Simplicity

I felt I needed to keep it simple this week. Many of us are in the middle of celebrating the various holidays that happen between November and the beginning of January and the last thing we need is something more to think about...or do.

So for this week here's my advice...keep it simple.


Do less. Take some time to sip a warm beverage. Snuggle into bed 15 minutes earlier than usual. Drive more slowly. Soak in the tub. Rather than putting something ON the "to-do" list, erase something instead. Take a leisurely walk after a meal. Spend less time checking your technology devices. Dig deeper into a conversation with someone you care about. Take an extra deep breath. Go to a Restorative or Gentle yoga class rather than your typical Power class.

Someone once asked me what would it be like for me to go at 70%. I said, "I have no idea as I never do...". Since then I have given myself the 70% experience and although it's not my default speed, I was actually OK with it. And don't tell anybody, I actually really enjoyed slowing down!

Can you be OK at 70%?

Try it out and let me know.

All Lined Up

It's all lines this week...everything is lined up in perfect order. I'm not talking about the last minute holiday gift lines or those standing in a queue at the supermarket or post office.


Think bigger. Think cosmic.


Late on Monday night, December 20 and into the first hours of December 21 in the Northern hemisphere is the Winter Solstice. Not only that, it is also a complete lunar eclipse. Not only that, it's the first time in some 25,000 (yes, thousand) years that things are SO lined up with the galactic plane, the winter solstice and a lunar eclipse that some Vedic astrologers are saying..."woo hoo! We're in for a doozy!".


I know I wrote about stargazing a couple of weeks back and how miniscule it can make a person feel. But this is a bit different. It is thought that our cosmic energies of the body (represented by the earth), the mind (represented by the moon) and our spirit (represented by the sun) are in a uniquely harmonious state of being in the right place at the right time. "For what?", you might be asking...


Simply put - Transformation.


It's an opportunistic time both in the astronomical and astrological realms. In our lifetime, it's as though we won't have a better time to connect, to feel, to experience our greater wholeness, our own divinity than on this particular night. It's as though the cosmos has given us an invitation to go to the ball where the most beautiful things will be present. But that space isn't going outward, it's about turning inward.


Now, more than ever, is a pristine time to engage in reflection and meditation. During this brief period of the sun, earth and moon lining themselves up, we as a smaller reflection of the bigger picture too, can line ourselves up. What to do? I've just begun my meditation practice, or I don't have one...yikes! Will I miss it?


No. It's there for all of us. It's here for every being to take a moment to connect their breath to their heart. To connect the soles of their feet to the earth. To connect their eyes to the skies. Step outside Monday night and get up close and personal to something better than waiting in line at the Nordstrom's Semi-Annual sale.


It might just touch something deep inside. Go on...step outside!

Are You Health Un-Conscious?

The simple matter that you're reading this blog likely reveals the answer to my question of, "are you health un-conscious"? In fact, you are likely to be a person who is seeking to deepen their consciousness around their health and may use regular reading about enhancing wellness as part of that process.

Last weekend we went to a restaurant that neither my husband nor I had been to more than once. As I scanned the menu looking for things to suit my choice around how I was about to nourish myself, I realized that the number of options suddenly became quite narrow. I was seeking a light, fresh green salad with some interesting bits thrown in, hopefully something in season like persimmon or toasted pecans and anything else that didn't have gluten in it. Oh, and it had to be vegetarian preferably leaning towards the vegan side.

Once our server came to the table, I began my usual barrage of questions about how things are prepared and what's in it. I've come to learn over the years that what's written and what arrives are often poles apart from what was in my imagination...so, I ask for clarification. I settled on one of their salad choices without the meat and without the croutons and enjoyed the meal.

As the server was clearing our luncheon plates, she said "you seem health conscious...are you even interested in the desert menu?" What was striking to me was the thought that flashed into my brain- "isn't everyone health conscious?" Does asking for a salad without croutons begin to slide you into the "health (nut) conscious category?

Perhaps I'm not the typical patron of such restaurants, but I'm certainly not an exception to the constant bombardment of media images telling us how to improve our lives through "losing the belly fat" or "10 lbs in 3 days" or "finding the perfect little black dress" type headlines. They are gracing the cover of just about every magazine. If you add in the recent news headline that kids won't live as long as their parents most likely because of the growing obesity and diabetes numbers, you begin to wonder how can we all not be at least a tiny bit health conscious...at least health-curious.

And if not, why not?

Are we in such a state of denial that we are choosing to ignore these seemingly obvious health challenges? Are we so disconnected from our deeper selves to no longer have the awareness that our body, mind and spirit are inextricably intertwined? Are we unable to pay attention because we're distracted by the deeper issues simply because we're trying to get through each day with food, any food, on the table? Faced with economic struggles does it seem a waste of time to "indulge" ourselves into a deeper place of recognizing what nourishes us?

To all of these questions, I have no real answers. All I sense is that we are facing an underlying issue of being pulled so far out of our awareness from our inner needs by extraneous decoys, that asking for a crouton-free salad labels me as being health conscious.

Perhaps this is why the gravitational pull towards yoga has increased its popularity and growth in the U.S. Perhaps people feel the need for digging a bit deeper and recognize that yoga and it's 5000 year old tools are a solid foundation for beginning this exploration.

Get curious about what living a health conscious life feels like...go ahead...let me know how it goes. And maybe, we can go out and grab a crouton-free salad to celebrate!

Starry, Starry Night

We all have stars in our eyes...all beings on this planet have had the opportunity to look at the same stars in the night sky ever since we've walked the earth.

I was inspired last weekend when we spent an evening in Borrego Springs at a star gazing party (Borrego Springs is east of Palm Springs and a designated "dark sky" area). As I sat on our blanket with the dogs snuggled against my legs, I listened to astronomer, Dr. Jim, talk about the thousands of celestial bodies populating the dome of my vision. We watched Orion and his belt rise over the eastern horizon and located it's nebulae. We looked with our naked eyes and them through high powered telescopes for a completely different image.

As you sit in the night's darkness, you can actually see the stars twinkle. The same stars and planets that have been seen by Gandhi, Magellan, Cleopatra, Pythagoras and Galileo. The same sun and moon that can be seen by my friends in the Southern hemisphere within the same 24-hour period.

How many things can people in two different hemispheres see in the same day simply by standing outside and without the use of technology?

Starry nights, speckled with planets give us a different perspective of how much time we have in this embodiment. We are born, travel the journey of our existence and then transition out of this physical body, but the stars, moon and sun are eternal.

We honor these natural phenomena in yoga to keep in perspective how we are connected to something not only bigger than us, but within all of us. We salute both the sun and moon in an embodied physical prayer of asana as a way of bowing down to their magnificence.

When we connect to that amazingly divine and perfect energy of the sun, stars, moon and planets something deep within our hearts is ignited. Not only can I experience a sense of awe as I look into the dark night sky, but I can sense the same thing within my own being.

Step into the sunshine. Feel the warmth penetrate not only into your skin, but deeper into your spirit. Gaze into the night sky and recognize that the light that is within us also completely surrounds us.

And The Winner Is...

This morning I was thinking about what yoga means to me and how that can differ from a generalized view held by our Western population. When people ask the question, "what is yoga and what do you do?" I begin by saying that from my perspective, it's not a short answer. That the root of the word yoga is "yug" meaning "to yoke, to bring together". The practice of yoga is a method for bringing into balance our body, mind and spirit.

This comment often draws a blank stare and is sometimes followed by the question, "yes...well...what do you actually do? What does that really mean?".

Keeping to the long winded answer theme, I can tell you what it doesn't mean. It's not simply another form of exercise. It often gets thrown on the menu of choices between a spinning class, body pump and Zumba. The fitness industry has added it to their list of classes to broaden their appeal and offer more "mind-body" options. Dedicated yoga studios will often have a different slant with a variety of yoga styles on offer-Vinyasa, Anusara, Asthanga, Iyengar, restorative, gentle, Yin and any other hybrid or lineage that seems appealing to the audience, but all have their roots planted in the yogic traditions.

I also firmly believe that yoga is not competitive. I have heard of so and so being a "World Yoga Champion" which causes me to slightly recoil as I have a difficult time understanding how the words "yoga" and "world champ" go together. Is a world yoga champ simply somebody who is really good at doing yoga tricks? If they win, do they become "the enlightened one"?

It's like saying that the Queen of England is the "World Royal Champion". Sounds somewhat ridiculous as she was born into her role and didn't enter a competition to see if she would bring home the title. It's an inherent part of being a royal...not something that you enter a contest to win. She just is Queen. That's it. (She's really good at being Queen. Better than any of the other competitors).

We practice yoga as a way to deepen our own awareness and connect to our inner selves. The physical part of doing postures (asana) and breath work (pranayama) are inherent in the practice but only represent a thin slice of the whole pie.

The entire practice of yoga is a complete entity. We don't need to go outside of ourselves to benefit from the practice. We need to be guided along the path, taught what to do and how it can be part of keeping our lives in optimal balance, but it's more deserving than simply being whittled down to an exercise option.

People are neither good or bad at yoga. If you can breathe, you can do yoga. I'm here to squash the rumor that you have to be flexible to do yoga. We simply practice yoga. That's it.

Robert Butera, MDiv, PhD recently wrote that in India "it's assumed that if you decide to do yoga that it's a lifelong commitment, not meaning that more people are apt to practice it, but that they have a basic understanding of Yoga as a path to enlightenment" ("Yoga Therapy in Practice". Yoga Therapy: East-West Synthesis. IAYT Journal - No 20 (2010) pp. 83-85).

In the West the current image is of a health-conscious woman in form-fitting clothes with a designer mat and bag on her way to class. A class might be the only time in her week that she practices yoga. I'm not placing judgment on the fact that this is our go-to image. I'm simply saying that yoga as a tradition has been passed along for thousands of years. Any doorway that somebody steps through to get onto his/her mat is one that can lead to a greater understanding of our connection to ourselves, others and this planet. It can be through the yogic practices of postures, devotion, meditation, service, breathing or all of it.

And The Winner Is....

All of us who choose to step onto our mats.

Make A List

I don't know about you, but life seems a bit easier and more organized when I write things down. I figure that by putting it on paper (or in my iPhone) that my brain has more neuron space for things that I would actually like to remember, like a concept that I'm teaching in class that week rather than needing to remember to pick up organic beets at the store.

With Americans celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday this upcoming week, it's a great time to reflect. It's a time to recognize all that we are grateful for and to slow down, be with family and partake in the long tradition of creating and sharing a meal representative of abundance and prosperity.

But I think another way of expressing gratitude is to make a JOY list. Joy can often seem like something that we strive for, but is truly something that surrounds us constantly. As we acknowledge the seemingly smaller things that give us joy, we begin to feel as though we have so much to be thankful for.

As a practice, start a list with the header: "What brings me joy?". If that word doesn't work, then try inserting something such as "What lights a spark in my heart?". "What instantly brings a smile to my face?".


Keep it simple and small. We don't have to aim for grandiose occasions, but everyday, moment to moment happenings. Things on my joy list include:


1. Being greeted by my dogs the moment I come home
2. Seeing my husband's name on caller ID
3. Finishing a good book
4. Consciously slowing down and taking a deep breath
5. Lighting incense
6. Brewing chai tea
7. Seeing a yoga students evolution
8. Hearing great music
9. Saturday morning
10. Sunrises and Sunsets
11. Seeing a spectacular rose as it begins its bloom
12. Wrapping myself in a pashmina
13. Climbing into freshly laundered sheets
14. Taking a bath
15. Feeling the sun's warmth on my skin
16. Moving freely in my body
17. Talking with my brother


and...and...I feel as though I could go on and on...


The simple act of beginning to write this list has left a smile on my face and looking to all that I have in my life. As a result, I feel so incredibly fortunate and excited to be having each and every moment.


As we stop to say thanks this week, perhaps starting on your list will give it a deeper and surprisingly different meaning.

Now...paper, pen/pencil or iPhone ready?

Begin....

Musical Memories

The other day I was icing down after my physical therapy appointment. It's a way to chill out, both literally and figuratively. My body is all wrapped up, ice bag snugly fitting over my shoulder, knees and feet elevated. My therapist places a a heating pad over my abdomen because he knows I tend to get too cold during my "chill out" sessions. Music is usually playing in the background and sometimes I pay attention, other times not so much. Since the ice is on for 12 minutes, I am guaranteed time to do nothing at least twice each week.

This past visit a tune came on the radio by a well-known Australian artist, Tina Arena with the song called "Sorrento Moon". I recognized it immediately and found it unusual to be hearing an Aussie songstress belting it out in my American desert oasis as she's not one who made it big in the American music market.

I've written about music a few times before in my weekly thought so it's not a new or unfamiliar theme. What was striking this time around was how I was immediately transported and transformed for the few minutes that the song played. I closed my eyes, tapped my feet and as Tina sang the lyric:

"I sang your praises daily
And we let ourselves get swept away"


and I was...swept away.

Lying wrapped in ice, I reflected on Sorrento, a beachside town on the southeastern part of Port Philip Bay, where we used to go to get out of the big city of Melbourne. Nearby was the landmark Portsea pub a great place to grab lunch and swim near the pier.

I was taken back to how Tina Arena started as a star on a show called "Young Talent Time" and grew from being a young vocal ingenue into a more sensual pop icon (much to the stunned bewilderment of many older fans). Her voice formed her career as well as created a filebox of my own memories.

So what's this got to do with yoga?

Music is another way we connect to our deeper selves. It's a channel not only of vibration and mantra repetition, but a way of expressing emotion. Think of your favorite movie soundtrack and how evocative it is even without any visual images. It's because we create our own feelings and inner images simply through hearing sound that truly strikes a chord within us.

As we continue along our path, we have our own soundtracks. We have music and songs that take us back to certain parts of our experience yet also provide a secure anchor when situations challenge us. Music can be a way to center ourselves, calm raging thoughts and evoke a feeling that everything will be alright.

How many times have you used music to make yourself feel better? Do you have an iTunes play list that lights your inner spark? If not...time to get busy writing your own musical score for your life and play it LOUD!

Rock On!

All Plugged Up

Ever feel the need to get things moving? Living with stagnation and the feeling of being blocked can leave us feeling tired and uninspired.

As I journey down the yogic path, my awareness around how energy moves (or doesn't move) through us has grown as well as how it can greatly affect how we feel. When we have blockages as in our nasal passages, we can blow our nose, use a Neti pot or medication to unplug us. If it's the arteries of our heart, we have angioplasty, stents and bypass surgery (if altering our lifestyle hasn't changed it). If our digestion is backed up we've got all sorts of methods to get things moving again.

But what about if we have an "energy clog"? Then what? And how do we know if we have one? I'm not referring to the pep and vigor kind of energy, but the more subtle non-visible feelings of being more than simply a physical body. Most people have a sense of their own "energetic" field. In the New Age sense it might be known as your aura or in yoga, as one of the five koshas (energetic layers of our being). If this all sounds a bit "woo-woo" to you, how does it feel when somebody you've never met is standing just that bit too close to you? Does it feel welcoming and full of ease? Or, does it make you want to take a step back? That's the kind of energy I'm talking about.

The movement of this energy outside of us and throughout the universe is called Prana. When this energy flows into, through and out of us it's also called prana but with a lower case "p". Within the practices of yoga, pranayama is the practice of altering how we feel through engaging in breathing practices.

So, back to the original thought...how do we know if we're blocked and how do we get things going again?


Instead of intellectualizing it we need to move it. Get out and move your body-reach for the sky, dance, walk, hike, bicycle, grab a racquet or club, wrestle with your dog, play with your kids or get your hands dirty in the garden.


Engage with your breath either through physical activity or through consciously connecting to it with full attention for a few minutes. Singing out loud (whether in the shower, chorus, at home or in the car) helps us to regulate our breathing, clear our lungs, connect to our chords and voice.


In a more sublte way think of something that has been of concern for you lately. Perhaps making a payment, hearing about a friends who's unwell or an upcoming meeting that will likely be confrontational. Close your eyes and think about your particular concern. Try to keep your breath even and smooth. Do you feel any sensations within your body when thinking about this situation? Where? How would you describe the feeling? Does it have a shape, texture or color? If so, see if you can visualize shrinking it down to a size that fits within your next inhale and exhale it out of your body. It might take a few attempts to get it moving out of you.

Our bodies are a reflection of our emotional and spiritual selves. If we are challenged by things that are stressful, they will show up in your body...you can't hide from it. But you can alter it, move it and free up that clog giving it no chance to fester into something bigger.

Time for a cleansing? Begin with focusing on your breathing. Move your body. Think joy.

It's cheaper and probably more fun than a colonic!

Too Many Pumpkins

When I was in elementary school, probably in the second grade, my class took a trip to the pumpkin patch. We loaded onto the big yellow school bus with the words "Timber School District" on the side in big black letters and slid our young bodies onto the smooth vinyl seats. I, like many of my classmates, was excited to be heading to the pumpkin patch as I had a fistful of money crammed into my "tough skin" jeans. It felt as though I had been given more than the usual field trip amount of spending money and I was ready to spend it.

I couldn't take my time to check out the many rows of pumpkins. It's not something that you can do at a leisurely pace as all the other kids are doing the same thing and they might find that perfect pumpkin before you...so, I had a sense of urgency to find the perfect orange orb.

It must have been my day as I came across not one, but two beauties. Plus, I had the cash to buy both and didn't have to undergo the agonizing process of picking just one.

We loaded ourselves and our pumpkins back onto the bus and headed home. I felt so excited as to what faces I could carve and sat dreamily bouncing along on our journey back to the school yard.

It was after regular school hours when we returned and soon I found myself feeling like I was the only one left in the parking lot. I didn't have anyone meeting me as I always walked to and from school. With great desire and determination, I picked up both pumpkins, one slung in each hand and began to walk home. It was at the end of the parking lot that I realized my desire had overcome my common sense. I wanted TWO pumpkins and my arms only could carry one.

Upon realizing this, I sat on the corner and began to cry. I had two glorious pumpkins that I had chosen out of thousands and now I had the dilemma of carting them six blocks home. What would I do? Roll them down the hill? Carry one, kick the other? Leave one behind (unthinkable!). With great determination and intermittent whimpering, I hauled the giant veggies home. It took me longer than I can remember having to stop frequently along the way. But I did it despite that hugely uncomfortable feeling of holding WAY more than you can carry.

My thought for the week is...are you still carrying around too many pumpkins? Is there something that you can let go of? Is it possible to ask ourselves before we commit...do I need all of this, or can I be more selective? Is my pattern set at always choosing to do (or strive, or eat, or sleep, or exercise, or complain, or...) too much?

Lighten the load. It's freeing.

Is Self-Help Selfish?

You flip open your to-do list for the day either the old-fashioned way of an actual handwritten appointment book or via or mobile device. You have many things that need your energy and attention. Now, check to see if there is anything that is simply centered on you...not work, kids, family, charity, errands...just something for you. Is it there?

This week's thought was prompted when I was working with a client one-on-one and they said to me, "but spending time working on me is being selfish...isn't it?".

We all have threads that connect us to other people, obligations and responsibilities. Sometimes they take the form of our spouse, our kids, our job, our pets, our community, our house, our car, our environment...well...you get the idea. How do you begin each day? Do you awaken thinking about all of those threads of attachment, looking after "stuff" to find that by days end, the thread that attaches you to you, well, has been completed ignored?

Countless times clients share with me how they look after everyone else. Our culture admires people who are capable, responsible and busy. "She does so much. She helps so many. She has so much energy to give"...really...? If that's true, where does this seemingly endless pool of available energy come from?
And how long have they been accessing it? I would take a guess that if someone has boundless energy they are doing one of two things. Either taking time for their own needs, or two...on a collusion course with burn-out, resentment and fatigue.

With this cultural bias towards busyness, it can seem selfish to spend time on ourselves. If I'm spending time looking after me, then who's looking after everyone else?

Good question.

I recently heard a story about illumination. That if you place a single candle into a darkened room, you begin to see more clearly. If you add ten candles into the same room, it begins to brighten and the more candles that you light...the brighter the darkness becomes. One single candle can light many others. But if that first candle goes unlit, then the room remains dark.

When we take time to look after our own light, we begin to radiate not only into our own divinity, but it expands beyond us. Our illumination begins to touch others which can ripple outward and away from us generating more goodness than can be imagined. Without taking time to find our own inner light, not only do we remain in the dark, but we are unable to "enlighten" those that we connect with and care about.

It doesn't take much time to be in touch with our own center. Simply closing your eyes, listening to the quiet, finding our breath and hearing our inner voice is a great place to start. So, I say...go ahead, be selfish and make an appointment with yourself. Fan your inner flame and spread the light!

If I Only Knew Then...

It seems to be all over the place that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Even NFL pro footballers and associated coaches are sporting splashes of pink that represent breast cancer awareness as are the social networking sites and so many other media outlets. People just seem more comfortable talking about cancer...that big "C" word.

This wasn't the case 28 years ago when my Dad was diagnosed with cancer. It was my first year of college and I was living 10,000 miles away in Australia when I heard him utter the words, "I've got cancer...". I was almost completely incapable of allowing those words to register in my mind. I remember thinking that with those words also came the likely death of my Dad. It's no wonder I didn't want my body to absorb the information. Unfortunately, my Dad died some four months after this initial conversation as his cancer was incurable.

Some 24 years later, I found myself studying Yoga Therapy and one of the topics was how to work with students who had cancer. My instructor was leading us through a class and demonstrating what type of language we might use and what type of postures might be beneficial. It was during the physical practice of this class that I began reflecting back into my Dad's experience and realizing how inadequately equipped I was to help him along this rocky and final part of his journey. As the practice continued, I found my inner voice saying, "I wish I knew then, what I know now. I might have been able to be with Dad in a completely different way". And then I started to sob from grief that had been stuffed down deeply into my cells and released some long held stagnation of emotion. It was quite a cleansing and "enlightening" experience.

What I have learned since is that I have become more capable at being with challenges, whether they be my own or those of others. That particular life lesson seemed at first to be cruel yet so incredibly powerful.

This week's column is dedicated to my dear friend, who underwent a lumpectomy yesterday. The surgeon "got it all" and didn't have to take any lymph nodes. Her prognosis is great and I know she'll make a full recovery as she faces her challenges through a sense of humor, realism and a ton of support from family and friends.

I know that my Dad would have been proud to know that I paid attention and learned yet another lesson from him. I feel as though I am better able to be with my close friends as they face that dreaded "C" word and hope that all of us can see that we learn so much no matter what sits before us.

One Door Closes, Another One Opens

It's now been five months since I had my shoulder surgery and more than six months since I've been on a tennis court. I'm at the stage where people are asking me, "so you're back playing tennis?" to which I reply, "uh, no not yet. It'll be some time before I'm back. I just started physical therapy two weeks ago...".

Then the conversation tends to drift in one of two directions. The first is, "you must really be missing tennis...". The second "did you know beforehand that it was going to take this long?". Quite provocative questions for a competitive athlete. I guess I'm fortunate that I've had extensive time off the court in the past four years due to surgeries...wrist, appendix, shoulder. As I've stepped into my latest physical therapy experience, I find myself energized at the process of bringing freedom back into a stagnant joint. I realize that I've always been excited at the process of having a difficult challenge and finding a way to address it. I do so now from a more gentle place, than from one that has a deadline.

In some ways, it's no different to playing a tennis match. You have to find your way through it...different puzzle pieces, same type of challenge. I know that being off the tennis court has swung the door wide open for me to spend my former "tennis time" discovering other areas of my life. I recognize that there is so much to experience on this journey, that being thrown an unexpected curve ball is well...to be expected. It's a way to welcome the change as an opportunity to refocus my energy into something else.

Since I've been off the court, I've had more energy to spend exploring our natural environment. This past summer we bought passes for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to go hiking in our local (and cooler) mountains. I have had space in which to bring backburner ideas into the forefront of my thinking. My business feels as though it's had an infusion of attention leading to an expansive experience at the Australian Sanctuary Yoga Retreat in September and the upcoming Nourishment Program beginning end of October.


And yes, I do miss tennis. As I write this, the Tennis Channel is on in the background. But, I know that "it is what it is" and my shoulder will heal as it is meant to. If I lose patience and attach a timeline to that process, then I might miss the current lesson that I'm experiencing.



As one door closes, another door opens.



Are you ready to step through?

Nourishing Ourselves

Over the past several months, I have been wanting to offer a new course and it has taken some time to take it from the idea stage to reality. In the past, I taught a "Fitness & Fat Loss" course both here in the U.S. and in Australia. As I found my own life evolving through yoga and being in my 40's, my drive to offer such a course had, well...been pushed off-course!

I found that by giving people the "information" of fat, carbohydrates, movement options, calorie expenditure, protein and blah, blah, blah that the usefulness and application was limited. We'd have to have our heads in a cave, be on a mountain (or rainforest) top yoga retreat or be unplugged from all media not to have the awareness around our growing obesity "epidemic" both here and in Australia. So, if we have all the "blah, blah, blah" information and we have groovy gyms with the latest programs, and we have the most effective sweat evaporative cooling garments on the market...why do we have this challenge? Why does it seem to be getting worse, rather than better? Don't we know what to do?

Apparently, knowing is not enough.

It's the doing that makes the difference. Not just knowing what to do, but actually...yes...doing it. And the "it" has gotten quite confusing. How many calories and reps did you say? It seems that the connection to our own needs has lost its importance. Can we hear what our soul is asking for?

Perhaps that's part of the reason The Nourishment Program has taken time to develop. I wanted to explore not only the research on why 85% of all diets fail, but to learn more about intuitive and mindful eating practices. As I dug deeper, I began to see the obvious connection that these practices have to practicing a yogic based lifestyle. Not that you have to be a yogi to participate, but the similarities and overlap have common ground.

As we breathe, we bring life-giving oxygen into our bodies. What we eat and put on our bodies assimilates into our bodies. So if I choose to nourish myself, I need to begin by understanding that it affects all aspects of my being and therefore my life. It's not a simplification of calories in/out or what's "good/bad" for you. It's about honoring that all of us are worthy of self-care and self-love...not in the future, but in the now of the present moment.

The Nourishment Program aims to give the participants tools of how to do this every day. It's another step in deepening and refining our own evolution. All are welcome. Come join us, it begins October 27, 2010.

Finding Confidence Through Fear

It is often said that fear is at the root of much of our suffering. Not the type of fear we may have experienced as a kid, when someone would hide behind a door waiting for a sibling to walk past so that we could jump out and yell, "boooo". Not the white knuckled roller coaster ride, but something deeper.

I'm referring to that brand of fear such as facing something that is new, different, challenging and most likely uncertain and often out of our control.

On my recent trip to Mission Beach, I befriended a local health food store owner named Maria. From the moment we met, we connected and I would drop in to say "G'day" during the week prior to the yoga retreat.

One day, Maria said to me, "your retreat is going to be just beautiful". I looked at her as though she were capable of mind-reading and shared with her that during my meditation that morning, I felt intense fear. Fear of what other retreat leaders had offered and would I measure up? Fear that what I had planned wasn't going to be as exciting or unique or insightful of what others had offered in prior retreats. Fear that I would be inadequate to undertake running a full retreat program.

In the process of noticing that the thoughts I was experiencing were based in fear, I realized that it was ok to feel it. I also realized that I am not those "other" retreat leaders. I never will be them, I will never be able to offer what they offer and measuring myself against them was simply a choice. I relaxed into the revelation that the only thing that I can be is me and by doing so, bring my own flavor to the retreat through my personal unique experiences.

As I told Maria this she looked me in the eyes and said, "yes...you'll bring your own magic".

Expectations are difficult things to navigate. How often do we set a standard or scenario for how things "should" unfold and then find ourselves in a completely different experience? A great tool that yoga teaches us is to let go into the unfolding of each moment. Similar to when we're flowing through a familiar yoga asana sequence, we anticipate what pose is next. We jump ahead in our minds to what is coming and miss the present moment. Be here now...whether we're about to undertake running a yoga retreat or traveling through our daily activities.

The biggest lesson for me was to know that fear is present. I can't throw it into the back of the closet and close the door, thinking that'll do it! It's gone! But rather to honor and recognize its presence as part of my experience. As I felt my fear I had a feeling of confidence that my life, thus far had unfolded just as it was meant to unfold.

Trust your fear as deep within lies a potential lesson.

The Experience of Extremes

One week I'm picking my way down a steep trail through a rainforest in Queensland as the birds chatter, calling back and forth to each other in a cacophony of their own language. The recent rain has left its trace on the leaves and vines that form the canopy above me. The humidity is higher than what I'm used to and I've got a comfortable sweat going by the time I cross the final bridge over the stream leading me closer to the beach.

The next week, I'm climbing up a sandy hill, navigating my way past prickly cholla cactus and towering Joshua trees as I hear off in the distance music riding through the dry desert air. I'm at Bhakti Fest, a yoga, kirtan and music festival in the high desert. At night, I see stars I don't usually see from my home in Palm Springs...the sky is brilliant and my mood is peaceful. It is during these four days at Bhakti Fest that I think about the experience of extremes.

Life presents us with shifts of momentum. One day we're in a rainforest, the next and arid desert, its complete opposite. One day we're down in the dumps because we have jury duty and the next, we're feeling joyous as they've dismissed us from sitting on a five day trial. We all have highs and lows. The pendulum of life swings from side to side from the day we arrive to the day we depart.

My thought for the week is, how do we find our center...the middle way in the midst of this ever shifting pendulum?

In my younger years, my experiences seemed to be more extreme. The highs were soaring and the lows were deep and seemingly dark. As I've traveled the path of my life the discrepancy between the extremes doesn't seem to be as wide as when I was younger. This is due to two things...life experience and my yoga practice.

The essence of yoga is "to unite"; "to bring into union"; "to find balance". We do so through using its many tools of breath, movement, awareness, on-going study, stillness and a surrendering to a source that is greater than us individually.

As we undergo its practices, we begin to get better at recognizing that everything is in transition, nothing is permanent. We begin to connect to that place within us that is deeper and all-knowing. It is always there, its presence never leaves us. It's that third piece of the body-mind triad...it's our spirit. Just as we recognize that our thoughts effect our physical selves, they also effect our inner soul. Having this growing awareness of the oneness between our body-mind-spirit, we begin to recognize that no matter what calm or chaotic situation is sitting before us, we know and can connect to our own middle path.

My question for this week is "what are you doing to stay connected to your center so no matter what situation arises, you don't lose sight of it?"

Being Home No Matter Where You're At

Almost 14 years ago, I returned to live in the United States having lived in Australia for 17 years and gaining Australian citizenship. Before meeting my now husband, Ed who was living in Melbourne, I had no intention of returning to the USA as I was a fully assimilated Aussie. I have had the repeated experience that life can be somewhat unexpected and this was no exception. We often have our compass pointed in one direction that seems to be completely under our control and then..."whammo", we get bumped off course with our bearings nowt pointing us toward an unfamiliar place.

Prior to leaving Australia, I had a vision of my feet being buried ankle deep in Australian sand. I had felt grounded and connected to the place and here I was, choosing to up-root and return to the place where I had spent my childhood. It seemed like an adventure, I was seeking to create change in my life, but if someone had handed me a ticket back to Australia in those first few weeks of being back in the land of the free...I might have just taken it.

Without fail, my heart feels a bit achy as I board my return flight back to the States, wondering when I will once again, place my feet on Aussie soil. Now this all sounds a bit sad and melancholy, but things have shifted for me over the years of going back and forth between the two countries. I no longer hold that dreadful feeling of loss and uncertainty. I now feel completely at home in and connected in both countries.

An expert in cultural diversity and a friend of mine says that I am now a "bi-cultural" person having a feeling of equilibrium in both countries. In saying that, I feel a contentment that I thought I might never hold. I recognize and have gratitude for the uniqueness of each place, for the different circles of friends that I'm connected to and the ever expanding network of professionals that grow from my business in both places. Now that all sounds neat and tidy...it's not. It's taken over 30 years for this evolution. In the past 15 years it's been supported by my own personal growth and commitment to my practice of yoga. It's a result of listening to my sometimes seemingly silent inner voice, asking me to listen, trust and act.

As I have been challenged through my life of "having a lot of energy", I have found it difficult to sit quiet and listen. But, as I say to my students, the elements of our yoga and meditation are just that...a practice. We step into that space on a regular basis with an intention of committing to deepening our own awareness and self-inquiry. I know that have at greater sense of ease as a bi-cultural citizen has been made easier through these practices. The reason is that I have more peace within myself. So no matter what soil my feet have landed upon, I find myself at home.

I hope we have the opportunity to sit and practice together soon!

I Need A Vacation

Phew...I have either been coaching gymnastics, doing personal training, teaching group fitness or yoga classes for most of the past 28 years as well as managing my own business. I find gratitude in that I have, over the years, evolved into my current role of yoga therapist and educator. I love teaching, practicing and endeavoring to LIVE my yoga. Part of my role is to be fully present for each person that I come into contact with, whether it be on the mat or in the gym.

What I have also gleaned over this time is that I need to step away from it every few months to keep my own fire and inspiration burning. My trip to Australia is for 26-days, which includes the 4-day yoga retreat at Sanctuary. The day after I return, I will be attending Bhakti Fest a 4-day kirtan, yoga and workshop gathering in the high desert near Joshua Tree, CA.

When I tell people I'll be away for a month the typical response is a look of surprise and a "wow...that's a long time!" Which it is by USA standards. It's unfortunate that the United States is ranked the lowest out of the developed world in giving its workers paid time off. The Center for Economic Policy and Research (CEPR), in No Vacation Nation, finds "that we're the only advanced nation that doesn't guarantee its workers any paid vacation or holidays. In fact, 1 in 4 U.S. workers do not receive any paid holidays or vacation.

But it's not just vacation. CEPR research shows that the United States comes in last when it comes to paid sick days and paid parental leave as well. And while some argue that paid leave leads to less competitive economics, CEPR also finds that paid sick days don't cause unemployment rates to rise."

Yowza!

In Australia, it's common for workers to be given and yes...to take, their one month of annual paid vacation, which no doubt, has stayed with me as it feels quite "normal" to have a month for my own personal retreat.

Given that most of my readers are in the States, what can we do about it? Staying on the yogic path and without getting political, it's about having an awareness of what can re-charge our own batteries and finding balance in our lives. If you're a busy parent, a 9-5 worker or running your own company, what is it that you do on a weekly if not daily basis that is outside of your obligations to others? What are you doing to feed the obligation to your mind, body and spirit? It can begin with something as simple as recognizing quiet moments in each day. Pausing before you begin eating or taking a deep breath before answering the phone. We need to take our own parental advice and put ourselves in a time out!

If your soul is screaming at you to do more, practices such as a weekly yoga, tai chi or meditation class can fill that role. But so can sitting quietly with a morning cup of tea, listening to the natural sounds in your immediate environment or reading an inspirational piece. It's intriguing that with economic challenges and lack of time, that the word "staycation" has made its way into our vernacular.

Being that a yoga class is symbolic of the cycle of our days and lives, we begin each practice through centering ourselves, progress onto doing "the work" of the class and finish in relaxation and reflection. Is it possible that your daily life can also look like that? Of course it is...if you intentionally set it up to be that way.

So I am off this Friday for a few weeks to connect with my Aussie "heart" family, revitalize my spirit, write, read, walk and video some yoga on the beach! I'm excited for what's ahead including bringing back the residue to all of you from such an experience.

My final two words on the subject of me being away is...home practice!

Connection

Last week the thought was around "Alone Time", carving out space in our daily lives to simply be present with ourselves. That of course makes the assumption that everyone is surrounded by hectic schedules, traffic and no "me time".

But what about those in our communities who live by themselves, are retired or work from their home office? Do they have too much alone time?

Writing from the yogic perspective where the constant underlying theme is around recognizing imbalance, it would be remiss of me not to balance out my own writings by considering both solitude and connection.

We, as human beings, are social by nature. We seek the company of others. In the book, "The Female Brain" by Louann Brizendine, she talks about the various stages of hormones that wash through female brains, particularly estrogen and during the junior high school years, that result in young teens making it their mission to connect with others.

A strong memory from that period of my own life was how many people you could say "hi" to as you walked between classes. I was on a serious quest to up my number of hellos on a daily basis. I wasn't alone...the other girls were doing it too! The teenage popularity contest was well underway.

Research on longevity indicates that those people living in the identified "blue zones" around the world have a few common elements that have granted the population at large quality in their latter years. They include a largely plant based diet, regular physical activity, a spiritual affiliation and yes...a supportive and extended community of family and friends. Instead of elders living away from others, they are included as an integral part of the social networks.

They stay connected.

Living well means finding time by yourself everyday to explore your inner voice and need. It is balanced out with having relationships that support you on your path of evolution. We can't do it alone. It does take a village.

So, after your morning meditation, call up a friend and meet over a nice cup of tea...that'll do it!

Alone Time

Over the past couple of weeks, my writings have been inspired through conversations with others. They have provided the spark that ignited a connection to writing about a certain topic from a yogic perspective. So this week, I asked my husband if anything was floating around in his awareness that I might like to approach for my weekly blog. Our dinner conversation was around how he's gotten into bicycling over the past few weeks. He started out riding with another friend, who has now left for the summer, and has continued riding by himself. I asked if he preferred to ride with someone or was it also good being alone."

He replied, "I'm fine riding by myself". I asked, "Does it act like think time?" to which he replied, "it does, but I also just enjoy the beauty of our surrounding mountains, blue skies and palm trees. Perhaps that what you could write about this week...being alone.

It sounded familiar. After going over my previous blogs, I discovered a version of the following and thought it worthy of a reprint. Particularly as we leave for Australia in the near future and I myself, am looking forward to having some serious alone time.

My question for the week is-How much time do you spend each day alone? Not with the radio on whilst you're driving, or lounging in front of the TV, but simple being in the act of sitting quietly...just you.

And then you might ask the question...why is this important? Good question. When we get to a place where we are completely at ease and accepting of who we are, with all of our unique imperfections, where we hold our own hearts in gentle compassion we can then begin to truly express this same feeling to all others.

This thought has been prompted by the upcoming yoga retreat to Australia. It's a time that is carved out of our daily busy lives, where we have the opportunity to hear our own inner voice, with no interruption or distraction. People who have attended retreats in the past have had many challenges and obstacles in getting there in the first place...kids, finances, travel, other obligations...things that initially might have screamed "NO", you really can't afford to go. But, many have found a way. They would all tell you that it was worth the "sacrifice" to feed their own soul, as they returned to all of the original objections with greater love, peace and appreciation.

I know that when we returned from our 9-day yoga retreat in Australia in October of 2009, even with me teaching the retreat, the residue from its impact lasted for almost three months. THREE MONTHS!! Through the feeling of unplugging, looking after my well-being on all levels of body, mind and spirit, I was able to hold onto that for weeks post-retreat.

You can too. Look into your heart and see if it's asking you to take some time for yourself. Even if it's not an exotic or extended retreat, but perhaps your own staycation retreat. It not only serves your own higher good, but those of others. It's an investment of energy that will continue to resonate well after the experience has finished.

Abundance...Is It About Stuff?

What is it that you wish to have more of in your life?

Good health, peaceful environment, less busy time or freedom from worries around money? It's a good question to ask ourselves every now and again. What is it that I need to support me along my journey? What stuff do I need to fulfill my purpose?

Getting clear on our path and purpose can be found in the yogic teachings through uncovering our "Purusharthas", the four elements that help us to define our role in the world. They are Dharma (purpose), Artha (wealth, value), Kama (passion/joy) and Moksha (freedom). One way to begin to answer the initial question of "what do I wish I had more of in my life" is to gaim some level of clarity around our purpose and what we need to help us fufill it.

Answering questions such as:

"What is my role in the world?"
"When I am serving the highest good, what am I doing?"
"Do I have enough?"
"Are my things making me happy, or stealing my joy?"
"What am I passionate about?"
"What am I doing to free myself from activities and perceptions that me me unhappy?"

These types of questions are posed when we are trying to clarify what we need to do to enhance our dharmic path. When we begin to gain clarity, it seems as though the importance of material wealth is put into perspective. We begin to uncover and feel gratitude for elements in our lives that have no material value, but are laden with richness.

Acknowledging on a daily basis all that we are grateful for helps to point us in a direction of recognizing how much abundance presently surrounds us. Simple things such as friends, family, love, opportunity, free speech and good health. Gratitude is a bridge that connects us to our own abundance. Without having a feeling of thankfulness towards all that we are and all that we have, we may take for granted the many blessings that surround us. We may exhibit that "spoilt child" type of behavior of always wanting more and not being happy with what we have. Gratitude leads the way towards recognizing what is truly important and present in our lives...now, in this moment, today.

That's not to say, that being a modern day yogini that I don't need my computer and cell phone. They support me along my dharmic path as much as having students and a studio in which to practice and do what I am meant to do...share my love and knowledge of yoga to those who are willing to open themselves to it.

So? What do you need? What are you thankful for? Where does your abundance shine through?

The Girl Who Could Never Relax Her Shoulders

Once upon a time in a land full of calm and beauty, lived a girl who could never relax her shoulders. Although the other kids never made fun of her, she felt certain that she stood out to be unusual. The other kids all seemed to stand, sit and walk as though they were carrying something precious on their heads. The girl (WCNRHS) on the other hand, felt as though she were carrying the weight of her world on not only her head, but yes...her shoulders as well. She dreamed of a time when she could experience what it would be like to let go of this burden. To release the uneasy feeling of such a load.

Then one day, a magical and loving yoga goddess fairy appeared before TGWCNRHS. She came to honor the beckoning calls of relaxation that could be heard through the land sent out from the heart of TGWCNRHS.

The loving yoga goddess fairy stood before her new student, engaged her eyes, exhaled a deep and soothing breath as she began to speak.

"I understand that you feel you are the girl who can never relax her shoulders. That you have been calling out from your heart that this is something you seek. That by relaxing your shoulders your life will improve. Is this true?" asked the yoga fairy.

"Yes", the perpetually shrugging girl replied. "This is what I seek. Can you help me?"

The yoga fairy replied, "I can only point you in the right direction and give you some practices, but it is only YOU who can make the magic happen. Are you willing to take that responsibility?"

"I believe I am ready. Please teach me beautiful yoga fairy." replied the girl.

The yoga fairy's lesson was this:

The tension you hold in your shoulders is tension that you carry in your heart, mind and spirit. When you recognize and honor it as such your awareness will grow each and every time this tension shows itself. When you notice the tension, exhale your breath and your shoulders will begin to relax. The tension is a reminder to hold compassion for ourselves, others and the planet.

The now wide eyed girl closed her eyes, opened her heart to a feeling of love, drew in a deep slow breath and as she began to exhale...something miraculous happened. She began to notice the space between her earlobes and her shoulders. She began to think about a new perspective (as well as getting some earrings).

The magical and loving yoga goddess bid her student "Namaste'" and levitated away.

They all lived happily ever after.

The Feeling of Freedom

Having been born into the Western world, freedom has always been part of the vernacular. It's woven into the American National anthem, is seen on bumper stickers to support the troops, is contained within the US Constitution and reflected in the numerous speeches given by notable leaders. We annually celebrate freedom by marking July 4th, Independence day with the freedom to eat BBQ and watch fireworks. It's a day of national pride and celebration.

Writing each week from a yogic perspective, I wanted to sit with what the word "freedom" means within the paradigm of a yoga practice or from living a yogic based lifestyle. Within my own experience, the "free-est" I've ever felt is when I traveled to Africa without a predetermined amount of time. The only agenda that I had was a one-way ticket and no itinerary. I wanted to let the experience simply unfold before me without feeling that I had to be someplace at some specific time. I made the choice to be on "Africa time", resisting my more common practice of forcing my schedule into a place that might not see it from the same perspective.

Having given myself permission to "go with the flow", I had a completely unfamiliar experience...that of complete freedom. It was momentously liberating.

Freedom within yoga can be found on all levels of the practice. If we bring our awareness into the simplicity of our breath, we free our minds from focusing on things beyond our control. If we bring a feeling of opening and spaciousness into our bodies, we free up tightness within joints. If we allow whatever to arise during our meditation practice to simply come up, we begin to free ourselves from harsh self-criticism and judgment.

We in the United States and Australia are so very fortunate and blessed to have a free society. Within the society we are free to express ourselves and free to explore individual paths of spiritual pursuit. One challenge that living in these free societies are the self-imposed limitations that bind our bodies, minds and spirits. Although we may inhabit these countries, it is up to each individual within to seek their own boundless freedoms. Yoga is a way to pursue our deepest potential.

Find your own freedom as we celebrate the freedoms of our collective whole.

Staying Focused

This past week was one that saw a new record set at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club-Wimbledon. For us tennis fans, it was an amazing feat, as American, John Isner and Frenchman, Nicholas Mahut engaged in an ultra marathon of a match that spanned three days and lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes.

Being a tennis player, albeit currently sidelined, it was this freak anomaly in that the longest match I've ever played lasted over 3 1/2 hours, and the longest one I or anyone else ever witnessed wasn't even close to the Isner-Mahut epic.

And what does this have to do with yoga?

Well...everything! We so often view yoga as a series of poses, some seemingly impossible or often ridiculous that we by-pass the thread that holds it all together. Breath and staying focused. The historical tennis match was a complete metaphor for staying present. When Mahut was asked how did he manage to keep coming from behind to hold his serve he replied, "I only thought about winning that game. The next point. That's it".

Both players needed to stay fully present to keep playing into a 70-68 fifth set final decision. If either of them projected themselves into what might happen in the future, or contemplated their past errors for more than a nano second, the seam would have been opened wide enough for the match to be just another "ordinary" match at one of the world's greatest tournaments.

Instead, each player stayed focused on what they needed to do in each moment. At the end of the second day of suspended play, they both had to go and focus on recovery through hydration, rest, nourishment and relaxation before picking up the thread yet again and resuming the match.

If we, as yoga practitioners can gleam just one lesson from this tennis match it's to step fully into what you are currently doing. That's it.

Beyond that, the other interesting impression is that after John Isner won and returned to play in his next match, his tanks were empty both mentally and physically and he lost. What that tells me, is that we often don't know how far we can push ourselves. We have tremendous potential to undertake seemingly impossible tasks and challenges. And to continue to do so...we need to honor the process of healing, recovery and nourishing our physical and emotional selves so that our spirits can continue to soar.

Thanks Dad!

I wrote the following in 2009 for Father's Day and had the urge to reprint it (with some edits) for today. I hope you don't mind a repeat!

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 28 years ago from kidney cancer. He was 46 years old...younger than 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. In my eyes what made my Dad brilliant 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 and heart.

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.

The Leaky Boat

One of the most interesting and innovative bands to come out of the Australian/New Zealand rock scene back in the 80's were called "Split Endz". Two brothers Tim and Neil Finn formed the band, wrote many hits, were hugely popular down under and eventually reformed as Crowded House (initially with Tim). What do they have to do with yoga, you might be asking?

It has to do with my thought of the week and as I have been thinking about it, it reminded me of a song Split Endz had called "Six Months In A Leaky Boat".

And you're still wondering...Split Endz...yoga...leaking boats...what's the connection?

Here it is. One of the keys to any pratice, including a yoga practice is consistency. Turning up time and time again on your mat, going through repeated exercises of breath, movement and awareness. It often begs the quetion, "how much is enough?". And that's where seepage comes in. As soon as you embark on the journey of a yoga practice, the moment you set yourself onto your mat, I believe you are forever on the journey. It is a process of unfolding, opening and growing awareness.

Even if you only practice yoga on an irregular basis, you will begin to have seepage. Some of the thoughts, ideas and practices will begin to ooze into your everyday awareness. We often procrastinate doing something because we are unable to fully commit to doing it...the all or nothing syndrome. But, once you begin to learn the tools of yoga, they begin to seep into your day.

Things such as:
1. Taking a deep breath before answering the phone.
2. Pausing before taking your first bite of a meal to inhale the aromas.
3. Thinking about your standing posture as you are waiting in line at the store or bank.
4. Allowing yourself five minutes to just sit and do nothing.
5. Recognizing when your self condemning thought is just that...a thought that can be shifted into a self supportive one.
6. Giving someone 100% of your attention when listening to them speak.
7. Feeling gratitude for someone or something.
8. Moving your body in a natural and easy way.

These are just a few simple things that can easily leak into your life. And what is the ingredient that they all have in common?

Awareness.

Obviously we do as much as we can. If we seek to dive deeper into our practice we can certainly dedicate more time to doing so. We can open the flood gates and let our practice become a way of living. But if that's overwhelming, try spending six months on a leaky mat instead...

The Blame Game

When I was a kid, I became quite skilled at playing the blame game with my siblings. One of us would do something that we weren't supposed to do and when our parents would find out and want to know "who did it", the game would begin. You became the victor in the game if you did the forbidden act and managed to get one of your siblings in trouble for something they didn't do. And of course, there was no way you would ever take responsibility for it. "Who me? I had nothing to do with it" I would say with my innocent brown eyes.

My thought for this week is at what stage in our lives to we begin to "own it"? When do we begin to fully understand that our actions have consequences and that holds us in a place of responsibility? As we evolve, I believe we begin to accept more responsibility. We start being better skilled at separating out what is "our stuff" and what isn't. We gain courage in saying, "yes, it was me" and handle the subsequent consequences. But do we ever fully realize how our actions move away from our immediate actions into the greater community, world and environment?

Take for example the recent oil spill in the Gulf. People are hungry to put blame onto someone...BP, the government, corporations. But aren't we all responsible? Do we not live in a society that uses oil and fossil fuels to put into our cars and manufacturing? Doesn't demand drive the economy and if we're demanding low gas prices, does that not encourage oil companies to drill more and faster...perhaps recklessly?

Now, I'm not saying that it's right or wrong. I'm not laying blame. I'm just saying if we pull the lens back we can all offer up our support or lack of support for finding other ways to not dig into the earth for our mass needs. Can our individual and collective voices admit that we are all connected to each other and to this planet and in being so, we hold it in our hands to look after each other.

When an accident like this happens, it causes reflection and sadness. But if life is an experiential teacher, what have we learned and what ACTION can we take?

My commitment is to act like a big girl now and own my own actions. To become more aware of how I impact my world and all the other creatures that inhabit it. Big girl action takes awareness and a promise to keep doing the best I can. To stop pointing the finger at someone else. How about you?

Progress

One of the most rewarding moments that I have experienced over years of teaching is looking at a class and having that inner voice scream "YES!" as I bear witness to the progress that each student has made.



At times, the changes seem barely perceptible. It can sometimes seem like forever before I notice any changes. We just keep applying ourselves and then what seems to be a significant overnight metamorphosis becomes apparent after weeks of seemingly little progress. It's quite a magical moment.



This perspective is what keeps us committed to our practice whether it be our golf or tennis game, a piece of art, writing or our yoga practice. If we can develop the awareness to open ourselves to the moment that we are currently experiencing, we begin to drop away our attachment to the outcome. As we let go into the process, we merge with the experience rather than the result. We enter a state of flow, the perfect balance of execution and experience that seems to unfold in an effortless manner.



And perhaps that why it's so striking to see students in poses that I hadn't witnessed before. As we focus more on being in the moment, the expectation of what is supposed to happen is shifted to the feeling of the experience.



Most of us know the saying that "it's not the destination, but the journey' that matters. What that really says is supportive of the notion of staying with what is. Knowing that who we are, what we have and what we do are enough. Can we be satisfied with that? I believe it is completely possible through surrendering to each moment as THIS moment is its own perfection.



The challenge is to stop striving for something outside of where you think you should be, toward some greater goal, something bigger and better and step into where you are. Bascially if we allow ourselves let go and commit to doing, progress will naturally unfold.



Breathe it all in. Now. In this moment...

Staying Centered

It seems to have been a week filled with "bad" news. The huge enviromental impact of the oil spill, unexpected deaths of friends of friends, plane crashes, poor financial markets and blah, blah, blah. We are bombarded with this through our media sources and conversations continually. The bad news is always in the news. But at times it seems as though the volume has been turned up inside of my own head and awareness around the bad news. For whatever reason it seems to be more personal this week.

Being surrounded by so many challenges, how do I find that place of equanimity and balance? How do I remember all of the good news?

In our practice of yoga, we seek to find balance. A union of energy between our bodies, minds and spirits. When we are in a half moon balance (as pictured above) we strive to extend away from our middle, reaching through our limbs and crown of the head as we stay firmly planted on our standing leg. This pose is an illustration of my thought for the week.

If we focus on the extremes, in this case our extremities, and direct our energy away from the center, we topple. We lose balance. We disconnect from our center. But, if we build our pose from the ground up, from our foundation of support on the standing leg and reach out into the extremes, keeping our breath and eyes steady and focused, we are able to stay on balance.

Life is like this. If we put our energy into the extreme emotions and thoughts of good or bad, we can dwell in places that seem to be dark and hopeless. But, if we build a basic foundation of ritual and practices that maintain the essence of who we are and seek to be, we can begin to accept both ends of the spectrum as being an inherent part of living. Good and bad things happen. As aware individuals we have the power and choice to create our reaction to them.

Knowing this and having heard bad news this week, I come back to my yoga and meditation in order to find my balance. To find gratitude and in doing so I find my center.

What do you do as a practice to bring yourself back into the middle? What is your foundation built on?

On The Other Hand

This is the second time in my life where I have had to adapt to using my left hand due to injury/surgery on my right side. And being a dominant right-hander, I have to say that the second time around has been much easier. I keep telling myself that when I switch to using my left hand as the dominant hand, that it's great for my brain.

Being right-handed, I hold many of the characteristics of a left-hemisphere, dominant brain. I'm methodical, linear in thought and often quite stoic. Many lefties that I've known in my life (and I come from a whole family of them...) often have the more creative, expressive and blissful sides of their brains active. Those lefties brains just don't seem to follow the same path as mine.

So here is my opportunity! As I heal from right shoulder surgery, I have the chance to spend more time in the right hemisphere of my brain...the more blissful, loving, expansive and creative side of me. It's not like I never spend time over on that right side, I do and my yoga practice helps me cross the border more now than ever. But, with my automatic pilot left brain in a holding pattern, my right brain can have first dibs!

I challenge you this week to look at your own automatic pilot of doing things on either right or left sides. Do you always step forward from a standing position with the same foot? Do you always step into your underwear with one particular leg leading the way? Do you always reach for an object with your dominant hand?

OK...so try this to give your mind and body a new perspective for a few days:

1. Move your computer mouse to the opposite hand.
2. Try eating with the opposite hand (yes...even with chopsticks).
3. Get dressed in a different sequence....usually socks on first, put them on last.
4. Brush your hair or teeth using the opposite hand.
5. Throw a ball or frisbee with your non-dominant side.

You get the picture. We tend to repeat familiar patterns of behavior, over and over throughout our lives. You can imagine that the brain has disconnected itself from many of our basic activities (and for the good reason of time efficiency), so why not shake it up a bit and offer the mind and body a different way of connecting and communicating?

Let me know how you do...I feel smarter already!

I Think My Dogs Meditate

The other day I was talking to somebody about the challenges we face in the practice of meditation. How we can use breath, mantra, song, stillness and posture to narrow our attention in order to dive deeper into a meditative state. And then it dawned on me...how simply both of our dogs are capable of going directly into this state, not that they are necessarily sitting either in lotus or at all. Maybe they are never out of this state in the first place! Nevertheless they have the inate ability to become focused on a single thing almost instantly.

Our female dog, Yindi, sees me holding a treat and wham...her eyes don't leave it for a second. She doesn't blink, bark or move. She's focused. Our male dog, Koele, sees a cat out on our walk and nothing is in his attention more than where that cat went, what it was doing and how he's going to "catch" it. He becomes utterly oblivious to my gentle coaxing of "leave it". Focused.

Our dogs are both Golden Retrievers, smart, loving, playful and part of the family. It's in their nature. They have times when they are at home, eyes half closed, gently breathing and appear to be fully present. They are great teachers of knowing what they want and staying focused on it. If what they want isn't immediately present, they wait patiently until that walk, pat or food comes around.

Why then, is it so challenging for so many of us to not become distracted by the busy thoughts that swirl in our heads? Is it simply a canine/homo sapien thing? Perhaps. But my intuition tells me that the dogs are able to get to the heart of their feelings and are in a now, in this moment, present way of living. They show unconditional love and trust. They don't hide behind complexities or excuses, but just thrust their feelings out there for all to see and experience.

My thought for this week is to tap into my own inner downward or upward facing dog. To let go into the experience of life, including emulating the ease of becoming focused on a single, seemingly simple thing like my breath or a mantra.

If my dogs can do...perhaps so can I!

Idyllwild Retreat 2010

With the weeks of planning that need to happen leading up to a retreat, one thing that I couldn't plan was the arrival of a foot of snow the evening before we landed in Idyllwild. As I drove the winding road up the mountain, the beauty kept growing and my jaw kept dropping. I had never seen it so beautiful on that drive! I passed large numbers of yellow flowers in bloom and as I gained elevation, the flowers gave way to snow. The sun was out, the sky was brilliant blue and it set the scene for a magical weekend.


The group, made up of three new retreaters and four repeater retreaters began the weekend with a walk in the freshly fallen, untrodden snow. I asked the group if we could walk as quietly as possible to engage our senses to the natural environment. We made our way to the perfect spot (pictured above) to undergo a quiet breath-centered, Tai chi like session. We found ourselves grounding into the cool earth, listening to the sound of the flowing creek and birds chirping and began to gently flow with our breath to greet our environment.

For those of us who spend most of our time in the dry desert environs, this was an unusual treat.

The remainder of the weekend, we were able to practice postures (asana), sit in quiet reflection and meditation, visit deep relaxation and eat fresh vegetarian (gluten-free) cuisine. In other sessions we got to know each other on a deeper level, learned about the Chakra energy system, were introduced to the practice of Kirtan (call and response singing) and looked at a deeper level of self-inquiry known as the "Purusharthas" (the four aims of life).

What I enjoy most from the retreats that I have offered, is seeing people open their hearts to the tradition and philosophy of yoga on a deeper and more personal level. It allows us a time and space to step away from our everyday commitments, take a deep breath and reflect.

I thank and say "Namaste'" to the fascinating women that I had the privilege of spending time with in Idyllwild. If you missed this retreat, know that there is more to come...

Australia September 2-7, 2010
Idyllwild April 29-May 1, 2011

Mark your calendars!

Earth Day Is 40 Years Old

This past week you might have heard that it was Earth Day. From a yogic perspective, every day is Earth Day with the practices of yoga evolving from a connection to as well as a reflection of the natural environment. We salute the sun and bow down to the earth, stand like a tree or mountain and recline in a restorative posture named "flowing mountain brook".

With the availability of electricity and artificial lighting, we began to fall out of sync with the ebb and flow of natural light that in the past indicated when to go to sleep and when to awaken. As the earth has become more populated with the development of concrete and skyscrapers, we have lost our connection through bare feet into the earth. And as we live in noisy and busy environments, we often miss the sounds of the natural world.

Earth Day is a vivid reminder to honor Mother Earth (Gaia). That we, as humans, walk upon this larger planet with its own living energy. That Mother Earth is here to support us in every way. Earth Day is another opportunity to reflect upon how we individually impact the planet. What type of footprint are we leaving? Are we able to elevate our own level of consciousness to lessen that impact?

Here are a few reminders as to how we can continue to show compassion to Gaia and in doing so, we show compassion towards others as well as ourselves.

Tips:

1. Carry your own water bottle to avoid using plastic, one-use bottles.

2. Have your own multi-use lunch set for heading off to work, to avoid using one-time, throw away containers.

3. Remember to bring your own shopping bags to the store.

4. Check the tire pressure in your vehicle to enhance miles per gallon.

5. Use multi-use dryer balls in your dryer rather than a fabric softener in the wash or throw away dryer sheets. Or line dry your laundry.

6. Create your own compost for your garden.

7. Buy phosphate-free laundry detergent.

8. Turn off your tap when brushing your teeth.

9. Turn off your computer at the end of each day.

10....Send in to me any tips that you do in order to be part of the buzz around reduce, reuse, recycle and sustain!

Thank you Gaia!