“What does your label read?”

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON OCTOBER 21, 2012•

This was one question we had at our bookclub for “hand wash cold” by Karen Maezen Miller the other night.  The idea being that we forget how to listen to ourselves and know how to treat ourselves; sometimes we need the delicate cycle or hand wash.

Therefore someone asked the question – “what does your label read?”  I thought about it for a moment and remembered how I treat my labels.  Interesting enough I often cut out the labels.  First off they bother me when I wear the clothes and I like not remembering the size, where I got it and breaking free of what someone else was telling me to do with it.  I feel the clothing item is mine and that includes my own mistakes with it.  Interesting what that says about me though and that is just what I thought when asked this question.

I often find those who want the answers to yoga and mediation; are they doing it right, up to someone else’s standards, is it historically correct, and is popular?  It can often hold many back from yoga as well when they don’t feel they live up to the standards they have seen.  “I can’t touch my toes” “I’m not flexible” “I can’t put my foot behind my head.”

All my life I have welcomed the chance to know many groups of people, be open minded to other’s and know that everything I think I know will change again.   For this reason it didn’t surprise me to notice my answer to this question and that my yoga practice is this way as well.  I never consider myself as practicing one style of yoga.  I won’t call myself after a specific practice and I believe in mixing the great items from all of them to fit the day, moment or person.  I do the same politically though as well – I never associate myself with one party or belief.

How often can we say we treat our lives this way though?  I’m not saying having labels is a bad thing, however it isn’t the only way. Often we want to live our lives within the boundaries – looking for perfection or comparing ourselves so we can be accepted.   We live in this fear.  We seek the answers from others – doctors, lawyers, mechanics, teachers etc,  without trusting ourselves in the process.  At some point you have to take the responsibility and make your own decision – even if that means you make a mistake.

As Karen Maezen MIller says “our practice is with our bodies as they are right now”.  No other person can tell me exactly how something feels as we have different experiences to begin with.  We just have to take in all of the suggestions and decide from there what is right for us.

We have to recognize when the clothes we have need to be changed, have to be replaced and know that they served their purpose and let go of them so we can move on.  My practice isn’t the same as it once was and it shouldn’t be.   I always thought it was about applying myself to what I wanted, then living with the disappointment when it didn’t happen and trying it again tomorrow; always trying to get to a place that I once had or wanted.  Yet it isn’t that way at all. My practice from my 20’s is quite different from my 40’s and will change again in my 60’s (if I’m lucky).   My body and mind are different, changing and my practice should change with it as well.

So I guess if a label could be found in my clothes, I’d have to say it reads “One Size Does Not Fit All”.

Standing in someone else’s shoes

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON JULY 29, 2012• 

Standing in someone else’s shoes or as Depeche Mode sang “Try walking in my shoes”. Ok my foot is small so you may not fit, but the point is to see another persons side, life and experiences.

When I started teaching yoga I was amazed to watch faces of students practicing and knew that I could never tell from their responses if they were enjoying the experience or not.  Still it surprises me to have someone come up after a class and say ‘that was great’ or ‘wonderful class, I quite enjoyed it” when they were frowning, glaring or shying the entire time.

I’ve learned to move past that though and not take it personally as a teacher;  it just happens and often I find that the student just has something else going on. It occurred to me that as a teacher many may not ever know how or what I’m feeling either.  I believe that as a teacher I’m not there to reflect my problems however guide you in what you need right then and set the tone for the class.  Many times I’ve been tired yet chose to jump up and down,  get some energy and laugh just to  lift up the spirits of the room.

However lets face it as a teacher we are human.  I’ve often said to other yoga teachers that we should write up stories of the strangest experiences we have had.

I’ve taught plenty of classes while I had a migraine and amazed that just doing and not focused on the pain, that after class I was in less pain.  I sometimes teach back to back classes and although 15 min before the next class sounds like plenty of time, often I have questions from students, have the next class to check in and it means that I never get a bathroom break.  Just last month I was teaching and had to use the bathroom right as I was teaching the 2nd class and we had started our Sun Salutations.  Once I got to a place where I could guide them into Pigeon, a pose they hold for 3 to 4 min at least, I ran out to use the bathroom.

I taught a prenatal class once where one woman decided that the new pants she bought were just too tight and took them off to continue practicing in her underwear.  Needless to say I didn’t offer a lot of hands on adjustments to her that day.  I’ve lost my voice, had something caught in my throat and had a cramp in my foot and still taught through it.  I often teach after I’ve worked all day and sometimes don’t have dinner until late.  I know a number of times I’ve sat on the mat while others are meditating and tried to keep my stomach from making too many noises.

I haven’t had many situations where I’ve been stuck in traffic and late but I have had one where I allowed over an hour and was stuck in an unusual standstill on the parkway and there wasn’t any exit for miles.

Of course I’ve heard very funny stories from yoga teachers as well.   I’ll leave those to be told and shared by them though.

Point of sharing this with you was I’ve been on Yelp and reading comments and reviews; not just about yoga studios, but many businesses.  I don’t believe all the comments are a true assessment of a business though as it is easy when you have a negative comment to get on-line, judge and leave your opinion.   I don’t often see constructive criticism or suggestions.  I want to change that of course by encouraging more to go out there – take a few min and support a local business.  Pass on some positive energy.  Not saying that if you have a bad experience not to share it – but maybe before you write it  or share it, you can show some compassion and think for a moment that maybe, just maybe, that person was having a bad day or a strange situation as well. After all, the next time it could be your turn to have an ‘off moment’ and you’ll need someone else to do the same for you.

A day in the life

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON JULY 3, 2012• 

For the past year I have written up articles as it relates to experiences with yoga and I was reading over the various articles and then thought… would anyone even know me from these articles?  Yoga is about returning to the self and yet I find that I am very protective of myself and sharing.  I have my reasons though – like many – a lifetime of events, pain and regret have me picking those I am open with and share my true self with.

I often tell others that if you think you know me from my Twitter or Facebook you are mistaken.  I don’t think this is wrong though as I have often felt that social tools are useful however can’t replace really knowing or meeting others.

I started meditation long before I practiced asana though.  I was fortunate enough to be involved with a youth group growing up in my teens.  We would meet, discuss life, feelings, frustrations and close with massage and meditation.  I learned that through touch we can send energy to help each other heal.  I also learned what it was like to sit, observe and often escape circumstances in the present moment.    

You see I grew up in an an abusive alcoholic household.  My parents would fight often and mostly all night long.  If I wasn’t involved in my Mothers fights I would be in my room meditating to escape.  Between the awful things said in this environment, being hit or protecting my siblings, and having police come in only to look at you with pity, I found a way to escape.   I also knew that someday this would end and pass… and it did of course.  I knew that the only thing I could control was my reaction in that moment.

I never mentioned my situation of my life at home to friends, outside of certain discussion groups though.  Once I mentioned it to a close friend of mine in high school and I remember his reaction to this day.  As many yogi’s believe we are all injured though and I don’t think that I’m the only person with this story.  However I wanted to write about this to share as maybe someone else is having problems or can relate.

My sister and I often wonder how we turned out as we did.  Why is it that some turn into exactly what they dislike and become violent (to themselves or others) and others use it as an example of what not to do or be?

If you believe in past lives I think that some are just born into this world just knowing.   I certainly wasn’t told to do one or the other.  My parents didn’t practice meditation, yoga and didn’t eat well.  I believed then as I do now that our bodies are just a small part of who we are.  I knew that deep down under there was my true self and soul that couldn’t be touched or harmed by any outside source or person.  

Later I tried yoga. I started with a video and then went to an Iyengar class that I was was bored with from the start.  I remember the instructor telling us how she was injured and how yoga helped her though.  We then spent an entire class in mountain pose.  I appreciate all this detail now, however to a beginner it was lost on me.  Fast forward to a few years later when I was injured in a skydiving landing and had two broken vertebrae.  Took a long time to heal.  Bones heal fast but the muscles and emotional damage is still something I think you deal with a long time.  Once off the back brace, pain medication and able to return to work I remember my body didn’t  even know how to sit up, much less do a sit-up (crunch).  I returned to yoga and Iyengar class and have been with it ever since.  I have been fortunate enough to have studied with some amazing teachers.  I have taken and studied many styles now of course.   I’ve learned even more about meditation and watching the mind and its thoughts.

I turned to teaching yoga 4 years ago and wasn’t sure why I was lead to do it however with each direction I have taken it hasn’t been wrong. I stop, listen, make sure my ego isn’t involved, and just trust that the universe is telling me something.  I take pride in teaching beginners as I remember the mindset of them and I love looking across the room to see a face and expression of joy.  Not just in the position but in figuring themselves out – returning to their true self.  That place that is without harm, judgment, and is full of love and compassion.

My day with Tao Porchon-Lynch (Oldest Yoga Teacher)

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON JUNE 11, 2012• 

How can one describe all that this woman teaches, inspires and gives?  It is hard as you have to really meet her to understand.  It is kind of like looking at a car and loving the looks of it however there is something deep on the inside that many just don’t understand.

For those that know of her, they know that she is 94 years old, has studied with Iyengar and still does some amazing asanas.  Go beyond this and you find that she is what yoga is about – the true embodiment of yoga.  She is happiness and love.  On the day I met her she came into the studio and started hugging those who came to see her, even if she didn’t know them.  She was wearing her high heals that she likes to wear, especially when ballroom dancing, and had a black BeBe shirt on.  Tao has a wonderful smile and is soft spoken.

Once she starts teaching she mixes her lessons with wonderful modifications, stories that be can appreciated; as she mixes various styles from Jois to Iyengar.  She teaches from life so just when you think “I can’t do that” she reminds you that she has a pin on one leg and a full hip replacement in the other.  She goes on to tell you that while she was in the hospital the only way should could be released was to show them that she was ok.  They wanted her to walk the halls but she said “the people are depressing and they look like they are going to die”.  Instead she lifted her foot way above her head, behind her, and they let her go home.

Tao’s attitude is not to worry about age and not be told what she can or can’t do.  She isn’t worried about the future and isn’t living in the past.  When I attended her workshop on Saturday, she had already taught the day before at the Pentagon and was heading to Baltimore to teach all day Sunday.  Instead of focusing on the busy schedule she focused on enjoying the moment.

Tao taught in simple movements and yet had you thinking about it in a way that a student could apply and remember it on their own.   Yoga asana’s are from life so she starts by talking about her dog who each day would wake her and do his up and down dog.  In downdog she reminded us that a dog has 4 legs so have 4 limbs in this pose; separate the feet!  In updog lift the chest proud like a dog would be.  In Cobra she told us a cobra has a tail so now feet together and yet pull the chin back just like a cobra would be.  A Cobra snake pulls back to examine it’s prey.

In tree pose she quickly gave a modification to arch the foot instead of placing it flat against the leg.  You push the ball of the foot there but lift the heal up.  It engages the hip to lift and pull up.  Why?  She said otherwise the knee comes down and the only tree that has branches like that are weeping willows so lift up and be strong like a tree branch would.  I tried this and immediately found it uncomfortable but she came over, told me “yes, yes but grab my arm” and we did a partner tree pose together.  So I got out of my head and just moved which was so helpful to just go – just do, even if it was new, strange and hurt a little.  I can just picture her life in this way.

Her main focus was about lifting up and staying in line with the body.  Often in the poses we loose the line – keeping the arm long over the body and leg.  It is about pulling in each direction away from the center.    When she starts moving us into a flow she adds that yoga connects the mind and body therefore music is the connector to our soul.  Therefore she adds that we will be moving to some Argentine Tango music during our flow which was quite lovely.

At our lunch break I sat with her and asked her more about her dog.  She  said that when she had her dog and would go walking each morning there was a little sparrow that would come out and follow them around.  When the dog died for a month the bird would come to her when she came outside – just looking for the dog.  Therefore like all beings we can learn, be attached and love each other – even if we are different.

We started our day at 10am and went till 5:20pm (supposed to end at 5pm) but after a full day of vinyasa, openers and partner poses that included her sitting on my back in down dog, I was tired and was so happy to have a long meditation to close with.  Settling in to our close it was so easy to calm the mind – not just from the movement but from the environment; being surrounded in a room full of grace, love and compassion from everyone.

Tao has had an amazing life, full of places, people and adventures.  However not full of the ego or attitude that you may see with others who become recognized for their events.  Instead just as she pointed out, we are all unique, built different and are special.  Her strength, compassion, love and patience is to be admired and a guide for all of us.

Never one to just sit back and settle down she has a book and CD on meditation.    As she put it so well herself “I don’t have plans to retire”.

You are what you do

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON DECEMBER 28, 2011• 

“You are what you eat”.   Yes I’m sure we have all heard this before however need to be reminded.

Making the association from our aches and pains to what we are eating or doing daily is hard.  With our ever changing body we forget to change our life and habits with it.  Often I talk to those after yoga class who don’t understand why they have the pain they have.  They approached me with the pain  they had in class and want to simply modify the pose or stop doing that pose altogether as a solution.  I often stop them there to discuss why the pain is happening; always happy to suggest modifications.  Sometimes it could be improper form in the pose however in most cases it is external items they haven’t even thought of.

I spoke to someone recently who has had severe back pain for over 5 years and met with a lot of specialists and even considered operating.  He said he examined his life and knew he hadn’t updated his mattress in over 15 years.  He did this simple act, as he put it, and saw improvement.  Think about how you spend your 7 to 9 hours sleeping and if it is uncomfortable.  Now imagine getting a good nights sleep with your body and the state of mind you would have going forward.  He described it as simple act however it wasn’t even suggested by the medical professionals he saw.

Then consider how you sit in the car, office and stand waiting in lines.  In yoga class I often show how to “function in your life” off the mat so you can ease pain.  We are all injured and I am happiest when I see someone improve the function of their body, reduce pain and stress, etc rather than focusing on mastering a pose or position.

Besides the physical changes that can be made, we often forget the foods that will help us.  Berries and leafy greens help with anti-inflammatory issues. Ginger helps upset stomach or stomach-aches – either eaten from the ginger root or you can reach for Ginger Snaps or Ale.  Salmon, Walnuts and other Omega 3 foods also have proven anti-inflammatory effects.  I often suggest to those who have muscle soreness to take an epson salt bath and follow this with cold compress within the first 48 hours.  Epson Salt isn’t expensive and works better than the heating pad with muscle soreness.

We are heading into the new year and many avoid movement or start off hard only to experience pain and then stop.  We never stop to examine what is causing the pain.  This also includes looking at our worklife, people we are around and how we are living this life.  Change may have to be made and the body is just shooting out to please stop.

Stop and listen to yourself, body and mind.

“Om Bolo Sat Guru, Bhagavan, Qi Jai” – God is the only real teacher!

Less is More

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON NOVEMBER 2, 2011• 

We have heard it before and know that less is more however how often do we keep going back in our life adding more, doing more and pushing more, only be reminded that it was better to keep it simple?

Not sure where and why we adopt this attitude that if we just pushed harder we will see better results.  With that often comes injury, frustration and anger.  One of my favorite Yoga Masters and Authors, Max Strom has written on his blog that we often apply this attitude into every aspect of our life.  It isn’t bad to have it occasionally, however as he explains it is just like taking a hammer to your teeth; there is a time and place for it.  One of the best places to practice this is on our mat though and then we see how we think, act and behave.

I often see this in simple acts on the mat such as the forward fold; standing or seated – doesn’t matter.  Everyone wants to reach their toes.  Even though they have been told there isn’t any magic there by reaching the toes, that they aren’t a better yogi and that this fold is so much more than the legs -many still insist on reaching for it.  Pushing hard.  I often ask them in the standing forward fold to place their hands on the floor and even rest their chest on their legs.  To really feel the stretch in the hip, back, neck and let gravity to the rest.  Yet there are the few with the fingertips just hanging there in the air, even though I asked everyone to bend the knees to really feel the pose.  They want straight legs, they want to push and think that by pushing the hamstring somehow the hands will make it there.  Not realizing that what is really missing is the stretch and length in the muscles in and around the spine and hips.  They take the ‘hammer’ approach and push.  Some I see week after week and tell them to do this again and again; maybe not liking that they have to adjust or they feel weak compared to the way they wish they were.

Fact is though we often care so much about the way it looks or how it compares and again it is so nice to check in with that way of thinking on our mat and apply this to our life elsewhere.  Asana is there to teach us about ourselves and many times take us to a place we never knew existed.  Letting go of our ego mind and realize that the true self lies not in completing the pose with straight legs.  The real yogi is focusing on the breath, concentration, and feeling from within (mind and body) while moving in the asana.

I recently started therapy yoga training and even something as simple as lifting the arms up overhead has been different for me.  Usually I throw my arms up quickly reaching up to the ceiling.  Never noticing how the front chest gets tight this way.  Taking this training and just lifting the arms up with a gentle lift and keeping the front chest soft made a big difference.   Still lifting tall and noticing the deep breath into the lungs this way is a wonderful expression of pulling back yet seeing results in the pose.

I often watch beautiful asana poses in my Mysore practice; one’s I may never do in this lifetime.  I turn my concentration instead to my mat and feel my body today as it is, sometimes laughing, crying, offering what it needs in the movement, breath and meditation as well (not moving).  Reminding myself that what I did yesterday isn’t what I will do now or tomorrow.  It is yoga “practice” not “perfection”; therefore allowing myself the space to make errors, fall out, pull back or try something new.

Compassion – from the heart

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2011• ( LEAVE A COMMENT )

“Yoga is the Uniting of consciousness in the heart”. I often return to talking, reading and studying the Yoga Sutras. As much as I understand that many first come to the mat for the asana they often stay though for something much more.

When we realize that yoga is more than the physical body and study the Sutras we can take yoga into the rest of our life. Lately I have been drawn to talking about the heart and getting out of our heads and minds; think and move instead from your heart. When you use compassion, love, knowledge and wisdom you will find your choices become clearer in your life. “I abide in my own true nature – joy”.

Schools started the new season for many last week and like many rush hour traffic was increased because of this. I allowed extra time for this though however was almost at work when we were stopped by a school bus for a child boarding the bus. He got on while his mother was taking a picture; obviously it was his first day at school. He took a few steps and she asked him to turn around for another picture. That didn’t work, so she took another. It was at this moment that I was breathing and was trapped in my head and ego – “come on, some of us have to get to work!” Then I shifted my thoughts. Remember your first day of school? How many firsts do we get in life and get to remember them and enjoy? Remember going to school and not knowing what to expect and just being excited? Then I shifted my thoughts to the Mother. She must be hurting and will miss him a lot today. How often will she look at the pictures and send him love? As I watched them part I actually slowed down and thought “take your time” this is much more important. Compassion to their situation.

The fact that they don’t know of my compassion isn’t the point. It isn’t whether we will know them or not, or be recognized or noticed. It is again about getting out of our mind, the ego especially, and making our choices from our heart. It is my choice of how I react, and the mind is funny in how we get trapped into thinking things are a certain way. Thinking from our heart things become clearer and from a different perspective.

This is what Yoga is Uniting – our mind, body and spirit. Do you think it possible to get to a point where each day you could get back to thinking and acting just like a child going to school for the first time ever? No expectations, maybe a little fear, but joy at the unknown? Can you find joy, fun and happiness even in the everyday? Try showing a complete stranger compassion by just saying ‘hello” or offering a homeless person money without knowing what they will do with it. How about offering the person your space in line at the store even though you arrived there first. What about the person in traffic on their cell phone who just cut you off – without judgement – just show them compassion.

Balance

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON JULY 4, 2011• ( 1 COMMENT )

I witnessed today a very advanced student in a handstand who got very frustrated at herself.  She commented to her teacher that she was disgusted with herself and this never happens to her.  First I found it interesting that even someone in such an advanced pose could choose the word ‘disgusted’ and then it reminded me that even those able to do poses or asanas aren’t always practicing yoga.

We balance in yoga for reasons and I love to teach balances poses and remind those that the lessons learned are those we can take into our life as well.  You have to fall sometimes to learn to balance and just because you balance one day doesn’t guarantee you that it will happen the next time.   Therefore can you be present, right here and now?

This is a beautiful kind of self-love as well that is honoring you for the moment – the asana movement isn’t forced or hard.  If you believe in a higher being as well, mine is God, then I choose to believe that God isn’t just watching me – God lives through me and therefore how I act and react is a part of my practice – not only on the mat however in the world.  The balancing pose raises emotions and that is wonderful to watch see what happens – it can raise fear, anger and it is important to stop and observe why.  Maybe you can learn to laugh at it.

I don’t say this because I’m perfect though.  I think that the perception is that those that practice yoga or yoga teachers must be one of perfection –  far from that.   Even my own sister has commented on the fact that as a yogi, when I have gotten mad at something that I somehow shouldn’t be allowed this reaction by saying ‘how is the yoga working?’  I am not practicing yoga because I”m perfect and because I won’t have feelings – it is because I couldn’t be anyone else.  My true self.  Always balancing- not too much of any one thing in life and sometimes falling and observing and just starting over to get back to center.  Trusting that the answers come from within – from there it is never wrong and I never have to feel disappointed or disgusted.

A yoga teachers responsibility

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON MAY 30, 2011• 

I finished teaching at a gym I was teaching at for 2 years and received feedback from many of the students there.  Quite a few said that they really liked the spiritual aspects of my class and that I took the time to know each of them.  They said that other teachers didn’t seem to do this; they seemed to feel that some wouldn’t know them even though they have been going to the class for years. I’m not saying this is true however the perception is this.

This is similar to other feedback I receive when I hear at other classes from those who tell me that they really enjoyed the detail.  I know that many teachers simply focus on the asana and I know that for those just starting out at the mat the body is where it starts.  Some teachers I know don’t feel that many students want the spiritual aspects or they are afraid to teach it though.  Some also feel that the students lack an awareness so they don’t teach it; however how is a student to learn?

I do believe in teaching from the heart though and just being who you are – not worrying about who will be offended.  Just as when we were babies we wanted to simply crawl we didn’t know about walking or going further.  We needed help to see there was more.  Therefore as teachers I think it is important to remember the beginners mind, and tap into explaining the breath work, the mind and how to meditate.   Explaining the real purpose of yoga and allowing it to unfold – like a flower.  Not worrying about the sole reason they may have come to class – they will find more reasons they needed to come along the way they didn’t know about.

I find it a shame to attend class myself and see those yelling out to a teacher.   They haven’t learned to calm the mind and the teacher hasn’t taught them how to let it rise and fall.  This lesson isn’t something that goes away from the mat as well.   With so many people living with high levels of stress, sleeping disorders and the rise of anti-depressants or sleeping pills I can’t see why this part of the lesson isn’t being practiced as much as asana.

Underestimating that students want the full detail or full practice of yoga is a mistake.   The spirit, soul, body, mind – all parts covered.

Undoing Your Practice – Knowing the True Self

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON MARCH 3, 2011

Before many of my classes I talk and interact with the yoga students.   From those I have known and been teaching for a while, I really enjoy hearing and listening to them, their enjoyments, struggles and seeing if they are incorporating the yoga into their life over time.  For many it is still a very physical practice and even if they have been practicing for a long time they are disappointed that their body isn’t what it used to be.  Even though they so desire change they just don’t seem to know how to go about it.

For this month I wanted to write more on what the message of yoga is for me – especially this journey on wanting change.  As much as we may come to yoga as a workout, want to come into class with our expectations, agendas, goals -these are all fine and well – however they can hold us back and keep us confined and limited.

How can we work on this?  Two parts really.  One part is “letting go” and un-do -not so much do.  Our movement, asana, is there so we can watch, feel and understand between our mind, body, breath, spirit, why we are feeling as we are.   Asking in each movement if and why we are moving this way; asking if the ego is getting involved in our decision.   Or are we letting our body guide us into what feels right without pushing.   Some of the poses are called Warrior however instead of ‘being a warrior’ and going into our practice ready to battle ourselves, we need to be a soft beautiful lotus flower – let the warmth open us, when we are ready, and see the beauty from within.

The other part is noticing our own beauty; that which is our true self.   Not the titles we carry or the problems, achievements or other characteristics that we describe ourselves with.  Another part of the undoing is getting to this true self.  Not worrying about getting back to a way the body was – that was the past.  Or wanting to get to get into a pose or piece of clothing to loose weight – that is the future.   Just staying present and loving right where you are now.   Finally disassociating the action with yourself as well. Notice the next time you are moving in your asana if you are upset when you do a pose poorly or happy with yourself when you do it well.  See if you can simply do and separate the doer; the self from judgement – as it doesn’t matter or bring happiness anyway.

Perfection is not our goal – many times I often fall back into old habits, however with my practice I can catch myself doing it faster.   I can laugh as I’m driving and rushing to my yoga class worried if I’m going to make it and then realize that yoga never stopped or ended just because I left the classroom.  Even in my car I have to stop pushing, be present and “un-do”.  Enjoy what is right now and everything around me.  Just let it be.

Meditation - For Everyone

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON FEBRUARY 12, 2011

Meditation is an internal, personal practice which the practitioner trains the mind or self-induces a mode of consciousness in order to realize some benefit. There are dozens of styles of meditation practices which means that people associate different meanings to the word as well.

Often I am asked how to practice meditation, if they are practicing it correctly and others who just feel that they just can’t meditate at all – feeling they personally don’t have the kind of personality to practice this.

First of all Meditation is an exercise of the mind, therefore one must give it time, build upon it and everyone can do it.   So no matter which style you practice- watching the breath, focusing on a sound, visualization, or many other styles, you should just keep trying ones till you find one you like.

Why practice it?  Western medicine is still learning the benefits of this very old practice.  Besides the reduction of stress which alone has many health benefits, there are many more.  However just as when I teach chanting, sometimes you need to stop asking ‘why’, get outside of your head (the conscious part of your thought) and let go.  Just DO and see what happens.  Watch and see how you feel yourself.

Start with just a minute and work up a little more each week.  Find a place, time and method that works for you.   Be creative and watch what happens.  It is quite normal for your conscious mind to come back while you are meditating; we refer to this as the ‘monkey mind’.  Your thoughts will swing from thought to thought and emotion to emotion.  This is what frustrates so many who give up when they can’t focus.   Just notice it and don’t fight it.  Bring the focus back and tell yourself “Not now Monkey Mind – I’m meditating”.

Meditation is not a sleep however there may be points where you are so relaxed that you feel as if you are dreaming.  As you are still awake and just observing the body, that is exactly what you are looking for; watching and observing the subconscious part of the brain and thoughts.

A beautiful saying I have read is that Praying is like talking to God and Meditation is like listening.   Allow yourself the time to listen to the Universe – the rest of the answers will be revealed.

New Year 2011

New Year 2011

BY PAIGEDCYOGA ON JANUARY 27, 2011

With a new year brings in so many resolutions and desires for many. Many studios fill up with many new students coming, wanting to make some pretty big changes. It would be better to focus on smaller changes though if you want to really see improvement for the long term.

In the Yoga Sutras we learn that there are 8 limbs to yoga and asana is just one part of it. Therefore making your focus and intension to focus on something deeper and making smaller changes – will help your practice. Maybe this is missing from your practice now and that is what makes your yoga practice just physical. I had a student tell me recently she has been practicing for years and “is just stuck”. She felt physically stuck though.

BKS Iyengar writes in “Light on the Yoga Sutras” that a bird cannot fly with one wing”. Practicing and focusing on just the physical body is just that. By allowing yourself to go deeper it will allow yourself to be balanced and fly!

Often I experience students who have hurt themselves  – yes even in yoga you can do this. This can happen as we push and push ourselves into the ‘perfect’ position or pose.

Better to let go, not push and apply this to your life as well. It often frustrates people who come with an expectation with their body and thought they would be further along in their practice and not sure why they are where they are. As I told the student above “Ah that maybe the lesson”. Just like a bird that builds a nest, it takes each twig, string etc and builds it a piece at a time. Then if a storm comes in and blows the nest away, it must stop and rebuild again. Our practice isn’t always moving in a forward motion. Sometimes it takes steps backwards, forwards, sideways etc. That is the lesson and journey.

Take a deep breath, let go and see what comes from it. Something even more than you thought or could have imagined could happen by letting go.