seva journal

People define Yoga many different ways.  Some think of it as an exercise, a religion, meditation.  It is my understanding that the simple definition of the word Yoga would be “union”.   So what am I trying to have a union or joining of?  My bones and my ligaments?  My mind and my breath?  Maybe the right Yoga clothes with their proper accessories?

A book that I am currently involved in talks about the middle way.  I think that I can be happy taking this middle way.  Not finding myself swinging too far to the left nor the right.  The balance between excess and deprivation.

The middle way is the natural flow of energy and you can just go with it, no resistance, nothing to control.  Just flowing with the rhythm of life itself.

If I apply this to a pose I would be moving into that sweet spot between effort and ease.  The place where grace resides and I can simply breath and feel my heart open wide to what my body is experiencing.  Knowing that this sweet spot it self is a dynamic thing, ever changing as my body and mind are.  I can almost feel myself closing when I move away from this middle way.  Tensing, fighting to regain control that was never mine to hold

Yoga is my path to find this middle way.  A union with the natural flow of all life.

-michele

Sometimes there are going to be people whose paths I cross with that are going to be unpleasant.  I am sure no matter who you are this can and will happen.  A conversation can to turn into a battle to be won or lost by some standards.

Recently, I had the opportunity to interact with someone who seemed to be suffering and wanting me to suffer too. I tried to respond with compassion and kindness but the conversation continued to move into a more and more negative tone.  Anger and judgment thrown like daggers can attract like responses back.  I do not want to play this now.  Ever.

I was left feeling drained, second guessing my replies and also a bit sad.  It is difficult to not take on some of that suffering when you are so close to it.

Closing the moment, I tried let it go and let it pass through me.  I do not want to still be holding on to these emotions if another chance meeting occurs.  I would like to let the next meeting be new and just that particular moment, no ties to the last.  The past can stay in the past.  I am present.

-michele

photo courtesey of cinocino

Our normal daily lives mostly center around forward motion and bending.  We hunch over our computers, our desks, the sink, the stove, the steering wheel.  When life weighs us down, we roll our shoulders forward, closing our heart center.  This action causes us to slump into our front body and strains our backbody.

Backbending does not have to mean or include Urdhava Danurasana touching your feet to your head.  You can create a safe and simple backbend even seated in a chair.  Next time you find yourself feeling the strain of your day present in your spine, take a break to experience the less often visited directions of the spine.  Sitting tall in your chair, hold the seat edge with your left hand while reaching the right arm up and over, lengthening right side body.  With hips level and feet parallel on the floor take a twist to the left taking the right hand outside the left knee. Now holding the back of your chair with both hands, let your heart open forward as you draw your shoulder blades together and down the back.  Open the armpits and widen your collarbones.  Take a few easy breaths here and then repeat the process starting with the lateral bend to the right side.
Develop an awareness of your spine.

Give it some love, some attention and then experience the difference of walking through life with an open heart.

-michele

I woke from a dream the other morning that I was on some sort of a trip or journey.  It was all pleasant enough but there came a time in the dream that I had to make my way up a very steep and narrow set of stairs.  There were no railings on either side of the stairs and looking down it was very frightening, so I found myself crawling up these stairs rather than walking upright.  I remember thinking how ashamed I was that everyone could see me and how scared I was.
When I reached the top of the stairs there was a space so that I would have to let go of the stair that I was clutching in order to reach the plateau I was climbing to.  I stretched one arm out towards the platform, maybe I could pull myself up but I was racked with fear and shame.

Upon waking, I recalled enough of the dream to relay it to a close friend.  “You just need to let go” she said.  Have faith and trust.  Maybe I will fall but I need to let go to take the step.

-michele