Begin Again

I forgot about this blog.  I started it when I owned a yoga studio.  Now I am partnered with another studio owner and we run this place together along with several teachers.  We all share the work and this is how a studio is meant to be run.  I used to go in and see the work and know that if it was to be done, it would be my job.

When I closed the studio, I needed time to rest and just stop for awhile.  The rushing mind from being the one in charge of running a business, earning the income to pay the rent, teachers pay, and all of the little expenses associated with running a business, being on the edge of failure constantly for the first 5 years....even the final year when I was just beginning to catch up...This continual thinking of what to do next?...was exhausting.

I rested, and rested.  I rested and did not work until something very strange happened.  I got bored and restless.  How odd is that in this day & age?  Did you know that if you just quit, dropped out for awhile from the rat race, that you would actually survive?

I moved from being in constant survival mode into a new space.  This became a quieter space of inquiry.  What do I really want to do with my time and with my life?  I recognized that, since I had a new grandchild, that spending time with my two grandchildren was something that made me feel very happy and gave me a sense of purpose.  Yet, there was a limit to that.  I needed to see them once or twice a week at the most, and if I saw them more, I began to feel drained.

So I focused on what I would do the other days of the week.  I began to teach a few yoga classes.  Teaching 3 days, resting the other two - catching up a home with managing the finances of my husbands business and our household, clearing out clutter that accumulated after a few years of working 7 days a week...

When teaching yoga, I noticed I felt at peace, inspired and energized.  Then I gradually started to help manage the studio.  That was fun.  The owner asked me to be his business partner.  I said no, but I'll still help.  I took on more, getting to know teachers, tweaking the schedule, setting up workshops... The owner asked me again to be his business partner...I think I said no a couple more times, so he said - just know that the offer stands until you are ready.  I asked my meditation master, Ishwar, because his advice is critical now for me.  He said yes I should work with this man in this studio.

So I said yes, and began to step it up even more - - I found though that because of my past experience, and having gone to the reset point in my life, I could feel when I was slipping past sustainable energy in my own body and life.  I found that I needed to set boundaries, something I had been practicing for my entire life. 

I set the boundaries, I planned vacations, I empowered others to do the work too.  Now, two years later, we are becoming a sustainable yoga studio community.  Sustainable in that, at last, we should be able to pay even the owners soon.  Yes, owning a yoga studio is not about the money in some cases.  Staying true to our own teachings and practices, requires a level of commitment and integrity that cannot endure in a for-profit-only business model.  We intend to earn a profit, but by building slowly, upon a solid foundation of philosophy, yoga, benefit to our greater community - only this will give us a career, a "live-lihood" that works for us.

I began again on my own terms and will continue doing so into the future.  My philosophy as a child - about work - was that I probably wasn't ever going to quit working.  I saw my grandfather, and then my father slowly whither and die after retirement.  My mother is also doing the same.  Something about work that gives you a reason for living - a purpose for living - that is an essential component for life. 

It's Been a Long Time....

Hi again.  I have been writing a daily blog at http://yogacarechallenge.wordpress.com.  I realized I had abandoned this beautiful blog and I am sorry - I've missed you!  Today's blog is about separations.  It's been a long time since I have seen certain friends, certain relatives.  On the spiritual path, you begin to realize why it is that no matter how many days, weeks or years it has been since you saw a certain person in your life (Mother, brother, good friend), the next time you see that person, it is like no time at all has gone by.  Perhaps that is why I am not worried when it takes me a week to return a phone call or a year to get down to see my brother.

We don't really notice in our interaction that any time has gone by.  Nothing has changed between us.  I believe this illustrates the illusion of separation and the illusion of time.  It's been a long time, but it seems like we just spoke yesterday.

Love and Devotion

Grace.  My friend, Ishwar Puri, says that God's Grace is continuously flowing down to us.  Grace is what allows us to live with joy, beauty and love.  We are like a cup and where we focus our attention is what we are being filled up with.  This week I am once again trying to keep my cup upward and allowing myself to "catch" the grace.   I focus on the love and music in my heart, I stay connected to that and allow my light to shine.  Everything and everyone around me seems to be more beautiful, joyful and loving.

If we keep putting our attention on the world out there, with all it's dramas, heartache, suffering, economic strife, our cups will become drained, empty and bleak.  Especially this time of year as we enter the darkest time on the earth - the Winter Solstice - let's spend some time together and reflect on the light - reflect on gratitude, love, and giving and notice the beauty right in front of you, right here and now.

Namaste my friends.

How to Find Happiness

1.  Let go of being attached to every outcome in every thing.  2.  Meditate.  3. Where to find happiness:  Look within yourself.

What You Focus on Grows

In yoga practice, we begin to focus on learning poses, then realizing that there is more we have not explored about ourselves: body, our mind, our spirit, than we realized.  Each day my practice is to direct my mind to what I can do, what I want to create, rather than my fears.  This is not easy today.  Today I wake up and know that there are many obligations I have.  There are bills to pay, a business to grow, and my studio has been too quiet the past few months.  I have woken up like this almost everyday for the past 4 years.  Every day I shift my attention to what I can create to make a difference in the lives of those I meet.

If you are reading this, you are someone who cares about these things too.  So lets focus on this together.  What kind of life do you want?  What kind of world do you want to live in?  I find that when I talk with people about this, whoever is present gets excited about new possibilities.  So today, start a conversation with someone.  Tell them your dreams.  Your dreams will remain dormant unless you share them.

My dream is to see a thriving yoga business in my studio, to see many people coming in and out, sharing their joy in their yoga practice.  These people go home and their joy spreads to their families.  These families go out into their own lives and activities and the joy is then exponentially spread!  Get excited about your dreams and talk about them.  What a world we do live in!  A world in which our perceptions are what creates our realities.  If you want to get inspired, just look around you!  There is a world of inspiration waiting for you to just look!  Here is a video that inspired me yesterday:  Biker

Have a beautiful day!

Get ready for the 40 day yoga challenge!

November 1st through December 10th, 2011.  What would you want to get out of practicing yoga in a 40-day challenge?  Peace of mind? Clear mind? Lose weight? Sleep better? Improve your digestion? Support? Send me a message and tell me what you would want or ask a question. email: karen4yogaprairie@gmail.com

Yoga - Connecting Mind/Body

This journey of yoga is about connecting mind & body.  The spirit directs this journey.  The spirit or soul, wants what is best for you.  The mind sometimes does, sometimes does not.  How can we get the mind to cooperate?  When you decide to practice yoga and you hear that a daily practice is good for you, that the body/mind needs a day of rest...what happens next?

I know what happens to me.  I may stay up a little too late reading, or drink one too many cups of coffee, or watch a movie that I don't start until 9 pm, knowing I really could sleep in.  No one is making me get up early to meditate. . . really.  This is my mind hijacking me.

So how do you get going?  How do you have a regular practice?  You just do it.  You get on your mat or sit and close your eyes and you practice.  Everyday.  Simple.  It is the mind that complicates things.

But what about the mind/body connection?  That is where it can get interesting and habitually addictive.  After many years of practicing, paying attention to the feelings and sensations in my body in different poses, I can even feel the energy of the nervous system.  Bringing attention to any thing... you can grow your sensory awareness.  What if you practice doing this in the body?  What is possible in your life too?

Where in your life would more awareness benefit you?  How about in relationships with others?  What if you knew exactly where you could direct your attention and energy to make the most difference in each moment?  Is this possible?  I think it is possible to strive towards that and that this is the journey worth taking.

Invest in a . . . and save the world.

Fill in the blank yourself.  I just watched a short video saying invest in a girl and save the world.  As if just focusing on girls will do it!  We need to invest in all of our children.  By invest I don't mean money. . . I mean invest your attention and time.  It does not need to be alot of time.  Just a moment when you are completely present with another human being - see and listen to that person - see them as the amazing being they truly are underneath the covering of the body.  When we can do that which each and every person we meet, then the world will not need saving.

Gratitude

Thank you angels for saving my son from something worse than wrapping his pick up truck around a tree.
Amen

Good

I wish you great good in your life, now and always.
Love,
Karen

Yoga Cold Remedy #1

I taught a beautiful hatha practice this morning to my level 2-3 students - I did some of the poses with them and talked them through some of the sensations you can become aware of during a yoga practice.  I started experiencing a scratchy throat, mild fever and stuffy nose yesterday and today it is settling in a bit.  However, I have been taking naps for 2 days in a row (getting ready for my 3rd after writing this!).

I just had to share this!  About 15 minutes into the class, my sinuses drained, my voice became stronger, and I felt a surge of energy in my body.  That is my #1 yoga cold remedy:  practice yoga daily and get plenty of rest, healthy food & water.  I actually feel great in spite of having a cold.

Fav Homeopathic Remedies #2...

There's a chill in the air - Minnesota!  I woke up with a bit of a pre-cold runny nose/throat thing this morning and now I know what my fav #2 homeopathic remedy is!!!  It is called Muco coccinum!  It comes in a package with 10 tablets.  Those 10 tablets are enough to keep you and one or two other family members healthy in the respiratory system for the winter!  Now I am not selling this, and it's funny - in our country - the good old USA - I get nervous saying that - because people are not allowed to say, in our country, that anything heals something.  I didn't say that though.  Muco coccinum is a remedy that will "trick" your immune system to think it is being attacked by a cold, pneumonia, flu or bronchitis causing virus and your immune system will rally to defend itself, thus giving you that added boost to protect you - much like a vaccine - but with NO side-effects.
awesome!  You can buy it online btw : ) - just google it!

My favorite homeopathic remedies: #1 Arnica

Arnica - homeopathic arnica is indicated for "trauma to soft tissues".  I have taken it before & after a surgery and it helped me not lose much blood; I gave it to my children when they got a bruise or took a major tumble as they were growing up; after childbirth to help to recover faster, after any emotional/mental/physical strain.  I took it once after being in a fire (our garage burned down - almost with me in it).  I know Arnica works, I had very clear indications:  bruises disappearing or swelling going down literally almost in front of my eyes, and when my son Josh was a mobile baby he fell on his head 3 times - from heights of 4 to 6 feet - never once did he shed more than a few tears over it as we had arnica on hand - the sooner you administer it the better - bruises didn't even develop sometimes when there was obviously a nasty fall.  It's also great if you are a runner - take it to prevent muscle fatigue and trauma - recovery is much faster.

Holistic Health and Yoga

I don't know if you know this about me as I always write about yoga and meditation: before I taught yoga, I taught people about natural healing.  Homeopathy, reiki, nutrition, herbs, acupressure, weight loss - these are the tools I taught about.  There are so many options available that actually work!

There is also alot of confusion about these options. We read in the media that a certain herb is good for something, then we read somewhere else that a certain way of eating is good for something else and we start to see so many options that we think we can't possibly take all of these in, get overwhelmed and just give up and end up eating what everyone else around us is eating. This can be okay or not depending on how healthy you and your family & friends actually are.

I feel fortunate that I started out pretty sick and now I'm not.  I had nothing to lose by trying out different natural healing methods.  I was constantly struggling with my weight (my father was very overweight most of his life); constantly getting colds (even bronchitis & possibly pneumonia once) and whenever I exercised, ended up injuring myself.

Before I shifted my diet and lifestyle so dramatically, I had bladder and kidney infections about every other month.  I even went to see a specialist - a urologist - to find out why I kept getting sick.  After a painful test, when the "specialist" said idiopathic (translation "we don't know why"), I gave up on medicine.  I prayed.  Then a new friend showed up in my life.

She was a vegetarian and went to a naturopathic doctor.  Since I was desperate for something new and intrigued by her health & vitality, I went for it.  Within 3 months, my bladder and kidney infections that I had suffered through for 8 years, ended.  My healing path began.

I then had a voracious appetite for knowledge of holistic, natural healing modalities.  Long story, many years later, I now have a certification in Natural Therapies, Certificate in Holistic Weight Management and Wellness Coaching.  I have also studied yoga now and it's therapeutic effects for much of the past decade or more.  I also have a B.S. in Psychology and Reiki Master/Teacher.

Healing takes place at many levels - the gross physical to emotional-mental to the spiritual.  True healing takes place at all of these levels and if you want to go down that path, the answers you seek will find you.

Since 1986 when I started on the road to wellness, I have completely transformed my own health and also helped many others along the way.  I recognize that there also is a political battle and financial battle in this country over health care.   Every year the pharmaceutical industry gets some senator or congressman to introduce a bill to take away our right to purchase some vitamin (or all of them) or herbs, or even to take away our right to find this information!  Even now, many vitamin companies are in danger of having to close shop because there is a bill that takes away our right to buy vitamins without a doctors prescription!

Now - I know we do not have to take "vitamins" - research shows that whole foods are what the body recognizes for food & healing.  However, there are some really great supplements out there that are whole-food based  - not chemically created individual vitamins - that are having a tremendous impact on individuals health & wellbeing.  And these supplements have decades of research backing up their claims!

Also homeopathic medicine and herbal medicines have hundreds of years of success at helping people with minimal or no side-effects.

We MUST learn about these and pass this knowledge onto others for future generations.  Knowing how to heal our bodies and help our loved ones too, empowers us.  Now is the time to take your life and health into your own hands!

Grow your own food if you can - eat more fruits and vegetables. Cut out meat; sugar & dairy products (all of these can make you sick if you eat them too often).  Read about natural ways of healing your body too!  Do you know that water is one of the most healing substances ?  Many of our ills are from dehydration?!

Since I began practicing yoga daily, I have had little in the way of health challenges.  The supplement I have  eaten for more than 20 years - is spirulina (I have bought from the same company - see http://karenswellness.rbclifesciences.com - that's me - if you get a $35 lifetime membership it's 20% discount on it and less costly than co-op spirulina!).

When my cat is sick, I use food and homeopathic remedies and water that is reverse osmosis filtered.  My cat has not been sick since we started with that water and some food for sensitive digestion that has pro-biotics in it.

When raising my children, their medicine was homeopathic remedies and herbal teas and healthy food.  Why does yoga keep me healthy?  Well, the daily practice keeps my whole circulatory system, lymphatic and muscular, cellular and neurological system clean (detoxified), massaged inside & out, oxygenated and energized (with breathing/prana) and balanced.

Spiritually, emotionally, mentally I am healthier because of my meditation and spiritual life.  I read uplifting spiritual texts, I pray, I take time out everyday to meditate and contemplate and connect with God.

Socially, I stay in communication with the people I love.  And I balance it out with plenty of alone time.  I rest enough, eat healthy, entertainment is also positive and uplifting.  I am in charge of what I put into body and mind.

It is time to do this and to share this with others.  I will continue to share with you this knowledge and get into more detail in this blog.  Check back again soon, I will post some information on homeopathy next time.

Namaste,

Karen

Seasons Change - What about change?

Today I am reminded of the nature of change.  It is always occurring and I catch myself resisting it, again.  Once more I surrender and allow it in.  Why do I resist and try to zone out?  What am I resisting? When I ask myself that, I remember something I read in the Bhagavad Gita - that as human beings, our greatest driving motivation is pleasure, and if that is so, then we are strongly motivated to resist anything uncomfortable.  Change is uncomfortable.

I relax again, noticing my breathing, being aware of my muscles being tense, consciously relax them, then ahhh, throw on a shawl while I sit at my laptop.

The body adapts to the change in seasons too.  If we are aware of this and provide the nutrients we require, this time of year is a great time to keep eating those greens, start adding squash to our diets, all of the bright yellow and oranges give our bodies the vitamin A (via beta carotene) that we need to have healthy mucous membranes.  What that means is we are more resistant to virus taking hold!  Cleaner diets mean stronger resistance to those seasonal colds.  Avoiding sugar, other processed foods and animal products that steal our energy while adding these vegetables in generous (nature's abundant now!) portions, we revitalize ourselves.  Doing our asana practice- if only for 15 minutes each morning, keeps our organs and digestive system operating at peak efficiency.  Don't forget the water too.  Most of us are dehydrated, drinking pure water also protects us from all kinds of ills.  Some doctors say that drinking 2-3 glasses of water first thing in the morning before anything else will take care of just about anything that ails you.

One more thing - I add a few extra nutrients to my daily regimen:  spirulina everyday, some added fish oil on occasion and the calcium/magnesium supplement (whole food based).  Sometimes I add some vitamin C to my diet, but I try to get most of what I need by eating a plant-based diet and not overeating.  Overeating clogs up the digestive system and actually prevents you from absorbing the nutrition from your food, thus creating a vicious circle of lack of nutrients and excessive hunger.  Longevity research has proven that those who are slightly underweight live longer than if you are carrying around extra pounds.  I find that I am much more energetic if my meals are smaller and I eat my 3 a day.  My smoothie in the morning, late morning snack, late lunch & light supper.

If you want more of these type of tips and some great coaching support, try my "Boost Your Metabolism" 6 week program.  You will likely shed some pounds, and very likely boost your energy level.  We are also going to have Mary Battista's one hour workshop (power packed) called "Eating for Energy" on Sept. 30 at 11 am in the studio.   Also in September "Know Your BodyType" with Asavari Manvikar - another piece of the wellness puzzle is knowing your body type and what types of foods balance you or throw you out of balance.  (sign up for Asavari's workshop through Eden Prairie Community Ed's website).

So Change?!  I'm so excited for it - bring it on!  Namaste

40 day challenge nearing the end

How has your challenge been going?  Time to comment!

Day 26 Practicing Yoga

I wrote on the other blog today - for the 40 Day yoga challenge, here's the link

Day 19 of 40

Something has shifted today.  I woke up to the sound of clapping.  3 claps.  No one was in the room.  Then Angus hollered from the kitchen "what did you say honey?".  He too heard something - a voice.  I knew then that  today was going to be a very special day!  I began with meditation and have been continuing my day with working on my new website, a break to clean the kitchen, then back to it.  I wanted to share this joy and excitement with you as soon as possible!  Today is a very special day - just watch for it - every moment something very special is going to show up for you today.

Namaste

Day 10 of 40 day challenge

So The toughest part of a 40-day challenge.  The challenge, for me, is staying present to being in a challenge!  I forget!  Then I remember there is a group of people in this with me.  The past few days my challenge has been to stay in this game I have created to play - my life.

There are days, yes even for a yoga teacher/studio owner, where I feel like just hiding at home in bed.  I get overwhelmed by all of the many tasks that I am supposed to do.  My mind gives me multiple lists, I imagine that I must be missing something and that the house of cards called my life will come tumbling down if I miss that one thing!

Then it passes.  In the next moment, the next breath, I pay attention to NOW.  Right now, nothing is wrong!  There is no major disaster happening, the world is peaceful outside of my screened door, I can hear the birds singing!  Beyond those birds, I hear the traffic on the highway.  People driving to work or to vacation (it is Friday) and once again my mind tries to break free to think about all of the energy wasted, the noise, the pollution.  Once again, I rein in the mind and re-direct the thoughts...People will never stop moving!  It's so funny - we will keep traveling and keep seeking a way to do that and we all do care deeply about our planet.
Some of us just are not aware of that at the moment.

So do you see the mind-game?  The mind will not stop thinking.  The discipline of yoga is to keep reining it in, to keep bringing the attention back to the present moment.  To gain control over the monkey mind.  Which, by the way, is an impossible task.  So I practice ignoring my thoughts, re-directing my thoughts, and laughing at my thoughts.  It can be amusing you know - OH!  There's THAT ONE AGAIN! Ha ha ha ha haaaaahhh!

Keep it up - the practice of yoga.  Asana, pranayama, the yamas and niyamas, meditation, keep practicing.

Yoga Prairie Studio: Nagin Sanghavi - a 93 year old teacher - how does he do it?

Yoga Prairie Studio: Nagin Sanghavi - a 93 year old teacher - how does he do it?