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.
Sunshine: That’s my Jive
Posted: March 19, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, Catch-22, compassion, Eight Limbs of Yoga, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, Niyama, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, Yama, yoga 2 CommentsMy 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.
8 and 8 is
Posted: March 18, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, Eight Limbs, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, life, love, lululemon, meditation, natural, Niyama, paleo, passion, perspective, running, walking, whole foods, WOD, Yama, yoga 11 CommentsLet 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?
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.
*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?
Shadow Stabbing
Posted: March 12, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, ego, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, greatness, growth, happiness, health, hipster, hope, Humble, Humility, jogging, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, spirit, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 3 CommentsA great man is always willing to be little-
Let’s engage in a rather broad conversation this morning shale we?
“What on your part constitutes growth”
Ripped abs, slimmer fitting clothes, blasting your back and chest performing super sets at the gym (don’t forget to pose in the mirror), bragging about numbers and how many reps fought through, taking a picture of yourself in some ridiculous yoga pose?
Humility may be one of the most misunderstood and under appreciated aspects of our daily experience. Humility does not necessarily mean lowering yourself below other folks, letting said people walk all over your very existence, cut you off in queue at the grocer or even treat you like you’re inferior to breathing the same air as they are. Embracing humility means being neutral, letting go of the urge to get the last word in, placing yourself above others and basically telling a bunch of self-righteous fairy tales. We expend far too much of our daily energy, squandered in the mindless striving for importance: Getting “ripped,” asking someone to admire your ass after an hour-long leg workout.
The stark truth of the matter is that you don’t have to get drawn into daily ego-competitions (sword fights anyone?!? Anyone …) and petty games anymore.
Notes:
We grow as individuals when we free our mind and spirit of the need to feel bigger, superior to those around us.
CultFit 