Day 267 Intention ~ Keep Balanced

Day 267 Intention ~ Keep Balanced

Sunday was the fall equinox and on that day the daylight and nightfall are an equal 12 hours each. It brings me to think about balance. As fall starts, many of us throw ourselves back into work or school activities, football, upcoming holidays and all sorts of things after a lazy summer and forget to take time for oneself. 

I am the same way. I like the activity that gets stirred up once everything gets back to normal, but being in a constant state of "go" can burn you out...fast.

So, remember to find balance in your life. Take some time for you to replenish so that you can enjoy all of those great fall activities. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia 

Day 92 Intention ~ Lose the Ego

Day 92 Intention ~ Lose the Ego

Yoga. It's so funny. It always knows what I need to hear. Just in the last 15 hours or so, ego keeps getting mentioned in whichever yoga writings I end up reading. 

Whether it's a slow class, a disagreement, a failed handstand attempt or just trying to be heard, I, like everyone else, will let my ego take over at times. 

That's when those yoga lessons sneak their way in...

I am currently reading Richard Freeman's book, The Mirror of Yoga:Awakening the Intelligence of Body and Mind, (highly recommend by the way!) and the parts I was reading last night discussed ego getting in the way of kundalini rising. As soon as we get excited about freeing kundalini, the ego is there to bring it back down. 

Then this morning, I was reading the Jivamukti focus of the month, and one of the suggested mantras to chant was from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras:

PYS III:38

Te samadhav upasarga vyutthane.

By giving up the love of power, you attain the power of love.

Lose the ego. If we can let go of our egos, we can truly open our heart and find pure love in the Self. 

Is it easy? Heck no, it's not easy! But, we can try and try and try again. That is all we can do. That is all we can ask of ourselves to do. If we truly and purely try, it will happen and all that we need will come our way. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 86 Intention ~ Be True

Day 86 Intention ~ Be True

PYS II:36 - Satya Pratisthayam Kriya Phalasrayatvam.

To one established in truthfulness, actions and their results become subservient. 

Satya means truthfulness. It is one of the yamas, or ethical guidelines in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. As Swami Satchidananda describes it in his book interpreting the Yoga Sutras, "With establishment in honesty, the state of fearlessness comes. One need not be afraid of anybody and can always lead an open life. When there are no lies, the entire life becomes an open book. But this comes only with an absolutely honest mind." 

So, being true in words, actions, and thoughts. The more we are true, the easier it becomes. For a yogi, even telling little white lies must end. The mind must become clear and true in order to see the bigger Truth in ones Self. 

Pattabhi Jois is known for saying, "Practice and all is coming." This also applies to practicing the yamas and niyamas...and speaking, feeling and living the truth. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 81 Intention ~ Reconnect With Myself

Day 81 Intention ~ Reconnect with Myself

A.k.a. have a night to myself. Unfortunately, my husband drove to Indiana today to attend his aunt's funeral. I was unable to make the trek out of town with him. Although it is a sad situation, I am trying to make the most of it. 

At first, I had a big list of all of the chores I wanted to get done while I had the house to myself...and yes, I did a few of them. But now, I just want to savor a little bit of space and time to myself. Of course I miss my husband, but I am never alone when I can just relax and not have to run off anywhere for the rest of the evening. I can listen to what I want, watch what I want...do what I want! Not that I can't do that other times, but when someone else is around, there's more discussion to find a common ground on what is happening. 

It's important for everyone to reconnect with their own thoughts and feelings from time to time...or just plain relax without having to worry about anybody else. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 72 Intention ~ Teach From My Heart

Day 72 Intention ~ Teach From My Heart

It happens to us all no matter what type of work we do...some days we are just feeling it more than other days. Teaching yoga is no different. There are days when I don't want to get out of bed or leave the house. This morning was one of those mornings, it may be the slight congestion I was feeling in my chest, or the need for more sleep, but I just didn't want to get up. 

But then I think about my students. I try to teach a class that I would want to attend. The students give me the energy and excitement to just flow from my heart, offering them whatever little knowledge I have, so that they can get a little closer to their inner Self. I am always happy when I see a students smile after class knowing that I gave it my heart and was as pure as I could be for them, for yoga, for me. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 71 Intention ~ Stop Watching the Pot

Day 71 Intention ~ Stop Watching the Pot

You know the old saying, "a watched pot never boils"...well, I keep watching the "pot" and, believe me, it isn't boiling. Whether it's waiting for responses in emails, a check to arrive in the mail, or a sign from above, it's not coming because I am sitting here watching and waiting. 

Trying to let the mind go to other things rather than focusing on the things that I can't get to right at this moment is difficult, but necessary. 

It's also a practice.

Just as in yoga asana, when you are trying to fold a little bit deeper, but your body is tightening up because you're thinking about it too much. As soon as you let go of the idea in your head and focus on the breath, the body starts to open. 

When you want something to happen so badly, you can't stop thinking about it or you start to get impatient about it, the universe will make you wait and breathe and let go. Release, so that it may open up to you. Stop holding on so tightly to those outside things. Let the mind relax, so that it can expand. And then usually, once you let go, that email arrives, or the mailman turns onto your street, or you delve deeper into your inner Self than you ever imagined. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 59 Intention ~ Withdraw the Senses

Day 59 Intention ~ Withdraw the Senses

Withdraw the senses for just a few moments. In yoga it is called pratyahara. When we cover our eyes, plug our ears and nose, and try not to taste or feel, we can go inward. Our mind can clear and allow us to look at that inner self a little bit more. Discover what is going on inside rather than in the material world. 

We are constantly bombarded with outside stimuli. The television, radio, cars driving by, other people, animals, work, computers, email, telephones, eating, drinking, smells and on and on and on; allowing ourselves to remove our senses from these distractions can feel like taking a bath for our mind and our soul. Doing some inner cleansing so that we can personally and spiritually go deeper. 

It is also great for the rest of your day. It makes your material decisions and thoughts more coherent, your behavior calmer and more pleasant and your heart may just feel more open too. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 26 Intention ~ Know that I already have all the tools...

Day 26 Intention ~ Know that I (and you!) already have all the tools inside.

It's true. 

OM 
Namah Shivaya GuraveI honor the essence of Being, the Auspicious One, the luminous Teacher within and without,

Saccidananda Murtaye
Who assumes the forms of Truth, Consciousness, and Bliss,
Nisprapancaya ShantayaIs never absent, full of peace,
Niralambaya TejaseUltimately free and sparkles with a divine luster.
OM

This mantra rings in my head, especially if I am entering a new situation that I am not quite sure what to expect...especially a teaching situation. I interpret this mantra as the divine always being present in all of us and that we all already have everything we need. It's just a matter of uncovering that divine, that light in us all...the Self. The I-Am. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia