Tag-Archive for » breath «

Nov
09

Children’s Meditation… Life Strategy.

meditation-kids_01

In a recent post I addressed, through the words of Deepak Choprah, the importance and power of meditation in enhancing the lives of our children.

Through meditation- sitting in stillness, engaging and developing the frontal portion of the brain, we encourage the best in who we can be:  compassion, empathy, love, and ultimately, happiness.

And isn’t that really what we want for our kids… particularly knowing that all the stuff (TV, video games, mp3′s and all the rest!) isn’t really doing it.  Ironically,  at least for my own kids, indulging in these pursuits as fun as they may think they are, tends to make them just plain unpleasant rather than happier!

For those of us who make a practice of sitting in meditation know what hard work it can seem.  And if it’s this hard for an adult how possibly can my high energy seven-year-old son manage?  Well, not on his own, that’s for sure…

“Thump… thump, thump!”

“What’s going on in there?”

“I’m meditating!”

Now, unless my child is gifted at telekinesis, somehow the school chairs came to be overturned with a cat cowering beneath for cover!

more »

Category: health, Kids, Meditation, Spirit, strength, surrender  Leave a Comment
Nov
02

Gentle-ness and Ease… Power in Listening

stream_01After a crazy Halloween weekend, with all of its various excesses, primarily candy and Fireballs (I did say crazy…!) I was eager for this morning’s practice knowing I needed it to clear the cobwebs.

Well, as eager as I may have been, the ol’ bones were not so.  The juices took some time to get flowing, the furnace some time to get warm and therefore the joints, muscles and tendons some time to let go and allow me to move, albeit slowly, through my practice.

What also took some time, was me convincing myself… or shall I say the gentle voice inside my head, when it was finally able to make itself heard over the mean, nasty critical voice inside my head, convinced me after several turns through less than energetic sun salutations A and B, that I could pull back.  That it was quite alright to take it slow.  Let everything move at a pace it- I- needed rather than that which I’d have preferred.

That takes some doing, I must say.  Outside of a vacation, and even then it can be questionable, what with all the activities we tend to plan… we are so not conditioned to taking a step back into ease.  Into letting our bodies say, through their tension and tenderness, ‘go gently’.  Closing the door to the judgment of our own minds and expectations and allowing quiet and serenity through instead.

We are far more inclined to push forward, ignoring the signs and twinges, in our quest for the ‘challenge’ that is often synonomous with yoga, and the ‘workout’ that yoga, in our 21st century fast & furious frame of mind, has become.  Also, as with many of us, I enjoy the feeling of pushing and challenging my body in yoga in the seemingly unlimited ways it can do so.  It’s an activity in which my body typically accepts, embraces and responds to pushing further… hence it’s one I enjoy the most.

But sometimes in yoga- as in life- the challenge comes in stepping back, embracing ease.  Consciously saying, and accepting- that with this general feeling of lethargy, I will pass on my powerful sequence today and enjoy some balance.  Perhaps, with this little twang in my lower back, I might better enjoy some gentle focus on the core.

I’ll revisit this all again in my practice tomorrow… but today I take satisfaction in having done it… and listened.

Category: health, Meditation, Practice, Spirit, strength, surrender  Leave a Comment
Oct
28

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, or Half-Pigeon… or, Blissful Agony

pigeon_01

Historically throughout my years of oscillating practice, the pleasure of Eka Pada Rajakapotasana- or One-Legged King Pigeon OR just plain ol’ Half Pigeon- has, quite frankly, eluded me.  In fact, more often than not, when given the opportunity to avoid it, I’ve been more than happy to do so.

Frog Pose: Mandukasana

I tend to be tight, tight, tight through the hips.  Hamstrings?  No problem… there’s nothing like the sweet surrender into a deep and delicious forward bend.  Shoulders?  Mmmmm… Eagle me, baby!  Hips?  Well… another story.  At a Boot Camp a few years back part of the evening practice required we remain in Frog Pose for a seemingly endless amount of time.  By the end of the week I had discovered any number of ways to support myself in the posture: blankets, blocks, complete and utter denial… let’s say, I really came to understand “going to my happy place.”

But, I digress… be these hips as they may, lately, and perhaps it’s a function of now being in an actual class where I am bound, gagged and manhandled more consistently encouraged into Pigeon, I’ve found a little more joy in this wonderful hip-opener.

OK… perhaps ‘joy’ is overstating it a tad, but I am definitely better able to embrace the discomfort a little more, breathe into the tension of the tendon and muscle, and allow some much needed open-ness through this tight area of the hips and groin.  Honestly, after squeezing out three over-sized babies I wouldn’t have thought it ever to be an issue.

more »

Category: Postures, Practice  One Comment
Oct
26

Sanctuary… Conveniently Squeezed into 2X6

yoga_001

As I resume a regular routine of practice- the autumn always seems the season where I am most prone to structure- it occurred to me this morning that, regardless the disorganization or mess surrounding me, on the mat, if I allow, it all seems to dissolve into the atmosphere.

Not having an appropriate space, or an appropriately neat and tidied space, has always provided me with a handy dandy excuse to sit around watching Oprah with a bag of Miss Vickies put off practice, often delaying it until the day just gets away from me and then it’s time for bed and I collapse into the arms of JayLenoDavidLettermanConanOBrianDailyShow a good book and off into dream land with noble yogic intentions for the next day, where FOR SURE I will tidycleanvacuumredecoraterenovate the perfect space to best enjoy my practice.

more »

Category: Practice, strength, surrender  Leave a Comment
Jun
04

Yoga For Kids? You Bet!

Those of us who know, understand and feel what yoga does for our own mental and physical health certainly agree that yoga can do the same for our kids… maybe more.

Category: Blog  Leave a Comment
Jun
02

So Angry I Could Spit… Where’s My Mat?!

angryThere are moments in this life… work-at-home husband, homeschooling the kids,  large dog, three new kittens, impending spousal unemployment (read: formerly work-at-home husband somewhere-on-the-golf course)… where the tension just seems to mount.

In mere moments, fear, frustration, and just the build up of stress and anxiety, plain and simple, yanks you by the sharp tongue, unwillingly of course, to that place where all bad energy resides and manifests in bad attitude, negativity and sometimes- ahem- just nasty, toxic interactions with those close to you (read: husband).

We’ve all heard the sage advice to ‘count to ten’, of course.  But my question, as the aspiring yogini I profess to be, is how can my practice enhance my ability to manage my frustration… retard my tendency to fly off the handle… or ease my propensity to suffocate on my anger in seething silence.

I meditate.  I practice.  But sometimes… sometimes… in the heat of the moment… is there something, yogically, I can draw on, to provide me with much needed support to get me through it without letting my anger undermine that which I am working so hard to control?

Or should there be?

more »

Category: health, Meditation, Spirit, surrender  Leave a Comment
May
27

Downward Dog-gin’ It!

Adho Mukha SvanasanaWould I be in danger of being stoned… or possibly flayed… right here on my yoga mat if I admitted I don’t like Downward Facing Dog?

Occasionally, in the heat of Sun Salutations, I find some solace in taking the posture… sighing into it… but then, remembering my form, back to work.

Unlike Savasana, where the work is largely mental, with a hint of the spiritual, for me, Downward Dog requires considerable effort on all fronts: the mental, spiritual and just downright physical.

More often than not, the sigh- upon recalling there is proper form involved- is replaced by an “Ugh!”, uttered through the exhausted heave of my exhale… followed by shallow, inadequate breaths… until, finally- yes, finally- I embrace my last inhale and take my steps, depending on my level of energy, my hop forward to the exalted release of forward bend.

But, here’s the thing:  Downward Dog is supposed to be a posture of rejuvenation… of healing and renewal!  If this is the case… then why, why, WHY do I dislike it so?!

more »

Category: Meditation, strength, surrender, Trends  Leave a Comment
May
15

Chocolate Yoga… God Must Be A Woman!

Look, I’m not sure I’m buying this trend exactly… but anything that involves chocolate warrants an open mind!!

Category: Blog, Eating, Just Crazy... In A Good Way, Practice, Spirit, Trends  Leave a Comment
Apr
27

The Positive Effects of Yoga on Body Image

For anyone who has experienced the power of the mind-body connection in yoga, the idea that yoga can have a positive influence over body image isn’ t really a surprise.  Truth be told in fact, for many, yoga is by its nature an effective facilitator for taking the focus off the body, and directing it towards the breath and inward.

OK.  So I may find myself, should I happen into an occasional class, perhaps a little self-conscious and wondering if the woman behind me is noticing my ever-creeping wedgie… but it takes but a brief re-direction, focusing the eyes forward and relaxed, gaze slightly downward, coordinating once again my movement with my breath… the breath… ahhhhhhh… the breath.  Later, wedgie.

more »

Category: Eating, health, Spirit  Leave a Comment
Apr
15

Looking for a Therapist? Try Yoga!

Living out in the sticks as I do, the choices are few and far between for yoga instruction, so retreats offer me the face to face guidance and feedback, not to mention valuable adjustments that are just not possible in my own living room, regardless who I’ve got playing on my TV screen.

However, as much as I love the retreats, inevitably the physical is inextricably combined with the mental, a fact I am never quite fully prepared for.   The yoga is often intense.  The body is challenged, stretched, nudged and eased into deeper representations of the postures.  But as the body opens, lengthens and surrenders… well, a whole lotta other stuff tends to emerge as well. Call me repressed… uptight, perhaps… even hung up.  As a reserved Canadian, I’ll accept each of them, because the fact is, while I wasn’t yet prepared or ready to see my growth on the mat translate to growth in other areas of my life, most of the other attendees were eager and ready to let it happen.

In amongst the fresh insights and perspectives, there were also tears, sobs and outright wails.  As one of only a few other repressed, uptight and hung up participants, I was without doubt, uncomfortable.  But, it was a real eye opener to observe how yoga could prove itself such an effective facilitator in profound awareness and change.

Whether it’s a retreat, a program geared to target not only the physical aspects of a practice but also the mental and spiritual, or simply a class, folks are finding healing on the mat in its many forms.  And, if you read on, you’ll find not surprisingly, that an entirely new brand of psychotherapy is finding legs because of it.

Category: Blog  Leave a Comment
« Previous Entries
Next Entries »