Purity of practice

Dear Yoga Friends,
Wishing you all peace, health and love; may you find closeness and joy in the seasonal changes.
There are so many distractions in the world today as well as so many worthy pursuits, right?Holidays, travel, visitors, media and consumerism all can distract our attention.
Stay strong and hold your sacred practice time, it is the most unselfish thing you can do!
In times of illness, injury, grief or crisis, shift your focus to less asana more pranayama or meditation. Do not deprive yourself of your daily practice.
Remember to keep your practice pure.

 When practice is pure it is never a burden, it brings joy, at the very least some peace.

What is purity of practice? It is practice without attachment to success or failure, pure dedication to move, raise energy, and grow.   It is pure effort, pure concentration, and pure discipline.

Seeking earnestly to find balance of effort to match were you are at on any giving day. Balance of the energy to what is at any given moment.
 Yoga is for flexibility of mind, emotion and body.
Travel outside your comfort zone often, whether that means slowing down, stepping it up or reaching out.
Expanding your practice, energetically, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually or socially.
If you are grieving loss of a loved one, maybe a few vigorous poses to work through the anger that is one phase of grief, or some gentle and comforting asanas to nurture yourself. Reaching out to others when the pull to isolate is strong. Allow yourself to feel the grief.
Be with others who comfort you. If you're comforting a friend, sit and listen and give them space to cry, simply holding their hand and appreciating them and their process.

Peace,
Christina

on the mat and in life

On the mat & in life

How we are on the mat reflects how we are facing life!

Yoga offers opportunities to meet challenges with a calm mind, determination, and curiosity; to fail and not give up, to persist. How you meet challenges on the mat in a daily practice trains your mind to meet life’s challenges.

Yoga requires self-disciple!

Lately I have been asking myself these 3 questions when I find practice difficult, or don’t even want to start.(I still have days where I don’t feel like doing it at all! )

• Is the mental chatter in my brain quiet?
• Am I accepting of myself exactly where/how I am?
• Am I clinging to the “comfort zone” or do I want growth and change?

Once I’ve gotten 5 minutes in…. the answers are: Yes, Yes and I want to grow and change!  It is rare that I don’t continue practice for an hour or more. The magic is outside the comfort zone. (For me, “outside the comfort zone” is: starting and going 5 minutes, day after day, week after week, year after year.)  It is starting and that 1st, 5 minutes that require the most discipline! After 5 minutes I remember who I am and Why I do yoga.

I have begun asking these 3 questions about almost everything I “feel” like avoiding in life.  It’s amazing!  If I show up I’m all-in.  If I choose not to do something it is with no judgment or guilt.

Discipline when Aging and with Disabilities:

I have taught yoga mindfulness for over 8 years with elderly persons in an assisted living setting.  I have formed relationships, seen many people at the end stages of life, and said many goodbyes.

I have learned from watching people give up one thing, activity and then another and another untill not much is left to call living.  I have learned and been inspired by people who discipline themselves to show up for class and activities (life).  I have watched these people having purpose and meaning in their lives: they keep building relationships. They are happy and spread goodwill and joy. Profound physical limitations do not stop them. They show up, they start things, they persist even with on-going pain. They feel better after being active. They keep showing up!  When these people pass it is a graceful letting go.

There comes a time when it is about giving-up, letting go, but let’s use our self-discipline to live to the fullest and build many bridges in the meantime!

Keep venturing out of the comfort zone, my friends and live with magic until we finish this ride!

Peace, Christina

This entry was posted in As It Is., daily practice, inner peace, Loving your body, Yoga, meditation, stress-free mind and lifestyle. and tagged Active lifestyle, Ageless living, awareness, daily practice, Get Moving, getting started, live to the fullest, mindfulness on July 3, 2018. Edit

New Year

I wish you all peace, health and happiness in the new year. 

I have enjoyed simplifying and teaching fewer classes in 2020. What I have found most fulfilling is our special events & workshops in intimate settings like my home and being in small groups, so there will be more of those in 2020.
In 2019 I had the pleasure to meet and study with David Garrigues at his workshop in Sante Fe.
I want to share a great podcast where He shares yoga knowledge eloquently and generously!
 This one is about pain in practice and life!  It is 52 minutes and well worth taking time to listen to!   https://soundcloud.com/asanakitchen/pain-is-real

 GOOD YOGA / BEST PRACTICE 
 It is what matches where you are at! Vigorous makes sence often, but, restorative is good yoga! Some days this is the smartest and best practice!

Some days laying over a bolster is the right "back-bend" for me,
though some days my back loves to full wheel-Urdva Danurasana 

Some days I skip reaching together hands a bind.
   
When I'm grieving  part of my practice includes allowing time to cry.                               
 It's all good yoga!  Listen to the podcast to broaden your idea of what your practice can be!!!

For those who have drifted away from classes or practice for whatever reason, 

Please know, yoga always welcomes you back!

Remember; These excuses for not getting to class are good reasons to start or constantly continue yoga practice!    “I’m not flexible” yoga helps you become more flexible over time!        “I’m out of shape” Yoga helps you get in shape, and if you can breathe, you can do yoga!          “I’m too overweight” Love yourself now as you are and begin regular yoga, you are worthy of all yoga's benefits, now.    “I’m too old” You are never too old to reap the benefits of yoga!               "I don't have time" Making time for yourself is radical; it is important and in the long run you'll have more energy making better use of your time throughout the day!      “I’m too stressed"  You need to show up, period: Regular yoga helps you manage stress!        “I don’t have the energy”do some restorative yoga;Yoga gives you energy! You may feel tired after classes or practice in the beginning but stick with it and you will begin to have more energy.      "I have this injury or condition” You are more than your conditions and injuries. Talk with instructor, focus on all that you can do and grow your practice from there! 
Not showing up for class or toughing it out and not getting modifications are both poor choices. The most inspiring student is the one who shows up despite obstacles, the bigger your obstacle the more you inspire others!  
  Peace, Christina