Fly on Albatross

As if you were on fire from within. The moon lives in the lining of your skin-

Yoga, life after all, is built around building relationships. Like an asana, building a healthy relationship requires commitment, alignment (both internal and external) and loving ourselves unconditionally.

The danger, of course, is pushing beyond one’s physical limits especially if the alignment is off. Many of us are simply unable to accept our own limitations, our own bodies. Many well-intentioned people push themselves to assume postures that are simply too advanced, or continue to hold contorted positions that are causing them pain, either because they haven’t learned the correct alignment, or because their own ego equates personal limitations with failure.

Pain is our bodies unique signal that something is amiss. However, discomfort, if experienced in proper alignment, can eventually give way to a deeper inner strength and even pleasure (smile when the going gets tough). That’s why making yourself uncomfortable (daily) is a good “thing“.

Notes:

What lies at the very meaning of the posts so far this week? Those who choose to constantly adhere to the commandments of yama, niyama and asana will achieve transformation of some sorts. I have no idea what this transformation may have in store for you!?! However, in order to rise above your current state of suffering and unhappiness? Living in a ludic, harmoniously way is a good place to start.

CultFit Harmony


Sunshine: That’s my Jive

My fault, my failure, is not in the passions I have, but in my lack of control of them-

Niyama:  A Simple Dudes Tale

Life unfolds in the present. Gotcha! However, every so often we let the present moment slip away from us, allowing time to float by unobserved. Squandering the precious seconds of our lives away as we worry about the future and ruminate about what’s happened in the not so distant past. We’re always doing “something“, yet we allow little time to practice stillness and calm.

Most of us don’t undertake our thoughts in awareness. Rather, our thoughts control every fabric of our being. Living in the moment (aka mindfulness) is a state of open attention on the present. When you become mindful, you realize that you are not your thoughts; you become an observer of your thoughts from moment to moment without judging them. Mindfulness involves being with your thoughts as they are, neither grasping at them nor pushing them away. Instead of letting your life go by without living it, you awaken to new experiences as they unfold around you.

Notes:

There are many paths to mindfulness and at the center of each, lies a Catch-22: You have to trust that the rewards of mindfulness will come and letting go of what you want is the only way to achieve this.

CultFit Dude


8 and 8 is

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray-

What’s the big hullabaloo with yoga and exercise in the Western world? Why do we often forget/neglect/ignore the idea of the eight limbs of yoga providing us with a system for living authentically?

Many of us are prompted by a sincere desire to live a happier, healthier life through the knowledge and means of yoga. Almost always, we are easily lured into asana and pranayama irregardless of our current physical condition. Yet the first part of yoga (yogic) training is our moral self-training, which if we take the time to surrender to ourselves? Yama and Niyama will solve (or at least help) our problems in an increasingly complex world.
The first path: Yama means self-discipline and discipline of ones emotions. One must establish non-violence: Not hurting yourself in a pose or while exercising in general. Non-stealing: Be honest. Cheating and stealing are “things“we all do when it relates to fitness/health. Self-discipline: Constantly strive for positive emotional and mental states. Avarice: Know that you, you alone, are enough.
The second path of  the eight limbs yoga is Niyama. More tomorrow, maybe?!?

Notes:

What is the true nature of the posts this week? If you may recall our chat last Friday about Positive Doing … Begin the process of knowing what you “want“, and make certain that you’re getting “it“, as the “practice” is a deeply trans-formative experience that can and will change your life.

CultFit Blade

*Please note the lack of depth and background into the Eight Limbs. These posts serve merely as an introduction, so why not say hello, empower yourself and dig a tad deeper?


Never Come Down

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars-

Please take your shoes off before we embark on an early morning Walk and feel free to leave your clichés concerning “pints of green beer that are half-full and half-empty” at the door as well.

Optimism, is a proactive state of mind we often find ourselves in. Optimism is a belief that many of the outcomes we seek in life are indeed within our control. We cannot control all of the outcomes in our daily life although we do enjoy adapting our actions and emotions to reality as they unfold around us.

Pay little attention to the clichés about “positive thinking” as you meander through the rest of your day. Instead, begin to pay keen attention to your: Positive Doing.

For it is in our Positive Doing that we can begin to change the very core of our intention, creativity and reinvention. Oddly enough, positive doing is also a way of capitalizing on ‘Luck‘.

Notes:

Next week I will be writing (trying to at least) about Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, Dharana and some other random stuff as well. So your patience as a reader will be on full display, thank you in advance!

While I have your attention, allow me a moment to say to each of you: “Thank you for your continued support of CultFit“.” The early days of blogging here were rather crass and down trodden, not something to look forward to everyday. What many of you have witnessed the prior two years is the gradual acceptance of ‘some dude‘ learning to be at ease and in harmony with himself. Nothing more and nothing less.

We often search for the solutions in our lives through inappropriate means (performing yoga to become flexible or enlightened is but one example). The thought(s) in the post above will resonate deeply next week, so please keep them in mind. Be well this weekend and take care.

CultFit Moon


You Often Say

I would give , but only to the deserving, The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and nights is worthy of all else from you.
And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life-while you, who deem yourself a giver, is but a witness.

Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Notes:

Be well today and take care.

CultFit New Dawn