Mind/Body Fitness
- Poses of Surrender
- Yoga as Muse
- Wii Fit Reviews
- Exploring Qi Gong
- Children's Fitness
- Eating and Fasting for Mind / Body
- Depression and Yoga
- Centering
- Olympic Yoga Competition?
- Unlocking Emotions in Yoga
Posted by
Alicia King
In a particularly yummy Yin yoga class today, we practiced a series of supported backbends. Opening my heart to the ceiling, I realized I needed to let go.
Aparigraha, the yama usually associated with abstention from greed or possessiveness also applies to the thoughts, beliefs, or stressors in our lives that we do not need or that no longer serve us.
Just as I was asked gently to scan my body in this morning's Supta Baddha Konasana to locate and release any tension I was holding onto, we must learn to release the worries, cares and concerns of our lives to the universe.
Surrendering to the support of the floor, the bolster, and pillows supporting me and keeping me safe and comfortable, what was I supposed to do? There comes a point when we can no longer hang on to the things that are harming us.
This holds true for every part of our lives.
As I wrote in an earlier blog entry, I've been struggling a great deal with depression. Those clinging, grasping, cloying thought patterns of "not good enough" and "never getting better" are one example of thoughts and beliefs I had to let go of.
Now, thanks to the safe vulnerability of yoga, I'm able to surrender to the Universe the other things I worry about in constant refrain: money, weight loss, finding my life's calling....
Just as I was asked gently to scan my body in this morning's Supta Baddha Konasana to locate and release any tension I was holding onto, we must learn to release the worries, cares and concerns of our lives to the universe.
Surrendering to the support of the floor, the bolster, and pillows supporting me and keeping me safe and comfortable, what was I supposed to do? There comes a point when we can no longer hang on to the things that are harming us.
This holds true for every part of our lives.
As I wrote in an earlier blog entry, I've been struggling a great deal with depression. Those clinging, grasping, cloying thought patterns of "not good enough" and "never getting better" are one example of thoughts and beliefs I had to let go of.
Now, thanks to the safe vulnerability of yoga, I'm able to surrender to the Universe the other things I worry about in constant refrain: money, weight loss, finding my life's calling....
Posted by
Alicia King
Access your creativity through physical activity. Particularly, the practice of yoga can be used by anyone for extra inspiration, clarification and diligence in any craft
During the past few days away at a Yoga as Muse writing workshop led by Jeff Davis, author of Journey from the Center to the Page, I learned too much about the embodied mind to fit into a single, tiny blog entry.
One of the lessons that continually occurred to me there on my yoga mat, my laptop warming my quads, was the idea of gentleness.
Jeff is a warm, gentle teacher. He approaches the world as a yogi, and behaves and carries himself with the calm and poise of a yoga teacher. Which he is. RYT Davis has studied with Sri Desikachar in India as well as other schools of yoga and meditation.
When he helped me with an adjustment in an intense twist on Wednesday morning, the thought coalesced. I never want to study with a writing teacher who does not possess the gentleness of a yoga instructor. Entrusting my writing is just as sacred, just as important as entrusting the safety of my spirit or body is in a yoga class.
Author and memoirist, University of Connecticut Writer-in-Residence, Daniel Asa Rose was a special guest in this particular workshop. Rose also exuded kindness and wisdom. Yes, they were still real people, just like the other twelve attendees, we shared meals together, learned and taught one another.
I have an overriding sensation that attending this retreat will reverberate as a turning point in this part of my life. I learned that I still enjoy performing on stage, that I still have a yen for it, and that I still have the presence and talent to be able to pursue it…. I see my next great adventure beginning to take shape.
One of the lessons that continually occurred to me there on my yoga mat, my laptop warming my quads, was the idea of gentleness.
Jeff is a warm, gentle teacher. He approaches the world as a yogi, and behaves and carries himself with the calm and poise of a yoga teacher. Which he is. RYT Davis has studied with Sri Desikachar in India as well as other schools of yoga and meditation.
When he helped me with an adjustment in an intense twist on Wednesday morning, the thought coalesced. I never want to study with a writing teacher who does not possess the gentleness of a yoga instructor. Entrusting my writing is just as sacred, just as important as entrusting the safety of my spirit or body is in a yoga class.
Author and memoirist, University of Connecticut Writer-in-Residence, Daniel Asa Rose was a special guest in this particular workshop. Rose also exuded kindness and wisdom. Yes, they were still real people, just like the other twelve attendees, we shared meals together, learned and taught one another.
I have an overriding sensation that attending this retreat will reverberate as a turning point in this part of my life. I learned that I still enjoy performing on stage, that I still have a yen for it, and that I still have the presence and talent to be able to pursue it…. I see my next great adventure beginning to take shape.
Posted by
Alicia King
Due to the "fitness" focus and the "competetive" aspect of scoring and rating performance of poses on the new Wii Fit, many yogis wonder if it's really yoga at all.
I’m currently working to unlock poses and interview beginning yogis and yoginis about their experiences with the Wii Fit. (only two more to go!)
I have a series of articles that will probably rise out of the work I’m doing now:
There are already blogs and reviews that complain of sore and strained knees. I’m beginning to understand why that is.
Please read the detailed articles for more information about saving your knees and protecting your neck while using the Wii Fit!
I have a series of articles that will probably rise out of the work I’m doing now:
- The first one is about the first four poses that are automatically available when you start up the system
- Another article will include important safety notes and modifications for the 7 poses on the Wii that you unlock and use the balance board to perform
- A third will cover the final four poses available on the Wii Fit, as well as the yoga-inspired lessons in the Strength and Balance portions of the game
- The fourth one I'm drafting will be posted under Video Games, and is my response to skeptics and yogis who think that the Wii Fit is altogether a bad idea. (My opinion, a little bit yes, a little bit no...)
- A fifth will eventually outline a yoga “class” using the Wii fit, allowing players to practice a complete yoga routine that does not follow the poses linearly, but rather in a sequence more like what you would find in a studio yoga class
There are already blogs and reviews that complain of sore and strained knees. I’m beginning to understand why that is.
Please read the detailed articles for more information about saving your knees and protecting your neck while using the Wii Fit!
Posted by
Alicia King
Qi Gong is the precursor to Tai Chi, Kung Fu, and other forms of martial arts. As a Mind / Body Fitness Technique it left me fired up and ready for more!
I'm indebted to Decatur Healing Arts for a warm and welcoming introduction to Qi Gong (or qigong, the “q” is pronounced with a “ch” sound) this evening, where my boyfriend and I attended a one-hour class.
He went in feeling sluggish and tired from workday and commute. I was curious and very nervous.
I have tried Tai Chi in the past, and I found the fluid standing motions to be daunting, especially in sequence. I know that I attach a bit too much to the outcome - concerned with being graceful, with moving in slow, soft lines. I also know that my inherent goofiness prevents me from this finesse.
Susan's Qi Gong class was taught in the lineage of Master Chen of the Wu Dang Monastery, and we practiced a series of movements called "Wu Dang Yang Shen Gong" in tonight's class. I was enchanted.
Much of the focus of attention was on the breath, which took my attention off of my oafish feet and hands and allowed me to simply follow the movements. We pushed and pulled the energy, and built a lot of heat in a powerful standing meditation pose that circulated energy and attention across horizontal and vertical planes.
By the end of the class, I had worked up a light sweat and felt far more graceful and relaxed than I'd started out. Brett felt a lot more alert and awake, and we were both hungry!
This is definitely a practice I'd love to explore. The movements were simple enough to learn, the real challenge was being aware of the breath while performing them - a true Mind-Body experience!
He went in feeling sluggish and tired from workday and commute. I was curious and very nervous.
I have tried Tai Chi in the past, and I found the fluid standing motions to be daunting, especially in sequence. I know that I attach a bit too much to the outcome - concerned with being graceful, with moving in slow, soft lines. I also know that my inherent goofiness prevents me from this finesse.
Susan's Qi Gong class was taught in the lineage of Master Chen of the Wu Dang Monastery, and we practiced a series of movements called "Wu Dang Yang Shen Gong" in tonight's class. I was enchanted.
Much of the focus of attention was on the breath, which took my attention off of my oafish feet and hands and allowed me to simply follow the movements. We pushed and pulled the energy, and built a lot of heat in a powerful standing meditation pose that circulated energy and attention across horizontal and vertical planes.
By the end of the class, I had worked up a light sweat and felt far more graceful and relaxed than I'd started out. Brett felt a lot more alert and awake, and we were both hungry!
This is definitely a practice I'd love to explore. The movements were simple enough to learn, the real challenge was being aware of the breath while performing them - a true Mind-Body experience!
Posted by
Alicia King
The only way to teach children how to make smart, healthy food and exercise choices is to lead by example. Get kids moving by moving everyone around a little!
Between the Healthy Kids Expo announcements coming from the Suite 101 home office in Canada, to reading and reviewing kids yoga books like Yoga Calm and Itsy Bitsy Yoga, it seems like I’ve been bombarded with the idea of children’s fitness and health concerns.
I also learned this week that there is going to be a wellness initiative here in my hometown led by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which is one of my favorite in-town non-profits. I’m applying for a position with the team that will be creating their new web portal. What an exciting opportunity to do something that can help shape the lives of children and families!
Include the Kids Every Day
Right now, I’m frustrated about my own weight gain, and I knew that the key to getting myself up and moving would be to have support from my family. Getting the boys on bikes and out rolling around the countryside has been a great motivator!
Plus, it's easier to make healthy meal decisions when the whole family is eating something nutritious together. There's nothing that drives me crazier than cooking separate meals for everyone!
So, whether your concerned about your own fitness, your spouse's or the kids' - the solution is to support one another as a team, and to learn about choices you can make together, as a family. Starting or joining a community garden is a great way to ensure that your family has a ready supply of fresh, local organic vegetables!
We all know that children learn best by example, so it makes sense to include your children in the choices you have to make for everyone on a regular basis!
I also learned this week that there is going to be a wellness initiative here in my hometown led by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which is one of my favorite in-town non-profits. I’m applying for a position with the team that will be creating their new web portal. What an exciting opportunity to do something that can help shape the lives of children and families!
Include the Kids Every Day
Right now, I’m frustrated about my own weight gain, and I knew that the key to getting myself up and moving would be to have support from my family. Getting the boys on bikes and out rolling around the countryside has been a great motivator!
Plus, it's easier to make healthy meal decisions when the whole family is eating something nutritious together. There's nothing that drives me crazier than cooking separate meals for everyone!
So, whether your concerned about your own fitness, your spouse's or the kids' - the solution is to support one another as a team, and to learn about choices you can make together, as a family. Starting or joining a community garden is a great way to ensure that your family has a ready supply of fresh, local organic vegetables!
We all know that children learn best by example, so it makes sense to include your children in the choices you have to make for everyone on a regular basis!
Eating and Fasting for Mind / Body
Posted by
Alicia King
Attentiveness to food choices is an important part of achieving balance a creating healthy habits.
At first, I was startled to find Barbara DeNatale's article "Organize Your Kitchen and Get Fit" here in the Mind / Body Fitness category.
Then I began to consider how our food choices reflect so many things about the rest of our lives, and I realized that her wonderful article belonged here after all.
Self-Care
Above all, eating is an act of self-love. It is the most nurturing thing we do for our bodies every day. What we choose to eat, how we prepare it, the thought and effort that goes into our food is reflective of the amount of care we choose to pay ourselves.
Some people undertake special diets or fasts to cleanse their bodies of toxins, and if that's what your body is asking for, then that's what you should do.
My body doesn't like wheat. I've been eating wheat-free, gluten-free for about three years now, and I can tell a huge difference in my health and sense of well-being. In honor of this particular brand of self-care, the articles I posted this morning were actually in the Baking section, regarding flour conversions and binding agents for wheat-free baking.
Raising Consciousness
As environmental awareness grows, consumers are increasingly concerned whether produce is organically and locally grown. We are protecting our bodies from chemicals and pesticides, as well as protecting the earth from the impact of shipping large quantities of food across long distances. These choices also reflect the kind of impact we are willing to have on the world around us.
You might take a moment to consider again the old adage "you are what you eat" in terms of how well you treat yourself, or your world. Think about how you might be able to be kinder to yourself in terms of what you eat.
Then I began to consider how our food choices reflect so many things about the rest of our lives, and I realized that her wonderful article belonged here after all.
Self-Care
Above all, eating is an act of self-love. It is the most nurturing thing we do for our bodies every day. What we choose to eat, how we prepare it, the thought and effort that goes into our food is reflective of the amount of care we choose to pay ourselves.
Some people undertake special diets or fasts to cleanse their bodies of toxins, and if that's what your body is asking for, then that's what you should do.
My body doesn't like wheat. I've been eating wheat-free, gluten-free for about three years now, and I can tell a huge difference in my health and sense of well-being. In honor of this particular brand of self-care, the articles I posted this morning were actually in the Baking section, regarding flour conversions and binding agents for wheat-free baking.
Raising Consciousness
As environmental awareness grows, consumers are increasingly concerned whether produce is organically and locally grown. We are protecting our bodies from chemicals and pesticides, as well as protecting the earth from the impact of shipping large quantities of food across long distances. These choices also reflect the kind of impact we are willing to have on the world around us.
You might take a moment to consider again the old adage "you are what you eat" in terms of how well you treat yourself, or your world. Think about how you might be able to be kinder to yourself in terms of what you eat.
Posted by
Alicia King
Using the principles of mindful speech to work on mindful self-talk can be an effective way to overcome depression.
I have written a few articles about Mindful Speech, and Complaining Mindfully. Mindful speech reminds us to ask ourselves if what we are about to say is true, kind, and necessary.
I've been a bit behind in my article postings - and my blogs - because for the past few weeks I've been depressed. I didn't know how depressed until my boyfriend made me promise him I would go see my therapist....
These topics are far more closely related than most people realize. The thing is, ahimsa and satya apply to our self-talk just as much as they speak to how we treat the rest of the world.
Depression is caused by habitual thought patterns that repeat themselves like destructive mantras. We hurt our own feelings with these thoughts. The trick is to slow down, and examine the thoughts. Approach each one individually and assess it, just as you would some comment that you were about to make:
I've been a bit behind in my article postings - and my blogs - because for the past few weeks I've been depressed. I didn't know how depressed until my boyfriend made me promise him I would go see my therapist....
These topics are far more closely related than most people realize. The thing is, ahimsa and satya apply to our self-talk just as much as they speak to how we treat the rest of the world.
Depression is caused by habitual thought patterns that repeat themselves like destructive mantras. We hurt our own feelings with these thoughts. The trick is to slow down, and examine the thoughts. Approach each one individually and assess it, just as you would some comment that you were about to make:
- Is it True? Look at the false logic, pick it apart, then you can discount the thought!
- Is it Kind? Depression is caused by unkind self-talk. Tell that snarky voice in your head to back off!
- Is it Necessary? It's your brain's job to think. You aren't going to be able to stop the stream of thoughts swirling around in your head. Using Yoga to slow them down and look at the thoughts objectively will allow you to discern which thoughts help you, and which ones hold you back.
Posted by
Alicia King
Yogi turned amateur potter considers a new vocabulary, can bring a new dimension to a practice.
Yesterday, I went to a pottery studio to try throwing for the first time. Under tutelage, I wasn't bad. The instant the instructors stepped away, things got wonky.
I've never wrapped my knees around a wheel before. Wrapping my mind around the effects of centrifugal force on my little tea mug was tough enough, let alone considering how to maintain the structural integrity of the whirling white glob in my hands.
Centering
The first lesson in pottery is Centering. In pottery terms, this is how one ensures that the unformed clay is in the exact center of the spinning wheel. The palm of one hand is providing firm strength and stillness, while the outer edge of the other hand is guiding the top of the clay downward.
The position of the two hands in this act made me think of Tai Chi’s “Jug of Life” position. Perhaps that’s not such a strange analogy, on further consideration.
When clay is perfectly centered on the wheel, you can curl your hands around the outside of the whirring unformed object-to-be, and feel no wobbling, no distortions, nothing but smooth roundness and a solid, firm base for your work of art.
Staying Centered
It turns out, my personal pottery challenge is not in getting the clay centered, but in keeping it centered as I work the form into a new shape. I can create the base of the peice. Trouble begins when I start pulling at the edges to bring them higher.
In yoga, this is similar to the transition of taking the meditative awareness generated in Sukhasana (Easy Pose) and maintaining it as you lengthen and straighten your spine in Tadasana (Mountain Pose).
I've never wrapped my knees around a wheel before. Wrapping my mind around the effects of centrifugal force on my little tea mug was tough enough, let alone considering how to maintain the structural integrity of the whirling white glob in my hands.
Centering
The first lesson in pottery is Centering. In pottery terms, this is how one ensures that the unformed clay is in the exact center of the spinning wheel. The palm of one hand is providing firm strength and stillness, while the outer edge of the other hand is guiding the top of the clay downward.
The position of the two hands in this act made me think of Tai Chi’s “Jug of Life” position. Perhaps that’s not such a strange analogy, on further consideration.
When clay is perfectly centered on the wheel, you can curl your hands around the outside of the whirring unformed object-to-be, and feel no wobbling, no distortions, nothing but smooth roundness and a solid, firm base for your work of art.
Staying Centered
It turns out, my personal pottery challenge is not in getting the clay centered, but in keeping it centered as I work the form into a new shape. I can create the base of the peice. Trouble begins when I start pulling at the edges to bring them higher.
In yoga, this is similar to the transition of taking the meditative awareness generated in Sukhasana (Easy Pose) and maintaining it as you lengthen and straighten your spine in Tadasana (Mountain Pose).
Posted by
Alicia King
Competitive Yoga sounds like an accident waiting to happen, but there's been a World-Wide Yoga Championship since 1989. What do they do? Levitate?
According to this report, the World-Wide Yoga Championship has already written the rules on winning at competitive yoga. Yogis perform a series of postures "for 120 to 150 seconds each" (I'm a little confused by the coverage at this point. Are the poses held for two minutes, or are the "routines" 2 - 2.5 minutes long?).
Scored on a ten-point scale on flowing movement, steadiness, alignment, and... serenity? Apparently, if the contestant shows effort or stress they are marked down.
Competitive Yoga Causes Injuries
Granted, yoga does not have to be a pathway to spiritual enlightenment for every person who sits on a mat. I can accept that for some folks, it's just a relaxing, low-impact workout that makes doing other fitness activities easier. To some people, yoga is just stretching with music. I get that.
However, trying to force your body into any pose is an easy way to hurt yourself. Paying attention to what you could do yesterday instead of what your body is doing today is dangerous. Let alone trying to out-bendy the gymnast two mats down.
As far as the "spiritual path" side of the argument goes, there are Martial Arts in the Olympics, as well. (Though you don't see non-combatant sorts clamoring for a medal...) I'm not going to string that harp.
Like Giving out Gold Medals at a Scrimmage
My yoga teacher once pointed out that the greatest gurus refer to yoga as "Practice". It's not Yoga Perfection. It's not Yoga Mastery. It's PRACTICE.
If this mentality helps us to relieve ourselves of just a little bit of stress... isn't it worth it?
Scored on a ten-point scale on flowing movement, steadiness, alignment, and... serenity? Apparently, if the contestant shows effort or stress they are marked down.
Competitive Yoga Causes Injuries
Granted, yoga does not have to be a pathway to spiritual enlightenment for every person who sits on a mat. I can accept that for some folks, it's just a relaxing, low-impact workout that makes doing other fitness activities easier. To some people, yoga is just stretching with music. I get that.
However, trying to force your body into any pose is an easy way to hurt yourself. Paying attention to what you could do yesterday instead of what your body is doing today is dangerous. Let alone trying to out-bendy the gymnast two mats down.
As far as the "spiritual path" side of the argument goes, there are Martial Arts in the Olympics, as well. (Though you don't see non-combatant sorts clamoring for a medal...) I'm not going to string that harp.
Like Giving out Gold Medals at a Scrimmage
My yoga teacher once pointed out that the greatest gurus refer to yoga as "Practice". It's not Yoga Perfection. It's not Yoga Mastery. It's PRACTICE.
If this mentality helps us to relieve ourselves of just a little bit of stress... isn't it worth it?
Posted by
Alicia King
With breathing and stretching, any yoga practice can stir up strong emotions. Understanding that this is a common phenomenon helps us make use of this powerful tool.
Yesterday, I felt glum. I had called off work with a migraine, and after I woke up with the headache subsiding in the early afternoon, I proceeded to sit in the dark and berate myself for all of the things I wasn't accomplishing.
As the afternoon grayed into twilight I realized I was getting nowhere with these blue thoughts, so I decided to run through a brief relaxing yoga routine. I hoped to do something to get me out of my head; maybe I could even relax my tense neck and shoulders.
By the time I began my first Downward-Facing Dog pose I was crying. Bending my knees and sinking back into Child’s Pose, I curled in on myself in the fetal position and let the tears flow. Consciously, the only thing I concentrated on was keeping my belly soft, and observing the emotions as they washed over me.
I have never responded so strongly to down-dog before, but I’ve known other yoga poses to affect me emotionally. Sometimes inversions, sometimes backbends are what bring subconscious feelings bubbling to the surface; at other times it’s a hip-opener that cracks the façade.
Consciously, I could only allow myself to feel sad and a little sluggish. I wasn’t able to tap into these deeper, more raw-feeling emotions until I slowed down and listened. The beauty of Mind / Body practices such as yoga is that it provides a safe, gentle place to feel whatever we need to feel, and to be whomever we are in that specific moment. It allows us to become more real.
As the afternoon grayed into twilight I realized I was getting nowhere with these blue thoughts, so I decided to run through a brief relaxing yoga routine. I hoped to do something to get me out of my head; maybe I could even relax my tense neck and shoulders.
By the time I began my first Downward-Facing Dog pose I was crying. Bending my knees and sinking back into Child’s Pose, I curled in on myself in the fetal position and let the tears flow. Consciously, the only thing I concentrated on was keeping my belly soft, and observing the emotions as they washed over me.
I have never responded so strongly to down-dog before, but I’ve known other yoga poses to affect me emotionally. Sometimes inversions, sometimes backbends are what bring subconscious feelings bubbling to the surface; at other times it’s a hip-opener that cracks the façade.
Consciously, I could only allow myself to feel sad and a little sluggish. I wasn’t able to tap into these deeper, more raw-feeling emotions until I slowed down and listened. The beauty of Mind / Body practices such as yoga is that it provides a safe, gentle place to feel whatever we need to feel, and to be whomever we are in that specific moment. It allows us to become more real.