I always seem to get “gung-ho” at this time of the year. I get so excited for the transition into spring that I often exhaust myself. I am quick to put the winter clothes away, get the rake to the yard and throw open every window in the house even when it is still 40 degrees outside.
This year I am trying a new approach. I intend to apply my yoga practice to my life and try to gracefully transition into the spring season. Honestly, I don’t have the energy to exhaust myself anymore. (I think that is a good sign.)
For the past month or so my intention on my mat has been to be “simple and steady”. During practice, this intention reminds me to slow down and to move deliberately. It reminds me to be content with whatever pose is offered and to then transition gracefully into the next pose. By focusing on the simplicity of the movements, I’ve experienced more space in my body and my mind.
Now, applying this to my real yoga practice, my non-Verge life, will be more challenging. Simple and Steady. One project at a time. One step at a time. One moment at a time.
Wish me luck.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Glimpsing the Grandeur
Most of our energy goes into upholding our importance. If we were capable of losing some of that importance, two extraordinary things would happen to us. One, we would free our energy from trying to maintain the illusory idea of our grandeur; and two, we would provide ourselves with enough energy to catch a glimpse of the actual grandeur of the universe. ~ Carlos Casteneda
There have been moments while teaching this past month when I have been reminded of Casteneda's powerful quote. In those moments, I dropped into a place where I felt that I was able to "glimpse the grandeur of the universe". The grandeur seemed to reside in the collective energy of the students in the class. It was their focus, their commitment to their practices and their sweet breath that joined together to help hold a moment in time for me. I froze for that moment it took my breath away.
It was in those precious unforeseen moments that I felt a surge of courage to step out of my own importance. I dropped my role as "yoga teacher" and in so doing, I simply became a guide of breath and movement. And it was then that the universe took over and time stood still. I stood still in awe of the pureness of the moment.
We talk about being present in every class at Verge Power Yoga. We remind each other of the task at hand, the mental strength building and the cultivating of mindfulness. We mention the perils of being ego-centric, too chatty or too mentally busy. Yet we continue to create more stories to carry around with us 24/7.
But, as I have experience this month, it may not be until we stand still in a moment bathed in grace that we recognize how small we really are when stuck in our own importance. It may not be until we drop who we think we are that we can actually be still and glimpse that true self. And, it is during that very same moment that we can glimpse the grandeur of how large we can be when we drop our stories.
I continue to wrap my arms around this quote. While I still have much work to do, I am learning that the more I can drop my story, the more I can lose my own sense of importance and the more I will have the “energy to catch a glimpse of the actual grandeur of the universe". Let me tell you, it is so worth the ride.
And the journey continues…
Peace.
Cara
There have been moments while teaching this past month when I have been reminded of Casteneda's powerful quote. In those moments, I dropped into a place where I felt that I was able to "glimpse the grandeur of the universe". The grandeur seemed to reside in the collective energy of the students in the class. It was their focus, their commitment to their practices and their sweet breath that joined together to help hold a moment in time for me. I froze for that moment it took my breath away.
It was in those precious unforeseen moments that I felt a surge of courage to step out of my own importance. I dropped my role as "yoga teacher" and in so doing, I simply became a guide of breath and movement. And it was then that the universe took over and time stood still. I stood still in awe of the pureness of the moment.
We talk about being present in every class at Verge Power Yoga. We remind each other of the task at hand, the mental strength building and the cultivating of mindfulness. We mention the perils of being ego-centric, too chatty or too mentally busy. Yet we continue to create more stories to carry around with us 24/7.
But, as I have experience this month, it may not be until we stand still in a moment bathed in grace that we recognize how small we really are when stuck in our own importance. It may not be until we drop who we think we are that we can actually be still and glimpse that true self. And, it is during that very same moment that we can glimpse the grandeur of how large we can be when we drop our stories.
I continue to wrap my arms around this quote. While I still have much work to do, I am learning that the more I can drop my story, the more I can lose my own sense of importance and the more I will have the “energy to catch a glimpse of the actual grandeur of the universe". Let me tell you, it is so worth the ride.
And the journey continues…
Peace.
Cara
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