Plant Good Seeds

What kind of...wife, mom, sister, friend, teacher, yogi, stranger, first acquaintance do I want to be? How do I want to authentically live my life?  Do I want to let all my baggage, negative self talk, and insecurities lead me on this journey?  Do I want to let my desire for control and formulaic equations of what I think happiness must encompass in order to actually BE happy? Do I want to wake up one morning and say "where did the time go..."?  

"It's never too late, its never too bad, your never too old, your never too sick, to start from scratch once again - to be born again" ~Mike Dooley

I choose to be the kind of wife, mom, sister, friend, teacher, yogi, stranger, first acquaintance who IS present more than not, who is authentic, exposed, loving, kind, generous, sad, happy, soft, human, introspective in a way that allows for growth not beating myself up but not attaching when I do enter the ring fists up, knowledge, light and truth seeker / speaker, dancer, snuggler, lingerer, awwwhhhh inspirer and finder, open, grass is already greener, grateful, honored, humbled, remind myself that busy is not an objective, calendering time for sanity and family care and present...did I mention presence. Now how do I get there?  As Judith Hanson Lasater says "all of the answers are within you." Drop by drop a lake is built" according to an old Chinese Proverb.  With the deepest most nourishing inhale (which I have access to anytime I want) and the fullest most complete exhale letting what no longer serves me dissipate into the expansive atmosphere...I begin

Be True to Yourself

I was cleaning when I stumbled on a book Nathan read about John Wooden, a famous basketball coach.  I have read most of the book myself and thoroughly enjoyed the beginning.  When I flipped through the pages my eyes focused on the bold letters Be True to Yourself.  This is how I know my passion is YOGA.  First thought hmmmmmm...AUTHENTICITY (am I living authentically?), my second thought was how does that apply on the mat - see yoga addict!  We have a creed in our house. Be true to yourself and others and do the very best you can do.

Satya, often translated as truthfulness, is 1 of the 5 yamas in the yoga sutra. Truth is defined as sincerity in action, character and utterance; in fact.

This is a hard concept to tackle.  As delusion, perception often mask as truth.  The mind is a powerful entity with complex reasoning skills.  In fact: am I living my fullest most authentic life?  In what ways am I being true to myself and in what ways am I not?

Perserverance

So I have really been thinking about perseverance and how to teach / demonstrate such an amazing attribute to my children.  Do you ever wonder if you receive signs of things you are suppose to think about or work on or if you had the thought and now that you are aware you see signs everywhere?  Kind of like what came first the chicken or the egg?  I have been receiving little signs of perseverance a lot.  My husband and I rented a movie and the main message was perseverance, I was reading my favorite messages from the universe "For the one who continues, Michelle, failure becomes impossible." I was watching my daughter's first grade class work on a challenging yoga pose - perseverance rearing its head yet again.  I guess what I am saying is THANK YOU for the guidance and messages being sent my way concreting my desire to persevere.  


When life gets tough and hands you a bunch of lemons - make lemonade.  I wasn't blessed with the never take no gene as others are.  Or the best at looking fear in the face and laughing.  or when I fall down I'm not typically the kind that gets up with a smile on my face ready to try again. I'm not the type to run to the edge of the cliff and take flight.  When someone tells me NO I think boo but let it go, I linger when I fall usually occupying my mind with negative self talk. I get to the edge of a cliff by creeping up to it utilizing every inch of bravery in my body :).  My work this week will be to persevere when fear rears it's head. I will be curious and vulnerable when someone says no and ask why. When I fall I will dust myself off and get back up.  The work will begin with me and hopefully I will teach / guide by example.  Enjoy your mat work utilizing perseverance as your inspiration.

The wind has really been blowing.  Some days are more fierce than others.  It reminds me of back home in New Mexico.  The wind would blow pretty forcefully creating a mini sand storm.  You could temporarily be blinded by the little bits of sand.  It would get in your mouth.   If you ran your hands through your hair you would find the grit from the sand (ok and from not washing my hair everyday).  Any hooSer...I am often fascinated with wind in that any given moment it can throw you off balance.  If you are not firmly grounded you can stumble. I was reading a blog, The Simple Dollar, he wrote...I did not have roots in the ground so the wind blew me in different directions. I have felt this way in my life often...ok more than often! Living without direction, focus or intention. Wondering aimlessly - a hamster in a hamster wheel...you get the picture.  As May proves to be a test of endurance and balance to juggle a packed schedule being grounded is vital.

Balancing poses it is then.  I struggle with balancing poses, always have.  I often joke, that I have a size 7 foot and a 5'9 frame.  Who can balance with those measurements.   This week my mat work will involve setting my foundation (rooting) as I balance. Letting my breath ground me further as the wind continues to swirl...trusting I am rooted, my foundation is strong.  How will you stay balanced among the wind?

I will be enjoying:
tree
half moon
reverse half moon
standing split
head stand
among others...

Grace

This weekend I had the privilege of attending the second weekend of Anusara Immersion with Christina Sell.  I know I have said this a lot but she is truly a gifted teacher that words do not do justice!  John Friend, founder of Anusara yoga, says "Anusara is flowing with grace by saying yes to the whole spectrum of life"  This could NOT resonate more.  I took the opportunity to look up the word grace.  I was surprised by how many words were used to define grace.  I have always loved the word but didn't ever give it credit for all that it embodies.  Here are some words used to define grace.  Elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion or action.  A pleasing or attractive quality. Unmerited divine assistance freely given for regeneration, sanctification or love. A special favor or privilege.  


Yoga is elegance and beauty of form. It is elegance and beauty in action freely given for regeneration, sanctification and LOVE.  Yoga embodies all of these words.  This week I will let the word grace inspire my flow on and off the mat.  Whatever I am faced with whether auspicious or malicious heart-full or disheartening I will bow my head to my heart, my state of grace and answer in ways that align with this powerful word...GRACE.  I will choose to celebrate the very essence of life, mindfulness and ultimately my heart. Basically what I am saying is hit the mat with lots of heart openers so you can sing love sonnets to those who will listen or more importantly to yourself!