Incident at Gate 7
Posted: March 3, 2014 Filed under: Meditation, Yoga | Tags: balance, blogging, Buddhism, compassion, cycling, Equanimity, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, happiness, harmony, health, inspiration, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, passion, perspective, pilates, running, walking, WOD, writing, yoga, Zen 12 CommentsNever let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present-
Note: Over the course of the next few posts, I am going to try to write about – equanimity – Key word being try. Personally, writing and discussing equanimity is tricky and this is where I need your help! I implore you to share your thoughts and insights on this very “tricky” topic. Thank you for your help in advance!
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Equanimity is not about being a doormat to others, the world. Nor is equanimity suppressing your emotions, your true spirit. So, what the hell is it?!?
Personally, as defined by yours truly – Equanimity means maintaining mental calmness, composure, an evenness of temper, during stressful situations. There are, throughout my day, certain folks or situations that trigger within me a deep-rooted sense of anger. Which, makes it rather difficult for me to be the cool dude people often think I am? What stops me from choke slamming an ignorant driver? Lashing out verbally at a yoga instructor who leaves a tired class in high plank, only to lament how tired and sore he is? Saving the best example for last … Thinking you are having a pleasant conversation with someone, only to find out they were not listening, enamored with their gadget instead.
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I have found equanimity to be my most calming state of mind, especially when interacting with people who rub me the wrong way and push my “buttons“.
Daily Meditation:
If you want to make it through the day with an inner sense of grace and calm, equanimity is going to take you a lot farther than hostility. Let’s play around with the wording … If you want to make it through a challenging power yoga class? Allow equanimity to guide you, instead of being a chump, a whining chump who spews hate and hostility having to do a plank for two minutes.
Still (Time)
Posted: August 9, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Bliss, blogging, compassion, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, harmony, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, trail running, walking, whole foods, yoga 22 CommentsFreeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another-
Where self-criticism leaves us powerless and distraught, self-compassion and following our true passion in life is at the root of empowerment, learning, and inner strength.
It’s safe to say that common knowledge favors passion, right?!? “Follow your passion” random bloggers urge. “Give all your heart” reads another witty blog post title. Can we all agree that passion is pretty cool and a useful endeavor? Sprinkled kindly and with care, passion on top of passion, and everything else in life that follows will be pure bliss. So why not marinate yourself with passion and savor this “sauce of life?“
Ladies? Dudes? Come a little closer so know one will hear what you are about to admit … How many movies starring Hugh Grant have you watched with plots that center on this very question: Will J-LO (some woman) run away and madly fall in love with Hugh, choosing the frenzied, passionate hunk for a life filled with unpredictability and passion, or will she choose the man whose love is firm and deep, a man who is predictable and well … steady, loving?
Notes:
Passion can be tricky, really tricky and nasty at times. Passion is pure joy, when carried away by romance, or in the flow of yoga class, out on the trail, passion makes us feel vibrantly alive. Like the essence of a perfumed wind, delicious, delightful, not to be missed…and fleeting like an ephemeral flower in spring.
Be well and take care this weekend!
¿verdad?
Posted: April 24, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Awareness, balance, blogging, Comfort, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, harmony, joy, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, Stillness, thoughts, walking, whole foods, yoga 6 CommentsHabit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do)-
It seems that in today’s world we have the freedom to pick and choose form a potpourri basket of interests …
“Check it out! I’m like totally doing this 30 day paleo, meditation, yoga, power walking, green smoothie, smiling at strangers, whole body cleanse thing! Just read about this push up challenge and hill sprint interval thing as well!”
Why do we choose to pursue a wide variety of “things” simultaneously and figure out how to do these “things” in a way and on a level that is average at best?
“My friend and I had a great workout at the box yesterday! 5 rounds of: 15 push ups – 15 jumping jacks – 15 sit ups – 15 walls balls and a 400m run. I still need to work on my push ups though, three years now and they are still pretty sloppy.”
Whatever happened to developing a deep knowledge base, knowing information (not stored on a gadget) and total devotion to the pursuit of mastery in a single field?
“I forget what my split times are in the pool but I’m thinking if I can work on my transition more it should make up for my poor swimming performance … Maybe?!?”
Are we afraid as a society to endure the intense work, discipline and willingness it takes to master a selected discipline? Are we afraid to embrace the risk needed to walk away from merely being “average” in the name of becoming extraordinary at one?
“It’s the same during every century ride: Chum it up with the guys for the first few miles, then I ride alone for the remainder of the time, lost in my thoughts, worried about “something”? I suppose it’s the 8am yoga class tomorrow and the 5k at noon?!?”
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Yearn for the sense of intensity, focus and intrinsic reward that comes from the single-minded quest to master a particular body of knowledge: Yoga, mediation, martial arts, relationship(s), life etc. Radiate the pure energy and passionate spirit that comes not only from having attained mastery, but from simply being in the process of mastery. The secret Dear Reader lies here in the process of seeking mastery, this is where we find awareness, comfort, stillness, joy, harmony and balance.
Notes:
Do you, deep down inside, feel satisfied knowing that you are merely pretty decent at a bunch of “things”, but not exceptional at any?
Pensamientos?
Starry Eyed
Posted: January 16, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: balance, blogging, Breathing, crossfit, exercise, fitness, gluten free, happiness, harmony, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, Lance Armstrong is a douchebag, life, love, lululemon, marathon, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, simplicity, Walk, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 17 CommentsSometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple-
Smiling: Evidence
“There must be a secret, hidden cleverly in today’s message?”
Maybe, the secret is accepting that our very own humane behavior towards others … Are their own reward(s), rather than an investment for an expected future return. We implore you to practice today, replacing the following thought:
“I’ll be nice to you so you’ll do something for me“ with:
“I’ll be nice to you because I feel passionately, that it’s the right thing to do and will make it more likely that you will be nice to someone else, who then may be nice to another person today.“
That’s it folks, pithy enough for you!?!
The Workout-
Did you know that Adho Mukha Svanasana is a pose of rest, harmony and balance?!?
A pose of rest, not struggle …
5-6-7–8-9-10-11-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5
Hinge Walk Out Perfect Push Ups – Resting in Adho Mukha Svanasana between sets.
*This little program is something we practice weekly here, away from the inter-webz*
Notes:
We are starting to hone and redefine what it means in essence, to live fully, everyday. To forgive, love and do no harm. Remember, CultFit is a heuristic process and not something that IS. A tad deep today, on purpose. Be well.
Open Slowly
Posted: December 11, 2012 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: balance, blogging, crossfit, exercise, fitness, happiness, harmony, health, hipster, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, passion, perspective, pilates, running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 14 CommentsWhen you find yourself, who you really are, you will find that everybody and everything is One-
All of us struggle daily to make life meaningful by grasping and holding onto the “things” in our life. This is a wasted effort on our part. The meaning to life is everywhere, just take a moment to look around. We force ourselves to find Meaning and burden ourselves trying to Create relationships.
Not too sure where we are going with this topic, maybe?!?
The Plan-
The Workout-
Awaken your senses with a nice flowing, Sun Salutation series. Followed by:
8 Perfect Pull Ups (fully open and lengthen at the bottom … )
8 KB Halo’s (fully open around the back of your head … )
8 Perfect Push Ups (Press through the floor at the top … )
8 KB Plank Side Press (Ask if you need a hand setting these up …)
Notes:
Relationships are a fundamental part of life. They can be both profound yet subtle at the same time … Take the time to forge a lasting, meaningful relationship with your fitness program or anything really. Be well today and ENJOY!!!
CultFit 