this is taking a new direction.
i realized today that awareness is paramount to me. it's important for human survival. therefore, it's important for the earth's survival.
humans are destroying the planet; it's really no secret if you choose to open your eyes to the horrors committed every day.
so in an effort to do my part in building a better future, i feel compelled to pass on the knowledge and awareness i find-- no matter how "small" or obvious it might seem. i believe every little bit helps and if anything is going to be helped on a large scale it needs to start small scale. it needs a solid foundation. good habits as part of a productive lifestyle. smaller parts building up to the whole. you know.
so.
let the sharing begin.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
summer school + yoga
Yoga has gotten me through a lot. A lot.
Currently, yoga is seeing me through an utterly hectic 12 credits over summer. I didn't quite realize how challenging that would be. When I tell people my course load they look at me like I'm insane, they ask me, "Are you insane?!" and honestly, sometimes I do feel insane over it. But now, as the semester nears its end, I feel incredibly confident and strong. Like a flower opening up to the sun, day after day, ready for whatever winds, rain, and insects might come. I attribute this serene feeling during such a hectic time in my life to a few things: First, I'm not working this summer. It goes without saying how much that helps. Second, I have an incredibly supportive web of friends and family. They cook for me when I'm too busy to do it myself, they get me out of the house when I'm at my wits end, and they offer unceasing encouragement through the whole process. Third, I have refused to let yoga take a backseat to my homework. I think this has helped me the most.
I first registered for summer with 14 credits. I had signed up for a 2 credit yoga class that I thought I'd be able to handle because I do yoga so frequently anyway. After the first week of school I realized the extra day of driving and the extra, albeit simple, assignments would be too much for me. I wanted to take the class because, lets face it, I'm lacking any sort of formal training; I've never been able to stick with a teacher, or even a studio for that matter. Taking yoga through school was an opportunity for me to earn credit and progress in my beloved practice under a legitimate teacher. Two birds with one stone, essentially.
Before I committed myself so much to yoga, I was a ball of stress and nerves, anxiety and anger. I know for a fact that if I had neglected my practice during these 3 months I'd be crying daily, waking up and going to bed angry, and basically hating the world around me. I know yoga is the reason I've been able to rise above those hurtful and angry emotions. If it weren't for yoga, I wouldn't be able to express my gratitude to my loved ones that have helped me oh so much these months. It's obvious to others that knew me before my yoga immersion how much this has helped me. It's helped me not only to deal with stress, but to grow into the woman I know I am deep down. It's helped me tap into, and radiate, my true Self.
Surprisingly, it's been in the past 3 months of crazy school work that my abilities have skyrocketed. Before this summer, I couldn't balance on my arms, I couldn't stand on my head, and I wouldn't dream of trying a jump through. Now, I can balance on my arms (sideways, even!), I can stand on my head, and I'm very close to clearing my feet when I try to jump through! The joys I experience when practicing far outweigh whatever other challenges I'm facing in life.
But alas, with 2 weeks left in the semester I caught a cold. I haven't been sick in 3 whole years. My friends assure me students tend to get sick near the end of a semester, so I guess that's why. The cold kept me away from a full practice for nearly a week. Thankfully, I got a full hour in today; the rest of the week is still uncertain. Add that to 7 exams in 2 weeks and you get a compromised practice.
With the end of the semester nearing I've tapped in more to my breath. Deep breathing and silent chants are my salvation this week. And probably next week, until the semester ends. I can hardly think of anything else besides school right now, but I keep having this little thought creep into my head: practice, practice, practice! It's not demanding, it's exciting. I can't wait to dedicate some serious thought and effort into my practice. There are so many things I want to try and refine, but I must be patient. Patience is another thing yoga has taught me ;)
So the moral is: Yoga can get me through anything.
Currently, yoga is seeing me through an utterly hectic 12 credits over summer. I didn't quite realize how challenging that would be. When I tell people my course load they look at me like I'm insane, they ask me, "Are you insane?!" and honestly, sometimes I do feel insane over it. But now, as the semester nears its end, I feel incredibly confident and strong. Like a flower opening up to the sun, day after day, ready for whatever winds, rain, and insects might come. I attribute this serene feeling during such a hectic time in my life to a few things: First, I'm not working this summer. It goes without saying how much that helps. Second, I have an incredibly supportive web of friends and family. They cook for me when I'm too busy to do it myself, they get me out of the house when I'm at my wits end, and they offer unceasing encouragement through the whole process. Third, I have refused to let yoga take a backseat to my homework. I think this has helped me the most.
I first registered for summer with 14 credits. I had signed up for a 2 credit yoga class that I thought I'd be able to handle because I do yoga so frequently anyway. After the first week of school I realized the extra day of driving and the extra, albeit simple, assignments would be too much for me. I wanted to take the class because, lets face it, I'm lacking any sort of formal training; I've never been able to stick with a teacher, or even a studio for that matter. Taking yoga through school was an opportunity for me to earn credit and progress in my beloved practice under a legitimate teacher. Two birds with one stone, essentially.
Before I committed myself so much to yoga, I was a ball of stress and nerves, anxiety and anger. I know for a fact that if I had neglected my practice during these 3 months I'd be crying daily, waking up and going to bed angry, and basically hating the world around me. I know yoga is the reason I've been able to rise above those hurtful and angry emotions. If it weren't for yoga, I wouldn't be able to express my gratitude to my loved ones that have helped me oh so much these months. It's obvious to others that knew me before my yoga immersion how much this has helped me. It's helped me not only to deal with stress, but to grow into the woman I know I am deep down. It's helped me tap into, and radiate, my true Self.
Surprisingly, it's been in the past 3 months of crazy school work that my abilities have skyrocketed. Before this summer, I couldn't balance on my arms, I couldn't stand on my head, and I wouldn't dream of trying a jump through. Now, I can balance on my arms (sideways, even!), I can stand on my head, and I'm very close to clearing my feet when I try to jump through! The joys I experience when practicing far outweigh whatever other challenges I'm facing in life.
But alas, with 2 weeks left in the semester I caught a cold. I haven't been sick in 3 whole years. My friends assure me students tend to get sick near the end of a semester, so I guess that's why. The cold kept me away from a full practice for nearly a week. Thankfully, I got a full hour in today; the rest of the week is still uncertain. Add that to 7 exams in 2 weeks and you get a compromised practice.
With the end of the semester nearing I've tapped in more to my breath. Deep breathing and silent chants are my salvation this week. And probably next week, until the semester ends. I can hardly think of anything else besides school right now, but I keep having this little thought creep into my head: practice, practice, practice! It's not demanding, it's exciting. I can't wait to dedicate some serious thought and effort into my practice. There are so many things I want to try and refine, but I must be patient. Patience is another thing yoga has taught me ;)
So the moral is: Yoga can get me through anything.
Monday, July 18, 2011
my yoga
I'm passionate about yoga.
My other blog encompasses every aspect of my life, from family and friends, to food, to personal challenges, and things that make me smile or stop and think. This blog is meant to be all things yoga, especially pertaining to my personal journey through this beautiful lifestyle. Yes, yoga is a lifestyle for me. I want to live it, breathe it, dream it, eat it.
I began dabbling in yoga in 2007. About a year and a half ago I realized my life was empty, cold, and severely lacked discipline and direction. I began to hate myself. Then one day, I found absolute solace in my simple daily practice. It was around that time, gradually, that yoga became a big priority to me. It allowed me to stop, breathe and live. I felt alive practicing yoga when my bad moods engulfed my life.
There is still a lot I have to learn about Yoga, but I feel that [finally] I'm on the right path for me. Thus far, asanas have been the bulk of my practice, but I'm very eager to start studying and learning more about pranayama and meditation. Books help. Oh, how I love books.
I'll use this blog to keep me motivated. I'll also share whatever I might discover on the internet that helps me in my journey so that, hopefully, it can help some one else in their journey. But mostly, this is a blog, an online journal of sorts, to help me track my progress and notice the things my body is telling me at any given time. In the past year that yoga has been a driving force in my life, I've become much more aware of my body and its needs. I've noticed that sometimes, some weeks, some asanas are beyond my grasp. I might lose sirsasana for a week, or find out I can't do uttanasana when I'm sick. And that's okay. These things don't keep my from my mat, instead they encourage me to look for alternative paths so that I can practice yoga every day, in every aspect of my life.
Namaste :)
My other blog encompasses every aspect of my life, from family and friends, to food, to personal challenges, and things that make me smile or stop and think. This blog is meant to be all things yoga, especially pertaining to my personal journey through this beautiful lifestyle. Yes, yoga is a lifestyle for me. I want to live it, breathe it, dream it, eat it.
I began dabbling in yoga in 2007. About a year and a half ago I realized my life was empty, cold, and severely lacked discipline and direction. I began to hate myself. Then one day, I found absolute solace in my simple daily practice. It was around that time, gradually, that yoga became a big priority to me. It allowed me to stop, breathe and live. I felt alive practicing yoga when my bad moods engulfed my life.
There is still a lot I have to learn about Yoga, but I feel that [finally] I'm on the right path for me. Thus far, asanas have been the bulk of my practice, but I'm very eager to start studying and learning more about pranayama and meditation. Books help. Oh, how I love books.
I'll use this blog to keep me motivated. I'll also share whatever I might discover on the internet that helps me in my journey so that, hopefully, it can help some one else in their journey. But mostly, this is a blog, an online journal of sorts, to help me track my progress and notice the things my body is telling me at any given time. In the past year that yoga has been a driving force in my life, I've become much more aware of my body and its needs. I've noticed that sometimes, some weeks, some asanas are beyond my grasp. I might lose sirsasana for a week, or find out I can't do uttanasana when I'm sick. And that's okay. These things don't keep my from my mat, instead they encourage me to look for alternative paths so that I can practice yoga every day, in every aspect of my life.
Namaste :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)