Day 23

The sun is shining and warming us in Minnesota.  I just enjoyed teaching my class at Fountain Place (I teach a small group of women there every Wednesday morning).  This group loves yoga.  They have a unique perspective as they are from the country where yoga was born.  What is fun about teaching them is that they ask questions and are not afraid to try really challenging poses.  They don't take yoga seriously.  Why should we?  It is a physical exercise that is meant to make the body feel good.  The body that is not permanent.  It is the clothing our soul wears for this short time on the planet.  Yes, it is a very short time, relative to all of time.  The body is meant to wear out eventually.

However, why not use what we have to our utmost?  Why not have fun, be healthy & vibrant while we are living this short life!  I was thinking this morning that the yoga asana practice is good, the meditation is good, but that I feel like a good long walk there is really no substitute for.  What about you?  Remember what it is like to take a good long walk?  After you are done walking you can feel the blood pumping through everywhere, even your skin?  The face is flushed, and you experience positive emotions.  A good vigorous yoga practice can do that too, as well as about 30 minutes of laughing. What is happiness - joy - really?

It is certainly not what is outside of us, but what comes from inside of us.  Enjoy your day 23!

Day 20 - We are halfway there!

Today is the 20th day of the 40 day yoga challenge!  I haven't written for several days - I run a business and the various aspects of that have taken me from writing, but not from my practice.  Why?  I start each day with meditation.  I cannot even begin my day now without checking in to my quiet meditation place in my mind.  This is where all of my energy for life is recharged each morning.  The yoga practice, the physical part, is something that keeps me fit and healthy.  People around me were sick this week.  It was interesting to observe that a couple of people who were sick I noticed that they are not doing a regular mind/body practice
and seemed to be working too much or too stressed out.

It is so tempting, isn't it(?) to allow the pull of "I should do this" or that to take you off balance.  I knew I had a full schedule this week, working Thursday night, Friday night and all days Saturday, so I slept later than usual on Thursday morning.  I kept having this nagging feeling like I should be doing some work during my morning off.  Owning my own business, I frequently have this experience.  I don't work 8-5 or 9-5 Mon-Friday.  I work some on Monday, all day and night Tuesday, morning and night Wednesday and have a couple of hours free during the work week.  Some weekends I work all day on Saturday and, during yoga teacher training weeks, I sometimes work 7 days solid.  This kind of a work schedule can be challenging to maintain balance in mind & body.

Here's a tip to how I do it:  when it's time to "not work".  I completely relax and escape into a book, a bath, a movie, or talk to someone on the phone.  I may just run around the house cleaning it and mentally chanting a mantra.  I focus on my meditation time.  When thoughts creep up about any aspect of my work - I say "stop" to my thoughts - then re-direct them.  "Let it go", I tell myself.

Another practice I do is to remember all of the people who are also part of Yoga Prairie.  I think of a student who showed up yesterday to help set up for the art boutique.  I think of a friend, an author, who came to show his support and gave me a donation for the studio. I think of another student who showed up with delicious baked bars for the day.  Omm...  I may be a business owner, but I am not doing this alone.  I am grateful for all of the love and support that keeps our little community studio going.

So - - you are halfway through...take some time today to take an inventory of what you have experienced in the past 20 days, look at the support and love you are gifted each day.  Be grateful for all of that, then let it go and have a restful Sunday.  Only 20 days to go!

namaste,

Karen

Day 10 of 40

Wow.  Day 10.  One fourth of the way done now.  40 days seems like such a long time now.  Today I did the ashtanga primary series.  This is my favorite yoga asana practice, and the most difficult for me to practice consistently.  I know I am not alone when I say that most days I have a hard time staying "on task" when Ipractice by myself.  It is so much easier for me to practice my meditation daily, but a daily asana practice - alone - that is a challenge.  (surprised?)

It is so worth it.  I was so inspired that I wrote about it and posted a new page on my website.  Here's the link:  http://www.yogaprairie.com/ashtanga-yoga.html 

Days 8-9 - 40 Day Yoga Challenge

Priorities.  Yesterday morning I listened to a talk by my spiritual master/teacher Ishwar Puri on You Tube (IshwarPuriSantMat).  There are several talks on there.  Check them out.  Just click on one that appeals to you (there are appealing titles).  I saw "priorities" and clicked on it.  Once again I heard a message I keep finding everywhere:  if you are focusing on your meditation practice, your spiritual life, (as a priority), the rest of life happens around you and you do your everyday tasks with greater ease because your focus is not on those things.  You do things (like the dishes or the laundry) in service with love & devotion, and the task is transformed.

Right now I am listening to him talk about Faith.  He is making a distinction about faith.  That faith is not blind faith.  It is something that gets stronger when you see things like miracles and coincidences.  You can build your faith - look for proof.  I have done this many times and have had so many miracles show up in my life that I no longer get too surprised by them.  I am always delighted and excited by these small miracles and coincidences.

How do you know when you have made progress?  Ishwar says that when you experience less anger, lust, greed, ego, attachment (symptom emotional pain), that is a measure of your spiritual progress.

This is not something that practicing yoga asana can do for you, not just the exercise.  However, engaging your mind and intention into the asana practice can do this for you.  How?  Set an intention!  If you have a concern for someone (like today mine will be dedicated to my mother healing from bronchitis), dedicate your practice to that someone.  Focus your love and devotion to that someone while you move through your asana.

There is no asana practice more powerful than the 108 Sun salutations.  This is a moving prayer.  At the Yoga Prairie studio, we are hosting a 108 event this Saturday afternoon.  It is broken down into 3 segments with 15 minute break in between.  It is a fundraiser for an organization that offers services to combat veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  One of the services is yoga.  I can't imagine a more difficult life event to recover from than being involved in the violence of war and the organization "There and Back Again" is helping these veterans through recovering.

What you have read today...this is my yoga.  I keep my body fit, my mind fit, focus it all on serving God and these are results that happen around and within me.  I pray that I can make a difference in this world.  I'm going to be a grandmother (in June 2012).  I envision a world where all people have healthy food, clean water, comfortable shelter and safe, happy, loving, self-expressed lives.  Wow! Envision that!

Day 4 & 5 of 40 Yoga Challenge

Sometimes we have to put our noses down and work hard.  Yesterday was one of those days.  I love teaching yoga.  I had the opportunity to do a sample yoga class to a group of women for a "Ladies Night" last night.  I got to tell them about some of the benefits of practicing yoga.  It inspires me to talk about it.  Simple things like moving all of your joints, paying attention to your breath, and practicing relaxation flat on your back, makes a profound difference in physical, emotional and mental well-being.

It is not easy to commit to a daily yoga practice.  It is simple to practice yoga daily.  It doesn't have to be complicated.  Moving with awareness, intention, focusing on the breath.  This is simple.  Taking action when your mind tries to talk you out of it.  That is the work.  You can then take this lesson into other areas of life.  Where do you avoid taking action?

Day 3 of 40 day yoga challenge...be-ing

I am trying on a new way of being during this yoga challenge.  Being happy and at peace.  My intention is to have that spread far and wide.  Here's a hint:  smile.  If you smile, someone might see you.  That someone might smile, boom!  You just set off a chain-reaction of smiles!!!  If no one is around: go now!  Find someone and Smile at them!  Let's see what happens!  Let me know your story about it too.  Comment on the blog or facebook. 

Remember: this challenge is to do yoga every day for 40 days.  Get one day of physical rest in 7, 20 minutes of exercise (yoga) daily minimum and at least 2 per week of 60 minutes of yoga.  Join the challenge - it's free.  Attend classes at your local yoga studio - support your local studio!  We teachers are small business owners offering a very valuable service out of our passion for holistic well being.  (how to join: let me know by commenting too, that's all)

Beginning your 40-Day yoga challenge

Step one:  commit
Step two:  sign up to follow the blog
Step three: schedule your classes - at least 2 per week in a studio and 4 per week at home
Step four: begin on Nov. 1st and keep in touch!  You can post on this blog- we can support each other!

40 Days Completed

Yesterday was the final day of the 40 day yoga challenge.  This has been a very quiet one.  That is perfect, yoga should quiet things down!  It did.  I have practiced 6 days a week, and have gotten into a deeper practice than ever before.  It is ironic that I am talking about something that is such an inner process, I find myself not being able to put it into words, or even wanting to.  However, there is a passion within me that tells me to share this experience.  Yoga.  It gives me such joy, peace, contentment that I want to share it.

The thing about this is you can not hold onto it.  It is like a butterfly, you allow it to land on you and do not grasp it.  You simply practice attending to the posture, the breath, observe the minds gymnastics, and let go.  Continue to practice.  That is the key.  You practice, and practice, and do not look for the results. It takes patience and perseverance.  It takes a commitment to allowing all to arise, never grasping.

What arises is everything:  tears, sadness, anger, joy, peace, ugliness, heartache, pain, energy, power.  It is all there.  If you reject any of it, you are stuck in that which you reject.  What you are left with after 40 days...your self.  I am still myself.  Nothing has changed and everything has.  Is my life in a better place because of this?  My life is in a better place right now, in this moment, and this too shall pass.  Perhaps you could say that my mind isn't so much in control of me.  I have practiced not getting hooked into all of this passing stuff.  I am a little bit better at it now than I was 40 days ago.  And...this too shall pass.

Namaste

Day 36 - Each Day a New Beginning

Monday morning.  Only 4 days to go in the challenge.  I ask myself, what have I accomplished in this challenge?  What have you?  For me, I think, some added strength, my ashtanga practice has returned (I am able to do it again), a bit more endurance, a promise of physical vitality & power. That's temporary though.

Letting that thought go....This day can be day one, moment one.  We can begin anew in each moment if we let go of the past.  I do believe this is one secret to vitality, (the fountain of youth, happiness, longevity, peace of mind). . . Letting go of the past.  It can be done, one breath at a time.

Monday morning - the past tells me I must be productive this morning - and all day!  I own a business!
Yoga philosophy tells me that any action creates Karma.  With that in mind, what reaction do I want?  I contemplate that one.  What I want is peace.  Everywhere.  It must begin with me, so what I create in this moment is letting go of the past, the thinking, the I should's and you should's, and just be present to what is here right now:   The sun is filtering into my windows....

I have created a home that is peaceful, a place of nurturing, love and rest.  I can listen to my music & my meditation teacher speaking about the spiritual path (on you tube) and allow my actions to arise from that peaceful place.
  

It is ironic that students look to me for motivation and want to "change" something - like their weight or flexibility.  I struggle daily myself with many things, yet, I am firmly on the path of practice.

Practice is where it is at.  Practice in every moment.  Observe your thoughts, actions, words, choices, make the choices that create good in your life and let go of the choices that take away from your life.  That's all there is to it.
How long will it take?  In this day of instant gratification, I don't know anyone who really likes the answer to this question.  It takes a life time.  It takes a long time.  I have been practicing for 27 years.  I am still practicing.

Thank you for practicing with me - together, we are stronger and more dedicated to this practice -and we make a tremendous difference in the world.

Day 22 Hottest summer in Minnesota

Once again the theme of this challenge comes up - patience or perseverance!  The heat wave that has hit our country has even been causing suffering in Minnesota.  The thing that is difficult for me to take is sleeping in air conditioning, then going outside, the change is incredible.  It's like walking into a wall when I step outside into the heat & humidity.  It reminds me of how much we complained about our winter this year: it was a very long, cold, snowy winter.  Longer, colder, snowier!  And I remember back then I said "Minnesotans love to complain about the weather" I think that's why we live here.  It is always changing.  Life is always changing.  In the practice of yoga, we step back and watch the changes as they go by.  We remain unattached, not clinging, not suffering.  We experience it all and push none of it away.  (Ideally!)  And if we are practicing yoga in Minnesota, we complain along the way : ).  Just for fun.

Time to Check in!

The first week of the 40 day yoga challenge is complete.  How are you doing?  What are your observations, challenges, victories, failures? 

Day 4, July 13, 2011

The fourth day of the challenge, I have done my 60 minute practice today.  Struggling to maintain a positive outlook and notice that this too shall pass.  I know from studying yoga which is the exercise prescribed in Ayurveda (the science of life), that I am primarily a "vata" body-type.  When vata moves too much, works too much, this dosha (body-type) tends to get out of balance emotionally.  To rebalance, there are some small actions I can take (and will take today) that will bring me back into balance.  Eat, rest, take a warm bath, and simply allow in the abundance of my life.

If you are a pitta body-type, you are a driven person.  You get crabby when you get too hot, and you should avoid hot foods, even though you LOVE hot foods!  How to balance pitta:  cool off with watermelon, mint tea (iced), fennel seed, raisins. . . but go ahead a work out, but slow down and be kind to yourself!

If you are a kapha body-type, you may have trouble motivating yourself to move.  Know that when you do move, you will feel so much better!  Don't give in to the idea of more rest.

You can learn more about your body type at http://tridosha.com/self-test 

40 Day Yoga Challenge begins July 10

What is yoga? For 40 days this challenge is about you committing to your self.  What do you really want, what is your purpose, how do you want your body and mind to feel and experience life?

Only you can say.  This challenge is for you to begin a journey of true transformation.  Our guidebook is the 8-limbed path of yoga.  First looking at what are the 8-limbs:  Asana, Pranayama, Yamas, Niyamas, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi
Now what are these?  You have heard of asana if you are doing this yoga challenge!  Asana is posture.  It is what most people think of when they think of yoga.  In the challenge, we are going to go much deeper than this.  Physical exercise.  This physical exercise, asana, is where it will begin.

Your pledge:  to practice yoga 6 days a week for 40 days, your asana practices - 4 to 6 days per week.  Another exercise, such as walking or swimming, the other 2 days if you do not want yoga that many days.

The length of asana practice - 60 minutes including breathing practice, meditation and relaxation time, one 75 minute practice per week.  Strive for a minimum of 20 minutes of those 60-minute practices being the asana (physical) practice.

Part of this challenge is to give your body the physical health and discipline for you to transform what you are setting out to transform right now.  This only happens through practice, daily, for a long period of time.  40 days is a powerful number to change any habit.  This repetition also creates new pathways in your brain!  Giving your mind and body new cooperation.

Another part of this challenge is to rein in your mind!  Read spiritual scriptures, listen to talks about spirituality, your religion or yoga - a tremendous opportunity is to come see Nagin Sanghavi July 14-16.  It helps you to keep true to your practice when you are paying attention to yoga.  Where you place your attention is what is powerful in your life.  Let's do it!!!