Friday, December 21, 2012

Life is full of options and choices

Wow, I have been absent in posting about yoga. It seems to me that you are more busy and less discipline when unemployed or maybe I am just talking about myself.

So, I started this blog as a way to write down my journey into yoga and into finding a teacher training program that fits my desires. This has been a process that I have taken seriously as it is a big investment finically and spiritually. I want to do my training in India the sacred place that born this practice. I also am intrigued by the idea of studying at an ashram as it sounds amazing. Yet, another option has floated into my path. Last week my sister and I went to visit my cousin in Chicago which made me start to think I should check out yoga studios in the area. So, I went to a class at Yoga Now in the Gold Coast neighborhood. I took a vinyasa level 1-2 class which was fun and different as the teacher focused on alignment and proper form. This started to turn my wheels thinking I need to explore the options of Chicago yoga to India yoga training. And, I ask myself do I compare with pros and cons or my inner feelings. I say that the inner feelings is my method. So, I write this to keep myself accountable and on track. The new year and new journey is right around the corner, so I must have a program selected by Jan. 1 2013.

This time of research is exciting for me. I plan to share the places and reasons I chose them, so get ready to explore the world of Yoga Teacher Training.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

My Sunday morning moment


My day begins with a peaceful yoga awakening sequence which I am focusing more on my breath. As I am trying to direct my attention to my inner feelings instead of making sure my asana is perfect. I find this intention helps me to get a full practice that centers my inner being.  After my practice I make a chai tea latte for myself as a treat on this Sunday morning, yummy.

As I arrive at the Unitarian church I see our discussion today is about social justice and our interconnectedness to each other, the earth, etc. There some guest speakers who spoke about social justice and the woman minister reads a Rumi poem. I can’t recall the exact words so here is what I remember: When in the city it is noisy but be the noise, take in all around you, let your eyes close and your other eye guide you, may fear fall away and the circles of comfort become larger. As she read his words, I envisioned these circles of our fear breaking away and our hearts opening up. The sizes of the circles grow and extend out as we seek for deeper connection and with that comes a deeper connection to ourselves, the earth and others.

 As we step on our mats to ground ourselves and listen to that inner voice. We are also challenged on the mat by keeping in flow with our breath, pushing ourselves with new asanas. I think if we view life as one huge mat then events and situations can be viewed as a lesson to check in with your breath when life brings us tension, find your inner warrior when you must stand your ground. And lastly, know that we are all spiritual beings undergoing a human experience so live, love and grow.  

Monday, November 26, 2012

Thanksgiving celebrated and thoughts

So, I had a small thanksgiving gathering with my sis, and boyfriend. My sis and I did all the cooking and planning which I found to be such fun. I must confess I have recently got into cooking fresh wholesome food. It fulfills me as yoga does because I am taking care of my body, mind and soul.

Since, I have not been working yoga has taken a back seat in my life. I find that I am choosing  a daily run over yoga as my anxiety is rising due to my worrying nature. As I said in the last post, I am blessed to be able to have my own authority back. Yet, I have another voice saying, you gonna move home? find a yoga teacher training in India? Is this what you want? I feel my mind is a conveyor belt of thoughts which are not moving me into a space of empowerment. I recently watched a movie called: How to heal your Life by Louise Hay. The whole idea of the movie is that your thoughts create your life. If we change the way we think, feel and view situations our world will be filled with sun. So, I get the message yet I am having a hard time shifting my thoughts to the positive. This brings up questions for me about my next step.
 How bad do I want to teach yoga and live a life that aligns with my beliefs? How bad do I want to create a space that helps people love and accept themselves as they are? How bad do I want to grow and stay in a loving and compassionate energy field?
This jerks me into a state of action where I need to shift my negative energy and send it packing. I need to make time to research yoga teacher trainings. I also need to reintroduce myself to my beautiful pink yoga mat that supports me in my yoga poses. Thanks for listening as this has released the stale energy and may my theme song be:
They told him don't you ever come around here (negative unproductive thoughts)
Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear (the face of fear that wont help my path appear)
The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear (The passion is in my eyes and my heart is really clear on my path)
So beat it, just beat it ( so anything that hinders me from reaching happiness better BEAT IT, BEAT IT!!!)


I am ready to shift my energy so dont no negative energy come around here

 

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Life really speaks if you are listening

So, the Vancouver yoga trip set in motion a chain of events emotionally for me. I was pulled out of the clouds and into a place of sunshine. My mood shifted to the positive, my thoughts were generating positive, and the energy from the yoga conference also brought about peace and joy within my soul. From this I started to ask how can I sustain this feeling of inner joy which is then generated out to the universe.

My sis and I spoke of this new found energy. We set up a path to happiness for me to follow and here they are:

Meditate both am/pm with lit candles at my spiritual alter.
Quit my job
Follow my ayurveda body type, which is vata
Daily yoga in the am before I start my day

So, Monday came and I was nervous to tell my boss I was quitting, yet 10 am roles around. We are in the greenhouse and she says there are more cut backs which I say oh ok, thinking nothing of it. Then she says and your last day is next week. At first I am shocked then I become filled with joy as I told the universe what I wanted and it was granted for me. I can honestly say I have never felt so blessed in my life as I was given signs that this was not my place and magically I am given an empty road where I can draw my own path. As I reflect back on this expereince it is positive and I learned many things, worked with great people and found my passion for great food once again. Yet, I know I am menat to do something else. As I end I want to share photos of my sis and I taking yoga to the streets of Vancouver. These moments were freeing and inspiring to break the norm for myself both inside and out.





Me getting my tree pose on as we check out Gastown


My sis with two on lookers doing the dancer

We had to pose in front of these colorful wall paintings

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Vancouver Yoga, FUN!!

Wow, my first yoga conference which was in Vancouver, BC. This was a three day event with free yoga classes all day, concerts like kirtan sang by Will Blunderfield, trantric dance and booths with fun stuff to buy.

We got there Friday night my sis and I. We checked into the hotel then off to check out the yoga scene which was exciting. Since, it was late there was only time for a walk around, dinner then off to kirtan concert. We didn't know what to expect in regards to the concert, but it was great fun as Will is  a singer and performer. Everyone was sitting on the floor and we did some pranayama, sang along and Will slipped in some Hanson  Mmmbop chants which filled the room with free flowing energy. He also sang a song called Long time sun which had a great message read by the woman he sang withs daughter.   
 
If you wanna check Will out in his website.
http://www.willblunderfield.com/
 
I wanted to share it with everybody because it is beautiful and true.


"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinkingso that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us. I
t is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciouslygive other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson

May the long time sun
Shine upon you
All love Surround you, Surround you!


After attending that concert which was filled with positive, inspirational words the poem above made so much sense to me. We are powerful when we step into our own power which I believe is defined by living our purpose/passion, using the unique gifts we have and sharing them with the universe. Wow, this was only day 1 and it only gets better. 
 
The next day we started with a gratitude yoga class, next focused on bring the poses back to our hearts center, yin yoga and finally Ayurveda poses for your dosha. I must not forget lots of meditation which after two hours of yoga I had reached a stay of clam bliss. I felt so energized and renewed after all that yoga.    
 
As I conclude this experience I want to say that when we take ourselves out of our minds and into our hearts, breath and take in all that surrounds us that is when life brings
us blessings and teachings. Where is that space that brings you back to your heart space?

View from yoga conference, beautiful
 

On Orcas Island a place I found peace

A hike on Orcas Island that I loved and did often. Great spot to meditate. Mt lake trail.
Stanley Park view such beauty


 

Monday, November 5, 2012

Lessons on the mat

Well, I have been seeking advice on when to quit my job, will I find another? Can I afford to quit? How can I not quit as this job is dragging me down? Should I ride it out until the layoff date December 25th?  Wow my mind is incessant with questions, answers and ideas. So, I must get on my mat and quiet the mind. As I practice the asanas it brings me back to myself.

Tadasana- grounds me into the earth
Warrior I- I am strong and in control of my journey
Reverse warrior- I seek strength from a higher power as I look to the sky,
Down dog-Aaaah relax and be in this pose, breath, breath
Cobra- flow into your decisions and own them

I also wanted to share a book I refer to after I have done my AM yoga. It is called Living Your Yoga Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life. by Judith Lasater. As, I was reading the chapter on Spiritual Seeking which relates well to my journey now. Judith talks about when we are in a state of wholeness it brings you back to your natural being. I feel this describes how I feel when I step onto my mat.

May you also find that place of wholeness. I end with a mantra for the day from the book:

I am my own authority!


 
 
 
Reconnecting with my whole self

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Life and the signs we are given

Well, I come today to share about a situation that happened today at work. So, I am in the horticulture/agriculture industry and when the season is on you work 10 plus hours a day. We are now in the down season so hours have started to be cut back which I am enjoying the slower times. Today I was informed that I will be layed off for 4 to 6 weeks starting in January which was a bit alarming because I was hired on as full time nonseasonal staff. So, I am saying to myself wow how life speaks to us in such loud ways at times. The reason I say this is because I am looking onto yoga teacher training which starts in January and February they are located in Costa Rica or India. It is so interesting how I got caught up in the moment and was worried about this information as it consumed my thoughts for sometime. Yet, I get home go to my yoga mat and start flowing from one asana to the next with such energy and excitement. The universe is speaking to me so I better listen. It is really amazing when you ask and ask for signs to help you find your journey, and they appear with a booming voice. I end with this I am so grateful for these signs and that I am able to hear them.

I hope you all are able to hear or see the signs that cross your path.



My search for direction while taking this journey of life.
 





The light and peace that is felt after you are given a sign to follow your passion

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Am yoga is a treat

Morning yoga starts the day with honoring you and your time on the mat. As I step on to my mat I feel a sense of balance wash over me.
             I chose to do Surya Namaskar also known as sun salutations which open my heart and ground my soul. I ended my practice with meditation, as I sat in silence honoring the higher power in me and in all beings that live on this earth.

Seeking my higher power

Grounding myself into the earth

Challenging myself to be flexible in the flow of  life



Opening my heart to the universe


Honoring me, my practice and a grounded spirit


Sunday, October 21, 2012

Finding peace and your path

Sunday mornings for me are a time to awake, make coffee, listen to calming music and connect with my creative spirit through yoga. So, I have the coffee, music is on and my creative spirit has started to flow. As I sit here and write I want to share a poem I write some time back.

To ignite ones passion is to ignite ones inner being yet to not allow one to follow their heart is to deaden ones spirit. We as the human race must invite all that makes us unique and know that a life lived following your heart is a life to be honor.
 
Yoga has helped me to listen to my inner voice and ignite my passion for life. Also I find refuge in nature discovering hikes where trees and moss surround you. So, I want to share a place I go that quiets my mind and helps me reconnect with my true self. I think this would be a very amazing place to do yoga.
 
 
Boulder River Trail Arlington, WA
 


 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Yoga Lessons for today

I chose to do yoga outside today because the sun was shining, breeze blowing and birds singing. It was a perfect fall day. Before I start my practice I read from Living my Yoga which talked about suffering. We all know that throughout life there are moments of suffering, yet we can make the choice to let it be felt and not let it be our identity.

While flowing from one asana to the next I felt most grounded in Warrior II pose because I remember a class I took that the teacher said we are holding on to the past, reaching for the future but grounded in the present moment with our bodies. I feel this statement is so powerful as we cannot suffer when we stay present.


Me keeping myself grounded and in the present

Sunday, October 14, 2012

How I found yoga

Well, my first experience with yoga was at the gym I attended in Seattle, WA. They were offering a beginner yoga class, so I thought hey why don't you check it out as I know nothing about yoga. And, I was intimidated by some yoga classes because everyone seemed so advanced. So my first class I felt comfortable and the teacher was great, I was hooked after that and I created my schedule around that class. That has been about three years ago and yoga has become a big part of my life. I use it to help me when I am stressed, frustrated, sad or just need to check in with myself. I feel that yoga has been a flowing practice that helps me to suspend my self-judgement and appreciate the beauty of my body and all it can do.

As I leave this post today I want to share somethings I am bring to my mat. Where is my life going? Where do I want it to go? How to let fear pass through you and not let it consume you when dealing with big life decision? If you come across these questions please share as I as these questions while doing yoga where I hope to better hear my inner voice.

One legged down dog at Sliver falls, Entiat, WA with my sis.