Winning

A beautiful rainy day! Like much of the country, Jacksonville has experienced dry conditions and is in need of rain. In addition to the all that the rain provides to our vegetation and lakes (scenic retention ponds) the slightly cooler temperature and intermittent rain seems to consistently improve my mood. Interesting for a girl who lives in Florida and grew up in West Texas. There might be an answer as to why I feel lighter and happier in the cool rainy climate. I could go back and examine the details of my life, looking for attachments, or just enjoy the feeling.

Today, I will choose to just enjoy the feeling

Cheri Huber, is a Buddhist Monk whose writings have been meaningful to me (thank you Janice).

A very long time ago, I purchased a cassette recording (did I mention it was a long time ago?). The recording was titled "The Swiss Cheese Approach to Life). While I no longer remember the significance of the "Swiss Cheese", what stuck with me is her thoughts on competition and achievement.

I am going from memory here so my apologies to Cheri if I re-state incorrectly. This is where my mind took it. Achievement means different things to different people - winning, earning, acquiring, being loved....bring to mind what achievement means to you.

When we achieve we feel good. Right? For most of us, tangible, quantifiable signs of achievement ( a trophy, bigger paycheck, newer, more expensive possessions), let us know that we are achieving and we feel good. It is particularly powerful when we stack up our achievements against our peers and come out in a perceived favorable way (more stuff).

If we step away from that way of thinking, we realize that we make the decision to feel good based upon the achievements. What if....drum roll....we allowed ourselves to feel the same "good feeling" whether or not we had that trophy, paycheck, etc.

Think about that.

In Cheri's recording there was a man who challenged the idea stating something to the effect of "But I didn't earn it"...."I don't deserve to have that feeling if I didn't win".

Part of me is right there with him. I mean what does winning mean if we don't get to feel better, more special? Right?

What would happen if everyone walked around feeling happy for no justifiable reason?

That mindset tells us that we have to earn our happiness. That some of us who aren't achieving in a quantifiable way, don't deserve the same level of happiness.

In reality, we choose how we feel.

Does that mean we don't work to better ourselves, even win? No. It means that you can feel just as good without the win as with the win. Either way, you are still you. Your spirit is still your spirit. Hopefully, doing the good work your spirit was intended to do.

Play, work, achieve and give yourself permission to feel good, happy, accomplished and important - regardless of the outcome.

Let me know what you think!

Namaste,

Terri

Ed Dust

I heard a beautiful story this morning.

Our 2011 MMY yoga teacher training concludes this coming weekend. We have a tradition of giving graduates imprinted t-shirts upon closing our training. Joe of joestees.com has created our t-shirts for all of our special events. While no doubt, my account was a very small one, I have always been treated with the warmth and respect of an important customer.

Sadly, I learned this morning, that Joe's father passed away unexpectedly earlier this summer. Joe's father, Ed, was a real people person. He seemed to be the company greeter, asking about yoga and seeming to want to know more. In reality, he was just connecting with me, another human, through my interests. He was funny and joyful and made me feel the same.

This morning Joe shared a story told by the minister at his father's service. While Joe's retelling of the story was beautiful, it is simply stated as this:

Think about how, when you open a bag of flour, the flour dust floats up and gets all over everything including you- Ed was like that bag of flour - You couldn't be around him without getting a little "Ed dust" on you.

I have been thinking about this much of today. Throughout the day, we all leave "dust" behind in the form of energy. In our homes with our families as we start the day, at our offices, grocery stores and countless other places we visit in our busy days.

When we are angry, we leave anger, when we are joyful, we leave joy.

What kind of dust are you leaving today?

Namaste,

Terri

Thank you, Joe, for allowing me to re-tell this story.

Healing Grief

Recently I had a conversation with my mother regarding grief and how individuals seem to process grief differently. After much thought on this topic, and my mother's wise words, I have this to offer. We all grieve at some point in our lives, the obvious loss of loved ones and pets, but also dreams, performance in our careers, stressful human relationships - dissappointment can come in many ways.

When disappointment and sadness appear, consider this:

Consider the idea that each of us has a spirit that is good and capable of handling all that life is throwing at us. A spirit that is loving and compassionate. Our NATURE is loving, good and capable.

We also have a mind, that is conditioned by our life experiences. Often telling us things that are not helpful or kind.

When dissappointment and grief arise, it is not the spirit that is in pain or suffering, but the mind, telling the story of what should have been, speaking to us of our shortcomings and speaking to us of the meaning of our loss.

Our feelings, followed by actions, may stem from the spirit - a place of love and compassion, or from the mind - a place that is often directed toward suffering.

When feelings of sadness and disappointment arise, try practicing your awareness meditation. See if you can get past the stories that the mind is bringing you and tune in to the more basic, simple spirit of love, kindness, strength and simplicity.

Anxiety, Stress Relief and Yoga

It seems more and more often I am listening to stories about the stress many of you are experiencing in your work and in your daily lives.

Many of you are experiencing stress over how to honor your work and family commitments, you are caring for aging parents, worrying about your children, concerned about your own health and about the health of those you love. You are concerned about your financial well-being and job security the list seems endless.

All of this stress creates an unhealthy body and mind and prevents you from fully enjoying your life and the opportunities available to you.....I know, one more thing to worry about, right?

I am looking forward to sharing Mindful Motion Yoga's current online offering from our at home study program. "Easing Stress and Anxiety" is a 30 day e-mail program that will introduce easy yoga poses (seriously, EASY and rest inducing), meditation techniques (getting rid of that nagging chatter), and subtle breathing techniques (your c0-workers won't even notice).

There is even a Parent's Corner of the daily e-mails to provide you with tips on how to deliver the same processes to your children to help reduce the stress from academics and competitive sports (teachers will love this as well).

Daily e-mails begin August 15, 2011 run for 30 consecutive days.

Simply stated, daily tips to lighten your emotional load.
www.Mindfulmotion-yoga.com
Sign up under workshops.

Namaste,
Terri

Real Yoga - Beyond the Asana

I am often asked questions about my personal yoga experience. How long have I been practicing and teaching yoga or why. At this point it seems like all my life.

We all have our own unique path and way of getting to the point where the yoga is no longer all about the workout (an awesome perk!) but is about helping to support a rich and truthful life experience.


I have such a passion and belief, my absolute truth, that this practice can heal the body and spirit and assist in removing suffering on so many levels.

Many years ago, in the prime of my love for the physical practice of yoga, while jogging I witnessed a tragic accident resulting in the death of an 18 month old child. My involvement went beyond witness as I administered CPR to this beautiful little girl and placed myself right in the middle of more grief and pain than I can possibly express.

As the following year unfolded, I became increasingly introverted. I spent time with my family and went to yoga. I actually just "showed up" for yoga. That is when it all began to unfold. No expectations, no goals, just there in the moment seeking a space to just "be".

Day after day. Always yoga. The class, the teacher, didn't matter. It was me on my mat and nothing else. As long as there was quiet space, I was okay. Over time, the real thing happened. Real yoga. The internal stuff we hear about.

Now years later, through self-study, formal education and much time on the mat, I have a better understanding of the principles, history and philosophy of the practice that support my real life experience.

It is my deepest intention, to provide the knowledge and quiet space for people to heal, grow and find joy through yoga.