Resolution Time. Again.

I've already heard the words being spoken, those words that seem fundamental towards the end of each calendar year. "In January, I'm going on a diet! That's my resolution..."

When we make a resolution, we are making a promise to ourselves with the intention of doing something that yields change, generally in the direction of self-improvement. The fitness industry banks on us making these promises and anticipates the January onslaught of new member enrollments. They often will tempt us with a great deal for the entire year and in actual fact, know that a large percentage of the new members will stop attending within a few months. If people were able to hold onto their desire for change as of January 1, there would be more people than gyms could manage.

Why is it that we have such great intentions only to realize a few weeks later we've lost our way?

My thought for the week is to offer ourselves more compassion when trying to make a change. It is said that permanent change takes anywhere between 21-30 days to take hold. That translates into it taking time. We often lose our way because we become impatient with the process and perhaps don't see any change in the time we expect.

Change also takes conscious and consistent choice and practice. If we want to create a new way of being or doing, we need to practice it over and over again. You know, try it on. See how it fits. We need to shift the unfamiliar feeling to a familiar one and that takes repetition.

One of my favorite sayings is, "consistency is the key". If we go to a yoga class randomly, then what we get out of it will likely be momentary. If we want to invite a more centered way of living into daily life, we have to create ways of doing that...DAILY! The magic happens in the doing.

So if you are thinking about making a resolution I would suggest being clear on ONE thing. Design a plan that fits into your life and stick with it, without excuse, interruption or hesitation for at least a month. Avoid the trap of letting what you would like to shift, move down your list of priorities. Keep it in the top position until you feel that it's embedded--like brushing our teeth every day.

And if now isn't the time, then go easy on yourself and ask the inner critic to keep the noise down. In this moment, we are all as we should be; beautiful, unique beings with nothing that needs to be fixed.

Center your awareness into the middle of your heart, breathe into that space deeply and notice how incredible you are!

Happy New Year and may 2010 hold peace, growth, good health and deep joy for all of us.

Winter Solstice

Sitting in the middle of the busy holiday season is the Winter Solstice (Summer Solstice for my Southern hemisphere friends). For the past three years, we have held a small gathering to celebrate the Winter Solstice.

During the evening we sing mostly yoga based chants and mantras (but the Beatles got a good showing this year); we sit quietly in meditation and then we eat...vegan and vegetarian food that people contribute to the evening and drink tea.



This year we added something new. I asked everyone at the beginning of the evening, to write on a piece of paper what they would like to begin to manifest in the upcoming months. What is it that you want to bring into your life? What is it that you need? What is something that is completely supportive of you and feeds your soul?



At the end of the meditation, we all then placed our written intentions into the fire, symbolizing releasing the intention to the Universe, letting the idea be carried out of our hands and into something metaphorically bigger.



If we have these seeds of growth sitting in our consciousness without the source of light or energy, how will they ever come to be realized? It's like having all the knowledge of the benefits of exercise but never moving.



Until we begin to realize and then act upon our intentions, they remain as seed pods that are dormant. When we begin to recognize, honor and then feed these ideas they begin to grow, as does our own transformation.



I love the idea of the Winter Solstice as it relates to light. The actual day in 2009 is December 21 representing the shortest day of the year as it relates to the number of daylight hours that we see. From December 22 the day light hours begin to lengthen.



Stepping from darkness into light.



Isn't that what our own personal growth is about? Gaining clarity about our own life path and purpose? Moving from ignorance towards greater wisdom? Turning inward to see our own inner light's radiance?



Let's take a moment on December 21 and connect to our inner radiance and all the potential that is sitting within.



Peaceful Solstice.



Love and Light.

Extremes

As I look up toward the snow-covered San Jacinto mountains here in the desert of California, wearing my fleece and long pants, I forget how hot it felt here just three months ago when my standard outfit was a pair of shorts and a tank top.

I sometimes wonder where those transitional months of basking in the high 80's and low 90's snuck by me so seemingly fast. It feels as though one moment I'm dripping sweat and the next, I'm shrouding myself in a wool wrap.

My thought for the week is recognizing when we are experiencing moments of harmony and balance. Our awareness of no longer being in balance is often heightened when we notice our extremes. When we have swung the pendulum so far to one side that we look back and say, "wow...I was really feeling good, or enjoying that. And now...I'm noticing how _______ I am."

You can fill the blank in with tired, busy, hungry, agitated or any thing that speaks to the notion of having to change something. And herein lies the practice...hearing what it is that is no longer in balance and knowing what to do about it.

Then the tough part. The doing something about it.

I know that last week I said we were "human beings, not human doings". But, sometimes doing something with a clear intention leads us to become better at being.

Here's an example. When I was in college, I got sick EVERY semester break. Every time without fail. The pressure would ease, my load would decrease and I'd spend 7-10 days managing some type of illness. My body was screaming at me to stop pushing so hard, but I would ignore it. Then during the break - WHAM- down you go, as though my body was saying, "I told you to take a break, but you wouldn't listen. Now...I'm going to make you slow down and take the break I have been talking about these past few months".

One of the great benefits of my yoga practice is that I've formed a better relationship with that inner voice. I listen more closely and use the tools that I have learned, to support my well-being all year round.

That brings me back to the extreme idea. One of my favorite sayings is that, "consistency is the key". This is an idea also present in the yoga texts. So instead of going to a class or doing a workout every once in a while, or going to the most challenging practice six days a week, why not think about what the place in between might feel like?

Consistently looking after ourselves means listening to our inner wisdom. It means finding someone or something that is able to teach us the tools of self-care. And most importantly, it means DOING it...not just having the knowledge, but stepping it into action.

Perhaps underlying this whole idea is that of treating ourselves from a place of compassion. Holding our own being in an embrace of self-love and acceptance. To connect to this, try placing both of your hands over your heart. Close your eyes. Feel the beat deep within your chest and notice the movement of your breath.

Equanimity...find it within.

24/7/365

We are in a time when we have access to information and being available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. In the past, if we woke up in the middle of the night with burning questions we had only a few ways to find the answer...call somebody (but it's late), get up and check our Encyclopedia Brittanica or go back to sleep and wait until the morning to head off to the library.

Now if the same thing happens, we can roll over in bed and Google the question from our iPhone or Blackberry. We get the answer to our burning question almost immediately and can then roll over and go back to sleep.

My thought for the week is around finding the balance between humanity and technology.

It all began with the Internet and the increasing frequency with which we feel the need to check to see if someone has sent us a message. So much so, that we see people sitting in restaurants, medical offices, airports, driving and at the movies frantically sneaking a peak at their various devices. It's about time that being available 24/7/365 is added to things that are addictive in nature...right up there with television, drugs and alcohol.


I am fully aware of how beneficial rapid communication can be. I use it to connect with those of you reading this newsletter as well as with clients and friends, particularly useful for long-distance and overseas.
But I'm beginning to wonder: are we having better relationships with our devices than with people? I recently heard someone talking about all the cool "apps" for their phone and once they began to talk about it, they needed to show the "app" to someone else and proceeded to get energized, as though they had recently met someone knew. I know that new technology can be cool. What I would like to see become the new cool is sitting with someone and focusing on just one thing...them.

Sitting opposite someone, making eye contact and offering a compassionate smile holds great power and connection. It is fundamentally human. When we are present with other beings from a place of non-judgment, technology is the furthest thing from our minds.

We are human beings. Not human doings.

Let's keep humans and technology in perspective. One cannot replace the other. Part of the unplugging process and stepping into our own pool of stillness means shutting down our devices a bit more frequently and doing less multi-tasking.

As one of my teachers, Judith Hanson Lasater says, "let's become better at uni-tasking". In the process we can balance both our connection to people and the use of cool technology.

Ahhhh...the practice of yoga...finding balance!

Driving Ourselves Into the Ground...

"Way to give it 110%"
"Atta Girl"
"No Pain. No Gain"
"Go For It!
"Don't Give Up...Keep Going"

Sound familiar?

It does to me. It was a revolving door of dialogue that was spoken to me as I was growing up and well into my adult years and words that I no doubt, spewed out to the thousands of fitness classes I've taught over the years. As a young athlete, it was ingrained into my being that if you didn't give it all you had, you weren't a team player or were "soft". You had to push it to your limits every time. You know, "leave it out on the court, or in the gym, or on the balance beam".

But what about the yoga mat? Do I need to give it 100% every time I step onto my mat in order to be a good yogi?

This past week, I asked the students who attend my more challenging classes what it would be like to give it just 70%. What would it feel like to dial it back a bit?

When I was asked that question, my answer was "I don't know, as I always give it 110%..."

With the holiday season in full swing, what would it be like to practice yoga (or anything else) at a lower intensity? Would this be a supportive way of helping you to not overdo it? I suspect it would. And for those high-reaching achievers, how about throwing in some restorative yoga where you are fully supported and allowed to rest. Yes. I said it...rest.

So when our natural tendency is to shove it into high gear, take a moment and put it on a 70% cruise control. It might actually be more challenging than stepping on the gas.

Keeping the Peace

It's been about a month since we returned from our Australian retreat and holiday. During that time, we had some deeply reflective and peaceful days that left us with a strong residue and feeling of wanting to hold onto that experience once we arrived back home. But how?

How do we hold onto that peaceful feeling when we step back into being busy, getting back to work, catching up with people and sorting the laundry? So often, it feels as though the holiday was just some distant dream and now that we're back home, the craziness is beginning all over again.

One thing that stood out for me during this past trip was how easy it is to get distracted by unnecessary happenings and dialogue. Part of my return-home strategy is that I have been on a news fast. No morning news. No evening news. No newspapers. No news radio. Why? Because the news doesn't make me feel good. And I have found that by not watching the news, I don't become invested in drama that doesn't concern me. If it's an issue that does concern me, it seems to finds its way into my awareness through other people talking about it. I get wind of what's going on, but I don't invest any unnecessary energy in it.

I've also been sticking with my daily meditation routine and trying to slow down to be in the moment more and more frequently.

I can call up an image of my Aussie trip, of sitting on the beach as the sun rose over the Coral Sea and feel the experience all over again, even if I'm sitting at my computer or driving my car.

Further, it reminds me of the basic need we have to find our own way to being in quiet. To find our own peace. To look after the relationship that we have with ourselves.

As the holidays approach, try to do things more slowly, with focus and attention. Slow down. Breathe. And of course, eat and share this Thanksgiving with loved ones. They will benefit from being near a peaceful you.

One Step At A Time

When One Teaches
Two People Learn

I came across this saying within the past couple of weeks, presented by one of my teachers-Judith Hanson Lasater. And as often happens, I see the saying and think "that's cool" and then don't think about it again.

That is, until a situation happens and then...POP...it lands back in my awareness. My thought for this week is based around this experience happening throughout this past week of teaching classes.

I often think it would be a great idea to have a camera when someone attends their first yoga class. But, as you can imagine, the other implications from this thought may not be agreeable, so the camera is my own memory and mind's eye of how the student looked and acted.

One of the most blessed moments that I experience in teaching is that I will be progessing through a class, look up and seemingly in a sudden swift moment, I am hit by the brilliance of my students! Once again I think, "WOW! I wish I had a camera because you all look so amazing! When did it happen that you all turned into yogis?"

It's probably not dissimilar to a parent looking at their own kids and thinking, "when did you grow up and learn so much? Did I miss something?"

In those moments, it is reaffirmed that consistency is the key. Stepping onto our yoga mat (or into any other endeavor) with a clear intention and purpose in practice on a regular basis equals progress.

When I teach I become a student each and every time. My students teach me to be patient, to be present, to hold the space for all that comes into the practice from the outside world and to remember that I don't know it all.

I hold such gratitude to the many students who have been in front of me. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to keep becoming a better teacher. And, I am humbled by how much I still am able to learn.

Take a moment to reflect upon the experience of being both a teacher and a student and place a seed of resonating gratitude into the process.

Om Shanti!

Uncertainty

Sometimes...life is hard...

It's not just limited to a certain place or even to a certain country. It seems to be everywhere and it seems to be really common these days with many people I've been coming into contact with expressing their challenges around it.

The "it" is uncertainty. An unknowing of what the future will hold.

Part of talking about uncertainty plays into a beautiful yogic lesson. That of impermanence and non-attachment. Everything changes. Everything is in some form of transition. We can believe as much as we like that what we create offers us "security". Really? How?

Does having a steady job mean that we feel no uncertainty? Does having wealth? Does having nothing bring us a greater sense of the unknown? Apparently not. I know people who have houses and jobs or no jobs and still feel incredibly unstable about the future.

My thought of the week is how do we sit in a place of uncertainty and not be overwhelmed by a feeling of gloom?

One practice is to focus on the present moment. The most immediate reminder of this moment is a long exhale and release of tension into "the now". Try it.

Inhale deeply. Pause for a moment.

Now exhale slowly. Pause again.

Do you feel like its an invitation to close your eyes and take a quiet moment inward? Well...it is!

Staying present doesn't mean not planning for our future. It means that we can truly only experience what is currently happening. If we choose to let our minds spend their time in the future, we lose our connection to the present moment.

Taking time to breathe and be present doesn't remove uncertainty. What it does do, is offers us a chance to choose how we react to the situation.

What choice of thought are you selecting?

Uncertainty

Sometimes...life is hard...

It's not just limited to a certain place or even to a certain country. It seems to be everywhere and it seems to be really common these days with many people I've been coming into contact with expressing their challenges around it.

The "it" is uncertainty. An unknowing of what the future will hold.

Part of talking about uncertainty plays into a beautiful yogic lesson. That of impermanence and non-attachment. Everything changes. Everything is in some form of transition. We can believe as much as we like that what we create offers us "security". Really? How?

Does having a steady job mean that we feel no uncertainty? Does having wealth? Does having nothing bring us a greater sense of the unknown? Apparently not. I know people who have houses and jobs or no jobs and still feel incredibly unstable about the future.

My thought of the week is how do we sit in a place of uncertainty and not be overwhelmed by a feeling of gloom?

One practice is to focus on the present moment. The most immediate reminder of this moment is a long exhale and release of tension into "the now". Try it.

Inhale deeply. Pause for a moment.

Now exhale slowly. Pause again.

Do you feel like its an invitation to close your eyes and take a quiet moment inward? Well...it is!

Staying present doesn't mean not planning for our future. It means that we can truly only experience what is currently happening. If we choose to let our minds spend their time in the future, we lose our connection to the present moment.

Taking time to breathe and be present doesn't remove uncertainty. What it does do, is offers us a chance to choose how we react to the situation.

What choice of thought are you selecting?

Just Enough

Just Enough

With my recent trip to Australia, I was able to have time to "just be". Most days presented themselves with the chance to connect with my most basic needs. I had a comfortable place to stay. I had healthy and delicious food. I was surrounded by loving people. We were in a stunning environment and each day was spent engaging in yoga, meditation and time in nature.

My basic needs were being met and then some. As I wrote last week, I was able to unplug in from the hectic schedule often present in daily life.

As I return to my work and personal schedule back here in the desert, I have been struck by how much I DON'T need on a daily basis. In many ways, we are incredibly fortunate to have such apparent abundance. As I cruised the aisles at Costco and the supermarkets it becomes overwhelming at how we have access to such an incredible amount of stuff.

I caught myself feeling tempted to toss an extra item into my basket (that could just about comfortably fit a Great Dane), but stopped as I asked myself the question...."but do I really need it?" Every time I asked this question, the answer was always the same..."no".

This is not a new thought, that "stuff" can't make us happy. More food from jumbo sized boxes doesn't feed our soul. Do we walk around in dazzled state of consumption to cover up the deeper questions our souls are asking?

Of course, only you can answer that question.

For myself, I trust that my happiness lies within me, begins deep inside my heart and is continually fed through my practice of yoga and creating a life that I love. That includes putting into my own basket, friends, family, positive thoughts and a fulfilling career.

What are you putting in your basket this week?

Unplug

Unplug

How much daily news do you get from the TV or radio? How many times do you check your email each day or receive a "tweet"? How much do you engage in playing games on Facebook or solitaire on your computer? How much time do you experience silence each day?

My thought for this week revolves around the practice of unplugging ourselves from our often hectic lives-not just when attending a yoga retreat or on vacation, where it's so easy to disconnect, but on each and every day or our "regular" lives.


Being at Sanctuary Retreat at Mission Beach in Queensland, Australia was the perfect opportunity to disconnect and unplug. For nine days we had no phone, no TV, no radio. We had to pay for the time we spent on the Internet, so that tended to limit our time to check on anything other than "urgent" emails.

The beauty of having consecutive days of disconnect is that it allows your brain, body and spirit to find themselves in a different relationship to one another. Distractions of our busy-ness aren't given the opportunity to interrupt. Plus, if you add in a daily practice of yoga, meditation, walking along an uninhabited beach and watching a sunset, the experience enters a space of potential transformation.

So, how do we then, connect to this place of ease and stillness when we have work to do and a schedule to keep?

My answer is to firstly remember the physiological feeling of being quiet and still. Second, to create the opportunity to find it at least for 10 minutes during your day. Sit. Breathe. Be. Take a break from watching or reading the news for a few days. Turn off your phone and pick up a good book. Make it a priority...every day.

Stop doing. Just be. Even if it's only for a few moments.

Flying High At Sanctuary

The following is an exerpt from my experience...

The vision came to me over 18 months ago...of bringing a yoga retreat to Australia. This vision morphed through various stages, much as a pupae evolves into becoming a butterfly. I had the idea of traveling to Australia with a small group of people from the US & perhaps Canada, and meeting up with Australian yogis in search of a deeper yogic experience.

When I had spent a number of months in the planning stages, sent out the information and secured the dates, I then had to release the idea to the Universe as it felt it was then out of my hands. I no longer had control and needed to allow the path to unfold before me. I meditated on many occasions, asking the Universe for manifestation. What I thought that might look like was a smooth flow of inquiries with a few people committing to making the trek. Instead, this happened just like a slow, dripping tap...an email here, a phone call there. No commitment.

Yet still, I was somewhat optimistic that the retreat would happen. As timed passed, people began to back out and with one month prior to the scheduled dates, we had only four of us going. Myself, Ed, a friend from Melbourne, Lisa and another woman from Canada, Kathleen.

I contacted Sanctuary and said it looked as though the retreat wouldn't happen. Deep in my heart I was disappointed that my held vision didn't look as though it would come true.

I kept my faith in the Universe and thought that I needed to still follow my path that was leading to Sanctuary. After experiencing the feelings of disappointment, I reframed my thinking to that of having my own personal retreat at Sanctuary, along with Ed and any others who might want to share in a similar experience. I asked Sanctuary if it was possible for me to teach casually during our stay as I could no longer afford the daily room hire required for retreat use. They graciously agreed and in that stereotypical Aussie way said that we could just wait and see what comes about.

In my own way, being in Australia offers me a sense of freedom and connection. The continent has always held that for me. I have the internal image of my feet being embedded up to my ankles in sand. It grounds me and connects me not just to the ocean and beach, but to something that's indescribably greater. I believe it to be a connection into the deepest part of my soul. So the idea of heading back to Australia without a retreat in tow, was still a great way to be spending my time.

We arrived in Cairns, took a 2-hour shuttle south and a 4WD brought us to Sanctuary. As we got to the top of the hill where you check in at reception housed within the "long house", you get your first view of the Coral Sea. The beautifully designed long house has an expansive veranda, open doors towards the sea with sea breezes offering a natural way of keeping the bugs at bay and the temperatures comfortable. The long house has a modern zen feel to it, with a pitched ceiling, purple, green and cranberry walls, comfy sofas and floor pillows for lounging, as well as wooden tables and a long bar made from local timber and rough finished to give you the feel as though you're sitting on a slice of a tree.

Our deluxe cabin was well-appointed, perched on wooden stilts with a private balcony overlooking the rainforest and out towards the Coral sea. It was fully self-contained with private bath/shower, mini-fridge and towels. The room colors were a subtle lime green, yellow and vibrant orange sofa and Indian wall hanging. We dropped our bags, unpacked our stuff and headed off to explore the Sanctuary.


The paved, yet steep path down to the Yoga studio ensured that you began your practice of mindfulness prior to stepping into the yoga space. The studio was simply beautiful, with a polished wood floor, high ceiling, natural light and a view out of every long window of the abutting rainforest.

The long-house became a place to relax and hang out throughout our entire stay. I could take a book or laptop into the space, sip tea, or a fresh juice as I tended to my set intentions of reading and writing. It was also a peaceful place of mingling and getting to chat with so many of the interesting people from all over the world.


In conjunction with Paul, the boss/manager/developer of Sanctuary, we came up with a very loose yoga schedule for the upcoming week. What eventuated was better than I could have imagined. We ended up holding a mini-retreat over 8-days. I taught yoga most mornings from 9:30-11:00 am, as well as a restorative class one evening and an earlier class on the day of departure for one of the guests from 7:45-9:15 am. I had a steady group of five students as well as eight other people visit the classes throughout the week. A total of 13 yoga participants came out of the ashes to form an experience that I hadn't anticipated.


I was able to teach to beginners as well as to those who were thirsting to learn more about living a yogic lifestyle. I introduced the concept of doshas and Ashtaangha yoga (referring to living the 8-limbed path). I introduced students to the concept of being fully supported in a restorative practice and the practice of meditation. It was more than I could have hoped for in that I went to Sanctuary thinking that I might teach a class or two, but ended up offering a significant impetus to many peoples practice. I love the idea of how yoga can touch one person at a time, thus creating a ripple effect that continues to resonate outward, away from the catalyst, in this case...me.


Outside of yoga, Brookes beach, the jewel at the end of the downhill hike from Sanctuary, beckoned us each day. We had two morning sunrise meditations on Brookes beach and most of the time if five people were on the beach, it was crowded. Many hikes/bushwalks were close by with one afternoon spent at Bicton hill lookout and another at Garner beach, just north of Brookes beach.


We took a day trip with Coral Sea Kayaks that situated us in two-person sea kayaks. We pushed off onto a sea of glass, following instruction on technique and how to use the vessels with an experienced guide, Attie (short for Atalanta). We paddled over to Dunk Island, 4-km off-shore, saw green sea turtles and went snorkeling as Attie fixed us a picnic lunch on the beach. I took a nap in the shade of a palm tree as the rest of the group (six in total) either did a rainforest bushwalk with Attie, explored on their own or hung out on the beach.

To sum up, I fell in love with Sanctuary retreat in Mission Beach, Queensland. I was able to teach more yoga that I had expected. I met many soulful and interesting people who were in a place of spaciousness both physically and spiritually. It gave my husband and I a setting in which to connect to each other on a deeper level. The setting was peaceful, contemplative and authentically Australian (rainforest, beach, local wildlife).


My intention is to have a regular retreat to this place. My vision didn't manifest in the way that I anticipated, but did in a way that I wasn't able to visualize. I so deeply wish others to share in this experience.

Life at Sanctuary Retreat

Greetings everyone,
We have been at Sanctuary Retreat since Sunday and upon our arrival, we were greeted by a baby cassowary. A cassowary is a large flightless bird related to the emu and inhabits this rainforested area. I have been teaching casual classes the entire week, then spend the rest of the day hiking down to the beach, exploring the area, reading and writing. It's easy to pass many hours looking over the canopy of the rainforest to the Pacific ocean. The water is warm, inviting and the beach typically has only had no more than 5 people occupying it at one time.

Tempting eh? Next year, I hope to offer a full on retreat and can wait to share more photo's and experiences with all of you. We are retreating into our own hearts and spirits in this beautiful land Down Under.

Peace and Namaste',
Jayne

The Thoughtful Voice

I have had many thoughts passing through the super highway of my brain that seem to be displaying opposite views and perspectives. As I wrote last week, I felt pure joy witnessing the expression of genuine happiness at the Bhakti Fest. It has remained fresh in my mind and my thought this week was how much contrast I witnessed since stepping back from the blissful edge and into the reflection of our daily culture.

It really hit me as to how disgruntled people are at the moment. They seem angry at the government and in despair over the economy. We had people losing their minds like Serena Williams' outburst at the US Open, Kanye West bursting on-stage during someone elses acceptance speech at the VMA's, a Senator yelling out in a joint session, people cutting in front of me at Trader Joe's...I mean C'MON PEOPLE...where's the decorum?

People seem to be expressing their dissatisfaction. As Mick Jagger put it, "I can't get no..."

My thought is, "Is this expression necessarily bad?". Inappropriate?. Absolutely. But, it's expression nonetheless and voicing is good for the spirit. Perhaps it becomes more destructive when there is no counter balance...no yin with the yang. No feminine amongst the masculine. No ebb, just flow. So how do we express ourselves appropriately without thrusting our inappropriate behavior onto everyone else? Once those words have left the source, there is no taking it back.

Consciousness. That's how. Developing our own awareness for how we imprint the world. Whether that be through words, actions or thoughts. Realizing that we ARE a reflection of the rest of the Universe. We share the same Divine light as every other being on this planet.

The practice of yoga has hung around for some 5,000 years because people have consciously experienced how awareness raising it can be. I invite you to listen to yourself from the inside first, before you outwardly express. Feel your own inner beauty and peace and project that onto the planet.

I recently heard that wisdom is being able to hold opposing views without feeling that either is right or wrong.

I hope you enjoy an expressive few weeks!

Peace and Namaste',

Jayne

What Does Joy Look Like?

Greetings everyone,

I spent yesterday at Bhakti Fest, the first celebration of kirtan (music), yoga, food and energy of its kind, held in Joshua Tree, CA. It brought up numerous thoughts for this weeks writing, but one has stuck more strongly than the others.

Finding and expressing joy.

The beautiful thing about visiting the Fest was watching people express joy and happiness. Many moments in our daily lives are routine, often challenging and frequently riddled with different types of stress.

To step into a community of people who were letting go, of all kinds of daily life connections was reflective of a larger practice-that of non-attachment and experiencing the NOW moment.

I watched people stand up and dance with their eyes closed, chanting along with the kirtan leader. I saw people practicing Acro Yoga and doing Hula Hoops. I saw people smiling, hugging and truly embracing the experience. I saw my old high school friend, Dave Z, create a beautiful image of Shiva as he stood alongside the stage with Jai Uttal rocking the crowd. As I looked into the expressions on peoples faces...I saw happiness.

I invite you to find something that brings that feeling to your heart and radiates out through your being to others. The reason is, that seeing joy-brings joy. It's contagious. It's worth catching.

I hope you enJOY the upcoming week and to see you in classes soon!

Peace and Namaste',

Jayne

Morphing The Dream

With my upcoming trip to Australia, I have been in various stages of planning and re-thinking. My original vision that popped into my head over 18 months ago was a trip Down Under with a group of people in tow with all of us stepping into the natural beauty of Australia to practice yoga on a deeper level. What has transpired is that vision has morphed into something different and my question is, "how am I OK with that?"

The reality is the retreat isn't happening. I'm going to Sanctuary Retreat in Mission Beach, Queensland and will stay there for a week or so. I'll be there with my husband, Ed, and the two other people who wanted to do the retreat. The best we can hope for is that one or two other people who are staying at Sanctuary will be interested in taking a yoga class during our stay. If that happens, then I will be teaching yoga at the site.

The positive upshot of all of this is that a lesson is sitting within the experience. I'll have the opportunity to experience the retreat center from a different perspective and check out the setting. I won't be working quite as hard as originally planned and will have time to practice yoga, explore, read and write. I'll know more about what to do in future attempts to create an overseas retreat and I hope to bring back images and first hand experiences of what it's like to be in this setting.

Although my original vision has changed, my desire to pursue that vision has been an exercise in facing fear and disappointment. As it turns out...I'm still OK with all of it!

Peace & Namaste',

Jayne

Pool of Stillness

Greetings everyone,
I've had one word that's been stuck in my mind ever since my recent training in San Francisco and it has led me to my thought for the week. The word is bittersweet. In the training it was mentioned how life is both bitter and sweet. That its constant pendulum swinging action between suffering and pleasure supports us in our pursuit of finding equanimity. I have more fully experienced this relationship of challenge and ease, particularly this past year with both my husband and me having health scares.

It so often seems that we're cruising through life and then WHAM...something jumps out in front of us. How do we react? Do we ignore the obstacle and try to crash through it? Do we avoid it and go around or do we acknowledge its presence and accept it?

What yoga teaches us to do through its practices, is to have awareness around what's happening, and not BECOME what's happening. It teaches us to sit next to the feelings of fear and uncertainty, or in difficult situations without it changing the essence of who we really are. It teaches that who we are is deep, ever-present and wise. If we can sit quietly, we can connect to this place. We strive to find this place in our daily meditation practice as well as when we're standing in a strong Warrior pose and connect to that place of stillness through the vehicle of our breath.

As I've been sitting in my meditations this past week, as I try to bring a quietness to my mind, I visualize a place of balance between my heart and my head as well as in the center of my mind. I try to hold onto this place of stillness and balance without being in one place or another.

Once you step into that pool of stillness...you don't want to come out.

Challenge yourself this week to go for a swim in your own pool of calm, quiet and stillness.

Peace and Namaste',

Jayne

Be Kind to Yourself

Greetings everyone,
Firstly, this next week I will be attending the Advanced Relax and Renew course taught by the Queens of restorative yoga, Judith Hanson Lasater, in San Francisco. Therefore, classes this week are canceled and the regular schedule will resume on Tuesday 25 August.

This leads me to my second point and thought of the week which is related to taking an approach of "loving-kindness" towards ourselves and the physical image we hold within that. What prompted this weeks thought, is that in at least three of my classes this past week, people asked questions or made statements related to wanting to change their physical body. Things they were dissatisfied with such as the shape of their thighs or the thickness around their abdomen.

When they asked what they could do to change these things, I suggested that perhaps we needed to have our practice be around compassion for ourselves rather than criticism.

I have been working in the fitness/wellness industry for over 27 years and have seen many, many people wanting to find ways to lose the fat from their belly or legs and will then undertake particular "exercises" thinking that this will get rid of the fat that's lying over the top of the muscle. As is well proven, fat can't be removed through "targeting" a particular body part. If that were true, you would see tennis players who play with one hand on both forehand and backhand strokes having one arm with less fat on it than the other. This isn't true.

So, in my own growth instead of trying to encourage people to do more squats or more ab curls, I am offering a different suggestion of looking at how well our bodies function. Our abdominals are meant to support our spine...do they? If not, focus on how to use your muscles to give you ease of function whether it be strengthening them or lengthening them, or both.

From a more yogic perspective, our bodies are the vessels by which our souls have a physical experience. If we begin to brighten our own spiritual connection, this radiance shines through with such intensity that nobody, including our own self critic, will be able to see the less than media perfect physical uniqueness of our bodies.

I hope you enjoy a beautiful week and are kind-to yourself.

Peace and Namaste',
Jayne

Letting the Inner Child Out

Greetings everyone,
Having just spent the past week with young feminine energy via visiting relatives, I was once again reminded how great it is to step into my own childlike vigor. As we grow into our adult responsibilities, we often lose the connection to what it's like to simply play. Sometimes I have to stop and check my own seriousness and see how much fun I'm having living my life...how am I finding my joy? How am I expressing my inner child that is simply beating down the door to get out and play?

The next time you're in a public place, check out how many adults look like they're having a great time. Do they seem like they're in a hurry to get to the next order of business, or are they taking a moment to see something beautiful or offer a smile? My other thought is to step into some time with a young child and instead of acting all grown up...don't. Sit down and color outside the lines. Be "it" in a game of tag or fill up some water balloons without worrying if you're going to get wet or a grass stain on your clothes. Run around barefoot and "ssshhh" the grown up voice that wants you to "be careful and sit down".

That's it...play.

Laugh.

Joy.

Peace and Namaste',
Jayne

Wearing Many Hats

Greetings everyone,
I'll keep it brief this week as I have my grand daughter and two nieces watching a movie in the next room with them being here for the next week.

My thought for the week is around the different roles we play in our lives, particularly as it relates to our family. I spent the weekend being cast in many parts...daughter, aunt and now grandma. I spoke with two of my siblings and slipped on the sister hat as well as the role of wife. It's interesting to experience the variance of dynamic with each person. The off-shoots of each are that in some roles we are the caregiver, others the listener and sometimes the enforcer of rules and structure.

As my own life has evolved, I hope that I am now more able to bring a sense of love and steadfastness to each of these different relationships. I hope that I have become a better listener and that I can continually undertake the challenge of being fully present and releasing judgement with each individual.

It's going to be a week that tests what I've been working on in my own practice of yoga. And I'm betting that it will be there without me even realizing it.

Peace and Namaste',
Jayne

To Eat, Or Not To Eat Meat...?

Greetings everyone,
My thought for this week is largely centered around eating meat or not eating meat. The reason is that is has been brought up in recent conversation with friends and in this link Why 'Meat Free Mondays' . So, I thought, being the educating yogini that I am, that I, too...should share some thoughts on the subject.

The idea of having one day a week designated as "Meat Free" for those meat eating readers out there, was promoted in a much broader sense through the above link, then that of coming from the perspective of being cruel to animals. It's not saying that we should all be vegetarian, but if you do eat meat, have you ever thought about making the conscious choice of not eating it one day a week?

The benefits for increasing our focus around a more plant-based diet are well supported in research. It's not only good for the health of our bodies, but for the health of our planet. It's also so much easier to find non-meat based foods than ever as our food availability is abundant.

I've been through a few different incarnations of vegetarianism for over 27-years. I did eat seafood and fish, but stopped doing so about two years ago...which technically made me a "pescatarian" for those years, not a vegetarian. The deeper I have gone into my yoga practice, the more I have practiced the first Yama-Ahimsa, often translated as "non-harming or non-violence". This refers to not harming ourselves, other beings or our planet...so many yoga practitioners become vegetarian for that reason.

My final thought on this matter in relationship to food choices is around consciousness. Know about the food you choose to nourish yourself with...where it comes from, how it's grown, how it's prepared...stuff like that. And of course, find a moment of gratitude for our fortunate situation in having so many fruits, vegetables, grains, soy products and nuts to choose from before chowing down!

Bon Appetit, Peace and Namaste',

Jayne

Let's Get Physical

Greetings everyone,
My first yoga instructor in Australia, Murray, had a fantastic physique. I asked him what he did outside of yoga...was he lifting weight, doing cardio? "No", he said, "just yoga". I didn't believe him. I thought, how can you look like that and just be doing yoga?

It took many years to open my mind to the idea that the practice of yoga could be that good. Now, I believe his words...it works. I often write about how yoga is more than simply a physical practice. When the sage Patanjali penned the yoga sutras some 2,000 plus years ago and coined the term "Ashtaa-angha" yoga (eight-limbed path), only breath work (pranayama) and poses (asana) are physical in nature, the other six have to do with behavior and finding stillness and higher connection through a meditative path.

However, undertaking the physical path of yoga is the most familiar route in our culture and DOES have so many incredible benefits. When I recently flew to Nashville the next morning my brother and I attended a local Vinyasa class. I hadn't slept well the night before and my body was reflecting the plane seat posture. I was stiff and uncertain as to what the unfamiliar class had in store for me. But, alas, I was not disappointed. The class was great, I was able to connect as a student into the practice rather than as a teacher and my body felt revived. As a result, so did my spirit.

If you have no desire to learn about the philosophical aspect of yoga-so be it. You can still benefit from the extraordinary physical benefits the practice has to offer. It is a practice that offers so much that we have the option of choosing how deep we wish to dive. Here is a link to yoga as building our strength. Can Yoga Replace Strength Training? - Gaiam Life.

Peace and Namaste',
Jayne

Sometimes It Takes Courage

Greetings everyone,
This weeks post is a day later than usual as I have just returned from Music City, Nashville, TN where I spent 5-days visiting with my brother, Ken. I have such feelings of gratitude to have a relationship with my sibling that deepens and continues to grow as we get older.

Being in Tennessee and traveling to their State Park, Fall Creek Falls, it reminded me of how much variation exists between each of these United States. The local accent sounded so foreign to my ear that is tuned to Southern Californian wave lengths and intonations. The landscape alone had me reflecting on the seemingly fearlessness of explorer's who would of had to "whack" their way through such thickly wooded terrain and navigate rivers to unknown destinations. What courage must have been present in looking into the unknown.

My thought of the week is that of courage. When we step more deeply into our yoga practice, we can be met with many challenges. Some physical, some emotional and spiritual. As we look a bit deeper into our own selves with increased awareness, paying attention to our reaction without judging, we often need to have courage to see what is present.

Yoga teaches us to just "be" with whatever is facing us in that moment. It may be change, fear, dissatisfaction, love or any other emotion. By recognizing WHAT it is we are feeling, we can teach ourselves to not react to it. Take a deep breath and turn inward. Feel that you're heart can remain open and steady even if it gets a bit scary!

Peace and Namaste',
Jayne

Tree Hugger

Greetings everyone,
Yesterday, on the 4th of July (Independence Day here in the USA), I was watching a National Geographic show on Yosemite National Park. What struck me yet again, was the stunning beauty of not only the park, but the giant Sequoias that are indigenous to the area. I sat watching this program with a compelling feeling in my chest and as I observed my physical reaction to this show, I realized that the feeling was one of pure beauty.

I have been to Yosemite many times and stood as close as possible to giant sequoias. In having that as a past experience, I could ellicit the same visceral reaction through seeing the images on TV, even though I wasn't physically there...I felt as though I were. It was grounding and wonderful and yet again, I felt awestruck.

One of the teaching cues I give during a yoga class is to "spread your arms out wide as though you're hugging a giant sequoia". As I say this to my class, I get a feeling of my heart pressing into the bark of these giant living things. I feel connected to them, as though their 3,000 years of being on this planet can teach me something and if I open my heart directly to the tree...maybe some of that wisdom will seep into me!

What really blew me away was the comment during the program of some of these sequoias being around when Cleopatra ruled...CLEOPATRA! That was enough to throw things into perspective. It made me reflect that our current time on this planet is limited and goes by so very quickly. That I need to reach out, open my heart, allow wisdom of other beings to be part of my own growth and to enjoy the present moment.

My thought for this week is to ask you to take a moment to visualize being in the presence of something that has been around for 3,000 years. Perhaps, like me, you will feel humbled by that and all is has seen.


Australia Retreat: Deposits are now being received for the upcoming Yoga Retreat to Australia. Visit www.desertyogatherapy.com/retreats.htm for more details and information. We are on the cusp of having a viable interest and are looking for commitment to attending. Please let me know if you would like to go!

Now...go hug a tree!

Peace and Namaste',

Jayne

Got Music?

Greetings everyone,
I've got the music in me, I've got the music in me, I've got the music in me and I guess I always have. I can't seem to get the thought of music out of my head.

We were traveling this past weekend and my husband was shocked at how much music I have loaded onto my iPod. "How can anyone listen to so many songs?" he asked incredulously. My response was that I listen to music every day. I sing something every morning as part of my meditation practice. I play music as I'm teaching yoga. I listen to the radio as I commute from place to place. I have Sacred Sounds radio playing on my computer as I write this. IT'S EVERY WHERE!

I've been exposed to all types of music ever since I can remember, through dance and my family. When Michael Jackson died this past week, the first person I called was my brother, who's a musician (as well as a custom woodworker). We "talk" music frequently and I feel the wiser for it.

If I put my yoga hat on and think about why music is so meaningful in my life is that it's vibration. It's immediately palpable energy. It's able to tap into so many different moments and emotions. I bet many of you know where you were when certain songs were playing and how you felt. Music is penetrating. It reaches into our hearts, souls and cells and connects us to something outside of ourselves-AHA! Just like our yoga practice connects us to something that's bigger than our physical selves.

It is thought that when we sing a particular mantra that it can be completely transformational, particularly if we repeat it 108 times a day over 30 days without missing a day. When I sing mantra, I am blown away by how many people have uttered the same words millions of times before me and that I am perpetuating this positive intention through my own Universal connections.

Need some relaxation. Try music.

Need some motivation. Try music.

Need some love. Try music.

Need to release something that's not serving you...you got the idea...you, too, can have the music in you.

I hope to see you in classes and singing along this week!

Thanks Dad!

Greetings everyone,
With today being Father's Day, I have spent part of my day reflecting on my own Dad and how he was one of my most valued teachers. He passed away almost 27 years ago from kidney cancer. He was 46 years old...the age that I am as I write this. It makes me think how much more life lies ahead of me and it taught me to value every moment, as you never know when your moment will be met. But, instead of focusing on the feeling of loss, I choose to reflect on all that he was able to teach me.

My Dad was a brilliant man...not just a biased observance, but well established as he was a metallurgical engineer who was a researcher in aerospace. When I was young and he told me he was an engineer, I thought it meant that he drove trains. I even had a quick vision of his engineers hat, although I never saw him wear one. But, what made my Dad brilliant to me was that he took time with me...to teach me. We played softball together, he kept my stats, measured off how many steps it was to the pitchers mound and coached my teams. He held me patiently as I was screaming with frustration at not understanding algebra. He took the time to explain, teach and support my learning. I ended up with A's in algebra by the end of the school year.

He supported my decision to travel to Australia as an exchange student and encouraged me to make decisions around my higher education based on interest of topic, not my interest in a boyfriend.

He taught me to get my fingernails dirty in the garden and in pitching a tent. To be the "tomboy" that I was without embarrassment but through embracing my abilities, even if others thought it to be "un-lady like".

My Dad embraced me for who I am and who he thought I could become. I miss him, but have his voice and eyes burned into my thoughts.

Happy Father's Day to all of you and your Dad's. My thought for this week is to sit for a moment in gratitude for all that your Dad has given you.

Taking Yoga Off the Mat

Greetings everyone,
I want to share a story this week about yoga not just taking place on a yoga mat.

My husband and I were at a MLB baseball game a couple of years ago where the Oakland A's were hosting the Boston Red Sox. We were sitting in the stands, enjoying the game and couldn't help but notice the loud conversation taking place in the seats behind us. It was a young man, sitting next to an older man (not certain if they knew each other prior to the beginning of the game) and the younger man was chatting MUCH MORE than the older man. In fact, the younger man had something to say about everything going on within his field of vision. He was saying things like, "Hey, pretty girl walking by with a hot dog. A's don't have any pitching. And blah, blah, blah..." Plus, he would make a "cluck" noise with every pitch, I suppose to emulate the sound of bat hitting the ball.

As I sat there, I tried practicing my yoga...staying within my own thoughts and experience...until, I hear the younger man begin to tell the older man that he'd been practicing yoga. Well...my rabbit ears went up and faced backwards. He had my attention now! He was saying "how much yoga had really opened him up and how fantastic he felt doing the classes. You know, it's not as easy as it looks", he was saying. And then, there it is once again. Out comes "hey...pretty lady with a hot dog!"

I drew my rabbit ears back into myself, turned to Ed and said, "now, that's what you call keeping yoga ON the mat".

To me, our physical yoga practice on our mat is a metaphor for how we live our greater life. What we think, how we react during something that challenges or bores us as well as teaching us how to stay calm and present no matter what the situation.

This week...see if you can bring your yoga OFF the mat!

Peace & Namaste',
Jayne

The Color Purple

Greetings everyone,
My thought for this week is based around being inspired by the color purple. The actual color that is, not the movie. The Los Angeles Lakers are in the play-offs, my toe nails are a deep purple, our highest intuitive center (crown chakra) can be represented by purple and the annual Lavender Festival is about to happen. I have heard that purple also represents femininity and royalty. And who doesn't love looking a grouping of lobelia?

What do all of these things have in common? Perhaps nothing more than the color, but like many things its what they represent that holds meaning. The Lakers represent teamwork and perseverence; my toe nails represent honoring myself enough to take a time out and receive; the crown chakra represents our highest connection beyond our physical selves to the Universe at large; and the Lavender Festival represents the cycle of nature and all its abundant beauty.

So when I see each of these things independently, I am reminded about what cascades out from them...as well as a radiant color!

Clamor in the Bathroom

Greetings everyone,
When I was a young kid and aspiring dancer, I used to put on my tap shoes and lock myself in our front bathroom. It was small, had a mirror and the ratta-tat-tap of my shoes had a resonance of echoing delight to my young ears. To my mother, it was simply annoying. She'd pound on the door and yell over the din, "Jayneellen...get out of the bathroom!". It was unabashed joy for me to immerse myself in the sound I was making.

A couple of weeks back, as I was beginning to teach a yoga class where the childcare bathroom is on the other side of the wall to the yoga studio, a young kid was in the bathroom and began to sing his lungs out. I couldn't recognize the song, but it was as if he were in front of a screaming audience of rabid fans...he wasn't holding back, just belting it out. We were all laying on our backs in the yoga class and I began to laugh at the vision of this kid. His complete commitment to hearing the sounds he was making was completely uninhibited. That is, until I tapped on the door and he stopped.

Then just today, I was in a Starbucks enjoying a chai with my husband, and this young girl probably no older than 3 or 4 just burst out into song...loud enough to be heard by us at the next table...another moment of uninhibited joy...being in the sound of her own voice.

So, it brought me to my thought for this week. When was the last time you were acting in a joyful, unbound and uninhibited way? We get so caught up in our "public image and persona" that we have forgotten the childhood experience of being completely as ease with our own expression...right or wrong, unedited and without judgment.

Maybe the next time your favorite song comes on the radio...belt it out! If you feel like breaking into a skip down the street or your favorite dance move...LET IT OUT! Or perhaps best of all...lock yourself in a tiled bathroom and be Gregory Hines for a little while. Simply writing this brings a smile to my face...how about yours?

And don't forget to check out the latest Australia retreat information at http://www.desertyogatherapy.com/retreats.htm. I am now taking deposits and welcome any questions.

Connecting the Dots

Greetings everyone,
This Memorial Day weekend thus far for me has been about connection. Connecting with friends and family in lengthy conversations, spending time in my own beautiful backyard connecting to my own environment and re-connecting to my own need to not be scheduled for 3-consecutive days. Through this current experience I have also been connecting the dots, not so much for myself but in assisting a friend of mine view her health from a broader perspective.

My thought for this week is based around a conversation with her as she has been experiencing many seemingly different and unrelated health challenges. She has seen many different doctors to deal with a perceived endless list of issues and as a result, she has been frustrated that "one more thing has been added onto the list of what's ailing me. How is it through all this medical testing and research that they keep finding different things and how can they possibly be related?" She expressed her frustration at feeling as though she was treating one issue and then another one seemed to be appear. How would she ever get better and get on top of her treatment without losing her mind through fatigue and exhaustion?"

Having been friends with her for coming up to 30 years, I easily put on my yoga therapist hat and suggested that they weren't separate challenges, but that perhaps they all stemmed from a single source that has, over the years, created a cascade of health issues. I suggested that she focus on healing the thoughts around her heart center. If you think about it, our heart is the center of our being...both physically and emotionally. If we've had issue or trauma, then we need to "be" with ourselves in a nurturing, grounded and loving way. If we address the emotional issues around our heart center in a healing, supportive and positive way, then that too, can have a cascading effect on the rest of the body and it's intertwined systems.

Yoga is about unity. Recognizing that our Being is about the interlaced threads of our bodies, minds and spirits. With the advancement of medical technology and research, it's easy to forget that we are whole beings...rather than a bunch of unrelated symptoms.

As you go through this week, spend a moment tuning into the energy around your own heart. What does it feel like? If it could speak, what would it say to you? Are you listening?

We All Look the Same in Yoga Clothes

Greetings everyone,
One thing I really enjoy about the work that I do is that it translates to so many different people. My oldest client is about to turn 94 and my youngest clients are thinking about finishing off their college studies. I used to refer to my fitness classes as being the "great equalizers" in that everyone is basically in the same position. When I was at the University of Melbourne, I wouldn't know if I had the Dean of a school or a first year student pumping away to the music...everyone looked the same. They all wore workout clothes and exercise shoes, I couldn't tell if someone had a Ph.D. or a high school diploma. They were all equal in my eyes.

And yoga is the same. It doesn't matter what your status is in life. The saying is, "if you can breathe, you can do yoga". That's quite a broad invitation. Yoga Alliance is an organizing body that supports yoga instructors and those wanting to do yoga. They have listed the Top 10 reasons to Practice Yoga:

1. Stress Relief
2. Pain Relief
3. Better Breathing
4. Improved Flexibility
5. Increased Strength
6. Weight Management
7. Improved Circulation
8. Cardiovascular Conditioning
9. Better Body Alignment
10. Focus on the Present

So I am INVITING you, no matter who you are, what your story is or if you can't touch your toes to give yoga a try. Step onto the mat. It might just be an unfolding of an experience that might surprise you.

Additionally, I am taking deposits for the yoga retreat to Australia. More information can be found by emailing me or going to my web site www.desertyogatherapy.com and going to the "retreats" page.

I hope you enjoy a beautiful week! Peace and Namaste'.

Feel the Fear and Travel Down Under

Greetings everyone,

My work for the past few weeks has been working through facing fear. In particular, the fear of failing as I have stepped into the arena of offering yoga retreats. Fortunately, last weekend's retreat to Idyllwild was a great success. So now...here comes the REAL test of facing my fear and doing it anyway. I have set the dates and pricing for the Australian retreat that I've been dreaming about running for almost 18 months. I literally had a vision one early Sunday morning in February of 2008, that I was meant to run yoga retreats to my beloved Australia! Fantastic vision...now what!

So the process has been unfolding since then. Emails to friends in Australia, creating my first two yoga retreats here in the States, finding a retreat site and NOW...it's becoming a reality.

This brings me to my thought of the week for you. How many things are hanging out in your mind that are great ideas and never make it to realization? I have had many. This has been my practice. I'm intentionally aiming to move the thoughts from the theory column into the action column. I don't want to get to an age in my life and look back and think..."wow...I should have done ______".

It's scary. I might have interest, but nobody able to make the commitment to going to Australia. But, they say that the greatest lessons are in the journey, right? So, I'm hanging on tightly for this wild ride! How about you?

RETREAT DATES:
Arrive Cairns (northern Queensland) Sep 27, 2009 and transit 2-hours south to Sanctuary Retreat in Mission Beach visit their site at sanctuaryretreat.com.au and check out the venue.

With arrival on Sunday 27 September, the retreat begins Monday 28 September and ends Sunday 4 October with Thursday Oct 1 as a free day. Departure Monday 5 October. The Great Barrier Reef, white water rafting and a secluded beach are in the vicinity.

Airfares to Australia are at a low...as cheap as $629 on V Australia and Qantas (LAX-SYD). Flights within Australia (Sydney-Cairns) are around $400. The US dollar is worth $1.25 Aussie currently offering good value.

The retreat costs range $745-$1345 depending on the level of accommodation selected and includes evening meal, 8-nights of accommodation and yoga tuition.

To get great airfares...book early! If you're interested, send me an email or call 760-333-2339.

FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY!

A foot outside the comfort zone

Greetings everyone,

This past weekend was one that had many opportunities to step out of one's comfort zone. I ran a yoga based retreat in our local mountain village of Idyllwild, with eight spectacular women attending. Everyone at the retreat had varying degrees of yoga experience and I had the challenge of offering classes in yoga postures, meditation, discovering our dosha's and learning how to live one's yoga. We ate beautifully prepared vegetarian food, laughed and had our own "kirtan" last night (a musically meditative experience).

I was impressed by the courage of these women. It can be scary stepping into a situation where you might not know anyone or if you can keep up with the program. It also takes courage to step more deeply into your own yoga practice. It can be confronting to look at our own place in the Universe and reflect upon how we've been traveling this journey so far. I was very honored to be with these women and hope they continue to expand what they have learned and continue to widen the ripple of energy to those that surround them.

My thought for this week comes in the form of a question. When was the last time you stepped outside of what's comfortable for you? What has challenged you lately?

Change Begins Within

Greetings everyone,

Change begins within. I love that saying.

When we are occupied with the everyday happenings in our lives, I wonder how often do we turn our attention inward? It's so easy to get distracted by our own "to-do" lists that they can overwhelm and occupy our awareness. It's like covering up with layers of blankets, almost like putting on a suit of armor that keeps us away from our inner world. Imagine putting on this suit each and everyday...year after year. Do you ever take off a layer and turn inward?

Why would you?

It is said that our true selves lie deep within us. It is ignited from the moment our life begins and as we grow and change and adapt to our environment, we sometimes forget this connection, this quiet and sacred space. By becoming quiet, we once again connect to that inner light, wisdom and voice. We step away from the chatter of the mind and listen to the wisdom being held in our inner knowing.

It is during these quiet moments of connection that we have our purest and truest insights. This in turn, helps anchor us to the external often busier outer world and puts us into a humble place of perspective and gratitude. Call it meditation, prayer, reflection or "quiet time". Call it whatever label suits you.

So my thought for this week is to turn the volume down on the outside world and the volume up on the inside world. Sit. Breathe. Be.

When the Unexpected Happens...

Greetings everyone,
This past week has been one of "when the unexpected happens, how do I handle it?" kind of week. My husband, Ed, hadn't been feeling that well for a few days. Not all the time, just on and off. Last Sunday we went to the emergency room to get things checked out. By 5:00 pm on Monday, he was coming out of anesthesia for a double bypass surgery. Yes...the unexpected had happened to us.

This past week has been a surreal experience and I continue to be thankful firstly to the family and friends who have been unconditionally supportive through sending love, healing energy and positive intention in our direction. Secondly, I hold my heart in open gratitude for the practice of yoga.

I recently told a class that yoga is whatever you want or need it to be. For some, it's a way of stretching and strengthening their bodies. For others, it's a spiritual practice. Some use its many tools to handle challenges both emotional and physical. Over the past six years, I have been deepening my practice to support me as a way of living. I know that the regularity of my practice has been the foundation for me to be in stressful situations and able to maintain a sense of hopefulness and the possibility of a joyful life. I'm not saying this current challenge hasn't been taxing and overwhelming. It has. Yet everyday I get up and sit in meditation, breath and say thank you to the universe.

My husband is about to come home and is healing beautifully. He has no permanent damage to his heart and is expected to continue to live a vibrant life. He, too, practices yoga and has called upon it during his initial recuperation. It makes me emphasize that the time to create this support is BEFORE the drama arrives. That way it's there when you need it.

I hope this weeks message finds you all well and perhaps finding even see you in a yoga class this week!

Feet

Greetings everyone,

With the onset of spring and spending time outdoors coming into greater awareness and focus, it brought me to the thought for this week.

Feet.

Think about the last time your feet actually touched earth. Soil. Dirt. Not concrete, tile, carpet, shoe-beds or socks. We live in a society that is smoothly paved for easier movement. We certainly notice potholes in our roads, but how often do we notice the actual earth under our feet?

Our feet connect us to the earth in the most primal way. We have a huge number of nerve endings in our feet and motion detectors within our joints to give us feedback on unstable ground. But from a yogic perspective, our feet are the reminder that we are supported by the earth-always.

If you need to feel yourself in a amplified place of presence, kick off your shoes and walk barefoot in sand, soil or grass. Or really go crazy and get into gardening bringing this amazing tactile experience into your hands as well. That's right...I said it..."take off the gardening gloves and get some dirt under your nails". Not only will you connect to Mother Earth, but your soul will send a message of gratitude and remembrance.

I hope you make it into a yoga class this week-shoes off!

Peace and Namaste',
Jayne

Change the Channel

Greetings everyone,

A week ago, I was in the gym beginning a workout with a client. As I stood next to her treadmill, one of the many TV's were on and the one in front of her was tuned to some news station. What I saw next, really hit me as a thought for the week. CHANGE THE CHANNEL! Even with the sound being turned off the TV, the images alone set a definite tone of fear, death and destruction. There were, count them, four images on the screen at the same time. I noted to my client that each one of them was about some terrific disaster. I then said, "what a great way to begin the week".

Our thoughts and words hold power.

If we don't have something to anchor us into a positive frame of mind, then the constant bombardment of negativity will lead us down a path of dis-ease and ill-health. I'm not suggesting that we become ostrich-like and bury our heads. What I'm saying is to stand firm in our connection to what is here and supporting us...Mother Earth and the greater universe. Perhaps we should be standing buried up to our ankles in the earth, grounding us into a fundamentally magnificent connection.

My question to you this week is this. What do you do to practice keeping yourself in a positive and optimistic mind-set when we are challenged to think that the sky is falling?

Of course this connection leads me to the practice of yoga which has a set of guiding principles that keep us focused on the idea that if we look deeply inward and peel away obstructions we finds something quite simple. Love.

If you're curious and wanting to learn more...come to a class and step onto the path of yoga. It is so much more than lengthening muscles. It's expanding our consciousness and connections. I hope you enjoy a beautiful week!

Peace and Namaste',
Jayne

www.desertyogatherapy.com

I got nothing...

Greetings everyone,
As I sat down to write this weeks message I had nothing. I was blank. Then I thought to myself...wow...I'm trying to find nothingness everyday when I meditate and here I am, in the middle of the day looking for something and all I got was nothing. And of course, that has now led me towards the thought for this week which has nothing to do with nothingness, but with layers of transition.

What I mean by layers of transition is our ever evolving understanding of something in particular. As an example, when you begin yoga, you are presented with so many new ideas, breath awareness and poses, that it's all a bit big and overwhelming...nothing subtle about it. But as we continue to practice things that are initially unfamiliar begin to become more known as we peel away the layers of their complexity. We gain a subtle awareness that was lying within all along and it is time and persistency that allows us to see things in greater detail.

This can be applied to anything...playing tennis initially we just try to meet ball and racquet and as we progress we look to less obvious changes such as grip, spin and placement. The same can be said for any physical endeavor, intellectual pursuit or spiritual connection.
As we commit to any practice we can find ourselves in a deeper place that initially seemed unfathomable. So why not this week, look to the next layer of discovery in whatever you're committed to doing...work, pleasure, relationship, nature or yoga!