“Alright: stop, collaborate & listen!”

While the 90s rapper born Robert Matthew Van Winkle (whom many of us all know better as Vanilla Ice) isn’t necessarily the first name that pops into one’s head when thinking yogically, this quote really spoke to me. (Try not to “sing” the next lyric, and come along for the ride.)

Alright. Is it a bastardization of “all + right”? Hope not, since we’re not! “Al” could also be a contraction like in Spanish – a is the preposition to/at, and el (the, masculine) combine because the vowels don’t play well together. Thus, a + el = al. Is it, in other words, “to the right”? Hm…Alright, let’s get on with it! Pun intended? You decide.

How do we stop doing whatever we’ve been doing that just isn’t serving us? To borrow a phrase, if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. Change is hard, but it’s unlikely to stop anytime soon, if ever. (See the “we need the storm” blog from last week.)

A support system is paramount. It can come through ritual – a hug & kiss when seeing a friend or loved one, it can come through routine – tongue-scraping first thing in the morning, or habit – always putting your keys in the same spot to facilitate finding them.

New grooves take time to settle in and become the norm. Give yourself that gift – patience, in small sips or baby steps. And forgive slip-ups. If they don’t happen, you’re not trying hard enough.

(Side note: who remembers Susan Powter – “stop the insanity!”)

The import of the concept of Sangha, or community in Sanskrit, cannot be overstated at this present moment. How can we get out of our own heads, out of our own bubbles, and begin to work together to affect change? How can we begin to abandon or at least put to the side the concept of mine vs. yours, and begin to talk about ours? Humans are hard-wired to crave connection, and social interaction. How can we tread new paths towards a brighter, more egalitarian future for everyone under the sun?

What does collaboration mean? Collaborating necessitates bringing our own experiences to discussions, looking to neither dominate discourse, nor subjugate others’ ideas, but to work together. It can mean putting pen to paper, joining a book club, marching, calling the powers that be, or none of the above. Perhaps it’s as simple as a favorite beverage sipped and savored in the company of a like-minded individual.

What about non-like-minded individuals? Can we reach across the aisle to hold hands literally or figuratively? (Not during COVID, of course, unfortunately, but you get the idea.)

Practicing Yoga (asana, or what’s thought of in the West as “doing Yoga”) together, IRL, in real time, is a whole different experience. It’s funny – OMing at the beginning of class is centering and grounding. OMing at the end of class is a whole different animal! Somehow everyone has gotten on the same page by the end of class, and we’re all in tune (even those who, ahem, make a joyful noise).

There’s an old axiom that’s paraphrased thusly: if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.

Listening is the reason some say we have two ears and one mouth. What or who are you listening to? What are you digesting? Is it too much fast food, is it too much mindless TV, is it a past experience that was none-to-pleasant? Anything any of your senses absorb and experience is digestion – not just food. Try not to ruminate: it’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t wanna live there. Take what you can from each experience, then move forward.

Is anyone else working towards Samadhi, or spiritual union? Please feel free to chime in below if this post resonated with you. Until our mats unfurl again, be well.

“We need the storm…”

“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but the thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, & the earthquake,” Frederick Douglass

Tapas is one of the branches of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. It means “Spiritual Discipline,” or burning zeal in practice. Some say how you do one thing, is how you do everything.

What lights your fire? How do you practice (Yoga, piano, the latest Tik Tok shenanigans, your grandma’s recipe)? Do you read a how-to book? Take a class? Discuss with friends? Watch pros or amateurs? Mindlessly scroll through Pinterest or go down the rabbit hole of YouTube videos? Run scales? Mamma made me mash my M n’ Ms… is how I got to Soprano territory in high school – burning desire to hit the high notes. (Ahem, apparently there’s such a thing as vocal puberty, and those glass-breakers are long gone. Alas, firmly planted in Alto land, I am happy to grab the mic at any and all opportunity!)

I digress…What’s coming up for me lately is that it’s time for change. It’s been time, but here we are. Change is hard, and the path isn’t always clear. (Bonus quote from Melissa Etheridge: “the only thing that stays the same is change.”) Overwhelm happens by and makes itself comfortable. Right. Beside. Me.

What works for me is setting a timer. I will read, or clean, or clear my inbox for a certain amount of time. (Full disclosure: sometimes it’s for my Yoga practice, too. Lots of adulting that just won’t wait means squeeze it in when you can, and make the most of it. Note: making the most of it may mean Viparita Karani – legs up the wall, and other restorative postures. Not every practice has to leave one dripping with sweat and spent.)

Most of those instances spill over into a lot longer work period once momentum gains traction and whee! On the way to productivity.

Just the other day, I was speaking with someone in real estate. The share was that people don’t want to replace a furnace, because you can’t see its effects. They want big, splashy kitchens & other obvious redos. But, what you don’t “see” is peace of mind, and hopefully a lower bill. But all those things take desire, and vision.

How do you motivate yourself? How do you channel your desire to get better at something? What do you wish to increase or augment in your life? If you want it, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse. How can we cultivate Tapas on and off the mat?

Please feel free to comment below. Until our mats unfurl again, be well. -M

“Rest is not idleness”

“Rest is not idleness & to lie sometimes on the grass, under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” So wrote John Lubbock.

What can we do to better allocate our precious energies? This quote reminds me of Brahmacharya, the Sanskrit word for Conservation of Energy. This is one of the Yamas, or avoidances, in the Yoga Sutras. These are the essential principles outlined as techniques and experiences along our journeys.

How lovely is it to grab a book and a big glass of your favorite beverage, sink into a cozy chair, and get lost in a book? If reading isn’t your thing, a meandering walk through the woods, or neighborhood, solo or with a friend. What do you do to veg?

Why on *earth* would anyone skip out on Savasana, or the final relaxation pose that happens in most Yoga classes? This is, by some estimations, THE most important Yoga asana, or pose, of them all. This is where your body, mind, and spirit rejuvenate, and you can integrate the benefits of your practice. Skipping is like having a nice dinner, and not having dessert. Or skipping sprinkles on a sundae.

While it’s understandable that so many of us are overbooked, overworked, and overwhelmed, this is a vital part of one’s practice. Why not reevaluate, and look at what you can forgo, to free up those precious few moments to literally DO NOTHING? Not to weasel out of requirements or be that friend/partner, but to refill your own cup, and be your best self. If your schedule is that tight, perhaps it’s time to revisit things.

Note: no judgement, but if you do have to leave, make sure you’re by the door, and you leave quickly and quietly, hopefully having advised the teacher first.

How do you spend your energy? Is it scrolling aimlessly through your various social media platforms? Is it on housework? Is it on self-improvement? Parenting? Adulting? Hitting the gym, hard? All of these have their place, but the axiom says everything in moderation. We’re hard-wired to be social beings, just figure out what works best for you.

To make laziness work for you, put some effort into it | Aeon Ideas — Just a cat, catting. Laziness isn’t bad!

Please feel free to comment below. Until our mats unfurl again, be well!

How to kill a cactus

I’ve always had a pretty green thumb. Pretty sure it’s partially inherited, since my Dad kept & keeps lots of plants and had a beautiful fish tank when we grew up, whereas my poor Mom could kill a plastic plant. My partner built me two great big garden beds, which are overflowing with produce and pretty flowers.

In my Yoga & meditation room, I have a few varieties of plants: pothos, a money tree, and some succulents. Side note: all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. But, I digress…

The other day, while watering the plants, I noticed my poor cactus’ stem (trunk?) was brown. Upon touching it, it kinda exploded. As brownish goo oozed out, I cried out, “Nooooooo!” It was upsetting, to be sure, but it begat some thoughts. The yellow tops looked okay, so into the dirt they went. (Here’s hoping!)

How does this pertain to Yoga? For me, this is me not observing Santosha, the Sanskrit word for Contentment. The cactus was in a pot with another succulent, which seemed to like more water. I was not happy to let it be, but it tried to force it into a different watering schedule. The plant felt discontentment; I wasn’t paying attention.

How can this be incorporated or integrated into our everyday lives, on and off the mat? How can we be “okay” with what is? The cactus notwithstanding, it doesn’t mean to give up and resign ourselves to “it is what it is.” How can we recognize situations as they are, and not try to fit them into our narrative? How can we respect the cactus for not being thirsty, or for a friend for not wanting to chat?

For me, it means treating people how *they* wish to be treated, which contradicts the Golden Rule. The cactus wanted less water. The owner, yours truly, wanted to give it a good drink, as would a parent who knows when you’re thirsty. How can the cactus be met where it’s at?

How does this show up in your life? How can we practice contentment? Feel free to comment below!

“The day I get home…”

Today’s quote is from the band Squeeze, the album Play: “it’s experience, as the days unfold, but there’s nothing quite like the day I get home”. They were popular in the 90’s, so this is me dating myself :). What does “home” even mean? Is it a building? Is it a feeling? Is it where they have to take you in? Even though you may have four walls and a roof of your very own (well, yours and the bank’s, that is), what if you can’t put your feet up ‘cuz everything’s sheathed in plastic, including the faux candy in the dish? Alternatively, you can crash on a friend’s couch and be told to “make yourself at home,” and get that sense where you can sigh with relief – you’ve arrived.

What makes a house a home? Some say a house is a structure, and a home is a feeling. Is it a dog, or other fur-baby? (Three cats & a rabbit is the sitcom that is my life.) Is it a partner waiting for you? Is it being able to eat the last Oreo in your altogether, and not do the dishes ’til you’re on the last one/s? There was a poignant commercial once where they referred to a house key as “precious metal.”

Our experiences shape us: the good, the bad & the ugly. What will you do with your experiences? How will you take them home? I’d love to hear if this quote resonates with you! What does “home” mean to YOU? Thank you for reading.

Until our mats unfurl again…

My First Blog Post

How to be graceful on the inside

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.

I like to start each class with a quote. Today’s came from the book Be More Unicorn: how to find your inner sparkle by Joanna Gray. We all know these are tumultuous times, that are continually changing. The book gives a short list of 5 things to engender grace. Here goes…1) be kind: less bitter, more glitter, 2) be caring: dare to care, 3) be forgiving: move on, be strong, 4) be magnanimous: in victory, grace, and 5) be polite: more clout, don’t shout. Which one or ones speak to you?