Being "Present" by Dan Houston

I'm getting more and more present to the notion that it's impossible to be present. YES, you heard correctly! It's impossible to be completely, 100%, unequivocally present. 

OK, take a moment and try something. Speak - and consider - the sentence again: I'm getting more and more present to the notion that it's impossible to be present. 

This revelation grew out of a conversation with a prison inmate with whom I share the practice of yoga. During our conversation I noticed that David's dialogue continued to slide into stories, words, and experiences from his past. I also noticed that he was operating primarily from a context of guilt and fear.

Yoga has empowered me to create a life of abundance from a context of possibility - a forward and upward trajectory in life. So, as David began to slide into his past, and resign himself to a heavy, energetic reaction, I committed to sharing a question that has empowered me to live in the realm of creation.

Question: Based on where you are right now...what's possible for you as you move forward? 

Initially, David became excited and shared, "What's possible is that I be a man of honor."

Without realizing it, I had launched into coaching mode. My next question burst forward led by sheer intuition and genuine interest. I asked, "What, specifically, does that look like for you?" It became immediately clear that the question shook David slightly, and he openly expressed a feeling of uncertainty and fear around going back to the "free world".

I asked him to draw in a single, full breath and take on the idea that he and I get to create our futures by "being present." That the best time for our future is right NOW. I sensed that the idea landed well as I watch a shining smile grow on David's face.

At that moment, stirred by the energy of David's expression, an entirely novel thought crashed into my consciousness. It hit me that we have two essential ways of living: We're either living in the a passive past...OR we're constantly actioning our future.

Aside from my own intuition, my only evidence here is my scant knowledge of the anatomical systems of the body. My understanding is that human sensory systems function on a perpetual delay. By the time your brain fully absorbs the words you're reading in this sentence, the "present" moment is already in the past.

We're constantly chasing a train of conscious presence; yet, we never quite reach the caboose to hop aboard.

I'm learning that the collective joy, mystery, and beauty of life resides in the chase itself. My conversation with David opened me up to the experience that yoga is really about becoming "more and more 'present'" - a continuous and unattainable practice of moving toward a positive, empowering future.   

In-Powered Guest Blog by Luis

Ms. Cash’s YES Prep Yoga Class

My experience with yoga all started with me not being able to find a class that would provide a gym credit and fit my schedule. So I looked at the possible class I could take during my 6^th period. And there it was...yoga. 

I thought about it for a while. What if I do take yoga? Would people laugh at me? Would they think I’m weird or something along the nature of that?  

I pondered it over for a day and decided to try it out. If I didn’t enjoy then I would just look for another class to be in. So I tried it for a few days and I enjoyed it. It was something I had never tried before nor did I ever think that I would try it. 

The whole philosophy of yoga just induced me more. It was an oasis of calmness from my everyday routine. It’s a good thing providing this class to kids in school. All day we carry baggage that burdens us. And in yoga we get to release it. We get the opportunity to find that equilibrium that we once lost. 

In yoga I can actually feel the limitations that my body puts on me. And I like that. I like being able to feel my boundaries, so then I can overcome it at some point. Mentally it has opened me up even more. Deeper thoughts flow, understanding and compassion compose more of my thoughts. 

I have even reached the point unconscious consciousness. The point of when one is aware that they are unconsciously awake, and it’s a profound state of being. 

I even enjoy the mats. They feel like small vessels of blissfulness. It’s like having your own space to be free. As a senior in high school I would have never fathomed the thought of joining yoga, but I’m glad that I did. Now I know that there is more to it than just stretching and meditating. It’s about change and transformation for the better of one’s self. It is something that should be shared with the world. And I do commit to be a part of this movement.    

YES Prep Guest Blog - Karina

Guest Blog by Karina 

Ms. Cash’s YES Prep Yoga Class

It was the beginning of the school year and all of our schedules were messed up. Every time the school “fixed” the schedules, I was placed in a different elective every time until they finally placed me in yoga. 

At first, I didn’t really want to take the class, I was iffy and closed-minded about it. I kept telling myself that I wouldn’t really like yoga, but at the end of the day I gave it a shot. 

At first it was somewhat difficult to get use to because it’s something that I’ve never tried before. Yoga came to be the best thing I ever experienced. I just fell in love with it. 

I found it amazing to find so much self confidence and happiness just by taking yoga. Ms. Cash told us that In-Powered by One Significant Act was a non-profit organization that reached out to places that didn’t have yoga such as school and prisons and I thought that this organization was great way of giving back to the community and giving a chance for people to practice yoga who weren’t really able to.

Yoga helped me found a way to free my mind instead of keeping it imprisoned. It has helped me find peace with myself and has helped me balance my life more. Before yoga, my life was unstable and just unorganized. Yoga has taught me to enjoy life more. It has also taught me how to breathe because breathing is the most important part of yoga. 

When practicing yoga at school with Ms. Cash, I feel very relaxed and calm. It sets my mind free, even for just a bit, from running on and on. It feels great when you don’t have to worry about anything while practicing yoga. 

All I really pay attention to is my breathing and where I’d like my breath to go in my body. Yoga helps me stabilize my body as well as my mind. When I am not practicing yoga, I think about the things that I learned in the course, such as breathing and meditating. I do these two things often when I am going under a lot of stress because of school and work. 

I just take a couple of minutes to breathe and meditate and then get back to what I was doing.

I believe that yoga is a great thing and that everyone who has a chance should practice it. It helps balance the heart, mind, and soul, and it is also a great workout. 

A Flood of Insight

Some of our most interesting insights show up immediately after we give up trying to manage and manufacture them. They often appear when we ourselves become present and experience full ease.

Many of us are conditioned to "do", to "know", and to "be productive" - to the point of utter exhaustion, illness and disease. Ask yourself a few honest questions: If you were told you had one week of vibrant life left in your body, what would you do? If you had one week to live, how would you choose to live?

Have you ever used the excuse that "there isn't enough time to practice, to meditate, to show appreciation to others, to clean the house, to create ease, to...(you get the picture)? When I catch myself falling into this trap, I'm quickly reminded of this adage:

If you don't have 10 minutes to meditate, you should probably stop and meditate for 20. 

If you think that you're too busy, or you've been committing your attention to what matters least, here's your wake up call: You have even less time that you think, so use it wisely.

So, be open to the realization that you can create ease...all of the time...everywhere... even where you're sitting right now. Considering the self-deluge of anxiety and expectation we often pile on, our bodies and minds are ripe for the tool/experience I'd like to share. Here it is...

***********************************************************************************

On the I was scheduled to lead a group of teenage yogis at a YES Prep school, Houston was inundated with heavy rain, flash floods, and skies so dreary it looked like they were ready to collapse inward. My morning began with text messages of a flooded kitchen in my new apartment, but that's not the type of flood I'm interested in here.

After arriving to the campus I learned that most of the students were absent because the school's water system had been shut off. My class consisted of six students, which presented a beautiful opportunity to lead a supine meditation for 30 delicious minutes.

I joined the group in quiet, ease-filled silence for the final 15 minutes. Then...a fresh, beautiful insight flickered and burst into my consciousness:

Everything in our external environment is a gift that serves our internal self.

 

I'm always amazed by my students' responses when I share my insights. Honestly, I used to expect their initial responses to resemble that of Hindu cows (mostly blank, mostly empty, mostly confused), but they get it. They started sharing that "yeah, we can either complain about the rain, or we can play in the puddles and feel the drops on our face."

How's that for a flood of insight?

Other related insights we created that day: Traffic is here to help you meditate; parents are here to help you be a parent one day; children are here to remind adults that they too were children once; your enemies and friends are there to teach you compassion.

I invite you to live a life in praise of slow. A life that honors time, especially what little we have with others. That way, when you take your final breaths, you can smile and be happy because you'll know that you lived fully. You'll be at ease because you'll have seize every opportunity to feel rain beat against you face and squish between your toes. And, guess what, you won't even remember that your apartment flooded.

Much love,
Dan 

The Daily Devotion: A Universe Within

OK, I'm going to totally geek out here. I recently watched the first installment of a (very retro) series titled Cosmos, which is narrated by famed American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist and science guru, Carl Sagan.

At the outset Sagan details the enormous and expansive galaxies that surround the curious sphere on which we all live. Hearing Sagan's warm, intelligent and exuberant explanations is so very fascinating. However, one simple truth stuck out.

In juxtapose to humans' exploration of the expanse of stars and planets that surround us, Sagan reminds the audience that our inner contents are, in fact, the very same elements that make up the universe around us.

What a powerful thought: We have an entire universe within our selves.

As mere individuals we have no tools for the exploration of the external cosmos. Yet, through the practice of becoming present to my physiological experience, I've explored novel adventures time and again. That is what's so exciting about the experience of yoga. With each new physical breakthrough we make a new internal discovery. We become present to a new sensation. A new feeling. A new experience.

Today's new and random discovery: While in utkatasana, as I separated my fingers as widely as possible, I could actually feel my heartbeat in the palm of my left hand. Why only one hand? Why the right side? Why had I never noticed this before? Like all truly critical thinking, questions are more important than answers.

The truth is that, as a society, we're obsessed with exploring and understanding our external world, yet we still know so little about our inner selves. Over a span of thousands of years, we've conquered and comprehended nearly every area and culture upon our earth, yet we still cannot account for a great area of our inner content.

Luckily, the practice of breath and asana serve as an amazing and simply vehicle to explore our many uncharted inner landscapes.

The Daily Devotion: Creating Space to Expand

As my wife, Cristina, knows, things can certainly become a little grandiose whenever my creative juice begin to flow.

I'd like to share a few, random thought that I've been creating within my mind regarding my future - particularly, within In-Powered by OSA.

First, I've definitely been thinking a great deal about the overall sustainability and mission of any nonprofit organization. I can't quiet remember where I adopted this belief, but my understanding that a truly successful nonprofit will, eventually, put itself out of business.

I'm not fully convinced that this sentiment applies to In-Powered by OSA. However, a mental door has opened that has made me understand a new micro-purpose as far as our school-based programming. Specifically, our mission should be to ignite programs, offer training and program mentorship to in-house teachers who are already employees of a given district. Then, after the teacher has received certification, and has fully taken over a program, it is our responsibility to step back and support programs from the periphery. So, in essence, we are actually putting ourselves out of business. Like yogi pioneers, we should then endeavor to expand out reach and share yoga with more people.

My intuition tells me that that is a critical point of our mission: Create (new and sustainable) space to expand.

The Daily Devotion: Your Own Duty

The Bhagavad Gita says:

It is better to do your own duty
badly, than to perfectly do another's; you are safe from harm
when you do what you should be doing.

Seneca also mused that "life is long if you know how to use it." In short, he held that one's full appreciation and presence in daily living was essential - whether such events were perceived as trivial or otherwise.

What is our duty in life? Where is that kind and protective refuge wherein we can truly serve perfectly? How can we live in the space of Seneca's suggestions, while also creating balance between contentment and inspired, wild inspiration?

I can remember - even before joining forces with Roger Rippy - that many people questioned my intention behind wanting to teach yoga in prisons. Many still do. Yet, I've noticed an encouraging trend in each of my recent experiences: (1) someone implies that my an idea is preposterous, ill-intentioned, or foolish; (2) I typically acknowledge their logic and gravitate toward their warnings; then, inevitably, (3) I am overcome with that wild passion once again and I cast off all doubt and pursue my vision. With this in mind, I'd rather be wild and wreckless than banal and pedestrian.

I'm still not sure how to make it happen, but I truly believe that my life's mission is to serve through In-Powered by OSA. I simply can't deny the shifts, changes and inspiring connections I've observed in those I've worked with.

I love achievement. But, more than that, I love connection. I love seeing others realize that they can learn, grow and, ultimately, create shifts in their own lives. This is my life's purpose. I wasn't meant to be held up in an office, or filing paper work, or creating online courses, or pursuing wealth. My purpose is service. My purpose is connection. My purpose is working with others through the practice of yoga and meditation.

Ask yourself these questions: What is your duty? What is your purpose? Why are you on this planet? Maybe your only reason in life is, in fact, to die. Even if that's the case, that should be your reason to live more fully.

If you're both unfortunate and fortunate enough to experience the loss of a loved one, you are immediately imprinted with a sense of urgent purpose in life. At the age of 22, I witnessed the last breath of my dear mother after her brave and painful battle with the cancer that had ravaged her entire body. I spent months sleeping beside her as she moaned and called out for relief. Years later, I discovered that my father had been diagnosed with lung cancer. And, after blatantly asking my father what scared him most about having cancer, he simply and quietly said, "Dying."

I feel that my work, my service, and my devotion is a mere reflection of my urgent intention to live to the fullest. I may not be rich in possessions, but I am, indeed, rich beyond measure...through my daily experience.

Upon being asked if he was a millionaire and had a great deal of possessions, Bob Marley said it best. He said, "My richness is life...forever." I feel the same.

The (Double) Daily Devotion: Wake Up, Reset, New Day

Well...it happened. I missed my very first Daily Devotion post yesterday. Upon setting any formidable objective, each of us has this subtle, lingering concern that, at some point in time, we'll inevitably fail.

Guess what? You will. So, why all of the fear? Why all of the grandiose build-up and drama? We're such master story creators and storytellers; yet, these fallacies are just that...fallacies.

We aim high in terms of our New Year's Resolutions. Then, when we stumble, fall and bruise our ego. We experience such great levels of frustration and self-torment.

My practice of writing these daily devotions has taught me much more than I ever could have imagined. It has expanded my mind and allowed me to consider new, purposeful ways of being, seeing and interacting.

Only YOU know whether you've dropped your original goals or intentions you set earlier this month.

If you've stumbled, lets try something together...here goes...

1. Acknowledge that you've missed the mark, and that this says nothing about your character.
2. Recommit to your original commitment OR re-evaluate and re-design your commitment so that it's more realistic.
3. Realize that tomorrow is a new day. Frame your "failure" as a new learning. 

Wake up, reset and experience your life fully!

Namaste.

The Daily Devotion: We Need Not Wait

I've always gravitated toward Aristotle's words that remind us, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." In fact, my primary objective as an educator - especially now as a yoga teacher in the Texas public school system - has been to model this ethic in everything I do and say.

I had the great pleasure of engaging with such a mind earlier today. My wonderful conversation with friend and fellow yoga teacher, Sheree', reminded me that life is a subtle blend of inflection. And, that extreme thought patterns should, almost exclusively, be avoided if we intend to hold fast to our humanity.

Rarely when we make a face-to-face acquaintance with another human is our interaction brash or polarized. Yet, from a national or global perspective, our ways of being seem so extreme in so many ways.

Why the discrepancy? How is it that we can connect in a kind, considerate, or at least civil manner on an individual level, yet we're consistently at loggerheads as a national or global community?

Although I'm grossly unqualified to even consider an answer to such a complex and convoluted dilemma, I'll at least entertain one. Here it is: We can only truly influence our personal, small-scale interactions and dilemmas. Secondly, we have very little control over the "big stuff". Consequently, I believe that the former may, in part, serve as the beginning of a solution to the latter.

How? Well, we already have a road map if we're willing to emulate the actions, ethics and examples of our past. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

If that seems too cliche to you...well...it is, because according to a piece titled Falser Words Were Never Spoken, there is "no reliable documentary evidence" for the quotation.

Like many other powerful passages from our past, I can't help but hold a certain skepticism that this message was either intentionally or unintentionally tampered with. Well, well, well....if Gandhi were alive...he would...he would...probably just smile or laugh. You know, non-aggression and all.

I admit I have no evidence to support my tampering claim; however, I do believe that Gandhi's actual and documented words might lend a certain validity:

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.”

Finally, I'll leave you with an analogy from tech-guru Steve Jobs. He once recounted a childhood memory of a machine that would smooth out old, run-of-the-mill rocks. The process was simple: Select at least two or three jagged stones, toss them into the mechanism (which looked and functioned must like a paint shaker), and let the stones tumble around for an extended period of time. Upon retrieving them, the stones manifest a shiny, smooth finish. Wallah!!!

I've been lucky enough to experience a like process through the engagement of genuine, unfiltered, intelligent conversation. As in the analogy, when we entertain new and sometimes uncomfortable ideas with other - regardless of whether or not we accept them - we emerge as brighter, better people. This process irons out our sharp and unrefined ideas to reveal a newly-found acumen in word and thought. It's just that simple.

I'm so very grateful for my friends, and I'm especially grateful that I had the opportunity to entertain ideas with my friend Sheree' this morning.

Namaste.

The Daily Devotion: The Masks We Wear

Each of us, as some point in time, wears a mask that serves to distort our true character. How can one best characterize the masks we wear and why we wear them? Essentially, we humans adopt masks for the same base reason: Fear.

From deep within our unconscious, we allow fear to drive our actions like an automaton. We fear losing our jobs, we fear not being able to support our loved ones, we fear isolation, we fear becoming obsolete, we fear being vulnerable, we fear being perceived as weak or pitiful, we fear death (or the death of another), and we even fear life.

Marianne Williamson says, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." She continues by encouraging us not to shrink "so that other people won't feel insecure" in our presence. She encourages that we shine our brightest. No dimming necessary!

Sadly, though, I've observed how that very sentiment can be grossly deformed by being misinterpreted as permission to prop up our ego through selfish and fearful incantations. In practice, we put on our specially-tailored masks as an escape from fear - often at the expense of authentic connection with others.

Earlier tonight I attended an orientation into the Executive Leadership Doctoral program at the University of Houston. I've had the privilege to work as a graduate research assistant in this fledgling and innovative program both during my masters degree and now as a doctoral student. Experiencing this transition into a higher level of academia has fully unveiled a clear realization. That is, some pursue higher and higher levels of academia - or any prestigious endeavor for that matter - because they are innately insecure.

Let me be clear that I believe we all our own valid insecurities. However, the measure of a man's virtue, strength and sincerity is his ability to present himself in an authentic manner regardless of those insecurities. My main reason for only referencing masculine prose is because I'm specifically referencing someone that I respect greatly for his natural ability to shed his own masks. Someone who's authenticity has always impressed and astounded me.

My doctoral mentor and UH supervisor, Dr. Busch, has always modeled how to communicate authentically and treat others with kindness and compassion. That's why his students respect him as they do.

Here's a quick mental exercise: If someone offered you a suitcase filled with $100 bills simply to treat them well and actually listen to their trivial concerns, how present would you be? Pretty damn present I'm guessing. I like this analogy because that's how feel each time I speak with Dr. Busch. He has vouched for me, given me references, offered up engaging conversation, and helped me time and time again, even though I had nothing to offer in return.

We've all had "conversations" with people who were constantly peering over our shoulder for someone with more influence. Those who inspire me most, however, are those whose actions remain consistent and authentic regardless of who they interact with. Those like Dr. Busch.

The Daily Devotion: Caring for Yourself to Care for Others

Nancy Sheridan Perry's "Play at your Edge" class tonight was an absolutely empowering cap to an engaging day. Something she mentioned blended the parallel themes of my day together perfectly. Immediately following our first round of what I like to refer to as "playtime", Nancy energetically quipped, "'Watch Asana' is NOT a pose. You can access child's pose. You can access down dog. Your neighbor's mat is NOT accessible. That's their body, their life."

Today marked my return to the middle school where I teach six back-to-back (action packed) periods of yoga for fifth-, sixth-, seventh-, and eight-graders. The theme and objective today's lessons centered on "caring for yourself to care for others."

I decided that an engaging and empowering way to emphasize the concept at hand would be to share Cristina's video compilation documenting her service through the Africa Yoga Project in Kenya. The students experienced a wild combination of awe, confusion, concern and compassion for the images presented in the video.

As a way to step back from the weighty topic of global learning and service, I integrated a tool that would allow students to support their neighbor on the mat beside them. In short, a small-scale service learning. Specifically, I presented a fun partner challenge that involved holding "Sphinx Plank" for 1 minute. I also demonstrated tools that the second partner could use to verbally coach and support their partner through the challenge.

Through my experience working with youth in a variety of different educational settings, I've observed that they are greatly concerned with looking good - or, sadly, making others feel or look bad in order to boost their perceived popularity, esteem, or simply as a protective measure of the youthful ego.

This scenario is quite typical with many students at middle and high school levels - primarily because our children have been led to believe a litany of fallacies about themselves and about others. The end result of such beliefs is that our children end up lacking purpose, passion, and a strong sense of self-worth - each of which can permeate adulthood if they're not confronted and overcome.

I believe there's a strong connection between what I observed my students doing today and Nancy's words. In terms of our Sphinx challenge, the students stepped off of their mats for a single purpose - that is, to support, encourage and coach a friend or partner. And, as soon as Nancy spoke the aforementioned words of - as she dubs it - "drive by wisdom", something clicked for me.

Instead of practicing "watch asana" in my daily life, I'm committed to stepping off of my own mat with the sole intention of supporting and encouraging others. This day's experience has also taught me to be ready to support my neighbor at any moment; yet, to also respect his or her space of personal growth and experience.

I'm SO very grateful for the students I have the opportunity to collaborate with, and for having an inspiring and supportive teacher and friend like Nancy.

Namaste.

The Daily Devotion: There's Nothing Wrong with Abudance

Today marked the third year of my blissful, challenging and rewarding marriage with my beautiful, intelligent and supportive wife. And, thanks to two very kind friends, we were given a gift card for Houston's newest, premier sushi restaurant, Uchi.

Each time I pull out my most expensive digs from the closet, which aren't really that expensive and/or were usually gifted, I'm ever reminded of how truly uncomfortable I feel dressing up and going "out to dinner". Nonetheless, this sense of unease melted upon seeing the absolutely stunning woman I'm lucky enough to call my wife.

So, with an energetic burst in my step (likely an unconscious effect of my belly's anticipation) and Cristina at my side, I was ready to indulge, celebrate and savor a few tasty brews. Then, moments before reaching the door, a homeless man approach and asked for "a few dollars" - to which I offer a stock "I don't have any cash" answer as I simultaneously pressed my palms into the sides of my jean pockets.

I fully agree that there's nothing wrong with abundance, especially when its received and honored with an equally full and generous heart. Yet, as I thumbed over a wine list with a succession of $400+ bottles, I also couldn't help but reflect upon those I've worked with through In-Powered by OSA - particularly, those men still in the prison unit. My mind began to ponder and consider a reoccurring the thought. In fact, it was the very same thought that has crept up as I've continued to watch quaint bungalows in my Montrose neighborhood being demolished at incredible speed only to be replaced by very typical (and very pricey) "McMansions".

Now before you go summoning Ayn Wand back from the grave, know that I'm simply reflecting, not judging or even considering "fixing" anything. I'm simply processing something that I've never experienced before in my life: A significant imbalance between the "haves" and the "have nots".

I grew up in a small, rural Canadian town that was made up primarily of people of relatively similar (or at least comparable) incomes. Moreover, gross levels of coexisting poverty and prosperity - sometimes merely blocks away from each other - were not a significant issue in my childhood town. Again, with all of this in mind, it's unfair to compare Belleville, Ontario, Canada to Houston, Texas, USA.

Although I cannot completely figure out why, I have a welling message that's bubbling deep within the recesses of my mind. This message, which I originally heard from a First Nation's high school councilor in Ontario, says, "Progress is the enemy of culture, culture is the enemy of progress." I'm still wondering where the notion of personal abundance fits into that particular equation. I'm also wondering if the burning of these questions will ever subside.

The Daily Devotion: Message to Self

WOW! What. A. Day! Let me recap this day.

Disclaimer: This is a triumphant account, not a form of complaint, showboating, or any type of comparison to another.

I've always warmed to the quote from Roosevelt that says, "Comparison is the thief of joy." I may be dog-tired, yet I feel an unexplainable amount of joy in my heart right now. I'll admit that sometimes it just feels great to hammer out your to-do list, feel a wash of accomplishment, and have fun and learn more than you anticipated within the span of a singe day.

OK, here goes...

1. Housework and doggie care (8:00am);
2. Freelance side job editing;
3. Accomplished a ton of tasks at UH (while also managing to engage in some unabashed nerd chitchat with my professors);
4. Locked down a contract between In-Powered by OSA and the Harris County Department of Education (Whoop!!!);
5. Cooked, consumed, and conversed with a gorgeous woman;
6. Subbed 10:00pm yoga class at Big Yoga; and
7. Wrote my blog (Yeah, it's midnight...again).

So, based on yesterdays two resolutions (i.e., create life balance and sending a person blog to an actual individual), I shall end this now and send it to myself.

Dear self: GO TO SLEEP! Wake up tomorrow, and spend your wedding anniversary with the woman you love!

Sincerely,
You

The Daily Devotion: A Spoon Full of Savasana

A typically Western approach to life encourages us to make things happen, while many different Eastern approaches hold that things happen when you're ready for them. More specifically, the Tibetan Buddhism philosophy echos the adage that "when the student is ready, the master will appear." In a nut shell, only when you're ready do life's most important lessons decide to reveal themselves.

Enter (cue Superhero music..."Dun-dah-dah-dahhhh") Roger Rippy. I'm guessing I was ready for something...because his class shook me...fo' reals (His words, not mine).

To my delight, from my very first down-dog, I felt a jolt of playful, powerful prana bubbling up from beneath my mat. This abundance of energy carried me like a buoy - both anchored and drifting naturally in the midst of a turbulent tide. I'll be honest that I've been over emphasizing that yang-style persistence to "make things happen" in my life lately. At the same time, though, I fully acknowledge that my life's pace is completely unsustainable.

My practice tonight mirrored my ideal balance between play and purpose; ease and effort. And, upon finding that delicate balance, my energy grew and grew and grew. I also discovered a welcomed sensation of ease as my previous night's Yin Yoga practice began permeate my down-dog, and my warriors, and my pigeon, and...well, you get the picture.

This abundant, blissful experience notwithstanding, I could also sense a haze of resistance throughout the room. Amazingly, I felt immune to the room's interesting and heavy energetic climate. It was almost as though I was flowing through an energetic traffic jam with Matrix-like ease. Now, this is certainly not the norm for me. In fact, just like anyone who has ever rolled out their mat after a particularly stressful day, I've certainly drudged up my own pernicious and destructive forms of mental road rage. But, when ease and abundant energy decide to take control, I've learned to hang on, remain quiet and enjoy the ride.

It was subtle enough that some may have missed it, but I was finally ready to hear it. The master decided to show up. Roger said, "Know that there's a spoon full of savasana in every pose." I'm not sure whether I interpreted it too literally, but that statement registered deeply with me. Through this statement, I realized that I had to bring some "Yin" to my "Yang" in life. I had to intentionally add a spoonful of savasana, especially if I wanted to lead a creative, sustainable and healthy way of being for my friends, family and students.

Through my own interpretation, a "spoon full of savasana" means that we must invite ease into our fast-paced lives. Yet, perhaps more importantly, we must allow a part of our old selves to die away with each new challenging experience if we intend to clear space for the person we're capable of becoming.

Thank you, Roger...fo' reals!

The Daily Devotion: You Are A Guest...In This Body

Another yoga-filled day that started with teaching, was broken up by truly engaging and energizing conversation with great friends, and capped off with a blissful Yin Yoga class from Lee Zacharias at Big Yoga.

First, before I go any further, if you haven't been to one of Lee's classes...you absolutely MUST!

If the long, deep asanas weren't enough to stir up emotional "gunk" (as she dubbed it), Lee's grounding spirit and words are sure to lull your heart into quiet submission. Helllloooo yoga buzz!

Something she said fell so heavy I immediately had to sign out in agreement. She said, "Like a guest...you can wait for your body to invite you deeper into the pose." What a brilliant realization: You are a mere guest in your body.

Even before alternating to the next stretch, my mind bounded to a recent and powerfully intimate experience. A friend I know as a fellow practitioner and student at Big Yoga contacted me recently with a humble and heart-wrenching request. Sadly, her mother had passed away, and she asked me to play guitar and sing at the memorial service.

I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude and a strong feeling that I wanted to offer my love of music as a true service. This service took on special meaning when I learned that my friend had often told her mother about how I played guitar after my yoga classes.

So, what's the connection between Lee's words and this experience? Well, the connection lies in words of the minister at the memorial service. She explained that we have our physical, carnal form for a very short period. And, after we shed our physical form, invariably, we must leave for another adventure. Yet, while we have our body, it's our duty to respect it much like gracious house guest treats a hospitable host.

Think about the way we generally treat our bodies. At times, we feed it trash, douse it with poison, and push it well out of its normal biological balance. In essence, it's akin to barging into an immaculately clean mansion and pushing around the owner.

I propose a New Years resolution many may not have considered. Resolve to treat your body kindly; feed it clean food; and, serve it well. Perhaps through respecting and serving our bodies, we can then respect and serve other in kind.

Namaste.

The Daily Devotion: The Meaning of Being In-Powered

Novelty is the spice of life. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity today to teach a post-WOD yoga class at an new Crossfit box in Midtown called "Gym Bowie". The clean, state-of-the-art feel of the space, and the friendly, jovial presence of the owner, Bowie, made me feel a home right away.

Based on my own limited experience with Crossfit, I've still have lung-burning, leg-cramping post-WOD sensations seared into my muscle memory. So, my intention in leading today's class centered heavily on creating alignment, depth and ease in each pose, rather than the characteristic powerhouse Baptiste vinyasa flow session.

I officially represented Big Yoga, yet I couldn't help but relay the intention of "leaving students in their power" back to the intention behind our organization's play on words - "In-Powered".

So it goes, my primary objective - regardless of whether I'm serving as a representative Big Yoga teacher or officially representing In-Powered by by OSA - is to have each and everything student walk off of the mat feeling powerful in new and exciting way.

I am completely blown away by everyone's willingness to take on the practice today, even in spite just completing a killer workout and their self-reported "total lack of flexibility." More than this, my mind became creatively ignited by their welcomed barrage of questions before, during and after the class.

"What is the best stretch for shoulder stiffness? How can I work through tightness in my hips? How can I adjust my breath to my movement? When is the best time of day to practice yoga?"

As the questions kept pouring and pouring, I quickly realized that there were SO many body sensations I wasn't considering or modifying for because I've never felt them in my own body. Whatever happened today was akin to some form of kinesthetic-empathetic learning on my part. Whatever it was...I LOVED the novelty of it!!!

Not only did I have a great time teaching, but I walked away from my own mat feeling energized, renewed and.........

In-Powered by One Significant Act.

The Daily Devotion: Finding Your Core

After an intense and invigorating day, which consisted of teaching a 6:15am class at BIG Yoga, a private lesson with two awesome guys, and my own sweaty 6:15pm practice, one central theme kept bubbling to the surface of my consciousness.

"Uddiyana Bandha" is literally interpreted as "flying upward energy lock", and it represents one of the three classical "locks" that serve to create a synced union with the body, especially in relation to finding your "center". Without being too didactic, when you hear Uddiyana Bandha, think about drawing or sinking your navel in toward your spinal column.

In my limited experience as a yoga practitioner and teacher, I've noticed an interesting occurrence. This practice of "finding your center" is ever-fleeting that requires constant presence of mind.

In my own body, it's as though there's an internal dialogue that says, "OK core, where are you? Good...found it. Yep, definitely found it." (This phenomenon is usually sparked by a wicked bout of "Forest Abs"). Then suddenly, as my mind shifts into survival mode, I've lost my belly's engagement.

What I'm really learning about In-Powered by OSA is that it, too, is a symbolic practice of "finding our core" - that is, finding (and reminding) myself of what's important, why I'm so passionate about teaching yoga to different people, and how I can remain fully engaged throughout this journey.

If you'd like to read more about Hatha Yoga Bandhas, check out this detailed and comprehensive link:
http://www.yoga-age.com/asanas/bandhas.html

Namaste.

The Daily Devotion: The Practice of Change

A yoga instructor I admire greatly says, "You're either expanding or contracting in life." Simple.

With this in mind, here are some quick and raw sentiments from a great majority of the middle schools students I've introduced the practice of yoga:

Me: Are you ready for some yoga?

Child: Yoga? I HATE yoga! Yoga is.....(insert course and crude mischaracterization here).  

Me: Well, I invite you to try the practice and have an open mind. Ya' never know...maybe you'll like it.

Child: I DON'T. WANT. TO. DO. YOGA!!! AHHHHH!!! (Signal meltdown mode).

Me: (With a tinge of playful wit). Well, the most important part of yoga involves breathing, moving and being. Sooooo...you're actually experiencing yoga right now.

Child: I DON'T WANT.............fast forward to after the practice..............Hey yoga dude. Yoga's fun!

______________________________________________________________

Now back to the subject at hand. I'm realizing that life presents change in the exact same way:

Life: Are you ready for some change?

Child: Change? I HATE change! Change is.....(insert course and crude mischaracterization here).

Life: Well, I invite you to try the practice and have an open mind. Ya' never know...maybe you'll like it.

Child: I DON'T. WANT. TO. CHANGE!!! AHHHHH!!! (Signal meltdown mode).

Life: (With a tinge of playful wit). Well, the most important part of change involves breathing, moving and being. Sooooo...you're actually experiencing change right now.

Adult: I DON'T WANT.............fast forward to after the practice..............Hey, change can be (enter possibility here).

______________________________________________________________

You're either expanding or contracting. Touché, life. Touché.

The Daily Devotion: The Way Out Is Through

"The way out is through the door. Why is it that no one will use this method?"
~ Confucius

"The best way out is always through."
~ Robert Frost

We are escape artists. All in the name of survival. The irony of our knack for evasion is that it typically has reverse, adverse effects. 

Something truly exciting happened during meditation last night. I read a short passage that marveled at the notion that meditation was often criticized as an escape from the world. The reading posited that meditation is a escape "into" the world by being more present.

Almost immediately after starting, though, I was struck by how present felt. Specifically, I was floored by a dark feeling that arose in my mind.

I was suddenly present to a struggle I've dealt with since my youth. My conclusion: I had absolutely NO sense of how to finally overcome this challenge. I finally admitted within myself that I no longer had any tools to deal. My mind gave in...but I promise myself that I'd do my best to stay "present".

Then, something else happened: I began to see images in my mind's eye.

Images of......faces. The faces of family and friends and foes and former girlfriends (lord help me) and former girlfriends' mothers (OK, seriously?) and prisoners and students. I could see and feel a deluge of love pouring from the faces of everyone I've ever loved, felt from from, or sensed love in.

A message welled up from within: "The way out is through. The way out is through. The way out is through...their love." I can't describe the immense burst of gratitude, strength and comfort that rose up within my heart when thinking about all of those I have had the privilege to love.

Daily Devotion

A new year inevitably brings exuberant excitations: Letting go of old habits, taking on new, healthy ones, and various other forms of wonderful creation. It's hard to deny that strange pull, and the internal voice that urges us to do something.

Instead of coming from a place of should, I am creating an intention. A daily devotional blog. A service that asks for nothing in return. I'll proudly admit that I did actually pen a list of 2013 goals I'm more comfortable referring to as "Creations".

Creation number 8 reads: "Dedicate each act through In-Powered by OSA to the spirit of service and devotion." I've modified the meaning slightly, but I like the turn of phrase inspired by Radhanath Swami, an American Swami, that says we should "aspire to be the humble servants of the servant of the servant" of those we serve.

Viewing my world through the lenses of service has awakened something wonderful in my heart. I am beginning to reflect on how I can serve those I love...even those I don't know. Many questions are beginning to arise.

"How can I love my wife and family through service completely void of avarice or ego? How can I serve others through the practice of yoga? How can I serve others through my everyday behaviors?"

One of the most powerful pieces of this phenomenon is that it's completely detached from the need to drop old habits. It's just service for service sake.