Abs and Asanas

What's Important?

2011-10-30T00:20:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-29T22:53:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-07-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-06-18T01:55:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-05-05T15:29:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-04-19T00:21:00.000-07:00

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.

Slow Down!

2011-03-31T14:26:00.000-07:00

A busy mind is a sick mind. A slow mind is a healthy mind. A still mind is a divine mind. ~Native American Proverb

Did you need the reminder to slow down? Because I sure did ;) The picture above was from my breakfast at Organic Lives last week. I definitely took the time to slow down and enjoy every bite. All raw... all delicious. Cinnamon raisin "toast", home-made jam and almond butter, fruit and a home-made chocolate. Divine :)

Today I decided I needed to write another blog post before this month is over and tackle (lol) many other things on my to-do list. Here's what I"m doing instead... this short post as a reminder to slow down and enjoy each moment. Then I'm going outside to sit in the sun for lunch before I head out to attend a yoga class and teach a couple.

This poem came to me last night before I fell asleep, so I thought I'd share.

Listening to the rain,

I find my thoughts are quite the same,

Pitter pattering on my brain

Like the drumming of the rain.

Seems to be no end in sight,

Nor a pause or flash of light,

Only the musical plight

Of the rain throughout the night.

I watch my thoughts start to wane,

As I listen to the rain,

And I hear in its refrain

Great beauty within the rain.

Core asset... slow down (in case you missed it ;))

Autobiography of a Listener

2011-03-18T23:48:00.000-07:00

It is when we are in transition that we are most fully alive.

~William Bridges

I'm not really sure where to begin here. I've been contemplating being in transition... again. As the picture above captures me transitioning into Mermaid (by Chris Mara Photography), so to do I find myself making my way into something different. Tomorrow I start training to become a Visiting Volunteer (what I've been calling a "listener") at Crossroads Hospice. I was asked to tell a little about myself and my journey and to have fun with it... so here it is on my blog... yikes lol ;) Comfort zone... must play the edge :)

So, I guess I start at the beginning... of my life anyway ;) Born the eldest, with three sisters, I got used to being a caregiver of sorts or a helper. My Mom is a nurse and would have loved if I had followed her lead there, but that was not for me. When I was a kid, I thought about being like my Mom, as I'm sure many girls do at some point. When I started working at a gym a few years back, I told her I wanted to help people stay healthy to prevent hospital stays, if possible, rather than work with them once they were already sick. Now I find myself about to embark on a different kind of caregiver path, plus being in a place of transition as I eagerly await my certificate from Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy.

At the same time that I was working at the gym, my Grandma passed in Crossroads Hospice. The people there were so lovely and the environment so supportive, that I felt drawn to give back in some way. It took me a few years to crystallize how, but here it is. Rewind a little bit... while working as a travelling sales/service rep., after leaving the gym, I was on a big reading kick. I would travel to many places in BC and stay in hotel rooms, where I would read many different books that I collected along the way. On one trip to Smithers, I visited the used bookstore (with a hippie feel and incense smell... side note... the books always smelled lovely lol) and found a book, entitled A Gradual Awakening, about meditation. I couldn't put it down. Stephen Levine, the author, is a meditation teacher and has worked closely with many who are dying and their loved ones. The way he spoke about dying and being with the dying was touching and beautiful in some way. Again I felt drawn to something that I wasn't quite sure of.

Fast forward to last year, when I started training with PRYT and found that same book on our reading list. I was ecstatic. Not only because I'd already read it, but because I would get to read it again and the synchronicity was beautiful. As I read the book again, I was reminded of the Hospice and promised myself I would look into it. When I did, I found the description of "listener" and decided that I would fit that role well... or it would fit me. So many times in my life, I've been told I'm a good listener (I'm sure there were times to the contrary, but enough to stand out). The whole idea of being a witness as a PRYT practitioner seems to blend so well with being a "listener" at the Hospice, so it seems perfect that I have just completed that training as I begin this new training. As a Practitioner in Yoga Therapy sessions, I'm a witness to whatever comes up for my client and I enjoy holding a space for whatever is being explored there through postures, movement and dialogue. As a Visiting Volunteer, I will be listening to those who are dying and/or their loved ones. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to do both. I have always enjoyed being able to help in some way.

Also, through PRYT, I learned a lot about myself (as self-exploring will tend to do) as I learned to facilitate self-exploration for others. Each session, assignment, mentor phone call and journal entry (plus more) became a tool in my "excavation" of my inner landscape. It's one of those bitter sweet moments as it comes to an end with my last mentor phone call next week :)

Sharing something from the Crossroads Hospice website that also resonates with PRYT and how I'd love to teach yoga and be with loved ones. This must be a core asset :)

COMPANIONING

Companioning is about honouring the spirit:

It is not about focusing on the intellect.

Companioning is about curiosity:

It is not about expertise.

Companioning is about learning from others:

It is not about teaching them.

Companioning is about walking alongside:

It is not about leading or being led.

Companioning is about being still:

It is not about frantic movement forward.

Companioning is about discovering the gifts of sacred silence:

It is not about filling every painful moment with talk.

Companioning is about bearing witness to the struggles of others:

It is not about judging or directing those struggles.

Companioning is about being present to another person's pain:

It is not about taking away or relieving the pain.

Companioning is about respecting disorder and confusion:

It is not about imposing order and logic.

Companioning is about going to the wilderness of the soul with another human being:

It is not about thinking you are responsible for finding the way out.

This is the End, Beautiful Friend

2011-02-28T23:21:00.000-08:00

That is happiness; to be dissolved into something

completely great. ~Willa Cather

Holy Crap! This is one of my favourite phrases and now a favourite cereal that I found at Planet Organic today lol. You may want to try it because it's that good as well as exploring some of the other things I'll be contemplating. This is the last assignment of my Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Certification :) Hence the title and my exclamation. The topic? Endings and beginnings and the last three Niyamas (read: observances and the second limb of yoga)... Tapas, Svadhyaya and Ishvara Pranidhana. I have been playing with these for this last packet since December. Together, these also make up Kriya Yoga: Yoga of Action. I'll talk about all these more later.

The ending is of course my certification, that this assignment completes, and the month of February. The beginning is March which always seems to hold new beginnings for me. These new beginnings include becoming a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Practitioner (I won't have to add "-in-training" anymore) and beginning training to become a "listener" at Crossroads Hospice (Tapas/Karma Yoga). Of course March also holds the Spring Equinox which is much anticipated. I love Twitterpated season ;) I hope you know what that means without needing to click, but it's a cute video. Tapas as zeal and igniting the inner flame comes to mind here and of course Love.

Though all seasons are lovely for it, Spring is especially lovely for Svadhyaya: Sacred Study. I find nature so fascinating and I can get lost in it for hours. I find the same thing with yoga, reading, photography and introspection, which can all be part of Svadhyaya. Yes this makes me a yoga nerd and I'm always proud to admit it. PRYT training has been quite a lot of study, both of self, the Sutras and others. It adds another layer (not sure how many there are yet lol) to my yoga practice as does Ishvara Pranidhana: Dedication to the Divine in all. With this, each breath becomes divine, each time I place a hand, a foot or a finger and every posture or sensation. Within sessions, I see "the third thing" that shows up to guide the outcome or the postures, words, silence and much more that will arise. I must pause here to teach a class, which I hope will celebrate all of this with me :)

INTERMISSION.... ;)

What a beautiful class! An incredible celebration of yoga and life. I'm so blessed to practice yoga with such an amazing Kula (community). Gratitude to all who were present! This was the kind of Tapas: Zeal and Sincerity/Service that I adore. I find every class and every session that I give to be service... unless it's not ;) I trust that they are in some way. Yoga and Yoga Therapy have a way, like life, of giving me the things I need, the mirrors that help me grow and the inspiration to keep going. Do you find the same?

Yoga of Action includes the same ideas in another way. Tapas as Karma Yoga: Selfless Service, Svadhyaya as Jnana Yoga: Knowledge and Ishvara Pranidhana: Love and Devotion. When I am conscious of all of these or when I let go of judgment, ego or anything else that may get in my way, I find a bliss, a deepening and a love of all things. This is difficult to put into words but playing with these aspects has changed the way I may see many things and has deepened my appreciation for nature. Uh oh, I'm already considered weird or interesting for the amount of attention I give to small things especially in nature ;) I love to let the Divine in all touch me and remind me that everything is connected in some way, that wisdom can be found in a body, nature, a seemingly difficult situation and everything else and that I can always choose my point of view.

Though it was a lot to choose three Niyamas instead of just one (how does that show up in my life? ;)), it was also a blessing. I love that yoga is so much more than just Asanas or postures. Though the body and postures are where so much can be found... the combination of all else adds those beautiful layers... like a rainbow. The Yamas and Niyamas are definitely the first two limbs before Asanas for a reason. I'm excited to continue to play with all of them. Thank you PRYT for the Svadhyaya and so much more.

Time to celebrate again and that is definitely a core asset ;)

Amazing Sutra book containing the quote I brought to class today... "The body itself is to reveal the light that's blazing inside your Presence." ~Rumi

If you're interested or curious about Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy please send me an email (alissa@kulayoga.ca) or comment here.

Yoga = Life

2011-01-31T23:55:00.000-08:00

It's not your job to like me... that's my job. ~ Will Blunderfield

The picture above was the first sunset of this year at the inlet near my house. The quote I found today. Both bring me a smile, joy and peace... very much like yoga. I'm writing to practice for the many assignments that will be due in February for the completion of my certification in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy.... or maybe to procrastinate on the one I should be writing ;) Actually I just needed to write something other than a report right now and clear my head a bit.

The reason for the title is all of this. Yoga truly is life and life truly is yoga. What I've found on the mat transfers to life and what I find in life transfers to the mat. Yoga is union. Not in the way of uniting with something or causing two things to unite, but, as Michael Stone puts it, "the recognition, in the present moment, of the unification of life."

One of the ways I see yoga within life is through edges. In life I find edges and get to choose how to be with them. I could avoid them, get upset about them, push through them or play with them to find out what they may hold. The idea of my comfort zone, in yoga and life, is that when I step to the edge of it and see it as play, I find ways to grow and expand, maybe new ways of being and often liberation of some kind... perhaps from limiting beliefs.

Bringing this all to the present moment, with the assignment that I have due on Wednesday, another "surprise" assignment and all the rest that is to be done this week, I am watching my thoughts and choosing how to play the edge of "can I do it?" From here I get to see that I can. I already know this and once it's all done I will have expanded my notion of my abilities. This happens on the mat when there is a posture that holds the same edge. With both, there's not really a "problem" which is how the mind will sometimes look at edges, but more an opportunity. It's not the end of the world if I don't get it all done or if I don't achieve a posture, only another layer of edge ;)

Core assets... yoga... 'nough said :)

Yoga = Self-Love

2011-01-11T23:46:00.000-08:00

Yoga is self-love. ~ Swami Dayananda

On this day of oneness, I was inspired when I found the quote above in my yoga meditations calendar. This easily became the theme for three of my classes today. The fourth class was Yoga 101. I have a set theme of awareness for the first day of this class. I see these two, self-love and awareness, as blending very well. In order to offer self-love, I must first be aware of when I am not and how I can offer it to myself. An awareness of how each thought, action or word feels for me brings a realization of which is loving.

I love to watch students progress from their first yoga class to many and see the awareness grow. In myself I have seen the way I would sometimes push myself into a posture for the sake of getting to where I thought I should be. Now I see that I take my time and offer my body space to explore each posture in the way that feels best in that moment. If my body says no to something in some way, then I lovingly back off and accept where I am in that moment... knowing that it changes, sometimes within a few deep breaths.

I find that when I gently enter a posture and take the time to let my body adjust to it, my body is much more likely to go deeper into the posture or at least to enjoy where it is. With force comes reaction or counter force. Since mind and body are one, it's best when they both agree about where to be. Oh how this can be brought off the mat in so many ways! I love yoga for that and so much more. For the self-love that it is I am grateful. Which reminds me... with all the teaching today, I have yet to find my own practice. A gentle bed-time practice will be my act of self-love tonight. Tell me what you love about yoga :)

Core assets... self-love and awareness... in no particular order.

Aparigraha - Abundance

2010-12-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-05T23:49:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-30T17:35:00.000-07:00

'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

2010-08-20T03:18:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-08T23:19:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-07-05T23:58:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-17T01:14:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-13T22:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-10T01:06:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-03T23:55:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-05-25T04:25:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-20T15:10:00.000-07:00

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"

2010-04-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

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"

2010-04-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-07T23:28:00.000-07:00

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.

Reflection

2010-03-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

Only in quiet waters do things mirror themselves undistorted. Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world. ~ Hans Margolius

Yesterday, I finished Level 1 of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Training. What an amazing journey into myself and into a beautiful modality for serving others. Tomorrow I begin Level 2.

As I reflect on what the last week has brought me, I'm extremely excited for what is to come in the next week. The awareness and focus of breath, body, mind, and spirit and the "witnessing" of others through that process is profound and opening to say the least. I will be sure to write more on the conclusion of Level 2.

Michael Lee, the founder of PRYT says, "I developed a modality that would facilitate a journey toward the discovery of one's unique being and honor it's uniqueness in a way that would be more inviting than threatening." His ideas are brilliant and his book, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy: A Bridge from Body to Soul, was insightful... check it out.

Beauty

2010-03-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do you see beauty around you? Are you awed or "stopped in your tracks" by things you see throughout your day? Can you see the beauty in your self? In others? I have been contemplating beauty, even more so, since reading an interesting book called Care of the Soul.

Thomas Moore wrote about "the World's Soul" and how noticing beauty in nature, art, and even inanimate objects is part of caring for our own soul. He also says "Care of the Soul is not a project of self-improvement nor a way of being released from the troubles and pains of human existence... [but] honoring its expressions, giving it time and opportunity to reveal itself... "

I read back a few posts to where I had mentioned seeing beauty everywhere as a core asset. Let's go deeper. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who has ever looked at myself as needing improvement ;) It feels so much better to think, instead, of bringing out the beauty that is already there or uncovering the beauty from the layers of masks or "veils" placed over it. What if we looked at everything that way?

Yoga can sometimes become, just another self-improvement tool. While improvement and yoga are beautiful things, if the beauty inherent in myself is denied, it can become a daunting task or a fad, like other forms of exercise and diets (for example). Again, baby steps come to mind and seeing the beauty in each small change or the acceptance of what is while enjoying the journey.

Like the rainbow that we can not help but stop and admire. Like the sunset, sunrise, a baby, and great art... look for the beauty in yourself and everything around you and take a moment to let soul be revealed.

Go on a treasure hunt for beauty in life and in your yoga practice.

7 Colours

2010-03-17T16:51:00.000-07:00

"After the rain comes the sun.... seven colours carved across the sky... " ~ Lost Witness (7 Colours)

I parked my car in the driveway, after driving back from Kula Yoga at Austin and the bank, in the pouring rain. As I got out of the car, above the direction I had just come from, I saw a spectacular rainbow and a second "faded" rainbow above it (as seen in the picture above). Immediately, I felt a sense of peace, like the calm after a storm, wonder, and awe. I was reminded of the importance of choosing to change perspective. As I was driving, the rainbow was hidden from view above me. The rain was blurring everything but the brilliance of the sun as it peeked through the clouds, near the horizon, on it's descent. Once I was out of the car, and looking in another direction, there it stood in all it's glory. Makes me wonder what else could be missed when only looking one way.

Later, I began contemplating the feeling the sight of the rainbow had stirred. What does a rainbow symbolize?

Promise? Hope? Beauty? Reflection? The reflection of beauty from something that may ,to some, be considered less beautiful or ugly? Simply the refraction of light off water? The spectrum? The colours of the chakras talked of in yoga philosophy? I decided to look up rainbow symbolism. Maybe all of those plus more :) What does a rainbow symbolize to you?

To me, it stands for peace and hope through the "rainy" periods of life. A reminder of choosing our perspective and the seven colours symbolize unity.

Abs

2010-03-09T15:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite ab exercises of all time is laughter :)

The only time I would suggest exercise until pain is... laugh until it hurts. Besides being great for our abs; our face, heart, lungs, and disposition get a great "workout" as well.

Laughter is an instant vacation ~ Milton Berle

Another favourite exercise, of course, is yoga. Many of the postures target the core. Also, focussing on the breath and drawing the belly up and in, while engaging the pelvic floor on every exhale, adds an intensity to the practice and can cause every posture to become "core work". In yoga terms... this would be Uddiyana Bandha and Mula Bandha, respectively. This also helps to bring awareness to the breath, as well as the core, and is useful in preventing injury.

Of the yoga postures, Navasana (Boat Pose) is one I often choose for its core benefits.

Laugh, practice yoga, and breathe... rules to live by ;)

Happy Day

2010-03-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

As my niece celebrates her fisrt birthday today. "Happy Day" Tiana :) I am reminded of the other new beginning last year.... I became an aunt. Watching all her firsts this past year has been entertaining and educational for all of us. For instance... there is such a thing as too much of a good thing... such as icing...

There's also good reason to sometimes take baby steps as you learn. Yoga is a good example of that. If I push myself too hard or try to progress too fast I may hurt myself or, at least, become frustrated. If, I take the time to feel into my body as I open up in different ways, I am more likely to notice my "edge" and coax it to move rather than pushing through it.

Watching a baby learn and grow can teach compassion for the "baby steps". I can turn that compassion towards myself as I learn and grow in my own way. When I watch new students take those baby steps, that bring so much excitement, I am inspired and excited myself to see how they change. In that, I am reminded to notice my baby steps and where they have brought me and continue to bring me each, happy day.

Core assets... make each day a "happy day". Find your core and your edge in your baby steps and watch out for that icing ;)

Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

2010-03-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

As I prepare for my first class in the newly renovated, second location of Kula Yoga, where I teach. I'm inspired by another new beginning. The new studio opened yesterday as well... adding to the synchronicity.

I attended a class this morning and enjoyed the view of raindrops pitter-pattering on the window while standing in Mountain Pose, Tadasana. Ta Da indeed :) The new space is beautiful and has a great feel. I felt on top of the world with the view (on the side of a mountain overlooking others and the river), the energy of a class well led, and the tingly sensation all over. Maybe a little from the head rush of coming up from forward fold as well ;)

I'm planning to take some pictures of the new studio to post. Perhaps I'll get one up of myself as well.

Core assets.... see beauty wherever you are and enjoy the headrushes when you can. Let your exhales find your core and hug it. Stand in your mountain of beauty and smile :)

Ta Da!

New Beginnings

2010-03-01T21:06:00.000-08:00

For the past three years, March has been my month of new beginnings. This blog is now another.

Three years ago it was a break-up that led to a quick gathering of essentials to move out, question life, and, thus, begin a spiritual journey. This new journey began with a lot more yoga and reading of everything from relationship advice to an incredibly funny auto-biography by Dennis Kaye about his life with ALS (entitled Laugh, I Thought I'd Die) and, of course, many yoga-related publications.

Last year I became a yoga teacher. That was a beginning that led to, later that year, leaving a regular job to pursue my dream and passion.

At the end of this month I am starting Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Training. To say that I'm excited and grateful for this "journey" would be an understatement. I love practicing, teaching, talking, and reading anything to do with yoga. The benefits of yoga for mind, body, and soul inspire me to share that with others.

"Core assests" are physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual all rolled into one. The "yoga butt", calm mind (or "yoga mush brain", as I lovingly call it), and joy that can be attained through continued practice and self-discovery are but a few bonuses.

Would love for you to join me in exploring life through yoga for abs, asanas, and the rest of our "core assests".

To new beginnings...