The Hippest Part of Nowhere

Williamsville Wellness | The Fix

2012-01-29T22:04:00.000-05:00

2012! Really?

2012-01-10T12:40:00.011-05:00

I hope everyone is enjoying the start of a happy new year!

My last few posts were about forms of yoga, and I was determined to finish the series before I started something new. Since that wasn't happening, I looked back at what was going on with me last year at this time. The final line of my first post in 2011 was: Another year over, a new one just begun. (from John Lennon's Happy Christmas (War is over))

black & white cookie from NJ

So, in the spirit of newness, I begin 2012 with a modest post and give myself permission to return to forms of yoga when I'm ready. It's easy for me to get stuck in a pattern; I still have so much to learn. I can become paralyzed by uncertainty and am more comfortable when I feel that my path is clear. Even though I know there is never true certainty except in this moment, I like clarity. Spiritual readings and meditation help to nudge me along the path. My yoga practice provides lots of tools and so do other teachings.

Nothing is black and white all the time, except maybe this cookie and zebras and nuns' habits and penguins, etc. The symbol for yin yang is black and white and also contains a bit of dark within the light and a bit of light within the dark. This Taoist symbol is a more realistic representation of the way I believe my life evolves. New situations are often confusing and sometimes result in feelings of uncertainty. I am not well versed in the Tao, but I read this today and like it:

Some people seem to embrace confusion, chasing the twilight. They fear decision-making because it carries responsibility for action. For these people, the line between yin and yang is blurred as they remain passive in ambiguous periods. Taoism's strategy, instead, is to gain clarity and not stay in the middle. Sometimes this can be hard as decisions to achieve clarity may involve uncomfortable conversations followed by tough action.

most likely not from NJ

I've spent many hours, even years, in twilight. I don't do that so much anymore; I find myself using the tools that have been shared with me over the years to help me navigate uncertain waters. Asking for what I need or want is sometimes scary. Yoga has made me braver. In reading about Taoism, I also found this:

In the intellectual realm, the yin/yang's symbol offers a valuable tool for sorting out life's priorities and making difficult decisions. It turns out that it's easier for the mind to comprehend what is not wanted, rather than what is desired. For example, if asked what a person wants out of life, there is often confusion and bewilderment. However, by mentally exploring what is not wanted, the desired aspects become clearer and clearer. It turns out that investigating the opposite side of any phenomenon often provides an easier path to enlightenment than the more direct approach. This is a valuable technique that can be immediately used without specialized training.

Like sculpture, taking away what isn't wanted or needed results (hopefully) in something beautiful and lasting. In trying to focus on the positive, I often forget that looking at all aspects of any situation is equally necessary. That means examining and talking about my uncomfortable feelings, being honest with myself and others, honoring my values and being patient. I can be very impatient.

Black and white cookies are familiar, I grew up with them. I also grew up with some habits and patterns that I've worked hard to change. If you know me, you've probably heard me say that I need to meditate more. This allows me to better deal with these periods of grayness. Today I believe that 2012 is going to be a great year!

Forms of yoga - Hatha

2011-11-28T21:59:00.001-05:00

Using Satyananda's Yoga Magazine as a resource, here is their definition of hatha yoga:

"The term Hatha Yoga has been commonly used to describe the practice of asana (postures). The syllable ha denotes the pranic (vital) force governing the physical body and tha denotes the chitta (mental) force thus making Hatha Yoga a catalyst to an awakening of the two energies that govern our lives. More correctly the techniques described in Hatha Yoga harmonise and purify the body systems and focus the mind in preparation for more advanced chakra and kundalini practices.The Hatha Yoga system includes asana along with the six shatkarmas (physical and mental detox techniques), mudras and bandhas (psycho-physiological energy release techniques) and pranic awakening practices. Fine tuning of the human personality at increasingly subtle levels leads to higher states of awareness and meditation. Hatha Yoga has been described in several classic texts, notably Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gherand Samhita."

In order to benefit from the great science of hatha yoga, I believe it helps to understand that it is a way to prepare ourselves for spiritual awakening AND it is also a science of health.

When Richard Rosen visited Richmond, he gave an excellent talk entitled "Introduction to the History of Hatha Yoga" which I encourage you to listen to here. If you have ever spent time with Richard, you know that his knowledge of yoga is extensive.

There is so much to understand that I'm going to stop writing and leave you to your reading and listening and encourage you to follow your own path. Find a teacher, practice, read, love yourself, practice some more, and watch what happens.

Forms of yoga - Bhakti

2011-11-15T21:37:00.002-05:00

Lotus blossoms in Locustville, VA

According to the Bihar School's Yoga Magazine:

"Bhakti Yoga is the path of channelling the emotions and feelings to realise the transcendental and divine nature inherent in every human being. Many people describe this as the yoga of devotion and give it a religious bent, however, it is through Bhakti Yoga that it becomes possible to experience the unity of all life. The stages of Bhakti Yoga can be classified as follows:

- meditation, to realise and channel emotional energy,
- mantras and kirtans, to open the heart,
- identification with the source of inspiration and life, God,
- experiencing transcendental human qualities in daily life. ..."

Mantras and Kirtan always come to mind when I think of bhakti - follow these links to learn the difference between the two. If you've ever participated in a lively kirtan, you know that it may indeed open your heart, not to mention occasionally whipping the crowd into a frenzy of whirling, clapping ecstasy.

There are many talented kirtan wallahs, one of the most popular being Krishna Das. I've had the privilege of attending numerous kirtans led by KD. The most memorable was on a farm in Princeton, NJ. It was a dark and stormy night (honestly), and I traveled over with some Jersey yoga buddies. After dinner, we drove to what felt like the middle of nowhere. It was raining HARD! Somehow we found our way, parked in the middle of a muddy field and waded across to a giant old barn, guided by warm lights. Inside, the place was strewn with hay and there where hay bales everywhere covered with Indian blankets for sitting. It was crowded and steamy and smelled of sweet hay and electric rain. Krishna Das and crew were up front on a rickety platform - this was just before his star rocketed. It was an unforgettable, intimate evening and we continued our chanting all the way back to the Shore when it was over - definitely an experience of the heart.

My yoga education occurs daily. Reading more about bhakti, I realized that I'd forgotten that meditation is bhakti, that going to Pony Pasture can be bhakti, that my daily work is bhakti, giving and receiving love is bhakti - any time my heart is open and I am connecting to what I believe is god is an experience/practice of bhakti. I believe this is what Swami Satyananda referred to as "dynamic bhakti" - when the division between me and the focus of my devotion or love is lost. Dogs do this really well.

Yuki

Meditation can be understood in as many ways as it can be practised. When teaching meditation, I try to keep it as simple as possible. While learning to practice, we benefit most when we feel comfortable in our seat and our environment - this inspires us to create the space to practice diligently. With this regularity of practice, we learn to feel less anxious being alone and minus distraction- no music, tv, phone, internet. Practice can eventually become something that comes unbidden and does not have to occur formally. Meditation happens. We will be able to observe ourselves - both the negative and positive aspects of ourselves - with less judgment and attachment. Read more about meditation and daily life here.

The science of yoga is vast. It interests me to read about it and continue to learn. Sharing, for me, is the best way of learning. So thanks to all of you who read this blog. My practice is deeper because of it. Namaste`

Forms of yoga - Karma

2011-10-17T16:20:00.004-04:00

The definition of Karma yoga often stops at seva (selfless action). I found a deeper explanation in the Bihar School's Yoga Magazine:

"Karma Yoga is a system which develops immunity to the reactive and negative components of an action. This awareness of action leads to a greater ability to manage mental associations in the form of desires, ambitions, ego and other personality complexes. The aim of Karma Yoga is to gain freedom from the bondage of karma which restricts and inhibits dynamic, creative and constructive expression in life... Karma Yoga is a sadhana and not a practice..."

Awareness of my actions and an attempt to understand the meaning behind them make me a better human being. I strive to do this on a daily basis, often multiple times each day. And I still screw up. I can be fearful, jealous, resentful, faithless - the list goes on. Sadhana is a term that can be found in many spiritual disciplines. It is a way of being in the world with the goal often being the sadhana itself (thankfully). Meher Baba, whose writings have been important to me, stated that:

"In the spiritual field, it is not possible to maintain an unbridgeable gulf between sadhana and the end sought through it. This gives rise to the fundamental paradox that, in the spiritual field, the practising of a sadhana in itself amounts to a partial participation in the goal... It aims at bringing about a radical change in the quality of life so that it permanently becomes an expression of the Truth in the eternal NOW..."

I like stories and I like boats. So here's a story about a boat.

Many years ago, my former husband built a small, lovely little sailboat on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Every boat he ever built was a highly functional work of art. Once he built a boat from a refrigerator box and it won a race! He was extremely good at budgeting. Anyway, this small wooden boat was passed on to someone who was desirous of it; he let it languish. More years passed until another friend with good intentions put it on a trailer, drove it across the Chesapeake Bay, and gave it a home in Richmond - where it languished once more. Time marched on, and yet another friend, also a boatbuilder, expressed his interest in a wooden boat project. He was very ill and we thought this little boat could perhaps provide a means of healing while at the same time being healed herself. So, she was once more driven across the bay and came to rest back where she started, this time on the banks of Onancock Creek. Unfortunately, Fred never got around to repairing her before he went on what his wife, Maria, described as his final voyage.

Maria, now widowed, was looking at this lost, lonely little boat idly sitting in her yard. (I realize that boats are probably not capable of loneliness, but it looked lonely. John Steinbeck was known to anthropomorphise boats, so I'm in good company here.) Suggestions were made on how best to dispose of this vessel. I couldn't use it, none of the other players were involved anymore, so it continued to sit until a new character appeared on the scene in the form of young boy. And it was springtime. And he wanted, perhaps needed, a boat.

Plans were made for him to have her along with complete access to all tools, paint, screws, glue, clamps, sandpaper and whatever else he needed from Fred's workshop if he promised to fix the boat a get her sailing. This is the result:

Miss Maria in all her newfound glory!

So, karma and sadhana can be witnessed in all facets of our lives ... with all the personalities, dramas, attachments, losses and geography involved, this boat could have gone the way of many small wooden boats and become a planter! Instead, I believe her soul is singing as she experiences her rebirth while smelling marsh mud, listening to kingfishers, and sharing her spirit with one very happy boy.

Free at last

Forms of Yoga - Jnana

2011-10-10T22:59:00.008-04:00

Some of you know that I work at an addictions rehab which is located on 400 acres in rural Hanover County. Today I had the door to my yoga space open for fresh air when a car pulled up and an elderly gentleman got out and said he was looking for a cemetery located on the property. I knew there were some headstones on a knoll behind one of the nearby cornfields, so I offered to walk with him to find it. His name was George; he was doing some genealogical research.

I introduced myself and told him a bit about what I do. He had just come from a Pilates class at the Ashland YMCA and was very interested in yoga. Apparently, he'd also taken some yoga classes at the Y and his comment to me went something like this, What is yoga, really? It seems to me that it's impossible to define because it includes everything - they say that even laughing is yoga. Well, if I laugh too hard my muscles ache so I don't think I'll be doing any of that. He also shared the fact that at 3 p.m. today he would be 80 years old!

We found the graveyard and I helped him by reading some of the names and dates on the headstones as he wrote them on a yellow pad. He was in great shape and told me that a year or so ago he could barely put on his socks! He was thinking he'd have to get one of those "gripper things" and that's why he started doing Pilates. After he left, I started to think - what is yoga and how do we define it for people who are mostly seeing the distilled, modern, Westernized version? I decided to start here.

Swami Vivekananda came to the U.S. in 1893. The story of his visit was recently detailed in The New York Times. Vivekananda is often credited with bringing yoga to the west. He wrote several books, one of which, Jnana Yoga, is available in PDF form. Somewhere there is a recording of John Friend talking about Vivekananda's visit - I believe the recording is called the History of American Yoga. It's worth a listen if you can find it.

In an article from Yoga Magazine (from the Bihar School of Yoga),

Jnana Yoga can be described as the process of converting intellectual knowledge into practical wisdom. It is a discovery of human dharma in relation to nature and the universe. Jnana Yoga is described by tradition as a means to obtain the highest meditative state and inner knowledge.

Jnana literally means knowledge, but in the context of yoga it means the process of meditative awareness which leads to illuminative wisdom. It is not a method by which we try to find rational answers to eternal questions, rather it is a part of meditation leading to self-enquiry and self-realisation. Some of the components of Jnana Yoga are:

not believing but realising
self-awareness leading to self-analysis
experiencing knowledge
realizing the personal nature
developing intuitive wisdom
experiencing inner unity

The science of yoga is vast and there is a wealth of knowledge. As I continue to read and study, I'll be posting on other forms of yoga - some very familiar and some less so. One of the gifts I've received from my years of study is the ability to be relaxed enough to connect with people. That's where I learn the most.

Happy Birthday, George!

This is one cornfield when it was newly planted. It didn't look like this today.

No BS! - 2 the DAY (Official Music Video)

2011-08-13T15:58:00.000-04:00

Heart of glass

2011-07-31T18:27:00.000-04:00

Today I read a quote, attributed to Aristotle, "Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil." Evil? Really? After pondering this, I realized that sometimes when I think I'm afraid, I am merely unknowing. Of course, there is the classic fear of the unknown, but for me that's not real fear. That's more of a control thing. Most things cannot be controlled, especially when other human beings are involved. I am gratefully aware of this.

Some of us have become conditioned to anticipate hurt or rejection and this can create fear in our relationships with others. In this case, not knowing can be as scary as coming face to face with a monster - one that has been born and nurtured by past unpleasant or even terrifying experiences. We might automatically cut ourselves off from exactly what we seek - acceptance, warmth, love, friendship, serenity. We run for the nearest exit without ever realizing that it's also possible to take a deep breath, step in and not die. When we don't run, the rewards are mostly greater than we could have anticipated. This course of action is best taken with awareness, communication and good a support network. Time is needed to develop boundaries, to choose healthy friends, to feel safe, to break old habits. It isn't easy, but I believe it is better than the alternative - isolation, depression, addiction, self-loathing. Swami Kripalu said that each time we judge ourselves, we break our own hearts. Realizing when we do this is often a first step toward healing.

Practicing ahimsa, the first of the yamas, must start with loving ourselves. A while back I posted the lyrics from a song written by a musician friend who asks, "if you hate yourself, how could you love me?" If we expect someone else to provide us with what we cannot give ourselves, it doesn't work. My friend, Mimi, recently wrote about how we use defenses, A rose by any other name. . . has thorns. We often push away the people we most want near us. It takes guts to be trusting. I once had a teacher who referred to the armor we become accustomed to wearing and how we can learn when it's ok to remove it. Hopefully, we get to keep it hanging in a closet most of the time.

Yoga is an effective tool for working with these feelings. There are specific postures, referred to as heart openers, and Julie Gudmestad wrote an excellent article about that. Using yoga or exercise as a means to release trauma or anything that has become somatized (held in the body) is amazingly effective. Sometimes a combination of psychotherapy and physical practice is the best way to start. I would not recommend rushing into a yoga class anticipating that it will erase years of hurt and pain. An experienced instructor should be willing to discuss this with you and suggest the best practice or combination of practices to get you started. There are also some wonderful books written on this subject.

The changes that occur are not always recognized immediately or astoundingly. We just change. And almost always that change is for the better. You just have to take a deep breath and begin. That's where it all starts, with your breath.

Remiss

2011-07-18T23:31:00.003-04:00

To explain, even to myself, why I haven't been posting on this blog would be making excuses. I simply haven't done it. But I have done some other cool things! What have I been doing?

Cultivating relationship by spending quality time with people I want to know better - I am extremely lucky to have several close friendships that span multiple decades; unfortunately, all of these people live over 100 miles away. I love them and miss them. I'm an introvert (yes, I am), so when I meet people for the first time it's telling when a conversation flows easily and I feel refreshed rather than drained at the end of it. When this happens, I get pretty excited. And I look at it as a gift not to be ignored because it doesn't happen often. So this spring and summer I've been relishing the fact that the possibility of new and rewarding relationship exists for me. I landed in Richmond nearly five years ago and have only recently begun to feel that I may be getting my footing. There are several people who are responsible for that (you know who you are). I've landed softly and am giving myself permission to relax and enjoy it and to share that enjoyment with a few others. It's been awesome.

Reinvigorating my yoga practice - Moving is disruptive no matter how wonderful the new home is, no matter how superb the company. Even if the place is so magical it has bananas and bamboo in the yard, it takes time for me to feel rooted. Fortunately, the importance of practice is never far from my mind (because it keeps me sane). I've finally found a routine that fits my new space and schedule. Over the past 25 years, my practice has changed over and over again. That's the beauty of yoga. Lately I've been doing yoga nidra when I wake up. This is a switch for me, but it sets the tone for my day and puts me in a good place for the work that I do. My asana practice varies, sometimes done in the a.m. but more often in the latter part of the day. Using water (I'm blessed with access to a saltwater pool) adds another element to the physical piece plus the experience of floating meditation is new and indescribable. Again, I'm feeling quite grateful. I also still teach two classes each week and do several individual sessions and that is a wonderful thing.

Flying off to visit family and friends - I like being still more than I like moving, but my tribe is scattered along the coast from the Eastern Shore of VA to New England. Since May, I've been to NJ twice and had great visits both times - once for Mother's Day and again for July 4th. Because this is where my little family lives (there are only 3 of us), it's a trip I take pretty regularly. This year, I made it a point to act like a tourist and spent some wonderful time at the Asbury Park boardwalk, Atlantic Highlands Harbor and the municipal parks in Red Bank. I'll post some photos from that another time. I got to see Macy's fireworks display from the plane on the night I left along with probably 15 other towns down below. That was crazy. I ate a ton of really good food including bagels from the infamous Bagel Oven. I also got to reconnect with an old friend and tie up some loose ends. Something I always do when I visit home is visit Christopher Pluck, who has been cutting my hair since 1997. He is not only a master stylist who worked with Vidal Sassoon but he's a yogi, gardener, walking musical library, pretty good therapist, a super dad and a great friend. Love you Christopher!

In June, I drove across the Chesapeake to Locustville, VA on the Eastern Shore (my other former home). When India was younger, she used to come to my classes with her mom so when she invited me to lead a class on her wedding day I was flattered and excited. This was so much fun - we practiced on the dance floor, under a huge tent at the edge of a marsh on the afternoon of the wedding. What a great idea! Plus the wedding was beautiful and the food was delicious thanks in part to India's dad, John, who operates an incredible organic garden. Thanks for thinking of me, India!
(BRIDE across her white tee shirt)

Also in June, I took a trip to MA to attend a high school graduation at Milton Academy. My dear friend's son, Cameron, is going to college - I've known him since before he was born! She and I took a couple of days to go to Chatham on Cape Cod where we did some shopping and I had my obligatory lobster roll. Then we headed back into town and had a weekend full of fun, family and more good food! I am so proud of Cam and excited to keep up with this new phase of his life. I don't have any pictures of this trip but the memories are indelible. There was a speaker at the commencement named Reif Larsen. He is a Milton grad, an author, and he gave a great address that inspired me to go out and buy his book, The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet. I may have to write a separate post about this when I finish it. We also went to see the new Woody Allen film, Midnight in Paris. It is now on my list of all time favorites.

Other stuff - Somewhere in the middle of all this I made a one day business trip to Atlanta; that was rewarding. I now have a full time job, which is another gift. I've started on a pile of books, read through a few of them, learned to use my iPad (sort of), been introduced to the wonders of Pony Pasture (thank you, Jay & Co.), been occasionally distracted by Facebook, rediscovered the Mediterranean Bakery, and eaten quite a bit of basil ice cream made by Bev (who has been mentioned before in this blog)!

Maybe, just maybe, I'm ready to let Richmond start to feel like home.

this is home in NJ

John Lennon - Stand By Me

2011-06-01T21:57:00.000-04:00

Utility art

2011-05-30T22:26:00.001-04:00

Utility art: "Local artist Mickael Broth painted utility boxes along Broad Street between Madison and 7th as part of the Great American Cleanup. Video by Penelope M. Carrington/Times-Dispatch."

Mickael put together the cover for my Yoga Nidra cd. He's a talented guy!

Nevis Cannon Recovery February 2008

2011-05-04T12:41:00.001-04:00

Did you ever have a friend who you knew would do anything in the world for you? It's an incredible feeling. Fred Davis was that kind of friend to me, and to many others. This video shows some of Fred's friends on the island of Nevis working very hard to surprise Fred with one of the things he loved - cannons!

First Three Chakras

2011-05-03T21:27:00.000-04:00

This is a link to the Ashram Yoga website, home of my beloved teacher, Swami Shantimurti Saraswati. The chakra info he has posted so far covers Muladhara, Swadhistana, and Manipura. These are quite simply explained and illustrated and offer some very good and basic information.

One book you might want to consider if you are serious in learning more about chakras is Theories of the Chakras by Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama. Swami Satyananda wrote the intro to this book. While this is certainly not the only book on chakras, it's my favorite. The practice of tantra yoga is discussed along with asana, pranayama, bandhas and mudras.

Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith is another chakra text you might want in your library, and may actually be a better way to ease into a study of this energy system.

Some of you have done yoga nidra with me where we have used the chakras as touchstones of our visualization. This can be a powerful practice. Hari Om

Orchids: Blue orchids aren't really blue

2011-05-01T21:35:00.005-04:00

Isn't this beautiful?!

The photo was taken by my old friend, Ariel Skelley. The orchid was grown by my new friend, Art Chadwick of Chadwick & Sons Orchids. To view thousands of orchids, you can visit the Chadwick greenhouses in Powhatan. They also have a storefront on Belmont in Carytown.

I previously wrote a post about the color blue and it seemed fitting that when Art mentioned his interview in the RTD, I include this photo and a link to that story in my record.

Susan Orlean, who is one of my all time favorite writers, wrote a book called The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession. I read this when it first came out in 2000 - I used to visit south Florida regularly and the story takes place down there. Like all of Orlean's work, characters come alive and there's a compelling and often complicated story that follows them. The movie, Adaptation, with Nicholas Cage was loosely based on this book. Talk about blue, Cage plays the part of two brothers, Charlie and Donald Kaufman, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the film. One of them is very blue, as in depressed. Also starring Tilda Swinton, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper, Adaptation was directed by Spike Jonze.

Where am I going with this? Nowhere, really. I just wanted to post a photo of one of Art's spectacular orchids and, as usual, got led down a path. I'll stop here - it's time to go back to reading Infinite Jest, an altogether different path along the ever pathless one.

Yoga Journal - Yoga Philosophy - Seeking Samadhi

2011-04-25T20:29:00.004-04:00

This simply written article by Judith Lasater says,

The most-revered ancient sourcebook for yoga practice, Patanjali's Yoga Sutra describes how the mind works and how we can integrate yoga into our lives. Patanjali's ashtanga yoga includes eight components of practice ("ashtanga" means "eight-limbed" in Sanskrit), and dharana or concentration is the sixth of these eight limbs. The seventh limb is dhyana, or meditation, and the eighth and final limb is samadhi, or enlightenment. These last three limbs are often studied together and are called antaratma sadhana, or the innermost quest.

Stephen Cope uses quest in his scholarly yet personal book, Yoga and the Quest for the True Self.

I've studied with both Judith and Stephen. They have taught me (and still teach me) to keep coming back to the deeper meaning of my practice. Yes, it's important to pay attention to posture to develop discipline, keep injuries at bay, and keep myself physically healthy. But what's beneath all of it is what has fed me for so many years - and keeps me coming back to my practice over and over and over.

If it weren't for the numerous teachers who have come into my life, I do not believe my practice or my teaching would be as rich as it feels. I was once told, "The most important thing you can do for your students is love them." I'm ever grateful that I can.

I Drink Alone

2011-04-13T21:09:00.004-04:00

I don't recommend drinking in excess or in isolation; I do recommend having talented friends who are willing to take risks. Parks Beach is an artist who lives in Newport, RI. We have a friendship that spans more than 30 years. Check out his website - learn about etching, buy some artwork, enjoy his other videos.

I love you too, Parks!

Meditation Helps!!

2011-03-20T11:32:00.000-04:00

I've been totally remiss in posting on this blog. What hasn't fallen by the wayside are my self-care practices - yoga, meditation, walking, proper rest. Something had to suffer when I took a full-time job and, unfortunately, this has been it. Now that I'm getting used to my schedule, I hope to start posting again.

Meanwhile, this article validates so much of what we already know.

Psoas

2011-03-09T15:51:00.002-05:00

Yoga Journal - Yoga Anatomy - The Psoas is:

go to this link to read about this most fascinating muscle!!

The Banjo Player plus The Union Square Dancers

2011-02-18T18:42:00.008-05:00

When you're in the right place at the right time, you know it! My friend Parks Beach captured these young dancers having a high old time in Union Square this past November. The banjo player is Morgan O'Kane who shows up all over the city and has other videos on YouTube - this is the only one I could find with a volunteer dance troupe!

The etching of a banjo player and his dog is available for sale directly from Parks. He's been a popular artist in the Newport RI area for over 30 years. His work can be found at galleries throughout New England.

Swami Niranjananda Saraswati - What is the meaning of Guru

2011-02-05T22:07:00.001-05:00

Making music in the 70's

2011-01-27T19:49:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! 2011

2011-01-05T08:47:00.001-05:00

I spent the past weekend at Healing Waters Lodge in Headwaters, VA. New Year's Eve has not been a cause for revelry for me in many, many years, so when I was asked to come and offer some yoga classes and yoga nidra I had no plans holding me back.

As usual, I went to be early. Just before midnight, the sounds of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" woke me (the house was also shaking!). This group had rolled up the rug and everyone was dancing in front of the fireplace.

Sleepy as I was, I shrugged on my down coat, slid my feet into boots, and joined the gang on the front lawn - there was still snow on the ground, the sky was amazing - super dark and full of stars. After sipping a cup of sparkling cider, I slid away and climbed back into bed. Another year over, a new one just begun.

Williamsville Wellness. . . help for addictions

2010-12-10T11:24:00.005-05:00

This is Williamsville Wellness, the residential addictions treatment center where I began teaching in 2008. The medical director and owner of this facility both wanted patients to receive some yoga education. In addition to weekly asana instruction, I incorporate Yoga Nidra, which is the perfect practice to offer since it has been proven to help with addictions and the anxiety, ptsd and depression that often accompany these conditions.

My work at Williamsville has been more than rewarding. I learn from our residents and am humbled by their stories. They are brave; they are scared; they work hard. Addiction takes many forms and does not discriminate. Young, old, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, all races and religions - the stories have a common thread and people who may never have met on the outside find that they have shared experiences and feelings when they meet in treatment.

What you see on t.v. is dangerously misleading and trivializes the seriousness of addiction. People lose their families, become homeless, go to jail or other institutions, and even die. This is not a spectator sport and it's not funny. That's not to say that a day spent at an addictions facility is not without humor.

The people I meet at Williamsville Wellness touch me with their stories. I am honored to know them all.

The Great Machipongo Clam Shack

2010-11-25T21:50:00.002-05:00

Be happy, don't be crabby - good food takes time!

If you are driving up or down Route 13 on the Eastern Shore of VA, be sure to stop and say hello to my friend, Roger, at the Clam Shack! If you time it right, you'll hear live music. You can also order seafood online for delivery to your door.

Yoga Journal - Yoga Ayurveda - Brewed to Perfection

2010-11-23T22:53:00.004-05:00

Yoga Journal has a nice article about chai. Helps with digestion, warming for winter, tastes good! Golden Moon tea has a couple of different chai blends and so does Carytown teas.

My friend and fellow yogini - Nanci Hersh: Thank you note to the Big C

2010-11-23T15:05:00.002-05:00

Nanci Hersh: Thank you note to the Big C: "Dear C, We had a bit of a rocky start. You began as a diagnosis, not very fun, to say the least. But I must admit-you grew on me. . . ." Definitely worth reading.

Gratitude

2010-11-22T22:04:00.003-05:00

The Major Yogas - Described by Deepak Chopra and Swami Naranjananda

2010-11-20T12:42:00.001-05:00

Yoga Nidra cd

2010-11-17T11:39:00.001-05:00

Almost finished!

Thinking things through . . .

2010-11-06T09:55:00.007-04:00

Many years ago, someone told me that I employed alot of Talmudic reasoning. I recently googled the term and came across this item. It's a funny example of the many ways that a situation can be viewed.

A man once asked his Rabbi to explain the meaning of "Talmudic Reasoning."

The Rabbi replied: "Well, it's not too easy to explain, but I think I can demonstrate it to you and you will get the point. I will ask you a simple question and you give the answer. Are you ready?"

The man was ready, so the Rabbi continued: "Imagine that two men come out of a chimney, one is dirty, the other clean. Which one takes a bath?"

The intrigued listener immediately replied: "That's easy, Rabbi. The dirty one takes the bath."

"Not so," said the Rabbi. "The Talmud would explain that when the men came out, the dirty one looked at the clean one and saw a clean face. Meanwhile the clean one looked at the dirty one and saw a dirty face."

A knowing look, complete with broad smile, flashed onto the man's face. The Rabbi continued, "Now tell me which one takes the bath?" The answer was quick and sure. "Now I get it Rabbi, the clean one takes the bath!"

The Rabbi looked just a bit unhappy, but he answered patiently, "No. You see, the Talmud would go on to ask: "How could two men come out of a chimney and one be clean and the other dirty?"

Taking the time to think things through is easier when we use prana to steady the mind. How many times have you answered a question and later thought better of your immediate response? In chapter 4, verse 29, of Hatha Yoga Pradipika, it says that "mind is the ruler of the senses, prana is the ruler of the mind."

If we all took a breath and a pause before speaking, I have to believe things would get better, and we may come closer to our truth.

Seasonal tips for FALL Yoga & Ayurveda

2010-11-02T12:30:00.001-04:00

When the seasons change, our bodies need to be cared for differently. Attention to diet, sleep, and exercise will affect how we handle these changes. As a member of the Kripalu Teacher's Association, I receive quarterly practice cds. Some of the most helpful information has come from Scott Blossom, who is a Traditional Chinese Medical practitioner, yoga teacher, and ayurvedic consultant. Check out his lifestyle and diet tips for fall.

If you ever take a trip to Kripalu, use my teacher id number (YT207) when you register and I'll get credit toward continuing education programs. Enjoy apples!

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Lenox, MA

From the Studio: Boxes of Butterfly Kisses (Books! that is...) and "I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends)

2010-10-15T12:46:00.006-04:00

My friend, fellow yogini, and artist, Nanci Hersh.

Yoga for People with Disabilities

2010-10-11T21:29:00.001-04:00

I have a student who is deaf. We have been working together privately for two years, and he is now taking weekly classes and participating in a meditation group. His bravery outweighs his frustration and is fueled by his desire to walk the yogic path. I honor him and am humbled by him, plus he makes me laugh!

Deaf Yoga Foundation was founded in 2007 and is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing yoga to this community. They use sign language, which does not work for all deaf people. Some rely on reading lips like my student does. There has also been some progress made for people who are visually challenged. Gretchen Hein, a Kripalu instructor, has created a program for the blind.

When I was a new teacher, I had a student in a wheelchair. I wasn't sure what to do with him, but yoga works when you let it and he had no problem with the class - it was a great lesson for me. This month's artwork is a tribute to that student - Bobby Swain.

Integral Yoga's Accessible Yoga Teacher Training is a 400-hour teacher training certification program specifically designed for training people with disabilities. It meets national standards and focuses on being available to people who have paralysis, a disability, chronic illness, or physical limitations. I highly recommend reading Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence by Matthew Sanford. When he was 13, he was paralyzed in a car accident from the chest down. Matthew is now a yoga instructor and recently taught a workshop in Virginia Beach.

Any kind of disability could discourage a person from attempting to practice yoga. When I broke my leg 6 years ago, I was unable to do any standing postures for nearly a year. My practice changed drastically - but I had a practice to draw from and knew what it could do for me. I am grateful every day for my teachers, their teachers, and especially my students who always teach me more than they could possibly imagine. Namaste`

Ajapa japa meditation

2010-09-30T20:16:00.001-04:00

Continuous awareness of mantra is the main feature of ajapa japa – mantra repetition with breath awareness. You may use a personal mantra or the universal breath mantra - soham (pronounced so-hum). Become aware of breath flowing in a passage in the front body between the navel and throat, and between the throat and navel.

As breath moves in let it move down from throat to navel, mentally saying the word so. On exhalation, let breath move out from navel to throat, mentally saying ham. This is a simple explanation of the practice. To read Swami Satyananda's in depth version, click on the title of this post.
Hari Om

Amrit Desai on Ayurveda

2010-09-29T07:47:00.002-04:00

Amrit Desai is the founder of Kripalu Yoga.

Seabright, NJ - My original home port

2010-09-28T22:05:00.003-04:00

Numpang NYC

2010-09-20T12:51:00.001-04:00

Just got back from a quick trip home. Took the ferry from NJ to NY for the day and had an amazing lunch at Numpang on 12th Street. Serious Eats reviewed this and posted this photo of the salt and pepper yam sandwich I had - unbelievable!

Blood orange lemondade, need I say more?

Ananda Balasana or Happy Baby pose

2010-09-01T13:31:00.001-04:00

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. This familiar adage appears in many places and is usually attributed to Buddhist wisdom. Sometimes it works the other way around. When I first saw this photo of me with my baby sister, Jackie, my immediate thought was that she must be imitating me. After all, I was three years old and had hair (and I am the yoga teacher)! On further inspection, it appears that she may actually be showing me something. In either case, it got me thinking about how much I learn from students.

The learning takes many forms. Sometimes I don't understand the lesson until years later. In the 17 years that I've been teaching, I have met hundreds of wonderful people. Some of them are now certified yoga instructors.

We all have the opportunity to learn from one another. When I lived in Newport, RI, I used to ride my bike all over town. Once I came upon a modest house that had a yard full of topiary - cup & saucer, a caboose, a caterpillar! An elderly genleman was outside trimming it all very carefully. I stopped to comment on his handiwork and tell him how surprised I was that I'd never seen it before. "You learn something new everyday," I said. Without missing a beat, he responded, "Yep, and it's a sad day when you don't!"

I am thankful for my students and my teachers. I'm grateful to all of the people who have shared their wisdom, fears, pain and joy with me. And I'm especially grateful to have such a wise little sister!!

Don't throw anyone out of your heart

2010-08-27T16:33:00.011-04:00

How often do you get angry at yourself? Do you ever call yourself names or lose patience? What kind of thoughts go through your mind when you sit down to meditate? If we were able to consciously note all the times that we berate, chastise, shame, blame and otherwise beat ourselves up, I think most of us would be surprised.

Working with recovering addicts, I regularly meet wonderful people who have extreme difficulty forgiving themselves for past behaviors. Even without the physical, mental and spiritual destruction caused by active addiction, we all have a past. Maybe we've done things of which we aren't proud. We may have thrown out hurtful words and wish we could to take them back or made promises we didn't keep. We may have inherited negative ideas about ourselves from our families. Some people never forgive themselves; this is a tragedy. Melody Beattie, an author and journalist, writes extensively about codepency and the difficulty of overcoming self-loathing. She compares it to a virus. Who doesn't want to be rid of a virus?

"Contemplating the goodness within ourselves is a classical meditation, done to bring light, joy, and rapture to the mind. In contemporary times this practice might be considered rather embarrassing, because so often the emphasis is on all the unfortunate things we have done, all the disturbing mistakes we have made. Yet this classical reflection is not a way of increasing conceit. It is rather a commitment to our own happiness, seeing our happiness as the basis for intimacy with all of life. It fills us with joy and love for ourselves and a great deal of self-respect." Sharon Salzberg, from Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness.

Through the practice of metta meditation, we have an opportunity to develop compassion for ourselves in a way that is simple, comfortable (pretty much), and effective. Teaching meditation to beginners allows me to incorporate different methods of practice through a series of classes. Metta is a practice to which everyone responds positively. Salzberg says, "Metta is the priceless treasure that enlivens us and brings us into intimacy with ourselves and others. It is the force of love that will lead beyond fragmentation, loneliness and fear."

Kevin Murphy is an old friend and a musician who gave me one of his cds just this week. The timing couldn't have been better. Thank you Kevin, for writing this song ~

How could you love me?/You wouldn't if you knew you're wasting my time and your time too.

For me it's so easy and you don't even see/You hate yourself, how could you love me?

When we first met, I had a crush on you/The more I got to know you the stronger it grew

Then I remembered or it occurred to me/You hate yourself, how could you love me?

I don't know how to put it any other way/I can't paint another picture 'til this one fades away

So for now, this much is true/You hate yourself, I still love you...

Go ahead, hate yourself/I still love you

Chivalry is not dead!

2010-08-12T21:31:00.002-04:00

It was raining VERY hard when I left Ellwood Thompson's tonight. People sat at protected outdoor tables closest to the store; there were sheets of water ahead. A young man (who I think was an employee) appeared with an umbrella and asked if anyone needed to be walked to their car!! Things like that tickle me and keep my faith in my fellow man alive. Thank you, whoever you are, for being kind to strangers.

Tapas, or self-discipline, is one of the Niyamas. It is created in asana practice through focus - focus on breath and integrity in alignment. Developing tapas keeps not just the body but our mind and speech positive and may result in this kind of behavior - not bad!

Gil Scott-Heron - 'I'm New Here'

2010-08-06T18:41:00.006-04:00

Scott-Heron's latest recording - his artistic talent survives in a fashion and amazingly. After reading Alec Wilkinson's New Yorker piece, my curiosity was peaked. I remember listening to The Revolution Will Not be Televised (1968) - it was like nothing else. A miracle that a man can live - locked in his Harlem apartment, smoking lots and lots of crack, losing his teeth, surviving two stints in prison, paranoia. God bless him and welcome back. It's never too late to turn around. . . if you want.

Gil Scott Heron "The Bottle" (1974)

2010-08-04T21:41:00.005-04:00

Gil Scott-Heron has been creating verbal and musical art for over 40 years. This song foreshadows his addiction, "I'll tell you a little secret - if you ever come a lookin' for me, you know where I'm bound to be - in the bottle. Turn around, look around on any corner, if you see some brother lookin' like a goner, it's gonna be me. . . All that I'm concerned about is the bottle."

Gil Scott Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

2010-08-04T21:37:00.003-04:00

Fruit and herb infused water

2010-08-03T17:22:00.002-04:00

Back from vacation - it's a tough transition from the cool clear days on Lake Michigan to what passes for summer weather here in Richmond!

To keep a cool, fresh spirit, I use summer fruits and herbs to make naturally flavored water - just take a few sliced peaches, a handful of slightly crushed blueberries, some smushed mint leaves - add to a pitcher of cold water and chill. You can also do this with other combos - sliced cucumbers and rosemary is a winner. These waters don't need sweetening, but that doesn't mean you can't add a little if you like.

Mint leaves

I miss waking to the sound of lake waves pushing rocks, lake rocks rolling back. I miss waking to a handful of fresh blueberries from a bottomless box.

Beating the Heat in Leland, MI

2010-07-25T21:27:00.006-04:00

Blueberries, apricots, cherries, cold swim, good friends, raspberry pie, peppermint stick ice cream, hollyhocks, dunes, badminton, chilly nights, lake waves, skipping stones, beach yoga, bag o' books, hammock, the sing, rubber candy, amphicars, POUNCE . . . See you in August!

Sri Dharma Mittra

2010-06-30T17:28:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I miss New Jersey

2010-06-29T21:43:00.005-04:00

Especially in the summer! Strollo's Italian ice is awesome. They do red, white and blue for the holiday but my all time fave is root beer ice with vanilla icecream - just like a root beer float! You can buy it at the Light House in Red Bank right at the end of the bridge, and Long Branch near the boardwalk and skate park. What does Italian ice have to do with yoga? Moderation. I am a firm believer that everything is ok as long as you appreciate it, savor it, and don't overdo it. Life's too short. Use the 80/20 principle and I really think you'll be ok.

Another thing I miss is KaBoom fireworks in Red Bank. This display is awesome. People come from all over to view it and it drives the town wild. Extra trains run to bring people in and it is crazy - 15,000 oohs and aahs along the banks of the Navesink River. I was born on the Navesink, so I feel very proud of this celebration.

And how can I write about NJ without mentioning BRUCE! While I'm not a big fan, his success is something we all claim - I am proud of him. This photo was passed along to me - this was my Springsteen era. The last time I saw him was at the Count Basie Theater, probably in 1976. And my dad used to work at Brookdale so more memories exist in this shot.

The Jersey Shore boasts some fab yoga studios - two favorites are Dancing Foot Yoga run by Robin Candrea and Emily Heretsky in Red Bank. Brahma Yoga Spa is located right across the street from Sea Bright beach and offers spa services in addition to yoga classes. I've taught at both places and feel a pang of homesickness just thinking about it. And where else are you going to find Summa Love Surf Camp combining yoga and surf instruction on the beach?! Forget what you've heard about Jersey Shore. This part of New Jersey is beautiful, friendly, has great pizza and tons to do.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July! We have so much to celebrate.

Teaching yoga is not really like t.v.

2010-06-27T21:29:00.008-04:00

I saw Martha Stewart and Trudy Styler doing yoga on television. Elizabeth Gilbert is talking about her yoga practice to anyone who will listen. A bunch of people waited in line for hours to do yoga in Central Park with 10,000 other people but when a regular class is too crowded they complain. Every uber hip, super chic woman (and some men) of a certain age seems to be doing yoga. I don't see very many regular folks - unfit, scared, a little messy. I work in marketing, I understand this. I don't like that it bothers me.

Don't get me wrong. It think it's great that people are flocking to yoga. It must create some big positive energy. But I can't help wondering who they all are and where they came from, and why it's so important what they wear. I saw a video of a model demonstrating eka pada rajakapotasana on a bed. She was pretty and thin. But why was she demonstrating a posture in bed in a boutique hotel? Yes, yes - I know why. I need to meditate more.

Once a week, I leave the city. About 20 miles out of town, I turn down a long dirt road lined with cedar trees and fields of soy beans and corn. I stop in the middle of 400 secluded acres at an historic brick house that is now a residential gambling and alcohol addiction treatment facility. There's an old family cemetery, a railroad caboose that's been turned into a therapy office, lots of birds and frogs and magnolia trees.

It's a safe place to rest, reflect, and reconsider your choices. It's not like rehab on t.v. and I know I'll never get famous teaching here, but it sure feels good. Maybe I'm jealous. I don't really think so. I need to meditate more, have I said that?

Hari Om Tat Sat
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

Swami Niranjananda Discourse on Meditation

2010-06-01T13:37:00.003-04:00

Paramahansa Niranjananda Saraswati is Swami Satyananda's successor.

This discourse mentions ajapa japa and antar mouna.

Our days are long and filled with light. It's tempting to stay up later, become more busy. Remember your meditation practice!

Happiness!

2010-05-28T12:57:00.003-04:00

Ahimsa - The first yama

2010-05-20T15:24:00.002-04:00

Non-harming or avoidance of violence is a precept that appears in most religions. Ironically, it has often been in the name of religion that wars are fought - but you don't need me to tell you that. It seems we are, by nature, violent people. Add a drop of fear or jealousy, a bit of stress, a pinch of depression, and bang! anyone might react.

Violence usually arises out of fear, weakness, ignorance, or uneasiness. One of the most powerful aspects of ahimsa is the cultivation of gentle thoughts toward oneself and others - love. Metta meditation, which focuses on loving kindness, is one technique we can use to cultivate ahimsa. How else can we practice ahimsa in our daily lives? For one thing, recognizing the many ways that violence manifests is important. Accepting that we are capable of violence is also important.

Watching our words, acknowledging our thoughts, avoiding gossip, eating healthfully, surrounding ourselves with people who live and act in ways that are admirable, cultivating a contemplative practice, taking care of our bodies - these are all ways to create a life where ahimsa is present.

Everyone of us is a teacher on some level. Younger family members pay attention to us (well, usually); older family members may need our assistance more; neighbors and friends are affected by our words and actions. The theory goes, if we we are kind to ourselves we will understand how to be kind to others.

This morning I had tea with a new yoga teacher. We discussed the advantages and disadvantages of teaching in certain places. A yoga studio can be physically beautiful and employ teachers who look good but, ultimately, the respect shown to both students and teachers is what determines the vibe of a place. Maintaining ahimsa in business is a challenge.This must be acknowledged if we are to run a yoga business that embodies these teachings.

Sensitivity develops over time as we practice living our yoga. B.K.S. Iyengar compared yoga to light, indicating that the stronger your practice is the brighter your flame. This light reveals our true selves and exposes our shadow sides - we all have them.

May you have peace in your heart,

May you have peace in your mind,

and may we have peace in the world.

Me on the Jumbotron

2010-05-17T20:20:00.002-04:00

University of Richmond graduation, May 8, 2010!

Incredible OM

2010-05-06T12:54:00.006-04:00

Thanks to Sara for sharing this article from The Guardian about research being done on the sound of Om. "Indian scientists wield sophisticated mathematics to dissect and analyse the traditional meditation chanting sound Om" - if you've ever wondered about some of the effects of chanting, click on title and read this.

Yoga to the People

2010-04-26T17:36:00.004-04:00

In yesterday's NYT Style section, there was an article about Yoga to the People that is worth reading. Fed up with high costs, fancy clothes, and an exclusivity that seems to have crept into many yoga studios, Greg Gumucio has opened a chain of donation-only studios in several spots around the U.S. (special hot yoga classes are $8).

It was no surprise to me to read this article. When I moved home to affluent Monmouth County, NJ in 2000, the sight of a $300 leather mat bag sent me into a spin. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that all kinds of people are interested in yoga. The other night on Law & Order a murder suspect identified himself as an Anusara yoga teacher (I had to wonder how they chose John Friend's style over others). This is great publicity (he was not guilty), and goes to show just how commercial yoga has become.

But I am also aware that lots of folks can't afford $20 a class and am personally turned off by hyper-marketing of overpriced uber-chic clothes and accessories that most of us know have no bearing on practice. What has been created is an environment that is truly intimidating to some people. While this certainly isn't the case everywhere, it is the impression that many would-be practitioners have of what yoga is all about - especially in urban areas.

I wish Yoga to the People lots of luck - check out their manifesto. Keep it simple, get on your mat, and rejoice in the practice!

Hari Om!

Restorative Yoga

2010-04-13T15:02:00.001-04:00

I'll be subbing a restorative class tonight for my friend, Toni Halstead. We've both taken training from Judith Lasater, who literally wrote the book Relax and Renew. This is an example from the book:

Teaching restoratives requires lots of props, skillful blanket folding, good sequencing, and a soothing voice. The benefits of this type of practice are many since it is helpful in relieving chronic stress. In a restorative class, the sequence should include all movements of the spine - backward, forward and twisting, and some inverted pose, usually legs up the wall (but even resting the legs on a bolster is effective). I like to incorporate Yoga Nidra at the end of my classes and it's a perfect adjunct to this type of practice.

Some people like to play music throughout the class; I opt for silence. We are constantly being bombarded with sound - music in the grocery store, at the gas pump, on the telephone, traffic noise, televisions in restaurants. Moving away from sound can be uncomfortable for some people and even anxiety provoking, others have commented on how they appreciate the noticeable absence of sound. For some of us, doing nothing is hard work.

Subbing for another teacher can be challenging. What I've learned is that I don't have to try and replicate their teaching, but must offer my own with awareness and a loving heart. I've never had a bad experience.

Happy Easter, FELIZ PÁSCOA!

2010-04-04T16:50:00.004-04:00

My dear friend and computer guru, Maria, sent me an Easter greeting along with this photo.

Easter is a funny holiday for me. Since I'm not religious and don't live near family there really isn't anything about it that feels like a holiday.

The time of year is special - springtime, rebirth - and the fact that other people are celebrating makes me happy. My sister and I have some great Easter memories and were reminiscing the other night.

Our grandmother, Grammy Dot, and her mother, who we always called 'Nother Grammy, were very adept at shopping and dressing up their two little granddaughters. We had memorable outfits and loved getting tricked out for church on Easter. The day also included a lot of candy, a big dinner and, best of all, a trip to the boardwalk.

No matter how cold it may have been, Grammy Dot drove us to the beach and we played in the penny arcade, rode the rides, and had a whooping good time even if our skinny little legs were bright red and covered in goose bumps! She accompanied us on the roller coaster because it was scary. My grandmother was not petite. Seeing this ride years after the Easter ritual had fallen away, I couldn't believe how small it was! When we were little, it seemed huge. But what was more interesting to me was that my grandmother squeezed herself in there just so her girls could have some fun! And we always did. We screamed and she screamed and it was as exciting as flying!

That is what I celebrate today - unconditional, full-on grandma love. You know it when you feel it. Thanks Grammy Dot xoxo

Passover and Yoga

2010-03-31T12:01:00.012-04:00

Passover, or Pesach, lasts for 7 days and runs from March 30 through April 6. Rabbi and yoga teacher Heather Altman wrote an article for LA Yoga Magazine entitled Off the Mat, Up to the Table. Acceptance of others and their traditions is one way that our yoga practice manifests in daily life.

While I'm not Jewish, people often assume I am. That may be because of my eastern European ancestry, my looks, mannerisms acquired from grandparents and great grandparents, growing up in New Jersey - I don't know. I do know that I've always had an interest in how other cultures and religions celebrate special days. Maybe that's because they all incoporate food in some special way? Partly, but it's the symbolism inherent in the specific foods that I find fascinating and there are special recipes for vegetarian kosher dishes that look like good nosh for any occasion. One of the things I loved about growing up in New Jersey was the availability of high quality and varied food. This includes the phenomenal Jewish delis. I miss blinis, blintzes and knish. I've never found better rye bread anywhere - this is making me hungry and I want a cream soda!

All cultures have their own music and klezmer music is something I thoroughly enjoy. Last year I went to hear the Klezmatics when they played at the University of Richmond. That show featured music from Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hannukah and also incorporated world music. The Klezmatics earned a Grammy award in 2006 and if you've never heard them listen to a few songs linked in the sidebar. Mermaid Avenue is one of Woody's.

Whatever your religion or your dietary and musical persuasions, enjoy the season, celebrate your friends and family, be grateful for your teachers and your practice and have a Happy Passover!

Springtime - Allergies?

2010-03-26T11:15:00.004-04:00

This is a helpful video from the Himalayan Institute showing how to use a Neti Pot.

The pot I currently use is this one. It's stainless steel and I ordered it through the health & yoga store here. It came from India, no problem with delivery and the packaging was priceless! Because of its size, the stream is stonger than a common neti pot. It also won't break or crack the way a ceramic pot might.

My travel neti pot came from the Himalayan Institute and works great. It's plastic and light (don't ever heat it in the microwave).
Use pharmaceutical grade, super fine, non-iodized salt. It dissolves fast and is free of any possible contamination. Happy rinsing!

Norooz 1389 - Happy Spring! Happy New Year!

2010-03-20T18:06:00.008-04:00

Today is the celebration of Norooz, or Persian New Year. Norooz is not a religious holiday but marks the new year and fertility by celebrating the first day of spring - it's literally a new day.

Prior to this New Year, a special cover is spread on a carpet a table in every Persian household. This ceremonial table is called cloth of seven dishes (each one beginning with the Persian letter cinn). The number seven has been sacred in Iran since the ancient times, and the seven dishes stand for the seven angelic heralds of life - rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience, and beauty. The symbolic dishes are:

Sabzeh or sprouts, usually wheat or lentil representing rebirth.
Samanu is a pudding in which common wheat sprouts are given new life as a sweet, creamy pudding.
Seeb means apple and represents health and beauty.
Senjed the sweet, dry fruit of the Lotus tree, represents love. It has been said that when lotus tree is in full bloom, its fragrance and its fruit make people fall in love and become oblivious to all else.
Seer, garlic in Persian, represents medicine.
Sumac berries represent the color of sunrise; with the appearance of the sun Good conquers Evil.
Serkeh or vinegar, represents age and patience.

To reconfirm all hopes and wishes expressed by the traditional foods, other elements and symbols are also on the sofreh:

a few coins placed represent prosperity and wealth;
a basket of painted eggs represents fertility;
a Seville orange floating in a bowl of water represents the earth floating in space;
a goldfish in a bowl represents life and the end of astral year-picas;
a flask of rose water known for its magical cleansing power, is also included on the tablecloth;
Nearby is a brazier for burning wild rue ,a sacred herb whose smoldering fumes ward off evil spirits;
A pot of flowering hyacinth or narcissus is also set on the sofreh;
A mirror which represents the images and reflections of Creation as we celebrate anew the ancient Persian traditions and beliefs that creation took place on the first day of spring.
On either side of the mirror are two candlesticks holding a flickering candle for each child in the family. The candles represent enlightenment and happiness.

I've had the privilege of taking part in this celebration many times and particularly enjoyed a game that was played by firmly gripping a painted egg in your fist and tapping the tip of your partner's egg to see whose broke first. Persian food is one of my all time favorites and on this holiday includes dishes with fresh herbs and fish. There is much music and dancing over the period of Norooz. President Obama has issued a Norooz greeting to the Iranian people and a statement to Iran's government. See it here.

The music, food, art, architecture, and poetry of Iran are so beautiful they can make you cry.
Happy New Year to you all !

The Subject Tonight is Love

The subject tonight is Love

And for tomorrow night as well,

As a matter of fact

I know of no better topic

For us to discuss

Until we all

Die!

Hafiz

Life is fun - Happy Springtime!

2010-03-19T13:01:00.002-04:00

Asteya/Santosha

2010-03-08T20:51:00.002-05:00

Non-stealing is one of the yogic restraints (yamas) that can be taken quite literally. When teaching children, I became especially aware of this. They cried, "But we don't steal things!" I explained to them that there are many ways we can take what doesn't belong to us and used cheating on a test as one example. Another is being late for class and taking time away from others. Hoarding might be considered taking more than you need - this could apply to food, housing, work, possessions. Desire compels us to want or to take what is not ours or what we don't need. Fear is often the fuel for this desire. Contentment, or santosha, is one of the yogic observances (niyamas) which is key to helping us in our practice.

Without contentment, we will be pulled this way and that by advertising, media, technology, people. . . the list is endless. Contentment fosters serenity and I believe it can be a choice. This doesn't mean we have no goals or plans, but that we are fine where we are while continuing to move in the direction of our dreams.

I found this on Wikipedia - makes it look easy!

Patience is a virtue

2010-03-01T20:13:00.004-05:00

Wow - where have I been! At least I wasn't waiting for the udumbara flower to bloom - that apparently takes 3,000 years! Thanks to Heath Gordon, a young man of infinite patience, for alerting me to this previously unknown (by me) phenomenon.

Yoga builds patience. As a teacher, I see this development in my students. To witness it in myself, I must be able to admit that I am occasionally impatient. This requires humility, an expression of satya, and practice.

Go nuts for your heart

2010-02-13T16:14:00.003-05:00

Dr. Dean Ornish, has contributed greatly to existing research on cardiovascular disease and he has always been a proponent of yoga. He studied with Swami Satchidanada for over 30 years.

An average, healthy heart beats about 100,000 times a day - that's 37 million beats per year! One of the top risk factors for heart disease is sitting still, so you need to move if you really want to love your heart! A heart is a pump about the size of a person's fist and is made of muscle tissue. Exercise can strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system, improve your circulation, and increase energy levels so you can do more without becoming tired or short of breath. Plus, exercise has also been shown to reduce stress, tension, anxiety and depression.

A heart-healthy diet should be low in fat and sodium, include lean protein, and lots of fiber. Oatmeal with blueberries and a handful of walnuts or almonds is a great way to start the day. Using rice or soy milk with make it even healthier. Nothing beats nuts for a rewarding snack - they're easy to store and transport well.
Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, peanuts, pistachios, chestnuts, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts - almost every type of nut contains lots of nutrition and beneficial fats. Nuts are one of the best plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids and also contain fiber and vitamin E. As much as 80 percent of a nut is healthy fat, but it's still a lot of calories so eat nuts in moderation. According to the Food & Drug Administration, eating about a handful (1.5 ounces) a day of most nuts is enough.

Combining a healthy diet with regular aerobic exercise and yoga practice will not only make you feel and look good, but may go a long way toward ensuring a longer, healthier life. Take an active role in your own health. You'll look better, feel better, and the people you love with thank you for it!

R.I.P. BooBoo

2010-02-09T18:52:00.005-05:00

Soon after my father died in 2001, a cat showed up on my mother's doorstep. He had long skinny legs, kind of yellow/gold eyes, and spent lots of time on the back patio waiting for her. Eventually (after feeding him shrimp I imagine), the cat decided it was ok to come inside and there he stayed until today. In addition to the long skinny legs and the golden eyes, he eerily mirrored my father - sat in his favorite chair, looked out the kitchen window frequently, spent long hours lolling on a bench overlooking the creek, was friendly but not toward everyone. Mom never formally named the cat; we sometimes referred to him as Mr. Zak, but she called him BooBoo.

We have no pictures of BooBoo. He was a tortoiseshell kitty and I found these photos from a site online - these are pretty unusual cats and the one on top looks just like our dearly departed. I felt the need to honor this cat - he brought so much love into our family home. My parents were married for nearly 50 years, mom had never lived alone in her life. The cat showed up and has kept her company without asking for much. She loved him and so did I.

Despite the fact that the ground in NJ is covered in snow, my mother decided she had to bury the cat today and began to dig a hole without much success. Our dear friend, Fred, showed up for his morning visit and kitty was given a proper burial on a hill, near his bench, overlooking the creek. In true New Jersey fashion, they went out for pizza later in the day.

We'll miss you kitty!!

Bee House

2010-02-02T17:02:00.006-05:00

Another bee has entered my life in the form of a teapot. Bee House ceramics are made in Japan by Zero and are lead free, microwaveable and dishwasher safe. Each teapot comes with a removable stainless steel infuser and lid so you can use regular teabags or brew loose tea. It's not only beautiful, but practical (a winning combination)!

Although I love freshly ground and brewed coffee, I noticed a jitteriness when I drank it every day so, about a year ago, I switched to tea as my main hot beverage. Since then, my tea knowledge has broadened thanks to locally-owned Carytown Teas. I look forward to my morning green and am currently hooked on their organic gunpowder osprey, and Patricia always has good recommendations.

This noticing that I experienced has much to do with my yoga practice. When we are mindful of the signals our body gives us, we're given an opportunity to make changes and see what fits better. This is how yoga works. We notice our emotions, physical sensations, our needs. We may find that cigarettes don't taste very good and we quit, we might discover that a doughnut for breakfast isn't as great as we once thought and we begin to lose weight. Over time and with practice, our tastes and our sensitivity to our own needs become refined and we are able to judge what is good for us at a particular time.

Don't get me wrong - I will still drink iced Vietnamese coffee on occasion and, if I'm on the Eastern Shore, I am definitely going to eat fried chicken at Tammy and Johnny's! It's all about balance and life is short - more of what nourishes me completely, less of what depletes me and I'm a happy girl with a new teapot and another bee in my life.

Sunshine sent today from Nevis - muito obrigada to Maria!!

2010-01-29T14:06:00.008-05:00

As we prepare ourselves for a possible state of snow emergency, remember that being snowbound is a perfect opportunity to practice yoga. Take a warm bath, drink hot tea, read something inspirational, light a candle and enjoy your sadhana!

Bees in my life

2010-01-27T16:58:00.006-05:00

I've been admiring these bees for months at my local health food store where they buzzed alongside colorful sister paintings of fat birds, landscapes and horses. I visited the bees frequently and today I brought them home. I loved that one was heading right off the frame - following his own path. There's something about art that gets into your head. It's like getting stung by an image. When I mentioned this to Mehmet Altug, the artist, he compared it to food - we agreed that art feeds the soul.

Earlier this year, I was given a bee pendant made by Casey Sharpe, an artisan on the Eastern Shore. This was another piece of work that captured my imagination and wearing it always invites conversation. I don't collect bees - I do have a small pencil drawing of a bee that was a gift from my friend, Bill Turner.

Once, while picking zinnias, a bee stung me - it sat on my hand and I just watched it, never thought it would sting, but it did. I still trust bees - they feed us, after all.

Thinking about all these bees made me realize that Brahmari pranayama is one of my favorite breathing practices so, of course, I've been considering the significance of all these bees in my life and have decided it's a coincidence (right!). I think I'll just go drink some tea - with honey - and gaze at the new painting!

Our treasure lies in the beehive of our knowledge. We are perpetually on the way thither, being by nature winged insects and honey gatherers of the mind.

Friedrich Nietzsche, The Genealogy of Morals (1887)

I can't do yoga

2010-01-25T21:05:00.004-05:00

I teach a weekly class at a gambling/alcohol rehab center. Each week, patients cycle through so I may have the same group for 4 weeks or have a new person each week - it's never the same. Recently, we received a patient who is 81 years old and his first statement when he met me was, "I can't do yoga." I told him he could try and that I was there to teach him. Indeed, that first afternoon, after about 20 minutes with the group, he got up, said he'd had enough, and left.

Today I arranged to arrive 1/2 hour early and work with him individually. Again he said, "I can't do yoga." I assured him he could, but that we were going to make sure we did it in a way that worked just for him. In the 30 minutes we spent together, I learned that he had been a tennis player, was quite flexible and fit, and could follow instructions perfectly when I was close enough for him to hear me clearly. We didn't do a lot - a few chair postures, some standing and sitting, and about 5 minutes of guided meditation with my hands resting on his shoulders reminding him to relax each time he exhaled. He loved it and thanked me for working with him. I told him we'd do this for as long as he was there. When he left the room, he told the first person he saw, "I was doing yoga!"

Sometimes, when our bodies are tired or we are injured, we think, "I can't do yoga." It's not true - that is our ego mind telling us we can't do things the way we'd like to or the way we used to or the way we think we are supposed to. In 2004, I taught for 6 months with a broken leg! My students urged me back to the studio, put a big chair in front of the room, and I sat there and taught - probably with more attention than ever before.

I thank my teachers and my students for reminding me that I can always do yoga - and so can you!

Shanti Path & Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra - Swami Satyananda Saraswati

2010-01-16T22:18:00.001-05:00

Shanti Path is a mantra for peace and harmony - Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is considered a great mantra and is often chanted during physical or mental challenge and also brings peace - both are classic. This photo video is beautiful.

Snot is caustic

2010-01-13T19:28:00.087-05:00

I attributed my watery eyes to bitter cold and wind, then spent the entire next day indoors - zero fresh air. By Monday morning, I was a sneezing, runny mess. Benadryl helps me sleep when my allergies act up, that night it didn't do a thing. A mound of used tissues attested to my torment.

A.M. steam infusion: a few drops of tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender and orange essential oils in a bowl of steaming water - cover the head with a towel and breathe. I closed my eyes, and made sure not to swallow the secretions. It smelt and felt good. I was ready to go, still a little sniffly but good enough to head to the office for a few hours.

Later that afternoon, I had a class to teach and was able to muddle through - still in denial about my COLD! I've been using a neti pot for nearly 20 years and, while plagued by allergies since moving to Richmond, it's been ages since I've had a good old fashioned cold. Fortunately, I had an acupuncture appointment the following day and, in addition to needling I experienced gua sha for the first time. This technique involves a scraping of the skin and sounds painful but really isn't. Home to rest and hungry - starve a fever, feed a cold - I made a pot of mung bean soup with fresh ginger, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, chopped kale and mushrooms. To spice it up, along with the usual curry powder and bay leaf, I added some garam masala (just a pinch). I slept better and only used 1/4 box of tissues.

Today the flood has stopped but the neti pot is useless - I've moved from runny to stuffy. Drinking orange juice, more steam infusion and some rose hips tea. Outside temps have risen above freezing, sun is shining - I took a short walk in fresh air. My yoga practice consisted of several rounds of bhramari pranayama, or humming bee breath. This link also describes Swami Naranjananda's "yoga capsules" which is a lovely practice to keep handy. Brhamari is helpful for clearing the sinuses but should not be done if the ears are clogged. I did some easy joint movements and warm ups, uttanasana, prasarita padottanasana and a supported shoulderstand followed by 30 minutes of yoga nidra. Not cured, but on the road to recovery.

As Ogden Nash put it in Common Cold:

Oh what a derision history holds for the man who belittled the Cold of Colds!

I remembered a few sage words from my beloved teacher, Swami Shantimurti: snot is caustic. So keep it moving. Get it out of there. Post nasal drip will cause throat irritation and indigestion. A runny nose will burn your skin - rub a little vitamin e oil around your irritated nostrils. Colds are nothing to be sneezed at! (I wrote that.) Keeping hydrated, resting, taking a steamy soaky tub (a cure for everything!) Remember how wonderful it is to breathe - be patient, stay warm, get your favorite jammies and rest some more. Bless you.

Sleepytime

2010-01-10T21:10:00.005-05:00

I love Sleepytime tea! When it comes to tea, I can be a bit of a snob and love my loose greens, blacks, and organic herbals. But I confess to being a hardcore Sleepytime junky, especially in the winter. I was discussing this with friends yesterday at lunch and someone asked if the tea contained skullcap - it doesn't. Ingredients are listed as: chamomile, spearmint, West Indian lemongrass, tilia flowers, blackberry leaves, orange blossoms, hawthorn and rosebuds. I wasn't sure what tilia flowers were and was delighted to discover that they are blossoms from the linden tree, also known as basswood or lime (not the citrus).

My friend, Pooh, has a huge linden tree at the edge of his driveway on the Eastern Shore. When in bloom, its sweetness mixes with the earthy marsh smells around Onancock Creek to create a fragrance unique to that patch of earth. Pooh has fed me linden blossoms - I think they were lightly battered and fried but that could be my imagination. I found a recipe for linden blossom tea here. With all herbals, don't assume that it is safe for you especially if you have allergies. Sleepytime tea has provided my evening balm for many years and I'm happy to know more about it.

If sleep eludes you, practicing three-part breathing, or dirgha pranayama, before bed is conducive to easier sleep as are inversions. My favorite nighttime inversion is Viparita Karani, or legs-up-the-wall. Getting exercise for about 30 minutes at least 4 times each week encourages restful sleep. Taking a warm bath at bedtime with some lavender essential oil (just a few drops) always helps me. And, of course, there is the magical tea with its cover story of the nodding bear in his nightcap, a curled up tiger cat, and one blazing fire.

Sweet dreamzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Setu Bandhasana - SET-too BAHN-dahs-anna

2010-01-07T17:41:00.006-05:00

Bridge pose in sanskrit: setu = dam, dike, or bridge + bandha = lock

When I lived in RI, I was required to regularly cross two long bridges - the Newport Bridge which was lovely and ran from the island of Jamestown over to Newport, where I lived and where I first began my yoga journey. There was also the more sinister Jamestown Bridge - old and scary. It has been replaced by a more sinuous model since I moved south. I've put some photos of these bridges into this post because I think they are beautiful. This is the Newport Bridge.

This is the scary sign that used to be on the old Jamestown Bridge - there was metal grating in the middle that was slippery when wet or snowy (in other words, most of the time in Rhode Island).

And here are photos of old Jamestown

Bridge and new Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge. As you can see, the old bridge rose up like a steel mountain and really proved to be challenging in bad weather. Here is a link to the Jamestown Bridge site that's pretty cool. They blew it up after its replacement was built.

After my last post, I started to think about bridges and my sometime anxiety about crossing them - physically, emotionally, spiritually. I never liked driving over bridges, but an experience with high winds on the Chesapeaked Bay Bridge-Tunnel actually caused a sort of ptsd which I overcame by continuing to drive across when I had to and eventually the fear subsided. This was the tactic suggested by both my teacher, Shantimurti, and by a psychiatrist friend. Looking straight ahead was also suggested and was also helpful. What I've learned about this kind of anxiety, is that the best way to deal with either is to gently move forward. First, talk about it to someone you trust. Steady exhalations are calming, chanting aloud or internally creates a sense of groundedness, and facing the obstacle can be the best solution - if it's done mindfully. Mindfulness as medicine.

Boulevard Bridge Turns 85!

2010-01-05T16:04:00.006-05:00

I don't usually read the RTD, but here is a story about the Boulevard Bridge, which is commonly called Nickel Bridge and is actually a 7-nickel bridge because it costs 35 cents to get across. This year marks the bridge's 85th birthday.

I drive over multiple times each week, walk across when the weather is good. You get great views of the river and downtown and you can use EZPass. The toll takers remind me of drivers on the Eastern Shore - if you go through a lane that's not exact change, you might encounter someone having an extended conversation at the toll booth, traffic be damed! On the North end is the entrance to Maymont Park, from my end you get a great view of the Carillon jutting over the trees and the park.

What does this have to do with yoga? I feel like my yoga practice influences everything I do - the bridge makes me think about crossing over, sometimes it's beautiful, sometimes scary, a guy got killed either falling or jumping from the bridge near the canal end by the railroad tracks and there was a sort of shrine there for a while. The bridge changes, the view changes, life changes.

Windy on the Eastern Shore

2010-01-03T10:55:00.003-05:00

My friend Sally told me a story she heard when she moved to the Eastern Shore - it was said that when wind blew off the Atlantic, it swept across the shore and didn't stop until hitting the Washington Monument! I believe it.

Tiggy the cat slept indoors last night - first on the dresser, into my bed, she moved to a chair in the upstairs bathroom and wound up in Bob's bed this morning - the wind howled endlessly - screaming, wrestling with windows, beating bushes, battering trees.

Driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is a challenge for me - especially when it is windy like today - current wind speed is showing 47 mph! I found that reading this sweet poem about the wind makes it less threatening.

I saw you toss the kites on high

And blow the birds about the sky;

And all around I heard you pass,

Like ladies' skirts across the grass

Oh wind, a blowing all day long,

Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did,

But always you yourself you hid.

I felt you push, I heard you call,

I could not see yourself at all

Oh wind, a blowing all day long!

Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you that are so strong and cold,

O blower, are you young or old?

Are you a beast of field and tree,

Or just a stronger child than me?

O wind, a blowing all day long,

O wind, that sings so loud a song!

R.L. Stevenson

2010

2010-01-01T12:44:00.002-05:00

No matter what we do, time passes. How blessed we are to have the choice to enjoy our time, friends, surroundings, our spiritual practice. Years ago, I heard a talk by Amrit Desai at Kripalu - someone asked him how we can get people to stop pushing our buttons. He replied that we cannot, that people will do what they do. We can, however, take care of ourselves by getting rid of those buttons, but first we must recognize them and accept them as ours.

During a time when we may want to reassess and make plans for the year ahead, we often make resolutions out of habit. With yoga nidra practice, we have the ability to practice resolution but on a deeper level. The sankalpa, or resolve, that we make during yoga nidra is a way to actually embody change. By coming to an understanding of the power of sankalpa, we have access to a tool much more effective than a resolution. The New Year's resolution can hold us hostage to a promise we may or may not be able to keep - then guilt or a sense of weakness results. With sankalpa, we plant a seed of change in our mind while it is in a relaxed state during yoga nidra. That seed grows and takes root on its own - nurtured by our continuing practice.

I wish you all a Happy New Year and encourage you to continue on your path, to veer off the path when it seems necessary, and to love yourself as you are today. Namaste`

Dancing Feet

2009-12-31T15:26:00.002-05:00

After the excting workshop that Talia and I presented on feet, I have become more obsessed than usual with that appendage (in a purely anatomical sense) and wanted to share this NYT article on the amazing foot in dance.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2009-12-23T12:40:00.021-05:00

I love winter holidays but DO NOT like snow! Living in Richmond is unsettling because there are no systems set up to deal with snow removal in a timely manner since we rarely have any accumulation. Besides, I moved here to get away from snow! They have a corner on the Christmas light market, however, and that makes traveling at night entertaining.

Snow is pretty to look at and creates a stillness that is unmatched. I'll be heading north to Red Bank, NJ, where I was born. If the Navesink River is frozen, ice boats will be sailing around and that is dramatic. I'll get to see mom and her cat, Mr. Zak, who she named after my father (the cat showed up right after dad died). My sister makes Christmas a special day - she's the queen of decorations and loves to give a party so we'll have plowed roads, plenty to eat, and maybe a ferry trip to NYC if the weather permits.

'Tis the Season

2009-12-14T20:37:00.004-05:00

POMEGRANATE Punica granatum L.

I love pomegranates - they are sweet, tart, juicy and somewhat mysterious. The pomegranate grows naturally from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India and has been cultivated and naturalized over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times. It is widely cultivated throughout India and the drier parts of southeast Asia, Malaya, the East Indies and tropical Africa. Pomegranates grow in abundance in Afghanistan. The tree was introduced in California by Spanish settlers in 1769 and is still grown there and in Arizona.

When a pomegranate is cut, the seeds (arils) look like rubies and make a tasty, dazzling topping for winter salad greens. I read somewhere that every pomegranate contains exactly 840 seeds!

Many Persian recipes use pomegranate paste - one of my favorites is a dish called Fesinjan that also contains ground walnuts and the recipe linked also includes eggplant and a beautiful quote from Rumi.

Pomegranate juice makes a pretty non-alcoholic beverage when mixed with seltzer or gingerale and a wedge of lime. If you've never tried a fresh pomegranate, now's the time - they are in season here usually from October through January - enjoy!

Swami Satyananda Saraswati

2009-12-07T18:19:00.007-05:00

Swami Satyananda Saraswati left his body on Saturday evening, December 5, while doing japa. Leslie Kaminoff has already put together a great post, so I am directing anyone who would like to read more about Satyananda to Leslie's e-Sutra blog.

Since meeting two of Satyananda's disciples, Murray Dow and Swami Shantimurti Saraswati, I have studied with them and have grown to love the teaching of this lineage. I received the gift of yoga nidra, which I continue to share with my students. I owe him much gratitude for this gift. Hari Om Tat Sat

“Let the inner lamp grow brighter and brighter. Let the old leaves wither away. Lets the clouds subside. Let the great light prevail. Let the divine force rejoice in thee.”~ Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati

Meet Your Feet!

2009-12-04T17:34:00.002-05:00

Did you know that your feet are one of the first places to lose flexibility as you age? Did you know that you have 26 bones and 20 muscles in each foot? Talia Moser and I will be at Yoga Source in Carytown on Sunday, December 13, conducting a workshop combining yoga and reflexology and sharing lots of fun facts to help you take care of your feet.

Since it's holiday season, we decided to spread some extra cheer by holding a drawing at the close of this workshop - you may win a 1/2 hour reflexology session with Talia, a gift certificate from Nature's Intent Hand and Foot Spa, an instructional yoga cd, and other prizes. See you there!

Happy Birthday Freddie!

2009-11-23T15:52:00.003-05:00

In memory of my friend, Frederick Foster Davis, I'm posting these photos of him building one of his boats, the Charlotte E. Foster. Fred took his final earthly voyage earlier this year. His memory, spirit, wit, wisdom, and talent live on.

StressLESS Holidays

2009-11-20T17:33:00.005-05:00

Today on NPR's Science Friday the topic was holiday stress. I decided to recycle the following article, which appeared in the Eastern Shore News a couple of years back.

Many people think about stress or weight gain during the holiday season. This is a time of year filled with possibilities for joy and reflection but it often becomes a shopping and anxiety-filled mess. Even if you are not feeling particularly stressed, chances are you will be spending time with someone who is. For families dealing with divorce, illness, job loss, or personal friction this can be a traumatic season.

Shorter daylight hours can affect your mood, resulting in feelings of depression and fatigue. When it gets cold outside, most of us spend more time indoors - cut off from fresh air, natural light, and the calming effects of nature.

I’ve met lots of people in my years as a health professional who put themselves at the bottom of the list - they invariably suffer. It isn't selfish to take time for yourself. The healthier and more at ease you are, the more available you will be for those you love.

If you exercise regularly, keep it up. The worst mistake you can make is to use the excuse of holiday busy-ness to abandon exercise. Maintaining or even increasing your regular exercise is a good way to allow yourself to indulge in holiday treats without worrying about extra pounds. Walking has amazing effects on both mind and body, especially if it's done in fresh air.

Resist the temptation to overeat at parties and special events. Food is a big part of the holidays and you can enjoy it without feeling guilty if you eat responsibly. Also, avoid alcohol as a means of coping with stress. If you're depressed, drinking will only make you feel worse and will add unwanted calories. Alcohol also tends to distort our nutritional judgment. Drink smart, eat smart, have fun.

Spend some time outside or buy a special lamp to help combat depression caused by light deprivation. Full spectrum lighting is affordable and available right here in Richmond.

Schedule time with friends and people who make you laugh. Laughter decreases tension and reduces pain and also has been shown to boost the body's production of infection-fighting antibodies. Laughter has the potential to help in the treatment of depression and other emotional illnesses - so does yoga. So keep in close contact with people who make you feel GOOD and don't forget your yoga practice!

Slow diaphragmatic breathing (3-part breathing as taught in many yoga classes) can help reduce anxiety. Even though breathing is an automatic response, we do have the ability to control it and that alone is empowering. If your breath is calm, steady, and even, you will probably be too. Focusing on breath is a way to increase mindfulness. One of the simplest ways to connect with your breath is to pay attention to its sound while sitting in a comfortable position with your eyes closed. When you become aware of the natural sounds of your inhalation and exhalation, you begin to breathe in a way that calms the body and lowers heart rate and blood pressure.

Give yourself a break. Appreciate what you’ve got - gratitude is a beneficial attitude. Share and receive love, and have a Happy Holiday Season!

Yoga by any other name. . .

2009-11-17T20:55:00.004-05:00

When my father heard I was teaching yoga, he decided to teasingly call it yoghurt. I let him. Other people have used variations on the name since I've been teaching. Some have referred to the school where I studied as CrippleYou. They all have given me a smile, but this is by far the best:

In the rural town where I lived (and where my heart still resides), I knew a woman named Norma. She had six sisters and one of them, Rosalee, owned a small store around the corner where I shopped for everything from the Saturday paper to fresh scallops, galvanized buckets and mousetraps.

Anyway, one day I saw Norma and she said, "I didn't know you could sing!" I assured her I could not. "Oh yes," she said. "Rosalee told me you were giving singing classes over to the Town Hall." I again told her there must be some mistake. "No, I'm sure she said it was you giving yodelling classes on Tuesday nights." I LOVED that, and will never forget it or the sweet sisters who had the conversation.

Psychology Nods to Yoga - again

2009-11-13T14:34:00.006-05:00

Carl Jung investigated yoga, therapists employ yoga occasionally, and now the APA (American Psychological Association) has printed this article in Monitor on Psychology: Yoga as a practice tool. I have been sharing similar information with students and friends for a long time and am always happy to see mental health professionals acknowledge the benefits of yoga - physical and psychological - and back it up with research.

Using simple techniques such as breath awareness can help people learn how to begin to feel comfortable in the present moment - a challenge for many of us.

Sat Bir Khalsa, PhD, is a neuroscientist and professor of medicine at Harvard. He is quoted here as saying, "I believe if everyone practiced the technique of yoga, we would have a preventive aid to a lot of our problems. There would likely be less obesity and Type-II diabetes, an people would be less aggressive, more content and more integrated."

I loved reading this and I know it's true. Many people come to me with excuses about why they CAN'T do yoga - time, physical limitations, money, etc. The reality is that anyone can do yoga in some form if they want to. There is good information contained in this piece of writing - you might want to read it.

Charter for Compassion

2009-11-12T16:04:00.001-05:00

White-robed Kannon, Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kano Motonobu, c. first half of the 16th century. Hanging scroll. Ink, color and gold on silk.

I received the following in an email and want to share it with as many people as possible. Some of you may know about TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. If you don't, it's worth exploring.

Dear Global TED Community,

Today, TED Prize winner Karen Armstrong's wish is realized as the Charter for Compassion officially launches. . .

This is a document created by thousands of people around the world. It is capable of enabling a new dialog between the major religions and between religious and nonreligious people. Please take out two minutes to read it. It's just one page. If it speaks to you, please add your name. Karen's wish was that TED should create and propagate the Charter. That's where we need your help. Email your friends, and do whatever you can on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. We would love to see thousands affirm the Charter. It's truly an idea worth spreading.

Satyananda Yoga Nidra - Psychic Sleep

2009-11-10T15:37:00.001-05:00

While I was living in New Jersey between 2000-2004, I was introduced to Swami Shantimurti Saraswati of Ashram Yoga in New Zealand. He taught me the Satyananda method of yoga nidra, and it changed my life - really. Shanti also attempted to teach me to play the harmonium, but I'm nowhere near as proficient at that as I've become in teaching yoga nidra!

Since then, I've moved and shared this technique with students wherever I go in classes, workshops and privately. Last year, I was given the privilege of teaching yoga nidra at a residential gambling and alcohol rehab center. Once a week, I leave Richmond city and drive into beautiful Hanover County to work with small groups of brave people from all over the country who are trying to get their lives back in order. Yoga nidra not only offers them a way to decompress immediately, but the long term effects are noticeable.

Do you know anyone who doesn’t experience some form of stress on a regular basis? We can't completely eliminate stress in our lives, but how we handle it is what determines its effect on us. Stress is a physical and psychological response to excessive or prolonged demands that exceed our ability to cope. Sometimes - oftentimes - we aren't even aware that we are experiencing stress, but our bodies know!

Three basic types of tension which create most difficulties seem to be:

Muscular - related to the body, the nervous system and endocrinal imbalances - These are easily removed by deep physical relaxation, regular habits, and consistent exercise.

Emotional - which stem from various extremes such as love/hate, profit/loss, success/failure, happiness/unhappiness - These are more difficult to remove. When we are unable to express our emotions freely and openly, and it’s not always appropriate to release these tensions in the moment, they may become repressed, leading to deep-rooted tensions which require a deeper type of relaxation.

Mental - from excessive mental activity - The mind is a mixture of fantasies, confusions and variations. Throughout our life, experiences are accumulated in the mental body. From time to time these explode, affecting our body, mind, behavior and reactions. We may attribute the conditions of the mind to something superficial. But underlying causes behind abnormal behavior can often lie in accumulated tensions on the mental plane which can be relaxed through Yoga Nidra.

Yoga Nidra is an ancient practice which has been gaining popularity. For everyone, specifically people who are chronically exhausted and over stimulated, yoga nidra is a method of relaxation that calms not only the physical body but the nervous system and the subconscious mind. This practice, adapted by Swami Satyananda Saraswati and outlined in his book entitled Yoga Nidra, is used to induce full-body relaxation and a deeply meditative state. During practice, your body seems to be asleep, but consciousness is awake and functioning.

Yoga Nidra lasts for at least 20 minutes and often longer. Lying comfortably on the back in savasana (corpse pose), the student is instructed in quieting the mind, moves into a meditative state, and gradually to a place where brain waves slow down. People tend to emerge feeling rejuvenated. One hour of yoga nidra is said to equal 4 hours of restful sleep!

Because of its regenerative effects, Yoga Nidra can be helpful for degenerative and stress-related conditions such as hypertension and arthritis. By reducing deep seated conflicts, Yoga Nidra promotes a feeling of well being, which has also been found to curb excessive consumption of coffee, cigarettes and alcohol as well as aiding in the management of drug abuse and addiction.

Yoga Nidra is prescribed by doctors in many countries both as a preventative and curative therapy. This ancient wisdom is a perfect complement to educated, professional medical care. Yoga Nidra is best done under the guidance of a trained teacher or with an instructional cd prepared by a teacher. Swami Niranjananda leads a beautiful practice. My teacher, Swami Shantimurti Saraswati has cds for sale through Ashram Yoga, and in the U.S. the Atma Center in Ohio sells instructional cds.

Thank you Shanti - Hari Om!

One Blue Day

2009-11-07T16:03:00.004-05:00

The Colour Blue (2009) is an updated and remastered version of a short film made by LeSa Milano. It's not pretty, but it seems important.

Her own words about it, "At this time in the Earth's history, we truly live in important and interesting times. There is great consequence and urgency to our actions. Our decisions and actions will be remembered for generations to come. What we do today affects tomorrow. We are pushing the earth to its limits literally, in population, resources, and it's capacity to sustain human life. At this time in our evolution, it is being revealed in many ways that we are all connected. One people, one planet. The Native Americans have a beautiful philosophy regarding action, when you take action you should contemplate it's effect on the next seven generations.This film is dedicated to those of you who inspired me to create my own digital home here."

I was told about this video by an environmentalist friend. Earlier the same day I heard about a book called The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's are One by Sylvia Earle and THEN I found a link to Dr. Earle's TED talk featuring beautiful video. This was also depressing, but the video images were so beautiful that it didn't share the same visual grimness.

I started thinking about the color blue. Richmond's sky is highlighted these days by the contrasting brilliance of changing leaves. Then I started thinking about Joni Mitchell and her timeless album, Blue, which my little sister and I listened to endlessly from the time it came out in the early 70's. I remembered hearing about a man, John Kelly, doing a cover of the song "Blue" which is both crazy and wonderful.

A book that I enjoyed last year was The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner about areas in the world where people live longer - he discusses what they eat, how they pray, and essentially tells us about the kinds of lives these people live that he feels contributes directly to their enhanced states of health. William Boyd's novel, The Blue Afternoon is a great read like most of his work.

I love to eat blueberries right out the freezer and wear blue jeans straight from the dryer.

The genetically modified blue rose is beautiful but crazy in a creepy way (see above) and makes me wonder if all this modifying of nature isn't what might lead us to the eerie but compelling scenario portrayed in the video mentioned at the beginning of this post.

Anyway, blue is irreplaceable, tastes good, gives us comfort, keeps things alive, and creates a sense of serenity when you use it to paint your walls. We have to keep it!

Blood Orange Gelato!

2009-11-04T20:29:00.003-05:00

You might wonder what this has to do with yoga, but I firmly believe that as our senses are refined through regular practice, our appreciation of pure and healthy food goes up. This counts!

Bev's Ice Cream at 2911 W. Cary Street in Richmond is right across the street from the Byrd Theater. This is my favorite ice cream shop ever! They make seasonal flavors like fresh plum sorbet, ginger ice cream, and my new favorite - blood orange gelato! You can't get all flavors all the time, so it's a good practice to stop by whenever you are in the neighborhood. There is no other desert place in Richmond where I've found such consistency coupled with great service. Yum!

Remember Mr. Natural?

2009-10-30T10:24:00.002-04:00

The artist, Robert Crumb, recently visited Richmond's Carpenter Theater and allowed us to experience a true blast from the past. He was interviewed by Francoise Mouly, the art editor at the New Yorker (she is married to Art Spiegelman of Maus fame). Crumb entered with a pratfall and rolled rather elegantly to his feet, picked up his cap and curled himself into a chair. This was a great chance to see an artist who, while controversial, has contributed much to the history of illustration and our culture. He currently lives in the south of France and sounds like he's pretty happy there. Thanks to the Modlin Center! And Happy Birthday Ariel!

Yogaville. . . it has its own zipcode!

2009-10-18T18:15:00.001-04:00

If you need to feel some love, catch some rest, take a hike, do a little yoga and eat healthy food, this is the place! Swami Satchidananda (1914-2002) is often remembered as the opening speaker at Woodstock and the founder of Integral Yoga. His loving presence still infuses the ashram - he is quoted as saying, "If you want to see heaven, come to Yogaville."
I just returned from my first visit to Satchidananda Ashram in Buckingham, VA. It's less than 2 hours from Richmond City and an easy drive out Route 60. Yogaville is lovely, traditional, has great vegan food, clean rooms and the option of dorm or campsite lodging. During my short stay, there was a birthday celebration for a long time resident so I got lucky with pancakes for breakfast, cake at lunch, and a bagel dinner!
There are very nice daily yoga and meditation classes offered in addition to occasional specialty programs and classes (Zumba and Laughing Yoga were on the menu during my stay - I opted out). You can also arrange for various therapies nearby (I had a wonderful massage - thank you Deepika). There is a small but interesting library, beautiful views of the Blue Ridge mountains and James River. This is an all around great place to stop and catch your breath.

It is perfectly acceptable to make friends or eat in silence, participate in classes or wander aimlessly, get up at dawn to meditate or loll around and read. I'm happy to say I did a bit of everything and headed back to town feeling refreshed and rested. I'll definitely go back to Yogaville!