Catching the Spring Fever March Brings

I'm happy it's March. I'm hopeful that the weather patterns will start to stabilize a bit. It's been crazy here over the past few weeks. The flowers are starting to bloom, but I can't recall that ever happening so early on. Regardless, March has always been one of my most favorite months (with exception of the seasonal allergies that are in full bloom) because everything is in full bloom. Ironic, I know. The birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and color returns once more to Mother Earth. Spring is certainly in the air and I can't wait to catch the fever—Spring fever that is!

To me, the most beautiful thing about Spring is the ability to capture transformation right before our eyes. We see it as the leaves return to the trees, the birds prepare to nest and flowers start to blossom. This is a perfect time to reflect on the transformation and change you notice with your practice. Take note of where you began and where you are today. Can you see or feel a difference? Relish in the beauty that is all around you and feel revitalized by the energy of Spring.

Dates to note: 
March 1: World Book Day. What are your favorite reads?
March 8: Full Moon and International Women's Day
March 11: Daylight Savings Time. Clocks spring forward one hour.
March 12: Plant a Flower Day
March 17: St. Patrick's Day and Mercury Retrograde through April 4.
March 20: Spring Equinox
March 22: New Moon. Set intentions for the month ahead.

March is also Women's History Month and National Nutrition Month. How will you celebrate this month? 

Did I miss any fun events or dates? Let me know in the comments below.

Photo by Bogdan Sudito

The Flexible State of Yoga

Hey...listen up...I'm going to share a secret with you....a great big secret about yoga. Are you ready? 

You don't have to be flexible to practice yoga. 

There, I said it. I let out the biggest secret the yoga community has. I can't believe I did that...ha!

Okay, so maybe I'm being a wee bit sarcastic, but it's the truth. I don't know how many times I tell people I teach and practice yoga and they immediately tell me they can't do it because they aren't flexible enough. Just yesterday, I was teaching at an office gym and an employee was using our area to stretch and get ready for his workout. We struck up a lovely conversation about fitness and yoga and while he's sitting in what looks like Janu Sirsasana and very comfortably touches his toe, he tells me blatantly that he's never been flexible enough for yoga. 

I smiled and politely commented that given the way he was stretching he was already much more flexible than some of the fellows I see in class. He was surprised by this. Maybe he'll think differently and give it a try? We'll see.

Like anything, it's easy to tell ourselves we're ill-equipped to try something new. Sure, you may not be flexible enough to pretzel yourself into a revolved triangle with a bind, but you don't need to. The beautiful thing about the practice of yoga is that are a bevy of styles available to suit any age, weight, size or fitness level, you just have to have an open mind to find the right fit. Additionally, almost every posture can be supplemented with props in order to get you into a version that works for you. The problem really is that without a flexible, open mind, you may not be able to find that fit and more likely to run than give it a chance.

The mind must remain flexible. Sure, yoga isn't everyone's cup of tea and I'm not here to convince you otherwise. What I would suggest though, and I often to do to the many people I have this conversation with, is that you'll never become flexible enough to practice yoga without practice yoga. In other words, you have to start somewhere and you can't expect yourself to walk onto the  mat for the first time and automatically touch your toes. In the same way, get rid of any per-conceived notions about what yoga asana is supposed to look like. As every body is different, each person's expression of the pose will be uniquely their own. Stop comparing yourself to the images you see on T.V., in magazines, or on the web. The point of yoga practice is not to painfully force yourself into a posture, but rather, to find a steady, comfortable pose where you can relax begin to quiet the mind (sthira sukham asanam YS 2.46). Why limit yourself because you can't "achieve" some flexible state right away? Instead, let go of all of that nonsense and let the yoga do the work. You may just be surprised by what happens when you do.

Do you find yourself shying away from new experiences because you don't think you're capable? What "requirements" do you find yourself coming up with when starting something new? What does keeping a flexible mind mean to you?

Keep a Soft Gaze | Dristhi and Concentration

In practice, we often use a dristhi, or focal point, in order to concentrate during a posture and meditation. But have your ever noticed that when you fix your gaze and you're about to lose your balance you stare harder at a point and strain your eyes? The goal of using a drishti is not to make your eyes bug out of your head and concentrate so hard that you lose all control over the rest of your body, but instead to keep your concentration fixed so you allow the mind chatter to slow and body and breath work as one. 

I see this in a lot of my classes, and am guilty myself at times, at trying to hold a difficult pose or feel myself losing balance and make my eyes go bigger in order to gaze "harder" and stay where I am longer. But in fact, whenever you focus your attention you want to keep a soft gaze. Forcing the gaze causes tension in the eyes, face, and neck. When you soften your gaze your face relaxes, your jaw relaxes, and low and behold the mind starts to relax too. You may not even be aware that you are jamming the eyes forward, but check it out the next time and see if you can soften just a bit. What happens when you do?

The same can be said off of your mat. Do you notice that when you're aggravated or agitated the gaze is harder, squinter, and more pronounced? Not to mention the erroneous amounts of time that we spend on the computer, indoors with harsh lighting, or in front of the TV actually over stimulates and tires the eyes. The next time your find yourself steadily gazing forward like a little toy soldier, take a moment to close the eyes, take a deep breath, and reopen them softly. You may have to blink a few times in order to do so, but eventually you'll find a comfortable gaze. I've done this myself many times and automatically feel so much more relaxed once I'm able to soften my gaze just a little bit. 

Finally, the same can be said for the way we look at others. In the beginning we may find that our gaze is harsh and judgmental, concentrating only on the negative qualities of the difficult person we may have to deal with, or even a loved one who may not be seeing eye-to-eye with. When we learn to change and soften our gaze, we may find ourselves able to look at them with more compassion and a softness in our heart. If we learn to recognize that the other person is just like us, then we ultimately learn to gaze upon them with care. 

Notice your gaze the next time you find yourself in a difficult asana or life situation. Do you have enough time to close your eyes, re-shift your gaze and reopen them softly to the world around you? How does this shift your thinking about the pose or situation?  How does a soft gaze translate off of your mat and in your relationships with others?

Hindsight is Gaining Perspective, Learning, and Growing. Lessons Learned in Teaching

I used to think that in order to be a successful yoga teacher I had to teach packed, rockin' Vinyasa classes week after week. I thought that the more I could make people sweat, the more I was getting "it." Please note, this is not to say anything about people who teach rockin', sweaty Vinyasa classes...I love taking those classes and still love teaching them, but because of my experience, my personal feelings and measure have changed. This post is an attempt to share this experience with you. 

About a year ago I finally had a chance to prove my worth and was offered a teaching gig in a prime time mid-week, evening spot at my studio. I had been subbing sweaty Vinyasa classes with much success since I started teaching, but never my own regular class. In hindsight and in a very limited way, sure I guess that's how you tell you made it, but now I see it much differently. What I realize now is that was my ego talking and the key to being a successful yoga teacher has less to do with how many people show up in class and more to do with how you serve the students that come with you to their mat.

You see, I started teaching this class as a necessity and even gave up another regularly packed class in order to teach it. At the time I felt strongly that I was making the right move and finally I'd have my chance to shine and share what I had to give with my fellow yogis in my own community. I was so eager, so willing to make it work, that I dove in without really feeling out the situation. Then...well people stopped coming and I got discouraged and it started to affect my classes and ultimately, I had to give it up. I realize now that they stopped coming not because of me, but because they were upset the other teacher was no longer there. However, at the time it felt really personal, like I couldn't teach at all. Some of them had even gone so far as to start petitions to have her back and boycott the studio, but what did that have to do with me? Nothing really, yet I still took it personal and it still hurt my feelings. All I wanted to do was teach and somehow that got lost in the mix.

Coffee Talk | Good Days, Bad Days and the Lessons We Learn from Both

In the interest on honesty I have to admit that I've been a little challenged this week when it's come to some emotional subjects. I'd like to think the full moon on Tuesday had something to do with it, but I'm not sure that's entirely the case. I acknowledge that I am a sensitive person and as such I really work hard to temper my emotions. But this week, it was as if I could feel myself getting agitated and upset and knew the slippery slope ahead of me, but instead of walking away and taking a few extra deep breaths (because the deep breaths were certainly happening I just needed more) I stayed with the emotional upheaval...in a kind, compassionate way of course. 

On the other hand, there were other situations this week where I was able to tap in to my breath, stay grounded and push forward with faith and optimism. When the daunting stories and negative self-talk started to bubble up, I quickly turned it around with kind, nurturing words rather than the battering onslaught of negativity that sometimes prevails. I'm happy with the progress there.

But then again, I'm happy with the progress in the first situation as well. Yes, the first is not ideal and certainly by now you would think I'd have a grip on certain emotional triggers, but you know what...here's a big secret...I'm human and not perfect and can't always expect myself to make the best choices or temper the right reaction. I can however, continue to work towards a faster "recovery time" and work on managing these situations one day at a time. In fact, I'm more proud of myself for going through that emotional and stressful situation and coming out on the other side with a little more clarity and learning something. I'm completely humbled by that experience, but won't allow me to beat up on me. This is part of the learning process and practice after all, isn't it?

What I'm trying to say is that no matter how long you practice, there will still be situations where you may not react in a way that is completely ideal and that's okay. However, the lesson you walk away with and that little extra bit of clarity that makes all of the difference. Have you ever found yourself saying "why does this keep happening to me?" Well, here's my thought on this...perhaps the same situations or patterns keep arising because we're not learning and growing from the situation at hand. These are our karmas after all. The next time you find yourself saying this, stop and try to see the situation in a different light and you may find your true Self moving you in another direction. 

Onwards and upwards!

My Guest Post @ Yoganonymous | The Hardest Part of Yoga Practice is Letting Go

“The moment I let go of it was the moment, I got more than I could handle, The moment I jumped off of it, Was the moment I touched down” -Thank  You, Alanis Morrissette

 

What is the hardest part of yoga practice? Is it the asana or the breath? Is it the discipline to step on your mat every day? Is it your willingness to try something new? It may be any combination of these things, or it may be one thing. In my experience it is the simple act of letting go.

Let us not get confused here. By letting go, I don’t mean surrendering or giving up, but rather letting go of the stories we tell ourselves that we can’t do something, the expectations and judgments we experience as we move through our practice, and our egos that push us too hard.  So often these judgments and harsh criticisms hold us back, keeping us from our true potential, hiding us from the brilliance within.

One of my yoga teachers says “the strongest yogi in the room is the one that takes child’s pose when they need it.” How true. How many times have you pushed yourself too hard in class only to be left feeling worse than when you walked in or maybe even pushing to injury? Have you been practicing for awhile with little change and feel frustrated? Yes, you show up every day, but you are still as stiff and tense as when you began. You can power through any Vinyasa, but your stress and anxiety levels are through the roof. Kudos to you for coming to class, but have you considered that it’s not the asana you need to master, but the act of listening and letting go instead.

Read the entire article here!

Let Love Shine this February

I told the Universe today that I want to write a book.

I've been wanting to write a book for sometime, but I've never put it out to the Universe all loud and proud like that. We'll see what happens.

Now on to the real story. February is month wrought with inspiration and dare I say, way to much expectation. Yes, it's all about love this month, but I prefer to focus on self-love as well as appreciation for the loved ones in my life...all of them. Let's be honest, if you don't love yourself, how will anyone else ever be able come close enough to love you? But that's a different post...to come!

I'm still super excited about breaking out of my comfort zone. Even today I met a yogini friend for coffee to talk about her experience with the 500-hour training I'm considering. This is something that normally I would have scheduled then rescheduled time and time again letting my nerves get in the way, but this time I stuck with it and I'm happy I did. Next week I head to NYC with a dear friend to take class with Sri Dharma Mittra. And for what seems like small potatoes, but is really big potatoes given my experiences over the last three years, for once I'm not stressed about my health coverage or my taxes. Although I know this can change at any given moment, for now I'm enjoying the less-stressed approach to both of these situations.

So what's on the docket for this month? I'm so glad you asked. 
Feb. 2: Groundhog Day. Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow or not? Stay tuned!
Feb. 7: Full Moon and maximum illumination. And if you're like me, some technical difficulties may occur. Take a breath. it will be okay!
Feb. 12: Lincoln's Birthday
Feb. 14: Valentine's Day
Feb. 15: Nirvana Day. Nirvana Day is the celebration of Buddha's death when he reached total Nirvana, at the age of 80.
Feb. 20: President's Day (U.S)
Feb. 21: Mardi Gras and the New Moon
Feb. 22: Ash Wednesday
Feb. 29: Leap Day/Year

February is also Black History Month and National Mend a Broken Heart Month which is supported by the My Stuff Bags Foundation a non-profit organization that provides new belongings, comfort and hope to thousands of children each year who must be rescued from abuse, neglect and abandonment across the United States.

Share love. Give love. Spread love. Receive Love. Be Love. And let the Love shine!