Day 29 - Already???

Just kidding.  This has been the longest yoga challenge I have ever experienced.  I am unable today to generate a positive attitude.  I am not optimistic today.  My mood sucks, my body hurts, I am frowning,. . . wait!  Okay, no - still nothing good showing up here.  Well - dang - whatever!!!!  I am going to go out and BE love, light, radiant smiling and inspiration anyway.  Deep breath in.  Ahhh...  Smiling now.

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

Yoga Challenge, Day 14

Today my heart feels a bit sad, yet full of love.  What can we do when someone we love is suffering?  I don't want to say who, but someone whom I am very close to experienced a relationship break-up this weekend.  The evening it happened I was dancing at the studio.  I remember during the dance feeling so happy, light and free and wishing that for everyone around me.  Then in that moment, I simply was "being with" what ever each person in the room was feeling.  This is the heart of compassion.  This is what the teachings of the Buddha are all about.  The Buddha was a man who wanted to end all suffering in the world.  It is no coincidence that when I was suffering from relationship challenges many years ago, that I heard about the practice of taking on the suffering of others.  To "be with" other's pain: not resisting in, not trying to fix it, simply sharing it with them and allowing it to be.  This is such a powerful practice that I want to share that with you today.  We cannot fix other people's pain, but we can share it.  Today I allow all feelings to reside in my heart: the love, the joy and the sad suffering of heartache.  This is my practice and gift to my loved-one today who is suffering.  Namaste.

Day 11 was on 11-11-11!

I didn't write in the blog yesterday (this is day 12 of the 40-day yoga challenge).  Yesterday was 11-11-11, a once in a lifetime occurrence.  I wanted to spend the entire day being present to the energy all around and within me.  It was an incredible day.

We had a one hour meditation at 11 am in the studio (phenomenal) - it was also World Meditation Day.  So much love - what a beautiful time it was.  We had a group of 8 meditatators representing 7 countries!  We acknowledged the coincidence of this global microcommunity in a time of global community.

In the evening I attended our Ecstatic Dance event.  It was the 2nd time in our studio and the first time I attended.  At first I thought I had not done this before, but as we got started I realized that this type of dance is what I have been doing since I was 5 years old in front of my parents tv on Saturday mornings when American Bandstand came on!  It reminds me of my favorite song that I kept singing over and over again when I was 5:   I love you yeah, yeah, yeah. . . by the Beatles.  I was such a Beatles fan at age 5 and not until I turned 50, did I realize the significance of their lyrics!  I too am on a path of love & devotion now.  The Beatles sang about that path and it is so amazing to me that they became so famous and yet, it is not surprising.  When all of your actions, thoughts, words are coming from love:  life is fabulous!

Back to the Dance:  I love movement - in yoga, I put on music and move through asanas, linking movement with breath.  In dance, I do the same, but it is more free.  My legs are very tired today after a week of practicing yoga, then dancing last night for two hours.  But I am relaxed.  I am smiling because of the experience, the beautiful music that DJ Bonobo played and the energy that was released in the dance.  It has been too long since I danced.  I invite you to come next time, it is very fun.  (Dec. 9, 2011 at 7-10 pm)

Now I am preparing to attend our 108 sun salutations event.  I do not know where I will find the energy and strength to lead this event.  I am not worried, however.  From many years of reaching into the unlimited well through life, through yoga practice too, I am confident the event will be great.  The energy will be there because the event is not about me.  The event is a fundraiser for "There and Back Again"  an organization that provides services for combat veterans of all conflicts.  One of the services is providing yoga classes.  Please check out their website and donate online if you are not able to attend.  Here's one quote from the site:  "Yoga gave me hope and the strength I needed to reconnect myself to the world again".  

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 7 - 40 day challenge

Yesterday I decided that this week I would be committed to "raising my frequency" and the vibe of everyone around me.  I know that at times I have been a "downer" at home - perhaps to balance out my incredible positive energy at other times.  I decided to really focus on bringing even that down time up a few notches this week.

This morning, I woke up to my first challenge:  my friend Robert Roos was killed this weekend.  My first reaction was denial.  "no that can't be" was what I immediately said.  Not Robert.  He was only 33 years old. Robert was incredibly energetic, passionate and one of those mad geniuses you are fascinated to talk to, quickly realize what he is saying is barely graspable by your brain, yet you just love being in the presence of such brilliance, excitement and sweetness.  That is how I would describe Robert.

I was so inspired by his ideas - yet couldn't quite grasp them - they were so beyond what exists now.  But are they really beyond us?  He wanted to start a forum - a group - to gather and discuss what is possible - to talk about science, philosophy, politics, religion, and how we could have it all be integrated with the divine and higher dimensions of time, space and reality.  I have met 2 other geniuses like Robert in my past with similar vision and connection to other realms or levels of consciousness in their physical existence.  They were both physicists - one a teacher of Master level Physics in college who was on sabbatical to write a book about raising consciousness and vibrations of human beings.

If you are saying "Huh?" right about now, that is what it was like for many of us to be around Robert.  However, he would give you such a sweet, happy, loving smile - such innocence in his face and heart, that you couldn't help but stay and listen a little bit longer than your brain could handle.  I'm so sorry your life was stolen from you Robert.  I know that you are someone who can somehow break through to communicate even from where you are now.  Keep shining your light my sweet friend!  We will try to carry out your vision here - thank you for your inspiration.  (Robert was writing a book - I hope it gets published!)

Day 6 of 40 day challenge

Sunday and the time changed.  One more hour of sleep and I woke up refreshed.  Rest is such a good thing. R & R. Do we get enough of it?  I think I rest enough, but when I take a day to let go of all of my usual work - mentally and physically - the following day I feel so much more rested than if I had worked all day and got enough sleep - even with a nap thrown in.

I intentionally create these "rest days" for myself.  I give myself permission to stop working.  When I am in the state of being that I don't "have to" do anything, something deeper kicks in.  It is hard to explain, but I am trying to.  The creative juices just bubble up when I am in that state of being.  I become excited once more.  I accomplish way more after one of those days of rest, than I would have had I worked through that time.

This is a part of a 40-day yoga challenge.   We must take a day of rest each week.  Today is the once a month gathering in my home for my meditation group.  We meditate for an hour, then eat yummy food.  We let go of worldly concerns & life for an hour and contemplate our inner realms.  Some call it heaven, or the Master or higher realms.  Whatever you call it, step outside of worldly life, stop thinking, close your eyes and listen for the voice of God within you.  Namaste.

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)

Day 2 of 40 day yoga challenge

This morning's practice was fun.  I had four students at the Fountain Place yoga class this morning, two started, then two joined in later.  About 45 minutes into the class, the electricity went out, but we continued to practice in the dark.  It was much quieter then.  We all became quieter and could focus more on our poses.  Earlier, before class I had meditated for a short time, then my practice was cleaning house after returning from my trip to San Francisco.  It felt good to pick up my home, do some laundry and make my home a quiet refuge once more.

The lesson for me today is surrender.  To allow the gifts of love, joy and flow of life to come in.  This is my biggest challenge and I see this as a gateway to the abundance needed to flourish in life.  I challenge everyone reading this to do the same for yourself.  How do you allow your abundance to flow?

Day 1 of 40 day challenge 11-1-11

Off to a great start!  I woke up still in San Francisco because I missed my flight last night.  So many things ran through my mind.  Remembered the challenge begins today.  So I practiced some asana poses in my hotel room, meditated to be connected to my higher Self to find the higher purpose for missing my flight.  It became clear then that I was rushing back after my daughter's wedding for a job of teaching 4 yoga classes on Tuesday.  I had to cancel the first two classes and Mita and Michael are subbing for the two evenings classes.  I know now who would have taught the classes today if I had shown up.  My body and my mind.  My heart and spirit are still in San Francisco with my daughter.  Also with my new grandbaby to be. 

I must follow my heart.  I love my daughter and want to be a part of my grandbaby's life.  To run a yoga studio by myself with my will power won't allow that.  To let go and acknowledge it is time to move on to the next phase of business: having the studio be a community-run yoga studio... that is where I want to head the business.  I started it for the community and soon will be handing it over to the community.  Aahhh, I can really breathe easier now that I wrote this.  If you are reading this and want to be part owner,, let me know.  I don't know how it will look yet, but that is not up to just me anymore. 

I will be home tonight after a good nights rest last night and today alot of Self reflection.  I was standing, then kneeling at an aiport computer terminal (no chairs) and a man just now brought me a wheelchair to sit in!  I am truly blessed, well taken care of by all around me.  So are you.  Namaste..

Time for a new 40-day challenge! 11-1-11 to 12-10-11

What would you want to get out of doing the challenge? peace, bliss, joy, fitness, wellness. . . ?

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 33 Happy It's Not Day 32 Anymore!

If you read my blog yesterday, and thought perhaps my mood changed at some point from practicing yoga, it did - for about one hour.  Then the water leaked in the yoga studio from the water heater and the old friend was back - oh noooo!!! It's all horrible.  So I finally let go, allowed myself to be miserable.  I told my husband what a bad day it was.  I didn't make a big story out of it, just listed all of the things I did not like about the day and quit resisting it.

Before I went to bed last night, my husband asked me to read an article he found on the internet.  He left it on the computer for me.  I finally got out of my chair and slunked to the computer and sat down and read the article.  It was written by a woman who wrote a book and submitted it to publishers and was rejected by 40 publishers.  Then her book was published. She wrote that if you asked her husband what are her best and worst traits, he would say.  1.  She never quits.  and 2.  She. Never. Quits.   She wrote about all of the crazy things she did to get the book written better before resubmitting it.  She worked on her book in the hospital while giving birth, she lied to her husband telling him she was going to a girl's weekend out of town and checking into a neighborhood hotel to work on her book.

I got it.  Thanks honey, I said before going to bed.  I was asleep after reading two pages of my book - Beyond Power Yoga.  Yes, I am a lot like that woman - passionate, obsessive at times, about teaching yoga, about running the yoga studio, about studying yoga, about my spiritual practice, about my life being my yoga.  And I keep getting those "rejection letters" (in the form of bills that I pray I can pay) and I keep trying again and again and again.  I know that my passion will also finally "get published" (i.e. out of the red) because I just will not quit. (now where is the water heater repair guy?!)

Day 32 Challenge of Being

I woke up worried.  I recognized this mood immediately.  It has been a near constant companion since opening my own business.  And it has been my nemesis.  How to quit worrying?  What is the yogic trick to this?

My meditation master says "Worry is praying for failure".  Groan. . . I know!!!  It just happens!  It's August, the slowest month of EVERY year for a Minnesota yoga studio.  I know that and still get upset when it happens.  I alternate between upset and laughter - ha ha haa!  It's so funny that this upsets me exactly the same way for exactly the same reason.

When did this old fear first begin to plague me?  I recall experiencing this when I was in my 20's right after purchasing a new home with my first husband.   I knew then what I know now.  Worry does not help, it actually hinders.  However, now I have a tool.  I have yoga and meditation.  I have the ability to redirect my attention.  I have some control over that wild mind that says "oh noooooh!!!!".  It is a little bit of control now, but it is just enough that instead of existing in worry for the entire day - I am free of it in less than one hour from waking up.  How?

I have things to do!!!  I have a beautiful home to take care of!  I get to go teach some very enthusiastic yoga students - who happen to be from India too - so I get to practice learning more about their names - "Rupa", "Preetha" - they always come to class.  Then after that, I get to work with Lynn on my shoulder stand - she's a master-teacher in my studio - my shoulder is still stuck from my bike accident last year.

The challenge of being  - what this means to me is that each day I can choose to "be" anything - no matter what my circumstances.  Each day when my mind wakes up take time to shift my being to what I want - to how I want to spend my day.  Today I choose being grateful, enthusiastic and loving.

Day 26 Practicing Yoga

Day 26 and I am wondering when I will act on what I really want:  to practice yoga every morning - early, meditate and have one day of rest.  Surprised?  I practice my yoga every day.  I do asana practice everyday, I meditate, I practice yoga in action and I still think I should be doing something differently or better - I still think "it's not enough".  This is human mind - we all think that way.  Maybe some of you don't do that to yourselves, many of us do.  When am I enough?  Rarely.  So my practice is to let go of that each day, to not think of myself, what I am getting out of life - to focus on what I am giving in life and the small acts of love and kindness I am given the opportunity to perform in each and every moment. 

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.

Tuesday, Day 10

Yoga challenge, practicing yoga daily is not only asana, keeping mindful of breathing, how you move through life.  That can be the greatest challenge especially when there is alot of business and weather happening right now.  July 18th it is in the 90's and humid outside.  Driving in a hot car, walking outside in the heat after being comfortable in air conditioning.  How does that feel?  Do you experience this fully?  Do you suffer?  I am crabby when it is very hot outside.  I looked at the weather forecast for the next several days.  No relief in sight this week.  It will be hot.  How to adapt?  I asked my students.  They are settling in at home and catching up on inside work.  I love staying inside in this weather, planning my days around the weather.  We have to do this a lot in Minnesota.  Sometimes it is too cold, sometimes too hot.  Lethargy sets in when it is hot.  We forget to drink enough water, we forget to honor our body.  Your body requires more rest, cooler food, more water.  Easier yoga.  We have to get up earlier to walk our dog, set up the fans in the home to circulate the air.  Being present isn't so much fun.  In yoga philosophy, the ancient texts tell us that there is always a balance between the good and the bad.  I enjoy the bad, like this heat, this weather, because I know there will be good coming again.  I am not attached to it.  When it is beautiful outside, I enjoy it, knowing that this too will change.  Nothing is permanent.  Be kind to yourself and others right now.  Compassion, gentleness, treating yourself and others kindly.  This too is yoga.

Day 6 - Things are not what they seem...

As I spend time with the teacher from India, Nagin Sanghavi, I am renewing my excitement and passion for studying all of life!  At age 93, he is currently sitting at my dining room table writing an article that will be published in India.  He writes a weekly column.

He studies Sanskrit and translates it.  He has read the original text of Patanjali, the yoga sutras, over and over again and says he still does not understand it.  Then he explains some concept that Patanjali writes about that I had never heard before (even though I have read a translation of the text several times).  Reading a book in the language it was originally written, you get the meaning the author meant to convey.  I think it will take too long for me to learn sanskrit, yes, it will however, if I live to 93 or 100 or 120 (yesm possible), I have plenty of time to study.  One day at a time, one moment at a time, to practice something.  We have an infinite amount of time.  How will I use it?  A common theme runs through the lectures I hear that move me. . . that theme is patience and practice.  I want the results now...I want to accomplish this.... then I am reminded about patience.  And acceptance.  I reject things I do not want to happen, we all do, however, if you resist life, you will suffer.  So this is my practice:  acceptance and patience.  What's yours?