Monthly Archives: December 2012

You are where your attention goes

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dog from up

I absolutely love the movie Up. The story and animation are beautifully done, and I cry every time I watch.  But my favorite part of the movie – and one I find poignant as a yoga teacher – is the scene when Carl and Russell meet Dug the dog and his talking collar.  The irony was not lost on me when I began a search for an image of the “up dog”.    The scene hilariously captures the dog’s short attention span when he’s distracted by a squirrel.It always gets me thinking about our own distracted minds, and how we spend so much of our time ‘outside of ourselves.’

Have you ever found yourself so wrapped up in a movie that you feel as if you’re actually a character in it?  Or maybe you tend to get caught up in a project at work for hours only to find that you haven’t stopped to look around, breathe, or even get up and move. We have an amazing ability to send our energy wherever we want.  When we pray or send thoughts of love and healing to someone in need, we’re sending that intentional energy out into the universe.  It is truly remarkable.  However, so much of the time, we’re unconsciously leaching energy in unproductive or even destructive ways.

Here’s a personal example. One day, I was gardening in my backyard truly enjoying the moment.  The sun was shining, the dirt smelled wonderful, and I was focused on nothing but the task at hand without wandering thoughts and distractions. Then I got a phone call about a problem with a medical bill and something the insurance company wouldn’t pay.  I was instantly projected into a place of anxiety and worry.  There was no teleportation device, and yet I was no longer in the space that surrounded me.  I no longer felt the pleasing warmth of the sun, and I allowed a single phone call to yank me out of the present and into my head.

Over the years, with much help from yoga and meditation, I’ve learned to spot those times when I allow my thoughts to beam me up into my noggin’.  At first, I used a common psychotherapy technique to bring my awareness back to the present.  I’d stop and deliberately look around at items in the room (or wherever I was), to bring my attention back to the space.   Now, I’ve become more perceptive about when I’ve allowed my attention and thus myself to wander, and I bring awareness to the wandering itself.  I become the watcher; watching the thinker.

Sometimes we try to escape the present moment on purpose because it’s too uncomfortable, but sitting with the emotion and the experience is transformative, and will allow you to move beyond it more quickly.

Whatever your habit for distraction, try to start becoming aware of when you’re NOT in the moment. That in and of itself, is presence.

Namaste.

- Your Charmed Yogi

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Look with eyes that you want upon you

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eye with a heart iris

Have you ever caught yourself being more compassionate than you thought capable? If there are people near you right now, look around and take note of any feelings or emotions that arise. Do you feel irritated, amused, loved, angry, happy, empathetic, unimpressed, or maybe something else?

I recently flew home for the holidays from the busiest airport in the world. While there were flecks of a short temper that wanted to rear itself, I found myself more often trying to empathize with all of the people that make up the holiday hustle and bustle. We all had the same goal: to get home and see our families. And, we all had similar challenges: reassemble ourselves after the security check; find our seats on the plane; stow our carry ons; wait to deplane. I was tired and irritable, but when I looked around I saw a mix of emotions. I saw some people who looked like I felt, and I softened. I realized that we’re all in this together and that extending a little compassion goes a long way.

It’s easy to cast our frustrations onto someone or something else rather than sit with them, but OUR frustrations rarely have anything to do with the person with whom we’re frustrated. In fact, when you put your irritability and ego out into the world, that tends to be what you receive. Conversely, when you extend kindness, you get kindness. It’s really as simple as that. So why is it so hard?

Let’s let that go. It doesn’t have to be hard. The next time you find yourself rearing up for battle, do the opposite and see what happens. Look through a lense of love.

Namaste.

- Your Charmed Yogi

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(Photo: Wikispaces)

Celebrate the inner light of Christmas

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Christmas-Lights

One of my favorite Christmas traditions has been to drive around to various neighborhoods and see their Christmas light displays.  As a child, it filled me with wonderment and made the holiday seem that much more special (still does).

On the tree, I love how the lights reflect off of shiny Christmas bulbs creating an infinite source of illumination. As an adult, yogi and yoga teacher, the word ‘light’ always inspires thoughts of our inner divinity, the pure love we all have inside each of us and that our light is a reflection of each other’s as well.

Like the luminaries the line sidewalks on Christmas eve, our inner light guides our way; illuminating the darkness. As you look around today, see the light in everything — the lights on the tree, the flame on a candle, the pure joy in a child’s eyes, and the light of love of family members as you celebrate and enjoy each other’s company.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.  The divine light in me acknowledges and honors, the divine light in all of you.

Namaste.

- Your Charmed Yogi

Related post: Spirituality is bread bags on my feet

(Photo: Decoist)

Being nice feels nice (most of the time)

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it's nice to be nice plaqueAs part of the #26ActsofKindness campaign that Ann Curry conceptualized to commemorate the 26 victims of the Newtown shooting by paying kindness forward, I decided to participate. It always feels…well… nice to be nice. If you’re there to receive someone’s thanks, gratitude is a warm hug, but even if you aren’t it still feels pretty darn good to be kind (most of the time.)

I started a personal tradition years ago in which I always pay for the car behind me when going through a toll booth.  I stole this simple act from a car that did it for me once.  So, I decided to expand on the concept and paid for the gentleman’s lunch behind me in line in my office cafeteria.  I don’t bring this up for any kind of recognition, but because I was taken aback for a moment by his reaction.

Dazed and confused when the cashier told him I’d paid for his lunch, he yelled for me — almost in an accusatory tone.  He then proceeded to interrogate me as I walked away, “Why did you do this?”  His tone more irritated than I’d expected.  My answer, “Just ’cause.  Merry Christmas.” His face changed when he realized that I didn’t buy his lunch as retribution for something he didn’t even realize he’d done, and simply said, “Thank you.”

When I’ve done this in the past, I prefer to slink off and just let the person enjoy a pleasant surprise.  But I couldn’t get away that quickly this time.  I really don’t honestly don’t do it because I want to be heralded, I just do it because of all of the times someone has done something nice for me and I wasn’t even paying attention.  I also hope that it changes someone’s day enough, that the kindness grows.

It’s a bit troubling that we, as a society, enter each day braced for battle as if life were a combat zone.   When we’re shocked more by acts of kindness than by criminality or day-to-day insensitivities, it’s time to re-evaluate.

Take a step back today, and evaluate (without judgement) how you face the world each day. Are you ready for battle? If so, can you shift perspective?  Karma  is the concept of “action” or “deed”, understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect.  Why not change you Karma and put out goodness for goodness sake.

Namaste.

- Your Charmed Yogi

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(Photo: Pinterest)

The end didn’t happen, reset yourself

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frog reclined on a lily pad

I’ve been thinking about what I wanted to say today, the day the world was supposed to end, and I think it all comes down to re-evaluation of what matters.  While the day’s not over, I think it’s safe to assume the end of the Mayan calendar does not mean the end of our existence.  But, maybe it CAN mean the end of old patterns, old samskaras that prevent us from realizing who we are and our true purpose outside of our day to day duties.

Make mindfulness part of your life starting now. Breathe deeply, eat slowly, taste food, look into the eyes of people you’re talking to, rediscover pleasure, and live in the present.  This isn’t an easy process, it’s an intent that takes practice and focus.

Be grateful that you’ve been given a second chance even if you never believed in the doomsday predictions, and embrace this Wonderful Life.

Namaste.

- Your Charmed Yogi

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(Photo: Pinterest)

Thank you goes a long way

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Image

A simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way to lift the spirits of both the give and receiver of gratitude. Too often in our ego-driven “I” society, we’re focused on what WE can get, what’s owed to US, and even when we get it, extending a simple “Thank you” may seem like a herculean effort. And yet, we know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a ‘thank you’ and how great it feels when that gratitude is acknowledged.

Take time today to be thoughtful, and thank the people in your lives for what they bring; thank every person with whom you make contact; write a thank you letter to a soldier; and thank your personal divinity or god for every blessing.

Even silently express gratitude for the tough times for they open your eyes to all that you have.

Namaste and thank you for supporting my aspirations,

- Your Charmed Yogi

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(Photo: Pinterest)

Wander around yourself like a Hobbit

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JRR Tolkien Quote

One of the things I love most about J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit series is the message under the message. Aside from the movie being visually stunning (I’m currently in the market for an earth shelter home in Scotland, if you know a good real estate agent), the poignant simplicity of Tolkien’s messages are beautiful reminders of what we already know to be true.

My favorite Tolkien quote is, “All who wander are not lost.”  I love this sort of “get out of jail free” card that emphasizes the value of soul-searching while comforting those who may feel they’ve never been able to fit in.

A lot of us feel we have our shit together by a certain point in our lives, and if we don’t fit a certain social norm by an invisible time-clock, we’re somehow lacking and not valuable.   And even if we DO fit the mold — Married, two+ kids, house, car and dog — we still beat ourselves up if we don’t have our personal shit together all of the time.

I don’t think we have to cast our worldly stuff aside and all become Sherpas or whirling dervishes, but why not wander around yourself for a while?  Take a look at the patterns and habits in your life that confine you.  Is there a place you’re terrified to visit?  Do you prefer the comfort of a sheltered life or perhaps you thrive in chaos?  Dive into your patterns and see what evolution may happen when you face your nooks and crannies head on.

Namaste.

- Your Charmed Yogi

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(Photo: Pinterest)

Edamame Dearest, can you pass the hummus?

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edamame hummus

I don’t post a ton of recipes on my blog, but every now and then I find one that’s so amazingly delish or simple or both, that I can’t resist. Oh She Glows is one of my favorite blogs. Between Amber of My Crazy Healthy Life, and Angela of Oh She Glows, I’m pretty much set when it comes to healthy food porn.

In my humble (always hungry) opinion, hummus is one of the most perfect foods. And, I haven’t met a hummus I don’t like. I prefer homemade or hummus from a local Greek restaurant. I’ve started to branch out into trying and making non-chick pea hummus and it just keeps getting better. I thought Tuscan White Bean Hummus was my new fave until I tried edamame hummus. Whaaaaat? It’s amazing.

Traditional hummus is full of fiber, vitamins & minerals, protein and healthy fats. Edamame hummus has a similar nutrient profile, but soybeans are also a great source of vitamin C and have a much lower glycemic load.

Angela’s recipe requires under 10 ingredients and takes less than 10 minutes. which is my magic number. Anything more than that and I tend to shy away from trying since I don’t typically use recipes anyway. Here’s Angela Liddon’s Edamame Hummus recipe. Enjoy!

Nama-yum!

- Your Charmed Yogi

(Photo: Pinterest)

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