Mountain or a Leaf?

I've been feeling as stable a ancient mountain,
just to let one thing come along and blow me off my feet.

Instead of  a mountain, 

I am a dried up leaf, just shifting in the breeze. 

I've got some work to do...
The big question is whether or not I can make the choice to return to being a mountain. 
If so, how do I do it?

An Echoing Place...

The world is an echoing place. If we throw anger, anger comes back; if we give love, love comes back. 

Love should not be demanding, otherwise it loses wings; it cannot fly... Love should not be conditional, one should not expect anything out of it. It should be for its own sake, not for any reward, not for any result. And just because there is no desire for any result, it does not mean that results do not happen; they do, they happen a thousand-fold, because what we give to the world comes back, it rebounds...

Everyday Osho

After reading this, I went to pick up some Thai food. I tried my best to be pleasant and kind to everyone that helped me. Vwalla, it worked! I'll try it again tomorrow. But seriously, it is pretty easy to give a smile to those handing me a wonderfully spicy meal. Sometimes it is hardest to do it toward people who are nearest and dearest to my heart...

btw I made it through my second donation yoga class tonight. It was fun. I told the story of Buddha and the cobras. All three of the students smiled when offered eye-pillows :)

My new bff...

Like a hollow bamboo rest at ease with your body. 

Giving not, 

Nor taking.

Put your body to rest. 

- Tilopa (from Creativity Unleashing the forces within)

There is nothing to give, nothing to get. Everything is absolutely okay as it is. There is no need for any give and take. Your are absolutely perfect the way that you are. - Osho

I think that Osho is my new bff. No really, I stumbled upon his book about Creativity in the public library and I'm eating it up. The top quote in his book by Tilopa, is perfect for savasana (the resting pose at the end of yoga) and for life in general.
I know that there are times when I am out of sink and anxious. It would help me to think in these terms. How could I be anything but amazed with this life that I am living? 

so lucky.

t.

Observe, step back and breathe...

It is true of every art that 

you can not acquire 

what you have not felt. 

-Gustie Herrigel

I just finished my fifth time teaching students yoga. I'm lucky to have the same group all along so that we can  continue to build on what we know. 

But after the first two times I was thinking, "what am I trying to do here?" Why did I think that putting myself and my family through all of these hours of teacher training so that I can what? Tripping over my own words, and question how I can possibly fill an entire hour with these words and actions so that people can walk away feeling unsatisfied?

I had to get over myself.

How does a person do this? Very carefully. 

First, sit back and try to be an objective observer about the situation. It might not be as bad as you think. 

Second, realize that the world doesn't revolve around me. What a relief. Everyone there is coming from their own lives, and stuff. All if it is completely out of my control. 

Third, don't waste another minute and BREATHE.

Observe, step back and breathe. 

Once I do these things when teaching art, yoga or spending time with my kids, it is amazing to see the results! The last three times, knock on wood, my yoga classes have been more smooth and fun.

Centering Clay/Centering Your Mind

I've been learning about "centering" at the beginning and the end of each yoga class. If you've ever been to a yoga class without it, you might feel ripped off. 

Why is centering important? Coming from a culture of faster-is-better, it made me wonder...

"Centering" your body is like centering clay on a wheel. The most basic ceramic technique starts with slapping a handful of clay in the middle of a metal disc (wheel) before you pull it up into a cylinder. Without it, the clay throws you, not the other way around.

If you watch a master do this before you give it a try, it looks easy. They throw the clay on the wheel, place their hands over it, and pull it up into a given shape. Within a minute they could have a finished work. 

As a beginner, I thought, "I'd love to have an ice cream bowl. " (the end product) 

Lacking patience and  wondering why it was difficult when it looked easy, I became frustrated. 

Like ceramics, yoga centering/meditation looks easy. But it is important to remember that no master is born a master, rather it takes practice. 

More importantly, it isn't about (the end product) instead it is the journey that makes it forth the while. 

Start by enjoying your journey...

t.

Sand Mandalas and the death of a yoga practice...

Our version of Tibetan Sand Mandalas at Washburn High School...

Would you make art just to destroy it? 

What is the difference between this and the death of our yoga practice? 

Is it worth it just for the experience?

How to teach a Yoga Sequence?

Developing a yoga sequence to teach is a bit more difficult than meets the eye. On one hand, I wonder how to fill an entire hour of time and on the other I wonder how I could possibly squeeze it into an hour.
It sounds contrary, and yet possible for this to happen.
As in teaching art (this is my 8th year) this is always the case. And for a scattered mind like mine, it is difficult. All I know is that I need to over plan, be myself and understand there will people that I still won't click with and this is OK.
Below is a recent video of a student who learned about sand mandalas in my class...

Any ideas?