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).
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!
Fly on Albatross
Posted: March 20, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout, Yoga | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, joy, life, love, lululemon, meditation, motivation, natural, nature, Nurture, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, smile, Smiling, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga, Yoga Pants 10 CommentsAs 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.
Never Come Down
Posted: March 15, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, Emotion, emotions, fitness, free range, gluten free, Green Beer, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, nature, paleo, passion, personality, running, St. Patricks Day, Stars, whole foods, WOD, yoga 16 CommentsWe 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.
Unplugge(d)
Posted: February 26, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, intensity, jogging, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, Minimal, nature, paleo, passion, Personal, perspective, pilates, quiz, running, Socail Media, technology, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 26 CommentsThere is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature-
It’s been a bit since we last took a quiz (hot-shot):
- Do you check your phone before rolling out of bed in the morning?
- Do you compulsively check your phone each minute during the day?
- Do you stare at a screen more than being in awe of nature?
- Do you send and receive emails, text messages pin stuff … During meals, during each red light or while exercising?
- Do you freak out if you can’t find your gadget? Lost in your picturesque home. Ever use your home phone to call your mobile phone?
- Is some form of technology always within your reach, every moment of the day even while using the restroom?
- Is checking your phone the last thing you do before you turn in at night?
Did you happen to blurt out a few foul-tasting ‘yes(s)’ to these questions? We could talk about addiction to technology … Blah blah. You don’t care and these words will simple fall on deaf ears.
My question to you is (if you stuck around): What the heck are you going to do about your technology addiction? Purge and place it back in the “box” or do your best to minimize the harm it is causing you?
Let’s take a few moments to explore the benefits of unplugging. More free time, yup- more free time not wired to a gadget. This new-found free time parlays nicely into spending more quality time with your family, friends and co-workers. Heck even the local barista is happy to take your order while looking you in the eye rather than from someone staring at a phone. If having more pleasant experiences, experiences that are enriching and dense with plain old fun sounds cool? Ditch the technology.
Disconnecting will not be easy for you. The task of breaking this habit may seem pretty daunting, stupid and idiotic. You know what? Totally cool, we are human after all although if you stay committed, purge and adjust diligently each and every day? You very well may find that the benefits from disconnecting will far outweigh any risks.
Notes:
This post was sent by one of my four iPads.
CultFit 