Don't Move

My husband happened to be working from home that day.  Our offices are on opposite sides of the house, but I can see him at his desk from my desk.  We were both working away on our special projects.  Two hours went by.  During those two hours he never moved from his chair.  I was amazed because during that same time I am sure I was up and down at least ten times or more.  That is the problem when working from home for me.  I keep thinking about all of the little things that need to be done: the laundry needs to be put in the dryer; the dishwasher needs to be emptied; the floor needs to be mopped; the bills need to be paid; the trash needs to be taken out; the leaves need to be scooped out of the pool.  And the list goes on.  Women multi-task and always think about others and what needs to be done. I don't have the focus problem when I move my office to a Wi-Fi enabled restaurant. There aren't any dishes or laundry there for me to take care of.  Men seem to be able to focus on one thing and forget about everything else. That's why they can walk through the house and not see the shoes left on the floor or the folded laundry on the couch that needs to be put away.  That is my theory - and the theory of quite a few relationship professionals. 

SO - I set my timer and start my first Pomodoro (the Pomodoro Technique is a work process that involves breaking your projects into 25 minute time intervals with 5 minute breaks - chekc www.pomodorotechnique.com for more information), forgetting all about the  little house projects I could take care of. I am going to stay in my chair longer than my husband does this time. I love a challenge. 

When I start my yoga classes we are sitting cross-legged on the floor on our mats.  We spend a few minutes focusing on a breathing exercise with our hands resting on our knees or in our laps. The goal is to stay still and focused on the breath.  I usually keep my eyes open to check for people entering class late that might need a mat or other help.  As I look around the room, I see people in various states of stillness. Some never even bat an eyelash. Others are looking around, checking their cell phone to make sure it is off, changing their position frequently, and other non-focused activities.  I realize I need to encourage and remind them next time we start - to try to stay still. 

Set the timer - GO! - see how long you can stay still. 

Don't Be Afraid To Ask

There was a guy in my indoor cycling class who was interested in doing yoga.  He admitted he wanted to try it but was intimidated by the poses he witnessed my students twisting themselves into when he watched part of the class one evening.  He asked if I might spend some time giving him a personal introduction to yoga.  I was more than happy to oblige and we worked together after our next cycle class.  I taught him the breathing techniques, warm-up pose flows and worked him through a number of poses that targeted some of his trouble areas and tight muscles.  He was grateful for my time and felt confident and comfortable enough to attend my next class.

I have a girlfriend that works for a company that has an office in Paris.  Visiting and possibly living in Paris was always a dream of hers. Instead of telling her boss that was her long term goal, she would make indirect comments or hint at wanting to live in Paris - never realizing her dream because she didn't speak up.

I took a girlfriend to a tropical island paradise for a major birthday milestone. Another friend lamented that I hadn't taken her anywhere.  "You never let me know you wanted to go anywhere!", I replied. 

Ask and you shall receive!

Oblivious

It seemed silly to even bother to go to sleep.  I had to get up at 3:30 am and it was already 2:00, but I did. Even 90 minutes of rest is heaven to the body.  I had a flight at 6:00 and my friend was coming at 4:15 to drive me to the airport. I was grateful for her generous offer as I was sure I would not be able to stay awake on the road driving myself.  The thought of invading my eyes with my contacts was too much too bear as I placed my glasses on my sad tired face. 

I was settled in my seat on the plane when a business man entered the plane and selected the seat in front of me.  He seemed oblivious to his surroundings, (aren't we all at 5:30 am? -ok - not everyone - there are those who worship the sunrise - which I can only do right before I go to bed, not after getting up), as he held up the line of people trying to get down the aisle to their first come first served seats. He took over the row, placing some of his belongings on the seat, shoving a suitcase in the overhead bin, finally moving his rear end out of the aisle so others could pass.  It wasn't large - just in the way.  There was a marked difference between him and those individuals that were once waiting behind him, who grateful for their freedom, quickly moved down the aisle while politely pulling their suitcases near so as not to hit the seated passengers. 

When yoga students enter the yoga room, they carefully select a place for their mat so they won't obstruct the mirror view for other class participants.  They provide space between mats so if they roll out of a headstand they won't roll on top of the person in front of or behind them.  They are considerate of those around them.

Too many times I have seen drivers on the road focused on their cell phone or their sandwich or something besides driving, causing stress for the rest of us. 

Be present in the moment and aware - not oblivious - of your surroundings.  Everyone around you will appreciate it.

Motivate Me!

There are many motivational conferences and events happening in the area all the time from the Texas Conference for Women to the Get Motivated Seminars.  They usually include a day long star studded speaker list and upbeat messages and key points.  You leave the event ready to tackle the world.  And then life happens, and you get wrapped back up in your day to day "things to do list" awaiting another spark to reignite your passion for what you really want to do for the world. 

Yoga is a practice.  Each day in class we practice many of the same poses that are a key component of any yoga class and them work on unique poses to target specific areas of the body.  I encourage the students to continue their practice outside of the classroom. The class is a renewal of the spirit and a reminder that personal practice is the key to progress. 

Find a way that works for you personally to build on the motivation you receive in a class or at an event.  It might be to:

• set your yoga mat on the floor in the living room as reminder to practice
• partner with a friend or coach to take action on the ideas presented at the conference
• schedule time in your weekly calendar to practice yoga or plan the steps to move forward on a project

Carry on.  Get er' done!

There's Something About You

I went for a run (that turned into a walk) in the park with my son the other day.  I tried to keep up with him but his legs are twice as long.  I take two steps for every one of his and it didn't take long for me to decide to walk at my own pace and enjoy the scenery instead of continuing my futile efforts. I didn't mind when he lapped me, choosing to admire his prowess instead of trying to beat it.  As I walked around the park, I smiled at all of the people enjoying the outdoors - playing games with their kids, swinging on a park swing with their sweetheart, climbing on the playground equipment, hitting balls on the tennis court and in the ball field, and running or walking around the track encircling the park.  A young couple at a picnic table caught my attention. They had a little baby with them and the father was holding the baby up in the air, sitting him on the picnic table, cradling him in his arms. Both parents couldn't keep their eyes off of the little one.  You couldn't help but smile - watching them watching him.  I noticed the same thing while visiting family in Minnesota as I had many opportunities over that weekend to enjoy my new great nephew.  I especially enjoyed watching the parents holding the baby, staring down at him and just smiling. An easy calmness and peacefulness swept over all of us just being in their presence. 

I find that whatever struggles or tenseness I come to my yoga classes with dissolves as I enjoy and observe my students in their practice. I always thank them for sharing their time, effort and positive energy. We all leave feeling better than when we arrived - just by being around each other.

I encourage you to stop and "up your awareness" of the positive energy around you.  Absorb and enjoy.

I Don't Want To Go! - Yes You Do!

There is a conversation that goes on in our head between the time the alarm goes off and the time we press the snooze button.  It is a very short moment but, a lot is said in that span of time.  There is a fight going on between the part of you that needs to get up and go off to wherever you need to go to and the part of you that luxuriates in sleep and wants to enjoy a few more dreams.  I experienced that internal conflict the other morning.  

I have started training in a form of yoga called Ashtanga (commonly known as power yoga).  It is a very disciplined form of yoga with a half dozen lengthy series of postures to aspire to.  I am currently struggling with the very first series.  After staying up late engrossed in a work project, I did not want to get up early to head across town for my yoga practice. Every muscle in my body was tired and sore - and I don't normally get sore - so my body was in some form of shock and denial :).  I pressed the snooze button, I got up and stopped for a short nap on the plush carpeted floor, I crawled back in bed after setting the alarm for seven more minutes - as if that was going to help any - and the madness continued for a half hour.  Finally, when the do or die moment arrived - that if I didn't get dressed and jump in the car within the next three minutes I would be too late - some mysterious force took over my body and I was called to action.  I did make it to the class on time, I did remember the whole series, I did huff and puff and struggle with the poses and lose a tremendous amount of water through my pores and - I did feel a great sense of accomplishment and a knowing that I had made the right decision to go, as hard as it was to convince my tired body. 

I remember when the kids were young, we planned a trip a few hours west to an incredibly fun water park call Schlitterbahn in the town of New Braunfels.  There is also the river to float lazily down in your inner tube with your beer cooler (or other appropriate refreshments) alongside your partying group.  The kids did not want to go.  It was too far away. But we took them anyway (letting them bring a friend to ease the pain of the long drive).  It didn't take them long to figure out that this was one of the coolest places  on earth and they didn't want to go home - ever!  

I don't want to go!

YES you do!!  

Try it - you just might surprise yourself and like it.

It Never Hurts to Ask

I was seated at the dining table at a business dinner meeting.  The table was crowded with plates and silverware, a view obstructing centerpiece, coffee mugs and an assortment of drinking glasses.  In front of each place setting was a scrumptious looking dessert.  The desserts alternated with divine chocolate cake at one setting and a traditional cheesecake at the next seat. Unfortunately for the chocolate lover in me, I ended up seated with cheesecake in front of me - all the while eyeing the chocolate cake my tablemate was about to devour. I flagged down a waiter and asked if there was a possibility of getting the chocolate cake instead.  He disappeared from the dining area and appeared a few short minutes later with chocolate cake in his hand.  He proudly delivered it straight to my waiting fork.  Other ladies at the table and surrounding tables with uneaten cheesecake sitting in front of them, carefully watched every move of the waiter as he delivered the slice of chocolate heaven to my table.  "How did you get that?", some inquired.  "I just asked the waiter", I replied and told them they could too.  You can get whatever you want in a hotel.  And they did.  Soon every woman around me and several men were eating chocolate cake with devilish grins on their faces.

I must confess I read a "trashy" novel at the beginning of the summer.  It was actually a trilogy.  My friends anxiously awaited their turn to borrow my books.  The book binding wasn't of the highest quality and it wasn't long before pages and 1/2 inch thick chunks of pages started to fall out of the cover.  I wrote to the publisher regarding the binding.  They called me after receiving my letter and said they would be sending me replacements for all of the books.  

It never hurts to ask.  

I waited outside the group exercise room for the class before us to finish so we could begin our yoga session.  I was subbing the class for another instructor.  One lady, that I have known for years since "Reebok Step" was a popular workout format, saw me and declared that she was leaving.   "You are NOT leaving", I retorted.  "Oh - yes I am.  You are too hard", she replied. I repeated that she was NOT to leave.  I went to the back room to turn out the lights and when I returned she was still there. She stayed.  I modified the class to fit the yoga level of the attendees.  My lady that was going to leave thoroughly enjoyed the class and thanked me vehemently as she left.  "I just listened to what you were really asking for and gave it to you.  Thank you for letting me know".  

It never hurts to ask.