Yoga's Gift of Body Awareness

Two months since I've blogged! Well, yoga graduation was yesterday -- a beautiful ceremony and celebration of six intense months of learning, opening, feeling, reaching, and, yes, transforming -- hence, my blog cooling off on the backburner.

While wrapping the six months, I was asked "If you could only teach students one thing about yoga, what would it be?

Body awareness. From the wonderful feeling of the large muscles of the hamstrings opening during downward dog to the subtlest cues of “that’s enough” during another pose or stretch, yoga teaches body awareness like no other. I believe that if we truly listened to the body’s need for rest, play, movement, food, work, prayer, breath, etc., we’d all lead less stressful and more joyful lives. While it’s initially fun to learn where the major muscles are located and fire them up through intense heat-building poses, it’s even more delightful to notice the subtle-yet-powerful presence of breathwork, restful poses or prayer and meditation. Like the saying “off the mat, into the world”, the body awareness one gains from yoga truly applies to all areas of life.

I'm forever grateful for all my teachers.

Namaste

Prana Patience Prayer

It's been way too long since I've written, so why not take advantage of this Saturday night after I've had chicken noodle soup for dinner, taken a hot bath, and while my fiance watches a "futbol" game by my side.

The past month has been full of change due to moving in and merging my belongings and my life with my fiance. I've now got quite a commute, which isn't too bad. And, we're still praying for peace among our pets (the two dogs are still amazed with my furry little feline who's found a new love for hissing and arching her back around our good ol' dogs). Patience and prayer - I'm minding my P's until they're all friends.

Then, while I thought all was well besides mileage increasing and pets freaking, I got sick. It was one of those things I thought I could ride out...then I finally went to the doctor...then I went to another doctor. Next thing I knew, I had two procedures scheduled one day after the other. I've been scared and for good reason. Thankfully, my doctor gave two thumbs up after each procedure, so now I'm working on healing.

I believe we're all working on healing in one way or another - throughout our lives. Even throughout each day if you're open to looking at it that way. Or, perhaps, I believe, with each breath.

This past month, and especially this past week, I've had to slow down - way down. And, while I'm not an obsessive exerciser, I like a good dose of physical movement nearly everyday. Whether it's flow yoga, or a run/walk, or a great step class, or a tough Cathe dvd, it helps my body, my soul, my mind, to move. And, when that doesn't happen, I get cranky. Bottled up. Tight. Tense. Crabby. Moody. Really, really blah. It's like I get "out of my body" - yet, dare I even say it for fear of having this "thing" happen again - but perhaps this experience has taught me something important about "staying in my body" despite the chaos I can't control.

In order for me to make sense of the past month, and especially the past week, like many people in difficult life situations, I've turned to prayer and prana. Prana is a Sanskrit word meaning life-force, breath, vitality of spirit. Although the meaning of prana doesn't necessarily follow a particular "religious" path, I highly encourage applying any sense of religion or spirit to this practice that feels good to you. Sometimes we connect in a religious way easily through prayer - sometimes we need something more than words to connect to Something Bigger - sometimes that can be through the breath, the body, the well of energy that resides within...

Thankfully, with my yoga and movement practice, I've discovered something beyond the physical part of movement. I've discovered that energy that lies within me regardless of whether I've had a great "workout" or not. It's always there, you can always tap into it by going deep within and being open to your own healing energy.

I'd like to share two things that have helped me lately - I'll paste those below hoping maybe they can help you too. Additionally, my hope for myself and for readers is to carry this sense of healing energy throughout all phases of your life, your sickness and your health, your day and your nights, your inhales and your exhales....

#1

Inhale Grace,
Exhale Fear,
Inhale New,
Exhale Old.
Inhale Receive,
Exhale Let Go.

(I believe you get my drift - Inhale what you need, Exhale what you need to let go...)

#2

I need to be still and let God love me.
I need to be still and let God love me.
When this old world starts to push and shove me,
I need to be still and let God love me.

(from "I Need To Be Still ( And Let God Love Me )" written by: Archie P. Jordan and Naomi Martin)