tips, tools, and wisdom on yoga, books, and technology
If anyone’s listening from lululemon, I’m incredibly frustrated that you don’t deliver to overseas military addresses. What’s up with that? Would it really be so hard to use the U.S. postal system?
We need our lulu too!
Source: luluaddict.blogspot.jp via Daily Cup of Yoga on Pinterest
[Editor's note: This is a guest post by Lindsey Lewis, yoga teacher and life coach, founder of www.libreliving.com.]
Getting going can be the hardest part. Some mornings, like today, I’ve been up late the night before, man oh man my mind is all over the place, and I’m convinced my body is telling me to go back to bed. “Don’t you think another hour’s sleep would benefit you more than meditation and asana?”
On days like this, I can spend almost a quarter of my allotted morning practice time just sitting on my mat, debating with myself. “Go back to bed; it’s okay.” “Don’t you get off your mat; you know how much better you’ll feel after you do this.” Then I sit and try to plan my flow, “Hey, at least I’m thinking about doing it.”
This morning, from beneath the banter, a powerful idea, which I credit to Danielle LaPorte, bubbled up: Just start. Stop planning. Stop debating. Stop over -thinking. Just start. I began with neck rolls. I moved on, to sufi grinds. Cat-cow. Downward dog. Surya Namaskar A. Aaaah, here it is. My flow.
1. Do what feels right for you, not what your social self might think you ‘should’ do. Honour your body, mind, and soul. Yoga teacher Mark Whitwell recommends just 7 minutes a day, and figures it’s easiest to fit in in the morning. I prefer a morning practice, too, since once my day really launches I’m likely to get caught up in prioritizing other things. Plus, I like the peaceful vibe and quietness of the early morning. What amount of time and time of day feels right for you? Start with something that feels totally manageable.
2. Do some asana. Surya Namaskar A can be a nice place to start, but once you get going and used to doing a morning practice, I’d invite you to take some long yogic breaths and then move into whatever poses or series of poses you feel called to.
3. A bit of meditation. Ancient yogis and modern swamis tell us that the main point of asana is to be able to sit in meditation. Moving and breathing helps us to stretch our muscles, ease aches and pains, and calm our mind—which is the whole point of yoga—which helps us sit in meditation. There are lots of ways to encourage meditation, or dhyana and most of them are based on dharana, concentration. One of the simplest things to concentrate on is your breath. Just notice: Inhaling. Exhaling.
4. Breathe first. Let your breath guide your asana practice. If you’re not breathing, you’re probably not being mindful. BUT, don’t beat yourself up if you notice you’ve lost your deep yogic breath. Compassion and love is what it’s all about.
5. Your body knows best. Stay aware of your whole body during your practice. We tend to pay more attention to areas that are reaching—like hands lifting in the air. Remember your feet, or your sit bones. Feel everything. Breathe into it.
6. Mindfulness. Pay attention to your thoughts during your practice. What are you thinking? How is this making you feel? How is this affecting your practice? Just watch, without judgment. Simply notice. Remember compassion and love.
7. Most of all, don’t judge yourself. It’s your practice. Compassionate curiosity and self-inquiry will bring more self-enlightenment than trying to align with any kind of dogma or rules set by other people—no matter how experience a yoga teacher they might be.
“These forms are not a means of obtaining the right state of mind. To take this posture itself is the purpose of our practice. When you have this posture, you have the right state of mind, so there is no need to try to attain some special state. When you try to attain something, your mind starts to wander about somewhere else. When you do not try to attain anything, you have your own body and mind right here.” ~Shunry Suzuki in Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
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Editor’s Note: This post is written by yoga teacher and life coach Lindsey Lewis who blogs at www.libreliving.com.
THE WAY IN
The mind has a way of taking control. Scientists and life coaches call our Amygdala—the region of our brain pretty much in charge of feelings of anxiety, fear, anger and negativity—our “lizard brain.” Why lizard brain? Because this area of our brain evolved a loooong time ago, back when our primal lizard-ish concerns were much more prevalent. This is why our biological stress response to, say, a looming deadline, is still as dramatic as it was when we were facing, say, a looming tiger.
The Amygdala, two small organs in the brain each about the size of a small almond, can become overstimulated by ongoing stressors and begin to run the show—our lives. The more we feel the stress response, the more the Amygdala are activated. The more the Amygdala stay activated, the more we begin to feel that this state is normal. Fear, anger and negativity become our primary modus operandus. The lizard brain takes over.
THE WAY OUT
Life Coach revolutionary Martha Beck teaches clients to not only identify their inner lizards, but to name them. Queen B, Mack, Merv and Miss Thang. Just some options to get you thinking about what you might call yours. Where’s the benefit in naming your lizard? We work with thoughts and label them as “planning” “rehashing” “fantasizing” or “imagining” in order to help us remember we are separate from our thoughts and don’t have to jump on board with them all the time. Naming our lizards helps us let them do their thing, so we can continue to do ours.
And what’s ours? Finding our freedom. Living our dreams.
Examples? You got it.
“You might not make any difference as a life coach.” (This is what my inner lizard says)
Here’s some examples from other people’s lizards that I’ve heard them report along the way:
“If you quit the job you hate you’ll be poor and living in a box on the street.”
“You can’t start your own business. It will ruin you.”
“Saying ‘no’ to that invitation will make that person stop asking you.”
“If you act as smart as you are, people won’t like you.”
“If you rest, your competition will pass you by.”
5 Ways to Work With Your Inner Lizard Brain
I'm gonna try to open up a little more... (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Daily Cup of Yoga used to be my own little personal yoga blog universe. I remember the first week I started the blog and how excited I felt to have 20 people serendipitously happen upon it. I had no idea where they came from, but somehow people slowly started following the blog, linking up in the yoga blogosphere, and coming back for more. I didn’t really start the blog for social interaction though (I’m mostly an introvert)–I started it because I love yoga and wanted a place to talk about it…even if it was just to myself–but I’m not going to lie…it was kind of a thrill to watch the blog grow over the years. And then Twitter came along, and Facebook, and then Tumblr, and then Pinterest, and man, it all started to steam roll and it was just so cool to link up with all these other yogis all over the world. I’m so grateful to all of you, whether old or new readers, who comment, link, share, and inspire me in so many amazing ways! THANK YOU!!
Like all of you, I’m busy with family, busy with work, busy with life in general–all good things really–but I guess juggling a blogging/social network presence late at night after the kids go to bed has been fun, but it’s not been my #1 priority. That’s a good thing, but sometimes I definitely feel that gnawing in my stomach (maybe my ego…) to keep the wheels of Daily Cup of Yoga turning.
With that said, may I digress and perhaps mildly rant for a moment...
Now that Daily Cup of Yoga isn’t really a tiny little yoga blog anymore (tiny little yoga blogs are some of the best!), sometimes this whole blogging thing feels like a crushing weight on my time and sanity. There’s no doubt the blogging passion comes and goes, but the last thing I want to do is send out crappy content to thousands of blog followers, and so I’ve started to feel the pressure every time I hit the publish button. I’m not sure whether to call it a waxing or waning moment–perhaps a little yin balancing the yang–but my current blogging attention span is about as long as…I’m not sure how to describe it…it’s just not very long right now.
In fact, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr–social media in general–they all just feel kind of dull to me right now. Like I said, at times I’ve loved them and really enjoyed the interaction they brought with other likeminded yogis, and sometimes they just feel like a time-sucking, distracting burden. And then I sit there and wonder where in the world 10,842 10,848 twitter followers came from (six new followers while I wrote this)…Never saw that coming either! But I’m grateful to have them, even though sometimes these social networks also add a little pressure to share bits of sage advice or helpful yoga wisdom, maybe even just to keep people coming back for more and (should I say it?) validate my presence in the yoga blogosphere… You know what I’m talking about…and it’s true.
There’s no doubt my personal blogging here on Daily Cup of Yoga has been doggie-paddling along for some time now (at least that’s how it feels to me). Luckily, we’ve had many wonderful contributors to Daily Cup of Yoga who have taken up the slack and provided interesting and relevant articles for yoga lovers to enjoy on a regular basis. When I started Daily Cup of Yoga I never envisioned this would be a place for others to find a voice and audience in the yoga community, but that’s kind of how it’s evolved. Most of the time I’m pretty happy about that, even if some of the contributors are just looking for a cheap linkback. Not everyone who sends me stuff gets published, and sometimes I have to edit the crap out of some of the writing, which actually takes a lot of time, but guest bloggers have definitely been an added bonus that have contributed to Daily Cup of Yoga’s growth and success. Bottom-line, if there’s a nugget of helpful yoga wisdom, I’m usually willing to share it. Many thanks to all of the contributors over the last few years! Please keep sharing!!
I know I’ve opined a little bit more than usual in this post, but I’ll end by saying that in all honesty, I’ve had a ton of fun creating this website, expanding into the online social yoga community, and creating a place for others to share their insights about yoga. Who knows where it will go next? Like most of you, my life does not revolve around blogging about yoga and I hope you’ll forgive those times when the blog tends to wane more than wax eloquent, but I also hope you won’t mind if Daily Cup of Yoga remains a place where I can occasionally get a little more personal again about my life and my yoga.
Namaste!
[Editor's note: This is a guest post by Nathan Joynt from Gaiam TV]
Arthritis is more than occasional aches and pains. The condition is caused by inflammation of the joints and can lead to swelling, difficulty moving and severe pain. It can affect almost anyone, from children to the elderly, and may cause the simplest activities to become a challenge. Medications are often prescribed to relieve the pain and inflammation, but many health care providers now also recommend yoga for arthritis relief.
Yoga consists of a combination of gentle movements, stretches and breathing exercises. Researchers at John Hopkins University have determined that arthritis patients who regularly perform yoga are likely to experience less swelling, increased mobility and reduced pain. This is because the movements performed during yoga increase fluid around the joints.
There are a few things that arthritis sufferers should consider before beginning a yoga program. A visit to the doctor is necessary to make sure that the individual is healthy enough to perform the exercises and that other conditions won’t be exacerbated by yoga movements. It’s also important to choose a yoga class with a certified instructor, preferably one who is knowledgeable about the benefits of yoga for arthritis patients. There are also chair yoga classes that are helpful for arthritis sufferers who cannot sit on the floor.
A beginner’s yoga class is the best choice in most cases because the movements are easier to perform. Stretching, breathing exercises, or even chanting, may also be done before actual movements begin. These help the body to relax and are an integral part of many yoga routines.
A variety of gentle poses will be performed during the class. Some may be a bit difficult at first, but will become easier as muscles grow accustomed to the activity. Arthritis patients should only perform those poses that they feel comfortable with. A little soreness is to be expected after the first few classes, but any positions that cause extreme discomfort should be avoided.
While classes are essential to learning the proper yoga techniques, relief from arthritis pain is greater if the exercises are also performed on a daily basis at home. There are numerous yoga videos available, including some geared toward arthritis sufferers. Since the condition tends to flare up at particular times, such as during extremely damp or cold weather, it may be helpful to increase yoga exercises during these periods.
Here are a two gentle poses to try at home:
Yoga seems like an unlikely remedy for those struggling with arthritis pain, but it has very real benefits. Not only does it increase relaxation, which makes everyone feel better, it helps to lessen discomfort and increase muscle strength over time. It’s a wonderful way for even those with limited mobility to get moving and find lasting relief.
Nathan Joynt works with Gaiam TV, a leading lifestyle media company that produces a wide range of health and wellness videos including award-winning yoga videos and yoga for arthritis tips.
[Editor's note: This is a guest post by Lindsey Lewis, yoga teacher + life coach who blogs at www.libreliving.com.]
RANDOM RUN-INS WITH NOT-SO-RANDOM INSIGHTS
I was sick of being tired, and tired of being sick. I had scored my dream job—assistant editor at a top-earning Canadian magazine. Scratch that. It was all I’d dreamt it would be, it just didn’t feel like a dream. I wasn’t sleeping, wasn’t digesting food, wasn’t at ease, wasn’t happy. My anxiety was through the roof. One day I saw an ad in the magazine for a health and wellness company. I felt a tingling in my spine all the way up to the top of my head. I called the number, sent an email, met a dark-haired woman who hired me practically on the spot. I was out. I was free.
I had a thriving copy-writing, communications consulting business, where I scored new clients nearly always by word-of-mouth. I was teaching yoga, too (I’ll always be teaching yoga, too). The work was full-time. I wasn’t full-filled. I got an email from a friend, a forwarded job posting for an online yoga company. Work from home, be part of a great team, share the benefits of yoga, 15 hours a week. My mind said, “It’s 15 hours a week. Where would you find that time to add that to what you’re doing? And it’s not enough to replace what you’re doing.” My body and beyond all that said, “You should go for it. Good things will come from this.” I sent an email, met a strong-as-iron, gentle woman who hired me practically on the spot. Soon I was working every day for what I love. I was in. I was still free.
I was in line at the airport security check. It was long. I spotted the one to my right—much shorter. I took two steps over, looked back at the desk I had been originally headed for, and felt that I should stay put. I stayed put, the man at the desk for the line-up I was going to switch to shut it down, and everyone headed to the back of my line.
I was co-conducting an interview. After, my colleague asked me what I thought of the candidate. I felt that she would leave soon, had a visual image of her walking away. My mind asked me if I was crazy—the girl was perfect! I said I thought she was great and we should hire her. (I was tired of looking.) We offered her the job. She accepted. The next week she sent us an email with her apologies: she realized her heart wasn’t in it.
I was about to cross a street, had taken one step off the sidewalk and was lifting my other foot. The image of a dark grey sedan careening around the corner flashed through my mind. I paused. The dark grey sedan careened around the corner, narrowly missing my foot.
The stories go on. And yours might, too. If they don’t, and if you’re thinking, “What kind of woo-woo juju is this gal on?” then feel free to move along. If they don’t, and you’re thinking “I don’t care if this is woo-woo juju, I want some of it,” then feel free to read on.
Intuition isn’t weird, unusual, or strange. We’re biologically hard-wired to be able to know without knowing. That is, we can understand something and have knowledge of it without thinking we do. We take the knowing out of our rational mind. We go beyond it.
FACTS ABOUT INTUITION
The August issue of Oprah magazine has a comprehensive article on the scientific basis of our intuitive instincts. Here’s some facts worth noting:
5 WAYS TO BOOST OUR INTUITION
Good luck! You can do it!!
Lindsey
Believe it or not, I went to an actual lululemon store for the very first time yesterday. As the kind sales-folks at the Seattle Pacific Place store can attest, I probably tried on every piece of guys clothes they had in the store..twice. It was a little embarrassing and I’m not sure I’ve ever spent that much time in a dressing room, but I had a lot of time to burn, and I sure as heck wasn’t walking out of there with clothes that didn’t fit perfectly. Trust me though, time to burn in a lululemon store can be a dangerous thing. It’s not hard to find clothes that fit perfectly…
First impression–the place was busy, packed with men and women, young and old, rifling through clothes racks and stacks of yoga pants. Maybe it was a normal Saturday afternoon in downtown Seattle or maybe Seattle-ites just love posh fitness gear.
Second impression–shopping at lululemon can be a real psychological experiment…at least it was for me. Unless you have an unlimited budget, you kinda need to know what your shopping priorities are, otherwise you may end up eating ramen for the rest of the month. I walked out with six items and I’m sure the price I paid for the men’s Presta pants has some symbolical yogic meaning… Not sure why, but the price tag for nearly everything ends with an eight.
Third impression–as I walked around the store I kicked myself for not buying lululemon stock when the thought first crossed my mind a few months ago… Since late December 2011, I’ve watched lululemon’s stock rise from $46 to an all-time high of $72 on March 8, 2012. Not too shabby for a yoga/running clothes company. That’s what I call “run-da-li-ni rising!”
To be honest, until recently I hadn’t given much thought to yoga clothes. Running clothes–yes; yoga clothes–not so much. The beauty of practicing yoga at home is that even underwear seems to work just fine, or at least it did until I got my hands on a few lululemon samples. Of course you can also practice yoga in Levi’s, but until you discover the sweet bliss of four-way stretch and luon fabric you don’t know what you’re missing out on.
I won’t exaggerate and say I could never live without lululemon, but I will say that until a few weeks ago I wouldn’t have been caught dead wearing a pair of capri-style yoga pants out in public…and let’s just say a couple days ago I proudly stood in line at the ATM (on a military base no less) for twenty minutes in a pair of lululemon down dawg 3/4 length pants (aka “manpris“).
[Editor's note: This is a guest post by Melina Meza BS Nutrition, 500-RYT, with some advice on on how to live your yoga through ethical food choices. Bon Appétit!]
As unique beings we all have different hopes, fears, conditioning, expectations, and agendas around our health and our relationship to food and eating. Over the years of teaching and doing nutritional counseling, I have found it valuable to establish my own set of personal ethics in regards to my health and that of the planet. As Marion Nestle says, “We change the world by what we eat or chose not to eat.” I believe this to be true and am a firm believer that each person choosing with their fork CAN make a difference!
I’ve used the Yamas from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras to make a wheel of ethics, which support and frame my holistic lifestyle. From my own experience I have found a great deal of benefit from weaving these principles – compassion, honesty, non-stealing, moderation, non-hoarding, cleanliness, contentment, heat, self-examination, and faith – into my daily life routines beyond the yoga mat. As a nutritionist, I find exploring these moral values in relationship to food and eating fascinating. UCLA Professor Peter Sellars poses the question, “Can you put your belief system into your body?” It’s a question like this that moves me to look deeper into my own ethics with food and eating. I often ask myself, “Am I putting my belief system into my body?”
