It's niyamas week this week, which are the yogic 'to do's' in layman's terms. While the yamas are abstentations, the niyamas are principles to follow. The theory goes that when you clear your life via the yamas, there is spaciousness for the niyamas. So this rainy Sunday, I revisited the philosophy of santosha -which means contentment. For a start, I am so content with the rain, as I had the perfect excuse to hire 'Tree of Life' and cook dinner for a fellow yogi.
So, historically speaking, I've been a bit of a Princess in terms of 'I want it, I need it, I must have it'. Which really is the antithesis of what santosha stands for. I tried initially to blame it on my postcode. Double Bay didn't do it, I did. Responsiblity can provide an ugly mirror sometimes. However, any recovering addict will tell you that admission is the first necessary step on the road to recovery.
So my mirror gave me the opportunity to trade Gucci for gratitude. Which really was a necessary trade in terms of taking a holiday which didn't depend on credit cards and lead me onto another unhealthy habit.
A wise man once said that we could live simply, thus enabling others to simply live. The first step on the contentment journey is to not grasp at things outside ourselves to make us happy. Rather, look outside; observe a small child at play, smell a blooming rose that's been dampened by rainfall. Look in the mirror and rather than cursing, say thankyou.
A few tears may be shed on the road to contentment, as changing old habits are indeed cathartic processes. Embrace the opportunity, as the autumn leaves provide us with the perfect mirror for change.
Saturday 25 February 2012
Nice girls do say no.
Yoga teaching has taught me the importance of boundaries. Being a woman, I think I speak on behalf of my gender when I say that we are conditioned to be 'yes' people. Polite, well mannered; 'yes sir, two bags full sir'. As a result of this, 'no' can come out as a question rather than an answer.
The butterflies in the belly often guide us in the right direction. If a 'yes' creates a flutter then the choice we are about to make may be an 'epic fail'. It could lead one down the yellow brick road of old habits. And it is true what they say, these do die hard. Looking within, ask yourself, what does this do for me? Is it in line with my goals and or values? Not to encourage selfishness here, but more a sense of self respect.
A dear friend uses the analogy of a jam jar when talking about her prana. Be choosy who you give it to or what you do with it. Being spent from step class is blissful..whereas being taken advantage of..epic fail yet again. So in spreading my jam wisely, I do get in sticky situations and sometimes the grapefruit bitterness can momentarily override the sweet strawberry. But life is a constant opportunity of choosing the opportunities that make your soul sing. Mine today is writing while it's raining outside and lasagna is on the boil. Bouna! xx
The butterflies in the belly often guide us in the right direction. If a 'yes' creates a flutter then the choice we are about to make may be an 'epic fail'. It could lead one down the yellow brick road of old habits. And it is true what they say, these do die hard. Looking within, ask yourself, what does this do for me? Is it in line with my goals and or values? Not to encourage selfishness here, but more a sense of self respect.
A dear friend uses the analogy of a jam jar when talking about her prana. Be choosy who you give it to or what you do with it. Being spent from step class is blissful..whereas being taken advantage of..epic fail yet again. So in spreading my jam wisely, I do get in sticky situations and sometimes the grapefruit bitterness can momentarily override the sweet strawberry. But life is a constant opportunity of choosing the opportunities that make your soul sing. Mine today is writing while it's raining outside and lasagna is on the boil. Bouna! xx
Sunday 19 February 2012
Rainy days and Mondays
...Don't always get me down. Thankyou, however, to The Carpenters for providing me with the inspiration for a title. This rainy day Monday was one of going within. I embraced the rain by embracing my recipes. I whipped up cookies for a friend's birthday, roasted stuffed capsicums and baked lunch for my yogi crew. Phew!
The beautiful thing about having a rainy day is the opportunity to do this. And I love giving through food. It has also taught me to really relish the food that I put in front of me. A roast capsicum with warm fetta, cherry tomatoes and basil is heavenly. Slow food and beautiful kitchen smells. Ironically, now that I am more interested in cooking, I am less concerned about weight loss. Food becomes about mindfulness and the weight balance takes care of itself.
You don't have to eat everything in front of you, nor do you need to wolf it all down - and I've definitely been there. I've now got an appreciation for good food and good company..the wine is on hold for now until I finish training. Our bodies have an inner wisdom. We can listen to this by taking some time for silence. I baked and stirred to the sounds of the rainfall today, rather than the radio.
Rainfall and roast tomatoes..priceless x
The beautiful thing about having a rainy day is the opportunity to do this. And I love giving through food. It has also taught me to really relish the food that I put in front of me. A roast capsicum with warm fetta, cherry tomatoes and basil is heavenly. Slow food and beautiful kitchen smells. Ironically, now that I am more interested in cooking, I am less concerned about weight loss. Food becomes about mindfulness and the weight balance takes care of itself.
You don't have to eat everything in front of you, nor do you need to wolf it all down - and I've definitely been there. I've now got an appreciation for good food and good company..the wine is on hold for now until I finish training. Our bodies have an inner wisdom. We can listen to this by taking some time for silence. I baked and stirred to the sounds of the rainfall today, rather than the radio.
Rainfall and roast tomatoes..priceless x
Crying in the chapel
In a bit of an eighties mood today, but this song title fits my afternoon. I was listening to aparigraha - which is the yogic teaching on non greed and detachment. In a moment of inspiration, or desperation - maybe a bit of both, I reached for this cd. This afternoon was a real lesson in detachment for me, hence the tears that the title refers to.
A relationship is two sided and in giving of yourself, a risk is taken. I was holding, or more aptly, clinging onto a friendship with an old flame. Elizabeth Gilbert, of 'Eat, Pray,Love' fame refers to one of her relationships as an 'emotional scratching post'. For me, that's what this was for me in many ways. I wanted to have my woes soothed by another, but all the while knowing there was something not right.
So when the old flame realised the error of his ways, the jig was well and truly up.
Detachment means not clinging or grasping. I was clinging to old memories, wanting what I saw as the good parts only and thus being the commander of the ship. Life, however, had other plans for me.
Delving within, I realised that inner strength is not an easy path. It is at times treacherous, in the forms of rejection and self doubt. However, after the tears, does come relief. In nature, a rainy day often ends with a beautiful rainbow.
So, taking one step at a time, all the while reminding myself to breathe through life, rainbows do indeed appear. I wish my old flame well, thank him for the lessons. I hold the memories in my heart, whilst setting both himself and me free.
A relationship is two sided and in giving of yourself, a risk is taken. I was holding, or more aptly, clinging onto a friendship with an old flame. Elizabeth Gilbert, of 'Eat, Pray,Love' fame refers to one of her relationships as an 'emotional scratching post'. For me, that's what this was for me in many ways. I wanted to have my woes soothed by another, but all the while knowing there was something not right.
So when the old flame realised the error of his ways, the jig was well and truly up.
Detachment means not clinging or grasping. I was clinging to old memories, wanting what I saw as the good parts only and thus being the commander of the ship. Life, however, had other plans for me.
Delving within, I realised that inner strength is not an easy path. It is at times treacherous, in the forms of rejection and self doubt. However, after the tears, does come relief. In nature, a rainy day often ends with a beautiful rainbow.
So, taking one step at a time, all the while reminding myself to breathe through life, rainbows do indeed appear. I wish my old flame well, thank him for the lessons. I hold the memories in my heart, whilst setting both himself and me free.
Friday 17 February 2012
No alarms and no surprises
Is the name of one of my favourite Radiohead songs. Today I was listening to brahmacharya - which is the yogic nama of containment. Strictly speaking, it refers to celibacy. However, it is more wide ranging than this. For me, its about containing your prana, particularly on a physical level. Looking back on my relationships so far, I have become aware of how easily I fall for someone when I am under the heady spell of their physicality. The emotional connection can become confused with a physical one.
I think growing up, I rebelled against my strict Catholic upbringing by going in the opposite direction to what I was being taught both at school and at home. My poor mum would be tearing her hair out over how she could help me, when really I needed to learn for myself. Tantrums and tim tams became my coping mechanisms as a teenager when the boy that I had idolised moved onto greener pastures.
'Suffering comes from relying on another to give to us what we can give to ourselves'. This is part of the teachings of brahmacharya, going within - choosing solitude and silence on a regular basis.
When I was a little girl, this came naturally to me - I was an A student in religion and would never miss church as it gave me a chance to connect with the divine. Re - connecting with that now through yoga has reminded me to love myself enough to really attract the things and people that are more aligned with me. I'm going walking to one of my favourite places tomorrow with two of my favourite people. One of us is driving, the other doing breaky..etc. This is the divine side to life - the amazing people and experiences that come when you ask for them mindfully.
I'm single, but is no longer an alarming label for me, it just is. And unlike the Radiohead song, it is full of surprises.
Wishing you all a divine day xo
I think growing up, I rebelled against my strict Catholic upbringing by going in the opposite direction to what I was being taught both at school and at home. My poor mum would be tearing her hair out over how she could help me, when really I needed to learn for myself. Tantrums and tim tams became my coping mechanisms as a teenager when the boy that I had idolised moved onto greener pastures.
'Suffering comes from relying on another to give to us what we can give to ourselves'. This is part of the teachings of brahmacharya, going within - choosing solitude and silence on a regular basis.
When I was a little girl, this came naturally to me - I was an A student in religion and would never miss church as it gave me a chance to connect with the divine. Re - connecting with that now through yoga has reminded me to love myself enough to really attract the things and people that are more aligned with me. I'm going walking to one of my favourite places tomorrow with two of my favourite people. One of us is driving, the other doing breaky..etc. This is the divine side to life - the amazing people and experiences that come when you ask for them mindfully.
I'm single, but is no longer an alarming label for me, it just is. And unlike the Radiohead song, it is full of surprises.
Wishing you all a divine day xo
Thursday 16 February 2012
Keeping up appearances
After a day of teaching and a morning of yoga, I feel done - like I'm ready to curl up on the couch. Yoga has made me realise the reality of adrenal fatigue. In my old life, I would have merely pushed through it, as I wanted to keep up to date with my social calendar, fitness classes and work. How and where does socialising come into the equation when you are a yogi?
I often find that by the wild stroke of 9pm, my eyelids are starting to shut down for the day.
I want to go to the pub tonight for dinner with work colleagues, but where does looking after myself come into that? The conclusion I'm coming to is allowing myself to be, excuse the pun, flexible. In terms of asteya (the cycle of give and take), I know that I have tended towards the outer often. I give a lot of myself, without honouring my needs and at times not even honouring the event. But s a woman, I often get a bit of a flutter in my tummy if something doesn't feel right. Give me an early movie and a dinner any day..which I think is why Melbourne is on the cards for my next home town. Golden friends are the ones where you can turn up to their place with your trackies on and Pretty Woman - there is something so amazing about that.
So many times I judge myself for not being 'cool enough' as I wasn't making an effort.and that because of this, I would never have any friends. But how do I want people to know me? As a phoney? Or someone who chooses to go their own way, attracting the people and the experiences that are a true reflection of them. So I think I'm choosing Richard Gere and a soak in the bath - my work mates will have fun at the pub and I know that when the time is right, I'll be there.
I often find that by the wild stroke of 9pm, my eyelids are starting to shut down for the day.
I want to go to the pub tonight for dinner with work colleagues, but where does looking after myself come into that? The conclusion I'm coming to is allowing myself to be, excuse the pun, flexible. In terms of asteya (the cycle of give and take), I know that I have tended towards the outer often. I give a lot of myself, without honouring my needs and at times not even honouring the event. But s a woman, I often get a bit of a flutter in my tummy if something doesn't feel right. Give me an early movie and a dinner any day..which I think is why Melbourne is on the cards for my next home town. Golden friends are the ones where you can turn up to their place with your trackies on and Pretty Woman - there is something so amazing about that.
So many times I judge myself for not being 'cool enough' as I wasn't making an effort.and that because of this, I would never have any friends. But how do I want people to know me? As a phoney? Or someone who chooses to go their own way, attracting the people and the experiences that are a true reflection of them. So I think I'm choosing Richard Gere and a soak in the bath - my work mates will have fun at the pub and I know that when the time is right, I'll be there.
Tell it like it is
The focus at yoga school today was on truth and non - violence. It was a pretty confronting session, as it made me realise how violent I can be towards myself, in terms of pushing my physical and mental body. With truth comes confrontation, as we look within. For me, this meant honouring the truth of my dreams. One of these being writing, the other dancing. These are really two of a few, but they are two pretty big ones in terms of my creative self.
Let's face it, we all have untapped creativity. We are all creative beings. So hopefully my experiences will inspire others..
I recently took on some extra casual work to make ends meet when I wasn't teaching. However, the cost to myself was greater than the money I'd earned. In yogic terms, old habits or patterns are called samskaras. A few groggy days into my work, I felt disconnected. I'd been here before and what was the end result? Departure before further disintegration of self. I obviously had to learn the lesson properly, so the universe gave me the opportunity to do so.
Speaking truthfully, I had to develop trust to 'feel the fear and do it anyway'. Don't get me wrong, we all need to earn extra money at times and different things are appropriate for different people.
But my lack of trust and aura of fear was keeping me trapped in a scene from 'Groundhog Day'.
In the silence, pearls are found. The more I step away from running around and detach myself from fear, the more I feel I am coming into my own and having faith in myself.
So rather than reaching for the phone for casual work, I am choosing to reach for my laptop and my ballet shoes. I am choosing to save my money creatively - lying on the grass with a home made tea, having an early night and waking up to bird song.
The truth sets you free, whereas the mask keeps you hidden from the world. We all have been blessed with the power of choice. As the tag in 'Trainspotting' reads, 'Choose Life'. Goodnight and Good Luck.
Let's face it, we all have untapped creativity. We are all creative beings. So hopefully my experiences will inspire others..
I recently took on some extra casual work to make ends meet when I wasn't teaching. However, the cost to myself was greater than the money I'd earned. In yogic terms, old habits or patterns are called samskaras. A few groggy days into my work, I felt disconnected. I'd been here before and what was the end result? Departure before further disintegration of self. I obviously had to learn the lesson properly, so the universe gave me the opportunity to do so.
Speaking truthfully, I had to develop trust to 'feel the fear and do it anyway'. Don't get me wrong, we all need to earn extra money at times and different things are appropriate for different people.
But my lack of trust and aura of fear was keeping me trapped in a scene from 'Groundhog Day'.
In the silence, pearls are found. The more I step away from running around and detach myself from fear, the more I feel I am coming into my own and having faith in myself.
So rather than reaching for the phone for casual work, I am choosing to reach for my laptop and my ballet shoes. I am choosing to save my money creatively - lying on the grass with a home made tea, having an early night and waking up to bird song.
The truth sets you free, whereas the mask keeps you hidden from the world. We all have been blessed with the power of choice. As the tag in 'Trainspotting' reads, 'Choose Life'. Goodnight and Good Luck.
Tuesday 14 February 2012
A new leaf..Intro
As we are coming into autumn, there is a sense of change hanging off the leaves that are beginning to fall to the ground. This blog is going to chart my journey as a rookie yoga teacher. For the uninitiated, prana refers to the energy within us - in simple terms. For me, it means our sense of personal power. The inspiration behind the title for my blog comes from the passion within us all, which can take away our prana or enhance it. Unlocking our prana can also lead to unlocking our most passionate, soul satisfying dreams.
Unbeknownst to myself at the time, one of my dreams was to inspire and bless the world with the gifts of yoga. It is such a gift that never stops giving back. Last night after my gym yoga; a class which I have only taught five times so far, two ladies told me that they are now having restful sleep.
I can totally relate to the pain of insomnia. The stress caused by my life choices in the past literally sucked away at my prana channels. So what I am learning at the moment, through my teaching particularly, is the transformative potential held in our lungs. Breathe out and let go of old habits. Be like the leaves you see falling from the trees, float away from the familiar and embrace where the wind takes you next. Yours in breathing, Rookie Yogi xo
Unbeknownst to myself at the time, one of my dreams was to inspire and bless the world with the gifts of yoga. It is such a gift that never stops giving back. Last night after my gym yoga; a class which I have only taught five times so far, two ladies told me that they are now having restful sleep.
I can totally relate to the pain of insomnia. The stress caused by my life choices in the past literally sucked away at my prana channels. So what I am learning at the moment, through my teaching particularly, is the transformative potential held in our lungs. Breathe out and let go of old habits. Be like the leaves you see falling from the trees, float away from the familiar and embrace where the wind takes you next. Yours in breathing, Rookie Yogi xo
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