Thursday, June 25, 2009

laughter

I love it when something happens out of the blue and it makes you just CRACK up. I love it when you lose your breath and tears come. I love the way it sounds.

Now that I meditate and practice yoga, I am more aware of my energy body or the pranamayakosha. . I will tell you that when I laugh, I always pause (not literally..who would interrupt laughter?) and notice how my body feels. Laughter feels like all the colors of the rainbow exploding into beautiful crystals throughout your entire body. It starts in your heart and explodes everywhere else. It ends up pink. It feels like love.

Find humor in every situation.

“God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.”
- Voltaire

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

who am i?

I've been on this journey for a few years. It began on May 2nd of 2002, but that's a whole other blog. I'm a big reader and studier. I tend to be very analytical in my spiritual pursuits so in my spare time, you can find me cuddled up somewhere reading and learning. Sometimes I feel like I have read it all and that everyone is saying the same thing in a different way. I wonder what I would say....

I have a friend who says to fake it until you make it. I've pretended to be Deepak, Dr. Dyer, Louis Hay, Claire Diab, Shiva Rae and Rod Stryker while teaching my yoga students. Lately, I've started to notice who I actually am. I do have my own philosophy and my own voice. I've started to use my own ideology and it seems true and resonates.

Sometimes I feel so much just like me that I can't even believe how good it feels to just be me. When I feel just like me I feel soft and fun and energetic. I feel creative and vital. I don't feel that way all the time, but I do more and more. Sometimes I just feel perfect.

We are all perfect in this moment. Love yourself. Each person is unique and has a purpose or "Dharma". What is your truth? Who do you sound like?

Monday, June 22, 2009

The apple cider vinegar diet

I don't recommend any product or service unless I have tried it first and know that it works. It's my philosophy and policy for my studio, my business and my life. That means I've done and tried some pretty freaky things. We'll save the shamanic drumming tantric water immersion experience for another blog and YES I was the only one wearing a bathing suit.

So I'm trying the apple cider vinegar diet. Why? Well, I turned 40 and have put on about 6 pounds in 6 months. That's not a good sign. I will admit to a slight kapha imbalance and a craving for crackers and cheese every single night, but I have both habits under control and yet the weight is not moving.


Dr. Maoshing Ni talks about apple cider vinegar in his book "Second Spring" which got me investigating. There are lots of claims of weight loss associated with drinking a teaspoon of vinegar 3 times a day in a warm glass of water. If you are going to do this with me, buy Braggs. It's all organic and perfect. I warn you that this is not pleasant and results in goosebumps, gagging and an unpleasant prune face....all are temporary.


I tweet as well as blog and I now have a problem with my independant anecdotal and unbiased assessment of the Bragg's vinegar diet.......Patricia Braggs is now following me on Twitter. I followed her back, of course, and discovered that she is just about the nicest person ever. I really want to please her. I want this to work. So now I'm forcing down this disgusting drink three times a day and I'm praying that this works because I really need for Ms. Braggs to be proud of me and happy. So now the results will be tainted. Did the apple cider vinegar truly make me lose weight or was it the dramatic intention setting and desire to please another? I guess I better get through day one before we decide.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The turtle in the pond

I have a very small pond in my backyard. It has a fountain and some plants. I love this pond. I sit by it daily and enjoy most of my more profound insights next to it. It is perfect for relaxation, communion and meditation. It is my little slice of heaven. I have two children.

My youngest and I decided to capture critters for our pond. We went to the big pond and received quite the education in the velocity in which stinky frogs travel. We then went to the pet store. There we found not only frogs, but crawfish, guppies, goldfish and finally a beautiful orange and black turtle. We named him "Namaste". We love this little guy.
Now I sit by my pond to relax, but I find that I am overwhelmed with worry and anxiety until I spot him. He's quite elusive and I am quite attached. I can't settle my mind until he's poked his little head. I worry...did he run off? did a racoon get him? where is he? I desperately search for him and I always find him right where I left him....in the pond. He is always just floating around enjoying the serenity and I'm sure, enjoying the drama of my search.

I realize that these anxious unsettled feelings are exactly the same that I get when I miss a meditation or two or three (okay, sometimes four). I start to worry that I am disconnecting from my spirit. I become anxious that my other self is disappointed in me for abandoning it for too long. Anxiously and hurriedly I return to my meditation searching intently for that connection. Searching for that little out of skin buzz you get when you meditate. Searching for that peaceful serenity of knowing my other me is out there. Don't leave me. Please don't go away. I always find it just where I left it. It's floating around its big pond having the time of its life just waiting for my return. Poking its head in and out. Enjoying its serenity and I'm sure, the drama of my desperate search.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The Wisdom of Babes

I have a problem with animals. I can't resist them. I turn 5 when I am in a pet store. I would like to have one of every color, shape and size. We now have a family rule which is "no more pets".

My daughter and I went to the pet store to get tadpools for the pond. Technically, tadpools cannot be considered pets as they are wild creatures and fend for themselves. Of course, the list of pond needs grew to goldfish and guppies. That seemed fine as they eat each other and support the "fend for yourself" ideal. Then we saw the turtle. He requires plants, special food and things to sit on. He clearly has personality and can't quite fend for himself.

That turtle would be deemed a "pet". I said "no". My heart said "yes, please please please". My daughter was begging. I looked that little girl straight in the eye and in my best impersonation of a mother I said "Katie, someone has to be a grown-up and make a firm decision here...." Before I could go on she stomped her foot, crossed her arms and said, "Fine. I will be the grown up. We are getting the turtle." He seems very happy in our pond.

Listen to your children. They are free and full of grace. They are the closest thing to spirit that can directly communicate with you. They understand that the reason we are here is to play....leela. We are here to enjoy every minute of our and our turtle's existence.

Namaste

Friday, June 5, 2009

Laundry

I love to do laundry. I always have, but now I have energy saver top of the line stacked washer and dryer and you can see the clothes spin. They are cool. I bought white because I think it makes them appear more traditional and that makes me laugh.

They sing. When you turn them on and when they are done, they play the cutest little song. When you hear the song you jump up and run to the little guys to say thanks for the song and it makes the experience of laundry so nice.

I'm grateful to the person who thought to make the washer and dryer sing. I wonder if this person knew that they were spreading happiness. I wonder if their life purpose was to create this tiny modification in the laundry process which improved so many people's lives. I wonder if they are aware of all the people they have touched with their own unique creativity.

You never know who you touch. Each person has a unique skill in talent. If you foster this talent, you will reveal your life's purpose

My Interview

I was interviewed for a magazine yesterday. Cincinnati Magazine does an article on the coolest people in the xburbs...areas outside of Cinci. I will confess that I'm totally shocked that they called me. The interview was nice. Donna, who teaches yoga at Shine in Cincinnati, interviewed me. I appreciated that she was a yogi and "talked the talk". I knew the call was coming so I had gathered thoughts and messages to convey. Donna is good at her job and cut right through all that so I was forced to just sit back and talk about myself which I find hard to do. To meet me, you would be shocked to know that I am actually quite shy and private. I keep my emotions close to myself. I don't spend time thinking about myself and my qualities....at least the positive ones. I am always working on the less favorable qualities as I would like to be the best person I can be.  The article is about "cool" people.  She asked me what was "cool" about me. I had no idea. I think I mumbled something about my kids like me. It's been a day and I have had time to think about what may be perceived as "cool" about me. Here is my list.
  • I am non-judgmental. Trust me, whatever you have done in the past I have topped it somehow.
  • I can keep a secret. I don't tell your stuff. I like your stuff too. It makes you interesting.
  • I am compassionate. When you are sitting telling me how terrible things are going, I will find the bright side for you......I cry for you later when I am alone.
  • I am a good mom. Kids are just small people to me. I value their opinions and recognize they have better solutions and ideas than me sometimes. They're fun.
  • I have never met a problem I couldn't fix. Seriously....that's my personal tag line.
  • I am a good friend. I will always choose you over me. Some call that being a martyr, but I think I have perfected it to the point that I don't often feel taken advantage of. I know that I always end up with what I need, so I can let my needs go in the moment.
Other cool weird things: (needs own category)
  • I study astrology and I'm getting quite good at it.
  • I saw a woman's aura once. I was getting my nails done and looked over and she was surrounded in pink. After eavesdropping I learned that she was visiting the pope. I looked up pink and it means "spirituality".
  • I can bend time. It's a yogi magical power call a siddhi. It's my only magical power and happens when I am alone so I can't prove it. That having been said, one time when the kids and I were coming back from Pittsburgh we did it in 4 instead of 6 hours and I didn't drive faster than 75 or 80. Weird.
  • This life I planned for me has been very stereotypical to a certain date which I think is funny. Alcoholic dysfunctional family, put myself through college...only one from family to go to college...married a doctor...lived on a country club...had a white mini-van with 2.5 kids and a golden retriever...divorced...became a yogi...ex has a 22 year old girlfriend.... This CRACKS me up. My non-local witnessing soul has little imagination. (I'm kidding my friend).
  • I garden very haphazardly
  • I write
  • I teach
  • I struggle and suffer just like everyone. This too CRACKS me up!
Namaste to all you cool people. We are all cool.

The rack in the microwave

There is a metal rack in my microwave. It sits above the little plate that spins around. It was there when I moved into my house. I've taken everything out of the microwave to clean and put it all back together. Now the rack is in the way of everything. You can barely squeeze your cup of coffee onto the plate to reheat it. I didn't notice this situation until I took the microwave apart to clean it. Obviously, I have put it back together wrong.

Each time I use the microwave I pause and examine it to figure out if there is a better way to put the wrack back in. Honestly, I can't figure it out. As far as I can see there is only one choice and that one choice is not working. This has become quite a thorn in my side. I have spilt food and burned myself. I have heated things on the stove instead. I have eaten food cold.


Today I took the rack out of the microwave and put it in the closet.
There is always another choice. In any situation, pause and ask yourself "Will this choice bring me and others happiness?". If the answer is no to either, make a different choice. This is how we transcend Karma. There is always another choice.

Doggie Droppings

I have two dogs. One is an adorable and sweet golden retriever named Cheddar. The other is a fierce little yorkie named Spicer, but we call him Napolean...you can imagine. Needless to say, they poop a lot. Daily. I can't stand to let it sit in the yard so I'm out there every day picking up poop and putting in the doggie doo composter. Every single day I have to pick up this poop which never stops. It just keeps coming. I've switched foods around to see if it makes a difference...it doesn't. I will warn you to never let your dog jump on the counter and eat a whole pizza....that was a bad week.

So, if everything means something, then what does this neverending chore of poop scooping represent in my life? It represents one of the five Niyamas....Tapas. Tapas is a Sanskrit word that means "discipline". As a yogi, it is natural that you will embrace the Eight Limbs of Yoga. The Niyamas (one of eight limbs) govern personal conduct. Tapas is one of 5 codes of conduct.

Tapas in my life means waking up each day and expressing gratitude for everything in my life...the good and the bad. It means spending time each day in silence meditating. It means doing a little yoga and taking care of my body each day. It means being kind and compassionate throughout my day. It means pausing in my moments to stay present in them. Finally, it means expressing gratitude for everything in my life...the good and the bad...before I go to bed each night. That's Tapas.

Just like the doggie poo, if ignored and left lying around, my life too begins to spoil the grass and the landscape of my existence. Pick up your doo daily. Stay present as you do it. Pause to throw the tennis ball to your doggie inbetween piles.

Doing and Being

My children are out of school for the summer. We've had a couple of fun days now. They had to hang at the studio a bit, but we squeezed Kings Island in as well. We seem to be having fun regardless of our activities and I believe it is the difference between being and doing that creates the fun.

Children are naturally talented at simply "being". They never care where they are and they can turn anything into a game or an exciting adventure. Parents plan. We organize and get little people to where they need to be. We make sure everyone is fed and covered in sunscreen and in our next thought we forget to simply be in the moment.

I'm going to keep planning, but I intend to look at each piece of our day as its own special segment. I intend to put all my intention on that particular segment whether it be shopping for groceries or waiting in line at Kings Island. This summer I intend to simply BE with my children.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

kindness

In every situation it is always appropriate to be kind. In fact, silence can be the nicest thing you say or give to someone. Always ask these three questions before you give an opinion or speak your mind:

Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?

If the answer to any of these questions is "no", then let the moment pass and find another time when the information can be conveyed in a positive and helpful way. Perhaps the information is simply your opinion and doesn't ever need to be conveyed.

Buddha said this much more eloquently:
"If it is not truthful and not helpful, don’t say it.
If it is truthful and not helpful, don’t say it.
If it is not truthful and helpful, don’t say it. 
If it is truthful and helpful, wait for the right time.
"

Namaste