"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...

Awareness

When I am aware of who I am... I become more aware of who you are.

The second level of PRYT training ended April 3rd and I'm still reeling :) Third level starts in June and I'm more than excited to start, but enjoying letting the "dust settle" from the stirring up of some "stuff". Going through the training has helped me gain a greater awareness of who I am, why I do what I do, and where I want to go from here. It seems, when I look deeply within myself, I can see more clearly. I realize this is not a new concept, but it feels more solid now. As I see my shadow, I can better see my light.
"It takes compassion to accept being human and having every aspect of humanity within you, good and bad." Debbie Ford (Dark Side of the Light Chasers)

Core assets... awareness and shadow searching.

Share your thoughts. And check out this intriguing book I've been reading.