life (not luck) would have it, I found this book in a used book store years before hearing of PRYT and loved it immediately. Now that I've reread it (more than once) and looked at it in connection with Yoga Therapy sessions, I see so much more within it's pages and the author's words. For instance when it comes to judging self and others, I now see how that can get in the way, not only of life, but of self-healing and supporting the self-healing of others.

The experience of giving, receiving, and reflecting on sessions shows me where the judging mind may creep in and how that can distract from what is actually going on in the moment. If I can stay neutral, there is much more opportunity for self-healing to take the path it needs. While giving sessions, if I notice my judging mind commenting on what my client is experiencing and what it thinks that means or what I should do about it, it's a good time to take a breath and come back to being a witness or step out of the way.

Brilliantly put, by Levine, on page 45...

When the judging mind is clearly noted, its fragile nature can be observed. We see opinions forming and melting away like snowflakes. We see that each comment is like a bubble. When awareness touches it, it's insubstantiality, its essential emptiness, becomes readily apparent. The likes and dislikes of the judging mind are just old karma and conditioning running off. But if we compulsively react to these prefernces, if we identify with them, they become the cause of new karma. Judging can be very subtle; a single moment of praise or blame, of liking or disliking polarizes our whole world. This automatic clinging and condemning of the judging mind is an ongoing karmic flow that need not be the motivator of new karma-creating action. A moment of judgmental mind, a mind lost in identification with old preferences, is a moment of forgetfulness, of ignorance. A moment of recognition of judgmental mind is a moment of freedom and wisdom.

When it comes to my own self-healing, I am again better off staying out of the way. If I judge myself from where I am in the moment, I am only seeing my past and not my potential, which could keep me stuck in that. Same goes for my clients. Being open to the path of self-healing means leaving lots of space for that path to be explored rather than judging what is showing up in the meantime. Here I am reminded of hiking. A trail that I love near Buntzen Lake takes a path up the mountain through the forest. If I were to judge the whole trail as it is in the middle, I would think it to be without a view (besides the trees), challenging, and perhaps never ending if I gave up somewhere along the way. However, when I keep going, staying open to possibilities of more, I find myself at the top of the mountain, looking out over the whole lower mainland, with open sky, quiet beauty, and a view that is breath-taking. All which would be missed if not for the challenging hike up through the trees.

When I practice mindfulness, both in life and in facilitating PRYT sessions, I am open to more possibilities. With mindfulness, I can stay out of the way of what I may not see happening in the moment from the standpoint of judging mind. I have already seen this in sessions when I have assumed something and been wrong and when I have stayed neutral and been amazed. Time to play more with neutrality and staying open to being amazed.

Core assets... staying open to the possibilities in the journey of self-healing.

What I Have Learned From My Body On and Off the Mat

Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is something I have learned through experience, but often reading a quote as a reminder helps it sink in again. It is true for me in that what others say may not feel like my truth. I know it is also true that what I say may not feel like truth for someone else. Hence, words of consolation or trying to make something better for someone else may be futile. Sometimes I may strike the right chord, other times I'm way off. Peace of mind can only come from the mind that is open to that peace.

What I have learned from yoga is that it is best for me to listen to my own body. This is true on the mat when pain is telling me I've gone too far and off the mat when my body is speaking in other ways. My body is always speaking to me. The question is only ever whether I am listening or not. This can be very different from what my mind may say ,and though my mind and body are ultimately one in the same, they often speak very different languages.

In this moment, my body is speaking to me with a rash that says I ingested something I was better off not to, and that I was listening to another truth other than my own. This rings true in yoga class when someone on another mat has a pose that looks different from my own. In the case of my skin... if I had listened to my body more, it may be a different story, but now my body is teaching me something (many things) I may not have learned otherwise (or needed to be reminded of). I have noticed that the body speaks up quietly at first and then gets louder if unheard and takes the form that we are sure to listen to. Kind of like how the mind knows the thing that will get attention as well. 

One of my favourite things while teaching is to let everyone find their own posture or form of movement. While I am the guide for the class, the bodies attending the class are the ultimate teachers. Of course, since we may have been taught to listen to others for guidance, this can be a little strange at first. There is still a need for a teacher to guide, offer suggestions, and perhaps challenges, but each body must be listened to by each individual. This is where yoga again moves off the mat. When I can take that into the rest of my life, I find I have the perfect teacher for me. Others have the perfect teacher for them.

When my body has something to reveal to me, taking time to listen is a big part of the answer. As I move further into my training and facilitate more people listening to their bodies, I must remember to take time to listen to my own. Speaking of... my meditation practice calls... another great form of sadhana (practice).

Extremely important core asset... listening to our own body. Teaching Hatha Core tomorrow night has me thinking of many other core assets... like Plank Pose and many variations :)


Bought this book at a meditation and partner yoga workshop over the weekend.

What's happening now...

Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Well... I started this post on June 29 and am just now getting to it. I have been journalling every day as required for my training and have been impressed that I have not missed a day. Now to share some of that here. All I can say about training and Phoenix Rising is exactly what I said while at orientation... "there are no words to describe the awesome that is Phoenix Rising."

To tell a little more about that... the quote at the top makes me think of what happens in a session and that person is ourself and whoever is giving or receiving the session. When I receive a session myself and find the wisdom within, I am amazed, inspired, in awe, and feel so humble as I'm reminded that what we truly need is within us if we look. I also feel the presence of the practitioner to be an indispensable tool for facilitating that. From the practitioner standpoint, as I facilitate the exploration for another, I am inspired by the wisdom that they find within and the "third thing" that enters into the session to bring it all to life in some amazing "technicolour." It really is all so much more than words can adequately express.

The picture at the top was taken while I walked with my mentor one day at lunch time. We walked through a neighbourhood and I noticed the licence plate and needed to have a picture of it. I am also amazed at how they "randomly" pick mentors for each of us and mine is perfect for me and what I need for this training. So far she has said all the most appropriate things and I love her dearly. She holds a great space for my learning and exploring and reminds me of what things I may need to take a closer look at. (thanks beautiful)

 

As a practitioner-in-training and as a yoga instructor, I love holding a space for others to see what they could be, to remind them that they are perfect in their imperfection, and it's okay to go easier on themself. All of this is what I can also do for myself. As I was reminded, by my body, during a yoga class on the second day of training... "Listen!" Listen to myself... whether it be my body talking or myself talking to others or random thoughts. Listening can take me so much further than unconscious "talk." As it's said... the advice we give to others can often be something we need to listen to as well.

 

What's happening now is that my body says it's time for rest after a day filled with an epic hike, a personal yoga practice, a bike ride to and from teaching a class, and sitting at the computer for the last part of the night. Love summer and activity and also love sleep ;)

 

Core assets... balance of activity and rest, inspiration, and listening.

Good night.

Another great book (by my teacher at PRYT who made it so much fun and inspiring in so many ways. Thanks Elissa)...

Letting Go

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. ~ Lao Tzu

As I find myself transitioning once again... I am reminded of the wisdom of letting go. Like playing the edges of a pose and finding that juicy space where awareness of thoughts surfaces (my legs are burning, I can't hold this any longer, etc.), much sensation arises, and the opportunity to let go into all of it is fully present. I love that part of yoga... even when my mind does not. I'm now noticing these aspects more in life. When my critic questions my abilities or someone else does and my mind wants to agree (or sometimes become defensive). When I find doubts or worries surfacing. When a nagging sensation in my body piques my curiosity. Finding love for that is where letting go will have to come in.

I must say I do seem to like a challenge, but there are those that I am not aware of the ability to handle yet. Enter Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy (and the underlying wisdom that everything shows up when I am ready for it). A way to bring oneself to the "edges". To explore deeper, feel more, and learn to let go and see that wisdom underneath it all. Part of my edge through all of this is sharing more. Part of our training is to keep a daily journal, so I most likely will find myself posting some of that.

In this moment I am letting go of the need to fill up space with anymore words... 'nough said.

Sowing Seeds

A good deed is never lost: he who sows courtesy reaps friendship; and he who plants kindness gathers love. ~ Basil

First time growing snap peas (pictured above), so I didn't know they had pretty flowers as well. Love surprises of the garden and of life from earlier "sowing". Particularly surprises in yoga from past practices. Surprised myself the other day when I stuck a handstand and also when I found myself moving towards Scorpion (thanks again Andrew). When I find more room for breath in a pose and in life... it's breath-taking :)

This week I will be embarking on some further sowing with Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Training to deepen my own practice and benefit others as a practitioner and tidbits brought into my classes. I'm so excited to visit somewhere I've never been before... Vermont. I haven't travelled east of Alberta or Idaho. So to see a bit of Toronto, Montreal, Burlington VT and Bristol (school is located in a town of 3800) will be amazing.  Yay for travelling east where time is three hours ahead and yoga class starts at 6:30am lol. I may need to start sowing some earlier bedtimes to prepare.

I'm very grateful for the chance to take this training and all that it entails. Already I've been reading some of the reading list books and writing more in preparation for the reading and journaling that is part of the eight months of Level 3. The daily, morning yoga practice and long school days will be well worth the foundation, knowledge, and support I'll reap. A daily practice of yoga is always well worth the effort. I'm interested to see the difference a routine makes. I normally fit my practice in wherever I can... different times every day. Same goes for a regular practice of meditation. The practice of quieting the mind pays off in calming, de-stressing, and finding that inner wisdom we all possess that gets covered up by "noisy" thoughts. I love the processes of centering and integration included in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy.

I'm looking forward to sharing the adventure of travelling cross-country and south alone as well as whatever the training holds for me (photos as well). There's a bit of an edge there with the lone travelling, but I'm always up for an adventure. It won't be the first time, but it will be the furthest so far :)

Core assets.... sowing seeds of practice, learning, and stepping out of the comfort zone. You never know what you may reap. Share the "seeds" and "crops" you've harvested below.

An amazing book I found in a used bookstore in Smithers while travelling with my last job. Written in the seventies and wouldn't you know... on our training reading list. Love synchronicity.

Namaste and the Ocean

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea. ~ Isak Dinesen

After a few tries... she said Namaste.... it was acutally "maste", but so cute :) Re: last post.

Staying up too late again.... after Wild Thing Wednesday.  I always need to eat after practice which keeps me up for a bit. Was an amazing class tonight (thanks Andrew) with "floating" and backbending (Bridge and Wheel) and topped off with forearm balance Pincha Mayurasana and Scorpion - Vrschikasana. A lovely "sea of OMs" ended the class and honoured the ocean (yesterday was World Oceans Day). I was awed by the honouring as I am awed by the ocean waves again and again at the inlet near my home. Many of my photos include the ocean... either at the inlet or from the ferry trips I used to take for my last job.

The ocean is a source of calm and adventure, much like yoga, and I am so grateful for both.

Core asset... respect the ocean and all forms of water. Us and the earth are mostly made of water. There is something amazing in that and the strength and gentleness that water exudes.

PS. Since it's now June 10th... Happy Anniversary to my parents :)

OM

Repetition of the sound OM reveals its meaning. ~ Yoga Sutra of Patanjali

Yesterday my sister called to let me talk to my 15 month old (today... happy day Tiana!) niece who had been saying "OM, OM, OM, OM... auntie". A few weeks ago I taught her to say OM.... so cute and impressive that she remembered and was a great reminder to me in the moment as well. She sure loves chatting on the phone... even if there's nobody on the other end, the phone is upside down or backwards, or it's just the dial tone. Too cute.

What is OM? The absolute. The manifest and unmanifest. Pure awareness. The symbol or sound to represent these.

Paraphrasing Chip Hartranft from his book on the Sutras... Repeating the vibratory sound of OM is like invoking a divine mirror in which to glimpse our true nature. Sounds good to me.

I wonder if Tiana found that ;) I'll ask her tomorrow when I see her and work on teaching her Namaste next :)

Namaste? The light in me honours the light in you.

Acceptance

Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway. ~ Emory Austin
Bloom no matter what happens ;)

 

Have wanted to get a post done before the end of the month... was a goal of mine and I'm accepting the fact that it will be short, unedited, and the definition of "last-minute". :)

 

Acceptance came up as a theme for class today as I spent at least an hour going through music and choosing songs to put on a playlist for tonight's Hatha class. I'm not the typical consumer and have yet to buy any kind of portable music player, so I was burning a CD-RW and it came up with an error while burning in the laptop. The laptop then decided to hold on to the CD and not let go.... leaving me to let go of the idea of a new playlist for the class and a slight change of plans to use the same music as yesterday's class. Gotta love the life lessons and daily reminders of all that yoga entails :)

 

Core assets... acceptance and letting go. 

LOL... more to love and accept... slow connection... publish button pressed at 11:59... post archived at 12:00am... good thing I'm not Cinderella ;)

Is There Anybody Out There?

Hello, is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone home? ~ Pink Floyd (Comfortably Numb)

I have been known to play some Floyd in Yoga class... a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra version, but if I still had my Wall CD set it would have made it in as well... may have to find another. Mostly I was getting curious as to who is actually reading this blog and the song Is There Anybody Out There? came to mind ;) Of course, then I had to find some Floyd for listening to while writing this...

Some great lyrics and some amazing music (outstanding guitar rifts and then some) found it's way through that band for sure :)

Hey you! Don't tell me there's no hope at all. Together we stand, divided we fall. ~ Pink Floyd (Hey You)

I went kayaking in the Inlet earlier... yesterday (since paragraphs I wrote in the last few hours were lost lol). I came across the ruins of some old mill of some sort on the south side between another mill and the chemical plant. I also spent some time in the wee hours of this morning researching online to find out what it used to be, but I only found info on the mill (Old Mill Site Park) on the north side (it burned down in the 50s), info about what is now the museum and an interesting and funny story about the first "Crapper" in Port Moody lol.

Anyways... as I was kayaking over top of what is left of some of it, I noticed, through the still, clear water a mini-world underneath me. There were minature "trees" and tiny crabs scurrying around, a jellyfish, and barnacles on old bricks, etc. Rocks, crumbled cement, and crevices in the sediment had become "homes" to many forms of life. It was so peaceful and beatiful, this little forest of vibrant green plants, and life that had taken over what may have, at some point, seemed like progress and important but was now abandoned... at least by us. How amazing the way Mother Nature and Life heal and revive after we've destroyed and made a mess. How when left alone it reclaims and builds new life again. How letting go and letting life happen may sometimes be the best answer.

I love to appreciate and learn from nature.  To be reminded of improvements that I can make in the way I treat the earth, her inhabitants, and the way I live my life. I am a perpetual student to life and yoga and enthralled by both. I know that I don't know the answers to many questions and maybe truly none at all. I know that I can only try my best and hope to fix mistakes that I've made or let go and let life take care of it. I know that I can let go when my mind starts to "run the show", when I feel divided from others, and when I feel unsure of where to go next.

So again, I wonder... is there anybody out there? And do you notice what else is out there? The beauty... the answers or questions. Do we do what we can to help heal or do we hurt? Do we know when to let go? Do we know what's really important? Do we stand together or do we fall apart? I ask this for me and for whoever else is out there. Namaste.

Core assets... standing together and deciding what's really important.
Any feedback is welcome. When can you let go? What's important to you?

RAW

My garden... when the tomatoes took over.

On Friday last week, a friend and I took a tour of Granville Island with Edible British Columbia. We recently signed up for Groupon and it was one of the daily deals (they also have a site called The Point for group actions/campaigns). Every day Groupon sends an email to subcribers with a hugely discounted deal for a local business. When they reach the "tipping point" the deal is on and everyone who purchased gets a coupon. It's a great way to explore and support the community. It was a lot of fun to experience Granville Island that way and get to taste many of the local products as well. Yum :)

I've always been known to eat "bird food" or "rabbit food" but much prefer the label... RAW. I've been eating more and more raw food... since starting the garden a few years ago and since eating less and less meat. How I love to be able to walk out to the back yard to get some fresh vegetables :) Also love the energy and vitality from eating more "real" food. Lately I've also started looking at raw food restaurants, etc. and found a great one in Vancouver. While out that way for the Granville Island tour, I made my first visit to Orgainc Lives and fell in love with their food and service. The restaurant is also a store, a catering business, and an educational facility. It's a large wharehouse style building with a small seating area (simple tables and chairs). Next door is an educational room.  The kitchen takes up most of the space, which hints at where top priority is, and it was palpable when the food arrived.  The food smelled and tasted delicious and so fresh. Cold tortilla soup was amazing. Many of their products can be bought on-site or online, so I bought some snacks to take home as well. They barely lasted through the next day lol. Now as I write this... the online store is calling, but I'll be out there again next Friday, so I'll stock up then lol. Their raw macaroons were the best I've ever tasted. Mmm...

If you're interested in going more RAW, check out these great sites...  Raw for 30 Days, Vega,  The Best of Raw Food, Gone Raw, or Supercharge Me. An entertaining/humourous site about raw food to check out... http://www.sexybitcheslikeitraw.com/

Definitely a core asset to eat plenty of raw food and to buy locally.

PS. I still eat meat occasionally... mostly fish and eggs. The elk pepperoni at a butcher in Granville Island was super tasty though. Reminded me of eating game, that grandpa had hunted, as a kid... along with vegetables from their garden. I know, I know... Bambi... but they do live a much better life than most cows, pigs, and chickens that end up in the grocery store. Most days I'll take almonds or beans over the mammals anyway.

"Pay it Forward"

You don't pay back a favor, you pay it forward. ~ Movie: Pay It Forward

Yesterday was International Pay It Forward Day. I hadn't planned on it, but as I began centering my yoga class last night, I had them pay attention to left and right sides of their bodies. The idea of left as feminine/receiving and right as masculine/giving came to mind, and I was reminded that it was Pay It Forward Day (I had heard about it from Facebook). The theme for the class quickly became giving/receiving and paying it forward.

What a great variation to the idea of re-gifting ;)

My paying it forward story from yesterday is this... I helped a lady carry some stuff she couldn't manage from her car to her apartment. I was immediately repaid by a helping hand as I carried things to my own car not ten minutes later. Love the way the Universe works :)

I'd like to keep the "ripple" going by offering a free, one hour, yoga therapy session to the first person to comment on this post and share a paying it forward story. The session will be held at either location of Kula Yoga , so the closer you live to Port Moody or Coquitlam, BC the better. The session will be focused on the left/right split and help you become aware of any differences that may be causing discomfort.

Definitely a core asset... paying it forward.

"Playing the Edge"

In daily life, we tend to remain within a familiar but limited comfort zone by staying away from both our physical and mental edges.

Your skill in yoga has little to do with your degree of flexibility or where your edges happen to be. Rather, it is a function of how sensitively you play your edges, no matter where they are. ~ Erich Schiffmann

I taught a class the other day and asked my students to "be" the poses or the essence of the name of the pose. For instance in Cat/Cow (Marjariasana/Bitilasana), I asked them to be a cat with back rounded up to the ceiling and to be a cow with high hips and shoulders and arched back. Then I asked if they found it easier to be one than the other. "Are you fine with being a cat, but you don't want to be a cow? Notice that and see if you can be both." Later a student said to me, "you're the only one who can get away with saying, 'be a cow' in class." That made me laugh and appreciate my students for playing the edges with me.

Edges come in many forms... physical, mental, emotional, psychological, endurance, balance, breath, and more. They are the place before pain, a feeling of unease or difference, or an urge to avoid or become distracted. Edges change day to day, pose to pose, and breath to breath. I like to think of them as the edge of my comfort zone which can be found in yoga and in life. As I become aware of my edges, sit with them and gently lean or breathe into them in some way, they may open or change. This is a reason why yoga and life are never boring. There is constant change and always something to become aware of. With my Yoga Comfort Zone  there are beautiful paradoxes of stillness and movement, limited and unlimited, ease and unease.

I played an edge in starting this blog, starting my website, and when I became a Yoga teacher. Every pose holds a different edge. My favourite at the moment is the edge between silence and noisy thought found in Corpse Pose - Savasana.

Core asset... find your comfort zone and live on the edge :)

Where do you find yourself "playing the edge?"

Earth Day

I am sitting in the sun as I type this on Earth Day. I love nature and all it's beauty. I enjoy taking pictures of it... like the ones above. As I look out over my garden I am contemplating all the many ways the Earth supports us, but how do we support the Earth? How can I give back to the Earth the way she gives so freely?

Many people can attest to the fact that I'm a recycle nut. Especially those who've had me over and seen me recycle their garbage or take it home if they don't have the facilities :) I compost as much as possible (even when I'm away from home, scraps find a way back with me). I have used reusable bags for years and unplug everything that is not in use. However, this feels like merely reducing what I take or do to the Earth rather than giving back. The compost is "given" to the garden in my backyard, but besides that, everything else is just lessening my "footprint." 

As a way to give back, I'm planning the two classes that I teach tonight (Restorative and Hatha Yoga) around an Earth theme, using little or no electricity, and dedicating both to focussing awareness on the Earth and our impact. This reminds me of the Yama (external restraint or code of conduct) from the eight limbs of yoga... Ahimsa (Non-harming). 

Ahimsa is practiced in thought, speech, and action to both ourselves and others... including the Earth and the many other inhabitants.

This is how I will celebrate Earth Day today. As well as, reminding myself of this every other day when my mind finds fault with something I see or do. I give my awareness to the Earth today as well as my gratitude, appreciation, honouring thoughts, love, and... oh ya... kitchen scraps ;) The garden sure seems to appreciate that.

Very important core asset... Ahimsa (non-harming). For your abs... fill up on fruits and vegetables (rather than processed food), drink plenty of water, and take some time in nature today to calm your mind and body... which can reduce stress and Cortisol (the hormone that contributes to storing extra in the belly).

How will you celebrate Earth Day?

Two books I own...