Peaceful Movement

Moving the body is a joy not to be overlooked.

Flowing through yoga poses, walking through the woods, and sharing qi gong or tai chi can bring peace to your body, and so to your mind and spirit. Some people find joy in running, some in team sports; others fancy a Zumba class! Joyful movement awakens you to the miracle of the body. Muscles stretch and strengthen, knees lose their aches, tension eases out of the back. Happiness suffuses you.

Peaceful movement brings ease and joy to your life. Not only will your body rejoice every morning as it springs out of bed, but your spirit will be lighter and your mind will be clear.

Dance.

Peaceful Breath

The first time I sat in a yoga class, legs crossed on a sticky mat, and was told to breathe, I couldn’t resist opening one eye to see what the others were doing. Duh, I’ve been breathing my whole life, so what was the deal with breathing in this class?

Then more direction came from the teacher. I followed along, filling my body from seat to crown with air, then emptying out. It was both calming and energizing. As time passed, I learned that I was not only inhaling air, but also prana, or life force energy. I was not just filling my lungs, but my entire being. Each exhale was a release of whatever I had no use for at that moment; but if I changed my mind I could just breathe it back in, no questions asked!

Oh, yeah, in that first yoga class we learned some poses, too. That was fun.

Light, Life, Love

There are events happening all around us that we don't notice. Small things, and bigger, splashier things, that we somehow miss. Sometimes we are simply to busy to stop and look, and sometimes we are on autopilot. We flash past and don't see. 

This Spring, though, is a little different. The difficult, cold, icy winter we just endured has made us more aware of the signals that proclaim a change. I've noticed people are a little more excited about the first crocus this year. They are a bit more energized by the first semi-warm day; just a smidge happier than usual when the sun is out. Robins are greeted with sighs of appreciation.

We want to segue from that new habit of noticing signs of Spring into a larger awareness of events around our personal world, and around our global world. Look past the scary news broadcasts and into the smaller, brighter nooks that abound. 

Increasing numbers of people are discovering that being kind to themselves translates to being kind to those they encounter during the day; and the inevitable ripple effect that ensues is wonderful to see and experience. I believe it will be the little things that save our planet. Small, grassroots gatherings and projects will galvanize more and more people into right action. When we move from love, with love, we can move mountains. One stone turns into a shovelful, which increases to a wheelbarrow then to an overflowing dump truck. Watch.

The flame from your candle illuminates the dark. Darkness cannot extinguish its light.

Yogi Island

 When you step onto your yoga mat, you are as on a deserted island. Although in reality there are mats to your left and to your right, and you anticipate brushing hands with a neighbor at some point during the next hour, you need only focus on what You are doing and where You are. No need to compare backbends with the guy next door; every reason to sit out a sun salutation in child's pose because you had a tough day. You carry who you are today into your yoga practice -- not who you were yesterday or who you will be tomorrow. If you feel open and energetic you can turn your Wild Thing into a Wheel; if you feel the need to nurture yourself, Tame Thing may be your choice (you can create that pose yourself!). No need to keep up or to hold back. If you resist judging yourself, you will find your best practice. If you resist judging your neighbor, they will respond in kind. 

But if you feel a giggle coming up as you attempt a seemingly impossible pose, let it out -- I'm sure your neighbors could use a laugh, too!

Autopilot, in a good way

It all begins with awareness: Awareness of your body, your surroundings, and your mental and emotional states. Knowing how you feel after eating a certain food, after practicing a particular exercise, after talking to a certain person. Has the experience left you tired and foggy brained, or do you come out feeling energized and clear-headed? Take notice of what your oh-so intelligent body is saying to you.

Awareness takes practice, though. Remember when you started yoga and discovered all sorts of body parts you didn't even know you had? They were always there; you simply never noticed them! Or like that tummy ache you get when you eat a second helping of tiramisu. In the back of your mind, you know the bellyache is coming, but you push the thought away and eat more anyway. 

You ignore your body’s signals, and satisfy an urge that goes against your own best interest! The next day you are kicking yourself, wondering why you couldn’t resist.

Wake up to what your body is telling you. When making a decision, be aware of whether your body sends you a zing to warn you away, or a wave of calm that indicates you are on the right road. Recognize that you have all the answers, but you need to find a way to access them.

Increase the strength of your intuition by practicing awareness of your body’s signals. It all begins with listening to your gut and heeding your instincts. As your intuition improves you will notice your decision-making skills being honed, and your gut instincts becoming more and more reliable. It’s all there; you just have to listen.