I just did my first Kundalini class online.

Amazingly, I got really hot.  The body is a wondrous instrument.

I feel refreshed, like yoga nidra makes me, but like I did some work too.

I will continue to learn more about this...

Grateful

Last week I overbooked myself.
I do it often, but sometimes I do it too often and when I do, I notice
I fall into a trap of insecurity.  Being tired leaves me feeling fragile, questioning
moves, thoughts and actions. 

And that's when the universe always has my back.

In less than 24 hours I was fortunate to have 4 people share with me how
much they enjoyed, appreciated and loved my yoga classes.  They shared their
personal challenges and growth.  They felt I had something to do with their yoga practice. Pshaw--I just show up and share what I love, speaking from my heart the best I can.  I listen. 

So, big wide world and loving spirit - thank you for the support and placing me here.
I promise to listen a little closer, try my best to not overbook myself and remember, it's all gonna be ok.

Stepping into the rain

I was waiting for my bedroom paint to mix to it's correct sea foam color in a big-box store when I heard it.
The sound of either the store collapsing or a downpour.

The paint guy made a joke.
"Now on sale, umbrella's."
And we both laughed, well - I smiled with a small laugh.

I got my paint, knew I had a few more items to look for when I realized
I was wasting time.
I was waiting for the rain to quit.
Or at least turn into a spring mist.

And when I could waste no more time and spend no more money, that's when I heard a soft voice say, "sometimes you just have to get wet."

I knew it was time.
It was time to walk to the cashier, pay and accept what was going on in the outside world: rain.

I pushed my cart to the tippiest dry spot I could and knew I couldn't go any further.
I didn't have anyone waiting to get my car for me.
I didn't have a magical portal to home.
I had to get wet.
And then I thought, since when do I care?

So, I smiled as I raced my cart to the car and unloaded my next home project - in the rain.

As I was driving home I thought about how I tried to wait the rain out and how often do we do that?  How often do we waste time trying not to get wet or messy or deal with change?  How often do we stay in one place because stepping into the rain is just too messy?  Our hair might get wet...our clothes wrinkled...our plan - ruined. 

Sometimes you just have to accept, yes I am going to get wet.  I can't stay in this big box forever.  Sometimes you have to step into a puddle before you can get dry....sometimes you have to get messy, before you get clean.

So, as you step into your day, step onto your mat -- are you just dipping your toe to only get a little wet or do you accept the downpour that happens when you start living. 

Rain nourishes the earth.
Waters the soul.
Play.
Get wet.
Grow.

Far Out Pigeon Pose

I am not so sure where to put this entry, here or over at my other blog, but because it has to do with yoga - I'll begin here.

This morning I woke up at my normal 5am time and did a mini happy happy joy dance in my head because I realized I didn't have to get up till at least 6:30.  Thankfully I fell back asleep easily and drifted into my favorite sleep state:
dreamtime.

This is the easiest time to find lucid dreaming, when I have woken up and can fall back asleep without worry. 

Anyhow, I dreamt I was working myself into full pigeon pose.  I was looking back towards my foot, which in real life, I can not do and this is a pose I am always working towards...anyhow, I then could see a face and beautiful soft lips.  My focus, drishti, was so connected I felt I was in that beautiful space- I was in the center of the lips and I could feel this pigeon pose open up.  And then as I came out of the pose, I was two of me - but my lower self stood in front of me, naked and smiling, while my higher self was blessing my other self.  I was placing my hands on the chakra points, but I was going into the body since my higher self--well was clearly higher and could.  I knew it was a higher spirit/holy spirit blessing me. And then it was over.

The end.
And when I woke up and remembered it, I did another happy dance.  This time for a spectacular day.

Om Shanti.

This morning I taught my first official private class.
I say officially private because there have been plenty of times that I have only taught to one person with regular pay.  This morning I was paid as a private.  And with that, to me, comes greater responsibility. 
She has asked for books and other readings so that she can do her work at home and commit deeper. 
She gave me a compliment when we were done..."do you have any recordings?  Your voice is so relaxing..."
I do not unfortunately, but she is not the first person to ask.
I "hear" these different "signs" and somehow have to put this puzzle together :)

Om.

Do or do not, there is no try- Yoda

Do or do not, there is no try- Yoda

Trying too hard to do anything is counterproductive.  We try too hard to breath. Too hard to relax. Too hard to this asana just right.  Too hard at our jobs, as parents, as friends, community.  So what if while doing your practice you take out the try.  There is NO TRY.  Just do the pose.  Do the breath.  You aren’t trying to do anything…you are doing yoga.

Being the new year many have created resolutions or intentions.  Sometimes that brings in something new, but sometimes it is letting go.  And in that letting go what is usually happening is we are trying.  We consider the past, present, future – instead of doing.  What if one breath equated do or do not – no try.

The first step in doing is accepting you are trying.  This past weekend my lower back started to feel some twinges.  Instead of trying to work it out I considered, what am I holding on to too tight? What am I trying to let go of too hard.  And I sat.  I realized I can do or do not – let go or hold on.  With that, I just am.  I am. So hum.

 

Warm Up:  Breathing/ to four equal parts breath/samavrtti

**Sitting Twist/Thread the Needle/Knee to Nose: break down

                                                                                Knee to knee/plank knee/knee nose/plank knee/3 leg dog

**Into low lunge/high fingertips/lift knee twist lunge

**DD/jumping handstands

**Sun Salutes/4 breath counts

**Chair/Twist           **DD knee to nose   **DD high fingertips

**lunge twist/flat palm/arm back and open pulse  **DD fingertips

**Chair/pulse open

**Side crane   **Center balance toes platter    **Side crane

**Utrasana/Camel

**Hero/Half Twist/Gomukasana Eagle arms

 

Om.

6am yoga

I spent the entire week with my alarm set at 5am in anticipation for today's class.

It's Saturday and most folks I've realized, as much as they want to get up and go,

they don't want to get up and go do yoga at 6am.

I'm ok with that.

Mostly.

Of course I dream of 10 people walking through the doors, dying to do yoga.

In reality, I am lucky to have 5.

Today, I had 2.

Really one, but there were two other women that started exercising at 5:15am and one decided to stay for this class...so one plus one equals 2 :)

I made the decision last night that I would get up, drink one cup of coffee and get ready.

What that meant this morning was getting up at 5, letting the dogs out, letting them in, drinking one cup of coffee sitting on my mat and chanting to wake up my voice.

I realized mid-week that as much as I like getting up early, I don't really talk. So, being prepared today, I chanted on the mat and walking in the crisp, frosty air.

The air doesn't really hang in the winter. It dissolves quickly. I noticed by the time I got over the tracks that my body heat was picking up and I could easily walk in the cold air. I used to do it consistently. Now, I feel fortunate when I have the opportunity to walk. So, I walked down the street, beeped myself in and unknowingly came upon two exercising women who were just as surprised to see me.

The one who stayed, I believe, was meant to stay. It was meant to happen. We have been talking yoga for a few years now and she had a certain amount of trepidation about it. Even this morning I had to do a little coaxing, but I could tell she enjoyed it enough to possibly do it again.

After class I walked back home in the dark. It was only 7am. My family was still asleep.

I got to drink another cup of coffee, write and officially begin my day when the rest of the world sees fit.

Namaste.