listen

This is an interesting article entitled, How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body, published yesterday in the New York Times. As with any activity, there are inherent risks. However real yoga is learning to listen to your body, practicing awareness and letting go of the ego. Granted, that pesky ego (as I am guilty of-see my last post!) can easily creep in. Therefore, I thought it important to share this article, not to scare you away from yoga but to encourage you to reflect on your own practice. Is it the right practice for you? Are you leaving class with aches, pains or dizziness? If so, speak with your teacher about posture modifications or re-evaluate that particular class or style. Some of the extreme examples from this article had potential to be avoided with awareness. For example, if you have bruises on the back of your neck from practicing shoulderstand- stop! Forcing yourself into an asana your body isn’t ready for is NOT deepening your practice. For me, the last line of the article is the important message, “Asana is not a panacea or a cure-all. In fact, if you do it with ego or obsession, you’ll end up causing problems” I can’t emphasize this enough! Yoga however can be profoundly healing if practiced with awareness. You are your greatest teacher- listen!

look ma, no hands!

We hear phrases such as, “work at your own pace,” and “listen to your body,” everyday in class. So how is it that our ego still can take over and turn our practice into a “look what I can do” show?!

Even the most practiced yogis fall into this trap now and again. I am very guilty! During my practice today, I fell out of headstand and crushed my pinkie and ring fingers. They are swollen, bruised and I have very little mobility in them. This was no ordinary fall; I was “showing off” by rushing into my headstand. As a result, I ended up injuring myself (thankfully no one else) instead of taking my time and listening to my body. I’m sure all the signs of my pending fall and resulting injuries were there- I just didn’t listen. It is a painful lesson about the true meaning of yoga. We are practicing awareness, not commanding a performance. We are always learning and discovering. We never master a pose, no matter how many times we practice it.

Be aware of your desires to try a challenging pose, rush, or to stretch deeper. Is it an inner calling of your body or is it the need to impress the yogi next mat over?

The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

Through yoga, we begin to peel off our many layers until finally our true self is revealed. This process can make us feel vulnerable and it can be scary at times. I wanted to share this beautiful video about the power of vulnerability and the power of human connection. Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

I am enough.

In my yoga teacher training course, one of the activities Deva (our wonderful instructor) had us do was create an affirmation. As we went around the room and announced our affirmations, one yogi said hers in three simple words: I am enough. I remember being overwhelmed by the thought that I could be enough and ashamed that I didn’t fully believe it. Over time I have come to realize that I was holding true the mistaken belief that to be enough=being perfect. I am clearly not perfect, and in using that logic, it meant I was not enough! Through yoga I am learning what it means to be truly self-compassionate and embrace life’s imperfections. Every now and again my perfectionist rears its ugly head and in those moments I take a deep breathe and remind myself that deep inside, we are truly perfect just as we are. I am enough.

The joy of sharing good food

I tried this recipe the other day and wanted to share it with the Sunshine, Yoga & Pancakes community. (I do realize it is not a pancake recipe, but bear with me!) One of the Eight limbs of Yoga is Ahimsa meaning non-violence or compassion. Incorporating vegetarian or vegan meals into your diet is one of the many ways to practice non-violence. I made this in my slow-cooker and still had plenty of time for my personal practice. The thick-warm soup with lots of root vegetables such as potatoes made it an excellent “grounding” dish for my first chakra and a perfect winter evening meal. The pose for today is also a restorative grounding posture. Enjoy!

Pose of the day: Viparita Karani (legs up the wall pose)

Yogas Citta Vritti Nirodhah

This phrase taken from Patanjali’s yoga sutras 1.2 is translated roughly as “yoga beings when the mind-chatter stops.” In our practice we can easily forget that the essence of yoga is a union of the mind, body and spirit. Too many times we become so focused on the physical postures that we forget that real yoga begins when the mind chatter, that dizzying noise inside our head, subsides and we become one with our breath. In this state, it doesn’t matter if you can touch your toes or balance on your head. In the bliss of ceasing the mind-chatter, we can find that inner love and gratitude of simply being.

Posture of the day: Sukasana (easy pose)
Pancake of the day: apple cinnamon

new year, new breath

It has been almost a year since my last post. I am saddened that I abandoned this project temporarily, but happy to say that life happened and this year was a great year! Unfortunately, the Sunshine, Yoga & Pancakes tour did not kick off last summer. I still believe that the Pancake Sisters will reunite soon because I know our meeting was not random. In the meantime, I leave you with a copy of a poem from one of my favorite yoga authors. I hope it brings as much warmth and sunshine to your heart, as it does mine.

In the refuge of your eyes,
there can be no compromise
with truth. The ruthless
mind may dig to find
what’s lacking, but we
are the love we long for.

This outpouring of the heart,
no end, and no beginning,
bigger than our deepest fear,
fresh and clear in every moment—
it’s love that makes us whole.

Danna Faulds
Go In and In, Poems from the Heart of Yoga

Pose of the day: Ustrasana (camel pose)
Pancake of the day: Blackberry