Respect

I went to bed contemplating respect last night.
I realized yesterday that in my hippy-loving ways, I can love and respect differing
opinions
words
thoughts
but
it doesn't matter how much respect I can offer to another,
if they can't respect my own
opinions
words
thoughts,
then where does it lead to but destruction.

So, I went to mat this morning, still thinking about respect.

I realized by listening to my body, I am offering respect.
Yama.
Niyama.
So when I practice gently, offering a solid warm-up to my aging
body, I am not letting myself easy--but giving it what it needs.
Respect.

We preach and preach this to children, but unless a child feels respected--
how will they react, but with non-respect.
I suppose the same is said for adults.
But, what about the adult who didn't feel respected as a child?
Can they ever respect someone else? Truly?

My intention today is to offer respect to all
beings
ideas
loving
amazingly graceful to all.

Grateful today

Today I am grateful...

Waking up without my alarm at 6:15, but dreaming until 7:15

Hip-opening asana practice

My girls emptying their Christmas presents at 9:30am from their dad

When I suddenly had my 2nd optical migraine without pain in 10 years,
that I knew what it was and the effects I'm feeling are "normal"

Being home listening to my dog bark at the mailman

Not so much yin tonight

Normally my night-time yoga consist of relaxing forward bends,
hanging my head deep
releasing all the daytime energy to escape
from the soles of my feet
to the base of head
collapsing into the earth

followed by floor,
wide-legged stretch
shooting energy outward
letting my sit bones go
until i find myself into

terrasana

deep forward
no
more
tension
hipward
but open and happy
sleepy....

But tonight I found myself trying to be more yin, almost 10 minutes each pose...

supta virasana left my knees
legs
tingling
and my back trying to relax to get into

supta baddha konasana with a make-shift bolster--like a folded couch cushion,
relaxing my base but opening
my heart
visualizing
but awakening

to supta padamasana
and more heart awakening that
i love normally--but not at 10pm...and knowing i just needed to end
in
feet up the wall,
but without the wall...
till i knew my few minutes of meditation were lovely,
and really this yin practice, though semi-relaxing, wasn't sleepily relaxing.

I am not dismissing that this may work some evenings, but this practice felt
much more gentle
restorative
wide open
to my day tomorrow...

Namaste

I stood

beside my yogini sisters

candlelight shining

brighter love

Blissed gaze towards family

friends

my love

Who gave me

Anjali Mudra

Namaste

shining his inner light

pure love

Without thought of origination...

only his heart

Karma Yoga

Tomorrow night will be my Karma yoga class...it is part of our teacher training program.  All money donations are given to Daybreak which is an awesome organization. 

I will be honest though..I'm nervous.  I haven't taught for months to get the beginners experience, but now I'm wondering how smart that may be--because part of teaching is continually practicing.  OH sigh..but here we are and I'm ready.

Well almost.
I have a sequence, but want to zen it out I guess.  Silly ego.  Pride.  Humanity. 
Love.

Learning

Since I've started my YTT, I am more than exhausted--which seems so very un-yoga-like.  As a single mom, full-time librarian--and YTT--I literally have 2 completely free days a month, plus 2 more almost free days.

This doesn't bode well for me.
Probably not for anyone.

Just a few years ago, I was a 95% stay at home mom and physically healthy--but emotionally distraught.  Now,  I am emotionally healthy and physically falling down a large hill.

I am most happy & content while doing YTT and the homework that goes along with it.  I am most blah not being home after school with the girls because of going to work.

I will continue to learn....


“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” Jack Kornfield

Kosha

I am in the beginning months of my yoga teacher training...it's hard to believe by December I will be able to feel I can teach.  Seeing how as I've taught on and off for years, not truly knowing what I was doing, I have gratitude for these classes.  Not only so I can share the gift of yoga, but also for my inner well being.

As I was looking through pics online, I found this picture.  Recently we were talking about kosha's, which to me are levels of energy and being...and as we were discussing I found myself sketching something similar to this found picture. 

I have the intent of making this yoga blog..with some bellydance thrown in because my heart belongs to dance also.

Namaste.