Zazazu

The Super Bowl is on as I type.  I think the Giants are ahead.  Wahoo!  I’ve watched a bit, yelped a few “hoorahs!”, asked a few questions, and asked more than several times why they couldn’t have gotten someone better than Tom Petty to play half-time but I can really only take so much of a fairly brutal game that I don’t comprehend.  So, I’m back upstairs in my little sanctuary, with my cat and my computer, waiting for Jane Austen Regrets to begin on PBS.  That is more my style of pleasurable TV viewing.

In addition to this being Super Bowl Sunday, it is also World Yoga Day.   I’m announcing it very late but it is definitely still worth a mention anyway.  WYD is a day and time to donate our thoughts and energy to human rights issues around the world.

It has been awhile since I’ve really posted anything about yoga so, with the mention of WYD, now would be a perfect time.  I’ve not been on the mat much lately at all and my body – especially my shoulders – and my mind and my spirit all feel it keenly.  I plan to find myself on the mat again in the morning and plan to use the WoYoPracMo challenge to help me a bit in February.   Sarah first told me about this and, upon mentioning it to me again today, I checked it out and realized that it might really help me to get back to it.   This month’s theme is “Deepening YOUR Practice” and can really take on whatever meaning or interpretation you need or want it to take.  This is a cool challenge to be a part of as you can meet great people who are also interested in enhancing their yoga practices by creating your own page to keep track of your progress and to encourage one another.  If you need yoga motivation, check it out.  Thanks, Sarah!

In other exciting news, I’m one sale away from Sale No. 200 over at my Etsy store.  Not a huge milestone but an exciting one anyway.  Hopefully I will hit it soon… fingers crossed!

I hate it when I ramble all willy-nilly and don’t have a tidy ending for a post.  But, it seems that I’ve found myself in just that place tonight.  So, I will leave it here and wish you all a happy week.

Namaste.

Thankfully, today is the end of NaBLOPoMo.  I’ve not made it any secret that I’ve not been crazy about the exercise and I’m ecstatic that it is finally OVER!  To be honest, I think I’ve revealed to much about me and I’ve not really censored enough of what I’ve posted (especially on the memes).  Many of you probably have a totally other view of me now and that is okay.  Some of you are probably just out there nodding your heads thinking, “Well, at least she was honest.”

At any rate, now that this fiasco is over, I plan for this blog to lie dormant for quite a while.  I will post every so often with crafts that I’ve done as I love sharing those but, otherwise, I’m ready for a break and for a break from the criticism that I get about this blog.

I do have a very cool collage that I’m working on right now that I can’t wait to share but I want the recipient to get it first before I post a picture of it here.   So, look for that in the near future.

Otherwise, for now…

::: Many or most of you have my email address.  Feel free to email me anytime!  I check it frequently.  For those of you who might want to contact me or be in touch and don’t have my email, use the CONTACT button at the top of the blog page and send me an email.  I’ll reply! xo… :::

Things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving season – 2oo7:

• My wonderful and supportive and entertaining family
• My beautiful and coquettish and warm and snuggly baby kitty-cat
• Wonderful firsthand cultural experiences
• Plenty of food to eat and a roof over my head
• Beautiful packages already wrapped up
• The promise of a new year coming up soon
• New and exciting experiences – things to do
• Thinking ahead
• Crafts to make and packages to send
• Hobby Lobby and Ross!!!
• Email
• Snail Mail – especially packages!
• Grey’s Anatomy
• Fall colored leaves and multi-colored mountains
• Christmas jazz music
• Bath & Body Works at holiday time
• Learning new and cool German words and phrases
• Starbucks holiday drinks
• Choices
• Wish lists
• Bringing Christmas decorations down from the attic – re-discovering them again
• Successful yard sales
• The first really cold night
• Gratitude journals
• Resolutions – are you already thinking about yours?
• Good books that I read to the end
• Long naps
• Longer naps
• Christmas lights – especially the white ones
• Poinsettas and paperwhites
• Time spent at the beach
• Shoes – especially classic stiletto pumps
• That first cup of strong coffee every morning
• Yoga
• Handmade gifts and homemade goodies
• Peanut butter
• Sisters, brothers, nephews, best friends
• Sunrises and sunsets
• The words “I love you” – given and received
• Toilet paper
• Thanksgiving dinner

That I have enough to be thankful for to make a list this long… I am truly blessed… By each of you as well.

Everything is as it is. It has no name other than the name we give it. It is we who call it something; we give it a value. We say this thing is good or it’s bad, but in itself, the thing is only as it is. It’s not absolute; it’s just as it is. People are just as they are.

-Ajahn Sumedho, “The Mind and the Way”

Before enlightment,
I chopped wood and carried water.
After enlightment,
I chopped wood and carried water.

~Zen saying

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I’ve not been very on top of my game with actual posts here lately. So, I thought that posting a Wellness Wednesday – since it is Wednesday – today might help me get back into my groove.

I’ve always been one to want to learn new skills. The things I’ve wanted to learn have mostly leaned toward the creative side; I’ve never been a risk-taker or a particularly athletic person so rock-climbing or para-sailing have never been on my list of things to learn.

I have, however, aspired to learn other things over my lifetime: knitting, sewing, herb gardening, becoming an orchid master, quilting, learning French, writing a book, keep impeccable and eclectic sketchbooks, doing etchings, origami, glass-blowing, meditation, etc. The yearning to learn something new – a new skill or hobby normally – is something that never leaves me. I’m always wanting to learn something. Normally, I will dabble in whatever it is I’m wanting to learn, not fully embracing or latching onto any one thing. This both pleases and worries me. I want to keep learning new things but, at the same time, I want to find a passion, a niche that I fill, a hobby that I do all the time, that makes time disappear for me. It is a two-edged sword.

Most recently, I’ve been inspired by Leah, a good friend of mine who hosts Art Everyday Month. (Leah has posted a Wellness Wednesday on her blog today too so be sure to check that out!) Leah has almost single-handedly brought about my newest learning quest. I’m so inspired by her daily creations and the beautiful pieces that she does for her store that I’ve been really thinking lately about how I’d also like to be an artist. I don’t think I will ever be an artist on the scale with Leah but I’d like to try, not one particular medium necessarily, but several – or a couple. Collage, india ink, 3D textile art, etc. Those are all mediums that I can see myself being interested in as an artist.

The one medium that I’d like to start with, however, is oil painting with a paint knife. I think that these color-heavy, slightly 3D works are so beautiful. I know I will have to start out slowly and simply – perhaps abstracts on paper bags – but I would love to work my way to the likes of this. As soon as I have a little extra money, I hope to buy a small set of oils and an oil knife. I can probably find a decent tutorial online and surely we have some paper bags around here somewhere.

The point is that we all have to keep learning – keep wanting to learn. You may want to learn pig latin or belly-dance or watercolor or trout fishing. It doesn’t matter. The material point is that you must continue learning all of your life to be healthy, to be truly well.

So tell me… what is it that YOU want to learn? What is the first step you will take toward learning that?

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::: Disclaimer ::: The quotations included before or after my posts often do not and are not meant to have anything to do with the actual content of the post. Just so everyone knows. They are mostly posted because I came across them, liked them and wanted to share.

Also, be sure to check out – and enter to win – my friend Christine’s 100th post celebration and giveaway of THREE subscriptions to Yoga+ magazine! Hooray Christine for hitting 100!!

I love synochricity.

Just the other day I was lamenting about not having updated this section recently. Even more than that, I was wondering what on earth I could post in the “Namaste” section. My yoga practice lately has been good but not very newsworthy. I practice most mornings and enjoy it most mornings. Until today.

Today I missed my morning practice and decided to ‘make up’ for it by practicing with a DVD from my collection. I choose one that I’ve had for awhile but, oddly, have never actually practiced with. I had heard great things about it from different people and decided that today was a good day to try it.

The DVD was Yoga Shakti by Shiva Rea.

To anyone who does yoga, especially yoga at home, I recommend this DVD highly. In addition to regular sequences that Rea puts together, there is also the ‘Matrix’ feature. This feature allows you to go to a menu and pick and choose the specific “pieces” that you want to do. There are myriad options from Classic Sun Salutations to Dancing Warrior sequences. Each of these mini-sequences are short and designed to be paired with other mini-sequences for a complete practice. There are four beginning meditations to choose from, Sun Salutations and Dancing Warrior sequences, three Standing Pose sequences, two Arm Balance sequences, five Backbend Preparation and Backbend Flows, two Counterposes for Backbends, four Finishing Practices including Meditation and Shavasana. These mini-sequences range in length from 15:50 minutes to 2:30 minutes. If you put five or six mini-sequences together, you have a nice full practice.

So, as you can tell, I’m wildly impressed by the ‘Matrix’ feature on this tape.

Secondly, if you aren’t familiar with Shiva Rea, you probably don’t know what a goddess she is. She does the poses more beautifully and comprehensively than any other yogini I’ve seen. She can bend in ways that no other human can and yet, she is very conscientious of those who can’t bend as she can. She explains each pose, each movement of each pose, in detail, going slowly and also describing variations in detail. The practices are easy to follow without having to keep eyes on the TV for the duration of the routines.

And finally, even though you won’t see much of it if you are practicing heartily, the scenery is just glorious. I believe the tape was filmed in the Maldives. The beach that she practices on is so calm, serene and peaceful, exactly what yoga should be in life. It really adds a special dimension to the tape.

Shiva Rea is one of the greats of yoga, no doubt, but, she has definitely earned her spot there. She is encouraging and gentle and her voice is peaceful and calming. She is also great yoga inspiration. Her yoga body is toned and supple, exactly what so many people strive for and spend hours at the gym for. Rea is such an admirable yoga teacher. I heartily recommend this DVD.

Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace to you.

~~~ Namaste ~~~

“Live in joy,
In love,
Even among those who hate.

-from the Dhammapada

Live a good day.

If you look closely at the beautiful piece of artwork above (Linda Woods, 2007), you will see that written up the left side it says “Live a good day.”

Beautiful. The art and the words.

I was looking over my blog today and realized that it had been too long since I had updated the ‘Namaste’ category here. This is not because I have not been doing yoga. It is simply because I usually ramble on about things that fit more aptly into the ‘Happiness’ or ‘Life & Love’ sections. But, I love this category, there is a definite reason that I left it here when I was Spring Cleaning some time ago and I want to ramble here some too.

As I was wondering what to ramble on that would pertain to yoga this evening, my eyes landed on this amazing little piece of art that sits next to my computer.

Live a good day.

We each have our own way of living a good day and we each have our own way of starting those days. My days – especially the good ones – begin with my yoga practice.

I’ve been practicing yoga for about ten years but not consistently for that entire time. However, for about the past two months, I’ve been doing yoga each morning – save only just a few mornings – and it is amazing the difference it makes in everything. There is no question about yoga’s part in my living a good day.

Aside from its physical impact while I’m on the mat – seeing what my body can do, what it can’t do, what I need to work on, linking my movements with my breath, recognizing the beauty in controlled movement and supple muscles – this consistency in my practice has also had an impact on me off the mat. It is helping me to make baby steps toward being kinder and gentler with myself, not always beating myself up about things. It gives me something to really be proud of. I feel so svelte and lithe with a consistent practice, even if I don’t look it. It gives me routine, discipline and consistency, all things that are very important things for me right now. It gives me a feeling – a sense of calm – that I can’t even put into words.

Yoga is one of the main things that helps me to live a good day, each day. And isn’t that all we ever really hope for? Because, after all, a good life is merely a series of good days.

Namaste.

I’ve been doing yoga now for about ten years, at least off and on for ten years. In that time, I’ve met MANY practitioners of yoga, followers of yoga, teachers of yoga, people who have dedicated their lives to the study and pursuit of yoga. In short, I have met MANY people who claim yoga as their way of life.

For so long, I aspired to be like them, to be the type of person who was yoga to the core. That is what I wanted, to be “in” with them. But, slowly – and now very clearly – I see that that is NOT what I want. At all.

I love yoga, don’t get me wrong. I love asana, the eight limbs, studying it, pursuing it, living by its principles, challenging myself with it, the whole kit and kaboodle. With any luck, I will be able and keen to practice it for many, MANY more years. But, I’ve come to regard my yoga practice – my yoga life – as my own. I no longer try to live up to a certain standard. I no longer want to be a part of that certain crowd.

Over these ten years, the startling majority of yoga people that I’ve met seem to think that they are better than others. Their thought, it seems, is that their way – their beliefs and practices – are vastly superior to those of other people, other people who do not study or practice yoga, even, in some cases, those who DO study and practice yoga. Speaking frankly, many yoga people that I’ve met are downright “holier than thou”.

It is sad to me to see such a wonderful discipline, such an old and time-honored practice be represented by people who look down their noses at others, others who, in many cases, are trying very hard.

And the diversity of yoga is so beautiful! There are so many varieties of people who practice, study and love yoga these days. They don’t all burn incense, cook huge vats of locally-bought vegan food, teach for six hours each day, meditate for another six, listen to Krishna Das and fellowship around bonfires ONLY with other practitioners of yoga. And they shouldn’t have to or be expected to. Their love for and study of yoga can be just as bonafide, just as well-intentioned, just as thorough as anyone who does all of the above-mentioned things. They can be just as much a yogi as anyone in the “in” crowd.

So, even for all the years of wishing to be “in”, I realize – most happily – that I’m glad not to be. Because, my yoga life is mine. Yes, I do love stiletto shoes – LOTS of them, I do have too many chic clothes, I do read Vogue and I do love caffeine (although I’m trying to get out of that). I listen to jazz, I shop too much, I read a lot of mainstream literature, I buy my groceries at Kroger, I watch Oprah and House, and I drink soymilk instead of almond or rice milk. In the eyes of many of the yogis I’ve met, I don’t live up, I’m not a true yogi, I’m not “up” to their level. I’m a wannabe.

But, in my eyes and – more importantly – in my heart, I’m every bit as much a yogi as anyone in the “in” crowd. Is my lotus perfect? No. But, I do choose to look at anyone who aspires to or studies yoga with a cheerful eye, whether they stumble or not, for – truth be told – don’t we all? I’m not enlightened, nor do I pretend to be. But, I don’t know anyone who is truly enlightened and I certainly do not believe that enlightenment is brought about by being holier than or judgmental of anyone else.

So, I will keep my shoes, my Kroger-bought food, my Vogues, my jazz, even my daily date with Oprah. And, I will keep my yoga. And it will be as good as anyone else’s. And perhaps – just perhaps – somewhere along the way, I will create a new “in” crowd, one that allows you to be yoga in whatever way you choose.

Namaste.

[ A great article that ties in nicely can be read here. ]

… the Teacher will appear.

I’m not sure why I’ve not been ready for yoga for so long up until now. I tried everything, even the clever NaYoPracMo challenge set forth by Kristi at the start of January. When I didn’t do so well with that, I thought I had just bombed, that yoga might not be for me, that I would never get back to it.

But, something in me shifted.

I was ready.

And the teacher appeared.

What brought this shift? I’m not sure but I don’t question it. I just soak it up, revel in it and say thanks that it did come about for whatever reason.

I recently started my practice back. I began practicing in the mornings – at 7:30 – with Namaste Yoga on FitTV. The program is a good one and, at only thirty minutes each practice, it isn’t terribly long but very good all the same. It has all the trimmings of a great yoga class: serenity, calming music, challenging poses, warm-up, relaxation and, even though it is very short, savasana. There is no one thing that I like more than anything else about this program. It is all really wonderful. However, I find that the beautiful scenery of the show really adds a lot to it. Admittedly, when I’m doing asana, I’m not always able to look at the scenery but when I can, and when I have, I’ve been terribly impressed. Breathtaking.

Since starting my practice back more whole-heartedly, I’ve been delighted to see what other things have occurred, what else has fallen into place right in step behind it, what nudges from the Universe I’ve gotten.

I’ve always had trouble with wide-leg seated forward bend. Despite all the flexibility I could want in my hips, I do not have the same in my hamstrings. I find it hard to even sit with my legs straight out in front of me, let alone at a wide stance with my torso folded over. Yet, I try. I desire to do this particular asana more than any other, I think, even though it is one of the more elementary postures.

As an Etsy addict, I recently discovered Leah, a talented glass artist, and her little tribe of Yoga Ladies. She has so many cute ones and I had my eye on Pigeon first and then Cobra. I was pining for one of them, wanting one badly but also knowing that I really didn’t have the extra money to spend at $10 each (although, they are WELL WORTH that if you do have a bit extra!) About a week into my pining, she listed a Wide-Leg Seated Forward Bend Yoga Lady. My desire became acute. This was just what I needed for inspiration to one day conquer this pose! Still not having the extra money, I contacted Leah and offered a trade, which – oh-so-happily! – she accepted!

Is this a reward for getting back to my practice? I’m not sure but I’m happy-happy-happy whatever it is. I got an adorable little Yoga Lady and a creative new friend.

Here she is (the Yoga Lady, that is):

Must I be “rewarded” for doing my yoga? No, indeed not. The practice is all the reward that I need. But, I will never complain over a nod of approval from the Universe.

It is nice to know that the Teacher has appeared.

Namaste.