The Heat is On

The last few days in Philadelphia have been hot and humid. For those of you not living in the area, we’ve had record temperatures for four days. Those in the media here have had a field day with their excessive heat warnings and stories on how to “beat the heat”.

As the wave began and I started to melt, I remembered a quote written by Eckhart Tolle in his book, The Power of Now. He wrote, “Learn to surrender to what is”. In his book, Tolle advises his readers to try to surrendering to the moment instead of resisting what is happening.

So in this heat and humidity, I tried to do just that… surrender. I surrendered to the heat on the side lines of the soccer fields by staying cool under an umbrella. I surrendered by drinking tons of water and eating light. I surrendered in my yoga practice by slowing down. I surrendered as a teacher by keeping my classes simple for my students. Much to my surprise, it worked! I survived the heat without a lot of mental drama and the high heat is now over.

I think that the reason I was able to keep my cool is because I didn’t think or talk about it much. I consciously ignored the media hype. I think that if I had resisted the heat or struggled with the fact that the heat index was 107 degrees my experience would have been quite different. I know that I would have been thinking and talking about the heat incessantly. I would have also been watching the tube for ways to “beat the heat”.

What I’ve learned from Tolle is that resistance requires energy. Resistance causes thinking and too much thinking requires a lot of energy and creates stress. Too much stress agitates the nervous system and, and, and… generates HEAT! When we think and resist and whine and complain, we literally fry our systems. Wow. This was a big “ah-ha” moment for me. So by simply not thinking about the excessive heat, by surrendering to the moment, I was able to stay cooler both physically and emotionally.

This is a start. I recognize that it is a whole lot easier to surrender to a heat wave than to something much larger like a strained relationship, a work situation or an illness. This was a baby step for me, but it was a necessary step. I know that I will be faced with greater challenges in my life that will require me to let go and surrender. For now, I’ll take the heat wave and work from there.

Peace.

Recommended Reading: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Be Here Now

During my first few years as a yoga teacher, I focused much of my time and energy on preparing themes and finding quotes to deliver in class. I have stacks of books and journals in my office filled with highlighted text, opinions written in red, and ideas for future themes. I understand that all that work was necessary to bring me to the point where I am now. As I continue my personal journey inward, my studies and my teachings have been narrowed down to this simple message … Be Here Now.

Be Here Now is the title of a 1971 book on spirituality by Ram Dass. It was a revolutionary book bringing eastern studies and practices to American soil. Its title, now a coined phrase, has been repeated by spiritual teachers throughout the world.

Be here now. Show up fully. Pay attention to what you are doing. While growing up, we heard it from our parents and teachers. As adults, we are reminded of the importance of paying attention on our busy roads, at our fast-paced computers and on our yoga mats.

Woody Allen said, “80% of success is showing up”. Just show up! It is so simple yet so challenging with a list of things to-do a mile long and a calendar that is busting at the seams. Why can’t I drive to work, text my friend, look at my GPS and listen to the news at the same time. Why not?

The answer is painfully simple. Overdoing and over thinking creates stress in the mind and body. Paying attention and focusing on the moment as it arises, cultivates peace.

I write this week’s blog to help us prepare for what will be discussed over the next few months. Let’s start small, with a seed, and plant the reminder, “Be Here Now”, in the soils of our busy minds. You can write the phrase on several sticky notes and put them on your steering wheel and on your computer screen. Over the next few months, in this blog, on our yoga mats and meditation cushions, in our cars and at our jobs, we will explore tools and techniques that will help us cultivate this simple message.

Until the next time…

Recommended Reading: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

We are Made of the Same Stuff

I have been keeping a journal since I was 10 years old. I have stacks and stacks of my most private thoughts stored in boxes covered with dust. It wasn’t until recently that I ever considered sharing my ideas through a blog community. I’ve been of the mindset that my private thoughts should stay private! I now see things differently.

Verge Power Yoga opened just three and a half years ago. During this time, I have taught hundreds of classes, been stretched and pushed, been high and low and have grown tremendously. It has not been easy. But through the challenges and the successes, the most important truth that I have come to learn is that we are all essentially made of the same stuff.

In essence, we are all one. We all have busy minds and experience similar emotions during certain seasons. We all feel physical discomfort in poses and love the high after a sweaty yoga practice. And, we all yearn for peace and clarity. It's that simple.

So often in class I will say something only to have a student rush up to me afterwards to ask, “How did you know that I needed to hear that?” I knew because I needed to hear it too. Since we all ponder similar questions, what I say in class and what I will write about in this blog may seem familiar or resonate with you. This blog is intended to connect us more intimately as a yoga community allowing us to share our life experiences and the yoga journey. As my journaling sparks your thoughts and growing clarity, I invite you to respond and share your experiences to enrich the yoga journey of others,(including mine).

Our topics will vary and I ask that all participants keep our running commentary respectful, thoughtful, positive, and focused on the yoga life journey. I will post an entry weekly. I welcome your participation and approach the Verge blog with great anticipation of our collective life and wisdom.

Namaste. Cara