31 Days in May!

We've reached the end of May... the final day of my writing challenge!

Looking back I didn't do too poorly with it.  I actually surprised myself a little.  I only missed about eight days, so I guess I achieved somewhere around 75% of perfection!  More importantly, what this month has encouraged me to do is keep up with writing more frequently, which is a delightful consequence of challenging myself to write every day for the month of May.

I have received some wonderful feedback over that past 30 days, and I'm so grateful to know that some of my experiences, which were translated into words, have touched your hearts or lifted your spirits in some way.  So thank you for your support.  It really helped me through this month and motivated me to keep going.

We are in Ontario right now, somewhere north of Toronto sitting in a cabin over looking a lake.  It pretty much took us two full days (minus an overnight rest) to get here, but after a full night's sleep and a little time to take in the view, it sure was worth it!  This is a beautiful setting.  I'm feeling very Canadian sitting here writing, overlooking our natural landscape, and feeling the peacefulness of being completely immersed in nature, while listing to the morning birds sing and taking a deep breath of fresh, clean air.

We are here with Jeff's family, his two brothers, sister-in-law, their kids and of course his parents, as we're here to celebrate his parent's 50th wedding anniversary.  Now... 50 years - that's something to celebrate! 

Thus, in the middle of this vast and expansive scenery, we find ourselves in the midst of three generations; and it comes to mind that if our parents represent the past, and our children represent the future, then here we are in the balance of the two, weighing what has come before us, while trying to manage and shape what is yet to be.  We are the present.  It seems this is the key to everything:  AWARENESS of the PRESENT MOMENT.

As the month closes, I find myself contemplating time.  Time is slippery thing.  Forever moving.  Always elusive.  It is uncatchable; except perhaps, in those still quiet moments when we are able to sit in the seat of our own inner soul, and fully immerse ourselves in the present, when we become one with time per se, without thinking, analyzing, or judging - a moment of pure active observation: YOGA.

Life can feel overly full at times; but we are blessed with this unique opportunity to be on this planet, at this exact time in history, conscious beings, alive, awaking up more each moment.  I encourage you to make time in your day to seize those fleeting occurrences of calm, and remind yourself it is truly a gift to be alive!  

As Guruji would continually bring to our attention: "you are given, maybe, one hundred years, don't waste your time!" 

Finding Inspiration in Parkour

Jeff inadvertently found the inspiration for my blog today.  He started showing me all these videos on a discipline called Parkour.  You may be familiar with it as something called "Free Running."

It made me start thinking though, how Parkour shares many similarities to Yoga.   It is a philosophy of living.  It is a discipline and a daily practice.  It is not about gymnastics.   However, it is about connecting deeply with an internal force of energy and moving efficiently, and effectively through space in unison with this flow that is within us, and all around us.

It changes one's perspective on life.  Using the body as a platform for discovery, it unravels our preconceived ideas about what is physically possible, and in doing so it frees our minds from the constructs we've built to control our reality.  

These restrictions were once adopted to protect ourselves; but eventually they grow and begin to strangle the joy from our lives, and we become enslaved to our limiting ideas about who and what we are.  

Pakour is about becoming connected to a flow of movement.  To the force of prana (cosmic energy) that thrives and pulses within us.  There are no limits, no boundaries, except the ones we create in our mind.  It forces us to breakdown the prison we comfortably enclose ourselves within.

Through daily practice, there is a possibility that we can potentially evolve, transcend, and become more then human.  Facing our fear of death (abhinivesha) and courageously moving beyond it, we hope to realize our true identities as embodied, divine beings.

It encourages Play.  It dares us to Change.  It makes us question whether we are really, truly Free.

I hope these videos inspire you to keep Exploring and Playing in whatever form that might take.  Explore yourself, your capabilities, and your infinite potential.

Become ONE with God.  This Is Union.  This IS YOGA.

Time for a Spring Clean!

Jeff and I started a cleanse this week.  We are combining a couple of different cleanse ideas and kind-of creating our own thing (and doing our best not to cheat too much!)  As it is Spring after all, which is a great season to do a little proverbial housecleaning both internally and externally!

We are using the guidelines from the 21-Day Clean Program, which involves having a smoothie for breakfast, your main meal at lunch, and then something liquid, a fresh juice, smoothie, or soup for dinner.  We are also following the diet restrictions (with a few exceptions) and taking the supplements from the Wild Rose Herbal D-tox.  Of course we actually are pretty terrible at not "cheating" on these kinds of things... but we are doing our best to stick to it, and also, we're not getting too down on ourselves or throwing the whole plan out the window if we do slip a little from time to time.

The first couple of days I felt super hungry and pretty tired, but I'm starting to feel a little more energized and am beginning to find my rhythm again.  The most important thing to set yourself up for success on a cleanse like this, is to be very clear about the parameters at the beginning, and then be sure to stock your fridge and cupboards in advance with quick and healthy snacks and food for those times when you're super hungry and need a fix.

We filled our fridge with fresh berries at the start of the week, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries... delicious! We also have ready to eat carrots, celery, cucumber, rice cakes and hummus.
Everything is washed and ready to go!  No excuses to snack on something illegitimate.
We're also stocked up with lemons, baby spinach, ready to eat salad mix, kale, hemp, chia seeds, and tons of frozen berries for smoothies.
As well, don't forget the vegan protein / probiotic / all-in-one smoothie mix.  Personally, we like Progressive Nutritional: VegEssential All In One.   However, there are many great products out there that are comparable, and some may even be superior, but this is the one we're enjoying right now, and it is easy to find, which makes it a good choice for us.  
At the end of the day, when I'm feeling hungry or weak willed, and all I really want to do is just relax and fill my belly with chips and salsa, Jeff repeats what our friend Rachel told us helped her make it through... "drink some water and know that I love you."

So, if you were wondering what's going on with us, and why I haven't exactly been feeling a tidal wave of creative energy this week, this is the reason.  I've been lost in a bit of a detox fog... but the clouds are clearing now, and it looks like we're moving into a sunshiny summer!
Hang On... there's only 10 days left in May! 

Gratitude For Guruji

It was five years ago, May 18, 2009, that Sri K Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) passed away.  We were fortunate to spend time some quality time with him a month earlier in his home, just the three of us together with Joseph Dunham.  On our final visit with him, we said our goodbyes, touched his feet, and he started chanting in sanskrit, which we interpreted as his way of giving us his blessing before we had to leave, we both knew it would be that last time we would see him alive.  He seemed to know that too. 

Every day when I practice I always remember him, and my heart is filled with gratitude.

Guruji’s tradition of Ashtanga Yoga has given me my life as it is today.  Outside of my parents and their continuous love and support, this lineage of yoga has been the most influential factor in my personal growth and development.

This practice came to me at a time in my life when I was really struggling.  It saved me.  You could say that almost everything good in my life has come as a result of this turning point. 

Prior to learning this practice I battled with addictions, eating disorders, and in general a huge lack of self-esteem, which resulted in my many self-destructive behaviours and choices.  Upon finding this practice I started feeling better about myself, and I began living inside my own skin for the first time in as long as I could remember. 

Through this practice of Ashtanga Yoga I developed more compassion and love towards myself, which was an entirely new experience.  This allowed me to feel my connection to others more deeply, which aroused more positive choices that stemmed from forgiving myself, and releasing the past. 

It was because of this practice that I met my now husband, and love of my life, Jeff Lichty.  

We traveled the world together, taught together, started a Yoga School together, and have a son together, who lights up our whole universe, and has taught me the meaning of selfless service and unconditional love.  

Therefore, it is with the deepest gratitude that I continue to dedicate my daily practice to Guruji and his lineage.  I always hear him when I chant the invocation, and feel his force supporting me as I teach.  His commitment and devotion is an endless inspiration for me.

Guruji had many gifts.  He had a way of seeing things in a person.  He would know you could do something even when you didn't believe it yourself.  He was a philosopher at heart, and always enjoyed a good laugh.  He welcomed questions, and loved to hear any gossip or news about his students.  Whenever we would call he would always ask, "when are you coming?" even if we had just arrived back home.  He loved to teach - it was truly his dharma, and there was almost nothing that could keep him away from it.

  

You couldn't be in Guruji's presence and not feel your heart overflowing with affection.  He was humble and yet fierce.  Everyone that had the privilege of being his student was deeply touched and transformed by his presence, and we all felt a unique and special connection with him.

He would be so happy to see the growing number of students who have been healed and touch by the Ashtanga Yoga practice.  I think he would be proud that his legacy is continuing on through the teachers he blessed.  I consider myself very fortunate to be amongst this group of inspired practitioners who reside under his guiding light, and continue to keep his memory alive and teach what we have received from him, and from this practice that he loved. 

Om Sri Gurubhyo Namah

One More Month in Mysore...

Jeff has arrived back in Canada, meanwhile I'm starting the first week of a full month of single-parenting in Mysore, India!  This is certainly a new frontier for me!

If you are in Calgary you can practice with Jeff for a full week of Mysore classes straight from the Source!  - there is still a little space if you want to register or drop-in - please get in touch with us directly.  After this week he will be back in Victoria... so be on the look out islanders!

The longer you stay and practice here in Mysore, you realize that each month carries with it a very different feeling, and it is impossible to predict what each period of time will hold.  It's only when you look back that you can observe an occurring  theme.  Like many things, it is a strange phenomena that seems to happen here in this little microcosm more acutely then at home.

In many ways these changes are very quick and obvious with old friends leaving and new people arriving, and in other ways this change is much more subtle, and yet more significant overall - it is the hint of something deeply internal transforming within you.  

Sharath gave conference yesterday, as he does most Sundays, and it was again a very sweet gathering.  I will share some of the highlights I enjoyed with you.  My friend Nea Ferrier also has shared a lovely summary in her blog: New Memories: Home Cooking and Sharath's Conference 9.2.14

My Favourite Bits & Pieces from Sharath's Conference: Feb.2/2014

He touched upon the importance of Parampara (the direct lineage of teachers), "Yoga has to come from the Parampara.  You can't learn by watching a video or going to a conference or a workshop. A conference or video is like entertainment, but it cannot be an education in spirituality.  A real experience of yoga is different then entertainment.

Ashtanga yoga is about the transformation that happens within us.  Our perception of life changes.  It gives our life a new meaning.  Trying to realize what we are - that journey is called spirituality."

He used a great metaphor: "In life we are always running behind something... something that is ultimately unnecessary.  Everyone is running off to somewhere or running to do some training or workshop.  What are you searching for?  Where are you going?
Is it a new posture you are after?  Getting a new posture doesn't make you a good yogi.
Go to the Source which is within you.
Realize What You Are and Why You Are Here!'

"Don't run behind Yoga.  Yoga is within you."

He reinforced that Yoga is to create mental fitness through spirituality, but this must arise from within each person.   How you change and transform yourself through your practice - that is Yoga.
It takes time for the body to change.  We must be patient in our practice.
These days there is very little respect for Yoga and the power of it as a spiritual practice, and the power that is inherent within your own body and mind.

He reminded us about "samsara halahala mohashantyai" saying, Samsara is full of poison, but yoga teaches us how to bring peace to our mind through all different experiences. It helps us to manage the stress of daily life, and is like a "terrain management system" in a car.  (I'm not great with the whole car metaphor, but I get the general idea!)   

"Yoga is the only tool we have to spiritually transform yourself.  This Yoga is Not only an asana practice.  Asana is not the final stages of Yoga.  Yoga is Not just a physical practice."
 
Ultimately, Yoga is the realization of the Oneness of all.
 
To realize this Oneness you have to give up many things - anger, greed, fear, desire, and realize you are the same as everyone - you are not different.

"You are Prakriti - nature.  From the earth you came up and at death you will go back to the earth. Birth and death are a mystery, but what you do with the years you have living here on earth is the important part.  The effects of your actions here will remain."

The Last Sunday Conference of 2012

Yesterday was the last conference of 2012.  

Here are some notes and thoughts from Sharath's talk:

The name "Yoga" has grown in fame around the world, but the meaning is missing.  

What is the meaning of Yoga?   

Yoga-citta-vritti-nirodha "Yoga is to still the mind."  

Yoga is for self transformation.  

Many people have forgotten this, and are caught up in the asana-s only.   

"Asana for asana sake is just bending your body."

 

When you are truly established in the asana practice, there will be no disorders of the mind.  You will become totally absorbed in what you are practicing, the senses will withdraw inside, and your concentration will become very one-pointed.

Sharath recalled a great story about a student that asks his teacher, "why have I not gained the experience of Self-Realization" and the teacher one morning takes him to a river and holds his head underneath the water, and the student fights with all his might to come up for air, and when the teacher finally lets him up, the student gasps "why did you do that?"  

The Teacher says, "if you want to experience Self-Realization or Enlightenment, the goal of Yoga, you must want it as much as you wanted that breath of air."

  

 As practitioners and seekers, we must want to taste the experience of real yoga within ourselves, as much as a drowning man fights for air - a sincere effort must be made in this direction.

He followed this up by saying that a true student devotes his or her whole self to the practice, and as you go deeper and deeper the knowledge will automatically glow from within you.  However, this transformation only comes when we devote ourselves fully to the practice, and do real Sadhana (spiritual practices) for a long time, consistently.  

"Yoga is a life-long study."  

Every month, every year, you should learn something new, experience something new, and go deeper.

This is what the aim should be. 

Sharath also spoke about the six passions of the mind that cover one's true nature.  

The six covers are: kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (delusion), mada (pride), matsarya (jealousy).  These six covers need to be removed through our sadhana if we are to see and understand Reality as it is.   

He said that if you are humble and start to get rid of the ego, then there will be progress in yoga.  However, you cannot just read about Yoga, or memorize texts on Yoga - the mastery will come only when you practice and apply the teachings within your daily life.  Only then will you gain experiential knowledge. 

Sadhana isn't easy though, you must choose one path.  It is a discipline; and often you must struggle within yourself to overcome many obstacles.  A daily commitment to continue to practice must be there, and the more distracted you are with many things in the world, the more difficult it becomes to reach higher levels of Yoga.  You must discipline yourself and limit the distractions in life.  

Through the practice of Yoga, you will become more sensitive to things. As you develop a disciplined mind you can start to feel a connection to a higher cosmic consciousness.  This process, what is happening within you, cannot be spoken about, the changes are internal, and as the effects grow stronger, maintaining your practice will become more central for you.

Happy Continued Practicing into the New Year Everyone!

We want to give a huge THANKS to Nikki & Sebastian, who taught for the month of December in our morning Mysore Program.  It was an incredible month for so many of our students back in Victoria, and I'm sure that everyone looks forward to having you back again some day!

  

We are also happy to have some time to reconnect with you both here in Mysore now!  

Let the fun begin!   

As we approach the NEW YEAR... we are taking some time to project our vision of what is to come by finding the one word that spontaneously comes to mind when we think of 2013!

You can play along too... 

We'd love to hear what your word for the year past and the year to come are... 

The one word that comes to mind for me that would describe last year 2012 is "Intense".

And my word for 2013... well, that's just going to have to wait until tomorrow!   

Happy New Year!  

We look forward to connecting with you all again soon - Let's make 2013 the best year yet!

Hari Om 

Sunday Conference with Sharath in Mysore

Conference has been so full the past two weeks... students are spilling out into the front foyer.

Here are some highlights from the past two weeks of conference with Sharath...

"What makes a good Yoga Practitioner?"

Sharath spoke about this at conference two weeks back on December 9th.
"It is the student's determination and dedication to continue practicing daily that makes a good practitioner.  It is not about how flexible you are.  Yoga is to help us get rid of the ego, to become more humble and grounded." 

"Guruji (Sri K. Pattabhi Jois), was very special in his simplicity and humility.  He had a very direct way of transmitting the teachings of the Parampara" (the lineage of teaching flowing down directly from teacher to student).  

"The practice of Yoga should not make us more critical of others, it ought to be practiced for Self-Transformation.  When we are able to change ourselves, then the whole world can be changed by us.  We should focus daily on how to develop more deeply the qualities of Yoga within. As we become more established in the Yamas and Niyamas, our perception will change, and society will change as a result of our work."

Japa (mantra / prayer recitation) is good to practice in the evening.
"Twenty minutes of the Maha Mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), or any prayer that is meaningful to you will help to calm your mind, and you will sleep very well."

For example: if you are Catholic, you can recite the Holy Rosary (Hail Mary Full of Grace...) or if Protestant, The Lord's Prayer.
Anything that you connect with on a personal level, that can calm your mind, and lift your spirit is good to recite.
The Japa should be meaningful to you, and your thoughts should be focused on good things while chanting, then the effects will be very beneficial.

"Japa can also help to develop Bhavana (Spiritual Development) within you, and this will lead to Ishvara Pranidhana" (Surrender to a Greater Power).

This week, December 16th, Sharath gave the example of Hanuman opening his chest to reveal that only Sita & Rama reside inside.  He said that "this is a good example of full devotion, or Ishvara Pranidhana." 

Someone asked about diet, and a vegetarian diet was recommended for various reason, the food is easier to digest, healthier for your body, and it also upholds Ahimsa (non-violence).

Pain and Fear were discussed.  Sharath said, "new postures can bring fear, but if the practice was very easy, then students would loose interest, so a little fear makes the practice enjoyable."  

"Pain makes you more aware of what you are doing during practice."  However, it is important "not to over-stress your body either in practice or doing extra stretching outside of the practice."  Sometimes it can take a while for a pain to subside. 
Sharath talked about the back pain that he had for 4 years, but with slow, gentle, patient practice, he was able to heal himself fully, through the practice itself.

If you are practicing without focus, there is more chance of injury.  Also, when first beginning new postures, sometimes there can be pain in the body.   The body keeps changing, monthly, yearly, and you should progress slowly in the practice, to allow for this change.  Don't hurry or rush the process, or there is a greater chance of injury.

Sharath told of a time when he waited 3 years before Guruji gave him a new posture, and emphasized that it was good to go slowly and patiently in your daily practice, and keep increasing your awareness in the postures that you are already practicing, rather then always wanting something more.

"Ashtanga Yoga is best learned in the Mysore style.  Only in this format can a new student really begin to understand the correct breathing."  They will receive more guidance in the Mysore style then what can be given during a Led Class.  "The group Led Classes are too fast for beginners, and if you don't know what you are doing, there is more chance for injuring yourself.  The Led Classes are to help students learn the proper Vinyasa counts, how to move correctly with the breath, and to help to build up stamina."

He also talked about how this practice can at times create a lot of heat, and how coconut oil can be put on the head daily to help relieve some of the heat, especially if you are already prone to overheating.  He also talked about how traditionally in South India, they would take a Castor Oil bath once a week, either on Saturday or Sunday, to reduce any excess heat in the body.   

Personally, one of my favorite parts was when he said, "Yoga should keep happening within you day and night, not just when practicing asanas.  Yogic thoughts should be there all the time."
 (Keep focusing the mind more and more on practicing the Yamas and Niyamas)

"Yoga is not simply a physical practice.  It is not about showing off.  The Yoga is what must happen inside, once you try to realize the true inner self, the inner soul."
All our attention is outside ourselves most of the time, and the senses keep pulling us outwards.
"Yoga is learning to withdraw all your senses inside, inwardly, to see the inner self, then the Yoga happens. This should be the goal of Yoga, to realize the True Self, and if this is your goal, you will progress very well."

Conference ended with three of our friends here in Mysore receiving Certification.  A huge congratulations to Gabriele Severini, Tarik Thami, and Kranti!  We love you guys!

 

Thanks to Max Czenszak for the use of this great photo

Om Namah Shivaya!

Back to West Coast Living!

We are back to Victoria - back "home" - and oh how good it feels to have a "home" to come back to... and one that is so stunning at that! Lucky Us! We've been visiting the ocean every day, and enjoying the intrinsic beauty of nature, just taking it all in - it's been a sweet return to this island paradise.

The air is clean, the sea breeze is refreshing, the sun is shining, and the food is fresh, nutritious, and delicious! We feel so blessed to be able to call this place "home".

We've returned from India with a new certification to teach at a more advanced level, which was the main purpose for our visit to Mysore.

In addition to this however, we were blessed with the opportunity to reconnect with many colleagues and dear friends, with whom we shared and learned as we reinforce the strong bonds in the international community of Ashtanga Yoga practitioners and teachers.

In a way our time there was a bit of a "graduation."

A time to reconnect with the lineage of this tradition, and to have Sharath express his full confidence in our ability to transmit the teachings of this practice, and to go on teaching what we have learned with full authority.

Now that we are back, we will focus on continuing to build and educate the growing community of Ashtanga Yoga Practitioners and Seekers here in Victoria with deep gratitude and humble sincerity for all that we have had the blessing to receive!

Om Sri Gurubhyo Namah Hari Om!