Gratitude

A week filled with much to be grateful for…

• the friend who called and said “I love you. I really love you.”
• the Godiva dark chocolate raspberry bar that my beloved and I shared
• my daughter’s hugs
• my new eyeglasses that make the world so much clearer to me
• the newest book that I’m busily devouring, Gandhi An Autobiography: The Story Of My Experiments With Truth
• the creation of NaYoPracMo
• humming through the house, while listening to the soundtrack from the movie Water
• sitting in the coffee shop and filling pages of my journal
• the start of classes tomorrow
• silent mornings with a warm cup of Fair Trade Ethiopian Coffee in my hand
• the way the rain dances on the pavement
• this poem

Do You Feel What I Feel?

Do you feel what I feel? It’s been five days of keeping my commitment to yoga practice, and I feel more movement, more steadiness, and more calm in my body. How about you?

“What are some of your most common excuses not to practice?”

“What are some of your most common excuses not to practice?” This is the question asked by Yogamum over at NaYoPracMo.

My #1 excuse is that the house isn’t clean enough. I constantly have the feeling that in order to practice yoga my living space must be in perfect order. After that I’d use studying, being too tired, and finally, if I’ve left yoga practice until later in the evening my excuse would be having to get up early.

Yoga and The Sniffles

Yup, I’m coming down with a cold, but I’m staying true to my yoga practice. Oh, how I’d love to be able to breathe freely through my nose. Perhaps, a little ginger tea, a little neti potting and an early night’s sleep will remedy the situation.

Gratitude

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to keep a gratitude journal, so I’ve decided to list the things I’m grateful for every Sunday on this blog. But, because I couldn’t wait here is my first list early.
I’m grateful for:
• the soft feeling of a balmy breeze as it kisses my cheek
• Baxters Country Vegetable Soup on chilly nights
• Paul Tillich’s book The Courage To Be
• watercolour pencils that free me when I have a creative whim
• my psychology of religion class that expands my idea of God
• my son’s laughter
• this video
• the scent of Downy fresh sheets straight out of the dryer
• the silence during sitting meditation

Yoga Practice

It’s New Year’s Day, and the first day of NaYoPracMo. I’m looking forward to a whole month of daily yoga practice, since I let my regular yoga practice become sidetracked during the holidays. Today’s practice began with the lighting of incense, the placing of a CD in the CD player, and the unfurling of my yoga mat. I was excited, arms raised to start Sun Salutations and then as I bent down into forward bend I felt the familiar muscle tightness in the backs of my legs. I was somewhat dismayed recalling how much progress I’d made prior to the holidays, while engaged in regular practice. I persuaded myself to keep going lengthening and stretching the muscles that were feeling resistant, with each new pose the stiffness melted a little more, until finally, I could feel new movement and space. Finishing my practice, I laid back in Corpse Pose and smiled, as I thought how yoga practice, like New Year’s Day was offering up a moment to begin again.

Happy New Year!

May all your dreams take flight this year.

Wishing You A Happy Holiday Season

May every joy be yours during these Holy Days.

The Stroke Of Midnight

I almost missed my daily mirror meditation yesterday. The day sped along quickly, and by the conclusion of it I climbed into bed exhausted. It was at 11:40pm that I awoke, eyes wide open, and flung the covers off, fully aware that I’d forgotten to do my mirror meditation. Feet hitting the floor I raced around the room searching for my hand mirror. I had to begin and complete meditation before the clock struck midnight, whereby my chances of keeping the “daily” in my meditation practice would slip into the ethers. After some searching I finally, found the mirror and sat comfortably on the sofa. It wasn’t long before drowsiness and the desire to crawl back into bed entered my mind. I was tired from all the Christmas preparations I’d done not to mention the cold my body was trying to fend off. I knew how easy it would have been to slip under the warm downy covers and forget meditation altogether. In response to this desire, I reminded myself of the benefits I’ve experienced by spending this small amount of time with myself. Although, I haven’t practiced this meditation for very long, willingness is a very important component of its benefits. The willingness to create a space of time belonging to me has caused a softening in the way I view myself. There’s an increasing resolve to examine thoughts that feel as though they carry a barb of criticism and weigh their value, instead of readily accepting them as true. Often, when examined these thoughts, that contain painful barbs can be tossed aside, giving way to thoughts of self-acceptance and compassion, which enable a deeper relationship with one’s self. I wonder why so many of us do not make the time to sit in the silent presence of ourselves where understanding can blossom? Just 10-minutes a day, imagine the possibilities.

Feeling Good

Today, I spent most of the afternoon sprawled out on the sofa with a blanket, a hot chocolate, and a feel good movie. If you haven’t seen the German film “Enlightenment Guaranteed” then give it a try. It’s a story about two brothers each seeking different paths who visit a Buddhist monastary and find that, perhaps they’re really searching for the same thing.

Rating: ✵✵✵✵
5 stars is the highest possible rating