Inspiration! This is just simply beautiful…….
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Nov
18
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Lest I overstate how I feel about my first four days, I have to stress that my ADHD, crack addicted orangutan- I mean monkey- of a mind still prevails. My early morning thirty minutes is a virtual cluster f*# of to-do’s, did-do’s, oh sh*t’s, oh-god-i-forgot-to-do’s, WTF’s, and so many more wonderful distractions.
And I indulge.
But I still sit. I redirect. I bring my attention to my breath.
Over and over and over again.
While it sounds tedious, it has been a most pleasant space early in the quiet of the morning. Before the emails, the work, the kids, the noise… the chaos.
And somehow I’m energized first thing, better preparing me for the day.
And the nagging headache I’ve been waking up with? Blissfully diminished at the end of the half hour… despite the orangutan.
Category: 365 day meditation, gratitude, health, maybe, Meditation, Practice, Spirit, strength, surrender
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Nov
15
101 days since mommy’s last tweet… 101 days since mommy’s last post. Hmmmm…..
OK… so things have kinda been falling apart. Just a lil’ bit.
But inspired anew, with a tidy place to transform my butt-ugly-early mornings from groggily logging on to facebook- I mean, my email and other work related stuff- to something truly transformative. I’m turning to meditation to aid in persistent headaches, a pesky snacking habit and even more pesky weight gain… and really just an over-all case of the blah’s- physically and mentally.
I’ll let you know how it goes. Consider this a 365 Day Project of a different shade.
Forget New Years. Meditation. Everyday. Now.
Tell it, Senor Kabat-Zinn….
Category: 365 day meditation, Good Intentions, gratitude, health, Meditation, Spirit, strength, surrender, weight loss
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Jul
20
Over these past several years, I’ve dedicated more than one post to the wonders of Baptiste. I’ve read and followed his books, been to a Bootcamp (which I loved!) and generally, let the Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga dictate my practice for the better part of a decade… and love it!
However, recently, I’ve let myself succumb to the charms of another… whose methodology has opened a new door into a whole new way of practicing yoga.
Yes, I’d heard of him. I’ve even written about him here.
But… I’ll be honest, I never really took him seriously. What with the yoga competitions and all… he just seemed like just another egomaniacal one-named guru cashing in on the trend.
I mean, really.
But then, thanks to an extended trip to the city and the modern wonders of the Groupon… I received an offer I couldn’t refuse. An inexpensive opportunity to experience that known simply as Bikram…
And, lo and behold, I’m hooked.
The first class nearly killed me… sending me into a claustrophobic anxiety attack, gasping desperately for fresh breath in the suffocating heat- never has savasana been so welcome. But damn! Even after that first class I felt transformed.
Cleaned, pulled and emerged, not unlike the slimy pupa freeing itself from the restriction of her shell.
And sweat?! Holy moly… I felt purged from the inside out. All the yuck seeping out through my pores. Not to mention the 600 calories I supposedly burned!
And more wondrous, throughout the rest of the day, the experience stayed with me, so much so that I enjoyed a heightened consciousness and deliberateness in everything I chose to put back in, from food to media. Weird.
Everything about my day felt different… true renewal. A feeling I want everyday.
But alas… my return to the sticks. And trying to recreate Bikram on my own.
Apr
20
My office chair is HORRIBLE! It’s not unusual for me to hobble away from my desk, bent over like an old woman crawling out of a shoe.
Courtesy of RN Central, here are a whole bunch of great moves to keep you walking, straight and narrow, that you can do easily at your desk or in the office:
Even if you don’t think of yourself as a typical yogi, yoga can be a very beneficial addition to your day. Taking breaks at the office is integral to staying flexible and healthy during the day, and you can supplement your normal stair climbs or walk around the building with these yoga poses. Whether or not you’ve tried yoga before or have studied the health benefits of yoga, try to find a peaceful spot in your office to stretch, strengthen your muscles, and regain your composure.
- Side benders: The first pose on this video will stretch out your neck, core and back. Just remember to keep your shoulders back and chest open.
- Shoulder rolls: Even if you don’t think you’re particularly stressed at work, you probably hold a lot of tension in your shoulders. Roll them out with this pose.
- Chair Pose: You’ll only pretend to be sitting in your chair as you do this pose, which strengthens your thighs, hips and hamstrings.
- Neck stretch: Another technique to immediately release tension and help yourself relax is this neck stretch.
- Tadasana: One of the most basic yoga poses, all you really have to do is stand with your feet together, practicing good posture and relieving back pain.
- Triangle pose: Anyone can do this pose, and as you become more advanced, you can focus on opening and stretching your hips and looking up to your other hand.
- Big Mind Meditation: Sit comfortably on the floor in this pose to quiet your mind.
- Standing tree pose: This is a great pose to do at work because it centers your mind and body while calming your nerves and helping you de-stress.
- Chair Twist: Your back will get a good, strong stretch with this pose you can do in your office chair.
- Warrior II Pose: Get a good stretch while strengthening your arms, thighs and legs at the same time.
Category: Articles, Blog, Features, health, instruction, Postures, Practice, strength, yoga
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Feb
05
Compassion. Integrity. Cooperation. Hygiene. All important principles to living a full, happy life. However, in this age of technology, over-scheduling and increasingly interactive, realistic and solitary-bordering-on-anti-social pursuits such as computer games, XBox and facebook, increasingly difficult principles to nurture in our young ones.
And, if unplugging isn’t an option, maybe reconnecting our kids, and ourselves, to these human truths can be as simple as a story. These important messages have been conveyed through story-telling for a millennia. In regions of Buddhist faith, messages of Empathy, Consideration, Wisdom and Modesty have been passed on through the Jataka tales to help guide and govern human behaviour and develop the character of the people.
I found this interesting resource at BuddhaNet, a great resource for all information Buddhist… if you’re looking for a good way to introduce your kids to Buddhist – heck, healthy human!- principles, complete with easy to digest morals, HERE is a wonderful collection of translated Jataka tales to read aloud to your kids.
They are as simple as can be, some of them a little hokey to be sure- they’re fables after all!- but perfect for getting conversations started and kids (and us- ahem!) thinking!
Category: Good Intentions, gratitude, health, Kids, Meditation, reading, Spirit, strength, surrender
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Jan
26
With New Years resolutions already falling by the wayside, yoga studios all over are capitalizing on the lack of resolve by offering another chance for instituting change.
To get your sorry butt off the sofa stir the embers of motivation, perhaps a little challenge might be in order. The 30 Day Yoga Challenge might be what you- and I, Buddha knows!- need to be finding our way to the mat more regularly.
Beginning February 1st, we shall all commit to practicing every day. Every day. If you miss a day, it’s to be made up on the following.
Remember, it’s a Challenge.
Perhaps you find it easier participating with a class, such as that at Vancouver’s Yogapod, as many studios are offering such programs. The beauty of this is, of course, you can always do it on your own.
Choose your venue. Choose your style… and for heaven’s sake, feel free to choose the time of day and the length of practice that works best for your schedule. Keep in mind that this has less to do with the 30 days you’ve committed than to instituting real change in your life and health.
As I consider my own commitment, I know that here in the sticks I don’t have the benefit of a studio that can provide me with such a program. I’m on my own. With no one but my lone reader many readers to keep me honest.
30 days? Dare I say… I’m in?!
Category: 10 minutes to glory!, Events, Good Intentions, health, Practice, Spirit, strength, Trends, yoga
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Jan
18
Time spent in meditation is, by far, one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.
Many of us as parents, even those of us who appreciate meditation in our own lives, are hesitant to introduce it to our children.
We are intimidated by the prospect, knowing how difficult it is ourselves to find that often illusive place of quiet. ’If I struggle in quieting my own monkey mind, how can I possibly help my child do it?’
In truth, it can actually be easier. Consider how rapt your child is during story time. In that spirit, children are remarkably receptive to sitting in quiet and in peaceful attention. The perfect beginning.
Through guided meditation to start with, the child is better able to connect with that peaceful place within, losing themselves in the comfort of your voice or that of a recording, and the urgings of gentle instruction.
The benefits of meditation are immeasurable. As with adults, meditation is shown to reduce stress while enhancing self-esteem. It also offers a healthy means of relaxation during doctor’s visits, exams and in preparation for various sports events and performances.
According to Sarah Wood, a facilitator in child meditation, and author of the book Sensational Meditation for Children, teachers who build meditation into lesson plans report their classroom environments being more peaceful and attribute this to their students’ ability to express compassion to each other.
To help you get started with your own child, have a listen: childrengettingstarted
While it may take several sessions, any practitioner of meditation will agree that there can be no down-side to offering a child such an experience and the knowledge of how to acheive it themselves. Any time, any where. There is such valuable power in that.
For more ideas and resources, please visit Children’s Meditation.
For more information, read more at Suite101: The Benefits of Child Meditation: Giving Children Tools to Nurture Their Bodies, Minds and Spirits http://www.suite101.com/content/the-benefits-of-child-meditation-a22687#ixzz1BOorGkMd
Category: gratitude, health, instruction, Kids, Meditation, Spirit, strength, surrender
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Jun
26
Yoga isn’t just for your average Jennifer Aniston type body anymore. With obesity in North America reaching epidemic proportions it really can’t be.
But when self-loathing is such a fundamental part of day-to-day life, where do the plus-size go to enjoy the effects of yoga but would rather not have to stare into a size-4 behind for 90 minutes?
Unfortunately, there aren’t many choices. But, seeing the need, and knowing first-hand the difficulty, Texas yoga instructor Abby Lentz came up with a plan.
As an active plus-size woman, Abby knew the importance of not only a safe place in which to allow such physical vulnerability as learning postures in a body that would be perhaps less than receptive, but also founding principles that would facilitate participation. She refers to them as the Three A’s- awareness, acceptance and affection.
For people to start the program, and more importantly continue, Abby’s goal is to encourage women to accept and love their bodies NOW, not when they finally manage to lose pounds or shrink jeans sizes. It’s about influencing the self-loathing before the weight-loss.
Category: beauty, gratitude, health, Practice, Spirit, strength, Trends, weight loss, yoga
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Jun
24
The nice weather has finally set in and find myself enjoying running again. After spending the spring trying to get back into a regular routine of morning runs, there’s something about a clear, sunny morning that beckons… rather than the cloudy, rainy, windy mornings of April and May!
It can be tricky adding regular runs, that can last an hour or more, to an already busy schedule without compromising my practice. It’s all about remembering how integral regular yoga practice is, not only mentally and spiritually, but to the ol’ bod… that in these advancing years needs it more than ever!
Running is a sport that can, in fact, shorten and tighten muscles. Stretching is encouraged after warming up before embarking on the main running workout as well as after the run itself to ensure proper muscle recovery and prevent injury.
As we all know yoga enhances our flexibility, loosening, lengthening and strengthening with each posture, and for runners flexibility is key to preventing injury and allowing for full range of motion and increased agility. Where running works primarily the lower body and some core, yoga engages the entire body, strengthening other important muscle groups that ultimately serve to make a stronger runner.
Often runners fiind meditative benefits to their workouts. Their is a rythm in the breath and the pace that offers some element of calm and presence, though that is not the focus to running. Certainly, however, many runners are more likely to find diversion in their thoughts and music pounding through their heads from earbuds allowing the time to pass seemingly faster. Conversely, the goal of yoga is to quiet the mind and focus on the breath offering a different, deeper, level of meditation providing a valuable spiritual aspect combined with the athleticism.
If runners are looking for an effective cross-training option for their off-days, yoga is a superior choice targeting not only strength and flexibility but also a good semblance of peace, tranquility and quiet in an otherwise hectic day.
