tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31251519954151206012024-03-12T21:01:31.735-07:00Yoga is my thing.by Fawn HahnenbergFawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-57451364358775065582017-01-13T04:07:00.000-08:002017-01-13T04:07:14.764-08:00My Inadvertent New Year's Resolution<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvXBJv12fkgz4qw3d2HMdl8KG_cOE4Bnjo8hxUdXXFQ0f_pAhp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvXBJv12fkgz4qw3d2HMdl8KG_cOE4Bnjo8hxUdXXFQ0f_pAhp" width="200" /></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">For the past several years, I’ve made a habit out of not making New Year’s Resolutions. That way when I’m unable to “stop eating chocolate,” for example, I won’t feel like a complete failure. This year was no different. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This week, however, while quietly sitting on my mat, the verse, “What you seek is seeking you,” appeared in my thoughts.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I often see these words on various yoga websites, merchandise and greeting cards; the quote credited to someone named Rumi. <i>But, who the heck is Rumi and what did he mean when he said, “What you seek is seeking you?"</i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I decided to really sit and contemplate what it was I was seeking. It didn’t take long for the word “PEACE” to make it’s way to the forefront of my mind. I often fantasize about spending time away in a cabin reading and writing without the distraction of devices—completely unplugged and therefore totally present, at ease and full of <i>peace.</i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As I let my fantasy play out in my head, I had an ephiphany—I don’t need a cabin in order to disconnect. I simply need to put down the phone, turn the TV off, and find a quiet space within my current environment. And so inadvertently I created a New Year’s Resolution: Less devices + more time in quiet reflection equals <i>PEACE. </i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmlBdGwb1OyUDsNRa__QyInZjU57GKJ4Tn5KcLp25GZsMq-Euv8A" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmlBdGwb1OyUDsNRa__QyInZjU57GKJ4Tn5KcLp25GZsMq-Euv8A" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Now on the question of, “Who is Rumi?”, I did a little research and pulled out a few key points from </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Rumi was a 13th century Persian, Sunni Muslim poet, jurist, Islamic Scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So like the book,</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"> “</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://lauranumeroff.com/books/if-give-mouse-cookie/" target="_blank">If you give a mouse a cookie</a></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">,” I now needed to research the word <i>mystic</i>, in order to truly </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37);">understand</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> the various roles Rumi played, especially as it was used in this context. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 11px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to Wikipedia, <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysticism" target="_blank"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><i>Mysticism</i></b></a><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">is popularly known as becoming one with God, but may refer to any kind of </span>ecstasy<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> or altered state of </span>consciousness<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">which is given a religious or spiritual meaning.</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;"><sup> </sup></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br />
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/5e/3e/1d/5e3e1d32c7e1a83dfb85860c536d7fed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/5e/3e/1d/5e3e1d32c7e1a83dfb85860c536d7fed.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rumi's public life as an Islamic jurist and teacher began around the year 1241, and it was during this period of time that he travelled to Damascus and spent several years. While there, Rumi met a dervish, a Muslim Sufi who had taken a vow of poverty, named Shams. That meeting completely changed his life. From an accomplished teacher and jurist, he was transformed into an ascetic, adopting a frugal lifestyle and renouncing material possessions and physical pleasures in order to focus on his spiritual practice. </span><br />
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #252525; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The irony that my first thought was, "<i>I need a cabin in order to find peace</i>," is not lost on me; a stark contrast of the very definition of asceticism.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="color: #252525; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica";">On the night of December 5th, in the year 1248, as Rumi and Shams were talking, Shams was called to the back door. He went out and was never seen again. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica";">Rumi expressed his love and grief for his missing friend and spiritual teacher in an outpouring of lyrical poems.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica";"> </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">He went out searching for Shams and it was upon this journey </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37);">that</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> he came to the following realization:</span></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Why should I seek? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I am the same as he. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">His essence speaks through me. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I have been looking for myself!</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShtL2KGTPI6yv_ZhM2A4aU8mCxLXQgiNJCm-5l87WQCHGDXFkx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShtL2KGTPI6yv_ZhM2A4aU8mCxLXQgiNJCm-5l87WQCHGDXFkx" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<a href="http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/92410-Peace-Comes-From-Within.jpg?1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/92410-Peace-Comes-From-Within.jpg?1" width="116" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">While sitting quietly reflecting on the word “peace” and what it means to me, I recalled another famous quote, “Peace comes from within, do not seek without.” These wise words are attributed to another spiritual leader, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha" target="_blank">Siddartha Gautama</a> otherwise known as Buddha.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">For the past several years, I have intentionally not made a New Year’s resolution, so who knows if this inadvertent New Year’s resolution of unplugging and sitting quietly will last more than the week, but I did succeed in writing this new blog post…so yay!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> Peace In. Peace Out.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9b4urHBFHkatps9rHsMPkANxTAI5_KFb8M1AdBjaEktl5Unj3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9b4urHBFHkatps9rHsMPkANxTAI5_KFb8M1AdBjaEktl5Unj3" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-31938904039591601342016-11-16T13:18:00.000-08:002016-11-16T13:18:08.172-08:00Cracked<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://missionhelpers.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/crack-in-everything.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://missionhelpers.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/crack-in-everything.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-kerning: none;">Last Friday, it was announced to the world that singer/songwriter <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Cohen" target="_blank">Leonard Cohen</a> had died. One of the songs he was best known for is <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q" target="_blank">Hallelujah</a>, </i>which has been rearranged and re-recorded multiple times.<i> </i>After he died, there was a quote by him floating around on various social media sites which said, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">After the results of last week’s presidential election, I felt more than a little “cracked.” Devastated. Horrified. Gutted. Suffering with a complete loss of faith in humanity. Each of these accurately describing my mental and emotional state prior to waking up Friday morning and finding this </span>lovely<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> quote on my Facebook feed. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><i>It’s amazing how the universe works—always sending the exact message I need—exactly when I need it. </i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7760A3IUAAlDTD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7760A3IUAAlDTD.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-kerning: none;">I would argue that the exact opposite may be true as well: If light gets<i> in </i>through the cracks, it must also be released through the cracks. Our light, our soul, shines from the inside out. If we feed it with positive affirmations, positive thoughts, and love, we will release love back into the universe. Without suffering, we can not know happiness.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="http://www.flowermeaning.com/flower-pics/Lotus-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.flowermeaning.com/flower-pics/Lotus-2.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It reminded me of the<a href="https://www.lotusflowermeaning.net/" target="_blank"> lotus flower</a> and how it only blooms in the mud—it’s beauty in stark contrast to it’s surroundings. Without the mud, there would be no lotus. </span><br />
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
So the next time you’re feeling a little “cracked”—just remember to let it go and let your light shine.<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rachelvankoughnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Aqua-Radiant-Heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://rachelvankoughnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Aqua-Radiant-Heart.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-27051070866529773722016-11-09T11:06:00.001-08:002016-11-09T11:06:25.661-08:00Change Your Perspective<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<blockquote>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Recently I attended a Kid’s Yoga Teacher Training at <a href="http://youryoga.com/" target="_blank">Asheville Yoga Center </a>in Asheville, North Carolina. A lot of topics were discussed over the course of the training, but one topic that continued to make an appearance in our conversations was about the pressure that children feel from being ever connected to the world of social media, how they believe they must respond immediately when their phone buzzes, and how as a whole, they spend most of their daylight hours in front of a screen and less and less time outdoors. JaneAnne Tager, led the discussions and emphasized the importance of using nature themes in our classes as a way for children to disconnect, leave the world of technology behind, and become more grounded using tools found in nature. </i> </span></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One morning at the beginning of class, we were instructed to go on a short walk, find a leaf and bring it back to class. <i> I believe the point of the exercise was to help us get out of our heads and find a connection with the universe, returning to class more grounded than when we left</i>. As I walked out the door of the studio, I imagined being on a treasure hunt, looking for the perfect leaf—the one that spoke to me; the one that calmed and soothed me. Being early September in North Carolina, however, the temperature was still peaking in the eighties and nineties during the day. The leaves had not yet started to change color and the only leaves on the ground were small and lifeless. Feeling uninspired, I continued to walk further and further away from the studio. I began to feel desperate.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>“Finding a leaf should not be this difficult, I thought. Why do you always make everything so complicated? Just pick up a damn leaf and be done with it!” </i>And just as I was about to listen to <i>that</i> little voice inside my head, another voice spoke. <i> This one said, “Why are you only looking at the ground? Look up!” </i> Obediently, I turned my gaze toward the sky and that’s when I saw it.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRhx372mqZ7lBViHxijwwRBBqTZtDZ_eJ5uAPyUBGUSgLps8KE8qQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRhx372mqZ7lBViHxijwwRBBqTZtDZ_eJ5uAPyUBGUSgLps8KE8qQ" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With it’s long, slender, bean-like fruit, I recognized it right away. Magnificent in size and stature, it dwarfed all the trees around it, offering a canopy of protection with it’s abundance of large, over-sized leaves. It was <i>the exact same tree that stood in my front yard as a child! </i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrVVqfjzJz3FXV5XTYnI1zrFBB7MsOFf1nwxBYAhDH5bInxzkS" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrVVqfjzJz3FXV5XTYnI1zrFBB7MsOFf1nwxBYAhDH5bInxzkS" /></a></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I approached the tree, I noticed two shopping carts full of possessions parked under it’s shelter.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The owners were not home so I carefully proceeded to the tree and plucked a single leaf from a low hanging branch, being mindful not to disturb the refuge the tree provided for it’s occupants.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTRsHpjCmG5SDhM2n0Wf7ZLxLC3-vFDykhKCq4gMi9UZk-P1jYtVA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTRsHpjCmG5SDhM2n0Wf7ZLxLC3-vFDykhKCq4gMi9UZk-P1jYtVA" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I walked back to the classroom, I felt humbled.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have not seen a tree like that since the day my dad had it removed, deeming it undesirable, along with all the mulberry trees that dropped their gifts in the yard staining our feet as we played in the grass.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What are the odds that just as I was about to give up on finding a leaf that I felt a personal connection to, that a Catalpa tree would appear before me? </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSlw7s_-DnUd_acN1IG7D5tVbj2Q1uynzaYQ7EEp88gWYJaofysCw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSlw7s_-DnUd_acN1IG7D5tVbj2Q1uynzaYQ7EEp88gWYJaofysCw" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was the last person to return to the classroom and felt a tad bit conscientious knowing all eyes were on me.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The room was silent except for an audible *gasp* that could be heard as I laid my elephantine leaf to rest alongside the treasures that everyone else had gathered on their journey. In the center of the space with our mats spread like spokes on a wheel, the flora and fauna resembled and offering on an alter.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSLLDVfeVODJoMp1yzBeOscJX1PUvcoRHLtM-2EjlrrYTGTXQ5_" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSLLDVfeVODJoMp1yzBeOscJX1PUvcoRHLtM-2EjlrrYTGTXQ5_" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve been thinking about that moment a lot since it happened and wondering how much of my life I’ve spent looking at the ground, not making a connection with anyone or anything around me, when what I was looking for was right in front of me all along.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you can’t find what you're looking for…CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE! </span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>At the beginning of the training, Jane Anne stated that one of the goals of the weekend was to help us become reacquainted with our inner child. With each exercise, I found myself being transported back to my childhood, a time in my life that was filled with happy memories, uncomplicated and innocent. While this was not intentional, I also do not think it was a coincidence. I finished the training feeling more grounded than I have in several months and freshly inspired to be the best mom, wife, and yoga teacher I can be, to make a difference in the lives of children who may not have as happy a childhood as me, and to write. This is the third of a three-part blog post.</i></span></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-11584496021240734872016-09-18T01:03:00.004-07:002016-09-22T05:23:08.636-07:00It's the most wonderful time of the year!<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Recently I attended a Kid’s Yoga Teacher Training at <a href="http://youryoga.com/" target="_blank">Asheville Yoga Center </a>in Asheville, North Carolina. A lot of topics were discussed over the course of the training, but one topic that continued to make an appearance in our conversations was about the pressure that children feel from being ever -connected to the world of social media, how they believe they must respond immediately when their phones buzz, and how as a whole, they spend most of their daylight hours in front of a screen and less and less time outdoors. JaneAnne Tager, led the discussions and emphasized the importance of using nature themes in our classes as a way for children to disconnect, leave the world of technology at the door, and become more grounded using tools found in mother nature. </i> </span></span></blockquote>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At the end of day one, we came back to our mats in their circular formation, set up perfectly for sharing thoughts, ideas, and memories. JaneAnne closed out the day by asking the group to share what their favorite season is and why. </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbok5zjUNEs7Hu7LReldRLTJzEIqQ2aXzhJadgklsTeDErGkJDoA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbok5zjUNEs7Hu7LReldRLTJzEIqQ2aXzhJadgklsTeDErGkJDoA" width="200" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Without hesitation, I knew the answer to this question, but this time I didn’t share out loud. This time, we didn’t go around the circle one by one. People voluntarily spoke at will and by the time the umpteenth person described the beauty of the changing leaves and the crispness of the air, I figured they’d pretty much covered it.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/37143-Happiness-Is-A-Pile-Of-Leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/37143-Happiness-Is-A-Pile-Of-Leaves.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/37143-Happiness-Is-A-Pile-Of-Leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But just thinking about this season transported me back to 404 W. Exchange Street, my childhood home with it’s large picture windows and wrap around porch. The sounds, the sights, and the smells still strong in my mind. The crunch of leaves on the ground, the scraping of the metal rake as it crossed the sidewalk escorting the leaves on their journey from yard to driveway, the whoosh of the leaves as they flew through the air before safely joining their brothers and sisters on the mountain of foliage my dad had painstakingly raked all afternoon. And then laughter, I can hear laughter as we ran and jumped into the big pile of leaves. My dad would rake them up again, and again we would run and dive into the sea of leaves. Thud. They always looked so inviting, so much fluffier than they actually were and I still remember feeling shocked and surprised upon landing. I expected to land on mattress soft, but instead landed on packed dirt hard.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6OTq0LE7xDoghxkfGyvIEypCeTkJ1IC-4ghIOHEFYF8-BmhrM" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6OTq0LE7xDoghxkfGyvIEypCeTkJ1IC-4ghIOHEFYF8-BmhrM" width="149" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This was the way it was every year. He’d rake, we’d play and then he’d burn, standing guardian over the flames until there was nothing but a few ashes left. For a few short weeks every fall, the smell of smoke would waft throughout the tiny town where I grew up, unceremoniously marking the end of fall.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In Michigan snow was inevitable. The only question each year was whether or not we’d be wearing boots and coats over our Halloween costumes.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Crisp air, colorful leaves, hayrides, carving pumpkins, warm sweaters, and sap buckets hanging from tree to tree round out my childhood memories of my favorite season every year. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">FALL. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The <i>most</i> wonderful time of the year!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: orange;">At the beginning of the training, JaneAnne stated that one of the goals of the weekend was to help us become reacquainted with our inner child. With each exercise, I found myself being transported back to my childhood, a time in my life that was filled with happy memories, uncomplicated and innocent. While this was not intentional, I also do not think it was a coincidence. I finished the training feeling more grounded than I have in several months and freshly inspired to be the best mom, wife, and yoga teacher I can be, to make a difference in the lives of children who may not have as happy a childhood as me, and to write. This is the second blog post of a three-part series.</span></i></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-49045845772670381252016-09-18T01:03:00.001-07:002016-09-18T05:47:06.548-07:00Two bucks a day<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSVa0sP8riFitxrNEHLgIxdfyXWSfJkJtt7dBxJxgNatFkzuj0S" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSVa0sP8riFitxrNEHLgIxdfyXWSfJkJtt7dBxJxgNatFkzuj0S" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: orange;"><i>Recently I attended Kid’s Yoga Teacher Training at <a href="http://youryoga.com/" target="_blank">Asheville Yoga Center</a> in Asheville, North Carolina. A lot of topics were discussed over the course of the training, but one topic that continued to make an appearance in our conversations was about the pressure that children feel from being ever connected to the world of social media, how they believe they must respond immediately when their phone buzzes, and how as a whole, they spend most of their daylight hours in front of a screen and less and less time outdoors. JaneAnne Tager, led the discussions and emphasized the importance of using nature themes in our classes as a way for children to disconnect, leave technology at the door, and become more grounded using tools found in mother nature. </i></span></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We began the four day training in typical fashion with an ice breaker activity, going around the room making introductions. But after stating our name and where we were from, the information we were asked to share was a bit more atypical. We were asked to recount a “memorable time in nature” and then state one word to describe the event.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a side note: I struggle with any activity where I feel pressure to speak in front of a large group of people. When I’ve never met the people, the stress is even greater. I often spend the entire time trying to think of something clever to say for the inevitable moment when the baton will be passed to me, which leaves me unable to listen to what is being said by the other participants. And while this activity was no different in terms of what it was trying to accomplish, this time I knew immediately and without hesitation what “memorable event in nature” I would be able to share with the group.</span></i></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People described canoeing on lazy rivers, hiking in exotic places, the delicious reward of mushroom hunting, experiencing a herd of migrating caribou in the Alaskan wilderness and climbing Half-Dome. They used words like: calm, majestic, humble, and serene to illustrate their experiences.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When it was my turn, I recalled an event from my childhood. I was eight years old when my grandparents took me with them on their annual fishing trip to Canada.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One afternoon, midway through the week, we were out on the river in our small, fiberglass boat. Without warning, the skies turned black as storm clouds rolled in. Lightening began to crackle and flash and rain poured down on us filling the boat. My grandfather worked furiously to start the engine, but received nothing but silence for his efforts.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQzpZD1KvxyqWdH1sGR4dZjC_T065mVqNSJOTKQoWz_DxSpOwP3Tg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQzpZD1KvxyqWdH1sGR4dZjC_T065mVqNSJOTKQoWz_DxSpOwP3Tg" width="195" /></span></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This man, who I absolutely adored, had a really bad two buck a day habit. He believed that $2 worth of gas would still get him just as far in the 1970’s, as it did in the sixties, as it did in the fifties. He ended up walking a lot. But on this particular day he was not on dry land and my grandmother became hysterical under the circumstances.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On board, he had an oar…not a paddle, an oar—for a row boat. But since we were not in a row boat, he used the oar to paddle the boat like a canoe. Only we weren’t in a canoe. We were in a boat much wider than a canoe. So he had to stand. He paddled furiously on one side and then switched to the other side, making progress in inches. </span></span><br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDjLrvHIDAYP-x9yT1eizixg27V7pePeW68KxqPrPLUyCMpihz" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDjLrvHIDAYP-x9yT1eizixg27V7pePeW68KxqPrPLUyCMpihz" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were not close to shore. His hysterical wife frantically bailed water from the boat using an old coffee can, that had once held the worms all while his grand-daughter sobbed. And somehow, paddling, paddling, paddling he managed to get us safely to shore. </span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were back out on the river the next day, probably with another $2 worth of gas in the tank.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nature and me—me and nature. We have a tenuous relationship at best.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My name is FAWN and my word is <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3125151995415120601#editor/target=post;postID=5349645140998805208;onPublishedMenu=editor;onClosedMenu=editor;postNum=25;src=postname" target="_blank">FEAR</a>.</span></span></div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the beginning of the training, JaneAnne stated that one of the goals of the weekend was to help us become reacquainted with our inner child. With each exercise, I found myself being transported back to my childhood, a time in my life that was filled with happy memories, uncomplicated and innocent. While this was not intentional, I also do not think it was a coincidence. I finished the training feeling more grounded than I have in several months and freshly inspired to be the best mom, wife, and yoga teacher I can be, to make a difference in the lives of children who may not have as happy a childhood as me, and to write. This is the first blog post of a three-part series.</span></i></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-14572064881170088752016-03-17T18:08:00.000-07:002016-03-17T18:08:05.822-07:00Kid's Yoga, M&M's and the politics of respect.<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS1IAqkzup5Lm7GN4qsyaos4U0CKuq531186u2_7t56bN2Hl7-hQA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS1IAqkzup5Lm7GN4qsyaos4U0CKuq531186u2_7t56bN2Hl7-hQA" width="199" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WARNING: This post is a teensy bit political. It contains my opinion on respecting each other and to quote Donald Trump, how to “Make America Great Again.” <i>P.S. It has nothing to do with building walls.</i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So how can a post about kid’s yoga and M&M’s be political? In today’s world, anything can be twisted into something political, like the very word itself. According to <a href="http://dictionary.com/">dictionary.com</a>, “political” is an adjective with six different definitions. Each definition has a unifying commonality of or pertaining to the word “government”. Over the years, the meaning of the word “political” has shape shifted. Rather than being by the people, for the people, and of the people, it has slithered into darkness, something to be reviled—lumping politicians into a stereotype of dishonesty and corruption.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSNcRCS_GIvkW6cPIgE_D98vl_iqJbF61Yh3au_SPYFB3wMQvCC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSNcRCS_GIvkW6cPIgE_D98vl_iqJbF61Yh3au_SPYFB3wMQvCC" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ask ten different kids what they believe the best M&M candy color is and you are certain to receive several different responses: red, yellow, blue, brown—light or dark—it doesn’t matter. (Keep in mind that regardless of color, they all taste the same.) Then when they are feeling quite confident and happy with their answer, tell them they are all wrong. Their color of choice is not the best color, because your favorite color is green and therefore, green is the best color. Then take it a step further and tell them that because they don’t believe the same way as you, you can no longer be friends. In fact, you are now enemies. Watch their innocent faces contort into confusion and sadness.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">See what I did there? I used a sweet little anecdote about M&M’s, a classic American candy, to illustrate how silly it is to hate someone for simply having a different belief. Yes…it is that simple. Regardless if the topic is religion, political party affiliation, gun control, health care, or M&M’s, spewing hatred toward someone because they believe differently is <i>SILLY—</i>a term even a child understands.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I believe it is imperative people be allowed to voice their opinions, even when I don’t share their view, but I also believe it is imperative to conduct oneself in a respectful and civilized manner, and therefore I recently and for the first time, “unfriended” a FB friend for the following (unedited) post: </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Ok I have been quiet long enough. I can no longer sit here and listen to this garbage about Syria and these refugees. Listen to the crap about ISIS. Here is the real deal. We no longer can trust any of them...not one. That sounds harsh but I don't care. If they come here again and pull an attack I promise you WE THE PEOPLE will hunt them down ourselves. Our worthless, peace of shit, coward, terrorist president is doing nothing but we will. To all you liberal pieces of shit I have an idea.... Go over there with all your huggy bullshit and live among these animals for awhile see if changes your views. It's so easy to sit on your couch and give love and crap to these animals you know nothing about. The days of these liberal views and this so called President are numbered. Than maybe we can get back to being the proud and powerful nation we once were. And before all you ass hat liberal democrats respond on here to this don't bother. Everyone is sick of your bullshit and no ones listening. I and millions of others fought on foreign dirt for this country and by God we will do it again on this dirt. So in closing.....STAND UP AMERICANS TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY AND PURGE THIS SICKNESS KNOWN AS LIBERAL DEMOCRATS!!!! GOD BLESS THE USA🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸”</span></blockquote>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I did not take “unfriending” this person lightly. We were baptized in the same church, studied from the same Catechism, and took communion together throughout our young adulthood. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXQeTg5HlQQtb0Jx85k5bm56ENofFiuPLUN64BYbFJD33mG8eM" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXQeTg5HlQQtb0Jx85k5bm56ENofFiuPLUN64BYbFJD33mG8eM" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Am I a hypocrite for clicking the “unfriend” button? After all, I had just stated that I believe people are entitled to their opinions and that just because someone does not share my world view does not mean they should be my enemy. In eighth grade Civics class we learned about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech" target="_blank">Freedom of Speech</a> and the other 9 amendments to the Constitution that make up the <a href="http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/bill-of-rights/" target="_blank">Bill of Rights</a>. We were also taught that those rights we as American citizens <i><b>share</b>, </i>do not extend to infinity, but only to the point where they begin to impede on our neighbors rights. I felt violated by this post. It contained so much hate and venom that I believed if I had remained “friends” with the author, I would be submissively guilty of condoning the words within. </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So how do we make America great again? Like Whitney Houston, sang, “The children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” Teach them to love and respect themselves and their peers, regardless of skin color, religious affiliation or M&M color preference. And for goodness sakes, teach them to not refer to the person who holds the highest office in the land as a “worthless, piece of shit, coward, terrorist,” because that’s not going to get it done.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am not a person of power. I do not have a large audience or celebrity status. I am a wife and a mother, a sister and a daughter, a friend, a neighbor and a yoga instructor. I am limited in my ability to defend against those that believe it is okay to spread hatred and bigotry, so I will continue to slowly spread my message of love and goodwill toward one another…one breath at a time.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And if you’d like to share some M&M’s, I’ll even let you have the best color…GREEN!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQr00Cibiuqoif67lBs207LYsc5Aju-A9VSQf4_I0SWRtSPOh3h" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQr00Cibiuqoif67lBs207LYsc5Aju-A9VSQf4_I0SWRtSPOh3h" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-39282113404529925432015-12-31T09:16:00.000-08:002015-12-31T10:54:47.731-08:00Life in Pieces<div class="tr_bq">
June 2015. That was the last time I published a blog post. 6 long months ago. It was also the last time, I wrote anything more than my daily "To Do" list. I have been completely constipated--creatively speaking. </div>
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSEplyfrNsTgDczgiFC2_v7QVCOQ9BtbkavYxNPo8pWU1OHfOYvKw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSEplyfrNsTgDczgiFC2_v7QVCOQ9BtbkavYxNPo8pWU1OHfOYvKw" /></a>June 2015. We closed on a new house. Not a new, new house--relatively old in fact--1989, but new to us. In the beginning, we were excited. The "new to us" house sat on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Norman" target="_blank">Lake Norman</a> and I imagined myself sitting on the deck for hours sipping wine and writing, writing, writing as the water soothed my central nervous system and sparked my creativity. I fantasized about boating and kayaking and paddle boarding. In my minds eye, I could see my newly defined abs from all that paddling! And most of all, I felt certain that as a family our quality of life together would increase exponentially. The kids would be so excited to live on a lake, they'd willingly leave behind the digital world they live in and spend time frolicking in the surf.<br />
<br />
But almost immediately, as we put our house on the market to sell, anxiety took hold of my heart and began to squeeze the breath right out of me. The children were not allowed to sit on the furniture for fear of crushing a perfectly puffed pillow. They were not allowed to eat inside the house. All snacks and meals were served outside on the deck. I stopped cooking meals. Everything was take-out so that counters stayed clean and dishes stayed done. I've always thought I walked extremely close to the edge of insanity. But during this time, I jumped right off the fricking cliff.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hoax-slayer.com/images/crying-baby-hoax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hoax-slayer.com/images/crying-baby-hoax.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>Panic set in when the old house, which was actually newer than the new house, didn't sell within the first month. That's right. We closed on the new house in mid-June with no offer on the old house. We owned two houses (and two mortgages) and the real pisser was that the kids were not even excited about moving or living on the lake. In fact, the day the moving truck arrived, Numero Dos threw himself on the ground. Flailing and sobbing, he exclaimed, "My whole life is a downgrade!"<br />
<br />
A downgrade!<br />
<br />
Can you imagine how spoiled my children must be that moving to a house on a lake is a downgrade? Of course the truth is, he wasn't exactly wrong. From it's brass fixtures, to it's one-piece fiberglass shower inserts, to the popcorn ceilings in the basement--this house was a downgrade, relatively speaking. But it was still on the freaking water. That's got to count for something, right!?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQsNLjvTpnqF2Zd_Sep6qBYr8oi_zk5pp6_jNBQo-XVKfTEYoy" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQsNLjvTpnqF2Zd_Sep6qBYr8oi_zk5pp6_jNBQo-XVKfTEYoy" /></a>Wrong. We experienced one disappointing set back after another. The flooring company, which we hired to refinish the hardwood floors, flooded the house before we even moved in resulting in the decimation of the main floor powder room and the basement bedroom. 6 months later, both rooms are still barren wastelands. The toilets were not a standard 12" on center and now sit two inches away from the walls. The washer and dryer I purchased were too big for the space resulting in the loss of the closet doors and there was no garbage disposal. None. So, take the stress of not selling the first house, add in a slew of installation mishaps, multiply it by the gut-wrenching sound of your child sobbing everyday after school because we left a neighborhood he loved and you've got a recipe for depression, anger, frustration and regret.<br />
<br />
And thus I didn't write. Writing about anything other than my true feelings seemed disingenuous and really who wants to listen to me whine about how much it sucks that we chose to buy a house on a lake? Does anyone feel sorry for me? Shit, I don't even feel sorry for me. And besides, I had the perfect solution.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTLMG07kh86Zbi_DPMRKu08wMCUnkl5nbTPEJKIyrXJhaF6ZevWww" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTLMG07kh86Zbi_DPMRKu08wMCUnkl5nbTPEJKIyrXJhaF6ZevWww" /></a>We needed a boat! A boat would make everything better. What good is it to live on a lake if you can't even get out on the water? And so we bought a boat. But, you know what? The boat did not make us feel better. Not even by a little bit, because not only did we discover that our lack of knowledge around a boat only led to more frustration, but we also discovered that our boat lift didn't work. Chalk up one more disappointment to the tune of $8500 in favor of the house. <br />
<br />
Fast forward to this week--the last week of 2015, I stumbled upon <a href="http://leoniedawson.com/big-dreams-little-pieces/?inf_contact_key=df83669204498ac948d33820c11cdfb5a652b8667ec1412e583a5116066f1173" target="_blank">this blog post</a>. I am going to post it in it's entirety as it is the catalyst for me picking up pen and paper this week...and I just happen to think it's really, really, good!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><a href="http://leoniedawson.com/big-dreams-little-pieces/?inf_contact_key=df83669204498ac948d33820c11cdfb5a652b8667ec1412e583a5116066f1173" target="_blank">Big Dreams Are Made Of Little Pieces</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Grant Andrew</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>COO IE Dawson International</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://leoniedawson.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/THINKING-ABOUT-BREATHING-SML.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://leoniedawson.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/THINKING-ABOUT-BREATHING-SML.jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">I’ve been thinking about breathing lately. </span><br />
How it just seems to happen.<br />
We don’t think about it until it gets labored or we are short of a breath or two.<br />
But under everything in our lives, is breathing.<br />
It is a kind of ground for consciousness.<br />
It is keeping the lights on.<br />
The quality of your day is dependent on ~20,000 breaths a day.<br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Our world is built of pieces. Like breaths.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
The quality of your internet connection reflects how well the packets are moving.<br />
Your nutritional intake is dependent on bites of food.<br />
Big ideas are made of little flashes moving through your brain up to 268 miles per hour. (Sparks move inside you.)(Baby, you’re a fire<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">work</span>fly)<br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">We are pieces of pieces.</span><br />
Companies, communities, and causes are made of people.<br />
We see things as monolithic – solid, whole, together, but when you really get inside something, there are always pieces.<br />
Atoms, Lego blocks, letters, and slow-twitch muscle fibers. All pieces.<br />
What we accomplish is made of pieces too. The life you make, the work you do, the relationships you’re a part of…made of pieces.<br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">It is tempting this time of year to teeter between euphoria and despair.</span><br />
In every life, in every year, there’s always a hope for more. We have almost infinite capacity for hope and longing, so we want more from everything. Standing at the end of such a clear block of time, it’s not difficult to look back and despair for all that wasn’t, didn’t, or won’t be.<br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Breathe.</span><br />
Turning our gaze forward, it’s easy to imagine the next year differently. So much that will be. All our hopes/dreams/longings manifested. Big things birthed, big breaks healed, big holes filled. Such a glorious and euphoric view, the future is.<br />
The truth is more pedestrian. The future and the past are all just pieces. The same pieces, actually, that you have right now.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">Breathe. Swallow. Blink. Think.</span><br /><span style="color: #e69138;">That’s what makes this life beautiful and difficult.</span></span><br />
Everything is small, simple, easy. The next right move, the next deep breath, the next right word.<br />
But everything worth doing is difficult because it is a million right moves, a thousand deep breathes, pages and pages and pages of the next right words.<br />
Life is made of pieces. We traffic in pieces. We are made of pieces. We are pieces. All we get is PIECES.<br />
So even now, good traveler, as you stand in this present, this piece, at the moment when the line of NOW and the end of a big block of time happen to align, don’t get lost.<br />
Your task today is easy. Your task for this next year is simple:<br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Take control of the pieces.</span><br />
That’s it.<br />
Think of all the big dreams you have. The moments you long for. The ones that will take away all your breaths. Break them down. To pieces. Look at them, so cute and cuddly. The atomic layer of your deepest hopes. Just little pieces. The tiniest manifestation of your dreams.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Look at this next year.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Don’t see it whole. Don’t see it in quarters or months.<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">See it in seconds. Minutes. Moments.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Set your intentions high – aim for your Everest – then come back to the present, set your compass true, and a take a step.</span><br />
Take a breath. Swallow. Blink. Think.<br />
2016 is coming. And 17. And 18. Don’t worry about those.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">We are made of pieces, we make pieces, pieces make us.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">Please make good pieces. The world is hungry for your hearts.</span> </span><br />
<i>Enjoy the journey.</i></blockquote>
Throughout all the stress, anger, disappointment and regret, rather than lean on my yoga practice for strength, I ran from it. In fact, I practically hid. Yoga is quiet and calm. It requires stillness of the mind and body. But it takes time to sit in stillness, and I didn't have any time. I was too busy trying to sell one house and prepare to move into another house. There was too much cleaning to do. And then there was too much packing to do, and then unpacking, moving, worrying, and mostly feeling sorry for myself. Do you know how much energy is required to feel sorry for oneself? I had nothing left for my yoga practice. I didn't even have time to sit and breathe. <br />
<br />
And then I came across this lovely, poetic blog post and the first line caught my attention: <i><span style="color: #e69138;">I've been thinking about breathing lately. </span> </i>I used to tell any one that would listen, that for me, the magic of yoga was in the breath. And yet for the past six months, I have been holding my breath, drowning in regret and self-loathing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://leoniedawson.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/PIECES-OF-PIECES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://leoniedawson.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/PIECES-OF-PIECES.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: blue;">"The future and the past are all just pieces. The same pieces, actually, that you have RIGHT NOW. Life is made of pieces. We traffic in pieces. We are made of pieces. We are pieces. All we get is PIECES. Our world is built of pieces--Like breaths." </span></blockquote>
<br />
There is an old zen saying: "You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you are too busy; then you should sit for an hour."<br />
<br />
This year, I plan to breathe more, regret less and break everything down into small, delicious, bite-sized pieces.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQk8HsfM-kGkfjqerEqiW8eAMNRhc51sotWA9WQLG7RvUbed13dog" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQk8HsfM-kGkfjqerEqiW8eAMNRhc51sotWA9WQLG7RvUbed13dog" /></a>There are so many morals to this story. I know I don't need to type them in black and white. As a post script, we received an offer on the old house mid-July and closed early August. One week later, we made our first payment on the the new house, being spared the hardship of making two mortgage payments in the same month. <br />
<br />
I am sending up prayers of thanksgiving right this second as I am once again reminded of how everything always works out in the end. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Happy 2016. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
May your year be filled with lots of happy pieces!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: blue;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: 20px;"></span></blockquote>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-89772286376725461672015-06-11T09:10:00.000-07:002015-06-12T09:39:19.372-07:00Here comes the sun!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTLLRvKaw1YW0aoefNwNZ9pmAzHqQGkUvmhPVBc9sswlfAqD6Gyxg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTLLRvKaw1YW0aoefNwNZ9pmAzHqQGkUvmhPVBc9sswlfAqD6Gyxg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigeon Pose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A good friend and fellow yoga instructor once exclaimed, "A day without pigeon is like a day without sunshine!" The enthusiasm she felt for eka pada rajakapotasana in that moment expresses concisely how I feel about Surya Namaskar, which coincidentally translates to "Salute to the Sun" or "Sun Salutation." With the Summer Solstice on the horizon and many yoga studios and practitioners busy preparing events and workshops featuring <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/article/practice-section/the-number-108/" target="_blank">108 Sun Salutations</a>, I wanted to pay homage to this sequence of poses that comforts me, grounds me, connects me to my breath, and keeps me coming back to my mat day after day. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://addriya.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sun-salvation-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://addriya.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sun-salvation-copy.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun Salutation A</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Surya Namaskar is a series of poses linked together with the breath. Like a circle, Surya Namaskar starts and ends in the same pose, symbolic of the earth orbiting the Sun. <br />
<br />
As with the institution of Yoga itself, there is more than one opinion on the origin and age of Surya Namaskar. Some experts believe that the sequence dates back to Vedic times aging it more than 2500 years, while others believe that it was created during the early 20th century making it less than 100 years old. Traditionally practiced at dawn facing the rising sun, Surya Namaskar originated as a series of prostrations illustrating reverence to the sun--the great sustainer of life.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQV7Bc7yR9HkTtQyDkq1tiSJuKq4tl6kEdt8gnAvY6l96U_zLwN" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQV7Bc7yR9HkTtQyDkq1tiSJuKq4tl6kEdt8gnAvY6l96U_zLwN" /></a>There are many versions of Surya Namaskar like there are many styles of yoga, but I am partial to the one I learned when I was a new born yogi, much like I am partial to the same flavor of ice cream I've been enjoying for over 40 years. And just as vanilla is the foundation for many other flavors, sun salutations are the foundation of many <a href="http://yoga.about.com/od/typesofyoga/a/vinyasa.htm" target="_blank">vinyasa</a> practices. You can add cookies, you can add nuts, you can even add caramel, chocolate chips, and mint flavor, but at the heart of the ice cream is vanilla.<br />
<br />
After a long, cold, lonely winter nothing feels as good as the warmth of the sun, except maybe practicing Surya Namaskar while basking in it's glow. In 1969, George Harrison penned a song that said it best, "Sun, Sun, Sun, Here it comes!" So on June 21st, join in on the celebration of the Summer Solstice with yogis around the world and help us all Salute the Sun!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;"><b>INGREDIENTS IN MY FAVORITE FLAVOR OF SUN SALUTATION:</b></span></div>
<br />
1. Begin by coming into Tadasana (Mountain). Ground down through your feet evenly distributing your weight throughout the corners of each foot. Engage your quadriceps and core muscles, and bring your pelvis into a neutral position. Lengthen through the spine and out through the crown of your head. Shoulders should be relaxed and down while your chin is in a neutral position, parallel to the floor. Bring your palms to face forward into Samasthiti pose and take a few breaths to prepare.<br />
<br />
2. <b>EXHALE:</b> Bring the palms of your hands together at heart center in Anjali Mudra, prayer position.<br />
3. <b> INHALE:</b> Bring the palms together overhead, look up in Upward Prayer pose.<br />
4. <b> EXHALE:</b> Fold forward with a flat back hinging from the hips for Uttanasana.<br />
5. <b>INHALE: </b> Come half-way out for Ardha Uttanasana.<br />
6. <b>EXHALE:</b> Fold back down.<br />
7. <b> INHALE:</b> Bend your knees and plant your hands. Step or jump into Plank.<br />
8. <b>EXHALE:</b> Shift your weight forward onto the toes. Lower down, elbows brush the side of body, coming into a ninety-degree angle. Release to the floor for Cobra or hover about 6"above the mat for Upward Dog.<br />
9. <b> INHALE: </b>Press into the palms of your hands lifting the head and shoulders off the mat for Cobra (Bhujangasana).<br />
10. <b>EXHALE:</b> Tuck the toes and push back into Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana).<br />
11. <b>INHALE: </b> Step or jump to the front of your mat.<br />
12.<b> EXHALE: </b>Fold Forward (Uttanasana)<br />
13. <b>INHALE: </b> Come half way out, Ardha Uttanasana.<br />
14. <b>EXHALE:</b> Fold back down. (Uttanasna)<br />
15. <b>INHALE: </b> Ground down through the feet, engage your core muscles, and rise up. Bring hands over head in Upward Prayer Position. Add a backbend if you want.<br />
16. <b>EXHALE:</b> Hands back to heart center in Anjali Mudra, prayer position. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCHgjkbmxf4/VXimzM78TtI/AAAAAAAAAZM/LoSnHYgUXok/s1600/Sun%2BSalutation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCHgjkbmxf4/VXimzM78TtI/AAAAAAAAAZM/LoSnHYgUXok/s400/Sun%2BSalutation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-89445230381173512722015-04-13T05:51:00.000-07:002015-04-14T07:01:27.426-07:00Life is what you make it.<span style="font-family: inherit;">Life is what you make it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a hard concept to understand as a young person. When you're 10, 12, 14, 16...time moves slow. Your parents don't know anything, 30 is old, 40 is ancient, and appreciating what you have today because it may not be there tomorrow doesn't exist in the underdeveloped, teenage brain. It's taken me nearly 45 years to discover this and at times I <i>still </i>regress.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was recently reminded of this on a trip to Washington DC, when we--the parental units, opted to head North for Spring Break while the rest of the country headed South to the land of all things Mouseketeer. We opted for historical and educational versus princess tea parties and character parades. The children would have preferred hats with ears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTS166W2rixPq1owG6HLSqx0kP8yVqHEE6XYAvZGH00nSjYvqyE" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTS166W2rixPq1owG6HLSqx0kP8yVqHEE6XYAvZGH00nSjYvqyE" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We rented a turn of the century row house in the NE quadrant of the city in a neighborhood currently undergoing gentrification. It sat on a loud, busy corner where sirens screamed throughout the night. And with the constant hustle and bustle that comes with being planted in the middle of a busy metropolitan area that never sleeps, it could have significantly benefited from blackout shades. In describing the home, I'm reminded of a Mother Goose rhyme:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://trusttour.org/files/2010/06/MG005_Crooked-Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://trusttour.org/files/2010/06/MG005_Crooked-Man.jpg" height="186" width="200" /></a><span style="color: orange; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: inherit;">There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile,</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: inherit;">He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile;</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: inherit;">He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse,</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: inherit;">And they all lived together in a crooked little house.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes. The house was crooked. Very crooked. It had crooked floors and crooked walls, but I didn't mind. With every out of square corner or creak in the floor, I imagined the life this house had lived for the past hundred years, the things that it had witnessed, and I felt alive. I was now part of it's history. I fed off the energy of the city and relished feeling like I was in the epicenter of something really significant, something newsworthy. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/investigation-into-census-bureau-guards-death-continues/2015/04/10/6a94b6c6-df6d-11e4-be40-566e2653afe5_story.html" target="_blank">And for one night I was--as I witnessed a barrage of police cars scream through the narrow streets ending a high speed pursuit just blocks away.</a><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/investigation-into-census-bureau-guards-death-continues/2015/04/10/6a94b6c6-df6d-11e4-be40-566e2653afe5_story.html" target="_blank"> </a> </span> It certainly wasn't a four star resort. It was better. And thankfully my children didn't complain about the sights or sounds or lack of room service once. The house was equipped with television and wi-fi and all was good in teenage-brain land.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We spent five, over-scheduled days in the city, and as anyone who is familiar with DC knows, that was not enough. We filled our days with tours, museums, monuments and memorials covering more than thirty miles on foot and canvassing even more distance by train and yet we left with miles and miles still undiscovered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpzU7U3mmQUqwSba9T97TNNktdyZ_oFVFMa_Z7jvUQLVkf5VUvXA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpzU7U3mmQUqwSba9T97TNNktdyZ_oFVFMa_Z7jvUQLVkf5VUvXA" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arlington National Cemetery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The majority of children today and even my own Generation X cannot fully comprehend the sacrifices that the generations before us made for our freedoms. It, however, becomes a little more comprehendible when you stand facing <a href="http://www.nps.gov/vive/">a wall with more than 58,000 names engraved in memoriam </a>or stand before<a href="http://www.nps.gov/wwii/"> a field of gold stars representing lives lost with the words, "Here We Mark The Price Of Freedom."</a> A humbleness befalls you as you walk amongst <a href="http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/">a backdrop of simple white, marble headstones that date back to the Civil War</a>, and stand silently in reverence as a funeral procession passes for service men still being buried today. The 45 year old me understood how hallowed the ground beneath my feet was. I'm not sure the 16 year old me would have. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPMmRH1oQ8uZpKNPljBuxVsuF6SDxGGCRNgEMP9i7p_ZaNXnFT-A" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPMmRH1oQ8uZpKNPljBuxVsuF6SDxGGCRNgEMP9i7p_ZaNXnFT-A" /></a>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At times during the week, the teenage brains preferred to sleep as the landscape of <a href="http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/americathebeautiful.html" target="_blank">America the Beautiful</a> passed by. At times they needed to be told to put away the electronic devices. And, at times they needed to be reminded that life does not offer guarantees, take advantage while the opportunity presents itself. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Life is what you make it. You can spend your hours brooding. You can spend your hours mindlessly in front of a computer screen. You can choose to be unhappy, ungrateful and selfish or you can choose the opposite. It took me a long time to figure that out and without my yoga practice, I'm not sure I would have ever arrived. Today I choose happiness. Today I choose to be grateful. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because life is what I make it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT6ePw2HmpruFImNmkStaLQlOj-qTDynCKbiEbUNVm3LBnFhaRa" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT6ePw2HmpruFImNmkStaLQlOj-qTDynCKbiEbUNVm3LBnFhaRa" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-50975622848877400792015-02-08T11:32:00.000-08:002015-02-08T11:35:04.360-08:00Love knows no religion<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some time between the year(s) 53-55 AD, the Apostle Paul was credited with writing the book of <a href="http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentbooks/a/1-Corinthians.htm">Corinthians</a>. One of the more well known passages from those writings is found in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSS6PBizemFauw_CdWbdFTfjDLJ0Sk7N2CJ-sVjvuxfs0MgnVqS7Q" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSS6PBizemFauw_CdWbdFTfjDLJ0Sk7N2CJ-sVjvuxfs0MgnVqS7Q" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">But long before Paul wrote these beautiful words defining love, which are often recited at Christian wedding ceremonies, there was Metta Sutta, thought to be written as early as 400 BC. Metta, in its simplest terms is defined as <b>loving kindness</b>. <span class="definition">It is a meditation focused on the development of unconditional love for all beings. Because of its practice of loving <i>all</i> beings, it is also known as <b>universal love</b>. The word Metta is of Pali descent which is </span>an Indic language, closely related to Sanskrit, in which the sacred texts of Theravada Buddhism are written. </span>Some of my favorite concepts of Metta from the website <a href="http://www.wildmind.org/metta/introduction/what-is-metta">Wildmind.org</a> are:<br />
<ul class="contentlist">
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Metta is empathy. It’s the willingness to see the world from another person's point of view: to walk a mile in another person’s shoes.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul class="contentlist">
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Metta is wishing others well.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul class="contentlist">
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Metta is friendliness, consideration, kindness, and generosity.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul class="contentlist">
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Metta is the basis for compassion. When our Metta meets someone suffering, then our Metta transforms into compassion.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul class="contentlist">
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Metta is the basis for shared joy. When our Metta meets with another person's happiness or good fortune, then it transforms into an empathetic joyfulness.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul class="contentlist">
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Metta is boundless. We can feel Metta for any being, regardless of gender, race, or nationality.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul class="contentlist">
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Metta is the most fulfilling emotional state that we can know.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul class="contentlist">
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">It’s our inherent potential. To wish another well is to wish that they be in a state of experiencing Metta.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul class="contentlist">
<li><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Metta is the answer to almost every problem the world faces today. Money won’t do it. Technology won’t do it. Metta, loving-kindness toward all beings, will. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While Apostle Paul's words, "Love is patient, love is kind...." are undeniably true, so is the idea that if you project love into the universe, you will get love back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTI_EW4YB925rVsiLue1sxaBrSl1VD9Ek5oO3G3W8t2sZSNMwnV" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTI_EW4YB925rVsiLue1sxaBrSl1VD9Ek5oO3G3W8t2sZSNMwnV" /></a>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently the fans of hip-hop/rap mogul Kanye West, blew up the <a href="http://www.people.com/article/paul-mccartney-kanye-west-twitter">twitter-verse</a> praising Kanye for giving an older, unknown artist a big break by recording the song, <a href="http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/12/kanye-west-premieres-only-one-featuring-paul-mccartney-listen/">Only One</a> with him. T<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">hat “unknown” artist, actually known to </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">millions </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">of people over the age of 25, was none </span>other than<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Sir Paul McCartney, a bit of a music mogul himself. In 1969, SPM penned a song titled, </span><a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-end-lyrics-beatles.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The End</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">, which appeared on the album, Abbey Road. True to it's title, <u>The End</u> was the last song the Beatles ever recorded together. In the song, the line, "Love you, love you" is repeated 12 times, but it is the last </span>line of that<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> song that has garnered the most attention over the course of the past 45 years, “<i><a href="http://youtu.be/MY2StuP3rd4">And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make</a></i>.” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span>
Universal Love.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">And while the Beatles never recorded as a complete group again, John, Paul, George, and Ringo each continued to make music, both in solo careers and with other groups including one or two <a href="http://youtu.be/01FURROfHZk">Silly Love Songs</a>.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Released in 1971, the lyrics to <a href="http://youtu.be/OC2waxMJ_5Y">Imagine </a>suggest to me that John Lennon had a philosophy for love and peace all his own. </span>In a January 1981 <a href="http://www.recmusicbeatles.com/public/files/bbs/jl_yo.playboy/lennon4.html">interview with Playboy magazine</a>, John Lennon stated, "I am no more a Buddhist, than I am a Christian..."<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I wonder if the fans of Kanye West have ever heard of John Lennon?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://youtu.be/OC2waxMJ_5Y"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Imagine"</span></a></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Imagine there's no heaven</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">It's easy if you try</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">No hell below us</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Above us only sky</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Imagine all the people</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Living for today...</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine there's no countries</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">It isn't hard to do</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Nothing to kill or die for</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">And no religion too</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Imagine all the people</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Living life in peace...</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You may say I'm a dreamer</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">But I'm not the only one</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">I hope someday you'll join us</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">And the world will be as one</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine no possessions</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">I wonder if you can</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">No need for greed or hunger</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">A brotherhood of man</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Imagine all the people</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Sharing all the world...</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You may say I'm a dreamer</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">But I'm not the only one</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">I hope someday you'll join us</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">And the world will live as one</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So whether you subscribe to the Biblical belief of love, the teachings of Buddha and the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/buddharakkhita/wheel365.html">philosophy of Metta</a>, <a href="http://youtu.be/OC2waxMJ_5Y">Imagine</a> the world according to John Lennon, or all of the above, I wish you a very Happy Valentine's Day filled with much loving-kindness and peace to all! </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be sure to <i>take </i>lots of love this week...as it it equal to the love you <i>make</i>. </span></span><br />
<div>
<i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 11px;"><br /></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4GfAkJt_djZgYMHRutJg26_lTWd0mfkqWMrlhXTDgLk17lskG" /></div>
<br /></div>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-62708353628968503632015-01-23T16:31:00.000-08:002015-01-23T16:31:07.765-08:00The Flavor of Yoga<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://twlcdn.socialexis.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/resolutions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://twlcdn.socialexis.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/resolutions.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the beginning of the New Year, there has been an influx of new students showing up to the mat. Yea! One of two things may be driving this: My nagging is finally paying off...people are hauling their friends and neighbors to class to shut me the hell up <i>OR </i>a lot of people penciled in "try yoga" on their list of New Year's resolutions. Either way, I'm a happy girl. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">More and more people are discovering the<a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/article/health/count-yoga-38-ways-yoga-keeps-fit/"> myriad of health benefits</a> that having a regular yoga practice provides. From managing stress and anxiety, to improving strength and flexibility to helping prevent cancer,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the research and findings are vast, and as such the popularity of yoga is on the rise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
Are you one of those people that resolved to try yoga this year, but due to the multitude of choices, aren't sure where to go or what class to try? <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.yogaenergytherapy.com/attachments/Image/yoga_poster_benefits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.yogaenergytherapy.com/attachments/Image/yoga_poster_benefits.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yoga is readily available at a many venues. The first and most obvious being a studio. Yoga studios usually offer the largest selection of classes on a daily basis, which makes it easier to find a class that works with our over-scheduled lives. But having the convenience of schedule does not always come cheap. The drop-in rate for a single class can easily be fifteen dollars or more depending on the size of the city in which you live. However, studios usually offer class packages or monthly memberships making the cost of yoga more affordable on a per class basis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many gyms and fitness centers offer yoga, in addition to several </span>other<span style="font-family: inherit;"> group fitness classes as a benefit of membership. This is a great way to sample yoga without making a large financial commitment to a studio.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Great yoga teachers can also be found teaching in church basements, community centers, in neighborhood clubhouses, and even at <a href="http://www.lakenormantaekwondo.com/">Lake Norman Taekwondo</a> on Monday's at 10:15. (hint, hint!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If group fitness is not an option for you, many teachers offer private instruction or small group instruction. The going rate is $50/hour and up, with an average of about $65/hour. Again the price depends on the city in which you live and the experience of the teacher.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A good resource for finding classes near you is: </span><a href="http://www.yogafinder.com./" style="font-family: inherit;">www.yogafinder.com.</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Okay. That handles the where, but what about the what?</span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1274247/thumbs/o-YOGA-570.jpg?1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1274247/thumbs/o-YOGA-570.jpg?1" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If they can do it, you can do it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Even if you have never tried yoga, even if you cannot bend and touch your toes, even if you are well into your retirement years, THERE IS A YOGA CLASS FOR YOU. Look for a class titled: Beginning yoga, Gentle yoga, Restorative yoga, Chair yoga or look for the words, "good for all levels" in the description. <br />
<br />
On the flip side, even if you are a hard core athlete, even if you run marathons or do cross-fit, THERE IS A CLASS FOR YOU. Look for a class titled: Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Hot, or Power yoga if you want to lose five pounds in sweat every time you practice. Or, look for a class titled: Yin yoga if you want to go past the muscle, deep into the fascia as a complement to heavy weight training.<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last summer I sat amongst a group of women </span>and<span style="font-family: inherit;"> listened as they chatted about their protein shakes and wheat germ diets. The conversation quickly turned from diet to exercise as each proclaimed, "Yoga is </span>soooo boring<span style="font-family: inherit;">." WHAT!? </span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Obviously they haven't been to the right class...for them, for their lifestyle, for their personality type.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRnsaTs_nfIktHZcrEU4YtgihRNdDcUoh9o0GA7m-gwNhv6pH67pQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRnsaTs_nfIktHZcrEU4YtgihRNdDcUoh9o0GA7m-gwNhv6pH67pQ" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like Baskin Robbins with 31 Flavors, yoga types and styles are many. If you try one flavor of yoga and it's not to your taste, don't spit it out and walk away. Sample another flavor. Because like ice cream, yoga is delicious once your discover the flavor you like best!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">AN OVERVIEW OF POPULAR YOGA STYLES:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://acroyoga.org/">AcroYoga:</a> </b>A combination of yoga and acrobatics that utilizes partners to perform various aerial yoga poses. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://kpjayi.org/">Ashtanga:</a></b> A vigorous, athletic flowing style of yoga comprised of six different pre-determined sequences, which students progress through at their own pace. Considered a pre-cursor to vinyasa and power yoga, it heavily influenced the way we practice yoga today.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://www.bikramyoga.com/">Bikram:</a> </b>The name Bikram was trademarked by living yoga master Bikram Choudhury. It is a series of 26 yoga poses completed in a ninety minute period in a room heated to 104 degrees fahrenheit with 40% humidity. The classes begin and end with a prescribed breathing technique and always follow the same sequence.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b>Hatha:</b> The term "</span><span style="line-height: 22px;">hatha" encompasses all styles/lineages of yoga. When you practice, Iyengar yoga, you are practicing Hatha yoga. When you practice, Ashtanga yoga, you are practicing Hatha yoga. When describing a <i>class</i>, Hatha typically refers to a style of yoga practiced where each of the poses are held for several breaths, rather than moving quickly from pose to pose. For this reason, <b>Hatha yoga is good for beginners</b>.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"><b>Hot:</b> Any style of yoga performed in a heated space. Bikram yoga is hot yoga, but hot yoga is not Bikram yoga.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.bksiyengar.com/">Iyengar:</a> </b><span style="line-height: 22px;">The focus of this style of yoga is precise alignment. Its founder, <a href="https://iynaus.org/iyengar-yoga/bks-iyengar">B.K.S. Iyengar</a> is credited with being the first person to utilize yoga props (straps, blocks, etc.) which are now commonplace in most yoga classes/studios. Props are used to make yoga postures accessible to all body types and assist the practitioner in finding proper placement of joints and skeleton.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://jivamuktiyoga.com/about/philosophy">Jivamukti:</a></b><span style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://jivamuktiyoga.com/about/philosophy"> </a> A physically intense practice where e</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #191919; line-height: 23px;">ach class has a theme that is explored through yoga scripture, chanting, meditation,</span><span style="line-height: 23px;"> asana (poses), pranayama (</span><span style="line-height: 23px;">breathwork) and</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; line-height: 23px;"> music.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919;"><b style="line-height: 23px;"><a href="http://www.kundaliniresearchinstitute.org/What%20is%20KY.htm">Kundalini: </a> </b><span style="line-height: 23px;">Kundalini yoga is rich in tradition and ritual, with its' devotees often dressed in flowing, white (or light colored) apparel </span><span style="line-height: 23px;">with</span><span style="line-height: 23px;"> their </span><span style="line-height: 23px;">hair covered in a turbine-like dressing. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; line-height: 23px;">Kundalini sequences, called Kriyas, usually</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; line-height: 23px;"> consist of rapid, repetitive movements performed in conjunction with a designated breathing method or holding a pose while breathing in a particular way. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; line-height: 23px;">It goes beyond the physical performance of poses with its emphasis on breathing, meditation, </span><a data-component="link" data-ordinal="7" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" href="http://yoga.about.com/od/howtospeakyoga/g/mudra.htm" style="background-position: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0099cc; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">mudras</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; line-height: 23px;"> and chanting. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://yoga.about.com/od/typesofyoga/a/Restorative-Yoga.htm">Restorative:</a></b><span style="line-height: 22px;"> Relieves the effects of stress by alternately stimulating and relaxing the body to move toward balance. Considered "active relaxation", this form of yoga relies heavily on the use of props, such as: blankets, blocks, bolsters, and straps to put the practitioner into the pose and leave him/her for several minutes.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><b><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/135880-benefits-thai-yoga-massage/"> Thai Yoga Massage:</a> </b></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Often dubbed "lazy man's yoga", TYM involves two people: a "giver" and a "receiver" whereby the "giver" performs yoga on the "receiver". It is a healing art that utilizes Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine along with yoga and focuses on balancing the physical and energetic bodies of the "receiver" while following his/her breath. This is a great option for people with very limited mobility including but not limited to practitioners with arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and paralysis just to name a few.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="line-height: 22px;">Vinyasa:</b><span style="line-height: 22px;"> One of the most popular styles of yoga, Vinyasa simply means to flow from one pose into the next. It is very similar to Ashtanga, but the sequences on not predetermined. It can be found in varying degrees of difficulty and intensity depending on the teacher and/or studio. Typically a more intense vinyasa will be labeled "<i>power</i>" yoga.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.yinyoga.com/">Yin:</a> </b><span style="line-height: 22px;">Most of the styles of yoga described above are yang in nature, meaning the practitioner is moving through a series of yoga poses (asana) and typically staying in the pose for 2-30 seconds. Yin yoga incorporates approximately 25 poses, seated or reclined, and each pose is held for 2-10 minutes. </span><span style="line-height: 22px;"> Yang yoga targets muscles where yin yoga targets fascia. This is a popular choice with the cross-fit community. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSaolW75bqCAmbyPFFaTc9jAV7AF5FdZbMBObRvPs5e0zc3l9ykCw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSaolW75bqCAmbyPFFaTc9jAV7AF5FdZbMBObRvPs5e0zc3l9ykCw" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 22px;">If you're in the Charlotte Metro area: Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville, Statesville, Concord or Davidson and would like recommendations for a yoga teacher or studio, please feel free to contact me. Through my yoga teacher training, I have met some of the best in the area and would be happy to make the connection.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRnsaTs_nfIktHZcrEU4YtgihRNdDcUoh9o0GA7m-gwNhv6pH67pQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-75804831694838910482015-01-12T18:50:00.000-08:002015-01-15T05:50:24.546-08:00Great Minds Think Alike<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/cassie_rad/Decorated%20images/buddha_QJ98_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/cassie_rad/Decorated%20images/buddha_QJ98_l.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hatred does not cease by hatred but only by love. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the eternal rule. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~Buddha</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4uF1IjbsrM/VLSFf_3vA3I/AAAAAAAAASo/0GeCqkYYD5o/s1600/MARTINsun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4uF1IjbsrM/VLSFf_3vA3I/AAAAAAAAASo/0GeCqkYYD5o/s1600/MARTINsun.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do that. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~Martin Luther King, Jr.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-56817692523882636802015-01-11T19:03:00.000-08:002015-01-12T17:18:07.682-08:00A Winning Attitude<br />
Today I sat for several hours in an over-crowded school cafeteria patiently waiting while Child Numero Uno auditioned for the all-District Honor Band. I am no stranger to sitting and waiting. I'm a parent. It's what I do. This is not even my first time at this venue. I've visited this cafeteria with its cold, over-priced pizza for the past three years. And you know what? I don't mind cold, over-priced pizza. In fact, I rather like it. It symbolizes my child's willingness to try...to put himself in the path of failure, and for that I am extremely proud. <u><a href="http://amychua.com/">In Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother</a></u>, the author Amy Chua states in part, "...the only activities your children should be permitted to do are those which they can eventually win a medal; and that medal must be gold."*<br />
<br />
Clearly, I am<i> </i>no<i> </i>tiger mom.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRV-hlJbGmsDCQ3QZ-r7dlFUbma91IaGkB6Uaj7x5KsH87tZ9OC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRV-hlJbGmsDCQ3QZ-r7dlFUbma91IaGkB6Uaj7x5KsH87tZ9OC" width="161" /></a>And while he's had some success(es), this event is not one of them. With 17 counties in the district and only two tenor saxophones chosen each year, the odds are stacked against him. But still he tries. And still I'm proud.<br />
<br />
Like Ms. Chua, you may believe my attitude is the parental justification of a child with a track record for failure, but can you imagine where we'd be if everyone who tried and failed, just simply quit trying?<br />
<br />
Did you know that Michael Jordan, easily considered one of the best basketball players of all time, was actually cut from his high school basketball team?<br />
<br />
What if J.K. Rowling had given up after her fifteenth rejection letter? Can you imagine a world without the infamous boy wizard and his lightning bolt, shaped scar?<br />
<br />
Or that for every home run Babe Ruth hit, he struck out twice? When asked about this he simply said, "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." <br />
<br />
I couldn't agree more. If we quit trying, we are certain to never succeed.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsjvTk9Klm2n_U8xKFoP4_Q_S8sILDG8Dz-4jWOt3VBik2rbJdGw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsjvTk9Klm2n_U8xKFoP4_Q_S8sILDG8Dz-4jWOt3VBik2rbJdGw" /></a>I haven't always had such a positive perspective about failure, but practicing yoga has taught me a few things beyond downward facing dog. For example, it has taught me to be present; to live for today, to let go of yesterday, to not agonize about the future. In doing so, I am able to shed my ego. If I fail today, tomorrow will bring a fresh opportunity to try again.<br />
<br />
You will often hear a yoga teacher touting: Be. Here. Now. It's not just a mantra, it's a way of life. That's not to say I don't have moments of self-doubt. I do. But yoga empowers me to acknowledge those feelings and accept them. Once I accept them, I can let them go, and the best way to do that is to come to the mat and breathe.<br />
<br />
As of this writing, I still don't know whether or not Child Numero Uno has been chosen to participate in the all-District Honor Band this year. Maybe this third attempt will be the one that puts him on the team. What I do know however, with 100% certainty, is that he definitely won't make it, if he doesn't try.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSCP2KYuEe7vFX-bpZcCXaFDO3XPn6mOD-68QAZBm8od2AulKI2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSCP2KYuEe7vFX-bpZcCXaFDO3XPn6mOD-68QAZBm8od2AulKI2" /></a><br />
"You create your own universe as you go along"<br />
~Winston Churchill, Nobel peace prize winner, twice elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, failed sixth-grade on his first attempt.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(80, 80, 80); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #505050; font-size: 13px;">
*As a side note, I want to clarify that when I read, <u>Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother</u>, I loved it! I only used a small snippet to prove a point in this post. Overall, it was well-written, self-deprecating, and in the end the author experiences personal growth through the struggles she encounters with her rebellious younger daughter who prefers playing tennis to playing the violin. Gasp!</div>
</blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-79320860463824714152015-01-02T20:09:00.000-08:002015-01-02T20:09:45.471-08:00Chewy Coconut Oatmeal Raisin Cookies<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I have a confession to make: I am not a vegan or even a vegetarian. I am not gluten-free, nor am I an avid consumer of organic-only products. But a lot of my yogi (and non-yogi) friends are. And therefore, when confronted with, "How do I show my love and appreciation to them during this holiday season?" I decided to bake them cookies; not your average Christmas cookie, but a chewy coconut oatmeal raisin cookie made with only organic ingredients.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hwH9X_Khb_o/VJH9zyo99PI/AAAAAAAAAQc/A9AbPaC0pbs/s1600/DSC_1046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hwH9X_Khb_o/VJH9zyo99PI/AAAAAAAAAQc/A9AbPaC0pbs/s1600/DSC_1046.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
As a non-organic, non-gluten-free carnivore, some of the ingredients were completely foreign to me, but I was able to source all of them at either Whole Foods or Walmart. Yes, Walmart! They actually have a large selection of organic products in their baking aisle.<br />
<br />
MODIFICATIONS:<br />
<ul>
<li>The original recipe called for 2 cups of sugar. The person who shared the recipe with me notated that she only used one cup of sugar. I also only used one cup and then changed the recipe to reflect that.</li>
<li>The recipe called for 2 cups of Almond Flour. I used one cup of Almond Flour and one cup of Coconut Flour.</li>
<li>The original recipe did not call for the addition of water, but my mixture was too dry to roll into balls. I added about 6 tablespoons of water and all was well.</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.onespotallergy.com/2011/03/is-coconut-safe-for-people-with-tree-nut-allergies/">To make this recipe fit for a vegan, cornstarch or an egg substitute can be used in place of eggs.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://blog.onespotallergy.com/2011/03/is-coconut-safe-for-people-with-tree-nut-allergies/">To make this recipe fit for a person with tree nut allergies, substitute the almond flour with coconut flour and omit the pecan pieces.</a></li>
<li>To make this recipe gluten-free, use verified gluten-free rolled oats.</li>
<li>If you don't like cinnamon or raisins, leave them out. They are not crucial to the overall taste or texture of the cookie. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chewy Coconut Oatmeal
Raisin Cookies</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Servings:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>48</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Preparation time:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>30 minutes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>1 cup coconut oil, softened</li>
<li>1 cup organic whole sugar</li>
<li>2 teaspoons vanilla extract</li>
<li>2 organic soy-free eggs</li>
<li>2 cups rolled oats</li>
<li>2 cups almond flour*</li>
<li>2 teaspoons baking soda</li>
<li>2 scant teaspoons Himalayan pink salt</li>
<li>1 tablespoon ground cinnamon</li>
<li>1 cup golden raisins</li>
<li>2 cups dried, unsweetened coconut flakes</li>
<li>1 cup pecans, chopped </li>
<li>5-6 tablespoons water, as needed* </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kdPE61zMJas/VJILhrPmKzI/AAAAAAAAARI/f4jD_yN7XxI/s1600/DSC_1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kdPE61zMJas/VJILhrPmKzI/AAAAAAAAARI/f4jD_yN7XxI/s1600/DSC_1049.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncooked, golf-ball shaped cookies, pre-flattened</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Line cookie sheet(s) with parchment paper.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Cream coconut oil and sugar in a large bowl, add
eggs and vanilla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Set aside.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>In a separate bowl, mix the oats, almond flour,
baking soda and salt.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Stir the wet and dry together, then add
cinnamon, raisins, coconut, and pecans.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Roll into golf ball sized cookies and flatten***<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Space approximately 1” apart.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Bake 8-12 minutes until cookies are golden and
fragrant.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Let stand to cool.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
*You can grind your own almond flour by
placing whole almonds into a blender or food processor until a fine meal is
produced.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
*You can substitute almond flour for coconut flour. I used 1 cup of almond flour and 1 cup of coconut flour.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
**If mixture is too dry to combine, add
water until it sticks together.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QJPmMZQqFE/VJILmuHuzZI/AAAAAAAAAR0/OMRt_nRg5FM/s1600/DSC_1056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span id="goog_1779029380"></span><span id="goog_1779029381"></span><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QJPmMZQqFE/VJILmuHuzZI/AAAAAAAAAR0/OMRt_nRg5FM/s1600/DSC_1056.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished and fragrant!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I have another confession to make: I'm not usually a fan of oatmeal raisin cookies, but these were delicious! I ate way more than I should have, and while they are gluten-free, they are <i>not </i>calorie free! Enjoy!Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-68720647661210234622014-11-28T09:47:00.000-08:002014-11-28T09:47:28.224-08:00The benefits of being a child.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Surrender.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Accept all that is with an open heart.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The more grateful you are,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">the more life with bring.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTtnNglKnmmNr5r567E9u00v9y5pMpBDC2oqWYBhCzTbf1DyN1-CA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTtnNglKnmmNr5r567E9u00v9y5pMpBDC2oqWYBhCzTbf1DyN1-CA" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Balasana</b> is another key pose in all yoga practices regardless of the <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/article/beginners/not-all-yoga-is-created-equal/">style of yoga</a> being performed. Balasana also called <b>Child's Pose</b> is one of the most common resting postures. Anytime during your practice, when you find it necessary to re-connect with your breath, you are invited to take Child's Pose. Please do not feel it necessary for your teacher to instruct you into the pose. <br />
<br />
<b>BENEFITS OF BALASANA:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Gently stretches lower back, hips, thighs, knees, and ankles.</li>
<li>Relaxes spine, shoulders, and neck.</li>
<li>Calms the mind, reducing tension and stress.</li>
<li>Alleviates headaches by increasing blood circulation to the head. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>GETTING INTO BALASANA:</b><br />
<ul>
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS-kYvEiKpR1RFTakYj3HrjYreX_zStddJIal3VLcqSZLcjI45M" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS-kYvEiKpR1RFTakYj3HrjYreX_zStddJIal3VLcqSZLcjI45M" /></a>
<li>From <a href="http://www.yogabasics.com/asana/table-pose/">Table</a> position, bring your knees and feet together and then sink your hips to your feet.</li>
<li>Fold your torso over your thighs and rest your forehead on the floor.</li>
<li>Rest your arms along your sides. Palms are face up near your feet.</li>
<li>Completely relax your head and shoulders.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b> MODIFICATION(s):</b><br />
<ul>
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8kQqEJQtaXiTgX76W1UgPGA_6Arv1e5Ncd2CYtGLVoIxabAfn" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8kQqEJQtaXiTgX76W1UgPGA_6Arv1e5Ncd2CYtGLVoIxabAfn" /></a>
<li>If you feel tight, try separating your knees hip-width apart while big toes continue to touch. This will give you more space in your chest.<b> </b></li>
<li>If your hips don't reach your feet, you can place a rolled-up blanket, mat, or bolster between your heels and your hamstrings.</li>
<li>If your forehead doesn't reach the mat, place a block to bring the ground closer to you.</li>
</ul>
Play around with this pose. Some people prefer to keep their arms extended in front of them, some prefer their hands back by their feet. Find what's comfortable for you; where you can relax and re-gain control of your breath.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTuwXVNmmti6vxHgxvFw0RAGuz8pqBLaYw8_UxRgweJT25JUBbynw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTuwXVNmmti6vxHgxvFw0RAGuz8pqBLaYw8_UxRgweJT25JUBbynw" /></a><br />
One reason I believe we find Balasana to be such a soothing force of
nature is because it is ingrained in our body's muscle memory. Whether
you realize it or not, you've been performing Balasana since before you
were born. <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>DELVING DEEPER: </b></div>
<br />
No matter what modification(s) you choose for your child's pose: knees together or apart, hands by your feet or extended in front of you, it is important to rest your forehead either on the mat or a block in order to stimulate your <b><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parasympathetic%20nervous%20system">parasympathetic nervous system</a>.</b><br />
<br />
The parasympathetic nervous system is part of the <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parasympathetic%20nervous%20system"><b><span style="color: black;">autonomic nervous system</span></b></a>, which is responsible for regulating a variety of body
functions: heart rate, breathing, sweating, and digestion. It works in conjunction with the <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parasympathetic%20nervous%20system"><b>sympathetic nervous system</b></a>. The sympathetic nervous system provides quick responses to
immediate needs and is often referred to
as our "fight or flight," response. On the opposite end of the spectrum lies the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system helps to slow the body's reaction, thus allowing for less urgent processes to
occur, often referred to our "rest or digest" response.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://theenergeticconnection.com/newsletter/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Autonomic-Nervous-System.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://theenergeticconnection.com/newsletter/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Autonomic-Nervous-System.gif" height="274" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>A LITTLE ANECDOTE:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
It wasn't until I was fully engulfed in yoga teacher training that I even knew a pose called Balasana existed. Crazy...considering I just told you this is a key pose in all yoga practices, right!? But it's true. Over the course of several years, at least a hundred classes, and multiple teachers, never once did I hear the right pronunciation of the pose. I always heard <u>V</u>alasana...with a V! I finally discovered the correct name for Child's Pose when I was reading a book that kept referencing <i>Balasana</i>. Imagine my shock, when I googled this pose I'd never heard of and Child's Pose appeared.<br />
<br />
But regardless if you call it Balasana or Valasana, be comfortable in Child's Pose and always remember it's your practice, not your neighbor's practice or your instructor's practice. Yours and yours alone. Happy resting!Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-14805682276356131192014-11-26T18:02:00.000-08:002014-11-27T04:11:43.963-08:00Shanghai'd Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUe8bK5WTpVA-hASIvUqm_YntOrHjdkq1VK99xDJUbsCrnOo-N" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUe8bK5WTpVA-hASIvUqm_YntOrHjdkq1VK99xDJUbsCrnOo-N" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: orange;">I originally wrote the following article in 2007 after a disastrous first Thanksgiving spent living abroad. It was later published in an anthology titled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thanksgiving-Tales-Stories-Holiday-America/dp/0982729006" style="text-decoration: underline;">Thanksgiving Tales: True Stories of the Holiday in America</a>.</span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i><span style="color: orange;">Three years into our expat assignment, I finally realized Thanksgiving is not about the food being served, it's about the people you spend the day with. </span></i> </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote>
<i><span style="color: orange;">Today we are back on U.S. soil, but still far from home. I feel particularly grateful for the community we've cultivated over the past couple of years. In Sanskrit, the word <a href="http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?tinput=kula&script=&direction=SE&link=yes">Kula</a> has several meanings: herd, flock, clan, tribe, family, habitat, gang, which when pared down all mean "community". Tomorrow, we will celebrate Thanksgiving with our Kula. Fortunately for all involved, I am not responsible for cooking the turkey this year! </span></i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">SHANGHAI'D THANKSGIVING</span></div>
<br />
It had been just three months since we boarded a plane bound for China, and transitioning to life in Shanghai was going much smoother than anticipated. It wasn't until confronted with the impending arrival of Thanksgiving, a truly traditional American holiday, I realized just how far from home we were. <br />
<br />
For me, Thanksgiving meant spending the day with family, eating and eating and eating until it became imperative to change into pants with an elastic waistband. I was determined to re-create that tradition with my own children, but in order to accomplish this, I first needed to find a turkey. Without a turkey, Thanksgiving might as well be on a Tuesday in July. It cannot be celebrated without a turkey. Period.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://melikedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/35-funny-thanksgiving-pictures-that-will-make-you-bust-into-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://melikedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/35-funny-thanksgiving-pictures-that-will-make-you-bust-into-2.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></div>
In November in the United States, turkey is not only plentiful but cheap. Many stores offer promotions, and if taken advantage of, the turkey is easily the least expensive item on the menu--not so in China. Turkey, being indigenous to North and South America, are neither wild nor farmed in any part of Asia. And although there are 19 million people in Shanghai, only a select group of expatriates want to eat them...and only once a year. Therefore, the average 15-pound gobbler will set you back approximately $100 U.S. dollars.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdeBGaqI8nI2lOQmN9f9kYVNi-08E7A4t12CCpKfascm9V4yW43Q" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdeBGaqI8nI2lOQmN9f9kYVNi-08E7A4t12CCpKfascm9V4yW43Q" /></a>In addition to the requisite turkey, the menu also included mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, corn, fresh vegetables with dip, and Jell-O. Despite the simplicity of the ingredients, finding them required scouring five different stores over three days and cost a small fortune. But I did it! I found everything I needed, including the myriad of spices to make <a href="http://www.butterball.com/how-tos/brine-a-turkey">brine</a>, which was sure to be the one thing that brought the simple bill of fare to five-star restaurant status.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thanksgiving Day, after consulting with both <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/">Betty Crocker</a> and <a href="http://butterball.com/">Butterball.com</a>, I determined the bird would take approximately four hours to cook at a temperature of about 350 degrees. I carefully converted <a href="http://www.fahrenheittocelsius.com/">Fahrenheit to Centrigrade</a> and decided to set the oven at 170 degrees. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWmC1FVZMVKuuCKgT7TEqQipb-fsylnNkuo_UAOBymfpOv0h0c" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWmC1FVZMVKuuCKgT7TEqQipb-fsylnNkuo_UAOBymfpOv0h0c" /></a>While the oven was warming, my husband pulled the bird from the brine, which had been soaking up the lovely, savory flavors overnight, only to discover the pan I'd purchased was too small. It was like trying to squeeze a size ten foot into a strappy, little size seven shoe. It just wasn't going to work. <br />
<br />
In my shopping excursions that week, I noticed some of the stores stocked with disposable pans. I crossed my fingers as I ran on foot to the closest little market. I was in luck. Covered in dust and tucked away on a back shelf, they had just one. I snatched it up and ran home.<br />
<br />
We were now ready to throw the main course into the gas chamber, but the new pan was too big for the tiny oven. After performing a little origami fused with some karate chops on the cheap aluminum, the pan fit.<br />
<br />
With the turkey safely roasting, I took the kids to the park for the afternoon. When I returned, I started peeling the potatoes. By my estimation, the bird would be done in 30 minutes. I opened the oven door to check its progress. NO FLAME. At some point during the day, the gas had blown out and while the temperature in the oven dropped, the tension in the kitchen soared. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSom--T2X6YDMp69CDefMivlyRAFf2H5JGf8D3QFtKYWc1GaY4G0g" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSom--T2X6YDMp69CDefMivlyRAFf2H5JGf8D3QFtKYWc1GaY4G0g" /></a>We had no idea how long the turkey had not been roasting, and this particular bird had no plastic indicator to let us know when it was time to carve, so we did the next best thing and stuck a thermometer in it. My husband punctured the breast and watched while the temperature gauge rose.<br />
<br />
"According to Betty, the thermometer is supposed to go in the thigh," I informed him after consulting the red and white checkered cookbook.<br />
<br />
"Where's the thigh?" he replied.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
"I'm not exactly sure," I said, "but I know that's not it."<br />
<br />
He left the thermometer in the breast and we watched as it climbed to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The kids were starting to moan and groan. They were "staaaarving." So I presented them with veggies and dip and we started to snack while we waited another estimated hour for the bird to reach a safe temperature to eat. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRx1hfPNVl9WB4zn2t1-BBWKubI-TrholOPXCJlKAFiVS2NrgFmSw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRx1hfPNVl9WB4zn2t1-BBWKubI-TrholOPXCJlKAFiVS2NrgFmSw" /></a>When the thermometer started to beep, indicating the turkey had reached temperature, I began to set the table. While my husband whipped the mashed potatoes into creamy goodness and heated the corn, he snuck a bite of a dinner roll...and then promptly spit it out. The rolls were filled with sweet cream and raisins. We'd spent several hours the day before going from one bakery to the next in search of anything that resembled a dinner roll. The little surprise inside of these was unexpected and unappreciated. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqSN8gfsXlHXa__rJcC1GOT6obN_27exY8XYuU-XKnG-iQ9n_X" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqSN8gfsXlHXa__rJcC1GOT6obN_27exY8XYuU-XKnG-iQ9n_X" /></a>I remembered seeing a French baguette at the store earlier, so I put on my running shoes and sprinted there a second time. Again, I felt very lucky. No one else had purchased the single loaf of bread on the shelf. I paid for it and raced back home. <br />
<br />
Finally we were ready to eat. The table was set, the candles were lit, and we said our prayers of thanksgiving. Just as we were about to carve the turkey, in the the flicker of the candlelight, I noticed a lot of juice on the platter. I jumped out of my seat and threw on the lights...BLOOD! The entire ambiance was ruined as the bird was not even close to being edible. Frustrated, my husband cut the gobbler wide open and put it back in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. He sliced off a large piece of breast meat, nuked it, and sat down to eat. I fed the kids Jell-O while I waited for the turkey to finish roasting. At 8 p.m., I opened the oven door to check on the bird. NO FLAME!<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjkkIjHe1fGGwKJF11CQ4HSiHWjtRjuT9GCgs92E6WaHk6WnYr" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjkkIjHe1fGGwKJF11CQ4HSiHWjtRjuT9GCgs92E6WaHk6WnYr" /></a><br />
After eight hours of failed attempts to roast the perfect turkey, I surrendered. I put everything away, did the dishes, and bathed the kids. Once they were safely tucked into bed, I broke out the Pop Tarts.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Thanksgiving to me!</div>
<br />
Our third Thanksgiving in China, there was not a turkey in sight, just great friends and lots of laughs. I was wrong. While eating turkey is a nice addition to the holiday, it is ultimately who you spend the day with that matters most---not what's on the menu.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-17886743868238160022014-10-21T13:59:00.000-07:002014-10-21T13:59:25.844-07:00Standing Tall in Mountain Pose<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of my last projects
to complete in order to receive my 200 hour yoga teacher training certification
is to write a 6 week beginning yoga student series. Mountain Pose is a foundational yoga
pose. It should be taught (and learned)
before any other pose. It is a pose that is important enough, I felt it warranted a blog post dedicated to only it.</span></i></span></div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRErFxgejsDkHbfzJzpw2uiHrx1NqGCOkvBYcSyjvZ1hRUWy0ss" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRErFxgejsDkHbfzJzpw2uiHrx1NqGCOkvBYcSyjvZ1hRUWy0ss" /></a></div>
<br />
Mountain Pose, known in Sankskrit as Tadasana, is a key pose
in all <a href="http://yoga.about.com/od/typesofyoga/a/yogatypes.htm">yoga styles</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the pose we
seek in every other pose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proper
alignment is crucial and begins at the base of the mountain, where our feet
meet the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose your base wisely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people prefer their feet together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people prefer their feet apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wider stance will produce a more stable
foundation, so if balance is a concern, feet hip distance apart is a good
guideline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrEjNkPNjY9qpgn70meUbvoHhabbG1dFZUKmB5BCyQFMi-q2p4" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrEjNkPNjY9qpgn70meUbvoHhabbG1dFZUKmB5BCyQFMi-q2p4" /></a>Standing at the top of your mat, lift your toes up and place
them all back down one by one so the pads of your toes touch the ground beneath
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shift around on your feet until
you feel your weight evenly distributed between your big toe mound, your little
toe mound, and the heel of your foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once your feet are firmly planted, you can begin to move up the
mountain.<br />
<br />
<ul><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsw5ScIVzQyeomMSZwXuPchI1BQx9Z94A4SsA8ZlhDDIoHt7ne" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsw5ScIVzQyeomMSZwXuPchI1BQx9Z94A4SsA8ZlhDDIoHt7ne" /></a>
<li>Engage your quadriceps, the muscles at the front of the thigh. You should feel a slight lift in your knee caps.</li>
<li>Check that your pelvis is in a neutral position. If you have a tendency to stick your tailbone out, scoop it slightly being careful not to over-scoop or hypo-extend.</li>
<li>Engage your core muscles.</li>
<li>Lengthen up through your spine.</li>
<li>Relax your shoulders and roll them down your back.</li>
<li>Chin should be in a neutral position, parallel to the floor.</li>
<li>Turn your palms to face front.</li>
<li>Breathe. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQHeqzSCS7uSjvtR33BDGpl4RN-oS4_1-1nEONQJtuO6mJoDQzH" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQHeqzSCS7uSjvtR33BDGpl4RN-oS4_1-1nEONQJtuO6mJoDQzH" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see Tadasana in this Downward Dog?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As you continue to practice yoga, you’ll start to realize, Tadasana
is in every pose…the neutral pelvis, the engaged core muscles, the straightened
spine, reaching out through the crown of your head and out through the heels of
your feet—in plank, in downward facing dog, in forward fold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Build a strong mountain from the beginning
and a strong asana practice will follow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During a <a href="http://www.yinyoga.com/">Yin Yoga </a>teacher training seminar, <a href="http://www.joebarnettyoga.com/">Joe Barnett</a>, a
senior student of <a href="http://www.paulgrilley.com/">Paul Grilley</a>, stated:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“As
we grow older, we are shrinking and drying up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, according to the article, <a href="http://www.uamshealth.com/?id=12264&sid=1"><u>Do people shrink as they age?</u></a> written by University of Arkansas for Medical Services, we can start to lose inches as early
as 30 years old.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/img/248Bfig1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/img/248Bfig1.PNG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't over-scoop putting your pelvis into posterior tilt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Well into my “over
the hill” years, I’m certain this statement is true for a large majority of the
population, but I can attest that I am actually ½” taller than I was before I
began practicing yoga.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not because there’s
magic or voodoo in my yoga practice, but because of Tadasana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have learned to stand up straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I no longer stand with my pelvis anteriorly
tilted; I no longer stand with my shoulders slumped forward; and I no longer
stand with my gaze toward the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
stand with my spine straight, pelvis in neutral, shoulders back, and head
high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve elongated my spine and
created space between my vertebrae.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
So while most people my age are being overcome by the
gravitational pull of the earth, I’m finding new height! Just one more positive thing to add to the list of the many ways yoga has improved my overall quality of life.</div>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-23681142325100387342014-08-28T10:14:00.000-07:002014-08-28T10:14:25.268-07:00It's more than just a car. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRxWg2eRpOCOjuEk73RtG207ZHaTyCQE6ba5nVra6siLbmariVhwQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRxWg2eRpOCOjuEk73RtG207ZHaTyCQE6ba5nVra6siLbmariVhwQ" /></a></div>
As I pull out of my driveway in my shiny, new, silver Toyota Prius V, my neighbor is roaring down the street (at 25 mph) in his shiny, new monster truck complete with neon orange shock absorbers and custom detailing.<br />
<br />
When I bought my Prius, I was making a conscientious decision to be a better global citizen. Me, myself, and I. No judgements. My neighbors are great people despite their taste in automobiles, and they are far from the only people here in NASCAR country that jack their vehicles ten feet off the ground.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTg0QTkCvD33fK_N_UhcW5IyZJmVw1sC18CZaX9ib2Vwr4dYNcn" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTg0QTkCvD33fK_N_UhcW5IyZJmVw1sC18CZaX9ib2Vwr4dYNcn" /></a></div>
<br />
Since buying my environmentally friendly vehicle in May, I have watched with pure delight as my miles per gallon have climbed to it's current reading of 43.5 MPG. With each new tenth of a mile, I clap and cheer with downright giddiness. Estimating a savings of $200/month, "This car is paying for itself!" I exclaim to whoever will listen.<br />
<br />
If I'm being totally honest, I never gave much thought to the cost of gas BP (Before Prius), but then my neighbor's monster truck rambled down the road and I began to think about it. It's Economics 101: supply and demand. While I'm getting over 40 MPG, my neighbor is probably getting south of 10 MPG.<br />
<br />
I know, I know. It's his money, right? But is it?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRGyr0LIvcN8IW6NiqB2hUmypyDfe8V2Ohk6jkoKHzfnnJQN3S8Dg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRGyr0LIvcN8IW6NiqB2hUmypyDfe8V2Ohk6jkoKHzfnnJQN3S8Dg" width="200" /></a>The more gas his monster truck guzzles, the less gas there is to go around. The more gas one person uses, the more we <i>ALL</i> pay at the pump. Supply and demand. So while I'm saving myself money by using less gas to go from Point A to Point B, I'm saving you money too.<br />
<br />
YOU'RE WELCOME.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRMTaKPyyKfaEHlg6SQUGfRB_Trf2v7wufK1Jk6lTZEFDJgSpLs" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRMTaKPyyKfaEHlg6SQUGfRB_Trf2v7wufK1Jk6lTZEFDJgSpLs" /></a>My Prius is not glamorous. It's not sexy. People don't do a double-take with envy. But it is the smartest designed car I've ever owned, with storage, cargo space, and leg room that can rival sexy any day.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSjgTPASJfTHantutk7a8o4OWdlvIZ9DvdWRcUvzuiNgkCMfopG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSjgTPASJfTHantutk7a8o4OWdlvIZ9DvdWRcUvzuiNgkCMfopG" /></a>And if saving money while saving the planet isn't sexy, I don't know what is!Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-10819372491902961582014-08-26T07:08:00.000-07:002014-08-26T07:17:25.484-07:00Is the Word of God in the Yoga Sutras?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://taozitreeyoga.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/yamas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://taozitreeyoga.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/yamas.jpg" width="320" /></a>When I originally read the Yamas, the first of the 8 limbs
of yoga as outlined by Patanjali, I couldn’t help but notice a parallel between
them and the Ten Commandments as outlined in the Bible. The Yamas are considered moral restraints and tell us how to
behave in society; the Ten Commandments do the same. <br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Before Patanjali transcribed the Yoga Sutras in 400 AD,
laying the groundwork for modern day yoga, yoga was taught one on one, wisdom
passing from guru (teacher) to student. Not unlike Martin Luther who
translated the Bible from Latin to German to spread the word of God to a larger
audience.
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AHIMSA:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjsTzckqb93df0PohUKWNU_HtR9Uq9pSgHWKe-VGSPhzxA-Xa1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjsTzckqb93df0PohUKWNU_HtR9Uq9pSgHWKe-VGSPhzxA-Xa1" /></a>The first Yama is AHIMSA, which is the practice of
"non-violence".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to <a href="http://www.judithlasater.com/">Judith Lasater</a>, “This refers not only to physical violence, but also to the violence
of words or thoughts.”<span style="color: orange;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>Judith Lasater is considered one of the nation's foremost yoga instructors having co-founded not only the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/">Iyengar Yoga Institute</a> in San Francisco, but also, the most prominent magazine for yoga enthusiasts, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/">Yoga Journal.</a></i> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"> </span></span></span>A lot of yogis
interpret AHIMSA to include all animals and animal by-products resulting in the
participation of <a href="http://vegan.org/">veganism</a> or vegetarianism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>AHIMSA is similar to the 5<sup>th</sup> commandment, “Thou shalt not
kill.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, in 1280 B.C. in the land
of Exodus and Deuteronomy, the books of the Bible where the Ten Commandments
appear, God was still demanding the slaughter of innocent farm animals as a
temporary covering of sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
intention with the Fifth Commandment was not to create a world of herbivores. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
While I can never see myself converting to
veganism, I have found myself being more conscientious toward all living creatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I no longer mindlessly swat insects and as
far as violent thoughts are concerned, I am judging less and viewing all beings including myself with compassionate
eyes more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether or not AHIMSA <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> intended to extend to all living creatures or just mankind is
up for interpretation, similar to many passages in the Bible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ8AbdVChAKAWHqD6bXa7CZ8funxVAdKyRdR_rwYLt88JryjTgp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ8AbdVChAKAWHqD6bXa7CZ8funxVAdKyRdR_rwYLt88JryjTgp" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SATYA:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next Yama is known as SATYA or “truth”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judith Lasater wrote, “Honesty is what we do
when others are around and might judge our actions or words, but to have integrity
is to act in an honest manner when others are not around and will never know
about our actions.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again this Yama
bears a strong resemblance to the 8<sup>th</sup> commandment, “Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neighbor.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In other words:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t lie.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSiMMzZUST9pQvhfDYPRDRa9NdqKGRLVWNrH0QhCvtIdWV5I9tYzQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSiMMzZUST9pQvhfDYPRDRa9NdqKGRLVWNrH0QhCvtIdWV5I9tYzQ" /></a>In <a href="http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#preface"><u>The Small Catechism</u></a> by <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-9389283">Martin Luther</a>, the explanation
of the 8<sup>th</sup> commandment is expanded to read, “We should fear and love
God that we may not deceitfully, belie, betray, slander or defame our neighbor,
but defend him, think and speak well of him, and put the best construction on
everything. I believe “neighbor” is
a broad term and can be expanded to include all people with whom you come into
contact. Because our truth(s) are filtered through our own
experiences and beliefs--our perception <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>our reality—we have a better chance of achieving SATYA if we speak
with the intention of not harming others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ASTEYA:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The third Yama is ASTEYA, which translates to “non-stealing”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again there is a commandment that supports
that philosophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commandment #7—“Thou
shalt not steal”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the meaning of
this Yama is obvious from the outset, it goes a little deeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only are we to not take what isn’t ours,
but also not more than we need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a
society where the <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/167651/obesity-rate-ticks-2013.aspx">obesity rate</a> is at an all-time high, food is a good
example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judith Lasater wrote, “We fail also when we steal from
ourselves—by neglecting a talent…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before
I enrolled in yoga teacher training, I thought I needed to be able to soar in
<a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/468">Bakasana</a>, also known as crane pose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If I can’t do it, how can I teach it?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One day I realized that once I had the pose, I would find another
obstacle—something else wouldn’t be perfect—and that if I truly wanted to be a yoga
teacher I needed to quit focusing on what I couldn’t do and focus on what I could
do!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BRAHMACHARYA:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The fourth
Yama, BRAHMACHARYA, may be the one that lends itself to (mis)interpretation the
most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The literal translation is celibacy,
but when the word is dissected we end up with a new meaning…”Walking with God”.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRd6QhKOUKnek0A6t8UN-FpzPXDfhnKSboMiKxm8j3ERX7ZCfOK" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRd6QhKOUKnek0A6t8UN-FpzPXDfhnKSboMiKxm8j3ERX7ZCfOK" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BRAHMA-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the name of a deity</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CHAR-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to walk</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">YA-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actively</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So while some people may choose to
live their life as a nun or monk offering their sexuality as devotion to God,
others believe BRAHMACHARYA simply asks us to remain faithful within a
monogamous relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I again feel a
direct correlation between the practice of BRAHMACHARYA and the 6<sup>th</sup>
commandment:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thou shalt not commit
adultery.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judith Lasater wrote, “…use
sexual energy like all life energies, in accord with the practice of AHIMSA (non-violence).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that we respect ourselves and our
partner when we are in a sexual relationship and do not use others to have sex
mindlessly.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">APARIGRAHA:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The fifth and final Yama is
APARIGRAHA, which means “non-greed”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I hear this Yama I think of the ninth and tenth commandments:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house”
and thusly “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor
his maid-servant, nor cattle, nor anything that is his.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In our name-brand, designer world, it
is easy to get caught up in greed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
also easy to fall into the “keeping up with the Jones’s” trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m guilty of both—always measuring and
comparing, but I’d like to believe I’m making strides in the right direction
and that my yoga practice has had an impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have so much less ego than I did when I began this journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently I had the opportunity to purchase a
new car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I began the search, I
started at BMW and Porsche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I wrote
the check, it was signed to <a href="http://www.toyotaofnorthcharlotte.com/">Toyota of North Charlotte.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an effort to be a more globally
conscientious citizen, I bought a <a href="http://www.toyota.com/prius/">Prius</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I wish it had a power-lift gate or automatic seat positioners, I
squeal with delight every time my MPG jumps a tenth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvBEwyRVDbWhjxga-m0xZT7w29z4OxPNr927K-DZfAhH4naVKVjA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvBEwyRVDbWhjxga-m0xZT7w29z4OxPNr927K-DZfAhH4naVKVjA" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Just as the Bible can be interpreted
to be self-serving, so can the Yamas:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to
eat meat or not to eat meat, to have sex or not to have sex, as a practitioner
we have to use the Yamas as guidelines to live a life as close to our own truth
as possible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I write this, I am transported
back to catechism class 1982 discussing I Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know
that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have
received from God?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pastor Westendorf
explained that it was okay to drink alcohol and use tobacco products as long as it wasn't done in excess—as long as we didn’t harm our bodies, which were the
temples of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I told my Grandma
what the pastor had said, she scoffed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s
just his justification for smoking cigars!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yeah.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well…even men of God have their vices!</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7VWKPk0x4R_ThJu5ERDpv3b47ceO5SmfquAxurdFr4XbtNn10" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7VWKPk0x4R_ThJu5ERDpv3b47ceO5SmfquAxurdFr4XbtNn10" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My relationship with God and organized religion in general has been tentative for years. I prayed daily to God while questioning his very existence. By the time I started yoga teacher training in 2013, I was agnostic at best. It was the reading of the Yamas that made me begin to believe that perhaps there really is only one true God--no matter if he is called Brahma or Ishvara, Allah or the Universe--he, she, it is one in the same. It seems clear to me that although yoga itself is not affiliated with any religion, perhaps some of it's earliest teachers were in fact influenced by the word of God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I'm still working to discover what God truly means to me, but I'm open and that's the first step. Being open to all possibilities means I have a greater chance of receiving whatever messages the Universe sends my way. I don't know if I'm correct. I'm not a theologian--just a yogi who has experienced a power greater than herself. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But now that I've published it on the internet--it must be true! </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
</div>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-65450597004728647472014-08-08T17:08:00.001-07:002014-08-08T17:08:20.731-07:00Confessions of a Coke head: Week One UpdateDespite being headache-y the first few days, I successfully managed to curtail my diet coke intake to 4 cans per day. Now I'm working on whittling down to three cans per day and it's going well. By early afternoon, I've usually filled my quota so today I made <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/316984/cucumber-water">cucumber infused water</a>. Refreshing! And the best part is that all of the cucumbers were harvested from my own backyard!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eupiuk9kvjs/U-Vjlo4UpJI/AAAAAAAAALw/C1eQ0s6ixSg/s1600/IMG_2811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eupiuk9kvjs/U-Vjlo4UpJI/AAAAAAAAALw/C1eQ0s6ixSg/s1600/IMG_2811.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cucumber Water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone for the encouragement and sharing your own experiences with me last week when I announced my desire to end my more than two decade love affair with soda. I'll keep you posted on my progress and am looking forward to sharing any changes or improvements I observe once my body is no longer dependent on the bubbly, artificially flavored and sweetened, caramel colored syrup.Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-81066199451993288432014-08-01T11:00:00.000-07:002014-08-01T11:00:25.014-07:00Me & The Yoga Sutras<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWeJSCQu7F02XbY30elksPopizUqsGqwkDS5LqhLtvLyOR4Cgh" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWeJSCQu7F02XbY30elksPopizUqsGqwkDS5LqhLtvLyOR4Cgh" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive Oyl in Lotus Pose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <a href="http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras.htm">Yoga Sutras</a> written by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patanjali">Patanjali</a> are the guidelines by
which we practice yoga in the modern world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Outwardly to many, yoga is nothing more than the ability to contort and
twist the body into poses that resemble pretzels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, to be honest, when I attended my first
class, (almost 6 years ago) I believed that too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have since learned the poses, called ASANAS
in Sanskrit are just one little piece of the puzzle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the second pada, or chapter of the Yoga
Sutras, Patanjali explains there are 8 limbs of yoga:<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>YAMA</b>-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">universal moral commandments</i></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>NIYAMA</b>-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">self-purification through discipline</i></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>ASANA</b>-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">posture or poses</i></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>PRANYAMA</b>-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rhythmic control of the breath</i></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>PRATYAHARA</b>-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">withdrawal of the mind from the senses and
external objects</i></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: purple;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>DHARANA</b>-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">concentration</i></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>DYHANA</b>-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">meditation</i></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: purple;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>SAMADHI</b>-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">super-conscious
state where individual becomes one with the object of his/her meditation</i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the first four years, my yoga practice was sporadic and
at times non-existent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it took me a
long time to realize the poses were nothing without the breath, also known as PRANYAMA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a href="http://www.parayoga.com/train/teachers/65/hollace-stephenson-e-ryt-500-parayoga-level-i">Hollace Stephenson</a>, senior student of <a href="http://rodstryker.com/">Rod Stryker</a> and owner
of <a href="http://www.yogashalacharlotte.com/">Yoga Shala</a> in Charlotte, NC states, “The quickest way to change your mood is
through your breath.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not agree
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I learned I could calm my
nervous, anxious, impatient, easily angered, quick to judge, unbalanced mind
with long, slow breaths, my world changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I became a better mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I became a
better wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I became a better all-around<br />
person.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvcCM6yj_ksRAeg0SC_-ZTwXpqv58rMYz9W-j4Z3bH9jIGVUCN" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvcCM6yj_ksRAeg0SC_-ZTwXpqv58rMYz9W-j4Z3bH9jIGVUCN" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bakasana aka Crow Pose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once I figured out that yoga was more than just a bunch of party
trick poses, I quit agonizing over the ones I found challenging, like Bakasana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let go of my ego and took this quote by the
red-headed yoga teacher that <a href="http://www.clairedederer.com/">Claire Dederer</a> writes about in her book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poser-Life-Twenty.../B005M48808"><u>Poser:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My life in twenty-three yoga poses</u></a>, to
heart:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I hope everyone will allow
themselves to be really crappy today, to walk away from being perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The real yoga isn’t in the perfect pose; it’s
in the crappy pose that you are really feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You want to feel it from the inside out, rather than make it perfect
from the outside in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
So there you have
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The red-headed yoga teacher said it
best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> not</i> just about the poses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, it’s also not just about the breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, there are <i>eight</i> limbs of yoga.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So while I consistently practice the first four limbs, I need to start working on the last four.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe 5,6,and 7 are all interconnected so
once I add meditation to my practice on a regular basis, I believe Pratyahara
and Dharana will fall in line like good soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for Samadhi, my mind cannot even process
the concept yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not ready to go
there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Like an infant learning to walk, one step at a time is my modus
operandi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someday I reach it, so be it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I don’t, so be it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The greatest gift I have received through my
yoga practice thus far is santosa or contentment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as my ego no longer needs Bakasana as part of my physical practice,
Samadhi is not a requirement for my spiritual practice.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7VWKPk0x4R_ThJu5ERDpv3b47ceO5SmfquAxurdFr4XbtNn10" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7VWKPk0x4R_ThJu5ERDpv3b47ceO5SmfquAxurdFr4XbtNn10" /></a></div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>Epilogue</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Approximately thirty minutes after writing this article, a fellow yogi
friend posted this quote from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Rama">Swami Rama</a> on her Facebook page:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The goal of meditation is to experience a state
beyond the mind’s levels of thinking, feeling, and analyzing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To achieve this, we must create a state that
is still and one-pointed so that the mind becomes silent.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coincidence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I prefer
to believe the universe was sending me a message about my Samadhi
musings. <br />
<br />
Well played Universe. Message received.</div>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-50385182066388675692014-07-29T11:54:00.002-07:002014-07-29T11:54:43.477-07:00Confessions of a Coke head<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT_lOKOz_oGR80wyJIfDi6K-G7LJPg2wiPWXp4rtxmY4iKxVTceaw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT_lOKOz_oGR80wyJIfDi6K-G7LJPg2wiPWXp4rtxmY4iKxVTceaw" /></a></div>
I just finished another weekend of yoga teacher training (my ninth!) with <a href="http://www.yogaclub.us/">Holistic Yoga Therapy Institute</a> and it never fails. Each day when we break for lunch, I am the only person who orders a diet coke as my beverage of choice. Plenty of people place orders for water with lemon, water without lemon, iced tea, hot tea, and even the occasional glass of wine or Sunday brunch mimosa--but never soda. I'm the <i>only</i> one. And I know why--artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners--they're not good for me. They know it and I know it, but I'm an addict...and not just to the caffeine but to the bubbles. <i>What is it about the bubbles?</i> And now, my thirteen year old son seems to be heading down the path of addiction as well...so if not for my own health, definitely for his... <br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSwSdEFuZ4gFX8lQWT8Z-3tyH7SCQuoOyV1DaRyr8XkMBvaFZzL2g" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSwSdEFuZ4gFX8lQWT8Z-3tyH7SCQuoOyV1DaRyr8XkMBvaFZzL2g" /></a>I hereby publicly denounce the further consumption of soft drinks. I don't plan to quit cold turkey. That would be asking for failure. <a href="http://www.caffeineinformer.com/my-caffeine-detox">Caffeine deprivation </a>would surely lead to migraines and as someone who suffered from stress-induced migraines for the first quarter-century of life, I cannot knowingly inflict such pain upon myself. I will, however, incorporate the less painful, less stressful method of weaning myself off the drug.<br />
<br />
On any given day, I probably consume the equivalent of six cans of soda. So, beginning today and for the rest of week one of "Operation Confessions of a Coke Head," I plan to drink no more than four cans of soda per day decreasing by one each week. Therefore, next week I will drink no more than three, the following week two, and so on. If my math is correct, I should be coke-free in about 30 days--approximately the same amount of time it takes to form new habits or break old ones.<br />
<br />
I recently read an <a href="http://bodyunburdened.com/chemicals-banned-allowed-in-us-food/">article</a>
about chemicals in foods that are banned in other countries but still
allowed to be used in the United States. It proclaimed citrus flavored
sodas and sport drinks contain Brominated Vegetable Oil, a flame
retardant ingredient used in the manufacture of plastics. Yikes. And
to think before I was a Coke head, I did the Dew! <br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIHcLgdfGaddCP38soxCq3h2OseAfXh6CQoP1QJ7I-klQBS0sUwg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIHcLgdfGaddCP38soxCq3h2OseAfXh6CQoP1QJ7I-klQBS0sUwg" /></a><br />
<br />
So, let's raise a glass...of water with lemon...to new habits formed and old ones defeated!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cheers! </div>
<br />
<br />Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-60557980724835822472014-07-16T11:20:00.000-07:002014-07-16T11:20:20.578-07:00The Power of Positive Thinking<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRQBGOLMGDMmr4cOJBK2shS_uYtUMeCb4mCmo2j3xdjNeb9qCV7" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRQBGOLMGDMmr4cOJBK2shS_uYtUMeCb4mCmo2j3xdjNeb9qCV7" width="200" /></a>As part of my <a href="http://www.yogaclub.us/">200 hour yoga teacher training</a>, I was tasked with journaling 5 things I felt grateful for each day, over the course of 30 days. From this assignment, I discovered that there is an amazing shift in paradigm that occurs quite quickly when asked to contemplate gratitude. I gained a new found appreciation for perspective.<br />
<br />
At the end of each day as I sat down to journal, I discovered the ability to turn a negative situation into a positive one.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #073763;"><i>"Saw a snake today--grateful it didn't chase me down and attack."</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><i>"Backed out of the garage with the passenger-side door open--although a bit askew, grateful it still closes."</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><i>"Sat in traffic today while an accident was being cleared--grateful to see both drivers outside of their vehicles uninjured. Double grateful I reached my destination safely and without incident--even if I was a little late."</i></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
In all of these instances, I could have wallowed in the negative:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRWjXo6ZNJy1OUr7ipgqMSaeLudoFtQlYf9nsycOFZQLX0QSfM" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRWjXo6ZNJy1OUr7ipgqMSaeLudoFtQlYf9nsycOFZQLX0QSfM" /></a></div>
Seeing a snake created a fight or flight response. Because of my <a href="http://yogaismything.blogspot.com/2014/06/hellomy-name-is-fawn-and-im-ophidiophobe.html">fear of snakes</a>, I chose flight. I turned back and walked an additional mile in order to avoid crossing its path. Fortunately it was a beautiful morning, I had no where else to be, and I needed the exercise. <br />
<br />
Crunching my car door may prove to be an expensive repair. Fortunately, it is not a repair that is critical to being able to use the car. The repair can wait--if I even have it repaired at all. <br />
<br />
And while being late usually induces anxiety, I used my yogi <a href="http://yoga.about.com/od/breathing/a/threepartbreath.htm">Dirga Breath</a> to remain calm. And when I finally did arrive at the doctor's office after sitting in traffic for the accident, I discovered she too was running a bit behind schedule. My time spent sitting in the waiting room was significantly less than it would have been had I arrived on time. <br />
<br />
Three potentially negative situations; three positive perspectives.<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSyGpbjuJG3ZbwL7aG1PP93WwBeEydwJocYGDWM0x6ZyKya7bSh7w" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTHmeWLtLRwk_JxL-UIIu7AtB8cdPF5geSrd3P1C9Lz5-mjyHcE_A" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTHmeWLtLRwk_JxL-UIIu7AtB8cdPF5geSrd3P1C9Lz5-mjyHcE_A" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #e06666;">Abraham Lincoln said, " We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." </span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #e06666;">I will admit I haven't always viewed the world from a rosy place of love and gratitude. For most of my life, I had a "glass half-empty" soul. I loved drama. I loved exaggeration. I loved playing the victim.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> <i> </i></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #073763;"><i>"Woe is me...I had to walk an extra mile because there was a horrible reptilian creature blocking me from my path."</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"> <i>"Woe is me...I cannot drive an ugly car. We are going to have to fore go our family vacation to pay for the repair so my car can be pretty again."</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><i>"Woe is me...I had to sit in traffic, causing me to be late to my appointment, and no one was even injured." </i></span></blockquote>
My husband used to say, "You're not happy, unless you're miserable." He was right. And that is one more thing for which I am grateful. I am grateful to have found yoga..not just as an exercise program, but as an entire mind-body experience. Those words have since been shuttered from his vocabulary. In the present moment, I have such peace and contentment--all because of a change in perspective.<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUPgwhSY_WseydG-Q8a0b8syO4BX1xXoGg_tpy1H1Hsjaa4GnCrA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUPgwhSY_WseydG-Q8a0b8syO4BX1xXoGg_tpy1H1Hsjaa4GnCrA" /></a><br />
So...when you're having a bad day, see if you can shift your perspective. Try looking at the situation from a different angle, and see if you can find gratitude where before there might not have been any.<br />
<br />
You'll be grateful you did! <br />
<br />
<div class="quoteText">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/229.Abraham_Lincoln"></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmwej7xtl2zPOMb5cNIHHZaAylQSyKK7mCDiVbKkcIctwJz9VsTA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-6133993492408837172014-06-30T10:49:00.000-07:002014-06-30T10:49:11.288-07:00So Hum. I am that.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://yogaofnomind.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/colors-dropplet-ripples-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://yogaofnomind.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/colors-dropplet-ripples-water.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The sanskrit phrase <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/505"><i>So Hum</i> </a>is a mantra. A mantra is a sound, word or phrase used to focus the mind during meditation.<i> So Hum</i> translates to<i>: I am. That</i>. <i>That</i> refers to a much bigger picture--all of creation. At a recent seminar on meditation and pranyama, we were asked to meditate on the words <i>So Hum</i>, which for me immediately begged the question: <i> I am what</i>? When the exercise ended, I scribbled down these words: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So Hum</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am that.<br />
I am what? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm a wife and a mother.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am that.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So Hum. <br />
I'm a daughter.<br />
And a sister.<br />
I am that.<br />
So Hum.<br />
I'm a teacher.<br />
I'm a friend.<br />
I am that.<br />
So hum. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seeking peace.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seeking truth.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am that.</div>
So hum </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am peace.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I<i> </i>am joy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I AM LOVE. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So hum.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-so-hum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-so-hum.png" height="200" width="171" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125151995415120601.post-53496451409988052082014-06-29T04:35:00.000-07:002014-06-29T04:52:26.903-07:00Hello...My name is Fawn and I'm an Ophidiophobe.<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: purple;">During his first <a href="http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/">inaugural address</a>,<a href="http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-reelected-a-record-third-time"> Franklin Delano Roosevelt</a> famously said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." The country, in the throes of the Great Depression, feared for its future.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQRQ5V9iTIwFMKKdXkUquZdnOVxRRTys8trJPRqG3vt7IqNfj4Csw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQRQ5V9iTIwFMKKdXkUquZdnOVxRRTys8trJPRqG3vt7IqNfj4Csw" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abhaya Mudra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The sanskrit word <i><span style="font-size: small;"><b>abhaya</b></span></i> means: <i> freedom from fear</i>. With his infamous words, FDR sought <i><b>abhaya</b></i> for the nation. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: orange;">According to <a href="http://www.bksiyengar.com/">B.K.S Iyengar</a> in his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Light-Yoga-B-K-Iyengar/dp/0805210318"><u>Light on Yoga</u></a>, <i>"Freedom from fear comes only to those that lead a pure life. The yogi fears none and none need fear him because he is purified by the study of the Self. Fear grips a man and paralyzes him. He is afraid of the future, the unknown and the unseen. He is afraid that he may lose his means of livelihood, wealth or reputation. But the greatest fear is that of death. The yogi knows that he is </i></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQX0hy1UDPDiDApQDDe2uXEapU3lW5Y1tIYyUsPC8gfd1zsl5shxA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQX0hy1UDPDiDApQDDe2uXEapU3lW5Y1tIYyUsPC8gfd1zsl5shxA" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B.K.S Iyengar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: orange;"><i>different from his body, which is a temporary house for his spirit....Though the body is subject to sickness, age, decay and death, the spirit remains unaffected. To the yogi, death is the sauce that adds zest to life. He has dedicated his mind, his reason, and his whole life to the Lord. When he has linked his entire being to the Lord, what shall he then fear?</i></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTnQhAykxER91l2GrwN1D4EnKQSpdWOtw4Qu_zhl9PuXfGkLI44KQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTnQhAykxER91l2GrwN1D4EnKQSpdWOtw4Qu_zhl9PuXfGkLI44KQ" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Franklin Delano Roosevelt</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: purple;">FDR continued his inaugural speech with these words, "Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy
of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral
stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of
evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if
they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to
minister to ourselves and to our fellow men." He then ended that speech with these words: "In this dedication of a Nation we humbly ask the blessing of God. May He
protect each and every one of us. May He guide me in the days to come."</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">FDR would have made a great yogi.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After reading <u>Light on Yoga</u>, I knew I would never achieve pure yogi status. Hello. My name is Fawn and I'm an Ophidiophobe. According to<a href="http://phobias.about.com/od/phobiaslist/a/ophidiophobia.htm"> About.com</a>: Symptoms of Ophidiphobia may include, but are not limited to, shaking, crying or
running away from snakes, experiencing heart palpitations or having
difficulty breathing, and/or difficultly or even finding it impossible to remain in the same room as a snake. <br />
<br />
Yep. Yep. And Yep. And you could even add, cannot watch a TV show featuring snakes to the the list.<br />
<br />
When we moved to North Carolina in the summer of 2012, it never occurred to me that we'd be moving to the heartland of Copperhead Nation. Oh yes, it's true! <a href="http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/reptiles/copperhead.htm">North Carolina has the dubious distinction of having the most venomous snake bites of any state in the U.S.</a> When looking for a new home, you research the school district, crime rate, cultural events, but snake bites per capita? In the two years since moving here, I have witnessed more snakes, both squished road side and sunning themselves in the grass, than in the previous four decades of my life.<br />
<br />
So...I remain ever vigilant, keeping my eyes wide for anything that resembles a snake, scanning the road ahead and the brush beside as I walk the dog. You'd be amazed at the harmless objects that look like snakes from afar: twigs and twine, broken shoelaces and bungee cords, rubber bands, wrappers, menacing worms and even the occasional used condom. I still sometimes jump at the sight of a big, ominous stick ready to strike from the side of the road, but since giving birth to two kids, I'm not as afraid of used condoms as I once was.<br />
<br />
<b>ONE STEP FORWARD:</b><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHAmX_5FFzc/Uub_Kgh_N5I/AAAAAAAABMQ/-vPyEUWDQlY/s1600/procura-jan2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHAmX_5FFzc/Uub_Kgh_N5I/AAAAAAAABMQ/-vPyEUWDQlY/s1600/procura-jan2014.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>Last fall, I made a break-through. A snake crossed my path while mowing the lawn. I could have easily chopped it to bits and asked for forgiveness after the murder. But, I didn't. I actually felt sorry for it...and then I felt annoyed. It was slithering at a snail's pace! I had to stop mowing and wait for it to get out of my way. Once safely under the canopy of the tall, ornamental grasses, I continued mowing. I didn't hyperventilate. I didn't run and hide. I.continued.mowing. Victory!<br />
<br />
<b>
</b><b>
</b><br />
<b>TWO STEPS BACK: </b><br />
Yesterday, I left the house around 7 a.m. with the dog in tow. With the freshly risen sun, the air felt warm and my heart light as I walked at an energetic pace. Along the way, we spied the usual suspects: birds and squirrels and deer all out in full force...and then I saw it. Three-quarters of the way through our 4 mile walk, lay a snake in the road...varying shades of brown on it's back. I didn't step another inch, but quickly turned around and headed back the way I'd come. Four miles turned into five miles. <i>"It's okay," I told myself, "I needed the exercise anyway." </i>Defeat? Not entirely. <i> </i>I used my yogi breath to keep my body from succumbing to anxiety and only looked back<b> </b>twice<i> </i>to make sure it wasn't chasing me!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>I AM NOT ALONE:</b><br />
Today I awoke to the following news story: <i>A recent high school graduate drowned at a local lake. He let go of the log he was hanging on to when he spotted a snake. He went under the water and never re-emerged. His body was found two hours later. While the official cause of death<b> </b>may be accidental drowning, it was fear that took his life.</i><b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>HE IS NOT ALONE:</b><br />
I have often thought: <i>If a car was traveling toward me and I had to get off the side of the road in order for it to pass safely, but there was a snake in the grass, I would rather jump into the path of the oncoming car than share space with the slithering serpent.</i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” ~Marie Curie</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
I understand that my fear of snakes is not rational. I understand that if a snake were to chomp me, my chances of survival are far greater than my chances of death. And, yes, I understand that the snake is more afraid of me than I am of it. I also know that through regular <a href="http://yoga.about.com/od/breathing/a/pranayamahub.htm">pranyama </a>practice (controlling energy through the breath), I am better able to control my stress response. I regularly use Sama Vritti (same length inhale and exhale) or Langhana (longer exhale than inhale) three-part breath (using the complete diaphragm) throughout the day to keep my mind and body calm, which is just one more way I benefit from yoga.
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: purple;">“He who has overcome his fears will truly be free." ~Aristotle</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzGMSQrBC0cuGsjpuRerL-L9B6lcThnPVSXVG26ZcfGSUOPMzo" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzGMSQrBC0cuGsjpuRerL-L9B6lcThnPVSXVG26ZcfGSUOPMzo" /></a>Once again, Aristotle speaks of the notion of <b>abhaya</b>: freedom from fear. FDR was right when he said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." Not only did he lead the nation out of the Great Depression, he went on to be elected for three additional terms, serving an unparalleled thirteen years as POTUS.<br />
<br />
If I am able to obtain <b>abhaya</b> over my Ophidiophobia, I still will not qualify for pure yogi status. Did I mention my fear of death by plane crash? Or by house fire? Yep. I'm a work in progress...but aren't we all?<br />
<br />
<br />Fawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03125286814662033697noreply@blogger.com6