Solstice

We have just experienced the Solstice, winter in the Northern hemisphere and summer in the Southern hemisphere. Here in North America, our days will begin to get longer. The interesting thing is that we are not likely to notice this gradual lengthening of daylight hours as it's in such small increments. It's likely we'll begin to sense the difference six weeks from now but, for the moment, we are sitting in the heart of winter.

With the cycling of the seasons, we are reminded of natural and sacred rhythms. Cycles exist in our day as we begin with the earth turning toward the sun and end by turning away. They exist in other ways such as the menstrual cycles of women, the cycle of the week, school semesters and with the arrival of each birthday. On a more subtle level is the ongoing cycle of our breath with each inhale and exhale marking one cycle. Considering that at rest we breathe an average of 12 breaths per minute, we are constantly in motion. One moment arises and falls away into the next moment. We can even think that the cycles of our lives are simply the present moment connecting to the next moment...one continuous thread of moment to moment.

The same applies to our individual practices of yoga and meditation. What often happens initially on our mats is that we have a profound or breakthrough experience. It's as though we've been sitting in ignorance and then WHAM!, we are struck by a life-altering experience or thought. We sense an immediate and obvious shift. However, it doesn't always happen like that. It can often feel as though we're plodding along in our practice, perhaps doing the same or similar daily ritual or practicing the same yoga poses. And then, just like the gradual lengthening of daylight hours after the winter Solstice, we notice a shift. It might not have been obvious but with each and every intentional effort to step into our practice, we continue to fertilize the depth and richness of our own journey.

In a story once shared by the Buddhist meditation teacher, Sharon Salzberg, she spoke about all of us having an empty bucket. With each intentional act of consciousness, we add a single drop into our bucket. Over time, we begin to fill the bucket up and all of it has originated from the place of our highest self, with intention and discipline. Imagine if we live unconsciously for years and years, perhaps saying things publicly that we feel won't affect others, perhaps harboring negative thoughts or perhaps holding onto the limiting belief that what we are isn't enough. Over the same amount of time, our bucket remains empty.

It's through conscious choice that we step into our practice and it's through conscious choice that we honor the sacred cycles that we meet along the way. At times it might feel as though we are standing still and that nothing is happening, yet the wisdom traditions affirm that the magic of what we are doing will manifest in some form at some time in our future.

So just as we naturally cycle from the darkest days toward light, we can do that metaphorically by staying with our practice, even when we think that nothing might be changing. As sure as the sun will rise and spring is around the corner, the cycles of our own practice will awaken. Trust the darkness to bring you into the light. Trust that every noble act, every kind word, every message of love sent to self and others is another drop in your spiritual bucket.

Sahasrara Chakra

What an amazing seven weeks it has been, journeying through all seven chakras culminating this week with the crown or Sahasrara Chakra. Located at the top of the head, I see the crown chakra as a portal to infinite consciousness, connection, and potential. I visualize a funnel of energy that keeps expanding the further out you go...infinitely through all time and space.

The crown chakra is represented by the color violet and connects to all expanding consciousness. When we are balanced in our Sahasrara chakra, Geof Jowett from his book, "The Power of I Am", states that "we understand things from a wider context with creativity, compassion, and an expansive imagination. The more balanced and stable my crown is, the more open I am to divine energy and universal consciousness" (p. 161). To paraphrase, when we are connected here, we see things from the wide-angle lens of our life, to how we are merging with all that is and to not sweat the small stuff. It puts things into the big picture perspective of why we are here and how we are all connected.

When we are experiencing life from this crown center, we are coming from our highest self...who we are fundamentally, as well as who we strive to be. This feeling is one of open spaciousness where we truly feel as though we have dissolved into the whole and that no separation exists between all beings. In working with all the chakras we see how each one is affected by the other as we ascend up the chain. The earth element of the base chakra dissolves into the water element of the sacral chakra. The water element is altered as it interacts with the fire element of the solar plexus. Fire is affected by the air element of the heart's fourth chakra. Air expands into the ethers of the throat energy and all elements. As Swami Saradananda writes in the book "Chakra Meditation", "this enables you to transcend worldly experience and to understand your connection with universal consciousness."

It is thought that when we are connected with universal consciousness we experience feelings of freedom (moksha) and bliss (Ananda), but in order to connect more frequently, we need to do the work. "Doing the work" means to truly commit to getting to know and understand the geography of our own inner landscape. It means turning our awareness away from the outer world to our inner world. We withdraw our senses by stopping, closing our eyes and finding stillness (pratyahara). We begin to bring our focus into one thing such as the movement of our breath or a mantra (Dharana). As we continue, we begin to find an inner state of peacefulness (dhyana) which leads us to moments of expanded bliss (samadhi).

Now most of us have only fleeting glimpses of what pure ecstatic bliss feels like, however, the yogis believe that disciplined effort can take us into these states more and more frequently. Sharon Salzberg said recently, "holding onto thoughts is like holding a bird in our hands. When we realize we're doing it, we can release our grip and let go of the bird". The same is true for thoughts. What can keep us from reaching expanded states of consciousness is that we hold onto thoughts and perpetuate their energy by going into the past or future or making a story out of it. When we recognize that we're holding, we can open our hands and let go. And we might have to do this over and over again, but when we do we experience the realness of the present moment and when we're in the present, it's easier to connect to the big picture.

Six of the chakras have bija (seed) mantras: Lam, Vam, Ram, Yam, Ham, and Om but the seventh chakra is silent (there is no sound in space). Another way to connect to the seventh chakra is by wearing violet and repeating affirmations such as:

I connect with spirit.

I invite sacred transformation.

I embrace the unity of all beings.

When we raise the vibration of consciousness we begin to listen to the wisdom and truth of our individual soul as it connects to the whole cosmos. As we are about to turn the calendar into not just another year, but into a new decade, now is the perfect time to clear, cleanse, and connect to all seven of our energy centers. May we rise up in body, heart, soul, and mind!

Ajna Chakra

As we ascend through the seven chakras, this week we explore the Ajna Chakra which is located at the brow center and often referred to as the "Third Eye". It is said that as we close our physical eyes, we begin to see more clearly into what is unknowable through the Third Eye. We are fortunate in the desert to truly experience the color of this chakra which is indigo, the deep royal blue color of the early evening desert night sky. It's that rich bluish-purple hue that allows us to notice the first planet or stars that appear in the evening sky. Its Bija mantra is OM, often written and sounded as "AUM" and represents our connection to our inner knowing and intuition. As we move above the heart chakra, the pivotal point between the upper and lower three chakras, we journey further into unknown realms, opening ourselves to connect to deeper states of consciousness and inner wisdom. The Third Eye chakra isn't truly represented by an element but some say it would be that of light, which makes sense as we move toward greater moments of self-realization and "enlightenment".

All of the energy centers and elements interact and align with one another.  Yet, the upper three energy centers can feel more elusive to capture in description and are felt largely through experience. In my experience, intuition is like a blip on our consciousness radar. It isn't something that hangs out and lingers, rather, it shows itself in a flash, often referred to as having an intuitive hit or insight.

The Ajna chakra is all about going deeper into who we truly are by listening to the wisdom that arises when we stay open rather than narrowing and clinging to what we identify with. Staying open can translate as letting go of our quickfire opinions and judgments, holding space patiently and without expectation. We keep the wide-angle lens on as often as possible which helps us "to see" the vast potential of ourselves and how we navigate through our lives.

I recently regretted not trusting an intuitive hit. I was looking for a new place for my Mom to live as her facility was closing down. I walked into one place that hadn't yet opened and it was clean, beautifully appointed, and had some of the qualities that I was looking for. But, I had this underlying and nearly silent sense that although it looked great, it wasn't quite right. However, I ignored that sense and rationalized why I was going to choose this place over another. Fortunately, a couple of other things happened which confirmed my intuition before I moved her into this facility and I changed my decision. In doing so, I created my own discomfort as I now had to summon my courageous self (third chakra) to make a phone call withdrawing from the first deal. I look back now and realize that had I paid attention to the intuitive flash, I would have gone through less suffering...but I didn't listen. Instead, I let my ego and intellect overrule what my intuition knew.

It's said that if it's coming from your intuition you simply know it to be true...there's no negotiating or reasoning. You just know. And the tricky part is trusting this deeper knowing. It may not seem to make sense in the current scheme of things, but the times when I have fully trusted my intuitive self, alignment manifested and things went smoothly.

This week we've been visualizing our connection to the third eye, with a swirling indigo ball of light at the forehead and chanting OM repeatedly. The intention is to stay open to what arises, feel the expanding vibration of the mantra, and trust the synchronicity of our lives.

The other cool thing in talking about the Ajna chakra this week is that we're getting closer to the Solstice, the Winter Solstice here in the Northern hemisphere and the Summer Solstice in the Southern. The shorter days and longer nights of the Winter Solstice are calling us into hibernation, a time of turning in, resting, and enjoying the simplicity of the season. It's the perfect time to delve into the Ajna chakra, connecting to our true self through meditation, letting go of identity, and finding the light within.

May you trust and know that you ARE intuitive. And may you stay wide-open to all the mystery that is sitting below the surface waiting to reveal itself.

Vishuddha Chakra

We continue our exploration of the seven energy centers called chakras and this week we have been moving into the higher chakras working with the fifth or throat chakra. In Sanskrit, this chakra is called the Vishuddha chakra and is located in the area of the throat and neck. It has the color of radiant, rich blue, its sound vibration resonates in the note of G and has the seed mantra of HAM. 

As previously stated, these elements are an integral part not only of our Universal environment but of the subtle energy systems of our being. When we experience our connection to the elements we are able to deepen our sense of an inherent relationship to all that's around and within us. Each chakra represents varying aspects of ourselves from the most physical to the most ethereal.

The throat chakra has the element of ether and sits directly above the heart. Ether is even more seemingly elusive as an element in the form of being a gas, making it more volatile. It is described as "the clear sky; the upper regions of air beyond the clouds". And this makes beautiful sense as the heart chakra (the fourth) is represented by air and ether is the next element beyond the heart chakra..." the upper regions of air beyond the clouds". 

All of the energy centers and elements interact and align with one another. The lower three chakras create the foundation upon which our energy rises toward the heart and when we begin to live from the intention and energy of being more loving, it's as though we are better prepared to express ourselves authentically. The first three chakras and elements, earth, water, and fire are familiar to us as we know what each of these is, how they look and how we interact with them. This more vague concept begins as we rise from the lower three chakras to merge into the heart/air chakra. We all know what air is but it becomes more difficult to actually see. And so it goes as we rise into the upper three energy centers and into the realms of expanding consciousness, intuition and our connection to something that is often difficult to comprehend.  

The throat chakra is all about self-expression, creativity, and communication and it happens to be the one chakra I personally have had to work the most on opening. Although I was quite shy, as a young, boisterous and often "loud" child, I was told to "pipe down" and over time began to do so. During my years of coaching gymnastics, I would typically lose my voice completely three or more times each year and developed nodules on my vocal cords. I went through three months of speech therapy and, for the first time in my life, began to understand how to more effectively use my voice. I was also a mumbling low-talker and realized years later that it was because I felt that what I had to say wasn't of value.

As I stepped more deeply into my yoga practice, I began to realize that my throat energy needed some work and coupled with a chakra reading that said, "your throat is like a caged bird, looking for the key" the practice of opening my throat energy began to unfold. When I first began studying to become a yoga teacher, I thought I'd do it as long as I didn't have to chant. My belief at the time was that chanting was weird and somewhat cultish. I then had the experience of being at a yoga conference for some training and as we stood at the front of our mats, they said "And now we'll chant Om Mani Padme Hum" together. I rolled my eyes with an act of defiance and reluctantly began to sing. Tears began to form and I started to cry as I realized that my fear around chanting seemed ridiculous. I was just singing and I love to sing! I held a deep belief that kept me locked down in my throat.

Chanting, mantra, and the creative pursuits of writing over 500 blogs have been the creative mainstay of me opening up my throat. I knew that if I was to fulfill the dharma/purpose of my life, in sharing what I've been gifted by great teachers and those who've come before me, I would need to express myself. Coming to my throat, gaining confidence in speaking my truth supported by the energy of my heart has enabled me to do what I'm meant to be doing.

I know that each of you reading this has a unique offering to the world. If you need a boost to get it going, get creative and step into the arena of self-expression and tap into your Vishuddha chakra. Sing, dance, write, sketch, or create anything that your heart is beckoning you to express. It will not only raise your vibration, but you'll be sharing your beautiful gifts with the world.

Anahata Chakra

We continue our exploration of the seven energy centers called chakras and this week we have been working with the fourth chakra located at the heart - the Anahata Chakra. It has the color of vibrant green, which I once described sitting in the yoga studio on retreat at Sanctuary in the rainforest of Queensland and simply said..."look outside, that's the color I'm talking about!". Its sound vibration resonates in the note of F and has the seed mantra of YAM. 

As previously stated, these elements are an integral part, not only of our Universal environment but of the subtle energy systems of our being. When we experience our connection to the elements we are able to deepen our sense of an inherent relationship to all that's around and within us. Each chakra represents varying aspects of ourselves from the most physical to the most ethereal.

The heart chakra has the element of air energy and lies in the center of all the chakras, forming a meeting point of the lower three more physically bound energy centers to the upper three more ethereal realms. 

What magnifies the significance of the air element in yoga is its relationship to the breath. We can go through our entire lives without being conscious of how we breathe. And what makes yoga unique is the connection to breath. If we practice yoga postures without any awareness of what's happening with our breath, we are simply doing calisthenics. It's the ability of pranayama (altering breath to change states) that penetrates through all the levels of our being, from the most obvious physical body to the most blissful aspects of consciousness and it can be incredibly powerful. This includes research that has shown that 80% of anxious symptoms can be reduced within a minute of diaphragmatic breathing. In other words, when we feel the stressors of life building up, we have one immediate tool to tear them down...deep, belly breaths that emphasize a longer and slower exhalation.

This week in the United States we celebrated Thanksgiving, the perfect time to come to the heart. It was a timely reminder, as so many people gather with family and friends, and as Ram Dass says, "If you think you're enlightened, spend the weekend with your family". Overall, it's an opportune time to cultivate the highest versions of ourselves and sit in loving kindness. 

In classes this week the emphasis has been on connecting to the heart center as a place of love and compassion. If we are focused in the heart and act from that place, all of the other wheels of energy pass through and complement what's happening in the middle. Yoga poses that "open the heart space" such as backbends and expansions of the chest are also useful.  But in a deeper sense, everything comes together in the heart...the very physical grounding of the lower three chakras come to a sense of balance within the heart and, at the same time, support the expansion and create a foundation for the energy to expand in this love focused part of our being. It also is a transitional point for how we speak our truth, follow our intuition and connect to higher consciousness through the upper three chakras. When we can come fully into our heart and embrace the air element, we begin to recognize how all of us are connected.

One of the ways this connection to all beings is evident is that we are all breathing the same air: the air that our ancestors breathed and that all beings are breathing throughout the world. We all share a common breath. Imagine if each of us literally lived and breathed these breaths from an intention of peace, compassion and love, what an incredible gift each of us, with every breath, would be offering to all beings everywhere. Truly, a breath of the heart.

We can further manifest the air element through wearing a rich, bright green color and chanting the bija mantra-yam, yam, yam and using such affirmations as:

I am loved. I let love in.

I am kind to myself.

I live in peace and gratitude.

We know that the energy of the heart is capable of touching all beings and that the air element is fundamental to simply being alive. So let's connect into this powerful place that dwells within the heart by moving our bodies from a place of self-care, by truly getting to know our breath, to recognize how this energy connects us to all beings everywhere and to support ourselves in creating a life that lives from a place of love...more powerful than any other emotion or action. Let's live in our hearts. Let's infuse ourselves and our communities with love. Let's enjoy this same breath that we all breathe as one.

Manipura Chakra

We continue our exploration of the seven energy centers called chakras and this week we have been working with the third chakra called the Manipura or solar plexus. The location of this center can be found toward the spine where the soft abdomen connects with the more rigid rib cage on the torso. It has the color of vibrant yellow (think of the sun), resonates in the note of E and has the seed sound of RAM. 

The element of this chakra is that of fire, the third of the physically oriented chakras representing the center of our power and is about self-worth, self-esteem, and transformation. If we think about the energy of fire, it's all about change, absorption, and courage. To fully stand in our own power, we often have to "walk through the fire" of change. It's about finding the courage to begin the process of shedding limiting beliefs, about fully understanding our self-worth and standing up for ourselves. When in balance, we stand in our own power and, in doing so, set the platform from which the upper four chakras begin to express themselves. This place of transformation can be fraught with challenges. Think of a time that required you to invoke your most courageous self. What did it feel like before you faced this challenge? How did you source the energy to face this situation? Were you able to overcome feelings of inadequacy and move forward? Did you let the strength of your convictions flow easily? What did this experience teach you?

As we've been chanting repetitions of "Ram" this week it's as though we are plucking the string of a violin or guitar that begins to vibrate. This vibration awakens and opens the energy of the chakra, helping us to connect to it more fully. The most powerful tool we have through chanting this sound is through our own voice. When we chant it alone or in groups and connect to the sound current,  we awaken our own energy and its potential to shift. As we've practiced it this week, I've encouraged students to really project their voices, emphasizing a wide-open mouth in the "aaaa" sound and notice the strong resonance of the following "mmmmm". It's also a terrific way to work on controlling the breath. We've been taking a deep inhale, followed by "ram, ram, ram, ram..." until the breath is out and on the next exhale a single long "ram". This can be repeated two or more cycles concluding with sensing the experience in silence.

In order to charge up our fire energy, we can incorporate within our yoga practice things that challenge or scare us, such as an inversion or that "difficult" pose that we avoid practicing at home. Twists and poses that engage the core muscles can "fire" up the Manipura chakra. We can add layers into manifestation through wearing a bright yellow, chanting the bija mantra-ram, ram, ram and using such affirmations as:

I am courageous.

I am whole.

I stand in my power.

A blocked third chakra might be evident by someone who feels powerless, has low self-esteem or who haven't been able to be heard. It is a place in which those who've been victimized may eventually find healing from their trauma. On the opposite end of the spectrum, people with an over-inflated element of fire (that which is out of balance with the other elements and energy centers), might seem "full of hot air", boastful and without substance. A great example of this are politicians seeking election. Bringing the fire element into harmony with our whole self is vital in creating a sense of power underlined by a sense of humility.

We know that fire is a transformative element with the example of a wildfire clearing the undergrowth of the forest in order to enrich the soil, clear debris that prohibits some plant species from thriving and awakening new growth...a true rebirth of energy. Although fire can be powerful and sometimes painful and even deadly, we know that it is often the spark that is needed for us to move along our own path of growth.

So what are you holding onto that could be cleansed out of your being in order for the next layer of growth to take place? How about working with the fire energy of your third chakra and see what happens. Move wisely, as too little energy here will leave things unchanged and too much might blow things out of balance. Step into the fire with intelligence and let yourself be mesmerized by the flames.

Svadistana Chakra

Last week we began exploring the seven energy centers known as the Chakras. This week, we've been working with the second chakra, which in Sanskrit is called the Svadistana or sacral chakra.

These seven chakras or spinning wheels of energy, run from the base of our spine to the crown of our head. When we experience our connection to them we deepen our sense of an inherent relationship to all that's around and within us. Each chakra represents varying aspects of ourselves from the most physical to the most ethereal.

Water energy is associated with the sacral chakra and is located about two finger widths distance below our navel. This center is about fluidity, empathy, femininity, our connection to sensual energy and emotions. It's about how we form and maintain relationships. It has the color of vibrant luminous orange and the seed (bija) mantra of VAM. Throughout the week during classes, we have been chanting vam which, when broken down, the "V" sound buzzes at the lips, the "A" sound opens the throat/chest and the "M" (as in m-m good) hums throughout the body and skull. When we chant the seed sound, it's as though we are plucking the D-note string of a violin or guitar that begins to vibrate. This vibration awakens and opens the energy of the chakra, helping us to connect to it more fully. The most powerful tool we have through chanting this sound is through our own voice. When we chant it alone or in groups and connect to the sound current,  we awaken our own energy and it has the potential to shift.

If we think about the energy of water it's all about fluidity. When the water in a mountain brook takes its downhill journey and comes across a rock, it doesn't think "here's an obstacle, I'd better give up and turn around" but rather finds a way to move around it. Sometimes it gathers more energy waiting for more water to arrive, other times it moves over, under or around the boulder. If we think of the movement of the ocean, the tide ebbs, and flows, the waves roll in and out. Within the water element there exists a definite feeling of freedom and letting go as well as a myriad of different moods. 

As the second chakra is related to emotions, when this chakra is in balance our emotions flow through us, just as the element of water does and whatever emotions are present are simply there without judgment and we begin to recognize what emotions might be present. For example, if the emotion of fear is found, our practice supports us in seeing that fear is here without judging if we are good or bad. We begin to "befriend" fear by bringing it into our awareness and perhaps exploring what underlies the emotion. It's as though we are bringing whatever emotion is nestled within our bodies from the dark shadows of the unknown to the light that sits in front of us. We begin to recognize what fear looks like so that we can invoke the element of water and let it flow through us without allowing it to take up permanent residence. All emotions are valid and seeing them arise and then fall away, like the ebb and flow of the tide, is the second chakra finding balance.

A blocked second chakra might be evident by someone who we know who seems to always be fearful or angry (or some other seemingly permanent emotional state). It's as though the emotion becomes lodged within us and expresses itself as "who we are", yet we know that if we become conscious of the deep-seated pattern we have an opportunity to change our course. Part of this process is undertaken through guided meditation, chanting, affirmation, yoga asana, and breathing practices. In order to know this, however, we must find silence in which to hear it.

We can also use affirmations to bring healing and balance into this energetic center. Helpful statements might be:

I feel my emotions and my pain.

I reawaken my passion.

I surrender to this moment.

During a chakra reading, I was once told that being highly empathic and as such the drawer to my second chakra was wide open and people were dumping their stuff into my open chakra. It was one of the first times that I recognized the need for strong boundaries in my relationships with others. I was taught to clear and protect my own energy so as to better serve others. If I can allow what I want to flow in and out of this energy center, not only do I personally feel better but the relationships around me have clarity and compassion.

So, let's continue this journey together as we undertake some basic steps to understanding the second chakra, the element of water, and learn to let go and go with the flow.

Muladhara Chakra

My Mom loves popcorn...and so do I, and sometimes when she's over for a visit we pop up a fresh batch and enjoy it together. At the moment, my husband and I are staying with a friend as our newly purchased condo undergoes renovations. Being a guest in his house, I used his pot which has a glass lid for making the popcorn. As I stood over the stove, I could see the kernels burst and seemingly jump around the pan and I could relate...at times, we are like popcorn, ungrounded and flying all over the place. Without a lid on the pot, complete and utter chaos would ensue.

It got me to asking myself what it is that I was needing at the moment. Being in the midst of a major life transition, leaving a home of 18-years and downsizing into another abode I am feeling the need for stability so, over the next few weeks, we'll be exploring the seven chakras. The word Chakra means wheel and they run from the base of our spine to the crown of our head.  And it's certainly a good time to get grounded as I not only move into a new life chapter but also as we launch into the holiday season.

Located at the base of the spine, the Muladhara chakra connects us through our physical bodies to the energy of Mother Earth. We feel this energy through our bones, muscles, and tissues. Just as we might say that a building has "good bones" that create the foundation of the structure, we too can feel our physical nature through our bones and the muscles that move them. This physical body of ours is how we connect into the physical world around us, not only through movement but by standing barefoot on the soil or sand, getting our hands into the dirt through gardening, hugging a tree or touching a huge granite rock during a hike. We can feel the pulse of the earth, her energy, and rawness.

To connect to this field of experience we can also visualize the base chakra as a spinning vortex of deep, vibrant red. If we close our eyes and imagine an outward spinning of red at the base of our spine we can magnify the experience through repeating the seed or bija mantra for this chakra which is LAM (sounds like LOM). We can repeat this over and over to create not only a humming at the energy center but a vibration at the lips with the sound of "mmmmm". Try lam lam lam lam lam lam lam...repeatedly for a few minutes and feel its effects.

The base chakra is about security, safety, community, and connection and when it's in balance, we feel as though we are able to move freely about our life. When out of balance it can lead to a sense of insecurity and greed. We need this balance in order for our energy to continue to rise up through the higher chakras, so spending time being on the earth is a vital foundation for further growth. We can also use affirming statements or mantras to enhance our connection:

I am safe.

I trust more. Fear Less.

I am centered and grounded.

A powerful visualization is to sense a radiant orb of red light, centered in front of the sacrum, at the base of the spine within the pelvis. From this light, we send a powerful tap root down our body and embedding it into the earth's energy. Since this chakra is also associated with our tribe and ancestry, we might find it useful to honor the qualities of our ancestors, who forged a path for us to exist and, at the same time, perhaps imprinted within us some qualities that no longer serve us. We can let go of what we don't need sending it to Mother Earth who can transmute any form of energy. The image can be like an esoteric umbilical cord connecting us to a safe energy from which we originated and from which we get nourished.

I also made a connection this week from a powerful vision I had as my husband and I were leaving Australia and returning to live in the States in 1997. The image was of me standing ankle-deep in the iron-rich Australian sandy soil of the Outback, often called "The Red Center". I felt that before I could literally uproot my Australian life, I needed to connect into the powerful roots of where I had been. I needed to have a sense of security and familiarity as I was about to undergo a massive life shift.

So notice if you're feeling unsettled and either literally or metaphorically place your feet in the soil in a favorite place of yours on the earth. Allow yourself to get grounded and supported by the earth's "mother" energy and know that when you do, no matter where you are physically in the world, you will always be home.

Inside the Box

I never know where inspiration might come that will ignite the idea for my weekly blog. Having written consistently over the past 15 plus years, I have grown to simply trust that some spark will arise if I simply stay open to the possibility of what may come to me. I have also become good at latching onto conversations or comments that cross my path from week-to-week, feeling into the energy and everyday concerns that people, including myself, have.

This week's inspiration came from a conversation with a younger relative. He's 25-years old, single, a college graduate, and uninspired by his job. He's looking for something different but doesn't know what and he has an interest in travel. Not surprisingly, my words of support were to take off traveling...he has no major responsibilities to keep him planted in the same place. He has the opportunity in many directions to explore and venture into that void of the unknown, yet knowing if need be, he can head back to something more familiar. I harkened back to a time when I was finishing up as the head coach of a gymnastics club. I was at an impasse as to what to do next. I knew I'd keep teaching the casual aerobics/fitness class but quietly made a deal with myself that over the next 12 months I would say "yes" to anything that seemed interesting and reasonable.

I wound up working at a very popular pub in Melbourne, The Geebung Polo Club, learning how to cook. I loved the fast-paced, very social, and hectic work environment. It was lively and interactive. I was good at getting food out quickly in a short period of time and fine-tuning my cooking skills. I had even considered going to a culinary academy but shelved that idea as my main goal was to travel extensively. Had I not given myself permission to try something different, I may have stayed "inside the box" which is one of comfort and familiarity.

And that's the main thought of the week...to notice when things feel familiar and comfortable, and to notice if there's something sitting outside of the box that you're curious about. Something that may have been lurking in the shadows of your consciousness but for whatever reason has stayed hidden. Sometimes we believe the "no" voice roaming inside our heads. We believe in the limitations we set for ourselves and keep the heart-pulling endeavor tucked away. But what if anything were possible? What if you didn't have to worry about the "how" to do it, and just took one step toward it? 

I have also witnessed how these opportunities to take chances are finite as I've seen my Mother's world shrink. She has dementia and the possibility of exploring has diminished. I see this as another reason to explore and uncover what lights your fire, sooner, rather than later.

We've just passed the New Moon cycle, a perfect time for planting seeds of intention that we hope manifest in the future. This week in classes we've been working on staying open to the potential that sits before us. We begin the process by getting truly grounded, sending energetic roots of energy from our body into the earth. From that starting point, from connecting into a familiar and solid energy, we inhale into a field of infinitely expanded space. As we exhale, energy returns through our envisioned energetic roots to the "Mothership" once again connecting back to the familiar. As we continue connecting to the breath, each inhaling breath expanding into the unknown potential, each exhaling breath connecting to the familiar, we eventually point our hearts in the direction of something that we're curious about, yet is sitting in the shadows. As we breathe into it, we begin the process of linking what we wish to manifest from the unknown into the known. It's as though we are silently speaking our intention to the Universe, tilling the soil for future manifestation.

Happy exploring!

Life in the Fast Lane

I've had a classic Eagles song rummaging through my brain this week because my theme is "Life in the Fast Lane", which surely means you lose your mind, or so the song goes. I'm trying to do exactly the opposite of that - losing my mind, that is, as we speed toward the deadline of our moving date. We have to be out of our house next week...the moving van is coming and the day after, we say good-bye to our residence of 18 years. Then, it's a big hello to our 'new', smaller place the following week and, needless to say, it feels as though we are living life from a jammed packed, fast-paced perspective.

Not only are we packing and moving, but we're celebrating our grandson's Bar Mitzvah this weekend, I'm running a special workshop next weekend, the yoga teacher training continues, the mentorship program is all happening and well...blah, blah, blah. Life is rather packed both figuratively and literally. 

Over the past few years, I've been drawn toward minimalism and slow living, and a large part of the downsizing draw has been influenced by that awakening awareness. There's a saying in the "slow" community, that sometimes you need "to go fast, in order to go slow". Initially, I didn't really get that as it seemed like a contrary idea. But now it's beginning to make sense. The fast lane we are traveling in at the moment is temporary. It's not a way of being that I or my husband wish to engage in, yet, we both want more ease and simplicity in life. Having smaller digs, less stuff, less financial responsibility equals slow living. And in order for us to step in that direction, we needed to undergo a major life-transformation. We are letting go of over half the stuff we own. It's a major culling of what gets cut and what gets re-purposed and re-directed. Sentimentality has lessened as the practicality and draw of great ease nears. It's getting easier to let go of what we really don't need or what no longer serves us.

The thought of the week and the practices we've been undertaking in classes this week are to notice if we're hanging out in the fast-lane of life and, if yes, why? Is there a particular drive for you to be there in order to create greater calm in your life? Or are you moving at a speed that's one of habit, more than one of consciousness? 

My default speed has always been fast...I'm not slow by nature. I like to make things happen and get stuff done. So, as I sought greater ease and inner peacefulness in my life, I started looking at slow-living, which simply means to live from a place of mindful intention and consciousness. I really want to create a life that's aligned with my inner voice. So living slow is definitely a challenging practice for me, but one that I'm embracing with grace and curiosity. And I have to say, it feels awesome to be releasing dusty papers, tucked away goods, and selling furniture. We are excited to launch into a different place that will have new discoveries and feelings. It's time to let go and put on my blinker to indicate I'm slowing down.

Are you ready to change lanes, too?

All of Me

I remember calling up an orthopedic center asking for a particular doctor. When they asked what I was being treated for and I said, "my knee", they replied..."oh, that doctor doesn't do knees." And so it goes in the medical profession of specialization, which isn't a bad thing, particularly if I have something wrong with the knee. If that's the case, I want to see "the knee person", not "the shoulder person." We are accustomed to thinking of ourselves as body parts, diseases, and symptoms. Thankfully, a growing number of functional and integrative medical practitioners, who treat people holistically, is expanding. 

And the good news is, that yoga does, and always has, looked at the totality of who we are, without breaking us into pieces.

This week's thought is about just that...looking at our whole self and understanding it through three perspectives. If we think of ourselves as being the element H2O, that of water, we can understand the idea in a manageable way. 

When H2O freezes, it becomes ice. It's solid, tactile, and we can perceive through touch and sight. We can liken ice to being our body, solid and perceivable. We also know that ice is impermanent. If we hold it in our hands, it begins to change form and melt.

If we think of H2O in its liquid form, we notice how many moods it can possess. Water can have qualities of a still pond with no ripples on the surface, as well as a turbulent ocean with huge waves crashing about. It can be turbulent and elusive. Ever have a leak in the house which you can't quite find? Water has a way of seeping into unseen places and it's more difficult to hold in our hands without losing some of it through the cracks. Water in its liquid form has the qualities of the mind. Often difficult to capture, sometimes overpowering, and frequently shifting through various moods and states.

And if we bring H2O to a boil, it turns into steam or vapor. As my tea kettle boils, I can momentarily see the steam escaping, but I'm not able to grasp it. It's more elusive as its molecules dissipate into space. This is the quality of the spirit...we know it's present but difficult to see and challenging to grasp.

These three qualities of water are who we are in various forms. As a practice, yoga invites us to find harmony and union within body, mind, and spirit. It's as though body, mind, and spirit are the composite parts of a giant, stabilizing cable. When the three are equally "pulling their weight" the structure is at ease and balanced. If one or more is weakened, then imbalance is created which over the long-haul can lead to deterioration.

This week, check in with where your energy goes - into the physical, mental, or soulful self? Is there one thing that you could bring into your practice or let go of that would cultivate a greater sense of harmony in your being?

I recognized a few years back that the physical strand of who I was dominated. I was identified with and well-versed in the body, both practically and theoretically. Yet I knew that to cultivate a deeper connection to my inner world, two things needed to happen. Meditation and Seva (service).  Prior to committing to my daily meditation practice, being with myself and all the crazy mind-chatter was something I never practiced, so it was like taking a chance on how I'd react in certain situations. Meditation opened up the space between action and my own reaction, shifting how I related to myself and others. The other piece, service, was a gradual unfolding. I discovered that when I served others, it brought an element of connection not only to those being served but to an unexplored space within my own heart.

Now, both meditation and Seva (service) are the two most powerful parts of my regular practice. They've helped to calm the ever-fluctuating thoughts of the mind and brought a sense of compassion into my life. In strengthening those intertwining cables of body, mind, and spirit, I ride the waves of change and find states of equanimity in a peaceful and harmonious way. I can't help but think that all of us have this potential for greater lifelong ease. I feel if I can do it, the kid who was so physically active for so many years, you can do it as well.

Take some time to see what will serve you on the deepest level of who you are and step directly toward it. It'll serve you...all of you!

Big Surf

4 AM. I look at the clock and think to myself that this must be my new bewitching hour as I've been waking consistently around this time for the past week. And I know why...I have many things happening, seemingly all of them at once. But in reality, it's not all at once, it just feels that way.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, our house is in escrow and we're buying a condo. We are undergoing a massive downsizing, from 3200 SF to 1400 SF.  We have items for sale and have been clearing, sorting, packing, donating, taping boxes together, trying to figure out what will work in the new place. Fortunately, we have less stuff than we had three years ago when I stepped onto the path of simple living and decluttering.  Nonetheless, at the moment it feels like a superficial pass over a bigger challenge. We've lived in this house for 18-years and I've come to realize that my "storage and saving" methods are similar to what was modeled by my Mother (who literally didn't throw anything away). Although we're definitely not at that level of keeping things, we have drawers and boxes that haven't been opened or used for quite some time. I've also realized that with technology certain things like CDs, hanging files and videotapes are now obsolete space hogs.

As we sort through our personal piles, we also decided to hold a "pre-loved" sale at the yoga studio since we're not allowed to have a traditional garage sale due to our HOA rules. This translates into an added layer of hauling and pricing to prolong the life of many items, avoiding the dreaded landfill option. All of this is taking place in the open spaces of my week, which just narrowed as we launched into the next 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training and Mentorship programs. 

Just to be transparent...I'm not complaining. I'm actually really excited about this purging transition. We set the intention a while back to begin to travel more lightly in the world, putting our house on the market and beginning the process of letting go of material objects. These are things we've chosen and now it's coming into manifestation, it just seems as though time is a valuable commodity and we're under the clock with a deadline. 

Then life happens during all of these best-laid plans.

Just before the first session of Module One of the YTT, my Mom got ill and ended up in the emergency room six-plus hours.  Thankfully, my husband was the support crew and I joined them at the ER after training finished for the evening. Again, thankfully a pesky urinary tract infection was the culprit and Mom was released to go home. We all know the saying, "the straw that broke the camel's back" which isn't "the brick that broke the camel's back", meaning it may just be the addition of something that seems relatively minor to knock you off your surfboard.

We all have moments of great intensity and pressure in our lives, and it may seem that the smallest of things added to that pressure pushes us to a tipping point. What our yoga practice teaches us, is that all of this is impermanent and transitory. Our personal practice becomes the touchstone for steadiness, no matter how big the waves pounding at our feet. For me, it's been my daily meditation practice, the non-negotiable in my life. And this week in class we've been practicing five steps to help us navigate high-intensity times:

Breath, Relax, Feel, Watch and Allow. Take a deep breath and relax any tension in the body. Feel the sensations in your body from moment to moment. Watch your reaction to the situation at hand without judgment and allow it to be what it is, without the temptation to fix, change, or run away from the present moment.

My thought for the week is about learning how to surf the unpredictable waves of life.  It's as though I've been standing in the surf being pounded by multiple and seemingly endless waves.  At times they seem to last forever, wave after wave.  But as I surrender to the process, the waves still come but get further apart and less intense.  They are still coming, most notably in the quiet hours of the early morning or when I awake in the middle of the night. I then tap into my practice of conscious breathing trying to coax myself into relaxation and a return to sleep.

Breath and relax...it works in any situation!

Layers

This week's inspiration came to me as I was taking a morning walk while listening to a podcast. The conversation in the podcast was about how these people had been experimenting with making changes in certain areas of their lives. One piece of advice was to do a small amount of change at a time in order to establish it and see how it works for you. It got me thinking about how our yoga and meditation practices are ongoing. We make our way to the mat and see what happens. We sit in meditation and notice how active, agitated, or calm our minds are during the session. The more we do these practices, the more we get to see how dynamic a process it all is. Things shift and change, often beyond anything we can control. Life shows up to challenge our best-laid intentions and, in doing so, we walk through the mud of transformation.

But are we actually transforming? Or are we simply trying to get back to the basic notion that what and who we are is inherently divine perfection?

In yoga, it is believed that we are born fully whole and nothing outside of us defines who we are at the core of our essence. Yet as we age, layers begin to form around this inner light as we learn to cope and grow in the adventure of being human. Over time, we gather layers of identity, sometimes connected to life events, often traumatic ones, and we define ourselves by what we do, how we look, and the professions we undertake. And instead of them being flimsy layers, they can become armored and seemingly impenetrable. We may be seen as tough, overly chatty, drearily quiet, reserved, outrageous, or slightly crazed. We describe ourselves through what we do - for example, I'm a yoga therapist/teacher and business owner. We can latch onto these descriptors whether they're actually true or not. It's like being given a nickname and unable to shake it throughout your life. It sticks and we believe everything connected to it.

If we're lucky, conscious, and/or curious, we may come across a method or practice that helps us to begin peeling back these layers of identification and once again begin to glimpse who we truly are. Having drunk the yoga and meditation flavored Kool-Aid years ago, I firmly believe it offers us a way to peek into our inner landscape. The ancient yogis described us as having five layers, or Koshas, making up the entirety of our being. Beginning at the most obvious physical layer they move toward a "bliss" layer as we pass through mental and emotional parts of our being. Our culture is notorious for getting overly stuck in the physical, body layer of how we look and the material wealth we accumulate.

If you've never undertaken this practice, take a couple of minutes and give it a try. First, make a list of who you are-you might include your name, occupation, how you're related to people (sister, father, aunt), your interests and descriptors. Next, imagine that you've taken this piece of paper, crumpled it into a ball and tossed it into a fire...completely obliterating your identity. If you are none of those things, then who are you? This is a common question posed along many spiritual paths. When you drop away the external shell and turn to your internal self, what do you find?

This is particularly potent as it relates to aging consciously. As our body changes with the loss of muscle mass and agility and as our memory may become sketchier, if we're overly identified with those parts of ourselves, we begin to create our own suffering. 

I used to play competitive tennis and "tennis player" would have been high on my list of what I was all about. Then I had a shoulder surgery that took me out of the sport as I wasn't able to play the way I had previously. A fellow tennis player said to me that she wouldn't know what she would do if she couldn't play tennis. I didn't really know how to respond to her other than to say that I had other things in my life which I loved and were fulfilling. I had made peace with letting go of that part of who I was and by doing that perhaps I stepped a bit closer to knowing that I was more than the label of 'tennis player'.

As Ram Dass so eloquently said: 
"I am not this body. I am in this body, and this is part of my incarnation and I honor it but that isn't who I am."

Vertical Time

This past year,  a new concept came to my awareness through the spiritual teacher, Eckhart Tolle, and it's one worth sharing.

If we think about when we are born and follow it to this very moment, we can look back and reflect upon all that has happened.
The result has us sitting where we are, right now, reading this particular blog. Everything in your life, each experience, and sensation, no matter how "good" or "bad" they may have been, has molded you into the person you are in this very moment. If we use this very moment as a starting point and project into the future we may have certain goals and aspirations, none of which have been fulfilled as they are sitting in that space that is yet to unfold. And we don't know how much remaining time we have along this life continuum. This is known as horizontal time...the chronology of our lives which, for many of us, is where the majority of our attention is spent, either reminiscing in the past or projecting into the future.

Now take a moment to simply sit quietly and sense all that you can...what do you hear, see, taste, smell, or touch? When we sit in this state of awareness, we are no longer moving along the horizontal continuum, but are in what Eckhart Tolle calls "Vertical Time", the state of complete presence, bearing witness to our current experience. This often unfamiliar and unexplored state helps us to be fully alive in the present moment which often reveals itself as being completely whole and in need of nothing else.

I began teaching this idea in our Advanced Studies program this past year in the module associated with Yoga for Healthy and Conscious Aging. For so many in our culture, when we sit in the present moment and begin to launch into future thought, it can be wrought with anxiety and fear. How much time do I have left? Do I have financial resources that will support me until the end? Will I be healthy or experience pain? How will I cope with the loss of friends and loved ones? This futuristic thinking can capture a great deal of our energy and attention and in doing so, drag us away from what is actually happening. It's as if vertical time is screaming at us, "Pay attention...You're missing your life!".

The idea of vertical time was amplified on our recent seven weeks of travel in Australia and Bali. Since both my husband and I have been working with the concept of being in the here and now, every once in a while we'd be traveling someplace, discussing future possibilities and travel fantasies until one of us would simply say, "vertical time" to bring us back into being exactly where we were and not drifting off to some imagined futuristic place. It occurred to me that one of the reasons I love to travel extensively is because it encourages me to be in vertical time. Being in an unfamiliar environment, the senses light up and we take in so much more than in our day-to-day routines. The wonders of nature, different and exotic foods, all sorts of smells both pleasant and not-so-much all provide the perfect setting to be fully present. It literally enlivens the senses and challenges our regular internal status quo.

Often when we return from our holidays, we step back onto the horizontal axis of time through the repetition and mundane nature of habitual living. Our practices of both yoga and meditation, even though they might be familiar, provide us with a sense of spaciousness to simply check-in to what's happening, both in our internal and external environments. We sense the experience we're creating through our yoga poses. We connect to the now moment through the simplicity of being with just this one breath. We get quiet and still so that our inner wisdom and inherent intuition can be heard.

A sobering statement that I once heard at the beginning of a guided meditation is that "We're all going to die. We just don't know when." A part of me resisted hearing this, I mean, who wanted to hear about our impending, someday death when all I wanted to experience was a blissful peacefulness? Yet what the statement ignites is a sense of being grateful and present in each moment of the life I'm living. I don't wish to be tangled in the thoughts of what and when something might possibly happen and miss the incredible moment that I'm fortunate to be alive.

Get vertical. Your heart and soul are calling you to do so.

Note: This is my 500th blog post! 

Time For Balance

I'm back in the States and back at work. It's been quite a break for me, not any longer than last year, but quite a different experience. Our trip was ironically book-ended by two funerals, which when experienced with travel and vacation in between, is a powerful reminder of the fragility and preciousness of life. Perhaps it added a sweetness to the experience, bringing the sensations of travel and the unknown into a more vivid experience. Adding to the colorfulness of the trip, our house went into escrow when we were a few days away from returning from Australia. This, in turn, added a layer into the saying of "hit the ground running" which we didn't plan for nor expect.

Needless to say, my motto for the week has been to remind myself to make room for welcoming rest among the chaos.

And what a powerful reminder is before us! The Equinox is happening this weekend-the shift from one season and into the next. We mark and celebrate both Equinoxes and Solstices every three months as they are powerful turning points as well as compasses in our lives. The Equinox is about balance and equanimity with daylight and night hours becoming more or less the same as we sense a shift out of the more extreme temperatures into more mild conditions. The Solstices represent the extremes, longest day and longest night of the year. I think of the Equinoxes as being the more gentle reminders of change, beckoning us to get outside, either for the first time in the spring or for the last few times before winter arrives.

Our last day in Melbourne was spent in the Royal Melbourne Botanical Gardens (a worthy and spectacular place to visit if you're ever in the neighborhood). We could sense that spring was getting primed to burst forth, noticing buds on plants and smelling jonquils, jasmine, and cherry blossoms. And this week in the desert, you can sense a shift simply by looking at the forecast over the next week with no temperatures predicted to pass the 100F (38C) mark. The dragon's breath of summer is beginning to recede, the Harvest Full moon has passed, and the Northern Hemisphere is taking the turn toward the cooler and incubating fall and winter months.

As it relates to the physical practice of yoga, it encourages us to check-in to see if there's an underlying current of energy that is one of ease rather than distress or agitation. In Patanjali's Sutra 2:46, Sthira Sukham Asanam, it states that the "asanam" or posture finds a state of yoga/union when it is both alert and relaxed. Nowhere in the Sutras does Patanjali suggest that we need to push, strive, or struggle during our practice. To me, it says that although we may be challenged, whether it's sitting quietly in meditation or practicing a Warrior Pose, within each of those moments we have an underlying feeling of ease and presence. It can seem quite counter-intuitive as I was always rewarded for "trying hard and pushing through". I was "tough" and that was a good thing, so to back off and not always "do my best" feels uncomfortably unfamiliar.

We all have a tipping point where whatever we're doing is no longer beneficial. Beyond this optimum point, what may have had an essence of ease shifts towards struggle. Our physical structure is like that as well if we push our bodies too hard, the tissues begin to break down. Our practice is an amazing opportunity to deepen our internal awareness or our interoceptive ability, to notice if the ease has gone out of the equation and to once again cultivate its presence.

My thought of the week is no matter what you're doing in your life-a yoga pose, closing escrow on a house, recalibrating your schedule, or taking a driving test that you check-in to see if ease is detectable. If not...back off, take a deep breath, and find that sweet spot!

Adventure

It's been whispering my name ever since I can remember...that small voice that lit my wanderlust. Maybe it's because I was born to American parents in England and was in-utero as we cruised across the Atlantic. I felt the pull to see as much as the world as possible. Apparently, my first camping trip was when I was about three, and we roamed the United States, pitching a Coleman tent and sleeping on cots and in lumpy sleeping bags throughout my childhood. My father, in particular, liked to get out and explore, hiking on trails, spending time at ranger talks and in visitor centers, looking for the wonder that you find being in nature. It stuck as not much inspires me more than looking forward to my next adventure.

The idea of having an adventure can mean different things to different people. Some might be drawn to bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, abseiling or hitchhiking. Those adrenaline-provoking, heart-pounding experiences which are both exciting and terrifying all in the same moment. For others, having an adventure may be on the opposite end of the spectrum-undertaking a new course of study or trying a different food. So what sounds like an adventure to me, might not be the same for you. 

Whatever it is that makes you feel uncomfortable, yet excited at the same time, is your adventure and it's important to find it as often as possible.

Having an adventure means stepping out of our personal box of comfort, stepping beyond our normal boundaries, and experiencing something from a new or different perspective. Traveling the world has given me one major lesson -a broader world view and perspective. When I've been away traveling and return to wherever home might be, my previously parochial view has been altered. It teaches empathy and compassion. It offers an education that can never be taught in any school or structured system. It connects us to each other and to our own selves of self-reliance and curiosity.

To approach something with adventure in mind, go someplace you've never been. It might be something in your hometown that's off your well-worn path, or it might be buying a one-way ticket to some exotic place in the world that you've only ever dreamed about going to. Say "yes" to the inner calling of travel and exploration and try to avoid having to have everything be perfectly in order before you head off. Why delay what you can do now? What are you waiting for?

Some of the most exciting times I've had unfolded without having a firm plan in place. It reinforces the practice of presence. It connects us to meeting our basic needs of food, transport, and shelter and, in doing so, much of the peripheral details of life that we can become overly obsessed about begin to subside. 

I know I will travel for as long as I'm able, particularly reinforced as I bear witness to the shrinking world of my own Mother, who has dementia. An adventure for her might be getting her out for a pedicure and frozen yogurt. As we never know what's next, what I hope is next is my willingness to say yes to the next thing that scares me a little bit and brings a smile of anticipation simultaneously.

I'm packing my big boots. I'm off...to have an adventure and I hope to hear about yours when I return. And to quote Winnie the Pooh:

"When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure an Adventure is going to happen."

~A.A. Milne

Delayed

About a week ago, I returned from running my first Icelandic Yoga Retreat-Experience the Midnight Sun! It was a fantastic week, filled with lots of yoga, waterfalls, lava flows, windy beaches, and Icelandic horseback riding. We were fortunate to have a group that jelled and were fun and supportive of each other throughout the week. It was magical...once we all got there! To begin with, my husband and I had a five-hour layover in the ginormous Dallas/Fort Worth airport, only then to be delayed by three hours. I stood looking out the terminal window as the lightning struck the ground and with a sickly feeling in my gut of, "oh...this doesn't look good".

The delay in our arrival meant that we would miss the first half of the first day...a foodie walking tour. As the instructor/leader of the group, I began to feel anxious at the prospect of not being there from the beginning. I began to text my contacts, figuring out the next steps of arranging new transport from the airport and catching up with the group. Once we arrived in Iceland, we hit the ground running, grabbing a pricey taxi to the hotel, dumping our bags and connecting for the final two stops of the walking tour. We arrived...finally...safe and sound, albeit a bit harried.

Unfortunately, another retreater was delayed with a flight cancellation and missed the first day altogether. At the end of our morning yoga practice on the second day, we would be picking her up at the airport on our way to the tour for the day. I suggested that we offer her a big, loving welcome upon meeting. As we found her at the airport, I slid open the doors of the van, jumped out and yelled, "Welcome!" as I gave her a big hug. At the end of the week, she said that this was one of her highlights of the retreat!

The point of these two stories is about letting go of what we can't control. Both of our delays were due to bad weather. Nobody's fault. And, it's about recognizing that our yoga practice really begins once we step away from the mat. What we do in our regular practice is to reinforce and build resiliency so that when life throws us a curve, we are able to steady ourselves sooner rather than later. All of us could have stayed angry at what happened, but instead, the practice showed up. I definitely felt strong emotions of anger and frustration, contributing to being anxious and nervous. As I recognized and felt these sensations in my body, I was able to respond by walking around the airport, laying down and listening to music creating a new playlist, stretching and meditating. Many deep breaths and giving myself permission to let go were also part of the process. It was vital that I personally let go of the more negative energy as to not carry that forward into the retreat once we actually arrived.

It was also interesting to simply people-watch at the airport. We had yet another short delay on our way back to Palm Springs from Dallas/Fort Worth and as I sat waiting for things to get moving, it was fascinating to see how people were responding to things not happening at the time/pace they wanted. It was as though you could see those who had some sort of practice of being present and those who perhaps didn't. Agitation only seemed to accelerate the discontent and, as a yoga teacher, I thought that these moments, although they challenge us, are the perfect moments to practice letting go. 

Our practice begins once we leave the mat or meditation cushion. It helps us to be consistent, building a stronger connection for when life isn't going the way we want it to be. And all of us have had those experiences of being delayed and having to change course, so in some ways, your practice can only get stronger and stronger as life will undoubtedly show up in unexpected ways.

Take a deep breath. Get centered and enjoy whatever the present moment has to offer. That's it...that's all there is!