Our Shadow

First, if you haven’t read the previous post, you may want to puruse it before starting this one, because I will be making a lot of references to it.  Second, if you are looking for the 20 min yoga sequence, it is 2 posts down.

 

After my last post on redefining the word “TREAT”, I got to thinking, maybe some of us do have the healthy view of the word, but we choose to sabotage or punish ourselves.

 

Is it possible that when we reach for that high calorie, low nutritious treat we are doing it because we do not believe we deserve better?  If we have a day that starts with a great exercise session and is full of healthy choices throughout the day, why do we reach for the unhealthy treat at night?  Do we feel we don’t deserve to have such a wonderful day?  Do we lack the faith in ourselves to continue our endeavor, so we decide to sabotage it before it gets too far?

 

Take a moment this week to sit with the information in these last two posts and let me know where you are on the spectrum.  Maybe each day is different for you.  And, if any of this is ringing true for you, take some more time to process what steps you can use to start making changes in your life.

I’m very interested to hear what comes up for you.

Thanks for listening.

What is a Treat?

As we’re heading into the season of overindulgence, I think it could help to talk about our definition of the word “TREAT”.  A personal training client of mine, brought up this idea and we were talking about where it comes from and how we can begin to shift our view of the subject.

 
If you’re like most of us, when you say “I think I will treat myself to ….” The blank is usually filled in with a food-like item that is full of sugar, or oil, or trans fats, or chemicals, or ingredients you can’t quite pronounce or define. Why is that? Why are soda pop, french fries, candy bars, super sweetened drinks, cheetos, donuts, etc. considered “treats” in our minds? I think if we asked our bodies, they’d disagree. Our body probably wonders what exactly is happening, because it’s unlikely that the item we’ve chosen resembles food at all from a digestive point of view.

 
And if all of this is true, how do we shift our mind set? How do we see things for what they are? Fresh fruit and vegetables are certainly a treat (most cultures would think so). Whole grains can also be amazingly delicious! On the other side of coin, all of those over processed items are at best filler and at worst, poison for our bodies.  And not only our bodies, but our minds & spirits. You know you feel better, have more energy, think more clearly, when you eat health-filled foods and drink water.  Why do we take the only body we have and fill it with weak, sludge-like fuel in an effort to treat ourselves? And more importantly how do we begin to change our point of view?

 

I would love to hear back from you on ways you are changing your mindset on healthful eating & exercise.

 

Approx. 20 Min Sequence

Since we are off from class for a few weeks, and I’m still working on the audio version, here’s a written 20 min yoga sequence.

Plan to hold each pose 3-5 breaths and alternate the Downward Dog Flows between short holds and moving with the breath.

As always modify and omit as is necessary for you.

Post any comments or questions you have…

20 Energizing Sequence

Mountain

½ Sun Salutations (3-4 sequences-move with the breath)

Forward Fold

Chest Expansion

Downdog Flow (2)

 

Downdog w/lifted leg – Knee in & hover – Float leg back & up

Warrior II – Ext. Angle  – Reverse Warrior – Downdog

Plank – 4-limb staff – Cobra(Updog) – Downdog   (Repeat entire sequence on other side)

 

Child Pose

Downdog Flow(2)

Child’s Pose

Seated Twist

 

Savasana

Feed the Spark

As the leaves are changing I’m more aware of cycles and how it seems that each season speeds by faster and faster.  The more I try to cram into a day the shorter it seems and the more frustrated I become.  I am practicing slowing down a bit.  I still have things that need to be done of course, but there are others that can wait.  Some tasks can be put on a separate “When I get to it List”.  What I want to make sure of, though, is that not all my fun tasks end up on the “Later” list.  Each day I try to spend at least a small amount of time doing what I want to do, what I love to do, what I find interesting, exciting, challenging.

I’m currently studying Mandarin and it takes time — some days I look around and wonder why I didn’t take time to organize my paperwork, or finish the laundry, or [insert your mundane task here] and I have to remind myself that those tasks, although they need to be done, will always need to be done.  I have to set aside time to do some of the things that feed the spark in me…study Mandarin, practice yoga, update my blog   If I let everyday be filled and controlled by the “Urgent” taks or seemingly urgent, I will never have time for the “Important” [to me] items.

What important item would you like to start on?  What’s stopping you?

Post a comment here.  Maybe we can inspire each other!

 

Learning to Ebb & Flow Gracefully

As the start up of a new season of classes and clients begins, my first response is to seize up at the sheer volume of it all.  It is such a far cry from the pace of the last couple months.  I feel overwhelmed and wonder if I’ve taken on too much, if I’m ready to give up the slow and easy pace of summer.

Then I remember the importance of that very thing…the slow and easy pace of SUMMER, it’s all about allowing yourself to ebb and flow with the seasons.  Fall is a time of energy and movement.  It is a time to pick up the pace and relish in it.  Because, what I must also remember is that the following season will ask me to slow down again a bit .  The days will grow shorter and I will spend less time in motion and more time inside (trying to stay warm)  :)

If I can find the joy in each season (not just the weather, but the energy of it) I will have all the energy I need to work when I need to work, and rest when I need to rest.  And doing all of that gracefully is truly worth practicing.

How do you feel during the Fall season?  Are you ready to move into the energy it provides and requires or do you resist it with every part of you?

 

Natural Detox

Yoga + Heat + Humidity = Natural Detoxification

Ahhhhhhhh

Rain

There’s something about the rain…especially after a long string of sun and heat and “perfect” days.  Don’t get me wrong I love the sun and the heat, but today as the sky darkened and the rumbling began I felt something inside me release.  I felt I had permission to take it slow, to disengage from the world for a bit.  As the rain came down it seemed to be washing my mind and rinsing my spirit.  A sense of renewal I wasn’t even aware I needed.  So, I sat and watched the rain fall, listened to the changing sounds as it moved from pouring to sprinkling, small drops to large and I breathed deep the scent of rain.

As the clouds began to part  I felt renewed and still willing to take it slow, to observe for a while more before jumping back into the world around me.

So take a cue from nature, sometimes life is hot and full of energy and sometimes life is cool and renewing.  Both parts are equally important and necessary.

Whatever the weather around you today, I hope you’re able to fully embrace it.

Let Your Spirit Soar

I recently returned from Mackinac Island with my family and along with the fresh air, horses, bikes, kites, and family fun we also visited the butterflies.  Their metamorphosis and ease of flight, along with the bright colors of the dragonflies we saw on our walks reminded me of something I’d read about a couple of years ago.

I had more than a few students ask about the symbolism of dragonflies and why they appear on many different yoga mats, props, clothing, etc.  The following is what I found and shared then.  I think it is worth revisiting and I hope you find it as uplifting to your spirit as I do.

A Dragonfly is a symbol of change and transformation.

They symbolize going past self-created illusions — that limit our growing and changing

They symbolize the sense of self that comes with maturity.

Dragonflies are a reminder that we are light and we can reflect the light in powerful ways if we choose to do so.

Astonish Yourself!

Hi all,

I just read this article on how we all misjudge our physical capabilities and since we often talk about taking ourself to the “Edge” in yoga or working to muscle fatigue in resistance training I’m fascinated by the fact that our perception of what we can do is purposely skewed.  I’ve known the body is as efficient as possible, but now I learn that it is also naturally conservative.

I’m thinking we need to use a fresh approach when listening to our bodies.  Maybe we take in the information, and then, before we give in we ask the body again, “Doubt Your Doubts” as it were.  For instance, maybe your body signals you that it cannot hold the balance pose one moment longer, you could ask it “Are you sure?  Maybe just another 3 secs.”  Maybe you can take the stretch 1 mm deeper or complete another 2 reps of a resistance exercise.

I’m not saying you should hop up and run a mile right now, when you haven’t been training or force your body into a yoga pose it’s never done before.  I’m suggesting we all could benefit from seeing if the body does have room to go further, a little bit at a time.

So, when it comes down to it, whatever type of exercise you enjoy – Astonish yourself with what you are physically capable of this week!

Remember, exercise helps support a healthy spirit.

Keep me updated, with your discoveries.  If you do find your body is extremely conservative, what do you think is the cause?

Sit with the Truth

We’ve talked a lot about self-care in recent posts and part of self-care is truthfulness.  I hear from so many people who say they know what they should eat, or that they should exercise, but they’re just not doing it.  It’s important that we take care of ourselves!  So, let’s take this time and space to be truthful with ourselves:

Are you eating healthy, nourishing foods? 
Are you getting enough physical activity to be healthy?  To lose extra weight?
Are you sleeping/resting enough?
Do you make time each day to sit quietly, to breathe deeply?
Do you make time to do something you enjoy each day?

Because most of us DO know the answers to these questions, let’s sit with them.
If the answers aren’t what you want them to be, what small steps can you begin taking to move in the direction you want to go?

It takes change, commitment, small goals, challenges, revisiting old issues, etc., but self-care is worth it!
Be truthful with yourself and kind to yourself in the process.
Please post any question or comments you may have about your journey in self-care.
Namaste