The Gift of Staying Present

I say it all the time whilst teaching yoga and leading meditations. Release the past, release plans for the future, breathe and focus on the present moment. The here and now. There are a slew of books I haven't read about this: The Power of Now, Be Here Now, Living Your Yoga, The Power of Intention. Maybe I'll read them someday. But in the meantime how do I balance being here with my myriad goals and dreams? How do I stay in the moment if I am the product of every moment that has passed?

The answer is in the breath. Every time I get caught up in stress about the past which is unchangable or the future which is unknown, I focus on my every inhale and exhale. Relax and realize that just like Bob Marley said, every little thing's gonna be alright. Try my hardest to appreciate every breath, however deep or shallow. I know it's easier said than done but as with everything, practice makes it a habit.

Yoga practice and the intense focus on pranayama (breathing) carries over into the rest of life. It is life, once you reach a certain level of commitment. Conscious breathing as a lifestyle will result in fleeting feelings of elation, calm, contentment, sadness, curiosity, wonder. Ask your doctor if breathing with awareness is right for you.

Yoga Freedom. Health. Abundance. Freedom. (c) 2004. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Gospel According to Yoga

No matter how many times I tell her, my Catholic mother doesn't seem to get that yoga is not a religion. True Yoga (not the homogenized American hot power yogalates) is an innately spiritual practice, a meditation or prayer in movement, so I can understand her confusion. However, religion involves ritualistic, organized worship of idols or deities. Like Christianity, Judaism, Shamanism, Islam, forever and ever amen. Yoga has no requisite god.

Yoga originated (scholars estimate about 6000 years ago) in ancient India. It grew up along with Buddhism and Hinduism but it is neither of those. Mormons, Jews, Scientologists and athiests alike can freely practice yoga without risking damnation. Many yoga teachers chant "OM" and other Sanskrit mantras in class. When I first started, chanting made me highly squirmy. I didn't know what it meant or why I was supposed to join in. Now, after much study and practice, I love it. (By the way, the syllable OM is the primordial sound of the universe before Earth's creation. In other words, OM is AMEN is SHALOM is HARE KRISHNA is CHRIST is GOD is the Universe is Divine Spirit.)

Individuals can be religious and/or spiritual. Religion sans spirituality is for show and completely useless. Spirituality sans religion is for people who may study multiple religions or doctrines but don't subscribe to any single path. Om shanti. Peace be with you.

Yoga Freedom. Health. Abundance. Freedom. (c) 2004. All rights reserved worldwide.

Emotional Muscle Memory

In searching online (okay, I only used Google), for info about muscle memory, I pulled up a lot of useless information about bodybuilding, plus these two items:

The Green Jacket of Emotional Well-Being

The Neurobiology of Fear: Emotional Memory and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

What I'm getting at here is that our memories and emotions -- especially repressed ones -- are stored inside our very bodies. I have been dealing with a sore throat and unpleasant nasal issues for the past two days. I know this isn't because I'm allergic to cedar. It's because I have been over exerting myself with excessive socializing and not enough meditation. The throat chakra is the communication center. Throat and sinus issues tend to indicate issues in the communication arena, anything from not freely sharing your emotions as needed, or too freely telling everything about yourself to everyone you meet on the street. More to come on this. Namaste, Michelle

Yoga Freedom. Health. Abundance. Freedom. (c) 2004. All rights reserved worldwide.