The Soul Is Here for It's Own Joy

I love this poem by Antonio Machado I found in Robert Bly's fabulous book of sacred poems, The Soul Is Here for It's Own Joy. This poem reminds me of having moment of true realizations in shavasana, meditation, and yoga nidra. Hope you enjoy.

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt--marvelous error!--
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt--marvelous error!--
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light
and brought tears to my eyes.

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt--marvelous error!--
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.

Looking for good

Looking for good...a shift in perspective.

A few recent blogs I wrote have been about looking for the good in various situations. It has been about 2 years since I started studying Anusara and this non dual philosophy which looks for the good in life. This was challenging for me and my ability to do it has come in stages.

At first just my awareness shifted. I became aware of how much myself and others complain. After noticing the negative attitude I would try to look for the good. Then i just had a few good things about my life that i rotated through like how awesome my husband is. But it was challenging and didn't feel very sincere.

With time looking for the good became easier and I got better at finding it in bad situations rather then just reminding myself of an aspect of my life that is already good. I also started to notice that this change of perspective makes me experience a feeling of joy in my body and mind.

Now my mind feels like a babbling brook that continues to look for the good. I often think my friends get annoyed of my because now when they come to me to vent about their problems I am just reminding them of all the good in the apparent shitty situation.

It is nice to see that through yoga teaching my brain is changing. It is much nicer living with a happy voice in my head versus a voice that is negative, judgmental, and self criticism.

Exercise:
Close your eyes and allow your body to settle. Notice your breath and feel the energy sensation around the heart (or even the beating f the heart). Now think of something good that is happening in your life. Try not to get caught up in the story line or specifics but instead focus on emotional quality it brings to your heart.

Happy Pioneer Day in Utah

We celebrated Pioneer Day, when the Mormon's settled in Utah, today. I wanted to integrate this into my class for tomorrow. On fourth of July I did a theme on fireworks so I thought this state celebration I thought I would focus on defintion of pioneer:

   

pi·o·neer
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noun /ˌpīəˈnir/  pioneers, plural A person who is among the first to explore or settle a new area. Tomorrow we will be exploring and opening the shoulders/heart and hips. A person who is among the first to research and develop a new area of knowledge or activity - LETS PIONEER THE LANDSCAPES OF OUR HEART verb /ˌpīəˈnir/  pioneered, past participle; pioneered, past tense; pioneering, present participle; pioneers, 3rd person singular present Develop or be the first to use or apply (a new method, area of knowledge, or activity) - USING ALIGNMENT PRINCIPLES WE WILL BE PIONEERING INTO A FEELING OF BLISS. Open up (a road or terrain) as a pioneer I want the students to feel like they really explored and settled into there hearts and shoulders. We will be playing intelligently into some poses with one leg abducted and externally rotated. Poses like utthita padangusthasana B, supta padangusthasana B on your side padangusthasana B, vashistasna, galavasana prep work, leading to the peak pose of vashistasna (side plank) with leg extended. I want to focus bravely exploring and entering new territory in the hips and shoulders. I will be emphasising muscular energy, shoulder loop and ssome kull loop. I want the students to be pioners and experience what it is like to open the heart in by using your muscles to draw the shoulders blades toward the back of the heart. Pioneering is also about taking a different approach, so we will work on this approach of accessing or settling into the back of the heart so we can victoriously open the front of our hear References: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=pioneer&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=RvQtTqKmCoXUtQOo5umzBQ&ved=0CBgQkQ4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=1009376907e884e3&biw=1280&bih=687

Updated bio

Here is an updated bio I made for Avenues Yoga in Salt Lake City Utah: http://www.avenuesyoga.com/

Kim’s intention is to help others recognize their own greatness on and off the mat. Yoga is a process of inner exploration, in which we learn to integrate heart, mind and body to experience our natural state of awareness and love.

Kim Achelis Hoggan a student of yoga from the age 16 is also a Registered Yoga Instructor through Yoga Alliance with over 500 hours of teaching experience. Kim has seen firsthand that the practice of yoga offers a way to move through the pulsation of life with grace. Yoga has helped Kim heal her injured body, calm her mind and help overcome addiction, as well as open her heart so she can better love herself and others. Kim’s classes offer clear instruction on alignment, yogic wisdom, a heart based theme, and a sense of adventure. With her vast understanding of anatomy and kinesiology she helps her students find a therapeutic experience in every pose. Often we need to work on getting the body to a place where it is in less pain so we can travel more deeply into the heart.  

When Kim isn’t teaching or practicing yoga you will probably find her working in the garden or on an adventure with her husband and dog.  Her heart is full of gratitude for her teachers and students.

Take Care of Yourself Like a Nice Car

 Lately my 2006 Subaru outback has been having some problems and it hit me. If you asked someone if they get maintenance on their car, most likely they will respond with a "heck yes" and even an eye roll. Everyone know how important it is to get your car worked on so that it stays running smoothly. Unfortunately people don't hold this same view for themselves and their body. If we are to compare the body to the car, we only get one body and we want it to run smooth and be happy for a long time so we need to get regular work on ourself so things dont burn out, over heat, mutate. A good way to work on ourself I have found is through the practice of yoga, meditaiton, massage, chiropractor, acupuncture...

I took my 2006 Subaru Outback into the dealership today and just got the call for the estimate $3,000. Gasp. I hate to admit it but truthfully I have been slacking on the maintenance for my car. I am lucky it is my car and I can pay some money to get it fixed, or worse case I would sell it. That is not the same situation with our body, we cant get a new one.

(me sweet car)

It makes me happy when I pause and remember how awesome life is and that I should take good care of myself and treat with LOVE.

Mystic

Mystic: mys-tic [mistik]noun
a person who seeks contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Diety or the absolute, or who believes in the spiritual apprehension of truths that are beyond the intellect.
- Oxford American Dictionary

meditation

My meditation practice has transformed tremendously since I started meditating with my teacher Clinton Brock who introduced me to a way of mediating that doesn't use any technique. I had been meditating for over five years but my meditation practice has always been technique based whether it be a mantra, a breathing technique, or a visualization... and definitely before I met Clinton my meditation posture was very upright and "proper". Now when I sit to meditate I sit as comfortable as possible and my back is rarely straight. Sometimes I sit in my couch and put a pillow behind my head so my head doesn't bop around, other times I tip my head forwd slightly. I still do practice technique based meditations and I often perform these in a upright position. Since meeting Clinton I have been trying to meditate in this technique free way for a minimum of 20 mins 2 times a day. Wow the momentum it has created in my life has been intense. I feel like all the technique meditations probably got me ready to go deep into this meditation but I also feel like at some point you have to let go of the technique so can enter in even more deeply.

I have a private appointment with Clinton in a few hours and I am very excited to talk and giggle with him.

I also recently gifted myself with Sally Kemptons beautifully written book Meditation for the Love of it. Sally and Clinton at the base of what they are teaching is so identical and it is really wonderful to be hearing it in both of their words because they are saying the same thing in different ways which I think is helping me grasp it even deeper.

So much gratitude for all the rocking teachers out there spreading the knowledge + love

(I wrote this blog after really surrendering to CLintons meditaiton style:
http://authenticselfyoga.blogspot.com/2011/03/go-with-flow.html)