Why Yoga Is Dangerous For Your Mind :)
An excerpt adapted from Lindsey Lewis:
The thing about yoga is this: it’s about your soul. It’s about clearing the blocks to your ultimate freedom, joy and purpose. It’s about getting to a state of total knowing and complete release. And when we get there we release our mind.
What happens next is not just illuminating, it’s revolutionary.
Because inside our minds live our doubts, fears, insecurities, stressors and our roadblocks to our true selves. Inside our minds live the limiting beliefs that we hold firm to, that keep us held down. Inside our minds lives the belief that we are smaller, less capable, and less brilliant than we really are.
Inside our minds lives…sometimes, loads of crap (SO TRUE).
Yoga is dangerous to those limiting beliefs that don’t serve us.
The mind is a beautiful thing. It’s an exquisite tool that empowers and powers our experience. It enables us to think rationally, to figure things out, and to find the solution.
But…our thoughts create our world. And if what we’re thinking isn’t serving us, or lifting us up, or showing us our truest, unlimited selves—the n we can change that.
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” ~Albert Einstein
Yoga gets us out of our head, and into our body.
It gets us feeling-thinking, not just thinking-thinking.
It taps us into the non-verbal part of our brain, which processes between eight to 11 million bits of information per second. Did you know the verbal part of our brain only processes about 40 bits of information per second? 40!
So all those fear-based thoughts…they’re not based on all the information. They’re not based on everything our non-verbal brain is processing. And, for most of us, they’re coming from an over-stimulated amygdala. These little almond-shaped parts of our brain are stimulated by stress hormones, and when they are, the kind of take over our show. Fear-, anger-, and negativity-based thinking become our m.o. And the part of us that knows how to operate from a different place takes a backseat.
Yoga brings that part of us into the driver’s seat again. It gets us out of fears and stress and into our peace and strength.
Yoga brings our ultimate knowing—not just thought-based thinking—on board.
Yoga brings us our self.
3 Ways to Go Beyond Fear-Based Thinking
- Move your body—consciously. Whether it’s yoga, dancing, swimming or walking, if you do it mindfully, it’ll help you amp up your physical awareness and tap you into the non-verbal part of your brain.
- Notice your thoughts. Do they lift you up, light you up, ignite and fuel your life? If not, question their veracity. Is it true?
- Turn doubt into fuel. When you spot an “I can’t do this” thought, turn it into a question. “Can I do this?” “Yes.” List at least three reasons why. Studies show that providing evidence for an affirmative response to a question like that has a much more powerful impact than empty affirmations.
Summer Solstice Meditation Workshop
Celebrate the coming summer solstice with a yoga and meditation practice! Slow the breath, calm your mind, relax and allow your body to stretch, heal and feel a sense of inner peace. Using ting-sha's and Tibetan singing bowls, Neil will guide you through a deep, healing practice.
We will gather in the Sun room for a meditation to prepare for the upcoming Solstice by joining breath, asana, and meditation to focus on one's self - Sadhana, a way to change a behavior, or add a daily practice, or focus on healing through making a choice, a commitment and aspire to create a different result in one's life. It becomes a self discipline process. It is a way to remove blockages and develop prosperity, internal strength and enjoy a deep and rewarding meditation.
Your Past Need Not Become Your Future
An excerpt adapted from Ed & Deb Shapiro:
No matter how hard we want to, there's one thing we can never do, and that's change the past. We can weep, beat our fists against the wall, eat bags of cookies to assuage our guilt, but it won't make the slightest bit of difference and won't make us feel any better. The past is gone, over, no more, finito.
So why do we continue to live in the past, either by longing for it to repeat itself, fearing it will happen again, or regretting what happened and wanting to do it all over anew? Continuing to wish that either the past would happen again or that it had been different means that we're really not here in the present. We're living in the land of what-was or what-might-have-been or if-only. And if the past was either too painful or too boring, then we switch to the future, that place of infinite potential we want to believe could be real or that place of fear of what might happen but hasn't happened yet; we live in what-could-be or what-we-hope-never-will-be.
Of course we can learn from the past. Often the most painful experience turns out to be our best teacher; we can even be grateful for what happened, as it taught us so much.
And memories can be like comfortable old shoes we are reluctant to part with. We can certainly put them on now and then, but we don't have to hang out in them on a permanent basis. Instead, we can look at what happened with present-moment eyes. This means looking without hope, longing, regret or fear. Fully accepting that the past is irreversible and the future doesn't exist means we can actually be in the present moment. What a relief! Finally, we can just be here and now. Wow! What a revelation!
One of the greatest wonders of taking quiet time out, as in meditation, is that we quickly see that nothing is fixed, solid, or permanent.
The experience of meditation is one of being completely and utterly present, which may sound simple but is actually quite rare: Normally, we're distracted by issues hanging over from the past or anxious about issues coming up in the future. We bounce back and forth like a monkey jumping from branch to branch. Anywhere seems better than being right here. The egoic mind always needs a drama or distraction to feed on. The more awake we become the less of a job the ego has until it becomes redundant. So, to preserve itself, it thrives on confusion and chaos, constantly distracting us from being really present.
When we are present then demanding thoughts do not disturb us; even anger, resentment, hurt, or other negative emotions have no power.
When present, we awake to the potential in every moment. In meditation we see what comes and goes -- our thoughts and feelings, longings and anxieties -- and what stays, which is who we truly are within ourselves. No matter if the past was wonderful or woeful, we are freed of left over hang-ups or unfulfilled desires, of future concerns or longings, and rest in awareness.
Today is a very special day. It has never happened before and it will never happen again.
And we have no idea what will come next. What a great day just to be here. To show up now. The perfect day to let the past rest where it is and let the future take care of itself. As is every day. To experience just this moment, to pay attention to the colors, sounds, smells, and sensations, to be compassionate to your feelings, and other people's feelings. And to make this day one of beauty and tenderness, a choice we are given in every moment.
A Now Open Letter to My Daughters
An excerpt from Marc Middleton:
While I do not have any children myself, this letter needed to be shared. I hope parents and children alike will take the time to read a little about relationships and digital media.
This was never intended to be an open letter. I sent it as a personal note to my two college-age daughters, but with their permission and the encouragement of my co-workers at Growing Bolder, I have decided to publish it here in hopes that other parents will take the time to find the words to encourage their children.
Dear Kelsey and Quinn,
We live in a world in which communication has become easy, instantaneous and disposable. In the "old days" when long-distance phone calls were expensive and there was no such thing as Skype, emails or texts, we actually had to pull out a piece of paper and a pen and put some effort into expressing our thoughts and feelings. And because of that, we almost always wrote that which is too easily left out in a world filled with texts, 140-character tweets and 60-second phone calls.I'm afraid that I have enthusiastically embraced digital media for better and for worse.
Please forgive me for not communicating more deeply and more often, for not telling you both more frequently how much I love you and how proud I am of you.
You are both amazing young women -- very different in many ways, but very similar in ways that matter. You are able to chase different dreams while not, in any way, losing touch with who you are and what you believe in. That's not easy to do at any age. I can't begin to tell you how comforting it is to know that you have and will always have one another in your lives -- supporting, encouraging, listening and empowering. Of course, you will always have your mother and me in your corner as well. I realize that's not your ideal situation, but your worst-case scenario, your Plan B fallback option, is always a warm, loving, comfortable place to live, food to eat and two people who will do anything they can to help you. I hope that knowledge will always bring you comfort as you chase your dreams.
I can tell you that no matter how old you get, you will never stop learning, never stop dreaming and, unfortunately, never stop encountering hurdles and struggles and frustrations.
Happy people are those who recognize and appreciate the small blessings and tender mercies, but don't fret about or magnify the down days. They are part of every life and there will be many more of them but they can't steal your joy unless you let them. More than anything else, I wish you both happiness, and that can only come from within. Happiness is a choice. Learn to follow your heart. Be grateful. Be kind. Be bold. Have fun, have faith and be fearless. Take the right kind of chances. Chase your dreams, no matter how big or how small. Success isn't measured by the size of your check or by how many people know your name. It's measured by the joy in your heart and the impact you have upon others. Please don't pay too much attention to the garbage that our media and culture bombard you with. Most advertising is designed to make you feel inadequate in some way.
Be as kind to yourself as you are to others. You are both blindingly beautiful in the only way that really matters.
You are beautiful spirits and that is immediately obvious to anyone who takes even a moment to know you. I know you both already realize that you don't need a man to be happy or fulfilled. Of course, they can be nice to have around and I know you'll both find exactly what you're looking for when the time is right. Until then, remember that your worth is not determined in any way by a guy that you may or may not have.
I've learned more from both of you than I could ever hope to teach you. You are both amazing creatures and raising you has been the greatest blessing and honor of my life. I'll always treasure my role as your father but I'm equally excited about my role as your friend.
Love,
Dad
Fear - Understanding and Overcoming
Fear is about loss.
Fear is about the loss of familiar things.
We fear losing the jobs we don’t like and the people we don’t love.
This is what keeps us stuck in insanity.
We fear losing the comfort of a habit that gets in our way.
This is why we continue to numb ourselves.
We fear the loss of pleasures that we enjoy.
This is what causes us to lie, cheat or steal.
We fear losing our youth.
This is why we are deceitful about our age or try to stay forever young.
We fear losing our money or never having enough.
This is what causes us to ignore the people around us and to work an insane amount of hours.
We fear losing our status or recognition.
This is what causes us to pretend to be someone we’re not.
We fear death or losing our health.
This is what causes us to ignore and neglect the elderly population.
We fear losing our children.
This is why they can't talk to strangers or play in the front yard.
We fear losing our sense of identity.
This is why we worship our degrees, titles and live in cubicle prison.
We fear losing our sense of safety.
This is why have stuff packed in storage units and supplies stockpiled for doomsday.
We fear feeling unlovable and being unloved.
This is why we become people-pleasers and lose our souls in the process.
Fear sucks.
The only way to get around this nonsense is to understand that we really don’t have any of these things to begin with. Every thing is subject to change and alteration. Safety is an illusion.
The only thing that we can count on is the present moment. Notice that you are safe right now and get on with what you need to do!
Get rid of fear, love others and yourself, play, be authentic, take risks, show gratitude. You have today and this present moment. You are trading a piece of your time that you can never get back for this exact moment. Let that moment be something good.
Is Curiosity Proportional to Creativity on the Mat?
“Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple”
– Charles Mingus
Since childhood, we’ve been encouraged to ask questions using the five basic W’s and H (who, what, where, when, why and how). These questions can be simple in nature, but become complicated when impatience, discouragement and embarrassment constantly overwhelm the mind. Questions are tools for guidance not hindrance. Regardless of the question, the answer provided fosters a new learning experience. According to Amanda Lang in “The Power of Why,” curiosity inspires creativity. However, a creative blockage ensues when parameters and expectations cannot be questioned in a safe environment. Creative outlets and development thrive on the ability of self-discovery, thereby underscoring the need to try, question, and listen.
Now how does this relate to creativity on the mat?
In a yoga practice, whether it be a heated or a non-heated class, the possibility to creatively deepen your practice begins by listening to your body. Self-discovery in yoga coincides with body awareness. One aspect of body awareness considers the different muscle groups that are activated for different postures and sequences.
Curiosity plays an integral role in this particular aspect of body awareness.
How? For example, when the instructor says, "scissor your inner thighs together" in a lunging series, questioning and attempting the cue not only begins to create muscle memory, but acknowledges the muscle group. This can now be used in another posture. This acknowledgment enables the potential to ease into another unfamiliar or challenging posture in a safe learning environment that the mat can bring.
Here are some other suggestions to venture into creativity on the mat:
- try a yoga self-practice at home (this gives you the opportunity and time to explore the muscular engagement in different sequences, series and asanas)
- read some yoga articles and watch some yoga videos (inspiration can stem from new information and motivation by actions of others)
- Vlady Peychoff
Signs You're in a Toxic Relationship
Adapted from Victoria Kasunic:
Many of us have been there. It may be a spouse, an employer or employee, a trainer or mentor, or worse still, yourself. Sometimes it's hard to know whether you are in good, mutually supportive relationships with your partner, friends and family. Some of these ring extremely true for me, and I am thankful that I have removed all of them, grown, learned, moved on, and flourished.
If you're worried about what kind of relationship you're in, here are 12 telltale signs it could be toxic:
- It’s all about the other person — your needs, wants and desires don't rate.
- You feel tired, drained or exhausted being around this person.
- You're always in trouble or are “wrong.”
- You're afraid to express your opinions, thoughts or feelings.
- The person mocks your looks, occupation, activities, mannerisms, family and friends.
- You constantly feel unhappy or complain about the relationship to others.
- You often play the parent or therapist role — even if it's for your parents!
- You compromise yourself to maintain the relationship.
- The person attempts to control aspects of your life like activities, finances, schedule, social outlets and friends.
- You lack trust or you feel unsafe.
- The other person takes out his or her bad moods on you.
- Abuse, be it physical, emotional, sexual or financial (this is NEVER acceptable).
Are Your Expectations Setting You up for Disappointment?
Adapted from: Amanda Christian
“Waking up to who you are requires letting go of who you imagine yourself to be.”
-Alan Watts
Do you find that you walk into the yoga room and "expect" something from yourself? From your teacher? From a sequence or a pose? How often does a teacher remind you to, "listen to the cues" but you find yourself doing something habitually, instead of HEARING what is happening. Intstead of embracing change in your body and in your patterns. It can be difficult, but change can start anywhere. Why not on your mat? A lot of these expectations, you may find, are self-imposed...
The following are some tips and lessons you can use while making the transition from expectation overload to the lightness of exploration.
Less Expectation, More Exploration And Trust
When expectations rule our lives, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Then guess what? We judge ourselves harshly for it. The most important thing you may learn is to release your expectations about how you think your life should go, and approach life from a place of exploration.
This opens you up to experiencing things that are beyond your wildest dreams.
It’s okay to have goals, but make sure to leave room for something even greater to come along. Maybe the most peaceful and quickest way to achieve something is a way you haven’t thought of yet. Be willing to go with the flow. Explore through life knowing deep down that you are always guided to exactly where you need to be. Plus, doesn’t exploring sound like more fun than expecting?
Look Beyond Your Distractions
A lot of us want external things because of the way we think they will make us feel. We want a skinnier body because we thought it would make us feel happy and loved. I want a successful career because we think we would feel fulfilled. We want a relationship because we think it will relieve our loneliness.
These things can distract us from looking within ourselves for answers. When they fail to do what we want, we feel disappointed and angry. In order to release this cycle of disappointment, we need to release the belief that they will save us.
If you want to experience more love, start giving more love. If you don’t want to feel lonely, then start healing the belief that you are alone. If you want to feel like you’re worth something, start treating yourself like you are worth something, because you most definitely are.
When you heal the beliefs that run wild in your mind, you can still enjoy the externals, but you’re no longer trying to get something from them. You know you’re already fulfilled, happy, and complete, so if your circumstances change, you can maintain your joy.
Relax More, Judge Yourself Less
I’ve learned that the loving voice within, also known as our inner guide, has a bigger plan for us than we have for ourselves. The only thing you need to do in order to follow the path of your inner guidance is listen to it by releasing your judgments about what you think is happening. You don’t have to have everything figured out right now.
Get quiet and listen for guidance about what to do in this moment. Any advice coming from love will be something you can do now. The thought of doing it will make you feel lighter and excited.
Change Your Thoughts
If you are feeling disappointed, it’s because of the thoughts you have about the situation. So if you don’t want to feel disappointed, change your thoughts. Step into your power. Everything happens for you, not to you.
You’ll be amazed at the shifts in perception that occur when you become willing to release fear and see love instead. When you focus on releasing the thoughts about how you imagined your life to be, your most loving, truthful self can come forward and guide you. There is nothing to figure out. Namaste.
8 Things to Fight for Every Day
Loosely Adapted From www.marcandangel.com...
As always, there is some tough truth in here. Number two sure brings up some stuff for me personally. Living a fully authentic life can be a struggle. But number seven. Oh, number seven. How thankful I am to be lucky enough to have that. My wish for you all. - Brandon Jacobs
Because everything in life worth having is worth fighting for…
1. Personal greatness.
Easy goals don’t exist. A goal is a point of achievement that requires effort and sacrifice. There are no esteemed ventures worth participating in that don’t require some level of effort and struggle.
Decades from now when you’re resting on your deathbed, you will not remember the days that were easy, you will cherish the moments when you rose above your difficulties and conquered goals of magnitude. You will dream of the strength you found within yourself that allowed you to achieve what once seemed impossible. Don’t do what’s easy, do what you're capable of. Astound yourself with your own greatness.
2. Honesty and truth.
Personal transformation and growth can be remarkably rewarding, but only when the process of change is based on honesty and truth. When you’re not being authentic somewhere in your life or with someone in your life, any attempt at transformation eventually leads to anger and frustration. The truth always creeps back up on you; it does not cease to exist when you ignore it. Being fake about any aspect of your existence slowly digs a dark void in your soul. Life will simply not work for you if you don’t show up as YOU. The truth may not be easy to deal with, but it will always set you free in the end.
3. A mind free of envy and jealously.
Envy and jealousy are costly diseases; you simply can’t be yourself within their confines. When you give in to them, the price you pay is steep – a bad mood, an unproductive mind, an inferiority complex, and a chronic migraine headache. Being envious of what someone else has is like drinking poison and waiting for it to somehow improve your situation. Likewise, tearing someone else down in your jealous mind only tears you down in real life. Rather than devastating yourself with contemplations of things you don’t have or don’t want to happen, think for a second about what you do have, what you do want going forward, and what you can do right now to make progress with realities you face.
4. Positive change.
The simple realization that you need to make a change can be a great source of motivation, but in order for this motivation to create positive change, you must apply it toward creating things of value. Don’t fight against what you don’t want; create what you do want. Don’t punish those who have caused you pain; let go and focus on something new that soothes your pain. Don’t focus on what you are running away from; give your attention to the great things you want to create in your life.
5. A willingness to learn from mistakes.
One mistake does not have to rule your entire life, and it can’t unless you let it. This hour is a brand new hour with no faults in it yet. Think about your mistakes and learn from them, but don’t attempt to carry their weight around with you. It's ALWAYS a heavy load to carry. The road to success is littered with mistakes. Avoiding them is impossible. The thing that will ultimately define your success or failure will not be how many mistakes you make, but how you handle them. The bottom line is that all mistakes die quickly, but you can’t live beyond what you know today if you aren’t willing to make mistakes and forgive yourself for them. Read The Untethered Soul
6. Persistence and patience.
Before you give up, think about how unfortunate it would be if the results you have worked to achieve required just a tiny dose of additional effort. How disheartening would it be if the train you’ve been waiting for arrived five minutes after you walked out of the station? Not only does success require diligent effort, it requires persistence and patience. Rest when you are tired, but don’t quit. You never know what’s just around the corner. It could be everything you’ve been working for, or it might be just another mile marker on your journey.
7. True love.
There is no soul mate out there who will solve all your problems. There is no love at first sight that lasts without work and commitment. But there is someone out there worth fighting for. Not because they’re perfect, but because they’re imperfect in all the ways that are right for you. You compliment each other’s flaws in a way that allows your two spirits to unite and operate more efficiently as one. You will know when you meet this person, when through them you meet the very best in yourself.
8. Goodwill.
There is no greatness or peace of mind where there is betrayal of your own goodwill. Always aim at complete sincerity of your thoughts, words and deeds. If it is wrong, don’t do it. If it is untrue, don’t repeat it. Do what you do because you believe it’s the right thing to do. Do the right thing even when nobody is looking. Be one of the people who make a true difference in the world by leaving it a little better and more wholesome than you found it.
Salt Spring Island 2013
Salt Spring Island Retreat 2013
The video and images below were all captured by an amazing attendee of our latest retreat to Salt Spring Island, Sarah Taylor. If this doesn't make you want to come on one of our amazing retreats, we don't know what will! To everyone who came out and made our retreat so special and fun, we send a huge thank-you. To our fabulous hosts, the always lovely Melissa Perret, and the super fun Michelle Chung, who helped organize fun events and outings, while keeping every day fresh with some Yoga we send so much gratitude for taking our students on an amazing retreat.
"Adventure is worthwhile in itself"
- Amelia Earhart
Salt Spring Island was a great getaway from the snow in Edmonton. We enjoyed the best lacto-vegeterian food and explored the farmer's market in Ganges, where I happened to stumble upon plum thai chilli vinegar. The greatest part about the trip was getting to know everyone- sharing many laughs, stories, as well as space for asana practice.
-Vlady Peychoff
Compulsive Exercise and Eating Disorders
Very loosely adapted and modified from Barbara Mader:
Controversial topic alert. But a topic that needs to be addressed. PLEASE take the time to read. This may help you, or a loved one. Trust me. This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. A topic I have seen first hand in many people and areas of my life. Compulsive exercise. Negative body image. Trying to find "the secret." Unhappiness with an unattainable body type.
Did you know that only 2-5% of the world's population has the GENETICS to look like some people do on magazine covers? I realize and understand that many people KNOW or are aware of some of these things, but as we move into summer season (bathing suits, short shorts, etc.) I feel a responsibility to address this potentially sensitive, but very real topic. Within the yoga environment, and any other one for that matter, it is easy to get caught up in thoughts of "weight loss" or body image/body dysmorphia. It's easy to be disappointed with the perceived lack of your progress when it comes to your goals.
In my opinion, the most important goal when it comes to exercise should be how you feel.
How you feel is most important. Inside and out. How you feel, not how you look. Easier said than done. I understand and appreciate that. What I also know is people are beautiful. You are beautiful. There is beauty everywhere, and a number on the scale does not define you or your beauty. Please, please remember this always. Please. You are you and you are beautiful. Please take care of yourself.
"If you can't see anything beautiful about yourself, I strongly urge you to get a better mirror."
Compulsive Exercise and Exercise Anorexia:
Professionals specializing in the treatment of men, women and children with eating disorders re observing a growing trend among their patients, who are increasingly engaging in compulsive exercise Exercise anorexia is recently accounting for 40% of all eating disorders (excessive exercise, with very little to no eating). “Compulsive exercise is obligatory in nature, and it doesn’t have to be a certain type of exercise or be performed for a minimum duration,” explains Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, executive director of Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, a partner program of Eating Recovery Center.
When evaluating if exercise is compulsive in nature, it’s important to look at the intention behind the movement, if there is a sense of urgency or agitation when individuals can’t engage in the exercise behavior, there is likely an issue (please note that this is not the same as feeling like you need yoga. Sometimes you just need to make it to Yogalife and breathe and move and be amongst our community. Just evaluate if it is a compulsion). It’s also important to consider exercise in the larger context of an individual’s eating and body image history; exercise is one of those behaviors that means something different to people struggling with eating disorders due to their temperament and brain chemistry.
Some eating disordered individuals abuse exercise as a compensatory behavior following a bingeing session or to give themselves “permission” to eat.
This can include rewarding yourself with food for exercise, or the "all or nothing view" where even if you "cheat" on one meal, you feel as though the entire day or week is ruined. Others may begin to engage in excessive exercise as what they believe to be a “healthy” part of eating disorders recovery. What these individuals do not realize, is that the frequency and volume of their exercise has taken the place of other eating disordered behaviors as an anxiety management tool and poses significant health complications, including joint injuries, stress fractures, muscle tears, tendonitis, fatigue and dehydration.
Eating Recovery Center encourages families, friends and healthcare professionals to be mindful of five common warning signs of compulsive exercise behaviors, including:
1. Exercising excessively “just because” as opposed to intentional exercise in preparation for a competition or to simply feel good. 2. Refusing to miss a workout, regardless of weather or injury. 3. Exercising takes precedence over all other activities, including work, school and spending time with friends and family. 4. Experiencing a heightened level of anxiety if unable to engage in exercise. 5. Displaying an elevated rigidity and perfectionism with regard to exercise behaviors.
I love practicing yoga and engaging in activity just as much as anyone else. I understand your love for Yogalife, for the practice, art, and expression of your yoga asana. But what I do ask of you, is to evaluate your relationship with yoga and yourself. Numbers on the scale, inches lost, etc. can be just a bonus of activity. When you reach that point and realization, you are able to engage in physical activity because you want to, not because you feel you have to. Join us at Yogalife because you love you and love how yoga makes you feel.
If you are interested in being led in a heart opening and freeing practice, where we release and let go of some of these thoughts and feelings around compulsive exercise, please email info@yogalifestudios.ca or directly to me at brandon@yogalifestudios.ca.
If you are interested in working through some emotions in a completely safe, nonjudgmental space, please let us know, and I will find time to run a workshop to explore, emote, let go, and transform. Thank you for taking the time to read. I understand this is a sensitive topic, but I am trying to create awareness and to offer help. I truly hope this has opened your heart and mind to realize you are not alone. Namaste.
- Brandon R. Jacobs
Massage Therapy FAQ's!
Adapted and written by Brandon Jacobs
“Will the treatment be painful?”
The best answer is that with a good therapist, any discomfort during treatment will be at a level tolerated by the client. We communicate continuously with our clients to ensure they are able to stay relaxed. My philosophy is that when I am giving a therapeutic treatment, the depth of pressure should be challenging, but not acutely painful. This is very important so that post treatment soreness can be kept to a minimum, and progress toward recovery is as smooth as possible.
“How do I find a therapist who can use a lot of pressure?”
This is a frequent concern for clients with a high pain tolerance and chronic pain. It can be difficult to find a massage therapist who is trained well enough to use deep pressure with confidence. Firstly, it's important to ask for what you want when you book your appointment so you can be placed with an appropriate practitioner. Most clinics (ie. Pure Wellness Studio, where I work as a RMT) have therapists who prefer working lighter, and we have therapists who prefer working with deep tissue techniques. Secondly, go with a referral from friends and colleagues! Most of my clientele is referred to me by a friend who is an existing client (many practitioners and staff at Yogalife frequent our clinic)
“How often should I get a massage therapy treatment?”
When a client comes for their first massage, we set them up with a treatment plan that makes sense for their condition. Changing the condition of the muscles and fascia is a process that usually takes a few treatments close together. My typical client will come for a treatment every week or two for three or four treatments. We can make steady progress with frequent visits, and as soon as it makes sense, spread the treatments apart, usually to 3-4 week increments. Most often, my goal is to reduce the tension in the body so the muscles are able to work properly, efficiently, and independently. At this point, our training staff is able to take over the main role and teach clients how to strengthen and balance their bodies. Given the knowledge to keep their bodies strong, our clients need fewer massage therapy treatments to maintain quality of life and performance.
Join Brandon and Lindsey for a Massage & Yoga combination workshop Saturday, April 20th from 1-4pm to learn more about proper treatment and body work along with mindful alignment in your asana practice!
To read more on Brandon, click here.
To read more on Lindsey, click here.
The Art of Napping
Many people have an incredibly busy lifestyle and barely have time for themselves. Here at Yogalife we are just as guilty! Here is a fun and insightful article about taking a break and learning the art of napping. Also remember that napping is much different than savasana, which is conscious relaxation. Enjoy! A leading expert on why a short bout of strategically-planned shut-eye just makes life better — and how to make it happen.- Lashaun Dale, MA, MPH, NSCA, CHEK
Researcher and meditation guide Kelly Howell, known in her field as "The Brain Whisperer," has spent over 30 years studying things like mind expansion technology and brain wave frequencies with neuroscience heavyweights. But Howell's specialty is in meditation and sleep, making her the perfect expert to discuss the long lost art of napping. National creative manager of group fitness Lashaun Dale sat down with the guru to learn why we should all close our eyes for 20 minutes each day and how to make it happen:
We need to stop thinking of napping as a luxury and recognize it as a biological necessity.
LD: What are the main benefits of napping? KH: Taking an afternoon nap is like pressing the reset button in your brain. In our information overloaded world, we need to power down and reboot consciousness daily. After a nap you’ll experience greater clarity of thought, a more peaceful state of mind, increased resilience, better memory and more creativity.
LD: How long should a nap be? KH: 20 minutes is plenty of time to thoroughly refresh your brain. The short nap is power-packed because you enter stage 2 of the sleep cycle, or Non Rapid Eye Movement (NREM), which is when sleep spindles appear. Sleep spindles are short synchronized bursts of electrical activity that last about one second and can occur 1,000 times per night during NREM sleep. Research shows that people who have more of these spindles, especially people who have more over a frontal area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, showed the most refreshment in learning capacity after their nap.
LD: The best time for nap? KH: Best time for a nap is between 1:00 and 3:00. Ideally 7 or 8 hours after you wake up in the morning. Taking too long of a nap, or napping too late in the day interferes with your nighttime sleep.
LD: How often should you nap? KH: Every day! Sleep is high quality nutrition for your brain. We need to stop thinking of napping as a luxury and recognize it as a biological necessity.
LD: Powerful. Know of any famous nappers? KH: JFK, Salvador Dali, Leonardo da Vinci, Winston Churchill and Thomas Edison. Many professional athletes nap to improve motor skills, hand eye coordination and reaction speed.
LD: How about the physical benefits? KH: Lack of sleep, literally causes us to crave high fat, high sugar body fuel. A University of Chicago study showed that subjects who were restricted to 6 hours of sleep per night for four nights increased insulin in the bloodstream that mimicked a pre-diabetic state. Insufficient sleep de-regulates the body’s ability to produce hormones that regulate hunger and breakdown carbohydrates.
LD: Any advice to help start a napping habit? KH: If you have trouble quieting down your mind, focus on visual imagery. When the mind stops thinking in words, you drop down to the Alpha and Theta levels of brain waves—just one step away from sleep.
LD: Interesting. Can you explain how brain waves play a role in napping? KH: Brain waves represent the kind of electrical activity that is going on in your brain. We have many frequencies going on simultaneously, but the dominant frequency tells us what state of mind you are in. Gamma waves are the fastest and signify the highest state of focus possible. In Beta you are wide-awake primed to do work that requires your full attention. The Alpha state is a pleasurable and relaxed state of consciousness essential to stress reduction and high levels of creativity. Theta is known as the twilight state, which you normally only experience upon waking, or drifting off to sleep. In the Delta state, you are sound asleep. Delta waves are the slowest of all five-brainwave frequencies.
LD: And that’s why your Brain Sync Power Nap program works so well? KH: Exactly. We all have our own unique signature brainwave activity. It has a distinct rhythm and pattern that has developed over time and through habit. Brain Sync programs help listeners develop new patterns. They're downloadable MP3 files that blend meditation techniques with beat frequencies and music to block out external noise, slow down brain activity and wake you up with beta waves so you feel refreshed and alert instead of groggy when your nap is over.
Now you know more about the extreme power of napping!
Much the same way that napping can help to reset our body and mind, the use of yoga, meditation and acupuncture, can be paramount in rebalancing our internal energies. Join Lindsey and Brandy Buchanan at Yogalife Studios Edmonton North for their upcoming Yin Yang Rebalance workshop that combines yoga and acupuncture into one amazing workshop. For more details click here
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a Hindu system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. It is found primarily as naturopathic and homeopathic medicine and is an ancient medical treatise on the art of healing and prolonging life.
In Sanskrit, ayur means life or living, and veda means knowledge, so Ayurveda has been defined as the "knowledge of living" or the "science of longevity."
Ayurvedic medicine utilizes diet, detoxification and purification techniques, herbal and mineral remedies, yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, and massage therapy as holistic healing methods. Ayurvedic medicine is known to be the oldest surviving healing system. According to the original texts, the goal of Ayurveda is prevention as well as promotion of the body's own capacity for maintenance and balance. Ayurvedic treatment is non-invasive and non-toxic, so it can be used safely as an alternative therapy or along-side conventional therapies. Ayurvedic physicians claim that their methods can also help stress-related, metabolic, and chronic conditions. Ayurveda has been used to treat acne, allergies, asthma, anxiety, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, colds, colitis, constipation, depression, diabetes, flu, heart disease, hypertension, immune problems, inflammation, insomnia, nervous disorders, obesity, skin problems, and ulcers.
Ayurvedic physicians seek to discover the roots of a disease before it gets so advanced that more radical treatments are necessary.
Thus, Ayurveda seems to be limited in treating severely advanced conditions, traumatic injuries, acute pain, and conditions and injuries requiring invasive surgery. Ayurvedic techniques have also been used alongside chemotherapy and surgery to assist patients in recovery and healing. So, to understand Ayurvedic treatment, it is necessary to have an idea how the Ayurvedic system views the body. The basic life force in the body is prana, which is also found in the elements and is similar to the Chinese notion of chi. In Ayurveda, there are five basic elements that contain prana: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. These elements interact and are further organized in the human body as three main categories or basic physiological principles in the body that govern all bodily functions known as the doshas.
The three doshas are vata, pitta, and kapha. Each person has a unique blend of the three doshas, known as the person's prakriti, which is why Ayurvedic treatment is always individualized.
In Ayurveda, disease is viewed as a state of imbalance in one or more of a person's doshas, and an Ayurvedic physician strives to adjust and balance them, using a variety of techniques. The vata dosha is associated with air and ether, and in the body promotes movement and lightness. Vata people are generally thin and light physically, dry-skinned, and very energetic and mentally restless. When vata is out of balance, there are often nervous problems, hyperactivity, sleeplessness, lower back pains, and headaches. Pitta is associated with fire and water. In the body, it is responsible for metabolism and digestion. Pitta characteristics are medium-built bodies, fair skin, strong digestion, and good mental concentration. Pitta imbalances show up as anger and aggression and stress-related conditions like gastritis, ulcers, liver problems, and hypertension. The kapha dosha is associated with water and earth. People characterized as kapha are generally large or heavy with more oily complexions. They tend to be slow, calm, and peaceful. Kapha disorders manifest emotionally as greed and possessiveness, and physically as obesity, fatigue, bronchitis, and sinus problems.
Treatment:
Ayurvedic treatment seeks to re-establish balance and harmony in the body's systems. Usually the first method of treatment involves some sort of detoxification and cleansing of the body, in the belief that accumulated toxins must be removed before any other methods of treatment will be effective. After purification, Ayurvedic physicians use herbal and mineral remedies to balance the body as well. Ayurvedic medicine contains a vast knowledge of the use of herbs for specific health problems. Ayurvedic medicine also emphasizes how people live their lives from day to day, believing that proper lifestyles and routines accentuate balance, rest, diet, and prevention.
Ayurveda recommends yoga to build strength and health, and also advises massage therapy and self-massage as ways of increasing circulation and reducing stress. Yogic breathing techniques and meditation are also part of a healthy Ayurvedic regimen, to reduce stress and improve mental energy.
Of all treatments, though, diet is one of the most basic and widely used therapy in the Ayurvedic system. An Ayurvedic diet can be a very well planned and individualized regimen. According to Ayurveda, there are six basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Certain tastes and foods can either calm or aggravate a particular dosha. For instance, sweet, sour, and salty decrease vata problems and increase kapha. Sour, salty, and pungent can increase pitta. After an Ayurvedic physician determines a person's dosha profile, they will recommend a specific diet to correct imbalances and increase health.
The Ayurvedic diet emphasizes primarily vegetarian foods of high quality and freshness, tailored to the season and time of day.
Cooling foods are eaten in the summer and heating ones in the winter, always within a person's dosha requirements. In daily routine, the heaviest meal of the day should be lunch, and dinner should eaten well before bedtime, to allow for complete digestion. Also, eating meals in a calm manner with proper chewing and state of mind is important, as is combining foods properly and avoiding overeating.
Whew! That is a lot of information, but now you know a great deal about Ayurveda, it's roots, treatments options, and how it applies to you and your life!
The 7 Chakras
The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through.
The concept of chakra features in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Chakra are believed to be centers of the body from which a person can collect energy. They are connected to major organs or glands that govern other body parts. According to Tantric tradition, everyone has seven energy centers that serve as junction points between the body and consciousness, or between matter and the mind.
Blocked energy in our 7 Chakras can often lead to illness so it's important to understand what each Chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely.
The word chakra is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning wheel. If we were able to see the chakras (as many psychics, in fact, do) we would observe a wheel of energy continuously revolving or rotating. If the chakras are not balanced, or if the energies are blocked, the basic life force will be slowed down. The individual may feel listless, tired, out of sorts, or depressed. Not only will physical bodily functions be affected, so diseases may manifest, but the thought processes and the mind may also be affected. A negative attitude, fear, doubt, etc. may preoccupy the individual.
A constant balance between the chakras promotes health and a sense of well being.
If the chakras are opened too much, a person could literally short circuit themselves with too much universal energy going through the body. If the chakras are closed, this does not allow for the universal energy to flow through them properly which may also lead to dis-ease.
Here's our quick summary of the 7 Chakras:
1. Root Chakra (Muladhara) - Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded (associated with Earth, red) Location: Base of spine in tailbone area. Emotional issues: Survival issues such as financial independence, money, and food.
2. Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana) - Our connection and ability to accept others and new experiences (associated with Water, orange) Location: Lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel and 2 inches in. Emotional issues: Sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure, sexuality.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura) - Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives (associated with Fire, yellow) Location: Upper abdomen in the stomach area. Emotional issues: Self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem.
4. Heart Chakra (Anahata) - Our ability to love (associated with Air, green) Location: Center of chest just above heart. Emotional issues: Love, joy, inner peace.
5. Throat Chakra (Visuddha) - Our ability to communicate (associated with Sound, blue) Location: Throat. Emotional issues: Communication, self-expression of feelings, the truth.
6. Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) - Our ability to focus on and see the big picture (associated with Light, indigo) Location: Forehead between the eyes. (Also called the Brow Chakra) Emotional issues: Intuition, imagination, wisdom, ability to think and make decisions.
7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) - The highest Chakra represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually (associated with Thought, violet) Location: The very top of the head. Emotional issues: Inner and outer beauty, our connection to spirituality, pure bliss.
It is most definitely worth noting that the odd numbered chakras, 1, 3, 5 are "masculine" in natureand the even chakras 2, 4, 6 are "feminine" by nature. Their pulsation means we have a built in nature yin-yang system that is striving for balance. It also means that usually (but not always) women need to boost their odd chakras and men need to boost their even chakras.
National Day of Unplugging: March 1st-2nd
Adapted from Lois Niven:
This is a challenge. It may not be easy, but it's just one day. If it's not something you can actually do, perhaps it is something to contemplate?
When I was a kid, I read that Larry Hagman, the Dallas actor, did not speak on Sundays. He would write a short note or two to his wife if necessary, but he spent one day every week taking a break from the dialogue of his acting career, which involved a lot of talking – running lines, talk show appearances, etc. At first I thought this behavior rather odd, but over the years I’ve come to appreciate the late Mr. Hagman’s ability to recognize when he needed a timeout from what must have been a hectic, nonstop lifestyle.
Today, you don’t have to be a celebrity to get caught up in nonstop communication. Thanks to technology just about everyone is on the 24/7 treadmill, plugged into at least a few devices and applications: television, Facebook, Twitter, email, texting, smartphones, and video games.
What started as convenient ways to keep in touch wherever we are has mushroomed into a gorilla who’s taken over at the helm. Do any of the following sound familiar?
- You lose track of what you were going to say because you’re reading something on your computer while talking on the phone.
- You and your friends can’t make it through lunch without someone answering her cell phone.
- You’re more concerned with getting a signal to post a photo on Facebook than taking in the view at -- where are we again? Oh yeah, the Grand Canyon.
- You feel the constant need to tweet what you just ate, bought, said, thought.
- You just dropped off your kids at school and realized that you spent the whole drive talking to someone else on the phone.
- You check for work emails right until bedtime just in case they need you.
- The clock suddenly says 2:00 am, so maybe you’ll play just one more game of Grand Theft Auto IV.
I struggle with a few of these issues from time to time, like many others in the world. For me, it's all about knowledge, and I like to know stuff now.
We’ve taken so easily to being plugged in that we don’t even stop to wonder if it’s serving us or ruling us. What’s going on in the real world around us while we constantly look to connect with one of these devices?
Electronic dialogue allows us to speak more, often to the world rather than with the people who are physically present. We also listen less. Moments of quiet and solitude are sought less often, in favor of connecting. This creates an inward-outward imbalance as we increase our communication transactions and lose the ability to just be. Simply deleting the Facebook app from my iPhone (yes, you can) has helped me tremendously.
If the next sentence sounds impossible, it’s a sign that this is something you should consider doing. The National Day of Unplugging -- from sunset Friday, March 1st to sunset Saturday, March 2nd -- is an opportunity for you to turn off all electronic communication gadgets, and instead connect with the people in your neighborhood, play a board game with your child, take a walk in nature, read a book (printed on paper), share a cup of tea with a friend. Or. Just. Do. Nothing (gasp).
Does this make your chest tighten? If so, join the movement, sign the pledge, and hit the “off” switch.
The National Day of Unplugging can be eye-opening, and for many may signal the beginning of a shift back to being in the moment.
If you don’t think you can make it through 24 hours, try 12. Try one. Start where you are and take whatever step you can. Your real life is waiting. Hang up the phone. Let's strive to be truly PRESENT, if only for a full day.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture comes from a complete system of medicine and healing known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM has been practiced for over 5,000 years and has been selected by the World Health Organization for worldwide propagation to meet the health care needs of people around the world into the 21st century.
Acupuncture is one of 4 bodies which make up Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the others including Moxabustion, Tui Na Chinese Massage and Chinese Herbal Medicinals.
Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine, sterile needles into specific points to promote healing and stop pain. In Chinese Medicine, acupuncture helps to active “Qi” or the body’s energy to harmonize and optimize the functions of the internal organs and the entire body.
The Chinese art of acupuncture dates back over 2000 years. Acupuncture was first introduced into Europe in the 17th Century, but up until the recent twentieth century, much of the world knew little about it, its origins and its capacity to promote and maintain good health.
One of the most important concepts of Chinese medicine is that of natural balance – yin and yang. When such a proper balance of forces exists, the body has achieved a healthy circulation of the life force qi (roughly pronounced “chee”).
Qi is said to travel the body along channels called “meridians”. Qi flows constantly up and down these pathways and when the flow of qi is insufficient, unbalanced, or interrupted, yin and yang become unbalanced and illness may occur. An understanding of the relationship between the body, yin and yang, and qi is necessary to understand the utility of acupuncture.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into the skin (sometimes in combination with electrical stimulus or with heat produced by burning specific herbs, called Moxibustion) at specific points in order to influence the functioning of the body.
Traditionally, there are 365 acupoints on the body, most of which have a specific energetic function. Because the needles are so fine only a slight discomfort may be felt. Alternatively, the acupuncturist may apply pressure (acupressure) rather than inserting needles. Acupuncture can be used to boost the body’s natural healing energy in order to promote health and long life, or to treat specific physical and psychological illnesses or complaints. Modern research shows that acupuncture can affect most of the body’s systems – the nervous system, muscle tone, hormone outputs, circulation, antibody production and allergic responses, as well as the respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. Acupuncture also stimulates the nerves in skin and muscle and increases the body’s release of natural painkiller – endorphin and serotonin.
Acupuncture can help to treat such conditions as: Pain – including migraines, period pains, backache, trapped nerves, frozen shoulder and other kinds of arthritic and rheumatic pain. It can also be useful in relieving post-operative and post injury pain, such as following sports injuries. Allergic reactions – such as asthma, hayfever and eczema Depression – including stress and anxiety Sinus problems – and chronic catarrh Skin problems – such as mouth ulcers, dermatitis, pruitus (itching) and excessive sweating Nausea and vomiting Abdominal and bowel problems Giving up smoking Eating disorders and drug addiction Insomnia High blood pressure Withdrawal from alcohol Menstrual problems Menopause
An Open Letter to Beginning Yoga Students Everywhere: Adapted from Julia Lee via Elephant Journal
Dear friend:
I know. Trying anything new can be scary. Voluntarily placing yourself in a room full of people wearing spandex clothing and moving and breathing together can be terrifying, overwhelming and daunting. Please try to set aside your fears. This could be the beginning of great shift in your life, if you are open to the possibility.
You may think that you’re too inflexible or too weak to practice yoga.
Don’t worry; we all have our moments of rigidity and weakness (physically and emotionally). Start where you are. Let yourself work from the ground up, and allow yourself the possibility to be so amazed at what your body and your breath can do. All the messy stuff is part of the experience—necessary curriculum, if you will. Sweating it out in plank for a strong core, trying not to be reactive during five minute pigeon holds in the pursuit of open hips; these are required for the beautiful and elegant expression of the poses that look the fanciest, but are only acquired through effortful and conscious work. Once we have all the pieces, then the puzzle naturally comes together, but with any component missing, the final product will never be cohesive.
Make the gathering of the pieces a joyful journey.
None of us are above practice. THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED A PRACTICE: there is always so much more to be learned. In fact, the most challenging aspect of yoga isn’t about opening up the body; it’s about opening up the mind. The more that we can adapt a beginner's mind, a willingness to start from ground zero—the more that we can receive. Just imagine all the possibilities that would open up to you if you let go of all the ideas and misconceptions you hold around what you like and what you don’t like, what you can or cannot do. You may fear that you won’t know what you’re doing: where do you place your mat? How do you sign up? What’s proper yoga studio etiquette?
Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. Every one of us goes through moments where we don’t know what the heck is going on, and every expert at anything was once a beginner, too.
Don’t know where to place your mat? At one point or another, we all struggle with where to find our place, whether it’s in the practice room, in our professional careers, or even in the grand scheme of things. If you don’t know how to sign up, or how to behave in the studio, don’t be afraid to ask for help. In the end, experience is the best teacher, and sooner or later, we will all find exactly where it is we need to be. At Yogalife, any one of our highly qualified front desk staff or instructors can answer any and all of your questions, or even point you in the right direction! You may have convinced yourself that you don’t have the right clothes, or the right mat, or even the right gender or age to be a yogi. Despite what you may have been led to believe, yoga isn't really about what you're wearing or what brand of mat you own.
Yoga practice is simply about the beautiful, breath-by-breath experience of being present inside your body.
It doesn’t matter if you’re clad head-to-toe in designer yoga wear, or wearing a ragged t-shirt and shorts. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a $100 mat in a luxury studio or if you’re on a towel in your living room. Male, female, young, old, thin, curvy, wealthy, poor—these are all more boundaries that we put up to distinguish ourselves from the experience of being human, when the goal of practice is always to unify and simply be.
People come together in class not only to practice physical poses, but also to acknowledge the divine in all of us. When we move and breathe together, we are moving and breathing not only in service of our selves, but also in service of something greater: humanity. We recognize that we share more commonalities than we do differences; that really, despite our age, gender, sexual orientation, belief system, or economic status, it’s all about just being good, kind, happy people. You might say you don’t have enough time.
If you think something is important, you’ll make time for it.
How often do we neglect our own wants to serve the wants of others? We overwork, oversocialize, overthink. Instead of allowing ourselves some time away to collect our thoughts and refresh, we burn out.
Yet, consistently depriving ourselves of what we want isn’t doing a service to others, either. We all need to start believing that we are worth getting what we want, even if it’s 15 minutes on the mat during a hectic day. If we don’t treat ourselves with compassion, generosity and respect, how can we expect others to do the same? Not playing small means reaching toward our highest potential in every way possible.
Finding balance means equating our own wants with what we want for everyone else—to be happy, to be healthy, to be free.
You may think that yoga just isn’t for you. Getting into yoga can be a bit like dating: sometimes you hit it off with the first style or teacher you meet, and sometimes you don’t. But there are so many amazing teachers out there to learn from, and there are so many styles of yoga to try. Yoga is not just physical exercise, nor is it a weight-loss program. Yoga is not only for flexible people or for women. Yoga is not a religion, or a cult, or a fad. Yoga is not a cure-all pill. Adho mukha svanasana is not some sort of incantation that can dissipate your problems with the wave of a magic wand.
Yoga is a catalyst for truth that will tune you into your body’s own innate intelligence. Yoga is a stick of dynamite that will blast away your ideas of who you’ve been, who you are and who you can be and simply leave you gaping in the face of the truth that is your own inner light.
Irrespective of each of our physical strengths and limitations, irrespective of our fears and self-doubts and judgments, we can always do our best to honor the sweetness of every moment in our interactions with our selves and with everyone around us. May your journey leave you challenged, inspired, humbled, and above all, the best possible version of yourself that you can be.
That is my wish for you. To be the best possible version of you. So that you can give the best of you to the rest of the world.
11 Things Everyone Wants You to Know
Expectations. Everyone has them. They come up in many aspects of life. And this is human nature. However, having expectations on how someone will react to what you have to say, having expectations on how you expect people to act, and having expectations on things you have no control over can cause a lot of heartache and frustration.I challenge you to being the practice of letting go and surrendering expectation when you step into the yoga room. Relinquish your expectations of how you want class to go, how you EXPECT it to go, what you want the teacher to say and do, how hot (or cold) you want the room, etc.
I challenge you to let it all go, and truly realize that the opportunity to practice yoga is an absolute privilege. Walk into the room, hit your savasana and take class as it comes.
The chances are, there is something in every class that you NEED in your life, whether you know it or not. Some more very wise words are ahead, so take stock of yourself before you continue on. I enjoy sharing research that I find and I do hope that many of you find the information enclosed in these blogs to be helpful and applicable to your life and to your practice. - BJ
Adapted from www.marcandangel.com
“One love, one heart, one destiny.” -Bob Marley
A silhouette of a human being stands before you. Perhaps an old friend. Perhaps a neighbor. Perhaps a perfect stranger, like me.
Here are 11 things we all need you to keep in mind…
1. You never really know how much the people around you are hurting.
You could be standing next to someone who is completely broken inside and you wouldn’t even know it. So never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have. And remember that there are two ways to spread light in this world: You can either be a flame of hope, or a mirror that reflects it. Be one of the two every chance you get. Read The Four Agreements
2. The most important trip you will likely take in life is meeting others half way. You will achieve far more by working with people, rather than against them. Giving someone else a voice, and showing them that their ideas matter, will have a long-lasting, positive impact on the both of you.
3. Relationships don’t create happiness, they reflect it. Happiness is an inside job. Relationships are simply the mirrors of your happiness; they reflect it and help you celebrate it. They are mirrors because they area perfect reflection of your thoughts and beliefs. To reflect means to encourage you when you feel weak and challenge you when you feel strong, thereby returning you to your center. And to celebrate is to share the natural ease and joy of living from your center – of living in the now with clarity.
4. Compassion comes back around. The son who tends to his chronically ill mother, ignoring his own exhaustion; the neighbor who gives a helping hand, even as his own needs go unanswered; the one who donates a couple dollars to someone in need, even if she has to break her last five dollar bill to do it. Maybe you don’t hear the names of these unsung heroes in the news, but surely the universe hears their names and treats them accordingly.
5. Timing is everything.
There is a time for silence, a time to let go and allow your friends to launch themselves into their own destiny, and a time to cheer for their victories, or help them pick up the pieces, when it’s all over. Read The Friendship Factor
6. Actions are the loudest form of communication. What you do speaks so loud that others will have a hard time hearing what you say. So practice what you preach or don’t preach at all – walk the talk. And remember that there is often a major gap between what someone says and what they do. Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
7. A healthy relationship keeps the doors and windows open. Plenty of air is circulating and no one feels trapped. Relationships thrive in this environment. Keep your doors and windows open. If a person is meant to be in your life, all the open doors and windows in the world won’t make them leave.
8. People are more what they keep silent than what they say.
Pay attention to their quiet gestures. If you cannot understand someone’s silence, you will have a hard time understanding their words. Read The Definitive Book of Body Language
9. What others say and do is often based entirely on their own self-reflection. A Zen teacher once said, “When somebody backs themselves into a corner, look the other way until they get themselves out; and then act as though it never happened.” Allowing people to save face in this way, and not reminding them of what they already know is not their most intelligent behavior, is an act of great kindness. This is possible when we realize that people behave in such ways because they are in a place of great suffering. People react to their own thoughts and feelings and their behavior often has nothing directly to do with you.
10. Sincerity is giving without expectation. Good character and true friendship is all about how a person nurtures another person who is vulnerable and can give nothing in return. So when you have been through tough times and come out the other side, look around you. The people still standing beside you are your true friends.
11. Not every relationship is meant to last forever. Some people aren’t meant to stay in your life. Some people are just passing through to bring you something – perhaps a lesson you need to learn, or memory that makes you smile years later. When the time comes, it’s okay to let go and move on with your life.
Practicing Yoga When You're Sick - Adapted from Ekachakra
The other night, I attended a yoga class that was filled with an unusual number of sneezing, sniffling yogis. At one point, I turned around to grab my Yogitoes from the back of my mat, only to find it surrounded by a little mound of someone else’s used tissues. Normally, I’m not too much of a germaphobe, but this was a bit much. We’re apparently in the middle of a flu epidemic here in Chicago, so it’s particularly unnerving to be in a small, heated yoga room with so many people in the throes of illness. I’d like to think that the yoga studio, of all places — i.e., a place of health and well-being — would be one public space where you didn’t need to worry about catching something. No such luck at the studio where I’ve been practicing…
All of this raises an obvious question:
Should you practice yoga when you’re sick? There are actually several different, but related, considerations here, and I’ll discuss each in turn.
First, a yogi needs to think about his or her own well-being, and whether practicing yoga makes sense during an illness. Obviously, this depends on the nature of the illness, but let’s focus on the runny nose, sneezing, phlegmy variety that most us of deal with at one point or another during the winter. Personally, if I’m sick with these sorts of symptoms, there’s no way I’m going to class. I might, however, do a short home practice that is more restorative in nature.
The main objective of these restorative poses, in my mind, is not to ignite some sort of magical yogic healing, but simply to keep the aches and pains of illness at bay.
Reclined twists, supported backbends, or passive hip openers are generally my go-to poses when I’m under the weather. I’ll typically avoid any sort of inversion, including Downward Facing Dog, as inverting causes too much pressure in my sinuses and head. A sick yogi ought to think about others, too. The people at your favourite studio, including your teacher, are your friends! So out of consideration for them, maybe take a few days or even a week off from yoga. I know this is easier said than done, and I’m definitely guilty of going to yoga class sick. When I’ve done this in the past, it’s usually been out of a misguided attempt to recover more quickly from my illness. (As far as I can tell, doing yoga does nothing to improve recovery time from a cold.) Or I just couldn’t stand the thought of missing my favourite class, so I’d go anyway, even if I were feeling terrible. Admittedly, this was a very selfish way to behave, but I’ve changed my ways and will no longer go to class when I’m sick. I only wish others would extend the same courtesy!
A yogi’s motto shouldn’t be, “Must go to yoga today and every day, come hell or high water!” It’s okay to skip yoga class for a few days. It’s okay to be sick.
Thankfully, we can practice yoga anywhere, and this is even more true when we cultivate a yoga practice that goes beyond asana. Not only can a sick yogi practice at home, but one can also cater one's practice to one's present condition. This, to my mind, represents a greater expression of responsibility to oneself, and to others.
Please be kind and courteous to yourself and others, even in light of our 35 day Yoga Tour. You have 35 days to complete it, so cut yourself (and your fellow yogis) some slack during this potential flu season.
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