Embrace your breath...

Embrace each day....

2010-11-10T05:51:00.000-08:00

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

A little inspiration each day....

2010-10-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

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

Turn off the world and listen...

2010-09-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

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

Spring showers...new beginnings

2010-05-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

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

Staying positive at work

2010-03-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

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~

Clarity in Communication

2010-03-18T10:05:00.000-07:00

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 ~

Snowy Fridays

2010-02-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

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!

The last breath...

2009-12-07T20:06:00.000-08:00

My grandmother died today... and looking at my past blogs, it has been too long since I have posted a thought. My family has been preparing for 2 months now for this day so it should come as no surprise to me... My grandmother's heart was tired but overall, these last few months have been good for her. Lots of time with grand kids and greatgrand kids. She was in such good spirits despite the pain I know she was in. When I spoke with my mom earlier today, she said, "grandma just took her last breath..." and found myself holding my breath, trying to keep in the tears and yet knowing in about 10 sec or so, I would need to breath again and just let the tears fall. In reflecting on this later today, I wonder if many people really even think about that fact that someday there will be a last breath...yeah, we know we are going to die but do we really break it down as simply as an inhale into (and out of) the body? How many times have I told my students to breath in deeply and exhale...how many times a day to I repeat that mantra to myself? The breath - the powerful life force that we take for granted everyday. What if today you were to take your final breath? What would all of those breaths before that mean? What would you want them to mean? Yoga helps us practice breath awareness and teaches us that pranayama, the science of breathing is essential to our vitality and overall well-being. We cannot learn to meditate or reflect without breathing. We cannot hold poses or move from one pose to the next without breathinng. We cannot chant, hum, sing or share without breathing.... So, the moral of the story - be aware of your breath, watch your breath, embrace your breath because one day, you will take your last breath...

Ok, kind of a sad entry for today but yet, this was helpful for me. Thank you for reading and well...for the ciberspace hugs or tears... today was a hard day for me and let's just say, I should have done more yoga.... :-(

Resilence...

2009-10-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

With the cold weather upon us it is easy to get bog down or depressed knowing that our bodies are missing the warm rays of the sun. Anxiety around the holidays starts and well...sooner than we think we are knocking on new year's door. During this time of year I find it helpful to practice enhancing my resilience. We must learn how to be resilient enough to bounce back from stressors or setbacks in our lives. There are 2 poses you can practice to help enhance your resilience... Try Boat Pose to help you stroke the "fire in your belly" that help cultivate your sense of drive. This challenge asana (or yoga pose) will teach you how to maintain a zest for life in a hectic world. To experience emotional release and to restore your energy when you feel tired or worn down practice Camel Pose. This is a beautiful backbend that stretches the front of the body, releasing negative emotions we are storing - it helps free up space for new, positive energy. I will end today's entry with a quote - "To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. Have that sort of energy, that sort of will, work hard, and you will reach the goal." ~ Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), India.

Peace and namaste,
Jessie

Creating space for your practice...

2009-09-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today I was home sick...I seriously felt like I could sleep all day. I know when these types of days come along, I have been pushing myself too hard and trying to do too much. It is amazing to me how much are bodies can tell us about what is happening spiritually and mentally in our lives. I spent some time today reflecting, praying and doing some much needed yoga. Sometime during my yoga practice, I was awed with how great I was feeling...less tired, less stressed and overall, more in tune with myself. Creating a space for my yoga practice has been difficult these past 2 years as I have had to make more time for family and work. In many ways, yoga has taken the back seat when really, I should have it right up in the passenger seat, helping me find my way - serving as the navigator or guide. How often do I talk about and teach my students about the importance of carving out time for reflection/meditation or a yoga pratice in general? All the time! Yet, I too am seeking a more defined space for yoga in my life. Actually, I need to remind myself that yoga does not have to be an hour of physically practice away from family and other distractions - it should be infused in my daily endeavors and interactions with others. Creating a space for your yoga practice means creating openness and receptivity in your life - not judging yourself for the times when you do not get time to practice, but instead embracing the moments when you remember to breath more fully, lengthen your spine, reach your arms up and pause to reflect inward...
Peace and love ~ Jessie

Listening...

2009-09-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

"We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak." ~ Epictetus

Sometimes we need to focus on pausing when listening to others to really absorb what they have to say. Applying this skill to everyday interactions at work, home and in other encounters is a positive intention to strive for... I would add that in addition to listening we need to be careful not to interrupt others, a habit I tend to have personally. Listening can also apply to our bodies. When moving through yoga poses imagine your body speaking to you. What is it saying? What can you learn from your body's language? If you can pratice tuning in and listening you will increase your ability to access innate wisdom of your body. One of my favorite poses is Nataraja which means "king of the dancers" and is often referred to in yoga as Dancer pose. This pose helps you to use grace and poise to communicate ideas. Instead of talking, your body with its arched spine, extended arm, open chest and soft gaze reflects a language of its own.

Another thought for today... If you are someone who tends to get distracted at work (I do all the time), close your eyes and focus on the sound of your breathing. Listen to the waves of your breath moving in and out, washing through you. Allow your breath to refresh your sense of hearing and your overall ability to listen and concentrate on the tasks at hand.

Namste ~ Jessie

Namaste

2009-09-11T08:24:00.001-07:00

Namaste is often compared to the greeting of "peace" - while it is very similar in meaning, I would offer another way of thinking about Namaste. The greeting Namaste is from the ancient Sanskrit language but used by modern Hindus. It can be translated to mean, “I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of love, of truth, of light, and of peace" or “The light (or God) in me honors the light (or God)within you”. Peace and a common sense of understanding is inferred in these two meanings. Essentially as you use the greeting Namaste, you are uniting your spirit with another person's spirit. Not simply saying the word but genuinely respecting and honor that other person. So, the next time you say namaste, think about the intention behind the word, not just the folding of the hands or the nodding of the head that accompany a namaste greeting...
Enough thoughts on that for today... Peace and light, namaste and have a wonderful day everyone!

Give me more time!

2009-09-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

Every day I think to myself "what if I had at least 4 more hours in the day?" I would accomplish so much more...more work, more email, more phone calls, better dinners for my family, a better hair-do, more creative gifts or thoughtful cards to family and friends...whew, just imagine. When I really think about it though I would be completely exhausted and worn out, more so than I already am at the end of the day. Have you ever wondered why there are only 24 hours in a day? Why a typcially work day is 8 hours? Why we have our kids (if you have any) in daycare or school for 9 hours out of the day? Hmmm... Anyway, my point is that there will never be enough time to do everything and that is ok. It is a silent mantra I have to repeat to myself, over and over again because I am a horrible perfectionist and busy body. I have a hard time sitting still and not working every minute of the day. Hard to imagine huh given that I am a yoga instructor?! Well...we are all human and we all have tendancies that drive us in one direction or the other. What I love most about my yoga practice is that it teaches me to slow down, to accept the present moment and to let everything be as it is.... Wow! That is hard! How do we pause, let go and know that there is a new day tomorrow? Anything we did not accomplish today will be there waiting for us tomorrow. During times when I am feeling overwhelm I reach my arms up into mountain pose, bring my hands to heart center in anjali hand mudra and close my eyes feeling the soft beating of my heart.... I am reminded that being present in this moment right here, right now is the best thing for me to do. I cannot control everything, I have to let go, breath and relax.... Ok, everyone together now - Namaste!

2009-08-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

So, it seems that rain is not only refreshing but also cleansing as it helps wash away unwanted stress and anxiety and overall gives one a new perspective. At least that is what I was thinking as I walked in the rain to teach a yoga class today, only to discover that none of my students where there.... I thought about leaving, heading back out in to the rain and in the direction of my office. Yet, as I stood in the studio and caught my reflection in the mirror, I realized how much I needed a practice for myself today. I kept the lights on low, put on my favorite meditation music and just allowed myself to breath and move. I can tell the teacher in me comes out even during my personal practice as I found myself thinking about alignment and breath and sometimes, forgetting to just be present in the moment. Then, I would think about the cool rain outside and with one glance to the windows facing outside, I would close my eyes and visulize the rain washing over me, cleansing and healing my overly anxious mind and body. Towards the end of my practice I was picturing images of childhood memories associated with rain, rain puddles, playing in the rain, splashing and watching the drops fall from the trees. With a clarity that only comes from a beautiful yoga practice followed by time for meditation, I re-lived the touch, smell, sound and sight of the rain when I was a child...the awe I had then and the awe I need to continue to seek - especially during days when I would rather sulk away, absorbing only the gloom of the clouds. Water - hmmm....what a wonderful sensation it provides... More on this later...

May the coolness of the fall rains clease your soul, refresh your mind and prepare you for the tasks ahead.
Namaste ~ Jessie

Respect the breath...

2009-08-07T05:33:00.000-07:00

Yoga philosophy teaches us that the breath is important for overall heath and well-being. That we should respect the breath knowing that we only allocated a certain number of breaths between our first inhale at birth and our last exhale when we leave... Therefore, the more slowly you take in each one of your breaths - the longer and calmer you will live. Whew! Pretty deep stuff huh?! Well, the way I think of it is that each day I can choose to breath slowly and intentionally or I can be anxious and stressed, breathing shallow and quick. The latter will not give me the lasting energy I need to tackle the mound of paperwork on my desk. Moreover, slow and calm inhalations will help me think more clearly and be more in tune with those around me. I can respond to situations with confidence and overall make decisions resulting in positive action and peace. Consider this quote from an Indian proverb, "If you breathe well, you will live long on the earth."
Respect your breath today...watch it, observe it, and always let it guide you.
Namaste ~ Jessie

2009-08-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

What is amazing to me is how fast time flies...it is August 5th and already I feel the summer coming to an end. Yet, I should remind myself to take note of this moment and to not think about the past or future so much. For whatever reason, I find myself always contemplating on the future, wondering what I should be doing next, who I need to see or take care of, where I need to be, etc. Yoga teaches me that the past will always be there and the future is always ahead of me but what is more salient in my life now is today, this moment in time. How I am feeling, what I am doing right now should be all I focus on. Taking in a deep breath when I need to, pausing to reflect or just absorb the work that has been done already... Overall, keeping in mind that time will continue to fly by. In my personal practice today my mantra was "pause, breath and relax..." As I moved from warrior II to triangle pose and transitioned to other asanas, I would chant and remember this phrase. May you have a day infused with time to pause and take note...breath and relax.
Namaste ~ Jessie

2009-07-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a great yoga practice. The tightness in my body has been building up so much lately and unfortunately I have not found the time to relax and let go of that tension through my own yoga practice. Life has been too busy... When I went to class yesterday morning, I felt a gentle yet firm nudge to pause - to practice living in the moment and not living for all I have to do and accomplish. I was reminded about the importance of letting go, opening up and allowing my physical body time for rest.

There are very few moments in my life now that can be dedicated to just "me." So, when I have the opportunity to attend a yoga session/class for myself, I feel blessed and always find myself returning to work and home with a new attitude and fresh perspective. If I know my yoga pratice will continue to lead me toward openesses, compassion and awareness then why do other things get in the way? Why do we constantly search for things to fill up our outlook calendars but then forget to pencil in our own needs? I am still trying to figure that out... I guess part of the answer might be that life is about practicing balance and no one has ultimately perfected that. Every day is a new day and a new chance to save a spot in our day for ourselves.

Reflections on today...

2009-07-09T08:05:00.001-07:00

My inspiration today is my family, most specifically my husband Jesus. Today is our 4 year anniversary - a beautiful reminder of how precious it is to be loved and to love! Jesus was my rock and my foundation when I first started on my yoga training in Houston. He supported me not only emotionally and spiritually, but financially as well! Thanks honey for taking care of me and encouraging me to grow and learn in my yoga journey. The 2 years I took off to teach and practice yoga were blessed with your loving support. Now, our lives are even more amazing as I am not only able to continue my yoga practice through teaching but we have 2 wonderful sons, Amado and Andres. Wow - what a day to reflect on the gifts we are given huh?! My yoga mantra today is "thank you for abundance love in my life." Namaste.

Yoga ~ Just Breathe

2009-03-02T11:40:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my first ever blog site and the first time I am promoting my love and passion for yoga online. Whew! This is an exciting endeavor but more specifically a great way for me to share thoughts and insights about my contining yoga journey.

You can anticipate journel entries, general information and facts about yoga, daily or weekly inspirations or quotes...etc. I have no idea what this blog will provide other than an outlet for me, a yogi, wife, mom, professional, daughter, sister and overall crazy busy person.

Thank you all for your awesome presense in my life! Namaste ~