Have You Filled a Bucket Today...

One of my students, Stacey,  who is a school teacher brought in a book for me to read the other day.  I love when students recommend or bring in books , wanting to share their new found knowledge with me.  But this was the first time it was a kids books.

The name of the book is "Have You Filled a Bucket Today"?  Stacey knew that we were practicing random acts of kindness for the month and this book is so appropriate.  Some of the local school systems have brought in this book to the class rooms to teach kids how to fill up others buckets and making sure they understand that is the only way to fill up their own buckets.  Someone who fills up other's buckets with good is a "bucket filler" and someone who dips into other buckets is a "bucket dipper".  Just for clarification a bully would be categorized at a "bucket dipper".

I think that this book should be mandatory reading for kids of all ages.  I read it last Sunday to my yoga teacher training class and had to stifle a little laugh.  As I read, I looked around our circle, they all looked so wide eyed and innocent, like a little group of kindergartners. It was so cute.  But it got the point across.  It's never too early or too late to learn how to perform random acts of kindness.

 

But I know one thing for sure, I want to be a "bucket filler" when I grow up.  What about you? Oh and of course, don't forget to breathe.

Day 9.....

Are you already running out of ideas for the 30 day challenge of random acts of kindness?  I hope not but if you are here is one that always a sure fire hit....make eye contact with someone and just smile!

Day 5.....

"Wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference."

 

 

                                                                  ~Kevin Heath~

Day Three.....

“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”

 

                                                                                                        ~Scott Adams~

30 Day Yoga Challenge (Off the Mat)

If you opened this expecting to read about a 30 day Sun Salutation challenge, it's not.  But for some of us it may be harder to do.

 

I am asking everyone, for the next 30 days, to perform at least one random act of kindness each day, preferably anonymously.

  

Why? Because it's time to change the world one kind act at a time, because it's a win-win for everyone.

  

Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky found that by performing five small acts of kindness/week, particularly a variety of them all in one day, can boost our moods. Dopamine levels raise in the brain and activate the brain's pleasure centers. We are stimulated immediately but the effects also last over time. Not only do random acts of kindness make the person receiving the kindness feel good, but think of the benefits for the person performing the random acts of kindness!

 

If you follow us on Face Book we will share  an inspirational quote each day for the next 30 to help keep you on track. I will also do my best to post here a little more regular with words of encouragement.  If you would like to share some ideas, that would be appreciate.  Anonymous is better but all random acts of truly appreciated.

 

Come and join the revolution and become warriors of peace one act of kindness at a time and don't forget to breathe.

 

Blessings,

All Up in Arms

That's me in the picture on the left. Well at least me from the back.  I posted this picture to share a aha moment I had the other day.  As I have previously stated, I have been a student of yoga for over 12 years.  Most of that time I have practiced without the benefit of mirrors.  We don't have mirrors in the practice room at Santosha which was deliberate.  I don't think they belong there but that is my opinion and I truly respect others who disagree.

I was doing a few Sun Salutations the other day in one of our massage rooms, which has a mirror.  I happened to glance up and saw my reflection.  Low and behold, my arms don't match. Who knew?

See how the left one has more of a bend in the elbow even though I was extending the same amount of energy in both arms (so I thought).  Both of my pinkie fingers are reaching toward the back of the room but the rotation of my left hand is much less than my right.  And if you look closely, my left shoulder is a little higher than my right. Again, who knew?  I have never had any surgeries or injuries to that shoulder to cause the difference.

This brings us to my aha moment.  This is my body today, this is me.  It is different than the body I had yesterday and will be different again tomorrow.  No one has a perfect body.  They don't exist and this point I will argue.

Come to yoga with the body that you have, be proud of who you are. The position of my arms aren't an imperfection, it is a sign of my uniqueness. Does the fact that I now know what my arms look like change my practice in any way, not at all.  In fact I find it quite amusing.  It reminds me that I am an individual and that is something no one can take away from me.

Embrace who you are today, come to yoga and just breathe.....

The Yin & Yang of It All

We started another 200 hour teacher training program at Santosha a few weeks ago and I have been introducing the importance of both yin and yang poses in the practice of yoga.

Without getting too technical (life seems complicated enough at times) yang is a more muscularly active pose while yin still has some muscle to it but the poses (seated) are held for a longer period of time, usually 1 to 3 minutes.  Yin poses are needed to help break up "the fuzz" that accumulates between our muscles while we sleep or due to an injury. Remember the old saying "if we don't use it, we will loose it". Exactly!  If you want to learn more about "the fuzz" check out "The Fuzz Speech" by Gil Hedley.  HOWEVER...if are squeamish you may want to pass on this as he does use a cadaver for demonstration.

So, getting back to yin and yang, we need both in our practice to balance out because isn't that what a good portion of yoga is about bringing everything into balance?  Learning to breathe the same whether we are in a yin or yang pose?

This reminded me of how everyday of our life we encounter yin and yang.  Soft and strong.  But can we learn to bring a balanced breath throughout all of it.  Of course we can.

I will even suggest a topic in your life to help you practice this.  Gas prices.  They go up and they go down. Back and forth, yin and yang.  Can complaining, worrying, getting angry or stressing change the gas prices. No.  Can we change how we react to it? Yes.  Getting upset has no effect on lowering the gas prices and being ecstatic when they go down doesn't guarantee that they will stay there.  See where this is going.  It's all about balancing of the yin and yang of our life. Trying to work though it all with the same quality of breathe and mind.

If this concept doesn't speak to you yet then come and try it on your yoga mat first,  work through the breath and the poses, both yin and yang.  Once that feels second nature to you then you are ready to take it off the mat and of course don't forget to breathe.

P.S. Go Tigers!