Don’t You Evah
Posted: April 3, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Attention, blogging, Breathing, crossfit, exercise, fitness, focus, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, life, living, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, passion, pilates, Playing with Lego's, running, Spring, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 8 CommentsWe are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be-
Delicacy and intentioned outcome. Could we be talking about: Walking, Yoga, Breathing, Love, Playing with Lego’s? Possibly, let’s narrow our attention on meditation this morning. If meditation is so not cool enough for you? Feel free to empower yourself to change it to whatever you like.
Why meditation talk again? Well, you can do all of the above and more while meditating. Our thoughts shape our reality in ways we all too often take for granted (post from yesterday), the effectiveness of our meditation practice hinges upon our state of mind. Not getting the results you seek through meditation … Take a look at your attitude, paying attention to our attitudes towards meditation and how we meditate, is critical. Some attitudes are especially powerful in hindering the positive and beneficial effects of meditation: Vanity, Ego, Competition. Yet it seems that far too often we fall into these thought-patterns, resulting in us having a unfocused meditation experience with undesired results.
Be at ease, present in the moment
Meditating is not a marathon, warrior dash or whatever competition suites you the best. Meditation is one of those “things” in life where the quicker you try to get it done, the worse the outcome is (any other areas in life where this is true?). Slow down, relax and chill in a tranquil state of mind. No need to rush, study, read up on meditative techniques and time yourself in the act. Time, does not exist in a meditative state. The truly productive “things” in life take longer than a few moments to blossom.
Notes:
I’m hoping the messages here are starting to settle in a bit, making you uncomfortable and vulnerable. Be forewarned: Friday’s post is going to pithy, rich and basically? It’s going to expose what we are all doing wrong in regards to health, fitness, whatever (clues are buried in the prior two weeks posts- FYI).
Underwater Love
Posted: April 2, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: biking, blogging, cycling, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, passion, pilates, running, whole foods, WOD, yoga 4 CommentsThe unending paradox is that we do learn through pain-
Subtle discomfort, extreme anguish, disgust, regret – Pain.
Look at your tired face in the mirror, do you see the marks of weariness, irritation, stress, disappointment and worry? Due to the harsh and unkind accusations that we hurl at ourselves each time we pass … We become estranged from the body that our delicate soul inhabits.
This morning, take a pledge towards yourself, a pledge for feeling as good as you can, each and everyday. A pledge for bearing painful experiences when they present themselves in the mirror – and a pledge for encouraging them to keep on walking, all the way out of your mind, as you confidently walk away.
When emotional pain does come (because it will), even softly, try to hold it in a broad space of awareness. Notice that awareness is without any edges, boundless like the brilliant blue sky above, with thoughts and feelings passing through.
Notes:
If and whenever you remember this post, deliberately tilt toward the positive thoughts in your mind.
The Magnificent Dance
Posted: April 1, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: April Fool's Day, Bikram Yoga, blogging, Breaking Bad, crossfit, elite yoga, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, intensity, jogging, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, simplicity, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 2 CommentsIf they substituted the word ‘Lust’ for ‘Love’ in the popular songs it would come nearer the truth-
:::BEEP BEEP BOOP:::
You are now connected to the CultFit Extreme Fitness conference call. Please state your name and title for those of us in attendance.
“Chaz, reporting from Omaha”
“Molly here! The best bodega/spa manager this side of the Hudson”
“Caleb, Cage Free/Paleo animal relations director from Red Hook”
“:::heavy frantic breathing::: Zoey …”
“OK, well thanks for calling in everyone. I wanted to start by saying all of you are doing such …”
“:::heavy breathing::: ahhhh – yeahhhh”
“Zoey … is that you? Are you OK?”
“Yeah, Chaz. :::heavy breathing::: I’m calling during my lunch hour. Just getting in my scheduled afternoon bikram yoga session in. AHHHHHH.”
“Zoey, you really didn’t need to call us from the yoga studio!?!”
“Oh I’m not at the yoga studio. :::heavy breathing::: I’m actually just … ahhhhhh the burn! Feel it! Damn! … I’m just sitting in my office with a space heater on full blast! Between the sweet pouring off my body and the humidifier …”
“Hey, I don’t mean to be difficult, but I gotta go do things and see people in an hour, so can we just get on with this meeting already?”
“Yes, sorry Molly. Anyway, like I was saying. I just want to go over the Q4 projections of our Elite – Sustainable – Renewable Energy – Health Spa to make sure we’re all on the same …”
“Ahhh, yeah that’s it. Yeah right there, deeper, feel the stretch :::heavy breathing::: AHHHHHHHH!”
“Zoey … are you sure you’re OK?”
“Yeah, I just took off my clothes and upped the intensity a touch. I’m almost done lovelies. Keep going.”
“Caleb, did you want to go over your thoughts for the planned sustainable – rooftop – farmers market … ”
“:::heavy breathing::: 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … FIRE BREATHING!!! Bring it on home, Zoey! You got this you bad ass …! AHHHHHHHH!”
“This is really distracting. Maybe we can just brief Zoey later over a babyccino?!?”
“It’s OK Molly. I’m done now.”
“Finally.”
“Just need to switch the space heater off and … there. I’m listening. Go on folks.”
“I really think it might be better if we just reschedule for …”
“:::heavy breathing::: heeee heeee hoooo hoooo heeeeeeeeeee huuurts soooo gooooood.”
“This is ridiculous. I’m signing off now.”
:::BEEP BEEP BOOP:::
“Yeah, me too.”
:::BEEP BEEP BOOP:::
“Just one … more … second. Annnnd done. Ahhhh. Alright, good work everybody. Hello? Anyone still here, hello?!?”
Notes:
Time to Pretend
Posted: March 29, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Bike Riding, blogging, Children, cycling, development, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, playing, running, Spring, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga, youth 8 CommentsIt is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them-
In some ways learning how to be happy daily is a lot like learning how to ride a bike; there is a learning curve, and you are going to crash.
There is infinite wisdom, innocence of a child learning how to ride a bike, if we can pay attention long enough (stop taking videos – updating status …) and watch?!? Kids have the keen ability to show us what the true ‘secret’ to happiness is. By kindly placing our adult baggage aside, witness ‘happiness’ as the little ones roll on … Believe in yourself (everyday) and Practice (everyday). A child learning how to ride a bike doesn’t know and quite frankly doesn’t care that there are a plethora of different pathways to achieve happiness: kissing a loved one in the morning, holding hands, meditation, mindfulness, spiritual awakening, whatever. A child simply wants you to experience what they are feeling in this moment; “I believe I can do this bike riding thing, I’m smiling and I am true to myself.”
Notes:
Believe in yourself this morning and Practice, everyday. Be well and have a great weekend.
Sweep
Posted: March 27, 2013 Filed under: Yoga | Tags: blogging, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, gardening, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, nature, paleo, passion, pilates, running, trail running, walking, Weeds, whole foods, WOD, yoga 5 CommentsCan words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring-
For many, it’s rather easy to spot the clutter that surrounds them: “Oh look! A Runners World magazine from April 2004!” Too many gadgets, stacks of tired magazines, shot glasses from travels far and wide; some may be treasure, most of it is trash.
In our personal gardens, our yoga practice, even if we have little or no practical knowledge, we are able to differentiate the “weeds” from the “turnips“. Over the years, through gentle and attentive practice we can spot in the tiniest sprout of green breaking the earth whether it is a tasty zucchini or another annoying weed (dandelion wine anyone?!?). We plant our gardens to suit our unique individual tastes, why not in our yoga practice or whatever else you are going to enjoy today?
Our inner spirit as well as the way in which we present ourselves to the (insert something that resonates with you this lovely Wednesday morning here ______) world needs to be picked and tossed away every so often. Only You can plant the garden of your heart and only You can choose the way in which you weed the garden of your life.
Notes:
This is a really broad conversation to have with yourself and one that I have often. All of us are exposed to new ideas, new poses, new movements all of the time. Ask yourself this question today before you pick a new workout from Shape magazine or a trendy yoga pose from some random blog-o-post: Will this make me happy?!?
Be well today!
CultFit 