Let Go..Truly...

In addition to yoga I am very passionate about rock climbing. I remember back when I first started climbing I would spend a lot of time bouldering in this one local area. Bouldering is a form of climbing where you don't use ropes, you climb smaller problems low to the ground to improve strength and technique.

I remember this one traversing problem that I would attempt over and over again. Trying maybe 10 or 20 times a week at least. Sometimes I would wake up at night with my fingers curled up and cramped from my various efforts. Numerous people would give me adivce - put your toe here, balance like this, use this hold up here and so on. No matter what I did, I simply could not get the moves and I continuously fell off at the same spot every sinle time.

At first I was bound and determined to get the moves, complete the problem, feel the accomplishment. Try as I may, it always ended in frustration. Then one day, after months of effort, I simply gave it up. I decided I was not ever going to be able to do the moves and I decided that it was ok. I truly felt and believed that it no longer mattered if I made it across the rock or not.

It was then, a week or so after that, that I got back on the problem and simply traversed right across. I can't say that suddenly I had developed all this new technique that allowed me to get the moves. What I can say was that because I had let go of the goal and simply was there for the experience, with no expectation as to an outcome and no desire for a specific outcome, I was able to do it. I had also let go of the stories I used to tell myself whenever I was there in the past, I can't do it because...its too hot, my fingers hurt, I'm not strong enough etc etc..All the stories were gone. All the expectations were gone. I was just there, allowed myself to be in the moment and flowed.

The same thing happened to me just a few weekends back when I got up into handstand for the first time. When you let go, when you can just be fully present with what is, accept the way things are in the moement, things seem to happen.

What kinds of stories are you holding on to? What if you truly let them go?

Get To Know Ganesha

So you go to a yoga studio and more likely than not, there are symbols, statues of various Hindu deities, perhaps pictures, candles, incense, plants etc that may make up an altar or simply be scattered around the space you practice in. Most people find this rather soothing and personally I enjoy the energy it brings to the space.

Have you ever wondered what some of those Hindu deities are all about, what they mean? Why they are there? One of my favorites (in part for what he represents andin part just because I really love elephants) and one of the most popular is Ganesha. Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four). You can easily recognize Ganesha as he has the head of an elephant, and although he has many other interesting attributes, his elephant head makes him easy to identify. Unlike some of the other deities, he can be portrayed in many different variations – standing, dancing, taking some action against demons, playing with his family, sitting down or laying down.
Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles, both material and spiritual and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha, Vighneshvara). He is popularly worshiped as remover of obstacles, though traditionally he also places obstacles in the path of those who need to be checked. He is also patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. He is usually honored at the start of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions.

Ganesha's elephant head symbolizes the soul, and his human body signifies the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. He has four arms and hands each is usually holding something or doing something. He may be holding a goad in his upper right hand which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. A noose may be seen in his left hand as a gentle implement to capture all difficulties. You may notice a broken tusk in his lower right hand which is a symbol of sacrifice. The rosary or mala in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The candy he may hold in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the soul. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. A snake that you may see slithering around his waist represents energy in all forms.

In yoga class, some instructors may draw your attention to Ganesha by placing him at the center of the room drawing upon his energy to remove obstacles as you flow and you may even do a flow dedicated specifically to Ganesha.

Drishti – The True View

In Light on Pranayama (Crossroad Publishing Co., 1995), B.K.S. Iyengar comments that "the eyes play a predominant part in the practice of asanas." Ashtanga vinyasa yoga actively directs practitioners to focus gaze at certain specific points which differ per pose. This gaze and focus of vision during practice is called drishti. Drishti is a direct control of the vision, the focus, first of the eyes, and then of the attention. In Sanskrit, drishti also means a vision, a point of view, or intelligence and wisdom. The use of drishti in asana serves both as a training technique and as a metaphor for focusing consciousness toward a vision of oneness and absolute truth.

A fixed drishti is especially helpful in balancing poses like vrksana (tree pose), Garudasana (Eagle Pose), Virabhadrasana III (Warrior Pose III), and Hasta Padangusthasana (Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose). By fixing the gaze on an unmoving point, you become much more stable and balanced. In addition, it helps to develop ekagraha, single-pointed focus. When you restrict your visual focus to one point, your attention isn't dragged from object to object. In addition, without these distractions, it's much easier for you to notice the internal wanderings of your attention and maintain balance in mind and body.

To practice drishti, soften your gaze. Look through things rather than right at them. Gaze beyond the outer appearance toward the inner essence. Through this soft gaze, you can perceive your own true nature in the form of love and become filled with compassion for others.

Thoughts on Halloween and Sugar...

As a mother and very health oriented person who does not allow my son to eat refined sugars and fast acting unwholesome carbohydrates, I simply cringe at the thought of my son going out and getting candy at his school or in the neighborhood on Halloween. (Since he is only 3 ½, Halloween has not yet become an issue and this year I plan to steer clear of it as well, but I know that soon I will need to face it head on.)

I know I am not alone in this. I also know that there are children and adolescents with health conditions such as diabetes, and other health-related dietary restrictions out there and for them, Halloween can be a truly haunted holiday. Many feel excluded from community festivities because they cannot safely partake in the tradition of trick-or-treating for candy.

So I decided to look into a few options and alternatives and found some interesting ideas out there. First there was the let them go trick or treating, get a bag of candy and then take all of it away except 5 pieces, 1 for each night of the next week. The there was the idea of buying a bunch of small toys and exchanging each piece of candy for a small toy.

Those ideas, while they seem okay enough, do not address the issue that I have with the holiday and many cultural traditions. They all revolve around sugar. Sugar as a reward, sugar as a treat. Sugar is one of the most detrimental things we can consume, leading not only to chronic high blood sugar levels (which causes the pancreas to work in overdrive), causing insulin regulatory mechanisms to eventually fail leading to diabetes, but to chronically inflamed cells which leads to heart disease and cancer. Most Americans are addicted to sugar and suffer from moods swings, learning disabilities, chronic sinus and congestive issues, and a whole host of other serious health issues. Many don’t even know it is related to the fast acting carbs and sugars they consume all day long. About a quarter of school-age students are currently overweight, and the typical trick-or-treater receives more than 5,000 calories worth of candy, the equivalent of a pound and a half of fat.

Here is another idea I found that appeals to me more. Anyone who traditionally gives candy to excited trick-or-treaters is invited to offer small toys instead. A sign can even be placed in the window that says Ask Me For Non-Sugar Treats so that homes with alternative treats can be identified. Here is even a list of non-sugar alternative treats:
• Temporary tattoos
• Stickers
• Pencils
• Fancy erasers
• Pencil toppers
• Crayons
• False teeth
• Superballs
• "Slime"
• Miniature magnifying glasses
• Plastic jewelry/decoder rings
• Necklaces
• Glow-sticks
• Tiny decks of cards
• Plastic medals
• Fake money
• Origami paper & instructions
• Bubbles
Non-sugar treats can be small and inexpensive, and they are things that all kids would enjoy as an alternative to Halloween candy. Your treats will stand out and provide kids with a real holiday surprise. This idea may take some getting used to for some, Improving the quality of our childrens lives is a change I would hope many would be willing to make.

Ease Yourself Into Sleep

Most people at some point or another suffer from insomnia, either chronically or intermittently. Many yoga asanas along with quiet meditation can guide you to a restful nights slumber, helping to slow down the mind and body.

Simple forward folds like supported seated wide angle pose are a great place to start. Sit on one or several folded blankets, legs out wide and place several more folded blankets or pillows either on a chair in front of you or on the floor in front of you. Lean forward until your head and arms rest on the blankets. Stay for 5 to 7 minutes. Supported childs pose is another option. Both allow a gentle supply of blood to the brain.

Next moving into legs up the wall pose. Using a folded blanket or two to support the pelvis and sacrum; allow the tailbone to hang off the edge of the blanket as the legs lift overhead and rest against the wall. Stay for 10 minutes allowing the blood to flush through the system against the flow of gravity.

Before finally going to sleep, sit in an easy seated pose, using blankets for support and allow your thoughts to float by without engaging them. Notice new thoughts as they arise without judgment. Meditate in this manner for 5 minutes and then, when it is time to sleep, cover your eyes with something soothing like an eye pillow that provides a little pressure as well as total darkness.

Cultivating Gratitude

In one of my favorite books – Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman, the author is challenged by his mentor to sit until he can come back with something of value to say. He sits and ponders for hours, often going back to his mentor time and time again only to be sent back to sit. Then it hits him, he sees a squirrel running along the ground, hears a cricket, sees a passing car, children at play, some people walking and talking. He sees, as if for the first time, ordinary every day events. He realizes that every moment, no matter how ordinary it may seem is actually extraordinary. Every moment is the most important moment yet each moment is not any more important than the next. He becomes fully present and in becoming fully present, he also learns the essence of gratitude.

No moment should be taken for granted. In developing gratitude for every single moment, good and bad, we develop a true appreciation of life. It is possible to consciously cultivate an attitude of gratitude. One method is to keep a gratitude journal, writing down everything you are grateful for. Another is to simply sit quietly each night and reflect upon things you are grateful for. Reflect upon each day specifically and then reflect on your life in general.

Tough or bad experiences in our lives are often just turning points when we realize we need to travel a new path or go a different direction. When you are having one of those days or those times, step back and ask what can I learn from this experience and what can I be grateful for right now? You can always begin with the basics, “I am grateful for being alive” and then give yourself time and more things will follow. Perhaps the answers won’t come right away but in time they will.

Taking the time each night to remind yourself of the things you are grateful for will benefit you tremendously. You end your day on a positive note and this carries over to the next day when you wake. Over time you may notice that you feel happier in general, you may feel a sense of calm. The more you practice, the more you will notice that there are no ordinary moments..

Cultivating Contentment

Living in the mountains but having grown up by the ocean, I miss it terribly and long to feel its rejuvenating effects, bask in the glow of the warm sun, sift through the fine white sand, and connect with all that is greater by the immensity of the sea. So I was quite delighted when my husband suggested that we go to a beach over my spring break rather than my usual rock climbing trip.

I got up early and hit the computer searching for flights all over the place to all sorts of tropical paradises. Knowing that due to costs we would have to fly on miles, I kept my search to United airlines destinations. Even though there is currently snow on the ground here, I felt a happiness, lightness and warmth at the thought of a sunny destination.

Things soon changed. Looking at all the logistics of the trip, suddenly there were all sorts of problems, we didn’t have enough miles for three people, there were black out dates, lodging would be very costly, how could we rent a car or get a boat or get food, etc. etc etc. I noticed my mood change. I felt cold and looking outside once again at the snow covered landscape, felt a bit depressed, my husband even more so. We started to argue.

I took a moment to notice this. I realized that thoughts of going somewhere or thoughts of not going somewhere in the future were indicating how I felt in the present. The feelings I was having in either case were connected to something that wasn’t even real. I notice how easy it is for me to do this. I love planning trips and I love to travel (I have been to over 40 different countries!), I love to explore. I enjoy adventure so much it is tied into my ego or my sense of self and at least now I realize this.

I think I know that planning future trips and looking at future destinations is a way of escaping the present moment and thinking things will be somehow better or more fulfilling at some future point. Certainly I have learned a lot and grown a lot from all of my travels and adventures. But now I am learning something else, to be content and grateful for what I have in each moment. This is the art of Samtosha, one of the Niyamas, or eight limbs of yoga.

I still really want to go to the beach, but for now I’m finding the beauty in the snow covered trees.