Day 345 Intention ~ Keep Learning

Day 345 Intention ~ Keep Learning

There is so much going on in this world, in this life, that there is no reason to not keep learning through it all. It keeps life exciting and new and helps us from becoming stagnant. 

Besides, nobody likes a know it all anyhow!

In yoga, I am still always learning. I have been teaching for just about 4 years now, and practiced for years longer than that, but yet, I still learn something every class I take. It may not be about a pose, but often, it's something about myself. How I react to certain movements, what it brings out in my body and my mind...and, yes, no day is ever exactly the same. 

When I was in teacher training, I remember it being said at one point that as soon as you think you know it all, you know nothing. I have always tried to keep that in mind as I teach and as I take class. I think it's a great mantra for beyond the class too. 

As soon as we think we know everything, we start to close ourselves off in a way. We aren't open to new ideas, we are definitely never wrong and we slowly become all about the ego again. I, me, mine. We forget that we are all living and breathing as one, it may appear we are living separate existences, and from certain angles we are, but in the grand scope of the universe and life, we are all part of the same beating energy and breath. What I do effects you and vice versa and on and on. So, let's try to keep open. 

Breathe deep, lift your chest and your heart and open your arms to the universe and all it has to offer. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 340 Intention ~ Take a breath...or several

Day 340 Intention ~ Take a breath...or several

Long, slow breaths are so healthy for us. They help the heart rate go down, can lower blood pressure and calm the nervous system. This can allow us to sleep better and yes, calm the mind. 

Today I will be teaching people how to breathe. I still get a little nervous (good nervous) going into situations with people I've never met, and leading a group. I think that is normal, and believe me, in middle & high school, even most of college, the idea of talking in front of the group would give me heart palpitations that could be heard in China. So, I feel like I have grown in that respect. Ironically, practicing the same thing I am going to teach these folks today will allow me to be calm when teaching them!

Lots of it is yoga, lots of it is learning how to breathe. 

Let's go over just a simple breath that you can take with you if you are ever feeling stressed whether at work, driving, at home or if you can sleep. 

Ujjayi breath, which means victorious breath, starts by sitting or standing up, nice and tall. (If you can't sleep, you can still do this laying down, but be sure you are laying on your back.) Lift the pelvic floor and let the shoulders draw back and down, the chest will lift. The head and neck are in line with the spine with the top of the head drawing up toward the sky. 

Start to breathe in and out through your nose. Find a constriction in the back of the throat in the glottis. With the mouth closed, start to pull the air from the throat although you are still breathing in and out from the nose. The breath will become audible. Some compare it to the ocean, some compare it to Darth Vader, but just know, you will be able to hear it. It does take practice though. Feel your body open and expand with the breath in and contract with the breath out. Practice 10- 40 rounds of this breath. You can even count the breath in and out, trying to find the same count or trying to find a longer count for the exhale. 

Happy breathing!

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 322 Intention ~ Open My Heart

Day 322 Intention ~ Open My Heart

Giving and receiving love, compassion, kindness. Accepting others and yourself with open arms. When we give love, it tends to swing back our way. The old "what goes around comes around" quote comes to mind here. 

So why do we close ourselves off sometimes? Usually because we've been hurt and it's hard to put ourselves in a vulnerable position again. We tend to guard our hearts. Physically, we may start to slouch or roll our shoulders forward in a protective posture. Unfortunately, this physical action over time can cause us lots of tightness in the shoulders or our backs start to hurt, our posture suffers, even our breath is cut off a bit. Mentally, the more we close off, the harder it is to open up again. 

What can we do? 

First, we need to forgive and let go of our past hurt. Learn that we can't move forward until this happens. Easier said than done, but at least affirm to yourself that you are deserving of love in this world. 

Physically, bring the shoulderblades onto the back, sit up tall and work on the breath for starters. Start to activate the lungs, letting the chest open. Backbends and shoulder openers are key to getting the chest and the heart open. Backbends could include a locust pose variation that includes clasping the hands behind the back, camel pose, or even just arching back in mountain pose. Just be mindful to draw the navel towards the spine and the tailbone towards the floor to protect the lower back. In camel and when arching back in mountain, really lengthen the spine, lifting the chest and let the backbend start from the upper back as much as possible. Shoulder openers could include cow face pose arms or eagle arms. I have also found that taking binds in poses like extended side angle or triangle pose (if available) have really helped in opening my shoulders over time. If taking the bind, particularly in these two poses, be sure to continue to lengthen the spine on the inhale and rotate the chest towards the sky on the exhale. 

Doing these types of poses will help give you energy and fill your heart with love and acceptance. 

Sending you all best wishes for an open heart that is ready to not only give, but also to receive. Remember, you deserve it. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 320 Intention ~ Make Like A Turtle

Day 320 Intention ~ Make Like A Turtle

This time of year can be windy, stormy and honestly make people feel a little flighty. Finding solid ground is important to feel balanced. So instead of acting like hare today, trying to be fast and multitask...go go go, quick, quick, quick, I am taking the tortoise route, slow & steady to win the race. 

As always, as with everyone, there are things that need to be done. One at a time is the way. Keeping things calm, cool and collected is how I would like to handle today instead of rushing and stressing out. 

Things that can help with this are grounding poses in yoga.

Baddha konasana ~ bound angle pose: sitting on the floor with the outer edges of the feet together, knees open wide. Breathe in and sit up nice and tall, draw the shoulders down away from the ears. Keep that nice long spine and then fold forward. The chest draws towards the toes. For grounding, close the eyes to go a little bit deeper. Take 5 breaths here...if you are feeling particularly flighty, stay as long as you need. Inhale and come back up. 

Bheki ~ child's pose: start on your hands and knees. Bring the big toes to touch and spread the knees wide. Sink your hips back towards your heels and rest your forehead on the floor. Reach the arms forward. If you have knee issues, roll a blanket up like a burrito and place it right behind the knees to take some of the pressure off. If the shoulders are tight, bring the knees a bit closer together and reach the hands back towards the ankles rather than reaching forward. 

Supta baddha konasana ~ reclined bound angle pose: set your legs up just as in baddha konasana, but walk your hands behind you and mindfully lay onto your back. Rest one hand on your heart and one on your navel, or both on your navel. Let your eyes close and start to count your breath in. As you breathe out, try to find a longer count. Do this for several rounds. Slowing the breath down is a great way to calm the mind and the body, allowing us to relax and feel grounded again. 

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday & try out these poses to help you feel grounded if you are feeling a little "windy" today. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 314 Intention ~ Make It A Sunday Fun Workday

Day 314 Intention ~ Make It A Sunday Fun Workday

It used to be that Sunday was my only day off. That is still usually the case, but really, even if were doing stuff like chores at home, it's still work. We just aren't getting paid. 

Today, I am working. I already wrote an article for Examiner.com, I am subbing a class and then I am off to the JAK studio for one more workday before they head off to the Grand Central show for the next 6 weeks. 

It's Sunday. That's all. It's just the name of the week. No hang ups. The only downfall is that John is home on Sunday, but we hung out all day yesterday. 

Luckily, I enjoy all of my jobs: writing, teaching and whatever task the ladies of JAK will have me doing. Writing makes me feel like I am purging a little bit. Releasing words from my head for all of you to see. Teaching is just inspiring for me. Getting to help people get stronger and feel better, for some, just reteaching them to breathe and letting them know it will be okay is a fantastic feeling. Working at JAK is so completely different from anything else I do that it is so good for me to expand my horizons. I also get to work with two of my best friends, so there is always lots of laughter AND I get to spend time with them to boot. Win-win. 

So, although it's Sunday and I will be working all day, I am happy. It will be fun & there's no use to getting hung up on what day of the week it is anyhow. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 291 Intention ~ Take A Breath

Day 291 Intention ~ Take A Breath

When I woke up this morning, my mind immediately started going down the list of things I wanted to get done before this evening. Tonight is my husband's first art show in over 10 years and although I am really proud and excited for him, it means there are many tasks to accomplish beyond the norm. 

Preparing for the in-laws, ie: make our house not look like quite a mess was number 1. It was one of those mornings in which the internet wasn't working, I was dropping everything, things just didn't seem to go right no matter what I did. 

Then, I took a very short moment to do some yoga (I mean very short, but some is better than none!) Once I started to breathe and move, even if it was only for 20 minutes, my mind started to clear and I realized that it's up to me how I handle this day.

Now, I am excited again and not dreading all of the lead up. 

So, if that stress wells up again inside of me, I know to practice what I preach, step aside and breathe, even if it's only for a moment it will help. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 283 Intention ~ Enjoy This Day

Day 283 Intention ~ Enjoy This Day

Saw this on Facebook this morning from the Yogi Times page and thought that that sounded like a good idea. I think that most of us intend on doing that each day, but then get sucked into our work lives, our family concerns, financial or emotional issues...life, the ego. 

Learning to accept each moment as it is without judgement, without attaching to it because it really is just a moment, is one way to truly enjoy each moment...enjoy the day. 

Of course the pressures of the modern world can sidetrack us, but if you can find at least one moment to stop, take a breath, and be present right then, you may find that things aren't that bad. 

Have a great Thursday! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 231 Intention ~ Be Understanding...and Kind

Day 231 Intention ~ Be Understanding...and Kind

In my line of work you deal with the general public...a lot. Many ask me questions before or after class about either some of the yoga poses we did in class that day, about certain studios/teachers, or other general yoga questions. 

Of course, I am always open to these questions and love when my students are interested in learning more. 

Every once in awhile, someone just keeps going and going. There are definitely people that need a little more hand holding in class and after class. Although I do try to be understanding, it can get to me at times. Today, I can feel that I have a bit of an annoyance coming on when it comes to a certain student, which is NOT how I want to feel or act towards this person. 

So, today, I am trying to remind myself to be understanding and kind to this student. This is my intention. But first, a few deep breaths in and out. :)

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 202 Intention ~ Listen to the Birds

Day 202 Intention ~ Listen to the Birds

Outdoor yoga. As much as I enjoy it, sometimes in a crowded park, it can be distracting. Granted, I realize that that is part of the lesson of yoga. Find focus in yourself, in your breathe, but when kids are yelling f-bombs while you are trying to attain bliss in savasana...it's difficult even for the most seasoned, enlightened yogi (no, I am not referring to me, in case you thought that I was!) 

So, with the madness going on around our little class on the grass, I just tried to listen to the birds instead of the conversations and loud discussions going on around me. 

Sometimes there aren't birds around when you find yourself getting distracted. In this type of a case, come back to the breath. Start to count the inhales and the exhales, either finding the same count for each or perhaps making the exhales longer. This is one way to bring the focus back in and let those pesky outside thoughts float away. 

This doesn't just help with your yoga practice, it can bring more focus to your life in general whether it's at work, when you are driving, playing a sport...whatever you do! 

Enjoy the day & if you find yourself getting distracted and stressed, listen to the birds.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 171 Intention ~ Accept My Practice

Day 171 Intention ~ Accept My Practice

A.k.a., lose the ego. I just went to a class with a teacher that I have never gone to before for a demo class at one of the studios where I teach. As we moved through the poses, I felt super tight and my quads just felt tired. 

I noticed that as I was struggling, my mind started to wander and I started to get frustrated with my own practice. I would draw back into the breath and find a little recovery from my own mind. 

Then, just as soon as I found a little santosha,  I tried to enter bird of paradise (which I love!) and suddenly the burrito I ate for lunch earlier decided that my core was not ready to contract and lift, I fell back into that land of frustration again. 

What is going on?? Why is my ego taking over today in class?? Do I not constantly remind my students to be accepting of your practice that day??!! 

As I once again noticed my thought patterns and brought myself back into the breath, I finally felt a little bit of calm. I felt a little bit of peace within my own mind. I found a little bit of yoga. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 163 Intention ~ Suck It Up

Day 163 Intention ~ Suck It Up

Yep, that's my own personal pep talk for today. Although I get to work for myself and do what I love to make a living, some days, frankly, I am tired and a bit unmotivated. Today happens to be one of those days. But, with two classes to go to sub in 90 minutes, it's time to rally my brain and emotions into finding some perk & passion for these classes tonight. 

It is usually just getting myself out the door that is toughest and then once in the situation, it's all fine. It's really just mind over matter at this point. I am sure many people go through this on a daily basis for a variety of things, so the reality is, I am lucky that this doesn't happen all the time. 

The step to changing one's mind is, well, consciously deciding to change one's mind and attitude on the topic. Maybe that means doing an inversion of some sort like a handstand or headstand, or taking some deep breaths to get there, but you find what works and you go for it. 

So, wish me luck! And I hope that you are able to enjoy whatever it is you have to do today...namaste.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 135 Intention ~ Pull the Weeds

Day 135 Intention ~ Pull the Weeds

Out of my mind! Sure, there's weeds outside too, but today, I am just trying to find some clarity. Too many things have been yanking my brain one way & then another these days and focus has been a struggle. Hence, yesterday's post about not being able to stay in savasana lately. 

In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, one of the limbs of the yogic path is dharana. A single-pointed focus. Trying to focus on one thing, it could be a mantra or an image, helps bring clarity. This then leads to the next limb, dhyana, when one actually is meditating. Dharana is a great place to start, along with the breath to bring my mind back to me and "pull some of these weeds."

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 114 Intention ~ Stay Productive

Day 114 Intention ~ Stay Productive

I've been in vacation mode ever since we got back to Cleveland at 3 a.m. Monday morning. Luckily for me, I've only had a few classes and work that I can do at home since we returned. But today, I am kicked back into full gear and need to stay productive to get it all done. 

I used to just go into a frenzy whenever I had a long laundry list of things I needed to get done. Now, I think of the tortoise and the hare. Slow & steady win the race. 

As with our asana practice, keeping the breath slow & steady gives us strength and a more calming meditative effect to our poses. If we breathe into each pose whether it's vinyasa flow or just when holding a pose, we find that the body starts to open, tense muscles start to release and we discover new spaces and strength in ourselves. We also notice the mind starts to focus and remain calm. 

When we are stressed out, the breath becomes shortened, if not, barely there. This leads the body to react and tense up. Muscles strain, the mind becomes fuzzy and unclear and we may feel hopeless. Stop here. Try to notice when this is happening, and stop. Take (at least) 10 nice slow calm breaths and regroup. If you can keep this breath throughout your day, no matter what is going on around you, you will find that you will be able to get more done and stay productive. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 104 Intention ~ Slow Down

Day 104 Intention ~ Slow Down

I remember the first class I ever took with my teacher, Marni Task. At the time, I was pretty new to hot power vinyasa. Sure, I had done vinyasa in a room temperature setting, I had also practiced hot yoga, but Bikram, not in a flowing vinyasa. I found that I would often struggle to find ujjayi breath in these hot classes and would stumble and bumble my way through the poses as fast as I could. 

She came up to me and told me to slow down. And, guess what, it changed my practice. To this day I think of that when I am moving a little bit slower in class than the 20 year olds around me or when I am teaching and I see a student rushing through chatturanga, and upward facing dog. 

When you slow it down, you can feel your breath, heck, you can feel the pose. I have heard comments from different people who think moving more slowly is easier or more "beginner". Holding the poses longer is not easier in my book...I feel that it builds more strength and allows you to go deeper. 

It is beginner friendly because that newer student has a chance to get into the pose with more time, they also get to feel it in their bodies and make adjustments in alignment if needed. They get to find union between their breath and their body...connection...yoga. 

Today, 4 years after that first class, Marni reminded me (and the whole class) to slow it down again. This time coming out of savasana pose. As we all started to wiggle our fingers and toes ready to roll up and om...ready to move on to the rest of our day, she reminded us to slow it down, to move as if you are just learning how to use those muscles again. It was a nice reminder for that moment and for the rest of my day.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 94 Intention ~ Keep Plugging Away...

Day 94 Intention ~ Keep plugging away...and breathing.

From about 3 a.m. on this morning I kept waking up just about every 5 to 10 minutes. I had gotten to bed a little later than normal and had to get up at 6 a.m. 

With 4 classes and an article due tomorrow that I won't have any time to finish tomorrow, I knew today was going to be a busy day. I guess that's why I kept waking up...I guess. 

But, rather than allow stress to take over, I just kept plugging away with my less than stellar sleep and with my breath. So far so good. Three classes down and the article shaping up, I am feeling pretty good about things. Usually when I stress and freak out about things, they only get worse. Breathing and letting it happen as it will, and just continuing to work has let it all fall into place. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 61 Intention ~ Enjoy Community

Day 61 Intention ~ Enjoy Community

In yoga, a group of like-minded individuals is called a satsang. As I scanned across the room in my class this afternoon, I noticed the people. All these beautiful faces, some familiar, some new, all in that space for that 75 minutes for yoga. There were 2 new to me students today that couldn't have been more different from each other, but their smiles resonated the same joy, the same openness, the same light that made them one. Now, I can't begin to know what each of their intentions for class were or what got them to make their way to class today, but they were all there, at the same time, to practice yoga. This is one thing we were all like-minded about, hence creating our own little satsang for that moment in time. It's an amazing thing to share that energy and breath with people that are so open to what you are saying and teaching. 

This evening, I am going out to see some live music. It will be a different sort of satsang I suppose. A group of people in my community, whether I know them or not, that share a love of music, and this band or this style of music. I am hoping to embrace everyone and feel like part of this musical satsang tonight. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 60 Intention ~ Take a Walk

Day 60 Intention ~ Take A Walk

March in Cleveland. The beginning of the month starts just as cold and snowy as the rest of winter usually, but for most people, myself included, the winter doldrums have set in. Long passed are those feelings of excitement over the first snow or how pretty everything looks with the holiday lights on the houses outside. The excitement of a new year. Now, I'm dreaming of Spring and a little bit of warmth on my shoulders. 

What tends to go along with the winter doldrums is a feeling a just tiredness, stiffness, and exhaustion. Thanks to my beloved dog, George, he gets me out of the house each day (well, almost everyday) to take him on a walk. George doesn't get the winter doldrums. He loves the snow. And, as I drag my feet putting my boots back on, wrapping my scarf around my neck, getting bundled up for our journey, I let out a sigh and we go. But, as we walk outside in the brisk air, I start to perk up. I feel motivation return and my mind start to clear again. My breath deepens and I feel energized. Doing the complete opposite of how I was feeling inside has given me more energy to conquer the rest of my day! 

Amazing what a little exercise, Mother Nature and a persistent loving Lab can do to one's day.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 54 Intention ~ Don't Over Think It

Day 54 Intention ~ Don't Over Think It

Just do it. Sometimes when I get a little anxious about something, I completely psych myself out and then 1. I completely blow it because I'm nervous or 2. it all goes fine and I was upset over nothing. 

So, this morning, when going to sub for my amazing teacher, I started to psych myself out, thinking that people will be disappointed she wasn't there. I put myself through this every time I sub for her and it's exhausting. So, when that anxiety started to hit me this morning, I stopped, took a breath and had a little chat with myself. Stop thinking about it and go do it. It's 75 minutes of this long life and not worth the stress. I already had a class ready to teach and the reality is, I know what I am doing! 

So, I got to the studio and people were all friendly and everything went great. Once again, stressing for nothing. So, from here on out (hopefully!), don't over think it and just go for it! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 42 Intention ~ Be Still

Day 42 Intention ~ Be Still

When looking back on the last month, things have been very busy, physically & mentally. Finding that calmness even when the winds are blowing wildly around you can be difficult. The breath and meditation always help to ease an uproarious mind and bring one back to steadiness. When we find this balance, it makes those around us also feel more grounded. 

Practicing yoga poses that make us feel grounded can help bring stillness to the body and mind also. They can help to bring balance back to the muladhara "root" chakra. This chakra represents our survival instincts and when it is balanced, it helps us feel grounded and calm. Focusing on the lower body, rooting and stretching the feet and opening the hamstrings or stretching and strengthening the thighs can help us feel more powerful in our base. Forward folds, mountain pose, warrior poses can help us feel strong while seated poses like cobbler's pose, and other seated forward folds or child's pose can help us reconnect to the Earth. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 41 Intention ~ To Let Go

Day 41 Intention ~ To Let Go

For those of you that read yesterday's intention, yes, I was a little bit upset. It happens. I don't usually like to bring it out to everyone, but I feel very strongly about how others treat others in general, and especially within the yoga community. Practicing ahimsa is one of the first things we are taught to practice in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and practicing it towards one another just seems like a no-brainer. 

But, it is a new day, and it is time to let go of my negative emotions from yesterday. I feel very lucky to have gotten to practice with advanced Jivamukti teacher, Julie Kirkpatrick, today. There was a gentleness to her teaching, although a Jivamukti asana practice is a rigorous practice, and we all moved and breathed together as one. The energy in the room was lovely and supportive. It felt like home. I felt reaffirmed in my practice and of how yogis behave towards one another. I also realized it was time to let go of my emotions from the day before and move forward. Each exhale allowed more release, each inhale, I felt myself expand towards new life and new energy. As I laid in savasana, I felt release and relief. Carrying around those heavy, angry emotions is exhausting. As we breathed in, we mentally said, "let", as we exhaled, we mentally said, "go". As we practiced this over and over, I could feel a lightness take a hold of me and I felt like myself again. 

"Let Go." If you ever find yourself obsessing over something in a negative way or if you are just feeling a little bit stressed and you can't find release, I suggest you try this technique. It can lead you into a nice meditation. Inhale "let", exhale "go". 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti & Namaste, 

Marcia