om monday: still waters run deep

a few days ago i watched a new yoga documentary called yogawoman.  the film highlighted the expansion of women-dominated yoga in the west - especially interesting because yoga originally began as a supremely male practice.

they delved into many aspects of how yoga affects our bodies, self-esteem, thought-processes and helps us cope with fluctuations throughout our lives.  very cool film.

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one particular metaphor lingered with me, and  i want to share it with you.  i feel it beautifully communicates how yoga works on the mind & body.

they compared our physical bodies to an ocean.  for many of us, the ocean is often turbulent, constantly churning the elements below; making it impossible to glimpse into its profound depths.  by working the physical body and concentrating on breath and alignment, yoga begins to calm the surface of the water.  and once the surface is calmed, we are able to behold the immense depths beneath the surface.

that metaphor completely resounded with me, because i have experienced that shift first hand.  by working on my physical body with yoga, i have begun to experience positive changes in my mood, temperament and overall experience of life.  fascinating and wonderful.

namaste : )

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om monday: our storyline

in yoga class today, we were encouraged to examine the storyline we craft for ourselves.  you know, the things you say, or think, about yourself.  i'm good at math.  i'm a horrible cook.  i have no patience.  i'm great at tree pose.  i suck at warrior 3. 

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 we all craft storylines for ourselves, our lives and our futures.  but what if we stopped self-perpetuating the negative things we've "written" for ourselves?  what if, instead of saying, thinking, feeling that you'll never get a new (and better) job, you focus on the positive of your current position and then delve into what actionable steps you can take toward remedying the situation.  so you move from "victim of your storyline" to "crafter of your destiny".

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negative thoughts, words and feelings breed more of the same.  if you're constantly going around focusing on how fat (you think) you are, you're only going to produce more negative thoughts and experiences.  drop your storyline that you're playing on repeat.  and take action.  be curious and approach the situation with fresh eyes...and you may see things clearly for the first time.

so mavens, what story are you ready to re-write?

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om monday: what we avoid

in yoga, we're often told that the poses that we dislike or avoid are the poses that we need the most.  interesting concept.  so what is it that head-to-knee pose or warrior 1 can offer me?  what secrets can i unlock through them that will ultimately better me and my practice?

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in head-to-knee, my balance is really challenged.  so perhaps, i don't like feeling unsteady and shy away from things that make me feel vulnerable.  in warrior 1, seemingly opposing forces are at work - keeping the back heel down, while squaring the hips parallel to the front edge of your mat.  so maybe in that case, i can learn that opposing movements/events can ultimately work together to achieve something greater.

these are just some musings that i've had with this notion of examining "what we avoid" in mind.  there are many more poses that challenge me and countless moments that occur on a daily basis that i'm sure could benefit from further contemplation about this idea.

so, mavens, i encourage you to think about what you avoid that you think could ultimately serve you.  do you talk yourself of going to the gym regularly?  have you been avoiding confronting a colleague, friend or family member about an issue that needs resolving?  whatever it is, think about it, and perhaps you'll draw the conclusion that some of the things that you're avoiding could make your world better if you embraced them.

namaste : )

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om monday: bite your tongue

one thing i've learned...and continue to learn...is that "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."  i'm embarrassed to say that i fall into the trap too often.  i say something, and the second it leaves my lips, i wish i hadn't put it out there.  it's not even necessarily the words i'm using but the tone.  cold.  or frustrated.  or annoyed.  and i know the other person hears it, feels it and internalizes it.

yet, despite this realization, and even despite the fact that i don't like this trait very much, i find it very, very, very difficult sometimes to suppress the urge to let it out.  even though i know it's followed almost instantaneously by regret.

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what is it about us that makes us think we'll feel better by being unkind or unfriendly or not part of the solution?  i guess a lot has to do with our egos and the need to feel superior on some level - the whole "i'm right.  you're wrong," thing. 

but i know in those moments that i catch myself and don't let the unkind words slip, i feel stronger, better and more compassionate.  and that's truly the direction i would like to be moving in more. 

so i encourage you all - along with me - to set the intent to bite your tongue, even just once, in an instance when you would normally say something you may regret.  keep your lips sealed and see how you feel. 

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