Today I'm reflecting on the third Yama: Asteya (respect and generosity). Traditionally, this Yama is interpreted as non-stealing but I've combined a couple of great Yogini's interpretations into respect and generosity.
Respecting others' property is the obvious first step. Don't take what is not yours. Great, I'm there! Oh, you mean there is more to it? Here's where we get into the deeper meanings. To me Asteya means not taking what isn't mine in every sense. Not taking from the earth what it doesn't have to give, not taking from someone's time that they don't have to give, not taking someone's moment.
For me, I've also been thinking about Asteya being realizing that there really isn't much that is truly mine. And that's not a bad thing. In a world of impermanence, I will enjoy the moment and realize that I need to let it go to get to the next one.
How am I doing working on Asteya? Definitely a work in progress. I have put a lot of work in the last year towards being aware when I am taking more than my share and working to reduce that. From an earth standpoint, most of us have so far to go but I'm choosing to make my impacts my own way.
I just had a great moment of Asteya. My mother lives with me and is retired. She gladly cleans the house, does the laundry and generally takes care of things so that I can work on my business. I have a journal where I record an intentional act of kindness everyday and as I sat here blogging, the washing machine dinged. At first I thought "mom will get that". Then instead I jumped up and thought "intentional act of kindness" and went and put the sheets in the dryer (too cold to hang them today). It doesn't have to be big, but I gave my mom a little time today.
What have I learnt? Being generous feels good. Respecting others feel good. Having boundaries and respecting others' boundaries feel good.
How are you practicing respect and generosity in your life?
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
To Adjust or Not to Adjust
I hear plenty of things back and forth on whether or not to adjust students during classes. Do we correct their alignment or let them find their own way? I myself am split on this. I am all for whatever works for you and whatever works for your students; this is just my experience at this time.
On the pro-adjustment side, I have had teachers provide me with a bit of an adjustment that has helped me to take a pose deeper. I get more physically and mentally from a pose when I get the alignment just right.
On the other side, I have had adjustments that took me out of the great place I'd found or that distracted me from my mind-body connection. And in the early years, I felt when I was adjusted as if I weren't getting it right.
Generally, I don't do hands on adjustments. Some of my students have requested it and I'm happy to do it occasionally. But I find most of my students who've been with me even a short while have great form and alignment. And the ones who are new, I like to let them get a little comfortable with the poses in general before I start working on their alignment.
I like to adjust by example and by general comments. I choose what to say regarding form by looking at my students. Now that most of my students have great form, I continue to encourage them to take the pose deeper.
One of my students was in Warrior II and looked great in the pose. I suggested that we feel the strength in our front leg and a stretch through our hips and chest. I then saw her adjust her shoulders so that she would have a better stretch through her chest. She found her own way with my guidance. Perfect!
On the pro-adjustment side, I have had teachers provide me with a bit of an adjustment that has helped me to take a pose deeper. I get more physically and mentally from a pose when I get the alignment just right.
On the other side, I have had adjustments that took me out of the great place I'd found or that distracted me from my mind-body connection. And in the early years, I felt when I was adjusted as if I weren't getting it right.
Generally, I don't do hands on adjustments. Some of my students have requested it and I'm happy to do it occasionally. But I find most of my students who've been with me even a short while have great form and alignment. And the ones who are new, I like to let them get a little comfortable with the poses in general before I start working on their alignment.
I like to adjust by example and by general comments. I choose what to say regarding form by looking at my students. Now that most of my students have great form, I continue to encourage them to take the pose deeper.
One of my students was in Warrior II and looked great in the pose. I suggested that we feel the strength in our front leg and a stretch through our hips and chest. I then saw her adjust her shoulders so that she would have a better stretch through her chest. She found her own way with my guidance. Perfect!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Mantra Challenge - Update
The last time I checked in I'd done 7 malas (756 mantras). The next day I did 7.5 malas. Then I struggled for 3 days to get 8 malas, and finally did it! 864 mantras, wow! But I had definitely reached capacity since the next two days I found myself falling back to somewhere between 7.5 and 8 malas.
And then something magical happened. I let the counting go. I decided to put down my mala, but keep the mantras. What does this mean? It means I am definitely saying less mantras, because there are times I'm not saying them that I was before (just to get them in). It means I am no longer "encumbered" by carrying around a mala or counting on my fingers when I don't have it.
So what have I kept? I'm still saying my mantras. I think if I'd tried this at the beginning it would have proved too much of a challenge. But because I spent weeks building myself to this point, the mantra has become part of me. I still chant the mantra during my meditation, on my walks, in the shower, and when I'm stressed or over thinking things.
How do I feel? I loved this mantra before I started. Now I feel like I am receiving such love when I chant it. I feel strong and connected to the Divine.
I also had a pleasant surprise the other day. I was standing at the bus stop by myself. It was snowing and cold. Instead of chanting (really just saying) the mantra in my head, I started to sing it out loud. I've never heard a tune for this mantra so I made one up. And I found it absolutely lovely. Suddenly I felt warm and protected and really happy! Since then I'm probably about split half between chanting the mantra in my head and singing the mantra (both out loud and in my head). While the sung mantra takes about twice as long as the chanted one (and therefore I'm getting in less mantras) I feel it more than makes up for it in devotional quality.
I am really glad I took on this challenge as I learned so much about myself and mantras. I'll be giving each of my students a challenge or two while I'm away in April. I promise none of them will be this challenging, but hopefully they will be as enjoyable.
And then something magical happened. I let the counting go. I decided to put down my mala, but keep the mantras. What does this mean? It means I am definitely saying less mantras, because there are times I'm not saying them that I was before (just to get them in). It means I am no longer "encumbered" by carrying around a mala or counting on my fingers when I don't have it.
So what have I kept? I'm still saying my mantras. I think if I'd tried this at the beginning it would have proved too much of a challenge. But because I spent weeks building myself to this point, the mantra has become part of me. I still chant the mantra during my meditation, on my walks, in the shower, and when I'm stressed or over thinking things.
How do I feel? I loved this mantra before I started. Now I feel like I am receiving such love when I chant it. I feel strong and connected to the Divine.
I also had a pleasant surprise the other day. I was standing at the bus stop by myself. It was snowing and cold. Instead of chanting (really just saying) the mantra in my head, I started to sing it out loud. I've never heard a tune for this mantra so I made one up. And I found it absolutely lovely. Suddenly I felt warm and protected and really happy! Since then I'm probably about split half between chanting the mantra in my head and singing the mantra (both out loud and in my head). While the sung mantra takes about twice as long as the chanted one (and therefore I'm getting in less mantras) I feel it more than makes up for it in devotional quality.
I am really glad I took on this challenge as I learned so much about myself and mantras. I'll be giving each of my students a challenge or two while I'm away in April. I promise none of them will be this challenging, but hopefully they will be as enjoyable.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Review - The ABCs of Yoga for Kids
I got a lovely gift from some of my young Yoga students. They gave me a book called The ABCs of Yoga for Kids. It is a great book with beautiful illustrations, but today was the first day I got to use it while teaching.
What a fantastic book! As part of our class today we took turns choosing letters. And then I would pick one of the poses for that letter. Each pose has a name, a rhyme and an illustration.
I think this is a very well written, well thought out book. It makes a great teacher's companion, and my students really enjoyed exploring the poses in it.
Thank you so much to the lovely young Yoginis for this gift. I'm looking forward to trying out more of the poses in the book with them.
What a fantastic book! As part of our class today we took turns choosing letters. And then I would pick one of the poses for that letter. Each pose has a name, a rhyme and an illustration.
I think this is a very well written, well thought out book. It makes a great teacher's companion, and my students really enjoyed exploring the poses in it.
Thank you so much to the lovely young Yoginis for this gift. I'm looking forward to trying out more of the poses in the book with them.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Procrastination
I've always been a procrastinator. I always enjoyed things when I got to them, but the getting to them was difficult and usually impacted my enjoyment to some extent.
I've realized that a shift is taking place within me that is moving me away from that procrastinating tendency. I used to occasionally postpone my Asana practice. Usually with good reason (indigestion, time, etc). I always got to it later in the day, so no big deal right? Except I kind of felt as if it were hanging over my head all day (make sure you fit that in, make sure you fit that in).
A couple times in the past week I've considered delaying my practice for perfectly valid reasons, and instead I've decided to go forward at the time. And I had a great Yoga practice. It turns out those reasons really didn't impact my practice or the rest of my day. I've finished my practice feeling refreshed and accomplished. A much better way to feel for the rest of my day.
What do you procrastinate doing?
I've realized that a shift is taking place within me that is moving me away from that procrastinating tendency. I used to occasionally postpone my Asana practice. Usually with good reason (indigestion, time, etc). I always got to it later in the day, so no big deal right? Except I kind of felt as if it were hanging over my head all day (make sure you fit that in, make sure you fit that in).
A couple times in the past week I've considered delaying my practice for perfectly valid reasons, and instead I've decided to go forward at the time. And I had a great Yoga practice. It turns out those reasons really didn't impact my practice or the rest of my day. I've finished my practice feeling refreshed and accomplished. A much better way to feel for the rest of my day.
What do you procrastinate doing?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Listening to my Intuition
I've been thinking about intuition a lot lately. I've been "hearing things". Basically my mind just suddenly has what I would call a very loud thought. Something trying to get past the clutter. And I'm learning to listen.
I've been telling my students that if you let your mind and your body get quiet, they will tell you things. I have a student with 2 young kids who yawns through Yoga practice because what her body is telling her she needs is sleep. Many of us have a tendency to think our way through life. What if we used our hearts more than our heads?
I have an ex-boyfriend who used to flip a coin to make seemingly important decisions. Everyone thought he was crazy, but he had a great point. He said that if you flipped the coin, you would either end up relieved because you got what you really wanted to choose or disappointed, which gives you the answer of what you really wanted. Sort of genius.
I am open to the messages coming my way and grateful for the guidance whether it is coming from inner wisdom or from the Divine.
I've been telling my students that if you let your mind and your body get quiet, they will tell you things. I have a student with 2 young kids who yawns through Yoga practice because what her body is telling her she needs is sleep. Many of us have a tendency to think our way through life. What if we used our hearts more than our heads?
I have an ex-boyfriend who used to flip a coin to make seemingly important decisions. Everyone thought he was crazy, but he had a great point. He said that if you flipped the coin, you would either end up relieved because you got what you really wanted to choose or disappointed, which gives you the answer of what you really wanted. Sort of genius.
I am open to the messages coming my way and grateful for the guidance whether it is coming from inner wisdom or from the Divine.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Nadine's Love List
I am in love! With life! With the universe! With the Divine! In honor of Valentine's Day, here's my love list (or at least a selection, otherwise the post might never end).
- Old friends, with a special shout out to the one I walk with most weekends and the one who entrusted her children to me for the day.
- New friends, including all of my friends who are in some type of wellness business.
- My mom.
- My cat.
- My family spread across Canada.
- Yoga.
- Yasodhara Ashram.
- Dhanakosa Buddhist Retreat Centre.
- Camino dark chocolate bar with raspberries (a new find).
- Yummy, healthy food.
- My heart rate monitor.
- My digital scales (body and food).
- My bus companions.
- Walking to work.
- Swimming (but only in the 25 m pool, not that darn 50 m pool).
- MEC socks.
- Efforts clothes.
- Vancouver Island Regional Library.
- The Divine Light Mantra.
- My Yoga students.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Mantra Challenge - 756 Mantras!
Wow! On January 31 I began a Mantra Challenge. In my quest to see how many mantras I could easily fit into a day, I figured it would top out somewhere between 2 and 3 malas (216 or 324 malas).
Today: 7 malas! 756 mantras! What?!?! I'm amazed at all the space I had for mantras. When do I say my mantras? While meditating, showering, getting ready in the morning, making breakfast, making lunch, getting snacks at work, when stressed at work, waiting for the bus, on the bus, walking and driving.
I had no idea I had this much mental space to spare. There were literally hours of my day that I let my mind wander without any real productivity.
Weekends are harder than the weekdays because there is less structure, but I tend to make a couple car trips a day on the weekend so that helps get in the mantras. My one day a week off from working out is the hardest since a lot of my mantras are done then.
I'm still waiting to hit my limit. Yesterday I did 702 mantras and there were still places I could have added them in.
How do I feel? Lighter, happier, more free. Do I say every mantra mindfully? No, my mind still wanders, but I try to bring it back to the mantra when it does that (otherwise it's really easy to lose count).
Do you have a mantra you love enough to repeat every day?
Today: 7 malas! 756 mantras! What?!?! I'm amazed at all the space I had for mantras. When do I say my mantras? While meditating, showering, getting ready in the morning, making breakfast, making lunch, getting snacks at work, when stressed at work, waiting for the bus, on the bus, walking and driving.
I had no idea I had this much mental space to spare. There were literally hours of my day that I let my mind wander without any real productivity.
Weekends are harder than the weekdays because there is less structure, but I tend to make a couple car trips a day on the weekend so that helps get in the mantras. My one day a week off from working out is the hardest since a lot of my mantras are done then.
I'm still waiting to hit my limit. Yesterday I did 702 mantras and there were still places I could have added them in.
How do I feel? Lighter, happier, more free. Do I say every mantra mindfully? No, my mind still wanders, but I try to bring it back to the mantra when it does that (otherwise it's really easy to lose count).
Do you have a mantra you love enough to repeat every day?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Cultivating Perspective
I thought today's post would be on cultivating patience. Patience with those that frustrate me, patience with those that don't understand what I need and patience with myself.
I spent most of today in a funk. I got a frustrating call in the early morning at work, my day didn't change much from there and ended with another frustrating call. I was feeling very "poor me". Poor me that I have to toil away at may day job which doesn't necessarily mesh with my passion (Yoga). Poor me that everyone else thinks what they need from me is so urgent when the things I think are urgent are homelessness, poverty, hunger, cruelty, violence. Poor me that everyone else thinks I can help them in the office when I think I can help them by spreading love through Yoga. Poor me that I can't yet do what I love full-time.
And then, in the middle of my Yoga practice, came the perspective. Poor me? Me, who gets to do what I love? Me, who gets paid really well by a company that is incredibly tolerant of my following my dreams? Me, who needs that job to pay for the mortgage on my pretty big house? Me, who has enough money for food, shelter and lots of unneccessary things? Me, who lives in a country where she experiences all sorts of freedoms unknown elsewhere?
Ah, perspective. I am grateful for what I have. I may sometimes want to be somewhere else in my life, but that's not really relevant. I am where I am. I am on a journey and I want to enjoy all the stops on the way.
I spent most of today in a funk. I got a frustrating call in the early morning at work, my day didn't change much from there and ended with another frustrating call. I was feeling very "poor me". Poor me that I have to toil away at may day job which doesn't necessarily mesh with my passion (Yoga). Poor me that everyone else thinks what they need from me is so urgent when the things I think are urgent are homelessness, poverty, hunger, cruelty, violence. Poor me that everyone else thinks I can help them in the office when I think I can help them by spreading love through Yoga. Poor me that I can't yet do what I love full-time.
And then, in the middle of my Yoga practice, came the perspective. Poor me? Me, who gets to do what I love? Me, who gets paid really well by a company that is incredibly tolerant of my following my dreams? Me, who needs that job to pay for the mortgage on my pretty big house? Me, who has enough money for food, shelter and lots of unneccessary things? Me, who lives in a country where she experiences all sorts of freedoms unknown elsewhere?
Ah, perspective. I am grateful for what I have. I may sometimes want to be somewhere else in my life, but that's not really relevant. I am where I am. I am on a journey and I want to enjoy all the stops on the way.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Reflections on Honesty
Today I'm going to reflect on the second Yama: Satya (truthfulness or honesty). Seems simple right? Not necessarily.
To me honesty includes the big things and the little things. It includes always speaking the truth. And because I love Deborah Adele's book, the other things that honesty means to me is being authentic, honoring who I am, being honest with myself, and constantly re-evaluating what the truth is for me.
I like to think I'm an honest person. But if I'm honest now, I don't always tell the truth. I try to be honest about the big things but I am definitely guilty of the occasional lie of omission. In the past I've had a tendency to lie about the little things. Agree with people's assumptions rather than correct them. I'm still guilty of this one but certainly less often and I'm aware of when it happens.
I have been working for at least the last year on being more authentic and everyday I feel more me. And I'm trying to be honest with both myself and others about who I am and what I want out of life.
What have I learnt? That honesty always feels better. Even when it results in an awful conversation I was avoiding my lying. Because the weight off my shoulders feels so liberating.
What helps me be more honest? Confidence in myself and faith that what's meant to be will be. I just need to take the right path (the one that's calling me).
To me honesty includes the big things and the little things. It includes always speaking the truth. And because I love Deborah Adele's book, the other things that honesty means to me is being authentic, honoring who I am, being honest with myself, and constantly re-evaluating what the truth is for me.
I like to think I'm an honest person. But if I'm honest now, I don't always tell the truth. I try to be honest about the big things but I am definitely guilty of the occasional lie of omission. In the past I've had a tendency to lie about the little things. Agree with people's assumptions rather than correct them. I'm still guilty of this one but certainly less often and I'm aware of when it happens.
I have been working for at least the last year on being more authentic and everyday I feel more me. And I'm trying to be honest with both myself and others about who I am and what I want out of life.
What have I learnt? That honesty always feels better. Even when it results in an awful conversation I was avoiding my lying. Because the weight off my shoulders feels so liberating.
What helps me be more honest? Confidence in myself and faith that what's meant to be will be. I just need to take the right path (the one that's calling me).
Saturday, February 5, 2011
TV and Yoga
Last night I taught a very different Yoga class. It was my usual full figured Yoga class with my usual students. What was different? Shaw TV was here filming. Not your typical Yoga class.
A friend connected me with Kait Burgan at Shaw TV and Kait came to film the class. She filmed the entire class and an interview with me after. She'll edit it into a short segment to show on our local cable channel.
I am so proud of my students for allowing Kait to come in and film us. I know it's not easy to put yourself out there like that. I love public speaking and I was still sometimes disconcerted by the camera. But my students were great; other than the blazing lights and camera, it felt like a regular Yoga class.
I found it funny that both of these women were fine with being filmed but when Kait asked them a question on camera at the end, they both shot me a look of "I didn't sign up for this". I owe them both big time.
Why did I choose to let Shaw come into my home and tape a class? Because I'm hoping that other people who don't think they'd be comfortable in a Yoga class (full figured or not) will see this and realize that a Yoga class can be a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment. And not everyone who teaches or does Yoga fits into Lululemon's clothes.
The segment will hopefully start airing on Tuesday night for those in the Central Vancouver Island area. For those outside the area, it will be on Facebook when it's done airing on TV and I will have a link to it on my Facebook page.
A friend connected me with Kait Burgan at Shaw TV and Kait came to film the class. She filmed the entire class and an interview with me after. She'll edit it into a short segment to show on our local cable channel.
I am so proud of my students for allowing Kait to come in and film us. I know it's not easy to put yourself out there like that. I love public speaking and I was still sometimes disconcerted by the camera. But my students were great; other than the blazing lights and camera, it felt like a regular Yoga class.
I found it funny that both of these women were fine with being filmed but when Kait asked them a question on camera at the end, they both shot me a look of "I didn't sign up for this". I owe them both big time.
Why did I choose to let Shaw come into my home and tape a class? Because I'm hoping that other people who don't think they'd be comfortable in a Yoga class (full figured or not) will see this and realize that a Yoga class can be a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment. And not everyone who teaches or does Yoga fits into Lululemon's clothes.
The segment will hopefully start airing on Tuesday night for those in the Central Vancouver Island area. For those outside the area, it will be on Facebook when it's done airing on TV and I will have a link to it on my Facebook page.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Mantra Challenge - 216 Mantras
I've taught a couple of mantra meditations recently. In it I've talked about various mantras including the Divine Light mantra: I am created by Divine Light, I am sustained by Divine Light, I am protected by Divine Light, I am surrounded by Divine Light, I am ever growing into Divine Light. I've also talked about the lore that if you repeat the Divine Light mantra 1,000 times a day for 45 days that you will reach enlightenment. My response has always been: !?!? Not the path for me.
Then I started wondering how many mantras I could fit in a day. Not by making extra time to sit and do mantras but by fitting it into my existing day. I could have just taken 1 day and done as many mantras as I could but that seemed a little too extreme. So I decided to start at a specific point (108 mantras) and then try and add 54 mantras each day until I reach a point where I'm doing all the mantras I think I can. Then I'll decide where to go from there.
On Day 1, I started with 1 mala (108 mantras), Day 2 was 162 mantras and Day 3 (today) is 216 mantras.
How is it going? Great. I will actually have more than 216 mantras by the time I get through my evening meditation. Today I recited mantras during my meditation, my shower, waiting for the bus, on the bus and walking to work.
How does it feel? I'm really enjoying it. I love it during meditation but I also love it during my everyday activities.
Then I started wondering how many mantras I could fit in a day. Not by making extra time to sit and do mantras but by fitting it into my existing day. I could have just taken 1 day and done as many mantras as I could but that seemed a little too extreme. So I decided to start at a specific point (108 mantras) and then try and add 54 mantras each day until I reach a point where I'm doing all the mantras I think I can. Then I'll decide where to go from there.
On Day 1, I started with 1 mala (108 mantras), Day 2 was 162 mantras and Day 3 (today) is 216 mantras.
How is it going? Great. I will actually have more than 216 mantras by the time I get through my evening meditation. Today I recited mantras during my meditation, my shower, waiting for the bus, on the bus and walking to work.
How does it feel? I'm really enjoying it. I love it during meditation but I also love it during my everyday activities.
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