Archive for ‘Spirit’
The Art of Yoga
Tuesday, December 14th, 2010
Recently I was pondering the concept of Art. My mind jumped with questions. What is considered Art? Does Yoga fit into that concept? Why am I thinking of all this?
When I first think of Art I think of paintings, drawings, museums and past Art classes in school. The beauty of color, form, light and shadow arise in my mind. Immediately I find myself thinking of music, the vibration and sound of instruments calling out creativity. Then I see dancers moving, expressing, and flowing with the beat and rhythm of that sound. I hear the clacking of a keyboard as a writer pulls together words that evoke emotions, sensory experiences and stories.
I think of Art as the expression of life that uplifts spirit. That brings me to yoga. The beauty that can be felt, expressed and savored during a practice uplifts me each time I step onto my mat. There is a fragrance to my practice (and it is not my mat), one of sweetness, transformation, nature and spirit. As a teacher I am double blessed, as I get to be the player and the audience as I watch others in the Art of Yoga, and the transformations that are inspired.
My teacher created a style of yoga that I continue to teach called Alchemia. Alchemia is the feminine form of alchemy, the art of transformation. We use breathe to help guide the transformation with yin nature allowing energy to move with the breath. The artist in me sees it in others as their expression shift from fear, confusion, exhaustion, or uncertainty to one of discovery, expression, joy, and bliss. Countless times a student walks into our studio, on the beach dragging with them their woes, worries, stress and concerns. I then bear witness to their recreating their thoughts, feelings and physical expressions as nature, and yoga inspire creation in them.
The Art of Yoga is one of creativity and transformation. It touches people deeply and uplifts spirit. For many who feel fractured, disconnected and limited yoga has been an elixir that bathes them with life force, connects them to source and leaves them feeling whole. Yoga as Art? I say absolutely, with a touch of magic as spirit leaps forth.
Tags: art, yoga
Posted in Articles, Inspirations from Class, Spirit, yoga | No Comments »
Change – Powering the Mind
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
This weekend we did the most amazing thing. We changed time! Come on, how powerful is that? We as a collective consciousness of mankind decided to just change time. We threw our clocks back one hour and declared “now it is this time.” Really, think of how powerful that is.
I don’t know about you but it takes a few days for my body to agree with this new declaration from the mind. My body says it is time to eat or sleep according to its rhythm, which is more interested in what it has been doing than what I am now telling it. But here is what is so wonderful, after a few days it says – “Okay, if this is what we are doing I’m in!”
If you have ever doubted the power of the mind, or your ability to make changes in your life take a moment and reflect on this. Twice a year you tell yourself that time has changed, you start doing everything you have done for the past 6 month in a different time zone. A few days later your body just agrees and starts to follow this new pattern. Your body and mind harmonize in an agreement and then it just IS. It happens when you travel to new time zones, as well.
You know it to be true because you have experienced this over and over again. It makes it easier to believe in the power of the mind when we recognize it in action. You can make up your mind, and then allow some time for your body to follow suit. So, what is your dream you are “dreaming awake” in you right now? Do you want to quit smoking? Want to care for yourself in a more loving way? Change a job?
Whatever you are dreaming start to tell yourself that IT IS NOW! Turn the clock, so to speak in your mind to acting, doing, feeling and believing that this new way of being is NOW. Give yourself some time to let it sink into the body and then watch it BE.
There is no, “I’m going to try…” to this. You declare it to BE, and then start to live it. I once read that “trying is failure with dignity.” I get that, as we often use that line to tell someone we don’t want to disappoint that we’ll “try to” do whatever they are asking us to do, when we know we won’t be doing it.
So DECLARE to yourself, and share it with others. Fuel your new way of being or doing in the world by speaking about it just as you do this bi-yearly time change. Declare it, live it and let it settle into the bones.
And so it is!
Tags: change, Mindfulness
Posted in Articles, Spirit, Yoga Philosophy | 1 Comment »
Lessons on the Side of the Road
Sunday, September 12th, 2010
I’ve been biking recently and therefore closer to “seeing” the trash along the side of the road. When I buzz by in my car I see it as people’s waste thrown out and wonder about the sense of disconnection with our beautiful planet that allows for that action. As I ride on the bike I see it with more clarity, I see the labels, the name brands, etc.
Here is what I do see Papa Gino’s, McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, variety of cigarettes, and beer cans. What I don’t see is Whole Foods, organic food labels, wine bottles, caviar and truffle boxes. It got me to wonder.
Is there a connection?
Does what we consume as we eat, drink or smoke vibrate in alignment with a consciousness of action?
I’m inclined to believe it. Why is it that the price of food varies? Could it be more about the vibrational quality of it then we suspect?
What is it about the quality of the food that is reflected by the packaging that you do see so prevalent tossed on the side of the road?
We have been told we are what we eat, so what are you eating these days? If you were able to rate the quality of the food (the nutrient density) would you make other choices? The good news is that you can!
Look at your food, how naturally alive and colorful does it look to you. Read the label and then put it back, walk over to the produce section and buy that!
Grow it yourself. Eat it raw. Cook it yourself. These will give you more nutrients then anything in a can, box or shelved products will.
Buy organic, as chemicals deplete.Buy local as the quality increases the sooner you eat the food. From hand picked to your stomach in a day rather than a week equals more life force.
And yes, the “numbing” effects of cigarettes and alcohol depletes your senses, including your sense of vitality.
WAKE UP and enjoy the sense of LIFE through the chemical, energetic pathways of your body. You are what you eat, and it looks lousy from the side of the road.
Tags: Conscious Eating
Posted in Articles, Spirit | 2 Comments »
Living in the &
Thursday, August 12th, 2010
“LIVE IN THE &
It’s where green meets blackWhere indulging in life exists harmoniously with respecting it. No compromises.…It simply made sense to us. It’s why all of our products have a rich and decadent flavor, creating the signature intensity for which we’ve become known.What once sounded too good to be true, turns out to be surprisingly simple. If you’re good to the earth, it can be good back. This is what we mean when we say “Live in the &”. Have it both ways. Have the green and the black. The conscience and the decadence.& It’s in our name. It’s in everything we do.”
I know we all have this awareness AND can take a moment to rekindle it! Like when you “refresh” a web page and something new shows up on your computer, today refresh your awareness on being in the world in Unity.
Live in the &. As you move about the day in contact with all the “other” in the world can you do it with sensitivity? Be aware of the mind that wants you to choose, and see if you can embrace it all!
Tags: AND, Life, yoga
Posted in Articles, Inspirations from Class, Spirit | No Comments »
Keeping it Green Roll Call
Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Today was the second day, and first class of our Keeping it Green Challenge. Don and I rode our bike to and from class as our inspiration in making a difference. It is about 14 miles round trip, and a total “gas” to do it. I love biking and doing it again this morning reminds me of the pleasure (and pain) of peddling through nature. I loved listening to the wind in my ears, the birds singing me on and seeing the beauty that we live in, and I’d like to see conserved.
So this week what can you do that makes a difference. It can be something very simple, but together it becomes HUGE! All we are asking is all this week you do something different. You can do one thing, or a different thing everyday. Maybe it will inspire others. Maybe you’ll do it longer than a week. We enact transformation when we awaken our awareness and commit to a new action.
Here is the roll call so far of the creative and simple ways we can all make a difference:
Lisa E using stainless steel water bottle only and wrap n mat for sandwiches.
Shannon O shopping locally and recycling
Christa using my recycle grocery bags EVERY TIME for the next year.
Brendan recycling
Nancy biking to class- day one was awesome!
Jenn F is keeping the air set at 78 during the day and closing the blinds to guard against the afternoon sun.
Susan M will not be using paper towels.
Carol D will walk or ride her bike to class, and bring her reusable water bottle
Ann C will not be eating meat
Linda B buying a recycle bin for the family business – forever green.
Pam W start composting.
Adrienne S not use paper towels.
Maxine R use a reusable container for her water source.
Don biking to class.
Laure G riding bike to yoga
Vickie V hand washing dishes.
Nannette W bicycling to the beach/pool with my daughter.
What will you do? Be inspired by others!
Tags: environment, green, yoga
Posted in Inspirations from Class, Spirit, yoga | No Comments »
