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FEBRUARY 9, 2009:  I love that it snowed all day today! It means that every single person in Chicagoland is practicing YOGA! I couldn’t be happier about that. Everywhere I went I saw folks SLOW DOWN and PAY ATTENTION.  When we have nature asking us to practice patience we should listen.

So today my theme is Patience. From yogic teachings this means that we find equanimity towards all objects, situations or things - be they joyful or sorrowful or easy or hard, snowy or rainy.  When we find our yoga we enter a state of calmness and clarity that reflects perfect presence within the chaos or tension, even a snowy day.  It is that feeling where we are in sync with what is going on and don’t feel compelled to fight the situation.

Joan Baez said, “you can only decide how you are going to live.”

So when we are faced with the snow, we are reminded to slow down and be mindful.  It is actually then that we realize the snow is just water and has no agenda for or against us. Yoga teaches us that the ANTIDOTE to impatience is "going with the flow". To be in sync with the way things are happening remembering that whatever the present situation we know "it will change."  Snow is water, water is flow and it will eventually melt and move onto a different form. 

If you need more patience instead of fighting or getting mad at the snow just slow down, keep breathing and enjoy.  The time you spend in your car then becomes an oasis from the chaos of life instead of a prison.  Make this the best Winter EVER!  And remember, “love is patient, love is kind.”  Love to you all, Silvia

NOVEMBER 18, 2009: Today my theme was Patience. From yogic teachings this means that we find equanimity towards all objects, situations or things - be they joyful or sorrowful or easy or hard, rainy or sunny. The when we find our yoga we enter a state of calmness and clarity that reflects perfect presence. We feel in sync with what is going on and don’t feel compelled to fight our own reality.

I used the rain today as an example, that we can lose patience even with the rain! But if we get present we realize the rain is just water and has no agenda for or against us and even if it did we could still feel connected to whatever is happening whether things are going well or not. Yoga teaches us that the ANTIDOTE to impatience is "going with the flow". To be in sync with the way things are happening remembering that whatever the present situation we know "it will change."

Patience really depends on feeling at home and relaxed in the middle of the tension or chaos, discovering each moment of experience is related to the previous one, each one contingent upon the last so peace is possible no matter what.

This basically means there is no reason to get mad at the rain or the pose or the person or difficult situation. The ugly is good. And to practice this is peace. So today remain patient with your breath and with time itself. Stay present to your life and you too will find a quiet serenity. Love and peace in all ways, Silvia