For the past 6 months, I have had the unbelievable opportunity to work with the Africa Yoga Project as a mentor to a teacher trainee in Nairobi Africa. Each month I find myself in my kitchen in Stamford, CT Skyping with my mentee who is sitting in the Shine Center in Nairobi Kenya. It is pretty amazing that we are literally across the world from each other but find ourselves face-to-face discussing the various themes and sharing our experiences of teaching and practicing yoga, as well as getting to know about our lives and families. Each month, there is a short list of themes that we are given the opportunity to explore and talk about. Many of these themes, are ones that I have seen before at my Level 1 Power Yoga teacher training with Baron Baptiste last summer and during a program I participated in last year called “40 Days to Personal Revolution”. The two themes for this month have made me begin to think and explore more about myself. They are “Equanimity” and “Drop what you know”, both intertwined with each other. I wanted to approach these themes with a fresh pair of eyes so I started by looking up the definition of equanimity. Equanimity – “Having an even mind; mental calmness; evenness of temper especially in a difficult situation.” – Web dictionary Equanimity – “The art of meeting life as it meets you, calmly without drama, without fuss” – Baron Baptisite, 40 Days to Personal Revolution Well, […]
Read MoreA few weeks ago, Tim and I set out for an adventure. We planned for months, scheduling airplanes flights, hotels, and rental cars. We secured childcare and organized our children’s crazy and hectic schedules. There was an entire room of our house overrun with zip lock bags packed for each activity they had: soccer, baseball, diving, and school projects. After months of planning and worrying, somehow it all came together and we were off. Off to Baptiste Power Yoga Level One training in Sedona, Arizona. I had learned about the Level One training from my best friend who had gone to the program. I could tell the experience was something special for her. I was in awe of her presence. The way she guided me through random situations, helped me to get clear with my thoughts and frustrations going on in my life. I wanted what she had. But of course, it was hard to imagine actually being able to go. The excuses came up time and time again. It was too expensive I would tell myself, it was too many days away from work and family. It’s always so easy to find reasons NOT to do something. But then late last year, Tim and I were talking about planning a vacation; maybe a trip to the Costa Rica’s Beaches and jungles or maybe a trip to Europe. You know… a nice, normal, relaxing vacation. But then one night Tim suggested we both do the Baptiste Power Yoga Level One […]
Read MoreAt the beginning of most yoga classes the instructor will ask the class to make an intention for that days practice. Recently, I have found myself making the statement –“ I will not judge myself”. For 60-90 minutes I focus on myself and my own abilities. I try to center my mind on the present moment and the feelings or thoughts that are occurring during that moment. Sometimes they are happy, sometimes sad, sometimes I am only aware of a specific body part. Whatever these thoughts or feelings may be, I remind myself, “Do Not Judge”. The challenge is taking this intention out the door when I leave. Today as I got into my car, thoughts about the choices I have made recently began swirling though my mind. Last year, while preparing for half-ironman triathlon, I would train 10 hours a week or more. Each weekend, I found myself going faster and farther than I ever had before in my life. This year I am putting my focus towards yoga, this new website, and getting my voice out there. I started to second-guess my decision, if I was training more this summer I could have had a faster swim, bike, run this year. Was I going to loose all the fitness I gained last year? The brain went crazy! Living in the present moment and not judging is no easy task. I have to keep reminding myself, I have made a choice and it is the right choice for now. I […]
Read MoreThere are so many things I want to do…Yoga, biking, running, swimming, being with my family, hiking, camping. Then there are things I have to do. Work, get the kids ready for school, make the breakfast, lunch, dinner (and yes Tim helps, A LOT), laundry, you get the picture. When I try to fit it all in and add a little extra ( passover dinner for 23, workshops, driving 3.5 hours to spend time with a friend, all in one weekend), I get a little stressed. Mind goes into overload. I use my breath but can’t get my mind to settle. Finally, the body gives out and wham, sick in bed for a whole day and feeling crappy for two more. Now sitting here writing this blog post I realized with all the mental chatter, I didn’t even find the time to sit quietly and settle. I have been dabbling in mediation. A little here and a little there. I have signed up several times for Deepak Chopra’s 21 day mediation. So far I have completed 7 consecutive days, and should be on day 14 but only on day 10. During those first 7 days, I felt much more ease and peace. Now the mind is in overload and the body feels it. How can your body stay strong and fight when it’s over producing hormones to keep you calm. Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars […]
Read MoreToday at yoga the man practicing next to me was trying it out for the first time. At the end of class he turned to me and expressed how the hardest part was the breathing. Got me thinking….. I began a yoga teacher training a few weeks back and it was an amazing beginning of a new journey in my life. When I left I felt nourished and at the same time overwhelmed. There was so much information and I had homework for the next session. This included learning Sanskrit, reading two books, learning how to teach poses etc. Some times when I get overwhelmed I forget to breathe. Breathing – we don’t often think about it. It happens naturally. The air flows in and out and we barely recognize it. When we get tense we may hold our muscles tight and take shallow breathes. When we are nervous our heart may start racing and we take fast breathes. Sometimes we may even hyperventilate. I have on occasion or two been given a brown paper bag to breathe into, still not sure how that works. Today in my yoga practice I paid extra attention to my breath, to the in and out. My teacher spoke of breathing into my “back body”. How the heck do you do that? I have always wondered, but today something snapped, an “Ah-Ha” moment. Imagining where the breath goes, in your mouth, down your throat, into your lungs and the far reaches inside your body. […]
Read MoreIntention of the day: Om Anandam Namah, My actions are blissfully free from attachment to outcome. (Deepak Chopra) (or at least I would like them to be to free up space for peace!)
Read MoreSince beginning my spiritual journey and yoga teacher training I have had to read a lot. For those of you who don’t really know me to well, I am NOT a reader, to say the least. It is pretty much my least favorite thing to do. When I was going through my chemotherapy, my wonderful husband Tim suggestion I listen to some books on tape. Smart guy! It was great, during my four months of treatment I finished the entire Twilight Series and by the end thought I was a vampire (or at least I wanted to be one). When treatments were over and life got back to “normal”, that is when the real soul searching began and my quest for health, happiness and peace. So back to the reading thing. I recently finished (took me about four weeks but finished) “The Five Things We Can Not Change…and the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them” by David Richo. This is what I learned: There are the five givens in life and this is them in there simplest form: 1. Everything changes and ends. 2. Things don not always go according to plan. 3. Life is not always fair. 4. Suffering is part of life. 5. People are not loving and loyal all the time. If we can just except that it is what it is, we can’t control things and be a “yes” to these givens, then maybe we would suffer less, laugh more and respect ourselves and others for […]
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