10 Poses

I have been talking about 10 poses that a person can practice everyday. Caveat: Inversions are not recommended if you have high or low blood pressure and or are on female holiday.  It is important to have prior and or current instruction from a certified teacher where you have learned proper alignment. Please do not practice head stand or shoulder stand if you have never done it before or are unsure of how to do it as these poses with improper alignment can be dangerous, in my educated opinion.

For those of my students I promised this a while back I am sincerely sorry for my memory lapse (thanks Kim for your commitment to keeping on task).  I hope you enjoy and I look forward to your discoveries and insights.  Please share as you know I love this stuff!  See you in class soon :)

Each pose is timed for 1 minute to create a focus
Siddhasana: (comfortable seat) Set a one word intention
Balasana: (child's pose)
Cat Cow
Adho Mukha Svanasana: (downward facing dog)
Uttanasana: (forward fold)
Prasarita Padottanasana (feet wide forward fold head moving towards floor) OR Sirsasana 1: (head stand)
Child's Pose (again)
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge pose) / OR Salamba Sarvangasana (shoulder stand)
Twist: (on your back which ever version you enjoy)
Savasana: (final resting pose) 6 minutes here would be lovely

Temper Tantrums, Puffer Fish and Insight

A former co-worker of mine once said to me that she thought inspirational quotes and pictures of clouds are cheesy.  I can still fee how embarrassed I was that I loved that kind of stuff.  I am a sucker for good inspirational writing, an underdog story, or pretty much anything that gives a warm fuzzy.  What's more embarrassing than feeling ashamed that I liked that stuff was I let her words become my own.  Let me tell you, her world, with no inspirational reading was so NOT my world.  I realized then that I AM cheesy.  I live for inspirational quotes and stories (ok live is a bit dramatic but you get the gist.) Yesterday, it rained inspirational messages and ahhhhh moments. Do you ever wonder why some days are filled with an abundance of insight while others have nada?

I was at the Orthodontist yesterday morning with my lil blueberry who was about to get an expander...ouch!  When I looked over at her she was smiling so brightly with those big blue eyes radiating a love for life.  Throughout the procedure she embraced a smile while she happily conversed with the Dr. She never once complained or let on that she was scared.  It wasn't until we were in the car that she fully expressed how scared she was. She followed that by saying,  "I have to step on fear to get more braver!"  Seriously *wise* lil blueberry! Do you step on fear or let it dictate?

One of my favorite parts of a Dr.'s office is all the good magazines I never get to read.  This months Real Simple had an amazing article written by Adrienne Starr.  She talks about her singing career and how fortunate she was to be gifted this kind of talent.  She one day just gave up on singing.  Later down the road she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her cancer therapy left her without the voice she always had available to her.  It was then that she realized how much she regretted giving it all up. She writes...
"Allow for the possibility of failure. Give yourself room for disappointment. It will never compare with the sense of loss you feel when you no longer have a choice....I would tell her not to stop - don't stop - because you never know if this is the last time...." I have been struggling with whether or not to keep training for a triathlon knowing my knees may or may not be cooperative.  My knees feel fine and I wonder if some of my angst isn't me living in fear.  This article really hit home for me - my paraphrasing does not do it justice. Give it a read. Do we give up? Stop because of fear? or ? because we truly can't move forward?

Third piece of inspiration was another article talking about temper tantrums.  The article spoke to kids, teenagers and adults (I know, adults!).  Of course adults throw fits so its not like I was shocked that it happens more that the writer was actually calling it a temper tantrum.  I realized then this was a direct message from God.  Just that morning I had a temper tantrum in my car taking the blueberries to school.  I am alwyas asking / praying for compassion.  Well, I got a dose of it when after my temper tantrum I felt embarrased and remorseful.  I decided to take the advice of the author of this article (I'm sorry I can't find where I wrote down the name of the author - it too was in the Real Simple from this month) and apologize to my children. Explain that however I am not saying there behavior or lack of listening is ok, I did not need to have a temper tantrum.  Both girls were so sweet - full of grace and accountability. My oldest said "mama if I had just listened to your words you wouldn't of had to get so upset, I would have been upset too!" I am so proud of them.  I will say, ever since my daughter pointed out that I can look like a puffer fish when I loose it - it has really helped me see myself and my temper tantrums in a new light.  This article was a lovely reminder to keep up the work.  With kiddos I will have lots of chances to practice.

This puffer fish is off to teach some yoga!
All love and breathing (so I don't have a puffer fish flair up),
M

Let the SUN shine in!

I have been thinking about writing a lot lately.  My intention was to do some really solid blog writing over the winter break. You can see how that turned out (or didn't).  I was checking email when this lovely lady commented on one of my post.  It was so kind and exciting all at the same time.  Thank you if your reading this - you put a smile on my face and prompted me to write.  When I started writing I was looking to muse.chat.therapize. I think after receiving a comment from someone I did not know it made it very clear I would like an online community who discusses common interest: compassion, life lessons, kids, food, kindness, yoga, you know sTuFF.

I feel so very fortunate! I was walking to pick up the girls at the bus stop and I was breathing in this weather.  Gorgeous stunning weather that I know is not always available for long here.  I sat in the sun and soaked up it's healing powers and light.  It felt good I even felt myself getting giddy.  Do I take the time to really absorb the light - or - do I let the minutia of life suck me in? How do you take in the light?

All love and rays,
M