DON’T BE GREEDY; BE GRATEFUL (Thanksgiving Schedule & News) November 24, 2015
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Fitness, Food, Gratitude, Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Music, Peace, Philosophy, Texas, Twin Cities, Yoga.add a comment
We are born knowing what we like
– “The Foundation” by Thievery Corporation
“Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing?”
– Rosalind as Ganymede as Rosalind in William Shakespeare’s As You Like It (Act I, Scene 4)
At this point in our lives, we’re pretty clear about what we like – and what we don’t like. We build our days, as much as we can, around our preferences – enabling us to indulge in what we like and avoid the things we don’t like. We often equate this to indulging in happiness and avoiding suffering. But, there’s a loophole. It’s not the things that make us happy or not happy. And, our little, seemingly innocuous, preferences can lead to big suffering.
Buddhism teaches that attachment leads to suffering. And yoga – like Buddhism – teaches that true freedom comes from the practice of non-attachment. But, it’s so hard! I mean, when you find something (or someone) you like, appreciate, and value, it’s human to want more…and more….and more. And, as long as it feels good and serves us in the present moment, there is very little incentive to give up our attachment. Unless, of course, we’re practicing – or forced/encouraged to practice – non-attachment.
Within hours of arriving in Houston, I was hip-deep in a discussion about yoga preferences. (This always sounds like an oxymoron or the beginning of a bad joke, but it’s just life.) My friends and I made plans to attend a class led by a teacher one of them liked. The studio was packed; there was amazing live music; I was between two very dear friends; and just before we started one of them placed her hands on me, looked deep in my eyes, and whispered, “Sorry, this isn’t going to be what you’re used to.”
Got it; time to practice my new mantra!
The class was great. So great, that two of us made plans to take another class from the same teacher the following night. Only our timing didn’t work out – and so we quickly made plans to take from another teacher. My friend apologized for the change and asked how I felt about taking a class from a teacher neither of us had tried. Only my answer didn’t matter, because this unknown teacher had a sub. Who was super nervous and (it seemed) relatively new as a teacher.
I marveled at how quickly we become attached…and then I focused on practicing my new mantra.
My annual Thanksgiving trip to Texas is definitely part of my practice. It’s a break from my current routines, which is actually a break from my old routines. And as I reacquaint myself with my old routines, everything becomes new. I get a chance to soak up all the people and things I love and appreciate about being home, while also giving me the time and space to reflect on all the people and things I love and appreciate about being in Minnesota. I also get to notice what’s different, what’s changed. And this year I came with a mantra in hand:
Don’t be greedy; be grateful.
It’s simple really. When you find yourself “liking” something, take a moment to remember that all of life is not Facebook (or Instagram). Step back, take a breath, and appreciate – express a little gratitude by being specific about why you like something. Then, when you find yourself wanting more (which is the next step in that whole attachment thing) repeat the process. Step back, take a breath, and appreciate again. This works when you’re contemplating a piece of homemade peach cobbler (thanks Helen) or a great yoga class with friends and live music (thanks Lee, Mimi, Kelly, and Ganesh Express).
It also works when your regular yoga class has a sub.
I am super grateful for all the very talented teachers who are covering my classes – as well as for all the people who show up for those classes. Thank you to everyone who has shared their practice and their thoughts about the practice over the years. There is a leaf on my gratitude tree for each of you – and for every one of those practices (on and off the mat)!
The Nokomis Yoga schedule will be as follows:
- Tuesday, Nov. 24th @ 12:00 PM (60 minutes with ERIKA)
- Tuesday, Nov. 24th @ 7:15 PM (75 minutes with ELIZABETH)
- Wednesday, Nov. 25th @ 4:30 PM (60 minutes – CANCELLED)
Erika Peterson and Elizabeth Carls both teach regular classes at Nokomis Yoga. For more on their teaching, check out their bios.
The Wednesday night Slow Flow at Flourish will be cancelled on November 25th. Please join me on December 2nd.
For information on my incredible YMCA subs, please check the online schedules. (Also, please note that the Downtown Minneapolis will run an alternate schedule 11/26 – 11/27.)
Finally, an extra special thank you to Shelby (at Blaisdell) for covering my 6:30 PM class on Sunday, December 6th!
~~ HAVE A PEACEFUL, GRACEFUL, GRATEFUL, & JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON ~~
Q: What’s better than dinner & a movie? September 8, 2015
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Bhakti, Changing Perspectives, Fitness, Food, Gratitude, Health, Hope, Kirtan, Mantra, Meditation, Men, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Movies, Music, Peace, Sukkot, Twin Cities, Women, Yoga.add a comment
A: Something that feeds your mind, body, and spirit!
A friend mentioned today that she’s not sure she feels as fulfilled as she does when she’s in our yoga class. She expressed a desire to feel that full (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) during more parts of her life. (Naturally, she’s coming on our retreat to fill up some more!) But, in our conversation, we both recognized how hard it is to set aside the time to fill up a little bit – let alone enough to carry that awareness into the other parts of our lives.
This conversation is one I hear again and again. Especially this year, as many people consider how they can join us on our first yoga retreat. For some, it seems hard to join us for the whole weekend because the beginning of fall is already full of so many commitments or because the summer was relatively busy. Still, the desire lingers….
And as that desire lingers at the back of your mind or heart, you may spend these next few weeks eating meals with people you love, attending yoga classes as you can, and wishing for more – like the opportunity to put it all together and feel more.
Even though we are out of beds (and working on more), you can still join us for part or all of the festivities on Saturday, October 3rd. You could also select the Saturday Night Special, which includes an evening yoga class, dinner, and live kirtan!
Meghan has been busy testing recipes (with farm fresh ingredients). Sandra and I have been fleshing out our gratitude arc. Kirtan Path has agreed to provide live kirtan on Saturday night. And, we’ve run out of beds! For all this, we are grateful.
You could, of course, give us one more reason to be grateful.
Nuts, glands and heads November 18, 2014
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Fitness, Food, Healing Stories, Health, Love, Men, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Music, Philosophy, Science, Women, Yoga.1 comment so far
Thanks to Ms E, on the Sunny Side, for continuing the conversation!
Sunday, in yoga class, right as we were moving into shavasana, Yogi M talked about self screening. “Feel your balls and know your balls, men. Just like women do a monthly self breast exam, figure out what your testicles should feel like and pay attention to changes. Just start paying attention.” Unusual for a yoga class, not unusual for Ms. M.
We spent the hour talking about Movember. My teach pasted on a fake black moustache and spoke very frankly about men’s health. This Sunday class is made up of men, mostly older than me who are arguably pretty in 
tune with their bods and probably pretty open to new things. They most likely wouldn’t be doing yoga if they weren’t. So Yogi M had a captive male audience and she captivated the rest of us too. Captivated because I have never heard of men doing self screening tests of…
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30 Days of… April 1, 2014
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 31-Day Challenge, Changing Perspectives, Donate, Fitness, Food, Health, Karma, Karma Yoga, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Twin Cities, Volunteer, Yoga.add a comment
In 1557, Thomas Tusser wrote, “Sweet April showers/Do spring May flowers.” It was a reminder that wonderful things are coming.
However, after this winter I’m pretty much done with delayed gratification – I want every day to not only reminder me of better days, I want it to be a better day! So, this April please join me in 30 fun filled days of….
Yoga (30 Poses in 30 Days)
Poetry
Biking*
Tacos
Gratitude
Feel free to comment are what you’re going to enjoy over the next 30 days!
*Small print: I’m being very creative about my “biking”!
108 Sun Salutations? Check! Now What? January 3, 2013
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 108 Sun Salutations, Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Fitness, Food, Health, Hope, Japa, Japa-Ajapa, Karma, Mala, Mantra, Meditation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Music, New Year, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Science, Suffering, Surya Namaskar, Twin Cities, Writing, Yoga.Tags: Surya Namaskar
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Practicing 108 Sun Salutations is the marathon of yoga. Of course, if you’ve never trained and then run a marathon, your body doesn’t know the difference. So, when you’re done, treat yourself as if you just ran 26 miles. Smile, breathe, and congratulate yourself. Maybe go out for some pasta. Definitely take Kathy T’s advice and enjoy an unapologetic 108-minute nap. (Best advice ever!!!)
Then what?
For your body
Relax and pamper yourself. Some research shows ice baths are helpful after a major endurance event. But, if you’re injury free, I’m all about keeping the muscles warm. Especially when it’s sub-0 outside the studio! So, indulge in a hot shower; soak in the tub with your favorite bath salts or bubbles; or combine one of the above with some time in the sauna or whirlpool. Take a restorative or yin yoga class to support and encourage deep tissue relaxation. For the ultimate indulgence, combine all of the above with a massage.
Literally and figuratively, put your feet up. Every pose in the sequence requires you to engage your feet and legs, while simultaneously activating your hips and core muscles. Decompress the lower body parts by spending some time in Viparita Karani (“Legs-Up-the-Wall”). This is a mild inversion that you can adjust as needed. If the shoulders and neck are out of sorts, place a blanket underneath the upper back. If the shoulders, hips, and low back need more tension release, elevate the sacrum and hips with a blanket, block, and/or a bolster. Keep the legs extended if you need the hamstring stretch. However, if they are already feeling overstretched after 216+ forward bends, release the hamstrings by bending the knees at a 90 degree angle and resting the shins on a chair, sofa, bench, or table. If it’s in your practice, explore more inversions.
A little hair of the dog is always good, but don’t go whole hog. Try Surya Namaskar C with Inch Worm and a modified Crescent (to stretch the psoas and quadricep of the back leg). Adding Chest Expansion to the lunge creates a nice stretch through the upper chest, shoulders, and a baby back bend for the low back.
Most importantly, listen to your body. When I finished the practice just before midnight on December 31st, my body was screaming for Gomukhasana (“Cow Face Pose”) legs. The next morning, when I could actually walk, I was really glad I listened. The second day after my practice, I added Garudasana (“Eagle Pose”) arms and Gomukhasana arms to the seated pose.
For your mind
Spend some quiet time just breathing, or contemplating how you felt before, during, and after the practice. A lot of people, myself included, expressed a little anxiousness before the practice. Take a moment to consider how much of the anxiety was fear of the unknown and fear of “failing,” and how much was actually anxiety about letting go.
Consider the different variations and dedications, as well as how you reacted to each. Look back over any notes you made; maybe make some more.
Request additional information about something that was said or done, or music that was played during the practice.
For your spirit
Be still. Soak up, celebrate, and appreciate all you did. Give yourself permission to express any emotions that came up during or after the practice. Recognize that some of your emotional responses are going to come down the road. Notice them; acknowledge them; and honor them.
Review your sankalpa (“vow”, “intention”) and your guiding principle statements. Notice if the still resonate. The intention of the meditation was to start the process of setting an intention. What you wrote or thought during the practice was a first draft. Maybe it worked right off the bat. But if your tongue or mind tripped over the words, then or now, restate it.
Finally, remember that the sankalpa is not intended as a simple affirmation. It’s part of your heart song and it’s a message meant to be sent and received internally. If you meditate or pray, include the words in your mind the next time you sit, kneel, or walk. The next time you practice yoga, think of the words during your Savasana. The vow is particularly powerful when used during Yoga Nidra; so, find or download a class and relax your way to your goal!
For the teacher inside you
Notice where you felt the practice, physically and emotionally. Notice where you didn’t feel it. Being sore after the practice is a common experience; you’ve worked every part of your body, after all, and in some cases you’ve worked harder than normal. And everything you did before the practice was part of your training. The question is: how good was your training? Did you remember to bend your knees – or are your hamstrings sore because you forgot to bend your knees? How’s your core? Do your shoulders and low back ache because you worked the muscles in a different way? How are your feet, hips, and knees? What about your wrists and neck? How many of the 14 muscles in your shoulder girdles feel good versus stressed, sore, or fatigued?
OK, to be fair, that last question was my favorite trick question. Most of us don’t even realize we have 14 muscles in each of our shoulders. The point isn’t (necessarily) to identify them so much as to notice how you feel and to note if your are sore (or not) because you were ready for the practice (or not) or because at some point along the way you forgot to be mindful of your alignment.
Finally, noticing how you feel after practicing 108 Sun Salutations, along with the counterposes, gives you a good indication of what parts of your practice are working and where you can focus a little more awareness during the new year. Talk to your yoga teachers about what poses or sequences can help you build strength or flexibility in your weak areas.
For the teacher who led you
No matter where or when you practice, the person (or people) leading the practice will appreciate your feedback.
The 2013 Nokomis Yoga New Year’s practice was a first for many in my circle and a “multi-first” for me! While I have practiced and co-led 108 Sun Salutations at the YMCA for the Spring and Fall Equinoxes, this was my first time leading solo; my first time doing all 108 at Nokomis; and my first New Year’s practice with the guided meditation. Since I would love to do it again, please let me know how it felt for you. If you have a moment (now, or over the next 12 months), please let me know (via e-mail or comment on the blog) what you liked or didn’t like; what resonated and what fell flat; what you appreciated – even if you didn’t like it; and whether or not you would join me again for this type of event. I know Solveig would also appreciate a review for Nokomis Yoga, if you are on google+.
Many thanks and blessings to the 22 incredible people who shared their New Year’s Day with me. I feel honored and humbled to be a small part of your practice and I appreciate the energy and joy you put into the occasion.
~ Check out Tara Woltjen’s 2011 post on the Surya Namaskar backstory and for the wonderful poem “A Prayer to the Light” (which coincides so beautifully with the practice I included it in our "mindfulness round"). ~
~ Check out Tara Woltjen’s 2011 post on the Surya Namaskar backstory and for the wonderful poem “A Prayer to the Light” (which coincides so beautifully with the practice I included it in our "mindfulness round"). ~
Didn’t make it to a New Year’s Mala practice on January 1st? There’s still time! Several studios (including taraNa in Minneapolis) are hosting the practice on Saturday, January 5th!
Still sore? Recovery 108 is currently password protected.
~ Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanthi Om ~
A Day (18) of Surprises January 28, 2011
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 21-Day Challenge, Books, Changing Perspectives, Fitness, Food, Health, Mantra, Meditation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Philosophy, Texas, Twin Cities, Yoga.add a comment
Day 18
“Be prepared.” – Motto for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America
“To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.” – Oscar Wilde
Ask almost any red-blooded American and they can tell you the motto for the Boy Scouts of America: Be Prepared – or, always be prepared. Ask for the Girl Scouts motto and even former Girl Scouts like me draw a blank. We have to look it up. Turns out the scouting organizations share the same motto. And, while I may not have remembered the motto as being part of my scouting days, it is something I take to heart. Scouts have their trusty pocket knives and can make a tourniquet out of a belt or sash. I have a backpack I refer to as my portable office. People say even the “small” one is bigger than me. I try to carry everything I might need during the course of a day; but, even I’m not prepared for everything (not even close). There are things (and times) for which you can only prepare for by being open to whatever comes: expect the unexpected.
Today was one of those days when I could have probably (undoubtedly) left the pack at home. I was planning to sub a class that is usually taught without music, and I planned to open it up for requests – which I rarely ever do. After lunch with a fellow Texan, I planned to meet with Cynthia Rae Levine, another yoga instructor, and then take her prenatal class so that I could sub for her in the future. Somewhere along the way, I planned to practice the sequence featured for Day 18 of Yoga Journal’s 21-Day Challenge and practice one or both of my meditations.
This should have been a big purse or a pocket-full-of-stuff day, but I wasn’t prepared to go out without my full arsenal, so I swung on my “small” pack. Just in case.
Rewinding just a bit, I should mention that the unexpected happened before I ever left the house. My alarm was acting funny and I ended up getting out of bed a little later than I planned. Normally I plan to arrive where ever I’m teaching at least 30 minutes early; that way, if there’s a delay, I’m usually covered. Sometimes when I’m subbing I give myself even more grace time, but sometimes I give myself less. Even though I woke up later than usual, the class was later than when I usually teach and I figured I had time to fit in some aspects of my daily routine.
I sat for 5 minutes, which became 10 before I realized I had incorrectly set the alarm. I still had time to do the Day 18 video, a 30-Minute Aligning and Refining Forward Bends Practice with Elise Lorimer. But it was going to be tight. I almost skipped the video, just so I wouldn’t have to rush and (to be honest) I wasn’t sure I’d had enough sleep to keep up with one of Lorimer’s sequences. I ultimately decided to do the video, but I set the alarm to keep myself on schedule. (And yes, I double checked the alarm.)
I liked this sequence a lot more than the “Fun Flow.” It was still intense on the hips and I can see some people saying parts are cued a little fast, but it felt really good. I didn’t feel like I was opening up for forward bending – or that I was refining my forward bends – but I get where she was going. I also felt like it was fun and could be challenging for a variety of different fitness and experience levels. I especially liked the IT band stretch based on Ardha Hanumanasana. I haven’t been doing a lot of Eka Pada Rajakopatasana I (One Legged King Pigeon I) in my classes, because I feel like a lot of attention needs to be given to the proper alignment. So, I was a little surprised to find it in this mix. However, going into it, and Cow Face pose (legs only), gave me an opportunity to notice how my hips have changed over the last few months. Also, because I felt like the sequence lacked forward bending, I paid particular attention to the King Pigeon feels and works as a forward bend. I was a little disappointed in the way the block and blanket were used. A fully supported Standing Forward Fold or a fully supported Pascimottanasana would have been appreciated during this sequence. I’m pretty sure Lorimer was going for the latter at the end of the sequence, but I felt like it would have been more effective with the blanket on top of the legs and the block on top of that. The video seemed to go over 30-minutes, so I didn’t get the extended Savasana for which my body was begging. It would have been really nice after this sequence. Overall, I felt really good – good enough to meditate – but I didn’t have time.
I missed my bus and had to take the train, which was delayed a little bit. Honestly, I was gratefully for the slight delay because it enabled me to catch the “earlier” train. Then I discovered that the slight delay was probably a direct result of a power line falling on the train tracks and disrupting service to downtown.
Hmm, nothing in my backpack was going to help with this situation. All I could do was take a deep breath; get on the bus acting as the train; reassure a business man he wouldn’t be far from his hotel; and call my supervisor to say I would probably be a minute or two late.
I was 2 minutes late. After running through Macy’s and the skyway, I climbed up the stairs to the 6th floor studio – only to discover another teacher was teaching the class. I quietly, and as unobtrusively as possible, closed the door and headed back down the stairs. I was relieved that the class had started on time, but I was unprepared to discover there had been some scheduling confusion and the other teacher had showed up expecting to teach all along. Again, I was relieved and – again – there was nothing in my pack to help with the fact that we might encounter the same confusion on Monday. I took a deep breath and left the other teacher a message, hoping we could clear up in confusion in the morning.
My Texas friend and I met for lunch a little earlier than we had planned. Then we explored a cafe/bakery/deli/baltic import shop across the street from where we had lunch. We had a great time, as we always do, and our little retail adventure was an unexpected pleasure. (My backpack finally came in handy, because my friend brought me a package from home, which I handily slipped into my pack, but this was neither unexpected or absolutely necessary.)
Eventually, I made it over to the coffee shop near the studio to meet with Cynthia. Both of us were running late – nothing major, and nothing in my pack that would have made a big difference. We had tea and then moved over to the studio for class. I pulled some of my yoga goodies out of my pack; but, seriously folks, I could have foregone the goodies or carried them in a large purse.
At the beginning of class, Cynthia has everyone introduce themselves and give some information about their pregnancy. She also has a question for each of the “mamas” to answer. Tonight’s question was “What word are you currently associating with your pregnancy?”
Well, since I’m not pregnant, I went with an obvious one: Miraculous. One of the women said, “Surprising.” Either of those words could apply to my feelings during and after the class. Plainly put, Cynthia led an amazing class that was three parts inspiration, one part exertion, and two parts relaxation. Plus, it was a super fun combination of hip openers, core engagement, breathing, balance, and forward bending. When we moved into Savasana I felt, in a nutshell, so phenomenal and so utterly relaxed, I wished I was pregnant just so I would have an excuse to come back next week.
Nothing in my back pack prepared me for that.
At the end of the day, as I sat down to do my 18-Minute So Hum Meditation, I couldn’t help but think about how the day started and all the little things that happened along the way. Then I thought of something Cynthia repeated throughout our conversations during tea, and during the introduction to her class: “Life is life.” To me, that summed up my day, my week, and this whole 21-day yoga challenge, Life is unexpected, surprising, and miraculous – it is full of the unexpected. And, it doesn’t matter how many gadgets are on your Swiss Army knife or in your backpack, the only way you can really be prepared for everything is if you are prepared to breath through anything.
Cynthia Rae Levine teaches prenatal classes at Nokomis Yoga and at Blooma. If you're looking for a prenatal class or a doula in the Twin Cities, check her out!
A Joyful Practice 