december already?

I can't believe my last post was in October... what a busy month! As the holidays approach, please remember to set aside something for charities - to remember in gratitude for all we are given, and to help those who serve others. One of my favorites is Bridges to Community, a non-profit that provides housing, medical services, and education to the people of Central America. We (Bamboomoves Yoga studio) we will be traveling to Nicaragua in 2011 with Bridges to build a house for the less fortunate: http://www.firstgiving.com/bamboomoves

the power of meditation

Meditation is fun. Well, sort of. Most people sit down to "meditate" and get frustrated because all these thoughts keep running through their heads. After they sit for a while they say they "can't meditate" because of all the thoughts. Well...
As Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj explained (in his book I Am That), the natural tendency of the mind is to have thoughts. Swami Satchidananda says the same in his translation & commentary of the Yoga Sutras. Sri Satchidananda says clearing the mind is like throwing out the trash: you can't throw it all out at once, but you separate it first into piles and then clean out one by one. Our mind is like that too, and a yogic practice can be watching the mind, trying to bring in more positive thoughts, and dismissing or transforming the negative ones.
By taking the time to actually watch the thoughts, we are taking the first step towards yoga: we are becoming aware of them. As we "progress", we gain more control over the thoughts and start to filter, arrange, and master these fluctuations of the mind.

So if you're sitting down and frustrated by the thoughts, try not to worry. Many of the greatest yogis became so after years of practice. Those years started with just one day, and then the next day, and then another day, and before long it just became a habit. Like most worthwhile change, it will take time, but time is no excuse to avoid starting, today or any day.

dealing with injury

Last week I injured myself...again. I have a feeling it's not uncommon, but I've injured the same area several times over the past three years.
Unfortunately, since I'm usually focusing on the breath or deeply into my practice, I hardly notice anything is wrong until the next day when I can barely walk. However, I must say it is always a learning experience, and the great thing about injuries is that they slow you down and bring you to a place of deeper awareness and appreciation about your body.
A few of my tips:
- Don't fight it. The urge to push through an injury, or not take rest, may be strong, but it will only hurt your chances of recovery. Give your body the attention and care it needs and it will heal much faster.
- Seek out experts. I had to misalign my hip a few times before my chiropractor diagnosed it correctly. (Others had said a strained tendon, overuse of the hip, etc.) But using the care and expertise of chiropractic, acupuncture and other healing modalities, the injury has healed faster and my body is also able to better deal with the stress of injury.
- Learn from the injury. There is always a hidden message. I've had to slow my life down, pay more attention to the present, discover other types of yoga practice, become more compassionate and patient, and have developed increased awareness and appreciation for my body all because of injuries. I believe the more receptive we are to receiving this hidden message, the easier the time of recovery will be.

attached? I'm not attached!

Yoga is sometimes synonymous with the idea of "non-attachment," but finding daily ways to practice it can be not so easy. In older times, non-attachment was often part of the lifestyle chosen by yogis who gave up their worldly possessions and followed a life of monastic simplicity.

These days, we have jobs, families, and the things needed for us to fulfill our "dharma" or life path. So how do we stay non-attached? As Dharma Mittra says, we can have whatever we want, but not be attached to it. In other words, if those things or circumstances were gone, we would still be content.

Here's an example: Say I'm hoping for a raise at work. I may go into the meeting with my boss hoping for the best. If I were "attached" to the outcome, if I got the raise I would become smug and self-assured. Maybe I would think I was better than the other people or that I "deserved" the raise. If I didn't get the raise, I would be upset, perhaps angry or jealous of the others who did get a raise.

All these reactions are not yoga, because they disturb our peace of mind. If the person were not attached, they would accept the results of such meeting and then move on. The extra thoughts or feelings would not be created in their mind-body system.

When you think of it, in the case of attachment, our mental attitudes are dependent on the outcome. If we remain independent of whatever happens, we become the ones with control, and we become internally dependent. In essence, we stop looking for satisfaction and happiness in the outside world and find it in ourselves. Pretty cool, huh?

"Practice and all is coming" - Shri K. Pattabhi Jois

Last week there was one thing after another and I didn't fit in as much asana (physical practice/yoga postures) in as I would have liked. Fortunately, I was able to squeeze in a minimal amount of meditation and pranayama (breath control). But still, this week as I started to do my full practice (and at least complete my full "minimum" series), I could see why persistence is simply the biggest factor in all kinds of success.

We all know the story of the tortoise and the hare, but it can be so easy at times to think that just because this time all is going great it will always be that way going forward. I believe that with age we begin to realize that this type of thinking - the notion that we can "skip steps" - will lead to a bigger fall or setback quite soon. And this is why I believe the yogis also greatly emphasize "non-attachment" or in the words of Dharma Mittra, "Renounce the fruit of your actions." This way we can simply offer whatever happens up to a higher power, and we won't feel affected by the rise and fall of life as it takes place around us.

poco a poco

In Spanish there's a phrase - "poco a poco", which translates to "little by little" or step by step. As we approach the holiday weekend and get a chance to slow down, I think it's a great time to take a closer look at the pattern of our lives.

It could be said that many of our errors, failures, and disappointments come from expecting too much, from doing too much, or trying to force things to go our way. It happens in society, government, and business, but also in the small scope of our lives. When we expect too much from life, find ourselves exhausted, or make decisions we later regret, we call it stress, but beneath that is our pushing ourselves and trying to always be in control.In yoga, the term "Isvara pranidhana" refers to the process of letting go of that desire, of surrending all to a greater power.

So over this long weekend of beautiful weather, outdoor events, and family time, let your independence rise to the state of taking everything in stride, and allowing yourself to do everything "poco a poco" - one small step at a time.

back to the main stream

All of last week I was blissfully situated in the woods. I was completely cut off from modern everyday life - no cell phone, hot shower, or flushing toilet. I wasn't just camping or hiking, but I found myself at Tom Brown's Tracker School, located in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. There, I was surprised to find that a) the Pine Barrens are anything but barren and b) the roads and woods reminded me closely of Martha's Vineyard - sandy drives, medium height bushes, and a mix of youngish trees that were filled with more wildlife that one could imagine.

As I slowly readjust to the metropolitan world, I am praying that the essence of the experience will remain with me: the indescribable feeling of being completely immersed in nature, with no walls or barriers between me and the soft earth, the stroking breeze, and the chime of numerous birds from the leafy green latticework above.

The course was practical but also spiritual. During the week-long stay, our group of 62 "standard class" students were taught subjects concerning survival, tracking, and awareness. The school's philosophy (which I found both intriguing and comforting) views the teachings not as a man vs. nature battle, but as ancient skills which, through practice, slowly meld your way of living into one in harmony with the pristine perfection of the natural world.

While so much can be said for the intensity and depth of the course, I will consider it a success if just one reader takes a moment to: stop and smell the roses or flowers (literally), enjoys the time spent outside just a little more, or looks with appreciation and gratitude at the food on their plate that was so graciously given by none other than Mother Nature herself.

tea time

Tea has been quite the saviour for me as I try to maintain a yogic lifestyle and, well lets be honest, not eat too much. I have quite a variable schedule - some days I get up at quarter to 6 and others I start my workday at noon. I finish working at any time from 7 on an early day to 10 or 11 on a late night.

This has made developing an "eating schedule" a bit difficult. Nutritionists and exercisers usually recommend 4-6 small meals per day, while some yogis fast part of the day, maybe only eating one large meal at midday. I think most of us can control what we eat during the main part of the day, or at least keep track. Whether we bring lunch to work, eat at home, or go to a restaurant with friends, we can account for what we've consumed and counted it as a meal.

However, when at home, it's not so simple. Does that piece of fruit, cup or two of juice, bag of chips, or sandwich (or two) count as a "meal"? Or maybe a snack? Or possibly half a snack? And then when can we eat the other half?

This is when tea comes in handy. My fiance and I must have at least 10 boxes of tea stored in the cupboard, ready to suit every mood, time, and taste. Whether it's a morning peppermint or green, a cleansing blend of berry or rooibos, or a soothing evening tea such as chamomile or "Bedtime," the brew of the herbed bag is there to comfort and help fill an empty or wanting stomach. We have a lot of the "Yogi Teas", partially because the have little inspirational quotes on the tags and partially because the flavors are great.

While getting ready for the day or while preparing for bed, it's easy to make a cup or pot in a few minutes. The warm, tasty liquid is great when it's too late or too early to eat and you're hungry or about to get there. It is kind of an indulgence, but a sophisticated one that can help shed pounds instead of adding them. Speaking of which, I think I'll go warm the kettle.

lots of green (juice)

If you ever go to Dharma Mittra's in Manhattan it wouldn't be surprising to hear him closing his yoga class with "Go have a green juice." While usually I am not a particular fan of a bunch of greens funneled into a small glass of green lip-smacking power, yesterday I had just finished a yoga class and hadn't had a good salad or bunch of leafy vegetables for a few days.

I think one of the keys to great juice is having the right blender or juicer. While a blender is good for fruit smoothies or mixes, to extract the full flavor a good juicer does it best. We have a Breville at home, and it works wonders with everything from apples to carrots, even beets and (yes we've tried it) radishes. So here's a simple green juice that is great when your body craves the nutrients that only lots of leaves and verdancy can give (serves 2 thirsty people):

Handful of Kale (you can sub spinach)

Handful of chard

3-4 stalks Celery (you can also do cucumber)

Small bunch parsley

2 apples

1 lemon

This is potent stuff - I personally can only take a few sips and then my better half downs the rest. But if you like the taste, green juices are the Red Bull of yogis, only without the crash afterwards. :-)