It’s been an interesting couple of days.  First of all, all is well.  I’m so grateful to be alive.  In fact, this is what I wrote in the True Yoga Newsletter I just sent out: 

What Comes to Mind…

Life is Awesome and God Rocks

I’m falling in love with life again. As a child I was in love with the world, fearless and free. Then, there was a time where I was afraid the world, or people, would hurt me. It’s hard to imagine fears like that could have ever existed. As a child we are completely fearless, vulnerable and open. Then, somewhere along the way we felt the fear of being hurt from things that happen in life and we put up walls to protect ourselves from being wounded by anyone or anything.

As our hearts and minds heal and awaken, it feels so good to know those walls are coming down for all of us and we are, once again, able to live from the fearless heart of our inner, exuberant and joyous carefree child. Everything and everyone we have ever known in life has been a teacher, a guru, pointing us home to ourselves…the joyous nature of Love flowing through us.

The other day I was at the mall and there was a little girl wearing a shirt that said ‘God ROCKS’. Later that evening I went to teach at Yoga Balance in McKinney. The lovely Tracy Carruth had made awesome Yoga tank tops and shirts that say Yoga ROCKS and I picked one up to wear. I love that shirt. But, the t shirt I saw earlier in the day reminded me it’s really God that ROCKS. Yoga is a practice that helps us to reconnect with our unbounded childlike essence of joy where we, once again, realize life or God is Good. Sure, there are challenges in life, but, every challenge and person we know in life is really helping us to heal and grow stronger. When we surrender ourselves to the lesson, and, to God’s grace and glory we can know unconditional love and forgiveness for ourselves and one another…

The intent of asana is that you are calm in the midst of turbulence. The success… of your practice should be judged by how well you remain centered in the midst of change. Not your leg behind your head or handstand in the middle of the room. Success of asana is measured by how well you deal with the challenges of life. - Rod Stryker

In this ever-changing world we live in, there is so much Goodness to be experienced and realized. I no longer fear life or the challenges life brings. Can you, too, feel the joy that is bubbling to the surface and overflowing from all of our hearts and minds? We are one. One family, one nation, one world, under God. And, may God bless us all. How grateful we are to be alive and to awaken and know this life is but a dream. And, yet, each of us has the incredible opportunity to live this dream to the fullest with the light and joy in our hearts flowing out to everyone and everything in the world. What will we create with this abundance of love and joy we get to share with one another and all of the planet?

As I’m writing this I’m reminded of the quote we are the ones we’ve been waiting for. So, I searched for the quote online and found this:

You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.

Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

-The Elders Oraibi Arizona Hopi Nation

So, celebrate we will. I’m looking forward to you celebrating with me this month at the Fresh Fruit Cleanse book release party as we come together in the spirit of fellowship and love. Yoga is beyond race, religion or creed. Yoga is the one pulse, the one heart, the one breath breathing and uniting us all. It is pure energy liberating us all into the infinite…the reality of no beginning and no end…only life, only love everlasting.

I’m looking forward to seeing you at the party and celebrating in the grace of God’s rockin’ love with all of you. Thank you for being the incredible instrument of light and love you all are in this world. It is a blessing to know all of you.

I am a hole in a flute that the Christ’s breath moves through, listen to this music.
I am the concert from the mouth of every creature, singing with the myriad chorus.
I am a hole in a flute that the Christ’s breath moves through, listen to this music.-Hafiz

Fresh Fruit Cleanse Book Release Party

If you do not currently receive the True Yoga Newsletter, you can subscribe to it here.  Yes, I’m so looking forward to the Fresh Fruit Cleanse Book Release Party on Saturday, October 22nd.  This will be a fabulous evening with the most loving and wonderful people I know in Dallas.  The awesomeness of a person dwells in their heart, not in their accomplishments or worldly achievements.  The most important quality of a human being to me is the goodness, realness, sincerity of their heart.  I believe we are evolving into being kinder, loving human beings with one another.  Perhaps all of the suffering in the world has finally brought us to our knees, collectively, in devotion to one another and our connectedness as human beings on planet earth.  We are all brothers and sisters.  Of course we have a lot further we can go in our love and respect for one another, but I do believe we have grown incredibly in our loving kindness with each other.  It feels so good to be loving.  Paramahansa Yogananda says ‘we either come to our knees in desparation or devotion.’ 

Progess, not perfection

 The other day I was reflecting on many things.  Since writing the Fresh Fruit Cleanse book I have, in moments, felt a self-imposed pressure to be ‘perfect.’  Even though I write in the book that the most important thing in our journey of life is progress, not perfection, still, there’s times where I’ve been hard on myself or others for not being ‘perfect’, which, is completely unrealistic, unattainable and not even fun anyways.  We are here to live and learn in life as we go along.  Not to try to be on some pedastal of perfection.  The point of being human is to be human, to experience life, to learn from our experiences and to choose what has us feel our best as we realize what that is.  I think it’s awesome that each day is a new opportunity.  If yesterday you did something you didn’t like or that didn’t feel good, or, if you spent time with people you wished you wouldn’t have…you can change it and, simply, do something different the next day.  How awesome is that?!? 

Also, I think we can be way too hard on ourselves and others.  Some people might call this being judgmental.  Especially nowadays with Facebook and social media everyone is so involved in each others lives.  Do you know there are Yoga instructors and saints who smoke cigarettes?  Do you know there are monks who brew and drink beer?  I mean, really, we can become way too obsessed with the physical body and trying to be perfect.  Writing a book about cleansing actually reminded me to not obsess so much in life.  Everything in moderation. Yes, most days I prefer to follow an optimally healthy program giving myself the best food and nutrition, exercise, Yoga, etc.  But, occasionally, it feels good to just let it all go and give yourself an indlugence in life, whatever that is for you. 

Live and Let Live

When I went out of town to Portland, Oregon a couple of weeks ago I actually went to a place called Voo Doo Donuts.  Their specialty donut is a maple glazed donut with bacon on top.  Can you believe that?  How gross and disgusting, but delicious is that.  I didn’t think I’d like it but of course I had to try it.  And, actually, it did taste pretty good.  I definitely would not want to eat a maple glazed bacon donut everyday…but when life gives you a once-in-a-while opportunity to eat a maple glazed donut with bacon, don’t feel guilty about it, don’t judge yourself for it and certainly don’t judge anyone else for eating it.  The only time it’s appropriate for us to intervene in other people’s choices in life is if they are harming themselves or others.  Or, if they are actually seeking our advice or support in some way.  Otherwise, stay of out of your neighbors business, stop judging them for anything they do, and live and let live.  You’ll be a lot happier when you stop concering yourself with other people’s business and just live your life and let them live theirs.  And you’ll also be happy when you no longer care what other people think.  There are plenty of people who could judge me for writing a Fresh Fruit Cleanse book and then eating a maple glazed bacon donut or doing anything else ‘unhealthy’ at times, but, thank goodness, I no longer am worried about what other people think.  I am not trying to prove anything to anyone.  All I’m doing my best to do is be the best, most loving person I can in this world, take good care of myself and body in the best way I can, while still living life a little too, and serving God in the best way possible.  At the end of the day that really is it.  Yogananda says every morning ask God “How may I best serve today?”  Then, he says don’t let worries trouble your soul, have a vision for your life, but live each moment fully. 

He also says if you are a dutiful soul, meaning, you serve God only, as Arrested Development sings in Mr. Wendyll, ‘beautiful heaven awaits.’  Yogananda says for those souls who don’t listen to God and serve their Higher Power, well, they will get another chance on planet earth.  But, if you are a dutiful soul and serve God, he didn’t say if you are perfect and don’t ever eat maple bacon donuts, but, he says duitful souls will go to heaven, and there they will get to stay for as long as they like.  I wish I could post the whole description he writes of heaven, which, he calls the astral world…it is the most beautiful description I have ever read in my life, but, I’m technically not allowed to repost information from the SRF meditation lessons.  So, if you would like to study Paramahansa Yogananda’s meditation lessons, you can order them here for a very nominal cost. 

Love, not judge

Also, in feeling a slight bit of negative energy over the last couple of days…have you ever noticed not everyone is always happy for your accomplishments in life?  Sometimes people get jealous or envious.  The best thing to do when we feel other people being jealous is to just offer back love in return.  I’m sure we’ve all felt those feelings before so we can certainly be compassionate.  But, there is no need to get involved in those emotions or any kind of struggle if we ever experience ourselves or anyone else feeling those feelings.  Just love.  That’s all.  Love people, be kind, forgive them for not being perfect also.  Send your love into the future and see everyone getting along and being kind to each other in this spiritual brotherhood and sisterhood of life.

Step Up!

Anyhow, today I was reminded of my first Yoga teacher who would say ‘your issues are in your tissues.’  I love that.  Today, I added to that, ‘And, if you have issues with people…you have issues.’  It’s completely common sense but true.  Just let go of having issues with people.  Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, who recently passed away said ‘live every day like it’s your last and one day you’ll be right.’  Any day could be our last, let’s let go of struggling with anyone about anything and just live our lives in the best way we can.  As I was meditating on all of this over the last couple of days, a very powerful incantation that Tony Robbins teaches came through my awareness.  I attended many Tony Robbins seminars in 2002-2003.  At each seminar he would have us recite this incantation, literally, shouting it powerfully at the top of our lungs.  So, I’d like to share it with you here.  Say it loud and realize as you say it, you are aligning yourself with it and this incantation will awaken in your life when your heart really seeks to be and know this as Truth.  The reality is anything is possible.  We are each capable of unlimited potential.  So, each day ask God how you may best serve today and leave the rest to Divine Intelligence guiding your life in the best way possible, and, trusting that even when change happens whether that’s in a relationship, work or anything else…the change is for the best.  Don’t let anyone or anything in life get you down.

Now I am The Voice
I will lead, not follow
I will create, not destroy
I will believe, not doubt
I am a force for good
I am a force for God
I am a leader
Defy the odds
Set a new standard
Step up!
Step up!
Step up!

Fresh Air Fund

Also, a couple more things.  I’d like to remind us all about the Fresh Air Fund.  The Fresh Air Fund is a wonderful non-profit organization that gives inner city children the opportunity to retreat to a peaceful place in the country for two weeks every summer.   Children live with a volunteer host family who share the beauty, peace and healing energy of nature with the children.  The children get to enjoy the blessing of playing outside and many other activities like fishing, horseback riding giving them an incredible, loving and uplifting experience in life.  If you would like to be a Volunteer Host Family, please contact the Fresh Air Fund at the link below. 

www.freshairfundhost.org

Yoga Stage

Also, I’ll be learning about this awesome new site a little more, but, wanted to mention it briefly on the True Yoga Blog, too.  Yoga Stage www.yogastage.com is an online resource for all things Yoga.  Yogastage is a vibrant, online resource for instructors, students and studios.  This is where practitioners will find one another and will also discover yoga festivals, excursions and much more in our shared Yoga world. I love the idea of bringing the Yoga community together with an online site and so glad you have created this Jeff and Jessica.  We’re looking forward to exploring the site more and hopefully sharing and receiving all kinds of valuable and inspiring information.  All the best. 

So, don’t let anyone get you down ever.  Just remember…step up, step up, step up!  You are a force for Good, you are a force for God.  With God on your side, anything is possible.  Yogananda also says it another way…I love his teachings and words:

“Forget your dream-born mortal weakness.  Wake up and know that you and God are one.”   – Paramahansa Yogananda

(Awesome news…when I went to Portland I visited Powell’s books.  I had no idea the Fresh Fruit Cleanse book would be on the shelf there but it is!  So, the picture above is from my trip to Powell’s when I was so happily surprised to find out the Fresh Fruit Cleanse is at Powell’s in Portland.  Definitely not my favorite picture of myself, but, since I’m not going to worry about people judging me, there’s nothing to worry about.   What an awesome bookstore.  If you haven’t ever been to Powell’s, it’s definitely a trip worth making.  And, Voo Doo donuts, too.  But, only Voo Doo in moderation.) 

Blessings!

Here’s a Yoga pic of me in Scorpion pose I thought you might like, too.  Scorpion Pose reminds me anythnig is possible. 

Also, in regard to Occupy Wall Street, this is the most poweful message I have read.  Someone posted this on Facebook…it really resonated with me.  Perhaps, you saw this also.  Like the Bhagavad-Gita says, ‘Let the work alone be the joy, ne’er the fruits thereof.’