Saturday, January 2, 2021

Honoring our Grief

Dear Yoga Friends,

As the year 2020 comes to an end we may be thinking of loved ones lost this year or years ago.

I recently, again listened to these talks, Grief and Praise by a South American Shaman, Martin Prechtel. His way of speaking is humble and funny. His book, The Smell of Rain on Dust, is an exquisite, and comforting read about life and grief.

I hope some of you listen and savor this as much as I do, read his book or at least read notes here. He reminded me of the medicine of tears (and laughter). I am paraphrasing some of his talk here…

“The ability to weep is a gift. Laughter and weeping are relatives. Praise and grief live in the same house, sleep in the same bed. Weeping is not depression, not sadness… it is lack of grieving. Tears loosen medicine… This is why we feel so alive when grief is done… done properly…there is not a right way, but… you look a mess when you’re done and feel so alive! Grief brings you back to life. Grief is a form of praise of life, the gift of being alive.”

He talked about how important it is to praise young people, all their ideas,” praise them well, all the time, listen to them and teach them how to grieve properly. Let then see you grieve so they will know how… The ”tough” youth play out our illness, for us to see- they act flat- like they feel nothing… flat.” (he tells a sweet, funny story in the talk)

When something dies it is important to grieve, or it is as if it was never alive. You can’t deal with it yourself; it takes a community… To grieve properly takes a lot of people, hundreds of people… Praise is better that way too.

“When the tears roll you have to listen to the person. Nothing to solve… they are in that place, listen to them, let it rock.. Same with happiness… let it roll… Grief makes people care for each other…We love expression in the village, the people watch out for you. People praise and grieve in such a way that the village holds them up while they do it”.

Here is a prayer he spoke in native language, then in English, then explained it’s meaning Long Line, Honey in the Heart,

tears of Gods, white roads,

paved with the eyebrows of the moon, which is sea foam

all color roads, which are paved with abundance

from the tail of the morning star,

which is the deer. No evils, thirteen thank-you(s).

Listen to the three gracious talks at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6h3JNOCTYc

Namaste, Christina

Sunday, November 8, 2020

Yoga during Covid 2020

Día de Muertos 2020

Yoga during Covid 2020

Dear Yoga friends,

I think of you often. I will keep offering classes over Zoom for any of you who wish to attend.

Attendance has been waning. Often there is only 1 or 2 people in class, so for November I am reducing the number of classes.

Please review the schedule and class descriptions. It has evolved and changed to suit those who have been showing up regularly over the last few years as well as the new folks since Covid.

Through Zoom we can connect with people from far away, if there are friends or family you would like to meet in class invite them!

Classes are still donation based. I am very grateful to those of you who have been able to donate.

I also am requesting your input as to the times and types of classes you want going into December and through the rest of winter.

Practice together is a social and meaningful connection. It is community. We are interconnected.

Sometimes your showing up is the exact inspiration another person needs to have their best practice.

Show up for yourself, and also remember your presence is important for everyone.

I am reminding people of this as we are in the 7th month of Covid because we need each other.

The Covid pandemic, the political climate here in the US and many places around the world have been challenging.

It is impossible not to be discouraged or disheartened at times,

yet we get through this together!

Please take care and keep connected.

Peace and love, Christina

P.S. Day of the Dead, Día de Muertos, Is a celebration of life. It will begin on Saturday Oct 29th, and ends on Monday, November 2. If you have not seen the movie Coco I encourage you to watch it because it is; beautiful and delightful! And you may gain more understanding of this holiday which originated in ancient Mexico and northern Central America view trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvr68u6k5sI

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Peace in difficult times March 2020

Dear Yoga Friends,

May you all be healthy, happy and know peace. This is a difficult time. Please take good care of yourself. Due to Corona Virus precautions; I will not be holding in person classes until further notice.

Things you can still do; ~ Be Kind, Your daily practice, Enjoy nature even if it’s the trees and plants in your neighborhood, go for walks! Connect with other people whether it’s singing from windows, gathering via internet on zoom, give comfort to someone grieving, help young families, garden, make things, arts, crafts, music, and dance. Skype, video chat, use technology to stay connected! ~ Be fully alive ~ this article link shows videos of people singing to each other from balconies and windows!

Pandemic Poem
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20″

Peace, Christina

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Walking and Earthing

Walking and our amazing feet

happy feet

Walking and Earthing

Why not be nice to your feet, massage and soak them, exercise them, and stretch them more?! Treat yourself to go barefoot more. They are your foundation so give them loving attention! Show them your grateful for all they do.

My favorite quote about feet ~

-“The sole (or plantar surface) of the foot is richly covered with some 1,300 nerve endings per square inch. That’s more than found on any other part of the body… of comparable size. Why are so many nerve endings concentrated there? To keep us ‘in touch’ with the Earth; the real physical world around us. It’s called ‘sensory response.’ The foot is the vital link between the person and the Earth. The paws of all animals are equally rich in nerve endings. The Earth is covered with an electromagnetic layer. It’s this that creates the sensory response in our feet and the paws of animals. Try walking barefoot on the ground for a couple of minutes. Every living thing, including human beings, draws energy from this field through its feet, paws, or roots.“~ Dr. William Rossi~

Walking is underrated! wrote this blog years back, now here I am I’m writing more (Random) thoughts about feet and walking.

Pada Bandha – A lesser bandha, but for shoe wearers it is as important as the other 3 main bandhas: mula, jalandhara, and uddiyanna.

In Sanskrit “pada” means “foot”, and bandha means “lock” or “harness”. Bandhas are used to draw the energy upward. Pada bandha is a yoga technique in which the soles of the feet are placed on the ground, so the weight is evenly distributed in the triangle formed by the big toe, little toe and heel center under the ankle. The arches of the foot actively lifted. This bandha connects the yogi’s body with the earth. Pada Bandha supports the lift of the arches and the optimal alignment of the joints in the legs and the pelvis.

Agni – The element, Fire; In Ayurveda this element relates to digestion (organ) Eyes (sense organ) and the action associated with fire is WALKING!

Walking is one of the primary motions for the human body (before cars buses etc.) Fire is balanced by a good diet, and proper movement, as well as enough rest. Walking is always proper movement when persons are able.

Too much fire can make one quick to anger, have too fast metabolism, be quick to go into action, sometimes without enough forethought!

So, walking can balance us humans in more than just awesome physical ways, when done regularly walking making us calmer, less stressed and more mindful. Water is also balancing of Agni, soaking feet after long day of being on the feet or standing for hours is a great habit.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

If everyone in Albuquerque, (where I live), or any urban city, began parking 4-8 blocks from their destination or getting off the bus 4-5 blocks early and walked …

People would see their neighbors and community more; Neighborhoods would be safer!

People would get fresh air and see trees birds, mountains, and plants; focusing the eyes on various distances which is super good for the eyes! It also combats eye strain from computers, phones, dashboards, and televisions.

Walking is an extremely beneficial exercise! gently lubricates all the joints, increases blood circulation, and is weight bearing for strong bones.

Just 30 minutes of walking a day increases metabolism and energy.

Much less fossil fuel would be used, better for earth!

______________________________________________________________________________

A new favorite word, From Rational Wiki; Earthing

Earthling s an alternative medicine therapy where individuals “connect” with the Earth‘s negative surface charge. Apparently this is supposed to help you “balance” your internal circuitry and restore a lost electrical charge.[1] On the Earthing Institute’s website they claim Earthing can help improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and allow for deeper sleep. To establish a connection to the ground it is suggested one can simply walk around barefoot. From Rational Wiki;

The other day I walked with a friend to a farm nearby, we put our feet into the freshly tilled soil.

Several sand-hill cranes were following a safe distance behind a tractor tilling the field, the cranes enjoyed the fresh soil, and maybe worms and seeds. We enjoyed watching these beautiful creatures, walk, fly and forage.

We decided to put our feet on that soil. It was cool, moist and smelled wonderful. We relaxed in the moment our bare feet on the earth…

it was wonderful, it was medicine. we felt it, we were energized and more connected to each-other to the birds the earth and the nice day.

Peace, Christina

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

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

Sunday, January 5, 2020

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