THE PERSON WITH THE MOST POSES DOESN’T WIN ANYTHING
April 11, 2011. Change is happening all around us. And it’s easy to convince ourselves to go faster and do more, collect more in order to feel like we can control the changes happening. But at the end of the day, end of class, end of our life: the person with the most poses doesn’t win anything more than anyone else. The same can be said of life. If we insist on speeding up and collecting more work hours like we collect poses or we focus on doing more and faster we won’t get anything in particular for our super human efforts. We need not push or shove or pull at change but learn how to get along with it keeping our hand on the tiller so to speak but without it letting it speed us up into hysteria or confusion.
Slowing down in sanskrit is SHANI.
And science tells us straight out that our brains function at a faster frequency than our bodies. It’s like being in the same car with two radio stations dialed. The noise of listening to two different types of music simultaneously can give anyone a headache. This is what is made more obvious the more stressed out we are. Our minds get faster and faster, our bodies more tired and slow.
Yoga is that practice of bringing things into balance and tuning our dials. Chapter 2.46 in the yoga sutras talks about this as sthira and sukha this balance between effort and letting go, doing and being, stability and freedom, steadiness and sweetness. If the mind is spinning wildly then we come to the mat to slow it down, shani dude. And if the body needs to energize we learn to move through poses. Yoga dials us into the same radio station and the breath is that link to slow down the mind and encourage the body away from inertia. Mindful moving helps us leave in a sweet state of SHANI.
Today we used balancing poses to help us focus the mind more quickly and get our bodies going straight from the start. And by the end you could feel the effect of the practice. Savasana was sweeter than ever. Ah yes! Mind and Heart and Body as one again. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia
TODAY’S PLAYLIST
Chandra (The Moon), Michael Mandrell and Benjy Wertheimer
Child's Eyes (Jenny's Song), scott Cossu
The Hill, Markéta Irglová
Big Medicine, Mari Boine
Lumière [MAIN], Blue Scholars
Nungabunda, Ganga Giri
Grid Lok'd, Govindas
Diarabi, Issa Bagayogo
Pitchblack Darkness (feat. Reazun, Paradox), Kyteman
One Moment More, Mindy Smith
Wonderwall, Ryan Adams
Wash Away, Joe Purdy
Samba Sadashiva, Donna De Lory
SLOW DOWN GEORGE CARLIN POEM
DECEMBER 13, 2010. Here is the George Carlin poem I read in class on this day that our theme was Slowing Down. Enjoy!
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
- We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
- We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
- We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
- We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We plan more, but accomplish less.We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
- These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your loved ones, but most of all mean it.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment.
Give time to love! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
POSITIVE CHANGE
MAY 27, 2009: Change is happening all around us. We need not push or shove or pull at change but learn how to get along with it keeping our hand on the tiller so to speak but with the inner knowing we can’t control people or situations outside ourselves. So we practice gratitude for all that we have. Try it now:
INHALE THE GIFT OF THE UNIVERSE, YOUR LIFE ITSELF
EXHALE WITH GRATITUDE
Now with a more clear mind really feel that the changes you seek, which I call “dreams” are all around you like ghosts waiting to be seen. So through this yogic practice love the gentle flow and let it lead you back to yourself. Use your thoughts to keep your energy on positive changes while knowing we are always moving so there is no rush. Slow down, SHANI. I understand more than you know how attached we can get to despairing thoughts that we want to run from. It only slows us down to be running from our suffering so take it easy, remain with your breath and let the river help you flow away from past pains. And know this, you are not a prisoner. Everything is change, all is impermanent even the pain so keep flowing my friends. This will keep your heart open and clear. In the Alchemist its written,
“Continue in the direction of the Pyramids”, said the alchemist. “And continue to pay heed to the omens. Your heart is still capable of showing you where the treasure is.”
“Is that the one thing I still need to know?”
“No”, the alchemist answered. “What you still need to know is this: before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream.”
It will not only get better but as we progress mindfully towards positive changes, dreams we have for our lives we learn many lessons along the way. These are gifts as well, so slow down and be in the process. With heartfelt love to all beautiful minds & hearts, Silvia