Put on a brave face. You don't want to upset others. Don't let your opponents know how you're feeling. Use your poker face. Grin and bear it. There's no crying in baseball!

These are all familiar sayings from my past. As an athlete, I learned to not show my emotions. If I blew a balance beam routine, I would turn and smile at the judges after my dismount and then I'd march off and crumble in the corner completely out of sight. Heaven forbid that anyone knew what I was feeling, especially when I was being judged for it! It's taken deep awareness and effort to un-learn the act of stuffing down my feelings. It's easier for me to hit the mute button then to let the emotions rise to the surface.

So why change? Why not maintain the stoicism? Because eventually it will catch up with you. You can't hide what you're feeling or trick your body into ignoring the tough emotions. Many people believe that if we stuff feelings, tamp them down tightly that the body becomes un-easy and can lead us more rapidly into states of "dis-ease". Yup...it can make us physically sick.

Ever had the experience of being verbally abused and ending up with a stomach ache? Ever had a pending deadline and when the work is done, you've got a pounding headache? That's what I'm talking about.

And this is the beauty of yoga.

Yoga is about bringing ourselves into harmony...all aspects of ourselves, not just the bits we like and gravitate toward. The good, the bad and yes, the ugly. Yoga teaches us to simply bear witness to the present moment. In this moment, I feel _____. OK, now in this next moment, this _____ is my experience. It teaches us to be ok with what is, to bring our breath into the experience and maintain a sense of balance and equanimity. Can I find my breath when someone is berating me? Can I open myself to what I'm feeling rather than shoving it down deep into the crevices of my being?

Emotions come up during our yoga practice, sometimes in the form of a giggling cascade of laughter, other times in deep heavy tears. I love the saying, "all emotions are valid" and our yoga mat is a safe place to have this ebb and flow of experience. I remember a client saying to me, "you put me in that pose and it made me cry". Well, I didn't actually make her cry, something arose within her own body, perhaps a stored, tamped down memory and her reaction to that physical experience was the emotion of crying. In other words, the pose was just the channel used to release whatever it was that needed moving.

I have had many emotional experiences in my yoga career ranging from the most hysterical gut wrenching laughter to the deepest of grieving sob sessions. And either way, I feel better for it. I feel as though I have allowed myself to release the need to "keep it together". I felt free.

Ordinary Joe

The power of one person can be astounding. This past week we saw a documentary film about a Vietnam veteran, Steve Sciacci, who was a medic during the war and hails from Long Island, NY. Since 1998, he has been returning to Vietnam once or twice a year to connect and support the most down trodden and least fortunate, usually children. Prior to leaving, he has a backyard fundraiser where people donate money (he was uncertain as to the total amount) that he then literally hand delivers to those in need in Vietnam.

Steve is a roofer by trade and as he said in the film, there are thousands of roofers in the States. At home, he can fix someone's roof but he doesn't feel he can truly alter someone's life, whereas in Vietnam, he feels he can. Two Hundred American dollars in Vietnam can make a big difference to families whose child is disabled or tragically ill. So, this "ordinary Joe", pays his own way and uses local connections to traverse the country literally handing out cash to the most heartbreaking and often ignored people. When asked why he doesn't associate with a larger NGO he replied something along the lines of, "because I want to be able to do it my way. It's not about the amount of money I give, it's about the connection that I make. My intention is to let these people know that someone cares about them".

I couldn't help but be inspired by Steve's intention, yet in a greater way by his action. Instead of sitting back and doing nothing he has taken the matter into his own hands and tried to make a difference. It would be so much easier to recognize that suffering exists and do nothing because it's "over there" - out of sight, out of mind.

My thought for the week is this. How many times have we been in a conversation about something that is awful, challenging or unthinkable? How many times have we taken the conversation further and investigated if there is some action that can and is being taken? And how often are WE the ones being the catalysts for altering the course of suffering? It's like being a "theoretical meditator" where we know about mediation and its benefits but don't sit on the cushion.

A first step is that we talk about an issue and begin to raise awareness not only for ourselves, but for others. But what will ultimately create a shift is if we actually do something about it. So take a moment to dive into your heart and see what spark has been lit...something that really gets you going and riled up. Then ask yourself the questions: Am I ready to do something about it? If yes...what action can I take? It has launched many altruistic journeys. Perhaps this is the time to launch yours.

Personal Retreat

Man oh man has it been busy! Not in a bad way, but in "I've had a lot on my plate" kind of way. Every weekend in April had an event, either for fundraising or my business (yoga retreat). In addition to that, it was the last month of the busy season. So all together, I've had very little time for myself.

Until now.

I am taking my own 3-day personal retreat as I attend Shakti Fest in the high desert of Joshua Tree. This will be my fourth such festival and each time is different, but they have all had things in common. Lots of yoga classes by well-respected teachers, lots of workshops, vegan/vegetarian food, groovy vendors, dry desert air, starry nights but mostly, I go for the kirtan!

Not heard of kirtan? I hadn't until I started digging into the yoga world more deeply and found it to be a fabulous way to practice devotion through music. A typical kirtan is a call and response, where the kirtan leader sings a line of a mantra and everyone sings it back. It often starts slowly and builds in tempo until you just can't help but move, whether it be vigorous hand clapping or full-on dancing. It can be ecstatic and whatever you were thinking about previously no longer seems important or in the forefront of your awareness. It's a way to "bliss out" without taking any substances except for a deep intake of oxygen. And believe me, past experience has taught me that I need to take time to reconnect to me and only me. It might sound selfish, but when my energy tanks are empty, I have nothing to give beyond the basics and for me, I like life to be a bit spicier than that.

This need I have to re-charge is of benefit to all and many people I meet and work with often tell me of how they have little time for themselves. So, as I try to live from a place of authenticity, I will take my own advice and do something for myself...aaaahhhhhh! Come along and experience the bliss with me in Joshua Tree!

I Think I Can, I Think I Can

Some stories from our childhood leave lasting impressions. "The Little Engine That Could" is one that seems particularly relevant at this stage of my life. You know, the little train engine that thought he was too small and lacking power to make it up the big hill. But, in a moment of great need, he set himself the affirmation of "I think I can, I think I can" and chugged himself and his load up the hill.

I had a similar experience when I was a young softball player who used to ride my one speed bike (hot pink with a floral white basket on the front handlebars) to practice. I used to meet my Dad, who also rode his bike to practice from work and we'd ride home together. Each week we would leave the elementary school's fields and be faced with a steep hill on our way home. I would always get part way up the hill and then the hill would defeat me. I'd have to dismount and walk with my head down the rest of the way to the top.

Then one day on our way home we arrived at the traffic light where I accidentally bumped into my Dad and knocked us both over. He yelled at me for not paying attention (he rarely yelled) which sent me off crying as we set up the steep hill. Much to my delight (and rapid change of mood), I soon realized I had cycled all the way to the top without getting off! I could do it...I just didn't realize I could until I changed my awareness (from not being able to get up the hill to crying, a definite distraction away from the usual "negative" babble of thoughts!).

This theme replayed itself more recently as I heard an amazing recount of a friend's 4-month hiking journey along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) that begins at the Mexican border and journeys through California, Oregon and Washington states to the Canadian border. He was saying that on one of his most trying days, where he was physically empty, emotionally drained with uncertain footing on a rocky path that he began the day saying to himself..."I can do this!". It was his mantra for the day.

One step at a time with the affirmation of "I CAN do this". This statement resonated once again for me as I travel along my own uncertain path of how will I raise $20,000? As different obstacles and challenges have presented themselves, I have found myself using the same phrase, "I can do this". It's an incredibly empowering feeling when you begin to change your dialogue to that which emphasizes your ability, not your lack of ability. By stating positively that I am capable, guess what? I actually begin to feel that way. So much so, that I'm thinking of dusting off that supergirl cape that's been hanging out in the closet!

Grumble, Grumble

This past week I invented a new word..."Grumbletude". It came about as I was sorting through the mental bombardment which seemed to trigger a realization that I was pulling up a list of grumblings. This list included: things that needed to be accomplished within a narrow time frame; people who said they were going to do something, then didn't do it; fear of not reaching my goals; lack of sufficient sleep...dare I go on?

As I sat musing, the solution began to arise within me to battle "grumbletude". Change it to gratitude. I allowed myself to take a moment to realize that the feelings that were arising were simply part of my processing, my way of recognizing what was in the present moment and honoring it without attaching to it.

The practice of yoga has taught me that in such situations that I have a choice. I can either continue along the path of thinking that my life is full of challenges or I can switch to thinking that my life is full of opportunity. It was incredible to experience this shift. As soon as I recognized the grumbletude dialogue, it was as though my deeper inner voice rapidly shifted to all that was in my life and in that moment to one of gratitude. I explored this process further by seeing gratitude as a vehicle for effecting change. Although I had some hurdles to leap over, so what? These obstacles are simply a way of looking at all that goes into the evolution of a solution.

We become educated to the whole rather than to a singular goal and in this offering is a chance to learn more than maybe we thought possible. If you find yourself in an attitude of grumbletude, notice it as part of being human. And realize that this is the work of our own transformation, of changing how our inner dialogue begins echoing within ourselves and eventually reaches beyond our own physical boundaries into the greater collective. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. It's a choice we all can make.

Everyday Is Earth Day

Today, Sunday April 22 is the 42nd year of celebrating Earth Day. From a yogic perspective, every day is Earth Day with the practices of yoga evolving from a connection to as well as a reflection of the natural environment. We salute the sun and bow down to the earth, stand like a tree or mountain and recline in a restorative posture named "flowing mountain brook".

With the availability of electricity and artificial lighting, we began to fall out of sync with the ebb and flow of natural light that in the past indicated when to go to sleep and when to awaken. As the earth has become more populated with the development of concrete and skyscrapers, we have lost our connection through bare feet into the earth. And as we live in noisy and busy environments, we often miss the sounds of the natural world. Earth Day is a vivid reminder to honor Mother Earth (Gaia). That we, as humans, walk upon this larger planet with its own living energy. That Mother Earth is here to support us in every way.

Earth Day is another opportunity to reflect upon how we individually impact the planet. What type of footprint are we leaving? Are we able to elevate our own level of consciousness to lessen that impact?

Here are a few reminders as to how we can continue to show compassion to Gaia and in doing so, we show compassion towards others as well as ourselves.

Tips:
1. Carry your own water bottle to avoid using plastic, one-use bottles.
2. Have your own multi-use lunch set for heading off to work, to avoid using one-time, throw away containers.
3. Remember to bring your own shopping bags to the store.
4. Check the tire pressure in your vehicle to enhance miles per gallon.
5. Use multi-use dryer balls in your dryer rather than a fabric softener in the wash or throw away dryer sheets. I use earth-friendly dryer sheets that go, with the lint into my compost. Or line dry your laundry.
6. Create your own compost for your garden. (and add your earth friendly dryer sheets into it!)
7. Buy phosphate-free laundry detergent.
8. Turn off your tap when brushing your teeth.
9. Turn off your computer at the end of each day.
10....Send in to me any tips that you do in order to be part of the buzz around reduce, reuse, recycle and sustain!

Since I originally posted this list two years ago, we have installed solar energy and bought a Toyota Prius. It all adds up as I want my footprint on the planet to be as little as possible. Thank you Gaia!

The Comfort Zone

One day I was sitting in class waiting for all the students to arrive. As is often the case, I have many interesting conversations during this settling-in period and had one on this day. I was remarking to one student how working on my fundraising effort was challenging for me as it had me undertaking things that pushed me right out of my comfort zone. She replied, "I have that experience as I'm working on my breathing as I'm swimming...that's really challenging to me". To this, I replied, "Wow...now I would find THAT comfortable" and she replied, "Wow...I would find undertaking fundraising comfortable!". We then both replied, "maybe we could switch!"

I guess that's why it's called the comfort zone. It made me realize more fully how some people would find marketing, sales and delegation a breeze. For them, it's easy and fundamental whereas for me it's a monumental hurdle. On the other hand, my life has been littered with physical experiences of movement and exploring the outer edges and limitations of my body. Working on breathing during swimming is easy and fundamental in my life.

This challenge continues to open my eyes to a broader understanding of other people's experiences and expertise. It reminds me that we can all possess the mind of a beginner no matter what our chronological age might be and that our learning never ceases.

What impresses me are those people who continue to open their minds and hearts by endlessly seeking to learn and expand their own experiences. I feel fortunate that I have three nanogenerian (in their 90's) clients. They all have a few things in common. The most noticeable is that they are all still fully engaged in life, both mentally and physically. Two of them still play tennis, one of them is still working and all of them possess this sense of curiosity about how their life continues to unfold.

It's a great lesson that's written in the yoga sutras, that of self-study or svadhyaya. It can be interpreted in many ways, but it reveals itself to me in the form of always being open to learning. To consciously take action in seeing what lies within and what is next in our lives. It's the commitment to learning that opens the doorway to fully understanding ourselves and perhaps challenges our belief system of who we believe ourselves to be. When we begin to ask these deeper questions, we begin to open up the possibility of knowing our true self.

This leads me to my thought of the week. Challenging myself is an opportunity for growth and, although it might have prickly moments, in the end it will lead me to a deeper understanding. So off I go, to spread the word about the cause I'm supporting, to ask for assistance and be open to what unfolds.

What a great adventure!