Strange Apparition
Posted: May 24, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, family, fitness, free range, friday, friends, health, hipster, kindness, life, love, meditation, Memorial Day, passion, running, Stories, walking, weekend, whole foods, yoga 10 CommentsI’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine-
It’s tough to integrate into our personal story a time in our life that turned us upside down, challenging all that we’ve known and trusted.
Story time …
I’m always looking for metaphors that might resonate with the kind readers of CultFit, as they seek to catch a second wind in their workout and lives. Some of these metaphors work, some flat-out fail and some baste themselves in the hot summer sun.
This past week, I was afforded the opportunity to talk with a friend who shares my love of being active, exploring meditation, yoga and reading. We discussed in-depth a rather interesting metaphor that resonated for both of us: The Trilogy. Some stories in literature are so complicated and involved that they require more than one book. HOLY CRAP! I was thinking Fifty Shades of Grey! While my more ed-u-ma-cated friend brought up, The Foundation by Isaac Asimov. In each book of a trilogy, characters are more fully developed and explored, secrets formerly held are brought to the reader’s attention, and plot lines unfold before our eyes.
What if you thought of your journey to being healthy as a trilogy of stories? What would each book be called?
For me, the first book in my trilogy would be called, F**k It! I can do whatever I want: In which a punk ass kid flippantly ignores the love of others in order to make himself feel like a complete bad ass. My second book would be called: Ignore the pain to succeed in life: In which an arrogant blonde haired dude ignores the pain his body provides him in order to pursue vain, self-serving goals; Ignoring family and friends at every turn. And I hope someday to call the last book in my tantalizing trilogy: Marinating in the Sauce of Life: In which an old, humble man is content to accept whatever gifts the world tosses his way.
Notes:
The most uplifting, useful stories are the ones told by resilient, authentic people; Just like you. We can learn a great deal from one another here at CultFit, from the stories we passionately share … Take care this holiday weekend and please be well.
The guest is inside you
Posted: May 23, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: exercise, family, fitness, free range, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, Jain, Kabir, life, love, lululemon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, paleo, passion, Poetry, running, trail running, whole foods, WOD, yoga, Zen 4 Comments… and also inside me;
you know the sprout is hidden inside the seed.
We are all struggling; none of us has gone far.
Let your arrogance go, and look around inside.
The blue sky opens out farther and farther,
the daily sense of failure goes away,
the damage I have done to myself fades,
a million suns come forward with light,
when I sit firmly in that world.
I hear bells ringing that no one has shaken,
inside “love” there is more joy than we know of,
rain pours down, although the sky is clear of clouds,
there are whole rivers of light.
The universe is shot through in all parts by a single sort of love.
How hard it is to feel that joy in all our four bodies!
Those who hope to be reasonable about it fail.
The arrogance of reason has separated us from that love.
With the word “reason” you already feel miles away.
– Kabir – The Kabir book: Forty-four of the ecstatic poems of Kabir
Notes:
Important post tomorrow, I hope you stop over, until then? Take care and be well!
Ayuda!
Posted: May 22, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, exercise, family, fitness, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, running, trail running, whole foods, WOD, yoga 3 CommentsCompassion is a verb-
How does one go about distancing themselves from the prior two days posts? I suppose we could choose to ignore them or we can all come together for a big group hug and show some compassion towards ourselves and others?!? Just a thought …
Self compassion is at the very root of empowerment, learning, and our inner geek strength. When we choose to embrace self compassion, we value ourselves not because we’ve judged ourselves positively and others negatively but because we are equally deserving of care and concern just like everyone else. Self compassion means treating ourselves as we would a close friend or better yet, our spouse and kids! Rather than berating, judging, or adding to the dreadful despair, we listen intensively with empathy and understanding, encourage them to remember that mistakes are a normal part of everyday life, and validate their emotions without adding more fuel to the proverbial fire.
Self critical over achievers are not the only ones that lack self-compassion. Some of the kindest folks around do as well. Luckily, self compassion is a process that can be picked up pretty easily. It is a daily practice that can help us all become less self-critical of the world around us, by preventing stress accumulating throughout the day, allowing us to be happier, smiling more and pleasant to be around.
“Self compassion never finished a marathon in personal best time or powered through an intense three-hour long power yoga class! What! Got something to say now do you!”
Self compassion does not mean we stop rolling up our sleeves and working hard for our goals. Instead, self compassion is a change in our attitude(s) and is linked with greater personal well-being. Nor does self-compassion imply self-indulgence. For example, a runner who cares about their body and well-being will push harder the days leading up to a rest cycle, no matter how tempted they are not to rest, they do. Similarly, pushing yourself, exploring limits during yoga class may be appropriate in some situations, but in times of over-indulgence? Self compassion involves toughening up and taking responsibility for going too far.
Notes:
Please be sure to check out Omaha Gives this morning, totally worth your time if you call Omaha, Home.
No Pun Intended
Posted: May 21, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, exercise, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, lululemon, lust, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nebraska, Omaha, paleo, passion, pilates, running, trail running, Walk, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga, Yoga Rocks the Park 16 CommentsYou may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one-
I often feel like I’m cycling into a 40 knot headwind when it comes to writing about mindfulness, wellness and other stuff here on this blog-o-thing. From the yoga fashionistas who regard me incredulously when I say that “looking good” is a selfish goal to set in yoga class, to the pervasive but iniquitous message that we all just need to participate in more mud runs, be more extreme, elite, hardcore in order to live a healthier life, my increasingly strong belief that we are going about this all wrong is not a popular one to say the very least.
Every now and then I meet up with some kindred spirits during a walk or brisk bike ride, who confirm what we see every day, but choose to ignore: Despite being a society hopelessly obsessed with health, longevity, exercise and taking pictures of food, we are in fact unhealthy, unhappy and bereft of many of the simple joys of life as a direct result of our obsessions.
How about we abandon the idea of exercise as a virtuous counterbalance, absolve ourselves of the guilt that inevitably accompanies unfulfilled resolutions, tune out the constant exhortations to “get ripped”, lose weight and instead embrace the simple pleasure of putting one foot in front of the other, simply because we were born with the ability to do so and we too often don’t.
Let’s cut right to the heart of what’s wrong with our attitudes in regards to mindfulness and wellness. Despite the thousands we spend on failed gym memberships, seldom used exercise equipment and wearing the latest fashions to yoga class. We are tormented by self-loathing, guilt and doubt. We live in a world where our motivation to move is increasingly thwarted and sapped at every turn. The next time you stare out the gym window—you know the one, where everyone around you is trotting along on a dreadmill despite the fact that the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day outside? Ask yourself: Why is going for a run, a bike ride or walk outside such an absurd idea?
Notes
Look to a simpler place for your satisfaction this morning. Hint: It’s not in the latest edition of Shape or the ever so popular Yoga Journal. What you find may surprise you …
If you see some random dude(s) doing a spot of yoga in a park this weekend? Wave hello and join us!
Why is it always this way?
Posted: May 20, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: compassion, fitness, free range, gluten free, gratitude, happiness, health, hipster, kettlebell, kindness, life, lululemon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 8 CommentsEverybody will get their wants, when they heartily want-
How much time did we waste wanting “things” this past weekend? Searching for a new pair of minimalist running shoes, a new GPS gizmo for the bike, the latest and greatest all natural yoga mat? Wanting to be thinner, healthier. In today’s world it seems we are always caught up with wanting and searching for newer and better “things“.
Did you wake up this morning eagerly chasing after the “things” you could not find the prior two days? When we spend all of our time wanting we leave little room for the possibility of ever having a calm, peaceful state of mind. Our mind becomes like a playful dog, panting and drooling at your feet, waiting to chase after the next ball. Better yet, just like a like a dog, many of us are rather adept at chasing after our own tail! The direct result of all this play time is that our mind becomes unfocused. We focus more on what might happen or could happen, rather than what is actually happening right now. So in chasing after the next great “thing“, we miss out on the present.
For many of the kind folks reading today, there is the real daily grind of reality and there’s what they think life should be like if they had more stuff to make it better. The space between the two is usually equal to the level of disappointment and frustration when things don’t go as we’d like them to. Somewhere in the middle lies acceptance of things as they are and a greater sense of appreciation for the small “things” in life.
Notes:
The start of the week is an excellent time to take a moment or three to reflect on what, or who, you are most grateful for. Not wanting things to be better, just content for what you have.
CultFit 