I had a thought the other day – I am officially a cryer. I have the urge to cry (and often times I actually do) for sad things, happy things, things that happen in my life, my friends’ life, or just in the world. For those who have met me in the past couple years, this may not seem like a surprise, but for those from way back when know that I would go long periods without crying, perhaps even years. At that point in time, I used to pride myself of the fact, but now being more open, and hence, a cryer, I realize that it was not something to be proud of. Not in any judgmental way, but rather because I realized that all that time, I was numb to the experiences of my life.
I can thank several factors for this, but namely my deepened Yoga and Meditation practice (and of course, my mentor’s obsession with intense backbends). As anyone who has embarked on this path can attest, it is a long and difficult process, but well worth it (and even that is a huge understatement). As Jack Kornfield says in his book A Path with Heart, “It is the place of feeling that binds or frees us.” He goes on to say that feelings control most of our inner life, yet we are unconscious of them. As a result, we have adapted a style of contraction and suppression in regards to our feelings. Unfortunately, “showing emotions” is not seemly for a man, and only certain emotions are allowed for women.
Imagine that you want to break open a coconut. Whether you break it open by lovingly knocking it over your knee, or with one forceful swipe of a machete, either way you look at it, the coconut is broken; the coconut is open. This is how my heart feels after my relationship of four and a half years ended not two weeks ago. Before you offer pity, pass judgment, cast blame, please don’t. Luckily, it ended with love, care, and respect. It was a beautiful relationship with a beautiful ending. This blog post is not to talk about and analyze the relationship, but rather to share my experience of moving through this difficult time with a broken, and open, heart.
(Writer’s note: By “open”, I don’t mean “Open for Business”, so please, no “nudge nudge wink wink”s.)
Some of you may be saying to yourself, “What a way to start the month of love – talking about losing it!” This post is, by no means, meant to put a damper on the sea of red presently in pharmacies, department stores, book stores, and Hallmark shops that you may adore. Really, I feel like it’s appropriate… Yes, some may consider February to be the month of love, so what better time to open yourself to the love around you?
Looking for a refreshing perspective on Yoga? Come check out senior teachers Angela Farmer and Victor Kooten before they head home to Greece! In this English workshop at Studios Lyne St. Roch Feb. 20-21, 2010 The Path to Inner Awareness will be explored.
Juicy!
Visit http://lynestroch.com/fr/ateliers/2010/02/20-21.php for more info!
With each New Year usually comes New Year’s Resolutions – a noteworthy concept but so rarely do they become a permanent change in our lives, which can lead to feelings of anger or disappointment. Why not try something new and different this year (or decade, for that matter!)? Resolve to Evolve – and trade in your goals for an intention.
Resolutions are great because they help provide us with a direction, but unfortunately, they’re a future objective. By definition, the very word “future” shows how they are not grounded in the present moment. With that being said, what happens if your resolution doesn’t pan out? Disappointment, confusion, or anger usually set in and without the proper tools, we are left with nothing to regain our mental footing. Read the rest of this post»
I don’t know if I agree with some Yoga Bloggers when they say that Yoga is officially dead… If you ask Playboy’s 2007 Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood, and the many men who adore her, Yoga is very much alive.
Check out this article which lists the benefits of Yoga for children. Written by a dear student (Sarah Lolley) who had the chance to interview a great friend of mine, Yoga for Kids specialist, Jennifer Mallin (zenwithjenn.com). Read the rest of this post»
“If all the insects were to disappear from the earth, within 50 years all life on earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish.”
We’ve spent the past six weeks exploring the Yamas and we have now come to the Niyamas. The Yamas alone will keep you busy with how you conduct yourself in society, but equally important and challenging is how you treat yourself, body and mind, when you’re alone. This is where the Niyamas come in.
Since parigraha is Sanskrit for hoarding, aparigraha, is the antithesis of that – the abstention of hoarding. John Philp defines it as the abstention from possessiveness, greed, selfishness, and acquisitiveness. Examples of aparigraha are: eating food that has been acquired justly and consuming only what’s essential for healthy survival (i.e. eat organic and don’t overeat), getting fewer clothes without regard to the whims of fashion or going without a car and walking to work. Aparigraha can also extend to more subtle energies such as restraining one’s hunger for power, status, and bliss. This concept is present in many philosophies or religions (in Buddhism it’s known as non-attachment) because possessions are seen as an obstacle to liberation. In simple terms, how many times did the t.v., telephone, computer, cell phone, or books (yes, even spiritual ones) get in the way of your Yoga or meditation practice? Read the rest of this post»
After about a month of exploring the Yamas together, we’ve come to brahmacharya, the fourth of the fifth Yamas, and possibly the most controversial. According to John Philp, the root word is brahma, Sanskrit for “deity”; char means “walk” and ya means “actively”. Hence, the literal translation is “walking with God”. In layman terms, it means self-control or abstention from sensual indulgence which can include everything from over-eating to hoarding. Read the rest of this post»
