Hold Om
Posted: May 14, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, dancing, emotions, exercise, family, free range, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, lust, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, trail running, whole foods, WOD, yoga, Zen 26 CommentsThose who do not move, do not notice their chains-
Can someone please answer this seemingly “simple” question: What the heck is progress?
Let’s narrow our focus on yoga for our conversation this morning … Progress on your trusty yoga mat looks and feels rather different from a straight gravel road shooting up over the horizon. After a few sips of juniper berry infused mead, I like to think of progress on the mat as more of a dance, the rumba to be more specific. Two steps forward, one step back, a smile, loosening up a bit, three steps forward, two confident steps back. We seem to find our own pace, our own rhythm even if it takes a few drinks.
Progress with yoga often gets worse, much worse before it gets better. Being a dude I didn’t know this initially and I thought I was losing control of both my mind and body. I was confused (this is very easy for me) because I thought that yoga was supposed to strengthen me both spiritually and physically – Instantly.
What I didn’t know at the time was that this dance backwards was the very beginning of taking a few gentle, confident steps forward. I had to regress before I could start once again to creep ahead. Just like an infant crawling on their little hands and knees, I needed to learn how to roll over, sit up, fall down and crawl before I could walk (literally).
Sometimes I didn’t want to get up after falling down. Looking back, I don’t know how I got up on my feet again after the trying times, life. Eventually I did. Then I stumbled and fell again back onto my mat. Clumsily I rose to my knees, then to my shaky feet once again. This morning I stood straight after riding my bike to work. This is my dance in life.
Notes:
Learning to love yourself, to take care of your emotional and physical self. This is how I define progress.
Loving You Live
Posted: May 1, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: compassion, Education, family, freshly pressed, friends, health, hope, kindness, Learning, life, love, meditation, musings, nature, Poetry, reading, writing, yoga, Zen 7 CommentsAnd then there are the times when the wolves are silent and the moon is howling-
We can learn so much by looking up at the sky, with wide eyes, in wonder. We can feel deeply when sitting beneath a tree, in stillness after practicing yoga with some close friends. We can experience every sense nature presents to us while lying down in dewy grass after finishing a race. Nature is here to remind us and allow us to become curious about the great mystery of balance, harmony and life.
One of the Gifts that can arise from a recent bout of injuries, the inevitable surgeries, and rehab is a gift that can also be reaped from reading cheeky a poem by Shel Silverstein: Slowing Our Pace In Life. In the time it takes you to recover from injury so many clouds will gently float past you, you’ll start to take notice of the flowers growing diligently in a nearby field. The words filling the page will take on completely new meaning, depth. This simple act of just “being“ will ignite a new understanding of yourself, forgiving you for all the abuse you have subjected yourself to.
Notes:
Because of our mind numbing daily pace, we all forget, that sometimes, we are an integral part of nature. Be well today and take care.
The Greatest
Posted: March 7, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: appearances, Atisa, Awareness, blogging, Buddhism, Buddist Boot Camp, everything, exercise, fitness, happiness, health, hipster, hope, Humility, life, love, lululemon, meditation, non-attachment, paleo, passion, peace, Peaceful mind, self-mastery, Selflessness, serving others, walking, WOD, worlds way, yoga, Zen 2 Comments… achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
― Atisa
Notes:
Be inspired today, in whatever you choose to do.
Our Secret
Posted: January 18, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, Lance Armstrong, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, nature, NHL, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, rest, running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga, Zen 20 CommentsWe shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want-
Today we ask of you, to:
– Think of someone who may have hurt or betrayed you and begin the process of forgiving them (maybe, this could be you).
– Write down (like right now) one “thing” that has made you feel alive today.
– Call a friend, family member or loved one who may be ill or down on their luck and ask what you can do to help.
– Smile.
The Workout-
In this order: Crocodile Breathing – Dead Man Roll(s) – KB Arm Bars (ask before you do these*) – Perfect Turkish Get Ups
*If your goal is to look this movement up on The Google Machine, use a heavy weight and tear your fragile shoulders up this afternoon? Have at it.*
Notes:
Try to make a commitment today, to experiencing joy in whatever you do, forgiving after having been wronged (NHL Lockout – Lance Armstrong), sharing compassion with others … Be in awe of nature and the world around you.
CultFit 