Less Thinking

Further to a previous blog, today I'm talking about less thinking. Just like writing, thinking is another thing that is good for me...to a point.

Thinking about something is good. Over-thinking doesn't do me any favors. Sometimes I find myself in a loop of thinking about the same thing over and over.

This affects me in a lot of different areas of my life. I used to be an impulse shopper, but now I've almost gone to the other end and often research things for ages and, in the end, don't make a purchase.

I can easily go off on a tangent with my thoughts. As an example I may decide I want to take a Yoga retreat. Then I spend hours looking at options online, researching, planning. And then I decide not to go.

Thinking is good. Research is good. But I am practicing recognizing when enough is enough and it's time to make a decision.

This goes hand in hand with the Less Writing, a chance to get out of my head.

Less Writing

Expanding on a previous blog, today I want to talk about less writing. Actually, I guess I'm writing about less writing (yikes).

There are two places I write. In my journal and on my blog.

Journaling can be a really beneficial process. I've used it a lot over the years and I'm sure I will continue to use it in the future. However, one thing I've noticed is that when I write something out, when I acknowledge awareness of the things going on in my mind, I stop there. I'm proud of myself for figuring it out, but don't actually go to the next step of changing my patterns. So, while I'll continue to use my journal in some ways, I'm journalling a little less to allow myself to not get stuck in the trap of observation over action.

And my blog? What's wrong with writing here? Nothing. But why do I do it? Part of it is a need to share with others. The idea that I need to share my thoughts for them to be complete. And while I can share my thoughts, I'm also working on practicing keeping some of them to myself.

Less Reading

I previously blogged about less reading, less writing, less thinking, more doing. Today I'll expand on less reading.

I don't actually mean less reading. I love to read. I read both fiction and non-fiction and will continue to do so. By less reading, I mean less reading for an answer.

I know the answer. I have a path. Mindfulness meditation. And then I'll see a book and be drawn to it. While I know the path might naturally change directions, I also see that what I'm doing in that moment is looking for an easier path. Looking to escape the work that needs to be done.

So the less reading is less reading for an answer. I will still read for enjoyment, inspiration and to broaden my horizons.

Weekend Retreat

This past weekend I was at a meditation retreat put on by Westcoast Dharma Society, led by Howard Cohen. It was a great weekend. It was good to get some solid meditation practice hours in.

I always find certain things come to me more clearly during meditation retreats. I've had a recurring theme come up over the last month or so. And it came to me again during the meditation retreat.

Less reading, less writing, less thinking, more doing.

...Hopefully I've piqued your interest. Stay tuned.

Reflexology for Neck Pain

I have had a lot of neck pain for the last week. For years I've been a stomach sleeper and have been unsuccessful every other time I tried to change it. However, this week I easily switched to side sleeping. While my neck hasn't gotten worse, it also hasn't gotten any better.

So, I'm going to give reflexology a try. I found these two sites and I'll give it a try over the next few days:

• Neck Pain Relief: Use Reflexology to Feel Better
• Reflexology for Neck Pain

August Love List

20 things I'm loving right now:

1. That Shaw is coming to fix our PVR today (I feel like we've been thrown back several decades the last few days).
2. Library books - I love always having new books to read.
3. Lemon Poppyseed muffins.
4. Walking to work.
5. Good night's sleep.
6. My cat visiting me in bed.
7. Banana orange smoothie.
8. Making plans to visit MEC and UBC.
9. Evaluating where I'm at and where I'd like to go from here.
10. Fresh veggies from the garden.
11. Supernatural Season 1 DVD should arrive today.
12. That I found restaurants online for my upcoming trip to Vancouver so I don't have to stress about where to eat.
13. Mom doing so much baking and cooking for us.
14. My YMX shirt.
15. Homemade iced tea.
16. My ipod playlists.
17. Watermelon.
18. Quiet, lazy days.
19. Eating both SCD and vegetarian.
20. Reading in bed in the morning.

Week 32 Challenge - Finding My Flow

This year I decided to challenge myself to reflect on various Yoga and Buddhist aspects throughout the year. The challenges come from a variety of places including readings in Deborah Adele's Yamas and Niyamas and Thich Nhat Hanh's Heart of the Buddha's Teaching and Happiness.
This week I challenged myself to find my flow. I love activity (or exercise). I love moving my body. But inertia is an amazing thing. If I spend too long sitting still, I can have a hard time getting myself moving on a regular basis again.

I've been working on walking partway to work for a while. This week I challenged myself to walk the entire distance (6 km) and I did it twice.

I love walking and when I do a longer walk like the one to work, I can feel myself getting back into my flow. I get to a point when moving isn't effort, when I feel connected to the earth and all the natural world around me, when I'm just happy.

I feel as if I crossed an imaginary line. I look forward to continuing to enjoy my walks to work and carrying that flow throughout my day.

Yoga's Evolution

Just like many things in our society, Yoga's evolution has started to happen quicker and quicker in recent years. Yoga is everywhere now. Yoga is being mass marketed and used in popular advertising from clothing to yogurt and everything in between. You can find Dog Yoga, Acrobat Yoga, etc.

Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

I do think that Yoga is diluted in many of these off-shoots. Many people think Yoga is purely a physical practice and many teachers (myself included) have a predominant focus on the physical aspects in class. Many people don't know and may never know of the deeper practices and benefits of the other Yoga practices such as pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (sensory withdrawl), etc.

On the flip side, the general dilution is what has made Yoga accessible to others. Some people only want the physical benefits of Yoga (which are great). Some people would be turned off by an overly philosophical class. And the vast variety of asana (physical Yoga) classes out there, means that Yoga has the opportunity to touch more people. My classes are very gentle and have lots of modifications for those that need them. Other teacher's classes are more vigorous. Some classes have chanting. Some have meditation. In this way, people can explore and find the Yoga style that works best for them and reach out to explore Yoga's non-physical aspects if they are drawn to.

For me, I teach a predominantly physical class, with some breath awareness and a philosophical reading. But for my personal practice, I am drawn to the more spiritual aspects of Yoga.

I think Alice Walton discusses this issue great in her article: The Great Yoga Debate

Yoga at Home

I enjoy reading The Feeble Yogi. Most of the time he is blogging about the Yoga classes he takes. However, I encourage you to read this post. He talks about enjoying a great home practice. My favorite part: "While I enjoy having an instructor, a studio, and fellow yogis around me, I do not require these things to practice yoga. I am learning how to do yoga on the inside."
While I love teaching Yoga, I am always happy when people tell me they are practicing at home as I think that is when Yoga really sinks into your being.

Week 31 Challenge - Keeping My Mouth Shut

This year I decided to challenge myself to reflect on various Yoga and Buddhist aspects throughout the year. The challenges come from a variety of places including readings in Deborah Adele's Yamas and Niyamas and Thich Nhat Hanh's Heart of the Buddha's Teaching and Happiness.

This week I am contemplating a quote I read at some point. I can't tell you who it was or quote it exactly, but the gist is that the benefit of practicing silence is because we can all use some practice keeping our minds to ourselves.

I recognize and appreciate the irony that I am now blogging about this particular contemplation.

I know that I often fall prey to the belief that something hasn't really been experienced until I've shared it with another. It's been a point I've worked on making a little progress on for a while.

The first one I looked at this week is negative gossip at the office. It is so easy to be drawn into some sort of complaining or outrage at others actions. And I always walk away with a bad taste in my mouth. It's not something I'm proud of and I don't feel like there is anything productive that comes out of it. So for now, I'm working on not letting myself get drawn into that cycle.

The other one I looked at is really pervasive both at work and in my teaching. It is essentially the overshare. I think about this one a fair amount. I am who I am, and that means I'm going to be on the friendly side. But at work I sometimes go out of my way to share something personal with someone who is working. I have been actively working on curbing this tendency and letting whatever it is go. In my teaching, while my classes are of the chattier variety, I still want my students to have some quiet and space for their own focus and reflection.

And, for me, the trick is looking at what is at the root of these habits. When I'm engaging in some form of negative talk, I feel as if I'm trying to connect with the person I'm talking to. It is a type of bonding and in doing that I'm looking for their approval. But I know that the only person whose approval matters is my own, so I will continue to work at keeping many of my thoughts to myself.

Review - Sattva: Energetically Encoded Music for Activating Shakti

iAwake Technologies sent me this for review: Sattva: Energetically Encoded Music for Activating Shakti

What is it?

I think of it as Music Plus. On the surface it is some nice soothing music without lyrics. However, what you can't hear is the key. Using "neural and biofield entrainment technology" the music is designed to "evoke a pure, sattvic field of deep relaxation, peace, mental clarity, joy and somatic balance."

How did I use it?

I listened to the music in two situations. During my morning meditations and while riding the bus. I wanted to see what I thought of it in some different situations.

What did I think?

For starters, I'm not a background music type of person. I don't play music during my Yoga practice or during my meditation practice (unless it's mantra meditation). When I listen to music, it is my popular music playlist for specific scenarios (walking, boxing, etc). But, having said that, I enjoyed the general music.

During my meditation, I found the music mildly distracting (as I find any music); however, at the same time it gave me something to focus on if my mind did wander. It helped lead me back to my breath quicker than usual. However, in the long run, I don't really like having music on while I meditate.

On the bus, it wasn't my favorite. If I want to listen to music on the bus I tend to use my music for mantra meditation. The Sattva music wasn't objectionable, but it also wasn't really noticeable because of the noise of the bus.

So far I've talked about the music itself, because it is hard to review the actual intent of the music. In such a short time (1 week) it was hard to tell whether any more peace brought into my life was the result of the music or other practices (or more likely, a combination).

But, I believe in this technology. And I believe in the power of intention. And (also important), I think it's nice music. So, I am going to try and find somewhere to incorporate this into my day where it fits well. And I think that, in the long term, it will help me on my spiritual path.