What Are You Grateful For?

Gratitude is a powerful thing.  So often we fail to enjoy the abundance already present in this moment and instead focus on what's lacking.  Maybe we obsess over getting a better job, a different relationship, or a better body.  We fail to see the simple pleasures that really brings joy to our lives. 

Simple Pleasures:
1.) Sitting in bed at the end of the day with tea and journal/books
2.) The Purr and presence of my cat, Seymour.
3.) Soaking in the hot tub at Inman Oasis
4.) My dinner tonight: Chicken with Sage and Red Wine Sauce with Melted Havarti and Broccoli!
5.) My Job: Bringing Yoga, Rest, Relaxation, and Happiness to multitudes of people.
6.) My very gentle Yoga practice (since my fall off my bike and not so happy left leg).
7.) The ability to create, invent, and change my mind.
8.) My beautiful apartment
9.) Autumn Smells and Sights
10.) My London Fog at 1369  (Early Grey with Vanilla and Steamed Milk)...a great alternative to Coffee!
11.) ODD Eleven:  Feeling loved:-)

Working with Accidents/Injury

Desire sometimes causes accidents, and it sure did yesterday when I was craving my usual pumpkin spiced latte at Starbucks.   I decided to bike down Prospect St. in Cambridge, a street that is always torn apart and being worked on continuously.  In an attempt to save my life, I made my way over to the sidewalk but mid-way realized cops were everywhere and didn't want to 'break the law' so I tried to go back in the street.  BAD MOVE! I found my tire going sideways somewhere between the curb and the road and my body fell right over.  I used my yoga throughout the whole ordeal. Noticing my tendency to tell the stranger who offered help that, "no I'm fine, as I held back tears and excruciating pain in my leg.) Then I actually got on my bike and tried to power through telling myself I'll be fine if I just make it to starbucks going really slow.  Not so!  Just like holding a yoga pose can become torture if you are not ready to take it or go to the next level, you rest in child's pose.  So, I told myself to get off the bike and walk the bike which was a much gentler option (the child's pose option). I could hardly walk was the problem!  It has been challenging for an active person like myself to have this injury, not be able to walk anywhere, do yoga or teach!  It is challenging to know that I can't bend my left leg at all or else I get pain.   I am taking care of myself in the best way I know how.  Instead of worrying about not practicing my yoga, I took joy in doing a 20 minute yoga class on back and neck poses.  Just as satisfying as a vigorous practice because guess what?  It's what my body needs.  This injury has taught me that simply doing what you "can" and honoring those painful spots and not pushing is the most intelligent way you can work with yourself.
Sorry, I wasn't able to teach at Shanti today.  I will be back tomorrow and on but not DOING any poses, merely teaching from a seated position (and that too, will be perfect practice!).
Peace,
Natalie

Suffering is an Option

Feeling inspired sitting here with my favorite Yogi tea: Mayan Cocoa Spice w/organic whole milk.  Mainly, getting excited about leading my second yoga retreat up in a 150 year old homestead and barn in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.   Thinking about how much fun we are going to have practicing yoga with the backdrop of the mountain skyline and the pink setting sun at night.
I am thinking of doing a "letting go" bonfire and literally burning up the things that keep us stuck in our lives like self-judgment, perfection,...stuff like that.  I can already think of a few I could let go of!
I guess this came up because I have been thinking a lot about "how" we make ourselves suffer.  So many times I watch myself or others struggling in poses, especially the ones that aren't always easy to hold because they involve balancing.  We TRY so hard to balance that we forget that the point isn't to stay still like a statue, but to find a comfortable place inside the framework of a pose to open and breathe and eventually: Surrender.  So we inspect inside and say to ourselves, "Where can I ease up a bit in this pose?"  how can I make this "easy?"  That's the inquiry.  Notice how many times during your week you make life harder just by creating a framework or a judgment that says, "this is TOO difficult."  Do you give up or try to power through?  We've got to stop striving and EASE into the middle point by conversing with ourselves gently and listening to our body's wisdom that usually has our best interest in mind (unlike the Ego).

Just some things to think about on this chilly Autumn evening and before you start your work week.

Namaste!
Natalie