Yes, my keyboard does work.

You’re right I haven’t written anything for a long time.  I’m not a good Blogger, right now.  I’m again going to increase the effort to share the many things swimming around my head and things I’m learning.  So just a couple thoughts for today.

I was doing the “Happy Dance” a few days ago.  I finally finished reading Eastern Body Western Mind by Anodea Judith.  Not that this wasn’t a great book to read, just lots of things to absorb and understand.  I started it about 9 months ago, can’t remember exactly when.  I’d pick it up read a chapter, read about a Chakra, put it down, think about it, and then in a few days pick it up again.  This is a book I can read again someday and get more info from and I will keep it around as a reference book for the Chakras.  If you haven’t read it and want to learn about the Chakras put it on your must read list.

A faster read is The Yoga of Discipline by Swami Chidvilasananda.  This is John Friend’s teacher; he refers to her by Gurumayi.  It is a collection of talks she gave to her students in 1995 at her Ashram in New York state.  It is an easy read but makes you stop and think about your own life and where you’re at.  I really enjoyed this one and it helped me learn more about myself by providing grounds to learn from.  On my highly recommended list.

Just started reading Paths to God Living the Bhagavad Gita by Ram Dass.  Donna read it before me.  She and another friend gave it a big thumbs up.  So far I’m really into it; just have to make more time to read vs. playing on things like Facebook.  It’s not a translation of the Gita but so far I found it explain how to apply the Gita to life today.  Maybe it should have be The Bhagavad Gita for Dummies.

Then for a course I’m taking with Douglas Brooks, I’m working my way through Ganesa Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings by Paul Courtright.  Little slower read but not a monster book.  There are lots of stories and variations on the many aspects of Ganesa.  I’ll write more about it later.

More on Meditation

I've really been putting more effort into my meditation and playing with a couple different Mantras to see how the feel and effect my work.  I did get the article off of Facebook that reaffirmed I'm doing something worthwhile rather than just sitting on my butt for 30 minutes.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/how-meditation-may-change-the-brain/

It's worth a read.  I'm hoping my work offers some results where the article is saying since I'm going into a period of more studying and being an on-line student more than ever before in my life.  I want to move from just reading words, to comprehend words, to apply thoughts, to offer and teach my own understandings.


Feburary is going to be a fun and challenging month!!!

The Mighty Oak

The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun.

– Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)

  Great source of quotes  http://www.wisdomcommons.org/

More on Words

"Preach often, use words when necessary."  Saint Francis of Assisi

I've heard a few variations of this and don't know which one is most correct, if any, but you get the point.  Let your actions speak before your words do.

Peace

Something to think about on a Sunday morning

Uncertain knowledge giving rise to violence, whether done directly or indirectly, or condoned, is caused by greed, anger or delusion in mild, moderate or intense degree.  It results in endless pain and ignorance.  Through introspection comes the end of pain and ignorance.

From Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali II.34 by B.K.S. Iyengar

I had moved away from Patanjali's Sutras since most of the translations are interpreted in a classical yoga thought.  I started reading them again to learn more about the Eight Fold Path and in this month Ahimsa, found some good stuff.  Something to think about as you hear all the news going on around us.

Peace

When You're Ready, Things Come

I'm reading The Yoga of Discipline by Swami Gurumayi Chidvilasananda who is John Friend's teacher. Great book, on my list of better books about the entire practice of yoga I've read so far.

Last weekend in our workshop with Adam I was assisting/teaching two students an alignment principle. One of the students I've needed to slow down in the past because they are very bendy and want to push to their bendy limit not their aligned limit. So they are doing a partner pose as I watch, I have to repeat an instruction multiple times and ask the student to back part way out of the pose but they push on beyond where I thought they should have. I finally tell them to come out of the pose completely and give them a lesson on studentship, listening to the teacher, and following instructions. Reflecting back, it was meant to teach and ended up coming from a place of frustration. I wanted to give "Tuff Love" and ended up just being tough.

Open the The Yoga of Discipline that night and what is the next chapter, The Discipline of Speech. The basic thought is "engage brain before engaging mouth." I know this, but in a effort to get things done I get ahead of my brain and more important my heart. The book had a great quote from Saint Francis of Assisi:

I consider it no less a virtue to know how to keep silent well, than to know how to speak well. A man ought to have a long neck like a crane so that whenever he wishes to speak, his words would have to pass through many joints before they reach his mouth.

Another level of yoga for me to practice.

Peace

1st Video

Thursday worked out to be a day of video 1st. Started with hooking up a camera to my computer so I could tap into the power of Skype. Camera worked great, Skype is pretty cool, worked a project with BJ so I have something else to play with, like I needed that.

The big 1st was I recorded my 1st Anusara-Inspired yoga class last night. Twenty open hearts shared my theme about Kali and we move away from full moon of Shri Lakshmi out into the darkness. We empower muscular energy to hold steady in the dark until Saraswati begins to take form and move us to the next place of beauty. Today I'm going to sit down and watch the class and do my self review. I already know a few things I need to strengthen based on one of the lessons from Christina Sell's On-line mentoring course I'm taking. I taught a 90 minute class and my camera battery didn't. I peaked up as the class settled into Savasana and the little red light was out and my battery was gone. I'll work out a power source for next week.

In my own practice I did a Yogaglo class with Noah from Nov 09 that was lots of Pranayama. Between Adam Ballenger kicked our butts all weekend and me continuing that process Monday - Wednesday I was ready for an easy class. The Asana practice was very simple and supported the Pranayama Noah offered. Since I'm trying to learn more about Pranayama it was good for me to hear and practice what Noah had to teach. On a side note, there was 2, count them 1, 2 students in his class. I want to take a class from Noah with only two students and I'm one of them.

Touched based with my friend Sheldon who is busy as a one legged man in a butt kicking contest with his studio in Salt Lake City he and his lovely lady, Lyndsey, just took over and did some big upgrades to the facility. Sounds like things are going good for the tow of them. I would love to make a trip out there to practice and hang out, great folks, lots of fun and laughs. Donna and I are going to try and get to India next year with Douglas Brooks, Sheldon, Lyndsey, and I'm sure a bunch of of great folks.

On a down note, Ben our 11 year old Golden Retriever is having leg troubles. He didn't want to put weight on his back leg and had trouble standing up. He's been with us for over 9 years as a rescue dog that someone just gave up because he was to much trouble. I'm hoping he just turned an ankle on the ice yesterday or something simple. It is what it is and he's had a long full life for a Golden.

Today's Plan:

Watch my video

Play outside with the dogs

Couple hours on the mat

Class plan for Saturday

Start putting some things together for our new web page

Play with Skype

Read something good

Cardio and Therapy Training Video watching together

Should be a full day and I'm not scheduled to teach as of 8:08 AM but changes happen.

Peace