ARTFUL GATHERINGS

Devotion

Devotion or isvara pranidhaha, is the last of the niyamas.  What does this word mean to me? At this moment it means sheets of yellow legal pad paper filled with scribbles and many booked marked pages on the Internet. It has been years since I have written a formal paper and I am finding myself overwhelmed with this task. But my love of yoga and the thought of becoming a yoga teacher keep me moving forward.

In some ways the writing of this paper is an example of my “devotion”. My life is busy, complicated, convoluted, and never straightforward. To pursue my yoga dream I have to relinquish control of my kids, house, animals, and garden to my husband for an entire weekend(6 separate weekends). I have to venture to strange yoga studios where not one face is familiar. Learn Sanskrit when I still have not mastered the English language. Now I have to write a paper and all I want to do is flop on the sofa and watch the Confessions of a Shopoholic. But I am devoted to my yoga teacher training, so I sat down and looked up at the ceiling and said God you have to make this paper happen. Please organize all these jumbled thoughts in my head into words that make sense.

I have spent the past two weeks working with 27 children. I have been assisting with a musical theatre workshop. One day I helped 27 kids paint 27 chairs. (Well no not by myself.)

This morning I helped these same 27 children organize their costumes. This afternoon a member of the cast, who is an autistic ADHD 12 year old boy, sang Alone in the Universe from the musical Suessical. This child has the voice of the angel and brought tears to the eyes of everyone in the theatre. I was mesmerized by his performance.

When I have not been at the theatre I have been gathering quotes for this paper. In one of my Internet searches I came upon this unrivaled definition. ….Ishvara Pranidhana, meaning centering on God. This ancient concept gives freedom for each individual, sect, culture and tradition to choose the name, quality and aspect of the divine most suitable for worship or devotion. It is based on a respect for each person’s right to access the divine in his or her own way. There is recognition that the person or culture chooses an ideal in life upon which they may develop an individual and personal way of connecting with the divine. This attunement to God has taken many forms over time and across the planet. Swami Shraddhananda (Maureen Dolan)

 I have been trying to orchestrate a paper around this quote. I have found myself hitting the same brick wall over and over and feeling a complete failure. All I have accomplished is alienating all those around me by my constant whining, “ I have to write a paper and I am to old to do this.” But maybe I am simple trying to hard and I must relax and realize that this paper does not have to be an intellectual masterpiece but something real.

Now I get it. Ishvara Pranidhara is truly about letting go and relinquishing my daily life to a higher power. I need to stop searching for answers on the Internet and just pay attention to my everyday life. By being devoted to 27 kids for two weeks brought me amazing gifts and insights. God has been with me there every day and the more I relinquished my control the more amazing things I witnessed. I will  always remember today Zephyr standing straight and tall as his voice reverberating throughout the theatre.  The chills that went through my body as I heard God say he is one of the special ones please do not control him I will. 

Live every day being guided by a higher power and try to stay open to all the answers that God is giving you. There is my answer to the question, “ What does devotion mean to me?".

Painted chair

Today I had a wonderful time helping 27 kids paint their own chair to be used in a Musical Theatre Workshop.  Okay there where a few stressful moments but once I saw the chairs lined up all my stress dissipated. I was so upset I had left my camera at home but thank goodness for cell phones. So tomorrow I will take close up pictures of these charming, whimsical, and unconventional folding metal chairs.

At this moment I am comfortably  propped up in my bed mesmerized by the Michael Jackson specials on television. I am enthralled by all Michael's humanitarian  efforts through the years. 

Summer Is For Play

I hate making important decisions in the summer. I think there should be some world wide policy about no decision making in June, July and August. Summer should be all about play.  No stresses, just enjoying delicious local fresh fruits, vegetables and ice cream. Now that I have made these statements it would be hypocritical of me to share my angst on a decision I need to make. I will continue to enjoy my summer and practice allot of yoga . I need to  incorporate what I am learning into my daily life. At the moment I am writing a paper about Isvara Prandihama " The essence of this Niyama is acting the best we can then relinquishing all attachments to the outcome of our actions. Only by releasing our fears and our hopes for the future can we really be in union with the present moment" Judith Lasaker ".  I do believe I need to make my decision and move on and not worry about the outcome. As Pat so clearly stated, stop waffling. Really I do not want to bogged down with all this stuff....... I just want to enjoy the summer.  

Summer is here.....yeah!

Beach Life

I love being at the beach. The Hydrangeas are stunning. So many places to walk to anytime of day....The coffee shops open by 6 a.m.. 

Beach days with my two sisters,7 kids and three dogs. Two of my children are with me but I left my dogs at home. Thrilled not to have to worry about my critters for a couple of days only to be adopted by my sister's dog who also likes my bed.

Life

Just as the limbs on the butterfly connect into the same body (yoga), all eight limbs of yoga affect a person simultaneously. You can’t really disconnect a person from their natural aspects or limbs. So yoga is operating in our lives whether we’re aware of it or not. Brooks Hall

Last weekend I am completed my second twenty hours toward my 200 hours RYT at Sol Yoga. 

In between reading about yoga and spending time with my family, I am trying to clean up my garden and my house.

As I am studying the Yamas and the Niyamas(The first two limbs that Patanjali describes are the fundamental ethical precepts called yamas, and the niyamas. These can also be looked at as universal morality and personal observances. Yamas and niyamas are the suggestions given on how we should deal with people around us and our attitude toward ourselves. The attitude we have toward things and people outside ourselves is yama, how we relate to ourselves inwardly is niyama. Both are mostly concerned with how we use our energy in relationship to others and to ourselves. William J.D. Doran) I am now realizing how these precepts correlate to my daily life. Everyday is a new learning experience.

Weekend

I have not been posting as much because life has been busy. School ending, dance ending, and summer beginning. I love this picture, the boys cooking. I wish it happened more because they are both good cooks.

Bunny is getting big and I do not know what to do with his cage for the hot summer months.

Eight  grade formal was Friday night.

I just finished my second weekend of yoga teacher training and I am thoroughly and completely exhausted. When people ask me why I am doing this I find myself unable to explain my inner devotion to yoga. I thought I would share why others do yoga.

WHY PRACTICE YOGA?

 

“I did not come to yoga to stretch. I came to live.” Maya Breuer

 

“Practicing asanas began to teach me about myself. The body is such a great school of learning. It makes you pay attention.” Lilias Folan

 

“The challenge, and the opportunity, that Yoga presents to us is the possibility of breaking the conditioning cycle. We do this by becoming aware of the depth and pervasiveness of our patterns and, at the same time, by working to change them. And true transformation begins at the moment that we become aware of our actual condition.” Gary Kraftsow

“What I want to say is that there is a strong relationship between yoga on the mat and yoga off the mat. I’ve really come to believe that the energy accumulated in practice has a lot to do with my ability to get clarity about the reality of things.” John Friend

ON HOW YOGA HAS CHANGED THEIR LIVES

 

“People sometimes ask me what difference practice has made in my life. The answer is it’s changed everything for me. And, in a funny way, it’s changed nothing." Lama Surya Das  

 

“The most profound benefit of yoga and meditation for me has been a natural relaxing into my life. Obstacles are not so scary. I am more fluid, more curious, and at the same time more patient. I have more options for happiness because I don’t require specific conditions. It is a relief to discover that I can be happy even if the world doesn’t revolve around me or my agenda.” Cyndi Lee

 

“When I started doing asana, the yoga postures, I had a very strong feeling of many unnecessary things dropping away – especially tension and inadequacy.” Patricia Sullivan

 

My Weekend

I had a lovely weekend. I spent many hours gardening. I love my flowers, bushes and trees. After so many years I think my garden is finally flourishing.

New

A new scanner and some art.  

Yoga

The rythm of the body
the melody of the mind
& the harmony of the soul
create the symphony of life B.K.S. Iyengar

My first weekend is finished. My first weekend of many on my journey to become a yoga instructor. A RYT 200 hour program. An amazing weekend, so much to absorb, assimilate, and grasp. I was going to write "become proficient" but I am not sure that is possible with yoga. I believe it is an on going learning process. Always  learning about oneself as well as ones students. 

"We begin where we are 
and how we are and whatever 
happens, happens."  
 T.K.V. Desikachar 

I had been searching for a meaning or understanding of my life when I found yoga. This weekend I felt like I was being told to stop searching and just live. To become a part of the process of ever day life. No wanting,striving or guilt. Start each day with my highest intentions and then enjoy the process. Always remember...... Whatever happens, happens.