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April 1, 2011.  Do you talk to yourself?  I do. All the time.  And if you believe science we all talk to ourselves nonstop. The question beneath the question is more so about the "Quality of communication" you have in your self-talk.   

"We all have voices in our heads which ?talks to us on an almost constant basis. ?Our voices give us messages continually, ?and what they say to us affects us." - Juliene Berk

In yoga we actively observe our self-talk and we study ourselves to learn about ourselves.  This is known as Svadhaya. For most of us this is a huge paradigm shift.  We grow up spending close to 100% of our time studying what everyone else has attempted or accomplished.  We learn how to be more interested in what others think about who we are than what we think of our own opinion.  I look back at all the hours spent worrying and intensely studying how others talked to me than what I was saying to myself and now realize the emphasis was in the wrong place.  

John Lembo says "Every waking moment we talk to ourselves about the things we experience. Our self-talk, the thoughts we communicate to ourselves, in turn control the way we feel and act."  In yoga we not only observe our thoughts but we practice talking to ourselves on purpose, with purpose. "Self-suggestion makes you master of yourself." (W. Clement Stone)  We learn that what we say to ourselves and how we say it impacts how we feel. We learn that we are responsible for creating our world from the inside out.  

“Watch your thoughts for they become words

Watch your words for they become actions

Watch your actions for they become habits

Watch your habits for they become character

Watch your character for it becomes your destiny!”

The other key learning that becomes transportable from our yoga is the way we talk to ourselves is how we talk to other people (our partner, our children, our friends).  These are never two separate things. Our communication is practiced with ourselves from ourselves first.  Then the more life affirming our self-talk is the more positive we are in how we talk to everyone!  Love yourself, love your day, love your life, Silvia

April 1, 2011. As promised I wanted you to have a copy of this Chandra Namaskar (Moon Salutation) that I taught in class on Friday.  It has such an amazing inward feeling and paired perfectly with our theme of Self-Talk as Self-Study.  Enjoy at home when you need to feel more centered.  Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

Moon Salutation - Traditional

Moon Salutation (Chandra Namaskar) consists of 20 steps starting and ending with the prayer pose. 

Step 1: Prayer Pose 

Step 2: Half Moon Pose to the Right

Step 3: Half moon Pose to the Left

Step 4: Standing Backward-Bending Pose

Step 5: Transition Pose 1      Exhale as you return to vertical position. Inhale as you sidestep to the right, bringing straight arms down to shoulder level, parallel to the floor. 

Step 6: Standing Legs-Apart Hands-to-Feet Pose     Prasarita Paddatonasana

Step 7: Transition Pose 2     Inhale as you return to a vertical position, with straight arms over your head, palms pressed together, thumbs crossed, at the same time turning your torso & feet to the right (left foot slightly less). 

Step 8: Standing Head-to-Knee Pose to the Right     Pyramid

Step 9: Standing Head-to-Knee Pose to the Left 

Exhale as you bend forward and down, right knee locked, directing your forehead toward your left knee. At the same time, try to touch the floor with your fingertips as far ahead of your left foot as you can. Gradually straighten your left leg, keeping your arms and fingers extended. Feel the stretch in your legs, back, shoulders, and arms. 

Note: If this is too difficult, you might support yourself with your fingertips resting on the ground on either side of your foot.

Step 10: Standing Hands-to-Feet Pose        Forward Bend

Step 11: Crescent Moon Pose on Right Leg – Lunge Knee Down

Inhale as you place your fingertips or palms on the floor beside your feet. At the same time take a big step back with your right, raising your torso and head, briefly assuming the Lunge Pose. Still inhaling, if you wish bring your hands over head 

Step 12: Squatting Pose with Forward Bending    Inhale as you place your fingertips or palms on the floor and bring your right leg forward equal with your left. Your weight is supported by your toes and fingertips. Your thighs are parallel to the floor. Exhale as you bend forward, bringing your chest as close to your thighs as possible, fully stretching your back. 

Step 13: Crescent Moon Pose on Left Leg 

Step 14: Downward Dog Pose

Step 15: Downward Dog Pose with Right-Leg Raise      Inhale-exhale as you raise your right leg as high as you can, keeping your knee locked and pointing your foot. Inhale-exhale as you lower your leg & resume the Downward Dog Pose.

Step 16: Downward Dog Pose with Left-Leg Raise 

Step 17: Cobra Pose     Inhale as you roll forward, supporting yourself on your legs, belly and palms.

Step 18: Squatting Pose   Inhale as you roll back onto your toes with help from your arms. Exhale as you lift your knees from the ground, still supporting yourself with your fingertips. 

Step 19: Squatting Pose with Arms over the Head    

Inhale-exhale as you raise your arms over your head, palms together, thumbs crossed. Your back straight, and your thighs parallel to the floor. Feel the stretch in your torso, shoulders, and arms. 

Step 20: Prayer Pose    Inhale as you stand up, simultaneously bringing your hands to your chest resuming Prayer Pose. 

Namaste Monday Friends,

Alright I'm no expert and I haven't quite confirmed the stats but I do believe this is 28th rainy Monday this year.  And every Monday I have a little talk with myself in the morning about staying in bed or going out in the rain to take Mary's 9:15am Yoga class. Good news is when the weather is less than stellar why not be inside doing YOGA?  

So if you're having that same Monday afternoon work day closing down talk about "should you go to yoga tonight or not" well why not?  It's actually a perfect time to do yoga! I can tell you that I have never once regretted dragging myself to class, especially when its dark, cold or rainy outside.  We have to keep livin' life to its fullest!

I want to say a special thank you to ALL the amazing Yogis I share mat time with on Monday's. Because I know you'll be there - I feel like I need to show up too.  And somehow that makes it easier no matter the rain, the cold (or eventually even the snow).   

We are all in this together working towards radiant health, love and world peace one down dog at a time!!

I'll save you spot tonight and every Monday night 6:15pm Level 1 or 7:30pm Basics.  Our being at Total Body Yoga together, even if you have to drag yourself there sometimes, is what makes the group yoga practice so wonderful!  Come in from the rain, get warm, and breath! Love and light, Silvia 

PS - Hey Mary thank you for another FANTASTIC yoga class this morning!! Smiles.