Free Stuff - Some wisdom is free - Wayne Dyer

Lately, I've been feeling a bit stuck in a certain area of my life. So, I asked God/Spirit/Universal Consciousness (what ever you'd like to call it) to send me a teacher. The next day I awoke and realized that I had a number of books by Dr. Wayne Dyer that have been left only partially read. He's a wise fellow, and I admire him greatly. I picked one of his books and began to re-read it from the beginning. The next day there were 3 consecutive emails in my Inbox from various sources (none of them Wayne Dyer) advocating his new book, Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life. I clicked on one of the links provided in these emails:

http://www.hayhouseimages.com/Email/promo/dyer_changeyourthoughts_31jul2007.htm

and felt an inner urge to buy this book. So, I did.

I had seen the book in the past, but it sounded like just another translation of the Tao Te Ching. I've already read a couple translations and didn't really want another. But somehow the timing and "coincidence" of it all, made me re-think things.

The link above offers some free stuff along with the purchase of the book. Supposedly, the offer runs out early August, so check it out if you're interested.

Best of luck to you and whatever you may ask for,

Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Ahimsa - Vegetarian

Basil: The smell, the smooth leaves, the taste, what's not to love? This wonderful herb is one of my favorites, with cinnamon coming in a close second.

Basil is one of joys of a Wisconsin summer and the recipes are endless. You can put basil on your scrambles eggs, in a salad, on a pizza, and, of course, the heavenly pesto sauce!

Over the weekend, my kids were thrilled to learn that Basil got it's name from the believe that this magical herb could protect you from the Basilisk, a fire-breathing dragon. Also, did you know that Basil was originally from India--not Italy?

In following with the first Yama in the Yoga Sutras, Ahimsa or Non-Violence, here is a vegetarian recipe using this fabulous spice. Use organic ingredients to stay even more with the idea of Ahimsa. This recipe is derived from my favorite cook book, Quick Vegetarian Pleasures, but with my own modifications.

Tortellini Tomato Pesto
1/3 c Toasted Pine Nuts
6 oz Tomato Paste (I love Muir Glen products)
1 c or more (I do love my basil) finely chopped basil
1/2 c Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 c Romano or other sharp hard cheese
2, or more if you're daring, cloves of Garlic
Salt to taste (optional)
Fresh ground Black Pepper
1 pound frozen Tortellinis

Boil the Tortellinis. While boiling, mix remaining ingredients in a bowl. Add a few tablespoons of the boiling pasta water to the mixture and stir. Drain tort's when done (after all of them are floating) and combine with sauce. Eat and enjoy!

Love Much,

Kris
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
www.LearnYogaOnline.Blogspot.com

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Women in India - Women Rights

Pratibha Patil was voted in last week as the first woman president of India.

This wondrous country that has brought Yoga to our world has come a long way through much sorrow and troubles.

To learn more about the history of women in India, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India. And remember when you think things will never change, they just might anyway.

Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Sexy Yoga ?

Check out the photo of Sean Corn at this link: http://www.yogajournal.com/views/2394_1.cfm. I'm all for helping out children with aids. A wonderful cause, no doubt about it. What draws my attention is the horrible posture that Ms Corn, world-famous Yogini, takes physically. I've seen this type of stance from her on many photos and I think it sets a very poor example for what Yoga can do for you.

Yoga can help with posture, hip problems, back problems, and so many other physical ailments. Why water this down in the name of "looking sexy?" Hasn't "sexy" caused a lot of problems for us? Don't get me started on high heel shoes or having to suck your belly in to look skinnier than any average body was meant to be!

Can't sexy be a glint in the eye? A Mona Lisa smile? A subtle wink? And nowhere in the Yoga texts does it talk about being sexy.

I personally like to feel sexy every now and then, but not when I'm publicly representing Yoga.

It's not just this one photo, either. There have been a number of erotic, or close to it, photos of this particular Yogini in various magazines. For example, in the Aug 2007 Yoga Journal on page 119, there she is again; nude with 2 other women. This ad is for women empowerment.

Call me a crazy, but I don't need to be naked and held tightly by another naked woman to feel empowered!

Love Much (even with your cloths on ;-),

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Worth - Finding it in a baby picture

You might wonder why the previous post had someone else's baby picture in it. I was planning on adding something about baby pictures specifically, but decided to separate these posts. Also, there were no digital photographs 40+ years ago.



Earlier this week, I suggested you put a picture of yourself on an alter. This idea was passed on to me from Todd Norian, a very heartfelt and wonderful man.



Another photographic technique that Todd used to reach in a little deeper, involved baby pictures. At one of his trainings a couple of years ago, he had the group (40 of us) really look at our baby pictures. Not each others, just our own. Then he played "You Are So Beautiful" and asked us to sing along to our baby pictures. There was not a dry eye in the place.



That same baby picture I used that day, is still on my alter and whenever I feel like giving up or following a paycheck instead of a dream, I look at this photo taken over 40 years ago. How can I give up on such a wonderful and beautiful baby? How can I settle for less? She deserves my best, and I'm doing my best to fulfill that.



Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Unity

No, this isn't me. Pretty cute, though. The photo is complements of Wikipedia.

A couple of years ago at a Yoga Teacher Training with Todd Norian, one of our homework assignments was to place a picture of ourselves on an alter used for Yoga practice. This seemed egotistical and odd to me. After a couple of weeks, I finally found a photo to use that didn't have other people in it. At that time, other items on the alter included a statue of Buddha and a framed card of Saraswati.

As I paid homage to these great deities and what they stood for, I was humbled to see my own self amongst them. As tears trickled down my face, I began to understand at a deeper level that if we are all connected (which I adamantly believe and science backs up) that I, too, am Buddha. I am Saraswati.

This brought more meaning to my practice and my life. So, find a photo. Place it in an area with other figures that are meaningful to you and see what happens. It just might surprise you.

Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

What will they think up next!

Doga. Yes, Yoga for your dog.....

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04118/306899.stm

Love Much,

Kris
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
www.LearnYogaOnline.Blogspot.com

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Buzzing - The Voice of God?

The gentle flowing movements of the asana practice begin to cool down. My heart rate slows and the rhythm of me breath deepens as it fills every cell of my being. Finally, after twisting, turning, and seeing the world upside down, it is time to rest. This final rest prepares me for the icing on the cake, pranayama and meditation.

To merge with the vastness of the Universe. To hear the voices of angels. Nadi Shodhana brings balance to my energy and mind. At last, meditation is not sought after. Rather it spontaneously emerges from the silence that has been cultivated over the past hour or two.

As I sit in this state of bliss and knowing, I hear a humming in my inner ear. Many teachers have told me this is the Universal energy buzzing, and only at such a deep place can it be heard. Have a reached Nada? Am I hearing the sound that cannot be heard?

Excitement fills my body. I decide to check on this experience from one more teacher, Doug Keller. My respect and admiration for this kind, gentle, and brilliant teacher is why I turn to him.

It takes a few weeks, but Mr. Keller responds. Alas, the humming I hear is not nada, or the voice of God, it's tinnitus!

Well, I might not have heard the Universal energy buzzing through me, but I have found a wonderful teacher of both the physical, mental, and spiritual :-)

Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Peace - Can't we all just get along?

Two beautiful creatures. Both cute. Both small and furry. Yet, getting along can be a challenge.

The other day, Pippin, the 2.5 year old Daschund pictured above, was outside romping freely about the front yard. His nose began to twitch, as it often does, and he was on a mad chase of some new scent. My son continued to shoot hoops in the driveway, not thinking much of it.

Suddenly, I heard Jake, my youngest boy, scream out, "Stop, Pippin! Stop it!" I tear outside to find 3 bloody baby rabbits spewed around the yard.

This is not the first time that we've found Pip going after and eventually eating creatures that take refuge in our lawn. These wild animals welcome a yard that has many hiding spots and minimal, if any, pesticides. Out back there is even a deck for them to take cover from the rain or larger predators.

However, there's no hiding from the keen nose of a Daschund, and he happily chases his prey under the deck much to my chagrin.

As I loudly scolded my loving puppy, my heart was torn. Daschunds were breed for 100's, if not 1000's of years, to hunt small mammals. The eating them part, I'm not so sure about, but the hunting is part of who he is.

How can I scold or show anger at someone simply being who they are? My thoughts of non-violence (ahimsa, the first yama in the Yoga Sutras) are different than his.

My heart insists on trying to save these poor bitten up bunnies and my disappointment in Pippin is easily seen. At the same time, I feel love and confusion towards my dog. He is only doing what is instinctual to him. Feelings of sorrow and responsibility for the wild critters, weighs heavily as well.

I try to taper my frustration with him. Struggling to show him that I love him and yet this act of killing is not condoned.

To act as peacefully as I am able, and yet to not judge another's actions.

I realize he's just a dog, but this same lesson applies to anyone. Doesn't it? To act in a way that I believe is loving and to voice that (like teaching my dog that killing critters around our home is not such a hot idea), but to still love people (like the certain politicians) that act in a way that I don't condone. Ah, the lessons from a dog.

“Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.” - Robert Fulghum

Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Pause - A personal post

Did you ever just have a sucky day? Things not going right? Doubt creeping in about what you're doing with your life and the direction your heading?

That just about describes my day earlier this week. Overall, I'm a positive person and pretty good at finding the silver lining in just about anything. Not 2 days ago.

Words came out of my mouth that would make a sailor more comfortable than a devoted Yogini. Tears streamed; emotions and doubts came flying out.

This is not my usual state, but these feelings needed to come out, and that was that.

Overall, I'm a disciplined and hard-working type, but yesterday I enjoyed the nice weather. Weeds were pulled, bushes trimmed, and the dog walked. All before breakfast. I skipped my usual morning Hatha practice and didn't even sit for a formal meditation. A welcome break from a disciplined routine.

The air was crisp, the soil fertile, and the puppy happy.

This morning's practice, I set an intention to see things differently. Inversions, naturally, followed. Between more intense asanas and anytime prior to a headstand, I take time to rest. TKV Desikachar recommends in the middle of an asana practice to "rest awhile in savasana". These are mini-rest, not the final savasana deep relaxation. Just enough to release tension and enter the next asana with calmness and steadiness--sthira.

For some reason, today it occurred to me this was the new perspective that I needed. In my practice I had realized and valued mini-rests, but throughout the day I had strived to learn more and be my best all the time. Frankly, it's exhausting!

Today, I allow the rests to come between each activity. These are not deep sleeping states or times with no awareness. They are mini-rests, each one unique. Perhaps, a stroll in the sunlight, writing a letter, or even doing the dishes. No stress of planning for the future or trying so hard to "be my best."

As Abe Lincoln said,

"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.”

Love Much,

Kris
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
www.LearnYogaOnline.Blogspot.com

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Snap Crackle Pop - Knees

Is it just me, or do we all creak and pop more as we age? One of the most frequent questions I get is "Why do my knees crack?" When doing shoulder circles, it's like a symphony of snaps, crackles, and pops.

What's up with this? Is it dangerous? Is it just what happens as we grow older and wiser?

I'm not a doctor and if you are really concerned, there is a snapping sound, or you experience any pain at all, then I'd suggest seeing one. With that said, here's what I found:

Crackling Knees
* A weak adductor (inner thigh) causes the knee to misalign and crunch or crack.
* Arthritis or damage to the knee cap.
* Your getting older and hopefully wiser.

Clicking Knees
* Possible problem with the meniscus.

Popping Shoulders
* Scar tissue being rubbed upon and thus broken down some. Aadil Palkhivala says, "If it doesn't hurt, keep going."
* Humerus (upper arm bone) coming in and out of the socket. (Now there's a lovely thought.)

Cracking Joints
* Gas escaping from the fluid in the joint.
* Tendons or ligaments snapping back into place.
* Arthritis

Most of these issues can be alleviated with proper alignment and keeping enough fat in your diet to help lubricate the joints. My knees used to crack whenever I'd squat even with proper alignment. Based off an article in Yoga International (now Yoga Plus), I added Ghee (clarified butter) to my diet and the cracking went away.

Recently, Rod Stryker said, "If you do shoulderstand towards the end of your practice, then you don't have enough time to counter its effects on the neck. Notice if your neck cracks a lot. If it does, put headstand and shoulderstand in the middle of your practice and see if the cracking stops." He believes this cracking is a warning sign of arthritis yet to come.

So, why do we snap, crackle, and pop? Should we be concerned?

Reasons vary. If you hurt, see a medical professional. Work with proper alignment and use Yoga to find a balance of strength and flexibility surrounding the joint. Eat a healthy diet, and consider adding Ghee.

Have a healthy day,
Love Much,

Kris
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
www.LearnYogaOnline.Blogspot.com

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Vacation - Healing - They go hand in hand

Did you ever have a wonderful massage, wonderful dinner out, or awesome Yoga practice and feel this sense of peace and relaxation? A bit more expensive and time consuming, but that's what a vacation does for me in the ultimate sense.

Time on the mat and meditating is like a mini-vacation. A Yoga practice can be a brief time to stop the external world and focus on just being. It's a time to breath, center, and remember what's important in our lives.

The last 2 weeks have provided me with a wonderful road trip through Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Only a few formal meditations and one Hatha practice made it into my days. My practice was to truly be present and absorb everything around me.

It was great! Even if you love what you do, the sense of freedom and just loving life is awesome. No laundry, no phone calls, no email, nothing but exploring new places, foods, and people.

One of our stops was in Black Mountain, North Carolina. There were a number of neat shops. I'm not much of a "shopper", but the people that were in this small town of about 7000 were interesting, friendly, and down-to-earth. In one of the shops, New Earth , the gal working there was talking about how important it is that each of us accept responsibility for our own healing. Caroline Myss has talked about this as well, saying that healing modalities such as acupuncture, massage, crystals, etc are all fine, but you have to have our prana, life force, in us.

In her audio book, Why Don't People Heal, Myss says, "We lose life force to our past, leaving less for our present life.... We need 80-85% of our prana in present time to create what happens in our life.... To use spirit to create and heal, it must be in the now." I believe that Yoga can help you bring your spirit to the now, using Myss's jargon, but no teacher can force that to happen. In the end, it's up to each of us to direct and guide our own prana.

That night, after chatting with the gal from New Earth and thinking about healing, this is what I wrote. (Please, understand, this is not poetry or an attempt to be grammatical in any way. What follows are thoughts that flowed in and around my mind as I journaled.)

Crystals. Vibrations. All around.
Pains. Aches. All abound.

Heal thyself. Look within.
Remember. Remember. Look within.

Teach. Learn.
Teacher. Student.
What is the relationship?
How does it operate?

Teacher. Healer.
Healer within. Teacher without.
How can this be?
Is the teacher me?

Connection.
Connection is the answer.
Heal thyself.
The answer lies within.

The teacher guides,
suggests,
and sees the student's own healer.

The teacher and healer do not actually heal!
Yes, this is true. Do not be shocked or run away.
Just pause to listen to this new way.

The student is lost.
Searching for aid.
The teacher or healer
is who they pay.

Now listen close,
as the wisdom,
the secret
is told.
The teacher doesn't fix you,
even when you're old.

The teacher sees
the healer in you.
They suggest, teach, and guide
to show you your within.

From here it is all up to you!
Yes, it's true!

YOU are the healer.
The only one that can banish the pain.
If YOU don't participate,
then all the teaching will be in vain!

So, go to your teachers and healers too,
listen and learn.
Use what they say,
and remember, in the end, it's all up to you!

Success or failure.
Pain or health.
It's all up to you.
Now. What are you going to do?

Love Much,

Kris
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
www.LearnYogaOnline.Blogspot.com

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Vacation

These are photos from our New Zealand adventure in 2006. This year we have a much closer destination, but intend to have just as much fun!



Last year, was the first year ever that I took off for 2 whole weeks to just enjoy life and be with my family. Upon returning, the answers to questions that had been eating away at me prior to leaving were clear as day. I felt a freshness and a calm that all of my years of meditation hadn't brought.



Meditation defintiely had, and does, help to maintain that clarity or get closer to it, but for me it was 2 weeks of being completely present and not being pulled by anyone or anything other than the love of Mike and the boys or the call of the mountains. It was truly blissful.



The key to arriving home with such clarity about my life and career was a promise I had made before leaving. I had vowed to not think at all about decisions yet undecided or concerns of my life and its direction. I had taken an oath to only enjoy, observe, and embrace this new country and all that it had to offer. Like magic, upon returning, decisions were easy and life felt full, really full.



A dear friend, student, and director/producer at New Moon Productions told me that the years after her first 2 week vacation, she took 3, and then 4 weeks. Every year she travels for at least one month consecutively. The "new start" feeling afterwards, simply cannot be beat.



So, I will not be posting or even using a computer or answering any phones for the next 2 weeks. Like a 2 week savasana, I intend to surrender more fully than I ever have, to embrace every experience and to see the beauty in everything!



So, until July 9, or so, enjoy the words of Jane Kenyon:

LET EVENING COME

Let the light of late afternoon

shine through chinks in the barn,

moving up the bales as the sun moves down.

Let the cricket take up chafing

as a woman takes up her needles and her yarn.

Let evening come.

Let dew collect on the hoe abandoned in long grass.

Let the stars appear

and the moon disclose her silver horn.

Let the fox go back to its sandy den.

Let the wind die down.

Let the shed go black inside. Let evening come.

To the bottle in the ditch, to the scoop in the oats,

to the air in the lung

let evening come.

Let it come as it will, and don't be afraid.

God does not leave us comfortless,

so let evening come.

Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Meditation - Benefits more than meets the eye

Check out



http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/05/no_sneaking_sec.html



to see how meditation can help your awareness throughout the day.



http://coglab.wadsworth.com/experiments/AttentionalBlink.shtml provides an easy to follow explaination of the Attentional Blink used in the study found in the first link of this post.



Love Much,

Kris
http://cdbaby.com/cd/kriskramer

http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Growing up - "No more blocks for me, Mom."

"No more blocks for me, Mom." My 12 year old son places the blocks in the give away pile.

"Really? Are you sure? Didn't you just use them this past winter?"

"Yeah, but I'm done. I don't need them anymore."

"What do you mean you don't need them anymore? You love blocks. Didn't you and BJ just build that cool marble track with them the other day?"

Slight pause, "Mom." Small laugh from my son as he says, "Keeping the blocks isn't going to stop from happening what you don't want to happen."

Like a deer caught in headlights on a dark night, I realized that I'd been caught. Not so much caught as awakened to what was really going on.

I didn't want my children to grow up. I wanted to keep the days of candy land, picture books, and blocks to last forever. I wanted my children to live with me forever and always snuggle on my lap.

Even though the days of past are only alive in my heart, I find my physical self yearning for them, and my 12 year old knew this. Not only that, he had the insight to tell me.

My "baby" opened my eyes to what I thought I had come to terms with. I thought I was more evolved than this and could love without attachment.

But here I am. A mother of two young men. I am torn between wanting them to grow into happy contributing adults and wanting them to stay with me. To stay young and keep childhood alive in our home. To feel the softness of a newborn, the laughter of a toddler, and knowing I am needed every single day.

I remind myself, that life, like Yoga, is a journey. It takes practice to "get it right" and acceptance of where we are today. In order to change, we must be aware of where we are and where we'd like to be.

I know where I am. The journey continues so that one day, I can let these two beautiful people live their own lives and follow their own paths.

Wow, motherhood might give the biggest lessons of all.

Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Good Posture

Try this simple exercise to feel the impact of posture in your energy and mood.


Sitting in your chair, let your body collapse into a slouching or slumping position. How does the inside of your body feel? Is there a sense of being stuck or stagnant? Do you feel a flow of energy?


Now over-effort by strongly lifting the chest skyward and force the shoulder blades down the back and towards one another. Maintain a strong low back curve as you suck the belly towards the spine. Now observe. How does this position make you feel? Do you feel free or tightly wound? Does there seem to be a free flow moving through your body? Do you feel open-hearted and filled with compassion and love?


The key to any alignment, including asanas or simply sitting in a chair, is not so much in following set instructions, but rather using instructions to help find the best flow of prana (energy).


So, this time, start soft. On an inhale, allow you heart center (chest area) to feel as if its floating skyward. As you exhale, keep the heart lifted and glide the shoulder blades gently down the back. Next inhale as you lengthen the spine and maintain awareness of the low back curve tipping the top of the sacrum forward. Maintain the spinal length as you exhale and softly draw the low belly back and up. How's the energy flow feel now? Do you feel comfortable? Confident? Is the breath any easier than in the previous 2 exercises?


This is what your asana practice ought to feel like. One of the beauties of Hatha Yoga is finding the flow of prana inside. This prana is literally your life force. So, it only makes sense to work with finding and allowing its flow to be enhanced at all times.


Enjoy the practice!


Love Much,
Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/

http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/



Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Happiness - Joy - How do you find them?

Most people come to yoga looking for something. A few are curious, but in general folks are looking at yoga to help them. To bring relaxation, flexibility, tone, or mobility. Others stop by a class for stress relief or even to find God.

Our reasons for unrolling the mat are as varied as we ourselves are. What brings us happiness and joy, also, differs from person to person.

Max Strom says, "We may 'achieve' our physical goals but move even further away from joy and contentment."

He raises a good point: Joy and happiness do not always come from physical fitness. Ironically, if you push yourself beyond your limits and belittle yourself to reach an "ideal" body, you can easily end up with depression, headaches, anxiety, or worse. The outer body might be looking fine, but the insides and mind have paid a high price.

The flip side is that it feels good to be in shape! We have more energy and physical comfort to play with our children, hike in the Rockies, or dance the night away. So, some happiness must come with being in shape.

It's your motivation or intention, behind the external goals, that really determines where you find joy.

If your goal to fitness is to get back your old crappy boyfriend (or girlfriend), this is not such a great idea. And is almost guaranteed to backfire in emotional trauma.

But what if you want fitness to live life more fully? To increase your health and live a long and productive life? Then "achieving your physical goals" really can bring more joy and contentment.

One of the keys is to stay focused before every single practice (and every single day) on your intention. This helps you to act appropriately.

For example, in your asana practice, if your goal was to look hot, then you are more likely to end up feeling crappy inside and are more prone to injury from forcing yourself. This happens because the goal is about you not being good enough.

However, let's say your postures are about to becoming fit in order to be healthy. Health means a positive attitude and "self-talk" as well. Health is not about force or compromising one aspect of your being for another. It involves looking at the big picture. This is where contentment lies.

Here's another example of how different intentions for the same goal are so important. Dr. Joe Vitale has a web site to attract a new car. This seems superficial and not a path to true satisfaction or inner happiness. However, when you hear Dr. Vitale talk about manifesting material things, he always says "It's not about the car" or whatever item you are bringing into your life. He describes the material possession as a constant reminder of how powerful you are. It's a symbol of what you can accomplish when your intention is set, you have faith in the Universe, and you then let it go.

So, again, if you want to new car to impress your neighbors or because you think it will solve all of your troubles, then you might just be in for a surprise. On the other hand, if you want to learn how to intend, believe, and let go, then perhaps going for the car might be just the thing.

Looking for more happiness?

Before each practice and upon rising in the morning, become consciously aware of your heart's intentions and the joy will be there.



Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Abdominal - Core

As I easily reached my legs out long and straight while coming into headstand (sirsasana), I was amazed at how stable and strong my core felt.

Where the heck did that come from? Could it be that dark chocolate really does improve inner strength? Or was it something else? As much as I wanted to believe it was the modest indulgences of nightly dark chocolate pieces (a gift for mother's day), I knew I had to look elsewhere.

For the past 4 years, I'd been coming into headstand with knees bent. The idea of lifting straight legs seemed like an impossibility, and I was just thrilled to be able to focus enough to get upside down anyway!

So, what suddenly changed?

What I found was not situps, boat pose (navasana), or any of the Yoga poses (asanas) directly related to the core. It was my pranayama practice.

Yep, some simple breathing did it. A couple of weeks ago I began including Bellows Breathing (Bhastrika) more frequently in my practice--about 3 times a week. Click here to check out a video on it how to do this practice. The technical quality is not the best, but you can still get the important and useful info.

In my experience, if I include this breathing technique, not only do I end up with a clearer mind, but also a stronger core. With that said, don't overdue such a powerful pranayama! 3 rounds per day is plenty. For beginners, make the rounds very short (10-15 seconds). If you feel light headed, nervous, anxious, or have trouble sleeping. Stop the practice. After a couple of weeks, you can return but very slowly. As always, I'm not an MD and don't know your personal case, but for many this is a great practice.

Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Smile - Smile and the whole world smiles with you

I'm in the midst of writing a book on the practice of Yoga and have found that the coffee shop down the street is the perfect location to work on it. At Cup of Java, there is no audible requests for my attention from the three cats or the dog. There is no inner requests in my mind to do a load of laundry or search through the frig. I'm drinking a lot more coffee, albeit decaf, but this is the price I pay for ease in focus.


Yesterday, an elderly white-haired man and his wife came into Cup of Java while I was typing away on my laptop. After getting their drinks, they sat down on the leather sofa adjacent to where I was working. The gal that was running the shop stepped into the restroom, and the white-haired man got up to open and close the door a number of times. Each time, the buzzer, signalling a new customer had arrived, went off loudly.


Curious, I asked jokingly, "Are you just trying to be annoying?" To that he replied, "I'm making the gal that works here think there's a bunch of customers out here while she's in the bathroom." He and his wife gave a little chuckle. His amusement in this innocent prank was nothing shy of charming.


Thinking about how much fun BJ and Jake (my sons) would find this, I mentioned, "I'll have to tell my kids about you. You will be there new idol of mischief." We all laughed, as the gentleman told me how he pulls small pranks all the time.


"I would do anything to bring a smile," he told me.


How wonderful to have a focus every day of bringing a smile to those around you. This made me think about a cheery student, A.K., that sets his intention every day to experience joy. He told me that when he started thinking joy, he got more of it. He is definitely joyful to be around. He's one of those students that is always gracious and wearing a smile.


When A.K. signed up for his first Yoga class earlier this year, on his registration sheet he wrote Joy as his main expectation from Yoga. You know what he got? Joy.


What intention do you have?


Love Much,

Kris
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.learnyogaonline.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

The Secret - Law of Attraction - Jinx

I don't want to jinx this, but ....

Yesterday, Mike and I were sitting on a bench just outside the front door of our home. Pippin (that's him in the photo practicing some Yoga) was happily roaming under the ferns and hostas enjoying a new area to explore.

You see, we usually hang out in the back yard on the deck, but that was stained 2 days ago and we're not suppose to go on it for 3 days. I was about to share with Mike how lucky we are that Pip was staying in the front with us, being that I'd like to not have to re-stain the deck due to dog prints.

That's when it hit me. Years ago I would have focused on the dog going into the back and been more concerned about it. But thanks to the movie, The Secret (which I have some issues with, but feel the general message is decent), Joe Vitale, and awareness of the Law of Attraction, my mind has shifted. I focus on what I do want. Not always, but more and more every day.

Could that be where the superstition of jinxing came to be? People focusing on the negative and then getting what they focus on? How different would the world be if we all focused on what was "right" in the world and what we'd like to see more of? Focus on peace, love, ease, clarity, and joy for a month. You might be surprised and just how often the mind moves into the negative, and you might just find more of peace, love, ease, clarity, and joy.

What does this have to do with Yoga? Yoga is not just a physical practice, but an awareness of our thoughts, mind, and attitude. I'm not telling you what to do, but I do know that my life runs a lot smoother and happier when I think about was is going well--not fearing what might happen.

Thanks for listening,

Kris
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
www.LearnYogaOnline.Blogspot.com

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!