Pray - Beg - Please?

A few years ago I used to sit in the classroom feeling eager & anxious for students to arrive.  I would beg (pray), "Please let someone show up today!"  I wanted to teach but I was also terrified to teach so there is a good chance I was energetically repelling the very students I was praying would show up.

This past week was one of the busiest, for me, in the past year.  I found myself praying, "Please let no one show up!  Please let no one show up!"  I caught myself and laughed out loud.  Seriously Angela?  Someone is going to be there.  Here we go!  You can do it!

Sure enough, I taught one of my largest classes ever.  Now I was really laughing.  The reason I'm sharing this is because I've noticed something.  Even though I didn't move in the practice with the students I felt similar benefits of the practice after class.  The energy - the prana - of the students fueled me for my next challenge just like it does when I show up on the mat for my own practice.  For me this is proof that the practice is so much more than physical (even if I love the physical benefits, as well). 

So what is this really about?  Showing up.  Showing up for life.  The life you've signed up for and the life you choose to live.

Flax

Why would you want to consume Flax?

Flax seeds & flax seed oil are rich sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids.  Omega 3 Fatty Acids are strong antioxidants - they protect us from the sun, build beautiful skin, lubricate the joints & intestines, and stengthen cell membranes.

A few ideas on how to feed your body flax. . .

Sprinkle ground flax on top of oatmeal, cereal, granola, or yogurt.
Blend ground flaxseeds with water as a substitute for egg whites in baking.
Add flaxseed oil to smoothies.
Add ground flaxseed to homemade bread.
Drizzle flaxseed oil on your salad.
Eat a Handle Bar by Kate's Real Food.

Note:  It is best to keep flax chilled & away from the sun.  I transfer mine to a brown jar & keep it in the fridge after bringing it home.

The following resources were used for some of the above information:

Super Natural Cooking, Heidi Swanson
Healing with Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford.

Another reason to go easy on yourself

Heart disease remains the #1 killer of women in the United States. 

Listen up because this is important:  Being hard on yourself isn't good for the health of your heart!

Dean Ornish, M.D., is a doctor that has focused his practice on the prevention of heart disease opposed to the treatment of heart disease.  He has found that important factors in preventing heart disease are: a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, managing stress and focusing on relationships.

It turns out that positive emotions can actually change what is going on inside of you physically - not just emotionally.  Your emotions effect your physical health. 

I don't know about you but I can be pretty hard on myself when it comes to food & exercise.  I'm trying to lighten up on myself and focus on the big picture.  I want to eat well.  I want to eat what makes me feel good.  If I come back to that after I indulge I can make a different choice tomorrow or even later that day. 

Try this:  if you aren't able to practice yoga, exercise or meditate for an hour see if you can squeeze 10 minutes into your day.  The consistency will be better than choosing not to do it because you aren't able to do it at the level you would like to. 

Embrace Joy.  Focus on what you're doing well!!  Let yourself & your loved ones be human. 

Hanuman Philosophy ~ Bite 2

The following reflection is based on the teachings shared by Douglas Brooks.

Hanuman is a shape shifter.  You go inside and become what you need to for the given circumstances or situation.  This isn't fake - it comes from a place of authenticity.  I am this and I am also that.

Do you ever feel like a dichotomy?  Do you feel like parts of yourself contradict one another?   It is all you.  Beautiful YOU.

For a moment lets apply this to the physical nature of our yoga practice.  The alignment in the different asanas allows us to express ourselves in different ways - the different versions of ourselves.  We make beauty in all asanas- not just one.

Meditation Inspiration

I just started reading Sally Kempton's book, Meditation for the Love of It:  Enjoying Your Own Deepest Experience.  I really liked what she said at the end of the introduction:

"We would feel a lot better if we realized that meditation is like any other intimate relationship:  it requires patience, commitment, and deep tolerance.  Just as our encounters with others can be wondrous but also baffling, scary and even irritating, our encounters with the self have their own moods and flavors.  Like any other relationship, this one changes over time.  And it is best undertaken with love."

The moon shines because it does not escape the night ~ Rumi

Anusara embraces Tantric philosopy which accepts both the good and the bad ~ the beautiful with the ugly.  A couple of days ago I was in a rotten mood with no real explanation and I came across this poem by Rumi.

Painting by Chloe Hedden:  http://www.chloehedden.com/

If you befriend the Beloved

you will never be lonely.

If you learn to be flexible

you will never be helpless.

The moon shines because it

does not escape the night.

The rose is scented because

it has embraced the thorn.

Join me in the 30 Day Meditation Challenge

One of my teachers, Amy Ippoliti, does a great 30 Day Yoga Challenge on Facebook.  The June Challenge is:  10 minutes of meditation practice EVERY day for 30 days.  I'm very excited about this challenge.  A week or two ago I included 10 minutes of meditation in two of my classes.  This is an area of resistance for me (practicing meditation) so I imagine there is quite a lot for me to learn here.  Can anyone relate?