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Zen and Yoga

The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking. ~ Albert Einstein

My classes last week were all Restorative, being the end of the month. In one of them, we followed a little Zen meditation exercise that you can try out for yourself. If you aren't familiar with yoga restorative poses, just sit in any comfortable position.

When you've settled into your pose, close your eyes and take a few slow breaths. Now notice your body. Are there any physical sensations that you're aware of? If your thoughts are focused on anything to do with your body; something you smell, an itch on your ear, or a tug on your lower back, say "body" either out loud or to yourself.

Notice that area just behind your eyelids. Are there scenes or objects that project onto your mental picture screen? If so, say "image".

Then notice the area between your ears and if you hear talk or chatter, say "talk". If a combination of any one of the three is present, choose the strongest one and voice it.

Then just notice. The "body" sensation, the "image" you see, or the "talk" you hear may fade away, or not. If it does, say "gone". You have only four labels to give voice to: body, image, talk and gone. Continue the process while holding your pose for about ten minutes.

I seem to have more images than anything else. My body may be relaxed but the images scroll by like a silent Power Point delivery. Usually, I take a seat and start watching it, and through some strange editing feat, one movie is spliced into another and another and another. But by simply labeling my thoughts, I've been able to separate my mind, my thoughts and my consciousness quite easily. It's like deconstructing a sandwich.

This simple Zen exercise turns out to be a vital yoga practice and I'm getting the sense that it's one more step on the long, never ending journey. Then again, where else would I want to go?

Read more on the subject of "Witnessing Your Thoughts in Yoga Practice", by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati.

Photo: Science Daily

"Loved the class, hated the teacher"

A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations.-Patricia Neal




I got this remark one day from a man I follow on Twitter:

"Did I tell you I had my 1st yoga class? Loved the class, hated the teacher."

As it often occurs with written words, I was left to shade in the possible emotions within the lines formed by his sentences. Was he being funny? Could someone actually hate a yoga teacher? I decided to simply reply:

I think that was a good outcome: love class/hate teacher. The teacher sounds interesting to me. :)

I truly was interested in the teacher. How did he/she manage to deliver the message while being rejected as the messenger? When I brought it up in one of my classes, there was general agreement. Despite the unkind and impatient teachers they may have encountered, folks said they loved the yoga that filtered through. They may not go back to a particular teacher, but they will continue to go back to yoga.

It sounds a lot like life. Although our teachers may be disguised as children, bag ladies or terrorists and the lessons sweet or vile. We love the class and Life can be our master and teacher, unless we decide to take on those roles for ourselves.

Photo: RafNap

The Rule of Thumb

Just do your best to keep yourself in balance. One of the first things that causes Energy misalignment, is asking or demanding too much of yourself in terms of time and effort. In other words, you just cannot burn the candle at both ends, so that you are physically tired, and then expect yourself to have a cheerful attitude. So, the rule of thumb has to be: "I'm going to be very, very, very happy, and then do everything I have time to do after that."-Abraham-Hicks

Photo: Robert Lz

Inspiration & Motivation

Inspiration comes forth from within. It's what the light burning within you is about, as opposed to motivation, which is doing it because if you don't do it, there will be negative repercussions. -Abraham-Hicks



I think this photo instantly demonstrates the difference between motivation and inspiration. Those who are climbing the walls are motivated to put distance between the bull's horns and themselves. While those outside the gate are inspired by the challenge.

Wall-climbing decisions and actions are our fight or flight reflexes operating at their best. But when we persistently react to life in that mode, it takes a toll on us physically, mentally and emotionally. How long can you cling to the side of a building?

The more I look at it, the photo reminds me of the importance of discernment and my appreciation for the freedom of choice. There are more "inspired" people than "motivated" ones and similarly, for the rest of my life I want to be inspired to move forward rather than be motivated to move away.

The gate represents my power of choice. Wherever I choose to erect it, I decide what's inside and not. I could even decide that it's the bull I prefer to be with rather than an irrational crowd and that would change everything. Quoting Abraham-Hicks once more: Your choices of action may be limited--but your choices of thought are not.

How about you? Do your actions stem more from inspiration or motivation? What if you made the raging bull your friend?

Photo: Creative Loafing

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.-Aristotle Onassis

Last week's nuclear test by North Korea, has rippled fear and anger across the globe. Even though nuclear experts believe that North Korea is years away from being a "nuclear state", a 4.7 magnitude, underground, radioactive explosion is, peacefully stated: unnatural. Even anti-nature.You can't call any action that carries global consequences, "a feeble attempt by an ailing ruler".

That's it! That's all I'm going to say about what happened. I'm not even going to suggest what the rest of the world should do but I am doing something.

In perfect choreography, I received an e-mail Saturday morning from the Global Coherence Initiative (GCI) with the following suggestion: For the next two weeks let's take a few minutes a day to hold a state of compassion for the Earth, while envisioning it in a perfect state of balance and alignment. Send heart coherent compassion which is free from fear-based drama and attachment to outcome. This multiplies the effectiveness of our care.

Briefly*, the steps are:

1. Breathe and calm yourself in whatever ways you choose.
2. Choose something you appreciate - a person, pet, nature, etc. - and radiate the feeling of appreciation to them for about 2 minutes.
3. Now evoke the genuine feelings of compassion and care for the planet.
4. Breathe the feelings of compassion and care going out from your heart.
5. Radiate the genuine feelings of compassion and care to the planet or to a specific area of immediate need.
6. See yourself, along with other caretakers, participating in this process of healing and facilitating peace.

I was going through all the steps except for the last one, seeing myself in the process with other people. It feels so much more powerful that way. Let me know if I should see your face too.

Of course, this particular event may not be in your scope right now. You may have issues closer to home and heart but you can employ the same tactics. Says the GCI message:

When our meditations, prayers and other practices are genuine, they count and can help reduce planetary discord wherever they are focused. All of our efforts add to the whole, which increases the power of our individual and collective intention to help.

*Complete Coherence Instructions. 

Global Coherence Initiative simply explained.

Source: Reuters, "Q+A: Why did North Korea rush to a nuclear test?". May 27, 2009.

Photo: Tree Hugger