Keeping the Peace

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One Step At A Time

When One Teaches
Two People Learn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Om Shanti!

Uncertainty

Sometimes...life is hard...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inhale deeply. Pause for a moment.

Now exhale slowly. Pause again.

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

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

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

What choice of thought are you selecting?

Uncertainty

Sometimes...life is hard...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inhale deeply. Pause for a moment.

Now exhale slowly. Pause again.

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

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

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

What choice of thought are you selecting?

Just Enough

Just Enough

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

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

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

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

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

Of course, only you can answer that question.

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

What are you putting in your basket this week?

Unplug

Unplug

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

Flying High At Sanctuary

The following is an exerpt from my experience...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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


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


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


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


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

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


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