To Do, Or Not To Do...

The other day I awoke with a long list of things to get done. I was wondering if I had enough time to fit it all in and was feeling a sense of urgency to get going.

One of the items on my to-do list was to get the dogs out for a morning walk before heading off for a full day of teaching. I leashed them up and set off at a brisk pace because I had places to go, things to do and yes, people to see. Within the first five minutes, I was struck by the beauty of the day. It really hit me as though the Universe was reminding me to slow down and take it in.

The sun was out, the temperature seemed to be that perfect blend between a slight chill and a day filled with potential warmth and the SKY... wow...brilliant blue, just as the background color to this newsletter! This awe struck moment shifted my sense of urgency, from getting things done to that of being in the moment and enjoying the experience.

How often do we get distracted by the mechanics of the day and miss the sometimes obvious and more often subtle and sublime moments of being purely present? Part of slowing down, becoming more mindful of individual moments and tasks is experiencing gratitude for that particular moment. Even if it's washing up dishes, sitting in traffic or doing our taxes.

If we shift our focus to accepting this moment for being what it is, for being a perfect reflection of where we are at in that moment without flying off into the future, we can begin to enjoy more and more moments of just being...not doing.

So, this weeks to-do list looks like this:

1. Write this newsletter;
2. Play tennis;
3. Go to the post office;
4. Go to work;
5. Just be

Endless Education

I have spent this past weekend "attending" my first Virtual Yoga Conference. Yes...I initially asked the same question. It's a cool idea that seems to be reflecting our ever evolving methods of communicating and learning. I enrolled on-line, was given the schedule and a phone number to call or a link to click on and enter the classroom. Each session is an hour long and I have been going from one class to another on and off all weekend. Following the conference, I have two weeks to listen to any session I was unable to attend. Wow...all from the comfort of my own home office or whilst on my bluetooth...pretty amazing stuff.

As with any conference, my own way of thinking is given a bit of a shake up. I know having taught thousands of classes over many years, that I become somewhat stagnant and stale, even if it's not reflected directly into my class or evident to my students. When I hear that inner voice whispering, "hey...find some inspiration" I know it's time to look at what I'm doing from a different perspective.

What I also get from sessions such as the ones being offered via the virtual conference, is a reassurance of my own path and purpose. I know that what I am doing professionally and how I'm living my life personally is a reflection of my greater purpose, or what Buddhists might term my "dharma". It reinforces how blessed I am to be able to do the work that I do as it truly has potential to alter peoples lives, offering support for all beings to experience their own dharmic path and potential.

I also find it to be incredibly humbling in that my journey is one spent in a perpetual classroom...virtual or not. The learning never ends and I find gratitude in knowing at least that much!

This leads me to my thought of the week...what are you doing to fulfill your own purpose? What steps are you taking to remove your own obstacles to open the space for growth? I challenge you to spend just five minutes thinking about it...today.

All By Myself

With today being Valentine's Day, it would seem odd that my thought for the week is about being by ourselves. But actually, it makes it even more potent, just like the elixir that exists on Cupid's arrow.

My question for the week is-How much time do you spend each day alone? Not with the radio on whilst you're driving, or lounging in front of the TV, but simple being in the act of sitting quietly...just you.

And then you might ask the question...why is this important? Good question. When we get to a place where we are completely at ease and accepting of who we are, with all of our unique imperfections, where we hold our own hearts in gentle compassion we can then begin to truly express this same feeling to all others.

My thought for the week has been prompted by the upcoming yoga retreat I'm holding in Idyllwild in April. It's a time that is cut out of our daily busy lives, where we have the opportunity to hear our own inner voice, with no interruption or distraction. Women who have attended in the past have had many challenges and obstacles in getting there in the first place...kids, finances, travel, other obligations...things that initially might have screamed "NO", you really can't afford to go. But, many did find a way. They would all tell you that it was worth it as by feeding their own soul, they returned to all of the original objections with greater love, peace and appreciation.

I know that when we returned from our 9-day yoga retreat in Australia in October of 2009, even with me teaching the retreat, the residue from its impact lasted for almost three months. THREE MONTHS!! Through the feeling of unplugging, looking after my well-being on all levels of body, mind and spirit, I was able to hold onto that for weeks post-retreat.

You can too. Look into your heart and see if it's asking you to take some time for yourself. Not only to serve your own higher good, but those of others. It's an investment of energy that will continue to resonate well after the retreat has finished.

How's Your Posture?

One of the first things I tend to notice about people when I first meet them is their posture. Unusual perhaps, as many people might notice a person's face or what they're wearing, but I tend to get a snapshot impression of how they hold themselves physically.

Are their shoulders rounded to the front of their body? Is their head jutting forward?

Now, I know it sounds like something your mother would say to you as you were growing up..."sit up straight", but she had a point. As we age, we need to make more conscious choices around our posture. Checking in a bit more frequently with how our skeleton is lined up can have long lasting results, just as not checking in can find us in a slumped over position well before our time.

I believe improving our posture depends on a few things:
1. Awareness
2. Strength in the muscles that create beneficial alignment
3. Flexibility, or range of motion in the joints that contribute
4. Awareness...oh yes...I said that one already, but this one's the first step.

I teach postural awareness on a regular basis and still need to remind myself to engage better posture. When our body is held in a biomechanically disadvantageous position (that's a mouthful), we begin to create uneven stresses across the muscles and joints. If these imbalances are repeated over days, weeks, months and years, we begin to develop a less than ideal postural line which can lead to pain.

Try this to give yourself a postural check-up:

~Stand with your heels against the wall, feet evenly spaced about hip width apart, middle toes pointing forward.

~Roll your femurs (thigh bones) slightly in toward each other and see if you can slip your hand in the natural low-back curve between you and the wall behind you.

~Feel your shoulder blades against the wall.

~Place the back of your head against the wall without lifting your chin (keep it parallel to the floor).

~Place the BACK of your hands against the wall. Now hold it.

~Notice what part of your body is working to hold this position, yet embed this feeling of openness into your cells.

~Allow your hands to relax, but keep your shoulder blades against the wall.

~Now...walk away, relaxed, but with the same awareness of the wall being behind you.

You can practice this anytime you find yourself standing in line, or whenever you need a postural reminder.

And remember to listen to your Mother when she says..."eat your veggies".

Seeking Sleep

It's been a full week of working our annual tennis tournament. Up at 5:15 am most mornings, home somewhere between 6-8:30 pm for six days straight and then onto a somewhat lighter schedule for the weekend of finals.

It's a week where I feel that I "power through it" and at some point during the week, I hit the wall. Having run the tournament for six years now, I've come to expect the impact. What I've also come to learn is to respect what it means...staying with my yoga practice to keep me calm, energized and able to endure. That's not to say that moments don't pop up that I want to scream or collapse, but I've been using my yoga tools all week.

I have continued my morning meditations, packed healthy snacks for the day and brought along two yoga blocks to open my chest and stretch my back during moments of relative quiet (that are sometimes infrequent...but they exist). I also take a deep breath when confronted with someone who challenges me, try to make eye contact with people as I greet them at the desk and feel gratitude that so many people want to be part of this event.

One of the most beneficial practices is getting to bed early and getting the sleep I need to fuel me throughout the long days. It takes discipline and organization to do it, but the pay off is noticeable.

And that leads me to my thought of the week...it's bedtime!

It Takes A Village

This week we are hosting the Babolat World Tennis Classic, a large event seeing some of the best senior tennis players in action.

This annual event has grown in size since its inception but one thing has remained constant; the need for volunteers to run the event.

My thought for this week is around those who donate their time and energy to helping others, whether it be for a tennis tournament, for charity or during a disaster. A few people may be recognized as the organizers or directors, but it does take a village of people for things to run smoothly.

I hold a deep sense of gratitude to all the people who step up this time of year and assist in making our tennis tournament and my subbed yoga classes possible. I have always held a strong sense of independence. So strong, that asking for help from someone else was always difficult for me as I felt it was either a weakness of mine or an imposition for someone else.

The great lesson that our volunteers have taught me over the past six years is that THEY get enjoyment out of the process as much as I need their helping hands.

I try to apply this idea outside of the annual tournament in allowing myself to ask for help when I need it. It IS ok to not be superwoman and able to do it all by myself. Besides, that can get lonely...

Thank you many times over to all who support us, now and throughout the year. We really couldn't do it, without you.

From An Idea, Grows A Story

Recently I saw the movie Avatar and one thing really stood out for me, aside from it being an immaculately produced visual journey, was the realization of an idea.


This weeks thought has been inspired by the process of origination to manifestation. To have the seed of an idea grow from an intellectual beginning into a physical projection is something we all have the potential to experience.

The question is, how often do we have these great ideas but never bring them into reality?

A client recently quoted a book about every person having a novel sitting within them. We all have our different stories. The challenge is stepping into the process of making our vision come into existence.

If you have something sitting deep within that has been in your consciousness for quite some time, not just a flash of an idea, honoring that as valid is the first step. When we acknowledge our inner vision, we can then begin to take the steps of breathing life into it. I think it takes two vital ingredients to make it happen.

Courage and discipline.

To become more courageous we might need to seek a mentor or share the idea with someone who believes in our ability to bring it to maturity. We need to trust our inner voice. That might mean sitting quietly on a regular basis and giving our inner voice an opportunity to be heard, rather than covering it up with exterior distractions.

We then need to set a plan for how we're going to achieve our goal. It might mean establishing a daily practice whether it be for gaining better health, creating a business or writing a book.

Regular commitment to our goal will certainly bring us to a place of seeing all possibilities. Otherwise it just remains a great idea sitting in the back closet of our mind.

If you've had something bursting to get out, now is the time to think about how that can happen. Believe that you can do it. Breathe life into the process by beginning with your own breath.

Inhale deeply. Exhale slowly. Dare to dream...


This weeks thought is dedicated to my brother Ken, who recently finished the first draft of his first novel. I am currently reading his writings which also inspired my thought for the week.