"What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"
~ Erma Bombeck
Okay, so I'm not implying that you should completely throw caution to the wind and gorge yourself this Thanksgiving, but I will say this, "everything in moderation." You can still enjoy this wonderful feast with family and friends and still eat like a yogi. We'll call this "mindfulness eating."
It's taking the time to enjoy your meal, the tastes, textures and aromas, instead of diving in and inhaling your meal. Try it this year. Try this with every meal. What's the alternative? You'll pile your plate high, eat too fast, feel bloated, sick and sorry and fall into food coma.
This Thanksgiving, take your practice off of the mat, and really enjoy your meal and with whom you are sharing this meal. Try practicing mindful eating and only eating that amount that will nourish you. And if you can, remember to give thanks for all of the blessings in your life and to remember those who are doing without this year.
At the end of my yoga classes, I seal the practice with a Metta prayer and I'll seal this Thanksgiving blog with the same prayer. Metta means "lovingkindness" and it's a way to extend your blessings and your yogic practice with everyone you touch in your community and around the world.
Metta Prayer
"May all beings be peaceful.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be safe.
May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.
May all beings be safe."
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
With Grace and Gratitude,
Susan
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Journey of Transformation
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." ~ Anais Nin
When I think about the word transformation and what that word means to me I think about the springtime and new beginnings. I think about butterflies breaking through their cocoons to become something even more wonderous. But I also think about a lotus flower and its journey towards transformation.
I know it seems strange to be thinking of these images when it's November and it's cold and dark out most days. But let me tell you a story about the lovely lotus flower.
It starts out as a small flower down in the mud and the muck and gradually starts to move it's way up from the earth towards the water, continually reaching towards the light and when it finally breaks through the water's surface, it blossoms into a beautiful flower. How awesome is that?
The lotus is a revered symbol in many traditions, including Buddhism and Hindusim and it's a wonderful image to use as your intention for your yoga practice. It is my favorite of all yogic symbols, so much so that I even own a set of mala beads made of lotus seeds that I practice a mantra on. (FYI mala beads are to the Buddhists and Hindus what a rosary is to a Catholic...a tool for counting a prayer on each bead)
The reason I love the lotus so much is that it's a perfect way of describing the human experience and our physical and spiritual evolution towards something greater than ourselves...our journey towards enlightenment, if you will. We're lotuses our whole lives and in stages of our lives. Have you ever felt like you were down in the mud trying to claw your way up towards the light? Have there been moments when you've actually broken through the surface and blossomed open just a little?
Where are you in your personal transformation? The New Year is coming. It's right around the corner. I don't know about you, but my intention is to make 2009 an auspicious year. I've been in the muck too much this past year and it's time to do something different, be something different. I hope you join me. And you can join me!
Check out the Radiant Fitness website for Lotus Yoga starting in January 2009. It can't wait and I hope you can join me on your mat for your own journey of transformation.
Love and Light,
Susan
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Cold Comfort
Has the sniffles got you down? Are you fighting off a bug you know you caught from your cubicle neighbor or your kid? It's cold and flu season, but it's not too late to arm yourself with a few tools from your yoga toolbox. Some of these tools are yogic in nature, others are good old fashion common sense from mom.
Let's talk about immunity. Some research has shown that cold and flu are not just as simple as being exposed to a virus, but rather an internal disturbance of the body's immune system. And we all know that colds and flu can wreak havoc on our bodies.
One of the biggest reasons we do get sick is because our immune system is weak or been compromised in some way. And the biggest culprit is stress. Ask yourself... Are you working long hours? Are you over extending yourself with family and friends? Are you over extending yourself with your children's schedules? Are you working at full speed and not getting enough sleep? Are you eating on the go or just plain eating junk? These are all indications that you are doing too much and creating a great deal of stress on your body and in the process taxing your immune system.
So, this season, add a few simple tricks to armor yourself against any bug flying around out there:
1) De-Stress: first things first. You've got to slow down and take just a little bit of time for yourself. You are not Wonder Woman or Super Man and yes, it's okay to say, "NO!" Try to get some things off your plate so you are not running on empty every single day.
2) Water is key: Staying hydrated every day flushes out toxins that build up in your body, so you decrease the chance of getting sick. And for goodness sakes, wash your hands with hot water and soap...alot.
3) Nutrition: You should do this anyway, but limit your intake of sugar and caffeine (coffee, tea, and sugary soft drinks). Caffeine not only compromises your immune system, but it leaches calcium from your bones and it's hard on your liver. Some people even use softdrinks to unclog their drains so imagine what it's doing to your insides. It's also time to eat better. Add more fruits, vegetables and good stuff to your diet. When you eat nutritious foods your digestion and elimination works more efficiently and again your immune system is stronger for it.
4) Ah Sleep, perchance to dream: is their anything more inviting than a comfy bed, pillows and blanket? Turn off your tv and go to bed early. This will aide in that whole de-stressing process.
From your yoga toolbox:
5) Strike a pose: practicing yoga daily is an awesome way to build up your immunity. Yoga really helps to cleanse the body of toxins when we twist or practice inversions and stretch in ways that bring more strength and suppleness. Yoga also helps to stimulate more blood flow throughout our entire system. And it helps to drain the lymph system so your body can fight infection, dispose toxins and even fight cancer cells.
6) Meditate: Take 5 minutes a day to sit in a quiet room and just be. Yes, your mind maybe racing, but give yourself some peaceful time to just sit and be with your senses. I know you have 5 minutes you can find somewhere in your day.
7) Just breathe: When you are practicing yoga or not, take some deep, cleansing breaths. This will help to quiet the mind, relax your body and bring in fresh oxygen to your cells, muscles, organs...everything.
8) Keep moving: If you don't have time for yoga...keep moving. Take a walk, jog a bit, dance, get on a stationary bike, etc. Just keep that blood flowing. You'll feel great and you'll be less likely to overwork yourself, eat junk and not get enough sleep.
I hope these little tips help. I still get sick even when I do practice all of these things, but I notice that the colds I do catch, don't keep me down for long.
Let's talk about immunity. Some research has shown that cold and flu are not just as simple as being exposed to a virus, but rather an internal disturbance of the body's immune system. And we all know that colds and flu can wreak havoc on our bodies.
One of the biggest reasons we do get sick is because our immune system is weak or been compromised in some way. And the biggest culprit is stress. Ask yourself... Are you working long hours? Are you over extending yourself with family and friends? Are you over extending yourself with your children's schedules? Are you working at full speed and not getting enough sleep? Are you eating on the go or just plain eating junk? These are all indications that you are doing too much and creating a great deal of stress on your body and in the process taxing your immune system.
So, this season, add a few simple tricks to armor yourself against any bug flying around out there:
1) De-Stress: first things first. You've got to slow down and take just a little bit of time for yourself. You are not Wonder Woman or Super Man and yes, it's okay to say, "NO!" Try to get some things off your plate so you are not running on empty every single day.
2) Water is key: Staying hydrated every day flushes out toxins that build up in your body, so you decrease the chance of getting sick. And for goodness sakes, wash your hands with hot water and soap...alot.
3) Nutrition: You should do this anyway, but limit your intake of sugar and caffeine (coffee, tea, and sugary soft drinks). Caffeine not only compromises your immune system, but it leaches calcium from your bones and it's hard on your liver. Some people even use softdrinks to unclog their drains so imagine what it's doing to your insides. It's also time to eat better. Add more fruits, vegetables and good stuff to your diet. When you eat nutritious foods your digestion and elimination works more efficiently and again your immune system is stronger for it.
4) Ah Sleep, perchance to dream: is their anything more inviting than a comfy bed, pillows and blanket? Turn off your tv and go to bed early. This will aide in that whole de-stressing process.
From your yoga toolbox:
5) Strike a pose: practicing yoga daily is an awesome way to build up your immunity. Yoga really helps to cleanse the body of toxins when we twist or practice inversions and stretch in ways that bring more strength and suppleness. Yoga also helps to stimulate more blood flow throughout our entire system. And it helps to drain the lymph system so your body can fight infection, dispose toxins and even fight cancer cells.
6) Meditate: Take 5 minutes a day to sit in a quiet room and just be. Yes, your mind maybe racing, but give yourself some peaceful time to just sit and be with your senses. I know you have 5 minutes you can find somewhere in your day.
7) Just breathe: When you are practicing yoga or not, take some deep, cleansing breaths. This will help to quiet the mind, relax your body and bring in fresh oxygen to your cells, muscles, organs...everything.
8) Keep moving: If you don't have time for yoga...keep moving. Take a walk, jog a bit, dance, get on a stationary bike, etc. Just keep that blood flowing. You'll feel great and you'll be less likely to overwork yourself, eat junk and not get enough sleep.
I hope these little tips help. I still get sick even when I do practice all of these things, but I notice that the colds I do catch, don't keep me down for long.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Revisiting the Monkey God
It's time to revisit Hanuman, the "monkey god." In a previous blog I address the topic of yoga and religion. I emphasized that while yoga dates back to India thousands of years ago and has it's roots in Hinduism, one need not subscribe to this particular religion or any religion in order to practice. The history of yoga is so vast, I would suggest you either search the internet or perhaps buy a yoga book and read up on it. A lot of yoga books that have the poses in them usually touch on the history of yoga and there are specific philosphy books on yoga that really delve into this subject.
So who is Hanuman? Was there really a "monkey god?" There is a very rich, beautiful and lyrical aspect to yoga for why these poses were named like this and why teachers pronounce their Sanskrit names in classes.
Patanjali, the father of yoga, details the history of yoga in his Yoga Sutras, which dates back thousands of years ago. Many yoga asanas are named after animals, birds and objects whose shape the body takes while performing. Patanajali observed nature and the way animals and fish lived a healthy lifestyle. He observed that when animals were healthy, they stretched in certain ways and when they fell ill they positioned themselves in certain ways to make themselves feel better. Just like humans do. Hence the names like "Downward Facing Dog" (Ahdo Mukha Svanasana).
Yoga also has a rich literary side. Many yoga poses are also named after mythical or historical figures with entire stories behind them, ie Shiva or Ganesh. These texts, such as the Vedas, the Upanishads, even the Bhagavad Gita are also interesting to read and can offer their own insightful lessons.
One such mythical figure is Hanuman, a monkey-like semi-divine character from the Hindu epic, Ramayana. His name literally means, "having large jaws." As the son of the wind god, Vayu (or Pavana), Hanuman is said to be bestowed with the ability to fly. In one of his legendary feats, he leaped to lanka.
The picture above is Hanumasana, which mimics Hanuman's leap from the southern tip of India to the island of Sri Lanka. This is the reason the splits pose was named in this way. All of the yoga poses are named in specific ways to not only bring health and wellness to our physical bodies, but also teach us specific things as well. When you practice the splits pose or even attempt to do it, you are literally practicing a leap of faith and courage from one spot to another, just like the mythical Hanuman.
When you practice yoga, no doubt you will come in contact with a language, history, and tradition that is far different from your own. But keep in mind that this tradition is merely another tool to help you live a healthier lifestyle and unite you mind, body and spirit.
Namaste,
Susan
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Happy Yogaween
"Delicious Autumn!
My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." ~ George Eliot
Besides the season of spring, autumn is my second favorite time of year. It's that glorious time when the leaves change color and you can smell a sweetness in the air. I don't know if it's candied apples or just plain candy, but there is something wonderful permeating the air out there.
Besides the sensory changes of the season, I love this time of year because of Halloween and seeing all the kids dressed up for trick or treating and even dressing up myself. I still do and I still find it a blast. I'm happy to say that my husband and I and a lot of family members have held on to that glorious time of childhood. For me it's the only time a year you can play "pretend" and dress up and be whatever you want with no strings attached.
But this is also a time of year where you'll notice a lot more images of gore as well. This brings me to the next Yama, or restraint, which is Ahimsa or non-violence. This is the perfect time of year for a good scare...haunted houses, horror movies, CSI anyone? Of course this is the nasty end of the spectrum as violence goes. I've observed as I've gotten older that I really don't like being exposed to those images or that energy. It really gets into my subconcious and I don't like that stuff being there. But, if you like a good scare, by all means get your fix.
The kind of "non-violence" I'm referring to in relation to yoga is non-violence to others of course, but it also has to do with non-violence towards ourselves. As people we want to respect others and treat others kindly, but it's just as important to carry that respect and kindness over to ourselves. And this is crucial when it comes to our thinking. Really try to observe in the coming weeks the thoughts that you have about yourself. Are you judging yourself a bit too harshly or are you giving yourself some slack? Are you patting yourself on the back as you often do with everyone else? Really notice this.
This is a hard lesson for me too. I'm a perfectionist and no one is harder on me, than myself. But remember it's a yoga practice, not a yoga perfection, so we just have to keep showing up to our mats to do the work.
So...ahimsa...be kind to yourself, especially at this time of year when you are bombarded with negative images of the Halloween season and you bombard yourself with that negative talk in your mind. If you skipped that fitness class or were too tired to do your yoga practice, begin again the next day. It's okay.
Just breathe, practice, and be happy. And be kind to yourself as you would anyone you encounter.
My friends, have a safe and happy Halloween.
Friday, October 24, 2008
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It is that time of year... that time where Halloween starts and we engage in the holiday marathon that doesn't end till January 1st. It's hard not to feel stressed, rushed and irritable and then we add time and money constraints on top of that. We put so much pressure on ourselves at being the perfect parent, party planner and gift giver and the return on our investment is feeling neglected, exhausted and perhaps even depressed.
What is a yogi to do? In times where I feel like I am repeating a cyclical habit, as I tend to do when the holidays pop up, I like to turn to the wisdom of the past. What do the ancients tell us to do? Surely they all felt times of increased stress and had their own challenges balancing work, family and life in general. Their circumstances were undoubtedly different than our own, but stress is stress in any age. So for this particular time on the calendar, I'll refer to a yoga term called the "Yamas." And one yama in particular, which is "Brahmacharya."
Briefly, the yamas are described in Patajanli's Yoga Sutras, one the earliest texts ever written about yoga. To simplify, the yamas are "restraints" or "self disciplines" for our own personal yoga practice. It can also be depicted as certain ways we conduct ourselves in the outside world. They include such practices as truthfulness, non-stealing, non-harming, etc.
I bring up Brahmacharya becauses it is an observance about containing your energy and not giving everything away (time, money, etc) to everyone, at all times. And this is not just during the holidays. This should be practiced at all times, but it's especially important now when we are running this marathon to buy presents, bake cookies, go to parties, etc. Brahmacharya is about boundaries, setting them and keeping them. And it's about saying that dreaded word, "No."
What can you let go of or at least lighten your burden so you are not feeling so rushed and stressed during this time? By letting something go and saying no, you say YES to your personal needs, like your yoga practice. The true practice of Brahmacharya forces us to balance all of these activities AND still have time for ourselves. Keep a little for yourself and maybe this year, you'll feel alot more of the true essence of the season: gratitude, family, love, peace and miracles.
What is a yogi to do? In times where I feel like I am repeating a cyclical habit, as I tend to do when the holidays pop up, I like to turn to the wisdom of the past. What do the ancients tell us to do? Surely they all felt times of increased stress and had their own challenges balancing work, family and life in general. Their circumstances were undoubtedly different than our own, but stress is stress in any age. So for this particular time on the calendar, I'll refer to a yoga term called the "Yamas." And one yama in particular, which is "Brahmacharya."
Briefly, the yamas are described in Patajanli's Yoga Sutras, one the earliest texts ever written about yoga. To simplify, the yamas are "restraints" or "self disciplines" for our own personal yoga practice. It can also be depicted as certain ways we conduct ourselves in the outside world. They include such practices as truthfulness, non-stealing, non-harming, etc.
I bring up Brahmacharya becauses it is an observance about containing your energy and not giving everything away (time, money, etc) to everyone, at all times. And this is not just during the holidays. This should be practiced at all times, but it's especially important now when we are running this marathon to buy presents, bake cookies, go to parties, etc. Brahmacharya is about boundaries, setting them and keeping them. And it's about saying that dreaded word, "No."
What can you let go of or at least lighten your burden so you are not feeling so rushed and stressed during this time? By letting something go and saying no, you say YES to your personal needs, like your yoga practice. The true practice of Brahmacharya forces us to balance all of these activities AND still have time for ourselves. Keep a little for yourself and maybe this year, you'll feel alot more of the true essence of the season: gratitude, family, love, peace and miracles.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Yoga for Turbulent Times
It is truly an amazing time in our country and on our planet right now. Who would have guessed that we would be in the midst of an economic meltdown that is felt nationally and globally? I wouldn't have. I am not a financial whiz so I'm not going to go into all the particulars because I don't understand them all myself. I just know that it's really tough out there right now and it's going to keep testing us in the near future.
So, what can yoga teach us in this moment? What can I say to you that might help? I would say, let's start at the basic, gut level which is...first we need to breathe. Take some deep belly breaths, right now. I don't mean those shallow chest breaths you've been taking all day. I mean take a nice deep breath from your diaphragm, let it fill up your lungs, expanding your chest, and then let it go. Do that a few more times.
So, now that you feel a little more grounded in the moment, let's talk about how yoga can help us right now.
For starters, we need to actually start practicing yoga. It's proven that yoga helps to relieve stress, slows down a rapid heart rate, detoxifies the body and circulates fresh oxygen and blood throughout our entire system. Why do I tell you this? Because when you feel better physically, you'll feel better mentally and emotionally. And when we feel fit in body, mind and spirit, we're able to cope with what's going on in our external world. Now is not the time to abandon our practice, to abandon what makes us feel good in our bodies because we are going through financial hardships. We're not at the point, nor should we ever get to the point where we sacrifice our health because the world is topsy turvy. It's always going to be this way. It's the cycle of life.
I am the type of person that looks at the glass as half full. When we had those hurricane winds a few weeks back and we all lost our electricity, I was a little scared and inconvienced at first, but after my husband and I got a plan together it was actually fun and adventurous. And I have to say, it forced me to appreciate all the blessings I had and to appreciate the simple things in life. I really didn't miss the tv or the computer that much. And I really liked reading by candlelight. This financial mess is yet another learning experience.
I am reminded of one of the yoga obersvances called Aparigraha which means non-coveting or non-attachment. This is non-attachment on all levels...physically, emotionally, materially, everything. It's about simplifying your life and learning what is really important and what you can let go. Maybe you don't really need that expensive cable/internet package and you downgrade so you can take a yoga or dance class. And if you can't do that, buy a book or dvd and continue at home. Just keep doing it. Use your creativity and be resourceful.
Let the world run it's crazy course. But continue to work out, meditate, play whatever is appropriate for you. The world needs your light, your grounded, simplified self.
Love and Light,
Susan
So, what can yoga teach us in this moment? What can I say to you that might help? I would say, let's start at the basic, gut level which is...first we need to breathe. Take some deep belly breaths, right now. I don't mean those shallow chest breaths you've been taking all day. I mean take a nice deep breath from your diaphragm, let it fill up your lungs, expanding your chest, and then let it go. Do that a few more times.
So, now that you feel a little more grounded in the moment, let's talk about how yoga can help us right now.
For starters, we need to actually start practicing yoga. It's proven that yoga helps to relieve stress, slows down a rapid heart rate, detoxifies the body and circulates fresh oxygen and blood throughout our entire system. Why do I tell you this? Because when you feel better physically, you'll feel better mentally and emotionally. And when we feel fit in body, mind and spirit, we're able to cope with what's going on in our external world. Now is not the time to abandon our practice, to abandon what makes us feel good in our bodies because we are going through financial hardships. We're not at the point, nor should we ever get to the point where we sacrifice our health because the world is topsy turvy. It's always going to be this way. It's the cycle of life.
I am the type of person that looks at the glass as half full. When we had those hurricane winds a few weeks back and we all lost our electricity, I was a little scared and inconvienced at first, but after my husband and I got a plan together it was actually fun and adventurous. And I have to say, it forced me to appreciate all the blessings I had and to appreciate the simple things in life. I really didn't miss the tv or the computer that much. And I really liked reading by candlelight. This financial mess is yet another learning experience.
I am reminded of one of the yoga obersvances called Aparigraha which means non-coveting or non-attachment. This is non-attachment on all levels...physically, emotionally, materially, everything. It's about simplifying your life and learning what is really important and what you can let go. Maybe you don't really need that expensive cable/internet package and you downgrade so you can take a yoga or dance class. And if you can't do that, buy a book or dvd and continue at home. Just keep doing it. Use your creativity and be resourceful.
Let the world run it's crazy course. But continue to work out, meditate, play whatever is appropriate for you. The world needs your light, your grounded, simplified self.
Love and Light,
Susan
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