“Every year as this season of giving rolls around, I begin to reassess my goals for our family’s holiday traditions. What do I want my children to learn and remember? What seeds am I planting for their future holidays with their own children? What did my parents do that I treasure?
In a world that stresses materialism over spirituality it is difficult to make sense of it all. What I want my children to learn is that receiving gifts provides only a fraction of the satisfaction that giving away one’s love and energy can. I want to imbue their holiday traditions with a spirit of generosity and unconditional love. But how?
It is easy to feel that my days are spent in service to my family, since my primary job is as a stay-at-home mom. But if I want to take my yoga practice further, I need also to look further into ways that I can serve my larger community, ways to practice the selflessness of Karma yoga.
It can be extremely challenging to find ways to volunteer with children, but this last year my diligent searching finally came to fruition. On Thanksgiving my husband, two daughters ages 6 and 2, and I were given the opportunity to serve our community a beautiful and free meal. The day was transformative for us all; unquestionably, this is just the beginning for us. As we continue to create a family holiday true to our own values, we will deepen our commitment to our yogic practice as a family as well.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: KT
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I am a runner only in as much as I do run, but I wouldn’t call myself a “runner” runner. On a good week I may clock around 20 miles. Over the past year I started running again to vary my physical activity (biking, weights, and yoga). I enjoy the solitude and physical benefits, and I ultimately arrive in a place of meditation as I run.
With the Seattle Marathon in the not-so-distant future, and due in part my already being — for me — in, “running shape,” I decided to sign up for the half marathon. All was going well; a nutrient-rich diet match for my dosha, a balance of asana targeting the maintenance of an injury-free body, a short run two or three times during the week along with a longer run during the weekend…The pieces were falling into place in such a way as to lend to an enjoyable, relatively effortless half marathon in which I would attain my desired time of 1hr 40min. or less. That is, all the way up to about a month before the race.
I came down with a cold that I could not shake and ended up with the flu. As a result, I cut way back on my running and between both feeling run-down and the ultra short days filled with incessant rain, had little to no motivation to lace up the running shoes.
The race day arrived and though I was feeling much better, I knew that I was not in the physical condition I had been a month prior. I think I may have bailed had the weather not turned out to be ideal for the run; 47degrees, slight mist early on drying up by mid morning.
Doing a pranayama practice while running is not new to me, per se; I often focus on the breath while running and say over and again the mantra, “breath is energy” as I deeply inhale and exhale. But I knew I was going to have to reach deep and pull out all the stops for this run. I started out setting a good pace for myself then measured out the breath count matching my inhale and exhale in a sama vritti fashion. I maintained this meditation throughout the run and though I had to modify the count as I ran up the many hills on the course, this focus informed my gait. I was also able to hear my breath (sans ear buds and music) and though my mouth was open I could still cultivate ujayi, a slight audible quality to the breath that worked to calm my mind, maintain my focus on the breath, and worked to encourage me to continue when I hit any one of a few walls.
I completed the run in 1hr. 43min, a time I am most satisfied with. What I found interesting later was comparing my time in the first half 52:39 with the time of the second half 52:06. I believe because of the steady count and sound of my breath practice, I was able to run at a steady pace. At the end of the run and for the rest of the day I had a feeling of utter bliss I attribute to such a deep, prolonged meditation. I realize the benefits of pranayama extend far beyond the confines of our mat, our studio, perhaps our mind.
Posted by: Jeff Wildenstein
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A recent trip to Egypt and the holidays have helped to remind me to daily practice the act of Gratitude:
To enjoy the rainy days in Seattle when water is more expensive than gasoline or requires a two-hour walk in both directions.
To be able to practice Yoga in America in the middle of the week when so many others around the world are simply trying to stay alive.
To choose organic foods when so many people in our country and around the world are starving.
To have a yoga community that encourages and supports the growth of individuals. May we use that support and compassion to find our dharma to improve the world around us.
To count every blessing large and small and always maintain an attitude of gratitude.
As we recognize all we have, we acknowledge all we have to to give. Never for any minute shall we take are lives and opportunities for granted. We are truly blessed. To count these blessings would be a mathematical feat.
Posted by: Marni Yamada
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