Along with learning how to teach yoga during yoga teacher training, I'm also learning about the Hindu gods and goddesses who inspired the yoga poses that are practiced today. Our instructor's favorite Hindu goddess, by far, is Kali. Per our instructor, Kali's quite hard core! According to Wikipedia (the definitive Internet source where you can find anything you'd ever possibly want to know about anything, of course), Kali is associated with empowerment. Her name, however, means "time" or "death" (as in "time has come"). She is sometimes presented as dark and violent, but her main role is destroying the old to make room for the new.
It can be difficult to deal with change. Our minds crave routine and it's nice to feel comfortable in our lives. Although it can be seen by others as a good thing to go off to school or to start a new job, the person going through the change still may be apprehensive about what the future holds because they're unsure about what exactly their new life will be like. Similar yet much deeper negative feelings surround someone's death. All of the loved ones of that person mourn for them and take time to grieve for their loss. They feel like there is a hole in their life where that person once was. Dealing with that is hard.
When we think about it, though, there can actually be a litany of positivity that surrounds a big life change. The situation where we shell out the old and make room for the new can actually be a beautiful epiphany.
What got me pondering this in the first place was something that a fellow yoga school student shared with me. She said she had a "mind-blowing" moment. The instant it happened, she freaked out, but then she saw the positive in the situation.
So, what had happened? Her microwave died. Her instant, knee-jerk reaction was: WHAT???!!! I NEED my microwave!!! What am I going to DO???
I could totally relate to her! I L-O-V-E LOVE my microwave! I really couldn't imagine my life without it. Really. It's sad how much I adore my microwave.
But! Then she took a minute and thought about it. It dawned on her that she didn't really need it. She deciphered she could just use the stove and toaster oven to meet all of her food heating needs. She had a real epiphany. She felt...freer.
She enjoyed that feeling so much...she let it expand. She thought, what other things don't I need? What can I do to simplify my kitchen?
Then she thought, what can I do to simplify my LIFE? She began brainstorming ways she could shell out the old and worthless - those items which she really had thought that she had absolutely needed - and, at first, so desperately dreaded to lose, but with a little mental paradigm shift, she could better her life. She could let go of the old, simplify her life, and make room for the potentially beautiful new. She was willing to instigate positive change...simply because her microwave went on the fritz. How COOL is that?
How awesome is she? And how awesome is that? Her epiphany is truly inspiring. How can we learn from her little experience? What other things do we possess that we don't really need...though we may not realize it? And...we'd probably be better off by NOT having it any more?
Let's expound upon the technology angle. I do hear many people saying they don't know what they did before they owned the GPS in their car or their iPod. Though I do understand the necessity (I mean, come on, I was pretty much in love with my microwave), I think there's merit to not becoming too attached to these items. After all, what happens when they don't work or they break? We feel helpless, right? We get super stressed out. Well, machines aren't perfect (as much as we'd like them to be). I think it's great to explore other ways to solve problems, since there's always more than one way to get something done. Take my fellow yoga student's example!
Another area in our lives where I feel simplicity is truly awesome (and probably preferred) is the relationships we have in our lives. I will fully admit that, before I met my husband, back when I was dating, I was with someone to just BE with someone. I was lonely. How much better off would I have been if I would have just concentrated on myself, such as taking time to do the things I loved, meeting the people that would come into my life naturally, simply by way of my hobbies and interests, rather than hanging with someone who might lead me on, lie to me, and treat me differently than the most awesome person on the planet? It's extremely tough to let go of a relationship, especially one that's been going on for awhile. But, I feel, it's always best to honor yourself and to be with people who honor you as well. Then, when you find your tribe, you're all honoring each other. THAT is best.
Finally, (and this one is definitely a difficult one for me) is that it's usually always better when your THOUGHTS are simple. I'm talking along the lines of worrying or getting anxious...about anything. About the future, about the past, about everything. This is one of the truly beautiful yet very elusive things about yoga that's caught my eye - the notion of being more mindful, more in the moment. Embracing the now. Why is that better? Because the past is gone, and the future may never come. It's true. Although there's merit in planning the future, it's never a bad idea to try to savor the planning process...the journey...because that's a part of the destination as well. The culmination of the result is truly enjoyed when the whole process is embraced. Joy and happiness can only be experienced now. Dreaming is fun, but dreams change. Circumstances change. Take what comes at you, and conquer it as best you can. It's actually all you can do.
Even just thinking about doing all of these things - attempting to simplify - sucks. I understand. Because change is hard. That's why the goddess Kali is so very much feared. We hate change.
It's gonna happen, though. It has to. It's uncomfortable, but necessary. I think it's a great idea to try and deal with it with an open mind, like my fellow yoga girl did. She saw how the simplicity was a good thing and it helped her. In more ways that one.
So...try to enjoy the moment, embrace change as best you can, and be hard core, just like Kali!
Sarah
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Fun Holiday Poem! How the Grinch Found Yoga.
This wonderful poem was written by a woman for her son. She's from Connecticut, and has taught yoga for over 20 years. I found it delightful, so I thought I'd share it with you in light of the holidays. I hope you enjoy it.
How the Grinch Found Yoga (Inspired by Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas)
Lyn Gerfin Kehoe
Every yogi in Yogaville liked yoga a lot….
But the Grinch, who lived just north of Yogaville, did not!
The Grinch hated yoga! The whole yoga culture!
Now, please don’t ask why. It would only be torture.
It could be his mind was closed a little too tight.
It could be, perhaps, that his breath was too slight.
But I think that the most likely reason could be,
He kept his heart protected, not allowing it to be free.
Whatever the reason, his heart or his mind.
He stood there that evening, not feeling very kind.
Staring into the studio, with the look of displease,
At the warm yoga bodies moving with such ease.
For he knew every yogi was perfecting their pose,
While looking their best in their fancy yoga clothes.
“And they’re standing on their hands,” he said with despair,
“Without a single strand moving, not one! In their hair!”
Their photos, their quotes, their Instagram postings!
The kale and kombucha, the juice cleanse hostings!
And soon, oh so soon, they would be yoga singing!
The sound of their OMs! Well, it would have his ears ringing!
Then he got an idea! A crazy idea!
This “unyogic” Grinch got a crazy idea!
The Grinch held his breath, not knowing what was in store.
He walked up to the studio, and opened the door…
The Grinch came from the outside, and found his way in.
Which is often how many of us also begin.
He stepped onto a mat, with out expectation.
The evolution was slow, but he found meditation.
And there on the mat, released of all drama.
The Grinch discovered more than only one of the yamas.
It just takes some presence, a trust in the self.
In mindful action, the Grinch found some wealth.
And the Grinch, with his grinch hands touching his toes,
looked around in amazement, thinking, “How could it be so?”
“It came without judgment! It came without goals!”
“It came without challenges, selfies or ‘no’s’!”
And he sat down a few moments, till his breath became longer.
His mind became quiet, his inner voice grew stronger.
“Maybe yoga,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a pose.”
“Maybe yoga… perhaps…is an exercise for the soul.”
And what happened then? Well…in Yogaville they say,
That the Grinch’s trapped heart broke open that day!
And the minute his heart didn’t feel quite such a mess,
His mind opened up too and he found yoga bliss.
And he stepped on his mat. Both feet firmly at home!
And he, he himself! The Grinch sang the last OM!
From: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/11/how-the-grinch-found-yoga/
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Old people RULE.
Buzzfeed posted an article recently showing old people wearing extremely inappropriate t-shirts in public. It was shared by many of my friends on Facebook.
Here is the link for it. (And beware! It's NSFW, as you've probably amassed by the Web address.)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/maggyvaneijk/masturbating-is-not-a-crime
What was my thought when I saw these pictures? That I can't WAIT to be old. They can do ANYTHING. And NO ONE gives them crap for it!
Another thing I find wonderful about getting old is the amount of time you've had to learn everything you can about something you love. If you do something you love for many years, and have many conversations with many people from many walks of life about it, and you teach it as well...you get pretty darn good at it. You're seen as a guru.
Case in point: Tao Porchon-Lynch. She's 96 years old and the Guinness World Record-certified oldest yoga teacher in the world. She teaches in New York, but also writes books and wins ballroom dancing contests.
In a recent Yoga Journal article, she said something I found absolutely beautiful regarding aging. "I don’t believe in getting old. In America, look how many beautiful trees are hundreds of years old. They are losing leaves but they are not dying—they are recycling. In a few months, spring will start up again. You can learn so much from nature." Her words resonate with my post about some of our views on death. I concluded that when we die...we don't really die. Our spark lives on. And, while we're here, we're here for a reason. That is to do our thing. Live our dreams. Thrive.
With each stage of life there is the ability to be beautiful, awesome, and influential. I think that those of us in the younger generation have so much to look forward to by learning as much as we can about what we love. Then, as we arrive into our older years, we can act as a great resource for those who are younger than us.
Tao is an incredible resource. In that article, she listed her Five Rules for a Long, Happy Life. They are:
1. Don’t procrastinate—tomorrow never comes.
2. You can’t believe in something if you only do it halfway.
3. Each day, whatever is in your mind materializes.
4. Never think about what can go wrong. I know my best day is every day.
5. If you wait for something good to happen, it will. Don’t look for tragedy.
(From http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/worlds-oldest-yoga-teacher-shares-secrets-long-active-life/utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=story7_title&utm_campaign=myyj_12042014)
Doesn't she just RULE?
Thrive on!
Sarah
Here is the link for it. (And beware! It's NSFW, as you've probably amassed by the Web address.)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/maggyvaneijk/masturbating-is-not-a-crime
What was my thought when I saw these pictures? That I can't WAIT to be old. They can do ANYTHING. And NO ONE gives them crap for it!
Another thing I find wonderful about getting old is the amount of time you've had to learn everything you can about something you love. If you do something you love for many years, and have many conversations with many people from many walks of life about it, and you teach it as well...you get pretty darn good at it. You're seen as a guru.
Case in point: Tao Porchon-Lynch. She's 96 years old and the Guinness World Record-certified oldest yoga teacher in the world. She teaches in New York, but also writes books and wins ballroom dancing contests.
In a recent Yoga Journal article, she said something I found absolutely beautiful regarding aging. "I don’t believe in getting old. In America, look how many beautiful trees are hundreds of years old. They are losing leaves but they are not dying—they are recycling. In a few months, spring will start up again. You can learn so much from nature." Her words resonate with my post about some of our views on death. I concluded that when we die...we don't really die. Our spark lives on. And, while we're here, we're here for a reason. That is to do our thing. Live our dreams. Thrive.
With each stage of life there is the ability to be beautiful, awesome, and influential. I think that those of us in the younger generation have so much to look forward to by learning as much as we can about what we love. Then, as we arrive into our older years, we can act as a great resource for those who are younger than us.
Tao is an incredible resource. In that article, she listed her Five Rules for a Long, Happy Life. They are:
1. Don’t procrastinate—tomorrow never comes.
2. You can’t believe in something if you only do it halfway.
3. Each day, whatever is in your mind materializes.
4. Never think about what can go wrong. I know my best day is every day.
5. If you wait for something good to happen, it will. Don’t look for tragedy.
(From http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/worlds-oldest-yoga-teacher-shares-secrets-long-active-life/utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=story7_title&utm_campaign=myyj_12042014)
Doesn't she just RULE?
Thrive on!
Sarah
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Yoga is not about religion. It's about love. The rest is bull!
The true historic origins of yoga are a little fuzzy. The first people who
practiced it probably believed in more than one God. Their reasons for doing it generally surrounded one theme: to be more God-like. This may be the reason why many people feel that yoga is tied in with religion. For today’s yoga, that is
definitely not the case. Today, it’s about something much better than that: LOVE! It's about absolutely nothing else!
Why did those beginning yogis seek to be more God-like? What does that even mean? They desired something deeper than themselves. They wanted to know everything about themselves and others and to have absolute surety at all times of their actions, thoughts, and deeds. They longed for to feel complete and to erase their doubts. They also wished for a feeling of togetherness. They wanted a solid connection between surroundings and other beings.
They were seeking a connection that can probably only be described as love. Love for themselves, love for others, and love for everything.
It’s just like the picture I posted above. All the great spiritual teachers that some of today’s religions are based on only wanted to promote the philosophy of love. Unfortunately, their teachings have been altered in time to try and fit into different religious molds. However, we don’t need to follow any specific religion in order to be more God-like...to feel that love. We just have to open our hearts to feel the love all around, to recognize the love in ourselves and in others, and do our best to spread it further.
Today, many people come to their first yoga class strictly for the goal of reaping specific physical benefits. They may have heard that yoga helps relieve back pain. Or, maybe they've seen some of their friends become more fit as a result of a continuing yoga practice. Possibly, it was recommended by a doctor to help them lose weight. The reason I actually began going to yoga classes was I heard it was a great way to stretch my chronically tight hamstrings and prevent common running injuries (several of which I was prone to) as I trained for my first marathon.
As attending yoga classes became a more regular occurrence in my schedule, I most certainly did reap the physical benefits I had originally sought. But, something else came along with it, too. What the teachers had been saying during the yoga classes, both of an encouraging and enlightening nature, began to make me think. They welcomed the idea of setting an intention for my practice, whether it be for myself or someone else. They suggested concentrating on centering myself, believing in myself, and accepting myself, all throughout the practice, no matter how I did in each pose. I started feeling a little more loving towards myself as I continued attending yoga classes and consciously applying their little lessons to what I was doing on the mat. I started feeling more love for myself in my yoga classes.
I could even see how setting an intention for an action I was doing, and treating myself with much more acceptance, was something I could carry with me off the yoga mat.
I had started to feel a little more love for others as well. I few blog entries back, I wrote about the love that I felt (and still do deeply feel) for anyone else in a yoga class with me. I not only respect those in classes with me for sharing the same hobby, but also because they're sharing in a love for themselves. I hold a large amount of respect for those who love themselves.
This double dose of love that has developed in me, for myself and for others, has been creating a more complete feeling within me. It's helped me to feel a connection between myself and the world. I don't really know if I feel more God-like, but I definitely feel like I'm here for a reason. I feel a little more whole - more connected to others and to the world.
It's similar what the original teachers I mentioned above taught. Their entire philosophy was love. It's not about religion. It's not about putting boundaries and rules and regulations on obtaining the best feelings in the world and sharing them with others. It's about spreading love and kindness.
And, as one of my favorite yoga teachers says often during his classes, it's all about love and kindness. The rest is bullshit. Right, Willy Nelli? ;)
Spread that love and kindness...and it will come back to you!
Sarah
Why did those beginning yogis seek to be more God-like? What does that even mean? They desired something deeper than themselves. They wanted to know everything about themselves and others and to have absolute surety at all times of their actions, thoughts, and deeds. They longed for to feel complete and to erase their doubts. They also wished for a feeling of togetherness. They wanted a solid connection between surroundings and other beings.
They were seeking a connection that can probably only be described as love. Love for themselves, love for others, and love for everything.
It’s just like the picture I posted above. All the great spiritual teachers that some of today’s religions are based on only wanted to promote the philosophy of love. Unfortunately, their teachings have been altered in time to try and fit into different religious molds. However, we don’t need to follow any specific religion in order to be more God-like...to feel that love. We just have to open our hearts to feel the love all around, to recognize the love in ourselves and in others, and do our best to spread it further.
Today, many people come to their first yoga class strictly for the goal of reaping specific physical benefits. They may have heard that yoga helps relieve back pain. Or, maybe they've seen some of their friends become more fit as a result of a continuing yoga practice. Possibly, it was recommended by a doctor to help them lose weight. The reason I actually began going to yoga classes was I heard it was a great way to stretch my chronically tight hamstrings and prevent common running injuries (several of which I was prone to) as I trained for my first marathon.
As attending yoga classes became a more regular occurrence in my schedule, I most certainly did reap the physical benefits I had originally sought. But, something else came along with it, too. What the teachers had been saying during the yoga classes, both of an encouraging and enlightening nature, began to make me think. They welcomed the idea of setting an intention for my practice, whether it be for myself or someone else. They suggested concentrating on centering myself, believing in myself, and accepting myself, all throughout the practice, no matter how I did in each pose. I started feeling a little more loving towards myself as I continued attending yoga classes and consciously applying their little lessons to what I was doing on the mat. I started feeling more love for myself in my yoga classes.
I could even see how setting an intention for an action I was doing, and treating myself with much more acceptance, was something I could carry with me off the yoga mat.
I had started to feel a little more love for others as well. I few blog entries back, I wrote about the love that I felt (and still do deeply feel) for anyone else in a yoga class with me. I not only respect those in classes with me for sharing the same hobby, but also because they're sharing in a love for themselves. I hold a large amount of respect for those who love themselves.
This double dose of love that has developed in me, for myself and for others, has been creating a more complete feeling within me. It's helped me to feel a connection between myself and the world. I don't really know if I feel more God-like, but I definitely feel like I'm here for a reason. I feel a little more whole - more connected to others and to the world.
It's similar what the original teachers I mentioned above taught. Their entire philosophy was love. It's not about religion. It's not about putting boundaries and rules and regulations on obtaining the best feelings in the world and sharing them with others. It's about spreading love and kindness.
And, as one of my favorite yoga teachers says often during his classes, it's all about love and kindness. The rest is bullshit. Right, Willy Nelli? ;)
Spread that love and kindness...and it will come back to you!
Sarah
Monday, December 8, 2014
You're already a diamond.
-Dr. Robert Holden
I've said similar things from this quote to myself. I would like to pinpoint that it all began in college, but that's incorrect. I think I was born with the wanting to be the best. I remember striving constantly for my teacher's approval all the way back to my kindergarten days. I wanted to be the first one to "win" an M&M because I brought in a current events article.
I told myself I'd be happier when I got that M&M.
College allowed many more chances for my feelings to perpetuate. I told myself I'd be happier when I got an A on my paper. I thought I'd be happier once I'm done with school. I was absolutely sure I'd be happier once I got my first job. Then, when I got that job, I thought I'd be happier when I found an even better paying one.
When would it stop?
It didn't. And it still hasn't. I've suffered from destination addiction my entire life...so far.
What about you?
Our yoga teacher training instructor brought up a fantastic point in training this last weekend that tied in with my addiction. She mentioned so much of this world is trying to "keep up with the Joneses". It seems we are all wanting MORE. Many of us are walking around with this belief that if we get this, that, or the other thing, then we'll truly be happy.
But will we be? Really?
Something that struck me, and has struck me more and more as I've practice yoga and progressed through teacher training, is that we are already perfect, deep inside, and we can be happy. Right now. We're not born perfect. We'll probably never get truly perfect. But, we all are beautiful. We're just diamonds in the rough. All we have to do is peel the layers away that drag us down, that hide our spark.
Yoga has helped many people to feel more beautiful, to peel away those layers. After class, they feel more whole, more centered. A better version of themselves.
I think this can be carried into the lives of those who've tried yoga but it hasn't done the same for them. It doesn't matter that you don't like yoga. In fact, it's good you know what you don't like! It's SO much better to know what doesn't work than to keep trying something you want so badly to work, but it never, ever will. That can be frustrating.
Really, you just need to find what makes you, YOU. The ultimate version of yourself. The you you've always wanted to be. You can be that you, right now! You just have to find your thing. And, when you find it, you have to just do it. Do it, no matter what, so that you can be the best version of yourself. Then, you won't need anything. You won't need something in the future. You won't be happier when you accomplish that one lofty thing that's out there, somewhere in your fantasies, that you cannot grasp just yet. Your happiness doesn't come from that. It comes from you, being yourself and doing your thing, now.
Forget about the world and its expectations. Forget about the Joneses...whoever the heck they are. Forget that you need to be running around, searching for what you need, that you need to have everything that the world says you absolutely must have right now at this very moment. Or ELSE. Or else what? On all that, I call bull crap.
Because that's what it is - complete and utter crap...just...DRIVEL. You don't need ANYTHING. You only need yourself to be happy. And, you can only obtain happiness from yourself! You just have to believe it. Know it. Know you can be happy. Know you deserve to be happy.
I am not saying to completely forget about others. By all means, cultivate and nurture your relationships. Help others - those you love and those you respect, as much as you can, as often as you can.
But...only by taking care of yourself can you become the best version of you. The others in your life will appreciate that! Those closest to you LOVE to see you take care of yourself!
The way to become the best version of yourself is to do what you want to do. Do what makes you feel good. Maybe it's yoga. Maybe it's running. Maybe it's crocheting. Maybe it's playing Magic the Gathering. Maybe you love your job. (And you are darn lucky if you do! Heck, if you love something that's not your job...look for ways for it to become your job!) Bottom line is that it doesn't matter. Just do your thing, whatever it is. Do with WITHOUT apologizing. Do it with conviction. And, do it whenever you can. Because you deserve to be at your best. You deserve to be happy. Right now.
Who cares what everyone else is doing? All that matters is that it makes you happy.
I LOVE it when people find their "thing". Obviously, my thing is yoga...and baking cookies...and singing...and reading steampunk novels with large words in them. My husband's thing is board games. My mother's thing is downhill skiing. My mother-in-law's thing is painting. When we do these things, we feel real. We feel whole. We feel happy.
When you know what works for you...shine on, you crazy diamond!
Sarah
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
It's true! Aaron Rodgers does yoga. But why?
I'm pretty sure those of you reading this know who Aaron Rodgers is. (If you're living in Wisconsin, that's kind of a given.) Even people who don't watch the Packers play football know that he's probably their most prized possession. Most of the sports world has their eyes on Aaron this season since the talented quarterback may lead the Packers to Super Bowl history this year.
To keep their mental and physical skills sharp, professional players try every tactic they can to give them an edge when it comes time to play. Something surprising was added to Rodger's off-season preparation this past summer - yoga. Really! And, apparently, it's made an obvious difference. Head Coach Mike McCarthy has taken notice of the changes. He's said, "[This year,] he's in the best shape that I've ever seen him in."
What did Aaron do? Hot yoga. 60-minute sessions at 90 degrees in 40% humidity, three times a week. Athletes can be apprehensive about yoga, but he really enjoyed it. Per him, "I loved it. The stretching, the atmosphere, the group setting, a teacher helping you reach your maximum flexibility. I felt so great after those hot yoga sessions."
Not only did Aaron notice his flexibility improve, but other aspects of his life got better, too. "My sleep improved - my sleep patterns, every night. My energy improved - my sleep patterns, every night. My energy improved. I didn't have to drink coffee as much the next day. On some days, it's a necessity for me, to get going, to get a little jolt. [With yoga], it wasn't necessary." (From Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback on Sports Illustrated's Web site: http://mmqb.si.com/2014/08/12/aaron-rodgers-packers-hot-yoga-mailbag/.)
Even more benefits were reaped from his yoga practice. Along with the physical improvements, Rodgers' mentality improved as well. He also said: "I think through yoga you learn some good mental disciplines, being encouraged to try and clear your mind. I think those are good mental activities, to turn your brain off, focusing on those moments." How fabulous is it that he picked up on becoming more mindful after only several months of a regular practice?
I think it's also interesting to note that Rodgers' mindset about his future with the NFL changed as well. He's said that as long as he takes care of his body, he feels he could last longer playing pro football. "Three, four years ago, I didn't think mentally I could handle it, because it is a drain, mentally, going through everything, the preparation [for the season], everything [that needs to get done]," Rodgers said, according to the Journal Sentinel. "But when you're getting more sleep, and you're taking care of your body - and your body feels better, your mood is better. And this whole thing is more enjoyable. So I think that has really changed in me. Since I started taking a lot better care of my body, this whole thing has become a lot more fun. And you're like, I think I can keep doing this for another eight, nine, ten years." (From Yahoo! Sports: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/shutdown-corner/aaron-rodgers--plans-to-play-into-40s-by-hot-yoga--less-pizza-and-sleep-165017565.html).
His whole mindset on what he does for a living has changed. He's realized if you're centered, and taking care of right now, the future will just come as it needs to.
Who would have thought that a rough and tough NFL football player could see the benefits, both on and off the mat, of a regular yoga practice? What happened to Aaron, I think, is similar to what many others have experienced as they've grown in their yoga practice. That definitely was the case for me as well. I began doing it strictly for the physical benefits - mainly, greater muscle tone and flexibility. After several years of regular practice, however, the concepts, encouragement, and mindfulness I've picked up on have definitely helped me mentally to change for the better.
I don't really mean to toot yoga's horn...oh, for goodness sakes, who am I kidding, huh? Sure I do! Yoga is amazing! It's changed the lives, bodies, and minds of people from all walks of life, regardless of shape or size. To me, that is just so beautiful. It's not just about sinewy people in Spandex.
Wink, wink!
Sarah
To keep their mental and physical skills sharp, professional players try every tactic they can to give them an edge when it comes time to play. Something surprising was added to Rodger's off-season preparation this past summer - yoga. Really! And, apparently, it's made an obvious difference. Head Coach Mike McCarthy has taken notice of the changes. He's said, "[This year,] he's in the best shape that I've ever seen him in."
What did Aaron do? Hot yoga. 60-minute sessions at 90 degrees in 40% humidity, three times a week. Athletes can be apprehensive about yoga, but he really enjoyed it. Per him, "I loved it. The stretching, the atmosphere, the group setting, a teacher helping you reach your maximum flexibility. I felt so great after those hot yoga sessions."
Not only did Aaron notice his flexibility improve, but other aspects of his life got better, too. "My sleep improved - my sleep patterns, every night. My energy improved - my sleep patterns, every night. My energy improved. I didn't have to drink coffee as much the next day. On some days, it's a necessity for me, to get going, to get a little jolt. [With yoga], it wasn't necessary." (From Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback on Sports Illustrated's Web site: http://mmqb.si.com/2014/08/12/aaron-rodgers-packers-hot-yoga-mailbag/.)
Even more benefits were reaped from his yoga practice. Along with the physical improvements, Rodgers' mentality improved as well. He also said: "I think through yoga you learn some good mental disciplines, being encouraged to try and clear your mind. I think those are good mental activities, to turn your brain off, focusing on those moments." How fabulous is it that he picked up on becoming more mindful after only several months of a regular practice?
I think it's also interesting to note that Rodgers' mindset about his future with the NFL changed as well. He's said that as long as he takes care of his body, he feels he could last longer playing pro football. "Three, four years ago, I didn't think mentally I could handle it, because it is a drain, mentally, going through everything, the preparation [for the season], everything [that needs to get done]," Rodgers said, according to the Journal Sentinel. "But when you're getting more sleep, and you're taking care of your body - and your body feels better, your mood is better. And this whole thing is more enjoyable. So I think that has really changed in me. Since I started taking a lot better care of my body, this whole thing has become a lot more fun. And you're like, I think I can keep doing this for another eight, nine, ten years." (From Yahoo! Sports: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/shutdown-corner/aaron-rodgers--plans-to-play-into-40s-by-hot-yoga--less-pizza-and-sleep-165017565.html).
His whole mindset on what he does for a living has changed. He's realized if you're centered, and taking care of right now, the future will just come as it needs to.
Who would have thought that a rough and tough NFL football player could see the benefits, both on and off the mat, of a regular yoga practice? What happened to Aaron, I think, is similar to what many others have experienced as they've grown in their yoga practice. That definitely was the case for me as well. I began doing it strictly for the physical benefits - mainly, greater muscle tone and flexibility. After several years of regular practice, however, the concepts, encouragement, and mindfulness I've picked up on have definitely helped me mentally to change for the better.
I don't really mean to toot yoga's horn...oh, for goodness sakes, who am I kidding, huh? Sure I do! Yoga is amazing! It's changed the lives, bodies, and minds of people from all walks of life, regardless of shape or size. To me, that is just so beautiful. It's not just about sinewy people in Spandex.
Wink, wink!
Sarah
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
A swift kick in the...
So. Tomorrow’s
Thanksgiving. And, I keep recieving email messages and keep seeing Facebook
posts about how we should be thankful and what other people are grateful for.
See, I’m all for giving thanks. I agree that it’s important to appreciate what you have in your life. Much of what we are learning in yoga teacher training teaches us to live in the moment and pay attention to all the good that we have.
It’s just that some other people seem have so much. It sometimes feels like others have it really good. It can be almost painful for some of us to read about what others are thankful for…because it’s something we could never, ever have.
I think about those of us who can’t spend Thanksgiving with our family when we’d really like to. I think about those who have a hard time finding the money to pay for good food or heat on a regular basis, without the slightest thought of having a lavish Thanksgiving meal in a comfortable home. I think about those who have to bite their tongue on Thanksgiving Day and pay homage to a family that hasn’t treated them all that well.
A few days ago, I received an email titled “10 Great Privileges We Forget to Be Thankful For” from the Web site http:www.marcandangel.com. It said this:
“Even in times of uncertainty – even when life seems far from perfect – it’s always important to keep things in perspective.
See, I’m all for giving thanks. I agree that it’s important to appreciate what you have in your life. Much of what we are learning in yoga teacher training teaches us to live in the moment and pay attention to all the good that we have.
It’s just that some other people seem have so much. It sometimes feels like others have it really good. It can be almost painful for some of us to read about what others are thankful for…because it’s something we could never, ever have.
I think about those of us who can’t spend Thanksgiving with our family when we’d really like to. I think about those who have a hard time finding the money to pay for good food or heat on a regular basis, without the slightest thought of having a lavish Thanksgiving meal in a comfortable home. I think about those who have to bite their tongue on Thanksgiving Day and pay homage to a family that hasn’t treated them all that well.
A few days ago, I received an email titled “10 Great Privileges We Forget to Be Thankful For” from the Web site http:www.marcandangel.com. It said this:
“Even in times of uncertainty – even when life seems far from perfect – it’s always important to keep things in perspective.
1.
You are alive.
2.
You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.
3.
You didn’t go to sleep outside.
4.
You had a choice of what clothes to wear this morning.
5.
You haven’t spent a minute in fear for your life.
6.
You know someone who loves you.
7.
You have access to clean drinking water.
8.
You have access to medical care.
9.
You have access to the Internet.
10. You
can read.”
This
blew my MIND. I couldn’t think of one
person who doesn’t have all of these things. And they are truly things to be grateful for. Many of them we overlook every
day. Yet it is such a privilege to have all of them. Reading this was like a
swift kick in the butt. It made me feel really lucky.
We
may not have it all, but we sure have a lot more than most. It’s my hope for
you, this Thanksgiving, that the good in what you do have makes you feel like you’re an honored, special person.
Because…you really are.
Thank you for reading!
Sarah
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Maybe meditation's NOT a crock.
Those of you who have been reading my blog know how I feel about meditation. Those of you who haven't been, I'll enlighten you.
I think it's a crock of you-know-what.
Why? I think it's a waste of time. When I first found out what meditation actually was, I never thought it'd do anything worthwhile for me. (Basically, it's being still with your concentration on one thing, be it sounds or an object or anything really...as long as it's one thing.) Why sit and do nothing? Isn't it better to just take that time get stuff done?
Then, our instructor for yoga teacher training told us to try meditation as an assignment. She said to try just one minute a day, adding on a minute each day, up to a total of ten minutes per day. I'll be honest with you guys. I didn't do the assignment.
At our next class session, however, we watched a video which included famous yoga practitioners who spoke of the life-changing aspects of yoga and the yogic lifestyle, titled "Titans of Yoga". The minute I laid eyes on Bryan Kest (he was in the video), I was spellbound. And, not just by his perfectly chiseled face (though that certainly did help)! He said several things in the video that resonated with me. One of them was that he'd read about a recent Harvard study where it was concluded that the majority of our thoughts are the same thoughts we have every single day. Therefore, most of our thoughts are unnecessary thoughts. He said that having control of our thoughts was difficult, but was possible, and one way to help control them was through meditation.
When he said this I thought back to the time in my life when I suffered from severe anxiety. I used to take medication to help my mind stop from chattering and to calm myself down. (I still do take medication, just not as much as I used to.) The main thing that lead to my suffering was my inability to control my thoughts which, at times, seemed to overwhelm my mind and stress me out to the point of a panic attack. This is still something that I suffer from. I've gained much better control of my thoughts, but there are times when I do feel like I worry to an uncomfortable point. And, from just living life, I've learned that all that worry usually amounts to nothing. Much of what I worry about was nothing to worry about in the first place.
One thing I'm sure that's led to all of the thoughts in my head is that I also have a very short attention span. At any given time, I'm usually thinking about more than one thing. I am always thinking about tomorrow. I usually make 3-4 to-do lists every day. I'm always making plans for today, tomorrow, next week, and next month. When I'm at work, I don't like doing just one thing at a time. I just like being more productive. I'm usually on the phone with someone while composing an email to another. I do admit that my habits often cause me stress. I get burned out and discouraged when my plans don't turn out or even more projects are thrown on my plate at work. Also...I've come to realize that doing more than one thing at a time means I may not do each thing as well as if I had just been doing one thing.
When the beautiful Bryan from the video mentioned those unnecessary thoughts, I considered that meditation might be something that could be useful to me. I struggled to accept that doing NOTHING would be helpful, but I thought I'd at least see if it made my thoughts calm down a little bit.
I made time for my very first on-my-own meditation after doing a little yoga one morning before work. My goal was to try it for five minutes. I decided I would sit on my yoga mat covered in a blanket, cross-legged style. My goal was to simply watch the patterns that floated behind my closed eyes. I turned out the lights, and tried to breathe calmly.
How did it go? I found it extremely difficult to just let my mind BE. Concentrating on only the patterns behind my eyes was difficult. After about 20 seconds, I wanted to start thinking about the day...what to wear to work, the meetings I had coming up that day, what shopping I had to get done later. I was taught in yoga school that thoughts were only natural because they are what we are used to doing...so I tried to just notice them, and said to myself, I'll think of them later.
Although I did this, the thoughts didn't seem to stop coming! I felt more stressed out after my first meditation session than I did normally!
I wondered if I had failed at meditation. However, like I've been taught so many times, and especially in yoga school, you cannot truly fail if you don't try again. I know I am a strong person. When I don't do well at something I've done one time, I certainly give it another shot. Whenever I fall out of a yoga pose while practicing, you bet your bootie I get right back into that yoga pose!
I have been trying to include meditation with any yoga practice that I do at home before work. I try it several times a week. I have increased my meditation time from doing it for only five minutes at a time up to a whopping EIGHT WHOLE MINUTES! But, whew! You guys, it took me a few weeks to get to this point, and I'm still trying. It's very difficult for me not to think about more than the meditation.
I've also tried new items for me to concentrate on while meditating. When I don't feel like sitting with my eyes closed, I actually use the live wallpaper on my smart phone. It's composed of the most beautiful shades of purple, blue, and green and has little bubbles that I follow off of the phone screen. When one moves off, I just look at another one. I also use a beautiful snow globe that my father gave to me a few years back. It's silver and sparkly and has a unicorn in the center. I just turn the musical knob on the bottom and give it a shake. It's one of my favorite things to meditate with! It just brings me joy to look at.
My goal here was not to sell you on meditation. I just found it very surprising that it has seemed to actually help me - a person who HATES doing NOTHING.
One of the main reasons I've heard why people don't meditate is they feel they don't have time for it. In some of my own meditation technique research, I came across an article called "90 Second Sanity Pit Stop", and I felt the tactic used in it was very unique! Here it is:
"When caught up in the narratives and dramas that trigger us—when we find ourselves 'putting out one fire after another at work,' our foot on life’s gas pedal, impatient to the point of honking at others, etc.—the first step is to divert our attention from the visual and audio sensations that agitate us, such as the conversation or the computer screen. Sometimes we’ll have to remind ourselves that a 90 second mental health break will not change the outcome, unless we’re about to be trampled by wild animals, in which case continue running.
The first 30 seconds: Become aware of your out breath and extend each exhalation as long and smooth as possible, until they’re at least three times as long as each in breath. Long out breaths activate the vagus nerve which, in turn, 'switch on' the parasympathetic nervous system, deactivating the stress response. Don’t worry about your in breath, as your body knows how much oxygen to take in.
The second 30 seconds: Find the muscle groups in your body that are most constricted and use each out breath to release and relax the tension. I highly recommend focusing on the areas where somatic emotions register, such as the abdominal muscles (fear), shoulders (feeling overwhelmed), the chest (abandonment) and the micro-muscles around the eyes (just about every emotion). Sometimes it helps to lightly tighten the muscles with the in breath, so that we can have a greater release during the exhalations.
The last 30 seconds: While keeping the breath in awareness, bring an image of yourself onto the mind’s inner movie screen, where fantasies and memories play out. Holding the image, direct thoughts of kindness and compassion towards it: 'May I be truly at ease.' 'May I find lasting peace.' 'I love you, just keep going,' etc.
These thoughts can be repeated with every out breath, or again and again so other thoughts don’t intrude. When the 90 seconds are up, slowly open your eyes, and try, as you return to the busy stimuli of life, to keep some awareness on those out breaths. I recommend setting a timer on a smart phone or computer to remind us to take a pit stop every two hours at the very least; think of it as a spiritual refueling. I've used this tried-and-true method for quite a long time; it’s how I survived working in industries where other people succumbed to many stress related setbacks. I hope it will help others in their journeys."
Here is more information on it:
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/11/90-second-sanity-pit-stop-meditation-practice/?utm_source=All&utm_campaign=Daily+Moment+of+Awake+in+the+Inbox+of+Your+Mind&utm_medium=email
If you meditate, I'd love to know of any other methods or items you use when you do it. Feel free to post on this blog or on my Facebook post!
Peaceful thoughts to you!
Sarah
I think it's a crock of you-know-what.
Why? I think it's a waste of time. When I first found out what meditation actually was, I never thought it'd do anything worthwhile for me. (Basically, it's being still with your concentration on one thing, be it sounds or an object or anything really...as long as it's one thing.) Why sit and do nothing? Isn't it better to just take that time get stuff done?
Then, our instructor for yoga teacher training told us to try meditation as an assignment. She said to try just one minute a day, adding on a minute each day, up to a total of ten minutes per day. I'll be honest with you guys. I didn't do the assignment.
At our next class session, however, we watched a video which included famous yoga practitioners who spoke of the life-changing aspects of yoga and the yogic lifestyle, titled "Titans of Yoga". The minute I laid eyes on Bryan Kest (he was in the video), I was spellbound. And, not just by his perfectly chiseled face (though that certainly did help)! He said several things in the video that resonated with me. One of them was that he'd read about a recent Harvard study where it was concluded that the majority of our thoughts are the same thoughts we have every single day. Therefore, most of our thoughts are unnecessary thoughts. He said that having control of our thoughts was difficult, but was possible, and one way to help control them was through meditation.
When he said this I thought back to the time in my life when I suffered from severe anxiety. I used to take medication to help my mind stop from chattering and to calm myself down. (I still do take medication, just not as much as I used to.) The main thing that lead to my suffering was my inability to control my thoughts which, at times, seemed to overwhelm my mind and stress me out to the point of a panic attack. This is still something that I suffer from. I've gained much better control of my thoughts, but there are times when I do feel like I worry to an uncomfortable point. And, from just living life, I've learned that all that worry usually amounts to nothing. Much of what I worry about was nothing to worry about in the first place.
One thing I'm sure that's led to all of the thoughts in my head is that I also have a very short attention span. At any given time, I'm usually thinking about more than one thing. I am always thinking about tomorrow. I usually make 3-4 to-do lists every day. I'm always making plans for today, tomorrow, next week, and next month. When I'm at work, I don't like doing just one thing at a time. I just like being more productive. I'm usually on the phone with someone while composing an email to another. I do admit that my habits often cause me stress. I get burned out and discouraged when my plans don't turn out or even more projects are thrown on my plate at work. Also...I've come to realize that doing more than one thing at a time means I may not do each thing as well as if I had just been doing one thing.
When the beautiful Bryan from the video mentioned those unnecessary thoughts, I considered that meditation might be something that could be useful to me. I struggled to accept that doing NOTHING would be helpful, but I thought I'd at least see if it made my thoughts calm down a little bit.
I made time for my very first on-my-own meditation after doing a little yoga one morning before work. My goal was to try it for five minutes. I decided I would sit on my yoga mat covered in a blanket, cross-legged style. My goal was to simply watch the patterns that floated behind my closed eyes. I turned out the lights, and tried to breathe calmly.
How did it go? I found it extremely difficult to just let my mind BE. Concentrating on only the patterns behind my eyes was difficult. After about 20 seconds, I wanted to start thinking about the day...what to wear to work, the meetings I had coming up that day, what shopping I had to get done later. I was taught in yoga school that thoughts were only natural because they are what we are used to doing...so I tried to just notice them, and said to myself, I'll think of them later.
Although I did this, the thoughts didn't seem to stop coming! I felt more stressed out after my first meditation session than I did normally!
I wondered if I had failed at meditation. However, like I've been taught so many times, and especially in yoga school, you cannot truly fail if you don't try again. I know I am a strong person. When I don't do well at something I've done one time, I certainly give it another shot. Whenever I fall out of a yoga pose while practicing, you bet your bootie I get right back into that yoga pose!
I have been trying to include meditation with any yoga practice that I do at home before work. I try it several times a week. I have increased my meditation time from doing it for only five minutes at a time up to a whopping EIGHT WHOLE MINUTES! But, whew! You guys, it took me a few weeks to get to this point, and I'm still trying. It's very difficult for me not to think about more than the meditation.
I've also tried new items for me to concentrate on while meditating. When I don't feel like sitting with my eyes closed, I actually use the live wallpaper on my smart phone. It's composed of the most beautiful shades of purple, blue, and green and has little bubbles that I follow off of the phone screen. When one moves off, I just look at another one. I also use a beautiful snow globe that my father gave to me a few years back. It's silver and sparkly and has a unicorn in the center. I just turn the musical knob on the bottom and give it a shake. It's one of my favorite things to meditate with! It just brings me joy to look at.
My goal here was not to sell you on meditation. I just found it very surprising that it has seemed to actually help me - a person who HATES doing NOTHING.
One of the main reasons I've heard why people don't meditate is they feel they don't have time for it. In some of my own meditation technique research, I came across an article called "90 Second Sanity Pit Stop", and I felt the tactic used in it was very unique! Here it is:
"When caught up in the narratives and dramas that trigger us—when we find ourselves 'putting out one fire after another at work,' our foot on life’s gas pedal, impatient to the point of honking at others, etc.—the first step is to divert our attention from the visual and audio sensations that agitate us, such as the conversation or the computer screen. Sometimes we’ll have to remind ourselves that a 90 second mental health break will not change the outcome, unless we’re about to be trampled by wild animals, in which case continue running.
The first 30 seconds: Become aware of your out breath and extend each exhalation as long and smooth as possible, until they’re at least three times as long as each in breath. Long out breaths activate the vagus nerve which, in turn, 'switch on' the parasympathetic nervous system, deactivating the stress response. Don’t worry about your in breath, as your body knows how much oxygen to take in.
The second 30 seconds: Find the muscle groups in your body that are most constricted and use each out breath to release and relax the tension. I highly recommend focusing on the areas where somatic emotions register, such as the abdominal muscles (fear), shoulders (feeling overwhelmed), the chest (abandonment) and the micro-muscles around the eyes (just about every emotion). Sometimes it helps to lightly tighten the muscles with the in breath, so that we can have a greater release during the exhalations.
The last 30 seconds: While keeping the breath in awareness, bring an image of yourself onto the mind’s inner movie screen, where fantasies and memories play out. Holding the image, direct thoughts of kindness and compassion towards it: 'May I be truly at ease.' 'May I find lasting peace.' 'I love you, just keep going,' etc.
These thoughts can be repeated with every out breath, or again and again so other thoughts don’t intrude. When the 90 seconds are up, slowly open your eyes, and try, as you return to the busy stimuli of life, to keep some awareness on those out breaths. I recommend setting a timer on a smart phone or computer to remind us to take a pit stop every two hours at the very least; think of it as a spiritual refueling. I've used this tried-and-true method for quite a long time; it’s how I survived working in industries where other people succumbed to many stress related setbacks. I hope it will help others in their journeys."
Here is more information on it:
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/11/90-second-sanity-pit-stop-meditation-practice/?utm_source=All&utm_campaign=Daily+Moment+of+Awake+in+the+Inbox+of+Your+Mind&utm_medium=email
If you meditate, I'd love to know of any other methods or items you use when you do it. Feel free to post on this blog or on my Facebook post!
Peaceful thoughts to you!
Sarah
Thursday, November 20, 2014
An uncomfortable conversation.
At my work, I have uncomfortable conversations with clients on pretty much a daily basis. I talk with them about life insurance.
My job isn't all glum, though! I do enjoy talking with people and getting to know them. It's nice to know I can provide them protection and help them feel better about the future.
It's just that the life insurance conversation is a very sensitive one. Most of us don't want to think about the possibility of passing away or how it might affect our family. Still...it's a very important conversation to have. I've grown used to it simply because I discuss it with so many people so often. I can empathize with anyone that doesn't enjoy such a conversation. The experience of the death of a loved one is always very sad.
Society today has somewhat of an obsession with death prevention. We go to great lengths to delay it. We try to learn all we can to stay as healthy as we can so that we can live as long as we can.
The thought of death strikes fear in many peoples' hearts. I think what fuels this fear is so much uncertainty regarding death. None of us really knows what happens when we die. Yes, our veins stop pumping blood, our brains cease to work, and our bodies don't function any further. But, because none of us have died and come back to tell about it, none of us really knows what happens next.
It's quite the scary thought.
As I continued reading Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic (one of the books required for yoga school teacher training), there was a wonderful passage that talked about death. It really brought a sense of peace to my heart about death and I thought I'd share what I found out with you.
"Death is the most natural thing there is and to fear it is no more logical than to fear sunsets. Like the sunset that is sure to follow the sunrise, death is the natural result of birth. Resisting it and clinging to life only serves to hold us back while we're here and prevents us from living life to the fullest.
For many of us, death is not an easy subject. Because of [what we were taught to believe from birth and because we] so closely identify with the body, death can be a very fearful thing. The practice of yoga is based on the idea that we are not [really of these thoughts,] but rather the eternal Atman, or divine spark. Once [our spark] is realized, there is no cause to fear death or to speak about it in whispers.
As I have noted so many times [in this book], the essence of who we are (our divine spark) is eternal. [It is] the soul; it was not created at birth and does not die at death. Only the form a soul takes can change. If we resist that change, we suffer, and there is no change bigger than physical death.
None of us knows when we'll be called home. None of us knows when the accident is going to hit, or when disease is going to render the body uninhabitable. Therefore, it's important to attempt to make every moment a conscious one. In doing this we simultaneously create full and rich lives and make a clear space for entering into [death]."
I found these words very beautiful. It only makes sense that we might fear death because we only feel that we are of our bodies. But, what if we are so much more than just our physical selves? Whatever that is, that is what lives on, even after we pass away. It's just moving to its next stage. And, who knows what endless possibilities are in store for us there!
May you live your life to the fullest!
Sarah
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Right now is actually the only thing we have.
I love making plans. I write to-do lists like it's what I do for a living. (I know that's pretty sad!) I dream all the time and am always thinking about the future. One might say that my future-oriented thinking is a positive trait, but that isn't necessarily the case. Why? Plans almost always never go exactly as I'd like them to.
Example: I began training for my first marathon back in 2007. When I found the perfect plan to help me reach my goal time, I was thrilled. I bet I annoyed everyone in my life at the time because it was pretty much all I talked about. I loved knowing each and every day how far I was going to be running and I had full faith that if I followed the plan to a tee, I'd meet my goal time.
Lo and behold...I got injured. The second month of my training plan, I felt some pain in my foot and it kept getting worse as I did my planned run each day. I researched online to find out could be going on and asked a few running friends, but I didn't find out what was really up with my foot until I saw a physical therapist. When the therapist told me that my training plan would have to be put on hold for a few weeks, I was totally devastated. My beloved plans would have to be changed! I was concerned that if I couldn't stick with the plan, my goal time, my DREAM, wasn't going to happen. I was super sad and super pissed.
I'm sure you've experienced the feelings I felt when I wasn't able to continue my plan exactly the way I wanted. When you've got your heart set on something in the future and circumstance stops you in your tracks, you're left disappointed and downtrodden...distressed and stressed out. You're heartbroken.
When we get caught up in expectations of the future, we're just setting ourselves up for the feelings I just mentioned. Why? There are far too many factors out there that are completely out of our control.
Well...get this. These feelings can be remedied. How? By centering our focus on the circumstances we're in...right now!
Though it's great to have goals and work towards them, it's a much less stressful way to live if we're not concentrating all of our happiness on if we meet those goals. Alternatively, if we regret or linger on things that have happened in the past, we're never really going to be happy because that is another circumstance we have no control over. All we really have is right now.
This is why there is so much talk of being present and taking advantage of the current moment when it comes to a yoga practice. Right now is actually all we have.
One of the required readings for yoga teacher training is a book by Darren Main titled Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic. Darren states that life can only actually be lived in the present moment. "Changing your mind, and consequently changing your reality, can only happen in the present moment. We can spend a lot of time regretting or feeling nostalgic about the past. We can fantasize about the future or live in fear of it. The past is gone and the future is nonexistent. Therefore, the only time that exists is now."
I found his words to be particularly interesting because of my plan-based lifestyle. I fantasize about the future on a daily or even an hourly basis. If all of my energy is placed on trying to meet these goals, I will always be devastated when life doesn't allow me to follow through.
As I read his book further, I found out that what happens to us doesn't necessarily have to result in unhappiness. He also says that "if we focus on [the] negative experiences [that happen to us], that's what we'll unconsciously create in our lives." Apparently, I don't always have to feel victim to what the world throws at me and stops my plans from happening.
One of the most powerful passages from Darren's book was this one, for me: "How we focus the mind determines how our reality will unfold. Until we learn to focus the mind on the present moment and make conscious choices, we will always feel like the victim of happenstance. It's so important to see that life is not about luck or fate, but rather about choice."
We have a CHOICE you guys!!! We can choose to accept what happens to us and our plans! It doesn't always have to royally suck. Yes, it may not be what we want. But...what we want may not always be the best thing for us, anyway. Sometimes we never really know. That actually doesn't really matter. What matters is that we can choose to change our minds about our circumstances...rather than dwell on what we wanted to change about the past...or what we hope to achieve in the future. All we can control is what we're thinking right now. Right now is all we'll ever have.
The emotions I felt when I got my injury were unnecessary. I learned a whole bunch about how to change my plan into a new one that would prevent injury and still prepare me for the marathon. And guess what? I not only met my goal time...I beat it by 10 minutes! It's hard for me to find words to describe how I felt when I finished. I felt supremely proud and extremely elated...like a better version of myself. These feelings were definitely a result of knowing I overcame an obstacle that put a kink in my plans.
I'm learning more and more every day that all we can really do is to make the most of RIGHT NOW. That's because now is all we'll ever have. We'll never know what tomorrow can bring, and we cannot change the past.
Based on my experience and what I continue to learn...do I still make plans? I sure do. It makes me happy to dream. I'm just much more mindful when mind plans don't work out. And, I have made a big promise to myself. I refuse to plan this early in yoga teacher training exactly how I'll be able to teach others yoga. I do have dreams and I will keep my eyes open for opportunities. I'm just going to enjoy the training. I'm going to make the most of now - because right now will never happen again.
I hope your now is as awesome as you are.
Sarah
Example: I began training for my first marathon back in 2007. When I found the perfect plan to help me reach my goal time, I was thrilled. I bet I annoyed everyone in my life at the time because it was pretty much all I talked about. I loved knowing each and every day how far I was going to be running and I had full faith that if I followed the plan to a tee, I'd meet my goal time.
Lo and behold...I got injured. The second month of my training plan, I felt some pain in my foot and it kept getting worse as I did my planned run each day. I researched online to find out could be going on and asked a few running friends, but I didn't find out what was really up with my foot until I saw a physical therapist. When the therapist told me that my training plan would have to be put on hold for a few weeks, I was totally devastated. My beloved plans would have to be changed! I was concerned that if I couldn't stick with the plan, my goal time, my DREAM, wasn't going to happen. I was super sad and super pissed.
I'm sure you've experienced the feelings I felt when I wasn't able to continue my plan exactly the way I wanted. When you've got your heart set on something in the future and circumstance stops you in your tracks, you're left disappointed and downtrodden...distressed and stressed out. You're heartbroken.
When we get caught up in expectations of the future, we're just setting ourselves up for the feelings I just mentioned. Why? There are far too many factors out there that are completely out of our control.
Well...get this. These feelings can be remedied. How? By centering our focus on the circumstances we're in...right now!
Though it's great to have goals and work towards them, it's a much less stressful way to live if we're not concentrating all of our happiness on if we meet those goals. Alternatively, if we regret or linger on things that have happened in the past, we're never really going to be happy because that is another circumstance we have no control over. All we really have is right now.
This is why there is so much talk of being present and taking advantage of the current moment when it comes to a yoga practice. Right now is actually all we have.
One of the required readings for yoga teacher training is a book by Darren Main titled Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic. Darren states that life can only actually be lived in the present moment. "Changing your mind, and consequently changing your reality, can only happen in the present moment. We can spend a lot of time regretting or feeling nostalgic about the past. We can fantasize about the future or live in fear of it. The past is gone and the future is nonexistent. Therefore, the only time that exists is now."
I found his words to be particularly interesting because of my plan-based lifestyle. I fantasize about the future on a daily or even an hourly basis. If all of my energy is placed on trying to meet these goals, I will always be devastated when life doesn't allow me to follow through.
As I read his book further, I found out that what happens to us doesn't necessarily have to result in unhappiness. He also says that "if we focus on [the] negative experiences [that happen to us], that's what we'll unconsciously create in our lives." Apparently, I don't always have to feel victim to what the world throws at me and stops my plans from happening.
One of the most powerful passages from Darren's book was this one, for me: "How we focus the mind determines how our reality will unfold. Until we learn to focus the mind on the present moment and make conscious choices, we will always feel like the victim of happenstance. It's so important to see that life is not about luck or fate, but rather about choice."
We have a CHOICE you guys!!! We can choose to accept what happens to us and our plans! It doesn't always have to royally suck. Yes, it may not be what we want. But...what we want may not always be the best thing for us, anyway. Sometimes we never really know. That actually doesn't really matter. What matters is that we can choose to change our minds about our circumstances...rather than dwell on what we wanted to change about the past...or what we hope to achieve in the future. All we can control is what we're thinking right now. Right now is all we'll ever have.
The emotions I felt when I got my injury were unnecessary. I learned a whole bunch about how to change my plan into a new one that would prevent injury and still prepare me for the marathon. And guess what? I not only met my goal time...I beat it by 10 minutes! It's hard for me to find words to describe how I felt when I finished. I felt supremely proud and extremely elated...like a better version of myself. These feelings were definitely a result of knowing I overcame an obstacle that put a kink in my plans.
I'm learning more and more every day that all we can really do is to make the most of RIGHT NOW. That's because now is all we'll ever have. We'll never know what tomorrow can bring, and we cannot change the past.
Based on my experience and what I continue to learn...do I still make plans? I sure do. It makes me happy to dream. I'm just much more mindful when mind plans don't work out. And, I have made a big promise to myself. I refuse to plan this early in yoga teacher training exactly how I'll be able to teach others yoga. I do have dreams and I will keep my eyes open for opportunities. I'm just going to enjoy the training. I'm going to make the most of now - because right now will never happen again.
I hope your now is as awesome as you are.
Sarah
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