Real Yoga Stories: Thoughts on Yoga and Faith

I’m finding more and more controversy and discussion about Christians and yoga, Christian Yoga, etc.  There are of course two sides to every issue. On the one hand, many (including myself) believe that Christians can practice many aspects of yoga and incorporate them into their faith, leaving behind the aspects of yoga that don’t align with Christianity.  (I also believe that you can practice the physical and stress-relieving benefits of yoga to improve your health without any religious aspects…which would include our Demystified Yoga classes).  Others believe that no aspects of yoga can be separated from the traditional and spiritual parts and that Christians should steer clear.

With that in mind, I’m very excited to have stumbled upon Beth and her blog: lovecoloredglasses.  Below you’ll find a recent post from Beth’s blog on yoga and her Christian faith. (Thanks Beth, for sharing!) While I’ve studied the linkages and differences between a Christian point of view and yoga, and I’ve certainly gotten into many healthy discussions on these topics, I was struck by how well organized, insightful and scripturally grounded Beth’s post is…and wanted to share with you.  Whether you have hesitations about starting a yoga practice or just want to think on the idea of yoga and your faith, read on….  Yes, it’s a long post – maybe something to print and noodle on now and then…feel free to add your thoughts as well…let’s all keep talking…

——————from Beth & lovecoloredglasses————————————–

Alright. A question or pondering to answer, both for others and myself.

How does yoga fit with your faith?

Granted, yoga is a spiritual practice and discipline that is different from my own Christian faith.

And yoga is something to be careful with.  If you’re attending classes, you can end up with one that teaches a lot of the Eastern theology that goes with yoga. However, a lot of the principles of yoga fit in very well with my health and my relationship with God.

My main thought comes from Ephesians 5:9 – “(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)”, and Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” There is conflict between some of the Christian and Eastern spiritualities, which is where a lot of the fear comes from, but just because I don’t think they have it all right, doesn’t mean I think they have it all wrong either. I think some of the practices are helpful to me, and bring me closer to God, and others don’t help me, so I don’t utilize them.

Granted, I don’t know all of the answers, and if I am ever convicted by God’s Spirit that there are other places to direct my energy, there they will go. But as my experience has afforded me, parts of yoga, like the postures, and being aware of breathing and relaxing has been helpful. Instead of emptying my mind, I focus on resting in God’s love, and instead of focusing on connecting to the “divine spirit”, I try to focus on how centering my focus allows me to become a better vessel for the Holy Spirit. Yes, it’s changing language, but language structures how we see reality and the world.

For the rest of the post, the text I’m quoting will be in black, while my thoughts and scripture verses will be in italics.

Here is an illustration of the parts of yoga in relation to a tree.

The parts labeled on the tree are these:

• The “Yamas” or “restraints” outline the five things that the yogi must abstain from in his path to enlightenment.

1. Ahimsa: The Sanskrit word Himsa means violence, so Ahimsa translates literally as the avoidance of violence, or non-violence. However, the meaning of this extends far beyond refraining from physically harming your fellow man. The succinct definition of Ahimsa is to abstain from harming any sentient being in thought, word, or deed.
   This correlates with Christian concepts very well. Jesus talks about this. Matthew 5:21-22: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”
2. Satya: The “Truth” referred to in the Sanskrit word Sat is the Ultimate Truth, the eternal truth of existence.
   Yes, we should seek the Ultimate Truth, God, revealed in Christ Jesus.
   Psalm 31:5 – “Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.“
   Our God is the God of truth.
3. Asteya: Sanskrit Steya means robbery; Asteya is translated as abstention from theft or stealing. Like the other Yamas, Asteya extends beyond the theft of an object from someone else. A person can steal or covet many intangible things, as well, such as attention, the control of a situation, or a child’s opportunity to learn something for himself.
   Don’t steal. It’s in the Ten Commandments. And Jesus takes the commandments to a similar letter when he talks about wanting to kill your brother is the same thing.
   Exodus 20:15 “You shall not steal.”
4. Brahmacharya: Brahma is the name of any one of a number of deities mentioned in the Vedas, Hinduism and Buddhism. The Sanskrit word char means to walk, and ya means actively, most often the compound word charya is translated as practice. The word Brahmacharya has been translated as “brahmic conduct” or “walking with God”, though frequently it is simplified even further into non-lust, or continence and self-control.
   Okay, so we’re not following a bunch of deities, but walking with God (the one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is important.
   Micah 6:8 – “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.“
5. Aparigraha: The Sanskrit term for “hoarding” is Parigraha, thus Aparigraha is to abstain from possessiveness, greed, selfishness, acquisitiveness.
   Again, I think this fits very well. If you have two coats, give one to your neighbor.
   John the Baptist says in Luke 3:11 – “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”
   Act 4:32 – “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”

• The “Niyamas” or “observances” are the five things that the yogi must strive to maintain in his life:

1. Shauca: Translations of Shauca are “purity” and “cleanliness”. This Niyama relates to the English cliché “cleanliness is next to godliness” and the idea of treating the human body as a temple.
   Temple of the Holy Spirit anyone?
   1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.“
2. Santosha: The word Santosha translates to the English word “contentment”. One key part of understanding Santosha is living in the present – neither longing for the past nor worrying about the future. It brings an awareness of the student’s responsibility for being where they are right now, acceptance of this, and understanding of how to move forward.
   We can’t change yesterday, and God tells us not to worry about tomorrow. Check.
   Matthew 6:31-34: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
3. Tapas: The Sanskrit word “tapas” translates literally as “to generate heat”. Often, the English word used to summarize this concept is “austerity” or “discipline”, which does not explain the heart of this Niyama. What it really refers to is the student’s commitment, diligence and hard work.
   Keep on keeping on. “Run the race with diligence so as to get the prize” or something like that.
   Hebrews 6:11-12: “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”
4. Swadhyaya: Swadhyaya has been subject to various interpretations: from the study of sacred texts to introspective self-study or self-analysis. This Niyama also refers to the Socratic concept of “Know thyself” – for it is only through an understanding of our own selves that we can see how they influence our interactions with the world around us.
   Maybe not specifically Christian, but I’m all about learning to understand myself.
5. Ishwarapranidhana: The English translations of this Niyama range: “Dedication to God”, “Living with an awareness of the Divine”, “Devotion to the Divine”, and “Surrender to God”. The central idea surrounding it is to offer one’s life to God, dedication of the fruits of all efforts to the Divine.
   Again, remember that we don’t worship a bunch of Gods, we worship one. But He does want our lives.

• Asana, the third branch of the Eightfold Path is the one with which most Westerners are familiar as “yoga” In most yoga classes, the Sanskrit word “asana” is used to interchangeably in English with pose or posture.
  This most familiar branch of yoga is helpful for taking care of our bodies and keeping them healthy.
• The fourth limb is called Pranayama and is about the lengthening and extension of the breath. With mindfulness and concentration, we can send the energy of the breath throughout the body, releasing tensions, supplying strength, and bringing stillness to areas where we are troubled. When practicing yoga, we often discover parts of our body that are tight, sore, numb, or painful of which we were not even aware. This is the process of developing mindfulness. The breath is also a useful tool for meditation. By bringing our awareness to the breath, by actually sitting in physical stillness and taking the time to simply listen to it, we can quiet the mind. Most of our thinking is simply illusions the mind creates to distract us from reality. We often miss out on our own lives by living inside our heads. When we calm the mind, we open our awareness to the direct experience of the present. It is at that moment that you discover your true nature and the nature of the world around you.
  God breathed life into man, and it is each breath that He grants us that enables us to keep on living. I don’t see anything wrong with learning how to utilize each breath to its fullest. And breath for meditation? I use breath prayers all the time when I’m stressed. (Inhale: Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, Exhale: Have mercy on me, a sinner.)

• Pratyahara is the withdrawal of the senses, or turning one’s mental focus inward. This is simple to describe or explain, but difficult to learn to do.
  Introspection is good, just don’t forget that God calls us outward to serve as well.
  Galations 5:13-14: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• The sixth limb is Dharana or concentration, described by Patanjali in Yoga Sutra 3:1 as “fixing of the mind within a point or area.” Whether by focusing on a specific chakra or energy center in the body, or by chanting a mantra such as “Om”, the meditation is centered on a specific space, sound or image. If the student is aware of distractions at all, then they are still making an effort to focus, or practicing Pratyahara.
  I agree with learning to focus, but be careful, as C.S. Lewis warned in The Screwtape Letters, that you don’t mistake God to be an object, or an object to be the focus of your worship. This is a lesson to be used in all areas of life though. Things are symbols, like the cross you wear, or the altar in your church, or the songs that you sing. Very useful tools, but remember that as we learn to focus, that God is beyond the object we use to learn to focus.
• One does not technically begin to meditate until reaching the seventh limb, or Dhyana. It is described as “uninterrupted flow”. Dhyana is effortless and seamless. The senses have been completely withdrawn.
  This one starts moving beyond where I’d like to be. I modify this step to being aware of being in communion with God. God is always with us, but we’re not always aware. The goal should not be to empty your mind completely, but to rid it of unhealthy things to make room for the things that God has for us.
  John 14:26-27: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
• The ultimate goal of the yoga student is Samadhi. This is the same Sanskrit word used in Buddhism for “enlightenment”. In The Storytelling Monk‘s glossary of metaphorical meanings in Sanskrit, Samadhi is described as “a state of inner calmness, which is born out of sincere practice.” Linguistically, the word Sama is derived from Samahita, meaning “balanced”, “complete”, “pure”, or even “dissolved”.
  A state of inner calmness is good. God desired to make us whole and complete beings. We were designed that way, but in our fallen world, things don’t work out that way. Again, like I’ve said before, this is one of those places where we must remember that the road that we take to get there is God, through His filling us with His Spirit, not emptying our minds before many deities.

**Taken from Suite101: Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga: Spiritual Practice of Eightfold Path in Classical Yoga Sutras http://eastern-philosophy.suite101.com/article.cfm/patanjalis_yogic_philosophy#ixzz0m3bbDWNZ

And now returning my font to black. I’m done quoting. So yoga can be a very useful tool, but there are things to be aware of and be careful about.  You’ll find that everywhere though.  When I’m in a liturgical setting I have to be careful about falling into the routine and forgetting why the routine is there, and when I’m in a charismatic setting I have to be careful to remember that worship is not all about how I feel, because my feelings change.

I find that yoga is useful to me in many ways, and I try to be careful and aware of how it affects me. I try not to go into it with a blank or empty mind, leaving myself open to danger. Again though, going into anything with that mindset could get you into trouble.

Thoughts?

Peace (Shalom), Love (Agape), and Yoga (Practicing the Presence of God?)
-Beth

Real Yoga Stories: Senior does Yoga While Traveling to Israel

The following post is from one of my longtime yoga clients and friends, Judi Stradinger.  Thanks Judi – for sharing with us!

Included below is a 20 minute yoga class incorporating the poses Judi did every morning into a user-friendly routine great to do while traveling…

————————————————

I have just returned from a very strenuous trip to Israel (my life and my Bible will never be the same!).  On about the 3^rd day of our 13 day trip I decided to do some yoga poses because we were on the bus by 7:30 am and did not arrive home until 5 pm and I wanted to enjoy and do “everything”.

I took one of the towels and laid on the floor of my room with my feet in the air to stretch my back and shoulders ; I did hip stretches; I did lower back; hips and legs to one side; arms by my side and hold hips up, then standing up I did Side stretches and Sunflowers.

This took only about 20 minutes, but then I was good for the day of walking on uneven surfaces (over 2000 years old!) and up and down many, many steps! Doing Yoga helped me to have a wonderful trip and many, many fabulous memories….

God Bless,

Judi Stradinger

20 minute Traveling Yoga Routine:

This would be best to do at the end of your travel day, while your body is still warm from the activities of the day. Begin lying on your back with your legs bent, feet on the floor and arms by your side.  Take a few deep breaths here relaxing and letting go of distractions.

Pelvic Tilt: Inhale and as you exhale gently press your low back towards the floor. Inhale to release, exhale to tilt. Repeat 6-8 times.

Flowing Bridge: Keeping your arms along your side, gently press into your arms and feet and lift the hips off the floor. As you exhale, release the hips back to the mat. Continue to move with your breath, keeping your gaze on the ceiling.  Repeat 6-8 times.

Knees to Chest: Drawing your knees in toward the chest and rock side to side.  Hold and breathe for a few breaths.

Happy Baby: From Knees to Chest,  separate the knees wide and let your soles of your feet turn towards the ceiling. Hold on behind the thighs, calves or soles of your feet and draw the legs towards you – allowing the back to feel supported by the floor. Hold and breathe for 4 breaths and draw knees back to chest and rest.

Legs up in a Strap/Towel: While lying on your back, take a bath towel and roll long ways to make a makeshift yoga strap.  Place your feet in the middle of the towel and let them lengthen up toward the ceiling. Hold the edges of the towel so that your shoulders can relax.  Breathe here for 8-10 breaths, making sure your back feels supported on the floor.

After this pose, take time to rest on the floor in a comfortable position for 3-5 minutes.  Perhaps finding a gentle Recline Twist to each side – holding each side about 6-8 breaths. Then, allow your mind to be still and your body to rest.

5 minute Yoga Pick-Me-Up for the Morning:

These are great poses to do first thing in the morning to relieve stiffness and get energized for your travel day…

Mountain Pose: Stand tall with your feet hip width apart.  Roll the shoulders up and away from your ears. Inhale and reach your arms overhead. Exhale and release.  Continue for 6-8 times.

Side Stretches: Leaving both arms overhead, exhale as you lower your right arm and reach the left one towards the ceiling.  Inhale to lift both arms up again, exhale to lower the left one, right arm reaches up. Continue to alternate sides for 8-10 breaths.

Sunflowers: Find a wider stance with your feet wider than your shoulders and slightly turned out.  Inhale and lift your arms overhead, exhale as you bend the knees and hinge slightly at the hips.  Continue moving with your breath and warming up the body.

Demystified Yoga – Demystified Barbecue – Part 2

By Ardie A. Davis

Continued from Part 1…

Yoga choices, barbecue choices

There are many yoga choices—Iyengar, Kundalini, power vinyasa, and laughter, to name a few. There are also many regional styles of barbecue to choose from—Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, Santa Maria, Texas, Eastern & Western North Carolina, or South Carolina, to name a few.

Regardless of yoga or barbecue style differences, yoga and barbecue each have core basics. Yoga is bending, stretching, breathing, relaxing. Barbecue is fellowship, fire, smoke, fun, eating.

Btw: “Barbecue” has become the generic word for cooking outdoors with gas, charcoal or wood fire. Purists insist that grilling a hotdog outdoors is not barbecue. They are correct, but does it matter?

Animal poses, animal morsels

Omnivores, herbivores and carnivores are welcome at YogaXoga. What you eat and how much you eat outside of class is your personal choice.

One irony to me as a barbecuer is that several of our poses in YogaXoga imitate animals—cat, cow, dog, camel, and cobra, for example. Barbecuers pit smoke pigs, cattle, chickens and other animals, and then eat them.

Barbecuers also speak in hyperboles, also known as blowing smoke. Bulls, cows, pigs, and chickens figure into exclamations which don’t bear repeating here. It is not a coincidence that the official newspaper of the Kansas City Barbeque Society is the KC Bullsheet.

A lower back pain antidote that barbecuers can use

Another big plus for me was learning YogaXoga exercises that benefit specific parts of the body, especially lower back pain relief.

When I get back pain from too much heavy lifting—grandchildren, firewood or furniture—YogaXoga comes to the rescue with Heidi’s tried and true series of yoga moves for the lower back. Gretchen and I do Heidi’s back regimen when needed, and get instant results. Barbecuers could do it too.

I like moderation in barbecue, yoga and life. A few tried and true seasonings in small quantities—pepper, salt, olive oil, butter, a dry rub or sauce—let the natural flavors of smoked meat please the palate. Tough muscle meat, when smoked until tender, explodes with the 5^th taste, umami. Too much salt, sugar or other seasonings will overpower that primal flavor explosion of slow-smoked meat fresh from the pit. Likewise, YogaXoga represents moderation to me. My body and mind are always more at peace after a YogaXoga session.

Yes, at times I go beyond moderation when eating really good barbecue. However, I’ve never engaged in hot yoga!

Ardie A. Davis lives in Roeland Park, Kansas. Reviewers praised his 25 Essentials books on Grilling and Smoking (The Harvard Common Press, 2009) for “demystifying” grilling and smoking. For information on his other books, Google him.

Demystified Yoga – Demystified Barbecue – Part 1

By Ardie A. Davis

Is barbecue and yoga good for your body and mind?  Yes! Yoga and barbecue may seem a strange combo to vegans, but for me it’s a combo that works.

Barbecue has been in my life since childhood. Yoga, more recently. I value both and benefit from both.

When my wife, Gretchen, and I decided to do yoga, our search for a good fit took us to several friendly prospective venues. Everyone seemed young, fit, svelte, and female. We held on to the idea of yoga, but didn’t take the leap.

When a friend told us about Heidi’s low-stress YogaXoga classes, we signed up. Six years later we have no regrets. It is not always easy to get up and out the door—“Is it Tuesday already?” But when class is over we’re glad we made it.

Before taking the leap to YogaXoga, I had to get past some personal stereotypes. I wondered,

• Must you be skinny to do yoga?

• Is yoga like ballet, with students in tights, prancing around the room in various poses?

• Are men welcome?

• Will my barbecue friends laugh at me?

Men are welcome and the answer to the other questions is no.

Heidi’s low-stress style makes us stretch and sweat some, but it’s not an intense sweat fest. We’re also comfortable with the varying ages, sizes and degrees of fitness in our group.

YogaXoga reminds me of morning rituals Gretchen and I saw years ago during travels in China. Early each morning—regardless of the city we were in—parks and other public places were filled with people of all ages doing Tai Chi. Although YogaXoga isn’t a martial art, some of the poses—flowing archer and warrior, for example—echo martial arts exercises. The emphasis on balance, breathing, stretching and coordination resembles Tai Chi.

I like Heidi’s emphasis on the whole body. Each breath, each muscle works together or in tandem, with minimal stress.

Full disclosure: I have a reputation in our class for not always being in sync with Heidi’s directions. I tend to keep my eyes closed and follow Heidi’s verbal cues. Anyone who follows me instead of Heidi gets all mixed up!

To be continued….Look for Part 2 of this article tomorrow…

Ardie A. Davis lives in Roeland Park, Kansas. Reviewers praised his 25 Essentials books on Grilling and Smoking (The Harvard Common Press, 2009) for “demystifying” grilling and smoking. For information on his other books, Google him.

Seniors Doing Yoga: YogaXoga in the News

Our Tuesday morning class in Fairway, KS was profiled this week in the Overland Park Sun newspaper.  If you think that your aches and pains, lack of flexibility or overall stiffness disqualifies you from beginning a regular yoga practice, prepare to be inspired by these senior students.

It’s a joy to share yoga with them (& all my students) every week.

To read the article: CLICK HERE

Withdrawing from the noise

Last week and this past weekend, I was in a 4-day yoga training exploring more advanced poses and the history/philosophies of yoga.  Overall, it was just what I needed — time to be a student again and connect with other yoga folks from around the country.

On Day 3, as we broke for lunch, I was surprised to find that my shoes were missing (as in traditional yoga studios, students leave their shoes outside of the yoga room).  There was a pair that looked like my shoes, but did not feel like my shoes and were in a different place than where I left them.  Trying to apply these philosophies of  “letting go” and not having unhealthy attachments (I was attached to these shoes – they were so comfortable),  I calmly slipped my feet into someone else’s shoes for the day…

That afternoon the instructor led us on a sense withdrawal walk around the neighborhood of the studio.  Some of you may be wondering about sense withdrawal or pratyhara as it’s known in sanskrit.  Essentially, it involves separating ourselves from all of the things that overstimulate and distract our minds.  Going for a week without TV would be one way to withdraw.  Or driving to work without the radio.  For a more intense example, maybe going on a silent retreat.  For us, on a cold Saturday afternoon, it involved a completely silent walk around a neighborhood in the midwest.  When we limit one sense, our other senses step up and become more acute.  So, normally we walk along and talk with a friend or have our iPod going with our favorite music and we tend to miss what’s around us.

On this walk, I began still feeling the discomfort of the yoga shoe bandit’s shoes (yes, I’m sure she didn’t intentionally take my shoes – but I like the sound of yoga shoe bandit).   Then, I tried to practice what I always preach about acknowledging and letting go….  I started to really see, hear and feel what was before me – modest, quaint homes, the hum of traffic as we approached a busy street, the rustle of leaves.  I felt the cold, crisp air and the change to a more persistent wind as we turned the corner.  The smell of comfort food from the nearby pub wandered into my brain and made me re-think my lunch choice (mine was too healthy).  I noticed details that I usually don’t see.  And some of those details brought back memories and inspired new thoughts.

I’d encourage you this time of year to find some time to turn inward.  It doesn’t have to be a silent walk, but some way for us to tune out the noise and distraction of our hectic lives.  When we allow our minds to be quiet and still, you might be amazed by what you experience.

As far as the shoes go, still no word from the bandit.  I guess I have some shoe shopping in my future….

Gratitude All Year Long

We just returned from celebrating Thanksgiving and the 90th birthday of my husband’s grandfather.  It was a nice time just being with family that we don’t get to see very often (and some I had never met before).  We had a good mix of activities, dinners and normal everyday tasks.  Even did a little living room yoga with my nieces…(it’s amazing how flexible 5 and 8 year olds are!)

Thanksgiving and milestone birthdays evoke feelings of nostalgia and gratitude.  Reflecting on past holidays & events, remembering those no longer with us and cherishing the moments and people right before us.  But how do we keep the spirit of gratitude alive all year long and from day to day?   I have a childhood friend who often updates her facebook status with “I am thankful for…” throughout the year.   I love that. It’s a simple thing, but something that keeps gratitude in the forefront…

I looked up “grateful” in the dictionary and found this:

warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received

Many express thanks or gratitude in prayer, in journals or directly to the special people in our life.  But do we live that way everyday? Even in the tough times…when it’s challenging to find something to be grateful for?

I know at times I can be a “glass half empty” person…not seeing the good, and only seeing that which could be better or needs improvement.  There are so many lessons of gratitude that can be learned from a yoga practice.  For me, one important lesson is acceptance.  Accepting what is.  In class, that might mean accepting my physical abilities and limitations or accepting thoughts and concerns as they enter the mind.  In life, it might mean accepting challenges and circumstances before me, or accepting that there are some things that cannot be undone, changed or controlled.   It also means accepting life’s simple, endearing moments and finding gratitude in the good. Not just in November, but all year long.

Yoga and Deer Hunting

The following post is from one of my favorite clients Pat Perry, CEO, trail runner, vegan, yogi and deer hunter…thanks, Pat for sharing with us!

—————————————————————————–

Yoga & Deer Hunting….Most unlikely combination?  Maybe.  Add to that, I am a vegan with the only exception being wild game.  Hence the deer hunting.

I took last Thursday and Friday off work.  My goal was to spend each day alone, sun up to sun down, in my tree stand.  I chose these days because this time of year is peak for deer activity and also because the forecast called for a beautiful fall weekend.  When I say I am in the tree stand all day, what I mean is  I only allow myself an hour or so to come down, stretch, take care of other business in the woods and then climb back up until dark.  Think of an all day drive in your car, only you must sit very, very still and turn off the radio.  At times this can become what I would describe as a sort of meditation.

This last Thursday I climbed down at roughly noon, started stretching a little, and before you knew it, my yoga teacher Heidi – was right there with me, guiding me through an entire routine.  I set my bow and release down, took off my outer layers and my pack and did a solid 50 minutes of yoga.  Then the best part, of course, Savasana.  I laid down in the middle of the forest and closed my eyes.  I heard Heidi’s voice “thoughts will come into your head, let them go.  Relax your jaw”.  I just laid there in the sun, on the leaf covered bare earth, with the breeze blowing through me, I felt like I was moving with the earth and clouds.  Not your stereotypical image of a deer hunter I know.

Then I took a nap.  What an awesome, peaceful, experience.  After waking, I lay there a few more minutes, maybe 15, and then climbed back up the tree where I sat in total bliss until evening.  I guess I’m an enlightened deer hunter.  If I belonged to a hunting club, I would likely be kicked out for life.

Thank you, Heidi.

—————————————————————

Check out Pat’s Blog: www.energycreatesenergy.blogspot.com

Real Yoga Stories: Yoga and Hiking

The following post is from one of my long-time yoga clients, Joe Potter.  On our summer trip to Estes Park, we had an opportunity to visit with Joe during his preparations for Long’s Peak. Take a look at his story:

I’ve been practicing yoga for about 5 years. I was 60 years old this year and my ambition was to climb Long’s Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. I hiked 83 miles in 10 hikes in the Park over a 3 week span this summer culminating in my successfully reaching the summit of Long’s.

I know my yoga practice helped me in several ways on my most challenging hikes. The terrain on my three hardest hikes, including Long’s, included large boulders. Keeping my balance was a challenge. I’ve noticed that even taking a week or two off from my regular weekly yoga can affect my balance. I know my yoga training helped me to keep my balance better as I climbed over large and sometimes unsteady boulders.

There’s one part of the Long’s hike that is called the “trough.” This section of the hike is a non-technical, but vertical climb of 1000 feet. The flexibility of my body, especially the flexibility of my hamstrings and calves were a great aid to me as I spanned the distance from one foothold and handhold to the next one. I was used to stretching that far with strength in our poses.

And finally I know I benefitted from the habit of centering that is such a key part of the yoga practice. Completing Long’s and the 3 other most difficult prepatory hikes were the hardest things I ever physically accomplished in my life. On each of those hikes, our rest stops were so important. And there were times, my body was just saying, no more. There’s no more fuel in the tank. But then I would center myself. I concentrated on my breathing and the present moment, again a technique practiced throughout every yoga class. I was able to touch a reserve of energy and focus that enabled me to take the next steps necessary. Beyond the physical help yoga gave me, this was the greatest benefit in helping me achieve my goal.

Embracing Change: How Yoga Can Help

Change is inevitable, right?  We’re all moving in one direction or another – there’s really no standing still – even if we’d like to think there is.  In our jobs, in relationships, even in our yoga practice this is true.

I learn a lot from my yoga clients regarding how they view change in class. When I introduce new poses or a new way to come into or out of a pose, there are those who are instantly excited – giddy to try something new.  And, there are those who furrow their brow at me suspiciously that the old, familiar poses or the old transitions were just fine… And of course many of us fall somewhere in between those extremes.

Our reaction to change in yoga class may be just a peak at our reactions to bigger changes: moving to a new city, a new job, a change in family roles due to an ailing parent, or just getting older…we all have different reactions and ways of  “dealing with” change.

Yoga can be helpful in the “dealing with”…maybe to the point where it feels more like we’re embracing the change, feeling it fully…vs. dealing with it. Here are some thoughts:

• Yoga teaches us to be present. Often with change, we’re thinking about the way things used to be and perhaps worrying about the future implications of the change that’s about to happen.  In yoga, our intention is on the right now — what do I feel in this pose, how’s my breath, what’s going on right now…we can take this off the yoga mat by checking in with our reaction to the change…how do I feel about it today? What’s happening today (right now) that I must respond to or address?
• Yoga helps us to be more aware. In beginning to settle around what might be a huge change for my life, I’ve become more aware at how I’m interacting with this potential change.  At first, even the mention of it, caused my breathing to become short and my heart to beat faster.  After a few months of reflection, prayer and thought, it feels better…while I’m still not rejoicing over this change, I’m more at peace with it…We’ve developed a mutual respect for each other – my big change and me — and I’m thankful that through my yoga practice I’m able to recognize the progress of this. Yoga teaches us to be aware of how our body is feeling but also aware of our thoughts…when we can observe our thoughts and really take a good look at them, we are better able recognize the ones that keep repeating bad habits or the ones that don’t do us any good….
• Yoga helps us de-stress. Change is stressful…even good change like new babies, new jobs, new relationships. A regular yoga practice helps to calm the nervous system; it lowers cortisol levels and improves/deepens our breathing.  The physicality of yoga helps us get out of our head (the constant re-thinking or mulling about the change) and present in the body with our breath. Coming back to your yoga mat during a difficult period when you feel that everything is in flux can be comforting, soothing and reassuring…that some things still remain.  That you are still you…one breath at a time.