Yeah, but does it work?

I haven't blogged in a few days...things get busy around here once school kicks into gear.  Lab reports and tests need to get graded, lessons need to be planned, kids need to be shuffled around to sports and lessons, homework needs to be done.  Now this year I'm adding my own homework, lessons, and classes to the mix.  Suffice it to say, I've been meaning to write, but time is at a premium.

It's a topsy-turvy world I've created this fall.  I was up and out of the house by 5:20am on Friday, just to observe a class and back home in time to get to work early because I was doing a lab with my students that required a bit of prep.  Today, I'm set to take my first all-day teacher training session (Husband is gamely willing to entertain the boys solo today), followed by a Jack White concert at Radio City later tonight.  Whew.  Even still, I feel it's going to be worth it in the end, and I'm enjoying the journey thus far (even if the homework is a bit anxiety-inducing - see previous post).

I was sharing with someone at work that I was going back to school this year to get a new teaching certification, and when I explained that it was for teaching yoga, she raised an eyebrow and said "Oh?"  "Yes...", I continued, "I've been practicing for a long time, and I felt like this was the next step for me to take my practice a little further, a little more serious."  She questioned back, "Yoga, huh?  You don't seem like the type.  I mean, does it even work?"  I didn't even know how to answer that.

First of all, the comment that I didn't seem like the "type"...what's that supposed to mean?  How about Marilyn up there, hands in Anjali Mudra...does she seem like the type?  I mean, she's wearing lipstick and jewels and everything!  Should I start there (I've been known to don a red lip and a few gems now and again)...or am I supposed to drench myself in patchouli and wear tunics, mala beads, and Birkenstocks everywhere?  I know that people make assumptions about "yogis", so I took no offense...I thought it was funny that her first reaction was that I wasn't the type.  

The second query was the one that made me pause:  Does it even work?  Does yoga work for what?  Straighening your hair?  Getting out stains?  Probably not.  The thing about yoga is that everyone has a different reason and intention for coming to the mat, and I would venture to say that it probably does work for whatever intention you set out for yourself.  The biggest thing to realize is that yoga is not a "magic bullet" solution for your problems.  I was scanning my brain about how to explain this for her, but I quickly realized that people can't be made to see this until they are ready to see it.  A yoga practice is something you build over time - nothing happens overnight - and with each session on the mat, be it restorative, iyengar, or vinyasa, you'll have an opportunity to work on your intention.

Is your intention to relax?  True, relaxation can happen in a lavender-scented bubble bath, but yoga can also offer relaxation.  Is your intention to build strength?  Lift some free weights...or do a few planks and down-dogs.  Do you want to restore the flexibility of your youth?  Yoga is one path.  Is it weight loss you're after?  Well, the time spent on your yoga mat is time that you're not spending eating, so I suppose weight loss could be in the cards for you.

I'm not trying to be glib.  The point is that yoga can help you accomplish just about any intention you set for yourself.  You just have to acknowledge what that intention is, and decide that yoga is going to be your path to that intention.  It was the scoffing attitude, I think, that got me...almost with a tone of judgement..."Does it even work?"  My eventual reply was a chipper "Well, it's working for me.  Give it a try, maybe it will work for you!  I'll be looking for people to test out my teaching with soon..."  I think she was looking for something more concrete, though.  She wanted me to say, "I've lost 10 pounds since I started!"  or "Check out my ripped biceps!" or "Well, I've magically lost the urge to scream at my 8th graders every day!"

Since I had no glory stories to tell, I may not have been as inspiring as she needed me to be.  Sometimes people need something material to grasp onto before they come to the mat...but once they get there, I think the truth dawns on them:  that yoga is not magic, but it can be whatever you want it to be, and that's what's so great about it!  Maybe that's magic afterall...

"By practising Yoga, impurities dwindle away and the light of wisdom dawns." - Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

Gratitude

See that word over there? <---  It means "contentment" - something that I think I will be struggling with for a very long time.  Then again, what life is there without struggle?  Does struggle make life worth living?  Such a silly question, because I can think of many people who struggle a whole lot more that I do, and does that make their life worth more than mine?  I know a great many people who seem to struggle a whole let less than I do, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't make their life worth less.  I think the question I mean to ask is "what is a life without struggle?"  Is it a life with contentment?  But that's what I'm struggling with!  ...Aha, you begin to see my conundrum...
Nonetheless, sometimes things don't quite go the way I plan them (and as a working mom with 2 small children, there is often a carefully orchestrated plan in place to make sure kids get where they need to be, house cleaned, groceries shopped, laundry done, doctors appointments made, general house upkeep, etc).  When the plan fails, it's so easy to get upset, to get worked up, to get frustrated.  It takes a great amount of humility to stop and be grateful for those times when the plan actually *does* go right.  In fact, when the plan does go right, I, personally, don't stop and take a moment to express gratitude for that.  Perhaps I should...
On Monday, my older boy started his full-day summer camp.  Prior to this week, he had only been doing an activity that lasted from 8am to 10am.  My younger son has camp from 9am to noon.  What this meant was that I had only a 1-hour kid-free window to do whatever it was that needed doing.  That's not a whole lot of time.  Now, I have a 3-hour window, which opens up a world of possibilities!  Or so I thought.  I, of course, wanted to squeeze in some studio yoga classes, but by the time I drive the half-hour to the studio, take the hour and 15 minute class, and drive home for another half hour, it leaves me with 45 minutes to do whatever.  Not nearly enough time.
Huh?  I had a 1 hour window where I was too rushed to do anything, and suddenly I have a 3 hour window, and it's still not enough time?!?  I was in the studio class on Monday morning, on my mat, feeling disgruntled that by the time class was over and I drove home, I wouldn't have enough time to do any other errands.  Then it dawned on me that I wasn't feeling gratitude for the time I did have.  I made the choice to spend my time on the mat - and while my to-do list wasn't getting any shorter  - the dry cleaning wasn't getting picked up, the phone calls weren't getting made, the fresh groceries for dinner weren't being bought, I could rationalize that I was choosing to spend my time on the mat.  Time well-spent, if you ask ANY yogi!
(actually, in retrospect, a calm, relaxed and centered Mommy is quite a positive accomplishment for any family!  Count your blessings, boys!)
I often find myself telling my children: "Be thankful for the things you actually do have, do not cry for the things you don't have"  This often comes up when one brother gets a perceived "treat" that the other brother does not (ie, one gets more time on the iPad, or eats dessert at a slower pace so it seems like he had a larger serving, etc).  My reflections on Monday led me to realize that I would do well to take my own advice.  I think if I took pause and remembered to be grateful more often, then my life might begin to come closer to "contentment"

Ask inwardly for guidance, and listen for a reply - Erich Schiffmann

Yoga on Netflix!

I like to think that I'm a better mother than most of the mothers I watch on TV...but Nancy Botwin sets the bar really low.  My husband was away for much of this week, so after the kids were snuggled nicely in their beds each night, I settled down for some Netflix...but there's only so much dysfunction one can take.  So, I decided to browse the offerings, and see if there were yoga selections I could check out...thankfully, there were!  On the streaming Netflix (playable through our Wii and PS3) there were workout selections that were actual yoga and some that were related to yoga, and there were lots of titles that needed to be ordered through the traditional Netflix.  I kept browsing, and somehow stumbled upon a movie about yoga.  THIS was intriguing.

The documentary was called Enlighten Up! and is definitely for someone who is pretty serious about yoga.  Suffice it to say, it's a good thing Husband was away, because he would never agree to watch this flick.  He's more into the Exit Through the Gift Shop brand of documentaries.  Anyway, even I, she who loves yoga, had to split this documentary up over two sessions.  It's not that it was tedious...it's more because of the fact that I wasn't starting to watch until 9pm, and I'm a 10:30 bedtime kinda girl.  I need at least a half-hour to brush teeth, wash face, and slather on the eye creme du jour (crow's feet be damned!)

Enlighen Up! was a project set up by documentarian Kate Churchill, who is big time into yoga.  She feels that yoga has the power to physically, emotionally, and spiritually transform anyone, and this movie was her project to prove that this is possible.  As her test subject, she chooses Nick, a single, 30-something (nowadays...I think he was 29 when the film was made) NYC journalist, who is skeptical.  Watching the film, you learn that his parents divorced when he was very young, and his father is a lawyer.  Nick mentions this without hesitation.  He also mentions without hesitation that his mother is a "shamanic healer"..but he doesn't elaborate at all.  He just answers the question point blank:  "What does your mother do?"  "She's a shamanic healer", and he stares at the camera for quite some time saying nothing further.  It's almost as if he's uncomfortable with his mother's path/lifestyle/outlook for some reason.  Nick seems to be a guy who hasn't quite found himself yet - he probably grew up a privileged kid, who was conflicted about a lot of things (marriage/relationships/religion/career). He iterated many times that, as a journalist, he felt the need to seek truth and be convinced of things.  I also detected that he'd been given a lot, and when he needed to find things for himself, he wasn't quite sure where to begin.  He didn't quite strike me as "driven" by any means, so it didn't seem to be a hardship to give up several weeks to participate in this project.  I agree wth Kate - this guy was an excellent candidate.  If she can convince him that yoga is transformative, she can convince anyone.

The duo travelled all over the globe:  New York to Hawaii to India and back again.  The "Celebrity Yogis" whom they interviewed were hilarious. They all said virtually the same thing and commented on the commercialism of Yoga ("well, my DVDs are doing well", "I've expanded product offerings to include bedsheets", etc!). DVDs and bedsheets? Wow...so not what yoga is about for me!

By the end of this journey, Nick got to meet some pretty amazing people who freely shared their "enlightened philosophies".  My favorite, the one who made the most sense to me, was Guru Saran Ananda in Gokul, India.  Listening to his advice, I thought for sure Nick would be transformed.  But Nick struggled time and time again with the issue of Spirituality.  Towards the end of the movie, we find out that Nick has moved to Colorado and has given up Yoga in favor of Rock Climbing.  So I suppose Spirituality was his hang up afterall.
 
Is spirituality a hangup for all of us, when it comes to yoga?  Maybe.  I'm not quite ready to give up my Christianity, but I am absolutely open to listening to all that yogic philosophy has to offer.  My search is a way to meld the two.  I know yoga is an 8-limbed path; asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing) are but two parts designed to ready your body for meditation.  Seeing as I rarely have time to get myself on the mat, I don't necessarily think I'll be getting myself to the point of real, honest to goodness mediation any time soon.  However, many of the principles of yoga: Ahimsa (non-harming) and Satya (living according to your own truth), coupled with the 8th limb of Samadhi (acknowledgement of the devine), really make sense to me.  They speak to me in such a basic way:  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Treat yourself the way you deserve to be treated.  These "golden rules" make sense to me, and seeing as they don't really harm anyone or get in the way of anyone else's beliefs or ways of being, it helps me to feel "enlightened"!
 
It doesn't matter what you do.  It's why you do it that's important" - Guru Saran Ananda

First day of Spring

Ahhhh!  It's finally here!  A change of season.  The vernal equinox.  The first day of Spring!  Where are you going to let your life wander during these next 90 days?  It's amazing to think that some of us are going to experience things that will irreversibly change our lives.  Some of us know that these changes are on the horizon, but as life is unpredictable, many of these changes will be unexpected.  How you respond to these changes is about the only thing that is controllable.  Of course, flexibility - physical and emotional -  is an advantage in these instances.  Yoga postures certainly  help achieve physical flexibility, but how do you work on emotional flexibility? 

Yama  is known as the first of 8 limbs of a yoga practice, and it recommends following 5 ethical "practices" in your daily existence.  You can follow these guidelines in your self-awareness, in your relations with others, even in your diet (which might be a challenge for some of you meat-lovers out there!).  Trying to keep these practices in mind will certainly give you some emotional flexibility, and influence how you perceive changes that happen to you as well as how you respond to them!
Ahimsa is the first ethical practice (it's also the subject of my most viewed blog entry ever! 82 pageviews and counting...)click here.  It stands for applying non-violence to every part of your life - this means not harming others OR yourself - ie, not pushing yourself too hard during a workout, not really eating meat (sorry, Husband), that sort of thing. 
Satya means truth; specifically, living according to your own truth.  Okay, got it: to thine own self be true. 
Asteya is fairly straight-forward:  non-stealing.  Hmmm.  Ironically, I steal many of the images used in this blog.  Note to self: perhaps I should devote a little more time and attention to this particular ethical practice of asteya...
And then there's Brahmacharya.  Uh-oh, I can already tell that this next "suggestion" is not going to go over so well.  This is the "ethical" practice of abstinance.  Yeah.  Containing your sexual energy is restraint, alright!  How this is going to help you with your Yama and emotional flexibility, I'm not quite sure...  Okay, dear readers, why don't we just keep moving along to the last ethical practice:
Aparigraha, which means non-grasping and non-covetousness (is that a word?).  This is one practice that can help you best deal with change.  Relax your grip on things, and just observe the world.  Keep your mind open to the change - reality is that change is going to happen whether you compel it to or not. 
While practicing Yama can present it's own challenges, it certainly puts forth a few guidelines worth considering.  If all else fails, or you feel as though yama just isn't cutting if for you, the best thing of all is to just breathe.  When changes come too fast or seem like more than you can handle, open your mind to all possibilities,  including the possibility that a negative change can be turned into a positive one, and B-R-E-A-T-H-E.

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love" - Marcus Aurelius

My 80th post!...and the end of mid-winter break

Entryway to the Temple

So, how did I spend this last-day-before-heading-back-to-work?  Husband had a great idea to take the boys to Flushing to visit a Hindu temple and grab a bite to eat, and a great idea it was!

First of all, the day couldn't have been more beautiful - end of Februrary in New York, sunny and approaching 50 degrees.  It was great to be out and experiencing something a little off the beaten path in our great city.  We got a little lost on the way, and had a rather loud, angry shout fest in the car...was it my fault for emailing and not providing directions, or was it his fault for printing-out shitty directions and being impatient with my phone's GPS?  It's un-germane (is that even a word?) to the point of the trip, and yes, I'm more than a little embarrassed that my kids had to witness that, but I think we'll all live.

We luckily got the directions sorted, and found the temple.  Even luckier, we were able to find on-street parking just around the corner.  The temple is actually under reconstruction, and much of it's facade was scaffolded off, but the website shows the ornately decorated top of the temple.  We strolled through the entryway, admiring the various incarnations of Ganesh, the Hindu god with an Elephant's head and human body (sometimes with multiple arms), before we found our way to the temple's entrance.  We needed to leave our shoes in the basement before entering the main temple.  We wandered the perimeter to check out the jaw-dropping statues of deities, each adorned with garlands of flowers and jewels. 
Fortunately, a ceremony was underway, celebrating the Maha Sivaratri Day (which is coming up this Wednesday), and we were able to respectfully observe.  We saw the food offerings, heard some chanting, and witnessed the adorning of the main statue with flowers.  Unfortunately, we understood very little, but it was fascinating to watch, nonetheless, and we felt quite welcome to peaceably observe.

After a bit, the growl of our tummies and the promise of some delicious curry called us to the Temple's Canteen (too much Star Wars had me accidentally calling it the "Cantina" more than once).  I have no idea what we ate, but it was a weekend-only special for $9, it was spicy, and it was good.  There was a potato curry, a pappadum, something creamy with carrots and okra, and a yummy grain with chopped greenbeans.  There was a sweet dish, and a side of yogurt.  We ordered a supplemental Paneer dosa (very spicy!) and a plain dosa which was delicious when dunked in the sweet dish.  I had an authentic chai (surprisingly quite a bit different from the chai my morning bag of tea claims to be), Husband had a coffee, and a quick stroll through the Temple gift shop ended our trip.  I'm glad we took this little adventure, and look forward to a return trip!

This mid-winter break has been a great time to relax, recharge, and reconnect. Thanks to the time off, I've also been able to make quite a few blog entries, and (happily!) increase the readership. Thank you for stopping by...I can't promise I'll keep up with as much regularity, but I'll give it an honest try, so keep checking back! 



The divine is universal.  "It makes no difference whether you worship God, Jehovah, Allah, Mohammed, Buddah, Christ, or Krishna - it is still and always one and the same God." - Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Yoga Journal - March 2011 Issue

   Well, the March Issue of Yoga Journal has arrived, and while I feel a bit silly blogging about a magazine that you yourself could pick up at the newsstand or better yet, subscribe to, I noticed that some of the blogs I frequent make posts that announce emails from retailers they adore.  I figure if that sort of stuff is blog-worthy, then giving you an inside peek to the latest issue may be warranted...

Do you subscribe to Yoga Journal, or ever pick up a copy on the newsstand/bookstore?  What are you looking forward to reading this month?

We are here to love each other, serve each other and uplift each other.

YATS cooks!

Want a cost effective and delicious foray into Indian cuisine?  Try it yourself at home!!

Here at YATS, we do it all...yoga poses, media reviews, fashion, and now:  COOKING!  Don't get me wrong...I've always cooked - I just never blogged about it before.  Then, when I was fixing up dinner last night, I looked down at the table and decided it WAS something worth writing home about.  Heck, it was even something worth blogging about!  I know you'll appreciate it:

So, the key to this evening's meal was this TastyBite "Good Korma" simmer sauce, which I picked up for the low-low price of $1.99 at Fairway last week.  All of the TastyBite simmer sauces were on sale, but this one had a catchy name, AND I was pretty sure I could get my kids to eat it.   While I was there, I also picked up a package of Garlic Naan (already made - I just needed to warm it up) and some Basmati Rice.  All other ingredients I had at home (and purchased at Stop & Shop for a fraction of the cost at Fairway.  Fairway is great for specialty foods, but terrible for other things...it's just a matter of whether or not you have time to visit another grocery store to find out if saving the 5 bucks is worth it to you.  I'm on a tighter budget these days, and I have the time to shop around, so I did).  Here's a list of ingredients along with what they cost, so you can get a sense of what a bargain this meal was for my family of 4!  My standby curry place lists Chicken Korma at $16.95.  I think it comes with the rice, but add in the Garlic Naan at $3.95, and you're talking over 20 bucks, and there's no guarantee that would feed 4, let alone with leftovers!

Here's what you NEED for a home-cooked curry, YATS-style:

• TastyBites "Good Korma" sauce ($1.99 on sale)
• Garlic Naan (2 large pieces $2.99)
• 6 Frozen boneless chicken tenderloins (we call this "magic chicken" - it cooks from frozen and never disappoints!  The HUGE bag costs $5.99, and I only used 6 pieces (about 2 breasts' worth).  There's plenty more in the freezer for several other uses!)
• Frozen cauliflower florets store brand "steam in bag" variety ($1.79 - I only used half the bag)
• Basmati Rice ($4.99 for a 1 lb. bag...pricey, but this is the variety of rice you need for an Indian cookup!)
• 1 can Swanson fat free chicken broth (.79 on sale)
• Cardamom pods (I had these in the pantry...don't remember how much they cost)

Here's what you DO:

1.  Place 1 cup plus 2 Tbs.  Basmati in a medium-sized microwavable bowl.  Add the can of chicken broth (1 3/4 C), stir to mix, and toss in 4 or 5 cardamom pods.  Put the bowl, uncovered, in the microwave, high power, for 5 minutes.  Once that's going...

2.  Heat 1 Tbs. Olive oil over high heat in a saute pan (I used a braiser, actually).   Add frozen chicken tenderloins, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 3 minutes.  By this time, the microwave is beeping.  Give the rice a quick stir, and cook uncovered for 12 more minutes on 50% power.

3.  Turn your chicken.  Cook for 2 minutes, remove from heat.  The chicken will not be cooked through OR browned - and this is how you want it.  Cut the semi-cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.  Return to braiser and add the 1/2 bag of frozen cauliflower.  Cover and steam over medium heat for 2 or 3 more minutes, until chicken is cooked through.

4.  Add the Good Korma simmer sauce and stir to coat all the pieces.  Let this simmer at low heat until the rice is done.  Meanwhile, on the next BARE burner, gently toast the Naan.  You are doing this over an open gas flame, so your undivided attention is necessary.  I just let the naan sit right on top of the burner and it does the job nicely!  When I see the bread smoking, I use tongs to lift it and move it to a new spot.  Once toasted to your liking, turn off the flame and transfer to serving dish. I cut mine into 4 pieces, otherwise the kids would leave "naan" for us - :P

5.  By now, your rice is done (to perfection, I might add!).  You can toss the cardamom pods or leave them in as garnish.  Don't eat them.   Transfer your curry to a serving dish, or plate onto dishes right from the pan. 

Yum!

So, how did it turn out?  See for yourselves:

As you can see, I did have the expectation that my kids would eat this meal...but I was realistic about it.  The little one needed some apple slices because there was no way he was touching the cauliflower.  He did dog the rice and naan, though.  The older one tried everything, and took an extra spoonful of chicken.  He, too, probably could have done with some apple slices since he didn't eat much cauli, either.  Hubbs wasn't in the mood to eat very much, so we ended up with a lunch-sized leftover...perfect for bringing to work during the week.  All in, this meal probably would feed 2 hungry adults, or 2 sorta hungry adults and 2 picky children :)

Not bad for a Saturday night; it was easy, tasty, and wallet-friendly!  I paired it with a glass of chianti - not my first choice, but it was already opened. 

So, comment and let me know if you would attempt this, or better yet, share your own meal ideas!

Sunny Saturday Yoga

Holy Chaturanga was class a challenge today!  And I'm not just talking about the postures!
I'm on a bit of a tighter budget for the time being, and "extra" expenses, like Studio Yoga classes, are out of the question right now.  I'm lucky enough to belong to a gym, though, where I am usually quite happy to get my fill of classes.  In fact, I have a week-off coming up, and I'm looking forward to challenging myself to squeeze in a class everyday, if possible!  I sense a post coming up about that...
Anyway, the Saturday class I can get to is one that used to be taught by Diann - and regular readers know how I feel about Diann ♥  Her feet are tiny, but she has some big shoes to fill!  The gal that's been filling them for a while now is Kathy, and she's good, but her voice has a bit of an eliteness to it as she's instructing, and can be a little off-putting.  She does a great job of challenging the class, and while she does walk around the room as she instructs, she very rarely gives hands-on adjustments.  Believe me, I know I need them now and again!  She also has a "front-row crew" of yoginis who love to strut their stuff, and she doesn't mind pointing it out.  Case in point:  today we're in extended side-angle, she offers that those who can do so, have the option of "binding", and suddenly, she's talking about "Bird of Paradise - just look at the beautiful front row..."  I come out of my bind to admire, and realize they're doing something that Heidi had us doing a few months ago in a Sunday class.  I just didn't know it was called a bird of paradise...and Heidi gave a bit more instruction on how to get there!  Thankfully I've been practicing for a while, otherwise, I'd might be intimidated.
There is one fellow classmate, though, who I wish WOULD get intimidated and not show up on a Saturday (or at least show up on the other side of the room)!  She's being coming to the Saturday class for as long as I have, probably longer, and she is probably a more reliable attendee than I am (she who shows up once every 2 months...ahem...).  But honestly, I don't know why she bothers.  She's such a nut, and she inevitably ends up setting up her mat somewhere near mine so I have her, annoyingly, in my peripheral vision whenever I do a Saturday.  I know she has every right to be there, and it's very un-zen of me to pick apart someone else who's just making her peace on the mat, but those of you who know me KNOW that I can't let something like this go without commentary...
What makes her so nutty?  Oh, where do I begin?  Is it the chatting with her buddy before class begins and all the way right up until the instructor starts?  (Once she came with a guy (her son?) and they exchanged dialogue throughout class - not a single posture was left without comment between the two.)  Perhaps it's the fact that she always is in need of a pedicure, cracked heels, chipped nailpolish and all.  I'm not saying you need to sit in the chair, but come on, use a pumice in the shower once a week if you're going barefoot at the gym!  It shouldn't be a big issue, but when you're that close to my mat, I don't want your ancient feet accidentally stepping on my mat. 

Oh, I know, I'm being petty.  I should be commenting on the fact that she doesn't even follow the postures that the instructor is giving.  Kathy does give modifications to the postures...but when we're in down dog, and you're in side plank, I don't think that's what she's going for.  We're in Chaturanga, you're doing some Warrior I modification.  Times like these, I wish Kathy did come over and do a hands-on adjustment for this classmate.  The coupe de grace?  All the huffing and puffing she does, followed by sighing at inappropriate times/postures.  Today, it happened twice.  We were resting momentarily in child's pose, and she starts doing Lion's breath (3 sharp inhales, followed by a sighing exhale)  WTF?  At the end of practice, we're in Savasana, and she's audibly moaning with her exhales....like she exerted herself so much that she's completely and utterly done.  Kathy worked us hard today (lilke I said, Holy Chaturanga!  Like every other posture), but there's no need to moan about it.  Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, and this lady's own improvised routine was a lot more acrobatic than our vinyasa, necessitating the sighs and moans over there.

Whatever the case, we can't control who is on the mat next to us any more than we can control the weather.  What we can control is our response to it.  My response, of course, is a childish derision of the person behind her back.  In reality, making the situation humorous IS my way of dealing with it.  Next time I'm in Saturday class, she'll be there, and I'll be ready for her.  Who knows, maybe she writes her own blog and at this very moment is blogging about the annoying girl and her dirty yellow mat...  (It's well-loved, lady.  Well-loved)

"In truth, it matters less what we do in practice than how we do it and why we do it." - Donna Farhi

HEY, READERS!  Don't forget to comment/follow on the YATS Giveaway post (below!).  You only have until Wednesday to get your name entered in my drawing to win Seane Corn's Vinyasa Flow DVD!  Good Luck!!

Getting discouraged

I haven't practiced asana in quite some time...and boy do I need it.  The Northeast was hammered with snow two nights ago, and I bundled up and did about 3 hours of hard-core shoveling.  My forearms and shoulders are paying the price...and instead of stretching it out with some yoga, I popped tylenol instead.  It works to ease the soreness...but does n-o-t-h-i-n-g  for the agitated mental state I'm in.

Yes, it's stressful to deal with so much snow.  It's stressful to try and catch up with everything after the weather delays...and it's stressful to try and keep things going. Since the start of the year, I've had my pet die, my car all but die (lovely new car ensued, along with it's "lovely", stressful car payments), I've had my in-laws visiting for 5 weeks (and still one more week to go!), I'm planning a birthday party for my soon to be 4 year old (and I'm in denial that he's getting older), and this is before I remind you that I'm not the only person living in my household (Husband and both boys have their own troubles/stresses/unhappy moments thrown into the mix).  

I can feel the scowl forming on my face as I'm driving to work.  I know I'm being impatient, maybe even a bit of a jerk, as I blast my horn because someone is sitting at a green light.  Or stopping in the middle of the street to drop a kid off at school (in reality, there's a 6 foot high snow bank on the shoulder where they should normally pull over...but still.  You *really* think it's safe and considerate to stop in the middle of the street to drop  a kid off?). 

I know a good yoga practice will help...I know it deep down in my bones.  And I look at my overbooked schedule, and find that there's no time in the near future that I can get there.  This sad fact makes the frown lines even deeper.  I know I should make the time to practice at home with one of my lovely DVDs...or even a Yoga Journal sequence (the magazine has been recommending some nice challenges the last two months)...and I always put it off:  "Oh, I'll do yoga after I've cleaned up" (I'm living with 3 boys - and 2 visiting in-laws - so we all know "cleaning up" is never finished).  "I'll put in the DVD when the kids go to bed" (and then I'm so exhausted that I fall asleep with them).  "I'll do it on Saturday morning before everyone gets up" (and the kids wake up at 6).  Easy to be discouraged, right? 
Luckily, I have my Yogi Tea every morning with a cute little message on the tea bag tag to keep me in the right frame of mind:

"Be kind and compassionate and the whole world will be your friend"

I don't know if I need the whole world to be my friend, but I know I'll be quite a bit happier by the reactions I'll get if I'm more kind and compassionate.

Busy week, quick post!

  I know that I usually offer up a Pose of the Week on Tuesdays, but it's been very busy and hectic in this neck of the woods, and I haven't done proper research on a pose for this week. 

I also didn't want to leave you hanging, dear readers, so I just wanted to make a quick post!  There are more things to come...I have a few DVDs to re-visit/review for you, some conversations to start, some more "Yoga Fashions", maybe a little giveaway in the near future, and of course, more poses of the week!  If there are things you'd like to see featured on the blog, please feel free to leave a comment (or two).  Who knows what conversations YOU might generate ;)

For now, in light of everything going on and the general craziness of life, I have some yogic wisdom (from my tea bag tag) to share.  I found it timely:

You must know that you can swim through every change of tide.

Yes, everyday the tides are changing, and while I may be doing the doggie paddle for some, you'll find me attempting to swim through every single one! 

Namaste.

Meet my Guest Blogger - Elizabeth Adams!

The town where I live seems to be filled with people who have amazing life experiences. It's an incredibly social town, and at any gathering, you are bound to come across someone interesting who makes good, inspiring, informing, or just plain fun conversation!

My guest blogger is no exception! Despite the fact that our children began kindergarten together last fall, I never had the fortune to strike up a conversation with Elizabeth until our kids were on the same t-ball team this past Spring. Once I did, I soon found we had some interesting things in common, and really should have struck up conversation sooner. Especially since she was about to move. To India. Talk about life experience! This is not to say that Elizabeth's transition (it's ongoing!) to life in the Eastern Hemisphere has been a walk in the park. She's been great about sharing some of the eye-opening and jaw-dropping day-to-day experiences, and to say the least, she's going to emerge quite a bit stronger at the end of this. But looking on the bright side, as Patanjali would have us do, she has an amazing opportunity ahead of her, especially when the subject of practicing yoga in the "Motherland" comes up!

So, after reading her commentaries on Facebook, I had the great idea of asking her to be a guest blogger on lil' ol' YATS, and she graciously agreed! Full disclosure, this is more like an interview, rather than a "Guest Blog", but it's still an experience I wanted to hear more about, and I thought it would be fun to share on the blog. Elizabeth, of course, was game, so here goes!

Me: I'm assuming you did a yoga class or two before heading over to India. What brought you to the mat the first time?

EA: I actually took yoga in "Super-Saturday" classes in my town when I was about 5-6 years old, but I didn't start again until I tried Bikram (hot yoga) in my early thirties in London. But, Pilates was my true passion for a long time. I got slowly back into yoga in NY when I found a good teacher with challenging flows and nice, quiet energy.

Me: So, do you practice yoga at a studio? I saw your pictures of your new place (on Facebook), and you have a "Yoga House"...what's that all about?

EA: Currently, I practice in a multi-purpose room at the American Club. I intend to start at a yoga studio close to my house which is run/owned by Indians. I do have a yoga house, which is the perfect place to have private lessons - haven't used it as such yet. It's definitely not the norm to have that.

Me: Now that you're on the mat in the Motherland, how has your practice changed? ie - do you feel physically or emotionally different?

EA: My practice hasn't changed so much in India, but my dedication has. The vinyasas are very challenging (chaturangas galore!) and inversions (which are my weak point) keep me humble and striving to improve.

Me: Is it a national "pasttime" of sorts? ie - is everyone doing yoga, is it a way of life there?

EA: There are billboards around on how to live a healthy life - don't smoke, don't drink, do yoga. It is definitely THE go-to exercise regimen. ie, you don't see joggers on the streets of India! Then again, I don't know how many people are actually practicing here - a huge percentage of people live on very little money and don't have much free time to dedicate to yoga.

Me: When you take a class does it feel like they have "dumbed it down" for Westerners?

EA: I am not noticing any new asanas, but there are tweaks about proper posture/positioning that I find varies from teacher to teacher, whether in the US or India - everyone teaches yoga a little differently.

Me: Magazines and books in the US tout yoga's calming benefits. If so many people in India are practicing, are they a nation of chilled-out people? ie - is it obvious that they subscribe to a yogic way of life?

EA: I wouldn't say that - Indian people can lose their cool just like any other society, but they are also very accepting of circumstance (karma) and dutiful. Maybe yoga fits in there somewhere.

Me: In India, is it more spiritual-based rather than fitness-based?

EA: I would say yes - since most Indians are Hindus, the quiet and stillness you can cultivate with yoga is promoted to get more in touch with the spiritual, and the goal is to break the cycle of Karma/rebirth. No one ever talks here about losing 5 lbs or reshaping the body - it's not about that.

So, that's about it. I'm so grateful that Elizabeth was willing to share this small piece of her experience of being an expat in India, and I hope you enjoyed reading a bit about it, too (even if it was through the lens of my questions)!

Thank you SO much, Elizabeth! The light within me salutes the light within you. Namaste.

POW! Pose of the Week

Pose of the Week - This week's pose: Virabhadrasana III - because you knew it was coming! Warrior 3 is the final pose of the Warrior series (thank goodness, because after this, you can only imagine what could be next!). Of course, it improves your balance - how else could you form a Capital letter T with your body? - and improves your posture, but it also strengthens your ankles and shoulders while toning your abdominals. Believe me, you are not going to be able to support this posture without using your abs!

You can find yourself tipping into Warrior 3 from standing (mountain pose), leveling out from Ardha Chandrasana (half-moon pose), or swooping out from Trikonasana (triangle pose). In this way, Warrior 3, though extremely challenging, is versatile! It turns out, that this month's issue of Yoga Journal has an article that discusses the "stories" behind some of our favorite yoga postures. Much like the Greek and Roman legends describe the formation of the Constellations, there are stories and legends to explain the origins of the Sanskrit names for yoga postures. The author of the article didn't go into the legend of the Warrior series, but a simple online search revealed the story behind Virabhadrasana (a powerful hero born from the hair of the god Shiva), and the story almost compels you to follow the asanas in order (Vira. I, Vira. II, and finally Vira. III), so that's how I'll take you there!

Starting from where we were last week, Virabhadrasana II, your front knee is bent, toes pointing straight ahead, looking to the future. Your back leg is straight with the foot at a 45 degree angle, hips are open to the side. Arms stretch forward and back, palms facing down. Sweep your back arm overhead and bring it in line with your forward arm while rotating the hips and back foot forward. Place your weight on your forward foot, and lean into it. Balance on the front leg while you allow the back leg to lift off, coming parallel to the floor. Your torso also will tilt forward in line with the back leg, parallel to the floor. Wrists, shoulders, hips, and ankles should all be level. From the side, you will look like a giant, capital T. Now you're flying!

Allow the balance of this series to help you seek balance and happiness in your life!

Why do you do Yoga?

Queridos cincos pesos, we first met, reluctantly, in Mexico. Since then, you've grown on me. Now it's time for us to say "Adios". I'm headed back to work in a week and I have some pencil skirts I'd like to squeeze into (and not look like Joan from MadMen!)...

Weight loss? Toning? Improve flexibility? Calm? 5 dang minutes to yourself? An instructor (Diann) once asked rhetorically during class, "Why do we do yoga?" Cheekily, I replied, "So we can shave in the shower..." But really, why do YOU do yoga?

When you enter a yoga class for the first time, you go with some sort of purpose: Hey, you're going to check out this "Om" stuff; a physician recommended it as part of your physical therapy; your friend who does yoga looks amazing; you've been spying on the class through the window while you run on the treadmill, and everyone looks happier leaving an hour of yoga than you do leaving a 40 minute run...

The reasons are countless, and it doesn't matter why you "try" it the first time. What matters is your reason for coming back. What keeps you returning to the mat, again, and again, and for me this summer, again? (obviously, since those 5 pounds from my vacation are still hanging around, I'm not doing it for weight loss benefits! And since I still don't look like Gwyneth Paltrow, I'm not doing it for toning, either! Then again, I do have a healthy appetite which she doesn't seem to have...)

I attended a class last Tuesday morning - it was an 8:30 class, and while countless people wake far earlier than 8:30 to begin a practice, my joints weren't quite lubricated enough yet, and I was hoping for a little gentle flexing and stretching, building up to some movement, but nothing as intense as one of Diann's or Josh's classes. The instructor, whom I remember from last year, opened the practice with an almost diatribe on how she expected people to participate in her class. "Sitting one out" if you didn't like the pose wasn't going to cut it in her practice that morning. She expected everyone to try and take it as far as he/she could because that's the intent and spirit of yoga (she's right, but was this the time?) It was borderline lecture on yogic theory, and while she may have been trying to educate us on a subject she obviously loves and knows a great deal about, 8:30 in the morning at a gym is not the time or the place. This went on for the first 10 minutes of the class, and she ended by impressing upon us on the need to clean up after ourselves, should we have to leave class early to head out to work or pick up children from childcare. Really? We only get 1 hour, and you've spent the first 10 minutes lecturing us, so I don't think we'll be ducking out early. Then, almost as if to make up for lost time, she launched into a rapid fire practice that didn't have many poses, but some were quite challenging for the beginners who she felt were present in enough numbers that needed "enlightening" at the beginning of class.

My point in telling this story, other than to get a minor gripe off my chest, is that I have been practicing yoga for a long time, and this instructor is hardly going to scare me off with her style. Someone walking in off his/her treadmill, however, might not have the patience for the "mumbo jumbo". I will be back, again, and again, and again (in fact, I'll be on my mat later this morning...), because I have my own purpose in doing yoga. The truth is, it is therapeutic to me (my mind, my joints, my spirit), I am proud of and love the growth in my practice I have accomplished this summer, and now that I'm headed back to teaching in just a week, I have no idea how I'm going to keep attending classes so ardently!

Yes, in the back of my mind, I'm constantly reminding myself that with patience, I'll get that long, lean yoga body - but the fact that it has yet to materialize is proof that I'm on my bright yellow mat for a different reason entirely. Is it those fleeting moments to myself? Is it the chance for the world to stop and move more slowly by? Is it a chance for me to feel the edges of my skin? It doesn't matter, because it's all of these and more. With every new practice, another reason arises, and that's why I'll be back...

Namaste.

POW! (Pose of the Week)

Pose of the Week: Utkatasana - because I hate this pose. Okay, okay, you're right. Hate has no place on a yoga blog. But I intensely dislike this pose, and we're going to work through this together.

Hi everyone (and I say *everyone* with confidence, because I've had a few friends stop by and I've even gained two new followers! WELCOME, Read on, invite your friends to stop by! Often!) I'm back with a new Pose of the Week, and with this pose, there is an interesting conflict. There are multiple benefits to the "Powerful Chair" pose: opening your chest, building focus and reducing stress, stimulating circulatory and digestive systems, as well as lengthening the spine and strengthening the feet, calves, ankles, and thighs. Wow! This pose almost does it all. The conflict is that it's such a shame that I hate intensely dislike this pose...

I haven't quite pinpointed my intense dislike for this pose...but I do know that whenever an instructor gets us into Powerful Chair, I am less than joyful to be there. I never quite feel like I have nailed it. The internal conversation begins: I don't know if my thighs are parallel enough to the ground. Are my arms high enough? Aligned enough with my ears? How much longer am I going to be in this pose? Is my lower spine curving too much? Is my tailbone pointing towards the ground? Are we done yet?

Maybe I'm not being patient enough in this pose...but at the same time, I don't feel like I have anywhere to "go" with this pose, and my presence in this pose is far from ideal. I know there are some poses that I feel like I am really making progress with, and some that I have a good mastery of. Don't get me wrong: there's always room for improvement in yoga. There's always another step to take to deepen a pose, and I know that there's somewhere to go. I'm just not anywhere close to feeling that with my Utkatasana. I'm stuck there, in awkward limbo, not quite in the pose, and definitely NOT comfortable, and the worst part is that I know my body has no clue how to get past this. There's no where TO go for me. At least it feels that way.

So for now, I'm not quite ready to give up on my Powerful Chair...but I'll be brutally honest: I'm not going to let it ruin my practice and I'm not going to stop groaning (internally) whenever my instructor brings us to this pose. I'll breathe deeply and dutifully follow along, but I'll tell you now, I'm not going to like it. Are there any poses that you're not "loving"?

Conflict may happen in your practice, but yoga's little conversations can help you work through it!

Ahimsa...

It's Sunday, and another satisfying practice with my gal Heidi! Boy did she challenge me today...and I don't know if it is because it was a true challenge, or because I wasn't quite up to many challenges today.

My three boys (hubbs included) and I spent a lovely weekend in the mountains with my bestie and HER three boys (hubbs included). We indulged a bit in yummy food and bevi, took a bit of a hike, and carrying my 3 year old much of the way did my old bones no favors. I woke up this morning quite a bit more stiff than usual, so I wasn't sure I could make it through yoga, but I soldiered on, and I'm glad I did!

We did LOTS of hip-opening poses, and many of them were new variations on old favorites. The class was not big today, but there were many "seasoned" yogis there. Several of us were struggling on some of the "advanced" variation options she gave us. At some point, she simply said "Ahimsa". My ears pricked up, because I have heard that phrase before, and I wanted to see if she would elaborate and jog my memory.

"Ahimsa" is the yogic philosophy of "do no harm" - to others OR to yourself. Isn't this a wonderful philosophy? It's basic logic to do no harm to others. This is something my husband and I reinforce even with our children. And of course, you shouldn't bring harm to yourself...that would be painful! So why, when we're exercising, do we feel the need to "feel the burn"? Where does that 80's cliche "No pain, no gain" come from? There's no need for pain or harm to your body when you're doing something that's supposed to be as beneficial as exercise!

It's common sense that a yogic philosophy such as Ahimsa should be very important when praciticing yoga...but it doesn't hurt (ha! punny!) to be reminded from time to time. Yoga is not something that's "all at once". You're not going to take your first class and be able to master every single pose. Some of the poses look downright painful...but if the yogi is following Ahimsa, then you know the pose is not painful to them. They have spent hours over the course of years slowly perfecting the pose, training their muscles to give into the pose. A little respect is in order! They put their time in, and with the same amount of patience and "non pain" you, too, someday, will find yourself there!

So, next time you find yourself in a challenging situation (it could be in yoga class, or it could be in Target when you'd like to strangle your uncooperative children), remember:

Ahimsa!

Well, that didn't work out...

My plan of "doing yoga everyday" didn't quite work out this week. I do realize that today isn't over yet, and I *could* do a home practice and all, but I really don't envision this happening. We are coming off of an epic heatwave (albeit briefly, because we're headed right back into the 90s before weekend's close), and I just feel so drained. Home practice, for me, seems to require SO much more energy than being a participant in an instructor's class. I'll muse on this in a later post, because it's something I don't get.

So, why was my plan a "Fail"? Truthfully, it was due to a variety of factors, and one of the main factors is the aforementioned heat wave. I LOVE yoga. I love practicing, I love the calm, I love what "yoga" stands for, I love the challenge it offers my body, I love the possibility it opens for me (in posture and in philosophy). But when a practice is in the afternoon, and I'll have to rouse a 3 year old from his nap in order to drag him along with his brother to the gym's childcare room, and we're faced with 90 degree weather, you have to admit that the prospect of getting to that practice is a bit daunting.

I tried psyching myself up for the class, saying "You'll feel sooooo much better once you're there in the middle of practice". But the class was with Josh, and his Wednesday class was pretty challenging: full of Chaturangas and Planks and "hops to the top" of the mat, so I knew what was in store for me in this afternoon practice. I know each class is different, but I just couldn't forget the hard work I did on Wednesday, and I wasn't quite sure I was up for it on Thursday, especially with all of the obstacles I'd have to conquer just to get there. Waking my 3 year old from his nap is never the easiest of tasks. Besides, I never know which 3 year old I'll be getting after the nap: the well-rested, chipper little fellow, full of willing conversation...or the hot, punky, sweaty guy who wants to be held for 20 minutes afternap...or the tyrant who screams at everyone and everything for the next hour. I only had a 30% chance of getting a cooperative result, and I wasn't taking those odds.

I let him sleep. I had a cup of chai. I read a few pages of my summer novel (it has nothing to do with yoga and everything to do with Sweden and dragon tattoos). I ate way too many tortilla chips. And now, I'm trying to not feel guilty about skipping practice today. Maybe I'll hit a home practice tomorrow morning, before my boys (all 3 of 'em) wake up to start their day. Maybe I won't. But I will make sure I try not to beat myself up over missing a practice. There's always another opportunity awaiting me around the bend. And I can always aim for my "week of yoga" next week!

Don't let the FAILs in life get you down. Yoga allows us to look forward to the next possibility.

Crazy Coincidence!!!

I got my Yoga Journal magazine this week....and I'm waiting to dip into it. Waiting until I can devote some time and attention to the articles. I've been subscribing to the magazine for a little over a year now, and it's only been in the last few issues have I really gotten a lot out of reading it. They have food articles, "fashion" articles, media product reviews (books, dvds, cds), and of course philosophical articles - that have never piqued my interest before, but now they have a 3-part series on "Mantra" going, and I'm enjoying it. The hilarious thing is that I usually read it while I'm on the elliptical at the gym. Not the most "zen" experience, if you think about it.

So, the crazy coincidence comes into play since they also have a Facebook Fan page, of which I am a fan, and they give you updates from time to time when there's a new article on the Yoga Journal blog. The best part is that I'm a blogger, and I never read the Yoga Journal blog. I only read the Facebook newsfeed updates! It turns out that maybe I should tune in a bit more, because this week...coincidence of all coincidences...they featured Standing Forward Bend as their "pose of the week". On Tuesday. Right after I featured the *same* pose as my "POW"!

Now, I don't know if they regularly feature a pose of the week (you know how Facebook is: things you are "Fan" of don't always pop up on your newsfeed), but I felt so proud of myself that I chose a POW that the "big timers" chose as their Pose of the Week. I felt so connected. I felt like I knew what I was doing. I felt awesome...especially since I posted my POW before they posted theirs! (well, before I got the notice on my newsfeed that they had posted it).

Anyway, I immediately wondered, "Hey, do they read my blog? Wouldn't that be awesome?!?" But then I had to be honest with myself and wonder how in the world would *they* even know my blog existed? Did you, lone reader, message over to them and let them know? Is my readership up, and now Yoga Journal bloggers are Facebook subscribers to ME? A girl can dream. When I do a Google Search for my blog, using the exact title of my blog, it doesn't even come up, so I doubt they know I exist. I can always hope that the big yoga gurus are tuned into my little blog....but for now, I have to resign myself to the crazy coincidences....

...and whisper to you that Yoga Journal are the biters! But that's okay, I'm happy to share ;)

Share something you love with someone today.

Sleepless in a Straddle (on the Mat)? Not me!

Whew, what a Thursday! Lots of running around as I gave my last Chapter test of the year to my students. (The only assessment they have left is their Final Exam next Wednesday). My 5 year old turns 6 tomorrow, so I had last minute errands to run during lunch for that. Finally, it's nearly 10 o'clock at night, and I haven't yet iced his birthday cake! One of the things that helped me to be an efficient little worker today and power through all that needed to be done was the fact that I knew I had a yoga class to look forward to. One hour of uninterrupted time with me and my wandering little mind.

It was a lovely, challenging practice, courtesy of Josh. With my crafty planning (and kid bribing), I was able to get to the studio a few seconds earlier than last week, so I actually had my pick of where to squeeze my mat. We went through a nice, purposeful warm-up, and then on to some heartrate-raising planks, side planks, and standing poses (go Josh!). He even maneuvered us into some twisted prayer poses, which I hadn't done in ages, and I forgot how much I enjoy them. Before I knew it, we were cooling down with some gentle reclining twists, and then it was Savasana.

We couldn't have been in Savasana any longer than 3 to 4 minutes, but in those 3 to 4 minutes, I fell a s l e e p. Not once, not twice, but THREE times!!! My mind was drifting and wandering, and I was really sinking into my mat, oblivious to what was going on around me. The first time I was drifting to sleep, Josh was guiding the meditation, and I realized he had said 2 or 3 sentences that I just plain hadn't heard! I brought my attention back to what he was sharing, and soon my wandering mind drifted away again. I was brought to attention by someone who coughed, and it startled me out of my dreamy state. I told myself, "Okay, you won't be here but a minute more...try and stay in the moment..." and I drifted right back to la la land. I was roused by Josh telling us to roll to the side and slowly sit up to end the practice.

With the crazy running around I did today, and the busy weekend ahead, it's no surprise that I was tired, but SO tired that I fell asleep on the mat? That's a first. Well, I guess that means it's time for a little conversation with my body. Do I need to be this busy all the time? Am I only this busy because one "season" in my life is drawing to a close? How do I find balance so this sort of transition doesn't take it's toll?

Balance, Conversations, Transitions. Sounds like lots to pursue as we ease into summer... For now, I think I'd best get myself to a real rest - on my pillow, though!

I'll try and post over the weekend, but if not, I'll be back on Tuesday with my Pose of the Week! Till then,

Namaste.

POW! (Pose of the Week)

I know I missed a few days of posting, but I'm back today with a Pose of the Week! That's the nice thing about having a regular feature on your blog...it gives you something to post about... (baby steps, my lone reader, baby steps!) Speaking of baby steps:



Pose of the Week: Balasana- because we've all been there!



Child's Pose: Stretches your ankles, knees, and hips and opens the upper back while calming the mind and reducing stress.



Balasana is one of those poses the instructor encourages you to return to if you need to take a breather in the midst of practice, and, boy, is that sometimes necessary. It seems like such a simple pose, but if you have stiff ankles (as I sometimes do), you may really need some effort to take this pose and remain there. While not even remotely aerobic, it certainly stretches all of those little places in your knees, ankles, back and shoulders that you rarely think about until you get in this pose. And this gentle, yet purposeful stretch can feel so good!



Balasana is also one of those poses that you've probably found yourself in since before you even knew what "yoga" was! I suppose that's where "child's pose" comes in. But when does a pose stop being a position and start being "yoga"?

• Is it when there's intention? When my children were infants, they actually slept in Balasana, and I'm pretty sure they did so with intention: "I'm sitting on my knees. I'm tired. I am going to fall forward and sleep with my rear end in the air!" It was oh so cute! But I don't think it was "yoga".


• Is it when you feel like it's "exercise"? Yoga never feels like exercise to me. Maybe that's why I like it so much. And maybe that's why some of my friends don't like it - they prefer to sweat it out when they are working out (even though I can relate many, many times when I've sweat it out in yoga class!) The beauty of the work is that it's still working something, though!


• Is it when there's focus? When you're in Child's Pose, stretching your arms in front, or relaxing them toward the back, it's easy to gaze towards your navel, focus inward, and start (or resume) the conversation about where you're finding yourself.

I guess the bottom line is that a pose is "yoga" when you say it's "yoga". You could be focused, or not (how many times has my mind wandered during class?!?) You could have intention there. You could be sweating it out in class. Yoga is there when you're ready for it to be.

Spend a few minutes acting like a child today.

"Conversations"

Yoga instructors frequently make reference to the fact that we are having "conversations" with our bodies as we practice. I have to admit that sometimes these conversations go on when I'm not practicing, too. These conversations can take the form of a little soreness (muscles protesting a pose you've manipulated them into), relief and relaxation ("ahhhhh, that feels great"), or even triumph ("okay, okay, you've been trying to get us to do this for 3 weeks now, we're getting the hang of it!").
How else does your body speak to you?