patience

A word on patience:

"Patience (kshama) is the power and capacity to accept people as they are and events as they are happening, without the desire for changing them. Impatience stems from our wish to obtain unfulfilled desires and our inability to be fully present with the current moment. While practicing patience can be quite challenging, it will yield a great spiritual power and teach us to accept things as they are. And with all things, the more we practice patience the easier it becomes. When you find yourself becoming impatient with a person or event, take a moment to let go of this reaction (the need for things to be other than they are) and instead bring your awareness to the breath, letting it be slow and deep. Then let yourself become grateful for these opportunities to work on letting go and tuning into your breath and the inner awareness of the present moment."
--Timothy Burgin YogaBasics.com

Namaste'
Yogagal

lilacs, lotions, and all things smelling good

Our lilacs are finally in bloom. I was able to cut some stems and put them in a vase in our living room and bedroom. They make the whole house smell divine. I am passionate about yummy smells. As I'm writing this, I realize how silly that sounds--but it is true. I love lighting smell-good candles (Trapp candles are one of my favorite brands--they are strong and last a long time, burning very clean). I also love putting on smell-good body lotions. I love perfumes. These days, I've even started mixing lotion and perfume smells to make my own special smell-good concoctions. One other smell yummy secret is the lampe burger. This is an oil burner that not only purifies the air but also makes the whole house smell heavenly--there are a bunch of different scents. I currently have a mixture of Wild Grass Fields and Peppermint burning. It is also safer than candles (especially for pet owners) because there aren't any open flames.

I definitely make sure I appreciate the small things in life (as is apparent by this post). I also make sure I take the time and make the effort to surround myself with simple pleasures. If you haven't done this lately, why not today?

Namaste'

Yogagal

Happy Mother's Day

Just wanted to wish all you Moms out there a Happy Mother's Day. I have not yet taken the leap into motherhood, so I can only speak as a daughter and counselor who works with teenagers and their parents: I do believe that becoming a parent can possibly be one of the biggest sprirtual teachers in this lifetime. At least, as I began thinking about the decision to have a child, that is how I thouoght about it: 1. My husband and I have too much love to give and share, not to have a little one and 2. Motherhood could be a spritual experience and teacher like no other.

Have a great day, Moms!

Namaste'
Yogagal

10 thoughts

One of my favorite magazines is Body + Soul. In every issue they include a page, "Ten Thoughts on Whole Living" Here are the 10 thoughts from this month's (May) issue:

1. When you commit your dreams to paper, you give them a place to take root.
2. Be mindful of where you put your attention. The shape of your life will follow.
3. When you view your health as nonnegotiable, your priorities naturally shift.
4. Positive change starts with truth, and no one knows it better than you.
5. You're more than just what you do for others.
6. Before you react to an emotion, first consider its source.
7. Learning to let go begins with understanding why you've been hanging on.
8. Do more than understand stress reduction; put it into practice.
9. There's no way to grow without taking a few risks.
10. Setting boundaries doesn't keep others out. It defines where your life begins.

Namaste'
Yogagal

guru for you

"Most people think that 'guru' refers only to an enlightened being. But a guru can manifest as anyone or any aspect of the universe that offers teachings and empowerment. Adopt the posture of a student. Teachings can appear anywhere at any time; if you look for the Guru in all things, then the Guru constantly manifest to uplift you." --Yoga Journal June 2008

I like this description of what a guru is. I think today I'll try to "adopt the posture of a student," and see what I can learn.

Have a presence-filled day Friday!

Namaste'
Yogagal

Mindful Communication

"The power of words isn't lost on anyone—just think of the pleasure you feel when someone pays you a sincere compliment, or the discomfort of realizing you've spilled a secret you'd promised to keep. Words and the energy they carry make or break friendships and careers; they define us as individuals and even as cultures. We know this, and yet we often let our words flow out more or less unmediated, like random pebbles tossed into a lake. Sometimes, it's only when the ripples spread and cause waves, and the waves rush back and splash us, that we stop to think about the way we speak." --Yoga Journal Newsletter APRIL

I am a firm believer in the power of words. I remember reading a quote by Maya Angelou where she describes words as little energy pellets that seep into our surroundings. That quote has stayed with me, and I make a sincere effort to speak from a place of truth and love. Here is another quote (I'm not sure where it came from...) that helps guide me:

"Before you speak, ask yourself: Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it true?"

Spread words of truth and love today!

Namaste'
Yogagal

let yourself grow

Today's yoga thought comes from one of my favorite magazines, Body + Soul. This is from the May 2008 issue:

"This month's goal

Let Yourself Grow

Somewhere between the life you have and the life you want lies the quiet seed of potential. With each new thing you do--the friend you make, the garden you plant, the risks you take--it begins to open up. Slowly, almost impreceptibly, a new life of your making starts to sprout, taking root and fanning its damp leaves in the open air. But like all tender young things, it requires enough attention, enough rest, enough sustancence to thrive. This month, give yourself plenty of what you need--maybe even a little bit extra. Get more sleep. Take a chance. Taste a new food. And watch things grow."

Happy growing...

Namaste'

Yogagal

color of your soul

If your soul was a color, what color would it be?

Yes, this is the type of question I think about. In fact, years ago two of my friends and I had a long conversation while answering this question and describing why we chose the color we did. I felt like my soul was purple. I chose this color because it can be a deep, rich color with a lot of depth. It makes me think of loyalty, richness, and fullness. It can also be a light, calming color. I just thought and felt intuitively if my soul did have a color, purple was it. Interestingly enough, just last night I was thinking about purple being the color of my soul--I hadn't really thought about it for years. Then, today when I checked one of my favorite blogs, pink-heels.blogspot.com, it was all about the color purple. Interesting how things like that happen. Here's what it said:

1- Purple is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good color to use in meditation. Purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty. Being the combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, purple is believed to be the ideal color. Most children love the color purple. Purple is the color most favored by artists. Thursday's color is purple.

2- The opposites of hot red and cool blue combine to create this intriguing color. Combining the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple, Blue Iris satisfies the need for reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement.

3- Violet gemstones are associated with mysticism and purification. They are used for meditation and to sharpen psychic awareness, connection with higher self, and to increase imagination and inspiration.

4- Violet is the color associated with the Crown Chakra. This chakra is the main co-oridination center of the body and ensures you are connected to universal sources of energy.

So, if your soul was a color, what would it be? I'd encourage you to answer this question, then spend some time researching the color and see what you find out.

Namaste'
Yogagal

your surroundings

Here is the yoga thought for the day:

"Surround yourself with people, color, sounds and work that nourish you." --SARK

Namaste'
Yogagal

karma

As a school counselor, I often find myself having conversations with students about recognizing the fact that they cannot control how other people treat them. They can only control the way they react. They usually nod their head in agreement, signaling they understand; however, at the age of 17, it's doubtful most of them really get it, as many adults still struggle with this truth. While my conversations with students are usually an attempt to get them not to punch someone in the face next time they "mean mug" them or talk badly about them, in the adult world, hopefully this isn't the case. As adults perhaps we feel a desire to punch someone in the face after we feel we are treated poorly; however, our maturity level among other things have probably stopped us from taking this course of action. But, we may react by jumping into the role of victim, and wasting loads of energy feeling like "poor me," or maybe we try to get back at the person whom we feel has wronged us, perpetuating the drama even more. I truly believe, in one way or another, all that we put out there in this world we get back. Because of this belief, I make a conscious and sincere effort to always make choices that reflect living and interacting with others with compassion and thoughtfulness. Now don't get me wrong, I don't try to befriend people who treat others poorly, but I do believe they will get back what they dish out, and I don't think it's my job to make sure they do so. This definitely allows me to always have a sense of acceptance and peace in all my interactions.

With all this in mind, here is the yoga thought for the day:

"How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours."

--Wayne Dyer

Namaste'
Yogagal

fill up to the brim

Yoga thought for the day:

"Eternally, woman spills herself away in driblets to the thirsty, seldom being allowed the time, the quiet, the peace, to let the pitcher fill up to the brim."

--Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Fill yourself up today. You deserve it!

Namaste'
Yogagal

a few more words on acceptance

Yoga thought for the day:

"Yielding means inner acceptance of what is. You are open to life. Resistance is an inner contraction, a hardening of the shell of the ego. You are closed. Whatever action you take in a state of inner resistance (whch we could also call negativity) will create more outer resistance, and the universe will not be on your side; life will not be helpful. If the shutters are closed, the sunlight cannot come in. When you yield internally, when you surrender, a new dimension of consciousness opens up. If action is possible or necessary, your action will be in alignment with the whole and supported by creative intelligence, the unconditioned consciousness which in a state of inner openness you become one with. Circumstances and people then become helpful, cooperative. Coincidences happen. If no action is possible, you rest in the peace of inner stillness that come with surrender. You rest in God." --Eckhart Tolle

Namaste'
Yogagal

acceptance

Acceptance is a gift that you give yourself. Many people have the misconception that acceptance means stagnation and defeat. This cannot be farther from the truth. It is through acceptance that we open and allow ourselves to grow and move forward. When we are in a place of resistance, we are in a place of suffering, and we are often attracting exactly that which we are resisting. Here are some thoughts from Eckhart Tolle about acceptance:

"Accepting means you allow yourself to feel whatever it is you are feeling at that moment. It is part of the is-ness of the Now. You can't argue with what is. Well, you can, but if you do, you suffer. Through allowing, you become what you are: vast, spacious. You become whole. You are not a fragment anymore, which is how the ego perceives itself. Your true nature emerges, which is one with the nature of God."

Namaste'
Yogagal

friday

Here is the yoga thought for the day:

"Give up defining yourself--to yourself or to others. You won't die. You will come to life. And don't be concerned with how others define you. When they define you, they are limiting themselves, so it's their problem. Whenever you interact with people, don't be there primarily as a function or a role, but as a field of conscious Presence." --Eckhart Tolle

Wishing you a friday filled with presence.

Namaste'
Yogagal

play day

Sunshiny, warm weekend days definitely invite fun and play, so give youself a play day! I will probably end up taking the pups to the dog park. I already made a yummy breakfast of french toast (when I was a kid french toast breakfast days were very special and exciting!), turkey bacon, and eggs. I will also make sure to take some time to lay out on a chaise lounge on our patio and read. I thought I'd share some books I've enjoyed and learned from over the years and music I enjoy listening to while reading...just in case you intend to find yourself outside reading, too!

Books:

Succulent Wild Woman by SARK
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach, Ph.D.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
Life Makeovers by Cheryl Richardson
The Unmistakable Touch of Grace by Cheryl Richardson
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Music:

Yael Naim & David Donatien
The Reminder by Feist
Pure Moods IV by various artists
Cinco de Mowo by Mocean Worker
Le Spa Sonique --Jens Gad (I use this one in my yoga class, but it's definitely good chill music, too).

Enjoy your day. :)
And, don't forget to take some deep breaths of presence and gratitude.

Namaste'
Yogagal