The Challenge of Taking a Break

It's a lazy Saturday morning, and I'm taking a cue from my dog to embrace nothingness.  To sit, relax, unwind, not let my to do list get the best of me.  

At least, that's my goal, but as we're sitting on the couch together, it's honestly stressing me out.  So, I grabbed the computer and did a bit of facebook, gmail, and looking up various yoga classes for later today.   Not quite the meditative, relaxing effort that comes so simply to Piper*.  Is this was meditation is becoming in the modern day?  Letting our brains "relax" through mind-numbing internet searching??  

I'd like to think not, so I'm going to my old stand by to help me calm and focus the mind, so that I can be present in this moment with my pup:  

Square breathing.

• Find a comfortable seated position and close your eyes.
• Breath in for a count of four
• Hold for a count of four
• Breath out for a count of four
• Hold for a count of four
• Repeat breath pattern for 10 rounds

Enjoy how calm and peaceful you feel.  

* Try reading The Tao of Poo for a great discussion on how "simple-mindedness" is actually wiser than intellect.  Oh what we have to learn from our pets and cartoons!

Great Teachers

Fabulous class today with Joe from Decatur Yoga.  Due to my schedule, I often choose classes based on time offered rather than teacher.  But, every time I take a class with Joe -- who has deep experience and style of instruction that helps me experience everyday asanas in new ways -- I tell myself that I really should commit to the "master" instructors that I really love.  It's a classic decision between breadth and depth -- i.e.,  experience the variety without really committing to one class/style/teacher or really focus in on one area.  I'm ready to go deep with a select few great instructors and look forward to seeing how this evolves in 2010.  

Destined for Yoga?

I just finished reading a "fitness personality" quiz in Natural Health magazine.  The questions are framed to identify three of the four Myers Briggs factors (introvert/extrovert, sensing/intuition, judging/perceiving).  I know my MB profile, so jumped ahead to the answers section.  Out of nine fitness types, my ideal workout was:  "yoga, pilates, biking, and cardio machines in a well organized and serene gym."  None of the other 9 types mention pilates, and only three mention yoga.  I am kind of blown away, as all I basically do is yoga and pilates!  

It's interesting to think about personality type (whatever that is...) drawing me to this practice, because I've never really thought about it in that way.  In fact, I often think my personality counters what one might thinks of as a "yogi" -- for example, I'm very fidgety and bring lots of energy, rather than calmness and centeredness, to situations.  I guess in some ways, it's a reminder to be true to who we are, because who we are is perfect.

Karma Yoga

Karma is the concept of what goes around comes around.  It's a core aspect of yoga, and many studios in my area offer Karma Classes, which are complimentary or donation-only classes.   

Today, feeling crummy and weighted down, I knew that a yoga class was a critical antidote.*  I felt drawn to a heated Karma class, and while coming down off the high of it, totally revived and alive, I am also inspired to "pay it forward."  My colleague experienced a health scare and has since made a commitment to a holistic strategies including yoga to revamp her health.  I am going to ask her to keep the Insight Yoga DVD I loaned to her.  It's one of my favorites, but she needs it is right that she keep it, use it, live it.  

Thank you, Michelle, for the Karma class today.

* Why does Yoga make us feel good?  "Put simply, you feel better when you walk out of a yoga class than when you walked in.  The question is, why?  Or better yet, how does yoga work?  ... The answer is life force.  Almost all styles of hatha yoga increase prana, or life force, in your body." (Rod Styker, "Positively Prana," Yoga Journal, February 2010)

The Power of a Hug

Last week, my yoga teacher whimsically ended class by asking each of us to give and receive 10 hugs from classmates before we left, with this explanation:   After WWII, orphanages filled up with children of victims of the war.  In one particular orphanage, the children were healing and processing their grief faster and more completely than those in other orphanages.  Why?  Turns out, they received more hugs.   Researchers who studied the orphanages found that in order for a human to survive, she needs 4 hugs per day and in order for her to grow, 10.  

The academic in me immediately wondered about sources, sample sizes, and yes, I even did a quick google search to see what came up.*  

Then, as I found myself thinking about the story, giving my husband more and more hugs, and overall making my heart more available to others -- I realized, blissfully, that the yogi in me believes the story.  Or rather, doesn't worry about scientific evidence or accuracy or studies.  It feels good to hug, to connect heart to heart, to feel warmth and love and closeness, to make things safe and happy.  

Thank you, Marti, for sharing that story with me! 

* Turns out National Hugging Day is coming up on 1/21.   www.nationalhuggingday.com.  And there are a plethora of books out there on the power of touch in children -- the book Brighter Baby came up repeatedly.  Maybe I'll look more into it, when I have children; for now, I'll trust my intuition.