Risks

"I know it's important to take risks but it's so hard to tell the difference between a worthy risk and a foolhardy one. I guess if I could tell the difference it wouldn't be a risk." - me, June 2003

Wow, that's a great reminder. My Yoga career is a risk and, I feel, a very worthy one. I've done what I can to limit my financial liability, but this is my dream and I'm going for it.

I've had a lot of thoughts and dreams over the years. Most fell down before I risked much other than the money on some courses. But this time, I knew I'd found the right path because Yoga fit me both professionally and personally. It is a passion and I want to share it with others.

The funny thing about risks, is that sometimes what seems like a risk, really doesn't carry much peril. I'm currently working on booking my Yoga classes through the end of 2011. My ego keeps telling me that's risky, what if things change, what if I'm not the huge success I'm sure I will be? But first of all...I'm sure I will be :-) Second, what risk? I can always cancel and get my money back. I can always change the times of classes. But if I don't throw my hat in the ring now, there might not be any times available.

So the lesson for today? Risks aren't inherently bad, and sometime when you really examine them (instead of running from them), they aren't even a little bad.

Healthy Eating

I’ve spent some time recently thinking about healthy eating. If we think of all the food available as one big pool of food, I seem to have segregated it into many different piles.

I’ve been vegetarian several times in my life, the longest for 1.5 years. I chose to be vegetarian because I personally did not want to eat animals. As a Yogini, I study the Yamas and my interpretation of Ahimsa (non-violence) is that I should not cause suffering. Therefore, following this part of myself I would choose veganism.

As an ecologically-minded person, I believe that food should be as local as possible. I know this is fairly realistic for someone on Vancouver Island if both the Island and Lower Mainland are considered local. Therefore, following this part of myself I would choose to be a locavore.

As a person who prefers to limit their exposure to chemical toxins, I would tend to choose organic over conventionally grown food. But organic foods are not always available locally.

I have had digestive challenges for most of my adult life. Twice I’ve spent a considerable amount of time on a diet called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) on which my digestive challenges disappear. The SCD dictates no grains, starches, sugar, caffeine and several other substances. The bulk of the diet is nuts, fruit, veggies, homemade yogurt and meat.

And at the end of the day I think splitting off a small pool of food from others may not be that good for my mental health. And depending on what foods I split out, for my physical health. I’ve decided to avoid labels and try to eat what my body wants, as in line with my principles as possible.

So, I definitely lean vegetarian right now with a preference for non-dairy/egg foods. I lean local over organic; but if I can’t get local, I will look for organic. And I listen to and respect my body to try and find a balance that works for both my body and my spirit. My mind...that’s a story for another day.

Today I’m grateful for a sunny Sunday, bagels, my cute cat, my mom to play video games with and lots of Yoga plans in the works.

Gratitude

Today, I feel like it’s time to focus on gratitude. I am grateful for:

- the Guru Puja on Wednesday which helped me connect to the Divine
- yummy, simple, healthy food
- friends who understand and love me
- the knowledge that all of this stuff I feel trapped by is just stuff, and not what matters
- my body for hanging in there even when I’m not always loving
- songs that inspire me
- clarification on my focus (the commitments I made during Guru Puja)
- a pretty flexible lifestyle
- a passion for Yoga, both for my personal practice and my professional one
- Anne Lamott’s books for spiritual thoughts and a reminder that most of us are a mess
- Deborah Adele’s book (Yamas and Niyamas) for opening my eyes to all the things I have yet to learn

Daily Practice

This week I have worked at reclaiming daily practice. It has felt wonderful. Starting my day with Yoga practice (asanas and meditation) and ending it the same way. This practice gives me a peacefulness, a tranquility.

When I meditate my goal is to sit with a quiet mind. And when my mind wanders I bring it back. It is a challenge, but one that I enjoy. Some days are less than ideal and my mind wanders what feels like constantly. I know these are the days I need the meditation most.

On these days of wandering minds, I tell myself to just sit. Just sit there and it’s one of the hardest things to do. Why is it so hard to just sit? There is some story going through my mind about how I need to be doing something else, how I can’t sit still any longer.

And I find that if I do sit still a bit longer than I’m comfortable, that sometimes I can move past the frantic need to get up and I can move into that place of peace and tranquility.

Today I’m grateful for a long weekend, cabbage rolls in the oven, good friends, daily practice and a quiet day ahead.