First Day of Epiphany

In customs line. Security line with security guards. I feel pretty secure. But I don’t think that my security needs guarding. It just is. 

What Am I Willing to Do?

Without Willingness, we may not stand a chance. What am I willing to know? What am I willing to see? What am I willing to admit? What am I willing to say? What am I willing to hear? And then for change - what am I willing to do differently?

Is Time on Your Side?

Is time on your side? If not, it can be...

Am I willing to take the time I need to get the result I am seeking?

And So Are You

Just like the saints and deities are aspects of the Divine, broken down so we can see parts of It, allowing us a way to comprehend It, relate to It, digest It better, So Are We.

Another 365

Happy New Year and Day 1 of the revisit to the 365 Conversations game. It’s been quite some time since I’ve blogged consistently in this format, and I am inspired to do this 365 consecutive days in a row once again. My “intention” was to start on Jan 1, 2018 - in numerology a number 4 - to start building a new foundation for a very different year, not that there was anything empirically wrong with my “last year.” Last year felt like a turning point, a starting over. This year feels like clear movement with a clearer focus, more honesty (#gethonestfaster).  

Back to my “intention.” Yesterday I felt thick and sick. Cough, cold, achy joints, the whole bit. I’m leading a retreat with my teaching partner in Mexico. We were up late on New Years Eve doing a full moon ceremony, and quite frankly, although I was inspired to write, I couldn’t muster the energy. So instead of saying, “well, I blew it! I didn’t start on New Year’s Day, that dilutes the energy so why do it? what’s the point of all of this anyway,” I got out the keyboard and started plunking out this blog, right here right now, on the morning of Jan 2, 2018 in Tulum. I still have the cough and cold, but I”m feeling better, so no time like the present because time and space only exist on this dimension anyway! In other words, it’s not too late!

So as we look at those New Year’s intentions, or resolutions, resolve every day. Start every day. That way you take it one day at a time and you lower the chance of dissappointing yourself or feeling like you’ve failed yourself. You are your Self. And that’s pretty great.

From My Hand to Gods Eye? Or Gods Eye to My Hand?

Hand-eye coordination. It's connection. Connecting insides to outsides. The eye sees something and then the hand moves through time and space to connect with it. My internal connects with the external.

Which is another way of connecting the physical and the non-physical. Or matter and spirit. Or little s self to Big S Self. Or personality to the divine. It's another way we bridge.

So let's play ball! However that looks. And whether it's my eye to God's hand, or God's eye to my hand is probably a chicken/egg thing, or me just trying to squeeze yet another metaphor from a colloquialism.  The desire to connect is everywhere.  Just sayin...

Safety in Numbers?

Really? I don't know.

But this I do know. Yoga isn't about safety. Yoga is about transformation, and from where I sit, that may not always feel safe. It may not even be safe.

Starting from the poses themselves, the asanas:

You are basically putting your body into positions that are unfamiliar. That may not feel safe, and for some, there are poses that aren't safe for a particular body. This whole discussion started last week in class when I asked the class to do a variation of rotated triangle pose that involved a bent knee. A student asked me if the pose was safe for the knees and suggested turning the foot out instead of tracking in parallel. That's when I dropped the bomb:

"Yoga isn't about safety. It's about transformation."  I went on to say (paraphrased and elaborated on):

"There is nothing inherently wrong with what I'm asking you and your body to do in this position. The knee is fully capable of doing this movement, and it often occurs in daily life. The bones of the knee joint are rounded, and the soft tissue allows this squishy flexion. It's what makes us human, organic, instead of metallic or wooden, robot-like. That being said, if a person has "knee issues" or an injury, there are some things that may aggravate that issue/injury, and if that's the case, I encourage every person to modify based on your own body limitations. Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can't, and do that. It's ok with me. When I instruct a public class, I'm assuming "normal, healthy" joints, bodies, minds. If you've got an injury, take care of it. It's not my job to keep you safe. It's my job to present opportunities for growth, and if part of that growing is observing that the teacher is giving a pose that doesn't feel "safe" or "healthy" for my body, then what does the student do about it? Do they do it anyway? If so, why? To check in with their healing process? Am we there yet? Can I, the student, do this pose without damaging myself? Or is it to please the teacher? To not be different? To not draw attention to myself, the student? That in and of itself is a huge opportunity for growth, to see what you do with that information. You chose to ask me about it. Great question. And this answer can be applied to any pose, any class, even in your everyday life. Is someone asking you to do something that is in your capability? Something you can do without damaging yourself? And how do I (the student) feel about working on it? Am I ok with not "nailing it" right away? It goes back to the breath that's right for you. Knowing what's right for you. Knowing You. That is the yoga. Getting to know yourself - that is the tapas, the transformation."

It's not my job as a teacher to keep you safe. It's your job to figure it out. Yoga teachers are not doctors or physical therapists. Some have more expertise and experience than others in certain areas, and that will become evident to the student with continued study and practice. Practice that isn't all about just following directions. Most of us have plenty of practice with that already. Safety in numbers? Following directions to keep us "safe?" Yes, when exiting a flaming building, absolutely. Unless you are at the back of the line. I digress of course. Not following my own directions is part of my charm.  :-)

But wait, there's more! What's "safe" in meditation? Looking at your own mind? Who ever said that was a good idea???

Transformation isn't always pretty. Have you ever re-modeled anything? People try yoga for many reasons: curiosity, FOMO, or pain, be it physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.

If you want to stay safe, stay home. Bunker yourself in. Let me know if it actually keeps you safe. And then the question is, safe from what? And getting back to safety in numbers, how many people do you feel safe with at home? But that, my friends, is another story...