Stick to Your Roots

During these unsettling times, people around us are making life-affirming choices. It may even be you. When you make the decision to fundamentally change your life, know that not everyone will be cheering you on. Some may try to change your mind through any means necessary, as your change will affect them in some way. We humans, as a rule, do not like change. It alters our routine and shakes up our perception of the world. So when we make the decision to take a different path, we need to ask ourselves a few questions. Is my new choice grounded in wisdom, intuition and the survival/growth of my spiritual self? Am I making this decision based on emotion (anger, hate, passion, greed, revenge...)? If your answer is yes and no, respectively, prepare to stick to your decision and not allow outside forces to waver it. Know that your wisdom mind is at the root of your change and remain steadfast. As your logical and emotional minds start to barrage and attempt to sabotage your root decision with over thinking and second, even triple guessing, remain rooted like an oak tree in the eye of a storm. As outsiders batter you with opinions, unsolicited advice and attempted persuasion, stay true to your roots and your authentic self.

If your mind becomes clouded and foggy, allow your wisdom, like a wind of change, to bring clarity of thought. We must have strong roots to ground us in order to grow stronger and healthier, both spiritually and physically. Shallow roots topple us over in stormy weather. Root to rise is a term we use in hatha yoga to affirm our postures. It applies to life as well. May you root to rise.

So Many Hats, So Little Time

Lately, I've been adding hats to my already diverse collection. These are great hats, some are simple by design and others are more intricate. My sombreros have names and include the following: real estate agent, marketing specialist, bookkeeper, office manager, yoga teacher, qigong instructor, stress management coach, blogger, friend, sister, wife, auntie, daughter, mom to 4-legged child, home CEO (domestic goddess), etc... Whew, I'm exhausted just reading the list.

During this economic turmoil, we are all wearing more hats. I find they all need to be worn at least once in a while or they get dusty and start to feel neglected. The important thing to remember while wearing that specific hat is to BE THE HAT. While wearing the yoga teacher hat, I stay focused on being the teacher, not get distracted by all the other hats waiting to be worn. Focusing on the present task at hand allows us to live in the moment and be our best. It also keeps me from burning dinner - where's my chef's hat?

Knowing when to turn down another hat is also paramount. After all, we only have one head, and you look silly wearing several hats at the same time!! You may need to juggle a few hats at a time, just know you might drop one or two inadvertently.

How many hats do you wear? Are there some you could give to someone else or retire completely? Taking inventory, every now and then, of our duties in life helps us prioritize and discard what no longer serves us. As you look at that hat, ask yourself the question: Does this serve me any longer?

Off comes the blogger chapeau as I snug on my hiker cap.

The Art of Effort and Surrender

I over effort. No surprise to those who know me or any of my yoga teachers. In yoga, we try to find that delicate balance between efforting in a pose and finding that point of relaxation. At times, it feels as if I'm balancing on the head of a pin, it's such a small window to discover. And yet, while furiously trying to balance in Pincha Mayurasana (my Achilles heel pose), if I take a deep breath and open my heart, I feel my body start to melt and release some muscular energy. Effortless effort, is what one of my teachers calls it. It enables us to enjoy and go deeper, allowing for that opening and release we yogis look for in each asana (pose).

What we learn on the mat, we take off the mat and into our everyday lives. This is a well-known mantra in yoga. Sometimes, we work too hard at something, afraid to soften the grip, fearing we will lose whatever it is we think we have a hold of. But the truth is, through surrender and stepping back is where we gain freedom and power. Difficult concept to process, but a good analogy would be skydiving. One has to trust the shoot will open to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. (Brian swears he's doing this on his 50th birthday. As long as his life insurance is paid up.)
Knowing when to surrender and not over effort is surely an art form that enfolds and unfolds infinitely throughout our lifetime. It's part of the yin yang, the constant flow of life.

Don't Wake Me Up Before You Go Go

My girfriend Cindy is finding out I am NOT an early riser. She tries to entice me with teaching morning classes to no avail. I am not a morning person, never have been and unless I wake up with amnesia one day, never will be. I am really OK with it. I know what I'm missing... breathtaking sunrises, cool morning walks in the infernal summer of Phoenix, a mystical, serene universal quietness. Don't care. Unless I am catching a jetplane to some exotic vacation spot, I see no reason to wake up at 6AM.

Knowing our limitations enables us to find the freedom within them. Dr. Stephen Hawking is an outstanding example of someone with almost complete physical limitations, yet this limitation may be the reason his mind is so brilliant. We all have physical, emotional or personal limitations, some are by choice, some not. Unless it is harming to us or others, maybe we just need to learn to embrace these imperfections and find the joy within that. It is these "blemishes" that mold our personality and character, giving us uniqueness in spirit.
As a yoga teacher I see this in my students of all levels. I ask that they enjoy and find the freedom within a pose, whether it is modified or not "perfect" in their eyes, instead of finding fault or frustration.
Tantra philosophy encourages celebrating life where we are, in the present moment, with all those blemishes, imperfections and limitations.
So, don't call me before 9AM. Now you know.

Take the Hit as a Gift

even if you feel like a punching bag these days. Research studies show that people with a positive attitude in life are happier and weather hard times better. When large "hits" strike, find the gift amid the turmoil. Ask yourself these questions: Where is the life lesson in this experience? What spiritual growth may I attain? What opportunity does this open for me? Answer these questions with positive verbiage. Avoid using no, can't, won't, never, etc... Your responses can serve as positive affirmations you repeat to yourself as you go through this difficult time. If you are lucky enough not to be going through a hard time right now, practice these questions on small "hits" (small unexpected and unwelcome events).
My small hit came last year when I went against my better judgement and got a really, really bad haircut at a beauty school. Granted, not the end of the world, but unwelcome and definitely unexpected. I learned I was way too attached to my hair, I was vain and my ego needed a good ass-kicking. It presented me the opportunity to look within and clean house, so to speak. And yes, my hair grew back. It only took 7 months. I told you it was a bad haircut.

Go Fly a Kite!

As I tug on the string determined to conquer the crosswinds whipping our rainbow striped kite, my 7-year old nephew J. screams out "this is so much fun, Aunt Marie!!". Now I admit I am no master kite flyer, but J. thinks I rule. We stood out there one brisk afternoon last week (rare in Phoenix) happily flying a kite. Laughing when it torpedoed down, seemingly straight for us, and smiling from ear to ear as we watched our kite play in the wind. It seemed more like a dance with nature, a game of cosmic tug-of-war.

I had a blast flying this long-tailed kite, feeling like a kid without a care in the world, reveling in the simplicity of pure contentment (santosha). I wondered what thoughts this evoked in others who saw our high-flying kite. What immediately comes to your mind when catching sight of a kite jostling in the wind? Finding contentment or joy needn't be expensive, complicated or full of attachments. We found it in a $5 kite and a good breeze!

Do Not Disturb the Water

We see the mirror of ourselves in still water, not rushing water. I view my mind as the surface of a lake. Sometimes, it is as busy as prime boating season, with ski boats racing everywhere, and jet skis buzzing around. At other times, it is rippling endlessly, courtesy of a perfectly cast skipping stone. And still, there are those precious, wondrous times when the surface of that sapphire lake is a looking-glass mirroring the endless sky above. It is in those moments that I catch a glimpse of my soul...and smile at its beauty. May your meditation lead your mind to this unstirred water.