Day 363 Intention ~ Check Back

Day 363 Intention ~ Check Back

 

We are drawing very close to the end of the year.

 

How are you feeling about it? If you look back at the resolutions or let's just call them goals that you set for yourself at the beginning of 2013, do you feel satisfied with how they have come along?

 

Looking back to January 1st, I decided not to set resolutions, but instead to set intentions each day. One of those intentions for the year was to write about them each day, right here on this blog to share with you. That has been a success (although one day I did miss the midnight deadline by I think 30 minutes or so-not too bad for 365 days!)

 

Other things that I wanted to do were to practice asana, meditation and pranayama everyday this year. I know teaching yoga doesn't really count, so no, I haven't practiced these everyday, but pretty darn close. And yes, I do count days when it was a shortened 20 minute practice. The pranayama beyond ujjayi breath during the physical practice needs to be done more...as does the meditation. But, I was much more disciplined with my physical practice.

 

Lastly, I took on a vegan diet this year. It really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. The most difficult times have been going out to eat, but I have gotten that down to a routine now when I do go out and lately, during the holidays, it has been a struggle. I have found myself giving in to gatherings with people and eating some dairy here and there. I'll tell you what, I can feel it! I feel sluggish and heavy after the holidays and am looking forward to getting back to a normal routine. So, all in all, it was a positive experience. I felt so much happier and peaceful with myself and my choices. I wanted to try it for a year to see how it was and frankly, I can't imagine going back.

 

As for 2014, the intentions will keep coming, but perhaps not publicly.

 

Mainly, I want to remember to be present and enjoy this life and those in it while I am here.

 

Til tomorrow...

 

Shanti,

 

Marcia

Day 130 Intention ~ Practice Yoga Off the Mat

Day 130 Intention ~ Practice Yoga Off the Mat

I've been thinking about my yoga practice a lot lately. Although, I do some practice off the mat, when I really think about the eight limbs of yoga in Patanjali's yoga sutras, I try to think about adapting them to my daily life. 

How much are we all really practicing? 

For review, the eight limbs taken straight from my Yoga Sutra book translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda:

• yama (abstinence)
• niyama (observance)
• asana (posture)
• pranayama (breath control)
• pratyahara (sense withdrawal)
• dharana (concentration)
• dhyana (meditation)
• samadhi (contemplation, absorption, or superconscious state)

To really bring consciousness to my practice off the mat (most of us already get the third limb asana), I will start with the yamas today. This first limb has five parts to it and these are all things that we should abstain from in our behavior. 

The five parts of the yamas: 

• ahimsa: non-harming
• satya: truthfulness
• asteya: non-stealing
• brahmacharya: continence
• aparigraha: non-greed

As far as ahimsa goes, I eat a vegan diet so as not to harm animals and be a little less harmful to the environment. I try to be environmentally responsible when possible. And I also try not to harm others with my words, thoughts and actions.

Satya, that is easy. I try to tell the truth at all times...to myself also! Don't get me wrong, if the truth is a mean statement, I most likely don't say anything at all. 

Asteya, or non-stealing. This one seems pretty straight forward and easy. Don't steal! Even if it's a pen from work or stealing time from others. 

Brahmacharya: continence. Well, in the Western world we translate this into moderation. Live in moderation. I try to do this, although, sometimes when there's a bag of Terra sweet potato chips in front of me, forget about it! :)

Lastly, aparigraha, non-greed: just take what you need. (see last paragraph, I try!) Whether it's shoes, food, time, love, whatever it is, don't hoard it. If you have enough, save some for the rest. The less "stuff" you have, the clearer your mind can be. Less clutter.

So, there's my list to start working on! Just becoming more conscious of these things (we'll go through some of the other eight limbs in future days), can help us actually live our yoga. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 128 Intention ~ Make Yoga Accessible

Day 128 Intention ~ Make Yoga Accessible

I often say that I believe there is a yoga class out there for every single person and I believe that. Today, I am teaching mini classes at a juvenile detention center wellness fair. These workers are overstressed and from what I saw, generally out of shape. Although I tried to convince them to try yoga on a mat, most were uncomfortable with that idea, so I held a chair yoga class with them. We started with some simple pranayama and I wonder if it's the first time any of them have witnessed their breath (at least in quite a long time). It felt good to help them open up a little bit and realize that even stretching on a chair would feel good. 

Next, to my seniors class. These folks have to move very slowly and have many issues, bad knees, hip replacements, and just general years of not doing anything. We move in a slow, gentle way and allow them to feel themselves opening back up. Some work from a mat, others from a chair, but they all feel good afterwards.

Tonight is my younger bunch. My vinyasa flow folks, who like to feel "worked out" from class. 

I feel blessed to be able to bring yoga to all sorts of people and age groups. I cannot stress enough, that if you went to a class and didn't feel like it was right for you, check out another one with a different teacher or a different style. There is a class for you out there, you just have to keep looking. Once you find it, it will change your life! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 84 Intention ~ Get Playful

Day 84 Intention ~ Get Playful

It may have dumped more snow here in Cleveland last night, but this time, it's not getting me down in the dumps. It's making me playful. As my dog and I ran around outside in the snow, I found myself laughing and he was having a blast as he always does in the snow. 

Being a little playful helps to keep us young. Laughter is known to relieve stress, which helps not only to make life a little bit more positive (or at least our attitude), but stress reduction can keep us healthy. 

Laughter yoga, also known as Hasya Yoga, is just what it sounds like. People make themselves laugh, which may start out forced, but quickly turns into real laughter and a fun situation. Created by Dr. Madan Kataria from Mumbai, India in 1995, it is a combination of pranayama (yogic breathing) and laughter. To learn more about Laughter Yoga, check out www.laughteryoga.org.

So, keep having fun & keep on laughing! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 12 Intention ~ To Remain Grateful

Day 12 ~ To remain grateful for this amazing trip...again. 

Time to go home. Feeling ready to get back to my regular life on land again. Keeping this feeling of relaxation, calm and balance going once getting back to the daily grind will be a challenge, but I am going to try. 

To do this, I will stick with the plan. Practice yoga asana, pranayama and meditate daily. Eat healthy...now on to the full vegan! Enjoy each moment, no matter what life throws at you. It's all for a reason, our job is to learn from it. 

Namaste to all. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

2013 Intentions

Happy New Year! 

As with each new year that passes, many new & grand resolutions will be made that tend to get thrown by the wayside as soon as the daily post holiday grind hits. Maybe they were too big, too grand...we all do it. Sure, this year I have a few grand "resolutions" that I would like to conquer over the course of 2013, but more importantly, I want to try to  set daily smaller intentions to keep me focused and present. 

Of course, one of my more grand resolutions is to post a blog each day right here regarding my small intention of that particular day. Now, finding time to write can be a struggle on a daily basis, so I am really seeing this as more of a habit change than a resolution (although I suppose most resolutions are habit changes.) You all will find out soon enough if this grand "resolution" loses steam or not. 

Some other larger resolutions this year are to actually practice yoga asana, pranayama & meditation every day of this year, to change my diet to a vegan diet...I am allowing myself a few weeks to make the conversion, only because I am going on vacation in a few days and am not sure if there will be vegan options where I am going, BUT if there are (beyond only salad), I will try to stick to it on vacation also. 

Setting a small intention each day is a great way to help keep focus on what is important. It can make us more present and conscious...today. I think that will allow for a little more appreciation of whatever is going on that day-good, bad, happy, sad, or non-eventful. I invite you to join me in this practice and perhaps start a new good habit to help you become more aware. Keep it simple. Maybe it is as simple as taking 10 deep breaths in and out before reacting if someone upsets you. Maybe it's to meditate each day, starting with 10 minutes and increasing once this behavior becomes part of your daily life. Maybe it's to smile at the first person you see each day. Your intention is yours & no intention is too small. Each intention is important. 

My intention for today is to greet the new year by practicing yoga asana, pranayama & meditation with an open mind and heart. 

So far, so good...

Shanti, 

Marcia