Clapping For A Great Show

As the sun gently lowered in the sky toward the horizon, the beach goers started clustering near the shore with their phones, cameras and other picture taking devices in hand.  Seemingly sinking every so slowly into the sea, everyone's attention was drawn toward it.  With a blink and a flash it was gone, the surrounding sky displaying beautiful shades of orange, red, yellow and clear blue sky in celebration of the sun's setting.  Applause arose from the crowd of onlookers.  Good job God.

We are all at different stages in different poses in yoga.  A few have mastered some while others struggle for years with a seemingly simple pose.   There is such a feeling of exhilaration when one accomplishes a pose that was not possible before.  When we hear a squeal of delight in the yoga room or see someone perform a pose that we can't imagine trying that day we celebrate along with them - sometimes breaking into applause. 

No matter how big or how small the success - celebrate.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra yoga

I have always been intrigued by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  Every holiday I hear their music on the radio and long to hear them in person.  Then for some reason, another Christmas season goes by and I have missed out on this special event once more. 

But - no longer.

A girlfriend organized a group of us to attend the concert this past week.  The line almost circled the entire Houston Toyota Center as we stepped up to take our place.  The afternoon concert must have ended late for us to have to line up to get in.  As we entered the concert venue our vision was clouded by the smoke that hadn't cleared from the previous show. 

Then - finally - the moment I have waited years for unleashed upon the stage.  Rocking thunderous music, enthusiastic dancers, amazing keyboard players, flashing laser lights, an electric violin, powerful vocalists, whipping long hair, heat from the flames on-stage all rolled into creating an event that you never wanted to end.  Near the end, some thought it was over and headed out the door .  But we stayed knowing that there is always an encore and this would be one you didn't want to miss.  And it was.  They played on for 45 minutes or more including their famous Christmas Eve/Saravejo in the set. 

One segment during the concert I enjoyed the hair whipping dancers kneeling on the stage moving through poses up and down off the floor. I smiled as I named the yoga poses in my head.  To them they were dancing; to me they were "yoga-ing".  I promised myself I would be sure to include those poses in my weekend yoga classes, nicknaming the classesTrans-Siberian Orchestra Yoga. It was enjoyed by all.   

Yoga.  It's everywhere.  It's a part of life.  Consider making it a part of your life in the new year. 

You Get What You Give

I am taking yoga classes in a style called Ashtanga.  It is a power yoga with a lot of jumping and flowing.  I am working on the first of many series of poses.  In class the other day, I was on one side of the room and the instructor was assisting a student on the other side of the room as I practiced one of the more challenging poses. Three times is usually a charm but this time it was three attempts and I was down on the floor in a resting pose.  The instructor came over and asked if I was able to do the pose. I explained how I had tried several times and it didn't work quite yet (the answer was no).  He smiled and asked if I was practicing at home every day.  I responded truthfully that I hadn't.  I started to laugh and said "You get what you give"!  He gave a knowing nod to me as I lay on the floor defeated (but only for today and only by this one pose). 

It reminds me of the story of Jose and the lottery tickets.  Every week Jose prayed to God that he would win the lottery and every week he didn't win.  One week Jose was praying to God that he would win the lottery and God called down to him "Jose! Buy a ticket!"

We have to do our part. 

In what area of your life would you like to be more successful? Are you doing your part to move yourself toward that goal?  What one thing could you do that would make that movement happen?

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!