More Is Less - Less Is More

It doesn't seem logical that doing more could actually mean doing less and that doing less could be more.  But, when it comes to yoga - more is less and less is more.  

With the holidays upon us, the stress level for most people rises as the end of the year approaches.  There are more things on their to do list, more parties to go to, and more people wanting their time.  They find, with this hectic pace, that they have less to give.  And the joy of the season can be lost in a pile of things to do.  The thought of adding something else seems impossible.

What is the one thing you can add that actually takes away some of your stress and gives you more time to do all the things you need to do?  A yoga class is the answer. 

When you take time for yourself, you are able to give more to others. When you sit and breathe for a few minutes with nothing else to focus on but bringing air into your body and pushing it out, everything else seems to melt away.  Your mind clears and is able to sort through all of the things that want your attention, picking out those that need to be done and tossing the others away.  You've added more (a class) but end up with less to worry about.  And  your body will feel great too. 

Grab that joy buried deep beneath that pile - yoganna love it.

I Teach You - You Teach Me

One of my dear friends teaches yoga in a part of Houston called Midtown.  His first yoga class was mine many years ago.  He is a wonderful teacher and has even created his own style of yoga.  He has a class on Sunday evenings at 5:00.  My husband and I attended his class this evening and joined our son for dinner after at a nearby favorite Greek restaurant.  We arrived for class early but the room was already filled to the walls with yoga mats.  We carefully stepped between closely spaced mats and managed to wiggle our way into enough space on the floor.  Others continued to stream into the room after us, and the wiggling and readjusting continued until we were all settled.  Our instructor started the class with his enthusiastic energy and carefully planned moves and we followed along obediently.  It was a wonderful relaxing experience to be on the other side of the mat, letting someone teach me instead of me teaching the class.  I think my husband may have seen the class a little differently - a little less relaxing - but he enjoyed our instructor and the rest of the evening visiting with our son.

I also teach business classes and love to incorporate games and activities in my training sessions to enhance the learning experience for my attendees.  While searching for new activities on the Internet a few months ago I came across an organization that does exactly that - the North American Simulation and Gaming Association - NASAGA.  I discovered they were having a conference last month, sent in a proposal to speak at the conference, was enthusiastically accepted, and proceeded to make plans to attend.  It turned out to be an incredibly friendly and interesting group of individuals who loved to share their ideas and experiences using games and simulations in their work.  I came away with so many new ideas and friends as well as inspiration and a renewed spirit. 

Even if you are a master at something, take the time to let others in that field teach you something or share their experiences with you.  It will make you a better you - whatever kind of you that you are!

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.