Everybody gets to play!...even the gross ones?

I'm doing my best to let everybody play today. Sounds fun right? If you're into being whole and sharing rich moments, then yes, I guess it was a fun day.

 Sharon Salzberg shared the phrase "everybody gets to play" while I was on retreat at Kripalu. I appreciate the all inclusive implication. Today emotions started arising that didn't align with my idea of how my day was going to go. I intended to be with them, inviting even these uncomfortable waves to play and maybe even teach me a something about myself.

There were heavy sensations calling attention to my chest. I made my way to my yoga room and put myself into a supported fish pose. The backbend allowed me to more fully explore what was arising in my heart space and in my emotional body. I stayed with the tears that were streaming, until a part of me felt like that was enough and decided to move on with my day.

I came across this video about Sacred Economics on Tad Hargrave's website. There I was trying to be "productive" learning more about marketing and economics and ended up being so moved by what I saw that I was back in a sea of tears. My dear friend arrived at the door as the video ended. It was such a blessing to get a hug right when I needed it! After I invited him in I noticed my face tensing-an indicator for me that I was masking up. I suggested some acroyoga. I knew it'd be a way I could get more into my body. I flew first. As much as I didn't want to be with the edgy emotions that were arising, I couldn't help it as my body was held in the air. I was reminded of the profound effect of touch. Breathing deeply as my body was stretched I was supported in my process of being present to myself. As much as I like to be an independent DIY kind of person, I'm always learning to embrace the richness of human exchange. Some things are just different, and at times more powerful, when someone else can hold down the fort and I can just let go.

 I'm grateful that I was willing to let myself be with the emotions that came up today. It was definitely edgy for me, but provided an opportunity to see more of who I am. On this journey towards wholeness I need welcome all the parts that make me both human and Divine.

Here's a Rumi poem for you. A friend of mine says that poetry comes alive when read aloud. Try it out, even (especially!) if it's edgy for you. You might get to know a guest of yours in a new and intimate way.

Free from Expectation or Attached to Outcome:How do you Give?

I believe everyone has a unique gift to offer. I feel it's our responsibility to uncover what it is so that we can share it with our communities. Living in such a stimulating culture and being bombarded with so many messages can make it difficult to be in tune with how we can contribute in a way that feels authentic. 

If you're like me, when you find something that really works for you, you want to share it with loved ones. Have you ever been really excited to give something special, only to be disappointed by the response?  I remember growing wheatgrass for my Dad. I had hoped it would help him get through his battle with prostate cancer. My gardening had a desired outcome-my Dad being cancer free. When he kindly declined my offer of this green healing juice, I felt helplessly deflated. 

One of the keys of a transformational Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy session is letting go of expectations and desired outcomes to create the space for the possibilities unfolding moment by moment. Doing things with the process as the focus helps me to soften my grip on what I want to make happen. With an end point in mind, I can be blinded to the opportunities for discovery along the way. The desired outcome of my Dad's health improving restricted me from truly being present to him in the process of his illness. I feel there were opportunities for being in a spacious connection with him during that time. Often my attachments to doing something for him, and my disappointments at failing, blinded me from seeing them. 

What would it be like to give in a way that was free of expectations, to offer yourSelf for the sake of shining, trusting that the rays will ripple out in ways that are beyond our knowing?

Even this blog post: I sat down with the intention to write from an authentic place, without any end product in mind. The spaciousness I gave myself invited another wave in the grieving process to arise and be seen. 

Try this experiment: find something special do you. Offer it openly. Let go of expectations. What happens? 

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Spaciousness to Start Again

   I was at a meditation and kirtan retreat with Sharon Salzberg and Krishna Das a few weeks ago. They both encouraged exercising our abilities to let go of all that stuff that inevitably comes up when we sit. When we've noticed that we've lost focus of our breath, body, the mantra, it's an opportunity to begin the practice again. And again. And again, and again, and again... 

   There was a person who I had made up a challenging story about. It sounded something like this: that they had been giving me the cold shoulder and things were generally awkward since things changed from a friendly neighbor vibe. This was a story that didn't sit harmoniously with me and I had intended to transform it. I didn't know how it would happen, but was in for the ride to see how things might unfold. This person is someone who I regularly see through mutual friends and events. I was at a party this weekend and saw my practice in action. When he entered the scene I noticed my story about our relationship arise. I could feel my front body almost thicken in an expression of armoring. Then, I let the story drop. I allowed my armoring to soften and began our friendship again with an open curiosity. Delightful conversations followed, along with a deepened appreciation for the freedom to practice.

 What are the stories you're holding onto right now?

 Take a few breaths to check in with that. Do you notice any stories about your relationships? Your life situations? 

  Notice what happens in your body as you observe the narratives.

  Find a yoga pose that enhances your ability to be present to the sensations in your body. 

  What's Happening Now?

  Explore for as long as serves you, respect your edges. 

  Allow your process to guide you into other postures and places for observing what's happening in each successive now. 

"Never underestimate the power of compassionately recognizing what's going on."-Pema Chodron

   

Gentle Partner Yoga Practice

I've been getting more and more into the arts that allow space for contact and connection. If you've had any experiences with partner yoga, acroyoga, contact dance or any other form of movement involving touch, you may have noticed how a familiar pose can become new territory. 


One of my Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy clients had been practicing yoga for over a decade. He had a long term, intimate relationship with himself through Yoga. For him, being assisted into postures he knew so well provided a new space for him to witness how his body reflected his ways of living. He left the session with a clear intention to be more present to his wife. What wisdom does your body want to share? Are you giving yourself the space to listen?
Try the following gentle partner yoga practice


Throughout your practice, do your best to be a welcoming host to whatever arises. As Pema Chodron says, "Never underestimate the power of a compassionate presence.

Sit down back to back with your partner. 
Take a few deep breaths, in through your nose, and out through your mouth.
See what it's like to bring your breath to your back. Imagine you can massage your partner's back with your breath. Stay here for several full breaths.

Place the palms of your hands together. Rest your thumbs at your heart center. Take a deep breath in, extend your arms to the side and up. Weave your arms around your partner's arms. As you exhale next, bend to one side. Ground one pair of hands or forearms on the floor and reach up and over with your other arm. Take a few breaths here as you feel the qualities of sensations where you and your partner's bodies connect. When you're ready, switch sides.

Come back to center. Let your shoulders soften back against your partner as you lengthen your spine. Reach your right hand back to your partner's knee, reach your left hand to your right knee. As you inhale, root into your sitting bones, lift through your crown. Exhale, to spiral into your shared twist. Take a few breaths here. Switch sides when you're ready.

Feel free to keep exploring movement with your partner. Share a savasana, corpse pose, when 
your practice together feels complete. Let me know what your partner yoga practice was like :) 


If you want to meet yourself more through your body, come to PRYT partner yoga class at Hollow Reed Holistic's community space every other Saturday at 10:30 or book a PRYT session by calling or emailing. 

Have a Blissful day

Namaste

Yoga this Spring, Guided Meditation

Namaste and Happy Spring! 

In what ways have you been caring for yourself on this journey of sacred self discovery? What new growth are you celebrating? What are you letting decay to nourish that new life?

Even though we didn't have as full on of a winter, I'm still feeling myself letting go of a few layers as I open up to the fresh possibilities of the blossoming season. As I let relationships, roles and ways of being die and transform, I allow more space for that which is aligned with where's I'm at right Now. A part of that means giving myself time for writing, which means more blog posts! yay! 

One of branches of new growth I'm really excited for is the start of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy at Hollow Reed Holistic's community space next door to their apothecary. (http://www.hollowreedholistic.ca/)

Between the other radiant healers, the soothing smells of the plant medicines, and the friendly people who flow through, I'm so grateful to connect more with the community by sharing what I'm passionate about. Here's where you can find me this spring:

Morning Yoga at Hollow Reed's Community Space
Thursdays
8:00-9:30-$10

Partner Yoga-Phoenix Rising Style
April 21, May 5, May 19 etc.
10:30-12-$10

Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy sessions
45 m-$40
90 m-$75

Go here  to listen to a guided PRYT centering meditation. Use it to create space to check in with yourself. Let it be one of the gifts you give yourself today, and feel free to let me know what you get out of it. One thing I appreciate most about what I do is that I get to see unique journeys people of connecting more fully to themselves. 

'"Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy."-Joseph Campbell

The Science of Transformation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFZZagLRPes&feature=player_embedded

Thank you to my friend Xina Lorreen for posting this right when I was pondering the mysteries of how Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy really works to transform ourselves and our lives around us. As you let go into the Loving Presence that is the container in a strong session, our DNA relaxes and our immune system is more free to be healthy.

What kind of presence are you cultivating and how do you imagine that's changing your DNA? How is it changing the world around you?

Take a moment right now to connect in with the power we all have access to.
 Breath into your heart. Move. Sing. Dance. Play. Write. Walk. Appreciate.
 Do whatever serves your ability to offer a Loving Presence to yourself and those around you.

PS-If you want to learn more about the tube torus of energy, Nassim Haramein is your guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyqBnd3Xwck

Is this winter bringing you closer to your bliss or farther from it?

At this time in the cycle of the seasons, as the coldness grows and the days shorten I cozy into hibernation mode. I don't go out as much, instead exploring more creativity, reading and introspection time. Sometimes the hibernation can feel isolating, the darkness can get depressing, and the limitations of outdoor play can get suffocating. 


How do you create a lifestyle in a way that works with, instead of against, the cycles of nature? 

"If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are—if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time"

-Joseph Campbell

Take a few deep breaths and check in with yourself. What do you notice? Open up to the part of yourSelf that knows beyond knowing. Let yourself be in silence here for as long as feels right. 

Reflect on brings you joy in life. What are some highlights of experiences that left you feeling ecstatic. Take your time. Also notice any of those things you've "always wanted to try."

When you're ready, write or draw all that you came up with.  Put this map of bliss somewhere you'll see it regularly. Let your map inspire you to weave what you love throughout your day.

In a time where productivity is so valued, allow yourself the freedom to just be and the inspiration to do whatever you do joyfully, without expectations.

This song brought me joy today. Click play on the first song called Follow My Bliss (ps Autumn Skye is an incredible visual artist, who's sacred geometry filled paintings can be found here )

Sat Nam