Patience is a Virtue

Tree Amongst the Trees
 

The dictionary says, A Calm Endurance showing high moral standards.

I am definitely experiencing the endurance part this week.  Just when I reach a plateau in my practice, I need to take time away from studio time to practice at home.  It is February vacation from my daughter's school. 

I am a Parent.

I am home with daughter or she comes with me to the studio.  Sometimes this works out blissfully, and sometimes not so much.

I do have an at-home practice.  For me, all 8 Limbs are present when I am in-studio.  Simply, there are less distractions.

Thus, staying calm and enduring days of Monster High Dolls and the Disney Channel requires high standards, like a detailed Pranayama with a new teacher.  Or endless Chaturangas in a Hot Power Yoga class with a slippery mat.

Stay grounded.

My chanting sustains me and of course, my yogic BFF, Ganesha.

Namaste.

We Stand

 

Tadasana, Mountain Pose, feet together arms by your side, stand tall -- pick one or all. As a yoga teacher I say these phrases many times a week.

Yet, as a yoga student, they have a different meaning to me. Recently, my teacher said:

We stand, to withstand, to understand.

We Stand. My back goes out -- a lot!! My latest adventure in how-my-back-feels-today, has been a long, slow recovery. And to simply stand, has not been easy. The standing is okay. The sitting somewhat okay. The sitting to standing or standing to sitting -- very challenging and painful.

It was the back bends I pushed into when I knew I wasn't ready. But I felt good that day and felt blissful in my practice. My practical mind said, "Grab a block and restore." My Monkey brain said, "Go For It." Yes, let's go for it......Oh crap. Shoulda grabbed the block.

So I became re-acquainted with my bolster and meditation practice. FUNdamentals, as my teacher often will say. Huh...fun.

To withstand. Yoga helps me to face my fears, endure life's challenges and problems. Resist temptations and the urge to quit when it gets to tough, hot or boring. Hold the pose, take a breath and stay on firmly planted feet.

To Understand. I live in a constant state of confusion. I am confused by everything from bad food in public schools, expensive yoga mats/clothes/trainings/music/etc, taxes and children with bad manners, including my own kids manners and attitude.

I know what I know and I do not know, what I do not know.
I understand practicing yoga is hard, yet rewarding. Just like marriage.
I understand life is not fair, yet worth living.
I understand love is fleeting and a many splendid thing.
I understand food and nourishment, from the earth, will feed you.
I understand children are a reflection of ourselves.
I understand friendships are time consuming, yet valuable.
I understand family is exhausting, yet everything.

And yet, I go back to the basics, the fundamentals, and Stand tall. I Withstand my challenges and try with guidance from the traditions I believe in, to Understand.

Namaste.

 

Resolving My Path

The new year is a time to reflect, start new and erase all those Holiday indulgences.  It is an opportunity to clean the slate and get back on your path and yoga mat.

I try not to make New Year's Resolutions, I do not want the pressure of the promise to behave.  And then if I broke them, that pull and tug of energy utilized elsewhere.

For this new year, 2013, I resolved not to resolve.  I thought well let's just keep on keepin' on and see what happens.  There was nothing I really wanted to change, drastically.  But I do have a non-list List:

Yoga Practice -- Check -- Stay on the mat and keep sweating, all will come.

Meditation Practice -- Check -- It could be longer, last year I didn't meditate at home.

Eat Healthier -- After being a vegetarian for 2 years, I found myself craving 1 or 2 bites of organic meat, here and there.  No Guilt.  Check.

The above has led me to more of myself, for me.  Not, more energy to be a better mom.  Not, healthier diet to set an example for my students.  Not even, loose some weight for my husband's benefit.

It is all for me.  Selfish, yep!  I am observing my Path and hopefully the rest will fall into place.

There are some observations:

I love the Traditions of Yoga.  The seed was planted about a year ago in an anatomy workshop.  Now I want to be around Teacher Trainees, chat with my pals about Yamas & Niyamas, and say names like Krishnamacharya and Krishnamacharya's son, T.K.V. Desikachar.

 

I miss that youthful, whimsical creativity.  The finger painting, block building and worlds of make believe.  Yes I write, plan classes and even cook.  There is still more creative expression brewing and not yet expressed.

All in all, this year I hope to keep it more positive and less negative; simply keep on keepin' on. 

What's on Your Path?

Namaste.

Helping Newtown, CT

Some yogi pals of mine baked loads of pies, drove to Newtown and sharing their sweetness.

I love this! 

I found this on Facebook today:

Newtown PO has set up the following address to send notes to:

Messages of Condolences
PO Box 3700
Newtown, CT 06470

Also - they are collecting homemade snowflakes - be creative! The snowflakes will be used create a Winter Wonderland to welcome the Sandy Hook school children to the new school currently being prepared for occupancy.

Snowflakes can be sent until January 12th to:

Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514
 This is especially great for those folks want to help but not sure what to do.

To all of my readers, some of you are local and some of you are from far away....please reach out to Connecticut.  A simple words go a long way.

Peace, Love, Joy and Namaste.

Saddness

On the Facebook page -- Everyday Gratitude -- I wrote this:

Today is a day to be Grateful....to have our children to hug & kiss, to have the opportunity to pray & meditate, to reach out into our communities and offer peace & love and to practice, practice, practice being a kind and compassionate person to youself and others.

Today is a day to be Grateful. Namaste
 

It was from Saturday, the day after the most horrific shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, CT.

I have an eight year old girl.  She came home safe on Friday. 

When my husband came home from work, he didn't put on the news, like he always does.  He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I cannot stop thinking of ALL those parents!  What if it was us?  How could you have gone to school and not bring our girl home?!?!"

There was no news on all weekend.  We tried to watch sports.  Too many details: names, ages, hero teachers, memorials erecting, broken first responders......  We hide the newspapers -- images, facts, the killer's eyes.

I pray for this boy.  I know he was 20 years old.  I pray him, and his family.  They experienced lots of pain before this day.  And for those who remain, that pain will continue for a long time.

Still emotional, I hear gun control, mental health care, school security, etc.  Big issues that require deep thinking.  As a parent I think of parental responsibility first, then the political stuff.  I do not like politics.  I like parenting.  I am a yoga teacher.


On Friday, I was at my daughter's Elementary school and read a book to her class about compassion, love and friendship. We chatted about Peace, Freedom and celebration. I taught how Pranayama, breathing in and out, relaxes us when we are afraid, nervous and confused. The children left school to go home to their Grateful families with pipecleaner Peace signs in their hands and smiles on their faces.

This was a complete coincide with the events in Connecticut.

 I hugged and kissed my girl a lot extra over the weekend.  And today I ache to hold her again -- safe.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

To help the families in Newtown, CT consider these 2 organizations:

Newtown Parent Connection

http://www.newtownparentconnection.org

Newtown Youth and Family Services

http://www.newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org

Montclair B.A.B.Y. - Love

Every now and then, we get to do all the things that we love.

I have been lucky to study and practice yoga with great teachers.  Some famous, some a little well known and some hidden treasures.

One of my teachers, Kelli DeFlora, recently opened her own space Montclair B.A.B.Y. -- birth, advocacy, breastfeeding and yoga.  I sat down with Kelli and Jen Kowal, one of her partners to chat about this new space.

This was a full circle moment for me.  When I first practiced yoga at Starseed in Montclair I took Kelli's beginner classes.  When I was pregnant I took her prenatal yoga classes and workshops.  Then I made my way to post-natal classes with my daughter.

When my daughter was older and I was getting back to teaching and studying -- I participated in Kelli's Pre and Post Natal Yoga Teacher Trainings.

And now I was the writer, sharing the wonderful services of support and connection for families Montclair B.A.B.Y offers.  And my daughter was with me that day, snacking, reading and doing cartwheels in their beautiful studio.

I remember having a conversation with Kelli about teaching requirements and the Yoga Alliance a couple of years ago.  That conversation inspired me to write about all of the wonderful teachers, studios, students and trainings my community offers.  With some outreach and persistence,  I am grateful to have the opportunity to write here on YogaMatUnrolled, elephant journal, Montclair Patch and Baristanet.

I was assigned an opportunity to write about Montclair B.A.B.Y. for a local website.  This article is my gateway to more professional opportunities (read unpaid blogger to paid writer). 

After my visit with Kelli and Jen at Montclair B.A.B.Y., I felt so happy.  It was a perfect day.  I practiced yoga in the morning, spent the afternoon with my girl and shared love with one of my favorite people.  As an added bonus, I made a new friend!

30 Days of Gratitude:19-28

What an adventure!!

I have been posting on the 30 Days FB page about my yoga practice.

My practice has moved, flowed and found more space --both in my body and my schedule.  (It's always about the schedule.)  It has NOT been about pushing forward, but rather loosening my grip and surrendering to what is on the yoga mat.

I feel lighter, less anxious and more grounded. 

We here at 30 Days of Gratitude have shared the important (family and friends) and fun (daily activities).  Many have share about their jobs, their commutes and the comfort of home after a long day.

For those us effected by Hurricane Sandy, we have been thankful for neighbors and strangers alike.  And many of us, are reaching out to help those still recovering from their losses.

As I prepared for our family Thanksgiving, I remembered to stop by my local food pantry to share our abundance.  I have lots to be grateful for -- I hope you do too!

Thank you to everyone who made 30 Days of Gratitude a fun, revealing, adventure of Blessings.  I am always here at YogaMatUnrolled or on FaceBook.  Contact me to join  the Group Page -- Everyday Gratitude.

Namaste.