growing loving-kindness

A wise shaman once told me to start each day by "bringing my full attention to my intention." By that he meant pay close attention to what you are actually intending to do with your time, energy, skills and love. The purpose is to fully engage in your destiny by choosing and creating specific patterns and thoughts.

The hook is to quiet the mind enough to notice our reactive nature and not react against our intentions.

In Tibetan language there is a word called Shenpa. Shenpa is the urge, the hook that triggers our closing down and separating. It's an addictive response that feels like attachment.

By pausing and bringing our attention inward and back to our positive intentions, we can learn how to unhook right at that moment when something uncomfortable is presented to us. We decide not to go crazy about it.  We let go of the rope and make peace right then and there. It doesn't mean we aren't confused, overwhelmed, angry or hurt. It just means we can sit back and let it wash over us without causing ourselves or others harm. Usually it wasn't that big of a deal and we forget about it quickly anyway. That's real "letting go."

If we start each day with the intention of not causing ourselves or others harm we are growing our practice of loving-kindness. This way of being is nice. It makes life more pleasant for everyone.

this day

invigorating spring practice

OM OM OM

Stand in Mountain until you feel within your body fully. Breathing steady.

Move into Tree pose balancing on your left foot. Let the Tree blow and move freely. Practice on each side with steady breathing.

Practice 6 rounds of Sun Salutations with steadiness.

Move into Crane pose balancing on your left foot. Then take Warrior 3 on the same side and fold into the Standing Splits. Take forward fold. Pause in Mountain and practice on the other side. Let your awareness guide you.

Bringing your arms into Chest expansion and then rising into Garuda on each side. Balancing without over effort and grasping. Keep it simple. Follow your breath.

Back to Mountain then moving into Triangle pose and Revolved Triangle into Pyramid. Flowing through a vinyasa and switching to the other side. Feel strong, steady and awake. Back to breath....

Squat and take Garland pose holding long enough on each side to open new territory....feel expansion and breathe into it.

Jump back to stick pose and hold for several breaths. Feel warm, solid and engaged. Move into upward dog and downward dog and childs pose. Practice several rounds of this.

Standing in Mountain step your right foot back and take Warrior 2 then reverse Warrior and vinyasa. Practice on each side like this twice.

Bring your arms up and move into powerful Warrior pose with grounded front heels and reaching fingertips. Breathing into your rib cage feel the space you are opening.Vinyasa afterwards. 3 times like this.

Step back into stick pose pausing then lowering to ground and move into Locust. Practice 3 times without hardening into it. Empty each exhale fully.

Bow pose next with a light lifted feeling. Sink your tailbone and lift your limbs. 3 times.

Sitting now with your legs extended forward take seated forward fold and breath your back lungs wide open. Stay here for awhile. Empty empty empty.

Roll to your back and take Happy Baby! and smile. Then knees to chest and smile again:)

OM OM OM

step out of blame

Notice what is actually happening when your reaction is to blame another. Pause for a few moments and feel the sense you have in your body. Blame is always a quick reaction that produces adrenalin and speedy thoughts. When we are in a reactive mode we aren't making mindful choices.

It usually arises when we are frightened, disappointed, feel rejected or hurt. The frustration and feelings it produces are very uncomfortable. We suddenly feel alone and disconnected from the whole.  It's not at all what we want.

You have a story about what happened, but that story is immediately suspect because in it, you are the hero. You use logic and reason, the opinions of others, support from friends or colleagues, to bolster your story. You are right!

But remember, when it comes to blame, reason is a weapon you use when you do not want to acknowledge your anger.

Or, depending on your predilections, you turn it around. You still have a story and you still have a privileged role, but this time, you are wrong. It's all your fault.

The first instruction says to lay all your problems, everything that is wrong in your life, at the doorstep of one pattern: wanting things to be different from what they are. Blame is a wonderful reminder here of how deeply you want the world to conform to your expectations.

The second instruction says to meet whatever arises. Don't avoid it, internally or externally. When things turn out differently, meet that situation, not the one you wanted or expected.

One last point. Blame is a form of mind killing. It reduces the complexities of a situation down to one emotionally charged point. It blinds you to the role of other factors. It provokes reactions that lead people to act against their interests.

Thus, when the blame game is running, stop. Stop right there. Step out of your story. Step out of your judgments. Step out of your obsession with who's right and who's wrong. Step out of your racing mind.

Take a breath and meet the world you are in.

 

yoga now and then

I was eating lunch alone yesterday and couldn't help but overhear a loud conversation between two people sitting very close to me. A woman was telling her friend how much she hated yoga. She spoke quite loud.  She went on to vent about her feelings with certain styles of yoga, stereotypes and "skinny" yoga people. Her friend responded with his own observations which were mostly negative. To me it was like being the ultimate "fly on the wall." I didn't really want to be hearing them but I was locked in by the fact that I had just started eating my meal, and I was intrigued by where this conversation was going. Much of what they said was funny. As a longtime teacher of yoga I'm well aware of the best and worst stereotypes.

Many publications such as HuffPost, Elephant Journal and others explore the ups and downs of yoga from all sides. Recently another "yoga celebrity" was busted for sexual misconduct. A well respected guru type is exposed for being a bit of a cad around women. Lots of negative press surrounding all of this. Shocking? Not really. Another story of a powerful man or woman getting lost happens all around us.

Teaching yoga is one thing and practicing is another. When teaching I take the role of helping others as a guide into the physical and mental aspects of this ancient practice. I want to encourage and keep it genuine. In my own practice I explore my human qualities and gain insights into what makes me tick including where I need to expand and where I feel most vulnerable. I can settle into my body and rest my anxious mind. I just want to relate to the practice as it unfolds.

Being a seeker has a downside. If one is always seeking the best teacher, the best style, the best of anything...where does it end?

Yoga has reached a saturation and maturation in American culture. We've morphed it, dissected it, disrespected it, capitalized on it and brought it to Wall Street. There is much good in the yoga of today and that is where I would like to focus my energy. As a teacher I choose to keep it real and stick to basics. I'm not sure I want to know everything that's going on "out there." It will be interesting to see where the next wave is.  Can you feel rumblings of a new paradigm?