So, today is one of those days when I am running around like crazy and wishing I would have had more time for a AM yoga practice. It seems to set the tone for the day, even when my evening practice was good and I work up feeling rested. What I am amazing by today is how much I crave yoga - whether it is 5 min or 1 hour, my body, mind and spirit seem so unbalanced without it...even as my body is changing with this new life inside. I count the weeks when I will finally be able to twist deeper or reach my toes again in a seated position.... :-)
In any case, my mantra today is that no matter how busy I am going to be and how much my energy will be demanded, I am going to embrace today for what it is...despite missing an AM yoga practice. My yoga will be breathing through each moment and trying to keep a fresh perspective throughout the day...
Wishing you a wonderful day - embrace what it is for you...
Namaste,
Jessie
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
A little inspiration each day....
If you have not invested in the cute little book, 1001 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom by Liz Lark, you must! It is my absolutely favorite book for quick, short inspirations, yoga poses and mudras throughout the day. I have used some of her quotes/inspirations in class and would highly recommend her book as a resource in your yoga library.
In any case, one of the mudras (a gesture with the hands) outlined in the book in the section about starting your day well focuses on the importance of cultivating a sense of opening. It is the mudra for receptivity (Pushpaputa mudra). Here is what Liz shares in her book about this hand mudra: "To create a feeling of inner spaciousness and abundance that will last throughout your day, make this symboli gesture, the Sanskirt name of which translates as 'handful of flowers'. Kneel with your buttock on your heelsand place the backs of your hands on your thighs or knees, fingers pointing diagonally towards each other. Let each palm form an open cup shape, resting your thumbs against your index fingers. Close your eyes and visulize with presitine clarity, your hands filled with beautiful flowers and abundance." (Lark, 2008, p. 46).
May you all have a day filled with openness and receptivity to all things and people around you!
Namaste ~ Jessie
In any case, one of the mudras (a gesture with the hands) outlined in the book in the section about starting your day well focuses on the importance of cultivating a sense of opening. It is the mudra for receptivity (Pushpaputa mudra). Here is what Liz shares in her book about this hand mudra: "To create a feeling of inner spaciousness and abundance that will last throughout your day, make this symboli gesture, the Sanskirt name of which translates as 'handful of flowers'. Kneel with your buttock on your heelsand place the backs of your hands on your thighs or knees, fingers pointing diagonally towards each other. Let each palm form an open cup shape, resting your thumbs against your index fingers. Close your eyes and visulize with presitine clarity, your hands filled with beautiful flowers and abundance." (Lark, 2008, p. 46).
May you all have a day filled with openness and receptivity to all things and people around you!
Namaste ~ Jessie
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Turn off the world and listen...
Before I start on this posting for today I must do a little updating for those of you reading this for the first time. A great deal has happened since May - not only have I been bad about keeping up with my blog but life in general has become more interesting... For starters, I am expecting a baby in January 2011. Very exciting as this will be my 3rd child (and last...) and it is a little girl! We are super pumped and the boys (Amado 4 and Andres 2)are too! The other venture in my life is also personal - we bought our first house! Yikes! Talk about increasing your carbon footprint, adding to the world of materialism, etc. BUT, on the other hand, we have a large yard for the boys, a garden, apple and plum trees and a compost pile! The house is nice too...but the space is what we were craving....big, old oak trees and lots of places to play for the kids!
With that said...similar to the students returning or starting their studies, it is time for me to embrace the wonderful changes in my life and continue on this journey called life! Here is the inspiration for today:
FALL - my absolute favorite time of year! The apple picking, farmers market, leaves, colors, smells, ahh....absolutely glorious! If you have not taken the time today to step outside and breathe deeply, do it now! You will feel refreshed and rejuvenated! I am reminded today of the importance of stopping, pausing and listening... When tasks become overwhelming, taking a 5-10 min. energy nap or stepping outside are great ways to give your mind space, to tune into your body's energy and to observe your breath in and out. To recharge your body and mind, try this pose - Raised Mountain Pose (Hasta Tadasana). Stand with your feet about hip-width apart, fixing your eyes on a spot in front of you. Then on an inhale rise to your tip-toes and breath steadly with your arms raised overhead, palms facing each other - feel the stretch and length through your entire body. Take 10 breaths, visualizing postive energy charging the cells in your body and allowing that energy to move freely up and down your spine. Now relax and breath deeply. Repeat as many times as you would like :-)
Namaste ~ Jessie
With that said...similar to the students returning or starting their studies, it is time for me to embrace the wonderful changes in my life and continue on this journey called life! Here is the inspiration for today:
FALL - my absolute favorite time of year! The apple picking, farmers market, leaves, colors, smells, ahh....absolutely glorious! If you have not taken the time today to step outside and breathe deeply, do it now! You will feel refreshed and rejuvenated! I am reminded today of the importance of stopping, pausing and listening... When tasks become overwhelming, taking a 5-10 min. energy nap or stepping outside are great ways to give your mind space, to tune into your body's energy and to observe your breath in and out. To recharge your body and mind, try this pose - Raised Mountain Pose (Hasta Tadasana). Stand with your feet about hip-width apart, fixing your eyes on a spot in front of you. Then on an inhale rise to your tip-toes and breath steadly with your arms raised overhead, palms facing each other - feel the stretch and length through your entire body. Take 10 breaths, visualizing postive energy charging the cells in your body and allowing that energy to move freely up and down your spine. Now relax and breath deeply. Repeat as many times as you would like :-)
Namaste ~ Jessie
Friday, May 7, 2010
Spring showers...new beginnings
I cannot help but feel a bit sad and melancholy today as I think of the senior class here at Saint Ben's and Saint John's and the fact that they are graduating. So many of them I have gotten to know through yoga classes, committees, student groups, etc. - and each one of them will embark on new and exciting adventures... Rain has a way of making me stop and reflect. I look outside my window and admire the buds on the trees turning green and I think of how refreshing and cleansing the element of water is... I am reminder of how water also reflects new beginning, new life. In the same way, these new graduates will experience a new start to their lives as they leave the community here and find new directions and new adventures. How exciting! So, despite the rain puddles outside right now...there is a sense of renewal around campus. I wish each one of the graduates all the best. I hope they will take with them the ability to pause, reflect and listen - to the sound of the rain drops, the sound of their breath, and the sound of their hearts.... Life will only get more complicated and time will slip away.
CSB/SJU Graduates - Savor the spring showers today - breathe deeply and embrace your new beginning!
Peace and Namaste ~ Jessie
CSB/SJU Graduates - Savor the spring showers today - breathe deeply and embrace your new beginning!
Peace and Namaste ~ Jessie
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Staying positive at work
Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." I think of this phrase often, especially when I am frustrated with a work task or find myself unable to stay motivated because of certain obstacles in my way or the limited amount of time I have to get so much accomplished. I picked up my one of my favorite inspirtation books today during lunch (Pearls of Yoga Wisdom) and was inpsired but a couple of thoughts...suggestions. First of all, this concept of giving yourself Karma which literally means "action." Simply translated Karma yoga is a path of selfless action that regards work as a spiritual practice. Have you ever thought of your work as a spiritual pratice? I would like to think I do but yet there are some days I would rather throw my chair out the window or better yet, jump out the window. Do you have days like that? I have to tell myself that if I were to tap into my Karma yoga practice, I need to be willing to give myself wholeheartedly to my job. More specifically I suppose this would mean also working without negativity.
If there is one thing my yoga practice continues to teach me, it is learning how to maintain a steady resolve at work. How is this possible you might ask? Well...I think it might have something to do with practicing detachment or letting go. Being able to remove our emotions and motives from end results and focusing instead on the process. Think of the concept of being proactive versus reactive....if you are in tune with your yoga practice and you truly believe in giving wholeheartedly to your job/profession/daily activies, then at the end of the day you should be able to feel good about what you accomplished despite fatigue or anxiety (normal symptoms of our working culture today). So today...my mantra is "letting go...detaching...do not take it personally...be who you are with an open heart and compassion for others...." May you too pratice Karma yoga...selfless action and see your work as a spiritual practice today!
Peace and Namaste~
If there is one thing my yoga practice continues to teach me, it is learning how to maintain a steady resolve at work. How is this possible you might ask? Well...I think it might have something to do with practicing detachment or letting go. Being able to remove our emotions and motives from end results and focusing instead on the process. Think of the concept of being proactive versus reactive....if you are in tune with your yoga practice and you truly believe in giving wholeheartedly to your job/profession/daily activies, then at the end of the day you should be able to feel good about what you accomplished despite fatigue or anxiety (normal symptoms of our working culture today). So today...my mantra is "letting go...detaching...do not take it personally...be who you are with an open heart and compassion for others...." May you too pratice Karma yoga...selfless action and see your work as a spiritual practice today!
Peace and Namaste~
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Clarity in Communication
Communication is the key to all good relationships. Think of the numbers of times you have spoke with compassion and listened with an open heart....do they outnumber the times when you have said something too soon or not listened before you spoke? In Yoga, every word counts. Yogis try not to waste words - they attempt to draw in the truth (satya) before speaking. Sri Sathya Sai Baba (born 1926, India) once said, "Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve on the silence?" If only I could remeber Baba's words more often in my life - professionally and personally. So many times I choose to react and I forget to pause and let the silence settle in my heart and mind. Speaking from the heart requires you to have courage and to infuse clarity in your communication. Courage and clarity are qualities associated with the throat and navel chakras (energy centers). To practice your communication skills yoga encourages you to sit quietly, close your eyes and simply focus your attention and breath on your throat and then to your navel region. Continue to alternate between the 2 areas...visulizing openness and compassion....
Another way to encourage communication from the heart is to practice the lotus hand mudra. Start by placing both of your hands in front of your heart (heart chakra) with the heels of your hands, your thumbs and your little fingers touching. Spread the other fingers like outstretched petals on a flower. Allow yourself to take in 4 deep breaths, then close the flower into a bud by closing your fingers. Repeat as many times as you wish...
Namate ~
Another way to encourage communication from the heart is to practice the lotus hand mudra. Start by placing both of your hands in front of your heart (heart chakra) with the heels of your hands, your thumbs and your little fingers touching. Spread the other fingers like outstretched petals on a flower. Allow yourself to take in 4 deep breaths, then close the flower into a bud by closing your fingers. Repeat as many times as you wish...
Namate ~
Friday, February 5, 2010
Snowy Fridays
Ok, ok...holidays, new year - let's just say I am not sure what happened between Dec. and Feb. but life was busy. We did some travel to Ohio to see my husband's family and I took a personal vacation to Colorado. I absolutely LOVE downhill skiing and spent pretty much the entire time in my ski boots and hat! It was such a perfect time for me to get a way and really prioritize some personal goals. Sitting on a ski lift for 20 min. or more gives you plenty of time to think, reflect, meditate and overall, just be. It was during those moments that I would gaze out at the beautiful landscape, the moutains rising into the sky and just smile! There is something to be said about visulizing yourself like a mountain in tadasana and then actually being on a moutain and feeling its majesty! Wow...so powerful. I came back from that vacation feeling refreshed and renewed and ready for the year 2010!
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