November 27, 2009
It was my intent this month to set aside time each day to reflect upon five things I was grateful for. To ensure I wouldn’t forget to do this, I added points of reflection into several parts of my day. Morning meditation began with what I was thankful for. At the end of class, I would invite students to use silent meditation to reflect upon what they were grateful for that day; using that time again to evince gratitude. At home while enjoying dinner together, we went around the table sharing what happened in our day that we were especially grateful for.
I discovered along the way, that as I continued to abide in an attitude of gratitude, it became easier and easier to find so much to be thankful for. Then as I became more cognizant, the more I realized that there is indeed countless ways in which the universe supports us. I began to notice the numerous blessings and gifts scattered about my day from the people present in my life, to my car getting me safely from point A to B, to the kindness of strangers. Like the woman at the drug store who saw I had less in my basket than her full cart, and allowed me to go in front of her. In a state of gratitude, I became Present to the gifts already here.
The five things soon turned into 10 or 12 things because all that I have became so much more than what I thought I was lacking. It already was, and in the present moment, that was enough. What a wonderful way to use my time and energy, ultimately elevating myself to a better and more productive state of well-being. So that instead of noting at the end of the day how many things went wrong, or what I didn’t accomplish, the attitude of gratitude helped me to see how much I had gotten done.
One gift that I am constantly and ever so grateful for is the gift of yoga. After several years in the corporate world, I know how lucky I am to be living my passion. I don’t consider my job, work. I don’t tire of it as there is always something new to learn, an asana to explore, a dynamic way to incorporate breath. I am free to create and to express myself as I am. I’m surrounded by people, by friends who share with me their dedication to the practice, who show up week in and week out on their mats. And for all of this, I give thanks.
Claudine
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November 6, 2009
A big part of the Living Yoga philosophy is to take the work and awareness created on the mat into daily life, so self-work is imperative to me. Motivational speaker and author Louise Hay says that, “inner work always improves the quality of our lives” and that “awareness is the first step to healing and change.”
This past week, I noticed within myself, a much hurried disposition in many of my daily activities. I became aware of the need to check off my to-do list with great speed and expeditiously. I noticed when I would talk to someone about what I was about to do that I ended my sentences with “I’ll be real quick.” For instance, I’m just going to grab something upstairs, I’ll be real quick. Oh, I need to walk the dog before it rains again, I’ll be back real quick. I’m going to finish up my lunch real quick and then head to the store. Going to jump in the shower, I’ll be real quick and then we can go. Just need to go to the bathroom, I’ll be real quick. And that’s when it hit me. I thought to myself, oh my gosh, I’m rushing to go to the bathroom! Why?? Especially when I know people are waiting on me I feel the need to be Real Quick!
So in reflection, I’ve decided to work on changing a few things. Mainly, to stop saying Real Quick (is that even grammatically correct) and to SLOW DOWN. Yes, we all have days when they are so jammed packed with things to do that we need to work swiftly and efficiently to meet the deadline, pick up the kids, and make dinner. However, even in the midst of those hurried days, it’s a good idea to hit the pause button. I’m doing a couple of things now several times throughout my day; finding my breath and repeating a mantra. Finding my breath always brings me back to the present moment. I usually find that I’ve been holding my breath or clenching my abdomen instead of breathing fully and completely. I’m also working on not saying Real Quick, and when I catch myself about to say it, I’ve been repeating this mantra, return to the breath, return to the breath.
Well, I’m off to walk the dog now. As he stops to sniff around, I will consciously take a moment to pause, and return to the breath. Namaste.
Claudine
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