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As I was placing more paper towels into the bathroom at the yoga studio the other day, I was reminded of a YouTube video I had seen that has always stayed with me. It's a short presentation given by Joe Smith and it's nothing fancy but it had traction. After washing your hands, shake them 12 times and use one sheet of a folded paper towel to dry. Why? Because we use way more paper towels than we actually need. See the Ted Talk by Joe Smith here!
By replacing the towels I was reminded to be conscious of their source...trees. Americans use tons of paper towels every year which means that we use tons of trees to make them. In the constant pursuit of living my yoga I feel it is beholden upon me to share easy changes with others when they cross my path. Being on a yoga journey means raising our awareness around many things: our bodies, our relationships to ourselves and others; and our relationship to this planet. We have incredible abundance in the United States and access to anything we can think of. By having so much to choose from we can so easily become disconnected from where it all originates. Over the recent holidays I was waiting in line to use the bathroom at the movie theater and watched as the hustling crowd of women darted out of the stalls, hastily washing their hands then grabbing a bunch of towels to dry and head out to catch their movie. I doubt that many people gave a thought to how much paper they were consuming just in that one visit.
I was deeply moved when I met Julia Butterfly Hill in 2013, where once again I was left with a deep impression of our connection to trees. Julia lived in Luna, a giant sequoia for over two years in an effort to stop logging in northern California. Her book The Legacy of Luna details her relationship with living in a wise elder and through her story telling reinforced how oblivious most of us are in our relationship with using paper and how we could make a shift to alter our individual impact. I started paying more attention following my interaction with Julia, so she too, had traction in her words.
Changing how we do things begins with becoming aware of how we do things. When I shared with my yoga teacher trainees about trying to use only one paper towel by shaking and folding, one by one they would emerge from their bathroom visit with the comment of "hey, that works!" So imagine the impact those 10 people going home that day and telling just one other person about shaking and folding could have in terms of a ripple effect. Something so simple that could have such impact.
It's not just the 12 shakes that will make a difference. Imagine if we became more conscious of: turning off light switches, shutting off the water as we brushed our teeth, creating a compost bin, bringing our own bags with us for shopping and recycling goods. I know that if you're someone who is reading this blog, it's highly likely that you're on a path of becoming more conscious. So can you take the next step in sharing it with someone else? Shake, fold...smile and pass it along!
I have heard the statement, "yoga changed my life" and often wondered what that really meant. When I sat and thought about it, I realized that it wasn't yoga that was the agent of change, but the person undergoing the change. Yoga is just yoga...a practice a few thousand years old which is open to anybody who's curious about what it all means. Many people hold the image that yoga is a physical workout that often reflects one's ability to touch their toes, twist into figure eights or turn upside down. For some, it's the image of a loin-clothed man sitting in a lotus pose deep in meditation and for others, it's completely out of their realm of consciousness. It means many different things to many people and only by participating in the practice can somebody discover what it holds for them.
When people decide to create a change in their lives they have many options from which to choose. The process of change is an interesting one which we've been contemplating in classes this past week. With the flip of the calendar from 2014 to 2015 the dialogue around change seems to be prolific. Gymnasiums count on it as do multiple nutritional companies waiting for those dissatisfied with how they look and/or feel to walk through their doors. But if we take a look through the lens of yoga we recognize that nothing in you is broken, nothing needs to be fixed and nothing is wrong with you. You are a perfectly imperfect human being doing the best you can. What our yoga practice offers is a way to remember this, to uncover what we have forgotten about our deeper selves and reignite that powerful feeling of self-acceptance and self-love.
What often happens when someone steps onto a yoga mat is that they give themselves time to explore where they are in the present moment and to see if they are pointing their life in the direction that is reflective of their best selves. Sometimes this is on a physical level which can be addressed through poses, breath and food choices. It can reflect the need for mental or emotional change which is accessed through managing stress, facing uncomfortable thoughts and learning to use the breath to ease and affect the action. And this is just the point of launching with a tradition that is rich in philosophy - it truly does hold something for everyone.
The practice begins to assist us in peeling away the layers that have accumulated, often over a lifetime, that has kept us from remembering who we truly are. It engages the multiple levels of our being from the physical to the emotional/mental and further to the esoteric spiritual self. Yoga doesn't change their lives, people decide to make a change and use the tools of yoga to undertake further evolution of self.
How much one changes is completely dependent upon a person's motivation and willingness to create a shift and this process can be one of great courage. If change were an easy thing everyone would be doing it. When we decide to create change in our lives, big or small, and we source that from the intuition of our hearts, we can trust we are pointing ourselves in the right direction. Coming from the heart, the word "courage" (coeur=heart=in French) we know that all is possible.
Whether you attempt to create change by stepping onto the yoga mat or decide to use another support system, recognize the bravery it takes to do so. One step at a time with eyes and heart wide open.
It seems a bit odd that the deeper I go into my yoga practice, the more vulnerable I become. One might think that the longer you spend in the practice of yoga that things might become easier. And in one way they absolutely do. What first sounded like "blah blah asana" is now a Sanskrit name you recognize. The general pattern of a class becomes more familiar and you more naturally find your quiet place as soon as you roll out the mat. Over time, the layers of the poses begin to reveal themselves even as they become more subtle. Instead of just trying to be in a triangle pose, you're now connecting to the outer edge of your foot and getting interested in how your breath IS moving.
Stepping onto our mats is like stepping into a rehearsal room, where the purpose of rehearsing is to be more comfortable in our lives once we step off the mat. We tip toe our way into the practice and over time we become aware that we are like onions, slowly peeling away the multiple layers of not only our physical selves, but our thoughts, emotions and spiritual questions. Something happens through the practice, the magical alchemy of body, breath and intention, that allows us to get rid of what's not truly serving us and focus on the things that are. Yet as we travel along, it gets a bit trickier as our lives shift like sand. What once felt solid, is now moving and how we react to all of these transitions is yet another layer of our practice.
How we evolve along this path has much to do about feeling the fear and doing it regardless. I'm not talking about taking a flying leap, but rather looking at the small progressive steps that inch us along. It means coming face to face with "stuff" that makes us uncomfortable and within that, it takes a particular sense of courage to do so. Stagnation reigns when we stay put in either body, attitude or thought. When we have fear around change we often choose not to change and stick with what's familiar and seemingly comfortable.
Yet, if we truly listen our inner voice will whisper, "you know that if you try, you'll grow".
Over the past couple of weeks I've had two experiences where I felt the fear and did it anyway. One situation was, after riding my bicycle with toe clips for the past 25 years, I switched to real cycling shoes that clip into the pedal. On the outside, that doesn't seem like such a big deal...we see cyclists all over the place with their ergonomic shoes making riding look easy. But for newbies to this way of riding the possibility to fall is great. If you don't click out of your pedals quickly enough, you topple onto what's most likely asphalt or concrete. And if you can't clip in quickly enough, you have less force to accelerate and dodge things like cars.
Remember, I've been riding the "old way" for over 25 years. My bike is so comfortable and familiar to me, it's like sliding into an old pair of jeans. It wouldn't be an understatement to say that when I rode with my new slick shoes, I was scared. But, with the tutoring of more experienced clipless riders and some practice clipping in and out in my safe neighborhood, I headed out on a ride. Yes, it was slower than usual and I was most likely over-thinking things, but I did it. I faced the fear of the unfamiliar and did it.
The other experience was recently leading a kirtan where I sang and played the harmonium. Kirtan is a call-response gathering and we had about 30 friends over to participate. I would sing a line and they would sing it back to me. This practice offers an amazing sense of connection particularly when in a live setting. It all went well, with great energy and participation. However, the next morning during my meditation, I had an old familiar feeling in which I was asking myself questions like, "Was it good enough? Did people notice my mistakes? Who do I think I am to do this?". In those moments, I recognized these questions as being a reflection of feeling vulnerable. I had opened myself up publicly and was wrestling with the concept of scrutiny.
Thankfully, what I have gained from a daily meditation practice is the recognition that these thoughts didn't serve me. I had no idea as to what other people were thinking, only what I was feeling and what I felt was love and joy. I recognized that by opening to my own fears, stepping out publicly and trusting a deeper sense of myself that not only was I vulnerable, I was expanding.
When we put ourselves out there, when we face what scares the daylights out of us, when we change something consciously-we expand. The big question is: Are you willing to risk feeling comfortable to grow?
Go on...listen to that inner voice that drives you and send it out into the Universe. You might be pleasantly surprised as to what happens next.
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.
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.
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!
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.
