What's Important?

Core: the central, innermost or most essential part of anything.

We were asked to bring something important with us to Sadhana (spiritual practice) and, though I won't be there, I wanted to share what I would have brought. My Core. The reason why I entitled this blog Abs and Asanas is because both yoga and core (physical and otherwise) are essential to me in my life (ok, so I also liked the sound of the title and have been given the nickname "Abs" on a few occasions ;) but I often have an assortment of reasons behind what I do). What I hold to be the most important and the most essential part of me is what I carry around on the inside because it's what carries me. While I acknowledge my feet for doing an awful lot of carrying, there is something much deeper that really gets me going.

At the core of who I am is Love. It guides me even if it's fear of not receiving love that jumps in once in a while. I'd wager I'm not the only one who could break it down to this.

One of the most important goals in my life is that I make a difference in some way. Hence, becoming a yoga teacher, then a yoga therapy practitioner and an advocate for reducing, reusing and recycling ;) The little things add up in my books and so I can be very detail oriented at times and concerned over the whys and hows of what's going on. If I give my attention to something, you can bet I am contemplating many different directions to come at it from, concerning myself with how I think I could best be of service and chronically self-aware-ing all over myself along the way. Any more Vata anyone? ;)

What I like to call my core assets (what's most important to me) would include: Authenticity, Awareness, Ahimsa, Beauty-seeking, Comfort Zone edge surfing, Compassion, Connection, Empathy, Fun, Gratitude, Growing, Inspiration, Learning, Listening, Making (and hopefully) Forgiving Mistakes (goes with the learning), Simplicity and Truth. There are many more but sleep is also a core asset, which would be Self-Love. As the time shows, I'm still working on this one as well as many others. This is what makes my journey itself one of my most important assets. I'm grateful to have shared a piece of my journey.

Love and hugs,

Alissa

Ahimsa - Love and Reverence

I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.  

~Arthur Rubinstein

Disclaimer... this post contains mention of violence and feelings ;)  It was also written over a month ago but c'est la vie. 
 Ahimsa... the first Yama. Also known as non-violence or non-harming. I've come back to it as of late... wondering where it may take me. Today I came across it in, what seemed like, a novel way. In order to explain it, I feel the need to tell a little background first. For much of my life I have denied being "girly" (there are, of course, underlying reasons for this that I will not go into here). I have chosen things that were sometimes considered more for guys over things that girls may be more likely to do. For instance... I chose throwing a football around over doing my nails; weight training class in highschool over some other elective (though I also took sewing); watching football over whatever else was on; buying and driving a baja bug (meant for off-roading) rather than a "sensible" car; learning how to weld, and fix said baja bug (see pic below) rather than, again, caring about fingernails, hair, clothing, makeup, etc. plus many other ways I decided that "guy stuff" was much more fun than "girl stuff" lol. I like doing what the guys do and being strong, independent and able to take care of myself in many ways.  I would rather go for a hike or throw a football or frisbee around then fuss over my hair. Having said all this, I do enjoy cleaning up and putting on a dress once in a while (see pic above lol) and I see nothing wrong with others "fussing" over whatever they want to, I may just choose something different sometimes.

So, back to Ahimsa... I had an interesting reminder of how I may cause harm to myself without realizing. There are the obvious ways like physically and mentally "beating" myself up in some way (on the mat or otherwise), but there are many more subtle ways. Denying a part of myself is one. On occasion, when I have been "one of the guys" and focused on my masculine traits, I may forget or deny my feminine traits.  It's not usually a good idea to deny a part of oneself ;) It can turn up to bite us in the ass at some point. For me, it shows up as sensitivity. Emotions remind me that I'm a woman. Very often I would rather be strong and independent than let someone help me or treat me like a girl. The other day, while I was out walking with a friend and we climbed up on something, he offered me a hand up since he got up first. I let him help me and realized I usually make sure guys know that I can take care of myself lol. This felt much better to receive his offer rather than deny us both the chance to experience masculine and feminine qualities enhancing  and supporting the other. 


Another way this has caused me harm (and even violence) in the past is that when I allowed others to treat me as though I was hard rather than soft, I got hurt. I won't go into much detail here since it's in the past, but I'm still learning from harmful situations which means they have benefit and I have a choice in what perspective I take. At some point, I chose a way of being that was a reaction to these situations that served me for a time, but is no longer appropriate. So, I share what I am learning to let go of. In some way, a little bit of my independence for inter-dependence among other things. 


As I read over some of what I've written here, I see a lot of obvious points and part of me wants to not share all of this. However, putting it into words on a page make it stick a little more. I have learned that I enjoy finding more balance when it comes to my masculine and feminine traits. I can go out and get dirty, be strong and still be soft and put on something pretty once in a while lol (besides living in yoga clothes). I can be independent and still receive support from others. I can hold both "sides" in love and reverence and choose which one is appropriate in any given moment. I do not need to be strong all the time. I can also be very feminine and still be strong :) No, I did not just figure all this out, but I did have a few things hit home in a new way that is mostly for me to play with. I do hope by sharing these small pieces of it that I trigger something in someone else as I was triggered by a few key things in the last little while.


Core assets... Ahimsa, honouring every trait.

Thank You

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. 

~Meister Eckhart

If bears are grateful, I'm pretty sure this little guy was. Mama bear and two cubs have been roaming the neighbourhood lately and I'm grateful for being able to witness them... even if it means a bit of cleanup afterward ;) I realize the implications of bears in garbage (or compost in this instance), but I love that they grace us with their presence and I normally lock the containers. I am grateful for the amount of nature that surrounds me here. I'm sure they will be off to hibernate soon.

I'm also very grateful for two other animals that are gracing my life lately. I'm dog sitting my Uncle's two 10 month old pugs for the next two weeks. Cute and hilarious are both understatements when it comes to these two (Doug and Stewie lol). We walk down to the beach and back numerous times a day and I giggle every time at the sounds they make, their exuberance and the way they walk together, pee together and sometimes run into each other while doing either. We'll go for one more walk tonight and I'm sure they'll have me laughing again. I'm finding so much gratitude surrounding these little bundles of grunting fur. They are cuddled up at the moment sleeping off an active adventure at the dog park, but we'll go for one more round of neighbourhood territory marking to make sure we get through the night ;)

I'd like to offer gratitude out to many other sources right now as well. Thank you to my family and friends for adding love and joy to my life and experiences to enjoy and/or learn from. Thank you to the community that surrounds me at Kushala Yoga. Thank you to all those who have graced my life with their presence for days, months or years and all the growth and learning, laughter and tears that has accompanied that. Thank you to mentors that have been or are part of my life. Thank you to those who I have found it hard to be grateful for at some point for the gift that brings (perhaps later than expected). Thank you to Nature for all it's beauty and to Life for all that it offers.

This could really be a long list, but I'll end as I've always ended any gratitude list and say thank you for everything. As the quote points to, Gratitude packs quite a punch ;) and is often said to be one of the most important practices to remember and live by.

Core assets... Gratitude (so big it may call for another post). What are you grateful for? 

Karuna - Compassion

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. 
~Dalai Lama

I would have to say my cat practiced compassion in letting the squirrel eat his food while he sat by and watched ;)

I would also say I practiced compassion this morning when my body decided it wanted an extra hour of sleep, a salt water gargle and a honey lemon tea to soothe a sore throat and what could have turned into something more had I pushed myself to go to the yoga class I had planned on attending. My friend practiced compassion in understanding and being open to me visiting with her later in the day when I felt more up to it. She's a fellow yoga teacher and I love her.

Compassion is definitely a practice. Like yoga. The mat can be a great place to practice both. Meaning "co-suffering," there is love in compassion. Not that we literally suffer with another (although perhaps in some way), but that we feel empathy for their suffering and wish to alleviate it in some way. Sometimes that is in simply being with them in their suffering until they alleviate it. Same goes for ourselves. I find compassion for myself by giving myself room to heal, rest, breathe, experience, feel and live... all the while being there for myself. Compassion for another would be holding that same space for them. So, though I may want to alleviate their suffering, in certain instances it is only them who can truly do so and be empowered in that doing. I feel that holding a space for that is often the best that I can offer rather than thinking I know what is best for them or how to alleviate their suffering. Of course, if it were someone needing to be fed or there was something I could share that would benefit them or they simply needed someone to listen to them, I could offer  that with compassion as well.  


It seems we all suffer at some time or another in our lives (sometimes by our own hands or mind) and so the more I find or practice compassion for myself, the more I can find or practice it for another and vice versa. 


How would you practice compassion for yourself or another?


Core asset... compassion and knowing the difference between that and care-taking in a way that takes someones power or acts as if they don't have the capacity to care for themselves (unless they actually don't).

I Love You!

Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.

~Rainer Maria Rilke

I love you! Yes you! Whoever you are, reading this, and everyone else for that matter. This may sound strange and it may be judged and I love you for that. My mantra lately (word or phrase repeated, internally or out loud, as if a prayer) has been "I love you." The idea for this stemmed from a video by Tommy Rosen that I had the pleasure of watching the other day. He had a different mantra and I played with it for a day and started losing the words after a while and questioning if I was saying it right (I had achieved my first concussion a couple days before while practicing yoga too close to a table lol and so I think I may have still be shaking that one off). Instead of going back to the video to check, I changed my mantra to something that I knew. I love you! I was internally repeating it to myself and to everyone and everything. I played with it in a few classes that I taught, offering it to others to try on, and it continues to feel stronger and stronger for me as I breathe it in and out. 

It feels good to say it. I love you! If you don't agree, try it. Comment all you want. I love you! I want everyone in my life to know... I love you! Sure I sound sappy and any number of things you can think of to call me, but I don't care... I just love you and I'm happy to hear what you have to say.

To everyone who loves me... I love you! To everyone who dislikes me... I love you! To everyone from my past... I love you! To everyone in my present... I love you! To anyone in my future... I love you! To anyone I felt hurt me at some time... I love you! To anyone I hurt... I love you! To anyone I passed on the street... I love you! To anyone who has ever smiled at me... I love you! To anyone who has ever frowned or made any kind of face at me... I love you! To the guy who insulted for me for no apparent reason as a teen... I love you! To anyone who has complimented me... I love you! To anyone who feels less special because I love everyone else... I love you! To anyone who would rather I didn't... I love you! To anyone who has ever made eye contact with me... I love you! To anyone who has avoided eye contact with me... I love you! To those who know it already and those who don't... I love you! To the deer that just walked through my yard... I love you! To the cat asleep in the other room... I love you! To the earth and all inhabitants... I love you! I really could go on, but I'll keep that to my mantra practice.

I want you all to know this is not the romantic or the conditional kind of love we may know. This is the unconditional, universal kind of love that has me realizing our shared qualities, our uniqueness and all the complexities that come with life. For judging me, I love you for being human. For smiling while reading this, I love you for letting it touch you. For not reading past the first paragraph, I love you for having your own mind and ability to choose. For deciding you want to read more, I love you for your spirit. For arguing with me, I love you for your ability to speak up. For agreeing with me, I love you for your ability to open up. For laughing at me, I love your humor lol. For shedding a tear, I love your sensitivity. For any reaction you find, I love your ability to feel and experience. For deciding you know why I may do this or anything I do, I love your ego or your ability to reason or make assumptions. For leaving it up to my interpretation or questioning it, I love your curiosity and wonder. For thinking I'm on some kind of good drug right now, I love your ability to fantasize and create stories ;) (I may be high on this love mantra, but that's all). For believing me, I love your faith. For giving me the benefit of a doubt, I love your compassion and understanding. For thinking me a goody-goody I love your ability to categorize and label. For seeing that I'm human, I love your clarity. 

I love our shared humanity. I love our ability to love and our ability to fear. I love that we can share "good" and "bad." I love that we hide and that we expose. I love what we share and what we don't. I love that we trust or that we doubt. I love that we are all one whether it seems so or not. 

Core assets.... Love. I love you!

PS. I'm nervous as I go to post this and so I love me for my comfort zone lol

Best Intentions

It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid and say the opposite.

~Sam Levenson

The picture above is of a sign that was outside of the yoga room  at Maya Tulum Resort while taking my latest teacher training with Amazing Yoga. I found it funny after we had a "dance party" inside the yoga room and even more so when I heard from someone in the other yoga room that they heard us while they were practicing... oops lol. 


Anyway... best intentions... I love playing with intentions in yoga... both in my own practice and in my teaching. One I've been enjoying lately is Simplicity. This stems from Saucha - Purity (the first Niyama in the eight limbs of yoga). I love finding many meanings for Sanskrit words and intentions or ideas. Many of us would translate or define words differently anyway, so why not play with many meanings and see what feels good. Saucha is often translated as Purity as in cleanliness of mind, body and surroundings. I love the idea of this being simplicity because it's a breaking down to the basics. Cleaning out the clutter, so to speak, not only externally but of the body, the mind, emotions and spirit. 


When I play with this as an intention, I get to simplify. Simply breathe. Simply feel sensations. Simply make a shape with my body and see what happens. No need to analyze, over instruct myself or others or take things too seriously.  Simply experience. Simply Be.

Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.

Mary Kay Ash

How easy it can be to complicate things. How often do I over-think, want something to be a certain way or strive for perfection. How much easier it is to simplify. Easier is relative. This can also be challenging. My mind may want to tell stories about everything that may be going on in the moment, in the last moment, what may happen in the next moment. When I simplify, there is only now. Only this breath. Only movement, sensation or stillness. Maybe all of those, but I do not need to add my opinion of them or conjure up some reason for why or how something may be in the moment.

Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. 

Chinese Proverb
  

I often close my eyes for most of my practice because it helps me simplify down to me on my mat breathing and feeling. I get to turn off distractions around me and really be present in each posture, each breath, each sensation. Especially since becoming a teacher, closing my eyes benefits my practice. Then my mind does not need to concern itself with what anyone else is doing or not doing. When I close my eyes it turns up my other senses. I hear and feel my breath. I feel sensations in my body. I notice my thoughts and get a chance to let them go. I can step into the flow. I can feel each posture rather than make each posture look a certain way. I get to explore a little deeper and simpler. I can move into a posture from the way my body feels rather than how it looks and really get to know my body.

 A story about keeping it simple...

Someone asked a Zen Master, "How do you practice Zen?"

The master said, "When you are hungry, eat; when you are tired, sleep."

"Isn't that what everyone does anyway?"

The master replied, "No, No. Most people entertains a thousand desires when they eat and scheme over a thousand plans when they sleep." 

While in yoga, simply yoga. Notice when you breathe. Notice when you move. Notice when your thoughts plan, reminisce, and create stories and come back to the moment. Clear out the clutter. Cleanse and simplify. See what happens. Perhaps try eyes closed once in a while and watch from inside. What starts on your mat can radiate out to your life. Enjoy :)

Core assets... purity, simplicity, clearing clutter.

What Do You Carry With You?

Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us. ~Oscar Wilde

While I sit in the Edmonton airport with my carry-on luggage, I am reminded again of the story of the two monks. I am on my way (in a few hours) to Mexico for a Power Vinyasa yoga teacher training. We were asked to bring a few quotes or parables that resonate with us. I chose this story as one and shared it in classes last week.


Two Buddhist Monks were on a journey, one was a senior monk, the other a junior monk. During their journey they approached a raging river and on the river bank stood a young lady. She was clearly concerned about how she would get to the other side of the river without drowning.


The junior monk walked straight past her without giving it a thought and he crossed the river. The senior monk picked up the woman and carried her across the river. He placed her down, they parted ways with woman and on they went with the journey.


As the journey went on, the senior monk could see some concern on the junior monk's mind, he asked what was wrong. The junior monk replied, "how could you carry her like that? You know we can't touch women, it's against our way of life". The senior monk answered, "I left the woman at the rivers edge a long way back, why are you still carrying her?"


There are at least two reasons why I appreciate this story. One is the reminder to let go of the past and the things that no longer serve me and the other is that there are sometimes exceptions to rules... And even vows ;)


What do you carry with you that it's time to let go of? For me, it was ideas of myself that may have served a purpose at some point but were ready to be put down.


Core asset... Knowing when to carry something and when to let it go. Like when to go carry-on ;)

Core Assets

To me, yoga is all "core" work which includes abs and asanas :)

Core assets...  Core: The central or innermost part. The basic or most important part. Assets: A useful or valuable quality.

This is an ever growing list for me, but I am reflecting on all the core assets from previous posts so far...
~see beauty wherever you go.

~enjoy the head rushes.

~make each day a happy day.

~find your core and your edge through "baby steps."

~awareness and shadow searching.
~Ahimsa - love/reverence, non-harming.

~hydrate.

~spend time in nature.

~find your comfort zone and "play the edge."

~pay it forward.

~eat raw food and buy local.

~stand together.

~decide what's really important.

~acceptance and letting go.

~respect the ocean and water.

~practice, learn and step out of our comfort zone.

~balance activity with rest.

~inspiration.

~listen.

~listen to your body.

~stay open to the possibilities in the journey of self-healing.

~take time to "digest."

~unite with yourself through yoga.

~Bramacharya - balance and moderation.

~Asteya - generosity.

~know when to let go.

~have fun!

~be direct.

~play with enthusiasm.

~Aparigraha - acknowledge abundance.

~self-love.

~yoga.

~celebrate.

~"companioning."

~slow down.

~live your dash.

~acknowledge.

~have tantrums when needed and appropriate ;)

~BE yourself :)

Another core asset... reflection. 

Add a couple of your own if you'd like. The list is nowhere near complete, as it's a lifelong journey... like yoga practice ;)

Tantrum Anyone?

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

So go ahead and have a tantrum if you want. I just did. Your turn... I'll wait...  Go for it... lie on your back on the floor and flail your limbs. 

How do you feel now? Better? Silly? Alive? Embarrassed by the look you're getting from the lady next to you? All good :) Maybe she needs to have one too. ;)

 I encourage it in my yoga classes as well. Location may be a concern sometimes. I'm at home alone and was feeling restless after too long on the computer, so it seemed appropriate and felt great. (Then I found that great T-shirt above when I came back and Googled tantrum, looking for a picture.) In the middle of the office or grocery store when the urge arises? You may want to wait until you get home, unless you feel like explaining it afterward ;) In a yoga class, it's fun when we all do it together... so far the only sounds have been giggles. If you need or want to wail in anger or sadness... again at home there's less 'splaining to do. 

Side note: crying in a yoga class is completely acceptable and more common than you may think... we're moving bodies which means moving thoughts and emotions, so there may be a release of some sort (yes farting happens too). Kids are smart to do it all at once and get 'er done :) Hence, why they can go from kicking and screaming on the floor to laughing and playing within minutes. I won't get into what an adult reaction brings into the mix... that's for other types of blogs.

Trying to sleep and feeling restless, thinking too much or moody? Great time for a tantrum. Kick the blankets off, beat on the pillows and get it out. Of course if you have someone beside you, you may want to warn them at least or ask them to join you... especially if there had been "words exchanged." It's kind of like Lion Face in the middle of an argument, you both may end up giggling (not to mention the stress relief and many other benefits). 

Still not convinced? Like everything... try it (at least twice if you did earlier in a crowded place or avoided that situation) and then decide if it's for you. Outside of your comfort zone? Perfect :) Definitely do it... every day even.

Core asset... Be Yourself and have tantrums when called for and appropriate ;) If you balance in Boat Pose at the same time you get great core work as well :)

Are You Happy You Are Here?

HOW DO YOU LIVE YOUR DASH
by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth…
And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars…the house…the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard…
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives

Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile…
Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

I was introduced to this poem in Hospice Volunteer training. It's interesting how much of an impact a few days of that has had on me. I suppose thoughts of mortality will do that ;) How are you living your dash?

The idea for the title of this blog comes from a book by Thich Nhat Hahn entitled True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart. One of his mantras has really touched me. It can be directed towards self, others, things and even parts of the body. The mantra is, "I know that you are here and it makes me very happy." Ideas like this have a way of finding a home in my classes. I offer the idea of playing with this during Savasana (final relaxation). Scanning through the body and saying to each part, "I know you are here and it makes me very happy." I believe the body loves to be acknowledged with loving thoughts as such. When I play with ideas like this, I am very happy I am here :) I'm also happy to hear your experience with this.

I believe that we all enjoy being acknowledged as the body does. It may even be a human 

necessity to be acknowledged by others and ourself.  In Yoga Therapy we acknowledge the client after the session for what they brought to it, for their work and whatever was present. I love this part because it's such a great way of witnessing someone... seeing them as they are in the moment. To acknowledge exactly what shows up, just as it is in any situation, is beautiful and feels so much better than judging what is and thinking of how it should or shouldn't be. When I am acknowledged, I feel seen, recognized and accepted. So, to you I say, I acknowledge you for being present here. Thank you for witnessing and any comments you may share. 

Core asset... living your dash and acknowledgment.