Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Do you remember what a hit that song was, by Bobby McFerren?  "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was the number 1 hit in 1988!  I bet some of you reading this weren't even born yet!  I was the ripe age of 12, being a pre-teen know it all.  I was just in Jr. High, it was a great song that all of the kids at our school dances could get up and dance and sing to.  It is a happy and fun song, I remember it even impacting me then.  Why don't we just not worry, and just be happy?

I was a hyper sensitive kid, well actually I was hyper and I am sensitive.  Some of my friends and neighbors would argue I am also still hyper, but that's another story.  See, I am an only child, I grew up in a home where observing my parents behavior was a part of life.  I watched them interact, I watched them discuss their concerns, and I listened to them talk about their day.  What I observed was that my Dad occasionally had a lot of stress, or worry.  I also noticed that my Mom was very carefree and was able to ease my Dad's worry and stress.  I remember making a decision at my very untroubled age of 12 that I was going to be a "happy go lucky" type of person when I grow up.  I even remember being at The Foothills Market and finding stress relief pills in the vitamin aisle and using all of my allowance to buy these pills for my Dad.  A small price to pay to rid the stress and worry out of your life, and so simply by just taking a few pills!  I remember the reaction of my Dad when I gave him my gift I found at the market was not what I expected, in fact I believe I made him worry more just knowing that his daughter was quite aware of his stress.

Even being aware of this at a young age and making a conscious decision that I was going to be that "happy go lucky" type of person I still find myself occasionally in a state of worry and stress.  In fact, for a few months before I left on my adventure I was having a terrible time with stress and worry, occasionally manifesting into paranoia. I often wonder if that is an inherited trait or if I am in charge of my state of mind.  I think it is only human to have highs and lows or even flight or fight stresses.  What I have become more aware of through my Yoga adventure is; How you react to a given situation is managed from within, a trusting of something greater than myself.  It can be as easy as taking a stress tab, you just have to learn how to unleash your trust and belief from within.  Yoga teacher training was my tool to help me  unleash that and not worry, and be happy.

Here is a favorite go to stress relief tip:

It really is that simple!  Read the chart over and over,  the arrows ALWAYS point back to don't worry!

My Dad is a great help, even though it is the family joke that Dad and I stress while my Mom just skips along with her head in the clouds, whenever I have been stressed, needed advice or help I can always ask my Dad.  About 6 months ago my Dad shared this story with me, that his Dad shared with him.  I would love to pass it on now too.  It is really a cute story and metaphor.

The Farmer and the Man with a Broken Down Car
~One late evening a man was driving through a old farming town trying to get to the next town where he was staying.  As he drove through the Farmland the space between houses grew larger, and larger and became more, and more rural.  Suddenly in the middle of two large corn fields the man's car stopped running.  Oh no!  He was out of gas!  Immediately he started cursing at himself, "How stupid am I?!?  What am I going to do now, stupid!?!"  After several moments of anger, his emotions now turned to worry.  It was getting very cold outside.  He wouldn't be able to stay the night in his car.  He would have to walk to one of the neighboring farm homes nearby and ask for help.  Then he started thinking how rude it is to ask for help so late in the evening.  How could he possibly inconvenience anyone for something so stupid he did to himself? As he got closer to the farm his anxiety's and worry's grew bigger and bigger.  How angry would the Farmer be when he knocked on the door asking for help?  Oh, the stress was almost imbearable!  Finally the man approached the door with great worry and stress, he was just about to knock when really he just wanted to give up and leave. Suddenly, the door swung open.  It was the Farmer, with a great big smile on his face.  He welcomed the man in the farm house, gave him some coffee and began sharing with the man that he saw him approaching the farm.  He continued sharing that it's rare to have people walking around at this time of evening.  His next words out of his mouth were ones the man didn't think he would hear, the Farmer asked what he could do to help.  The farmer had empathy when the man said he had run out of gas. Ultimately, the man got the help he needed and he met a nice person who had empathy. The thing to note was, how much energy did he waste by stressing and worrying?

How many times have you spent time worrying and/or stressing when ultimately things worked out?  Things may not always work out exactly how you would want but I always like to look back with gratitude and find something good about the situations that I found myself in.  I always try and look on the bright side, be "happy go lucky", and Don't Worry, Be Happy!  Again, we are only human, and we just do the best we can.

Seasonal changes with late summer early fall

We have definitely been feeling the heat wave this late summer.   The heat felt in San Diego this last weekend reminded me of when I was living in Arizona!

 The summer season should be wrapping up soon and our bodies have accumulated plenty of heat in our tissues, which has/can been causing some discomfort to our bodies.  That heat is governed by our fiery Pitta dosha, according to Ayurveda.  Ayurveda means 'The Knowledge of Life' and dosha means abnormal.  Every person possesses some qualities of all three doshas.  Most people will have a one predominant constitutional dosha, but some may have 2 or 3 in balance.

When our natural constitution goes out of balance, often initiated by season change, we feel symptoms. As the season slowly starts changing to Autumn from Summer, the leaves dry up, the wind starts blowing, and our symptoms that can be aroused are anxiety, mental and physical burnout, stress on our adrenals, and stomach distress from our bodies natural detoxifier~the liver.  As we enter Vata season (Autumn), the season governed by air, metaphorically it could be presented as adding blasts of air to fire.  This can cause alot of stress to liver, which can result in migraines, irritability, rashes, anger, heartburn, diarrhea, and more.

What we need to do is pacify the Pitta as we enter the Vata season.  Here are some ideas on how we can help bring our body, mind, and spirit into balance during this time.

1. Do a Ayurvedic cleanse.

2. Do some Yoga Asana's

3. Use Coconut Oil for body moisture or massage

4. Drink Tea's with Cumin, Coriander, Fennel, and Rose.

5. Eat Basmati rice.

6. Include more tastes of food or drink that is sweet, bitter, or astringent.

7. Do breathing exercises like Shitali pranayama

Hopi Elders' Prophecy

You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour; now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.  And there are things to be considered....

Where are you living?  What are you doing?  What are your relationships?  Are you in right relation?  Where is your water?

Know your garden.  It is time to speak your truth.  Create your community.  Be good to each other.  And do not look outside yourself for your leader.

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a good time!  There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.  They will try to hold on the shore.  They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.  Know the river has its destination.  The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate.  At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves.  For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.  

The time of the one wolf is over.  Gather yourselves!  Banish the word 'struggle' from your attitude and your vocabulary.  All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we've been waiting for.

Our many layers of self ~ Koshas

Just as reptiles shed their many layers of skin human beings have a similar potential to shed layers our spirit and self realization as we become more enlightened.  These layers we have are a part of us united at the core by spirit.  Each layer is distinct spiraling out from the center connecting our body, mind, spirit, and intelligence.

The 5 Koshas are these spiraling layers that make us who we are surrounding our true spirit.

PHYSICAL~ ANAMAYAKOSHA- Ana means food.  Food is neccesary for the physical body.  This is the first layer respecting the physical body, digestion, and assimilation.  This Kosha helps give the others form.   

ENERGY~PRANAMAYAKOSHA- Prana means breath.  Breath creates energy and life force to the body.  The vital airs within the body (vayus) affect the functioning of the whole body.   

MENTAL~MANOMAYAKOSHA- All that rises from the mind; thoughts, reasoning, and emotions are part of this layer. Disruption of this layer can affect the previous 2 layers in breath and the physical body. 

WISDOM~VIJANANAMAYAKOSHA- Underneath the processing, thinking aspect to the mind but more specific in knowing.  It knows, discriminates, judges between this or that, between useful and not useful.  Being very close to our center core it guides us on deeper levels.  Again, all Koshas need each other for the other to function properly. 

BLISS~ANANDAMAYAKOSHA- This is the total absorption of bliss, joy, and happiness.  This Kosha is the interior of all the Kosha's closest to  the true self (Atman).  It is a different reality from mind it is a genuine feeling of joy without distractions from the body and mind.  Again, all the other Koshas are necessary to lead us to our innermost sanctuary.

1st Certified Class!

I did it, I did it!

  I had been so stressed about teaching my first real yoga class with strangers.  I had been thinking about this day for weeks now.  I knew it was coming.  I kept practicing and practicing with friends and family.

Finally the day came, and I woke up feeling good.  Surprisingly, I felt a new calmness about my yoga class I would be teaching that day.  I had been meditating and asking the divine to help me rid my anxiety.  I gave myself permission to bring a script up to my mat with me in case I forgot what I had planned.  I decided to be open with my students and let them know that I am a newly certified yoga instructor.  I decided to be ok with myself, just being me.  Not some amazing yoga instructor I had been to before.  Just me.

 With these realizations and promises to myself I came to find my peace.  I was able to allow authenticity occur.  I was able to allow ego to sit aside.  I was able to flow with the earths energy and pick up intuitivly on what my students needed that day.  A script was helpful where to go, but intuition was my true guide.

So how did it go?

I think it went well.  My students said they enjoyed it at the end of class.  They said it was a great combination of relaxation/stress relief and movement.  Sure, they may have been being nice and encouraging because they are polite and knew this was my first class as a certified yoga instructor.  Either way, I am accomplishing my goal.  I am moving forward into a uncomfortable newness, but I am also growing into my newness.  A new way of living, breathing, and looking at things.

Yoga is teaching me so much about myself.

Yoga is teaching me so much about the world.

Yoga is teaching me how I want to live my life in this world.

Class on Thursday!

Becoming a Yoga instructor is alot more of challenge to me than I ever thought it would be.  It is quite humbling.

I am teaching my first official class this Thursday.  Now, yes, I have been teaching my practicum classes ever since I got home from my Yoga Teacher Training in Hawaii.  I have been getting positive feedback from my students, which is really nice.

What I have discovered is that it's something from within that I need to trust and believe.  It is not like I can just be the same as some of my mentor yoga instuctors.  I can be like them, but I have to be me.  I am still trying to find me, as a yoga instructor.  

Friends have been asking me if I remember feeling this way when I first started teaching Pilates 10 years ago.  I have to say, I don't think so.  What is the difference?  I think it is the spiritual element.  It is not just about exercise or asana.  It is so much more.

I ask myself what is it about my yoga gurus that I love so much, that I fear I don't possess inside of me?  I know, I learned, that everything we really need is what we already possess inside.  I believe I have love and positivity to share.  Why am I so scared, and what am I scared of?  Failing?  No, it's not an option.

Please send me some loving thoughts for my Thursday class at 5pm.  I so want to do a good job!  I have been dreaming and night-maring about it since last Thursday. 

I found this lovely poem I thought was appropriate and wanted to share.  I may read it in my class Thursday.  Keep posted, I will fill you in with the details of class on Thursday.

Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson
it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

2nd limb of Yoga~Niyamas

My last blog post was about the 1st of 8 aspects or limbs of Yoga, Yamas.  This blog is going into the 2nd limb of Yoga, Niyamas.  The Yamas and Niyamas are similar limbs with the main difference being the first limb consists of ethics and the second limb are personal practices and observances.  These limbs progressively lead to the highest stages of awareness and to spiritual life.

1st Niyama~

SHAUCHA

This Niyama is about cleanliness.  Simply put cleanliness of body, mind, and thoughts.  Keeping a clean environment and home is also part of Shaucha.

2nd Niyama~

SANTOSHA

Everyone in Yoga school loved this Niyama.  Santosha is about living in gratitude and trust.  Being content and trusting in the goodness of life.

3rd Niyama~

TAPAS

Enthusiasm, excitement, and an inner fire to be the best you can be.  Being passionate about pursuing spiritual enlightenment. 

4th Niyama~

SVADHYAYA

Practicing svafhyaya is like looking into a mirror and being able to see a deeper reflection of ourselves.  Asking yourself deep questions like, "Do I reflect on my life and cultivate constant personal inner growth?" or, "Am I wise and intuitive, introspective and alert to the messages and answers all around me?"*  Studying the self in a deep way.

5th Niyama~

ISHVARA PRANIDHANA

This is about surrendering to the Divine within or your own intimate connection with the universe.  Having this inner presence of Ishvara Pranidhana is like having our foremost teacher.   Listening and honoring that inner voice is the best teacher one can ever have.

Yama is not an animal resembling a Llama

In yoga Philosophy, The Yoga Sutra's by Patanjali, there are various teachings called The Eight Limbs of Yoga.  The first one of the eight is called Yamas.  Yamas can be described as human ethics, similar in ways to the 10 commandments, except there are 5 Yamas.  In fact the following "Limb" of yoga is Niyamas, which also contains 5 elements but focuses on how we relate to our personal observances.  So today's blog is focusing on the first limb of yoga, Yamas.

5 Reflections in Yamas

1. Ahimsa:  This reflection can be compared to the way parents teach their children to be good and grow up with personal fulfillment in order to benefit society.  Being compassionate, being non-violent in the physical sense and in words and thoughts to self or others.  Our thoughts about ourselves and others can be just as powerful as physical.  It's clear intention is to act with clarity and love.  Notably stating though, protecting ourselves from injustice or standing up for ourselves does not violate the reflection of Ahimsa.

2. Satya-  This reflection is about being committed to the truth.  Speaking with the intention of being truthful and an inner truth or integrity.  Satyas meaning is "actively expressing and being in harmony with the ultimate truth.  Setting aside your "ego mind," you may learn that in your true nature you are happier, more balanced, and compassionate.  You may also learn that sometimes you are moody, controlling, and sometime a sad person.  It's all good, its honest, and its real.  Always be real.

3.  Asteya-  Another good lesson for our children is Asteya, no stealing on every level.  This is about not stealing tangible or intangible goods.  You are no better stealing someones idea than you are stealing the shirt off their back.  Stealing stems from the belief that we cannot create what we need. This is a misinterpretation!  We all have everything we truly need inside ourselves and stealing from others creates negative karma, which ultimately can harm you.  Stealing is never the answer.

4.  Brahmacharya-  This is one of the most debatable reflections and can be interpreted by the individual based on their religious or spiritual beliefs.  Basically it is about honoring your sexual being and others involved with respect.  It may mean being celibate until married, it may mean being monogamous and faithful in a committed relationship.  Some will also define it simply as, if you are having sex, have it!  If you are not having sex, don't dwell on it in your mind, be in the present.  It's really about being moderate in thought, word, and deed, while staying present.

5.  Aparigraha:  This reflection is about non-hoarding or non-possessiveness.  Again, truly, there is an abundance out there for us.  Sharing, and giving to those in need are examples of good karma and really believing that the perfection of the universe will provide.  Possessions do not make the person you are, you make the person you are.

That's it for my blog on Yamas.  Stay tuned to learn the other half of the yoga sutras "10 commandments", the Niyamas.

I think its a good theory.  How about you?

Summer and Ayurveda

We just past summer solstice a couple of weeks ago.  What does that mean?  Well the season has changed and it is officially summer.  Time to cool down and slow down, maybe take a swim.  The changing of seasons can be a tough change for our bodies to acclimate to. In Ayurveda (Yoga's sister science) when summertime comes we need to try and cool the body and try and keep our Pitta from getting too hot.  Because Pitta is associated with fire it can overheat and leave the body out of balance.  We all have some degree of Pitta in our prakriti (mind/body constitution in ayurveda).  If you are noticing that you are experiencing inflammation, excess hunger, acidity, anger, irritability, frustration, acne, or hatred your Pitta may already be out of balance. 

More than a mere system of treating illness, Ayurveda is a science of life (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge). It offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vital while realizing their full human potential. Providing guidelines on ideal daily and seasonal routines, diet, behavior and the proper use of our senses, Ayurveda reminds us that health is the balanced and dynamic integration between our environment, body, mind, and spirit.

Other than trying to keep cool and our body temperature down, our diets should change a bit too, focusing more on light meals and alot of fruit and vegetables.  With the seasonal change nature often provides the appropriate foods to be eaten this time of year.  Eat foods that are cooling and calming, sweet, bitter and astringent.   Coconut, cucumber, watermelon, steamed greens, mung beans and basmati rice are excellent choices. Sipping cool (not iced) water throughout the day keeps pittas fires at bay.  When the hot and sharp qualities are acute it is best to avoid spicy, salty, oily and sour foods such as chilis, pickles, french fries and citrus fruits respectively.  Due to pitta's raging appetite, it is in their best interest that they never miss a meal!

Yoga too can help!  Upon awakening, do some yoga asanas, including the Moon Salutation, Tree, Boat, Bow, Bride, Locust, Triangle and all abdominal twists. All asanas that are not overly heating like side bends, seated poses, and twists are great. The emphasis throughout your practice can be on surrendering, forgiving, softening and being gentle with yourself.  Make sure you allow plenty of time for Savasana or Corpse Pose!

Massage treatments (abyanga and shirodara) used with cooling oils and aromatherapy such as coconut oil and rose, jasmine, sandalwood, and lavender all nourish and cool the body.

If you have any other questions please get in touch with me.  All of these services can be found at my workplace, Envision Personalized Health.