98 Search Results for "gratitude"

• Tough little Tutu

  • From: dhana
  • Description:

    

    Last night , just before my little toddler Talulah's bedtime, my family was all piled onto my daughters bed, uner her mosquito net. I was working on a yoga article I am writing for a Tennis Mag, my 12 year old and my partner were checking out the latest cell phones online, Tutu, as we call her, was snuggling in with us giggling. It was perfect.

    All of the sudden Tutu got off the bed, and before anyone noticed, she had poured a thermos of boiling peppermint tea all over her face, mouth, neck and chest. This tea had just been poured, it was, literally boiling.

    I am an excellent mother, these things don't happen to me or my loved ones. But it did, and the moment demanded complete dharana, concentration.

    I used to work in film and held my Occupational First Aid Level 3, but it was a long time ago, and when it is one's baby, emotions take over.

    Ambulance or not? How bad is it? She was crying, good sign. Then her skin , all over, began peeling and blistering, bad sign. Cold compresses on, blanket around her we dove into the car.

    Car seat? No way, she's burnt all over. Keep her in my lap and break the law endangering us even further? definately. She went into shock, and boy was I glad when we streaked into emergency.

    I was in my slippers, didn't have my wallet or any ID. Thank God I'd given birth at that hospital 12 years ago and I was still in the system.

    While we were waiting to be seen a family came in, carrying a very sick 6 year old girl. H1N1. We sat there facing one another, that families face wearing masks, mine in tears. Instant empathy and community formed there, out of necessity.

    Tutu has first and second degree burns to her chest, tummy, throat, mouth and right side of her face. She will be alright though. The nurses applied an antibiotic mesh screen-like adhesive to her torso, her face we annoint with antibacterial gel. She can't eat, but luckily she can still nurse. This afternoon her buoyant spirit returned, she giggled and played though she looks awful. We sat outside and watched the birds on the feeder we keep for them.

    And I prayed in Gratitude.And I prayed for the little girl from last night.

    Then I threw that thermos out.

     

     

     

  • Blog post
  • 1 week ago
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• The Ojai Yoga Crib - A Yoga Re

  • From: Vladmoskovski
  • Description:

     

    The teacher's voice is like a soft whispering hum filling the room, it tickles the skin and nourishes just the right place within. To be in the presence of such a brilliant, loving, and soulful teacher is a rare opportunity. As we move from pose to pose, sweat dripping from our faces, there is an internal smile that awakens with gratitude and joy at the awesomeness of such a class. This is no regular yoga class, here, we are a community, we are loved, and we feel at home. We are at the Ojai Yoga Crib. 

    Having been to many festivals, workshops, and gatherings, few events feel so deliciously good, so inspiring, and refreshing. Maybe it is because the crib takes place in the small town town of Ojai, nestled into a beautiful and lush valley just one and a half hours north of the busy concrete jungle of Los Angeles. Perhaps it is the amazing venues where classes are held. A class in the geodesic dome reveals the stunning acoustical properties of its geometric shape, where the musical voice of the teacher's singing arcs and leaps with a whispers right into your ear. We pack into a school bus, bringing back memories of school days, and with giddy excitement we head for the stunning meditation center. Up there, as I move from downward dog into cobra, my gaze travels far ahead looking at the distant mountains surrounding us and the lush oaks covering the hills like millions of broccoli heads. Ojai is infused with the energy of spiritual wisdom and radiant beauty, it is where the famous spiritual leader Krishnamurti settled down and spent much of his time.  

    The crib is hosted by Lulubandhas - a yoga studio in Ojai. It is the brainchild of Kira and Eric Ryder and is made possible by the joint effort of a loving community of yogis. From the moment one arrives at headquarters, there is a sense of joy and togetherness that is unlike anything else I have experienced. Every detail has been thought through to make this three day yoga retreat exciting and accessible. Starting from the butterfly engraved outfits of the friendly team of volunteers to the simple and colorful schedule, every detail is an expression of the care and love that went into this event. Participants are able to choose from some of the best and most diverse teachers, each one bringing a unique perspective, years of experience, and a deep reverence for the science and art of yoga. The biggest challenge for me was to choose between the teachers for the five classes that are offered. Two classes the first and second day, one class on the last.  

    Meditation is held every morning. At 9 am, the first two and a half hour class begins. Afterwards, a vegetarian lunch is offered at headquarters or participants can choose from any of the wonderful restaurants around town. After lunch, allowing for some time for digestion, contemplation, and possibly a mid-afternoon nap, the second two and a half hour class begins. In the evenings, inspirational dharma talks, kirtan, music, and dancing provide entertainment and bring all the yogis together for a celebration of the spirit, mind, and heart.

    As hard as it was to leave the crib, I am left with a deep sense of fulfillment and love. Rejuvenated and re-inspired, I already can't wait for next year to come soon enough. Thank you Eric, Kira, Lulubanhdas, and everyone that helped make this such a masterful and blissful event.

    For more articles related to yoga, meditation, and stress management visit my website. 

    www.meditationsecretsrevealed.com 

     

  • Blog post
  • 3 weeks ago
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• Cultivating Gratitude

  • From: lotuspetal
  • Description:

    In one of my favorite books – Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman, the author is challenged by his mentor to sit until he can come back with something of value to say.  He sits and ponders for hours, often going back to his mentor time and time again only to be sent back to sit.  Then it hits him, he sees a squirrel running along the ground, hears a cricket, sees a passing car, children at play, some people walking and talking.  He sees, as if for the first time, ordinary every day events.  He realizes that every moment, no matter how ordinary it may seem is actually extraordinary. Every moment is the most important moment yet each moment is not any more important than the next.  He becomes fully present and in becoming fully present, he also learns the essence of gratitude.

     

    No moment should be taken for granted. In developing gratitude for every single moment, good and bad, we develop a true appreciation of life.  It is possible to consciously cultivate an attitude of gratitude.  One method is to keep a gratitude journal, writing down everything you are grateful for. Another is to simply sit quietly each night and reflect upon things you are grateful for. Reflect upon each day specifically and then reflect on your life in general.

     

    Tough or bad experiences in our lives are often just turning points when we realize we need to travel a new path or go a different direction.  When you are having one of those days or those times, step back and ask what can I learn from this experience and what can I be grateful for right now?  You can always begin with the basics, “I am grateful for being alive” and then give yourself time and more things will follow. Perhaps the answers won’t come right away but in time they will.

     

    Taking the time each night to remind yourself of the things you are grateful for will benefit you tremendously.  You end your day on a positive note and this carries over to the next day when you wake.  Over time you may notice that you feel happier in general, you may feel a sense of calm. The more you practice, the more you will notice that there are no ordinary moments..

  • Blog post
  • 4 weeks ago
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• Angela Farmer -- Breaking the

  • From: healingyoga
  • Description:
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    "Angela and Victor are world-renowned Yoga teachers, having influenced many of the leading Yoga teachers in the West today. They inspire students to reflect inward and reconnect with deep springs of wisdom, energy and creativity that lie within. They invite students to go beyond prescribed techniques of structural movement to allow the creative and intuitive spirit to emerge. Their classes are an oasis for those seeking a more internal and meditative approach and offer a wealth of poetic imager, playful exploration and creative movement... all geared to help students find their way back to their own inner substance, guidance and wisdom" --excerpted from www.angela-victor.com
    

     

    Recently, a friend and I were discussing the merits of the inspirational Angela Farmer. If you're not familiar with Angela, you can get acquainted here. I just love her open, playful style. While I love her Inner Body Flow DVD, lately I've been entranced by Angela's wonderful 2 CD set on pranayama, A Personal Journey: Breath with Angela Farmer. I'm thoroughly enjoying the stories, lectures, guided meditations and breathing exercises included on the CDs. The recordings on the CDs were pulled from Angela's many workshops and edited down to fit on this set. One of my favorite tracks on the CD is Angela's retelling of Inanna's story, an ancient Sumerian tale of one woman's quest for connection.

    You can find information about Angela's CDs and DVDs, as well as preview clips from her DVDs, here. If you'd like to experience Angela in person, she's coming to Kripalu in a few weeks. Click here for more information about her upcoming 3- day Grounded Gratitude workshop. 

    When I practice Angela's more freeform style of yoga, I'm reminded how stuck we can get with our yoga practice. As Angela says, it's this stuckness that kills our spirit. How can you bring more creativity to your yoga practice and adapt in the moment rather than follow the "rules" of yoga? It's a question worth exploring.

    Namaste!

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  • 1 month ago
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• Samosas and curry and more

  • From: yogadude
  • Description:

    When I went to Nepal for the first time, I quickly developed an appreciation for the food in that part of the world. When I think about the time I spent in India, food always plays a part in those memories.  Yesterday I went to my favorite Indian restaurant for lunch and realized that the food is a part of something larger.  Walking into the restaurant always seems like going into an oasis, there's a feeling of serenity.  There is a sitar playing softly in the background.  Everyone who works there seems to be in a state of deep meditation.  The owner always greets me; we sometimes talk about travels in India.  The Buddha-like nature of the waiters influences me and I find myself eating meditatively to savor the complex flavors.  There are six flavors that should be in a meal and I can taste several of these in each bite!  After I finish eating, I don't want to leave.  It all seems so perfect, the aromas, the sounds, the people.  So I sit and slowly breathe in everything.  After a while, I realize that "perfection" is an interpretation that I've placed on the combination of things within those walls and I could also choose to perceive other things as perfect.  So I express my gratitude for the food and leave with the intention that everything I perceive will be perfect in its own way.  Outside there are different sounds, different sights, yet all is perfect. 

  • Blog post
  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 125

• Be Grateful to Everyone

  • From: calvino1976
  • Description:

    So the title of the post is pretty obvious, although much harder to actually do. How do you be grateful to people who harm you, for example? Or people who would like to kill you? Those are big, tricky questions.
    
    And what about the more mundane. Can you show gratitude to the dust that fills your closets? Or the junk mail that fills your mailbox?
    
    What about the boredom you feel on a rainy day? The cloudy states of mind you have when all you want is to be clear about something in your life?
    
    Chogyam Trungpa writes about this slogan, "without this world we cannot attain enlightenment ... by rejecting the world we would be rejecting the ground and the path."
    
    I think we're pretty effective as humans at rejecting our lives. It's probably a science by now, so well ingrained in each of us that we pass the skills onto the next generation without even knowing it, so well developed are they.
    
    Somehow, it's essential to flip around the idea that the things we experience as obstacles are obstacles. The definition of obstacle is something that impedes progress or achievement, stands in front of, blocks the way. But I think the Buddha way is to flip that over, to learn to embrace what comes, and fold it within our lives on the path. To see everything as a dharma gate.
    
    I've been discussing with another practitioner on-line about what he sees as the prevalence of anti-Christian sentiment amongst some of the on-line Buddhist community. I'm at a loss about how best to address this issue - I do agree with him to some degree - and yet I also understand some of the sources of the anger and upset that drive western Buddhists to make such blanket statements. (Maybe this is less so of an issue in the on-line yogic community, although probably not. And the two sometimes overlap, and I am one example of that overlap.)
    
    How can we show our gratitude to the evangelical Christian who says we are going to hell? That everything we practice is the devil's teachings? What does that look like without becoming a doormat in the process?
    
    During the last three years of the Bush Administration, I took a vow to stop making personal attacks on the President, and I included him in my loving-kindness meditations. I actually upset some of my friends and family when I started saying things like "I don't believe the President is stupid." Some people had no idea how to respond. This didn't at all change the fact that I wanted him out of office, and believed that his policy decisions were destructive and created massive amounts of suffering. But I felt that continuing to make personal attacks opened the door to personal attacks on anyone, including myself.
    
    I can actually say that President Bush, and those who worked with him, gave me the opportunity to see how fruitless personal attacks are - or maybe more correctly, how much negative fruit is created from personal attacks.
    
    I don't think this fully answers the question above. Maybe it's a start. Every situation is different, and calls for a different approach, even if only slightly different.
    
    So, there it is - Be Grateful to Everyone. Or, everything as I see it. Now on to actually doing it! There's the work of our lives.

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
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• Air Travel -- The Ultimate Tes

  • From: healingyoga
  • Description:

    Imagine this scenario if you will: you practice yoga daily and in your finer moments you fancy yourself the embodiment of equanimity. And then you hit a bump in the road. You're cut off in traffic. Technology fails you (think hard drive crash or interrupted Internet service). Or my personal favorite -- you spend some time in the big blue sky courtesy of the airlines (or should I say you spend more time in the airport than in the sky?). Now what? How does that hard-won equanimity hold up? Does it crack under the pressure, sending you into an emotional nose dive in which you completely forget your yogic lessons?

    This is where the eco-friendly rubber yoga mat meets the road, so to speak. Being that I just experienced the joys of air travel, I'm feeling like I've recently learned quite a bit about taking my yoga off the mat and out into the world. I'm pleased to say that my yoga practice is working its magic on me because this same incident 10 years ago would have resulted into a drastically different reaction from me.

    Although I consider myself a generally happy, glass is half full, posivitist (thank you for that awesome word Life is Good!) kind of gal, I've got what I like to call a passionate nature (yep, this is my optimistic, positive spin on a temper). I get angry. I curse (shame on me, I know!). I react. While I'm a yoga teacher, student, and practitioner, I'm still a human being.

    Somehow that seems to get forgotten by folks who know about my yoga background and they focus on the former. I get the whole "yogis don't get upset" speech. On the contrary folks -- we do. Just to dispel that nasty little rumor -- yogis aren't robots (insert robotic monotone voice here: "My name is Diane. I love yoga. Nothing phases me. Namaste."). We have feelings. Our aim is to not let those feelings control us, is all. We practice so that we're less reactive. Sometimes we're successful and other times...well, not so much.

    A few days ago, I stepped up to the check-in desk at 5:30AM only to find that my flight was delayed for over 3 hours, which meant I would miss my connecting flight and ultimately fail to get to my final destination even close to the time originally planned. After playing a little re-routing roulette on the computer, the airline representative informed me that I would arrive 5 1/2 hours later than orginally planned.

    And there it was -- my yogi moment. Do I freak out, start cursing, yell at the airline representative, complain about the multitude of inconveniences and complete lack of customer service that comes with airline travel today and the injustice of it all? Yes and no.

    I admit that when I first arrived at the terminal and found out that my flight was cancelled, I was not a happy camper. I did some of the above -- there was a wealth of complaining and some cursing (my mom is going to read this and then wash my mouth out with soap). I could feel my energy flagging in that moment and I thought the worst thought one could possibly think -- "this is going to be a bad day."

    As soon as that thought ran through my head, I knew it was time to do a little of the unclutching that I've learned about through the years of my yoga and medtiation study. For if I kept this nasty attitude, my day would surely be awful. So I did what any self-respecting yogi would do -- I took a deep breath, let it out, and surrendered to the moment.

    To make a long story short -- I had a great day. Were my layovers long -- yes. Was I tired because I had woken at 4:00AM -- yes. Did I arrive at my final destination 5 1/2 hours later than expected -- no, actually I landed 7 hours later than expected. Yet I let go of my attachment to wanting things to go a certain way and opened myself up to what was happening in the moment. I ate some yummy meals, I met some cool people, I caught up on some reading, I listened to some wonderful music, I logged quite a few steps doing laps around the terminal to keep my body moving and feeling good, and I found myself feeling more gratitude than usual when I arrived at my final destination and found that my luggage had made the trip with me and wasn't lost in some alternate luggage universe.

    And as with every other situation I've encountered in life, yoga got me through. Here are some of my tactics for staying yogi cool during air travel:

    • Breathe (breathe deep and breathe often) -- I can't stress enough how breathing helps in any and every situation. This time around I focused on Sitali (inhaling through curled tongue or pursed lips and exhaling through the mouth). I also recommend 4-part breathing (inhale for 4 counts, hold inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, hold the exhale for 4 counts), and extending the exhale (use a 1:2 ratio -- inhale for 5 and exhale for 10). These cooling breaths will relax you and help you stay cool under pressure (the sort of pressure that comes along with airline delays, being crammed into small spaces, and crowding in airport terminals).
    • Movement -- It's tough to sit in terminals for an extended period of time only to sit in the plane as it sits on the tarmac waiting for takeoff clearance and then for the entire flight time. I suggest walking the terminal. It keeps the blood flowing and your energy up.
    • Hydration -- Drink water, water, and more water.
    • Release the negativity -- Grab a pen and some paper and get out your annoyances, grievances, frustrations on paper. Do a written dump so you can diffuse the emotional charge and move on. Rather than dwell on the negativity, get it out. I spent about 10 minutes doing a written emotional purge right after I found out about the delays. I whined, I complained, I raged, and yes, I cursed -- on paper. That meant that I got it out and no poor soul had to be on the receiving end of my initial anger.
    • Take care of yourself -- Do whatever you have to do to make your time pleasurable. Bring your favorite snacks and music. Wear comfy clothes. Indulge in aromatherapy. Do some quick yoga moves/stretches when you can. Get to know a fellow traveler. Do whatever brings you pleasure (that might even mean indulging in an airport splurge like a shoe shine or a pedicure or paying a fee to get into an airline lounge). If you're going to be stuck in a situation that you aren't all that thrilled with, you might as well make the best of it.
    • Get a reality check -- When something frustrating happens I always remind myself that it could always be worse. Delayed travel is about invonenience, not life or death. Keep it in perspective and be grateful that things aren't worse.

    And for specific yoga routines for travelers, I recommend:

    • Yoga for the Weary Traveler -- a free 18-minute online class from the folks over at Yoga Today. This is a wonderful practice for when you finaly get to your destination.
    • Yoga for Travelers -- try this routine from the folks over at iYogaLife to work out the kinks acquired by squeezing your body into too tight places for too long a period of time.
    • 6 Movements of the Spine -- You can do this while seated in the terminal (or on the plane for that matter). Start with spinal twists (put your hand on the opposite knee and gently twist to the side). Sit up straight in your seat (you can come to sit on the edge of the seat) with your palms resting on your thighs and arch and round your spine. Interlace your hands and place them at the base of your skull. Inhale and then exhale over to the side (elbow drops towards the ground). Finish this off by pulling alternate knees to the chest for 5 breaths.

    My ego longs to fancy myself the embodiment of equanimity after this travel experience. I know better though. What I truly embody is the realization that yoga helps. When I keep my yogic head about me, I come back to feeling without reacting. That and some deep breaths is all I really need to help me conquer everything from airline travel to major life shake-ups. I'm grateful that I surrendered to my yoga training rather than the alternative. I'm grateful that I (and my luggage) arrived safely at my destination. I'm grateful that I'm on vacation.

    Now I just have to remember all of this on the flight home.

    Namaste!

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
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• Fear?

  • From: michaelrose
  • Description:

    Please, let me know if this has happened to you, and any advice to help remedy what I am about to ask would be greatly appreciated.

     

    I really love my yoga practice. I do. But lately, I feel almost...afraid, that seems to be the correct word, to roll out my mat, or even to go to a class. I tell myself how much I enjoy it, how good it makes me feel, how full of gratitude I am upon finishing to myself and to the people around me, how my body feels full of light. Yet still, and this has been maybe the last month or so, I feel afraid and I don't know why.

    Now, could it be laziness, I am not sure. School has been busy, but I don't feel terribly stressed. Lack of inspiration or creativity? Thinking to much? Body image,  that could perhaps  be it. I had an eating disorder in high school, and my body image to this day is quite warped from that experience. Many of my problems I am able to connect to when I was afraid of food as a teenager, yet, I am having trouble connecting the dots in this situation, this situation of halting to roll out my mat. With that answer, I am still not sure if that solves the problem.

    In last months issue of Yoga Journal there was an article on how to "reignite your practice". Something I thought that would work well is trying a new style which I have done, I went to a Bikram class, loved it, but now I am back to just not wanting to go. Like I said, I love my practice, so my feelings right now feel very existential, fearful. I need to know if anyone has ever had this happen to them. This is not me and I need to move on from feeling this way.

    Before all of this, yoga became my life. I want to become a teacher, have a studio, take part in healing people, some day. I apologize if I seem wishy-washy, but this is something I quite literally have not been able so far, to figure out on my own. I realize that no one here really knows me, but if anyone has any advice, or has experienced anything close to this, I would like to know so that I can start taking steps to getting my love back!

     

    Much Gratitude.

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
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• My rant of gratitude

  • From: kaivalya
  • Description:

    Isn't life wonderful?  Isn't your own life wonderful in this very moment?  Aren't you grateful for every breath?  Isn't it amazing that we are surrounded by so many others who share our seeking and who are there  to offer help?  That there are those with less experience who can be helped by our examples of compassion, love, and patience?  That there are those with more experience who can help with our struggles?  Isn't it great that in the present moment we are always faced with an infinity of choices?  And we can also choose "all of the above?"  Isn't is amazing that each choice teaches us something?  And that no one else on the planet can prevent us from choosing to express love and compassion in each moment?  That we can experience profound stillness, in which all the ripples of the mind come to rest?  That we can also experience indescribable bliss and union with the divine, in which there comes a knowing so beautiful it brings tears to your eyes, and you no longer exprience the boundaries of your own body?  That there are so many ways to move the body, each with its own benefits, whether it is the feeling of strength that comes from slow, meditative movements while holding heavy weights, or the methodical movements of rollerblading, as you glide along the road past innumerable manifestations of the divine, or an asana practice in which you use the bandhas to refine the flow of prana in your body?  And that each choice offers something the others lack, and that we can choose any or all to help with what we need to learn in this moment?  Isn't it interesting that we can use words to discuss our differences and also know that there are things that transcend words and enable us to see our similarities?  That we can choose to revel in every moment of our existence, regardless of what our external circumstances may be?  Or choose the opposite?

    Much love to all of you--may you find what you are seeking.

       

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
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• blissedbyliving

  • Views: 125
  • Since: 3 months ago

• ROLLING OPEN MAT

  • From: Klove
  • Description:

    WEEK I:

    What are we choosing to invest our moments in time, our heart, our strength, our soul in today? Amazingly, as we give with no thoughts of return, we receive even more abundantly, our attitude of gratitude is a magnet that attracts good to us. Each act of giving increases our awareness that we have even more to give. We are unlimited in the ways and means that we can contribute to our own well-being and the good of others.

    WEEK II:

    There is joy in activity and in stillness, in sharing timeful moments with others and in being alone, in times of calm and adventure. Joy is not dependent on something outside ourselves; joy comes within. No matter what tasks we have before us, who we are with or where we happen to be, joy is within our soul. It springs up from the very depths of our being, from the presence of within. This joy is peaceful, loving, and fulfilling. As an inner quality that is part of our nature, joy is waiting to be expressed by us at any moment, in any situation. All that is required is our participation. So we activate our inner joy by loving and by living with anticipation, wonder, and appreciation. We are joyous, radiant, and fulfilled.

    WEEK III:

    There may be moment's when even the thought of starting something over exhaust us. Having to reinvent ourselves can leave us feeling overwelmed. However, with our thoughts focused on being the new us now, we avoid pulling up neagtive images of the past. Realize we do have a foundation to build our future on--now. There are certain life events that can lauch this new vision for us. We don't need to wait for a particular time or experience to begin a new venture. We can be a new me at any moment. May we begin now to create with fresh innovation and revision to reframe our goals, values, and intentions.

    WEEK IV:

    A freedom to be able to travel and move about area to area, country to country, does come with some rules and restrictions. Sometimes, too, delays happen, schedules change, and other routes and means of travel must be taken. Our spiritual freedom, however has no limits. We can choose how we experience God, how we pray, and how we fill our heart and mind. We can choose how we experience God in our life. Embracing freedom of the spirit of who we are, we break through any self-imposed limitations and open ourselves to divine possibilities. By choosing encouraging words, uplifting thoughts, and positive habits. We give full expression to our spiritual freedom.

    WEEK V:

    Even when your life seems full of shadows, remember that the sun is still shining. ~Namaste'

    Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful...Wecome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower... ~Ralph Emerson

    WEEK VI:

    Without being asked, rain refreshes the parched earth, a mother tends to her child's every need and the wind gently blows a sailboat across the water. Without being asked, divine grace pours blessings upon us. Grace provides inspiring thoughts that nudge us in the direction of our highest good. If we become discouraged, grace encourages us to begin again. Grace leads us to forgive ourselves and others, thus freeing us from the burden of anger and pain. Through every day of our life, be refreshed and renewed by the blessings of God's grace. ~ Namaste'

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  • 4 months ago
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• Inspirational quotes arfter a

  • From: jelliemouse
  • Description:

    After a busy and stressful day I went looking through my book of inspiration, here are a couple of my favorites I thought I would share with everyone:

    "Our thoughts and actions should express our mind of compassion, even if the other person says and does things that are not easy to accept. We must practice this way until we see clearly that our love is not contingent on the other person being lovable."

    - Thich Nhat Hanh

     

    “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

    - Lao Tzu

     

    "One of the incredible truths about gratitude is that it is impossible to feel both the positive emotion of thankfulness and a negative emotion such as anger or fear at the same time. Gratitude births only positive feelings--love, compassion, joy, and hope. As we focus on what we are thankful for, fear, anger, and bitterness simply melt away, seemingly without effort."

    - M.J. Ryan

    "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity...Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

    - Melody Beattie

     

    Peace and Harmony,

    Jenny

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
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• artofpeace

  • Views: 228
  • Since: 4 months ago

• Gratitude

  • From: taohead
  • Description:

    It amazes me how my little daily tao book somehow follows my life.  Yesterday when my father went to his radiation treatment, he said he felt dizzy.  My mom mentioned it to the nurse and they discovered he was dehydrated.  Not really a BIG surprise since he really isn't eating so now not drinking is an issue.  They kept him all afternoon to re-hydrate him and will do so again today.

    So it amazed me that my Tao reading today was about gratitude and the drinking of water.  (Don't these blogs remind you of kindergarten and sharing something? :)

    "If your spiritual understanding is sound, then you will constantly be aware of the subtleties of life.  If you fritter away our concentration on minor entertainment and trivial distractions, then you will never attain a profound level of awareness.

    It is not the grand sweeping religious celebrations and heroic moments in life that are the only important spiritual occasions.  Every ordinary moment, every little detail should be a celebration of your personal understanding.  Your smaillest act should be permeated with reverence (like stopping to type this and pet my dog? Ah.)

    One of our most basic acts is drinking water.  Without it, we could not sustain ourselves.  Water cleanses us, cools us, and is an essential component of most of our biological processes.  But when we drink it , are we aware of what it does?  Do we think of its source and all the effort that make it possible for us to have this simple glass of water?

    Being spiritual means not taking things for granted.  Quite the opposite, you remember how everything that comes to you fits into the overall scheme.   You acknowledge the precious quality of everyday things.  And you maintain a gratitude for both the good and the bad in your life."

    So I am grateful that this man, who sits alone in his room not drinking water, is my dad and no other.  I am grateful for all the experiences we have enjoyed together, even now as he slowly makes his way toward another realm, I am thankful for the moments spent with him.

    Namaste.

     

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
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• Non-attachment and love.

  • From: SevenStar
  • Description:

    I deeply love some very precious people in my life.  It's so hard not to let that love attach me to them in such a steadfast way that it clouds my judgement and prevents me from seeing the natural cycle of things, a cycle to which we all belong.

    I know my puppy isn't a human, but I see her as a person.  I know her - every expression her furry face can make, every sound that vibrates out of that little chest, every hop and roll and run.  We have conversations all the time and no words ever need be exchanged.  Knowing and living with and being loved by a pup is a blessing I am so grateful to have experienced.

    She's getting older, and I know that a pup's life is, under normal circumstances, far shorter than a human's.  It stands to reason that, one day, I will have to know this world without her in it.  But I don't want to.  I'm so attached to her.  She's been with me for so long.  We've been through so much together.  She has seen me and my husband through such difficult times, loved us, kissed our tears away.  She was with me when I sat beside my dad in his last moments.  She was with me every minute in the hard weeks that followed.  She is the most magical, tolerant, loving friend I've ever had.  I don't know how I'll be able to let her go.

    How do you love without attachment?  How do you feel so deeply for a pup, a husband, a sibling, a parent and not fear the day you might be without them, especially when you can feel that day coming ever closer?  It takes such strength to see passed that turbulent fear to the calm waters beyond.  Sometimes I have it.  Sometimes I don't.

    But I can see what gifts I've been given and I can feel my deep, abiding gratitude.  And in this moment, I'm not afraid.

     

    This post is by SevenStar, the Anusara group leader.

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
  • Views: 236

• Trusting in the universe

  • From: poppyom
  • Description:

    This morning I am reminding myself that I need to trust in the universe to give me what I need. I just subbed a class & no students showed,I knew this could happen when I took it as it is a new class & not a busy studio YET.I say yet as I have my own class there & hope to grow my classes there.As a fairly new teacher my first feeling was disapointment,maybe should of kept my secure longtime job,but would not be happy if didn,t try.when I began teaching was in a busy gym,huge class sizes,& what I needed at time to get over my shyness & build my confidence teaching.Now that I am branching out into studios ,maybe also I needed some empy classes to also work on being alone with my emotions,feeling them & moving on.So rather than sink into depression or wondering if on the right path,TRUSTING the universe that all is how it should be,all experiences have purpose for my life.& hey when I am a successful teacher with abundance great students ,I will be sure to appreciate each & everyone of them!Peace  to all you yogis in cyberworld,hope you all find joy & gratitude on & off the mat!

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
  • Views: 162

• The New Trash Initiative.

  • From: suzann
  • Description:

    Despite the benign, utilitarian appearance of this garbage can, this is no ordinary, run-of-the-mill trash receptacle.  Much like a basket of kittens might be left on a doorstep with a note attached that reads, “Please take care of us,” this garbage can arrived in my neighborhood, at every door, with a mandate.  I had never before seen a garbage can with instructions, but this one dictated in bold letters on the side, “Take It To The Curb!”
    
    Mystified, I wondered how it could have come to this.  I mean, were the citizens of my fair city so stricken with an overwhelming sense of ennui when trash day rolled around that they needed a catchy mantra or slogan to inspire them to properly dispose of their waste products?  Or, worse, were vast numbers of people across the city confused where their garbage was to be placed?  I mean, prior to receiving this handy reminder, were my neighbors opening up their front doors and lawlessly tossing their trash bags over their shoulders and up onto their roofs?  How cavalier!  How unhygienic!  How completely and utterly unsightly! 
    
    I can see the city planners now, holding one last important meeting to solve this problem, scratching their worried heads as someone cries out in desperation, “This can’t continue!  Where will Santa Claus land if the roofs are covered in trash?!”
    
    I’m certain the lawyer in the room chimed in with, “Assuredly, it’s axiomatic that the liabilities involved in a potential negligence case by said Kris Kringle against the city far outweigh the costs involved in a new initiative to inform our citizens of the physical direction within which, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, their trash should be properly disposed in perpetuity.”
    
    However it happened, the new garbage cans, adorned with our city’s new informational mantra, arrived.  From that point on, unquestionably, we all knew what to do --  “Take It To The Curb!”
    
    I disliked these cans from the beginning.  For one, I was used to the old way of doing things and was already in the habit of placing my trash bags gingerly near the curb.  Second, I was concerned for the elderly people in the neighborhood.  Although you can’t tell from the photograph, when this thing is full, it is very heavy and the wheels are difficult to maneuver through the grass.  I have a newsflash for the city – for older people, it is not so easy to take it to the curb.  Further, once they get it to the curb, the large width of the can necessitates that part of it inevitably protrudes out into the driveway.
    
    In order to address issue number one, my reluctance to accept the new cans, I used yoga which, after all, teaches us to be flexible.  I can certainly adapt to a new way of throwing out my trash.  Certainly, there are far worse contingencies being forced on people than this one.
    
    As far as issue number two is concerned, I think these cans are, in fact, a nuisance for the elderly.  As I was leaving for work the other morning, I witnessed one of my older neighbors actually run over her garbage can with her car.
    
    It happened as she was backing out of her driveway, employing a very cautious gas-brake-gas-brake-gas-brake approach.  You know, the kind of brake tapping that causes every passenger’s head to sway back and forth in perfectly synchronized jerky rhythms.  I knew she could see me coming and she was being extra careful to look for oncoming cars.  She ran over the garbage can and it toppled into the street.  Naturally, I blamed this unfortunate occurrence on the can for being too big.  I knew she would be nervous and would question her driving capabilities, but I wanted her to know that this was not her fault.  In order to alleviate her fears, I had to spring into action.
    
    I pulled my car over to the side of the road, put down my morning smoothie, and rushed over to pick up the toppled can as I knew she couldn’t lift it by herself.  Then, as she was nervously approaching me to express her gratitude, I threw my arms angrily in the air and shouted (loud enough for the city officials 3 miles away to hear), “Stupid garbage cans!  I hate those things!”
    
    I watched her face, previously awash with a veil of self-doubt and anxiety, soften to relief as she threw her own arms up and exclaimed, “Yeah!  Me too!”  And then she thanked me as I drove off to work with the confidence and certitude that comes with knowing you’ve helped to relieve someone of unnecessary stress they may have carried with them throughout the day.
    
    Isn’t that what yoga teaches us?  To unburden ourselves just a little bit?  To have compassion for ourselves and others?  To accept whatever comes as it is and make the most of each unpleasant moment?  To help us to keep driving even when a lunatic garbage can (underestimated due to typically being thought of as an inanimate object) throws itself out in front of us?  Although I would have certainly preferred a basket of kittens on my doorstep, I’m thankful to have my new pet garbage can and the yogic lessons it teaches me as I travel down the crate myrtle lined streets of my neighborhood.
    
    Upon reflection, of course, I have also realized that I may have made a colossal mistake in my perception of this situation.  What if my neighbor dislikes the garbage cans as much as I do?  What if she was causing her car to stutter in order to keep it on course as she aimed for the can?  I can hear her version of the story now, “You know, Mildred, remember when I was telling you about that stupid garbage can?  Well, I tried to run it over the other day and you wouldn’t believe what happened!  This meddling girl actually stopped her car and picked it up!  Yes, picked it up!  Can you believe it?  I’m telling you, there are city officials living in this neighborhood.  I know they have a spy on every corner.  She probably works in the city planner’s office.  Well, I know, I have to keep a low profile for a while.  But, just you wait and see, Mildred, I’ll take that can to the curb once and for all!”

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 225
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• Then and now

  • From: jenny_stands_in_tree
  • Description:

    I happened upon a website started by Rainn Wilson (maybe you know him as Dwight Schrute on "The Office") the other day called SoulPancake. It might surprise you to learn that this website is all about fostering spirituality through creativity. They ask what are called "Life's Big Questions" and request readers to participate in the dialogue. It gives readers something to think about. Presented in a fun and semi-light-hearted way, the website really asks the audience to find a way to answer the tough questions.

    Yesterday a found the following post: Plenty O' Priorities by SoulPancake

    It asked readers what their top 5 priorities were in the past, what they are now and if there any overlaps. I thought this was a pretty awesome blog prompt.

    For starters... I had to really stop and think about it. What ARE my top priorities in life, right now? What is important to me? What am I living for? What is my purpose? What am I seeking? Honestly, I had to think for a bit. So I thought on it, wrote some stuff down, and thought I'd share what I came up with:

    I started with my priorities from my last years of college and they were as follows:

    1. Get far away from my childhood home.

    Since I'd been in high school I equated success with moving away from where you started. To me it meant that you recognized the world is bigger than what you know. The more places you'd been meant the more you would understand about the way life is. To be totally honest, at the end of the day what I really imagined was using this as a way of someday returning to people from my past and having great stories to tell that no one could compete with. It would make me better than them and it would make them wish they'd included me more when we were in school. It would make them jealous. (I'm not going to pretend it was a super-up-standing philosophy but at least I am being truthful!) The same was true of me in college and I continued to do a lot of things simply to have the story I could tell people. The plus side is that I got to go to France, which was a catalyst for a lot of changes in my life and I also ended up here in Evansville, another life-changing event. So despite my wicked intentions, I am thankful for that drive that allowed me gain every good thing that I have now.

    2. Get straight As (aka Be perfect aka Know all the answers)

    It's not secret that I had control issues. If my grades were perfect, I was perfect. It was very important for me to feel in control of things and never to be out of the loop about anything.

    3. Get skinny/ be skinny/ stay skinny

    This one goes without much explaining. I placed a lot of emphasis on this one.

    4. Explore the world

    I wanted to be a nomad, a sight-seer, a traveler. I wanted to have been lots of places and seen lots of things. This kind of goes along with the first one I listed but also was less wicked. I loved (and still love) knowing that there is so much of the world I haven't seen and know nothing about. Geographical exploration is a great thing and it is so important to understanding the connection we all share.

    5. Get boys to notice me

    If you had asked me then, I would've said my priority was to find a boyfriend but the truth is, I just wanted to be noticed. I went most of my life being the fat friend and when that wasn't the case anymore, I relished in the response it got from boys. Finally they were looking at me. Nevermind that they weren't looking at me with respect or compassion. They were looking and I did all I could to let that continue. It resulted in some pretty questionable decisions. I don't regret anything I've done but I do offer tons of gratitude up to the Universe and the Powers That Be for keeping me safe and mostly healthy throughout it all.

    Then I thought about my top 5 priorities now. Had they changed much? Here's what I came up with:

    1. Build a stable foundation

    For as much as I wanted to be a nomad then, I now have a healthy respect for stability. I love the life that I have built for myself and it is so fulfilling to have a homebase and great people who I know will always stick by my side. It is not a lonely life I lead and it is so helpful knowing that no matter what life throws at me, there is something here to catch my fall.

    2. Explore life

    Whereas I previously wanted to explore the world to learn about life (and that is still true to an extent) I believe I've realized that I don't have to leave in order to be able to learn about life. There are lessons in every moment, but it is important for me to be present for them. So in a way before I was trying to run away to get the answers, but now I see that I can find so many good lessons right where I am.

    3. Be healthy and happy

    I don't want to be skinny anymore as much as I want to be healthy. I want to feel strong and capable. Furthermore, I want to be happy. I didn't get happier as I got skinnier, not by a longshot. But as I turned it around, got healther, stronger and more capable, then I became happier. I don't feel the need to know all the answers before the question is even asked. Instead, I rest in the comfort of knowing that whatever happens, I am strong and I will make it through. I have found the seed of my power.

    4. Develop healthy, lasting relationships

    I don't even mean this romantically. I mean really, truly, surrounding myself with people who lift me up, and who I lift up. I don't want people just to look at me, I want people to see me and I want to see them. I want to play with our connectedness, to feel it and recognize it. I want to build bonds and I yearn for compassionate relationships. Romantic relationships are honestly not at all a priority for me (at least it didn't make my top 5 anyway...), but I am now in a place where, if it should come along, I will be looking for a companion. A partner.

    5. Make a comfortable living out of what I love

    For the first time in my life I feel as though I know what I am meant to do. It's safe to say that my list here of priorities may not be in order of importance because I would honestly say this one is my top, top, top priority. I am putting my heart and soul into this one. I can't presently see anything else that I am better suited for. Over time this may change, but what I mean here is that no matter what it is, what it becomes, what it will be, it is my intention to make what I love the same thing I do.

    So what about you? What were your top priorites a few years ago? Maybe even a year ago? What are they now? How have you evolved? Or have you not evolved so much as you have flat out changed? Share with me. I'd love to read and find out.

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 172

• A Good Laugh, a Good Cry, and

  • From: healingyoga
  • Description:

    Warning: you are about to receive a kick in the pants, so proceed with caution.
    
    Have you ever had one of those days -- the ones where you feel icky, stuck, pissy, out of sorts, and indulging in a pity party with lots and lots of whining? Yep, I've been there. And then there are days like today -- when I'm reminded how amazing my life is and how ridiculously lucky I am to have the privilege of living it.
    
    Sometimes I forget this as I deal with the ups and downs of life. Sometimes it takes hearing about others' problems -- I'm talking real problems here, not "they gave me whole milk instead of soy milk at Starbuck's this morning"  or "I'm stuck in traffic and won't make it to my yoga class on time" kind of problems. I'm thinking more along the lines of sickness, death of a loved one, broken marriage, etc.
    
    It's days like today that I realize that I too often take myself and my life too seriously. I whine about silly, silly things that don't even matter (they only matter because they're happening to me). I complain when I should really be saying thank you.
    
    Today I'm saying it -- THANK YOU! And I'm dragging you, my wonderful blog readers, along with me. I'd like you to -- just for today -- drop the whining, complaining, bitching, fretting, and generally making-a-big-deal-out-of-nothing nonsense that we all indulge in on a regular basis.
    
    STOP! Do not pass go. Do not collect your $200 (or has Monopoly made concessions for inflation?). Ask yourself -- is it REALLY that bad? Will it matter 1 year from now? Can I just let it go?
    
    My answers are no, no, and yes. Won't you join me?
    
    Along with my little wake-up call today I did what I tend to do when confronted with the realization that I don't have any REAL problems -- I get all philosophical. I think about the meaning of life. I think about how I complicate what is really very simple -- it all comes down to this: a good laugh, a good cry, awareness and inner peace, and gratitude (with a lot of love thrown in for good measure). Today I dedicate this blog post to the realization that life is good, simple, and forever changing.
    
    A Good Laugh
    How many times during the day do you laugh? Last year I got myself an adorable little feathered sidekick (a cockatiel who I named Yogi [what else?!?!]) that makes me laugh at least once a day with his antics. Since then, I've realized that I could stand to laugh a little bit more -- especially when I find myself getting frustrated/angry/annoyed. I find that laughing is the better -- and more yogic -- alternative. So I bring you a few chuckles:
    
    Overheard in NY -- you just can't make this stuff up! As someone who has spent a fair amount of time in NYC, I can say that I've seen and heard plenty of hysterical stuff just like this. Yes, Toto, you're not in Kansas anymore.
    
    Rubber Duckies beyond Ernie and Bert -- ever since I started watching Sesame Street as a kid, rubber duckies became a symbol of fun and happiness to me. Perhaps that's why I have one perched on the tile shelf next to my tub. I'm happy to say that my friend Havi has brought the rubber duck to a new level of popularity. Click here to bring on the rubber duckies and discover what Bert and Ernie have known for years -- rubber duckies are fun!
    
    Laughing with Yogi Ramesh -- we've all heard of laughter yoga, but Yogi Ramesh brings laughter to a whole new level. No matter what my mood, I always find myself chuckling when I hear the Ramesh cackle. You can also find more of the ridiculous, amusing and downright dirty in these funny yoga videos.
    
    A Good Cry
    Sometimes, of course, you can't laugh because you feel like crying. I suggest letting it out  and going to your mat for a little help:
    
    Yoga Relief for Sadness -- if you've cried it out and are ready to get the lingering sadness out of your body, why not try Yoga Yak's 40 minute yoga practice to dispell the sadness and find relief?
    
    Work on those hips -- I find that working on my hips releases a lot of emotion for me. I had always heard that the hips were the storehouse for emotion yet I didn't quite believe it until I experienced it myself. Now I believe. If you're feeling out of sorts and can't quite pinpoint what's going on or where it's coming from, try some deep hip stretches.
    
    Swamping with Sally Kempton -- author and meditation teacher Sally Kempton offers some excellent advice for dealing with and moving through the swamp of sadness in this Yoga Journal article. How's this for wisdom -- "...there's another face to sadness, a sweet secret core that opens like a hidden doorway into a state that, yes, looks a lot like love. Just as anger can be a doorway into strength, and desire the force behind creativity, so sorrow can trigger soft-heartedness, humility, and other profound spiritual emotions."
    
    A Little Peace
    Although I work with clients of all shapes and sizes with a wide array of professions, incomes, and backgrounds they seem to all have one thing in common -- they complain that they're too stressed. Despite the fact that I practice yoga daily, sometimes I still feel stress creeping in and playing havoc with my well-being. My Peace Rescue tactics are simple -- meditation, getting out in nature, and pranayama. They never fail me. Get a taste right now:
    
    Peaceful Pranayama -- the lovely yogis over at Yoga Today just recently posted a lovely 10-minute pranayama that's sure to restore peace to your life.
    
    Meditation -- jumpstart your meditation practice with this resource. I also highly recommend Adam Kayce's Inner Peace Audio.
    
    Meditation with a little nature thrown in for good measure -- the meditation rooms over at Lime offer soothing music, beautiful pictures, and a brief respite from the world without leaving your desk.
    
    Keep things simple -- if you've ever been on a retreat, you know releasing the complications of daily life can lead to peace, serenity and well-being. If you're suffering from too much to do syndrome, use this wonderful little list to simplify your life.
    
    Gratitude Rocks
    I started this post with gratitude, so it's only right that I finish on a grateful note. It seems like it's human nature to focus on what's wrong instead of what's right. Just look at the nightly news -- the bad news stories absolutely, positively outnumber the good. For me, being grateful is a little like weight training -- you have to build the muscle up by working it. That's why I partake in my daily ritual of writing down what I'm grateful for. If you need a little kick in the pants in the gratitude department, look no further:
    
    The mindfulness practice of gratitude
    Clean the chakras and make room for gratitude
    
    
    Thoughts on gratitude
    
    This completes your wake-up call for the day. Stop whining and looking for the bad and acknowledge the good. You have a lot to be grateful for, even if it sometimes takes a little convincing to realize it. Sometimes the only words we can -- and should -- say are thank you.
    
    Namaste!
    
    

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 144
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• insanity and peace

  • From: laura63
  • Description:

    i'm so tired of being a drama queen.  I know i am and i know i create the situations that cause me trouble.  Although its hardly my fault that my car didn't pass inspection, but it is my fault that my car payments are late

    i've been trying to live a life that i can't quite afford....i need to practice acceptance and gratitude for what i do have......i need to be thankful for a good job, being accepted into nursing school and seeing a posative exciting future.

    maybe what i really need to practice is patience and faith.  faith that everything will be provided. faith that i'm smart enough and strong enough to know how to manage.......faith that true friends will stay......faith that my instints are true and that i should never question them......

    i suppose that if i'm tired of being poor, and struggling.......i should stop doing the things  that make me poor and keep me struggling......thats such an obvious thing its almost ridiculous.  After all the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results

    i think i will get alot more respect if i take a deep breath and slow down a little.......not only from others, but from myself.....

     

  • Blog post
  • 6 months ago
  • Views: 155