How Yoga helped me on a Family Holiday!

Since my last entry I have been on a family holiday to France.  I had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the good weather and being able to swim twice a day, every day.  We rented a house that was literally a stone's throw from the beach. It was also situated quite close to the beautiful town centre of Collioure.

The convenience was paramount, especially with elderly in-laws and a three year old in tow!  I say elderly, but my mother in law is actually a very fit 73 year old human dynamo!  And that's without the benefits of daily yoga practice!

We had the upper floor which was like a huge loft studio with shiny wooden floors and white walls. It overlooked the sea and gave a truly beautiful birds eye view of the medieval castle.  It was a lovely space to practice my yoga in.  I didn't get to practice every single day, but I was delighted to manage five out of the ten days we were away.  After my husband and son would go down to start breakfast, I would lay out on the floor to begin.  

The poses and breathing exercises really helped to start my day off positively. As most people who go on family holidays will know, things can get very stressful at times.  It's hard to please all of the people all of the time and it's sometimes harder when there are family members involved.  The yogic breathing really came in handy at times! Along with a nice glass of French wine of course! I found it especially helped with my Father-In-Law issues.  My husband could have done with some yoga help at times but as he is not ready to embrace the idea of yoga at all, I didn't mention it!

We ended our holiday with a day and a night in Barcelona.  Oh, what a wonderful experience compared to last year!  Last year we had a stalking incident. (see http://www.thewmparentingconnection.com/2010/06/by-claire-hegarty-b.html)   We were also too late to go on either the bus tour or the cable car ride over the city.  This year, it was a far better experience all round.

We experienced the cable car views of the city,visited the beautiful cathedral, almost had free hugs in the square (that's another story!) had a delicious outdoor evening meal and rounded off the night with drinks in an Irish Bar! I know, I know, going to an Irish Bar in Barcelona seems silly but we were curious about the Guinness and it proved to be delish! I felt much more alive and interested in all that was around me this year too.  Another benefit of the mindfulness and awareness aspect of yogic breathing and practice, I am sure!

I want to Feel The OM everyday!

I was quite sad to attend my last yoga class of the season yesterday.  I don't know how I will survive without my weekly fix until September.

I  practice a little at home but I find the discipline of the class to be more beneficial for me. Some days, the most I manage at home is my fifteen minute stretches before I get out of bed and fifteen minutes later in the day.  I know it's not enough but I am taking the advice of people who know better than me and just 'doing' it how and when I can. 

Yesterday, we did our full routine of warm up,various asanas/postures and relaxation.  It was a little different this week as we also chanted the various sounds that go along with each pose.  I hadn't had that experience before and it felt really good.  As we made the sounds, drawing each one out, I could feel the response in various parts of my body.

I also want to do the candle meditation regularly.  I loved when our teacher taught us how to do that. It's just the most amazing feeling, staring at the candle, then the flame, and closing the eyes until the red dot can be seen.  If we are also chanting the OM sound, I can feel the vibrations tingling through my body.

I used to laugh at the idea of people sitting around, meditating and chanting OM but now I get it!  I was positively tingling with life afterwards and felt like a new woman!

I want to feel the OM everyday now!

Namaste

Yoga Gives Motivation And Energy - I am living Proof!

I go to a beginner's Hatha Yoga class each Tuesday, thanks to the recommendation of a friend.

As mentioned before in this blog, I find the yoga teacher to be inspirational.  Indeed,  from talking to the other students, some have attended her classes for ten years. Even after that length of time, they say they come away learning something new from her.

I can understand this because every week I too come away with something  that I can use in my everyday life.  It may be an affirmation, a snippet of anatomy and physiology information, a spiritual idea or just plain motivation! I have found that since I have been attending yoga classes and doing a little practice at home, my motivation and energy levels have risen.  I am writing my blog more regularly and brimming with creative ideas.  It is certainly stimulating both my mind and my body. Both of these have become more open and more flexible.  I have less pain in my body and in my mind.  That can only be a good thing!  I am also slowly losing weight and eating more healthily.  I am more aware of the internal workings of my body and the hard work it sometimes has to do when I feed it badly.

Yesterday the teacher reminded us that the time that our mind tells us we are too tired and can't bother to practice, is the time we need to do it.  If we can just override the part of the mind that is lazy and just do it, we will instantly feel better.So too with blogging and most other  things in life!

This morning I actually came up against this, took the teachers advice and so far have had a busy but fun filled and productive day.  I will be doing a short practice at home each day but I really look forward to my Tuesday class.

Sadly, the last class before summer vacation is next week so I will have to rely on myself and my own yoga practice to keep me all fired up!

Namaste

Inspirational Yogis and Yoginis Over The Age of Seventy

The first Yogini I want to mention here is my own Yoga Teacher. She is seventy three years old and has been teaching Yoga for the past thirty years.

She is my main inspiration as she started yoga at around the same age as me.  When I look at her and compare her to some other women I know of her age, I know which I aspire to be like.  I am aware that I should not compare people and it's something that I don't like to do as we all have things to offer. I don't even compare myself to anyone else in the way that I used to, which is a huge achievement for me.

However, if it's a choice between having an inflexible, sickly mind and body, or be in the mental and physical condition that she is in, my choice is already made!

While researching older Yogis and Yoginis, I came across quite a few inspirational people.  Most are still practicing and even teaching right up into their nineties. Imagine not having to depend on others or be considered useless and practically dead. To have few health problems, all our faculties and be flexible in our later years should be something we all aspire to.

On that note, the first Yogini that I came across is Bette Calman who was 83 in this video made around 2009.  As far as I am aware, she is still practicing.  Watch this video and be inspired!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hihUlcy394Q

The next Yogini is Tao Porchon Lynch who was 87 when this interview was conducted in 2006.  She not only teaches yoga but is a dancer too. Fantastic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2MoztPyvgY&feature=player_embedded#at=32
This latest video shows her at 92 in 2011, still doing yoga and dancing! There are no words to describe my admiration for this lady!

Now we have Barbara Lyon who was 89 when this film was uploaded in 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84ZmHxYXex4&feature=player_embedded

And here is an article about Bernice Bates who is 91! There are no excuses when you look at this phenomenal woman
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45484875/ns/today-today_health/#.Tt43UZjA7rk

Loved this Blog Post by Marina Calado

How Yoga Might Endanger My Laziness Issues

By Marina Calado (posted here with permission of Marina Calado)

The other day I was talking to two friends of mine about yoga. They thought yoga classes were something like boot camp. You get that leg straight. Straight means straight. Needless to say, they are guys. They looked very shocked when I said it was nothing like that; a yoga teacher does not make you do anything you don't feel comfortable with or that your body is not prepared for. You are always welcome to rest on your yoga mat. At this, one of them asked me "Why go then?"

For me that question has an easy answer: I love the practice. I love what yoga teaches me about myself and the tools it provides me with to better handle the world around me. But it also raises an issue: what happens when I don't feel like practicing? When do I know when it's time to rest and when it's time to push myself anyway? I do not know the answers to these questions, but one thing I learned after practicing yoga, even though I wasn't up for it in the first place, is this: I never understand why I choose not to practice, because after the practice my body is always filled with light and softness. Still I choose not to practice sometimes. It usually goes like this: in the morning I think that I would love a nice night practice, but come the night and I feel tired and sleepy. I opt to read or relax and eventually go to bed and sleep like a rock. The truth is I am very lazy.

And the dualism laziness vs. respect (in a way I believe it is ahimsa) is something I usually struggle with. I know that yoga teaches about our limits, through a regular practice we learn when enough is enough and when we can go just a tiny bit further. I also know that sometimes not to practice is my most gentle act towards myself. So the question is: what about when I'm being just plain lazy (human?) and I decide to practice "sleepasana"?

For this one I have an answer. It took me a while to get there, to understand how this process works - at least the theoretical part. And I have nailed it down to two main aspects.

1. Sometimes I really do need to rest. Some weeks I work a lot, I barely have decent meals because there's so much to do and my body does need its rest. My body feels sore, I get grumpy and only ask for two things: my bed and silence. And that's OK. Sometimes it really is OK for me to respect what I believe is best for me. This is also where ahimsa comes into play. Ahimsa is usually translated as non-harming, not causing pain. And this is what happens when I respect my body.

2. I give it a try anyway. I don't feel like practicing but I still unroll my mat and see what happens. If my body really isn't up for it, I'll know and I'll also know when it's time for me to stop and to congratulate myself for at least trying. But I might be surprised. I might actually do a complete class. Maybe I won't have great balance or strength, but I might push myself to the point of transformation and be able to go beyond the obstacles my mind has created. For me, it means I have reached that phase where I can move out of my well-known and cosy comfort zone and exceed my expectations. My ego does not wish me to follow the path of transformation because it means I'll pay less attention to it, so it plays powerful mind games with me. But I shall persevere. And it will happen as I start paying attention to the signs my body gives me. It happens if I am mindful.

Yoga endangers my laziness issues because it allows me not to practice, given that I choose from a place of kindness and self-respect. So why do I go to yoga classes if I can just lay down and rest? Because I practice yoga for its many benefits, I choose to be healthy, both in my body and mind. I choose to have a strong and pain-free body and a mind that I like to think is getting rid of old patterns and moving forward. I choose to practice yoga not because it makes me a better person but simply because it helps to uncover who I truly am.Published 05.23.11 at 10:45 AM

About Marina Calado

When Marina discovered Yoga in 2003, she knew she was home. Nowadays, she works as a translator, and since such profession is very stressful and time-consuming, devouring books, listening to music and practicing Yoga are the activities that she chooses to occupy her time with. She has tried different Yoga styles and finally met Anusara Yoga in 2010. It was love at first practice. Anusara Yoga has been helping her discover her potential and how she can express it in this life. It?s no wonder Marina wishes one day to teach Yoga so she can spread the joys of Yoga.

Website: searchdharma.blogspot.com
Facebook: marinacalado13

"Peace Offering" Yoga

YOGA FAIL !! ESTHER EKHART UNDER ATTACK!

I just love this video involving two of my favourite things, Yoga and cats!  I love following the Yogatic DVDs of the teacher in the video, Esther Ekhart.  She gives some terrific tips on getting the postures right. I recently purchased her beginners and improvers DVDs and I am making good progress. I'll post the link here for anyone who is interested and no... I am NOT on commission.  I just want to share with you anything I find helpful on my new yoga journey!  http://www.yogatic.com/yogatic-double-dvd-set/