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.

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.

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

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.

Ahimsa

Non violence in thought, word and action.  Read more on the 40 Day Yoga Challenge blog.

(see previous entry for link)

Being a yoga teacher and the home practice

Being a yoga teacher gives me the added level of commitment to my practice that takes me deeper than I could have done without that.  I am responsible and accountable for a yoga studio (I own the business) being open to our community.  This is not a burden for me.  It is a great honor that has been bestowed upon me.

It also gives me a very powerful structure in which to practice.  What is a structure?  It is something that protects and supports you.

In my teaching I talk about your structures of support, starting on your yoga mat that's what ever body part is touching the mat.

In my life, I see the structures of support are my home and relationships to those closest to me.  This is where you can do your deepest work.  I have been teaching and practicing yoga for many years, and to remain true to the teaching, my teacher within, I must continue to delve more deeply in my life practice.  It is sometimes painful, yet it is the most powerfully rewarding experience imaginable.

Imagine not repeating patterns in your life - over & over - that you know are not good for you.  Imagine your relationships improving, your home life, your career.   Imagine that you live in a beautiful place all year around.   Imagine being very healthy.  Then let it go and imagine the opposite.  The truth is, whatever you are attached to, will cause you suffering.  Pain, pleasure, it is all very fleeting.  When you have an established and deep practice - you know that, you allow it all to flow through you.  You let go of the suffering and you let go of the pleasure.  It is all the same.  What is left, is so amazing.  That is why you see me smiling and tear-eyed all of the time.  What is left is Love, gratitude, joy, beauty and peace.

Namaste

Minnesota Summer

Minnesotans love to talk about the weather.  What a beautiful day!  Oh, it's raining again!  It was such a tough winter!  When it is sunny and warm outside - we rush and hurry to get to our favorite outdoor destination.  All work stops.  We appreciate the beauty of nature more than any other place I have been, Minnesota residents appreciate when the weather is pleasant, we do not take it for granted.

In winters, I ask myself, "why do I live here"?  In summers, I say to myself "this is why I live here".  You have to be strong to live here, strong mentally and physically.  The fluctuations of the weather make us strong.  This is an observation. How do you perceive your environment?

Healing Now

Inspiration after a relaxing warm bath.  I sat down to write my thoughts with pen and ink on paper.  It is a slower way....

I just now sat down to write my thoughts on healing.  When I say what I know about healing, I often hear objections.  Sometimes anger from those I speak to, and I remained silent.  Until now.

This is my year - to be Self expressed.  Now, I have observed; studied; learned;.. suffered;.. grown;... and meditated.

It is all of these things, combined, and with one added ingredient, Listening to the teacher within.

In healing - you "know" where it is you need to go to heal.  You don't even have to think about it - you make an appointment, or talk to a friend, or pray.

You already know.  There is no right or wrong way for you to go about your healing.

Where the right and wrong comes in, is when the mind starts to exert its control.  Your mind wants to control what you are reading and thinking right NOW

That is your minds job.  Your mind is not wrong... or right.

NOW...what did you just think?

That thought...is not you.  It was your mind thinking.  Until you can see this, you may or may not like what you are reading.  Your mind will decide "yes, I agree" or "no, she is wrong".  Every mind will say that.  As I write, my mind is saying alot of things too.   That's what it does.  I choose to listen or to ignore those thoughts.

In healing, your mind can control or help you in your healing.  Your mind might say "I will not recover from this" or "I must have (this disease) . . because I (think, feel, or someone said) I do.

Here is where your choice or free will comes in.  What is true for you?  You only know what is true for you.  I cannot tell you this..., only your own inner teacher, Self, knows.  If you are thinking, or "trying to decide", or "confused", just keep practicing...listening.

Moodling about the One Year Anniversary of my bike accident!

My new favorite word (about what it takes to write creatively):  moodling.  I got it from a book about writing - that I bought at a garage sale recently - If You Want to Write - A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit, by Brenda Ueland - Brenda was a published author and teacher of writing who first published this book in 1938.  She received an international swimming record for over-80-year-olds and was knighted by the King of Norway.  She died at the age of 93 in 1985.  She's a new one on my hero/heroine list.

In the words of Fievel: (from Fievel goes West)  "Be your own hero".  So I am moodling...get the idea?  If you are still with me, then that's good.  There will be a point to this.

One year later - what have I learned?  I have learned to listen more than talk. (and it is not easy for me)  I have learned that it's okay to cry every single time you feel like crying.  I have learned it is okay to not cry every single time you feel like crying.  It is very interesting having your filter off for a few months - I cried, laughed and talked too much. (and I still cry, laugh, and talk more than I used to)

What I got from being injured that badly, is a renewed belief in the human body's healing capacity.  One year ago today, my face was bruised, scraped, and I could not type.   I couldn't remember anything a second after I said or heard it (short term memory loss).   I could not walk without holding onto the wall, bed or railing (vertigo for 6 weeks).  I had severe bruises on my pelvis and knee and milder ones on shoulder and hands. And lots of headaches.

I could not do any yoga asanas without falling over. 
I could still teach - and my students still came to my classes and
I learned that they love me and so do the teachers I work with in my studio. (thank you - all of you--I love you too)

I learned that there are crystals in your ear that get out of place and when they do, the whole world spins. 
I learned that spinning causes intense nausea and that anti-motion sickness medicine is very useful and it slows down the spinning.

I learned that even though I hit my head really hard, that my brain would recover fully and
I got to see a picture of my brain on an MRI - with a brain tour given by the Dr. Noran himself of
Noran Clinic-  who, by the way, said I have a beautiful brain and that it is not damaged and I will heal completely.   He is the kind of doctor I like - tell it like it is and can be.

I learned that even the head of a corporate medical clinic is human and can even remind one of St. Nicolas. 
I am very fond of him, and I told him that!

I  learned that a simple maneuver - Epley maneuver - that can be done at home even with your husband helping - can get the spinning to stop immediately.  However, it takes a couple of days sitting up all the time to get them to stay there.  (you can find out how to do it on the internet!)

I learned that I don't need as much sleep as I think I do and that when you have a head injury the brain needs alot of sleep.  I also learned that eating brain food DOES help you brain to heal plus USING IT!

I learned lots of exercises.

What I got out of the whole experience was something that is difficult to put into words.  Anyone who has had a brush with death and lived through it will know what I mean.  My body is not immortal, but I am.  There is a peace about knowing that - no matter what pain you suffer, or circumstance, you, the essence of you, is still the same, unchanged.  Yes, here are the words to describe this experience.  I became connected to the essence of I am.  Sometimes you have to get knocked out of your head to get that.  Do yourself a favor though.  Meditate - practice meditation.  It is really less painful.

To conclude this chapter of my life, this big event, this past year..  It is in the past.  There.

Want me to say more (yes? read on then)  no?  Stop reading!

I want to say more.  I want to say that I lived through a trauma.  Someone hit my bike, then left.  That someone, a school bus driver, probably did not even know he(she) knicked my bicycle.  That person was in a hurry.  How many times are we in a hurry and don't even know what we are creating or destroying because of that?

All of that experience was a trauma.  I also had symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.  It was not the first time I had this (PTSD) and recovered.  Some people think you cannot recover from that.  You may have heard this:  If you think you can, you can, if you think you cannot: you cannot.   Once again, when I spoke to Dr Noran, a neurologist, about how I was having reactions to seeing school buses and hearing sirens, he said "that's post traumatic stress disorder,  it will fade away, you will heal and be fine".  Thank you Dr. Noran : ).

Now - I still get growley at school buses, then..I laugh at myself.  I still hear sirens and cringe a little, who doesn't? I had to let that go.  I live very close to the fire and police stations and bus garage!
I let that go ...and now?  I am learning internal martial arts, I am planning to teach yoga teacher training in Costa Rica, I am married to a beautiful, loving and spiritual man.  I have a future to live in to that is filled with love, beauty and joy.  Namaste

Structures of Support

In yoga classes I have been talking to students about building structures of support. In an asana (pose), we begin with where our body is touching the mat, the ground. In seated pose, or in standing poses. Where our body is touching the mat is where it begins.
We are building from the ground up. Wthout the feet being solidly planted, we cannot stand firmly. When we stand firmly, the rest of the body feels supported. We bring our awareness up and out from that grounding, that support.

This is only one thing yoga teaches us, and it is one of the most powerful practices we can do now. In March 2011 we – all human beings on the earth – were knocked off of our feet. Our planet, the earth, shook us at our foundation. It moved so intensely (even before Japan’s earthquake it had started), that the earthquake and tsunami was felt by us all around the planet.

We were shocked. Those closest have died, aftershocks are continuing, we are feeling it in Minnesota. I see it in my classes and on that mat – this impact. No one was left untouched.

People are experiencing helplessness, confusion, disorientation, shock. . . This is all the first stage of grieving. We want to deny change and fight it. Resisting change is painful, so we try to numb.

As we allow ourselves to experience our pain at the fullest, that experience is like a tidal wave, an emotional, psychic, tsunami.

Those of us who have had a practice of grounding, be it in martial arts, yoga, meditation practice. Or prayer and the practice & discipline of going to church. We have something – someone – many someones our community to turn to. . . Wherever we have been practicing planting our feet or our seat.

When something knocks us off our feet, it is time to wake up, look around – look what happened, start rebuilding – from the ground up. It begins for me at home. I stay home and reflect. Look at my house – it needs cleaning, I clear it. I realize where I have not been connecting in my community. From my home base where I gather my strength and rest, I reach out and say “I love you”.

From my foundation, my structure of support, I go to my job – the yoga studio – and teach others how to build their body foundation. Plant your feet so that you feel powerful. Don’t lean, have your feet be strong and flexible first.

From that foundation, and practice, you can reach out and help those who need it – right next door. Your neighbor, the person you meet. You are not helpless. You can be aware, take care of you, get strong, rooted and grow up from there. Go help, and recognize when your body and mouth needs a rest. There are many human beings. We are all connected. Trust that there is a plan to handle it all without you doing it all.

Whether you are alone, or with others, the most powerful practice you can do is listen. Listen to what you need to be well. Listen to your heart. Listen to your soul’s yearning. In meditation listen. When you are with others: listen. My spiritual guide, Ishwar Puri, gave me a simple way to remember this:

“The Mind always talks and never listens. The Soul always listens and never talks.”

Listen for the whispers of your soul, if you are ignoring that, you cannot listen to others. You will be in the practice of “not listening”

With that I leave you with Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Listening to Give Relief”

"Deep listening, compassionate listening is not listening with the purpose of analyzing or even uncovering what has happened in the past. You listen first of all in order to give the other person relief, a chance to speak out, to feel that someone finally understands him or her. Deep listening is the kind of listening that helps us to keep compassion alive while the other speaks, which may be for half an hour or forty-five minutes. During this time you have in mind only one idea, one desire: to listen in order to give the other person the chance to speak out and suffer less. This is your only purpose. Other things like analyzing, understanding the past, can be a by-product of this work. But first of all listen with compassion." Thich Nhat Hanh

Practice every day

Many of the great teachers - the ones we can trace our lineage back to, have all said the same thing.  Practice.  The past week, I have appreciated my practice more than ever.  My practice is a daily habit.  Every morning.  Meditate.  If I cannot focus, take care of something for someone (service with love & devotion).  Then practice my asanas.  Observing my breath, my body, how I use my body, how I feel, my mind.  Observing it all, at the same time keeping my body strong, alive & healthy.

The practice - when it is a habit  - it supports you.  How?  Well, do you remember how you feel so much better afterward practicing yoga?

You know that when you are not in the habit of practicing...when you feel sad, sick, low energy, upset, busy - any number of human excuses - the last thing you want to do is go sit on a yoga mat or meditate.

If it is a habit - like brushing your teeth - you have to do it.  You cannot not do it.  No matter how I felt before my practice.  I feel alot better after.


How to get into the habit?  Read about the 40-day yoga challenge or 108 Sun Salutations in my blog...
Live with Beauty, Connection & Love. . . 


Karen

The Yoga Path, Christianity, Meditation

I don't know if most people realize that I began on the yogic path by way of Christianity.  I was one of those kids who went to Sunday school morning, church Sunday night and every Wednesday night too.  Every summer: Bible Camp and Backyard Bible School.  As a teen I taught "Backyard Bible-school" and had a blast with the other teens as we taught and acted out Bible stories for little kids in backyards.

I had a profound spiritual experience in Bible Camp, where we were taught about being "born again".  I was moved to tears by a man sharing about his experience with Jesus.  He was formerly an alcoholic and he prayed for help and had an experience of Jesus coming into his heart.  Well, it moved me to tears.  He quit drinking and dedicated his life to God and prayer.  I loved his story.

Later on, our church took a strange turn.  Us teens were being trained to bring other teens to our church.  There we would have overnight sleep-ins - -  they would keep these young people up very late into the night preaching to them - trying to get them to be born again - to turn their souls over to Jesus.  It occurred to me as kind of weird & creepy.  I didn't like that there was so much pressure - it just felt wrong.  I drifted away from that church after that - it was disturbing and looking back, it looked alot like brainwashing.

Drifting church-less, I began a search for 'the truth'.  I read the Bible-- every word.  I took many of the passages literally and did not like how some people interpreted it.  I kept coming across coincidences - a book here or there that was not a church-sanctioned book about Jesus, but even so, reading it with some trepidation, I couldn't find anything in the book that disagreed with the Bible - the book that I was told was the ultimate truth.  I began to think that - if God is all things, omnipotent, why did 'He' stop giving us 'His' word - what 600 or more years ago? 

On further investigation, I learned that the books of the Bible themselves were chosen by a team of men - and there were actually some books that were considered, but not chosen.  I wondered - why?  One point of view I remember reading, said that they took out references to karma and rebirth - more Eastern philosophy, so that people had to depend on the Church for their salvation.  Hmm, I thought - rebirth - born again - is there a connection there?

Around this same time, my health had deteriorated.  I had been having recurring bladder infections.  After 8 years of these, it kept going into my kidneys and I was on antibiotics every other month by that 8th year.  My marriage wasn't working out so well either and I was very unhappy.  One night, I was feeling particularly alone, unhappy and unhealthy and I yelled out to God  in desperation..."help me - please!". 

More coincidences showed up then. . . the most important one - I became pregnant with my daughter Jasmine! When she was born, I fell in love and vowed I would be the best mom I could be.

I believe that coincidences - the little things that just happen to show up and be helpful to you, are God's way of guiding us or blessing us and that by paying attention to these, your life will go according to God's plan for you.

I had been working on finding the source of my bladder infections (with the help of a Naturopathic Doctor)with a food rotation diet, literally cleaning out my system, eating only very healthy foods and keeping a food diary.  I quit drinking beer when I found it was the trigger.  I kept eating that healthy diet, came across a yoga book and started reading it and practicing some of that yoga.  Over the span of a few years, I became a little bit healthier, and a voracious reader of spiritual books.  I had broken free of the brainwashing that said I could only read the Bible and any other spiritual books were "satanic".

The yoga I was practicing was pretty much one or two poses.  Usually a shoulder stand.  Ha ! That is probably not the first pose most anyone should try as it is considered a level 3 yoga pose.  The practice of these simple poses, had me become aware that I was making healthier choices for my body.  When my body felt better, I was a little happier.  The road to health was a very long one, however, my first guide to healing was. . . Jesus!  Jesus was a healer!  I knew he was a healer and also took something that he was quoted as saying - literally (again).  Anything I can do - so can you. (my paraphrasing).  So I held Jesus up as the ideal human potential.

I studied healing, spirituality, yoga.  This intensive studying took place throughout my marriage to my kids' Dad, Mike.  Looking back:   I am very grateful to him for traveling those years with me and the kids.  Without his support as a father and provider, I would not be where I am today.  Though I am remarried (very happily now), he and I are good friends now, another blessing in my life.

I realized at some point, that I had alot of information about nutrition but it was rather disorganized.  I found a study course I could do at home that was a 2 year home study in Natural Therapies.  I completed a certification in that in 1995.  After that, I found that I was missing some information and education in the mind.  I then enrolled to complete my bachelor degree in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin.  Receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998. 

After all the science, I went back to my study of spirituality, Love in particular.   I also studied Reiki - an energy healing modality.  About the time I became a Reiki master, I decided to become certified in teaching yoga.  That is when I started practicing yoga daily.  I immersed myself in my yoga studies and became stronger, happier and more grounded in my self.  Before doing the yoga training, I also met Ishwar Puri, a master of meditation.  I was ready to commit to a spiritual life after meeting Ishwar.  He taught me how to meditate and now I practice that daily as well.  Ishwar said that you didn't need to leave your spiritual roots, the religion you grew up with to be on the spiritual path, and that meditation will only strengthen your faith.  I teach meditation now too.  My life is now nothing like it was before I started down this path. 

I view all religions as a form - a structure in which we can deepen our own connection to God or our higher Self.  Looking back to my Christian roots, I think about the stories of Jesus praying in the garden.  I realize that there is something beautiful there that all people can take, but in particular, those who, like me, were raised in the Christian tradition.

Here is a meditation Christians can use to learn to meditate.  Borrowing the Eastern tradition of using a mantra - words to keep the mind busy, so you can explore your higher consciousness.  A Christian mantra could be taking a verse out of the Bible - such as the Beautitudes - and repeating them over and over in your mind as you sit with eyes closed.  Before sitting, ask for guidance from the Master (Jesus).  You can also focus on something you would like help with - what you would like to understand or a problem that you would like to solve.  While repeating your mantra, just sit and listen and be at peace.  You can begin practicing this for 5 minutes, then 10, then keep adding time to your meditation.  The results will be amazing and I cannot tell you what those will be for you. 

Here are the Beatitudes: (from the website:  http://www.jesuschristsavior.net/Beatitudes.html )

THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

Reflections on 2010 at the studio

What a year phew!  This year at Yoga Prairie, our studio has seen some tremendous growth.  It is great seeing many new faces and the others who have been with us from the beginning still coming to classes.  In May after my biking accident, my teaching took on a new dimension.  Learning to teach with injuries and vertigo has taken the level of teaching to new dimensions too.  I am focusing more now on meditation and going deeper into the mind/body connections of the practice.  The accident was a blessing even though it has been painful both physically and emotionally.  Right before Christmas I found out that my medical bills were not going to be paid for by my auto accident insurance.  It was a traffic accident caused by me trying to avoid a bus.  The bus may have hit my bicycle, but I was not conscious - I was knocked out.  There was a witness who called the accident in on 911, but police will not release the record because of a law that protects 911 callers.  The caller told the police that a bus hit a bicyclist.  I now am dealing with the not knowing and letting that go.  Another opportunity to release attachment.  I do hope that motorists will be more watchful and careful around bicycles.  Share the road.  I have taken my attention more to the business of running the studio and also to providing a deeper and more authentic experience for all who walk in the front door at Yoga Prairie. 

This winter we did a 40-day yoga challenge and those members who participated took on a whole new level of practice for themselves, seeing first hand how a yoga practice supports not just the physical, but also their mental and emotional lives as well.  This has been a very successful result - I could not have asked for more from this challenge.

The studio continues to be behind on paying our rent and slow on paying other bills, but we are slowly catching up in that area.  It is interesting to note that how I run my business is perhaps unique.  Each day I meditate and focus on allowing the real boss to dictate things.  I am a steward of this space for the community.  The Master - God - holds the reins and steers the business.  It is a joy to be taken along for this ride.  Thank you to all of you who are riding along with us.  Happy New Year!

40-Day Yoga Challenge is coming into final weeks

This has been a challenging time to do 40 days of yoga.  With the darkest part of winter also come dark days in the way that you will be challenged to stay positive in your outlook.  It may be really tough now to step onto your mat to practice.  Know that all of us who are participating in this challenge are experiencing this.  Know that the darker days will be moving towards lightness once again in just one more week.  Hold on - you can do this.  Step onto your mat with the intention to move - just move your body with the breath.  Move into a pose and stay there until your body intuitively tells you to move again into another pose.  Give yourself time to pause in between poses in Tadasana (mountain pose) or Sukhasana (easy pose-also known as the seated cross-legged pose).   When you move intentionally with your breathing and when you hold a pose with your focus on your breath, you are practicing yoga. 

Good Monday

I began the day meditating and dozing.  This is my favorite way to start my week.  It is like creating my world for the week inside of a relaxed morning meditation.  I am able to imagine fun things to create for the yoga studio, for my family, for my life and travels.  I am able to connect and reconnect again and again to the pure love that is inside of all of us, to drink of that until I am that.  All beings are that too.  Enjoy your week, enjoy your life.

Why I'm doing the 40-day challenge

All I don't need is one more thing to do, one more challenge.  I am a business owner, I have been feeling overwhelmed lately - teaching several yoga classes per week, planning and scheduling yoga teacher training, the paperwork, the accounting...all the things a business owner does...and I am supposed to embody what I am teaching as well.  That is my challenge.   ( http://www.yogaprairie.com/ )

Someone asked me a couple of weeks ago how the yoga studio was doing...I don't know what I answered, but it came out like: I haven't made any money for 3 years AND I work all the time.   They then asked me:  WHY are you doing it then?

I have been thinking about that question for the past 3 years - ever since I began working 10-12 hour days.  Why ?  This week I came to a really interesting conclusion.  Everyone that walks into that studio to practice and learn yoga is expecting the doors to stay open, and I am doing that.  Whatever...I could explain for hours why I am doing this.

I'm not going to.  I'm going to tell you what my guru/teacher Ishwar Puri says.  "How do you know if you are serving God's will? - What IS God's will?"  "All you have to do is look at your circumstances...if there is a shovel in your hand - dig.  If there is a pen in your Hand, write".  Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, God's will is for you to serve in that way.

So the 40-day yoga challenge is, simply for me,  to do God's will.  Practice yoga.  That's what yoga teachers are supposed to do : ).  Namaste, Karen