tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85826313549077554622023-11-15T12:31:58.900-06:00Noelle's NuggetsNoellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-22936335343613087792010-05-02T18:33:00.000-05:002010-05-02T18:33:08.995-05:00Letting students grow...I love and appreciate the students that regularly attend my classes. Quite simply, they inspire me to be a more regular and devoted student in my own practice. Each student's attendance may ebb and flow so sometimes I don't see a student for several weeks or months. When they reappear, they sometimes give me a guilty look and apologize for not coming to my class. I always smile and tell them, "we're all busy, things happen, it's good to see you, and this is not Yoga Confession." :)<br />
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Teachers should never get attached to their students and students should feel free to attend different classes taught by different teachers. Though I love seeing my regulars, I ultimately love seeing them exploring their overall practice, wherever that journey takes them. Today, I practiced with two of my past regulars in the Ashtanga class following my flow class. I enjoyed practicing with them and loved seeing the strength they both have developed in their respective practices.<br />
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Aparigraha is one of the Yamas, which is one of the branches of Yoga. It means, non-grasping or non-hoarding. As a teacher, I want to see my students grow and travel on their yoga journey. All I can do is share my own with them and hope that I can make a difference in people's lives and give back all the wonderfulness I've received from Yoga.<br />
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Namaste, y'all!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-4762548441694964172010-05-01T21:26:00.000-05:002010-05-01T21:26:09.137-05:00ResistanceFirst of all, BIG kudos to everyone who is participating in the 40-day yoga challenge, currently at Day 31 or so. Last night, I attended the quarterly Yoga Yoga teacher's meeting and each person talked about our challenge goal as we introduced ourselves. Most started out with bigger goals, but migrated toward something simple. Several were working on a daily meditation practice. My goal started out to either do 10 minutes of meditation daily or three Sun Salutations, but I admit to quickly falling off the bandwagon. This challenge brought me face-to-face with something that's plagued my practice lately... RESISTANCE. <br />
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Over the past year, I've allowed myself to become more and more stressed because of work (of the Dell variety) and I've moved away from working out at the gym and a regular yoga practice. Believe me, I've suffered the consequences. My health has suffered, my memory has suffered and I'm noticing more and more gray hairs. I've had chronic sleep issues and my eating habits haven't been stellar. <br />
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In January, test results indicated that I have food intolerances to wheat, gluten and baker's yeast. In shore, I need to steer completely clear of bread and pasta... and I have. I've shifted my dietary focus to whole, organic foods and find myself craving fruits and vegetables more and more. Oddly, I don't crave sweets as much as I used to. I've lost about 4 lbs and (no surprise) feel better.<br />
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During the past 31 or so days, I've thought a LOT about yoga. I've been reading about it, practicing more and mentally preparing myself for the months of advanced teacher training that lie ahead of me. I have two lovely, cherished friends come over EARLY Tuesday and Thursday mornings to practice with me in my yoga room. Getting out of bed and walking down the hall has been a serious struggle, but we've made a pact not to bail on each other and everyone agrees that we feel amazing afterward. This past week, I've practiced every single day and each practice felt like taking a jog in foot-deep mud. But I showed up. I celebrated each daily victory of coming to the mat. Today I felt a big shift and I enjoyed a lighter, stronger practice.<br />
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I am infinitely grateful that I have yoga in my life. I am infinitely grateful for those with whom I share the yogic journey, regardless of their role in mine. Last night inspired me to stay more consistently on the path, but with a new resolve. I want to fully surrender to the warm embrace of yoga for the next six months as I pursue my advanced teacher training certification. I want to get full benefit from this journey and not merely show up. Who knows what changes are in store... <br />
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<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">Namaste</span>, y'all!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-90296830206320162912010-04-03T16:45:00.000-05:002010-04-03T16:45:06.954-05:00The 40-Day Challenge is ON!The challenge is on and started April 1, no foolin'. If you didn't start then, start now... no worries, no guilt. This is a gift we give ourselves. Yoga can change your life. That's what I was told back in 2003 and it sure as heck did. In fact, it crept up on me and took me by surprise. Today I can't imagine living happily without yoga. <br />
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Days 1 and 2 of The Challenge were kind of punts for me. April 1st, I practiced with my Thursday class. We went through the spine-opening series I start every class out with. It took 10 minutes. I told my class, "THAT counts as a yoga practice." No joke, it can be that simple. I saw relief on some faces. Seriously, you don't need to set aside loads of time and make it complicated. Just set a reasonable goal, find a quiet space and give yourself a gift. That's what I did last night. <br />
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This past week has been BUSY with the "Day Job" (aka Dell). It was busy, but fun and I put on a very successful summit event in downtown Austin. Yesterday, I relaxed and had the pleasure of being taken out to dinner by one of my favorite vendors. We had a wonderful meal, caught up on each other's lives and celebrated her closing on her FIRST house earlier that day! I got home, went into my yoga room and put myself into supta badha konasana. I focused on breathing and relaxing deeply. The dog plunked herself down next to me. I enjoyed this for about 10 minutes and I was ready for bed. That was my practice for April 2. Simple, but I did it.<br />
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Today, I did a shortened Ashtanga practice after teaching my hatha star class. My revolved triangles are causing me grief, but I started with the foundation and kicked my ego out of the room. It felt good. :)<br />
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Anyone out there reading this? Are you embracing the challenge? I'd love to hear about it!<br />
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Namaste, y'all!<br />
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NoelleNoellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-65886229079383234692010-03-23T07:35:00.000-05:002010-03-23T07:35:37.678-05:00Good Morning, Practice!Last night my practice was simple and sweet -- 30 minutes of Yoga Nidra (aka Deep Relaxation). My nerves felt frazzled and the muscles were tensing when I started. I listened to the calm voice speaking to me through my iPhone as I laid on my mat with a blanket cradling my neck, my soft, wonderful wubby covering me and my eye pillow gently weighing down on my face. The candles were lit and the temperature was perfect. Ahhhhhh....<br />
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After 26 minutes, my nerves and muscles felt better. Not quite there, but on their way to a better place. I slept well last night and woke up at 5:55am to practice with my friend, Tammy. We heated the yoga room and flowed in a silent Ashtanga mysore practice that morphed into deep pigeon poses and shoulder openers (I love me some shoulder openers!) My practice was far from perfect but gave me a lot of information about the state of my body. My hips and hamstrings are tight and my balancing muscles were pathetically weak. But today's practice wasn't about perfection. It was about rediscovery and reconnection -- finding my way to the mat for the third day in a row and re-awakening my body to the wonders of regular practice. <br />
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I look forward to more Nidra tonight and crave another night of blissfully deep sleep. <br />
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Namaste, y'all!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-39516122850092294512010-03-22T20:48:00.000-05:002010-03-22T20:48:30.842-05:00Stepping on the road to "recovery"I'm embracing the upcoming 40 day challenge... bigtime. In fact, I started last night. I cleared the accumulated junk out of my yoga room, got it back into sacred practice shape, lit the candles and started with sun salutations. I took in deep, deep breaths and made every move with gratitude and intention. It felt GOOD, but I also noticed the cobwebs that had crept into my muscles and joints. I took my time in upward and downward dogs, taking in deep breaths and asking my body to release. Ahhhhhhh....<br />
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After about three or four, I settled into prone shoulder openers and held each one for several minutes. I felt my internal organs and spine. I made tiny adjustments here and there and noticed how each small movement felt in my body. I could feel my mind starting to relax.<br />
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I followed the shoulder openers with some hip circles in table top (both directions), then settled into deep, deep pigeons. I used my exhale to release the gunk in my psyche and stress in my cells. It felt amazing.<br />
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I finished by sitting on the edge of a bolster with my palms up, thumb and first finger together. I lifted the crown of my head to the ceiling to bring space and length into my core and spine. I sat there for about 10 minutes and tried to think of nothing. <br />
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Coming to the mat is sometimes the hardest part of practice, especially if you haven't been regularly practicing. I've severely neglected my practice and it's taken a dear toll on me. I've become stressed out, tense and have developed chronic sleeping issues. I know what I need to do to help myself -- I need to come to the mat. Every. Single. Day. The happiest, best person I remember myself being was when I practiced Ashtanga 5 days a week. I want to be that person again. <br />
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I'm on my way to my special room to light some candles and practice. My goal is to sleep like a baby tonight so I can get my butt out of bed at 6am and practice with my friend, Tammy (and hopefully another friend). :)<br />
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Namaste, y'all!<br />
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p.s. I could sure use some sharing from those of you out in Blog-Reader-Land! Make a comment, share your goal for the challenge, or just give a shout out to your favorite yoga pose or class. It's all good... :)Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-80825043884998241532010-03-21T11:12:00.000-05:002010-03-21T11:12:24.260-05:00Conscious KindnessLast night I hosted a gathering a of friends. We've met periodically over the past two years, but hadn't done so since last May. I think we all felt that it had been too long. Everyone was bursting to share, release and bathe in the wonderful collective feminine energy. One things we talked about in particular was kindness. We each discussed how we had expressed kindness recently to either ourselves or to others. When it came my turn to share, I talked about how I had shown kindness toward a group of friends recently, but was deeply troubled by the fact that I hadn't shown myself enough kindness. <br />
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I'm hard on myself and I've been told this most of my life. Lately, as I've pondered the concept of focusing on kindness, I've noticed that the Collective Conscious seems to default to Fear and Anger rather than Kindness. Being kind to others seems to require an effort, like swimming upstream, and that's just WRONG. I've been taking deep breaths since last night and exploring the concept of expressing kindness first toward myself and then sharing with others. It feels good... better, in fact, than harboring anger or fear. <br />
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This past week I was reminded of a negative presence in my life. This is a person I work with who has had a very negative and unhealthy impact on me. I talked about her last night and several friends commented that she may not realize the significantly detrimental and negative impact she's had on me, my energy and my health. The same could probably be said about each of us. Every action we take impacts someone in some way and contributes to the Collective Conscious. Rather than go with my first impulse and create a Voodoo Doll for this person, I need to put things in perspective and focus on Kindness -- towards her, myself and to those whom I encounter. It's a practice, but I think the world needs a lot more Kindness right now.<br />
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Below is a poem given to me by one of my students after class this morning. It is a precious gift that I will take to heart, savor and share with you...<br />
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<div align="center"><u>Kindness</u></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Served</div><div align="center">In generous amounts</div><div align="center">Ladled first</div><div align="center">For yourself</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Becomes</div><div align="center">A river</div><div align="center">Flowing</div><div align="center">With generous ripples</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Gathering</div><div align="center">In a pool</div><div align="center">Large enough</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">For us all</div><div align="center">To have</div><div align="center">A drink</div><div align="center">Satisfying</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Thank you, Ed and Namaste y'all!</div>Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-754841663415528852010-03-20T11:27:00.000-05:002010-03-20T11:27:05.903-05:00Coming soon -- 40 Day Yoga Challenge!Starting April 1st, Yoga Yoga is leading a 40-Day Yoga Challenge. It's a great opportunity to strengthen the body, unburden the mind, and begin a daily commitment to yourself. I need this desperately. For the past several months, I've been extremely busy at work and have let my personal yoga practice slide outside of what I do when teaching a class. <br />
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Starting Sunday, March 21, I'm going to make a commitment to daily practice and sharing my journey (victories, breakthroughs and frustration) here with you all. I invite and encourage you all to join me and share your journey. Make comments, join the conversation and ride the wave of collective energy focused on a common goal!<br />
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Daily practice doesn't have to mean going to a studio class every day. If you can, GREAT, but set a minimum goal for yourself that's reasonable. I'm considering a minimum daily practice of 5 Sun Salutation, followed by 10 minutes of seated meditation. Your personal goal can be anything you want it to be, but make it reasonable for daily practice. <br />
To make it even more fun, I'm putting up an incentive for those that join me. Everyone who at shares their practice journey daily here for the full 40 days (starting April 1) will qualify for a raffle for one of three 75 minute private lessons given by me. (If I can figure out how to do it) I'll be posting audio files with Yoga Nidra and spine-opening sequences. <br />
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You can't lose! Nothing but blue skies and upside. :)<br />
Namaste, y'all!<br />
NoelleNoellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-19819817921711121902010-03-16T15:11:00.001-05:002010-03-16T15:11:26.633-05:00Donation Seva Class Friday, March 19th!Hello everyone! Just a heads up to let you know that I will be co-leading a Seva yoga class this Friday, March 19th, with Jenny O! Seva means "service" and is a donation-only class benefiting the Capital Area Food bank. It'll be held at Yoga Yoga 360 from 7:30 - 8:45pm and will be beginner-friendly. Come join Jenny and myself for some spine-opening, deeply-relaxing yoga to help you shake off the week, welcome the weekend and support a great cause!<br />
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<a href="http://www.yogayoga.com/">http://www.yogayoga.com/</a>Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-60045416273528818642010-01-20T21:08:00.003-06:002010-01-20T21:13:56.886-06:00Teachers are students, too!I have not been to a yoga class as a student in about two months. Seriously. I wasn't a complete slacker, however, because every year I focus on rowing 200k meters on my rowing machine between Thanksgiving and Christmas -- not on the water, but on my living room. It's the Holiday Challenge with Concept II, but I digress.<br />
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Anyway, today I plotted to attend a vinyasa yoga class. Here's the clincher... I went to a class at a studio I've never attended, taught by a teacher I've never met. I’m a creature of habit so an adventure such as this requires extra motivation. I need to branch out a bit into the greater Austin yoga community. As I got ready, I realized I actually felt nervous! My iPhone Scrabble application nearly talked me out of going.<br />
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Well, I sucked it up and went to the class. Once there, I plopped myself down near the front and looked around the room. There was one man (kudos to him!) and about 10 other women of varying ages and body types. The teacher glided into the room in a "Glinda-the-Good" kind of way with just as much effervescence. I introduced myself and admitted I was a fellow teacher. I made sure to mention that I hadn’t practiced in a while just to set realistic, fellow-teacher expectations. When I attend a class as a student, I AM a student. I don’t put pressure on myself to be “perfect” because I’m definitely not. Hell, I work full time and I’m not in my 20’s and I suck at balancing… and handstands. <br />
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It was a fun class. She started us off with several sun salutations (which felt good), then eased us into standing and balancing poses with vinyasas thrown in for the sake of sweat. I tried to keep my inner ego and judge outside of the room and they managed to stay there. I tried to observe what was going on in my body in each pose and backed off when I needed to (this is what I tell my students… thank god I’m paying attention, too). <br />
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I thanked the teach for a great class and we talked about how much fun it was to just be a student. Being a student in someone else’s class is not only great exercise, but it’s wonderful to experience yoga from someone else’s teaching perspective. I’m glad I got over the hump and stepped back onto the mat. Sometimes just showing up is the significant accomplishment.<br />
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Namaste, y'all!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-74962234548410751402010-01-05T20:22:00.000-06:002010-01-05T20:22:53.313-06:00Welcome to a new decade and a new start!Whew! The first decade of the 21st century is officially behind us. Thank god. While the last ten years were good to me for various reasons, it still feels good to have that decade behind me and look forward to a fresh 10 years. It's defiinitely pyschological, but it feels good to reset.<br />
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So what are my plans for 2010? I'll tell you... I plan to pursue and complete my 500 hour Yoga Alliance certification! In ten years, I hope to "retire" from my day job in high tech marketing and transition to teaching yoga full time. This is the next step. <br />
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I also want to take better care of my health by focusing on eating healthier food. I plan to drink tea rather than coffee and take sweets and meats off my plate completely. I'll still eat fish and have a glass of wine from time to time, but coffee, meat and sweets are my current downfall and kicking them out of my diet should go a long way toward leading a healthier life.<br />
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So here's to a very happy new year to everyone and may you make this year one of optimal health and fitness, with a little adventure thrown in for good measure!<br />
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Namaste, y'all!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-3308468752944922782009-12-27T21:48:00.000-06:002009-12-27T21:48:46.921-06:00Viva Virabhadrasana II!!!After taking some time off from blogging over the holidays, I'm refreshed, rested and ready to get back at it! This week, I'm skiing Mt. Bachelor, near Bend, OR. I grew up in Seattle and skiied these fantastic slopes growing up so it's like coming home. The mountain does not disappoint! The snow is good, and today there were rarely any lines.<br />
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Sking is one of those athletic endeavours that require physical training or, at the end of the day (and again the next morning), you will be wishing you took the time to be prepared. Between high-speed lifts and little-to-no lines, one can get in a LOT of skiing in a day. One body part that gets put to the test are the quads. Historically, my quads have BURNED in the afternoon. Today, however, I was amazed how well they withstood the long runs with extended tucks at the end. I have to give a shout-out to Virabhadrasana II and the two big flights of stairs I now have to walk up several times a day at work to get to my new cube. <br />
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I always think of Seane Corn when in Virabhadrasana II because she would put our teacher training class into the pose and just leave us there. I think she grabbed a cup of tea and came back to check on us... or at least it felt like we were in the friggin' pose that long. My thighs were saying uncharitable things to me that were getting hard to ignore. Thanks to Ms. Corn, however, I learned to appreciate and relax into Vira II and felt my power. Learning to relax and focus on the breath while holding this pose is a powerful metaphor for learning to relax and breathe when in stressful situations off the mat. It's also a darn good way to get the ole thighs prepped for the slopes!<br />
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Here's hoping for more sweet powder, blue skies and enduring thighs. :)<br />
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Namaste and happy holidays, y'all!!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-14543748859804772372009-12-14T19:55:00.000-06:002009-12-14T19:55:08.930-06:00Peace, love and RESPECT!Per the link below, I think it's a wonderful thing that yoga is being incorporated into schools. Yoga is NOT a religion, but it's a philosophy that may enhance one's spirituality through practice. What is truly sad about this article are the fearful, narrow-minded comments that follow. Why is it so hard to be OPEN to new ideas and ways... of doing things? Why should different concepts be considered threatening to one's perspective? I find it interesting that those who protest so vehemently are affliated with religions who believe it's their duty to impose their beliefs on other people and cultures via "missions." Why is it SO HARD to respect one another and life peacefully together? Seriously...<br />
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<a href="http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/76320887.htmlSee%20More">Minnesota Students Acing Yoga Test</a>Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-65971926860205018632009-11-21T07:32:00.001-06:002009-11-21T07:32:02.141-06:00Taking a break for a while...Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday week, everyone!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-71124903807049742382009-11-19T16:20:00.002-06:002009-11-19T16:22:18.919-06:00Share with the rest of the class...Today I'm changing things up a little bit. Rather that wax philosophical about Panama, Pink Floyd, yoga and other things, I'm opening it up to the "peanut gallery." (Yes, that means you all out in blog-reader-land.<br />
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I have a couple of favorite sites online I go to for ideas and information, such as <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/">Yoga Journal</a> and <a href="http://www.myyogaonline.com/">My Yoga Online</a>. <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/">Yoga Journal</a> is great for looking up poses and searching for interesting articles on the topic of your choice. <a href="http://www.myyogaonline.com/">My Yoga Online</a> is a treasure trove of videos accessible by paying a monthly subscription fee.<br />
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Now, this is where you all come into play… I invite you to share <em>YOUR</em> favorite yoga resources with me and others. Looking forward to seeing where you're online yoga journey takes you! :)<br />
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Namaste, y'all!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-44081631561831835932009-11-18T21:40:00.001-06:002009-11-18T21:51:14.118-06:00No man is a failure that has friendsRecognize the quote? Most of you out there in blog-reader-land should because it comes at the very end of "It's a Wonderful Life" (<em>and always makes me cry</em>). Another great quote along the same lines, is "No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main..." ~John Donne. Both make the same point that we need others and we need to allow them to support us from time to time. Some of us think we need to be self-sufficient and that asking for help is a sign of weakness. <br />
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A good friend of mine here in Austin is VERY pregnant – due-in-two-weeks kind of pregnant. She's a first time mother-to-be and a VERY intelligent, organized and capable woman. What impresses me is that she is smart enough to know when she to ask for help from her friends. She's 1.5 cm dilated which, according to her OB/GYN, means there's a 25% chance of her going into labor before Thanksgiving. She works north of Austin and her husband works downtown. Since rush hour traffic may prevent him from driving her to the hospital, she sent out a plea for help to me and a few other friends asking for someone to be her contingency plan. Everyone but me (who’s still in Panama) offered to be there for her (I sent her virtual support via IM). Not only was I impressed by her ability to ask for help, but I was also touched by how many folks quickly, and positively, responded.<br />
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I've been in Panama a little over two days and the folks down here have made me feel not only welcome, but safe, supported and protected. They are happy to help me with any questions and needs I have given the language barrier and my unfamiliarity with the area. They've also given me a great gift -- I feel comfortable letting them take lead and take care of me as needed. I'm usually the person making logistical arrangements and taking the lead so this is indeed a significant gift. I can relax and allow myself to be taken care and receive, but not out of weakness. Yes, this is a work trip but it's become a “vacation” of sorts from excessive accountability and responsibility. I’m re-learning to simply enjoy the ride. I hope you all give yourselves permission to do the same. :)<br />
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Namaste, y’all!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-37373643846279673752009-11-17T14:54:00.000-06:002009-11-17T14:54:57.313-06:00Being PresentOne of my biggest challenges, when travelling on business, is to be present with where I am and not let myself get sucked into keeping up with emails and instant messenger. Prior to coming all the way down here (Panama, to visit some of our local sales teams), I had to consciously set expectations with myself and co-workers not to schedule meetings this week so I could focus on building relationships and marketing programs. Let me tell you, it's a CHALLENGE. My co-workers are completely understanding, but I don't always stick with my own plan.<br />
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My cell phone isn't set up for international calls (thank god) so I’m off the cell grid and in “airplane mode”. I'm not tempted to turn on the TV in my hotel room because there aren't that many channels, I don’t speak Spanish, and I'm recording all my favorite shows at home. Instead, I'm visiting to the hotel gym and doing yoga in my room. <br />
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Today in the office, I spent most of the day with a sales manager who will be my main contact going forward. She's fantastic. We hit it off immediately and got to know each other better over lunch. She's also a yoga teacher, my same age and leads a similar life as me. In order to do what I came here to do, I need to BE PRESENT and listen not only to her, but to her manager and their reps about what they need, what's possible and what doesn't work here. Email can largely wait. After all, I have my "out of office" alert turned on in Outlook. Now I just need to give myself permission to be disciplined in the practice of enjoying the moment, which is MUCH easier said than done. :) <br />
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Adios and Namaste, y'all!<br />
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Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-79244887522604629692009-11-16T21:27:00.000-06:002009-11-16T21:27:27.014-06:00Travel YogaThis week I'm travelling on business and (<em>once again</em>) I've packed a few yoga outfits with the good intention of practicing yoga on the road. I may not get around to doing a full Ashtanga practice, but there are definitely a few "go to" poses that I like to do when I'm travelling. <br />
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Sitting on a plane for several hours does an number on my lower back and hips. This trip was no exception. While waiting to leave for the airport, I settled in to some delicious <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/863">Eka Pada Kapotanasanas</a> to break up some of the stress and stiffness already existing in my hips. I also love a good <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/478">uttanasana</a>, standing with my feet hip-width apart and knees bent slightly to prevent over-extension. Grabbing opposite elbows helps me to resist the urge to "help" my body in the forward bend. Just hanging loosely and completely relaxed gives the body a chance to open up on its own in its own time. Forcing the issue is a great example of EGO involved and can lead to injury, big or small. While on the plane, I did some neck stretches and <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/478">uttanasana</a> waiting in line for the bathroom. After sitting for three hours, it felt damn good to release the hamstrings.<br />
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I found out that the hotel fitness center has one of my favorite things in the world... a steam room. Ahhhhhhhh. I dumped my luggage in my room and dashed to the fitness center. The steam room was heaven. I laid on my back on the bench and put my legs up the wall. <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/690">Legs-Up-The-Wall</a> (aka Viparita Karani) is a fantastic restorative inversion and my all-time favorite travel yoga pose. This pose is particularly great for jetlag and post-skiing/hiking. I followed up the steam bath with a cold shower. Buh-bye stress!<br />
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Tomorrow morning I'm planning on a traditional 45 minute sweat-fest on the elliptical trainer, followed by some simple lunges and more pigeon pose (<em>just can't get enough deep hip-openers</em>). <br />
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Adios and namaste from Panama City!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-87453896900396207282009-11-15T11:48:00.003-06:002009-11-15T11:49:53.446-06:00Give and you shall receiveIt's an honor to teach yoga. I still marvel at the fact that I actually went through teacher training several years ago and now teach 5 classes a week. I'm honored by the attendance of my regulars. When I talk in class, I'm not pontificating from on high, but sharing my own journey. It's not hard to figure out my current struggle based on the theme of a class. Last week, I talked about taking pause and used Pink Floyd's The Wall to illustrate my point. Today in my hatha flow class, one of my students presented me with a poem he wrote called "Take Pause." Ed's a local poet whose works can be found posted around town and he gave me permission to share this with you....<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Take Pause</em></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ed Seymour, 11/2009</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hold onto it<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">use it<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In all you do<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And you will see<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pause<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In movement<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">allows<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">recentering<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pause<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In breathing<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">builds<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">your volume<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pause<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In thinking<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">opens doors<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">that were closed<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pause<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In striving<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">causes<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">reconsideration<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pause<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In walking<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">affords<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">time to see<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pause<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In flow<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">allows<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">things to settle<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pause<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">onto itself<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">is a jewel<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">to study<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Needless to say, having a student write a poem in reaction to a class I taught inspires me to take pause. We all have the potential to impact others when we least expect it. That's heady stuff. Be good to those whose paths you cross and pay attention to what they may teach you when you're least expecting it.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Namaste, y'all!<br />
</div>Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-5280205521453250782009-11-14T15:02:00.000-06:002009-11-14T15:02:02.176-06:00SurrenderWhen was the last time you laid down on the floor with your arms and legs sprawled out, palms up, like Leonardo Da Vinci's <a href="http://www.liebermans.net/ShowPrint.aspx?pid=26256">Vitruvian Man</a>? It's delicious, especially when the house is clean and quiet (<em>which doesn't seem to happen that often or last very long</em>). It's the ultimate in passive surrender. I have to make an effort to surrender because I'm a Capricorn and responsible to the core. Even allowing someone else to clean my house is a study in surrender because I was raised by mother who essentially believes that a clean house should <em><strong>truly</strong></em> be spot and dustless. Two weeks ago, I had cleaning ladies over to my house for the first time in over a year. I was still reveling in post-cleaning bliss when my parents came over and my mom pointed out that they didn't dust the blinds (which they did). I didn't care, because I had allowed myself to completely surrender to the fact that someone ELSE had cleaned my house and it smelled really nice.<br />
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In my yoga practice, my favorite surrender pose is <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/863">Eka Pada Rajakapotasana</a> (aka, pigeon pose). I like to think of this pose as Cheap Therapy. It's so important to feel good in this pose in order to optimize the potential release. Check your ego and inner-judge at the door. Make sure you're you're well-aligned and not feeling pain or numbness then SURRENDER. Breathe... deeply. Take in BIG, DEEP inhales, and actively exhale. This is where the Cheap Therapy comes into play. Observe what comes up emotionally and release on your exhales.<br />
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According to <a href="http://www.myss.com/">Carolyn Myss</a>, “Your biography becomes your biology. This biography includes the totality of your choices, the things you feed your body – your thoughts, your actions, your food – the things that feed your life.” Our stress and negative emotions are stored somewhere in our bodies at the cellular level. Chances are a lot of it has settled into the hips. Releasing in Eka Pada Rajakapotasana enables me to peel away my layers of stress and whatever else isn't positively serving me. It's a DEEP hip opener capable of such release that I've seen people brought to tears when in it -- not tears of pain, but of emotional release. That level of release and surrender may sound kind of scary, but believe me once you've let it go, it's a beautiful thing -- like having someone else clean your house. :)<br />
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Namaste, y'all!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-69289547152996366762009-11-13T21:22:00.003-06:002009-11-13T21:33:21.522-06:00Flipping over the recordToday I had the day off and decided to use the time to take my own advice. I took a "pause." This past week has been crazy and I've become a victim of my own sense of responsibility and accountability. I need to pull back on both those traits because I tend to over do it. Yesterday, I was a physical wreck... tense, stiff, sore and generally exhausted. So, for my day off, I slept. I slept in to 9:30am, got up, took and shower, went to see my chiropractor, then came home and slept for three more hours, followed by reading for another two. My body and mind seriously needed the rest. <br /><br />The important thing to note is that we ALL have to take pause. Those who practice and teach yoga are not exempt, but we're possibly more aware of the warning signs. Sometimes I wonder if ignorance would be bliss, but then again that's what naps are for. :)Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-14902534139771197962009-11-11T19:32:00.012-06:002009-11-12T10:28:08.597-06:00YamasDid you know that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga">Yoga </a>is not just showing up to a class and putting your body into poses while breathing deeply? Seriously, I kid you not! Yoga is actually a philosophy and there are <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/158">eight "limbs"</a> of yoga. What most westerners typically view as yoga is only one of the limbs... the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Asanas</span></span>.<br /><br />The first limb, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Yamas</span></span> provide ethical guidance as to how one should live in and interact with the world external to the self, similar to some of the Ten Commandments. There are two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">yamas</span></span> in particular that I seem to run up against most frequently: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ahimsa</span></span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Aparigraha</span></span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ahimsa</span></span> means non-violence, but it doesn't just mean "thou shalt not kill." It also refers to doing harm to oneself. As a Type-A, competitive individual, I'm constantly seeking improvement and perfection. Uh huh... EGO. Just because I'm a yoga practitioner and teacher doesn't mean for a second that I don't struggle with my ego and inner judge. Actually, I talk about these two things so much in my classes not because I'm lecturing my students, but because I'm sharing my journey. I have to keep reminding myself over and over to listen to my body and not do it harm by letting ego slip in. Your ego will get you hurt in yoga. It's also a good idea not to go around killing things, which is where vegetarianism comes into play with Yoga. Non-harming means we shouldn't be killing and eating animals. I'm still working on the latter in my diet, but it's tough to honor <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ahimsa</span> when it comes to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">mosquito's</span>, rats and cockroaches.<br /><br />The second <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">yama</span></span> that constantly makes itself known to me is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Aparigraha</span></span>, or non-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">coveting</span>, non-grasping or non-attachment. This hit me HARD yesterday when I left my "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">binky</span>"</span> (aka, iPhone) in my friend's car after lunch. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ARGHHHHH</span></span>!!! I freaked... a little. Then I started thinking about the temporary advantages of NOT having the precious object with me -- for several hours I wasn't a slave to checking personal email and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Facebook</span>. I love my stuff, family,</span> friends, dog, house and my jobs (both Dell and yoga teaching), among other things. I'm completely guilty of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">aparigraha</span>-</span>fouls, but being aware and moving in the right direction is part of the the Practice of Yoga. Having connections to stuff or people isn't bad, but we need to be cognizant of the nature of the attachment by asking ourselves whether or not it's a healthy relationship.<br /><br />In the past year, unemployment has risen due to mass layoffs. Being laid off it rocks our first and third <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">chakras</span></span> to the core. But perhaps that relationship wasn't healthy. Some folks stay in a job for the wrong reasons and never experience passion in their work. It's really tough to admit you're not happy and make the necessary changes. Perhaps being forced to make tough changes lead to better situation for the soul. By consciously practicing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">aparigraha</span></span>, one can look for the lesson in the experience and be open to what lies behind Door #2 or #3 which may very well be bigger "prizes" in the game of Life (think in terms of the soul, not money).<br /><br />I did finally recover my cell phone from my friend and actually enjoyed the opportunity to be reminded that being detached for a little while wasn't so tragic. Next week, I'm off to Panama for work and will leave my cell phone at home. :)<br /><br />Thoughts?<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Namaste</span></span>, y'all!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-38094650107842293172009-11-11T09:55:00.007-06:002009-11-11T21:03:41.050-06:00My First Yoga BookMy very first exposure to yoga was way back in the 70's when my mom took a class or two. I don't remember her doing it for very long, but I do remember her wearing the tights/leotard outfit (we've come a long way, baby). My first significant encounter with yoga, however, came in the Spring of 1981. It was Spring Break and the Boyle family took a road trip from Seattle down to the Oregon coast to explore small town antique shops. Not related to yoga, but a memorable part of the trip, was the fact that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">McDonalds</span> launched its first "game piece" contest (Monopoly theme). My parents were fully on board with stopping at EVERY <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">McDonalds</span> we encountered on our journey to collect game pieces. We all believed we could win millions and treated every game piece as if were Charlie finding the Golden Ticket. We did end up winning, but only a few sodas and some fries. It was a fun part of the adventure, a great memory and an excellent example of embracing your inner child as an adult.<br /><br />The point of the trip was antique shopping in small shops that offered one a journey through time. It was in one of these shops that I ran across two books that impacted my life significantly. The first was "Auntie Mame" and the second was "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Youth-Reincarnation-Jess-Stearn/dp/0876044038">Yoga, Youth and Reincarnation</a>." The latter was my first yoga book. It was fist published in 1965 by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jess_Stearn">Jess Stearn. </a>Given the abundance of books and media we now have at our disposal, plus the fact that yoga has become much more mainstream in our culture, it's hard to imagine how unique this book was at the time. When Jess Stearn met <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcia_Moore">Marcia Moore</a>, he was not in optimal physical shape (most of us live in that "glass house") and showed classic signs of aging. She invited him to spend three months at her ashram to immerse himself in yoga, suggesting it would change his life. He took her up on the offer and chronicled his journey with a refreshingly honest and real voice.<br /><br />I'm fortunate to have stumbled upon this book and its message touched me on deep level, thus beginning my yoga journey. I'm now a yoga teacher and the proud owner of a growing library of yoga and yoga-related books. Yoga has exploded in popularity in the United States over the past several decades. This book remains my favorite not because it was my first, but because Jess Stearn captured his journey in such a way that he described not just how he learned to practice of yoga, but why yoga has the power to change one's life on many different levels. If you're intrigued, hunt down a second-hand copy on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon </a>or <a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Paperbackswap</span></a>. The groovy yoga pose pictures of Marcia Moore in her black leotard and tights are worth seeing. Marcia Moore was a fascinating, multi-talented women with an interesting life story.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Namaste</span>, y'all!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-58946223031644948412009-11-10T09:19:00.003-06:002009-11-10T09:24:59.882-06:00Comfortably NumbA few weeks ago, I ran across Pink Floyd's The Wall - the Movie on TV. Wow. Somehow I missed out that there was a movie (<em>I’m more of a Wish You Were Here kinda gal</em>) and had never listen to the album all the way through. Additionally, it never before clicked that this album was one of the greatest “Concept” albums of all time. Naturally, I hit the Internet and started searching for lists of the greatest concept albums ever. While on this little journey, I ran across a comment that got me thinking. The author pointed out that The Wall was release as a vinyl record (<em>remember those</em>?) so the listener had to stop and flip the record over to listen to the other side. This pause in the action was important because it provided just enough time between the first and second sides to accommodate a subtle shift in mood. Of course that pause no longer exists in the digital age. With digitized music, we can listen all the way through, but did we lose something along the way? It's impressive to note that this comment was posted by a 14 year old (<em>pretty</em> <em>smart kid, if you ask me</em>.)<br /><br />It struck me that as our lives have become more computerized, technical and digitized, we tend to forget to take that needed pause. We have cell phones, email, text messaging, wireless Internet on airplanes, and 24/7 global business. We can work ALL THE TIME! We ignore warning signals from bodies by taking pills. We have trouble sleeping, then drink caffeine to keep us alert during the day. It’s crazy, but it’s our cultural norm. We can survive this way, but I seriously doubt anyone can truly thrive this way for an extended period of time. We need a pause. Our bodies and our minds need rest – REAL rest. Just like listening to The Wall is a richer experience with the intended pause, our quality of life improves if we take pause in our day. I see yoga as a means to pause and re-connect with the body while clearing the mind. In my practice, I consciously focus on breathing deeply in and out through my nose. I also have to focus on not letting my mind jump around in hyper-activity while I’m trying to relax tense muscles (<em>quite a challenge</em>). I view yoga as an endless toolbox that’s fully stocked with different ways to help us establish and maintain balance in our lives. It’s not easy and it's an ongoing PRACTICE. We can do yoga-based exercise to get a good calorie burn. True yoga, according to Patanjali's Sutras, is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind ("Yogaś citta-vritti-nirodhaḥ"). Yoga can be meditation in motion. Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation) and restorative yoga offer the opportunity to go deep and connect with one's true self.<br /><br />Once again, I reference the time I spent training with Seane Corn. Someone in the class asked her about what her personal practice was like. Seane responded that it depended on what the day ahead looked like. If she was going to have a more yang (active) day, her practice was more yin (relaxing) and vice versa. Basically, it’s not necessary to drive ourselves constantly. We need to pause and give ourselves a break. Sit for five minutes with your eyes closed and take long inhales and exhales. Count to five or six as you inhale and the same on the exhale. Visualize your breath coming in and out of your body. Clear your mind of all else. It’s a small pause, but it can be a significant start. Now go lie on the floor, close your eyes and listen to Comfortably Numb. Pure bliss. :)<br /><br />“Practice and all will come.” Sri K. Pattabhi JoisNoellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-27996625530394369452009-11-09T11:26:00.008-06:002009-11-11T22:13:22.248-06:00Pretty PackagesWe've all heard the saying that good things come in small packages. Perhaps that's true, but the older I get the more I think it's a PR/marketing statement. As far as yoga goes, it's right up there with the worse yoga PR ever --> one has to be flexible in order to consider practicing yoga. I'm determined to spend my entire yoga teaching career dispelling both myths.<br /><br />My latest random train of thought kicked off this morning with a visit to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">chiropractor</span>. Though I teach and practice yoga, I am sadly not exempt from having my spine tweak out of alignment on what seems to be a six-month basis. My <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">chiropractor's</span> records show that I appear at her doorstep, without fail, around June and November of every year for the past 6 or so years. (to badly paraphrase John Mayer, my body's a weatherman) But I digress.<br /><br />My beloved <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">chiropractor</span> was off on vacation so I was treated by her sub. When I called to schedule the appointment this morning the office manager alerted me to the fact that this sub is rather "easy on the eyes" -- a pretty package, if you will. While scoring well on the "hot meter" I wasn't as impressed with his adjustments. I'm sure he's considered capable, but I'm used to Dr. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Butera's</span> no <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">nonsense</span> approach that gets me back to near-perfect before I step out the door.<br /><br />As I got in the car and drove off to get a pumpkin spiced latte at Starbucks (<em>which truly makes everything better</em>), I started thinking about all this in terms of yoga. You don't need to be a "pretty package" to practice yoga. In fact, some of my favorite teachers are the gritty, real, "what you see is what you get" folks. (<em>I fancy myself a member of this grouping</em>) I bet I will never wear a size smaller than an 8 (<em>if that</em>) and my flexibility is limited by the fact that I work at Dell full-time sitting at a desk or in meetings. That's okay with me. I have plenty of my personal journey and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">learnings</span> to share with my students without going into an advance handstand variation. That's not to say, however, that pretty yoga teachers should be discounted. I know plenty of fellow teachers who look the part, but they are on a true journey and work hard to develop themselves both inside and out.<br /><br />So my point is don't self-defeat and opt out because your mind tells you that you don't fit into a stereotype. Ignore "the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">shoulds</span>" and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">embrace</span> the personal challenge. We all have something to offer and yoga students teach their teachers as much as they are taught. As <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Seane</span> Corn said to my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">vinyasa</span> teacher training class at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kripalu</span> last fall, "there is abundance." Damn right there is. :)Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8582631354907755462.post-35743745667081913742009-11-08T19:02:00.000-06:002009-11-08T21:02:37.881-06:00Welcome!Welcome to my new blog! I've been planning on starting and maintaining a yoga-related blog for a while. Thanks to my good friend and fellow <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">yogini</span>, Mandy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eubanks</span>, I finally figured it out!<br /><br />In my classes there are two things I consistently say to my students. The first is "check your ego at the door and celebrate your small victories." Letting your ego into your yoga practice is an easy way to become vulnerable to injury. Both your Ego and your Inner Judge are not necessary to have with you in your yoga practice. Leave them outside the studio and try to find your Inner Child. :)<br /><br />The second thing that's important to remember, and related to the first, is that flexibility is neither a requirement of yoga nor the goal of yoga. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Flexibility</span> is something that happens with practice. I tell all my new students that all they need to do is to breath deeply and connect with their body. Everything else is gravy.<br /><br />It's also important to keep in mind that one's yoga practice need not be linear. "Growing" your practice may not mean learning or being able to do "show poses." Some people have bodies and abilities that enable them to do more advanced poses relatively easily, but they may struggle with quieting their minds. There is always some kind of work we need to do to evolve our personal practice, both on the mat and off. I'll leave you to ponder that thought...<br /><br />Until next time, namaste! NoelleNoellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888654113356228671noreply@blogger.com3