Breathe...it's free.

Bikram Yoga: An Ode to Try

Start with Toes and Heels together.

Breathe. Listen. It really is THAT simple.

In Bikram Yoga, we don’t have to go anywhere.  We don’t have to sit in traffic for hours.  We don’t have to run 26 miles around town. We don’t have to bike across cities to cross a finish line. We don’t have to run sprints uphill. We don’t have to shout at the top of our lungs expending energy in unnecessary ways.  We don’t have to compete. 

Just put your toes and heels together, look at yourself in the mirror, and accept what you have come into the room with today. Be it strong (whatever this means), energetic, anxious, sad, tight, loose, confident, uncertain, front row or back row.  Allow yourself to accept yourself for the person you brought into the room today, and thank yourself. There is no right collection of qualities. There is no wrong. There is just a try. 

 This is a practice.

Create an effort of TRY. Breathe. Listen. Enjoy the process…

 

A new year, a new energy, a new creation

365 days.  

1 week of the year already gone by.  That only leaves 51 more weeks left.

What are you going to do this year?

In 365 days, we can go back to school, start  or build upon a new career or existing career, create life, choose new friendships, end unfavorable friendships, raise money for a good cause, check something off our "bucket list,"  find time for family, rise to every occasion, rise above the trivial (and much is of it's trivial) and walk away from things that may drag us down.  

Life is filled with infinite possibilities. Rather than be stuck in the vicious world of virtual friendships, go for a walk and meet friends in real space and time.  Find quality time with people who serve you well, and wake up every day with a fresh clean slate filled with those infinite possibilities. Get out there and start exploring.  

But who am I?

Have you ever asked yourself: But who am I?

Who are we to decide another's happiness?

Who are we to decide another's comfort zone?

Who are we to decide another's place of discomfort?

Once we, as individuals, take a step out our everyday comfort zone, we have an opportunity to reach a new level of consciousness. It is in these times where we learn that we can be far greater than what we thought we were.  Yet, at the same time, there are still many mountains to climb, oceans to cross, stones to be unturned, new people to meet, and new boundaries to realize before we take another step further to greatness.  There is absolutely no limit to growth.

Comfort zone is unique and relative to every individual, and who am I to judge another's place where a new level of self-realization is found?  Perhaps this judgment can be set aside, but what is true, is that there is something far greater in life than "self." At the same time, it takes "self" to create that new found greatness for life, to get beyond the potential barricade of the ego lingering in the shadow of our "self," and hindering us from learning a new consciousness. It is this exact space that feels like an entirely new foundation for self, where humbleness is realized, judgment is dropped, and a new appreciation for what life is really about is discovered. 

Every single day is a new opportunity to ask ourselves: 

But who am I? 

Pan Mass Challenge: I ride for you.

In just 4 days, I'll be cycling in the Pan Mass Challenge.  The PMC is the biggest athletic fund raiser in the country, raising money for research and treatment for cancer at Dana Farber Institute in Boston, MA.  

Cycling has been something I've recently taken on as a new outdoor athletic exercise during the warmer months.  When I decided to sign up and start fund raising for the PMC, I realized that I needed this event as a way to motivate myself to ride as long, hard, and consistently this Spring and Summer. However, this ride for me is not about fitness, its not about being in better shape.  Its for one thing: a fabulous cause, and a hopeful cure for cancer.  

Originally I signed up with the intention of doing the 1 day ride from Sturbridge, MA to Bourne, MA.  Its 110 miles, and I certainly thought this was enough.  In fact, my longest ride to date is only 60 miles.  

But recently I met someone who, without knowing it, pushed me to a new level. He is someone who shares similar physical, mental, and intellectual beliefs as myself, but he has unknowingly pushed me to be a greater person.  Someone who, in the last month, I have grown to truly admire for his extraordinary life endeavors, his physical aptitude, his mental tenacity, and his humble, honorable nature. 

He's a man who sees no limits to life possibility. The experiences and obstacles in his life, which would seem like extraordinary feats to most people, are merely "ordinary" to him --- because he knows no other way. He's a man incomparable to any other I've met. I am proud of him, I admire him, and I adore his sense of self.  

He's a young man who lost his mother of cancer 10 years ago, where  I can only presume his foundation of tremendous character, strength and independence were developed; Profound wisdom and depth are deeply rooted in his blood, in his heart, and in his his soul.  

I made the decision 2 weeks ago to ride the full 2 days of the PMC, from Sturbridge all the way to Provincetown --- an additional 82 miles.  While this decision may have eventually come to me through my own self-ambition, it is he alone who has unknowingly inspired me to go further. Not only to go further on this ride, but on life's ride; The journey to continue be the best person I can be --- for myself and for others.   

There are many close family members and friends whom I ride the PMC for this weekend. But the 2nd day, I tribute my ride to this young man's mom, who most certainly must have been a very special woman to raise such an admirable man. I thank you for this. You will be in my thoughts and prayers during the PMC ride this weekend and beyond. 

Make it your Mantra

That which you focus on, becomes your experience.

That which you focus on, becomes your experience.

That which you focus on, becomes your experience.  

In just one year....

In just 1 year, so much can happen.  We can experience happiness, joy, love and pleasure.  Yet we can also find ourselves in incredible sadness and grief, anger and fear.  It is true that we endure both pain and pleasure, and its true that both of these emotions can shape our character and help us to reach greater self-realization.  It is through hope that we can reflect back on a year and see growth, possibility, and positive potential. 

In just 1 year, I learned of an ex-boyfriend who died in a drunk driving accident.  In just 1 year, I’ve seen a best friend go through a kidney and heart transplant and come out a champion.  In just 1 year, I’ve lost a friend in an avalanche. In just 1 year, I’ve had an uncle be diagnosed with Leukemia and now in remission.  In just 1 year, I have been a heart-breaker and have been broken-hearted.   In just 1 year, I’ve known people who have lost their home, their job, loved ones, and relationships.  Some are out of our control, and some are the very cause of choices we make for ourselves. 

I have also seen families begin, families grow, and babies born.  It is truly a gift, this thing called life.

Give yourself some time to look back in the rear-view mirror of 2008 and remind yourself of both the pain and the pleasure that was endured by you and perhaps those around you.  Remember that life is short and precious.  Its gift we have.  No matter your circumstance right now, whisper a thank you for this gift of life, and continue to create more positive choices (and learn from the not-so-positive) for yourself.  Life only happens once. 

Here’s to a healthy, happy, and peaceful to all of you in 2009.  

Yoga Rockstars

Ignite the star in you.  Marina, a former Bikram teacher at Yoga Crossing, is now singing in Hermosa Beach, California.  

Check out her latest song!

www.youtube.com/mermaidtunes

Go Marina!

Speak up

I was in church the other day and the Priest said something really wise, and makes sense for the religious and non-religious alike:

"Evil prospers in the world if the good people remain silent."

Confrontation can be hard, but if you know of a wrong-doing, speak up.  The value may not be seen until later down the road, but speaking up is the right thing to do.  

Passion, Journey, Energy - UGH.

I was listening to an interview on TV the other night, and the interview used the term "it energizes me..."  He was referring to something he enjoyed doing.

We've all heard the word passion and journey and energy probably more than we want to hear these days. In fact, I keep telling people that I am tired of these overused words today that have made their way in to the vocabulary of the majority.  Terms like journey and energy were formerly used by yogi's and homeopaths to refer to a lifestyle or a feeling that is not tangible.  Now, EVERYONE uses it.  And overuses it, to the point where the strength of the words, in my opinion, have lessened.  

I'm trying to stop using these words, although energy still remains almost hard to synonmize.  Those of us who are in touch with ourselves, our emotions, other peoples feelings...can really FEEL energy quite easily.  

How about this translation instead: Keep truckin' along and stay tuned to your surroundings; the surroundings (ie energy) will guide you in a direction, be it "right" or "wrong," just enjoy it; and you may not need to hitchike for a lift.

What energizes you today?  

On judging another's happiness...

Is everyone sick of the infinite eights yet?  Sorry, its been so long since I wrote.   I guess I haven't felt the inspiration to write down my thoughts lately, and believe me, there have been MANY!  Couple questions to consider:

Who are we to judge someone else's happiness?  At what point do we step in and confront the situation that may seem less than happy according to us, or what only appears to be "happy" from our perspective?  In confronting the situation, it may in fact create turbulence and trouble.  But if we know a person well enough and he/she trusts our judgement, isn't it our responsibility to express how we feel to him/her, rather than doing it behind the person's back?