I've been on a carb-free, sugar-free diet for over a month now, mostly as a way to get rid of the candida that seemed to have flared up in my gut. I've had bouts with it ever since my first trip to India, and the holidays with all the sweet squashes, desserts and potatoes always seems cause a flare up. It's been years since I've done this intense of a candida diet, but I have to say, I'm really enjoying it! I feel super healthy and I'm sleeping better too!
What I'm eating is mostly vegetables, eggs, nuts and poultry, with a little dairy and chocolate. I've just added cultured cottage cheese which is a welcome treat and full of good probiotics for my gut. Breakfast is usually some cottage cheese with sprouted nuts and avocado. Lunch is usually miso soup with eggs and vegetables, or a salad with chicken, followed by a few pieces of super dark chocolate which is much lower in sugar (I eat the kind that's sweetened only with stevia or beet sugar). Dinner is usually chicken and steamed or stir-fry veggies, or chicken soup. I stay away from potatoes as they're high in sugar, and I minimize beets for the same reason.
I immediately noticed that I lost some weight. I didn't need to lose any, but I had been feeling bloated and so this calmed way down. I tend to get hungry more often on this diet, so I keep nuts around for snacks, and I've just learned that sprouting all nuts and seeds except pecans and walnuts is recommended. I like to peel the almond skin off as it's pretty hard to digest. Soaked almonds are a nice hearty snack. I'm now staying away from cashews as well as they're also pretty tough on the gut.
I like how clean this diet feels, even with the dairy and meat. I've heard many people talk about the Paleo diet and how grains aren't ideal for our health, so this is pretty much the same thing. Sometimes I miss dessert but I find a spoonful of almond butter can do the trick. I doubt I'll eat this extreme way forever, but I do like the idea of cutting out most grains. Once the candid is gone, I'd like to integrate beans and lentils again so I'm not eating so much meat.
My naturopath recently told me that for people who wake up around 2 - 3 from drinking alcohol (and I did), it means they're more sensitive to sugar and so cutting out sugars and carbs can be a great way to improve sleep. It has to do with your stress hormones which cause you to crave more sugars, so if you satisfy those cravings, you are aggravating your system and will likely have sleeping troubles from it. I haven't fully researched this, but it makes sense and I encourage you to check it out if you have the type of insomnia where you wake up in the night.
This diet seems like a good prep for the Spring Cleanse I'll be leading
in April. I'm already half-way there so I imagine it will be a
relatively easy transition.
I hope you feel inspired to consider at least reducing your sugar and carbohydrate intake. Let me know what happens!
To your health! and Namaste,
Robyn
Musings on life and Yoga with Robyn Smith, certified Anusara Yoga instructor from Arcata, Ca www.innerfreedomyoga.com
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Fascial Work, Somatics, Yoga and Ease
I'm in my 20th year of teaching and believe me, I've had my ups and downs, It's really important to me that I'm enthusiastic about what I'm doing, so I'm always mixing it up, following my passions and bringing them to class. There have been times, though, when I considered quitting; when I couldn't muster up the enthusiasm. But now is certainly not one of those times! I've found a renewed intrigue in combining fascial work and Somatics with my yoga sequences. I focus on one main part of the body for the class (and the week). So even though we may be doing a wide range of postures, I'll choose the poses that most address that area or even modify the pose to address it more. First we open it gently with fascial work and Somatics, and then we go deeper into it through the postures. The prep work helps the muscles release so they respond better to the stretching. (And of course, our style of stretching in Anusara Yoga is safer because it's active instead of passive).
I'm loving the heightened awareness that I'm bringing to one main area of the body; how it feels, how it breathes, how it responds to attention and deeper opening. I think the students are learning a lot about their bodies this way, even those who've been coming for several years. Each class is a whole new exploration, with different poses for the different levels, even when it's the same level class a few days later. It seems like we're working deeper and smarter and the students are really enjoying it.
It's funny because even though I've focused on one body area quite a bit in my classes before, and have integrated Somatics and creative sequencing lots as well, this experience seems really different to me. And it's not just the addition of fascial work. I think it's my own familiarity with the body and teaching, as well as a deeper sense of ease within myself. I find that I hardly prepare the details of the class anymore. I consider the level I'm teaching and the students who show up and I can effortlessly follow a trajectory for where I want to head in each class: the poses just show themselves to me with more play than ever before.
I look forward to sharing more about this new sense of ease I'm experiencing and how it's showing up in my life in very cool ways. Stay tuned!
I'm loving the heightened awareness that I'm bringing to one main area of the body; how it feels, how it breathes, how it responds to attention and deeper opening. I think the students are learning a lot about their bodies this way, even those who've been coming for several years. Each class is a whole new exploration, with different poses for the different levels, even when it's the same level class a few days later. It seems like we're working deeper and smarter and the students are really enjoying it.
It's funny because even though I've focused on one body area quite a bit in my classes before, and have integrated Somatics and creative sequencing lots as well, this experience seems really different to me. And it's not just the addition of fascial work. I think it's my own familiarity with the body and teaching, as well as a deeper sense of ease within myself. I find that I hardly prepare the details of the class anymore. I consider the level I'm teaching and the students who show up and I can effortlessly follow a trajectory for where I want to head in each class: the poses just show themselves to me with more play than ever before.
I look forward to sharing more about this new sense of ease I'm experiencing and how it's showing up in my life in very cool ways. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Self Esteem and Commitment
I think having a dedicated spiritual practice can generate self-esteem.
Here's how:
Self-esteem is a feeling of confidence in oneself. And to me, it's related to commitment. The more I make commitments to myself and then follow through on them, the more I generate a feeling of trust in myself. It's this trust, generated over repeated experiences of following through on my commitments, that builds a sense of confidence, and therefore, bolsters my self-esteem.
I'm thinking of my meditation practice here: I have a commitment to myself to meditate every day for at least 30 minutes. The more I follow through with this, the better I feel about myself. And it's not just about what happens on the cushion and after, which is of course why I choose to meditate, but it's the actual act of following through; making it to the cushion day after day. When I do, I feel a sense of ease and knowing in my body. There is something that softens in me, like I've just received a hug. I know I'm "for" myself. When I don't, I feel a niggling in my body, like a kind of tension that reminds me of somebody poking at my side. It's like a subtle angst saying, "I have not honored myself today." (And relating to spiritual practice, this is in addition to the little voice that says, "I have not connected to my Self today.")
Our commitments may be about getting to the gym or yoga class, studying, writing, practicing an instrument, or eating healthy food, and I think it's all the same: any regular actions that fulfill our personal commitments are going to foster trust in ourselves and increase our self-esteem.
In my February newsletter, I wrote about how taking consistent action in spiritual practice over a long period of time is called abhyasa in Yoga. It's related to discipline and the idea that to see results from our spiritual practices, we must practice consistently over the long-term. So I'm appreciating how not only can we experience spiritual results from consistent spiritual practice, which would probably be the goal for most who practice, but we can also generate self-esteem, simply by showing up for ourselves again and again. So this is a great side-benefit of abhyasa.
More on how yoga and self-esteem are related in my upcoming book!
Here's how:
Self-esteem is a feeling of confidence in oneself. And to me, it's related to commitment. The more I make commitments to myself and then follow through on them, the more I generate a feeling of trust in myself. It's this trust, generated over repeated experiences of following through on my commitments, that builds a sense of confidence, and therefore, bolsters my self-esteem.
I'm thinking of my meditation practice here: I have a commitment to myself to meditate every day for at least 30 minutes. The more I follow through with this, the better I feel about myself. And it's not just about what happens on the cushion and after, which is of course why I choose to meditate, but it's the actual act of following through; making it to the cushion day after day. When I do, I feel a sense of ease and knowing in my body. There is something that softens in me, like I've just received a hug. I know I'm "for" myself. When I don't, I feel a niggling in my body, like a kind of tension that reminds me of somebody poking at my side. It's like a subtle angst saying, "I have not honored myself today." (And relating to spiritual practice, this is in addition to the little voice that says, "I have not connected to my Self today.")
Our commitments may be about getting to the gym or yoga class, studying, writing, practicing an instrument, or eating healthy food, and I think it's all the same: any regular actions that fulfill our personal commitments are going to foster trust in ourselves and increase our self-esteem.
In my February newsletter, I wrote about how taking consistent action in spiritual practice over a long period of time is called abhyasa in Yoga. It's related to discipline and the idea that to see results from our spiritual practices, we must practice consistently over the long-term. So I'm appreciating how not only can we experience spiritual results from consistent spiritual practice, which would probably be the goal for most who practice, but we can also generate self-esteem, simply by showing up for ourselves again and again. So this is a great side-benefit of abhyasa.
More on how yoga and self-esteem are related in my upcoming book!
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Come Home to Yourself
This is my new tagline for Inner Freedom Yoga. It feels so aligned with what I'm up to in my teaching. To me, this is ultimately what yoga practices are about. They're about resting into who we truly are, the heart or essence of our being. And when I come home to me, I feel present, calm and peaceful. I feel at ease and connected to myself. And these are exactly the qualities I'd like to support people in through their practice at IFY and as a coach.
Tantrik yoga teachings say that we are already perfect and whole, and yet we don't tend to experience ourselves in this way. We tend to feel inadequate and incomplete. The teachings say that we're born with this fundamental feeling of incompleteness, a kind of ignorance called Anava Mala, and that shaktipata (a potentially subtle or intense revelation and the beginning of opening to a greater sense of who we are) is required for uprooting it. Then for most of us, we need daily practices to support this new opening, to help us deepen into knowing and experiencing ourselves as whole in every moment.
For me, my asana and my meditation practices help me to come home to myself and touch into this sense of wholeness at my core. And I practice regularly because I consistently forget the feeling of being home in myself. So I practice to remember on a daily basis with the idea that over time, there will be a thread that connects these experiences of resting in my wholeness and it will carry off the mat and into my relationships and interactions with the world. I can already see this happening in small ways.
So here's a simple meditation practice that works for me:
I sit on my cushion and I reflect on this concept: I am Divine, I am whole. (Shivo'ham would be a great mantra for this as it means, I am Shiva. Shiva is a name Tantra uses for Supreme Consciousness, the perfect Source of all. If you're using a mantra, repeat it super quietly to yourself about every few seconds, or with your breath, so it's like a whisper in the back of your mind). Then I drop into my heart or solar plexus area and I feel my body breathing and I sense that behind the breathing, behind my thoughts and all the busyness of my life, there is a place where I am simply quiet and present. There is a stillness in me and I rest in that stillness with the mantra. When I notice my mind wanders or hooks onto a thought, which is often, I come back home to my mantra and bodily experience and this sense of resting in presence, being home in myself.
I'll share more about these profound philosophical teachings and more Coming Home practices in my upcoming book on yoga and self esteem, as well as in this blog. Stay tuned!
Tantrik yoga teachings say that we are already perfect and whole, and yet we don't tend to experience ourselves in this way. We tend to feel inadequate and incomplete. The teachings say that we're born with this fundamental feeling of incompleteness, a kind of ignorance called Anava Mala, and that shaktipata (a potentially subtle or intense revelation and the beginning of opening to a greater sense of who we are) is required for uprooting it. Then for most of us, we need daily practices to support this new opening, to help us deepen into knowing and experiencing ourselves as whole in every moment.
For me, my asana and my meditation practices help me to come home to myself and touch into this sense of wholeness at my core. And I practice regularly because I consistently forget the feeling of being home in myself. So I practice to remember on a daily basis with the idea that over time, there will be a thread that connects these experiences of resting in my wholeness and it will carry off the mat and into my relationships and interactions with the world. I can already see this happening in small ways.
So here's a simple meditation practice that works for me:
I sit on my cushion and I reflect on this concept: I am Divine, I am whole. (Shivo'ham would be a great mantra for this as it means, I am Shiva. Shiva is a name Tantra uses for Supreme Consciousness, the perfect Source of all. If you're using a mantra, repeat it super quietly to yourself about every few seconds, or with your breath, so it's like a whisper in the back of your mind). Then I drop into my heart or solar plexus area and I feel my body breathing and I sense that behind the breathing, behind my thoughts and all the busyness of my life, there is a place where I am simply quiet and present. There is a stillness in me and I rest in that stillness with the mantra. When I notice my mind wanders or hooks onto a thought, which is often, I come back home to my mantra and bodily experience and this sense of resting in presence, being home in myself.
I'll share more about these profound philosophical teachings and more Coming Home practices in my upcoming book on yoga and self esteem, as well as in this blog. Stay tuned!
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Your Shiny Essence
Who are you really? Are you this body? This pain? This anger? This joy? This personality? These thoughts? These preferences? Certain yoga teachings tell us that all aspects of who we are is Divine. It says that who we are at the core is simply presence, a Divine, all-knowing presence. And yet, even if we've been taught this and believe this, we constantly forget! So we come to the mat, or to the meditation cushion, to remember who we truly are. We remember to identify not solely with who know ourselves to be on the surface, but who we are at our essence. And ultimately, we come to experience this essence as who we are and we recognize it in each other as well.
This week, I've found myself in a few conversations about the benefits of yoga. I was on a panel for an HSU class about yoga, I was talking with my business coach about yoga's benefits, and I was teaching the Introduction to Yoga course. In all of these situations, I was reminded of how wonderfully simple and yet powerful yoga can be. People often come to their first class in order to stretch, to feel better in their bodies, to relieve some kind of physical pain or stress. And yet, very quickly, they recognize there is something bigger going on. Even at the end of the first intro to yoga class, the students felt more relaxed, more aware of their bodies, more comfortable sitting, and more at peace. That's pretty impressive for only about 45 minutes of yoga! And this gaining awareness is such a key benefit of yoga. As we start to feel our body sensations, notice our breathing, tune into the train of thoughts in our minds, we begin to understand that that is all happening on the surface. We can sense that behind all of that is a witness, the one who is watching. And when we recognize that this witness is always here, watching the show of our lives without getting affected by any of it, we can begin to identify with it as our true Self. Returning our attention to this unarguable truth can become our daily and moment-by-moment practice, our refuge especially when times get tough.
So it really does take showing up again and again for practice, because we constantly forget, until we're enlightened. But this remembering, this consciously choosing again and again to redirect our attention to the truth of awareness, presence, essence, is how yoga will transform our lives on the deepest level. I'm reminded of a rock in a river, getting polished day in and day out for hundreds or thousands of years, until it's super shiny and all the rough edges have worn away. This is how I think of our practice. It wears away the superficial confusion of who we are and brings us back to our shiny, radiant essence.
So keep practicing, whether it's just a few sun salutations, or a 30-minute meditation, keep practicing and smoothing up your rough surfaces to reveal your beautiful heart.
namaste,
Robyn
This week, I've found myself in a few conversations about the benefits of yoga. I was on a panel for an HSU class about yoga, I was talking with my business coach about yoga's benefits, and I was teaching the Introduction to Yoga course. In all of these situations, I was reminded of how wonderfully simple and yet powerful yoga can be. People often come to their first class in order to stretch, to feel better in their bodies, to relieve some kind of physical pain or stress. And yet, very quickly, they recognize there is something bigger going on. Even at the end of the first intro to yoga class, the students felt more relaxed, more aware of their bodies, more comfortable sitting, and more at peace. That's pretty impressive for only about 45 minutes of yoga! And this gaining awareness is such a key benefit of yoga. As we start to feel our body sensations, notice our breathing, tune into the train of thoughts in our minds, we begin to understand that that is all happening on the surface. We can sense that behind all of that is a witness, the one who is watching. And when we recognize that this witness is always here, watching the show of our lives without getting affected by any of it, we can begin to identify with it as our true Self. Returning our attention to this unarguable truth can become our daily and moment-by-moment practice, our refuge especially when times get tough.
So it really does take showing up again and again for practice, because we constantly forget, until we're enlightened. But this remembering, this consciously choosing again and again to redirect our attention to the truth of awareness, presence, essence, is how yoga will transform our lives on the deepest level. I'm reminded of a rock in a river, getting polished day in and day out for hundreds or thousands of years, until it's super shiny and all the rough edges have worn away. This is how I think of our practice. It wears away the superficial confusion of who we are and brings us back to our shiny, radiant essence.
So keep practicing, whether it's just a few sun salutations, or a 30-minute meditation, keep practicing and smoothing up your rough surfaces to reveal your beautiful heart.
namaste,
Robyn
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Openness to Learning
I've been teaching about the Hendricks' Openness to Discovery scale this week in classes. The scale shows us how open to learning we are. The idea behind it is that we can choose for every interaction and circumstance to be something that we learn and grow from, if we're open to it. And by consciously choosing, we get to grow and be in charge of how we do that. Or, we can choose to fight with or close down to the learning potential in each moment. The scale shows 10 examples of how we might be open to learning, from lowest amount of openness to highest, and it also show the 10 ways we may be closed, again least to most.
For example, the slightly open to learning examples are: open posture, expressing genuine curiosity and appreciation for the messenger to the highest levels of feeling enthusiasm about new possibilities and implementing them. The lower levels of being closed to learning examples are: showing polite interest while inwardly clinging to your perspective our planning a rebuttal, explaining yourself and getting defensive, to the highest level of attacking the messenger or storming out of the situation. So, for example, if I'm given feedback about something I said or did that surprised me and that didn't feel good to me, if I start getting defensive or placing blame elsewhere, making excuses for what happened or complaining about how the feedback was delivered, then I am not open to learning.
So the other night, I was using this as my theme, encouraging people to be open to learning from their breath, their postures, the messages of their bodies, my instructions, and everything that was occurring in their minds. Many people expressed some insights and discoveries would had been there earlier in the week exploring this theme over the last couple of days. The super ironic part was that I had one new student who did not want to receive any feedback from me about his alignment. I found it super challenging to let him do his thing, be misaligned in my class when I'm quite vigilant about my students being safe in their practice. It was a great exercise for me in letting go! And perhaps that was the perfect feedback for both of us.
Here's the main things that I learned from that: I want to magnetize people to my classes who value what I have to offer, appreciate my expertise, and enjoy participating in the group experience.
For example, the slightly open to learning examples are: open posture, expressing genuine curiosity and appreciation for the messenger to the highest levels of feeling enthusiasm about new possibilities and implementing them. The lower levels of being closed to learning examples are: showing polite interest while inwardly clinging to your perspective our planning a rebuttal, explaining yourself and getting defensive, to the highest level of attacking the messenger or storming out of the situation. So, for example, if I'm given feedback about something I said or did that surprised me and that didn't feel good to me, if I start getting defensive or placing blame elsewhere, making excuses for what happened or complaining about how the feedback was delivered, then I am not open to learning.
So the other night, I was using this as my theme, encouraging people to be open to learning from their breath, their postures, the messages of their bodies, my instructions, and everything that was occurring in their minds. Many people expressed some insights and discoveries would had been there earlier in the week exploring this theme over the last couple of days. The super ironic part was that I had one new student who did not want to receive any feedback from me about his alignment. I found it super challenging to let him do his thing, be misaligned in my class when I'm quite vigilant about my students being safe in their practice. It was a great exercise for me in letting go! And perhaps that was the perfect feedback for both of us.
Here's the main things that I learned from that: I want to magnetize people to my classes who value what I have to offer, appreciate my expertise, and enjoy participating in the group experience.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Glowing and Shifting with Appreciation
I am feeling a sweet peace inside after my week of Chicago Hendricks' trainings.
This was an especially small training, so there were less of us apprentices. And although I've always actively participated in our meetings and trainings, this time I felt a much deeper sense of ease, confidence and belonging.
So aside from all the formal learning of techniques and practices that we do, which I feel like I've integrated on a much deeper level after 5 of these Essentials trainings, I can see evidence of my growth simply in how I'm interacting with everyone, including and especially Katie. Where before I had more fear of speaking up or being wrong; second-guessing my contributions, now I notice much more flow and ease within myself. I'm not monitoring everything I say, packaging it to be "just right." I'm following my impulses, trusting them, and letting go. I know that packaging comes from fear of being judged and ultimately from judging myself, something I learned to do early in life. So if all I got from this training would be this greater sense of inner ease, peace and self-appreciation, and a relinquishing of my inner judge, I would be stoked. But I know I'm getting so much more.
Too much to mention here, but here's a taste of it:
- Speaking the truth about my feelings and thoughts in unarguable ways
- Taking full responsibility for my experiences
- Tuning into when I'm feeling fear and tools for melting this fear in the moment
- Practices of self-love and appreciation
- Amping up my appreciation for others and my experiences
- Communicating from the heart
- Recognizing when I'm in a persona
- and so much more!
What I'm left with after this week of joining with my teacher and many friends on the path is an expanded feeling of love and appreciation. I feel an inner radiance like a light that shines out from my heart, and a deep feeling of calm and peace that reminds me of sitting on a mountain. It's like the exuberance I feel after a weekend of yoga. And I do think it's a very deep kind of yoga.
I'm passionate about sharing these powerful tools of transformation. I believe we all have a strong inner judge and long for ease in communication and emotional literacy and I know these tools will help. My course called Conscious Living starts on October 29 and the early bird discount is tomorrow, October 25. I hope you can join me! Here's a link to more info: Conscious Living Course.
In appreciation for me and for you and this awesome journey we call life,
Robyn
This was an especially small training, so there were less of us apprentices. And although I've always actively participated in our meetings and trainings, this time I felt a much deeper sense of ease, confidence and belonging.
So aside from all the formal learning of techniques and practices that we do, which I feel like I've integrated on a much deeper level after 5 of these Essentials trainings, I can see evidence of my growth simply in how I'm interacting with everyone, including and especially Katie. Where before I had more fear of speaking up or being wrong; second-guessing my contributions, now I notice much more flow and ease within myself. I'm not monitoring everything I say, packaging it to be "just right." I'm following my impulses, trusting them, and letting go. I know that packaging comes from fear of being judged and ultimately from judging myself, something I learned to do early in life. So if all I got from this training would be this greater sense of inner ease, peace and self-appreciation, and a relinquishing of my inner judge, I would be stoked. But I know I'm getting so much more.
Too much to mention here, but here's a taste of it:
- Speaking the truth about my feelings and thoughts in unarguable ways
- Taking full responsibility for my experiences
- Tuning into when I'm feeling fear and tools for melting this fear in the moment
- Practices of self-love and appreciation
- Amping up my appreciation for others and my experiences
- Communicating from the heart
- Recognizing when I'm in a persona
- and so much more!
What I'm left with after this week of joining with my teacher and many friends on the path is an expanded feeling of love and appreciation. I feel an inner radiance like a light that shines out from my heart, and a deep feeling of calm and peace that reminds me of sitting on a mountain. It's like the exuberance I feel after a weekend of yoga. And I do think it's a very deep kind of yoga.
I'm passionate about sharing these powerful tools of transformation. I believe we all have a strong inner judge and long for ease in communication and emotional literacy and I know these tools will help. My course called Conscious Living starts on October 29 and the early bird discount is tomorrow, October 25. I hope you can join me! Here's a link to more info: Conscious Living Course.
In appreciation for me and for you and this awesome journey we call life,
Robyn
Monday, September 30, 2013
Generating Easy, Radiant Abundance
For several weeks now, I have been enjoying chanting to Lakshmi, the Indian goddess of beauty and abundance, generosity, fullness and light. I've also been chanting to Red Tara, the Tibetan goddess of love, compassion and generosity, imagining myself as these goddesses, feeling full, generous and abundant, feminine bounty, luscious hips and breasts, offerings of love. I've enjoyed creating my own movements to go w. the chants, taking on the shapes they depict, as well as my own. And I'm also using a commitment I created in my practice: I commit to opening to easy, radiant abundance in my body, home and work.
Abundance Manifests!!
1 - Within the last 10 days, I've had 8 calls from new clients wanting to do Somatics or Yoga Therapy with me. wow! I don't think I've ever had such a huge influx of new clients!
2 - Last Wednesday was our 9-year wedding anniversary and I posted it w. a sweet picture. I was blown away to see over 160 likes and over 40 comments. This may be the most activity I've had from any post. I feel abundant w. love, appreciation and blessings from my community.
3 - Today, as I sat, in meditation, I remembered the ways I am already like Lakshmi and Red Tara: generous, beautiful, abundant, loving and compassionate. I thought of examples. I thought: I don't have to try to be like them, I already am like them and just need to remember this! I thought about generosity and made this commitment: Today, I would like to give back. I would like to make a donation to some organization or person who is in need. After sitting, I went down to the kitchen, turned on the local radio station, and they were doing a pledge drive. I could hardly believe it! This is who I'm supposed to donate to! They've been hurting, losing funding and need more support. I called in right away and made a donation. KABOOM!
4 - I had a new student sign up for my Teacher Training at the last minute, somebody I really like and was hoping would join us. Plus I just had a great weekend of teaching them and the whole time, it felt like play. It was easy and fun and I had a great time. For me, this is the feeling of easy, radiant abundance.
These all happened without me really trying, just having intention and putting my energy in that direction.
I'm glowing, feeling radiant and full.
Check out the Red Tara teachings that Lama Choyang will be leading this coming Sunday, October 6!
Abundance Manifests!!
1 - Within the last 10 days, I've had 8 calls from new clients wanting to do Somatics or Yoga Therapy with me. wow! I don't think I've ever had such a huge influx of new clients!
2 - Last Wednesday was our 9-year wedding anniversary and I posted it w. a sweet picture. I was blown away to see over 160 likes and over 40 comments. This may be the most activity I've had from any post. I feel abundant w. love, appreciation and blessings from my community.
3 - Today, as I sat, in meditation, I remembered the ways I am already like Lakshmi and Red Tara: generous, beautiful, abundant, loving and compassionate. I thought of examples. I thought: I don't have to try to be like them, I already am like them and just need to remember this! I thought about generosity and made this commitment: Today, I would like to give back. I would like to make a donation to some organization or person who is in need. After sitting, I went down to the kitchen, turned on the local radio station, and they were doing a pledge drive. I could hardly believe it! This is who I'm supposed to donate to! They've been hurting, losing funding and need more support. I called in right away and made a donation. KABOOM!
4 - I had a new student sign up for my Teacher Training at the last minute, somebody I really like and was hoping would join us. Plus I just had a great weekend of teaching them and the whole time, it felt like play. It was easy and fun and I had a great time. For me, this is the feeling of easy, radiant abundance.
These all happened without me really trying, just having intention and putting my energy in that direction.
I'm glowing, feeling radiant and full.
Check out the Red Tara teachings that Lama Choyang will be leading this coming Sunday, October 6!
Friday, September 13, 2013
Shiva's Cycle of Creation and Fear Melters
I've been exploring t the Dance of Shiva, also known as the Cycle of Creation, since my last Hendricks meeting. While I don't want to go into all of the symbolism of this great iconic figure now, I do want to share the main three aspects of the cycle that I'm interested in right now: creation, maintenance, and dissolution, sometimes interpreted as manifestation, preservation and destruction, or in the Tantric view: emission, sustenance, and reabsorption. In our lives, these can refer to how we create, maintain and release or end a cycle. We see these cycles in nature with birth, living and death, with our breathing (inhale, pause, exhale), and really with anything that has a beginning, middle and end.
What I'm noticing for myself, is that I tend to create a lot of projects, meals, garden beauty, relationships, newsletters, blog writing, etc., so that comes pretty easily for me. I'm also pretty experienced and easeful with maintaining these things: I'm in a healthy long-term relationship, I maintain close relationships with my family and friends, I've been teaching yoga for over 18 years and running the same business almost for that time, I keep up the garden and the house, live in the same community for over 18 years, etc. So I think I'm pretty good with sustaining things in my life. But it's the destroying or dissolving that I'm looking at. I tend to hold onto things (our garage is evidence)! I tend to ruminate about past events or conversations, and keep a few unhealthy habit patterns going. It's funny because I actually love getting rid of stuff I no longer need when I actually do it, but I often put off getting rid of things because I'm scared I may need them again and then regret not having them. With patterns, I may tell myself I want to stop, but then I don't. I keep it going usually out of fear of change. So fear seems to be a big player in making a change; fear of the unknown, fear of making the "wrong" decision and being unhappy. Or sometimes, I'm just downright unconscious that I'm in the habit until afterwards.
My Hendricks training has taught me some great ways to understand and respond to fear and how to shift out of unhealthy patterns. There's 4 types of fear: Freeze, Flee, Fight or Faint, and they each have a bodily sensation, usually some kind of tension, zing or fluttering in the belly area. Freeze feels stuck, stiff or frozen; think eyes wide open, jaw agape. Flee is that desire to run and escape from a situation, so there may be a zing of andrenaline in the chest. Fight is a feeling of anger where we feel hot and want to argue or hurt someone or something. And Faint is when we go foggy or stupid and can't think straight, sort of like the beginning stages of actually fainting.
For each of these types of fear, there's an antidote, or as we say in Hendricks, a "fear melter." They are physical movements that we can do to shift out of fear and get the stuck energy moving again. The fear melter for Freeze is Wiggle. So if I'm scared to make a change from a pattern, and I feel frozen inside, I can wiggle my body- either just my fingers and toes or my whole body, in order to shift that frozen energy. Once I shift it, I can think more creatively, breathe more easily and I then reconsider what I actually want. From there, I choose an action step to attain it.
Here's an example: if I notice I'm freezing from the fear of finding somebody to help in my business, I can start to wiggle and breathe, shaking my shoulders, my neck and arms, hips and legs. I keep going until I feel a sense of ease and flow. (I just took a break and did that and immediately I felt more breath). It gets me out of the stuck state of thinking I can't do it or something bad will happen. Then I can ask the question: what do I really want?- until an answer arises. "I want a new helper! I want somebody who can do great marketing and beautiful graphics." Then I consider: what is an easy action step I can take to move in this direction and by when will I do it? I put a message out on Facebook last week to see if I could find a referral and 3 came back. Boom! From dissolving an old habit of stuckness, back to manifestation of something new. I've shifted the pattern of avoiding dissolving something and taken action to create what I want. So the cycle just continues.
I'll share about the other Fear Melters another time. Let me know how it goes!
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Trinity Retreat Highlights
I'm resting after possibly our last Escot Yoga retreat on the Trinity river this weekend. Once again, we had a wonderful group of Immersion yogis blended with retreatants, including our favorite yoga family, Jennifer, Devlin, and now their two adorable daughters. Jennifer has come to my Summer retreats for the last 10 or more years- pre and now post kids, and I always enjoy her and her family.
It was such a wonderful group of people gathering to explore practice and have some serious fun. I'm always impressed with the way people we don't even know can join into the group and feel totally welcomed and integrated. Last time it was a man from Atlanta, Georgia. This time, it was a man from Sebastapol. I wondered who and how he would be before he arrived, and thankfully, he was super open and totally willing to jump into the fun with us. In fact, he was the repeat winner of our Slack Jaw dance competition during talent night!
Another treat was having many returning students from past Immersion groups, including Jennifer from 2005, Laurie from 2007, Susan from 2008, and Jaime from 2010!
Some of the highlights:
-Teaching outside under the big oak tree with the sky, birds and fresh air
-Sharing a full weekend with people where we can relax, slow down, and get into the rhythm of nature
-Rafting with Laurie from Broken Bridge to Escot
-Playing with 5-yr old Kailani in the river
-Getting to know everyone better over fabulous meals, fun river time, and sweet evening gatherings
-Having long morning and evening classes where we can take the practice to the next level
-The outrageous catered and pot-luck dinners!
-The amazing talent and ridiculous silliness of the talent night and the Slack Jaw game
-The group cooperation around cleaning up and preparing meals
- Karen Harris' poignant teachings and getting to riff off her themes in the asana classes
- Everyone's shining faces full of gratitude for the experience
- The fun new closing activities we did for the retreat
- The sweet closing appreciation circle for the Immersion group
Escot may not be open to future retreats, but we are so grateful for all the years we were able to use their gorgeous property - 8! -and we look forward to discovering a new space for next years retreat.
It was such a wonderful group of people gathering to explore practice and have some serious fun. I'm always impressed with the way people we don't even know can join into the group and feel totally welcomed and integrated. Last time it was a man from Atlanta, Georgia. This time, it was a man from Sebastapol. I wondered who and how he would be before he arrived, and thankfully, he was super open and totally willing to jump into the fun with us. In fact, he was the repeat winner of our Slack Jaw dance competition during talent night!
Another treat was having many returning students from past Immersion groups, including Jennifer from 2005, Laurie from 2007, Susan from 2008, and Jaime from 2010!
Some of the highlights:
-Teaching outside under the big oak tree with the sky, birds and fresh air
-Sharing a full weekend with people where we can relax, slow down, and get into the rhythm of nature
-Rafting with Laurie from Broken Bridge to Escot
-Playing with 5-yr old Kailani in the river
-Getting to know everyone better over fabulous meals, fun river time, and sweet evening gatherings
-Having long morning and evening classes where we can take the practice to the next level
-The outrageous catered and pot-luck dinners!
-The amazing talent and ridiculous silliness of the talent night and the Slack Jaw game
-The group cooperation around cleaning up and preparing meals
- Karen Harris' poignant teachings and getting to riff off her themes in the asana classes
- Everyone's shining faces full of gratitude for the experience
- The fun new closing activities we did for the retreat
- The sweet closing appreciation circle for the Immersion group
Escot may not be open to future retreats, but we are so grateful for all the years we were able to use their gorgeous property - 8! -and we look forward to discovering a new space for next years retreat.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Listen to the River
Last week, we were at the Smith River for 4 days and it was divine. We have friends who live out on the South Fork and are homesteaders. I always get super inspired when we spend time there. They live totally off the grid, grow an abundance of food, and now have use of a solar oven and a super cold room for food storage. There is no internet, no phone, not even a car as we have to walk 30 mins from the parking area to the house. I love the days spent outside doing yoga and meditation under the tree, walking through the water, resting in the sand, exploring the garden, sleeping under the stars. I find myself getting extremely relaxed, sleeping a ton, and generally slowing down. I often leave wondering how I can integrate this slower pace into my own life. How can I spend more time in nature, how can I expand my garden, how can I simplify my life? It was quite apropos that I started to read a recent biography of Ramana Maharshi, a 20th century Indian sage, while we were there. He awakened at the age of 17 and became a highly recognized wisdom being.
So this last week in classes, I shared this teaching of his, with inspiration from my time at the river. “Your duty is to be and not to be this or that. 'I am that I am' sums up the whole truth. The method is summed up in the words 'Be still'. What does stillness mean? It means destroy yourself. Because any form or shape is the cause for trouble. Give up the notion that 'I am so and so'. All that is required to realize the Self is to be still. What can be easier than that?”
And it was so perfect that my last class of the week was our last day of the Awakening the Voice of the Heart course - a retreat on the Mad River where everyone spent solo time at the river and then we shared our experiences and finished with yoga under the trees. The course was all about listening to and awakening the inner voice of wisdom, so being by the river supported this quiet, deep listening.
The river and any wild nature inspires me to look within and be with myself. There's nothing to do but listen, drop in to nature, enjoy the water and sun on my skin. I realize how much I get caught up in all the things I want to do, all the ways I get attached to who I am and how I want to be. So this teaching has been sweet for me to contemplate this week. Just be still, just be with myself, be simple - in my meditation, in my teaching, in my cooking and packing for a trip. And what I've been adding to his words here, is to recognize that the stillness within me is the same stillness in nature- in the plants, the river, the rocks and birds. It is the underlying essence of all things which is perfectly whole and complete, and when I can come into this, feel this within me, I feel myself letting go and resting with ease.
And now we're gearing up for our next yoga and river experience on the Trinity River. I'll be teaching with Patrick and Karen Harris. It's such a sweet weekend of communing with yogis in nature, practicing yoga and meditation outside, eating great food, having fun in the water, and making new friendships. This is one of my favorite events of the year and we have a great group forming. This will likely be our last year at this location, after about 10 years. I hope you can join us!
I wish you the greatest of ease today,
namsaste.
Last week, we were at the Smith River for 4 days and it was divine. We have friends who live out on the South Fork and are homesteaders. I always get super inspired when we spend time there. They live totally off the grid, grow an abundance of food, and now have use of a solar oven and a super cold room for food storage. There is no internet, no phone, not even a car as we have to walk 30 mins from the parking area to the house. I love the days spent outside doing yoga and meditation under the tree, walking through the water, resting in the sand, exploring the garden, sleeping under the stars. I find myself getting extremely relaxed, sleeping a ton, and generally slowing down. I often leave wondering how I can integrate this slower pace into my own life. How can I spend more time in nature, how can I expand my garden, how can I simplify my life? It was quite apropos that I started to read a recent biography of Ramana Maharshi, a 20th century Indian sage, while we were there. He awakened at the age of 17 and became a highly recognized wisdom being.
So this last week in classes, I shared this teaching of his, with inspiration from my time at the river. “Your duty is to be and not to be this or that. 'I am that I am' sums up the whole truth. The method is summed up in the words 'Be still'. What does stillness mean? It means destroy yourself. Because any form or shape is the cause for trouble. Give up the notion that 'I am so and so'. All that is required to realize the Self is to be still. What can be easier than that?”
And it was so perfect that my last class of the week was our last day of the Awakening the Voice of the Heart course - a retreat on the Mad River where everyone spent solo time at the river and then we shared our experiences and finished with yoga under the trees. The course was all about listening to and awakening the inner voice of wisdom, so being by the river supported this quiet, deep listening.
The river and any wild nature inspires me to look within and be with myself. There's nothing to do but listen, drop in to nature, enjoy the water and sun on my skin. I realize how much I get caught up in all the things I want to do, all the ways I get attached to who I am and how I want to be. So this teaching has been sweet for me to contemplate this week. Just be still, just be with myself, be simple - in my meditation, in my teaching, in my cooking and packing for a trip. And what I've been adding to his words here, is to recognize that the stillness within me is the same stillness in nature- in the plants, the river, the rocks and birds. It is the underlying essence of all things which is perfectly whole and complete, and when I can come into this, feel this within me, I feel myself letting go and resting with ease.
And now we're gearing up for our next yoga and river experience on the Trinity River. I'll be teaching with Patrick and Karen Harris. It's such a sweet weekend of communing with yogis in nature, practicing yoga and meditation outside, eating great food, having fun in the water, and making new friendships. This is one of my favorite events of the year and we have a great group forming. This will likely be our last year at this location, after about 10 years. I hope you can join us!
I wish you the greatest of ease today,
namsaste.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Summer Updates
Happy Summer everyone! I know it's been quite a while since I've blogged, so here's a snapshot of what I'm exploring or have been doing:
Post-Cleanse Tips: It was a great moderate cleanse for me and I'm still pleased with my diet overall. It helps to have so much access to fresh garden and market veggies! I tend to be a fairly healthy eater anyway but I have found that traveling and eating well is much more challenging. Here's what I do: Bring food for the plane so I'm not stuck w. airplane and airport food. I have great containers that hold grain and veggies easily, so I usually bring something like that for the plane. I also bring nuts for snacks. This is my usual mode in town as well, whether I'm eating at home or in town. We just make a pot of grain every 3 - 4 days and use it for 1 -2 meals a day. We also make a big veggie dish every 2 - 3 days and use that for 1 - 2 meals per day. I like to bring my own veggies and grain w. me, sometimes salad or meat or hummus or dal or whatever else I've made, so I know I'm getting healthy food when I"m home or in town. I'm also enjoying soaked almonds as a snack (left over from the cleanse) and peeling the skin off is so easy when they're soaked, which makes hem more digestible.
Upper Limits Problem - a term from the Hendricks: Last week, I taught about this in classes after I realized it happening to me. I got a cold and felt pretty down after coming back from my last fabulous Hendricks training in early June. The ULP is when people have a downfall after some sort of great experience. So after a wonderful time away with your partner, getting a raise at work, feeling especially high on life in some way, you may find yourself starting a fight or worrying, tripping, breaking things, injuring yourself, feeling negative, stressed, or getting sick. We unconsciously do this to bring ourselves down to our usual comfort zone, our set thermostat for positive energy. How to make the shift? First, notice your specific pattern. Then, breathe and ask yourself what you need. Do you need to have a conversation and talk about your feelings? Do you need to sit and breathe, do some yoga, or take a walk in nature and get some space? All of these can be very helpful. I also like using a statement to affirm my intention to be able to contain more positive energy. Here's the one I like from the Hendricks: I am willing to grow a new nervous system capable of sustaining large amounts of positive energy for long periods of time. Give it a try!
And before I part, I want to let you know we have a Summer Special for July-August: 20 classes for $160 which expire August 31. For one person.
I hope to see you soon!
Robyn
For monthly updates about our events and specials, be sure to sign up for our newsletter and Like our Facebook page.
Post-Cleanse Tips: It was a great moderate cleanse for me and I'm still pleased with my diet overall. It helps to have so much access to fresh garden and market veggies! I tend to be a fairly healthy eater anyway but I have found that traveling and eating well is much more challenging. Here's what I do: Bring food for the plane so I'm not stuck w. airplane and airport food. I have great containers that hold grain and veggies easily, so I usually bring something like that for the plane. I also bring nuts for snacks. This is my usual mode in town as well, whether I'm eating at home or in town. We just make a pot of grain every 3 - 4 days and use it for 1 -2 meals a day. We also make a big veggie dish every 2 - 3 days and use that for 1 - 2 meals per day. I like to bring my own veggies and grain w. me, sometimes salad or meat or hummus or dal or whatever else I've made, so I know I'm getting healthy food when I"m home or in town. I'm also enjoying soaked almonds as a snack (left over from the cleanse) and peeling the skin off is so easy when they're soaked, which makes hem more digestible.
Upper Limits Problem - a term from the Hendricks: Last week, I taught about this in classes after I realized it happening to me. I got a cold and felt pretty down after coming back from my last fabulous Hendricks training in early June. The ULP is when people have a downfall after some sort of great experience. So after a wonderful time away with your partner, getting a raise at work, feeling especially high on life in some way, you may find yourself starting a fight or worrying, tripping, breaking things, injuring yourself, feeling negative, stressed, or getting sick. We unconsciously do this to bring ourselves down to our usual comfort zone, our set thermostat for positive energy. How to make the shift? First, notice your specific pattern. Then, breathe and ask yourself what you need. Do you need to have a conversation and talk about your feelings? Do you need to sit and breathe, do some yoga, or take a walk in nature and get some space? All of these can be very helpful. I also like using a statement to affirm my intention to be able to contain more positive energy. Here's the one I like from the Hendricks: I am willing to grow a new nervous system capable of sustaining large amounts of positive energy for long periods of time. Give it a try!
And before I part, I want to let you know we have a Summer Special for July-August: 20 classes for $160 which expire August 31. For one person.
I hope to see you soon!
Robyn
For monthly updates about our events and specials, be sure to sign up for our newsletter and Like our Facebook page.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Inspiration for Cleansing
I'm having a great time on the cleanse this year. I love how light and energetic I feel and how little hunger I have. I find it quite amazing that I can feel this good with such a reduced caloric intake! Of course, I couldn't do it forever, but it's a great reminder to me that eating less and eating cleaner just feels better!
One of the things I'm especially getting a kick out of with this cleanse group, that I'm leading for the first time, is sending out the inspirational emails with recipes and cleansing tips. It's been fun for me to remember old recipes and cool practices from all the years of cleansing I've done. Another great boon is watching the participants discover more energy, vitality and lightness in their bodies. And it's super cool to share the group emails where people share their own tips, recipes and especially their physical experiences. In fact, I got so inspired by the process, that I decided to offer a second round of cleanse support to anyone who wants to start in late May. Here's the info for anyone interested.
Since I just watched the movie, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, my inspiration to support people in making healthy lifestyle changes has skyrocketed- and that's partly why I wanted to offer the cleanse again. I've been talking for weeks in my classes about discipline and commitment in regards to self-care. And this movie was so powerful in that arena. It follows two very obese men as they completely transform their lives by doing 60-days of juice fasting. I definitely think that's very extreme, especially coming from a hamburgers and coke kind of diet and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. (Luckily the guys in the movie were being watched closely by their doctors). That's why I like this cleanse so much. It's super gradual and very user-friendly, plus, it's actually a deep colon cleanse with all the awesome herbs included. That said, the guys in the movie had tremendous will power to pull that off! And their "nearly dead" health conditions completely turned around! They inspired many others to follow their lead and change their lives. "If they can do it, I can do it," was the common thread, as I'm sure it is for many who see the movie.
And what I found very fascinating was that there were still people close to them, some also quite obese, who said "I couldn't do it. I just don't have the will power." I'm fascinated by this. What does it take to make a major life change? For many of us, it takes something cataclysmic, like having a serious disease or accident, loss of a loved one, or something that shakes you to the core. And for others, they really do not have the will power (or don't believe that they do), and they just decide to eat or smoke themselves to death because they'd rather have an easeful life and die early than a longer one that requires strong discipline and in their minds, less joy. That's pretty much what somebody in the movie said. And perhaps they didn't feel their life was worth extending or they just didn't believe they could be happier by being healthier, or that it was worth it. So I'm just curious about when we decide to exercise our will, and when we don't, or when we lapse in our discipline, and when we get back on track, and why. I wonder if those in the movie who said they didn't have the will power could do it with a group to support them, who were also doing it?
This is a big discussion, so I'll leave it here, but I'll come back and explore this more with you soon!
To your full health!
One of the things I'm especially getting a kick out of with this cleanse group, that I'm leading for the first time, is sending out the inspirational emails with recipes and cleansing tips. It's been fun for me to remember old recipes and cool practices from all the years of cleansing I've done. Another great boon is watching the participants discover more energy, vitality and lightness in their bodies. And it's super cool to share the group emails where people share their own tips, recipes and especially their physical experiences. In fact, I got so inspired by the process, that I decided to offer a second round of cleanse support to anyone who wants to start in late May. Here's the info for anyone interested.
Since I just watched the movie, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, my inspiration to support people in making healthy lifestyle changes has skyrocketed- and that's partly why I wanted to offer the cleanse again. I've been talking for weeks in my classes about discipline and commitment in regards to self-care. And this movie was so powerful in that arena. It follows two very obese men as they completely transform their lives by doing 60-days of juice fasting. I definitely think that's very extreme, especially coming from a hamburgers and coke kind of diet and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. (Luckily the guys in the movie were being watched closely by their doctors). That's why I like this cleanse so much. It's super gradual and very user-friendly, plus, it's actually a deep colon cleanse with all the awesome herbs included. That said, the guys in the movie had tremendous will power to pull that off! And their "nearly dead" health conditions completely turned around! They inspired many others to follow their lead and change their lives. "If they can do it, I can do it," was the common thread, as I'm sure it is for many who see the movie.
And what I found very fascinating was that there were still people close to them, some also quite obese, who said "I couldn't do it. I just don't have the will power." I'm fascinated by this. What does it take to make a major life change? For many of us, it takes something cataclysmic, like having a serious disease or accident, loss of a loved one, or something that shakes you to the core. And for others, they really do not have the will power (or don't believe that they do), and they just decide to eat or smoke themselves to death because they'd rather have an easeful life and die early than a longer one that requires strong discipline and in their minds, less joy. That's pretty much what somebody in the movie said. And perhaps they didn't feel their life was worth extending or they just didn't believe they could be happier by being healthier, or that it was worth it. So I'm just curious about when we decide to exercise our will, and when we don't, or when we lapse in our discipline, and when we get back on track, and why. I wonder if those in the movie who said they didn't have the will power could do it with a group to support them, who were also doing it?
This is a big discussion, so I'll leave it here, but I'll come back and explore this more with you soon!
To your full health!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Taking a Stand for My Health
I've been thinking a lot about my relationship to self-care, especially since starting to lead our group cleanse. Although I'm not doing the full cleanse at this time for various reasons, I am choosing to eat mostly vegetables, alkaline foods, and lots of huge salads. I love the feeling of taking greater care of myself through diet, supplements, exercise, and other practices like oiling my skin after bathing.
All week in classes, I taught about creating the balance between taking a stand for ourselves and self-appreciation (inspired by one of the Hendricks' grads, Matt Chappman). It's been a great inquiry for me in regards to my health. What do I stand for with my health? Where do I put my foot down and say "no" to certain foods or activities, yes to others, and where am I more lenient or easygoing?
For me, there's something empowering and freeing about making a commitment. Then I know where I stand and I don't have to be in limbo. Like when I'm cleansing, I just commit to only alkaline foods, no meat, no dairy, no sugars, no salt, no processed food. I'm not tempted by other foods- at least for that time period, because of my commitment. And instead of feeling restricted by that, I actually feel a sense of ease.
Appreciation becomes a great balance to the discipline of commitment. I appreciate my commitment, I appreciate myself for taking care of myself, and this appreciation softens the intensity of my discipline. Otherwise, discipline can feel too rigid and tight. It's also super helpful if my commitment waivers. If I fall out of discipline in some way, then instead of beating myself up, I just get back on the horse and recommit. In Hendricks' speak. We call it a drift when we fall off track with our commitments, and a shift when we get back on. So if you drift, then you shift again. Simple.
I've been thinking about all of this in light of how challenging it can be to create new healthy habits for ourselves. When I researched it, I found that it can take anywhere from 18 to over 100 days to create a new habit, depending on the person, with an average of 66 days. So that means discipline with a new activity is really important. We have to practice something over a period of time in order for it to "take." (In yoga, abhyasa is crucial for results, and it means consistent practice over a long period of time. But it must be balanced with letting go of attachments - vairagya).
I think this is really true for many new yoga students. So many people get excited after the Beginners' course and sign up for a series. Then they come once or twice and we often don't see them again. I feel sad about that. I really want people to integrate yoga into their lives, but it's up to them. They have to make that commitment to themselves to keep showing up, even when they feel resistant. It's this continuous practice, over several weeks, that will create that new habit for them. Then it's not a question of going or not, it's just built into their lives, like eating 3 meals a day or taking a shower. It becomes a commitment and they start structuring it into their schedules.
What are you committed to? How do you take a stand for your health?
All week in classes, I taught about creating the balance between taking a stand for ourselves and self-appreciation (inspired by one of the Hendricks' grads, Matt Chappman). It's been a great inquiry for me in regards to my health. What do I stand for with my health? Where do I put my foot down and say "no" to certain foods or activities, yes to others, and where am I more lenient or easygoing?
For me, there's something empowering and freeing about making a commitment. Then I know where I stand and I don't have to be in limbo. Like when I'm cleansing, I just commit to only alkaline foods, no meat, no dairy, no sugars, no salt, no processed food. I'm not tempted by other foods- at least for that time period, because of my commitment. And instead of feeling restricted by that, I actually feel a sense of ease.
Appreciation becomes a great balance to the discipline of commitment. I appreciate my commitment, I appreciate myself for taking care of myself, and this appreciation softens the intensity of my discipline. Otherwise, discipline can feel too rigid and tight. It's also super helpful if my commitment waivers. If I fall out of discipline in some way, then instead of beating myself up, I just get back on the horse and recommit. In Hendricks' speak. We call it a drift when we fall off track with our commitments, and a shift when we get back on. So if you drift, then you shift again. Simple.
I've been thinking about all of this in light of how challenging it can be to create new healthy habits for ourselves. When I researched it, I found that it can take anywhere from 18 to over 100 days to create a new habit, depending on the person, with an average of 66 days. So that means discipline with a new activity is really important. We have to practice something over a period of time in order for it to "take." (In yoga, abhyasa is crucial for results, and it means consistent practice over a long period of time. But it must be balanced with letting go of attachments - vairagya).
I think this is really true for many new yoga students. So many people get excited after the Beginners' course and sign up for a series. Then they come once or twice and we often don't see them again. I feel sad about that. I really want people to integrate yoga into their lives, but it's up to them. They have to make that commitment to themselves to keep showing up, even when they feel resistant. It's this continuous practice, over several weeks, that will create that new habit for them. Then it's not a question of going or not, it's just built into their lives, like eating 3 meals a day or taking a shower. It becomes a commitment and they start structuring it into their schedules.
What are you committed to? How do you take a stand for your health?
Thursday, April 11, 2013
My Bio as My Story
It is April 11 and I'm so happy to be back at my blog! I'm probably having the busiest Spring ever, so I've let my blogging slide- and I miss it!
Where I've been focusing my writing energy the most these days is in rewriting my bio. It's been such an interesting process for me. Months or rewrites! First it was for my own website, and then it was for the TeleSummit site. I can't believe how many drafts I've been through at this point - from over a page to just a paragraph. My TeleSummit bio has been up for a couple months, and I recently decided to rewrite it. Realized there's more I could say.
I've been scared about putting myself out there in a more vulnerable way, but also wanting to do that, to come out as who I truly am and what I've been through. Ready to stop hiding. And this TeleSummit, where I'm getting interviewed about how yoga has transformed my life on April 23, created the perfect opportunity to look deeper at my journey.
I've been unsure of what exactly I wanted to share, how to keep it simple and concise. Lots of questions like: What's important? What's boasting? Who am I really? What do I have to offer? How can I best describe what I do? What have I actually learned along the way? How has yoga changed my life? What do I want people to know about me? How can this be of service?
So it's been quite poignant, like diving into my life story. The funniest thing is that in the course I'm currently co-teaching with Karen Harris and Therese Fitz-Maurice, we are asking people to write up their stories, either whole life story or a story that needs some healing, with the idea that working on the story and sharing it, does bring healing. So this is, in effect, what I've been doing anyway. And along with my Hendricks training, and my commitment to being authentic and transparent, I'm really taking this bio into new and vulnerable territory.
I've realized that my story of insecurity and low self-esteem is big. It's been a huge player and driving force in my life, creating my big Perfectionist persona, who tries to protect me from pain and loss, as well as the Driver, who's always pushing to accomplish things in the world. I can see how much healing I've done in this area, and there's more, and it's still my story. I have recognized that I'm not alone in this, of course, and it's still my story. I think my owning this aspect of myself and being willing to share it with others actually helps me to embrace all of myself, actually helps me detach from the story of "I'm not worthy, I'm not enough" and claim that this story and my journey with it are my gifts instead of my faults. And I get empowered by sharing them. WOW! It's totally the opposite of the pattern of hiding them because I feel ashamed. How about stepping up and sharing them and then I feel powerful and strong and hardly feel their pull on me anymore!
And I know by lots of recent experiences now, that me sharing this and letting others see into me, into-me-see = intimacy (thanks to Marc Takaha for that one), that I become more connected to people, which is what I really want anyway. AND, this is completely the opposite of what happens if I hide or pretend to be something I'm not! And I also see that coming forward with my story can also be of service to others who are hiding behind their own wall of shame. In fact, I feel so pumped up by this process, that I just want to get on my soapbox and tell everyone to stand up and share something they've never shared before, tell their loved ones their darkest secrets, tell a friend something they've been withholding, and let yourself be seen and held in all of who you are!
So this is where I see my teaching going, and it already has, in workshops, in retreats, long term courses like the one I'm dong with Karen: helping people to own, to share their stories, to embrace themselves, their true essence, to be seen and let go of the armoring that keeps those stories hidden. (Of course the deeper unfolding may take longer, but this is where my personal coaching practice can help, or some other modality). I believe it's our hiding, our trying to disown part of ourselves, our trying to be somebody that we're not, that holds us back from living the life we truly want to live. Hiding is pent-up energy. Revealing is releasing energy!
Okay, I'm super excited now. Thanks for reading this far. I'll come back to this thread later. But for now, here's my latest TeleSummit bio: super brief for the website, but hopefully, it encapsulates some of what I've shared. I love your feedback!
Namaste,
Robyn
Robyn Smith, owner of Inner Freedom Yoga in Arcata, CA, is a certified Anusara yoga instructor, Hanna Somatic Educator, and Hendricks Conscious Living and Loving coach. She's been teaching yoga for over 18 years, helping people with chronic pain and tension since 1998, and engaging in conscious communication and healthy lifestyle practices since she was 20. She's in awe of yoga's power to transform all aspects of life and her teachings offer empowering messages of love and healing.
Having struggled with early loss and a teenage eating disorder, she's no stranger to self hatred and deep insecurity. With growing self esteem and confidence over the last 25 years, she has come to know that her essence is wholeness, and she's committed to loving herself and experiencing radiant self esteem all the time.
Robyn is a champion for living the life you love. Through her teaching and coaching, she helps people reclaim their bodies, live from their hearts, and celebrate their true essence. She delights in gardening, nature hikes, and growing community through parties, long courses and retreats.
Where I've been focusing my writing energy the most these days is in rewriting my bio. It's been such an interesting process for me. Months or rewrites! First it was for my own website, and then it was for the TeleSummit site. I can't believe how many drafts I've been through at this point - from over a page to just a paragraph. My TeleSummit bio has been up for a couple months, and I recently decided to rewrite it. Realized there's more I could say.
I've been scared about putting myself out there in a more vulnerable way, but also wanting to do that, to come out as who I truly am and what I've been through. Ready to stop hiding. And this TeleSummit, where I'm getting interviewed about how yoga has transformed my life on April 23, created the perfect opportunity to look deeper at my journey.
I've been unsure of what exactly I wanted to share, how to keep it simple and concise. Lots of questions like: What's important? What's boasting? Who am I really? What do I have to offer? How can I best describe what I do? What have I actually learned along the way? How has yoga changed my life? What do I want people to know about me? How can this be of service?
So it's been quite poignant, like diving into my life story. The funniest thing is that in the course I'm currently co-teaching with Karen Harris and Therese Fitz-Maurice, we are asking people to write up their stories, either whole life story or a story that needs some healing, with the idea that working on the story and sharing it, does bring healing. So this is, in effect, what I've been doing anyway. And along with my Hendricks training, and my commitment to being authentic and transparent, I'm really taking this bio into new and vulnerable territory.
I've realized that my story of insecurity and low self-esteem is big. It's been a huge player and driving force in my life, creating my big Perfectionist persona, who tries to protect me from pain and loss, as well as the Driver, who's always pushing to accomplish things in the world. I can see how much healing I've done in this area, and there's more, and it's still my story. I have recognized that I'm not alone in this, of course, and it's still my story. I think my owning this aspect of myself and being willing to share it with others actually helps me to embrace all of myself, actually helps me detach from the story of "I'm not worthy, I'm not enough" and claim that this story and my journey with it are my gifts instead of my faults. And I get empowered by sharing them. WOW! It's totally the opposite of the pattern of hiding them because I feel ashamed. How about stepping up and sharing them and then I feel powerful and strong and hardly feel their pull on me anymore!
And I know by lots of recent experiences now, that me sharing this and letting others see into me, into-me-see = intimacy (thanks to Marc Takaha for that one), that I become more connected to people, which is what I really want anyway. AND, this is completely the opposite of what happens if I hide or pretend to be something I'm not! And I also see that coming forward with my story can also be of service to others who are hiding behind their own wall of shame. In fact, I feel so pumped up by this process, that I just want to get on my soapbox and tell everyone to stand up and share something they've never shared before, tell their loved ones their darkest secrets, tell a friend something they've been withholding, and let yourself be seen and held in all of who you are!
So this is where I see my teaching going, and it already has, in workshops, in retreats, long term courses like the one I'm dong with Karen: helping people to own, to share their stories, to embrace themselves, their true essence, to be seen and let go of the armoring that keeps those stories hidden. (Of course the deeper unfolding may take longer, but this is where my personal coaching practice can help, or some other modality). I believe it's our hiding, our trying to disown part of ourselves, our trying to be somebody that we're not, that holds us back from living the life we truly want to live. Hiding is pent-up energy. Revealing is releasing energy!
Okay, I'm super excited now. Thanks for reading this far. I'll come back to this thread later. But for now, here's my latest TeleSummit bio: super brief for the website, but hopefully, it encapsulates some of what I've shared. I love your feedback!
Namaste,
Robyn
Robyn Smith, owner of Inner Freedom Yoga in Arcata, CA, is a certified Anusara yoga instructor, Hanna Somatic Educator, and Hendricks Conscious Living and Loving coach. She's been teaching yoga for over 18 years, helping people with chronic pain and tension since 1998, and engaging in conscious communication and healthy lifestyle practices since she was 20. She's in awe of yoga's power to transform all aspects of life and her teachings offer empowering messages of love and healing.
Having struggled with early loss and a teenage eating disorder, she's no stranger to self hatred and deep insecurity. With growing self esteem and confidence over the last 25 years, she has come to know that her essence is wholeness, and she's committed to loving herself and experiencing radiant self esteem all the time.
Robyn is a champion for living the life you love. Through her teaching and coaching, she helps people reclaim their bodies, live from their hearts, and celebrate their true essence. She delights in gardening, nature hikes, and growing community through parties, long courses and retreats.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Responding to Tragedy
Yesterday I found myself weeping while listening to NPR's story about the Connecticut elementary school shooting. What a horrific tragedy. My heart goes out to the parents and families of the children and teachers who were killed. The scope of their grief is unimaginable to me.
Many Solstice Blessings to you,
Robyn
My response has been deep sadness, anger and confusion. And the part of me that wants to fix it, prevent it, says: What can I do to help? How can I make a difference? While I do believe that serious gun control regulations could make a difference, I also think that people who commit such violence would come up with other means to express their feelings if they couldn't get guns. I think the root of the problem starts early, with families, child-rearing, and social pressures. So while I'll do my part with gun control, I'm more passionate about sourcing the root of the issue. And I realize it's incredibly complex, from media influences to drugs, to family issues and mental illness.
Questions arise like: What makes people want to commit such horrific acts? Why and how did they learn that violence was the best way to handle their feelings? What happens inside of them to drive them to such measures? As one of my teachers said, everything that people do is because they think they need to do it in order to survive.
Almost two decades of teaching yoga and spiritual practices has shown me that the greatest human suffering we face is related to our emotions. We want to be happy and don't have skillful training in how to express ourselves or how to get our needs met. We are told (especially for women) that it's not okay to express our anger or (usually for men) our sadness. And we either bottle it up and let it make us sick, or we lash out at ourselves or others in some way. We feel separate and alone because we forget our inner light, that we're ultimately all the same on the inside and want the same thing: happiness.
So I've been studying various communication skills and spiritual practices because I want to help myself and others with this emotional suffering and confusion. I want to learn and teach people skillful means for self expression and self-honoring, and how to see the love and beauty in themselves and in each other. Through my recent foray into the Hendricks' work, I'm discovering how to love myself more fully, finding the courage to express myself authentically, and learning how to coach others in doing the same. It's another level of my yoga practice, a powerful and sometimes terrifying journey of exploration, and one that I'm deeply committed to for it's great rewards.
I'm enjoying bringing this work forward into my weekly classes and longer courses, like Awakening the Voice of the Heart, and eventually I plan to coach individuals, couples and groups. But when tragedies like this hit, or when I hear stories about long-term prisoners who've committed murder, theft, rape or abuse and lost 20+ good years of life because of deep suffering and emotional outbursts, I imagine taking this work out where it can have the greatest impact: to children, parents, teachers and prisoners.
I pray that we can live in a society where we know and love ourselves enough to share our true feelings, have the courage to ask for what we want, and can see the light within and in everyone we meet.
Many Solstice Blessings to you,
Robyn
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Essence and Authentic Self-Expression
I've had a great time exploring the concept of Essence in my classes over the last two weeks. It came up from studying the Hendricks' work and they talk about living from your Essence. For them, Essence is who you really are, like who you are at the core, behind your foibles and ego constructs. I like to think of Essence as in flower essence, as in the concentrated form of You when you're distilled down to the most pure qualities of yourself. So I've been thinking of it as a very personal flavor of Essence, ie. my Robynness. Like how much could I remove and still be me? Like what is my most authentic form of me? I love this contemplation. I love to think of a new born baby and how they are so pure, and yet they very definitely have an Essence, a nature that is unique to them. We know that this never changes. We can look in the mirror year after year, and though the outer form keeps changing, there's something inside that feels very much the same. From Essence, we're drawn to certain types of people, environments, textures, activities; we experience the world from a certain perspective, move at a certain pace.
I think the goal of our yoga practice is to take us back to the experience of this Essence within, our purest form, before it got layered on with beliefs, stories, catastrophes, ego development, etc. And how does it feel to be in our Essence? As Marc Takaha said today in our interview about his upcoming Conscious Loving workshop, when you're in Essence, you have a feeling effortlessness, ease, and pleasure. It's an experience, not a mental concept. So, as I see it, you're embodied presence when you're in your Essence. Movement can take you there, especially conscious movement like yoga and ecstatic dancing. Meditation can also take you there, as can doing the Hendricks' relationship work.
What I'm learning from the Hendricks is very much like the Yoga of Relationships, as I've been calling it lately, because in their work, we are trying to uncover Essence, fully know it, and then live from this place, and this is exactly what we're doing in Yoga. In Tantrik philosophy, Yoga is about knowing your true Self as Divine Consciousness and letting it shine through your full expression. So our Essence is then both our unique personal flavor as well as a Universal presence that ties us all together. In yoga, it may also be called Essence, but other names are Self, Divine Consciousness, Shiva/Shakti, Spanda, and more. And if we can live from this experience of Being, as Ekhart Tolle calls it, then not only can we feel more free and alive, but we can also relate to others and the world from this place.
I think of this as living in alignment with what's true; living authentically. This is the practice of yoga on the mat as well as off the mat. For example, if I'm in yoga class and honoring my Essence if what's true for me is that I love gardening, I love dancing, I love studying, resting in the sunshine and deeply connecting to nature, and I'm not doing those things on a regular basis, then I am not living in alignment with who I am. I'm avoiding it. in denial or not tuning in, etc., and I will not be resonating at a high frequency. I will not be thriving. So living from Essence is living your Yoga.
According to Tantrik philosophical teachings, the Divine Consciousness chooses to express itself through each of us, and it's will/desire, known as iccha, is for each of us to then fully express ourselves so it can know itself more fully. This is known as lila, the Divine Play. In fact, it chooses diversity by creating each of us to be totally unique from each other, including beings and things, because with more diversity, there can be a greater range of expressions and then more possible self-knowing. This is very close to what the Hendricks are teaching, as far as I understand it, with the addition of many wonderful nuances and techniques to support skillful our expression through conscious communication, movement, play, etc.
So this work of sourcing truth, feeling into Essence and then letting it be expressed, is what I've been teaching in classes, and it's been really fun. It's really the perfect pulsation of inner and outer. Turn inwards to know the truth, and then open outwards and let it shine as your unique individual expression!
I'm on a super fun journey of doing both these things, continually refining my understanding and experience of who I really am and exploring how I want to express this in my own unique way.
I so appreciate all of you who are along for the ride and I'm super excited to gain more skills so I can support you in stepping more fully into your unique expression of You!
On that note, I want to encourage you to check out the free interview I just finished with Marc Takaha who I mentioned earlier. We discussed his long background in the Hendricks work and his upcoming workshop in Arcata called The Art of Conscious Loving on Sunday, November 11. If you listen to the whole call, you'll hear the special offer at the end, but you must act by October 29. You can listen to the call at this number: (641) 715-3800 passcode: 34279, extension 23 or download it to your computer at this link:
You can find out more about Marc's upcoming workshop and sign up online here:
You can find more about other upcoming interview calls here on my website:
I hope to see you soon,
Robyn
Thursday, October 4, 2012
The Receptivity of Studentship
I've had a great week of teaching this theme which is dear to my heart. Last weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting Dan John, who is a creative master in his field of weight training for athletes and special military forces. Dan is also an Olympic-class athlete and a Highland Games champion. He is in his prime, traveling the world sharing his foundational system for fitness and strength training. Patrick has been training with one of his students here in Arcata and feels stronger and more fit than he has in the last 11 years.
What I appreciated the most about Dan was his receptivity, humility, curiosity and honesty. He was interested in yoga, and liked the little lesson he got from Patrick, so I offered to teach him a full private lesson before he left on Monday and he was thrilled. He was a wonderful student; he took notes, asked great questions, and earnestly tried to implement everything I offered him, which was a lot! He wanted to know all about the 5 Universal Principles of Alignment of Anusara Yoga, and loved the three A's of Attitude, Alignment and Action.
I was reflecting later that with all his knowledge, I was quite impressed at his great humility and curiosity as my student. He was completely receptive and open to all I had to say, like water receives salt, he took it and let it mix inside of him. In our yoga school, when we discuss studentship, or what it means to be a good student, receptivity is high on the list. As the Dalai Lama says, if you're already a full cup, then anything that gets poured in, just spills over; it has no where else to go. In order to receive, you must empty yourself out and let somebody else, or the teachings, or your experiences, fill you up. Dan was a great model for this, considering he was so full already of such great wisdom and experience, he could have come to me with a full cup or a strong ego ready to tell me how his method was just as good, impress me with his own facts, etc. But instead, he emptied himself out so he could let me fill him up. And it was fun.
A great teacher must be a great student and I could see that in Dan. He wouldn't be where he is today without his dedicated studentship. When we are receptive and open to receiving from others, we can then integrate what is offered into our own experience and understanding. And I have a hunch this is what Dan will do.
These qualities of receptivity, humility and curiosity are also paramount in our intimate relationships. When we are given feedback, if we can fully listen and cultivate wonder (adbutha), then we can ask more questions instead of thinking we have all the answers. We can open ourselves to the possibility of learning from what we're given instead of closing down with defensiveness or anger. If we immediately defend or think we have the answers, then our cup is full and there is no intimacy, no connection, no room for growth, just a shield.
May you cultivate receptivity, humility and curiosity. May you become a great student of your own mind, of relationship, and of life. And may all being benefit.
Namaste,
Robyn
Sunday, August 19, 2012
The Yoga of Relating
I recently spent 8 days in a Conscious Loving training with Kathlyn Hendricks of the Hendricks Institute. It was so cool to read their books and then meet her and husband, Gay, after having been introduced to their work and books at least 21 years ago in my Heartwood days. The training was a wonderful blending of the paths I've been exploring for the last many years: yoga, somatic movement, conscious communication, and more recently, coaching. For me, it was the yoga of relationships and I found it incredibly enriching.
The main emphasis for me was to take l00 percent responsibility for myself, which includes not blaming or complaining. This practice showed me places I still wasn't fully taking responsibility even though I'd been practicing it in many areas and had the awareness and intention to do so for many years now. My awareness of my patterns shot up to a whole new level! I found it quite fascinating to see that if I'm upset with somebody and wanting to cast blame, for example when somebody doesn't do something they say they're going to do, then instead of blaming or judging, I can choose to look at how my words or actions may have contributed to the situation. I can inquire about what I can learn from it and how I can communicate more clearly, change my attitude and even the nature of my relationship with them. So instead of "out-sourcing" my issue to them, I can look at myself and see where I'm responsible. As they say, we're each 100% responsible for what happens in each of our relationships.
The other big "aha" for me was the awareness and use of commitments, both conscious and unconscious. The Hendricks say that if we want to find out what we're most committed to, we can simply look at the results we're having in our lives. This may show us some unconscious commitments that we didn't know we had. For example, I may say that I want to hire a helper, but yet I keep finding reasons or excuses for why I can't do that right now. So my unconscious commitment is not to have help, to overwork, or to stay in control because that's what's actually happening. For some, it's around quitting smoking, getting a job, leaving a relationship, losing weight, being late, keeping the house clean, not fighting, etc. So the idea is that whatever we're committed to energetically, we will produce. We may be more committed (unconsciously) to staying safe, staying in control, or holding up a certain persona than to making a big change. So when we realize we're not getting the results we think we want, we then have the opportunity to make a new (and conscious) commitment, ideally supported by concrete action steps, to follow through on our new intentions.
So this is a start to what I'm now exploring, as there are numerous layers to what I learned there. I'm pretty psyched about seeing how this will unfold for me. But for now, I'm focusing on my intimate relationships and playing with how I can take more responsibility for my words, actions and thoughts than I ever have before. This is the yoga of awareness, presence and mindfulness for me.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
9 Easy Tips for Staying Flexible While Traveling
Since I've been traveling so much this Summer and felling challenged to find time for my practices, I wrote up this short article about some of the tricks I've developed to help me stay connected to my body on the road. I hope you find them useful!
Traveling can be very ungrounding and hard on the body because of all of the hurrying, being away from normal routines, lack of access to healthy foods, changing time zones, and moving at great speeds in planes and cars. Here are some great ways to get grounded into your body and keep up your flexibility on your next trip:
1- Go to yoga classes! It's one of my favorite things to do while traveling. Not only will you get grounded into your body, but you just may find a new pose or new instruction you've never experienced before!
2 - Every morning, no matter where you are, start you day with about 3 minutes minimum of simple somatic movements like: Reclining pelvic tilts with knees bent (inhale to arch low back, exhale to flatten 10 times gently) or Cat/Cow from the table position (all fours) about 10 times. This will lubricate your spine and free up your neck and low back. You can even do it seated while traveling on a plane, train, in the car, etc.
3 - Road Trips: Make a promise to your self or your travel partner that when you stop at a rest stop, you'll do at least 5 minutes of stretching. Even better, promise to stop once every 3 hours if you're on a longer trip. Try Side Angle Pose, Warrior 2, Triangle Pose, Wall Push, and Wide Legged Forward Fold with interlaced arms overhead and then a squat for starters.
4 - Airplanes: If you find yourself on a long plane ride, make a promise to yourself or your travel partner that you will practice some yoga at the back of the plane or in a quiet corner of the airport. Try the poses mentioned above. A shoulder opener (hand on wall and turn your body away from the wall) can also be perfect for the back of the plane. In your seat, try some simple sitting twists, seated figure four and bend forward (cross one ankle over the opposite knee), and some pranayama and meditation. More on this coming in a new post….
5 - Layovers in Airports or other stations: try any of the above suggestions, or better yet, bring a travel mat and roll it out in a corner of the room for a more complete practice with Sun Salutations, standing poses, pigeon pose, a few other hip openers and back bends and reclining hamstring stretches. Patrick and I have often done this in places like Mexico and Japan, and in general, people will just ignore us and give us space. Or, even better, they'll check us out and get inspired to do some stretching themselves!
6 - Hotel Rooms: bring a travel mat! These are light weight and easily fold into your luggage. Otherwise, use a towel on the floor and commit to at least 10 mins before you start or end your day.
7 - staying with friends or relatives: tell them about your promise to take care of your body and ask them if they'd like to join you. Ask them to go to a yoga class with you. Or, tell them you need to spend at least 15 minutes in the morning or before bed doing some asana for yourself. They'll be inspired.
8- having guests: Bring them to your favorite yoga class, or one appropriate to their level. Or, tell them about your promise to stay connected to your body and invite them to practice at home with you. They'll probably be very inspired to continue when they leave!
9 - All the time: remember that when you take the space to care for your mind and body and remember to breathe, you are much more centered and happy with yourself and therefore you're more fun to travel with!
For more ideas about getting grounded on a daily basis, look at my last blog post about "Earthing."
And if you're interested in a free audio download on Rest Stop Yoga and my upcoming free video series on yoga alignment, go to the link to sign up for my monthly newsletter and check to join the list on Upcoming Tele-Courses and Webinars. In a week or so, you'll get an email with a link to the audio program. While you're at it, if you'd like to get monthly news about Inner Freedom Yoga events, sign up for the All Yoga Announcements list. And if you'd only like news about international retreats or workshops or retreats with me in your area, please check those lists.
Please let me know if these tips have been helpful to you!
To your safe and ease-full traveling!
namaste,
Robyn
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