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 282 Intention ~ Bend Don't Break

Day 282 Intention ~ Bend Don't Break

I read an article last night about what some super successful people do before 8 a.m. that puts them ahead of the game. Some were obvious like workout and eat breakfast, and then one that would seem obvious, yet now that I work for myself (sort of), I forget to do: make a schedule/to do list for that day. Seems like common sense to do that, but if something isn't completely pressing, I tend to let it wait until the last minute, so that I can just completely freak out to get it done. 

So, last night before I went to bed, I compiled a schedule for myself today. It helps to keep me focused and challenges me not to slack off. I used to make these schedules for myself all of the time to be sure I remained organized and didn't forget things that I needed to do, but have let that go the last few months for whatever reason. 

So, although I am trying to keep my "to do" list on track today, of course, things come up. Learning to find some flexibility in the schedule is important too. Otherwise, I would go crazy and life would be too regimented for me to enjoy it. 

The goal is to try to keep on track, but be willing to bend a little bit if needed, not break if something changes. 

We can apply this to many things, a detour on our commute, a different yoga teacher in class that day, if a plan simply falls through. It happens all the time, but if we can find some santosa or contentment and peace with what is going on around us, planned or not planned, we will be able to find a little more joy and ease in our day. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 219 Intention ~ Accept Whatever Happens

Day 219 Intention ~ Accept Whatever Happens

It's a rainy day today in Cleveland. I have 2 outdoor classes scheduled with no rain backup. As much as I would like these classes to happen, I am just going with the flow and accepting whatever happens. 

Finding contentment with what goes on...good or seemingly bad or unfortunate is just a part of life, therefore, we might as well not fight it. That just makes it harder. Everything happens for a reason, or so "they" say, so I am going to practice santosha and be grateful just for the day and be content with whatever happens. I certainly am not going to fight with Mother Nature about the rain! 

When things don't go as we planned, it can be an interesting investigation as to what the universe is trying to tell us. Maybe something bad would have happened if things went on as we wanted or perhaps something more important to the here and now will pop up. It's hard to know, but either way, I am content. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 203 Intention ~ Just Do What You Can

Day 203 Intention ~ Just Do What You Can

You can't control Mother Nature. Today, I had many gardening & lawn mowing plans to get ready, not only for a yoga class in my yard tomorrow morning, but friends that will be here in the evening. 

But, alas, the rain and wet grass lead me to delay my plans outdoors and focus inside. So, for today, I am cleaning indoors rather than out in hopes of at least getting some of these tasks taken care of. 

We constantly get thrown curve balls to what we may have planned for ourselves. It can be minor like a weather delay for yard clean up or more major, but adjusting and accepting what is the reality rather than the plan in our heads, helps us move forward with our day and our lives rather than react harshly or negatively to a different situation than what we wanted. Reacting in this way never does any good to help the situation, so try to accept whatever is going on around you...ideal or not. 

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 143 Intention ~ Live Presently

Day 143 Intention ~ Live Presently

"Be here now", as Ram Dass would say, but he's right. We spend so much time trying to plan our coming days or wallowing in past events that we forget to enjoy the now. Right at this moment. Find contentment. Find peace.

Earlier in the week on my Facebook page, I posted a quote of the day from some other page that quoted Lao Tzu, "If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present." 

It's normal. But, just stop right now as you are reading this and enjoy this...present...moment...and exhale. :)

Presently saying til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 80 Intention ~ Find Santosha

Day 80 Intention ~ Find Santosha

Close your eyes, click your heels 3 times and repeat: "Find santosha, find santosha, find santosha." That is how I feel today. I know it's silly, but this winter has worn me out. Now, the 2nd day of spring and a winter weather advisory is out and it's snowy and just plain cold. Yes, it's Cleveland. Do I expect this? Yes, yes I do. But, for some reason, I'm struggling to find santosha today. 

Santosha is contentment or satisfaction with what you have. It is yoga 101. It is one of the niyamas, also known as a restraint or observance, in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and I am usually pretty good about it. Usually. But, old man winter weather has got me down today. 

Things to do to bring santosha back you ask? 

Well, the obvious and most costly is to book a quick trip to somewhere warm...Caribbean preferred, but anywhere would do. The smarter, wiser choice is to practice yoga asana and meditate. This is what I will do and what I can afford. 

If you are also struggling to find santosha in your day...no matter what is creating the block, yoga asana and meditation will help. Even if it is a short practice. Remember, meditation is a practice too. Start with a few minutes and build. Eventually the mind chatter will start to dissolve or at least give you a break for a few minutes. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 7 Intention ~ Be Open to Others

Day 7 Intention ~ Be Open to Others

Ahhhh the cruise ship! Before boarding, you wait in line for hours with the other 3000 people getting on board. This particular cruise is Jam Cruise, so I'd say that the cruisers are a tad bit more rowdy than other cruises. John & I live alone with a dog and a cat and really lead a pretty mellow existence day to day. At first, being surrounded by so many amped up people, is a bit overwhelming and my flight instinct has set in past years where I just want to run for the hills (or to my cabin in this case) until I feel more settled. 

This year, I am going to embrace the madness! Meet more people and just accept the situation from the get go. I love people, so this shouldn't be too difficult. We are all one energy out there in the universe anyhow, so finding santosha, also known as contentment, in any and all situations is the best idea. And, leading with an open heart and mind has always worked better in life than the other way around, so bring it on! 

Shanti, 

Marcia

Santosha, contentment and your path

Book Two - verse 32.

"Sauca Samtosa Tapah svadhya Yesvarapanidhanani Niyamah"

Saucha - Purity

Samtosha (or santosha) - contentment

Tapah - Accepting pain and not causing pain

Svadhyaya - study of spiritual books

Isvarapranidhanana - self-surrender, "Let God and Let Go"

& Niyamah - observances 

In yoga we are taught the Yamas (abstinence) & the Ni-yamas (observances). Ten essential elements that help us travel down our path, allowing us to be the yogis we strive to be. Some of the yamas and ni-yamas we see more of than others. Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing - isvarapranidhana... but every one of these observances and abstinence are important.

The other day I had a brief conversation about "Santosha" or Samtosha - the ni-yama that is contentment.  To know satisfaction in life, is to be at peace. When we deny ourselves the right to be here - the first right of our chakras and then deny our right to feel, the second chakra, we set ourselves on a wobbly path filled with fear, confusion, resentment and regret.

What is your path? What is your purpose? WHY are you here? WHAT is your santosha.

We live in questionable times. Our economy is reflective of one 78 years ago, people are losing their jobs and not finding new ones. Abuse is on the rise, as is divorce, drug use and anger on every level. We find ourselves locked into certain relationships - with jobs, with spouses, friends, ideas - that were are afraid to break out of because of this chaos. We allow it to project an image on our personal lives and then close our eyes to that voice deep down inside of us that is singing a whole different song.

We begin to think we don't belong here, we don't deserve to be happy, to be successful in life and love, and we commit to the idea that this is the best it can get. But that's not true. If you're alive you belong here. If you are on this planet, you have purpose - and that voice you're ignoring because it's just "easier" to stay put - that's your path.

Being honest, caring, loving - self-sacrificing. Holding the door for someone you don't know, regardless of their age or class. Buying a coworker a cup of coffee, just because. These are all nobel things - but what's your path? Why are you here? Are you living your santosha?

To love yourself purely and greatly is a beautiful thing. To find your passion and your love is what life is about.

My conversation was brief, probably less than five minutes, but it made me think. Is this what I want? Is this life the one I deserve - and I can honestly answer that its getting there. It's scary, but change can be like that.

Tonight take five minutes to yourself and meditate on your santosha. Journey inside yourself and most of all be honest. It's okay to be scare. It's okay. And when you find your path know that soon you will find your voice and then all that's left to do is sing.

~Namaste Shanti Om