%>
%
%>
Silvia's Blog
APPRECIATION AS SELF STUDY
NOVEMBER 20TH, 2008: One of my favorite parts of this practice is that of Self Study in Sanskrit known as Svadhyaya. This is one of the Niyamas and fundamental principles presented in the Yoga Sutras. I fell in love with observing myself because it didn’t demand I change anything. I liked that. It spoke to what Dr Wayne Dyer says, “You can’t go around being what everyone wants you to be, living your life through other people’s rules, and expect to be happy and have inner peace.”
There is an inherent gentleness when we practice appreciation for who we are and make our observations not from a place of judgement but of understanding, respect, compassion and self-love. So today as you read this take time to appreciate your breath, to appreciate your feelings (whatever they may be – joy, sadness, peace, frustration, love), appreciate being in your own skin. Now just breath and let go of what you thought was supposed to happen, just breath and let things be. Simply listen to your heart as you watch your thoughts. This study of oneself will open up channels of stuckness in both the physical body and channels to deep reservoirs of clarity and wisdom within our minds.
Watch today as you allow yourself time to breath or really inhabit a pose if you can recognize more of who you are.
Before bed tonight take time to appreciate all who made your week better. And take time to appreciate yourself for all the ways you made someone else’s life a little easier this week as well. In the words of Mother Theresa, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread”. And tomorrow morning start the day by saying to yourself, “I appreciate….” Then quietly observe your thoughts and feelings to reveal even more about who you are and what you need. May your life be a reflection of your heart! Love, Silvia
11/20/2008 Tags: self study, appreciation, svadhyayaLOVE
NOVEMBER 19TH, 2008: Albert Einstein said "the most important decision we ever make is whether we believe we live in a friendly universe or a hostile universe." Yup. So we can ask ourselves do we choose to embrace the definition of LOVE as "being in harmony with oneself and one's surroundings" thereby choosing to see the world as friendly? Do we want to recover, uncover, otherwise rediscover love?
One of the words for the BODY I like the most is the Greek word SOMA, which means the home of the spirit. Somewhere along the line, our bodies have fallen asleep our SOMAS are dusty and grown over with vines. The ASANA are like the prince who comes to awaken the sleeping princess, breathing life back into lifeless limbs. Life in our bodies, untying the knots of our minds breaths LOVE back into us. For really LOVE emerges from a deep sense of peace that comes from inner harmony.
Within each on of us is LOVE, awaiting to be rediscovered - we don't have to invent it. It's there already. When we come to the mat just be breathing the love we cultivate for ourselves goes far beyond the studio to reach and touch the hearts inside those we love and want to love. So if you're waiting to love someone, or waiting to love someone a little extra bit - go for it! BIG LOVE TO YOU ALL! Silvia
YOGA FOR HEALTHY BACKS: FREEDOM!
NOVEMBER 18, 2008: So here's the thing you guys, you know my history, Run Over By Car, Back Pain Result, Yoga is Medicine, No More Back Pain. It's a short story. Now as I've often said in class the physical pain is nothing compared to the emotional toll illness/injury take upon us. I've been there. If feels like you're TRAPPED. Like you can't get out. If feels like what I imagine prison to be like.
So tonight we talked about Freedom as it relates to a healthy back. It was powerful for me and I hope it was for you too. You see I totally believe in FREEDOM: Freedom from physical pain, freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom of feelings, freedom to love, freedom to be yourself. But really for me it started as a desire to be FREE of back pain, then it moved into a desire to be free of emotional pain. So here in a nutshell are the key points from tonight's practice. ENJOY! BE FREE, LOVE FREE! Silvia
Yoga Poses help back pain by improving circulation that brings nutrients to the intervertebral disks while removing toxins.. Disks don't have independent blood supply therefore they depend on movement of surrounding structure to aid in the delivery of nutrients. Movement causes the disks to be compressed which squeezes out stale disk fluid and then to expand bringing in fresh supply. Be sure to stretch all major muscle groups around the hip joints: adductors, quads, rotators, hamstrings. When Hip rotators are tight they hold the pelvis too much and the force of movement transfers up to the low back putting strain from there on up the spine.
Best Yoga Pose Focus: Move spine in all 6 directions (flexion, extension, rotation, lateral flexion); Puppy/Cat Tilt on all fours and in Bridge Pose; Hip Rotator Stretches (Supine Pigeon, Seated Pigeon, Pigeon, Standing Pigeon, Warrior Poses; Gentle Twists (Triangle); Safe Forward Bends (Wide Legged or Supine on your back)
Yoga Breathing: Slow deep breaths help ratchet down an overactive stress-response system, which leads to muscle relaxation because it triggers the "relaxation response" the antidote to flight or flight. The focus on all three parts of the lungs (especially deep abdominal focus on exhalations) helps bring in more oxygen. The wave like undulation of deep inhales and exhales gently massage the spinal column which brings nutrients to spinal disks.
"Yoga done right gets more interesting over time. Good poses don't just improve the functioning of the physical body, they engage your mind. Bringing your attention to what you are doing, and precisely how you are doing it, builds the ability to feel your body's signals. This greater proprioceptive awareness (your felt sense of your body position) also allows you to notice changes-this serves as an EARLY WARNING SYSTEM when stress, poor posture or other factors may be leading to back pain." - Dr Timothy McCall
11/18/2008 Tags: Healthy backs, FreedomTO AND FRO': SEE SAW PRINCIPLE OF LIFE
NOVEMBER 17TH, 2008:
11/17/2008 Tags:
THE HAPPINESS LOTTERY: REAL OR FICTION?
NOVEMBER 15TH, 2008: Last night watching again the movie Indestructible I am deeply touched by Ben's desire to find inner happiness in spite of what is happening to his body that is out of his control. The Yoga Sutras speak to this directly.
Sutra 1.30 The perception of our true nature which is JOY is often obscured. AND Sutra 1.24 The divine consciousness is self effulgent like the SUN. We are self effulgent like the sun!
Now what interests me the most about Happiness is that we aren’t going to run out of it. There is no HAPPINESS LOTTERY with only an occasional lucky winner. Yoga teaches us that joy is the true nature of each of us. So today and moving forward we no longer have to limit our perspective of happiness or decide only some of our family members get to be happy and the rest don’t. Everyone can be joyful. Here’s the challenge, can you wake up every morning and choose to be happy? Can you face conflict and choose not to get totally upset. And if you do get upset, can you choose to feel happy again? I say YES! But it takes practice and what we practice we strengthen. So keep planting positive thoughts at least as often as you refresh your email or check voicemail. And as an at home practice try this Happiness Meditation:
Close your eyes and notice your breath entering and exiting. Count 10 deep breaths and then relax deeper into your seat. Allow the breath to move freely in and out. Move your awareness to the word "HAPPINESS". See it printed on the back of your eyelids. Hear it spoken by your inner voice. Feel it connected to your breathing. As you breathe in say "HAPPINESS"; as you breathe out say "WITHIN". Repeat with each breath: "Happiness - Within". Continue this breathing meditation for a few minutes.
Just five minutes into your meditation notice a shift in your attitude. Maybe you can't put your finger on it but it's definitely there. You realize that you feel better, you feel happy just because you chose to. It's within you all the time. So when in doubt: BREATH HAPPINESS – WITHIN.
CLAP HANDS - TODAY IS A DAY OF FESTIVAL!
NOVEMBER 14TH, 2008:
11/14/2008 Tags: Rumi
LIVE MORE FULLY
NOVEMBVER 13, 2008:
"For yesterday I hold no apologies, For tomorrow I hold no answers, Today is a gift and I will honor it by fully living in it." ~ Mary Anne Radmacher-Hershey
As we have approached tomorrow evening with the showing of "Indestructible" by Director Ben Byer I have spent more and more time journaling and meditating about what it means to live fully. There was a time in my life where I was anxiously ticking off days of the week like items on a To Do List waiting to be finished. That's no way to live.
Of all the things I've tried along my journey, yoga has brought me back to myself and to the desire to live fully. Because it is so forgiving it has given me the courage to stop being afraid of happiness. Yoga has even helped me embrace failed attempts at happiness because as I breath I can keep trying! Now none of us knows our personal expiration date because it is stamped with invisible ink, but whatever it is I hope LIVING FULLY is important enough to you that you won't waste another moment.
The movie tonight is a truly inspiring example of someone unapologetically choosing to live fully even in the face of challenge. This movie is for believers and lovers of life. Join me on the mat to continue your own inward adventure! Begin directing the movie of your own life starting now, find the flow and in that lies the yoga of living from our highest selves. Big Love To You ALL! Silvia
"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Continue to learn. Play with abandon. Choose with no regret. Laugh! Do what you love. Love as if this is all there is." ~ Mary Anne Radmacher-Hershey
11/13/2008 Tags: Fullness, Love, Passion
EMPOWERMENT & SELF RELIANCE
NOVEMBER 12TH, 2008: What is interesting to me is how much our foundation and core strength have to do with Self Reliance. Now we often focus a lot on our feet as foundation but today through various wrists therapeutics we really gave equal focus to our hands as our foundation too. For me learning how to hold myself up on my own two hands was life changing. Making myself stronger was all about self reliance and this led to my taking back my life, my fate, my world. Come to the mat so you too can discover for yourself that you can face anything! And for further inspiration the words of Rumi:
This being human is a guesthouse.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight …
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond. (RUMI)
BALANCE: NADIS, CHAKRAS, AND MARMAS
It was a deeply profound practice and reminds me that this last few weeks of the year it will be easy to get out of balance and just suffer through the holiday's. Or maybe this is the year we decide we will remain peaceful and balanced by coming to the mat to reconnect with ourselves. If you want a copy of the handout "Nadis, Chakras, Marmas" just email me. May you be peaceful, May you be balanced. May you be in love with life! Silvia
YOUR OWN BEST COURAGE
NOVEMBER 10TH, 2008: Last month after Todd Norian was with us for a weekend intensive he sent a thank you note with these words, “May you rise with courage to meet the challenges of this current time. May you do yoga to strengthen your core and nourish the source of your being. May you stay in your heart and give away love, kindness, and compassion to those in need. Yoga and giving are two of the best ways to weather the storm. Dedicating yourself to a deeper purpose will absolutely guide you through to success and freedom. – Todd Norian Workshop 08”
This has served as a wonderful reminder of how Courage is a quality that comes from the heart. Judith Lasater a personal hero of mine says, “Courage is the second most important quality to cultivate in life. (Right after love).” Winston Churchill goes as far to say, “ Courage is the first of the human qualities because it is a quality which guarantees all others.” For me the way I’ve come to understand courage day to day is that it is not really about undersatnding what is right or wrong but it is the strenght within us to choose the right course of action in any circumstance. Now recently a public figure had a mantra of Yes, I Can. I would like to suggest a modification to practice at home of, “CAN I? YES!”. So keep asking yourself today, What is possible for me? And then courageously listen to your heart to take action. Wishing you all your own best courage! Sat Nam, Silvia
11/10/2008 Tags: COURAGE, Mantra, Todd Norian
BE GOOD TO YOURSELF DAY
NOVEMBER 9TH, 2008: Today we declared BE GOOD TO YOURSELF DAY! It was great! According to statistics 40% of working women say their stress level is High, 56% of men and women say stress I hurting their relationships, as Americans we take less vacation than anyone else in the world, we work longer hours, 22% of us say we’re too busy for a lunch break and the list goes on. You can easily see why it is vitally important to declare today a special holiday, Be Good To Yourself Day.
We did this by asking ourselves throughout our practice what is it that I need for myself here? What is the kindest approach, the most compassionate way of being in my body, my heart? The inspiration today was a 50th wedding anniversary I attended the night before with the key advice from the couple when asked “how to stay together 50 years” was BE KIND. Yup, that was it in a nutshell. Well ok, then let’s practice being kind to ourselves. May you be happy, healthy, kind and peaceful. With Metta (lovingkindness), Silvia
11/9/2008 Tags: Self Love, Kindness, AhimsaPASSION!
NOVEMBER 5TH, 2008: In watching the election returns last evening what struck me most was the passion with which all that participated brought to the process. Passion which sometimes gets linked only to romantic relationships is equally as powerful and necessary in all aspects of our lives.
This to me is the ultimate definition of yoga: anything that wakes you up to who you really are, that makes you more aware of your life. Coming to class and surrounding ourselves with like minded folks that are living the path only helps us grow our passion. Why? Because PASSION IS CONTAGIOUS! Or in the words of Philosopher Hebbel, “Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
YES! So whether you personally agree with the outcome of the election or not let’s not forget to honor all candidates that devoted themselves to making democracy come alive for you and for me and for all those that come after us. Let’s follow their lead and get fired up about something, anything. Or as Alan Armstrong says, “If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.”
WISHING YOU BIG LOVE, BIG DREAMS, AND IMMENSE AMOUNTS OF PASSION TO ENJOY LIFE! Silvia
11/5/2008 Tags: Passion, Intention
HOW TO RELAX
NOVEMBER 4TH, 2008:
Body, Speech, and Mind
In perfect oneness,
I send my heart along with the sound of the bell.
May all of us who hear it
Awaken from forgetfulness
And realizing our true home,
In the here, In the now,
Transcend the path of fear and sorrow.
REMEMBER yourself and remember that you follow your OWN CHOICES. Don’t feel guilty about a decision or agonize about how bad it is for you. Why? This ruins the enjoyment of the moment and encourages negative effects on your health.
GUILT OPPOSES SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
Regret and Guilt are just different forms of yearning – the yearning for the past, the yearning for another chance at a decision. Today make a break and free yourself. Do this and you will find yourself relaxed in your heart. Don’t do this and then the body will grow tense and tired as will the mind. Begin the next chapter of your life today, in a newly relaxed way free of guilt, free of regret, free of worry! Love to you. Make it about you. Find the way.
11/4/2008 Tags: Relaxation, guilt, regret, choices
PLEASE VOTE
NOVEMBER 4TH, 2008: Please vote today: show up, participate, share responsibility. It's just like being on the mat - the more you put in the more you get out of it. Thank you. (And for inspiration a Poem sent to me by one of our TBY yogis)
Election Promises
I hear the polls
are going to be open on Tuesday.
All day.
Good. I certainly intend to go to them.
I certainly invite you to go go them and vote too.
But today I say the polls
are not just open on Tuesday.
I say they are open every day.
Every hour. Even here. Even now.
Right now I am going to vote
for the robin's egg sky,
the vanilla clouds,
the purple shadow spreading
under the ginkgo tree,
I am going to vote for tulips and redbuds.
I am going to vote for love
that does not have
to run in someone else's circles
in order to be love.
I'm going to vote the homeless into homes.
I'm going to vote the uneducated into classrooms
that teach them in the way they learn best,
not the way that would be most convenient.
I'm going to vote the sick into healing.
I'm going to vote the lost into belonging.
I'm going to vote, right now,
for the right to dream of a world
where the word politics
doesn't stop me in my tracks,
and where the word honor still
has a few good meanings left.
I'm going to vote right now
for the power of free people
to actually be free,
no matter who they are,
no matter who has abandoned them,
no matter who hates them.
I actually am going to vote for love,
I am going to vote for truthfulness as the norm,
not the exception .
I'm going to vote for a world
that doesn't vote for killing, control and swagger,
I'm going to vote for you.
I'm going to vote for me.
Right now. Right here. Silently. But for real.
-by Mark Belletini
WHY DO YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO?
NOVEMBER 3RD, 2008: I have spent really my whole life trying to find meaning in why stuff happens, why stuff doesn't happen. Even when I was a little girl I wanted desparately to figure out what I had to do so I could be happier and my family could be happier and the world could be happier. I know you're saying "Whoa, that's a lot of pressure for one little girl." Yeah I know.
So through this practice and my own life experience eventually I figured out that living a happy, peaceful life lies not in what we are doing but rather why we are doing it. So for meditation today ask yourself (and be really honest) WHY DO YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO?
As we know we have 60,000 thoughts per day and whenever we think a thought the brain sends chemicals through our body that produce a feeling based on that thought. If we think the same critical thoughts over and over, these repetitive thoughts and their repetitive chemical reactions will create a negative view of life. They will drain our life of life. So ask yourself WHY DO YOU THINK THE THINGS YOU DO? The thoughts you have today will go through a gestation period (short or long) and will eventually give birth to the quality of your life. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE BORN FROM YOUR LIFE?
11/3/2008 Tags: Thoughts, brain, dharmaTANTRA: THE SENSORIUM OF YOUR EXPERIENCE
NOVEMBER 2ND, 2008: Delight in everything, every detail, every breath, every moment! Meditate on what it means to taste, touch and feel the sensorium of your experience right now. LOVE BIG, Silvia
MY PLAYLIST FOR TODAY: very chill, super fun!
Gayeeye Ganapati Jagavandana, Pandit Jasraj Bhimsen
Butterflyz, Alicia Keys
Rock Steady, Aretha Franklin
Use Me, Bill Withers
Yellow Moon, Neville Brothers
Jumpin' Jumpin', Destiny's Child
Foolish,
Express Yourself, Charles Wright & The
Funky Drummer (Bonus Beat Reprise), James Brown
Cissy Strut, The Meters
Windmills of Your Mind, Sting
Flow, Sade
In A Sentimental Mood, Nancy Wilson with Hank Jones
Longing, Ty Burhoe
11/2/2008 Tags: TANTRA, PlaylistOUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
NOVEMBER 1st, 2008: There was a new moon this week. This new moon in Scorpio calls us to step into the new and let go of the old. As a result we devoted our practice to jettison those patterns of holding tension in our bodies that have been stifling our growth and potential. We learned how to let go of self-limiting thoughts that we have clearly outgrown. This is no different than why we clean out a closet of the summer stuff…so we can make room for the Fall clothing and shoes, right?
So really take 5 minutes to ask yourself what is it that needs to be released from my life? What is ready to be born in my life?
Yup I know we’ve all been hearing a lot of messages about CHANGE lately. There must be a higher reason for that. Let’s take that as a sign and apply it directly to the democracy of ourselves first and foremost. What can I do to transform my life to welcome positive changes without fear of the unknown ripples those changes might bring? Remember as Sharon Salzberg writes in Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience, “The next step is not the last step.”
11/1/2008 Tags: Trust, Change, Transformation