KonaYoga.com

The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.

-Rabindranath Tagore

 

This is what my memory of the last workshop looks like. I'm not exactly sure who was there in every class (unless I look at my registration print-out), but I definitely see my teacher, clearly. I re-live the workshop with Jehangir Palkhivala whenever I review my eighteen pages of written notes and recall the many conversations with him.

 

I'm savoring the effects of the Prasarita Sequence, the meditations, and teachings, while conjuring up ways to keep them all, front and center in my daily life. It's up to me now to increase my field of focus, to expand from my teacher out into my world. 

 

~~~~~~~

Every year, Jehangir adds another dimension to his healing regimens and the Mother Sequence is usually a basic component. If you are interested in learning the Mother Sequence or are familiar with the sequence and would like to add the power of your emotions to your practice, I teach a class on Tuesdays at 7:00am. It's not a "listed" class. If that doesn't fit your schedule, contact me for other possibilities.

 

We are still waiting for a supply of Mother Sequence books (sold-out during the workshop). Also, I expect to have CocoMint and Orange-CocoMint oils available within the next few weeks. Thanks to the expertise of Sharon Warren and Warren Botanicals, I'll be able to offer premium grade oils! :D

Getting Even

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. ~John E. Southard

I'd like to get even with this man.

 

I could stop right there. The title, photo, and quote say enough.The man is my yoga teacher, Jehangir Palkhivala, from Mumbai, India. He makes the trip to the U.S. once a year, to teach his sequences of yoga postures. He enthralls his audience with mythic tales of gods and goddesses, remarkable healing experiences, and equanimity. I see and experience him just once a year, I appreciate and learn from him, every day.

 

How would I get even? How could I get even? I guess if I'm going to announce to the world that he is my teacher, it would be proper and respectful of me to be a good example of his teachings. That would take a lot of doing, and time.

 

Maybe I should stop right here.

 

 

Related post: Reverb 10 - Appreciate

Photo courtesy of Aadil Palkhivala

Originally published in Lessons in Balance,1/14/11.

 

The Gift of Support

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

-John F. Kennedy

When asked a few days ago, "What's the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year?" my response was:

My most memorable gift this year was Support, I truly felt the helping hands of others this year. Whether they sent kind words, generous monetary gifts, smiles, airline tickets, mouthed "thank you" or  "I love you", treated me to breakfast, lunch and dinner, or sat expectantly in front of me for a yoga class. I felt so cared for and appreciated.

 

I've been so blessed in years past, but this year I felt as though everyone was bracing me, telling me that I was doing the right thing. In the coming year, I'd like to continue to notice and appreciate Support, as well as to spread it around to others.

 

Pleasure is spread through the earth
In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.
~William Wordsworth

 

Art: Gifts by Julie Paschkis, 2003

Posted on Lessons In Balance, December 30, 2010.

Five Minutes to Choose Your Memories

To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it the more fit for its prime function of looking forward.  ~Margaret Fairless Barber, The Roadmender

"Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010."

That was one of the writing prompts that appeared last week through Reverb 10, an online project that has me responding to a daily topic for the entire month of December.

When you have five minutes, try it. It's not a personality test or a contest to see how many things you can remember in 5 minutes. What you will realize is something  meaningful, for you alone. Of course, if you'd care to share it, please do. :D

My list at Lessons in Balance.

Beautifully Different

For lack of attention a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day. -Evelyn Underhill

This month, I'm responding to prompts offered daily by the authors of Reverb 10. I chose to do it, in hopes that it would inspire me to write daily for my blog, Lessons in Balance. So far, I've learned something new about myself, everyday. For instance, on December 8 the Prompt was, Beautifully Different:

Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different - you'll find they're what make you beautiful. (Author: Karen Walrond)

My response dealt with what I consider to be the quirkiness of my brain/mind and how I manage to present myself to the world. In writing that post, I realized that the one thing no one will ever be able to see in me, is what I consider to be most beautiful. It's a good thing I have a dimple on my right cheek. :D

For more prompts and responses, see Lessons in Balance.

A Quote from Buddha

The Writing on the Wall

Yesterday, when we met for our Sunday walk, my son found a nail stuck in one of my tires. Later, my hair dryer died after blowing only 1 minute of hot air, a tenth of what I needed. A few hours after that, the driver's door on my truck refused to unlock while I was out on errands. My impulsive question: "Why is all this happening?"

Back home, not more than a half hour after climbing out from the passenger side of my truck, I came across this quote: We have no right to ask when a sorrow comes, 'Why did this happen to me?' unless we ask the same question for every joy that comes our way.

Well if I were to do that, I'd be spending more time thinking about all of the joyful moments and gifts that are constantly flowing my way. I'd be focused on the 90-97% of my body that functions and repairs itself ingeniously without my conscious effort. If I asked "Why is this happening to me?" every time I feel joyful,  I might begin to think that I'm someone special and that I deserve all the goodness of life, just by the fact of my being alive.

What would happen if I believed that?

Ha! I'm beginning to see the writing on the wall, and it appears to be my own.

Three Simple Things

Expert: a man who makes three correct guesses consecutively.

-Laurence J. Peter

 

In their book Style Statement, authors Carrie McCarthy and Danielle LaPorte suggest that you write and commit to 3 Simple Things a Week. Every weekend, write down three simple things you will do to energize your personal style:

1. EDIT. Let go of one thing- anything. A material item, a habit or a limiting belief.

2. ADD, or create one thing in your life. An object, activity, thought, whatever excites you.

3. APPRECIATE. Again, anything. A material object or a person, be extra kind.

Whenever I think about doing this, it's hard not to think about the material or physical items that I'd like to release or obtain. I can see them, bump into them (guess I didn't see them) or hear about them. But it should apply to any aspect of life, so what if I came up with 3 Simple Things for my yoga practice?

Here's what I've chosen for this week:

1. EDIT. I'm going to release a limiting belief: "I'll never be able to accomplish all of the poses in Light on Yoga." It was the first yoga book I bought when I began taking classes nearly 21 years ago and of course I couldn't do any of the 200 poses. These days, I can get into a number of poses, reasonably well enough to teach yoga, but unless I let go of the belief that's limiting me, there won't be much progression.
2. ADD. I think I'll add Light On Yoga back to my reading list (I go back and forth between 5-6 books at a time) and read it again. It's bound to have a different effect on me at this point in my yoga practice and it'll only improve my teaching.
3. APPRECIATE. I'd like to thank my Body, for keeping up with my heart's wishes. It steps on to my mat begrudgingly at times, but at the end of every practice it lets out a contented sigh. It continues to adjust and improve as my heart has learned to also be as generous and trusting. We've become a good team after twenty-one years.

How about you? Are there 3 Simple Things you could do this week to draw you forward in your own unique style? I'd love to hear from you.

Image: Free Webs

Sparks of Divinity

It is through your body that you realize you are a spark of divinity.

-B.K.S.Iyengar

This past weekend, I was once again fortunate to practice under the watchful eye of Iyengar yoga instructor, John Leebold. The bonus this year was offered through his focus on the anatomy of the human body and the genius of B.K.S. Iyengar.

I'm always ecstatic when modern science confirms the validity of age old yogic principles (e.g. nostril breathing and nitric oxide). In reality though, science is just discovering the tools to measure the effectiveness of nature and the brilliance of master yogis.

What I realized through John's teachings this weekend,  was that the mastery of yoga already exists within us. It lies in the miraculous construction of our physical bodies, the life force within our core, and the teachings that have already been set forth. All we are doing is discovering the tools: the poses and our practices, that will enable us to appreciate what we've been graciously given.

Hugs

The best gift you can give is a hug: one size fits all and no one ever minds if you return it. -Anon.

Hugs. We give and receive them all the time but did you know there's a health benefit to hugging?

Read "How Hugs are Proven to Help Your Health" and make sure you get at least a Hug A Day.

Watch the Free Hugs video, if you haven't already.

Get Up and Hug someone, right now. If you're alone, wrap your arms around yourself and hug!

 

 Photo: Reminiscence