KonaYoga.com

Instinctual Walking

"A few strong instincts and a few plain rules suffice us."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tricycle delivered another gem of a story yesterday from the book Zen Flesh, Zen Bones:
In early times in Japan, bamboo-and-paper lanterns were used with candles inside. A blind man, visiting a friend one night, was offered a lantern to carry home with him.

"I do not need a lantern," he said. "Darkness or light is all the same to me."

"I know you do not need a lantern to find your way," his friend replied, "but if you don't have one, someone else may run into you. So you must take it."

The blind man started off with the lantern and before he had walked very far someone ran squarely into him. "Look out where you are going!" he exclaimed to the stranger. "Can't you see this lantern?"

"Your candle has burned out, brother," replied the stranger.

The short tale was ready for multiple interpretations but paired ideally with an article I had just read titled "Do We Really Know What Makes Us Healthy?" The New York Times feature was written by science journalist Gary Taubes, who also authored the newly released book "Good Calories, Bad Calories: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom on Diet, Weight Control and Disease" that's sure to reignite the high carb vs. low carb debate. Just in time for your holiday eating pleasure!

The gist of Taubes' article is this: be skeptical of any announcement that claims some new drug or an aspect of our diet or lifestyle is killing us or making us healthier. The research and science, he claims, is often flawed and faulty, especially if it's the first report.

I've learned to be skeptical simply through the experience of reading one conflicting report after another, scientific journalism included. Here's the good thing about all of the clashing opinions and resultant noise: it invites me to trust my own instincts and appreciate the time honored, well-worn practices that have served me.

I want to be open-minded and will try something new if it feels right, as yoga did for me nearly 20 years ago. However, as my allowance for 20-year long experiments begins to lessen, I want to develop stronger instincts along with the trust to adopt and adapt with greater agility.

Read: Gary Taubes' article.
Read: "...the Sorry State of Science Journalism" by someone who refutes Taubes' findings and reporting tactics.

Artwork: Chapter 1, by Julie Paschkis

Signs of Happiness

"The really happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery when on a detour." -Source Unknown

When you walk into a room you get an immediate feel for the emotions that are present because researchers say, you're picking up the stress waves being emitted, even though no words are being exchanged. The corollary must be true, as I experienced this week: relaxed waves are emitted and felt as well.

I've been introducing heart coherence along with an hour long lymphatic treatment to my practice this month and the results have been, well...very positive. Have you ever spent an hour with someone who is consistently emitting positive energy? Someone who is relaxed and focused on feeling good? You can't help but feel good too. The results, as well as their implications, are stunning.

We could choose to be sponges and go through life sucking up absorbing other people's moods and intentions, or, we could be the pebble tossed into the pond that causes the rippling waves of our moods and intentions to spread out into the world. We do both rather unconsciously all the time but what if we made a conscious choice to spread peace and calm, joy and happiness?

Turn around slowly and look at your "pond". What's the atmosphere like? Who's in charge of the ripple effect? Are you acting or reacting?

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I typed in "ripple effect" for Mr. Google and as always, he brought me more than I expected. Enjoy:

• The Ripple Effect
• Influence Ripples

Photo: L iesel Elliott

Self Talking

Every waking moment we talk to ourselves about the things we experience. Our self-talk, the thoughts we communicate to ourselves, in turn control the way we feel and act.
-John Lembo

Someone once told me that he stopped going to yoga classes because the teacher had begun chanting in class. Although he had grown to truly love the asana (posture) practice, he could not allow himself to be surrounded by the chants. He was wary of the "power of the spoken word". I told him that I thought he was right in not returning to class if he felt uncomfortable, although flippantly dismissing his concerns to myself.

Now that I have experienced the power of attraction, I understand his concern. Continuously doing something that you feel is wrong, is detrimental to your body and spirit. Holding negative thoughts as you chant words that ask for enlightenment, causes stress and may be hazardous to your health!

We seem to be well aware of all the negativity that surrounds us in the newspapers, on television, and at gossipy dinner parties. Although so often, we are unaware of our own insidious chanting.

If someone told you that you were fat, dumb, or lazy, would you be offended? Offended might be a mild reaction. Yet how many times do we pass our reflection in a mirror or stand in judgement of ourselves, offering such comments? Words we would never say to someone else.

Just as pregnant women instinctively begin to treat their bodies with care because of the 'extra' life inside them, we all need to care for the 'extra ordinary' life inside us and be mindful of how we talk to ourselves. Self-talk is a non-stop radio station.

Bertrand Russell said, "The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy; I mean that if you are happy you will be good."

We cannot seek to do good in this world by diminishing ourselves, in any manner. Purring is a prerequisite to roaring.