Bikram v Charlie Sheen

Hello beautiful yogis/yoginis/persons/aliens/iguanas/all. Thanks for popping into my blog! I wanted to share a page I recently stumbled upon at yogadawg.com. that was hilarious and very informative. Its a list of quotes by Charlie Sheen and the founder of Bikram yoga, Bikram Choudhury.

For those of you who may not know, Bikram Yoga is the type of yoga that is set in a high temperature room, about 105 degrees  Fahrenheit, and consists of 26 asanas (poses) that are the same for every practice.  But for all intensive purposes, its not really the practice we're going to get into, is the man behind the the heat: Mr. Bikram Choudury.  Bikram has established a reputation for being a bit...ummm...Grand.  Grand in the sense that he has over 40 Rolls Royces and Bentleys; Grand in the sense that he claimed to have taught the Beatles, Richard Nixon, and Pope Paul VI  (none of these claims have been confirmed); and Grand in the sense that he pretty much sees himself as the greatest thing since sliced bread (which come on, is insanity because slice bread was something called a game changer and I've yet to see anything rise to the occasion since...i guess the ipad is a close second). BUT,  with all his Grandness, that's not to say that maybe he hasn't earned it; everyday new people flock to the Bikram method of Yoga because they dig the intensity, the sweat, the challenge...I totally understand.
....I just think his grandiose reputation is awesome to watch and it makes me chuckle, which I like. 

Also, for those who may not know, Charlie Sheen is an American actor who waves his freak flag all over town, and with impeccable pride and commitment. Just for good taste, lets toss in some Charlie Sheen quotes for today's entry:

1.  “I’m so tired of pretending my life isn’t perfect and bitching and just winning every second and I’m not perfect and bitchin’.”
2. "I am on a drug, it's called Charlie Sheen. It's not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."
3.  "If you’re a part of my family, I will love you violently."
4. And of coarse, "Winning."

So needless to say....yes. So much yes. 
.

But to the point:  When reading the quotes below, your job is to guess whether Charlie Sheen said it or Mr. Choudhury said it.  (PS: the answers are at the bottom).

I copied and pasted it down below, but I'll also leave the link riggggght here > http://www.yogadawg.com/quiz5.htm

I hope you enjoy! If you don't like it, feel free to let me know, just don't be a jerk about it please. Thanx.  Happy Holidays to all and to all a Bhakti night. MUAH!


Who Said It (Bikram Choudhury or Charlie Sheen)? - A YogaDawg Quiz


INSTRUCTIONS: Place a B or a C in each set of quotes.



1. They lay down with their ugly wives in front of their ugly children and just look at their loser lives, and then they look at me and they say, 'I can't process it.' Well, no, and you never will, stop trying. ____

What happens when they say they will commit suicide unless you sleep with them? What am I supposed to do? Sometimes having an affair is the only way to save someone’s life. ____

****

2. The nights I don’t sleep it’s because there’s a higher calling telling me to stand guard. ____

I'm feeling sleepy, because I haven't gone shopping for a long time. ____

****

3. I'm in show biz. I entertain people. ____

I am grandiose because I live a grandiose life; what’s wrong with that? ____

****

4. I should be the most honored man in the country. ____

I’m different. I have a different heart. I have a different type of blood. ____

****

5. We had a saying that the fun stops at one. They’d just puke all over it. ____

Don't throw up on the carpet. It's new. ____

****

6. I’m battle tested bayonets. ____

I'm bullet proof, waterproof, wind proof, money proof, sex proof, emotion proof, stress proof, strength proof. ____

****

7. Imagine what I would have done with my fire breathing fists. ____

Nobody fucks with me. ____

****

8. I am special, and I will never be one of you! ____

I'm a product of Beverly Hills. ____

****

9. I control my kingdom like a gangster. ____

I look like a gangster? Well, I feel like a gangster. ____

****

10. We are a totally fucked up society. ____

This is like a sober acid trip. ____

****

11. I’m tired of pretending I’m not a total bitchin rock star from Mars‏. ____

What are they eating for breakfast on Jupiter? ____

****

12. I have balls like atom bombs, two of them, 100 megatons each. ____

I'm an F-18 and I will destroy you in the air. ____

****

13. Who the fuck is this YogaDawg? He's the only guru in America who doesn’t think I’m joke. ____

Who the fuck is this YogaDawg? He's the only person in America who doesn’t think I’m a joke

 ANSWERS:

1. Charlie, Bikram
2. Charlie, Bikram
3. Bikram, Charlie
4. Bikram, Charlie
5. Charlie, Bikram
6. Charlie, Bikram
7. Charlie, Bikram
8. Charlie, Bikram
9. Bikram, Charlie,
10. Bikram, Charlie
11. Charlie, Bikram
12. Bikram, Charlie
13. Bikram, Charlie

Winter, you are one cold *itch!

Hello World!!  And by that I mean internet world, not entire world world. I'm sure the entire world is doing something much more productive than sitting at the computer...here's hoping anyway. Welcome back to my blog, or welcome for the first time if you're a first timer! Sorry I have not written in a while, but the end of the year always tends to get a bit busy, and chaotic, and honky grandma be trippin' and all. Today's post is going to be about how to keep warm during this very cold season. I admit that I do live in gorgeous California, and granted  I will say that yes, I am spoiled and a baby and I should shut my mouth about how cold this season can be...
                      but I'm not really one to shut my mouth...soooo here we are. 

During this holodious time of the year (holiday time of year...I'm pretty confidant that holodious is not a word) (but it probably should be) our temperature tends to lower and consequently we are forced to pursue our day to day activities during this very frigid climate. I've talked to a couple of people who have reacted to this change is a great deal of physiological anxiety, and have said that they have actually acquired more injuries in their joints and muscles and various other places because of activity in such cold weather. I've come to learn that this is because our bodies act kind of like a rubber band; if its cold it can be really brittle, but if its warmed up it can be flexible and great source of strength.  So if for instance you work outside in the cold  (I'm looking at you contract workers and farmers), your body comes brittle and stiff  when you arrive at a job site. As you begin your work day and move around busily, your stiff body may be jeopardizing its parts because your muscles are hypothetically jumping from 0 to 60 and you my friend are not a Lamborghini. (to all you Transformers out there reading my blog, please disregard that last analogy, but do process my intended piont).

I'd like to offer a yogic remedy to this chilling dilemma, if I may be so bold. Warming up your body before you go out into the cold seems to make a lot of sense to me, therefore I suggest doing a couple rounds of Sun Salutations to wake up your body.  Not only do the Salutation get synovial fluid moving and the lubricants in your joints more juicy, they also stretch and strengthen just about all the parts of your body that are used during mobility.  AND they wake up your mind, and get the blood pumping, and bring an overall feeling of ease and alertness at the end.  Not too shabs.

. Below is a quaint example of me doing the Sun Salutation C. The footage may look a little cheap, chances are that's because it is, but the  general gist of the flow like sequence is there. 

I'd like highlight a couple of things about Sun Salutation C:

1.  Learn how to breathe during this rhythmic flow.  Inhale float the arms up, exhale bend forward. Inhale come half way up, exhale down. A good rule of thumb about moving with your breath is that if you are opening up, or expressing yourself then you would do it on an inhale. If you are folding in, or pulling yourself into yourself then you would do it on an exhale. You'll get the hang of this pattern after some practice.
2.  Notice the alignment/placement of your pelvis and tailbone. Try to keep them in a natural position; this might require you pulling your tailbone down during the low lunge or moving your pelvis around in the beginning to feel what seems natural for you. Wherever you land, pay attention to what you're feeling and refine the position as you see fit. 
3. Try to start slow, and gently progress to go a little faster after each cycle.  
4. Having fun with this! Do about 6 cycles, and enjoy each unique one for what it can offer you. The point of the Sun Salutation is to wake up the body, connect this woken up body with the mind, and all along allow the breath to take center stage for your focus.  Try to keep these points in mind instead of trying to rush through each cycle to arrive at some theorized goal. There is no goal...there is just IS.

So there you have it. Try practicing Sun Salutation C to bring some heat to your cold winter, and hey if you have time why not throw in some other poses if the mood strikes ;). I think you'll find that its actually quite easy to generate heat on cold days, your joints will thank you, and you may walk away feeling more energized and light.

Till next time lil yogi friends. Happy Holidays Everyone! Namaste to all and to all a good night! 
-Roxy

Raja Yoga Breakdown

Surfing Your Balance

Hello World! Welcome! Please come in, take a seat. Can I get you a shmoke and a pauncake? No?

..Today's entry is going to be about a balancing technique that I have been working on and so far I'm giving a thumbs up to.  The best way I can describe what this technique like is implicated in the title of this blog: Surfing Your Balance. Clever, ey?

When you come into your balancing pose such as Tree (Virksasana) or Standing Extended Hand to Big Toe (Utthita Hasta Padangustasana), pay attention to your standing foot and where you are being thrown off balance. Are you swaying to the left? To the right? Side to side is most common, but check also if your being thrown forward or backward. While focusing on where exactly you are losing balance, try to train yourself to pull the side of the foot down when it begins to lift. So for instance if you are standing on your right leg and your right inner foot starts to lift and you start fall towards the right, focus your mind to that lifted arch and consciously pull it down. When its down you can come back to rooting all four corners of your foot into the ground, and breathing into your regained balance.  You can introduce yourself to this "surfing" technique by coming into your balance pose, and intentionally gently lose your balance. This way you can gradually teach yourself what it feels like to bring your attention to the area of your body that is making you lose balance right away; after some time and practice, pulling down the part of your foot that is losing balance will become natural and easy.

      

       I refer to this technique as "surfing" because after a while of practicing this exercise it begins to feel like your grooving with the flowing movement of your foot, much like standing on a surfboard when surfing! Woah! Keanu Reeves face Woah! The more you relax and listen to your inner guidance,the more you'll be able to feel the balance from the inside which then becomes converted to actions on the outside. Just remember to keep your toes wide, all four corners grounded (or the best you can), and the inner arches lifted. But hey, this technique doesn't have to be left on the mat; go ahead and practice it anywhere! In line, at work if you're standing, when you're dancing, at cat funerals--- where ever you feel appropriate.This gives you a chance to take your yogic concentration/matter where ever your whimsical life may carry you.

     

   Another benefit I wanted throw out about this technique is that it works out the muscles in the arches of our feet, especially the medial longitudinal arch which is the inner/highest arch on your foot.  This area is the cause of pain for thousands of people, growing every day. (HOLLA AT MY PREGNANT LADIES OUT THERE! HEEEEEY!). A weak arch can cause a grip of pain because it supports your whole body weight, acts as a shock absorber for all your awesome jumps slash flips, and contributes to a stable walk, whilst continuing to bounce back to position with obedience and precision. If not worked on, the medial longitudinal arch can weaken due to various reasons such as habitual biomechanics that oppose natural anatomical alignment; the hormone relaxin in pregnant women; and types of shoes. As for the other arches of the feet,  the metatarsal arch and lateral arch, this "surfing" technique is great for preventing arthritis and tendonitis.

 I feel that now would be an appropriate time for me to shout from the roof tops I AM NOT A DOCTOR. Just a yogic observer.  These are suggestions and conclusions I have made from research and experimentation. As always follow a practice that is right for you.  However, for you serious inquirers out there who want a list of my references, I'd be happy to share. Ready? Ok, here it is: GOOGLE.COM. Check it out, I think its really going to make a splash soon! ;)

     Last little yogic note I'm going to nerd out on you with is this: Bandhas.  Bandhas are translated as "locks."  Pada Bandha is translated as "Foot Lock."  In Hatha Yoga, Pada Bandha is encouraged to hold as an energetic action as means to acquire a strong sense of grounding and stabilizing the firm standing foot. This awakens the pranic energy, and consequently results in more energy, more life force, and clarity.  The effects of surfing your balance encourages a stronger Pada Bandha, and after practicing this technique I'm hoping it will make it easier to maintain Pada Bandha throughout an entire hatha yoga class. (or at least standing and balance parts of the class).

So I want to offer you some homework: Come into your expression of tree pose or some other standing balance pose (I would suggest starting simple), and really truly focus on your standing foot. Spread your toes, root your foot down, and focus in on what parts of your foot is lifting when you start to lost balance.  When you register whats lifting, pull it down. Go slow, allow yourself to play around, don't take it too seriously, and remember to breath.  

Hope my technique helps your balancing practice, and always feel free to comment if you feel the commenting urge.

Cheers and Namaste.

Get Some Balls In Your Practice

Hello All! Today I wanted to offer a variation to your home practice, should you decide you want to shake some things up.  I want to suggest using an exercise ball during your savasana (corpse pose) or as a relaxing inversion. Recently I have been putting my legs up onto an exercise ball during savasana (crossing my feet to prevent the ball from rolling away) and I have to say that it was been quite yummy. The elevation reduces pressure in the lower back region (lumbar/sacrum region), and the pose itself is a variation on viparita karani (legs up wall) pose.  Vipariti Karani is a great asana because it calms the nervous system, stimulates the blood circulation in your legs, and brings an overall feeling of equanimity and blissful stillness. It looks like this: 

The viparti karani ball variation would be helpful for people to who don't have a lot of wall space, or if you just spontaneously bought an exercise ball and haven't used it since purchase -except for maybe a bouncy chair. (there's more us out there than one may think...).  Its also nice because you will still receive the benefits of viparti karani but get to experience them through a different approach.  If you don't have an exercise ball, you can purchase one at just about any sporty type store...and they are relatively cheap. They look like this: 
    So there you have it. Try putting your legs up on a ball during your final relaxation pose, and explore/enjoy what you feel.
Namaste.

On the Road Again...

Actually, I finally find myself off the road. HELLO WORLD! I just got back from a two and half week road trip across the ol' U S of A, and let me tell you its nice to be back home! Finally, instead of sitting in the car for thirteen hours, I get to sit on my awesomely comfortable couch for fifthteen hours. Life's as it should be.

    Although the trip was amazing, I have to say that it was a doosey of a challenge to accept that I was not able to practice yogs as much as I was used to; consequently my body felt stiff, I became quite a pill (or a bitch..depending on who you asked), and I was losing a sense of calmness and clarity that I had been used to working towards in my daily life. Luckily, among the bazillion things that I'm awesome at, I can improvise. So bloggers, yogi's, and loyal stalkers, I write this entry in the hopes to share tips on how to take yoga with you wherever you go. If you have suggestions, questions, corrections, or any other "tions" that may add to this piece, as always feel free to comment. 

1). Diaphragmatic Breathing:  I LOVED practicing this breath  while in the car, both when I was passenger and driver. Now that I'm home and safe, I will admit that yes I did practice pranayama (breathing exercises) while I was driving. I don't necessarily encourage it, but I will say that it kept me interested and alert; two virtues of driving.  Essentially in diaphragmatic breathing, you're breathing into the lower part of you abdomen, just below the naval. The diaphragm is shaped kind of like a parachute, and when you inhale the top of the the diaphragm drops down into a bowl shape, and when you exhale that same diaphragmatic layer pushes back up in a somewhat inverted bowl shape.  But hey look Jimmy, here's a video! Let's watch...   

I enjoyed imagining that on my inhales, my bottom core expanded really wide, and on the exhales i powerfully pulled in both of my sides toward the midline of my stomach. I kinda pretended I was a human accordion. Which was neat. I also liked how it felt like I was toning my stomach because it distracted me from the reality of being in car with no exercise for hours on in. For a full instructional video on diaphragmatic breathing pop on over to Yogayak.com and look over in the pranayama section. Feel free to donate while your there also. Icon wink ;).

2). Hotel Asanas:  At some point, after all that driving, fighting, and road kill running over, you land somewhere. For us we stayed in a hotel room in just about every night. (Shout out to Billings Montana Super 8! Yeyea!).  So you're now in a private, stable environment-why not go do some yoga, dumb dumb? Just kidding, I don't think you're a dumb dumb. I just say stuff sometimes to get noticed...but all dumb dumb joking aside, you can easily do some simple Sun Salutations, core work, standing asanas, and even some back bends in the smallest and tightest of rooms. I personally really enjoyed doing a supported head stand (Sirsasana 1) for about 5-10 minutes a day. I found that it shook up the stagnant digestive system, gave me more energy and focus, and all around put me in a better mood. For instructions on supported headstand, yoga journal has simple, orderly directions on that and many other asanas.  http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/481

 3). Just Let Your Free Flag Fly: Last time I checked, this wasn't communist China. America is one of the most desirable places to live because we believe in freedom, and if I want to tie in a little asana practice in the middle of what I'm doing...shit ya I'm going to do it! I mean if I don't, doesn't that just mean the terrorists have won? I say do your part, as an AMERICAN, and bust into a down dog if you feel so inclined.  I did. In Chicago. While I was waiting in line to see a boat tour of the city's historical  architecture. A really nice tour actually, and I highly recommend it if you're in the area.   But I digress, the point I'm trying to make is that if you want to go into a yoga pose at the most seemingly randomist of times, I say do it. If someone gawks at you for doing yoga, chances are its because

• they're jealous
• they're curious
• they want to join in but are too shy
• they haven't participated in the act of coitus in a substantial amount of time, and watching you do poses makes them feel funny in their "no no" spots. (watch out for these people).

Sometimes you might find someone who's just bitter at yoga in general and thinks you're stupid for practicing in public. In those cases, just remember that life's full of haters, and haters gonna hate. Whatever, we all know that you lose more weight if you participate, and me personally? I'm into lookin' good. So there.  
    Of coarse, be aware and considerate of the people around you; if it bothers them then take a step back. This, much like various yogic practices, are not suitable for everyone at every time. These are just suggestions, and ultimately its up to you to practice the way that is right for you and your situation.

Well now, I suppose I've said what I've needed to say. I hope my experience and suggestions with road yoga will sit well with you. Thanks for reading and I hope you're enjoying all the yogic matters in your day.

Cheers and Namaste. 

Who Wears Short Shorts?

MMMMyello blogi's and blogini's out there. I thought I would write short entry today for anyone that dares to follow my blog...usually I try to get the word out that I have written a new entry, but this one is going to have to catch notoriety on its own. I would love to spend some more time organizing thoughts and opinions, but lately I have been busier than the only working vending machine in Mississippi. I've been preparing for a 2 week road trip on top of an already busy life.  But I digress, the point is this entry is going to be short and focused and about meditation.

Point: I am really excited about incorporating mudras into my daily meditation practice. In my last entry I talked about experimenting with mudras and taking scrupulous notes of the effects. Since using mudras, I have felt very optimistic about my future, and have been given quite a few opportunities to look forward to. I again won't be so zealous as to assume that the optimism springs entirely from the mudras, but I will be so zealous to say that I'm not ruling it out. Also, I feel that using mudras have contributed to the growth of my meditation practice; I am finding focusing is much simpler for me and I am able to detach my attention while still being aware of my surroundings. So much so that I'm even considering (humbly) that I may be progressing to the pratayhara stage of the 8 limb Raja Yoga (Royal Yoga) Path. In Raja Yoga there are 8 limbs that one must practice/accomplish in order to attain ultimate bliss. The stages are yama (restraints or ethical practices), Niyama (the observances or daily practices), asana (physical postures), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal from the external sensory input), Dharana (the first stage of concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (ecstacy or the dissolution of separation between subject and object).  I feel that the integration of mudras have elevated me to a point where I can withdrawal my senses (specifically hearing) from certain situations, and center my focus elsewhere. Its pretty shweet.

I think thats all I really wanted to touch on...besides these computer keys..ohhhhh.  Hopefully I will be able to write a more inspired entry later. Maybe one that actually reads fluidly and is not choppy like this mess. Who knows. Could happen. I hope everyone out there is having a promising day,week,month. Peace and Contentment.

Mudras to the Rescue!

Hello and Welcome! Thanks for tuning in to this week's exciting adventures of yoga and its matters in daily life. Today's matter is going to be about mudras. In its simplest definition, mudra is a symbolic gesture of the hands. Mudras are typically used during meditation, kundalini yoga, occasionally hatha yoga, and according to the book "Mudras: Yoga In Your Hands" by Gertrud Hirschi, during times when one needs instant or long term healing.  For all them lawyers out there, I am confessing that the majority of my knowledge of mudras is taken from Miss Hirschi's book, who in turn took much of her information from the venerable Keschav Dev... so if you are interested in knowing more about mudra's please check out her extensively informative book. 

         Anywhosers, depending on the orientation of the hands, mudras are reputed to be able to heal, calm, help with arthritis and carpel tunnel, transcend (spiritually or mentally...), regulate (bodily functions), stabilize, energize, refresh, clarify, invoke primal truths, and to a degree open the doors to super human powers. Pweety shweet.   But hey I'm not willing to hand my wallet over to the wallet inspector just yet. I have been incorporating mudras in my mediation practice on and off for about a year now, and I can attest that yes I have received many of those positive effects after my practice, but I can not whole hardheartedly state or believe that those effects are direct results from mudras. I admit I got into mudras simply because I thought they added a little zest to my practice, but upon further inspection I could not deny that I had already adopted a strong belief system in hands gestures from my Western culture. Can you disagree with the more casual belief system of hand gestures? If you are driving and someone flips the middle finger at you, what do you interpret that hand gesture to mean? Its not lets play golf sometime, I'll tell you that much.  Or what about that silly hand gesture that had a stint of popularity in the early 2000's where one places their hands over head, palms up, and symbolically "raises the roof"...always the life of the party that started that one. Or shoot, one can even invoke sexual arousal via hand gestures ie the cunnilingus or fellatio gesture. Pretty powerful stuff.  By the basic rules of logic and rationality, I could not allow myself to completely disregard the curative powers of mudras to be hippy dippy hub bub snub flub.

       As such, I will be performing a week long experiment incorporating the hand mudra Apan Mudra (energy mudra) into a daily practice. Anywhere from 5-45 minutes a day is recommended, but for ultimum results they suggest 15 minutes a day 3 times a day. We'll see how that works out.... The picture the right is what it looks like.

Supposedly it supports the removal of waste materials and toxins from the body, eliminate urinary problems, balances the mind, gives patience, serenity, confidence, inner balance and harmony, and (on the mental realm, and the main reason I chose this mudra) it creates the ability to develop vision for the future...confront probable challenges the future may hold and how to overcome them in order to achieve the future one desires. I also am going to mentally say a lil mantra ..(inhale) patience (exhale) now, (inhale) persistence (exhale) now. I'm probably going to be practicing this as home, but what's cool about mudras is that if one chooses to, they can be practiced anywhere...hence the daily yogic matter application.  All it takes is a lil awareness and practice.

   In exactly a week I'll write an updated post about my findings, so check back if you have a chance.  Thanks for reading yall! Of coarse if you have comments, lay them on me.

  Cheers and Namaste Dawlings.

One Moment Meditation

Here's a lil instructional video about lil meditations that take lil time and can be practiced anywhere.  I just want to offer everyone the understanding that mediation doesn't have to be arduous, or time consuming, or that if you don't stop your thoughts then you are not meditating. Little stick figure man thinks about cake in the video...I think about cake all the time. Yet I meditate, he's meditating, and I'm confidant you can too. So Enjoy!

Home Practices

You know what might be the best thing about home practices? That you can stop and dance to Rhianna if the mood strikes. Then go right back to what you were doing.  So Shakti.

A Girl's First Pair of Mala Beads

Yesterday I bought my very first pair of mala beads.  I kinda fell in love with them instantly. I slept with them on last night, and I'm not the type of girl that sleeps with anything the first day I meet them. Shits getting real real fast.
     For those who are not yet familiar with mala beads they are a string of beads <please refer to the example to your right> that are used to meditate, or to repeat mantras, or as a symbol of one's spiritual beliefs.  There are a 108 beads on a string, and about 108 suggested reasons why there are 108 beads. Non can be absolutely substantiated.  If you're interested in these suggested reasons head on over to Swami J's website:  http://www.swamij.com/108.htm
      In my case, I bought them as a reminder of my dedication to Yoga. Many many ....many times I get caught up in life's wonderful whirlwinds. In fact I can say with confidence that there are a bazillion times in my life- say after a crappy day at work or a fight with someone I love- when I run straight to the wine bottle, and not so much the yoga mat. I felt strongly that I needed something of a talisman to remind me that I can always choose a yogic option, if that's my intention.  Maybe instead of that glass of wine, I could try something new. It's definitely possible that I won't necessarily prefer the new thing in future situations, but the fact that I chose to try something new right now...totally yogic, bra.
       Also, its kind of nice to have something to play with with my hands.  See, I have obsessive busy hand syndrome (self diagnosed, but I'm pretty confidant its a serious clinical condition).  Either I'm creasing shirts, or biting nails, or messing around with my hair...my hands always are doing something.  So now playing with beads is just one more option! yay for options!
    Ok yallins, I'm all blogged out. Thanks as always for reading, and of coarse leave comments if you gots something to say!
Cheers and Namaste.

Hey, remember that one time....

"Many a man fails as an original thinker simply because his memory is too good."
Fredrick Nietzsche

Oh Memory...you are some piece of work. I mean really, sometimes I love you, sometimes I hate you,  sometimes I wish you would just stop being so damn stubborn and help me out with those lyrics I've been trying to sing for dayyyyyys. I know I know them, but I just can't put my finger on it. SO FRUSTRATING. Sometimes Memory, you just straight up disable me from moving forward with my life because you keep telling me that I don't like this, or I don't like that, or this will hurt beyond what I can handle, or this person is lame...remember?  Memory, if you were my boyfriend I would seriously dump your controlling ass. But as it is, you are not a boyfriend. Or something that I'm ever going to give up willingly. So what do we do about this sitation? Well, this is what I have decided to do, and readers you can take suit if it fits for you as well. I think it is of great benefit to approach situations as if it is the first time. Observe succinctly whats going on around you. Move your body that makes sense and feel good for you, not what you know to be safe. Eat that food, because hey you may just like it! To be clear, I'm not suggesting a self induced amnesia. I'm suggesting a neutral, fresh, and unattached approach to each encounter. Is this making sense? Hmm...how about an example.
        Some yoga teachers who's classes I've taken or who's writings I have read have advised their students to approach asanas (poses) as if it were their very first time. Take each one slowly and with much consideration, studying each subtle movement and sensation. If you are a regular hatha yoga practitioner, this is can prove to be quite a difficult task. For one, there is an element of ego and pride in knowing the basic poses. Finally you don't have to look up at the teacher every time for guidance,  and in fact you know what they are going to say before they say it. Boy, don't you feel neato. (and by you of coarse I mean me). But now that you're here in Neatoasana, you may find that whoops you've lost or balance, or your mind has wondered away from you and your focus on your breathing has vanished. Maybe not, but I've heard a story a many where this has happened. Even worse, I've talked to some practitioners who've attested that their memory was the cause of injury, as they took for granted the many anatomical elements of the pose and hurt themselves. Sad face icon =(.
           From a yogic belief system point of view, yogi's believe that there are 5 types of thoughts. That is to say that there are 5 categories that thoughts fall into even though the idea or thought impressions are infinite. The five categories that thoughts can be filed under are: right kind of thinking (pramana), wrong kind of thinking (viparyaya), imagined (vikalpa), deep sleep (nidra), and of coarse memory (smriti).  Through meditation and deep conscious focus, one can detach themselves from these thoughts and simply witness them happen without being consumed by them. You can find this in Patanjali's Sutra 1.5. So try this as homework: try to view and experience situations by simply observing. Don't judge. Don't expect. Don't rely on past experiences to dictate current experiences. Simply watch and accept it for what it is.
        That's all for now. Thanks so much for reading. Again please comment if you have any questions or additions or this topic, or suggestions...chu know...the typical comment stuff.

Cheers and Namaste.


 PS: I remembered the lyrics to that song I mentioned before. It was "Let me see that thongggggg. Thong, tha tha tha thong." I feel so much relief right now!


       

And so these are the yogic matters of our lives...

Well hello there. Welcome. Please take your shoes off. But don't put them too far as this entry will be short...just a lil blib about the blog and what it is going to be going to about. So basically I'm starting this blog because my doctor says, and my bartender agrees, that I need to start activating/expressing my creative side ...I'm a devout believer in the age old saying "you don't use it, you lose it." I think I'm starting to lose it. Looks like the watching the ol' tele isn't quite cutting it anymore, which is weird because lifetime movies ARE creative. But I digress. This blog is going to be mainly yogic based, as the title suggests, and report on things in daily life that upon further inspection are either full of potential to be yogic or are already in fact yogic. But Roxy what do you mean by Yogic? Well you, great question. Thanks for asking. I'll be giving examples and then relate to maybe the philosophy, or a yoga sutra, or a limb of raja yoga, or an act of seva (selfless action)...and things along those lines. I intend to fully explain the yogicness of each situation as I understand and respect that some people do not in fact study yoga as much as I do. I'll also be posting other things like sequences I'm stoked on, meditation tips, etc. So in that effect I also hope that this blog educates about Yoga.  Please leave comments, questions, compliments, and criticisms. I encourage all these things as it is all great feedback to help me grow as a teacher, articulator, and practitioner. So here it is...I hope you enjoy and learn...and by golly enjoy learning. That's all for now, but check back soon. As I have lost my remote control and inspiration is bound to strike soon.

Cheers and Namaste.