“All actions are directed by one’s viewpoint.” – John Friend
This quote is in my notes from a training with my teacher, John Friend; the founder of Anusara® yoga. There is such wisdom to this. The way you perceive what you experience creates your understanding of it, as well as your feelings and actions.
One of the things that can become challenging about deepening your ability to be sensitive and open is that you can get rocked out of your center by the apparent horrors of the world. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
So often we get caught in the workings of time, and drag ourselves down worrying about past and future.
Of course, so much of the wisdom of yoga teaches us to be in the present moment. When we do, worries and stress melt away, for we realize that everything truly is okay when we just live one breath at a time.
Focusing on one thing at a time, choosing to live mindfully in the moment, can lead to such happiness. (And it can also help you have a much more productive day if that’s what you’re after.)
My friend John Stringer contributes the following offering to this train of thought: Read more…
The following article is by my dear friend Denise Holden. I’ve been meaning to post about sprouts for a while now, as they are a prominent part of my diet. They’re such a great way to eat fresh, live, nutrient rich food. Here’s what Denise has to say about them:
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During the winter season, sprouts are an excellent source of fresh vegetables.
Sprouts represent the point of greatest vitality in the life cycle of a plant. During sprouting, vitamin and enzyme content increases dramatically. The sprouting process predigests the nutrients of the seed, making it easier to assimilate and metabolize: starches are converted into simple sugars, proteins into free amino acids, and fats into free fatty acids. This explains why grains and legumes, many of which are common allergens, often do not cause allergies when sprouted. Read more…
Photo courtesy of my friend, photographer Toshi Kawano
Okay, you know meditation helps you de-stress, find peace of mind, feel happier, and find more balance in your health. But it’s hard! We’re not really conditioned to sit still, nor is your mind interested in emptying itself of the ten thousand thoughts it’s pondering. And where do you find the time?
The good news is that almost everyone who meditates deals with these same challenges, and you can enjoy the benefits of meditation without having to be a master of it. Here are some great tips and ideas to help you get the most out of your meditation practice:
Yep. That's me in a tree above the vast crowd gathered to enjoy the Saints Super Bowl Parade
True togetherness brings a sense of belonging that still allows for self expression; something New Orleans, home of the Saints and joyful leaders of the Who Dat Nation, knows how to do very well. And I invite you to consider yourself a part of it.
All the excitement is not just about football, rest assured. The spirit of community here goes far beyond that.
We can all learn a lot from the culture of community in New Orleans.
In fact, I think part of the purpose of this city and its people is to teach us (the rest of the world) how to support each other, and at the same time allow each individual to express themselves as they choose.
A sense of being a part of something bigger and also free to be who you choose to be is what Mardi Gras is all about, and every other celebration that happens here.
“Let’s all get together and have a good time,” New Orleans says. “Be yourself, or try on a new identity as you don your costume – just remember it’s all in good fun!”
And that’s what’s so great about this place. Sure, natives are proud of their culture, but it isn’t exclusive or elitist. Instead it’s a sense of co-participation that says “The more the merrier!”
You know the glow of bliss that comes after a good asana practice, or the peace that penetrates your whole being in meditation?
That’s bliss.
Bliss comes in many forms, from joy to deep contentment. But any way it presents itself, it’s a juicy state of goodness that takes you into the higher realms of human experience.
Feelings of freedom, happiness, peace, and so on are why we keep coming back to yoga and meditation.
These practices give you ways to not only stay centered when the world turns wildly, but also to heal on so many levels, and truly create yourself in your highest vision of who you want to be.
Meditation has been studied scientifically and proven to decrease stress and, due to lower stress levels, increase health benefits. Additionally, it shows up in most of the world’s spiritual traditions as a way to connect with your truest self. Read more…
I know, sometimes it’s hard to get out of your chair – but you can do yoga right where you are! Isn’t that great?
By all means, get up and move when you can, but sometimes it’s okay to do yoga sitting right where you are. This is a great little practice to help you stay healthy and feeling good while you’re working.
This video gives you some great options for doing yoga while seated:
One of the most important considerations in your health is the food you choose to eat. And not only what kind of food, but where it comes from and how it was grown.
For some incredible inspiration, watch this amazing short video about a community within the city of Milwaukee that is making huge change by growing their own food:
Yoga is a moving meditation, and walking can be a wonderful way to practice it.
The idea of walking meditation, just like other meditations, is to be fully present. You can bring such awareness to the way you walk, your surroundings, and the moment itself, that this practice can create a heightened state of connection and peace.
My first experience with walking meditation was at a yoga teacher training in Baja, Mexico. Each morning we got up super early, did a short asana practice, then we went out to the beach for walking meditation.
I would place my feet slowly, mindfully, listening to the waves crash on the shore. I felt the subtleties of each step, and often would close my eyes or even walk backwards to shift my perspective. Read more…
“All actions are directed by one’s viewpoint.” – John Friend
So often we get caught in the workings of time, and drag ourselves down worrying about past and future.
The overwhelming sense of community in the Who Dat celebration of New Orleans Saints’ victory can actually inspire a great lesson of yoga: You Belong!
You know the glow of bliss that comes after a good asana practice, or the peace that penetrates your whole being in meditation?
Yoga is a moving meditation, and walking can be a wonderful way to practice it.