Living in a culture of narcissism to survive...be successful, be attractive, be healthy..hmmm... to deny death? People 100 yrs ago surely did not live as long as they do now, and even though we have made progress with technology and science, yet we still are powerless over death. In Buddhism, one of the ideas is that it prepares the mind for death. Every day is just a practice of keeping thoughts in the present..because that is all that is going on anyway. Thich Nhat Hhan, (sorry I may not have the correct spelling here) said that it takes all the conditions to be present to light a match. You need the wood, the stuff on the wood, the stuff to scrape the stuff on the wood to make the light...the air..the stuff in the air.....it all has to be just right for there to be a flame.
I am thinking when it is our time to die, all the conditions have to be present for us to go. And, that is the great mystery..so deny it, I'm not sure it is helpful, but to live in the awareness of death is no party either.
A friend of mine passed away earlier today. Someone found him at his home in the country where he was living a pretty ordinary life. He decided to live a clean lifestyle about a decade or so ago...and he most of the time went out of his way to help people. Someone said to me recently, "when it is your time, it is your time". Right now, that seems to make sense to me. When all the conditions are present then the mystery happens.
Jai Bhagwan...(I honor the truth that resides in all of us)
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
sit that's it
I am always amazed at the complexity of meditation. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying people who make it complex are wrong, but people are pretty much just sitting. Isn't that what we are talking about? The majority of the activity happening in meditation is just that, "sitting".
Now, there is this idea that if a person learns to sit with his or her self and be present with the breath, sensations in the body, etc....then that sense of presence can be carried out into daily life. Which is a great goal for many of folks who don't multi-task or work at a stressful job, or live in a super stressful environment. So, what my meditation teacher told me the goal is....well, to not have a goal. Watch your thoughts if you must, but let them pass through and treat them all the same. If you have some profound and peaceful experience...she said..."SO WHAT". The profound and peaceful experience is a side effect of sittting. If you need to cry, scream, shake, rattle or crow while sitting..."SO WHAT"...don't get up for 20 minutes and try not to move too much. You will get through it, you are alone...and it is okay to say to one's self..."There, there..now...everything is going to be all right"....
Cuz' it's true...everything is going to be all right. Just sit:)
Now, there is this idea that if a person learns to sit with his or her self and be present with the breath, sensations in the body, etc....then that sense of presence can be carried out into daily life. Which is a great goal for many of folks who don't multi-task or work at a stressful job, or live in a super stressful environment. So, what my meditation teacher told me the goal is....well, to not have a goal. Watch your thoughts if you must, but let them pass through and treat them all the same. If you have some profound and peaceful experience...she said..."SO WHAT". The profound and peaceful experience is a side effect of sittting. If you need to cry, scream, shake, rattle or crow while sitting..."SO WHAT"...don't get up for 20 minutes and try not to move too much. You will get through it, you are alone...and it is okay to say to one's self..."There, there..now...everything is going to be all right"....
Cuz' it's true...everything is going to be all right. Just sit:)
Friday, January 21, 2011
being Present in Mountain pose
Life gives us many opportunities to be present....for example: being born, learning to walk, learning how to ride a bike, dancing, singing, making music, making love, giving birth...and the ultimate act of presence, dying.
All the thoughts of the future and past are just that..in the future and past. I heard someone say once that if you have one foot in the past and one in the present you are pissing on today. So...bringing both feet into the present..just for today, right here, right now, in this very moment...is presence.
In the practice of yoga, keeping both feet on the ground and standing in the very first posture of Tadasana-Mountain, that is the gift of being able to stand. Such a simple thing, Ah, but how lucky those of us who can stand, not everyone is able to stand....
All the thoughts of the future and past are just that..in the future and past. I heard someone say once that if you have one foot in the past and one in the present you are pissing on today. So...bringing both feet into the present..just for today, right here, right now, in this very moment...is presence.
In the practice of yoga, keeping both feet on the ground and standing in the very first posture of Tadasana-Mountain, that is the gift of being able to stand. Such a simple thing, Ah, but how lucky those of us who can stand, not everyone is able to stand....
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to all...
I have friends who have different opinions about Christmas and I honor them all. I may not agree with them all, but I honor them all. One opinion, from a friend who is not from the United States, she finds living in Ellensburg that Christmas seems to be a commercial holiday. Another friend, from my hometown in Raymond wants to put the Christ back in Christmas and has strong opinion about the word xmas. I see all the Christmas photos of kids in Christmas plays on facebook, and Christmas trees....smiles...
So, what is my opinion...and how does yoga fit into this day...well, Christmas to me about family and I will be heading down to a simple, tiny Lutheran Church in Rochester, WA to share a service tonight with my family. In honor of Jesus Christ, who was a hippie in my opinion, and chose to hang out with the sinners...and had a lot of respect for women as he chose to demonstrate to Jewish men that women had more worth than a second hand couch...as the jewish men at that time didn't have a clue how to respect women. So, I believe he was brought here to love, and be loved...he had the same kind of needs we all do.
So, how does yoga fit into all of this? The word Yoga means "to yoke" to unite. It is a tool to bring everything together...to honor all people in all walks of life, with all beliefs, during this sweet..and tender holiday. Because Jesus did not come here to judge the world...but to save it. (That is a quote from Jesus...)
And, I need to mention my one other friend..because she has been working down at the soup kitchen in Ellensburg...this is a new soup kitchen that serves those who need a hot meal dinner 4 x a week. Anyway, Shiela, is down there giving people coats and serving her fantastic food that nourishes and gives strength to every cell every organ in the place. Thank you Shiela, for being a light in the world...and to all others who are not interested in judging the world..but saving it.
Jai Bhagwan (I honor the truth that resides in all of us)
Kristin
I have friends who have different opinions about Christmas and I honor them all. I may not agree with them all, but I honor them all. One opinion, from a friend who is not from the United States, she finds living in Ellensburg that Christmas seems to be a commercial holiday. Another friend, from my hometown in Raymond wants to put the Christ back in Christmas and has strong opinion about the word xmas. I see all the Christmas photos of kids in Christmas plays on facebook, and Christmas trees....smiles...
So, what is my opinion...and how does yoga fit into this day...well, Christmas to me about family and I will be heading down to a simple, tiny Lutheran Church in Rochester, WA to share a service tonight with my family. In honor of Jesus Christ, who was a hippie in my opinion, and chose to hang out with the sinners...and had a lot of respect for women as he chose to demonstrate to Jewish men that women had more worth than a second hand couch...as the jewish men at that time didn't have a clue how to respect women. So, I believe he was brought here to love, and be loved...he had the same kind of needs we all do.
So, how does yoga fit into all of this? The word Yoga means "to yoke" to unite. It is a tool to bring everything together...to honor all people in all walks of life, with all beliefs, during this sweet..and tender holiday. Because Jesus did not come here to judge the world...but to save it. (That is a quote from Jesus...)
And, I need to mention my one other friend..because she has been working down at the soup kitchen in Ellensburg...this is a new soup kitchen that serves those who need a hot meal dinner 4 x a week. Anyway, Shiela, is down there giving people coats and serving her fantastic food that nourishes and gives strength to every cell every organ in the place. Thank you Shiela, for being a light in the world...and to all others who are not interested in judging the world..but saving it.
Jai Bhagwan (I honor the truth that resides in all of us)
Kristin
Monday, November 29, 2010
Rose's request:)
Hi there,
Rose, a student of mine, specifically asked for some yoga that helps with concentration during finals week.
Here are four common yoga concentration techniques for the development of concentration (dharana) that you can experiment with:
1. Half Goddess pose:
Lie flat on your back and relax, especially in the legs, pelvis and lower back. Bend your knees, bringing your feet in close to your buttocks.
Slowly allow your knees to part, allowing the weight of the legs to stretch the inner thighs. Try to relax. Do not push your legs farther than is comfortable. Hold this positions for two minutes or more.
Bring your knees together again. This should be done very slowly and smoothly, at all times breathe deeply and remember to relax.
2. Bridge Pose
Begin lying flat on your back with our arms straight at your sides, palms down. Bend your knees, placing your feet parallele to each other, hip-width apart, so that your heels come just to the tips of your fingers.
Press into the feet (without raising your body) and feel the earth energy bring solidity to your legs.
Next, press your feet even more firmly into the floor so that your spine is lifted, vertebrae by vertebrae, much as you migh tlift a stand of pearls one pearl at a time, until you are resting on your feet and upper vertebrae. (Clasp hands together under the back, pressing the chest upward and the shoulders together behind you.) Ideally, the line from you r knee to your shoulders should form a straight plane.
There ya go Rose:)
Rose, a student of mine, specifically asked for some yoga that helps with concentration during finals week.
Here are four common yoga concentration techniques for the development of concentration (dharana) that you can experiment with:
Trataka
Trataka (which means steady gaze) is a technique whereby the eyes are fixed upon a certain external point such as the horizon of the sea, or the flame of a candle.Trataka1
- Take a comfortable seated position outdoors, where objects at various distances between you and the horizon can be viewed.
- Pick at least 4 objects (roughly spaced equal distance), the first being near the feet and the furthest at the horizon.
- Beginning at the nearest object, concentrate upon it for 60 seconds.
- Move you attention every 60-seconds to each successively further object until the final one at the horizon has been reached.
- After focusing upon the last point for 60 seconds, reverse object by object (again concentrating 60 seconds on each) back to the first point.
Trataka2
- Place a candle upon a small table, whereby the flame is at eye-level.
- Sit a distance of between 6 to 10 feet away and place your concentration upon the flame.
- Do not to blink and try to hold you concentration for between 30 and 60 seconds.
- Close you eyes for 30 to 60 seconds and try to reproduce the image of the flame in your ‘mind’s eye’.
- Repeat this process 3 to 6 times in one sitting.
Nasarga Drishthi
- Take a comfortable sitting position and gaze open-eyed at the tip of the nose.
- Hold this concentration until you feel tension in the eyes, then
- Close your eyelids, but imagine that you are still gazing at the tip of the nose.
- Hold this visualization for 15-20 seconds and then re-open the eyes.
- Repeat this process several times.
Bhrumadhya Drishthi
- Again, take a comfortable sitting position and turn the gaze to the base of the nose, creating a ‘cross-eyed’ position.
- Raise the eyes slightly, so that this cross-eyed gaze now falls directly between the eyebrows, then…
- Close your eyelids and hold this point of concentration ‘inwardly’.
- Periodically open your eyes to see if this point is being maintained, then close them once again.
- Hold this concentration for several minutes
1. Half Goddess pose:
Lie flat on your back and relax, especially in the legs, pelvis and lower back. Bend your knees, bringing your feet in close to your buttocks.
Slowly allow your knees to part, allowing the weight of the legs to stretch the inner thighs. Try to relax. Do not push your legs farther than is comfortable. Hold this positions for two minutes or more.
Bring your knees together again. This should be done very slowly and smoothly, at all times breathe deeply and remember to relax.
2. Bridge Pose
Begin lying flat on your back with our arms straight at your sides, palms down. Bend your knees, placing your feet parallele to each other, hip-width apart, so that your heels come just to the tips of your fingers.
Press into the feet (without raising your body) and feel the earth energy bring solidity to your legs.
Next, press your feet even more firmly into the floor so that your spine is lifted, vertebrae by vertebrae, much as you migh tlift a stand of pearls one pearl at a time, until you are resting on your feet and upper vertebrae. (Clasp hands together under the back, pressing the chest upward and the shoulders together behind you.) Ideally, the line from you r knee to your shoulders should form a straight plane.
There ya go Rose:)
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Classes end this week
Classes end this week for my students who attend Central. I have told them about my blog, and given them the option of getting dialed in and sharing what stood out the most for them this quarter while practicing yoga. It always seems that just when the quarter ends, a small community has been established. Perhaps if some could choose to be on this blog, then we could stay in touch about yoga offerings in the future, and also be in cyber community:)
If you are a student of mine, and have chosen to post about what stood out for you this quarter in regards to your body/mind experience...or whatever else you feel like sharing about.....Thanks for being part of my class this quarter, and I hope you have a great holiday and rest of the year.
Cheers!
Kristin
If you are a student of mine, and have chosen to post about what stood out for you this quarter in regards to your body/mind experience...or whatever else you feel like sharing about.....Thanks for being part of my class this quarter, and I hope you have a great holiday and rest of the year.
Cheers!
Kristin
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Being Grateful
Just taking a moment to be grateful as Thanksgiving is approaching....
I remember back in the day when I didn't feel like I had much to be thankful for and this friend of mine said, "I can always think of something, hell...I am upright and sucking air!". After years of practice, and the helpful reminder of Thanksgiving and making November a month to focus on being grateful. Since...it can get pretty hard to feel good when it gets dark early....
So what are some of the things I have to be grateful for?
My family and friends...
My son who is a caring, kind, and loving person.
A place to live, food to eat, a vehicle to drive.
Music, Music, and more Music.
And, as the end of the fall quarter approaches I am particularly grateful to have the ability to teach yoga and to practice yoga. I am grateful for all the yoga students who have been in my classes... When they show up and just practice the simple practice of yoga with me, it is beyond words the gratitude I have for their presence and curiosity:)
I remember back in the day when I didn't feel like I had much to be thankful for and this friend of mine said, "I can always think of something, hell...I am upright and sucking air!". After years of practice, and the helpful reminder of Thanksgiving and making November a month to focus on being grateful. Since...it can get pretty hard to feel good when it gets dark early....
So what are some of the things I have to be grateful for?
My family and friends...
My son who is a caring, kind, and loving person.
A place to live, food to eat, a vehicle to drive.
Music, Music, and more Music.
And, as the end of the fall quarter approaches I am particularly grateful to have the ability to teach yoga and to practice yoga. I am grateful for all the yoga students who have been in my classes... When they show up and just practice the simple practice of yoga with me, it is beyond words the gratitude I have for their presence and curiosity:)
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