SACRED SPONTANEOUS FUN!
JANUARY 22, 2011: I was hanging out today before I taught class at a cool coffee shop called Twirl Cafe in my neighborhood (http://www.twirlcafe.com/Welcome.html). I was there with my favorite 2 year old Willem and my friend Anne. The neat thing about this cafe is that it is child friendly with organized play areas, kids classes and great latte's. As I watched the kids play you can see the purest form of imagination at work, total flow yoga. One moment of play leading spontaneously into the next moment followed by another. Children innately understand that the only time we can be really happy is NOW. Like is written in the Alchemist, “Because I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in the present. If I can concentrate always on the present, I'll be happy!” Kids love to be in the flow!
As adults, Yoga helps us to reconnect to the spontaneous FUN available in life! We’re moving and breathing and trying our best to put ourselves in funny looking shapes without being self-conscious. It reminds us what it was like to be a kid and if you think about it, we really are all just kids in grown up bodies.
Yoga is an adventure whereby we engage in SACRED FUN. Remembering it is not how or when we accomplish something it is that sense of enthusiasm during the process in just trying. This speaks directly to a favorite quote from the Alchemist, “There was a language in the world that everyone understood. It was the language of enthusiasm, of things accomplished with love. We are riding the wave when what we think and what we do are done from love with great enthusiasm and vigor. This happens when we are living in “the present.” And you have to be present and easeful to tap into the joy of spontaneous, sacred fun. In yogic teachings you can think of this as Lila Tandava, “The Playful Dance of Life.”
So if today you walk into class and don’t feel very playful the yoga is still going to work to help you soften your edges and be a little less serious. Make no mistake, Yoga has serious benefits but we don’t have to practice in a way that is overly hard or serious. I wish for all of us that the yoga we do makes us feel lighter and more spontaneous. And that when we leave class we spread sacred fun into the whole of the world. And quite frankly, the world could use a lot more Sacred Fun, now more than ever.
Today thank yourself for practicing yoga and connecting to Lila Tandava as you danced with your breath, choosing not to be a spectator of life but as the Adventure Seeker yourself! As Willfred Peterson in the Art of Living puts it,“A man practices the art of adventure when he heroically faces up to life; When he has the daring to open doors to new experiences. When he is unafraid of new ideas, new theories and new philosophies (new poses or sun salutations). When he has the curiosity to experiment. When he breaks the chain of routine. When he has the nerve to move out of life's shallows and venture forth into the deep. When he keeps his heart young, his expectations high and never allows his dreams to die...staying vitally alive every day of his life.”
Take action get on the mat for the most Sacred Fun you can possibly imagine! Don’t wait. Do it now. Life is too short not to celebrate it full on everyday! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia
PS - Thank you Yogi Students for trying out a new sun salutation which I've included below. Keep it playful!
Mandala Namaskar I (From Shiva Rea)
INHALE -- Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana (1 Leg Downward Dog)
EXHALE – Anjaneyasana (Lunge)
INHALE – Parsva Anjaneyasana (Side Lunge)
EXHALE – Skandasana (Transverse Lunge)
INHALE – Ardha Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge)
EXHALE – hands down
INHALE – Ardha Plank (1 legged Plank)
EXHALE -- Chaturanga Dandasana
INHALE -- Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
EXHALE -- Chaturanga Dandasana
INHALE -- Plank
EXHALE -- Adho Mukha Svanasana
(To create circular pattern, Mandala, go through series right foot, right foot, left, left)
WHAT IS YOUR MOST COMMON KNEE JERK REACTION
October 3, 2010:
What is your most common knee-jerk reaction? Is it impatience, anger, gossip, worry, self-cricism? Well through the mindfulness practice of yoga I want to help you replace all that by choosing happiness as your automatic reaction, response to all things, situations and people. How do we do this? The Yoga Sutras tell us. They actually give us the keys to happiness. The Yogic model proposes that the four keys to an open happy heart are to nurture these attitudes:
- Kindness and friendliness to those who are happy
- Compassion for those that are suffering or less fortunate
- Respect and honor for those that who embody noble qualities
- Equanimity for those whose actions oppose our values
At first these four keys to help enable us to retain our inner peace in all circumstances seem easy. But applying these in day to day life is more challenging than we think. We often fool ourselves into believing we are kinder than we really are and can use this practice to really see where our actions are not aligned with what we believe ourselves to be. Most of all this teaches us that we are responsible for co-creating our life. We have the four keys to our happiness. Love in all ways, Silvia
So first step is to create some space. Here at the start of a new month let's just empty and let go of all the grievances, grudges we kept up with throughout September. As the bible says Love keeps no records of wrongs.
You have a choice. You can say to yourself "I intend to allow more joy into my life" or "I choose to be happy." Just five words if you want to keep it really simple! And notice the power of intention is not placing prerequisites or conditions but just doing it right now. I know these four keys to happiness seem easy, but applying them to day to day life is pretty challenging because of that knee-jerk reaction, the old way of thinking and doing things. But you have a choice and can change. You are happiest when you think yourself happy. And ultimately you are responsible for co-creating your life. You have just this one lifetime and there are no do overs. So why not choose happiness starting right now? I know you can do it! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia
PS - We practice Mandala Namaskar 1 (Salutation) to help us see the power of our own choices!
Mandala Namaskar I
INHALE -- Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana (1 Leg Downward Dog)
EXHALE – Anjaneyasana (Lunge)
INHALE – Parsva Anjaneyasana (Side Lunge)
EXHALE – Skandasana (Transverse Lunge)
INHALE – Ardha Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge)
EXHALE – hands down
INHALE – Ardha Plank (1 legged Plank)
EXHALE -- Chaturanga Dandasana
INHALE -- Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
EXHALE -- Chaturanga Dandasana
INHALE -- Plank
EXHALE -- Adho Mukha Svanasana
(To create circular pattern, Mandala, go through series right foot, right foot, left, left)