StrengthFinder 2.0 in Yoga

"If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything.  While our society encourages us to be well-rounded, this approach inadvertently breeds mediocrity."   Strengths Based Leadership, Tom Rath and Barry Conchie.

34 Strength Capabilities.  The tool evaluates and returns your top 5 Strengths.  Everyone has 5.  I knew that going in and yet, the first time I got together with my coach to discuss the results, I said, "Ok, Pat.  I get that I have these 5 Strengths (and oh-by-the-way one of them is wrong -- which is a different story!) but what are we going to do about the 29 weaknesses?"

The premise behind the StrengthFinder assessment is that by identifying and investing in your strengths, you will be happier, more confident and more effective.  On the flip side, if you focus on shoring up your weaknesses, it drains your energy and causes you to lose confidence.  "At a very basic level, it is hard for us to build self-confidence when we are focused on our weaknesses instead of our strengths."

Let's take that philosophy to our yoga practice.  In the asanas we practice tonight, think about the source of your strength in each pose and build the rest of the pose from there.  For example, in Ardha Chandrasana - Half Moon Pose, does your strength lie in your ability to really extend cultivate muscular energy in your legs, extending down into your standing leg and out through your back leg making it arrow straight and incredibly firm?  Or is it in your strong, stable core that allow you to extend up through the arm, out through the head, down into the ground and out your back leg?  When I do this pose, I immediately want to get right to improving my ability to turn my head, extend my arm more and  face up to the ceiling.  BUT...the minute I focus on that, I lose my connection in the middle, my back legs sways, my arm drops forward...you get the picture.  The pose falls apart.  When I bring my focus to my strength, my really strong and long legs and the ability to extend them, the pose comes together very differently for me.  I'm able to add on the other components in the pose by continuing to build on my strength.

It's Official!

Insurance.  Check.
Business Cards.  Check.
Checking Account.  Check.
Ready to Teach.  Check!

It Does Not Matter

'nuff said.  Do some yoga.

Namaste

Easter Meditation

Joy.  
We can accept the world for the way it is and live our lives for the love that is in it.  We can choose whoever we want to be, do whatever is within our capabilities and learn to transcend our own limitations.
You are being asked to find the light in your life and embrace it.  The tools of healing lie within - in the love that transcends everything.  

Hmmmmm....this is not the first time I've drawn this card and it's not the first time I've drawn this card when I've asked for Grace in the same specific area of my life.  As I placed my hand on the deck and closed my eyes, I thought about the enlightening, heart-opening practice that I had with Carmen this morning and asked silently what it is that I need to focus on to move forward in my relationships with my sisters and my mom.  I'm a person who is biased towards action, towards fixing, towards moving forward.  The thing I struggle with is how to be accepting, especially where the same attitudes and behaviors are repeated but different outcomes are expected.   It's not my style to repeat-again.  I'm a tweak-and-try-again kinda girl.  In a family where apologies are rebuffed, sides are picked, and blame is laid, I feel inadequate to try to fix situations or mend relationships.  I think the Universe is being deliberate in re-handing me the lesson that it's not always about tweaking and trying again.  Sometimes it's about focusing on your own joy, your own light, and being who you are.  And leaving other people the space to do the same.

I also have to smile that this beautiful hummingbird representing healing comes on the day that Todd and I rescued a beautiful Red-tailed hawk.  Putting aside our own fears and uncertainty, not ignoring a spirit in need of help, being persistent and not saying "oh well, we tried and it wasn't there when we looked the first time".  Helping is healing to both the helper and the helped.  I also can't overlook the fact that we always talk about my dad's spirit being a Red-tailed hawk, which I think might be why my eye is quick to spot them.  As I struggle with family dynamics, I've been thinking about him a lot lately, especially in the quiet times:  like when I'm driving home at the end of a day and I see a Red-tailed hawk, standing injured, along the road.

Namaste

Preconceived Ideas: What Makes A Yogi?

I officially taught my first yoga class today.  Whoa.  I OFFICIALLY TAUGHT MY FIRST YOGA CLASS TODAY!!!  Actually, I taught my first two classes and I loved it!  I want to bottle up the experience and carry it around my neck like a jewel...it feels that precious.  Ahhhh...on this rainy dreary Saturday morning, I'm planning to bask in the radiant happiness the rest of the day.

The theme I used was about not bringing preconceived ideas about what it means to be a yogi or a runner.   Looking at the cover of a Yoga Journal or Runner's World can be inspirational and intimidating.  Beautiful, limber, strong, experienced practitioners.

Then there's the rest of us.  Most of us find challenges in simple aspects of our practice.  Straight legs in Utanasana (Standing Forward Fold) is tough for a lot of people, especially for men.  Arms extended so biceps are by the ears in Warrior I can be a challenge if shoulders are tight or muscular.  But, when the gun goes off, everyone who runs is a runner.  When we come to our mats and begin our practice, we are yogis.

We set an intention for the practice to bring only ourselves to the mat and by doing that, we are yogis.  Virabhadrasana  (Warrior) I and II sequences, Crescent Lunge (Deep Lunge), Parsvakonasana (Side Angle Pose), and Sun Salutation series at the end of class with Salabhasana (Locust) and Dhanurasana (Bow) added in after the Cobra section, and then finishing up with Setu Bandha (Bridge) and Paripurna Navasana (Boat) poses made a class that was focused on building strength.

We ended class with the following blessing, which I think is beautiful for runners and yogis.

The Runners Blessing
May you have cool, still nights
and the promise of clear, endless morning.
May the sun rise to greet you with open arms;
and the horizon bow deep beneath your feet.

May you always have water to quench your thirst,
Air to fill your lungs and joy to lift your heart.
May your feet carry you wisely
Swift or slow, towards home.

May you always have heart for your fellow travellers,
and the rhythm of the road to guide you;
May you know the sweetness of victory,
The sorrow of loss and the surrender of both.
--Hannah Broom

Namaste

What to do while waiting to discover your life's purpose

FINALLY.  I finally had the chance to catch-up by phone this afternoon with one of the smartest, most energetic, creative, funniest (and also fun-est which isn't a word but she's super fun!) women I know and am lucky enough to have as an amazing friend.  One of the things that always makes me shake my head in wonder at is how through time and space, we can be on the same telepathic wavelength.  Out of the blue I'll be thinking that I really need to catch up with her...and the next morning, I'll have a text from her saying "we need to catch up".

When we do finally create a time to catch up, it's so incredibly uplifting.  We do a check-in to see who needs to go first, then we're off.  Talking, laughing, musing, figuring, plotting.  The best part is when we get to the kernel of something that we've been wrestling with on our own but got stuck in.  It's such a gift to have someone who can add their brainwaves to your own to think about possibilities for "what's next?".

The idea of how to find your life's purpose has been a recurring part of our discussions over the years.  Sometimes we're moving so fast we can't think about what else it is that we should be doing.  Sometimes we have too much time on our hands and not enough answers.  In our conversation today, she made this amazing statement that just made me think again about how brilliant she is.  She's in a place right now where she has time available and wants to know - NOW - what is her life's purpose.  She's been watching, waiting, following a few things, but nothing is emerging.  So what she said was this:  "Eventually I know that all of these random orbs will draw together and the purpose will appear.  Until then, I'll keep putting myself in situations to create more orbs.  So, if today there are 10,000, then I'll create 50,000 and there will be more likelihood that they will come together."  It's that perspective that I just love about her!

If you are searching to discover your Dharma, your life's purpose, instead of just waiting,  make more orbs...and catch up with a great friend.
Namaste

Situation "Meltdown"

Scene:  Command center of a submarine, middle of the Indian Ocean, depth 1500 feet.
Scenario:  Routine mission, all systems appear to be functioning normally, just a "day in the life", when...
Action:  A *ping* is heard in the command center and a tiny *blip* slings across the green screen.  The sonar officer checks the status of the equipment.

"Everything appears to be functioning normally", he reports matter-of-factly to the Commanding Officer.  For a moment, all attention is focused on the sonar screen waiting to see if another *blip* occurs.  Eyebrow raised, the XO issues the order.   "Run routine diagnostics and report."

"Acknowledged.  Sir, pressure in tanks appear to be at critical levels and rising.  All missiles are engaged and hot.   We appear to be at full alert and on the verge of an imminent meltdown!!  There were no warnings.  The command center was not notified that there was a "situation" in progress.  Orders, sir, we need orders now!"

And then, the command that the crew dreads:  "EMERGENCY BLOW...NOW!"  aahh-ooogga  aahh-ooogga  <red lights circle the control room as a flurry of activity begins>  With one last hesitation, the sonar officer hits the button and with a rapid blow, releases all ballast from the tanks.  The result is an immediate, rapid ascent and an impressive display of waterworks as the sub suddenly breaches the surface of the normally placid blue sea.

End Scene.

And that, my friends, is how an Emotional Meltdown occurs.  Seemingly out of the blue, it is really the result of an escalation of emotions that are being managed below the surface.  As little things come up, we poke a cork into the tiny leaks as they spring up.  And the internal pressure starts to build.  We tell ourselves that we can handle it...it will settle down in time.  Then, something (or somethings) pops up on another front...at work or at home or in a relationship or somewhere else in our life.  Another cork and the pressure gauge goes up.  Symptoms that "somethings up" get brushed aside.  *ping* Not sleeping well = lots of things to do.  *blip* Headache = lots to think about.  *ping*blip* Nervous stomach = just anxious about trying something new.

Yoga is about aligning our inner and outer selves.  Asana practice links our physical body with our emotions. I first experienced this link when doing "Torturasana" (as we fondly call the Intense and Torturous Quad Stretch at the Wall) and the emotions of agitation and anger that came up for me.  I had noticed in Savasana before...to some extent...when I would feel anxious and my mind would wind its way through a maze to find the source.  But this time, once the corks started popping out, baby, there was no stuffing them back in (not that I didn't give it a completely ineffective try).  Grace lead me to a time and place to be wrapped in love and support when *splat* I hit the wall with an "impressive display of waterworks".  That's what yoga gives us.  Support that needs no thanks.  Friends that mop up the waterworks.  Warm hugs that pop the corks at just the right time and in just the right place to help us get through something we didn't know how to manage through on our own.  Yoga shows us the way.

Namaste

I Wanna Be an M&M

You know how M&Ms are hard and crunchy on the outside...beautifully colored shells, perfectly shaped, protecting their soft, chocolate-y innards?  That's what I want to be.  And, I believe in my fudgey little heart, yoga will get me there.

Muscular energy -- hugging muscle to the bone, drawing energy in.  Organic energy -- brightly radiating energy out.  Inner and outer spiral to build a solid foundation.  That's the colorful candy shell.

But it's the opening to Grace...that's where the sweetness is.  Without grace, we'd all just be crunchy little shells.  

Put it all together...it's delish!  And, yep, I wanna be a green one.
Namaste

What would you do for love?

I'm working on my theme for the next assignment for our next teacher training weekend.  I decided to explore the idea of "what would you do for love?" using an experience I had this past summer.  My amazing husband decided to train for his first marathon AND a half-Ironman triathlon at the same time.  The half-Ironman was scheduled for August in Iowa which can only mean adding a miserable "heat and humidity" factor to anything you are planning to do outside.
Just so we're all clear about the numbers in a half-Ironman and his conservative estimates for how long it would take him, it adds up as follows:
Swim   1.2  miles  1 hour
Bike  56.0  miles  3 hours 30 minutes
Run   13.1  miles  2 hours 15 minutes 
Total  70.3 miles  6 hours 45 minutes, plus transition times, so about 7 hours

Long story short, after months of diligent training, Todd ended up with a bicep/shoulder injury two weeks before the half-Ironman race.  He had done a sprint-triathlon as part of his training a couple of weeks earlier (and took second place in his division, I proudly add!) and knew something wasn't right.  He called me after his appointment with the Orthopedist and said the verdict was that he was out for the swim.  Which meant he was out of the race.  He was not, I repeat NOT, a happy camper.  As I hung up, I thought about what he had said about his call with the race director as he was trying to figure out his options.  Todd asked if there was anyone who wanted to do the swimming part of the event as a relay.  The swim is usually the part that nobody wants to tackle.  Lots of crazy runners cross-train by crazy biking, so there is an abundance of people willing to do those two crazy legs of the race.  (Can you tell I think this is crazy?)

Here's where the conundrum begins.  I like to swim.  I've done two sprint triathlons, which both included a 500 yard swim.  500 yards is 20 lengths in a regular pool.  Takes me about 11-somethingish minutes at a leisurely pace  in open water (hey, I'm saving myself for 15 miles on the bike and a 5k run).  1.2 miles = 2112 yards.  That's over 4 times as long as the sprint tri distance.  In open water.  The longest training swims I did were usually 1500 yards...in a nice clear pool, with an edge to push off of every 25 yards.  And, I hadn't been training since early June.  Now, 1.2 mile in open water is a scary distance in my book...there is a genuine possibility that a person could drown.  After some internal debate, I stopped at the pool on my way home from work that night (oddly enough, I always have 3 bags in my trunk:  1 for swimming, 1 for biking, 1 for running, just in case the opportunity for an unexpected workout arises).  Standing in the water, I adjusted my goggles, took a last look at the clock, and with a deep breath, pushed off for 45 minutes of straight swimming.  It was a long 45 minutes and I'm not gonna lie when it was one of the hardest things I'd done in a while.

So now the question:  what would you do for love?  Would you offer to swim 1.2 miles when you knew you only had two-weeks to get prepared...which means you probably wouldn't be?  Would you be willing to take a risk if it meant you might not be able to finish your leg of the race?  Would you do it if you seriously thought that you might drown??  Would you try to conquer your own fears for someone you really love?? What would you do?

I found this sweet little video by Scott O'Conner on Vimeo and thought, "this pretty much sums it up!".
Namaste

Pick A Prize

A weekend of Anusara Yoga teacher training always leaves me feeling many things:  enthused, exhausted, strengthened, overwhelmed, inspired, humbled, treasured...and the list of dichotomies goes on.  This morning, after our third training weekend, I decided to reflect back through those feelings with the goal of distilling it down to the essence I want to carry forward with me.  It kind of reminds me of when we were kids, and after a trip to the dentist, we would get to sift through the treasure chest to select a parting gift.  (There are other similarities between a trip to the dentist and teacher training weekends, but that's a different topic!)

My mind quickly went to the thought that it is usually easier to see progress and changes in others than it is to see it in ourselves.  Seeing the amazing changes in each of the graceful, gracious and talented women I am lucky enough to be on this journey with is a priceless blessing.  Reflecting on the evolution I see in them is like a mirror to help me see my own growth.  It's such a gift to be able to to nurture my own growth through the lens of support and non-judgement I see them through.  Using these glasses, any feelings of comparison (and not measuring up), competition and judgement that often come with being part of learning something new simply don't exist in this view.  What a lovely parting gift!
Namaste

The New Seed Catalogs Are Here!!

"And what does a seed catalog have to do with yoga?", I ask myself.  I sit down with a cup of coffee and prepare to read this Botanical Interests Seed Catalog like a good book.

Chapter 1:  Inspiration Starts here 
Immediately, I am drawn to the beautiful art ("captivating botanical illustrations" it says) and the interesting descriptions. Arugula Wild Rocket Salad, Roquette, is described as follows:

Cool season.  30-45 days.  Walk on the wild side!  If you like arugula, you are going to love this one!  Great complex, spicy flavor, and very easy to grow from seed.

I peel off a sticky note and put myself down for 2 packets of Arugula seeds.  Please note that I've started ordering and I'm on page 1, letter A.  This could get pricey.  I'm gonna need more coffee.

 

Chapter 2:  Growing FriendshipS

"In our hurried, emotionally detached society, gardens bind us together in ways that grow more than beautiful flowers and flavorful vegetables.  Gardens grow hope and friendship."  The story describes an 80-year-old widowed goat farmer and a mother of two who, through fate, divine intervention or coincidence, cultivate a friendship.  Similarity to yoga?  Check.

Chapter 3:  Good Vibes grow at garden parties

"...there's something special about everyone being together in the fresh air and sunshine, surrounded by lush blooming plants.  In the natural setting and festive atmosphere, they relax..."

 

Chapter 4:  learn & grow
Digging deeper.  Nurturing the seeds of inspiration and life.  Witnessing with joy and amazement the miracles of nature.  Finding wonder in your own backyard.  Gardening.  Yoga.
Namaste

Theme Ideas

This is a brain-dump of the yoga class themes that have been collecting in my mind.

1. Easy or Hard?  The difference between what we perceive as easy and difficult is in the story we tell ourselves about it.  Take an "easy" pose and make it more difficult through alignment, muscle energy or taking it deeper.  Take a "difficult" pose and break it down into easier components.  Urdva Dhanurasana - Backbend.  Salambasana - Locust.
2. The Big Bang Theory.  Big events can start a chain reaction of little changes.  Go through Surya Namaskar - Sun Salutation series adding on each time.
        Fire-Up Flow
        Variation 1- Extended Child's
        Variation 2- One-Sided Down Dog
        Variation 3- Half Twist
        Variation 4- Pigeon Lunge
3. Charting Our Course.  Think about where we want to be and then plan backwards from there.  Getting to Salamba Sarvangasana - Supported Shoulder Stand.
4. Take A Moment.  How would taking a moment before we responded change our interactions and reactions in any situation?  Open to Grace.  Take a breath - Pranayama.
5. How Am I Showing Up?  How am I showing up for meetings, for interactions with people that I'm not especially great buds with, with my friends, with myself?  What we expect out of an interaction is generally what we'll get.  Set an intention of "I'm willing to try" for this practice.  Ardha Mukha Vrksasana - Handstand.  Use the prep of L-Stand at the wall.
6. BHAGs:  Big, Hairy Arse Goals.  We all need them.  They push us out of our comfort zone. They give a voice to our ideas.  They anchor us along a path in life.  If they don't scare us a little, they aren't big enough, hairy enough or a goal.  What goals do you have in mind with your yoga practice?  Goal oriented pose:  Pincha Mayurasana - Peacock pose.
7. Leaning into Change.  We don't have to be perfect.  We can set our mind and our intention in a direction of change and then keep leaning until we get to a tipping point.  Getting to Virabandrasana 3 - Warrior 3.
8. Surprised to be here?  Are you surprised to be here, in this class right now?  If not, think back to the point where you first took a yoga class and now ask yourself again, are you surprised to be here?  Poses like Ardha Chandrasana - Standing Half Moon.
9. What Would You Do For Love?  Swim a mile in open water?  Thank goodness I didn't have to, but I was ready to.  Building up shoulder strength and shoulder openers.
10. One Shining Moment.  Don't wait for the moment...shine now!  Start with full extensions through the hands, the head and the heart. Uttitha Parsvokanasana - Extended Side Angle. Trikonasana - Extended Triangle.    Then move into this Season Finale series.

Namaste