yoga-blog

A new year for lasting change and happiness

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:19:48 +0100

A New Year for lasting change and happiness

At the heart of New Years’ resolutions and intentions involve change on some level, to increase strength, to be more balanced, to be happier, to lose weight, to start a new class, to be nicer….these all involve change. So how do you approach change? How does it feel to make changes in your lifestyle, lasting changes? These questions need to be explored before the intentions and resolutions can be set. It is one thing to throw around thoughts, and ideas of what we want to achieve and what we want to be, but it takes courage and perseverance to look inside and challenge our own beliefs and ways of living to make these changes happen.

My personal intention is to begin a 40 day openness and fearlessness meditation session that was given to me by an esteemed Yoga Teacher. As I already have a daily meditation practice the challenge is not so much doing the meditation, but doing the same one every day. As a Vinyasa flow yoga student and teacher, I love change, I love flowing in and out of poses, I love the organic, juicy and dynamic action of connecting breath and movement. This flow is a valuable part of growth and development, however, it is limiting. If we constantly move out of the first sense of discomfort, if we constantly fidget our way out of boredom, if we resist difficult conversations or people, how do we really grow?

It is through the dark that we find our light, it is through facing challenges that we learn more about ourselves. It is from turning towards the difficult people and situations and opening up with compassion as opposed to turning our backs and running away that we find our inner strength and fearlessness to change.

My challenge is to commit to the same practice for 40 days with the sense of fearlessness and openness that the practice suggests, opening to the challenges of being bored yet staying with it, of the challenge of commitment and discipline, and receiving the benefits of going even deeper into my practice, in a way that is not possible when I am always organically flowing from one thing to another.

I challenge you to also find something, maybe something small, like trying a food that you always thought you didn’t like, or spending a little more time with that difficult person/coworker and sending them compassion, or spending a bit more time in a difficult yoga pose before getting out of it or fidgeting.

Go fearlessly to your mat and in your life, and you may one day find yourself living your intentions and your resolutions!

Where do you spend your mental energy?

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:29:33 +0100

Where do you spend your mental energy?

Have you ever felt mentally worn out, burnt out or overwhelmed? When we let our thoughts run around, controlling our emotions and reactions, we can be exhausted just by our own mind. The quick fix is to tune out the thoughts, with different distractions, commonly tv, glass of wine, chat with a friend, adrenaline sports, texting, facebooking, overworking etc. But those pesky thoughts will only be on temporary hold, like hitting the pause button. They tend to come back when you try to get to sleep, or try to focus at work or worse, when you least expect it, like having an unexpected meltdown in the grocery store. Sometimes these chronic thoughts and repressed emotions, will physically manifest in different ways, showing up as a cold, flu, inflammation, digestive issues, anxiety, insomnia, etc. These thoughts such as worry, guilt, fear, relationship issues, difficult conversations, etc. often circulate endlessly like a mouse running on a wheel.

And what about our own self-doubt, inner critic and judgemental thoughts, how do these thoughts affect our wellbeing? How many times have you resisted joining a group, or taking up a class because you thought you weren’t good enough? That you might somehow embarrass yourself, or look bad in front of others? How many times have you responded to a compliment with a self-depricating comment or sarcastic remark? When is the last time you looked in the mirror and noticed only positive attributes?

When we waste our energy and effort on negative self-talk or repressing emotions we limit our ability to reach our full potential of fabulousness! We become exhausted in our own brain drain, which creates a terrible negative feedback loop with distracting behaviours and more negative thoughts. How does this help us thrive? How does this help us achieve our goals and become the best that we can be? Imagine the time and energy you are putting into self-doubt and putting instead into developing positive self-esteem and empowering yourself to thrive! Be conscious of the effects your negative emotions and attitudes have on those who surround you your family, friends and mostly your children. It is up to you to make a difference, to change the way you spend your mental energy, and to help your friends and family make the changes, too!

Gandhi says it so simply “be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Recently 3 women (Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Tawakkul Karman and Leymah Gbowee) were awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. I wonder if on their incredible journeys how and where they spend their mental energy, do you think they talk about whether they look fat, ugly or somehow inadequate? I doubt it. Karman is quoted as saying “the period where women were victims had ended.” Have you become a victim of your own mind? It is time to let it go, to transform the way you see yourself, inside and out, so that you too can be an inspiration like these beautiful women who have overcome so much to win the Nobel Peace prize.

“We will participate to create a new world that means peace, equal participation, love, helping and working with each other.” Karman

This process of love, peace and harmony needs to begin within, with ourselves, so that we can better share that love, peace and harmony with those that surround us. Be your own ambassador for Peace and Love, find the peace and love within by letting go of the negative restraints that hold you back. Make a difference, don’t let the people around you engage in negative self-talk, instead remind them that they are beautiful and perfect just the way they are.

Be patient, compassionate and kind as this mental shift takes time and perseverance to cultivate, but, it is possible by working with one thought at a time! Catch the negative talk, pause, breathe and switch the story to a positive one. Repeat.

Is there such a thing as an advanced Yogi?

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:50:08 +0100

Is there such a thing as an advanced Yogi?

A beginners mind.

Every time you step onto your mat, every time you interact with someone, every time you head into the world and take a deep breath is an opportunity to practice, and opportunity to let go and to open your mind to the possibilities.

It doesn’t matter if you have never practiced Yoga before, or if you are a longtime practioner, once you take a step onto your mat it is a new experience. With a beginners mind you have no expectation, you can be open to whatever the experience provides you. The longer I have been practicing Yoga, the more humble I become.

There is so much depth in yoga because as humans we have so many layers, the journey of self-discovery, the journey within is endless.

On your mat you could be in the most beautiful pose, but if your mind is competitive, gripping or judgemental are you really "in" the pose or are you just doing gymnastics, performing the pose? Most of what we do in yoga happens internally, therefore, can you ever be advanced? And if so, who is the judge of whether or not you are advanced?

How about we are all beginners, and we will always be beginners, because every time you reach a new milestone, whether you touch your toes, or you finally trust yourself to let go in savasana, there is always something else to explore, to play with, to dabble in. Because every time you come to your mat you are in a different space, mentally, physically and emotionally. You are never the same from one practice to the next, from one day to the next, from one moment to the next. Therefore you are always evolving, always changing, even on the subtle layers.

Let you practice unfold, resist the temptation to be "good" at yoga, and allow yourself the space to simply be. It is within that space that exists inner peace, clarity, and self-awareness or svadyaya. Allow the time on your mat to cultivate awareness, and with that awareness begin to let go some of the blocks, veils or duksha’s that limit our growth and development.

Be a beginner, with an open mind and open heart, smile at your wobbles and your imperfections, and let your practice unfold organically every time you step onto your mat, and into your world.

Sankalpa, setting intentions for the new year

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 01:33:46 +0100

1. Sankalpa for transformation:

The New Year is wonderful time to reflect on the past and set intentions for the future. In Yoga, intentions are referred to as Sankalpas. A part of the Yoga practice is about setting an intention or sankalpa for the practice, such as focusing on compassion, or your breath, or simply staying mentally in the moment. Intentions can help us focus on our goals, help us direct our awareness and attention to a common purpose. Many goals we set for ourselves involve some level of change within or without. Change is a natural part of our lives and our existence, yet, can be a very difficult thing to accept or incorporate into our lives. For example, common New Year resolutions’ involve getting into shape, eating better or being healthy and active. These are wonderful resolutions, so why do so many people set out with a good intention, only to fall back into old patterns? Change and transformation are challenging as they require a change at the deepest level, a change in habitual patterns. Yoga can help by practicing personal awareness with an intention through deep breathing, relaxation and asana poses. It is through these practices that we begin to see ourselves, to look within and see how we respond mentally to difficult situations, frustration, anger, joy, boredom etc. Once we see our own reactions and patterns we can start to make changes. We can choose to laugh, we can choose to let go, we can choose to show compassion. The power of Yoga exists within, the light is within, it is up to you to choose to peel back the layers and discover it for yourself.

The next time you practice, I encourage you to set your own Sankalpa and begin the journey within.

Why Yoga?

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:28:45 +0100

Why Yoga?

The more I practice and the more I teach the more humble I become to the vast expanse of Yoga. The name Yoga seems so simple, yet it is a complex, interwoven system that means something different to everyone. There are no requirements to begin a Yoga practice, there is no “one way” to practice Yoga, and everyone will experience different outcomes with their Yoga practice.

I liken Yoga to a maze. I visualize this maze to be a calm, serene environment where every turn leads to a new experience, whether positive, negative or neutral, a sense of curiosity and equanimity. Everyone can enter the maze at different “entrances” and take a unique series of twists and turns and explorations with no fixed goal or outcome.

When I began my first Yoga classes I was pleased with the physicality of the class, I felt proud when I could touch my toes in a forward fold, or hold tree pose without toppling over. The physical aspect of Yoga is a popular draw for many students. However, I quickly learned the humbling aspects of these Yoga poses. It doesn’t matter how strong or flexible you may be, most asana Yoga poses cannot be forced. They require a deep connection within, a strong base of alignment and a sense of ease and steadiness. My journey into Yoga started with the physical, and then the humbling aspects of the asana practice took me to a journey within.

Yoga will never be the same from one practice to the next as it is ever changing, flowing with your life experiences, connecting you, your body and mind as one. Letting go of expectations, allowing the practice to come to you and committing to the practice will allow you the space for greater depth and exploration into this diverse world of Yoga.

Yoga is more than a 1 hour asana Yoga class, it is a lifestyle. It consists of small, simple behaviors such as taking a deep breath when feeling overwhelmed, it is about finding a positive in a difficult situation, it is about reaching out to help someone, it is about finding compassion for others, for listening and thinking before speaking, about removing inner blocks and clutter and letting go of your “story”. Most of all, Yoga for me is the personal development, within and without, a journey with no end and no expectation.

And so it is….

Awareness

Sun, 30 May 2010 23:22:50 +0100

I recently read an inspiring quote from my new book "Meditations for women who do too much" titled "Awareness".
When I read this quote it seemed that the different things that I was teaching, practicing and doing in my life all came together. These actions became unified, or “yolked” which is the heart of the definition of Yoga. To “yolk” together, unite, unify as one. I sometimes refer to this definition of Yoga in my classes as a reference to unite our breath, body and mind as we practice. However, in this situation, the unity came a little deeper. In this sense, the unity was referring to the heightened sense of self-awareness to see our own true beauty, our own true potential and develop a sense of personal empowerment. In this quote the author, Anne Wilson Schaef writes “We keep ourselves so busy and so overworked that we do not have time to see that we are in a fog and searching for something of great importance.” Schaef continues “When we leave ourselves, we are more vulnerable to outside influences and less aware of what we really need.” This sentence in particular made me stop and think of all the youth I have worked with, and continue to work with and some of the choices they have made. As well, I see adults suffering from this vulnerability and sense of lack of control when it comes to addictions and/or cravings, relationship struggles, and personal struggles. In this way I see Yoga as serving a purpose beyond the physical, beyond the superficial and as a way to gain a greater sense of self-awareness and therefore a greater sense of personal empowerment and inner strength. The final line in this powerful quote reads “How exciting it is to begin to see the fog lift and to know that that for which we so desperately search has been there within us all the time. What I am looking for is not “out there.” It is in me. It is me.”

When I complete my yoga classes I finish with my interpretation of Namaste, “The light in me sees the light in you”. Where the light can represent whatever it is you may be searching for in your life; grace, compassion, forgiveness, happiness, bliss, joy, contentment, peace, understanding, serenity…. These qualities already exist within you. They are already there, waiting for you to recognize them and open up to them. However, these qualities may be hard to find, it may be challenging for you to go on that journey, start to clear away the mental and physical blocks and clutter that are masking these positive qualities. This is sometimes referred to as “Dukha” or a certain state of mind in which we experience a limitation of our possibilities to act and understand.

It is within our grasp to become more courageous and brave to begin this journey of self-discovery and self-awareness and begin to truly see our own potential. Allow your practice to be a time for healing, tuning into to your body and mind, increase self-awareness and cleanse your body of the physical and mental blockages that may be holding you back.

“I honour the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honour the place in which is love, truth, light and peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are one.

Namaste

Winter/Holiday Yoga Practice

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:46:46 +0100

Winter, especially the Christmas Holidays can be a confusing time, mentally and physically.
Naturally our bodies are designed to hibernate, seek calmness, self-awareness, and groundedness during the winter. However, as we have all experienced, the holidays tend to be a time for fun--filled, social activities which can leave us not only feeling ridiculously full, but also ungrounded. When we move into this unsettling place of ungroundedness we may show physical and emotional signs of unbalance such as anger, frustration, guilt, sadness, lethargy, and lack of motivation.

For many years I have felt these feelings during the holidays without understanding their root cause. I love to spend the holidays with friends and family enjoying a variety of social activities, indulging in all sorts of delicious treats and having alot of fun but I always come away feeling slightly uneasy, bloated, and looking for stability. This year I attempted to participate in social activities without losing myself in the process.

This year I spent the holidays with my family, a fun-filled, action-packed week indulging in plenty of food, drink and socializing. It was a wonderful time, and after returning from a long 7 hour road trip (winter driving) I found myself drawn to my Yoga mat and participating in an impromptu Yoga session. This session was completely and wonderfully spontaneous. Instead of developing a lesson plan, or thinking ahead of sequencing, or rehearsing mentally various poses I simply let my body flow, without a timeline or goal. I didn't light candles, or prepare my room in any special way, nor did I practice in any type of traditional flow.

In reflection, this practice may be one of the best practices I have ever participated in, if not the silliest for its lack of structure. I went from standing poses, to reclined poses and back up for Sun Salutations and seated and back to reclined with a whole lot of childs poses thrown in the mix.

When I started this blog I was thinking of sharing a traditional, reflective style Yoga practice for you to practice as we enter the New Year. However, after reading my own words on spontaneity and the joy in simply doing without thinking and planning, I recommend that everyone try to incorporate elements of spontaneity into their lives. Take a moment to reflect if that is what your body and mind are craving, or do a yoga pose outside, salute the moon with a moon salutation, or relax on the couch wihtout any guilt.

When we truly, authentically listen to our bodies gentleness and ease can be found. It is within these moments where we find stillness, the sense of joy and peace.
For me, this discovery comes from a place of spontaneity and so I welcome you as we enter the New Year and New Decade to practice more spontaneity in your life and begin to let go the feeling of losing control.
The moment you stop trying to get control over something is the moment you feel more control in your life.

I wish you all joy, ease and a sense of peace as we move forward into 2010, and hopefully a year full of spontaneity, and fun!
Namaste

Yogi Bear

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:47:50 +0100

My 1^st run-in with a black bear this season has helped me increase my self-awareness.

It all started last night after my SkiFit Yoga class, I packed up my things, said good-bye and headed out the door to my car. As I was unlocking my car door this man in a large truck stops and begins talking to me. At first I could not figure out what he was saying because my body went into instant “fight or flight”. It was dark, the street was quiet, and we were alone. Though I was in a panicked state I recall hearing something about a bear out back. I said thank you and proceeded to get into the safety of my car. But then, his words came a little clearer to me, “bear”, “back of gym”, “people in gym”. I tossed my things in my car and walked back into the gym to let the girl at the front desk know there is a bear out back and to be careful.

Self-Awareness lesson #1:

Years of training growing up in a big city has taught me to be distrustful of men in large vehicles stopping to talk to me at night, in a quiet, remote area. However, this situation occurred in a small town where people look out for each other. Feeling slightly foolish that my initial reaction was to “fight or flight” when the man was clearly trying to help. However, the adrenaline “wooshed” through my body at an unprecedented rate before my mind could stop it and say “its ok, he’s only trying to help”. Mind-body trickery clearly at work here. It makes me wonder if it is better to trust blindly or to respect instincts, even if they are sometimes wrong?

Back to my story. I enter the gym and as I go to talk to the girl I notice this massive black bear strolling up the hallway about 5 meters in front of us. The girl looks up to me and I am in shock, staring at the bear and I barely whisper “bear”. The girl looks up, sees the bear and has a much more appropriate reaction. She screams, loudly, then ducks behind the desk. Which actually triggers something in me to start laughing. So here we are, me laughing nervously and the girl screaming, ducked behind the desk. The bear looks up and looks like he clearly wants to have nothing to do with 2 crazy girls and a bunch of gym equipment. The girl starts to clap, yell and tell the bear to go away. Boy, is she ever quick. I am still frozen at the same spot, staring, mesmerized by this large, beautiful animal. Funny that I never felt in danger, only curiosity as I have never seen a bear inside a building before. He reminded me of my Black Lab, Yukon, only bigger. The girls reaction quickly triggered my reverie back into action as I joined in the clapping and yelling.

Self-Awareness lesson #2:

Strange, but ultimately helpful man stopping me in a dark, quiet street sets off my adrenaline in “fight or flight” with my mind racing of escape routes, however, a real danger from a Black Bear sends me into some kind of calm, shocked state. How is it that 2 very different events can trigger things in my body without any thought control. My body simply reacts to emergency (or perceived emergency) situations and my conscious mind has no input on the situation whatsoever. To me the bear seemed calm, curious, and actually really cute. I could see the fluffy fur on his ears and he had these big, smart eyes. I’ve actually felt more fear from stray dogs than this bear who seemed really out of his element. I almost felt sorry for the guy, especially watching him try to turn his massive body around a narrow hallway.

So to complete my story, the girl and I move towards the bear, but stop as we notice he is struggling abit with his lack of turning radius. He makes us laugh even more as he makes a 5-point turn almost getting his butt stuck against the wall and then goes to jog out of the gym. However, there is a blind corner in the hallway that leads to the exit door. I get the first wave of fear, the familiar “whoosh” of cold streaming through my body as I visualize the bear hiding behind the corner, ready to pounce on us (clearly seen too many movies). So the girl and I grab large, rolling recycling bins for protection and roll up to the corner, extend our necks to glimpse around the corner, and laugh with relief as we notice the bear is officially gone. We close and lock the door and proceed to let out all of our fear and amazement with a gush of laughter, hugs and a whole lot of OMG’s!

Self-Awareness lesson #3

I was struck by this young girls ability to react quickly to the situation, process the situation and realize this situation will forever mark the beginning of our friendship! I was still in shock mode, nervously laughing when this girl hugs me and says “now we are connected, now we have this amazing story to share and we shared it together!” Of course she is correct, it is usually these kind of big events in one’s life that stays in our minds, connects us with others and springboards new relationships. But I was still in “OMG I just saw a bear in the gym” mode, and she was already in “What an amazing event we shared together” mode. She is about 16 years old which also happens to be the gap in our ages, yet she was the one who handled everything with grace, courage and an amazing ability to react quickly to the situation. I learned so much from this young girl and it brought to me a new awareness that everyone reacts to emergency situations differently.

This seemingly automatic reaction to emergency situations makes me think of some readings from Eckhart Tolle about our minds being separate from ourselves or dualism. This becomes very clear in emergencies as you don’t think, thoughts become obsolete and basic at their very nature. In this way, our bodies move and act without conscious thought getting in the way. So does that mean our thoughts are controlling our actions in every day life- such as guilt, 2^nd guessing, fear? Or can it be the other way? Are we a slave to our thoughts, what about anxiety, depression, negative thoughts? Is it possible to step away from our thoughts, view them objectively and then let them go? This is the challenge in quiet Yoga poses like Savasana or meditation. Being an observer to our thoughts, increasing self-awareness and therefore bringing greater freedom into our lives!

Until next time, watch out for bears, observe their beauty from afar and take care!

Namaste

Off the Mat

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:41:32 +0100

Today will be a big day for testing my Yoga skills off the Yoga mat.
For all those challenging poses, or balancing poses, or simply pushing my body when it really just wanted to be in Savasana, those skills will hopefully help me through the next few days.

5 years ago I was in a serious car accident that left my body and mental well-being in shambles. Yoga helped me deal with the physical pain through realigning my spine and joints and also helped me deal with emotional issues such as frustration and anger. My body and mind are in a constant state of recovery. However, I have also moved into a world of appreciation for what my body can do now as opposed to what it used to be able to do.

My "off the mat", real-life practice will begin today with 2 flights to get me to Calgary. I will use breathing techniques, and try to be in the moment, even if something goes wrong. Once in Calgary I will get myself ready for my first Examination from the opposing Lawyers from the car accident. I will have to muster up all the courage and strength I normally reserve for arm balances and srong warrior poses to face the lawyers and their questions. I will attempt to take a deep breath, avoid getting emotional and stay grounded. It just seems so much easier on a Yoga mat than in real life. My challenge over the next few days will be to stay grounded, focussed, and in the moment. I have been waiting 5 years to face the lawyers and talk about my car accident. Now is the time and I need to be ready. To get ready, I will go to my mat and practice.

My Yoga practice today will focus on deep yoga breathing for clarity, grounding poses, and a few challenging poses to build courage! Today's practice will include fluid Sun salutations with plenty of Warrior poses, Trikonasana and Reverse Trikonasana. I will also have some seated poses such as Badha Konasana, and Dandasasa and of course a long, restorative Savasana.

I hope all my years of practicing on my mat will prepare me for this "Off-the-mat" moment.
Unto the breach....

Getting Started

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:44:59 +0100

Getting Started

I am beginning my online journey into the world of technology.
This blog will be used to share my ongoing developments in the world of Yoga and beyond.
I am looking forward to sharing different practices both on the mat and in life with you.

Today was a peticularly reflective day at the lake with my greatest Yoga teacher of all, Yukon. Yukon is my beautiful, gentle and energetic black Labrador Retrievor. His teachings come to me in the most unexpected ways. Perhaps that is the purpose.
What I noticed about Yukon today is his persistence and seemingly lack of boredom of the same task. We spent 4 hours at the lake and Yukon was content to dive for rocks the entire time. I convinced Yukon to come for a swim with me, but as soon as we returned to the shore he was back on task, picking out rocks.
Watching Yukon allowed me a chance to reflect on being in the moment. Yukon lives his life in the moment. He certainly doesn't spend it hoping and wishing for things to come. Yukon doesn't say "If only I had another toy, then I'd be a happy dog." Yukon doesn't dwell in the past or harbour grudges (not that I know of, anyway). Yukon is simply content to play in the water, digging out rocks, diving deep to the bottom of the lake, and paddling around.
If only we could all live in the moment. Maybe just for a moment. Taking a moment out of each day, taking a breath, not reviewing the past events, or preparing for future activities, but simply being in the moment. When you get there, what does it feel like? Is it a hard thing to hold onto, or does it come easily?
For me being in the moment is a constant pendelum swing. I catch myself daydreaming, thinking, considering what needs to happen and when, planning, organizing, reviewing, and then taking that deep breath, returning to the moment. I find it easiest to come into the moment when in nature. Today, swimming in the lake, there was no effort in finding the moment. I didn't have to think, plan, organize, I just swam. I swam far in the lake with Yukon which felt blissful and smooth and I felt connected to my best friend.
Take some time to figure out where and when you can find your moment, when you can still your mind, take that deep breath and just be. Once you found that see if you can go to that place, imaginary or physical to return to the moment. Soon, finding the moment, being in the moment will come easier and easier, and the pendulum swing will find its balance!
Namaste