Everything Yoga

Less Thinking More Being

I can distinctly remember the day of my 10-day Vipassana retreat in which we transitioned from a simpler technique to the whole enchilada. The hall was cool and the light dim. I was sitting cross-legged against a wall. I was feeling a bit frustrated about having to sit AGAIN -- this time for a stretch of 2 hours. Still, I was excited about learning the technique. Our lessons were delivered via tape and I settled into my space and my body just as the tape began playing.

Perhaps 45 minutes or an hour into the instruction...WHAMMO! My mind was screaming for me to move to get up and leave the hall to end this...suffering. I remember frantically wondering how much longer the instruction was going to last. Why was the teacher speaking so slowly? Wow, my knee hurts. I'm hungry -- when are we going to eat? My ego popped in there for good measure with a resolve to stay still even if it killed me. Just about everything and anything ran through my mind. Then at one point in the process I started to notice my thoughts from a more objective perspective. I started to become amused by how extreme these thoughts were and how they were turning my experience into a hellacious (yep, I'm making up words again) one. Up until that retreat I hadn't sat for that long at one time. I had typically sat for shorter periods with walking meditation mixed in. Sitting still for a few hours -- after already having done so for a few days prior -- was completely new to me. Let's just say that my mind didn't like this new experience (or so it screamed).

I had been practicing yoga for quite some time before that retreat and I had been on other meditation retreats (albeit shorter ones). I had read a lot of Buddhist-inspired books and soaked up quite a bit of yoga and Buddhist teachings. I knew that thoughts create suffering. Yet it wasn't until that day when I truly experienced it in stereo that I felt that teaching in my bones. Ever since that day I've been more aware of the importance of living from the heart rather than the mind. In fact, I recently read an excellent blog post on the topic (Thinking Can Ruin Your Life) on the Pick The Brain blog. Check it out.

As with many things in my life, when I focus on something a whole chain of wonderful related events/meetings/happenings ensue. Right now I'm studying heart meditation and learning some heart-centered teachings. What shows up, you ask? A wonderful song from Snatam Kaur (who has the voice of an angel, by the way) appropriately entitled Follow Your Heart. I have quite a bit of Snatam's music and I find her voice to be simply amazing but this recording really touched something deep inside of me. It's the sort of song that you just put on repeat and listen to all day long (that's what I did last night). You can download a live performance of the song from the generous folks over at Omega. I suggest going straight to the high-res download rather than listen to the preview. The download is the complete 8-minute song. Soak in the words and enjoy!

This blog is a great example of following my heart. Often I get questions about how I "come up with" the content that I post. I don't come up with anything -- it comes to me. Very rarely to I think about what I'm going to post -- the content just comes. I don't plan. I don't put a lot of thought into the posts. Instead, I let the material come from inside. Sure enough, it feels better that way.

And on a somewhat related note...

Today I did a little something that made me feel reeeeaaally good -- I saved a tree or two by signing up with a wonderful company called GreenDimes to stop my junk mail. You can sign up for their free service or their one-time fee services (which are both inexpensive -- I only spent $20). They even offer to pay you $1 to banish junk mail. Rather than accept their generous offer, I opted to have a tree planted (you can either get a dollar back, have a tree planted, or get a free issue of a living green magazine) -- that just felt more valuable to me than getting a buck back in the mail.

Get out of your head and go in peace.

Namaste!

Making It Stick

Last summer I attended a yoga conference that I very much enjoyed. I learned a few interesting things, which I wrote down in a notebook. I remember thinking, "I'll have to incorporate these into my daily routine." Never happened. I do, however, mix in one or two of the things I learned at that conference into my life. Definitely not on a daily basis, but I incorporate one of those nuggets every now and again.

You've all seen the marketing messages -- just 5 (10, 15, 20 -- insert your number of choice here) minutes a day. Sounds so simple, right? I'll just add an extra 5 minutes and tack that new thing onto my daily routine. Well, my well-intentioned friends, by the time you add on all of those cool things you learned you'll be maxed out from a schedule perspective.

This is a topic of great interest to me because I absolutely love learning and I'm always attending classes and workshops and other learning opportunities. I like to keep my current skills sharp and augment them with information that comes from another perspective. It's served me well in my career, but I have to admit that it's fried my adrenals a bit (and no amount of Kundalini yoga can seem to correct it!). I often feel overwhelmed by all of the great information out there. That's why I've taken a little informational sabbatical. I need a break! I saw the new Jack Kornfield book in the bookstore yesterday and I very much wanted to buy it. Then I remembered the ever growing stack of books on my desk and I put it back down with an appreciative caress.

I've learned a lot of wonderful yogic "tricks" that can cure just about whatever ails you. I break them out when I need them (for myself and for my clients) but I also like to keep up a daily practice of random practices for myself. Yoga is a non-negotiable -- I practice daily. The rest has to be squeezed in. Although I try, I don't meditate every day. I've learned all sorts of wonderful techniques yet I know that unless I devote my whole day to these techniques, I have to cull down the list. A few of my favorites are cupping (rub your palms together vigorously until you feel some heat and then cup your palms over your eyes, resting for 5 minutes or more), Viparita Karani (I always try to mix in an inversion like Headstand or Shoulderstand into my practice but this inversion is so restorative and relaxing that it's nice to add in), Tratak (candle flame gazing), pranayama (I do some form of pranayama every day -- in fact, I mix it into my daily schedule as well as devote a period of time to it after my yoga practice), centering/integration (these techniques come from my Phoenix Rising training and I like to incorporate them into my day when possible) -- and the list goes on and on. Ah, so many healing/centering/nurturing techniques, so little time. What's a yogi to do?!?!?!?!

What about all of those affirmations that we're supposed to say to ourselves to stay positive and manifest our wildest dreams? And what about yoga? There are lots and lots of styles out there. How do I keep up my Hatha practice and change up the pace with Kundalini and Yin? And what about meditating? My Vipassana teachers recommend 2 hours a day. TWO WHOLE HOURS! Let's see, two hours for meditation, one hour for my yoga -- that's already longer than I spend eating lunch, dinner and breakfast combined!

Ironically, the whole purpose of all of these wonderful techniques is to bring health to the body and peace to the heart and mind. But who the heck can remain peaceful when their wellness to do list is overflowing with "tasks?" Oh, I've been there. I'd love to say that I have an answer, but I don't. Or maybe I do. In a word -- discernment. You have to separate the wheat from the chaff, as they (don't ask me who "they" are!) say. 

When I first started studying in the Krishnamacharya tradition, I learned about course planning and the role of goals in a yoga practice. A yoga practice is designed for an individual based on a number of factors, the individual's goals being one of them. Goals and yoga?!?!?! That pairing just didn't seem to jive with me. Then I thought about what jumpstarted a regular practice for me -- a goal. Yep, that's right -- I practiced because I wanted to feel more inner peace. That is a goal. I didn't really think of it that way at the time but sure enough, that's how it was. I practiced with a goal in mind. I suppose the goal is what drives my daily wellness routine. Lately, I've been struggling with my health a bit (the flu that just won't go away) so I've added in some Qigong. I used to do meridian exercises a few years ago but when my daily schedule got hectic, I dropped them. Now they are back on the list in the form of Qigong.

My informational sabbatical has reminded me to go back to basics and re-examine what I've already learned rather than seek new information. Learning all of those new things is wonderful but there's no way that any normal human (hmmmm...maybe a monk living in a cave high atop a mountain in Tibet could pull this off) can take all of the learnings and incorporate them into daily life. It's too much. I'm trying to chunk down and go with a few things and work them into my life. Once I work with something for a while, I'll know whether or not I want to continue devoting daily time to it. Again, it comes back to the goal and discernment.

Of course there are things that I've learned that have turned into habits for me -- like sitting in Rock Pose after meals and using pranayama throughout my day. Still, there are a lot of things that I learned and thought were so cool that I don't even think about. I have notes that I haven't read in a long time filled with wonderful practice and techniques. But, alas, I am one single yogi gifted with a set number of hours each day. That's where the discernment part comes in.

There have been times when I've had wellness ADHD -- I'd try something for a week and then move onto the next and continue the cycle again and again. I stopped one day and looked back thinking -- gee, I've learned a lot of great things but I'm not putting anything to use long enough to see if it works for me. The ever-informative Zen Habits blog recently offered a great guest post with tips for keeping a razor-like focus at work. These tips go beyond the workplace, so if you're feeling overwhelmed and in need of a little discernment, check it out.

I'm still learning how to handle the information deluge. What I've learned so far? Here goes...

• Take an information sabbatical every now and again. Usually the sabbatical goes hand in hand with the information inventory. Take a good long look at the old information that you took in -- whether it's something you learned from a book or a workshop -- and choose the techniques or information that resonates with you.
• Incorporate a FEW (that means 1-3) into your daily life for a month. This is like a test-drive. See how the learning impacts your life and whether or not it's worth making time for.
• Set goals and match up those goals with your daily practices -- some folks use mind-body work, others prefer affirmations while others prefer something totally different. Figure out what your intention for these practices is and then choose the practice that fit in with your style. Are you visual (these folks like to create things like dreamboards)? Kinesthetic (I'm one of these folks, so I like to do mind-body work like yoga and sufi dancing? Whatever works for you -- do it! If you'd like a little online help, there's a wonderful Web site called 43 Things which allows you to list your goals and seek the support of others who are trying to achieve theirs.

In the spirit of information overwhelm, I'm not going to offer up a lot of suggestions. Just keep it simple. Taking a little time off from new information to process older learnings and try them out can help you incorporate them into your life and make 'em stick. Heck, yoga is Crazy Glued to me!

Namaste!

The Yoga Multimedia Buffet

Recently I was talking to a friend of mine who teaches yoga at a local gym. She studied yoga back in the 70's when, as she says, you were considered a total hippie if you practiced yoga. She had a teacher (who wore robes incidentally) and she would practice with him. No frills. No fancy yoga clothes. She went to the teacher not the other way around.

Well, yogis, we're not in the 70s anymore. Now all we have to do is boot up our computers and jump online and viola -- a virtual yoga buffet. First came sites that offered yoga MP3s for download then videos and now the sky is the limit. I like to soak it all in. I still like the fact that I have a teacher but I can't complain about the fact that there's an enormous amount of yoga out in cyberspace. You just have to discern the good from the bad. Here's just a sampling of the latest...

Yoga Journal has launched their new venture -- Yoga Journal TV. Hmmmm...it's not like any TV that I've ever seen -- I actually want to WATCH these channels. It's no wonder when the channels cover yoga practice, author interviews and talks by prominent Buddhist teachers. Yoga Journal has been making a concerted effort over these past few years to utilize every form of media available -- blogs, podcasts, and now video. I'll take it over regular ole TV any day.

Entertainment isn't the only purpose served online. There's also education. Russill Paul, author of The Yoga of Sound (great book, by the way), just recently opened Mystic Heart: School of Transformation. This multimedia distance learning course offers three tracks: 1. Mantra; 2. Music and 3. Meditation. The first program begins in July and is perfect for anyone that wants to deepen their practice or just learn more about either/all of these wonderful forms of practice. The opening module is mantra with the music module following in the fall and the meditation module following shortly after. My only problem with this course is indecision -- I don't know which module to take! I've never delved deep into mantra or music although I love both, so I might end up taking two tracks. If you're like me and you're having trouble deciding, you can read more about each track and watch a video preview here.

The final multimedia experience (and it is a true experience) for the day comes in the form of a funny. Mike Myers upcoming (it'll be in theaters in June) movie, The Love Guru, has -- what else -- a yoga spin. Sometimes I get a bit too serious about my yoga study and practice, so it's always fun to lighten things up. Who better to offer light (and hysterical) than Myers?!?! I don't think we need an excuse to laugh but it is Monday after all, so it's as good a time as any to practice a little laughter yoga. Here's a little taste of the absurdity from Myers' character, Guru Pitka.

If you'd like another dose of the guffaws, you can get more here.

From the amusing to the helpful to the silly -- it's all out there. All you have to do is belly on up to the yoga buffet and indulge.

Namaste!

Upcoming Yoga Festivities & a Daily Dose of Goodness

I haven't been going to as many yoga conferences as of late, but I can still appreciate the yoga buffet atmosphere -- you can sample a little of this and get a taste of a little of that teacher. It can definitely be fun. And I've met some interesting folks at the conferences I've attended. A few upcoming conferences/festivals have caught my eye...

I believe in promoting yoga awareness, so the I'd like to support Yoga Month by going to one of their Yoga Health Festivals. These 1-2 day festivals offer workshops, exhibits, and concerts and are being held all over the country. Click here for a schedule. If you register early, you could receive a green gift bag filled with $500 worth of yoga, health, and environmentally-friendly goodies.

I also notice that it's that time again -- when the Being Yoga Conference comes back to NYC. I admit that I have a bit of a soft spot for this conference -- which is put on by Omega -- as it was the very first yoga event that I attended after moving to New York. Ah, memories! When I attended almost two years ago the conference was held in September. This year it'll be held in October (the 10-13), so mark your calendars if you're interested. If you'd like more information, you can go here. Just be sure to scroll down the page for a "order a brochure" link.

My final recommendation of the day comes in a bizarre form -- text message (or email, if you prefer). I know that we're all inundated with information and that it can be overwhelming. I'm careful of filtering my information and I've got it down so that I only read things that are really important to me. Typically those things are uplifting or informative on topics of my choosing. Someone pointed me in the direction of My Daily G and I added it to my list of daily tidbits. The messages, which you can opt to receive via text message or email, are brief but good. If you're open to receiving 30 seconds of goodness, I highly recommend it.

Namaste!

Studying Yoga in India

Does anybody actually study yoga anymore? Time and time again I see that people classify taking a few workshops with a teacher as studying with that teacher. It seems a far cry away from the study of yoga in India when a student relocated to be near the teacher (typically at a very young age) and then proceeded to study for years with the same master. Now THAT'S study if you ask me.

When I first started to get serious about yoga, I liked the idea of having a teacher but I couldn't seem to find one. Over the course of my studies I tried different types of yoga -- all in an attempt to settle into a practice that felt right to me and to find a teacher that I wanted to study from. I thought about going to India but my schedule/lifestyle just didn't allow for that. I know I will get there but for now I am studying with a local teacher (gee, it only took me years to find one!). Yes, folks, yoga requires some perseverance and persistence. Actually yoga isn't the only thing that requires those two things, but that's a whole other post.

The point is that exploration is good. A few years into practicing a style of yoga that started to feel a bit shallow and Americanized to me, I yearned for something deeper...and then I went in search of it. I'm always amazed at the number of people who say that they tried yoga once -- one style, one teacher -- and decided that it wasn't right for them. I understand that a lot is out there and it can be intimidating -- and expensive -- to find something that works for you. Regardless, I'd say the effort is well worth it.

If you're thinking of traveling to India to get a taste of teachings steeped in ancient tradition and philosophy, a recent Business Week article lists India's top five yoga centers.

Namaste!