Watching The Waves

One morning during our recent "Open Your Heart In Paradise" retreat on the island of Maui, Hawaii, I went to the beach for my morning meditation.  Something happens when I get near the ocean.  I feel as though an ancient and familiar pull draws me closer and closer to the water.  This tug begins before my feet have even landed on the earth, the plane getting closer to the shore and the varied colors of the water can be seen from my window seat. Sparkling aqua light dances where a sandy ocean floor reflects the sun and darker blue where reefs are teeming with life.  I always seem to have the same child-like response looking out of the airplane window, "Hey! Look at the ocean!  We're almost there!"  I can't wait to get my feet wet.


On this particular morning the ocean had a different mood.  The sun hadn't yet come over the horizon so the water was darker.  The beach only had a few people on it, most of whom were seemingly in their own bubble of thought and consciousness, not interacting, just being drawn to the water, perhaps in the same way that I was drawn.


I usually meditate with my eyes closed, yet on this morning it was nearly impossible to not take in the view.  The morning began to unfold in its own perfect awakening, a sublime setting for being fully present.  I sat and watched how the ocean's mood changed.  The waves seemed to be finding their own power and rhythm, coming in groups that seemed to peak in a crescendo of a big wave breaking into a perfectly surfable pipeline.  Then it would subside and become quieter until the next sequence of energy began to build.


As the sun peaked its rays over the horizon, it poked through the spaces between palm fronds and buildings, as though the sun had an intention of just highlighting the most brilliant curling waves.  I began to notice how some waves would break with what looked like white long fingers running out and over the surface until, once again, they melded into the same shade of dark blue.


And throughout this extended wave watching, the sound of the waves ebbing, crashing and rolling back into itself I was always present.  In yoga, Ujjayi breath is often described as a "wave-like" sound on both the inhale and the exhale, yet these waves didn't always have an even pace or intensity of sound. Sometimes it was soft and subtle, others more robust.  The longer I sat, the more I realized how long I had been absorbed in simply being with the ocean, of being fully present to this incredible natural wonder.
Deepak Chopra has said that to connect and ground our energies we can look at open and moving bodies of water; sun and/or star gaze; and walk barefoot on the earth.  It's no wonder that I was completely mesmerized and not wanting to leave these moments.  I felt connected, humble and fully alive, all with the underlying feeling of gratefulness for having such fortune in my life.


In meditation, our thoughts can also reflect the movement of the waves in that they come and they go.  In some moments they're full of power and might pull us under and in other moments they possess a gentle softness.  To recognize the rise and fall of our breath and thoughts is a reflection of the energy of the ocean. If we can simply surrender to it all, perhaps we will awaken that deepest inner connection to self and come to the realization that we are of the same energy...it's all divine.

Darkness to Light

Here in the northern hemisphere, the days are getting short and the nights long. The natural environment seems to be drawing into itself and shedding excess leaves and growth until a more opportune time to grow and bloom. We about to pass the Winter Solstice.

I love the idea of the Winter Solstice as it relates to light. The actual day in 2014 is Sunday December 21 representing the shortest day of the year as it relates to the number of daylight hours that we see. From December 22 the daylight hours begin to lengthen. 

We step from darkness into light.

Isn't that what our own personal growth is about? Gaining clarity about our own life path and purpose? Moving from ignorance towards greater wisdom? Turning inward to see our own inner light's radiance? We acknowledging the darkest moments of our soul as we step into our own light and expanding consciousness. Another way to look at it is as we awaken consciousness, we bring what is lying in our own shadows into full view.  We take a look at that which we've pushed away or tamped down and bring it into the light.  When we do so, the power it has over us begins to diminish and we start the process of making peace with our shadow selves.

One of the fundamental teachings in yoga is that we are all born divine. This divinity possesses a radiance that is often referred to as residing in the heart center. Just look at a healthy newborn and you can't help but see that they are divinely perfect beings. And the thing is, that never changes...it never leaves us. What happens is that we simply forget. We travel through our lives and begin to disconnect from this notion of being whole and beautifully complete.  Ways that we learn to cope on a day to day basis, often in the form of defense mechanisms, often leave a layer that takes us further away from knowing our deepest selves.  

What our yoga practice does, is help us to remember. It helps us to still the distracting chatter of our mind, to peel away the layers and to celebrate the magnificence of our physical body so that we can connect once again to the light that dwells within.

Let's take a moment on as the Winter Solstice passes to connect to our inner radiance and all the potential that is sitting within us.

The word Namaste' describes this precisely. 

"The light in me, sees and honors the light in you. When we are both in this place, we are one."

Peaceful Solstice.

Are You Health Un-Conscious?

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

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


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


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

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

And if not, why not?

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

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


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

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

The Gift of Giving

This week my thought is around the upcoming holiday season and how we approach our gift giving. This thought has been stimulated from a couple of different local sources:  the weekly farmers market and a few retailers who are in the neighborhood and independently owned (one who makes all natural body care products and the other a health food store).  I also have been inspired by friends in my own circle who have great enthusiasm for encouraging a local perspective when we are in the consumer mindset.


As a kid, I remember sitting down with the Sears catalog ,
folding over the pages of each and every toy that I wanted; stuff I hadn't even laid eyes upon until they were displayed within this 400-page tome of goodies  and temptations. I would mark off page after page and exclaim with excitement to my Mom, "I want this! Oh...and look at this! I want this as well and this and this...". Of course, Christmas day would arrive and none of my ear-marked goodies were under the tree. I'm not complaining as I had abundant, memorable and exciting holidays with my family and was plenty satisfied at not only the gifts received, but being at home sitting 
among the low tide of wrapping paper scattered over the living room floor.


As I've journeyed along in my life, I have tried to find my own way of celebrating the holidays. It still includes some gift giving, but now my intention is aimed more at subtle ways of expressing how I feel about family and friends. Plus, being in a marriage where we also celebrate Hanukkah adds a different element of what it means to give and receive.

I would like to think that I give what I can of myself always...throughout the year, not just at the holidays. So, when the idea of staying local with our gift giving came across my desk, I was intrigued. What is available in my local area that will give a gift to someone but also give to a local business as well?

Here are some ideas and I would love for you to share what you've heard about or have come up with:

1. Instead of going to a corporate big box store (Target, Macy's, Saks etc), buy from a locally owned shop. We have many of these in our area ranging from local artists, florists, foodies, clothing retailers and many more.

2. Buy a local service. Massage, car detailing, pet sitting, gardening, handy person or even a private yoga class for you and your friends.

3. How about a gift certificate from your local hairdresser, manicurist or barber?

4. Buy a series of yoga classes for someone wanting to step onto the mat. 

5. How about a tennis or golf lesson with a local pro, or a round of golf at a local course?

6. We have some delicious local bakeries and coffee shops that would love to offer you their goodies. 

7. Things need to be spruced up? How about hiring a cleaning person for a day or a professional organizer to help you streamline your life?

8. Get a computer tune-up with a local I.T. whiz. 

9. Want some custom woodwork, garden beds or repairs? Hire a local handy person.

10. Need some 1-1 support try a personal trainer or private yoga session.

11. Find a nutritional consultant to support better choices and options.

12. Offer gift certificates from local restaurants that encourage more plant-based, locally grown and organic foods. 

13. More? Think of local musicians and bands playing at nearby venues and local craft/street fairs.

My list could go on but the whole idea is to think locally even if it might seem so much easier to shop online. If you're out and about in your neighborhood, stop in to see what your community has to offer. Not only will it support them and their businesses, but it will enhance the connection you have to your local community. Rather than buying something that is made overseas, see what a difference YOU can make by keeping it local.

We can all make a difference in our gift giving. May the holiday season be one of ease, peace and conscious giving!

If you wish to contribute ideas or names of services and businesses, please comment on the Desert Yoga Therapy Facebook page.

The Energy Quota

The holiday season has officially arrived. Here in the US, we have just celebrated Thanksgiving which then opens the floodgates to the many celebrations held in December. It's a time where we tend to socialize, eat and drink as well as spend more cash than usual. We arrive at New Years Day wondering what hit us and how did it seem to spin out of control? When the credit card bill arrives mid-January did we go beyond our limits? How about your own personal physical limits?

This leads me to my thought of the week-do you know your energy budget?

I was talking with a friend whose sister has chronic fatigue and has dealt with it for the past decade. She recently adopted a child and was as happy as ever. I asked my friend, "how does she keep up with a young child with her chronic fatigue?". She replied, "she knows how to manage the limited energy that she has".

This is true for all of us whether we're a teen or somebody dealing with an illness. We all have an energy quota. The energy quota is a term I've coined that relates to how much energy expenditure we can handle in a day. But it's a bit tricky as it can shift without us realizing it. We go to work/school, we're busy so we don't really stop for lunch but just grab a bite. We have a project with a deadline so we stay later than the standard time. This results in us grabbing something on the way home that's either take out food or an easy to prepare meal at home. We're already tired so we plop down on the couch or head back to the laptop and as we find ourselves dozing off, we head off to bed.

We've gone into debt with our own energy quota. We missed the signs that our body was asking to stop, slow down or take a break. And, oh yeah, could you put something of high nourishment into the tank in the process?

I've been doing the energy quota dance for as long as I can remember. It simply began with believing that I had an endless supply of energy and that the quota was something that other people had, not people like me who were always told "you have so much energy!". Then it hit me. It didn't just sneak up and if it did, I continued to ignore the sneaking up, but it slammed me with a full on body blow. The type of experience where your body no longer whispers to you to slow down, but begins to scream at you...yelling "I said S L O W D O W N!". As a result instead of boundless energy, I had boundless fatigue. Why was I always so tired? Why didn't coffee in the morning fix it?

It's at moments like these that we get to know our energy quota. We realize that we've overspent and now it's time to pay attention to our budget. For me, this included getting enough sleep by going to bed around the same time every night and not burning the proverbial candle at both ends. It also meant drinking way less alcohol and caffeine. It meant becoming a better vegetarian and committing to practices that serve and support my life rather than constantly testing its boundaries.

My yoga practice has been the perfect antidote for overstepping my energy quota. It has helped me establish ritualized practices where I connect to my higher self and listen to my inner voice. I still tend to throw many balls into the air. I feel life is short and an abundance of opportunities await. And I am still constantly re-defining my quota, particularly as I age. 

So...do you know your energy quota? If not, perhaps now is the time to acknowledge that you have one and learn a bit more about it. I figure in the end...we can all find the perfect balance.

Seeing With The Soul

In about 10 days we will be at a retreat on the Hawaiian island of Maui that is being led by Ram Dass, Krishna Das and Jack Kornfield.  I had dreams of going to Maui to sit with Ram Das but never felt able to manifest it for a variety of self-imposed hurdles. In April of this year, inspired by the rave reviews of this experience from a dear friend, Ed and I decided to finally just put the time aside to go.  


Ram Dass is 82 years old and has touched so many lives, written extensively, spoken around the world and dedicated his life to being a bhakti yogi (a yogi of devotion).  To finally sit in the presence of someone who's been completely committed to their path is a humbling honor.  Add to that the deeply resonating voice of the magical kirtan artist, Krishna Das, and the Buddhist insights and teachings of Jack Kornfield, we feel we are in for quite a spiritual ride.


I know that in order to teach on this path of yoga delving deeply into my own practice is paramount. It refuels my tank, reminds me why I'm making the choices that I do and connects me to that quiet introspective self in the most profound way.  As my teacher, Judith Hanson Lasater has said, "We practice for our students and we teach for ourselves" which rings true as to why I'm stepping out of the teaching mode for a few days.


In preparing for this time away I have been brushing up on some reading by Ram Dass and one of the many things that has stuck like gum on a shoe is the perspective he takes about being with people. He talks about seeing people from his soul rather than from his ego.  It sounds so incredibly simple, yet when trying to practice this I have found myself noticing how frequently my ego thinks it is in charge. It's getting easier to recognize when I'm seeing with my ego (which seems to be most of the time) as I'm quick to jump to assumptions and judgments.  I have more of a right/wrong attitude. I'm beginning to more easily notice my prejudices and opinions.


I'm hoping that in the noticing a shift will begin to take root. Rather than staying in the familiar holding pattern of all of my thoughts and behaviors, the potential to soften becomes more tangible. This is a challenging and worthy practice for all of us seeking more connection, peace and compassion.  When you first come into contact with someone see if you can tap into your heart space and try to see them from the perspective of your deepest inner self. Look at them as a mother looks at a newborn and see if you can feel the slightest change of how you see that person.  Step out of the ego driven thought and lead with the heart.  As Judith Lasater says, "to see others with soft eyes".


Simply thinking about this literally warms my heart.  As we are only a few days away from Thanksgiving, it's the perfect time to practice. At the very least my awareness has changed and now it's all about staying committed to the action of doing.  My hope is that by sitting with a master of seeing from the soul, Ram Dass will infuse it more deeply into my being.


And for that I hold only gratitude.

What's In Your Warehouse?

You can bet with the holiday season about to explode the commercial warehouses are stockpiling for whatever Black Friday is about to unleash.  I can't even begin to fathom how huge the warehouses are for Amazon but I'm guessing it's named "Amazon" for a good reason.  And whenever I walk through Costco, it's staggering to see the number of goods available for purchase. Rows upon rows, with shelves so high, small cherry pickers are needed to reach whatever is lurking way up there. These companies store and display their many wares with the intention of moving it along to the consumer and we here in North America have access to all of it...an over-abundance of stuff that we most likely don't even truly need.  


My thought for the week, however, isn't really about retail, but about storing stuff.  We tuck things away on many different levels.  We fill up our garages with a lifetime of collectibles and memorabilia.  We pack out our closets with shoes and clothes.  We hold onto papers thinking we might need them in future and most deceptively, we stuff emotions down into the warehouse of our being.  I'm guilty of all these things as I come from a long lineage of pack rats. Something happened to the depression generation of the 30's that taught them to not waste anything and that most things would have a use (eventually).


So to even address the issue of what's in my warehouse, is coming face-to-face with something I strive to become better at doing-letting go.  What would really serve me is to actually move from my current house into a much smaller location.  Every time I have moved in the past I have undergone major cleansing.  I become ruthless (relative to me, of course) in throwing out clutter that has collected into the corners of my life.  But we love where we live and have been in this one location for 13 years now with the clutter being a persistent reminder of my letting go practice so I guess I'll have to find another way to surrender without changing my address.


Letting go can begin on a real, physical level by sorting through the paraphernalia.  Sort what's to be thrown out, what's to be donated/recycled and what is worth keeping.  We have all heard the drill.  Yet letting go on an emotional level is a whole new level of releasing what is no longer serving us.  It is thought that all of our experiences are held within the cells and memory of our body. Imagine 50 years of experiences being stored within one body...an Amazonian sized, mind-boggling number of experiences.  What happens to the experiences we choose to not face directly?  If we ignore them, won't they just go away?


Well wouldn't that be nice?


One reason why the practice of yoga is so powerful for people is that it's often the first opportunity that they have in a safe environment to begin unpacking Pandora's box.  Something happens as we begin to breathe, stretch and contract our muscles. As we listen to the supportive and directing tones of the teacher we can be led to a place of greater surrender.  Often we don't know what's happening but stuff begins to surface and we begin to confront our emotional baggage.


I first noticed this phenomenon as a personal fitness trainer.  I'd be standing next to someone on an elliptical trainer and as they're heart beat faster, their breathing rate increased and they began to perspire  they would frequently say to me, "You know, I've never told anyone this before, but...".  It didn't just happen once or twice. It happened A LOT!  I began to sense that when someone felt safe and trusted the person next to them, then began to physically move, something would begin to dislodge and baggage would begin to float to the surface.  It was my first full glimpse into the connection between our body, our emotions and our mental states.


Fast forward a few years to the world of yoga and now we have environments with mood lighting, beautiful scents wafting through the air, a teacher with a melodic voice, cushy mats and other props around us.  We feel held, safe and often vulnerable.  Add into this connecting to a deep breath, narrowing focus and getting rid of distraction we now have the perfect environment for stuff to float to the surface.   And this is perfectly okay.


When things are held in our own bodies for years, they form what I've come to call energetic clots.  The life force (prana) becomes stagnant and is reflected through our physical selves in numerous ways via illness, mental agitation, depression, injury, fatigue or a seemingly empty feeling.  Energy is meant to move through us to remove the things that don't serve us and to enforce practices that do.


This unpacking is a natural evolution of our yoga practice.  It comes off in layers, somewhat like an onion which can also bring us to tears.  But in this reveal we begin to remember our connection to our deepest sense of self and tap into the question of, "why am I here?".  I have grown to appreciate this process, not only for myself, but in bearing witness to it through students who step onto the mat.  In that unfolding, we hold each other in a sacred way and allow the space for it to happen. 

As the holiday madness draws near, I hope that I release rather than stock up my own warehouse by having gratitude for all that life offers.