Why do I practice yoga? Sometimes life is beautifully serendipitous.... The subject of the Yoga Journal Daily Insight newsletter I received today is: Bring Balance Home... and one of the articles posted is entitled: Why Do We Practice?, written by Richard Rosen. Click on the link to read the whole piece. What really stood out to me right now was:
"... Sri Aurobindo, the great 20th-century Indian sage and progenitor of Integral Yoga, reminds us, "All life is yoga." ..."
The article goes on to say how Yoga is woven through our lives... We could seclude ourselves and ponder life but we need to LIVE and part of that is dealing with everything that life has to offer: family, friends, jobs, problems.... etc. It is in HOW we take yoga OFF the mat and into our lives that our practice becomes whole and part of our lives. Each breath and each movement becomes asana, or as I sometimes refer to it, a dance.
So reason number 6 is:
Because Life IS Yoga.
Cool.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Phillip Askew - New York City Vinyasa
Wow, just watched this video of Phillip Askew on another blog called (I love this name!) Devil Wears Prana and had to repost! SO so beautiful and INSPIRING! Watch and enjoy....
Top 10 Reasons to Practice Yoga - #5
Reading some of my online newsletters I came up with the next in the line of Top 10:
5. Clarity
I have been reading Deepak Chopra's Rules for Timeless Living on Oprah.com. He wrote one bit that resonated with me not for the obvious reason but I'll explain that after giving you the bit to read...
“I'm reminded of a therapist I know who gets patients whose lives seem out of control. He surprises them by saying, "Go home and clean your house. Make your bed every morning. Watch the sunrise for five minutes. Don't skip breakfast for a week. Watch the sunset for five minutes when you get home from work. Then come back and we'll discuss what's bothering you." He wants to see if they are capable of solving the simple disorderliness in someones awareness before addressing deeper psychological issues. Even a basic change can subtly re-tune the body.”
So in that vein, I thought of yoga, how we adjust, and re-tune our minds and our bodies as we practice and if we are lucky, that amazing bit of clarity and focus returns to us. We take the time as we practice yoga to listen to our bodies, listen to our minds, tune into the world around us...
Namaste.... the light in me honours the light in you.
5. Clarity
I have been reading Deepak Chopra's Rules for Timeless Living on Oprah.com. He wrote one bit that resonated with me not for the obvious reason but I'll explain that after giving you the bit to read...
“I'm reminded of a therapist I know who gets patients whose lives seem out of control. He surprises them by saying, "Go home and clean your house. Make your bed every morning. Watch the sunrise for five minutes. Don't skip breakfast for a week. Watch the sunset for five minutes when you get home from work. Then come back and we'll discuss what's bothering you." He wants to see if they are capable of solving the simple disorderliness in someones awareness before addressing deeper psychological issues. Even a basic change can subtly re-tune the body.”
So in that vein, I thought of yoga, how we adjust, and re-tune our minds and our bodies as we practice and if we are lucky, that amazing bit of clarity and focus returns to us. We take the time as we practice yoga to listen to our bodies, listen to our minds, tune into the world around us...
Namaste.... the light in me honours the light in you.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Top 10 Reasons to Practice Yoga - #4
Today's reason came to me as I was teaching a class...
4. Learning to embrace the Present Moment
There are certainly days when being in the present is a challenge. As a society, we are always racing, always planning... or alternately looking at the past, perhaps in ways that aren't so productive. I notice it in the way that we walk, head thrust forward, charging ahead, or at times closing the chest, protecting ourselves from the onslaught.
As I was teaching on Saturday morning, I found myself momentarily lost, not queuing the pose correctly... already on the next one, and my breathing (always my barometer) was ragged and shallow. And so I came back to my breath, back to centre and admitted it to my class, telling them that we all have to occasionally bring (drag?) ourselves back to the present moment. A laugh, a knowing gaze from some of them and I was back in the moment.
And that reminds us that we need that yoga community to help keep us in the present moment!
Namaste. I am enjoying this journey through my Top 10 List...
4. Learning to embrace the Present Moment
There are certainly days when being in the present is a challenge. As a society, we are always racing, always planning... or alternately looking at the past, perhaps in ways that aren't so productive. I notice it in the way that we walk, head thrust forward, charging ahead, or at times closing the chest, protecting ourselves from the onslaught.
As I was teaching on Saturday morning, I found myself momentarily lost, not queuing the pose correctly... already on the next one, and my breathing (always my barometer) was ragged and shallow. And so I came back to my breath, back to centre and admitted it to my class, telling them that we all have to occasionally bring (drag?) ourselves back to the present moment. A laugh, a knowing gaze from some of them and I was back in the moment.
And that reminds us that we need that yoga community to help keep us in the present moment!
Namaste. I am enjoying this journey through my Top 10 List...
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Top 10 Reasons to Practice Yoga - #3
Now that I am thinking about my Top 10 Reasons to Practice Yoga I am SURE the list will be longer than 10 but number 3 came to me like a bolt of lightening last night:
3. Physical Benefits!
In my book, this one is the no brainer. Google it and you will be inundated with Top 10 lists. Yoga Alliance lists its own 10 Reasons to Try Yoga and the top 2 are:
Stress Relief &
Pain Relief!
Need I say more? Yes, I do... after that Yoga Alliance lists:
Better Breathing &
Flexibility
I won't go on any more today but you get the drift. The only question left is:
WHY NOT practice?
3. Physical Benefits!
In my book, this one is the no brainer. Google it and you will be inundated with Top 10 lists. Yoga Alliance lists its own 10 Reasons to Try Yoga and the top 2 are:
Stress Relief &
Pain Relief!
Need I say more? Yes, I do... after that Yoga Alliance lists:
Better Breathing &
Flexibility
I won't go on any more today but you get the drift. The only question left is:
WHY NOT practice?
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Top 10 Reasons to Practice Yoga - #2
Number 2 came to me today as I thought about my 2 classes yesterday:
2. Yoga Community
I practice yoga because of the wonderful yoga community that I am fortunate to be a part of. The yoga community is not only my physical one here in my home-town, but also out in cyber-space and in print.
Here, each class that I participate in, whether as a teacher or a student gives me SO much. The energy in the room is always different and somehow, someway what I need seems to make its way into my heart.... Some days it is physical, some days it is emotional. But it is never dull!
The many daily & weekly newsletters that I receive are full of interesting material... sometimes things I have experienced, sometimes things I need or want to learn. But always welcome in my in-box.
And I LOVE my monthly Yoga Journal for its articles and photos.... not to mention the online content! LOVE those videos.
2. Yoga Community
I practice yoga because of the wonderful yoga community that I am fortunate to be a part of. The yoga community is not only my physical one here in my home-town, but also out in cyber-space and in print.
Here, each class that I participate in, whether as a teacher or a student gives me SO much. The energy in the room is always different and somehow, someway what I need seems to make its way into my heart.... Some days it is physical, some days it is emotional. But it is never dull!
The many daily & weekly newsletters that I receive are full of interesting material... sometimes things I have experienced, sometimes things I need or want to learn. But always welcome in my in-box.
And I LOVE my monthly Yoga Journal for its articles and photos.... not to mention the online content! LOVE those videos.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Top 10 Reasons to Practice Yoga - #1
Starting today, I am compiling a Top 10 list & will add to it as I think of things...
1. Because I Can:
I can practice yoga, run, play, work, live.... And I do practice yoga for me but also for those who cannot. I honour them as I honour myself. I seek to do this in all that I do.
On my run this morning.... just as I was feeling that I wanted to quit... this is the song that played on my iPod:
I Run For Life by Melissa Etheridge
It's been years since they told her about it
The darkness her body possessed
And the scars are still there in the mirror
Everyday that she gets herself dressed
Though the pain is miles and miles behind her
And the fear is now a docile beast
If you ask her why she is still running
She'll tell you it makes her complete
[Chorus:]
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me, my friend
I run for life
It's a blur since they told me about it
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul
And now I'm still learning the lesson
To awake when I hear the call
And if you ask me why I am still running
I'll tell you I run for us all
[Chorus:]
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for life
And someday if they tell you about it
If the darkness knocks on your door
Remember her remember me
We will be running as we have before
Running for answers
Running for more
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister, your daughter, your wife
For you and me my friend
I run for life
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for life
************************************
Makes you think, doesn't it?
1. Because I Can:
I can practice yoga, run, play, work, live.... And I do practice yoga for me but also for those who cannot. I honour them as I honour myself. I seek to do this in all that I do.
On my run this morning.... just as I was feeling that I wanted to quit... this is the song that played on my iPod:
I Run For Life by Melissa Etheridge
It's been years since they told her about it
The darkness her body possessed
And the scars are still there in the mirror
Everyday that she gets herself dressed
Though the pain is miles and miles behind her
And the fear is now a docile beast
If you ask her why she is still running
She'll tell you it makes her complete
[Chorus:]
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me, my friend
I run for life
It's a blur since they told me about it
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul
And now I'm still learning the lesson
To awake when I hear the call
And if you ask me why I am still running
I'll tell you I run for us all
[Chorus:]
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for life
And someday if they tell you about it
If the darkness knocks on your door
Remember her remember me
We will be running as we have before
Running for answers
Running for more
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister, your daughter, your wife
For you and me my friend
I run for life
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for life
************************************
Makes you think, doesn't it?
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