Everything Changes

I met a new student the other day and asked if she had practiced yoga before. She replied, "yes, but I can't do what I used to do" to which I replied, "neither can I!". It got me thinking about what I used to be able to do with my body when I was a competitive gymnast in the early years. I was gifted with great flexibility and I could back bend to extremes and had beautiful splits in three directions. Once I undertook more focused training as a gymnast and built strength to match the flexibility, my body could move easily and with fluidity. It took effort but if often looked effortless. 

My body doesn't move the same way as it did in the past. Everything changes. Part of my practice is simply being okay with that. I have remnants of the younger Jayne insofar as I can still hold a decent handstand and have good balance and strength.  Yet my joints talk to me on a regular basis and if I'm listening, they ask for me to take my time and be gentle. When I do listen, my body responds. Over the years my being is becoming better at understanding that everything changes.

What I may have "lost" from a physical perspective has been replaced by something I had no clue about in those younger years: Insight, patience and wisdom. With the changing waves of my physical self, I needed to learn how to make peace with all of it because as I age, everything changes. We begin to learn that we have other options than throwing on our super-hero cape and giving it our utmost. 

And so it goes, the numerous cycles that we are constantly experiencing whether they be the subtle shifting from one season to the next, the seemingly overnight growth of a young puppy or the wrinkles that we begin to notice around our eyes. No matter how desperately we wish it would stay the same, everything changes.

In the wisdom traditions it is said that when we deny the basic truth of change and adhere ourselves to the idea that things will remain constant, we suffer. Attachment to the things staying the same can lead us down the path of suffering. It's natural to wish for certainty as it gives us a sense of security, even if it is a false notion. We hold on tightly to what's familiar, we often stay in jobs or relationships based on what they were in the beginning and have fear of letting go due to an unknown future.

It is taught that if we can see each moment for exactly what it is and find a sense of ease within that moment, we can learn to be at ease with all that is in transition. A simple practice is to watch the breath and notice how it shifts.

Begin sitting comfortably and close the eyes. Without changing anything, notice how you're breathing. Where is the breath obviously moving in your body? What thoughts are floating about in your sphere of consciousness? Next, exhale the breath completely so you can take the next breath slowly and deeply into the body. Pause. Exhale that breath slowly and with ease. Repeat a few times then sit and notice how you feel. Did anything change? How does this moment compare to how you felt the last time you had an argument with someone? Everything changes.

The practice of noticing change can also be related to help in managing pain and difficult moments. People who pay attention to their pain sensations begin to notice they change, the pain isn't often constant or at the same intensity. Grief and tragedy are also difficult as they often feel as though they are permanent states, yet speak to anyone who has suffered a loss and ask them if it's still as intense as when it first happened. Usually the answer will be "no" as everything changes. 

As we shift away from the solstice we can once again be reminded of the transitions in our lives, from the minute to the gross. We can relax into the present moment and realize everything changes. Can you let go into it?

Harmony

A really cool thing is happening tomorrow, Sunday June 21, 2015. Yes, it's Father's Day here in the USA as well as the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Aside from those colliding events, June 21 is the inaugural International Day of Yoga. India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi proposed the idea of an international day of yoga to the United Nations and thus, the day was born. PM Modi stated that "yoga is India's gift to the world" and indeed it has had far reaching tendrils since it was first brought to the West in 1893 at The Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago by Swami Vivekananda. The unfolding of the story is captured in the book, "American Veda" by Philip Goldberg. 

The intention of the International Day of Yoga is to promote harmony, a simple and accessible way to physical health, spiritual health and well-being. It promotes respect for fellow human beings and for the planet in a way that does not discriminate. More can be found  here on the United Nations web site.

We are living in violent times and fortunately, I live in an area where the violence seems far way..."over there", yet, being part of the all encompassing web of humanity violence affects all beings. And although I feel safe in my community it is a vital part of my yoga practice to reach into my local yoga community in perpetuating loving kindness as we are primed to do so. 

Each time we step onto our mat we connect to the deepest places that reside within us. We have an opportunity to remember that peace and ease are accessible through slowing down, quieting our mind, connecting to our breath and moving our body. We begin to harmonize the connections within our own being between our body, our mind and our soul. When we make that connection and step off our mats to interface with the rest of the world, how we are can affect everything else.

If we are sending out feelings of contentment, ease and peace, it has an effect on those we meet. Our practice begins within and we as a collective can be the peacemakers. When we find our own balance, we begin to shift the collective consciousness. You can bet that those acting violently against others or the earth are out of balance. The ancient practice of yoga offers tools of restoring to our natural rhythms harmoniously.

So how does it work? How do we bring ourselves into balance? We are told that if we exercise and eat right that all will be well. However, we know that it's the bigger picture of our life that makes a difference. More specifically ask yourself if you're doing the following:
Eating whole, fresh foods
Moving in a variety of ways every day and at varying intensities
Finding solitude and time for reflection, contemplation or meditation
Hanging out with people who uplift and support you
Living with purpose
Serving others
Being connected to family and social networks
Undertaking activities that bring you joy
Laughing 
If you reflect on the above list, does anything jump out that could be more abundant in your life? If the answer is yes, then take the next step to bringing that into your tomorrow.

Self-care is vital for inner peace and once we realize that looking after ourselves is a step toward community and world peace, we are taking action to bring yoga into realization.

So on the first International Day of Yoga think about yourself and how it relates to the community and your world beyond that. Take a deep breath and find gratitude for being an agent of change. The world needs us so desperately..."there is no way to peace, peace is the way" (Gandhi, Thic Nhat Hanh & A.J. Muste).

SYTAR

Maybe you're one of those super observant types who sees the above image of a sitar and then notices the title of this weeks blog being spelled sytar. And perhaps you're thinking to yourself, that's not how you spell it...okay smarty pants, you're right. SYTAR stands for the "Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research", the name of a conference that I attended last week in lovely Newport Beach, California. This was the fourth SYTAR I've been to and it was far and away the best yet.

Part of the enjoyment was hanging out with my other tribe, a handful of Australians who had crossed the Pacific to be at the event. It reawakened a loving and familiar place that rests deep within me and was incredibly refreshing. For that, I am truly grateful to have such an extended and ranging network. The other part of the enjoyment were the many interesting, informative and interactive sessions with those on the forefront of yoga therapy here in the States.

The conference had about 350 attendees which makes for easy dialogue and interaction. And the depth of knowledge rubbing shoulders with each other was a reflection of people who have been living from a yogic perspective for many, many years. These are not trendy or fly-by-night practitioners of this ancient science, rather people who have dedicated themselves to yga through teaching, research and innovation. People who have studied with the contemporary masters stemming from Krishnamacharya were everywhere, sharing their varied perspectives and experiences.

My highlights were numerous from working with yoga therapy balls to suffering and awakening, healthy aging and the recognition of the impact of yoga and how it's permeated into modern Western culture. In the US alone, the numbers of people participating in yoga is projected to be 20.4 million with another 10.4 million people interested in participating. That's almost 9% of the population. Wow! Part of the reason for that is the amount of evidence-based research that has emerged over the past five years, increasing exponentially, and offering real alternatives and integration for people gaining and maintaining their health. People are experiencing the many benefits that yoga has to offer.

It also means that those of us who offer it to the masses have a responsibility to delivering both safe and authentic teachings. One comment that came from many at the conference was holding onto the traditions of yoga not so much those within the last 100 years but in the past 1500-3000 years! The fear is that yoga is being distilled into another option for exercise, a physically based undertaking that sways too much toward what's sexy, appealing and trendy. I would guess that most people who come to yoga do so through the doorway of a physical practice, which is awesome, I'm all for that. However, if our lens stays only on the physical, we miss out on the majority of the practice and its benefits. SYTAR emphasized how the practices of pranayama (breath control), mantra and meditation would add greater richness into the physical, pose-centric practice.

This sentiment left me inspired (literally...to breath in!) when I returned to teaching this past week. My two words for the week were "breathe easy". The intention is to shift from the mechanics of the breath to the feeling the breath has on you. When you're in a child's pose where does your breath go? Is your breath ragged? Uneven? Can you notice how your breath shifts depending on the type of pose or sequences of poses you're practicing? The breath is the key that opens the door into our deeper selves. It connects our layers of energy and nourishes the physical cells of our body. When we let go of struggling with our breath our mind becomes quieter, our tension dissipates and we begin to tap into remembering who we truly are.

"Polishing the mirror" is a beautiful phrase that refers to knowing who we truly are at birth. Throughout our life things happen to us and we begin to forget...as though the mirrors to our souls gather dust and we no longer have clarity. The practices of yoga, the breath in particular, are ways in which we begin to blow off the dust. It's easy to begin...sit with your back straight, close your eyes, let go of tension and see what your breath is doing. Honor it exactly as it is. Then see if you can expand it, slowly, evenly, in peace and with ease.

Get to know your breath and you might tap into the same magic of the seers 3000 years ago. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.

Aging Gracefully

Last week I had the unique honor of attending the 100th birthday celebration of a friend and long-time client. I met him when he was a spry 89 years old and have seen him through his chapter as a nonagenarian and now into the next decade. He is my first client to reach the 100 mark, but I have had a few in their 80's and 90's. What they have taught me is much more than what I have taught them, as I have looked for those common traits among those who are active and doing well into the later chapters of their lives.

What they seem to have in common are: strong family networks; physical activity; an ability to laugh easily; a spiritual connection; and purpose. 

The researcher, explorer and author, Dan Buettner, who wrote the book "The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons For Living Longer From The People Who've Lived The Longest" and the more newly released "The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like The World's Healthiest People" identified common factors from long, well-lived people around the world. One of those factors that stands out about longevity is the ability to live well, rather than just living for many years. It's about the quality of the journey, not necessarily the quantity of years amassed.

We are learning that setting up our environment, both internal and external, plays a vital role into how well we live. Inflammation is a key buzzword in the wellness world. Essentially it implies that if we can reduce and minimize how inflamed we are, we have better health outcomes. Inflammation shows itself on many levels: physical, emotional and social. We know that any word with "itis" is a reflection of inflammation in the body-tendinitis, bursitis, colitis and appendicitis are all hot-spots of irritation on the physical level.

How many times in a day do your emotions flare up? Anger, disappointment, frustration, depression and agitation are symptoms of emotional fires. If we add fuel to them they get larger and become more powerful. What sets you off in your day and how do you handle it when you're "on fire"?

We can keep extending this reach of inflammation into our social realms simply by looking at conflict, disagreement and violence around the world. We know that these situations are not a reflection of inner peace, balance or harmony.

So part of living well and aging gracefully includes being in an environment that supports inner and outer peace. Some of this is a matter of good fortune and into what environment we are born. The other part, however, can be created through our own actions, thoughts and words. The ever-evolving body of research, that at times is enormously overwhelming, also points us in the direction of more specific choices that we can make that will set us up in a more positive way.

How we nourish our entire being will set the stage for ushering us into our advancing years with more grace and overall balance. This includes the food we choose to eat, the company we keep, daily self-care rituals, a sense of purpose (why am I here?) and a sense of connection to an energy or consciousness bigger than ourselves.

The author, Isabel Allende in her TED talk reminds us that part of aging gracefully means saying "YES to life" in whatever comes whether it be joy, grief or sadness. At age 71, she wants to continue to "stay passionate, engaged with an open heart". My thought for the week is to listen to the words of our elders, embrace the wisdom they have gathered along their journey, to accept who we are in the present moment so that the process of aging touches us from a place of grace.

Connect To The Whole

Having been a teacher for most of my career, there have been countless times when there has been a need to break something into parts to understand its whole. As we journey through ten modules in yoga teacher training, the systems of the body are broken into units: musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine systems, through to the subtle systems of chakras, nadis and koshas. We break down the various principles of alignment and ways of getting into and out of different postures. We spend a good part of the time breaking things down into manageable and understandable pieces making it easier to understand and digest. And since the training is extended (around 9 months), students slowly begin to absorb the richness of all the parts. It's not just theory - it becomes part of all who undertake the course.

We break it down to understand the bigger picture, the whole being, the whole body, the whole system of yoga and its multitude of aspects. One of the criticisms with modern medicine is that parts of it are so specialized, the specialists tend to only work with a small area of the body. As patients we hop from specialist to specialist for our various ailments but who's quarterbacking the overall picture? I have no issue with modern medicine and the astounding ability it has to treat acute illness and traumatic injury. I've been the benefactor of such technology and efficiency with a ruptured appendix that in the "olden days" could very well have killed me. But at times, we simply need the uber-focused view to become broader. Don't we all want to feel seen as a whole person rather than as a symptom, body part or disease?

As I journey along this path of yoga it feels as though I'm continually switching my lenses from that of a wide angle to that of a macro (which zeroes in to very specific elements). It's as though I'm drawing back for the overall big picture and how connect to all of it, then zooming into something that previously was imperceptible to me. With the recent effort to raise money for earthquake stricken Nepal, I turned toward the wide angle lens. I began to reflect upon how one small action happening in the desert of California could affect one person in devastated Nepal. I was reminded of the connectedness of all people, that I too, could be that earthquake ruined recipient one day as I live in earthquake country. Suffering connected us as the giver and the receiver. When we can sense the suffering and hardships of others, near or far, a piece of us is ignited into compassion.

Simultaneously, we more easily connect to others when we first connect to ourselves. We can dig into the well of generosity when we sense an inner abundance and have no qualms of sharing as enough exists for all. Yet, when we neglect what our our heart and self need, we can become stingy, fearing that there truly isn't enough for everyone, so we need to hold onto what we've got. Yoga teaches us to let go, to surrender into the greater whole and field of divine energy. When we feel a lack of something we close down and hold on but what we can realize is that simply being ourselves is enough. When we have our needs met beginning with the most basic needs of safety, food, air and community we begin to trust that whatever comes to us is available to all.

A tradition exists in Japan when people pour rice wine for another person. They overfill the cup which spills wine into the underlying saucer, which is then given to someone else. It's symbolic of there being an overflow of abundance, enough to be shared with others. Through our practice of yoga, we fill up. As we do so, we begin to see an overflow of energy that can be given freely to others. This offering is that ripple effect that touches those whom we come into contact with and those whom we don't even know...such as the people of Nepal.

What is flowing out of you? Are you able to let your positive vibrations echo out of you and affect others? If not, why not? Are you needing to bring self-compassion into your life more fully first and, if yes, what does that look like?

My thought for the week is to remember how we connect to the whole. To know that in order to change the world we change ourselves. To recognize that the simplest act can spill out of you in the most sublime and magical ways.

Allow your energy to touch the lives of others...begin within and let it rip!

Be Of Service

At the beginning of each week, I create a word or statement from beautiful blocks with letters created by the artist, Jennifer Mazzucco, and place them on the sign in desk at our El Paseo studio. It sets the tone and intention for the week and filters through into each class I teach. This week I was inspired by the statement, "Be Of Service". This came from two perspectives of service that are quite different from one another. This coming week the United States remembers those who have lost their lives serving the country with Memorial Day. I bow in gratitude to the service men and women, their families and friends who have stepped onto this path.

The second perspective is what we can do as a community to raise funds for the earthquake devastation in Nepal. As you read this, we will have held a fundraising yoga class hosted at our local lululemon athletica store in Palm Desert, CA. When a global disaster such as this occurs, we often wonder how we can help...how can we serve?

The images and news coming out of Nepal broke my heart and the hearts of millions of people around the world. Although I have never been to the country, I know many people who have close ties to it and have always raved about the beauty of the land and the sincerity of its people. I felt compelled to help in one way that I know how...teach a donation based yoga class.

Part of being on the yoga path is to step into the realm of SEVA, described as selfless service. The meaning is that we give with no expectation of getting anything in return. We offer support from the place of our heart and release the exchange of currency that can often arise from doing something for someone else...the attitude of "what's in it for me?".  It no longer is seva if our motivation is to become more popular, loved or be perceived as something better. We give for the simplicity of giving...end of story.

The other side of giving is receiving. What does it feel like to open ourselves to being supported? When someone pays us a compliment, do we deflect it with self-deprecation? Have you ever had the experience of "Wow, you look amazing today!" "Really? That's surprising as I got no sleep last night and I so badly need a hair cut!" We put up some defense to receiving a compliment instead of simply saying, "thank you!".

Yoga is about balance from a variety of aspects, including giving and receiving.  Are you someone who always gives but is closed off to receiving? When someone says, "how can I help?" do you reply, "it's okay...I've got it!". Or are you someone who easily receives but doesn't step forward readily to offer support? 

Part of my practice over the years has taken the form of being a more receptive receiver. I've been out of balance believing that I needed to do it all by myself, but with practice, it's getting easier to let people support me. Over three years ago, many of you will remember that I undertook the Global Seva Challenge with Off the Mat, Into the World. My goal was to raise $20,000 and awareness around the issue of sex trafficking in India. I undertook the challenge as I felt called to do something that was bigger than me. I needed to get out of my own way, bypass my own doubts of being able to raise the money and call upon my community to support me.

This was a pivotal experience in my life. The beautiful thing was, I didn't expect it to be. I was focused on the cause, on the plight of young girls who had experienced horrific things and how we as a collective could help and make a difference. I felt called to serve, likely in the way that all others who serve get called, whether it be through the military, for family or friends, to our local community or to an individual in need. 

So my questions of the week have been, "How am I serving? What do you need? How can I support you?"  Can we all open our hearts just a bit wider to answer these questions? I'm trying and I hope you'll join me...in whatever way you can.

Practice Is Everywhere

When I first stepped onto a yoga mat in Melbourne in 1994 I did so out of curiosity. It was one of the most popular short courses that we had on offer through the University of Melbourne's Sports Center.  At the time, I was an instructor and program manager there and so I had to see what all the fuss was about. In the beginning, I attended classes twice a week and found that having been a gymnast, many of the poses seemed accessible to me.  I'd go to the practice, notice what came easily (strong standing poses and inversions) and what didn't (anything related to hips such as pigeon poses) and would leave just a bit more curious than when I went through the door. Yoga had begun to gently sink its hook into my soul.

I then took a brief hiatus from practice as we relocated from Australia to the States. I got distracted by starting my own business, moving to a new city, finding my way, eventually getting engaged and married.  But the hook never dislodged and became even more deeply embedded when we moved from Northern California to the desert of Southern California.  One day, Ed (my husband) said to me, "I wish you taught yoga. As I'm getting a bit older, I'm also getting tighter".  My reply to this was, "I'll make you a deal.  I'll do a yoga teacher training if you promise to attend the classes!"  He readily agreed to this deal and off I went to become a registered yoga teacher.

During the process, what was initially a hook and a simple curiosity began to envelope all aspects of my life.  I was still teaching fitness classes and found myself infusing yoga into each session.  My personal training clients started getting bits and pieces around breath, relaxation and self-care in ways that I was unable to offer previously.

I remember a distinct moment in that first yoga teacher training when we began to study yogic philosophy.  In one moment, I felt I had come home. I felt I had just stepped through a doorway where my only perspective was this 180 degree field of vision of what I didn't know about yoga and how old, deep, wise and transformative it could be.  I became hungry for more knowledge and experience. The practice started infiltrating every aspect of my day and began to inform me on the deepest of levels as to how I wanted my life to look.  It offered a framework to make the kind of choices that would enhance my life in ways I never truly envisioned...until then.

This turning point was just the beginning of my practice to live my yoga.  Prior to that moment, it was just another way in which to move my body...how little did I know and how much did I want to learn?  This process is continuing to unfold in a way that keeps me a perpetual student. Although I teach to many people, I feel there is always something else for me to learn and pass along.  It's incredible to think that 21 years after my first footprints were laid upon a yoga mat, that it continues to be fresh and interesting.

The other incredible thing is that the depth of the practice seems endless.  Just when I think I've got something nailed, something else arises to remind me to stay humble, keep learning, exploring and opening my heart.

Now my practice is everywhere and in every moment.  It hasn't been saved for the times that I roll out my mat, but for all the other times that I'm off the mat.  Our day to day activity offers countless opportunities to be in our practice.  How do we interact with strangers? How do we react to uncomfortable or maddening moments?  How do we nourish our body, mind and spirit? In what ways am I caring for myself? How quickly can I recognize when I'm out of balance? Is my first response one of compassion?

I trust that the practice will continue to provide challenges in ways I will never expect...just as it has over this past couple of decades. I have to say, I'm quite excited to see what's lying ahead of me on this never ending yoga journey...it's been an incredible ride so far!