Adaptability

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Create Your Experience

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

Well, yes and no.

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

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

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

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

Good Company

Last weekend, Desert Yoga Therapy was infused with charity and goodness. As a result, I have received a huge dose of gratitude and a realignment with what matters in life. We began Saturday morning with a farewell class taught by instructor Deanna Lund. She is beginning a new chapter and moving to Kona, Hawaii and will be greatly missed as she's been teaching alongside me for the past few years. People donated to the organization, Yoga for First Responders, practiced yoga, and shed some tears as we said Mahalo and good-bye to Deanna. You could feel the love present in the studio and, for me, it was a blessing to see how much Deanna's teaching has evolved and the gifts she has to offer.

Later that evening, Jayne and The Om Boys, gathered at the studio for our first Kirtan at Desert Yoga Therapy. We wanted to honor the Equinox, gathering together for music and community. In the process, we had the intention of supporting a local non-profit, The Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter.  Not only did we raise good vibes but over $1500 along with many donated goods.

As so often happens following events like these, I awoke the next morning with a sense of being deeply contented. I allowed myself time to soak in the generosity of our local community. Having undertaken many charitable events over the past six years, I was once again reminded of how people show up with such open hearts, support, and willingness to reach out to others and it led to my theme of the week of "good company". If you are paying even the slightest amount of attention to what's happening in the United States, it's easy to have a sense of disconnection. It seems as though everyone is on "their side" and the willingness to be radically present and listen to one another is a rarity rather than a familiar state of being. It feels as though it's almost drilled into us that we must choose sides, so it's no wonder we're isolating ourselves into our separate groups where we feel understood. 

So when we have gatherings where our focus isn't on our personal agendas but on serving others, none of the feelings of separation are present and it feels wildly refreshing. That was my mood on Sunday morning. I felt connected to my local community and hopeful that we were focused on doing good and getting out of our own way to do so. It felt as though we were holding up the mirror to reflect the inherent goodness present in each other, which is what my teacher Judith Hanson Lasater, reminds us of in our role as a yoga teacher. 

My thought of the week is to cultivate and nourish those around us where we display the best version of who we are, where we hang out with people who want to create harmony and peacefulness in the world and offer us a non-judgmental arena in which to do just that. When we first moved to the desert almost 19 years ago, I met a lot people but didn't resonate deeply with many. I wanted to dive deeper into conversations rather than skimming the surface, so in a sense, I had to create what I was seeking. Now, having my own studio I am fortunate to have these experiences on a daily basis where people are wanting to connect and drop out of their heads and into their hearts. I sense this is a vital starting point for creating a more connected and peaceful world. By starting within our own heart and building a steadier foundation of self-love, we are better able to step into those places where people hold differing opinions or senses of urgency without getting defensive or triggered. When our heart opens, we have more capacity to sit with what is and this is supported by keeping good company.

So, I am truly grateful that you keep good company with me whether it's face-to-face in the DYT studio or online. Thank you for supporting me in being the best version of myself...and I hope I can reciprocate the exact same thing!

Equinox

You can feel it in the air...spring has arrived here in the desert. This past Tuesday was the Vernal Equinox, which marks the midway point between the Solstices, the longest and shortest days of the year. The Vernal Equinox was marked in the northern hemisphere with the Autumnal Equinox being in the southern hemisphere. In the south their days are getting shorter, they're moving out of summer and into autumn. On the flip-side, we are moving from darkness into light, heading toward summer with warmer temps and longer days. 

A few days ago, I was able to truly feel the arrival of spring as I pottered in my veggie garden that has burst into full life. I needed to wrangle in my arugula and broccoli as they have flowered with the increase in temperature. Plus, the hummingbird chicks that have been providing us with daily entertainment outside our bedroom window, have left the nest and ventured out into the real world. And although we've had very little rain this winter, we do have a sprinkling of desert verbena showing us its purple bloom. After a sense of darker winter days, things are springing into life!

The Equinox offers us a time to sense balance and equality as it's that perfect turning point to longer daylight hours. It's as though Mother Nature is asking us to pay attention to her cycles, to notice what's coming into bloom from what we planted back in the fall. We've been in a relative time of dormancy through the winter months, a time where we turned more inward, slowed down and allowed moments of hibernation. Now, it's time to awaken.

So what do you need to awaken in order to stay in balance?

We know that we have many levels of our being: physical, mental, and spiritual.  All three elements are intertwined creating a foundation by linking together to form the whole, stronger being. If part of us is out of balance, it creates a weakness or vulnerability of the whole and will ultimately lead to stress and the potential of the whole breaking down. The equinox is asking us to reflect on the whole and make adjustments to keep ourselves in balance. Finding what's right for us is a constantly changing phenomenon. It requires that we actually tune in and pay attention, honoring the natural shifts that occur.

For me, the past few months have required a recalibration of my daily activities, largely because I've had some minor injuries that have prevented me from my "normal" activities. I've had to take a break from my regular cycling program due to foot pain and give myself time to heal. It's challenging, as part of me is calling to get my heart rate pumping but knowing that if I do, I'll set myself deeper into the hole. This physical challenge affects my mental state as I've tried to embrace the quieter time, allowing for more sleep and rest without the unproductive feeling of guilt arising. Can I be at peace with where I'm currently at when it isn't exactly where I'd like to be? Yep, you guessed it...that's part of my current practice. The balancing has come from simply allowing my body to find rest, to move in ways that feel good (I can still do lots of yoga), and to stay with my daily meditation practice which is the bedrock upon which all rests.

And perhaps the forced lay-off has been a way of reminding me to welcome the slower paced times of life and to honor my own natural rhythm rather than the one that I self-impose.

So let this Equinox support you in finding that perfect place of ease and balance in your life. If you're in the northern hemisphere, welcome the coming light and warmer days. For those of you down south, perhaps you feel the call to start slowing down and turning in. Welcome it all!

Yin and Yang

Last week we connected to the idea of cultivating a stronger sense of feminine energy, that which is symbolized by compassion, connection, and collaboration. As we approach the Equinox (March 20) as well as pass through the third quarter moon cycle, it's the perfect time to think about balancing our energies. As we spent time exploring feminine energy, it's important to note that it needs to be in balance with its opposing energy-masculine. As you can see in the image above, the Taoist concept of Yin and Yang are separate, yet completely linked. Yang energy is masculine, rises and creates heat, whereas Yin energy is feminine, moves downward and is cooling. It's similar to Hatha yoga in that Ha is sun and Tha is the moon so the two definitely conspire to support the idea of both darkness and light.  Wanting to foster a positive experience,  yoga so often draws attention to "love and light" that we sometimes neglect the darkness, a vital part of the whole.

During the third quarter moon, we are in the darkest part of the moon cycle with complete darkness at the approaching the new moon. It can be a time of tension and is the perfect opportunity for completion of tasks. We seek a sense of clarity before the new moon so as to clear the way for planting our new moon intentions. To quote C.JoyBell C. "The dance between darkness and light will always remain-the stars and the moon will always need the darkness to be seen, the darkness will just not be worth having without the moon and the stars." We can look at this time of darkness as a necessary part of the cycle to clear and adjust our energies in order to welcome the balanced time of the equinox.

This past week in classes we've been paying attention to the ebb and flow of Yin and Yang energy. Some poses are more obviously Yang in nature, like sun salutations and standing warrior poses, and others, like savasana (corpse pose), are definitely on the Yin side of the energy spectrum. As we moved through class, we paid attention to what felt as though it was warming and energizing, and what was cooling and calming. Then the question is asked, "Does this feel like it's in balance for you not only on the mat but in day-to-day life?" 

Our culture is Yang in nature...it's active and purpose-driven. If we add into that our individual drive we can quickly come to a place of too much Yang and too little Yin. Coming from a Sports Science background and moving into the fitness industry, plus being a fiery Pitta dosha (my predominant Ayurvedic constitution) I had a ton of Yang energy. And I could hear a little squeak of a voice hiding deep within asking for something to come into balance. I ignored it for years, pushing, competing and striving which felt like it really served me...until it didn't. I remember a specific time when I went through a difficult personal relationship break-up and had waves of fatigue that more caffeine and more sleep didn't remedy. It turned out that I had Epstein Barr virus, a condition where my immune system became quite compromised and I was literally shoved into the ground. What helped me to recover was heading out of the city to camp along a riverbank for 4-5 days with a group of friends that are part of my "heart" family. We sat on the sandy banks, watched people glide by water skiing, cooked out, ate, rested, laughed, and slept. It was the perfect  "Yin and tonic".

That episode was a great teacher showing me that with all my Yang energy I needed to get to know my Yin. And now, it's a vital part of my ongoing self-care founded in daily morning meditation. My thought of the week is for us to take some time to look at how much heat and coolness we have in our lives-emotionally, physically and spiritually. Seeking balance is a continual challenge, and awakening to our own patterns and needs is a vital part of the journey.

Feminine Energy

As I write this post it is International Women's Day, an occasion that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. In honor of this, my weekly thought is inspired by feminine energy, that force that is described in the Hindu context of Adya or Adi Shakti, literally translated as primal energy. She is the power or energy infusing the whole of existence, in other words, she is not only powerful but power itself.

About 10 years ago I was attending a yoga event in which a couple of esteemed yoga teachers were talking about shifting our collective energy toward the feminine. It felt like a desperate cry to action as our planet has seen various states of conflict over the past few thousand years. This energy, which is driven by the masculine, has led to conflict and degradation of our planet and the yogis felt if there was not a big shift, we would eventually, not only destroy the planet but all species living upon it. They felt that the platform of yoga, based on non-violence, was a key player in creating this shift. And here we are 10 years later where the female voice has gained volume and attention with the #metoo and other socially active movements. Perhaps the shift is well underway and when things change, friction can occur so it may be a rocky ride for some time to come.

All the more reason to cultivate our connection to feminine energy. But what exactly is it? In yoga we have coexisting energies of masculine and feminine, often referred to as Shiva/Shakti. The left side of the body, including the left nostril, is the feminine side, controlled by the right hemisphere of the brain. Its qualities are expansive and spacious, based on compassion, collaboration, community, and connection. It's associated with the energy of the moon and has the quality of coolness and the reflection of light. 

The right side of the body (including the right nostril) is guided by masculine energy, controlled by the left side of the brain. It's linear, analytical, process-oriented and governed by the energy of the sun. These two energies need each other to bring to life all that is possible and, hopefully in the process, manifesting a balanced and harmonious energy.

In order to cultivate a personal connection to the feminine, cultures have offered us many archetypes of the Divine form. Hindu culture has a pantheon of goddesses with Adi Shakti manifesting in the powerful form of Durga (and so many more); Buddhists teaching embodies Kuan Yin, the form that absorbs suffering of all beings; the Christian lens offers Mother Mary and Our Lady of Guadalupe; and on it goes through Native American White Buffalo Calf Woman, to the personification of the goddesses of Greek, Egyptian, and Celtic cultures. No matter which type we gravitate toward, the point is that the ideal feminine has taken form for thousands of years and connecting to her energy can be a powerful reminder for our individual spiritual awakening.

Feminine energy isn't gender specific. When I think about compassion, His Holiness the Dalai Lama immediately comes to mind as a living being that, when asked what his religion is, he replies "My religion is compassion." He embodies what it means to be fully immersed in the energy of the feminine. So, as we spend time in our own contemplation we can think about what image or action connects us to our deepest and kindest selves. When we listen deeply, offer a space for others to show vulnerability, let go of judgment, pay attention to our intuition and offer forgiveness, we are tapping deeply into the energetic channel of the feminine. 

Everyone has the potential to find and create this balance within themselves. My hope is that we can raise our voices, disrupting long-held patterns and beliefs, through the feminine part of our being and avoid the feeling that we need to create change by repeating the more masculine inspired route.

May all beings find peace and ease. And may all beings find their voices in the most fierce and heart-centric way possible.

The Spiral Path

Last weekend the trainees undertaking the 200-hour teacher training program completed Module Six. They have four modules remaining before they graduate in early May and this week's thought is inspired by watching them undertake this journey. The process is challenging and is a launching point for what seems to be a life of endless yogic studies. They are challenged to do things that make many people cringe (like standing in front of people and teaching them) as well as being asked to step into many situations which are completely new and unfamiliar. It definitely takes courage and persistence as unexpected obstacles can arise along the way.

It often sounds so easy to set an intention and follow it. "Hey, I think I'd like to learn how to teach yoga. All I need to do is find a course that suits me and voila! I'll be a yoga teacher in no time!" We have a goal and begin taking the necessary steps to make the dream a reality. Yet for anyone who has set their sights on something yet to be achieved, we know that instead of linear growth, the graph from point A to point B often looks as though it were hijacked by a drunken mosquito, meandering all over the place. 

And that's the point. We can easily recognize that although something sounds easy, we will inevitably hit roadblocks and have unexpected challenges. The setbacks ARE part of the journey which can teach us profound lessons or even alter our path away from its original goal. In classes this week, we've been acknowledging what is driving us and accepting that it may get bumpy along the way. It's the awareness of the potential for challenges that will make the journey all that more meaningful.

The other day I had an open window of time which is highly unusual for me during our peak season. I thought to myself, "Excellent! I have time to get some stuff done that I've put off doing." I wanted to mend a sheet, something seemingly simple as all it required was a stitched seam (a straight line) using my trusty Singer Traditional sewing machine. I match the thread color, load the bobbin and begin...rats! Why is the thread gathering in bunches and the needle getting stuck? After many botched attempts, I check a YouTube segment on loading my bobbin...oh, I had it upside down! During my out-loud mutterings of frustration, my husband Ed comes into the kitchen to see what's going on. I say to him, "Do you remember last night's theme in yoga class?" He looks a bit perplexed and recalls, "Yes, you were talking about the spiral path" to which I replied, "Exactly! I'm on a spiral path at the moment and what should've taken 15 minutes has now been stretched over 45 minutes!" It was a perfect lesson for me, and during the process, I realized I was re-learning the finer points of using my machine and sticking with the intention of not adding my sheet to the landfill when all it needed was a minor repair.  
So it doesn't need to be a big intention or undertaking for the spiral path to appear. 

Another practice we've been undertaking this week is to connect to those un-manifested intentions; the thoughts, inspirations, and ideas that are sitting on the back-burner of our consciousness. Most of us have something that we would like to have in our lives but hasn't yet happened: travel bucket list, a story you've been wanting to write. a group you've been wanting to volunteer for, or a creative undertaking. See what's sitting back there and without filtering or figuring out how, what would it feel like to bring it more forward into your awareness? What might the next step be to begin to actualize the thought? Throw it out to the Universe and see what happens!

My thought of the week is recognizing what we wish to manifest may seem easy or incredibly daunting, but taking the first step in a direction that brings it to life is completely possible and deeply gratifying. Setbacks will be a normal part of the journey, so fall into the vulnerability of the unknown and lean in! You can make magic happen...or perhaps simply fix a torn sheet!