And The Winner Is...

This morning I was thinking about what yoga means to me and how that can differ from a generalized view held by our Western population. When people ask the question, "what is yoga and what do you do?" I begin by saying that from my perspective, it's not a short answer. That the root of the word yoga is "yug" meaning "to yoke, to bring together". The practice of yoga is a method for bringing into balance our body, mind and spirit.

This comment often draws a blank stare and is sometimes followed by the question, "yes...well...what do you actually do? What does that really mean?".

Keeping to the long winded answer theme, I can tell you what it doesn't mean. It's not simply another form of exercise. It often gets thrown on the menu of choices between a spinning class, body pump and Zumba. The fitness industry has added it to their list of classes to broaden their appeal and offer more "mind-body" options. Dedicated yoga studios will often have a different slant with a variety of yoga styles on offer-Vinyasa, Anusara, Asthanga, Iyengar, restorative, gentle, Yin and any other hybrid or lineage that seems appealing to the audience, but all have their roots planted in the yogic traditions.

I also firmly believe that yoga is not competitive. I have heard of so and so being a "World Yoga Champion" which causes me to slightly recoil as I have a difficult time understanding how the words "yoga" and "world champ" go together. Is a world yoga champ simply somebody who is really good at doing yoga tricks? If they win, do they become "the enlightened one"?

It's like saying that the Queen of England is the "World Royal Champion". Sounds somewhat ridiculous as she was born into her role and didn't enter a competition to see if she would bring home the title. It's an inherent part of being a royal...not something that you enter a contest to win. She just is Queen. That's it. (She's really good at being Queen. Better than any of the other competitors).

We practice yoga as a way to deepen our own awareness and connect to our inner selves. The physical part of doing postures (asana) and breath work (pranayama) are inherent in the practice but only represent a thin slice of the whole pie.

The entire practice of yoga is a complete entity. We don't need to go outside of ourselves to benefit from the practice. We need to be guided along the path, taught what to do and how it can be part of keeping our lives in optimal balance, but it's more deserving than simply being whittled down to an exercise option.

People are neither good or bad at yoga. If you can breathe, you can do yoga. I'm here to squash the rumor that you have to be flexible to do yoga. We simply practice yoga. That's it.

Robert Butera, MDiv, PhD recently wrote that in India "it's assumed that if you decide to do yoga that it's a lifelong commitment, not meaning that more people are apt to practice it, but that they have a basic understanding of Yoga as a path to enlightenment" ("Yoga Therapy in Practice". Yoga Therapy: East-West Synthesis. IAYT Journal - No 20 (2010) pp. 83-85).

In the West the current image is of a health-conscious woman in form-fitting clothes with a designer mat and bag on her way to class. A class might be the only time in her week that she practices yoga. I'm not placing judgment on the fact that this is our go-to image. I'm simply saying that yoga as a tradition has been passed along for thousands of years. Any doorway that somebody steps through to get onto his/her mat is one that can lead to a greater understanding of our connection to ourselves, others and this planet. It can be through the yogic practices of postures, devotion, meditation, service, breathing or all of it.

And The Winner Is....

All of us who choose to step onto our mats.

Make A List

I don't know about you, but life seems a bit easier and more organized when I write things down. I figure that by putting it on paper (or in my iPhone) that my brain has more neuron space for things that I would actually like to remember, like a concept that I'm teaching in class that week rather than needing to remember to pick up organic beets at the store.

With Americans celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday this upcoming week, it's a great time to reflect. It's a time to recognize all that we are grateful for and to slow down, be with family and partake in the long tradition of creating and sharing a meal representative of abundance and prosperity.

But I think another way of expressing gratitude is to make a JOY list. Joy can often seem like something that we strive for, but is truly something that surrounds us constantly. As we acknowledge the seemingly smaller things that give us joy, we begin to feel as though we have so much to be thankful for.

As a practice, start a list with the header: "What brings me joy?". If that word doesn't work, then try inserting something such as "What lights a spark in my heart?". "What instantly brings a smile to my face?".


Keep it simple and small. We don't have to aim for grandiose occasions, but everyday, moment to moment happenings. Things on my joy list include:


1. Being greeted by my dogs the moment I come home
2. Seeing my husband's name on caller ID
3. Finishing a good book
4. Consciously slowing down and taking a deep breath
5. Lighting incense
6. Brewing chai tea
7. Seeing a yoga students evolution
8. Hearing great music
9. Saturday morning
10. Sunrises and Sunsets
11. Seeing a spectacular rose as it begins its bloom
12. Wrapping myself in a pashmina
13. Climbing into freshly laundered sheets
14. Taking a bath
15. Feeling the sun's warmth on my skin
16. Moving freely in my body
17. Talking with my brother


and...and...I feel as though I could go on and on...


The simple act of beginning to write this list has left a smile on my face and looking to all that I have in my life. As a result, I feel so incredibly fortunate and excited to be having each and every moment.


As we stop to say thanks this week, perhaps starting on your list will give it a deeper and surprisingly different meaning.

Now...paper, pen/pencil or iPhone ready?

Begin....

Musical Memories

The other day I was icing down after my physical therapy appointment. It's a way to chill out, both literally and figuratively. My body is all wrapped up, ice bag snugly fitting over my shoulder, knees and feet elevated. My therapist places a a heating pad over my abdomen because he knows I tend to get too cold during my "chill out" sessions. Music is usually playing in the background and sometimes I pay attention, other times not so much. Since the ice is on for 12 minutes, I am guaranteed time to do nothing at least twice each week.

This past visit a tune came on the radio by a well-known Australian artist, Tina Arena with the song called "Sorrento Moon". I recognized it immediately and found it unusual to be hearing an Aussie songstress belting it out in my American desert oasis as she's not one who made it big in the American music market.

I've written about music a few times before in my weekly thought so it's not a new or unfamiliar theme. What was striking this time around was how I was immediately transported and transformed for the few minutes that the song played. I closed my eyes, tapped my feet and as Tina sang the lyric:

"I sang your praises daily
And we let ourselves get swept away"


and I was...swept away.

Lying wrapped in ice, I reflected on Sorrento, a beachside town on the southeastern part of Port Philip Bay, where we used to go to get out of the big city of Melbourne. Nearby was the landmark Portsea pub a great place to grab lunch and swim near the pier.

I was taken back to how Tina Arena started as a star on a show called "Young Talent Time" and grew from being a young vocal ingenue into a more sensual pop icon (much to the stunned bewilderment of many older fans). Her voice formed her career as well as created a filebox of my own memories.

So what's this got to do with yoga?

Music is another way we connect to our deeper selves. It's a channel not only of vibration and mantra repetition, but a way of expressing emotion. Think of your favorite movie soundtrack and how evocative it is even without any visual images. It's because we create our own feelings and inner images simply through hearing sound that truly strikes a chord within us.

As we continue along our path, we have our own soundtracks. We have music and songs that take us back to certain parts of our experience yet also provide a secure anchor when situations challenge us. Music can be a way to center ourselves, calm raging thoughts and evoke a feeling that everything will be alright.

How many times have you used music to make yourself feel better? Do you have an iTunes play list that lights your inner spark? If not...time to get busy writing your own musical score for your life and play it LOUD!

Rock On!

All Plugged Up

Ever feel the need to get things moving? Living with stagnation and the feeling of being blocked can leave us feeling tired and uninspired.

As I journey down the yogic path, my awareness around how energy moves (or doesn't move) through us has grown as well as how it can greatly affect how we feel. When we have blockages as in our nasal passages, we can blow our nose, use a Neti pot or medication to unplug us. If it's the arteries of our heart, we have angioplasty, stents and bypass surgery (if altering our lifestyle hasn't changed it). If our digestion is backed up we've got all sorts of methods to get things moving again.

But what about if we have an "energy clog"? Then what? And how do we know if we have one? I'm not referring to the pep and vigor kind of energy, but the more subtle non-visible feelings of being more than simply a physical body. Most people have a sense of their own "energetic" field. In the New Age sense it might be known as your aura or in yoga, as one of the five koshas (energetic layers of our being). If this all sounds a bit "woo-woo" to you, how does it feel when somebody you've never met is standing just that bit too close to you? Does it feel welcoming and full of ease? Or, does it make you want to take a step back? That's the kind of energy I'm talking about.

The movement of this energy outside of us and throughout the universe is called Prana. When this energy flows into, through and out of us it's also called prana but with a lower case "p". Within the practices of yoga, pranayama is the practice of altering how we feel through engaging in breathing practices.

So, back to the original thought...how do we know if we're blocked and how do we get things going again?


Instead of intellectualizing it we need to move it. Get out and move your body-reach for the sky, dance, walk, hike, bicycle, grab a racquet or club, wrestle with your dog, play with your kids or get your hands dirty in the garden.


Engage with your breath either through physical activity or through consciously connecting to it with full attention for a few minutes. Singing out loud (whether in the shower, chorus, at home or in the car) helps us to regulate our breathing, clear our lungs, connect to our chords and voice.


In a more sublte way think of something that has been of concern for you lately. Perhaps making a payment, hearing about a friends who's unwell or an upcoming meeting that will likely be confrontational. Close your eyes and think about your particular concern. Try to keep your breath even and smooth. Do you feel any sensations within your body when thinking about this situation? Where? How would you describe the feeling? Does it have a shape, texture or color? If so, see if you can visualize shrinking it down to a size that fits within your next inhale and exhale it out of your body. It might take a few attempts to get it moving out of you.

Our bodies are a reflection of our emotional and spiritual selves. If we are challenged by things that are stressful, they will show up in your body...you can't hide from it. But you can alter it, move it and free up that clog giving it no chance to fester into something bigger.

Time for a cleansing? Begin with focusing on your breathing. Move your body. Think joy.

It's cheaper and probably more fun than a colonic!

Too Many Pumpkins

When I was in elementary school, probably in the second grade, my class took a trip to the pumpkin patch. We loaded onto the big yellow school bus with the words "Timber School District" on the side in big black letters and slid our young bodies onto the smooth vinyl seats. I, like many of my classmates, was excited to be heading to the pumpkin patch as I had a fistful of money crammed into my "tough skin" jeans. It felt as though I had been given more than the usual field trip amount of spending money and I was ready to spend it.

I couldn't take my time to check out the many rows of pumpkins. It's not something that you can do at a leisurely pace as all the other kids are doing the same thing and they might find that perfect pumpkin before you...so, I had a sense of urgency to find the perfect orange orb.

It must have been my day as I came across not one, but two beauties. Plus, I had the cash to buy both and didn't have to undergo the agonizing process of picking just one.

We loaded ourselves and our pumpkins back onto the bus and headed home. I felt so excited as to what faces I could carve and sat dreamily bouncing along on our journey back to the school yard.

It was after regular school hours when we returned and soon I found myself feeling like I was the only one left in the parking lot. I didn't have anyone meeting me as I always walked to and from school. With great desire and determination, I picked up both pumpkins, one slung in each hand and began to walk home. It was at the end of the parking lot that I realized my desire had overcome my common sense. I wanted TWO pumpkins and my arms only could carry one.

Upon realizing this, I sat on the corner and began to cry. I had two glorious pumpkins that I had chosen out of thousands and now I had the dilemma of carting them six blocks home. What would I do? Roll them down the hill? Carry one, kick the other? Leave one behind (unthinkable!). With great determination and intermittent whimpering, I hauled the giant veggies home. It took me longer than I can remember having to stop frequently along the way. But I did it despite that hugely uncomfortable feeling of holding WAY more than you can carry.

My thought for the week is...are you still carrying around too many pumpkins? Is there something that you can let go of? Is it possible to ask ourselves before we commit...do I need all of this, or can I be more selective? Is my pattern set at always choosing to do (or strive, or eat, or sleep, or exercise, or complain, or...) too much?

Lighten the load. It's freeing.

Is Self-Help Selfish?

You flip open your to-do list for the day either the old-fashioned way of an actual handwritten appointment book or via or mobile device. You have many things that need your energy and attention. Now, check to see if there is anything that is simply centered on you...not work, kids, family, charity, errands...just something for you. Is it there?

This week's thought was prompted when I was working with a client one-on-one and they said to me, "but spending time working on me is being selfish...isn't it?".

We all have threads that connect us to other people, obligations and responsibilities. Sometimes they take the form of our spouse, our kids, our job, our pets, our community, our house, our car, our environment...well...you get the idea. How do you begin each day? Do you awaken thinking about all of those threads of attachment, looking after "stuff" to find that by days end, the thread that attaches you to you, well, has been completed ignored?

Countless times clients share with me how they look after everyone else. Our culture admires people who are capable, responsible and busy. "She does so much. She helps so many. She has so much energy to give"...really...? If that's true, where does this seemingly endless pool of available energy come from?
And how long have they been accessing it? I would take a guess that if someone has boundless energy they are doing one of two things. Either taking time for their own needs, or two...on a collusion course with burn-out, resentment and fatigue.

With this cultural bias towards busyness, it can seem selfish to spend time on ourselves. If I'm spending time looking after me, then who's looking after everyone else?

Good question.

I recently heard a story about illumination. That if you place a single candle into a darkened room, you begin to see more clearly. If you add ten candles into the same room, it begins to brighten and the more candles that you light...the brighter the darkness becomes. One single candle can light many others. But if that first candle goes unlit, then the room remains dark.

When we take time to look after our own light, we begin to radiate not only into our own divinity, but it expands beyond us. Our illumination begins to touch others which can ripple outward and away from us generating more goodness than can be imagined. Without taking time to find our own inner light, not only do we remain in the dark, but we are unable to "enlighten" those that we connect with and care about.

It doesn't take much time to be in touch with our own center. Simply closing your eyes, listening to the quiet, finding our breath and hearing our inner voice is a great place to start. So, I say...go ahead, be selfish and make an appointment with yourself. Fan your inner flame and spread the light!

If I Only Knew Then...

It seems to be all over the place that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Even NFL pro footballers and associated coaches are sporting splashes of pink that represent breast cancer awareness as are the social networking sites and so many other media outlets. People just seem more comfortable talking about cancer...that big "C" word.

This wasn't the case 28 years ago when my Dad was diagnosed with cancer. It was my first year of college and I was living 10,000 miles away in Australia when I heard him utter the words, "I've got cancer...". I was almost completely incapable of allowing those words to register in my mind. I remember thinking that with those words also came the likely death of my Dad. It's no wonder I didn't want my body to absorb the information. Unfortunately, my Dad died some four months after this initial conversation as his cancer was incurable.

Some 24 years later, I found myself studying Yoga Therapy and one of the topics was how to work with students who had cancer. My instructor was leading us through a class and demonstrating what type of language we might use and what type of postures might be beneficial. It was during the physical practice of this class that I began reflecting back into my Dad's experience and realizing how inadequately equipped I was to help him along this rocky and final part of his journey. As the practice continued, I found my inner voice saying, "I wish I knew then, what I know now. I might have been able to be with Dad in a completely different way". And then I started to sob from grief that had been stuffed down deeply into my cells and released some long held stagnation of emotion. It was quite a cleansing and "enlightening" experience.

What I have learned since is that I have become more capable at being with challenges, whether they be my own or those of others. That particular life lesson seemed at first to be cruel yet so incredibly powerful.

This week's column is dedicated to my dear friend, who underwent a lumpectomy yesterday. The surgeon "got it all" and didn't have to take any lymph nodes. Her prognosis is great and I know she'll make a full recovery as she faces her challenges through a sense of humor, realism and a ton of support from family and friends.

I know that my Dad would have been proud to know that I paid attention and learned yet another lesson from him. I feel as though I am better able to be with my close friends as they face that dreaded "C" word and hope that all of us can see that we learn so much no matter what sits before us.