Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Just Breathe
(Picture of Rod Stryker teaching)OK, now I have another moment to update you. I'm in one of those places right now where it feels difficult to find a moment for myself. Life is very full, but I'm grateful for that fullness. Not to mention, I'm in the process of a move, which I mentioned in the last post, so my energy is not entirely settled being in between two places. I have moved a few things to my new space, but won't move everything for a couple more weeks. I think I'm actually doing surprisingly well with all of this, considering I've also been very busy. Everything in my life these days is about one moment at a time, the epitamy of going with the Flow. I'm participating in a 5 day Yoga training with Yogarupa Rod Stryker. Even though I had the vision of studying with him, I didn't officially decide to participate until today, the day it started. I was on the fence about it. But, now it makes perfect sense to me why this was the case...
I attended a different 5 day Yoga training with Rod last year, and it was one of the most powerful learning experiences I've had in Yoga. When I attended that training, it felt like everything was going against me being there. I remember last year at this time, there was a hurricane, in the Gulf of Mexico, moving towards Galveston and Houston. So that's what was happening in the atmosphere last year. Fortunately, this year there are no hurricanes approaching. But, yet again, the idea of attending this training felt overwhelming to me. Even though now that I'm attending it, I can't imagine not being there. I suppose it felt overwhelming because of all the other changes I'm going through right now, approaching the one year date of my father's passing, the ending of a relationship, moving, and keeping up with my regular teaching schedule while attending this training. Last year, I had people sub my Yoga classes while I was at the Yoga training with Rod, but this year, I decided I wanted to teach all of my classes this week...so I am. I'm just going with the flow with the training and attending whatever I can.
But, Rod talked about this very feeling of inertia at the training. He said along with any change we go through, there is always resistance that we are met with along the way. Shiva calls this resistance 'regressive energy.' So even with something like moving, the resistance is that we have all this stuff that we have to pack and move, etc. Anytime we realize there is a better alignment and we seek to grow into that alignment, sure enough, we are faced with some kind of tension. How true this is because this is what we experience in a Yoga pose, as we continously grow into a healthier and healthier connection to our breath, i.e. ourSelf (body, mind, breath) in the pose.
Rod talked about three elements connected to any change we are seeking in our life.
Shakti, which is our desire.
Karma, which for every desire, there is a certain amount of resistance we are met with.
Vayu, that which animates or moves us toward fulfilling our intention/desire.
Then, he offered this equation which is that our Shakti (desire) + Vayu (animating energy) must be > Karma (resistance). If our Shakti and Vayu are greater than the Karma we realize fulfillment or attainment of that which we are seeking. (He said if it's not...we are out of luck. Blunt, but true.) This doesn't mean we always instantaneously realize it, but in time, sure enough, we continue to align with that which we are seeking. He then talked about great saints, mentioning several names we are familiar with, such as Jesus, Gandhi, all of whom were met with great resistance in the realization of their intentions.
Anyhow, it's been a good first day. Interestingly, much of what Rod talked about is what I was talking about in Yoga class today. We are only one and a half weeks away from the Fall Equinox. Seasonal changes are greatly significant in Yoga because, as Yogis, we realize it is true that to everything there is a season. Much of our practice involves having the courage to turn, turn, turn, and allow the changes to happen that need to so we are able to find a healthier alignment with our Self, and Highest Self. Sometimes to find this healthier alignment we must have the courage to let go of what we've been holding onto, that we know is not healthy for us, ultimately. This can mean letting go of a food we eat, to a work situation, or relationships/friendships. Again, as Shiva would call it, letting go of 'regressive energy.' Powerful steps in clearing out regressive energy can be going through a physical cleanse, (which I'm doing this week eating only raw foods, fruits and veggies) cleaning out your closets or reorganizing/feng-shuing your home, cleaning out your file cabinets, etc. Yoga, of course, helps, too. It is the breath which is our greatest cleanser, not just on a mental/emotional level, but it is the most powerful way in which the body releases impurities, moreso than sweating, elimination, etc. Speaking of sweating, though, it's a great time to make it to a steam room as part of your cleansing process.
I highly recommend practicing some or all of these and you will be amazed at how the energy shifts and positively transforms within you and all around you. You will feel more energized and freer to invest your energy where it is needed to realize the positive changes you are seeking.
So, I mentioned I would share some of the events happening in the Dallas Yoga community. This weekend, the amazing Andrew Eppler, otherwise known as the Yogi Magician, will be here at the Dallas Yoga Center. I highly recommend attending a session with him if you can. I had the opportunity of practicing at his Yoga studio in Norman, Oklahoma, staying at his home and taking a private Yoga class with him and my friend Eric. My friend Eric introduced me to him after a couple of years of hearing about him from several Yogis here in Dallas. So, I'm very grateful to have finally met Andrew because of my friend Eric, a San Antonio Yogi, who practices at an awesome Yoga studio there, Yoga Shala.
Of course, you can also attend one of the morning Yoga practice sessions with Rod Stryker all throughout this week and Saturday. The morning sessions are everyday from 9 am - 12 pm and are $55/session. Rod is a true Yoga master, having been given the title Yogarupa by his teacher, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (PhD), who is spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute. The name Yogarupa means the "essence" or "embodiment" of Yoga. It's a blessing, and incredibly healing, just to be in his presence. Although I was up-in-the-air about attending the training, because of all that I'm growing through, I can't imagine not being there. Today is just the first day and I had a powerful emotional release, just from a slight adjustment Rod gave me in one of the poses. His healing spirit helped me to let go and the tears flowed.
And, there is one other Yoga workshop happening this weekend in Dallas with Julie Boyd, a former exhale dallas Yoga teacher, who recently relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona. Julie has an amazing Yoga practice, and it is an inspiration to study and practice with her. Being around her will definitely bring greater inspiration, light and energy to your flow and you will feel uplifted. She is a true Yogini. You can find more info about the workshop through the link above.
Needless to say, the Yoga scene here in Dallas is happening. We've been ripening for many years and we are ready to heal from the flowing nectar of our efforts. The prana is positively powerful for those of us ready to receive it's Light and energy. I look forward to sharing many more events that will be happening in our community. Also, in a couple of weeks I will be sending out the Fall Edition of the True Yoga Newsletter. If you do not currently receive it, but would like to, you can sign up for it here. Have a blessed week, healing into a healthier place within you and all around you. As Yogi Bhajan says, 'thinking, thinking, don't think. Everything has been done, just relish in what is.' Another way of saying that is simply...let go and let God. Let go of thinking about what you need to do, and just let the changes happen as they will in their own Divine timing. Perhaps, you are not as in control as you think you are. What if you surrender your control and offer everything up to the transformation that needs to take place in a timing that is ingeniously and Divinely determined. I know it can feel hard to let go sometimes, especially when it involves our relationship to others. But, the reality is, we simply can not hold on or bring others along, no matter how much we may want to, at times. That doesn't mean we still can't love, but we must set everyone free to find his/her own way. The more we let go, the more we can all Flow. We must all find our own way, but one thing is for certain, when the student is ready, the teacher appears. May this prayer guide us as we grow into the cool, crisp and refreshing days of Fall.
Place your burden
at the feet of the Lord of the Universe
who accomplishes everything.
Remain all the time steadfast in the heart,
in the Transcendental Absolute.
God knows the past, present and future.
He will determine the future for you
and accomplish the work.
What is to be done will be done
at the proper time. Don’t worry.
Abide in the heart and surrender your acts
to the divine.
- Ramana Maharshi
Om shanti :)
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posted by Leanne @ 7:34 PM 
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So glad you decided to go to the training in the midst of everything else. Sometimes we just need to show-up!!! I enjoyed the entire post but must note that I felt like you were speaking directly to me when you wrote "Let go of thinking about what you need to do, and just let the changes happen as they will in their own Divine timing. Perhaps, you are not as in control as you think you are. What if you surrender your control and offer everything up to the transformation that needs to take place in a timing that is ingeniously and Divinely determined". Boy did that hit home!!!! Thank you for the the reminder, I think we can get so wrapped up in tryint to control the outocme of things that we often forget his plans for us - which are often more incredible than we can ever imagine for ourselves. This also goes to show how important it is to surround ourselves with people who can inspire us along the way. You are a ray of inspiration...thank you.
# posted by 
: 7:55 AM
: 7:55 AM
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