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 ;)