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Beautiful Places Healthy Living

California is … THE destination

Wish …

With all the bad news in the last week, feel like just checking out … in order to come back to feel that refueled anger again as a catalyst to make a positive change.  Love to retreat away into a Zen space to slush out and empty our minds – and refill with positive thoughts and constructive ideas – but we have to do something to change … Why so many haters?  Why so much violence? If we knew that you are I and I are you – that we are one, we cannot harm others because we see ourselves in “others” unless of course, one hates his very own being and existence.  Very sad.  Let’s hope for sanity and love to make the actual changes to protect us – to give us security – otherwise, it can be any one of us next  – it’s that random and unpredictable – fastest solution ?  it’s definitely not treating mental health – that’s the long and winding complicated method – the fastest solution?  It’s the guns.  Let’s not argue over little technicalities to muddle the water and confuse weak minds –  it’s not the gun but the person who hold it, who kill – of course we know that – BUT it is that gun used as a tool and instrument of harm and thus, logic and reason and intelligence and fine examples of success elsewhere should follow and prevail … but somehow, due to insanity, it doesn’t here.   Okay, so if there are no guns, the crazies and haters will still resort to violence – maybe swing a knife or swords or  whatever – but the damage is more contained.  It’s not the magnitude of massive and speedy harm so hard to guard against.

In a civilized world, in a civilized communities where we have peace officers and democracy, we don’t need private citizens whether sane or insane with guns.  Okay, I understand about the “rights” of responsible gun owners BUT what about the rights of innocent responsible citizens to live without fear?  Why does the rights and freedom of minority group of people to own weapons of harm has to “trump” over rights and freedom of majority of people who want to live without fear – to have THAT FREEDOM and RIGHT to be able to:

  • Have school aged children feel safe and secure at places of learning;
  • Live free of fear in going Back-to-School or any shopping at Walmart;
  • Live free of fear going to outdoor concerts;
  • Live free of fear going to bars, clubs;
  • Live free from fear supporting local street fairs & festivals such as Garlic Festival;
  • Live free of fear going … ANYWHERE in this country supposedly at peace, where terrorists are all outsiders on the outside and not within, not among us.  NOT. There has to be mutual trust and respect that unites people to live in peace and harmony.  In Japan, only ones with guns would be someone associated with organized crime or security and peace officers.  There’s no need to carry or possess weapons unless of course we live a war zone –  Or do we?  Why should we fear going to outdoor concerts or town fairs or … even to just that local Walmart.  What’s next?  The library? The hospital? I thought this country revered FREEDOM  – do we place more value of freedom to bear arms over freedom to gather and celebrate or even just shop for back to school supplies without fears – freedom to live without fears  … that’s the wish for everyone I know.  So what is happening?

It’s a beautiful place – California.  I hope all things we consider beautiful – such as LIFE – is protected as precious and justice and reason prevails.

Tat Tvam Asi

“Thou art that,” (That thou art, That art thou, You are that, or That you are, or You’re it)

And you know, it’s that yogic philosophy that can save us – to those who must possess and arm themselves … it’s just a false sense of security and strength … possessions do not give you security … just let go. LET GO.  If you are able to let go, then you are truly courageous and strong.  Burdens will lift off your shoulders and you will know how it feels to truly be … free.

Categories
Yoga

Found another Great Read – short – for Yoga Enthusiasts

Here you go – Click Here:)  Intelligent response to New York Times articles …

Categories
Yoga

“Brightening Our Inner Skies”

is a book by Norman Blair that found its way into my hands.  Norman Blair’s yoga practice was primarily Ashtanga which is a style of yoga known for intensity, discipline and progressive advancement and challenges.  So it’s a surprise perhaps that he practices Yin yoga?  That’s the point.  I was talking with my former cohort in yoga training and heard him say emphatically, Yin yoga is not what I need.  Which is the exact opposite of what I thought of – I beg to counter – It’s actually exactly what he needs.  Maybe for some, the protocol is for the sweaty heated hard practice to wring out the stagnation; if so, then, all the more we need to offset that kind of yang with a divergent practice for a well rounded practices that addresses the needs of not just muscle strengthening but then us humans have other body components – bones, joints, fascia, tendons, ligaments … and the internal organs and … THE MIND.

Those who protest too much and emphatic are exactly the ones who will grow the most from a practice that contrasts that Ashtanga yoga practice one might adhere to. If you like challenges; if you like to strive and achieve and win; if you are Type A prototype … then all the more you actually NEED the kind of yoga practice seemingly “soft”.  Ashtanga yoga so it makes sense.  Sarah Powers describes yin yoga as “unhurried postures unstained by striving” – it’s a mindset – in other words, opposite to Ashtanga practice depending on how it’s practice – depending on the intention.

Bernie Clark talks about the Goldilocks middle ground idea .. neither too hard nor too soft: finding the middle way, with support to sustain stillness.

The quality of yang might be defined as intense and fierce, faster, and hot; in contrast the quality of yin could be described as softer, slower, cooling.

According to Norman Blair, in practicing Yin, we let these five qualities guide us: softening, patience, kindness, effort, dedication .. these four points could ground us: pause and soften, connect, allow, listen… I LOVE this practice !

Sometimes I call this practice ‘the middle way’, between comfort and challenge.

from Brightening Our Inner Skies by Norman Blair

It’s exactly what I was referring to ! The effort tampered with … ease, to find that place of stillness and peace.  And that comes for many after a challenge or to prepare for a challenge.

Early morning subbing of 6am Strong Flow class (FUN! revisiting my former practice – no we did not flow through 108 surya namaskar – rather, following the intelligence of the master yogi’s prescription for a truly STRONG practice);  then Yin class (PEACE & CLARITY:) – Nice way to start the morning waking up with well paced YANG then … softening into Yin … to cool down to prepare for the rising heat of summer day to come. Embracing that heat knowing how to cool off, not burn out.

Thank you for this well balanced practice.  Perfect morning practice if you carve out the time. From shortening and contracting and stiffening – Like your body, time too can expand and extend.  We can move with fluidity when we have the strength and flexibility.

Did you know ?  Great read “Yoga Body” by Mark Singleton