the modern yogini blogs on

yoga and safety

2012-03-02T22:13:00.001-05:00

"Yoga has its origins in the search for the spiritual and in primordial questions about the meaning of life. The awareness that yoga is a spiritual practise whose roots are ancient gives our journey continuity, richness, and depth" -Esther Myers

"The problem with institutionalized yoga or textbook instruction is that the reality of a person's life situation is not taken into account...The key to right teaching is in the adaptation of yoga to the individual, not the idividual to yoga" - T.K.V. Desikachar

"Yoga is not a standardised practise" - T.K.V. Desikachar

Lately much is in the news about yoga and safety. I have sat with this topic for awhile, wondering if I should leap into the discussion, pondering how to stay politically correct, and I have decided I have enough to say to bring this topic to the blog. In fact, you may want to go and get yourself a chai latte for this one.

Foremost, I think when you put Yoga into a buffet of activities offered at gyms, and/or by people who are teaching a postural flow to students who want the physicality of a stretch coupled with a tinge of mind/body/spirit, the word safety SHOULD enter the conversation. Just as it would when you play any sport, lift any weight, run any trail, climb any mountain. Reducing Yoga, which began as one of the six Hindu philosophical schools, to just a physical discipline, almost makes it into a sport. Let's "do Yoga" rather than Let's "Be Yoga" reduces a lifestyle into an activity that you fit into a schedule rather than an ongoing meditation in motion.

The word "yoga" has morphed over time, and especially in the West. It comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning to "bind, join, attach and yoke, to direct and concentrate one's attention on, to use and apply". In this, its original sense, which you find in the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, it means joining the individual soul with the higher Self, the Cosmos/God/Universe; it is a mystical union, rather than a "I have to twist myself into this crazy form and hurt my shoulder" kind of union..So if you follow this, and are getting injured in a yoga class, something isn't right.

I always tell students, whether in a private class or group, that they should listen to their bodies. I give clear directions, like a GPS, but if these do not resonate with the student, they should follow their own path of comfort, and steady breathing. Asana should make you feel better, open. They massage the internal organs, detoxify our system, stretch out the tensions. But they are only 1/8 th of the equation. Sometimes I have noticed, people just want to put themselves in jeopardy, get an adrenalin rush, and that's that. I will never forget someone insisting I teach him/her the headstand. I said, "you have neck issues, it isn't for you. I am showing you alternatives" but that was not the answer that this person wanted to hear. Many times this happens. Students forget what it is all about, and jump in. That isn't listening to your body, that is listening to your thinking "gotta do it" brain. We are all on the path, but we may be different shoe sizes, take different strides, alternative directions. Honour yourself.

Challenge is great because it stretches us but comfort and safety should not be underestimated. They are the part of your practise on the mat that helps you make transformations, nourishing choices and heal off the mat in your daily life (which is really important!) So ask yourself whether what you are doing is helping to foster growth and happiness, compassion, patience. Are you less angry and anxious? Can you relax better during stress? Stress is an overwhelming phenomena, so you may want to ensure that you are learning to cope and relax more than touch your toes.

I have been teaching over 16 years, and studying for longer. If I ever go to someone's class, I ALWAYS tell the teacher that I prefer verbal to physical adjustments. Last year, at a workshop, the Teacher was showing everyone a pose and my body just said "I don't think so!" and when she came over I said, "thank you but it isn't going to happen for me like that", we laughed. Some years ago, I wanted to try a posture and I needed supervision so I grilled the teacher, "will you be there, do you promise?!" When I felt sure, I did it. I also remember a teacher completely dissecting my posture in a workshop over ten years ago. I came h-AUM to my mentor and just cried. I always feel safe with my Teacher with a capital "T". You should too, but with open and mindful eyes, and a healthy respect for your own instincts.

I will leave you with a few suggestions and questions to ponder. Safety is definitely something Yoga Teachers should put as a priority (may open a new blog for this later), but so should you.
-You are unique; three people in the same class have different needs.
-If you do Group classes, find one that feels right and stay present on your own mat.
- If you have any health concerns, are new to Yoga
or unsure about something, have questions, anything, take a private class or study privately
or if you go to a group class tell your teacher
- Are you going into a Yoga class with an old injury or weakness?
- Are you easily distracted and miss directions?
- Are you looking (secretly) to push yourself to the point of pain?
- If you practise on your own, are you organic in your flow, or do you do autopilot?
- A Teacher is a guide but your own knowledge and instincts should override outside directions and you can and should be able to skip/omit/modify/rest
- Go MINDFULLY, when in doubt don't, but go mindfully always
- Research...if your knees are stiff but you are dying to do the lotus pose, read and see if there are contra-indications (there are)
- Be prepared to take a more appropriate class, than the one 'everyone' is doing
- Embrace your experiences

Yoga is a system, not a sport; most people need enough physical challenge to heal a tense body and calm a busy mind...the path of moderation and meditation awaits you...

om shanty shanty shanty,
Rana

The 8 steps of YOGA (ashta-anga)

2012-02-26T08:48:00.000-05:00

YOGA: From the Sanskrit, “yug”, to join or connect, the state of the mind when it is still, a union of body, breath, mind and spirit….

HATHA YOGA: Consists of 8 limbs of practises which build one upon the other:

These 8 (ashta) limbs (anga) are cultivated with practise, progression, patience, surrender...in effortless effort one reaps numerous benefits in all areas of life; thus YOGA is a practical methodology for living a meaningful, happy and healthy life...

1. The YAMAS (how we relate to others: our actions/thoughts/speech)

AHIMSA (Consideration for all living things) qualities such as kindness, patience, tolerance

SATYA (Right communication) qualities such as honesty in behaviour and thought, integrity, sincerity

ASTEYA (Non-covetousness) not taking something that is not yours, reining in those desires so that you do not live in a constant state of unfulfilled desires.

BRAHMACHARYA (Moderation in actions) Not indulging the senses above all else, rather channelling these energies to cultivate higher states of consciousness, celibacy as a tool for self-discovery

APARIGRAHA (Non-greediness) Consider what are your true needs, as opposed to desires, instead of grasping, enjoy what you have.

2. The NIYAMAS (how we relate to ourselves)

SAUCHA (Purity) Cleanliness of body, mind, spirit, environment.

SANTOSHA (Contentment) Accepting the present, feeling satisfied with what we have in this present moment, to the extent of being peaceful but not complacent, when times are tough to be able to keep one’s equanimity.

TAPAS (Burning enthusiasm) Strong resolve and self-discipline

SWADHYAYA (Self-study) turning attention inward leads to self-discovery

ISHVARAPRANIDHANA (Celebration of spiritual) Surrender to a higher power, and knowing that this omnipresent force lies within each of us

3. ASANA (postures) yoga Asana is a posture where you are externally still yet internally alive. To take part in asana practise is to use your body as a doorway through which to experience and remember the truth about who you are. Since we have a body we have an opportunity to use it as a tool. From the Sanskrit “seat” the English translation “pose”, implies that there is a “holding”, an action that requires effort and mental presence. By holding an asana we can integrate the body and mind; the breath is the link between the two. In fact, more than poise or some idea of “perfect’ posture, the breath should always remain graceful. The posture itself, according to the Yoga Sutra which dates back over 2000 years, should have the qualities of alertness and relaxation

4. PRANAYAMA (Control of the life force/prana) Conscious regulation of the breath and prana, through different techniques

5. PRATYAHARA (Withdrawal of the Senses) The senses look outward and can be distracting and stress-inducing; learning to go within to find the calm inner sanctuary

6. DHARANA (Concentration) To maintain a mind undisturbed in its focus requires mastery over it through practise

7. DHYANA (Meditation) One-pointed single focus around a subject. Quiets the mind, a state of restful alertness known to decrease blood pressure, decrease stress-related conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, asthma, insomnia, digestive problems etc. In Latin, “meditator” means “healing” and meditation practises is key in alternative medicine. Also, studies show meditation practises increase intelligence, memory, and decision-making abilities and slow the ageing process.

8. SAMADHI (Bliss state) The goal of YOGA is to abide in this sense of Oneness, the mind is mastered and thoughts are stilled in this illuminated trance-like perception

YOGA practise is like tending a garden. Allow yourself to be immersed in the organic and on-going journey, without judgement, criticism or expectations. You will reap the benefits!

A few guidelines

-Leave a few hours after eating before practising postures and pranayama, so there is no competition with digestion

-Wear non-restrictive clothing; it is nice to cover yourself during relaxation

-It is not a competition; listen to your body, your own pace, and your own voice

-Rather than a sense of “perfecting” anything, use everything as practise and self-discovery

-Practise peacefully, allow yourself that time and space to “empty” your mind, turn off the cell phone, whatever it takes.

-Relaxation is a process of conscious rest, and allows the subtle energies stirred up by the asana to be directed towards self-healing and to re-energise and re-balance the system, practise!
om shanty shanty shanty,
Rana

Rainbows

2012-02-16T17:55:00.000-05:00

"One who perseveres on the path of noncovetousness gains deep understanding of the meaning of life"

"aparigraha-sthairye janma-kathamta sambodhah"

Patanjali Yoga Sutra 11.39

From: The Essence of Yoga by Bernard Bouanchaud

My grandmother, who, as I write this, is 100 yrs old! always used to say “the grass is never greener on the other side.” She taught us to work diligently and honestly, and that no matter what it looked like we should always consider ourselves fortunate; there is always a rainbow in every situation you just have to look for it.

I have spoken to people in French and Spanish, and it seems every nationality understands the principle, and has somehow translated it. I write about it today in light of two episodes that stand out from last week.

The first one is having a new television/Internet installation. You basically have to set aside a block of 4 hours and wait. Which I did. The technician came at the late end of the spectrum, and we almost got off on the wrong foot with him saying he may not finish the job by the end of the shift at 9P.M. Hmmm, I said, “I am sure you will do your professional best.” This shifted the drama and he started to talk, while he worked until 11PM. The part that is interesting is that I discovered he had immigrated to Quebec from Algeria to find a better life, away from political corruption. In his home country, he was a licenced engineer and professor of engineering. He speaks French and English. He has tried to get work in his field unsuccessfully despite having taken a year to qualify according to our provincial standards. He was on unemployment until he got this job. He told me that several of his friends, doctors, are working in MacDonalds. He has a good insurance package and can afford better living accommodations for his family, but still feels ashamed of this work, feels he is wasting all his intellectual abilities. During the installation, I had to call for Internet support and my call was answered by a woman in India. He said he couldn’t believe it when so many people need jobs here. He had come to Quebec in pursuit of his dream, but is still making sense of this pasture. Some of it looks the same as what he left, and his hopefulness waxes and wanes like the moon. I suggested he came here for a reason and it is all still unfolding; retain hope, trust, faith...

The second episode is the passing of Whitney Houston, who I do not know personally, nor at this point am I in the know about what her set of circumstances were prior to her death. Nonetheless, here is this celebrity who, in appearance, was about to perform for her peers at the Grammys, and who had a rather rocky, but rich and famous lifestyle. We have seen this happen with other people in the media. It can look quite glamorous but maybe the smiles fade off the camera, maybe there are pressures involved that outweigh some of the more public and put together moments. We put celebrity on a pedestal, but they are human beings on a journey, same as anyone, albeit different circumstances.

While these two events are not related, they got me reflecting on my grandmother’s motto. I think there is always a balance at play between what we have, wanting what we have, and wanting to better ourselves and/or circumstances. There is also compassionate understanding and non-judgement, and the principle of a non-covetous attitude at work. Not less important is making sure we really understand how green it is right where we are standing. Stand where you are, and I hope you see your rainbow today.

Om shanty shanty shanty
Rana

so exactly how long is the present moment?

2012-02-04T09:15:00.001-05:00

"to be in alignment with what is means to be in a relationship of inner nonresistance with what happens"

"there is only ever this moment"

-Eckhart Tolle
Oneness With All Life: Inspirational Selections From a New Earth

I was watching TV the other day and a very telling commercial came on. One guy was asking his friend if he had this new cell phone...and before he could complete the sentence, his friend whips out the new cell phone...and that scene leads into another and another. The caption was something like, "you are so 8 seconds ago!" when you think about it, we are bombarded with such technology -TV, Internet, tweets, email...it all happens in seconds or less! I have seen people go without even blinking to keep up with the screen they are watching. This can interfere with our body's ability to relax and/or sleep, make creative and conscious choices.

As a Yoga Teacher, I do and have said to students things like "be the architect of your future by focusing on the present moment" (based on teachings by Gandhi) and "the present moment is all you have". If you spend that moment resisting, what you are pushing away will persist. Likewise, honouring and accepting will turn anything into a friendlier lesson, an opportunity. I still say these things because the truth has not changed. If you focus on gratitude, your life blossoms, and you tend to attract more joy. If your stance is victim, you tend to find yourself under a black cloud of negative thinking and unhappy attitudes. A still mind is a centred mind, and a centred mind is present and still. The goal of Yoga is this calm, as it is a spring board to deepened connection with Self, deepened feelings of purpose and fulfilment.

I remember over 20 years ago the "present" moment was not such a huge catch phrase. Meditation was simply "being", "watching", using a mantra... I get asked from students from time to time though, especially in the last 5 or so years:

So how long is the present moment?

I believe the 'present moment' is a sweeping awareness and assessment of all that is. It is eternal. It is NOW, as Eckhart Tolle says. It is the dogs barking outside, the dishes in the sink, the pile of paperwork, the laundry, the schedule, the circumstances and situations of what you are in...but not necessarily of...It is not a quantity of time but a qualitative appreciation of it. It is your ability in this moment, to pull your attention away from this activity and allow yourself to observe it, so that you do not become the drama, but allow it to move over you and through you. You then become sensitive to finding an appreciative quality in your experience and aren't scrambling for the exit door all the time. The present moment actually becomes a doorway to freedom, because you stop chasing the next thing, the next next thing and so on. "Wake up and smell the coffee (or the roses?) can now become a spiritual practise for you. MMMMMMM is a sound that relaxes the nervous system. Try.

The eight steps of Yoga form a holistic framework that lead one to this sense of being whole with whatever is. It comes down to just enjoying or experiencing what you are doing while you are doing it. Not thinking about what you did or have to do, what they said and will say, all of that gets a time out. If you can take a time out of some sort, this fast-paced hyper-charged world doesn't absorb or drain you.

That being said, it is called a practise so you can pretend time is a piece of chocolate cake and carve a sliver to taste it (how about 60 seconds? that is by today's standards a large portion!). Great, now take your sliver of time, close your eyes, connect with your breath and be aware...Wow! you did it! You were in the present moment...Now just think, that same minute can be spent in peace, prayer, meditation, joy, laughter, quiet, affirmation or worry, anxiety, fear, anger, hatred, negativity and doubt....the power of Now is a powerful choice...

om shanty shanty shanty
Rana

Yo-greeni smoothie

2012-01-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

Cheers to good health and glowing skin:

Try this when you dust off your juicer!

one bunch Kale - any kind (dark, curly)
Spinach if you have any
An apple
1/2 lemon
big chunk ginger

wash everything - I add vinegar to the water to get rid of any lurking germs and sand
I core the apple and slice the ginger
stuff it in and juice

now, a couple of times there were small spatters and one outright explosion so don't wear white clothes :-)

enjoy,
Rana

A Warrior’s Mind by guest blogger Rachel Stroud of Alive in the Fire

2012-01-21T09:19:00.000-05:00

Please welcome my friend, Rachel Stroud, as guest blogger. We are doing cross-border blogging and she has graciously hosted my words on her blog, Alive in the Fire is colourful and inspirational whether you are a yogi(ni) or not...Read on and enjoy, Rana

A Warrior’s Mind

By Rachel Stroud of Alive in the Fire

Winter is pressing in. The cold settles, chilling me. At home, I layer on fuzzy socks and warm slippers, and get out a blanket for my legs when I’m on the couch.

As I bike to work in the wind and snow, I meditate myself away from the freezing temperatures and focus on my breath. In, out, in, out: the mantra I must use as I pedal along the frozen streets.

On the mat at home, my body feels cold and stiff. But I persist through the first few sun salutations, and I return to deep pranayama to warm myself up from the inside out.

In order to survive the cold of winter, I must be a warrior. I must set my mind in springtime.

Lately I’ve been thinking about how it’s easy to let ourselves hibernate a little throughout this season – both on and off the yoga mat. For me, the effects of winter manifest in simple ways that undermine my yoga practise and healthy habits: I want to stay cosy on the couch after dinner instead of going barefoot for a vinyasa flow in the living room; I crave filling comfort foods instead of clean, green juice; I hardly ever make it to my local Bikram studio; and in general, I feel the effects of SAD creep in when the cloudy days go on for a week or more at a time.

So how do I make it through a full winter season doing yoga while I feel lethargic and uninspired?

I don’t. I re-set my thinking. I make myself the warrior, instead of the sufferer.

I remember that it’s my choice to enjoy my life instead of wasting the little moments.

In wintertime, the meditative aspects of yoga actually prove more important than the physical postures themselves for me.

Instead of getting down on myself about what I can’t do, I try to focus on the positive. Instead of saying, “I’m so tired,” or “My hamstrings are tight,” or “I really don’t want to have to wear a face mask in order to bike today,” I think, “I can manage 20 minutes of yoga,” or “My hips feel amazing after I do pigeon pose, so I’m going to,” or “I am saving money and helping the environment by going car-free.”

And once I’ve put in the time on my mat, or pulled up to work breathless from the bike ride over, I realise: I am OK, and I feel good, and what’s more – I’m proud of myself for setting my mind to something I can do.

I’m grateful for the blessings I do have, and that gratitude makes all the difference. Especially when it’s -10˚ outside.

Photos in this post via GetWags, Tranquil Hearts, Flickr user aubergeinn, Flickr user davidfreiheit, and Something Sweet Pea on Tumblr

Yoga Breathe, Yoga Relax, Yoga Stretch

2012-01-17T07:58:00.000-05:00

Yoga BREATHE…studies show that diaphragmatic breathing is associated with the relaxation response. Learning to breathe properly can lengthen life span, slow the heart rate, decrease blood pressure, and help you maintain a calm inner state during stressful situations.

Good breathing increases energy.

Good breathing helps overcome headaches.

Good breathing helps restore emotional/mental balance.
Good breathing helps decrease anxiety and sleep disorders

Yoga RELAX…. studies show that regular practise of relaxation has numerous benefits:

Smoother heart rate, reduced blood pressure, stronger immune system, feelings of peace, satisfaction, tranquillity and improved performance in all aspects of daily life.

A relaxed mind is a centred mind,

A relaxed mind is able to observe without reacting

A relaxed mind is able to let go of worry and open up to creative thinking,

A relaxed mind is open to the present moment.

Yoga STRETCH. …Studies show that Hatha yoga, the yoga of the body has amazing health benefits.

A fit body is the home of a fit mind.

Yoga creates a flexible body

Yoga builds a resilient and strong body

Yoga can help with cardiovascular endurance.

Yoga therapy can address special needs such as back pain, insomnia, headaches, hypertension, prostate/fertility concerns, psychosomatic illness, anxiety....

so...find your calm and yoga on....
Rana

Do You Need a New Mirror? Self-Study 2012

2012-01-08T18:42:00.000-05:00

"Yoga teaches that everything placed before the mind is a mirror: the mind takes the shape of what is perceived. For modern man and woman, that mirror is progressively a window upon electronic images from elsewhere - the computer or television screen. While not intrinsically wrong, such imagery possesses a power to numb and pacify as well as to awaken and stimulate.

Self- study engages the action of the mind..by study of texts; by closing the eyes and chanting, prayer, or meditation; or by seeking out and engaging in the company of the gifted, the elderly, and the wise. From the experience of others-through the spoken or written word-we may find the example and wisdom that lead to our own self-discovery and inspiration"
-HEALTH, HEALING & BEYOND - T.K.V. Desikachar

"Self-study deepens your communion with your image of the divine"

-YOGA SUTRAS 2.44 - Patanjali

Something caught my attention on twitter the other day. It was a 2 line tweet by a woman who basically said that she did not see what self reflection was about because she did a bit over the holidays and it was depressing.

My Yoga Teacher radar went off immediately, because in my understanding of the verb to “self reflect” does not = buy one litre of Hagen Daas, a Club Price bag of potato chips, stay in your bathrobe and have a pity-party. I do not in anyway mean that this last form of entertainment is a bad thing. Is it what you need to do as a stepping stone on your path to THE OTHER SIDE of whatever issue you are working through? If so, at least buy the best quality junk food, set aside a fixed amount of time to cry and feel your feelings, get it all out, and then put on your inner strength, your positive outlook, perhaps a bit of lip gloss, (gentlemen: shave?) and move forward. Someone once said to me “better out than in” which, in retrospect may have been advice about sneezing, but it seems appropriate to fit it into this conversation.

In fact, the Yogic system recognises that suffering is part of the human predicament, and awareness of this is the foundation to change. In this context, suffering is at the level of the mind. For example, if you are going through a break-up, and you become so lost in the negatives, the inadequacies, the failures that you become THAT, you are allowing yourself to become suffering embodied. On the other hand, if you perceive that every obstacle is a blessing in disguise, you free your mind up, and are able to let life move through you, you identify with the BIG picture not the temporary drama. This radically changes outcomes in your life.

How to go about this? Yoga is a practical methodology; an action plan for wellness, if you will. As humans, we can either reinforce conditions which maintain frantic or which awaken calm within us. Hence the "plan" is three-fold, called in the Yoga Sutras, Kriya-Yoga, transformation through Practise.
These three aspects are to:
Purify the body and mind (Tapas)
Self-reflect (Svadhyaya)
Recognize our Source (Isvara pranidhana).

The word, Svadhyaya translates as Gary Kraftsow says, "to move forward to one's self". If a wave were looking in the mirror, it would see itself as the wave but also as the ocean...poetic!? Yes but also practical. If you see only the small self, your journey can be mired by insecurities, and stress. When you elevate and nourish the perception of Self, you are likely to feel that everything on the journey happens for a reason. I call it 'research and development'. You will likely cultivate objectivity, friendliness and an empowering attitude to nourish and adopt behaviours and strategies to further peace, positivity, and clarity.

A new year is always a new beginning. If you can start to make a few healthier choices (food, beverage, meditation, yoga postures, nature, weed out toxic relationships and behaviours) your inner life will reflect these changes, and when you self-reflect, your vision will no longer be distorted. Elevate and you will be elevated. Embrace and cultivate the inner dimension, and the outer will follow...

TOP 10 REASONS TO START YOGA

2012-01-04T14:39:00.003-05:00

Here are a few well-recognised reasons to start YOGA

STRESS RELIEF: Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body by encouraging relaxation and lowering the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Related benefits include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the immune system as well as easing symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, asthma and insomnia.

PAIN RELIEF: Yoga can ease pain! Studies have demonstrated that practising Yoga asanas (postures), and meditative techniques reduced pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diseases and hypertension, as well as arthritis, back and neck pain and other chronic conditions.

BETTER BREATHING: Yogic breathing techniques help improve lung function. Learning to breathe slower and deeper triggers the relaxation response in the body

FLEXIBILITY: Yoga helps to improve anyone’s flexibility and mobility, increasing range of motion and reducing aches and pains.

INCREASED STRENGTH: Yoga asanas (postures) use every muscle in the body, helping to improve overall cohesiveness and physical strength, relieve muscle tension and strong body encourages strong mind.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: Yoga, (even less vigorous styles) can aid weight control effects by reducing cortisol levels, burning excess calories, reducing stress and improving overall metabolic functioning. Yoga encourages healthy eating habits, and promotes heightened sense of inner well-being and self-esteem.

IMPROVED CIRCULATION: Yoga helps to improve circulation, a result of regular practise is that the oxygenated blood moves more efficiently to the body’s cells, helping with growth and repair

CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING: Even a gentle Yoga practise can provide cardiovascular benefits by lowering heart rate, increasing endurance, improving oxygen uptake during exercise

BETTER BODY ALIGNMENT: Yoga helps to improve body alignment, resulting in better posture and helping to relieve back, neck, joint and muscle problems

FOCUS ON THE PRESENT: Yoga helps centre the mind in the present moment,

Opening the door to improved memory, coordination, reaction time, mind/body health.

Awareness cultivates a joyful, free spirit and positive gratifying outlook.

FEEL BETTER THINK BETTER LEAD A BETTER LIFE

RANA WAXMAN 514.407.1005

www.ranawaxman.com

HAND BOOK 2012 for health and happiness

2012-01-02T18:36:00.000-05:00

I have been getting this every year by email, so am sharing the 2012 version; it is always nice to go through the list, see what we can add/subtract/ignore from the choices we are currently making. My dear friend Syvie said she wished me "the grace of manifestation" and I share these wishes with you!

HAND BOOK 2012

Health:

Drink plenty of water
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and less food that is manufactured in plants.
Live with the 3 E’s – Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy
Make time to practise meditation, yoga and prayer
Play more games
Read more books than you did in 2008
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
Sleep for 7 hours
Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile

Personality:

11. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don’t overdo. Keep your limits.

14. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake.

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone, don’t hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realise that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything

28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least 3 people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you in none of your business,

31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. No matter how good or bad a situation is, it will change.

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come,

38. When you wake up alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your inner most self is always happy. So, be happy.

LIVE AND LET LIVE

Mantra for New Beginnings

2011-12-30T10:01:00.001-05:00

"the core of a fulfilled life is knowing that every moment is a choice"
"As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny"
- Rod Stryker, The Four Desires

If you are someone who has made a New Year's Resolution, you will need to have an implementation plan in order to move from the wish for change to the desire for change to becoming one with the desire. This ultimate yoga (unity) with your goal may be a path laden with resistance. A stubbornness to change is an obstacle to growth.. You may wish you were healthier. You may desire to lose weight, but until you start making choices to lead you to the NEW IMPROVED YOU ( the old one is perfect but we can all move towards excellence ) there will be lots of space between the resolution and the accomplishment of it. For example, eating healthier requires buying more natural produce and leaving the high fat snacks in the supermarket where they can continue to decorate the shelves. After all, as my friend, Gita says: "a minute on the lips, a month on the hips!". This being said, when you do that shopping, you may encounter resistance from the old you who is afraid of change, and so once again, those chocolate cookies end up in your cart, in your pantry, in your tummy...

This should tell you that we need to rewire our brains before any substantial change can be made. When I first started Yoga, my teacher said: "intention, attention, and the details up to the universe". You do need to intend to create change, then focus attention on it in a sustained way (includes practise, patience, practise, self-discipline, harmonising actions with that magical intention, practise and patience) and as you shift into the head space of change and implementation in a focused way, to be able to let go into a knowingness that the universe will help you out. Sometimes the universe will test you by sending you 50% off coupons for your favourite ice cream, which is a strengthening exercise to be grateful for, and you can pass with flying colours! Your inner attitude matters. Your perceptions matter.

I once set my intention as peacefulness. I had very noisy neighbours, for which I had to go to court, I couldn't sleep and there was too much drama going on. So I recited the mantra: "om shanty shanty shanty" and decided that whatever the next year brought, it was going to be peace and positivity. I decided that even though a move wasn't the best financial decision, I would still investigate options. I remember seeing one apartment that was really unaffordable for me. The rental agent was so giving with her time that I apologised for wasting it afterwards in a thank you note. She was so moved with this detail that she put me in touch with a concierge who had the perfect apartment for me and it was not yet on the rental market. I was tenacious with him, and this is where I am writing from. My sanctuary! The universe helped me, but I was not idle. I visualised, took actions, stayed focused and also, decided that whatever happened I could make even small personal choices on a daily basis to invite that which I was seeking.

One practise that is very useful is mantra recitation. It is a discipline that quiets the thinking brain and helps break emotional or thought patterns that are being held onto. As such, they can become obstacles on our path. If your internal state is unified with your desire, you can achieve anything. The system of YOGA is a very powerful toolbox for transformation.

This being said, whatever you are desiring, the best place to start working on your endeavour is your brain. This mantra is traditionally chanted to begin new projects with positive energy and remove any obstacles in the way:

Get quiet, sit still, where the spine is straighter and tension is dislodged. Traditionally recited 108 times, and try a 21 day period where you add this to your routine for a few minutes each day:

OM GUM GANAPATEYEI NAMAHA
Om Guhm Guh-nuh-puh-tuh-yea
Nah-mah-hah
(Om and salutations to Ganapati - Ganesha: the remover of obstacles)

Namaste,
Rana

Benefits of Therapeutic Massage

2011-12-28T16:50:00.002-05:00

Like YOGA, therapeutic massage is part of a healthy lifestyle

Benefits of Massage:

1*Maintaining the body’s homeostasis

2*Pain Relief

3*Improved circulation

4*Relief of muscular tension

5*Elimination of waste/toxins

6*Improved posture and range of motion

7*Strengthened immune system

8*Enhanced recovery

9*Relaxation, sense of well-being
10*Improve quality of Sleep

Conditions Benefited:

*Arthritis (rheumatoid and osteoarthritis)

*Asthma, Bronchitis

*Carpal tunnel syndrome

*Circulatory problems

*Migraines/headaches, especially those induced by muscular tension

*Gastrointestinal disorders (spastic colon,colic, constipation)

*Immune system disorders

*Insomnia

*Myofascial pain(a condition of the tissue connecting the muscles)

*Sports injuries

*Stress

*TMJ

to schedule:

Rana Waxman

514.407.1005

info@ranawaxman.com

www.ranawaxman.com

my top ten yoga tips for the day

2011-12-26T14:09:00.000-05:00

1. understand that postures and breathing are part of a system designed to still the mind
(read the YOGA SUTRAS by Patanjali)

2. the quieter your mind the better you can appreciate this moment as it is

3. it is called a practise therefore practise daily :-)

4. breathing calms the mind and can be done all day

5. find a peaceful corner (see my blog for tips on sanctuary)

6. close your eyes from time to time, feel, visualise

7. bring attention to the feet, there are over 7200 nerve receptors there (try acu-reflexology with me and you will see this too)

8. bring attention to your hands, they open into the arms, neck

9. visualise the asana first to focus your mind and then fill your body into it

10. add a dose of patience, surrender and try to bring the practise off the mat and into daily life

Om shanty shanty shanty, peace, peace, peace

Rana

A New Year's Greeting

2011-12-22T20:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays

I wish you all a New Year filled with

peace

positivity

contentment

I hope that joy touches your heart and melts any sorrow like warm sunshine

I know you are

strong

brave

resilient

beings

Thank you for your continued support and blessings
blessings

blessings

OM shanty shanty shanty OM peace peace peace

Rana

What Is Your Default Setting? A Little Blog About Contentment

2011-12-19T13:27:00.000-05:00

When the mind constantly runs after the wandering senses, it drives away wisdom, like the wind, blowing a ship off course- Bhagavad Gita

Happiness cannot be found throught great effort and willpower, but is already present in open relaxation and letting go- Ven. Lama Gendun Rinpoche

The other day I blogged about contentment. It is very easy to feel on top of the world when you are not being tested, but is this your default setting? If pressures build up do you breathe through them, find ways to diffuse tension or do you store it, let it build and then explode? I am not talking about the once in a while scenarios, but if things are not all peachy keen, what are your attitudes, perceptions, and coping strategies? Is it still contentment or is this a borrowed measure reserved for the one day all the bills are paid, you have slept great, you have eaten well...In other words, are you happy and smiling whatever happens?

You see, the reason I put forth these question is that seeking happiness is one thing. Yogis call it uncovering our true Nature, and will tell you we are born into happiness but the thinking mind gives us all kinds of trouble. It starts us chasing after the senses, after material gain, accumulation, etc. Nothing wrong with wanting the Iphone 4 -it looks super cool. But if you have the Iphone 3 do you then become less happy with what you do not yet possess? Or do you accept what you have with gratitude? This last approach is the fertile ground for lasting happiness.

Contentment, Patanjali says in Sutra 11.42 is dynamic, as opposed to complacency which is a bit stagnant. We should be able to look at our life, weed out the toxic relationships and situations to then re-balance on all levels. This requires changing what isn't working, therefore practising contentment is a call to action sometimes. It also asks us to want what we have.

Contentment brings us to a new perception of how things are, and so, calms the mind, fostering appreciation. It is an attitude that is independent of outside influences. What you have or don't have does not change the essence of who you are. You may be thinking, "uh, maybe in my next life, that sounds pretty hard to sustain!" Though it may be easier to be happy when there is some kind of "success" in our life, the truly positive person will smile and keep a good sense of humour throughout turmoil, will exhale and relax. Will know that they are guided and protected, all-one, not alone.

I know virtues are hard to visualise and materialise and harmonise when things are tough, and disappointments abound. These are the times though when adopting a mind-set that views adversity as opportunity is helpful. So instead of chasing, spend a few moments in Nature, or quietly observing your breath, do a little Yoga Flow, take a walk. Allow this great and powerful and sustaining virtue to take root in your life so that your default setting is now rewired for peace and positivity in 2012...

Blessings,
Rana

the flexibility phenomenon

2011-12-13T10:59:00.000-05:00

The other day on twitter (@yoginiqueen) I was posting relentlessly about flexibility. My brother called me and remarked "what's up with that?" I was on a mission. I know. Frequently I hear the words "I am not flexible. My hamstrings are tight." Beginners, new to Yoga, or people who just think it isn't for them, love this expression. Understandable, since the Western culture, being so physically oriented, has scads of pictures of smiling long-limbed bodies doing all kinds of hamstring stretching movements.

So this flexibility phenomenon. Well if you practise something you get results from it. Sports, sitting at a desk, walking, getting stressed and holding that stress as muscular tension, and not doing yoga to keep the joints healthy, you are practising tightening up and being tight. It is just common sense.

Also, although your hamstrings may be the most obvious source of tightness, your hips might be tighter, thus preventing the hinging forward you seek in the quest to touch your toes. You may be reciting the "what a pain in the neck mantra" so that your shoulders and neck are jammed, pulling up your hip to create a restriction in the....your body is a series of rubber bands and since this IS a mind-body-spirit blog, let me just say: your body is eavesdropping on all your thoughts. "The issues are in the tissues!"

First you need to understand that flexibility is a side benefit but not the goal of yoga. The goal is expressed in the Yoga Sutras, sutra 1.2, roughly translated as 'total mastery over the modifications of the mind is called yoga' and in sutra 1.13, the sage, Patanjali says that "persevering practise is the effort to attain and maintain the state of mental peace". When you understand that it is a discipline of the mind, it changes the way you practise. You just use the physical practice to re-energize, re-balance, re-plenish, re-lax and counter balance the negatives of the modern day multi-tasking, very fast, often stressful lifestyle.

In terms of postures, yes some of them are quite stretchy, though as a student you need to perform an asana in the meditative frame of mind, following your breathing and at your own level. A Teacher can be your GPS, but only you can determine how steady and comfortable you feel. Sutra 11.46 has no picture attached, no ambition. It is actually quite rich in meaning. One can interpret posture as the basis for the meditative aspects of Yoga, or as the feeling of being at ease, present and fidget-less. Not forced or strained.

There is a way out of the stiffness. The thing you are holding onto as a reason for not starting Yoga is the best reason to start. I am not saying jump into a highly strenuous class and pull your muscles so that you need to buy stock in Rub A535 and sit on the bench while everyone else skates, skis, plays hockey, jogs, lifts weights, walks and smiles. NO. As humans though, there is a paradox going between resisting not only challenges, but also potentially rewarding situations. Our immune system is a healthy example of how we are built to resist toxins. Psychologically, too, we create conditions that protect us from hurt. Taken too far however, this resistance can become a wall or armour. It can create an inflexible, rigid mind-set.

The most amazing side benefit of yoga, one that pervades my life, even when my body feels a bit stiff, is a flexible mind-set. This is a kind of creativity in the way the mind moves over and through challenges, seeking options and open points, like a flowing river.

Maybe the next time you are reaching to pick something up off the floor, you will realise that the tightest area of the body, the one part that does all the straining, is the mind. Our biggest excuses for not doing something can be our best reasons to get moving on it.

the middle is not mediocrity

2011-12-08T09:28:00.000-05:00

Someone once said to me, "we are always in the middle, no matter where we are or what we do". If you think about it, there is always someone richer OR poorer, better at this OR worse at that, the list goes on.
I think this statement holds a lot of substance.

The yogic principle behind this is contentment, which is one of the eight limbs of Yoga, called a niyama, or "restraint". It reflects a non-covetous attitude. In the Yoga Sutras, 11.42, contentment is cultivated through the practise of YOGA. It is a positive mind-set which is much more than passive satisfaction, because it aims to balance the psyche, which is tested when circumstances are perceived as unfavourable(1). How things are is right.
I have what I need. This fuels our spiritual momentum. Joy is accessible. It isn't frivolous, or dependent on aquiring the newest device, and so is very life-changing! You may have all the latest things but still be devoid of the ability to appreciate, and so you continue to feel lack, instead of abundance...

Today I was speaking with a friend. This person was expressing feelings about a bad mood, the rainy weather, a lack of motivation and too full a plate with family and preparing to go on a vacation. In the middle of talking about all this, the friend stopped mid-sentence and said "I have no right to complain" there are so many people who have so many real problems. I said, probably true, but it is healthy to express yourself. The conversation was very healing. For both of us...details in another blog....ha ha ha....

Equally important to remember that being in the middle means you are here to take the uplifting hand of someone who is feeling better than you, or has a great perspective and handle on things. The other hand, you can offer to someone who is suffering from a worse perspective, whose attitude and mood can benefit from you being the light in the room. The middle is not mediocrity. It requires awareness. It is a call to action, to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Put aside stress for a moment.

I came home the other night after a long day. I didn't feel like I had the best dinner waiting for me, it was leftovers - again ! but I saw this note under my door. Another tenant in the building had left these notices to say he works at a food bank, they need food, if I had anything to offer. Well, it took me right out of my mealtime funk. I do not keep a very stocked pantry but I emptied what I could. He appreciated it - a little was a lot - he conveyed. And I ate what I had with appreciation, really thinking I am so lucky to have work, to buy food, to have a functional stove and oven...

Gratitude is the option for an excellence-seeker. This is the time of year when the duality of giving and receiving is heightened. You may find yourself in the middle of something, just bear in mind that while you have so much to receive, you also have so much to offer. Two hands...

(1) To read more try Bernard Bouanchaud: Reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Finding sanctuary

2011-12-03T07:56:00.005-05:00

Years ago I did a YOGA workshop with an Indian Yoga Master. He said he once visited a student in North America who invited him into his "yoga room". This Teacher just smiled and said YOGA is practised in every room...

I agree - philosophically, as it conveys the essence of the practise of YOGA, which is union, and not just of me to my(body/mind)self, also me to my(spirit)self and me to the (Creator)Self. Being connected to every breathing being is eye and mind opening.

Nonetheless, I also feel that it is important to have a soft space to land at the end of the day. Finding your sacred space within when you feel like life is crowding you out with pressures and stress requires a refuge, a place that elicits the the relaxation response for you.

I prefer clean and uncluttered as a theme everywhere in my apartment. For me, home is a sanctuary altogether. I like to look around and see plants and Buddhas meditating so they catch my glance and bring me calm energy. I also have a favourite spot where I do meditate, and pull out my yoga mat. I created a distinct area for settling down with a good book. I can relax enough to be creative at my desk, but seeing it, I am not put in the "zone"... in these other areas, I synchronise and harmonise and tranquilise.

Where is your area? Do you get home and wish you had a little corner for yourself? One student of mine has a little quiet area with a picture of loved ones and an orchid near a window with a view. For another, this sacred area is a garden in summer and a favourite chair near a favourite potted plant in winter. Yet another person I know sets up her side of the bed with a table on which she keeps a personal touchstone (and IPAD charger!)

If you do not have a spot yet, and feel space is a luxury - you are right. Nonetheless, sometimes space takes on a new energy when you add a just a touch of something peaceful (a seashell or candle?), something personal (a photo or souvenir of a wonderful experience?) and positive (a plant, flower, little figurine of a meditating Buddha?)...or just a chair with your favourite colour cushion, and a diary so you can write down your thoughts.

However you create this peaceful, personal and positive space, I hope it makes you feel like you have a stress-free, safe, special sanctuary. It does help to have a ritual and a designated place to encourage your inner life to regroup, recharge, refresh and renew. Your health depends on it.

Sunday Blue Monday?

2011-11-27T18:40:00.000-05:00

Last Monday I had a conversation with someone who said they HATED Mondays. "I don't know why but I am exhausted, even though I did nothing", he complained. I have heard many times from clients that their worst night sleep is Sunday night. For many, it is restless, with the mind taking control and going over every detail for the next day's schedule. For others, there just hasn't been enough downtime to really feel like they had a break.

Realistically, most of us are happy with Sunday + Sunday + Sunday + Sunday + Sunday = Vacation.
But one day, what to do with that? We are so revved up Monday through Friday. Often, Saturday has housework, homework, yard work, or other duties in it, so even if it is a different pace from the other days, it is more like the orange light, we slow down, but don't always make a full stop. By Sunday, we may be too exhausted to do anything, too busy doing what we did not have time for on Saturday, or we get out and do every single leisure thing possible and come home and feel unrested and gypped.

I think some of it has to do with structured and unstructured time, and how you satisfy your needs for both.
Some of us have schedules: here for 9 there for 10:30 and the other place for noon.....and others have a 9-5 in one place. That is structure. Maybe you like that on your weekends, maybe not. Maybe you get unstructured time and can't change gears fast enough to figure out what to do with that time. Maybe you feel unproductive when you do "nothing". These are all questions to promote you finding good options and balance for yourself.

I don't think there is one answer for anybody all the time. It is a little week by week. If you have had a seriously overbooked week, it might balance you out to start your Suncation on Saturday afternoon. It is really good to touch base with yourself about these things on Friday night. Set a kind of intention for your weekend.
Naturally a "make the best out of it" kind of approach and honoring what comes up is helpful.

As for Sunday night restlessness, well, a little deep breathing or a soothing bath or something that breaks out of your usual Monday-Friday routine might work. You can also join me in my Sunday night Yoga Classes in which you will give yourself the gift of feeling re-energized, re-balanced, and relaxed, hopefully encourage a healthy sleep and great transition into your next week.

The pause that refreshes

2011-11-22T13:12:00.000-05:00

The title of this blog is inspired by an iced tea commercial that used to air in summer. Visualize- HOT summer day, perspiration, a hand from off camera hands you the only thing that can save you - a cold glass of iced tea - which you gulp down and then splash into your swimming pool backwards. You don't actually own a swimming pool, and there is no magical butler to prepare this drink for you but somehow, it works : you are saved from the heat, all your problems melt away and you are magically able to get over your fear of falling.

NICE ~ but that isn't exactly what I am suggesting. What I am referring to is that life seems to have two speeds: Fast and Stop. What happened to the pause that refreshes? On a computer, when you are running all your programs at once, the system can crash, from being overloaded. It is running everything at once then you see that little bomb and you know, it isn't good. It isn't iced tea on a hot day.

In non-cyberspace life, things are also full-throttle - work, family, social relationships, social media, duties, bills, schedules, staying healthy. It's stressful. You are going full out and then poof! sore throat, huge headache, burned-out, you become a 'groucho-couch-o' (can't get off the sofa or out of bed).

Now that you are identifying, let me make my point. ADD THE PAUSE. You already know how - it's like the button on your DVD player. You press it to stop the movie, go to the bathroom, the refrigerator, answer the phone. On the computer it means, shut down a few programs that you aren't using at the moment. So you have the ability and the technological savvy...why not do it with your brain? I was so happy I paused before leaving my apartment today. It allowed me to do my checklist before going on my walk: turn off the stove(check), take my phone(check), take my keys(ooooops). In other words, the pause means turning from autopilot to mindful, from fast to relaxed and observant. In relationships or at work, it means being able to respond versus reacting, which is empowering, to be on top of emotions rather than held captive. The list goes on.

Ok, so how? you ask. Well, I am not trying to convert you to try YOGA, learn how to relax, release muscle tension in one blog (well- ok, kind of, let's be honest). What you can integrate in your day is the following breathing practice. You put aside less than 60 seconds. You close your eyes. You inhale. You pause for a nano second. You exhale. You pause for a nanosecond. You count: one. Repeat 5-10 consecutive times. You can put this pause in while you are waiting in line, at your desk. Just practice.

In Yoga terms, the pause is a gateway or corridor to the soul, to the infinite, the creative force. Try it at least once a day for a week. See if it leads you to new discoveries and hidden energies that you were too busy or too burnt out for before you learned about the pause that refreshes!!!

Off the Yoga mat, then what?

2011-11-20T09:07:00.000-05:00

Many times after a therapeutic treatment or the final relaxation at the end of a yoga session, my students will say, "I don't want to leave, it feels so good". True, the studio is cozy, and the massage table warm but that isn't it. Well, maybe a bit! (yoga humour)...

What they are expressing is a deep connection with comfort, peace and relaxation that comes when we feel connected to ourself and/or to nature. The space, the smile in the mind. So good, of course we want more of those endorphins!!

I think two things to internalize is that when you experience all those good feelings, really KNOW and FEEL and INTEGRATE how you are wired for bliss. Too often we focus on the other half of the nervous system, the stressed out one! That way, you cultivate a well of positive and healthy energy for when times are not so easy. Dishes, plumbing problems, power outages, laundry, job, family, schedules etc. When you feel overwhelmed, focus - just like biofeedback, on your magical umbilical cord into the bigger picture, and just a few moments of deep yogic breathing can do the trick.

The other thing to keep in the forefront of your consciousness is that the people and circumstances we encounter on a daily basis are our teachers in the school of life. The days that everything is wired for crazy and crumby it may not look like it, but they actually embody great wisdom - maybe to find patiece, compassion, perseverence, honesty, letting go, generosity of spirit, unconditional love...it's all there in the classroom of day to day.

I heard that! You want to graduate already! Ha ha ha ! Well all I can say is that is why it is called "practicing" and learning and growing! So, keep practicing on your mat, or walking in nature, or connecting with yourself in a way that is meaningful to you. We need the practice to balance and center ourselves, to keep resilient, strong and open-hearted. It keeps a compassionate understanding simmering like a great pot of soup. Off the mat will start to make new sense to you...

As Jack Kornfield says in After the Ecstasy the Laundry,
"With spiritual maturity the basis for these practices shifts away from ambition, idealism, and desire for self-transformation. It is as if the wind has changed, and a weather vane-still centered in the same spot- now points in a different direction: back to this moment. We are no longer striving after a spiritual destination, grasping for another world different from the one we have. We are home. And being home, we sweep the floor, make nourishing meals, and care for our guests. When we have realized the everlasting truths of life, what else is there to do but continue our practice?"

simply-imuni-tea

2011-11-18T10:13:00.000-05:00

This is a magic potion :-)

Fresh ginger (about 1.5 or 2 inches)
Fresh lemon (1/2)
Honey or agave to taste
Water (about 2 cups)

Cut ginger in slices, add water . You can play around with proportions.
Bring to a boil.
Squeeze in lemon juice.
Strain (unless you like the crunch and bite of ginger slices)
Add sweeter.

*honey is known as a miracle food, containing anti-microbial properties that help heal the throat and sinuses, can help at bedtime to promote good sleep.

*ginger is a super food, known to calm the tummy, relieve gas and bloating, aid digestion and protect against ulcers

*lemon is rich in vitamin C and some reports are saying it has anti-cancer potential

*water is something every system of your body needs to carry out normal functions

so simple!

Driving the Speed Limit

2011-11-16T21:32:00.003-05:00

This is a subject that was on my mind for awhile, but more prominently so today. I was crossing the street on a green light, when a car literally whizzed by -turning right, 10 seconds away from knocking me over like a bowling pin. It was obvious that they wanted to make the green light, but at what cost? As it is, the street has 5 schools on it and so is a 30km/hr zone, not 50 or 60 which is what the average person does-unless the cops are out on a sting operation. Then, it is slow and steady, well, slower and steadier, until one feels free from radar detection.

Most people hit the ground running in the morning. The pace of today is speedy, crammed, and continuous. In the yoga sutra 1.2 , Patanjali says: "yogascittavrttinirodhah" which is understood as "yoga is the ability to direct and focus mental activity". In other words to tame the mind. It needs taming because it is like a wild monkey!

So basically if this racing mind is what is driving you, you may tip the speed limit, and that has obvious repercussions. Maybe you are also someone who grips the wheel, clenches your teeth, drops your head and shoulders forward...? At any rate, those are habits that wind up causing headaches, stiff necks, back pain and more! The issues are in the tissues! Yes, the racing mind never drives the speed limit.

So what can you do? Well, there are a few things you can try. Try to wake up a few minutes earlier- not to loud music or CNN but something quieter and melodic. Ease into a rhythm by taking a few centring breaths. Set your coffee or tea up the night before so it is readier for enjoyment. Make a to -do list so you are organised rather than frantic...Try a few yoga poses and a short meditation, a walk outdoors, read something uplifting, spend a few quiet moments alone and count your blessings,..

Learning how to tune in to your own inner rhythm and relax is a skill set that has side benefits throughout your day. Having a more inspired mindset and feeling connected to yourself is really powerful awareness. Maybe you will get into the car, use the headrest, relax your shoulders, turn the ignition, and be driven by an alert relaxation which is really preventive medicine, not only against speeding tickets, but other health concerns.

The Essence of Yoga, Bernard Bouanchaud

Are you in YOGA?

2011-11-14T13:06:00.001-05:00

I know! Usually someone asks "do you DO yoga?" as if it were just another activity. True enough, to most people, the word does connotate some kind of posture, or someone sitting cross-legged, meditating. My friend used this expression the other day, and I just LOVED it! It sounded like, "are you in Love?" so what is not to like?. Anyway, I have since adopted it. In fact, in order to get to know the expression a bit better, I took it on a walk with me the other day, to reflect and sort of dive into how I could blog about it.

Here's the thing; we all know people who are exceptional friends, devoted parents/spouses, compassionate listeners, light up a room with a joke, a smile, a good heart. Have reflective souls, looking for ways to help you/me/humanity, they exude warmth, make you feel comfortable, are accepting...but are not card-carrying members of a yoga studio or may not own a mat. They may even say "it's not for me!".

I hate to break it to you, but they are all yogi(ni)s. Jnana yoga is the Yoga of study/wisdom, Karma yoga is the yoga of positive actions, Bhakti Yoga is the Yoga of devotion, Raja Yoga is the Yoga of kings- the eightfold path. One of the eight steps is physical.

So for all you amazing people out there, do what you do, be how you are, many of you are more in-yoga than you are letting on!!

Are you YOGA'd-in

2011-11-11T19:08:00.001-05:00

The modern yogi(ni) is Linked-in, Facebook, Twitter, Texting, Emails, Facebook connecting to twitter, the blog, Linkedin. Joining groups (you know and don't knw), Liking and Un-liking pages, connections with people you know and their connections who you may not know...Comments from the groups you are connected to and know but not personally, connecting through cell phones and apps and sync-ing with your computer, your laptop, ipad...Sigh. Incredible. We have adapted to technology and it is unbelieveable how much we can connect just by learning what is available (I am still a novice).

The word YOGA is from the verb, yuj, meaning "to yoke, harness"(Feurstein). In the Upanishads, it also meant "spiritual endeavor" (Feurstein) and later, in the Bhagavad Gita - we are talking 3rd or 4th century BCE- it denoted "spiritual discipline" or methods of "self-realization (Feurstein). Check out this beautiful verse from the Gita (Stephen Mitchell): "Strong in the practice of yoga,with a mind that is rooted in me and in nothing else, you will reach the Supreme Person that I am." We commonly say YOGA means union, connecting...mind+body+spirit, because in this fast-paced world, they don't always feel in the same place at the same time.

So I ask you, are you linked-in and plugged-in professionally and personally? Or could you benefit from turning off cyberspace connections for a moment and tuning into the one link that unites body and mind=the Breath. Go ahead, try. Breathe in calm, breathe out tension...Feel YOGA'd-in....

ONE THING

2011-11-10T07:51:00.002-05:00

I like a word - OPTIONS - I find it a very spacious word, and a very empowering one too.
We do not always feel we have them, and so, start to feel a little smaller than necessary.
For the last few weeks I have been looking at this one unhappy plant in my bathroom. I thought I was giving it light, a perfect corner, plenty of water, but it would not cheer up. It subconsciously played on me, every time I would see this one wilting plant, "why aren't you happy?" but I did nothing because it was the perfect decoration for that space...And then, the other day, I did one thing, moved the plant. Immediate plant nirvana...Of course, that got me on a roll. I went through each rooom, moving one thing, here a desk, there something else. You dont always know you have options until you try something, one little thing adjusted in a new way. The side benefits to the mind are freeing too. So try it, spread out, do one thing.

My guest blog

2011-11-09T16:29:00.004-05:00

I was asked by a friend to write a guest blog, so technically I feel it can be considered mentionable :-)

Silence and the Modern Yogi

2011-11-09T10:51:00.000-05:00

Your are saying to yourself "WHAT?" silence, what's that - it's for mystics and meditators not me, no time!
WRONG answer. Here's the thing. I spent 3 years living underneath Mr. Motorcycle Boots and his girlfriend (she did file a restraining order on him but that is another subject) and their older dog, a boxer (these dogs have scratchy nails I am told). Please do not think I am not an animal lover but the intermittent sleep thing created much dis-ease for me. My theme, with the courtcase was "peaceable enjoyment". Now, out of that situation, new apartment, pretty quiet, sleeping well. I can actually feel the benefits of quiet time. And it got me thinking...so much more free energy, the ability to hear myself think, the ability to practice yoga and have an uninterupted meditation, what a luxury. You are thinking "well she is lucky"...but again, here is the thing. You can create more silence for yourself by turning off your cell for a minute (not vibrate-OFF) or opting to get into the car and not play music, or listen to a book on tape, or talk on the phone. You can carve out 60 seconds, to hear not only yourself think, but take it a step further and listen to the "still voice within"- the wisdom voice that is the voice of instinct and intuition. Try it. Disconnect. You will feel more plugged in. I know it.

Time

2011-11-08T18:39:00.000-05:00

Whatever happened to the actual minute? Everything is SO FAST these days, it takes a nano second to send a "tweet" or an email or a text message. I used to teach the mastery of the one minute meditation. Is even the present moment outdated? HMMMM. This modern Yogini feels that INTEGRATION is the key. BEING relaxed, we don't necessarily need to say "I will meditate on it" we just know what to say and how to say it or whatever we do is just fine OR we have the presence of mind to say, "you know, I am going to need more time! I will get back to you!" and then we head off to our favorite peaceful place and take a TIME OUT...