Giving Voice

 

 

This past week I have been inspired by those who've been willing to offer their voices toward raising awareness around injustice and supporting others.  August 28 marked the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's, "I Have a Dream" speech as part of the March On Washington held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.  Looking back, it was a pinnacle moment in the civil rights movement.  He was a leader who offered his strong voice in pursuit of equality and, in doing so, rattled cages, challenged opinions and paid the ultimate price with his life.

 

On that day, I chose to wear the "SEVA Amazon" tank top in support of this years Global Seva Challenge through Off the Mat, Into the World.  OTM continues to offer its voice to underserved and challenged communities throughout the world by raising funds and awareness.  They have had an impact in Uganda, Cambodia, South Africa, Haiti, India and now the Peruvian Amazon.  I was honored and humbled to be part of their India challenge in 2012 and so very proud of the voice they offer via the yoga community and beyond.

 

On Monday of this past week, I asked my own local yoga community to give a silent voice of healing and support to my old dog, Koele (Co-elle-eh) as he was fighting an infection that we thought would end his life.  People in classes nodded in silence and sent him thoughts of support and healing.  He's turned the corner and seems to be back to his old self (thank you everyone!).

 

And this coming September 14, our local Coachella Valley is playing host to Yoga Across America that raises money for underprivileged people who want to practice yoga but have limited or no access.  Donation-based yoga classes are on offer in four locations throughout our valley (see above).  Our voices will be heard not only in our own community but hopefully all across America.

 

What all of this left me with was a feeling of gratitude.  I am thankful for being part of an extended community that is willing to offer their voices to those who can't be heard...from the global impact of Martin Luther King and OTM, to our own local community.  In order to feel the effects of this gratitude more deeply, I enjoy this simple exercise.

 

Sit or lay down and find stillness.  As you settle into this space, begin to connect to the movement of your breath.  Feel the inhale as an expansion, a drawing in and the exhale as a letting go and release.  On the inhale breath, connect the words, "in this moment I am grateful..."  On the exhale, "for________________".  Continue to feel gratitude for all that is in your life: for your community, for your friends, for your situation and for your ability to choose.

 

And mostly, feel gratitude for those who have had the courage to offer their voices to those who have been silenced.

 

In this moment, I am grateful for all of you.

Marinating

 

 

I have spent this past week out of my usual routine and environment.  I have allowed myself time to lighten the schedule, to flow with the rhythm of the day and put my feet up.

 

I know that over the many years that I've been teaching, this re-charge time is not only necessary but invaluable.  When I teach, I want to be fully present and engaged in the experience.  I set the intention of holding the space so that others can be fully in their experience allowing whatever needs to happen, to simply unfold.  Often at the days end, I need time to simply be quiet, not engaging in lengthy or deep conversations.  It's my body's way of asking me to reconnect.

 

When I neglect this aspect of re-centering, my fatigue level seems to rise more quickly and I get cranky.  In that space, I'm not able to be living from the perspective that I try to live from on a regular basis.  My interactions may not be as loving as I would like which once again reminds me to unplug.

 

I know that our busy season and the new yoga teacher training program are just around the corner.  So I will keep this short and sweet to savor each moment.

 

I hope you're taking some time for your own self...even if it's a small amount, you're worth it!

Always A Student

 

I swore after I had finished my graduate studies that that was it.  No more.  No more studying, homework or spending the weekend at the library writing and researching.  At that point I had been a student on and off for 30 some years.  Enough already.

 

Or so I thought.  When I moved from Australia back to the USA and started growing my personal training business, I came across a course in aromatherapy.  The brochure and course looked so appealing, lovely scents, healing properties and blending of essential oils seemed so attractive.  I signed up and for the next year or so delved into the studies.  Sitting the exam was much tougher than I had anticipated but I passed and that was that...the end to my life as a student.

 

When we moved from the Bay Area, leaving the personal training clientele behind, and arrived in the desert my interest in learning how to become a yoga teacher blossomed.  It took about two years to complete the first phase of a 200 hour teacher training.  And I thought, there you go...that was that.

 

The next wave of student inspiration came following wrist surgery and having intensive hand therapy for three months.  I remembered how much I enjoyed the therapeutic aspect of healing and my awareness was brought to a yoga therapy training course, another 300 hours over a summer intensive.  Two weeks on, five weeks off, another two weeks.  And that was that...

 

Or so I thought.  What I have finally surrendered to is that I will always be a student.  Swadhaya is one of the niyamas within the yoga sutras of Patanjali.  Nischala Joy Devi translates it as "Sacred study of the Divine through scripture, nature, and introspection (Swadhaya) guides us to the Supreme Self". (p. 219 in The Secret Power of Yoga).

 

Being a perpetual student is part of living your life from a yogic perspective.  I obviously have always welcomed the opportunity to learn, to embrace the role of student.  From this place I can more fully embrace the role of teacher.  And in the role of teacher I am once again a student as what I learn from that perspective continually challenges me with the question of "What's next?  What else do I need to learn more about?"

 

And as I am spending this weekend studying with my teacher, Judith Hanson Lasater, I will once again grab my notebook and sit with the intention of soaking it all up.  Enough already?  I guess not.

  

Australia On My Mind

 

 

 

Around this time over the past four years I've been getting myself ready to retreat Down Under.  My husband Ed and I would fly to Australia, visit friends and either before or after, head to Sanctuary Retreat in Mission Beach to dive into the ocean and open our hearts within the heart of a rainforest. 

 

But not this year.  As the cards often fall, other things came into action and for me, it was spending an amazing three weeks in India in February/March of this year.  So, I shot my wad with being able to feel as though I could take more time off.  Sadly, Sanctuary has to wait until next year.

 

Sanctuary retreat is well named.  It's been a place of great healing and connection, of revitalizing that deep inner space and of stepping away from technology, cooking and general running around.  It was where we went four months after Ed had open heart surgery and was a turning point in his recovery.  At Sanctuary, you walk through a rainforest and come across bird life, lizards and other reptiles, butterflies and beetles.  If you're lucky, you get a visit from one of the local cassowaries (a large, flightless bird that dates back to the dinosaurs).

  

A gentle breeze rides up the hill off the Coral Sea with hours spent lounging on the deck of the long house.  Fresh food, tea and coffee are available and the accommodations are nestled right into the rainforest.  Many mornings begin with a pre-sunrise walk through the rainforest down to the beach for a sunrise meditation.  And of course, there's yoga galore!  Morning vinyasa, late afternoon restorative and reflective educational sessions in between.

 

I reminisce about Sanctuary so that I can re-awaken and remember the energy that is there.  I go there in my morning meditations through the assistance of an newly found app (Calm.com).  One of the choices is the sound of waves on a beach that looks similar to Brookes Beach at Sanctuary.  I hear the sound of the waves, occasionally opening my eyes to center myself by seeing the image of a sun rising over the ocean and I'm able to be in the energy of Australia.  It's not exactly the same thing, but it's tapping me into the residue that I've held after every visit.

 

Since I'm not physically going to Sanctuary this year, I need to go there mentally and energetically.  You can try it as well by clicking on the above link and perhaps, next year, you'll join me and experience it in person.

 

Maybe it's time to start practicing how you say, "G'day"!