Right Place

Despite its growing popularity in Western civilization over the past decade or so, there are still many misconceptions about just what the practice of yoga is or is not. Some people believe yoga is simply a series of  increasingly difficult poses that exist alongside aerobics, zumba, pilates, and weight training- all designed to strengthen and sculpt our physical bodies. On the other end of the belief spectrum, yoga is thought of as an ancient religion, little understood with all it’s complex Sanskrit words and ideas, and so to be avoided. The truth is that yoga as a practice and discipline consists of many layers of concepts and beliefs, as well as many different forms. There is no one yoga or yoga tree that will help us understand it all or its evolution. But once we are fortunate to discover ourselves on the yoga journey, through a wise teacher, a caring studio, and a community of fellow travelers,  knowing what yoga truly is becomes clear. The inner and outer strength we develop through the poses open the door to deeper self-understanding, wisdom, and a right place within the world we each inhabit. The benefits of a regular practice help us deepen our understanding over time. When that time happens, we discover that yoga offers each of us, in our own way, the path to inner understanding, clarity, and calm.

Yoga means literally “to yoke”, and in yoga we slowly, carefully, mindfully learn to calm the fluctuations of our minds and integrate, yoking together, our bodies, minds, and spirits. The path to this integration is slow and careful and is different for each of us. That is to be expected, in fact how it should be. But the ultimate goal of a regular yoga practice is as timely as the beginnings of earth itself. Through yoga’s physical, mental, and spiritual practice we can uncover our true selves. This is what the earliest ancient yogis were searching for and it is not much different today. As we uncover our ”true nature” we become calmer, accepting, and able to give of ourselves to others and the world in which we inhabit. We make peace within ourselves and realize who we are, human beings with faults and gifts. We accept others in the same manner and then, together, can mindfully work toward greater good in the world. It sounds like a tall order, but it truly begins with one step… onto the mat and into ourselves, no matter where we start we are on a common journey.

Enjoy wherever you find yourself at this point in time and realize that you are in the company of many others- ancient through current times.

Namaste. Ann Christy Dybvik

Spring Detox

Twenty- four brave yogis gathered at Heartwork a few weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon, to initiate a two- week “detox”, or cleanse, and prepare for our long-overdue spring. Detoxing the body is an ancient tradition at a seasonal transition. The practice of giving up certain foods for a specific period of time is often used to make physical, mental, and spiritual improvements in practioners. Many yogi masters have used a cleanse as part of their search toward enlightenment. Some cultures regularly practiced fasting for short periods of time to prevent and/or cure diseases, and leaders such as Ghandi demonstrated their committment toward a strong belief by periodically abstaining from food. With this history as a backdrop, and with nature moving forward into spring, so were we- taking stock of winter habits and bodies and rethinking the kinds of foods we eat, along with our reasons for doing so.
Detox programs can vary as much as those who participate in them. Ours began with a two day juice fast. During this time we could enjoy low or no sugar fruit and vegie juices, water, and caffeine-free herbal teas. This was probably the most challenging time, as we gave our bodies a break from digesting solid foods but our minds were still thinking about the next meal! Energy levels can vary during this time, and frequent short rests during the day are helpful in keeping the body comfortable. That said, by the second day many of us reported increased clarity and energy levels along with pride in going a full day without our usual foods.

The next two weeks moved us into change. Five items were to be excluded from our diets. The “big five” were sugar, alcohol, caffeine, soy, and gluten. These five items are often contributors to health concerns, addiction, weight gain, poor energy levels, and other not-so-healthy living habits. Our first lesson was just how much of the American diet includes most of these items! But… rather than focus on what we couldn’t have, we chose to look at what we could include in our new way of eating.

There is comfort in the company of others when working through challenging issues. Shawnee led us in a mindful asana practice two times over two weeks. Before we practiced we shared our goals and experiences with each other, and learned new ways to buy and prepare food. We met as a group, but each had our own reasons for participating. As in regular yoga practice, the camaraderie of a group offer many different things-support, energy, creativity, friendship, and insight. Our group was no different.

What did we find as we ended our two week detox? Results were different for each of us, as they should be. Some people chose to exclude mainly one of the ” big five” from their diets as a way to make life-long change. Others wanted increased energy, a major diet change, a way to gain clarity and more mindful thinking about food, or a way to help change established habits.

Many people who embrace yoga and the variety of lifestyle changes that yoga can encourage are looking for a deeper way of being. We learn from the ancient sutras that taking care of ourselves must come before we can truly relate to others. A periodic cleanse takes us deep inside, to places and habits within ourselves we often put on “auto pilot”. It is just one more way that yoga can help us change our life, from the inside out.

Namaste.

Ann

Embracing Change

Change is a normal, constantly occuring event in most, if not all, of our lives. This past week I was able to observe it in action as I drove ten hours south on I 35 to visit my daughter and her family in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As I left the cold, snow-covered yards and roads of the midwest and made my way to warmer climates, I observed the physical changes that occured just outside my car windows. In a very short time, cold and snow gave way to black wet fields hosting dark, rich soil waiting for spring tilling and planting.I opened my window and felt the change in air temperature. I pulled out the sunglasses, usually reserved only for our summers in this part of the country. It was as if I was moving through a time lapse movie.. patches of snow became green grass, spring flowers, and blooming trees as I drove further and further south. Along this journey, I had to adapt to the changing weather. My suitcase and back seat of the car carried what was needed for the different climates. Boots, mittens, and ear warmers gave way to light vests, short sleeves, and eventually, summer shoes. What a welcome change!

We all know that all change is not this welcome. Change, by its very nature, can be disrupting, unsettling, and scary. It can happen unexpectedly or evolve gradually, giving us either more time to prepare ourselves to adapt or more time to ignore those changes that need to happen. It can unground us by shaking up the familiar and asking us to accept situations in which we don’t know what the outcome will be. It can unseat our confidence, disrupt our thinking, and make us unsure of the future.

Yoga can help us develop the skills needed to adjust to the inevitable changes of our lives. It can teach us to be fully present with all that is happening and to look at situations in new ways. We can uncover chances for growth and understanding, rather than just feel helpless and endure change. How do we do this? By becoming aware not only of the event but also of our own reactions to it. What are we feeling? Thinking? Where do we notice patterns? Where is there room for new ideas and ways of being and where can we find peace and positives? Easier said than done, for sure, but by moving our bodies and minds in new ways we uncover what we can do and where we need to expand in our lives. We can cultivate respect for our awareness and abilites and trust ourselves to work through the changes we face.

As Anne Morrow Lindbergh writes in her wise, wonderful book, Gift From the Sea, “Growth in awareness has always been painful…But it does lead to greater independence and eventually, cooperation in action”. As you confront the next change in your life, try to consider it a part of the process of living with awareness and acceptance, a chance to learn even more about yourself. And let your yoga practice guide you within this process… be aware, be kind to yourself, be trustful and sure that in the end you will be through the discomfort and on to whatever newness lies ahead… Embrace the change, accept with confidence whatever awaits you.

Namaste
Ann Christy Dybvik

March 10, 2013

Return to the Pond

I woke up yesterday morning to the sound of ducks calling to each other across the small pond that surrounds my neighborhood. Their chatter has been absent since last fall and this morning I was reminded of how much I missed their early morning greetings. Later that day, after swimming in cold, snow laden water, lines of ducks entertained neighbors by strolling around yards, checking for bird seed and bread crumbs under birdfeeders and decks and scaring up the occasional rabbit from under a porch or tree. Across the snow they filed, one at a time, in lines that would be the envy of any kindergarten teacher.

Watching the scene unfold at this rather dark, transitional time of year made me think of the intricate balance between nature and the innate characteristics that animals and humans possess. Was it coincidence or instinct that brought these ducks back from their winter home on this specific day, also the day we set our own clocks ahead to prepare ourselves for the next season? How does a creature this small and vulnerable know when and where to move, to fly thousands of miles to make a change that will accomodate their inner selves? Animals respond to their internal states in different ways than humans do, but I can’t help but feel this is just one small example of the interconnectedness of us all.

So what do ducks have to do with the teachings from yoga, you ask? Inherent in their annual return to a place they left months ago is evidence of an internal drive, a clock that represents their built-in need for survival. The ducks live in community and take care of themselves and each other. They share their food and habitat, care for young and seem to adhere to a set of principles that encompass themselves and the world around them. Like the ducks we too have internal needs and desires. Unfortunately, unlike the ducks, we often ignore our own true selves, our internal state that lies buried under layers of distraction and duty.

What a regular yoga practice can do is help us tune in to our internal selves and desires. We can develop an awareness of respect for ourselves and know what we must respond to lies within our deepest desires. By slowing down, even for just a short time each week as we practice, we can clear our minds, strengthen our bodies, and uncover the selves we were meant to be. We don’t even have to fly across country to do it! Like ducks, we must learn to operate from our intuition and true nature.
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In this transition time between a long winter and the warmth and growth of spring, words of wisdom can often help us realize change is just around the bend. Here are a few of my favorites. I welcome your comments and favorite quotes in response.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. -Lao Tzu

Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine. – Buddha

You must do the thing you think you cannot do. – Eleanor Roosevelt

In dwelling live close to the ground. In thinking keep to the simple. In conflict be fair and generous. In governing don’t try to control. In work do what you enjoy. In family life be completely present. – Tao Te Ching

Life’s not about expecting, hoping and wishing. It’s about doing, being and becoming. It’s about the choices you’ve just made, and the ones you’re about to make. It’s about the things you choose to say-today. It’s about what you’re gonna do after you finish reading this. -Mike Dooley

Namaste

Our Voice Within

“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” Alan Alda
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As I practiced my yoga postures last week, I was reminded of the importance of listening to my “inner voice” and the wisdom of my own body. Moving into a standing pose, and adjusting myself into the position I felt I should achieve, I pushed too hard and immediately felt a pain in my left thigh. A small pain, temporary, yet sharp. I ignored it and kept on going. Only later did I discover the impact of my non-listening behavior, as the small pain grew stronger and I was unable to stand on my leg without muscle spasms. This week I nurse a pulled muscle, have a new relationship with my ice pack, and humbly learn from the experience, a reminder once again that yoga can be our greatest teacher!

Why do we so often fail to give our intuitive inner voices and signals our attention and respect? One reason could be that our inner “voice” is soft, subtle and easily ignored. It doesn’t jump out with bells and whistles but rather quietly waits for us to figure out what it wants us to consider. In our fast-paced lifestyles, we tend to overlook the internal, subconscious messages in favor of more overt pressing voices of the day. It’s easier to ignore a feeling from within than it is a child calling for help with homework, a list of daily to-do’s, or a challenging job that demands our time and energy. In fact these demands often mask our inner wisdom until something caves in and we are forced to listen. When the intuitive voice comes, it is small and tucked away in some corner of our life. We may even discount it as worry, guilt, or something we are not yet ready to confront.

The good news is that each instance of ignoring an inner voice can also be turned around, in yogic fashion, and provide us with knowledge. In my case, instead of pushing my body into places for which it is not ready, I now move more slowly and deliberately into a challenging pose, savoring the process and adjustments and waiting for my body to lead me into the next step. My lack of listening has reminded me to wait for my body and breath to move me into poses, not my ego.

Erich Schiffman writes of being “guided from within…. moving when our bodies are ready”. This applies to body as well as mind. As we connect with our breath and move toward inner awareness we become observers of our own condition. Through these personal observances discovery occurs, bringing with it understanding and acceptance.

I failed to listen to my body and it responded in kind. But through this experience, I was reminded of the wisdom yoga offers us when we listen. We have the ability to expand our boundaries, learn from personal practice, inner wisdom, and sensitivity to forces we cannot see. Our bodies and minds talk to us on a regular basis. It is up to us to pay attention.

On Being……Present

February 3, 2013.

I would be willing to bet that most of you have experienced the frustrating phenomona I call my “hiding game”. Unlike hide and seek with children, this game is not fun, but frustrating. It requires a scattered mind, several tasks all due at one time, and an elevating level of anxiety. How to play? Think of several things all at once and then try to complete them together. Don’t spend too much time on each one, just keep track of all the pieces and get the jobs done. This is the beginning of the “game”. We are multi-tasking, a sometimes revered practice in our society but not really one that our brains are wired to do for very long, if at all. So, to play the game… talk on the phone while cooking supper while listening to the news while helping with your child’s homework. Drive and text (please don’t!) while eating lunch and listening to a meditation tape. Organize your office space while planning a dinner party and cleaning the kitchen floor in between washing a load of clothes. Whatever your particular multi-tasks are, I would bet they are NOT leading you toward the path to “being present”. As we continue the “game” we become increasingly fragmented. We put things down without noticing where or when this happens, walk away to our next task, then remember the needed items creatively “hidden”. The game continues, day in and day out. We misplace things, forget appointments, become frustrated, anxious, or depressed. We are on “automatic” and not sure how to turn it off. How can we start to change up this game, to bring more focus, more attention, more centeredness to our lives?

The first way to do so is to acknowledge that we really can only do one thing at a time. Despite increasing societal pressures to “do more”, we need to learn to put our entire energy into one thing at a time, do it well, and not miss the moment as we pass through it, on to something else. In the book, Buddha’s Brain, written by a neurologist and a neuropsychologist, the authors write of the intersection of science of the brain and of contemplative practice. “Mindfulness involves the skillful use of attention to both your inner and outer worlds.”

It is this mindfulness that yoga teaches us over time. When we come to our mats we are counseled by our teacher to “leave our worries, our thoughts, our to-do lists at the door”. We come to our mats to be only here, to focus, center, and accept this activity as the only thing worth doing at this point in time. Not an easy lesson to learn and one that will take practice. Our minds have been on high gear for so long, it is also going to take time to wind them down!
Yoga practice, which involves the entire body, begins with breath. So we enter a practice and focus on something as routine as breathing in and out. Inhale we take in new air, exhale we push out the old. That’s it. One task- inhale, one task-exhale. Now we continue, adding slow movements to our breath, syncronizing our bodies and calming our active “monkey minds”. We create calm and focus as we synchronize our bodies in movement with our breath. There is nothing more. Inhale arm up, exhale arm down. We create space in our bodies, our lungs, our minds. And we do not try to fill this space with more and more things, we just notice, expand on it, and let everything else fall away. As we get better and better at centering ourselves, we move it into the rest of our lives. We appreciate the present, stop perseverating on the past, which can’t be changed, and let the future happen without putting ourselves there before it actually arrives.

The act, the art, of being present is available to each and every one of us. We start with breath, something we all have, and we notice it. We breathe, attend, listen, release, start again. No more “hiding games”. We are on our way to more fully experiencing our own lives with the clarity and mindfulness that we deserve.
Namaste.

Ann

Setting Our Intentions

January 4, 2013.

The new year is underway. Families have gathered and returned home, the secrets of wrapped packages have been uncovered and enjoyed. Outside, we have had our first real coldspell, so typical of early January, and are moving toward “warmer” weather. Most of us are also back to familiar routines, hopefully with renewed energy and fresh ideas. Breaks in routine are important, allowing us to reflect and move out of our often- restrictive daily habits, but the comfort of returning to familiar routines can’t be denied.

According to a recent report broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio, a majority of the American public will also set new resolutions around this time of year. As humans, we tend to respond to transition points in our lives- birthdays, anniversaries, the winter and summer solstices, cultural holidays. These responses are part of what it means to be human, recognizing starting and ending points and using them to refocus ourselves. A new year gives us an amazing chance to reflect, center, organize, and change.

That same MPR report also added this tidbit. The majority of people include “losing weight” or “getting fit” as a main goal every January. Fitness centers and gyms across the country count on this, offering incentives to membership. They know what research shows… by February well over half of us will have already given up on our goal. This means rather than hosting a new, leaner self we are stuck with the guilt of having set an unattainable goal AND the cost of a seldom-used club membership!

What’s going on here? How can we start to rethink our goals and turn them into life-changing practices without all the expense and guilt associated with January goal setting? Rather than forcing change, how can we move toward new ideas and practices gently and completely? Within the practice of yoga is a concept called “sankalpa”. A sankalpa is considered to be an inspired intention that begins with the premise that we already are who we need to be; we are already good enough to achieve what we need to achieve. Rather than using ego-driven willpower to push ourselves to a goal, and often toward what we perceive as a “failure”, we learn to look deep within ourselves, uncover the desires that rise from our hearts, and channel our already- present energy into new behavior that reflects our true nature.

Inherent in a typical goal -setting practice is the possibility of failure. If we don’t lose the ten pounds we target as a goal, we feel we failed. If we don’t learn how to always get along with a co- worker, we failed. By using a different perspective, with “inspired intention”, or “sankalpa”, none of these are failures. They are attempts to make changes that arise from honest, inward reflection. In setting inspired intentions we acknowledge our present state, arising from a personal heartfelt desire, and then set a positive statement of action. An example? A person who wants to improve their working environment may set this sankalpa: “I am a person of integrity. I will treat my colleagues with the integrity that reflects who I am.” By using the energy and determination already within yourself, you move forward to let your intention become practice. Over time, as you set and move into intentions, you access deeper parts of yourself, reflecting them outward into practice, sharing your own true nature.
Sankalpas invite us to explore deeply within ourselves, to use the energy and desires already there, the perfection we already have, to move into new practices and behaviors. Rather than becoming discouraged, we are then able to find ourselves more and more in harmony with our true selves. What better outcome could we ask for?

Namaste
Ann

Finding Silence

December, 2012

Silence.  The first thing I noticed as I opened the door early Sunday morning was the silence.  Snow fell overnight, huge wet drops of snow so thick it blocked the view of our backyard pond. The change is lovely, quiet, transforming.  Parker Palmer, author and educator, describes snow in this way:  “ I am not sure any sight or sound on earth can be as exquisite as the hushed descent of a sky full of snow”.  Now snow covers the ground, burying grass, muffling the usual sounds of dogs, cars, and people passing by. It shelters us from the outside world-no  sound in  and none out. Calm, quiet , peaceful.

Silence is difficult to find for ourselves at this time of year. From street corners downtown,  to malls, even at small neighborhood gas stations, music blares. Visually, ads bombard us with tempting offers to buy more things. Billboards, television, junk mail, and computer screens all contribute to the visual clutter, creating as much visual noise as the actual sounds themselves.  

I recently attended a meeting in which participants were asked to introduce themselves and to share one tip to “cope” with the changes this time of year brings.  Answers ranged from “Why cope, I love this season!” to “Do yoga!” to “Eat chocolate and drink wine”.  While all of these suggestions have merit, the one that sticks is simple: Make time for silence, solitude, and yourself.  Carve out at least part of a day, one hour, whatever works for you, in which you have no schedule to follow, no place to go, and no demands on your time. Enjoy the silence and stillness that this time brings.

Silence is more than a cessation of noise. It is a time to go inward and listen to the still but present voice within each of us, the voice that is often buried beneath layers of duties and responsibilities and decisions, the voice of our true selves waiting, sometimes patiently for years, to be heard. And the way to listen is to silence the other parts of your life. Turn off the cell phone, the television, the computer, the radio. Find a favorite quiet place to sit, and then just be still. Listen to your breath, count your inhales and exhales. Ease your mental clatter. Look out the window at the snow and the silence it brings. Meditation can be a path to inner silence, as can yoga, walking, hiking, snowshoeing in the woods.  Silence can be carved out of time and space, and with practice we can learn to go inward, to listen to the voice of ourselves, in many environments.

Erich Schiffman writes of “moving into stillness” in order to experience the truth of who you are.  This is the path to being “centered”, of knowing the forces, energy, creativity, and beliefs within the deepest part of ourselves.  The journey often becomes supplanted by daily tasks and other seemingly more pressing issues, but little by little the journey within becomes the most important journey we take. By discovering what is inside ourselves, we will slowly bring it outward, to share with others. By listening in silence to our inner voice, we become one with it. This season take time to listen to your voice, to savor the silence and stillness within yourselves. It will be the best gift you both give and receive.

Namaste

Ann Christy Dybvik

 

Summer Solstice 2012

Graduation parties are in full swing and spring flowers have all bloomed as we approach the height of summer with outdoor activities, picnics and time in the garden.  As yogis, embracing the change of seasons is an important aspect to moving forward with non-attachment.  Many cultures celebrate the changing seasons through summer solstice.  Summer solstice is also known as Litha or Midsummer, falling on June 20^th, and marks the longest day and shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere.  The summer solstice is a starting point for the summer season and recognizes the turning of the year.  Solstice celebrations allow everyone to participate in the coming of a new year, the beauties of each season and the cycle of life.  Solstice rituals have been practiced since 3000 BC where they included feasts, the burning of a Yule wreath and the playing of musical instruments.  Spiritual celebrations of the solstice aim towards karmic work, meditation, and honoring the gifts each season can bring.

There are simple ways we can bring in the summer season on this universally celebrated day.  Appreciating our connection to nature that we carry through our daily patterns is a great step towards bringing in the New Year.  You might think of beginning a ritual of your own, such as waking up and going for a walk as the sun rises, doing sun salutations as a morning energizer, or making breakfast with ingredients from local farmers.  Celebrating the summer solstice has traditionally been thought of as bringing greater health and wholeness to your life.  Creating a mantra or intention for the season to come could be another simple ritual you initiate this June.  I have found that Thich Nhat Hanh’s mantra to work as a great guide when going through transitions. “When I walk, the mind will wander.  With each sound the mind returns.  With each breath the heart is open.  With each step I touch this earth.” What better way to start off your summer by appreciating the abundance of nature we have in our lives and taking a step towards creating a well-rounded year.

Namaste,

Elizabeth Harness

January is time to declutter

We have been talking this month in our Teacher Training Program about Non-possessiveness. Each month we have read about and then tried to live one of the Yamas (the restraints) that is talked about in the first limb of yoga. In our culture we think that we own everything in our care. But in reality, we own nothing. If we begin to take care of those things in our life as if we had them for a time and then were to release them back to the world we might do a better job in caring for them while we have them. I love the notion in Feng Shui that everything is energy. Therefore, everything that is in our care currently we have a string of energy tied to. So those boxes in the attic and basement are taking up some of our energy. The same goes for all of those emails in our inbox. They are like a list of “to do’s” that just don’t go away. I am one of those people who love the New Year because it motivates me to clean things out and look up so that I can see the things that I have not been caring for like I should. I have used this month to clean out my closets, my little piles that had accumulated around my house, and finally today my email inbox. Until recently I was not deleting all of those extra emails that come in each day. I was skipping over them but not deleting them. Since early January I have been deleting those emails as they come in to my box but I had not gone back to the months before. It took a long time this morning to go back and get rid of them all but I cannot believe how much lighter my mind feels after doing it!

Our yoga practice does many wonderful things for us. One of those things is that is allows us to create space inside our muscles and our connective tissues so that we can live more freely in our body. Our body will continue to contract if we do not go out of our way to stretch our muscles and facia frequently. Our surroundings work the same way. If we do not purposefully create space in our surroundings, it will fill up with clutter. I challenge you to de-clutter something today. Maybe it is your purse, your car, your in-box, or your closet. Think about non-possessiveness. Won’t you feel lighter if you create space inside and outside of yourself. By the way, thank you Lisa for reminding me it had been awhile since I posted.