Fire

The overarching theme throughout this month has been our connection to the earth and its elements. We began talking about water, moved onto earth and, this week, I have been inspired to bring fire into our consciousness. This is our first hot week here in the desert, where we've had consecutive days in the mid-90's(F) with a couple hitting the century mark. You can feel the heat seeping back into our desert, so it's timely to be reminded to watch our own internal furnace. I have learned over the past several years of living in the desert, that April is the month where people complain of cramping and feeling a bit wrung out. We haven't had time to acclimate to the heat and haven't yet adjusted our fluid intake from the cooler months. It's time to check in and increase our hydration.

But on a deeper level, the energy of fire is about change and transformation. I am inspired to bear witness to the growth and evolution of the yoga teacher trainees. They will be graduating next weekend and the difference between when we first met in November to now is simply astounding. I've been fortunate to witness this blossoming in each of the five training programs I've offered and sit in simple amazement of what a courageous process it can be. The trainees have their feet held to the fire, experienced vulnerability in ways they perhaps never have before and, in doing so, find the confidence to uncover their own unique voice. The result is that each one of them will have an authenticity to what they teach and how they share this practice. I have a saying that "we teach what's within us" and part of this arduous process is working deeply on our individual practice of yoga. We share what we know and, rather than being told what to teach, they teach what's in them through discovering a deep resonance and meaning. Simply put...it's profound.

In thinking about fire, it's an element that needs other elements to be in existence. It needs air and combustible material to be fire. If fire is hot enough it can split stone. And our giant sequoia forests need fires to signal a dropping of their seeds which find a renewed and enriched soil. "Fire is never a gentle master", a proverb that speaks to its volatility and power. 

It's the element that is associated with the third chakra, the residence of the solar plexus. This energetic center is about self-esteem, empowerment, and courage. It's the place we go to when our intuition beckons us to create change, to confront what's difficult, and to morph what no longer is serving us into something that does. We begin the journey and much like a potter placing an object into the kiln, often won't know the outcome. If we can stay present throughout and lessen our attachment to the outcome, not only can this uncovering and evolution be one filled with highs and lows, but it can be a deeply sacred experience. Hearken back to a moment where you felt exposed, so much so that you almost didn't move forward. Quitting seemed like a good option, yet something deep within you held it all together and you did what you had to do.

We all sit on the precipice at some point in our lives, dangling our feet in the realm of what could be dreamily possible. The fire gets lit by an idea of what could manifest, a call that's being answered. And when we say yes to the journey, we may not know what to expect yet we step forward nonetheless. That's courage. This week I honor the reminder of the power that's sitting within us. The piece of us that's willing to take a chance knowing that growth will definitely be part of the ride. It seems fitting to end this weeks thought with one of my favorite quotes:

When I walk to the edge of all the light I have and take that step into the darkness of the unknown, I believe one of two things will happen.

There will be something sold for me to stand on or I will be taught to fly.

~S. Marlin Edges

Earth

Take a moment to really look at the image above. Taken from space, this wide perspective of our planet has been referred to by astronauts as the "God's eye view". It has been found that many astronauts upon seeing the earth from this wide-angle view, return with a shift in perspective that we are all neighbors, inhabiting this big blue ball. It's said their feelings of compassion and connection increase from having this experience. I love the idea of getting such a broad lens on things that it lessens our focus on all that divides us.

The theme this week is Earth, inspired by the upcoming Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, with the focus on 2018 being ending plastic pollution. Earth Day began in 1970 as the birth of the modern environmental movement in order to protect and preserve the environment, reminding us of our inherent duty to be stewards of the planet. I try to think of every day as Earth Day and really think that if we can individually make daily, often small commitments to being environmentally friendly, the sum total of the collective could have quite an impact. One of my favorite recent stories is about a restaurant/bar in Washington state that is no longer using plastic straws. If people ask for a straw, they're given a paper straw...how retro! If we think about the impact of just that one act, it will have an impact as plastic straws are not only non-biodegradable but often end up in our oceans and waterways. In fact, as reported in LA Yoga Magazine, "Every day, 500 million plastic straws are used in the US alone. That number represents enough straws to wrap around the Earth 2.5 times. These straws take more than 200 years to decompose and are rarely recyclable. Plastic straws have become an epidemic that is littering our oceans, streets, forests, and natural lands. Every year, our excessive use of plastic straws contributes to the death of over one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals. Communities and organizations around the world have begun initiatives to address this problem." 

Two other simple ideas are to stop buying single-use plastic containers (bottled water tops the list) and bringing our own shopping bags to all stores. These are things that we can enact today and so many people and communities are doing an amazing job of this, yet more is definitely better!

Another aspect of the Earth theme is connecting it to our yoga practice. Just as I was leaving Australia to move back to the United States, a very powerful image came to me. It was of me standing ankle deep in the rich red Australian soil. Looking back, I recognize this as a way of grounding myself into the Earth's energetic grid, a way of acknowledging and thanking the Australian continent for her magnificence before leaving her shores. I needed to feel grounded before making such a huge life transition. This rings true for anyone who is undergoing shifts and changes. If we can slow down enough and ground our energy by connecting to the base chakra, we aren't as easily disrupted when change occurs.

Further, the first of the seven chakras (energy centers in the body) has the element of earth. The Muladhara chakra has the color of red, the seed mantra/sound of "LAM", and is all about stability and safety. Take a moment to notice where you are as you read this. Do you feel safe? Do you have a home and easy access to food? Are you involved and connected to your local community? If yes, then the primal need of being in a stable situation is likely being met. As I contemplate my connection to my base chakra, my reaction is one of gratitude. I have the luxury to make choices around straws. I have an abundance of just about any food I wish to enjoy. I have a beautiful peaceful home within a safe community. This gratitude comes from the unfortunate recognition that many of our neighbors on this planet are in transition, particularly people who are refugees fleeing from their homes. They may no longer know where they can call home. They may not know where their next meal is coming from. They may feel completely vulnerable, exposed, and in danger. If someone handed them a bag of water punctured by a straw, I would bet they'd receive it without a second thought to the environment.

And herein lies the connection. I am in a privileged position to act on behalf of the earth and her beings when others may not be in that current situation. It is my duty to steward this planet to the best of my individual capabilities and to realize it doesn't just affect one, but all. I have a desire to take only photographs and leave only footprints so that my grandkids and future generations can see the immense and breathtaking beauty of this planet that we are fortunate to call home.

How will you celebrate Earth Day? Today or always?

Adaptability

I have been taught over the past few years to pay attention to signs, those occurrences of signals that appear, particularly when they seem to arrive in clusters. It's as though the Universe is tapping me on the shoulder, asking me to notice its subtle messages. This past couple of weeks, the image of water has been popping up. The first sign was in a story about a woman who moved from her hectic life in Manhattan to the quiet island of Bermuda. Whilst living in Bermuda, she became highly conscious of her water usage as their only source came from rainfall. She began to take shorter showers and turn the tap off as she brushed her teeth. This part of her story resonated with me as my water consciousness grew during our recent drought in California.

In the news this past week, it was reported that San Francisco had its highest daily rainfall since 1849. A deluge that soaked not only the city but parts of Northern California, so much so, that the Yosemite Valley was closed for a bit due to the rising waters of the Merced River. SO much rain, in great contrast to the conservation mindset of being in Bermuda.

The final sign was during our discussion of using the natural environment for themes during yoga classes during this past weekend's Yoga Teacher Training. We talked about how water has the same molecular structure but takes on different forms of solid, liquid and gas. As I reflected as to why I kept seeing water signs, I came to the insight that it's all about adaptability and that, perhaps, I am being reminded to lessen my rigidity and go with the flow.

As I pondered my water signs, I did a bit of research on how it relates to the world of yoga. I found profound insights from Swami Sivananda, a renown yogi who established a lineage that's active today through ashrams in Rishikesh, India and the Bahamas. He spoke about adaptability as a way of connecting to one another, a way of eliminating selfishness, and winning the "battle of life by a little bit of bending". And in order to be adaptable to all beings, "you must be flexible, humble and simple, gentle and soft". As I came across this, I thought, "Ah! That's what water has been trying to tell me...to be a bit less rigid around my schedule, my exercise and diet regimens, my opinions and beliefs. Water is reminding me to ease up and find the flow of life to enhance my connections to others. Wow.

As I reflect further, I see the bigger picture with many of my weekly themes around connection, community, adjusting our practice in order to create our own experience, and finding balance in our life. So in some ways, that's what I've been putting out to the Universe through a series of interrelated intentions, and just like a wave washing back up to the shore, the Universe in some ways sent an affirmation through the image and power of water. 

My thought for the week is multi-layered. If we slow down enough to find presence, we may begin to see signs that are unspoken and subtle. Pay attention. If we want to manifest something, keep putting it out to the Universe. Remember that we are all in this together, sharing this planet with one another, to enhance and nourish relationships. And finally, remember the words of Bruce Lee:

Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. 

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.

Create Your Experience

Frequently you might hear me say in class, "Pay attention to the experience you're creating in this moment". I say this to encourage people to recognize what they are feeling as they undertake different poses, practice conscious breathing, or notice their thought. Ultimately, I want to encourage them to realize they are in charge of what's happening in their practice in each and every moment. So often, we attend a class of some sort and assume that the instructor is the person who will create what happens to us during the practice. I mean, they're in charge, aren't they?

Well, yes and no.

Many of us attend classes wanting to be given direction by the teacher. An effective instructor is able to create a particular environment through their use of language, their tone of voice, the lighting, as well as music and other things to accentuate a particular experience. However, I view my role as a teacher as though I've just given everyone in the class an essay topic, yet know that everyone will write their own story. I ultimately want the practitioner to be in charge of their practice and to feel empowered to make choices based on how they are in each particular moment. And therein lies part of the challenge...we need to be completely present and insightful to know what it is we need as our body and mind are in continual states of fluctuation.

The other layer to this is to recognize the harmonious relationship between our body and mind throughout the experience. Have you ever created your own suffering? Of course...we all have and I'm hoping to lessen suffering through my practice rather than increase it. So if we sense friction between what our mind is asking our body to do, we might best be served to listen and adjust. It redirects our focus to one of joy and positivity rather than a sense of dread during the practice. With that being said, it's paying attention to all sensations even the most challenging ones. I love the feeling of being out on the road bicycling with my legs working, heart pumping, hearing the sound of my breath. I feel the wind on my face and whatever the conditions may be I awaken to a sense of complete presence. I can create this connection to my experience by really allowing myself to be in it, even if it's hard. The moment where it feels like I'm unable to sustain the pace, I acknowledge that I've hit my edge and try to enjoy what just transpired. 

And that's key...finding and creating the joy within what we're doing. As Anne Cushman in an article entitled, The Wellspring of Joy,  points out: "As I flow through my practice, I am amazed at how often my mind reverts into the well-worn groove of looking for what's wrong-relentlessly pointing out the myriad ways in which I could improve my body and my practice (not to mention my career and my hair). It takes discipline, at first, to keep bringing my attention back to the joys I am actually experiencing in that very moment, not the imagined pleasures that would result if only I could whip my life and body into shape."  We are so easily led to focus on everything but the moment of contentment, yet when we tap into the senses we are able to deepen our connection to the inherent pleasure gained when our mind-body find congruence.

If we are able to take it to another level when we begin to examine our current state, we also unveil whether or not we are living the life that we want. When we take a moment to explore our deepest desire, we uncover what that is and if we are acting in ways that affirm our intention. It has been said that we create our own reality and, this week, hopefully, we have been looking at that more closely. My hope for everyone is that what we find lightens our hearts and brings smiles to our faces.