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Dying on the mat...in savasana, that is.

3/18/2015

Another post related to my yoga quest here in Boston,
   inspired by the overwhelming feeling of
   simply melting into the mat, peeling away the
   layers of the physical body, until only pure
   awareness remained - during savasana yesterday.

   Yes, yes, yes!

Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means “to join” or “to unite.” Yoga is physical practice that recruits the breath to unite the body/mind/spirit. Some refer to yoga as moving meditation.

A yoga class typically consists of an opening segment where the teacher calls upon the individuals to transition from the activities of the day-to-day outer world, by inviting each person to drop into a state of inner awareness. Not unlike what we do when we come together for our Monday meditation group, right? Then, the teacher will take the class through the actual practice of the postures, also known as poses or asanas.

Finally, during any respectable yoga class, you will have an opportunity to practice a posture known as savasana or corpse pose. During savasana, you lie comfortable and still on your mat. You want to remain completely alert and awake, but totally relaxed, hovering in that place somewhere between sleep and effort.   Similar to meditation, right?

On one hand, savasana is considered the most important part of yoga practice. This is because during this posture the body/mind most deeply and fully integrates the benefits of the practice. On the other hand, savasana is considered to be one of the most difficult postures. I think you can see why – relaxed yet alert – sounds simple, not at all easy.

Why corpse pose? I was taught that savasana (corpse pose) is an opportunity to “die” to our old ways of living,, you know - distracted (ignorant), avoidant, attached. During savasana we can completely let go, and therefore be “born” into the experience of the present moment. We are all dying a little all day, every day. Each breath is a new beginning – a rebirth, so to speak.

So whether it’s yoga or meditation or both, as Jon Kabat-Zinn has said – “practice like your life depends on it, because it does.”

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Who doesn't like a cool card?

3/13/2015

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Some you may know that just about a year ago, after a breathtakingly brief illness, my bestie, Jan transitioned to the otherwordly side.

She has two exceptional daughters, Stacey and Cary. Stacey and Cary call their mom - Clare. Why? that is a whole different story!

These three talented and creative women made cards together, including the paper! Over the years, I have been the fortunate and grateful recipient of many of these beautiful works of art.

Recently, Stacey and Cary, launched a their unique company called "claregoods." I suspect that cards are just the beginning for these two!

Please take a moment to learn more about their vision.
Visit their website: www.claregoods.com

Please view more cards and perhaps consider a purchase on Etsy.
Here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/claregoods

5.5 x 8.5, 100% recycled 80 lb card stock, wood free, acid-free handmade paper - BIG enough to look great in a frame!

Your purchase will support charities working to keep art and music in schools.

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Going to the Edge

3/7/2015

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   In Boston, there is a yoga studio, the Blissful Monkey, only
   two blocks from Allyson’s house. Since I can get a $25
one-time pass for unlimited classes, it seems like a
good opportunity to go to yoga while I am waiting for the
baby to arrive. I have gone three days in a row.

Boy, have I lucked out!

Each day has been a different teacher, each of them excellent.   What I have especially appreciated are the adjustments. For all you non-yogis, an “adjustment” means that, during the class, the teacher comes around and uses his or her hands/body to encourage the student’s body to go to the “edge.” This means to experience the pose as deeply as possible in that moment.   The student can assist and enhance the adjustment by using his or her breath. A deep inhalation creates space, a deep exhalation allows the body to release and relax so as to move in the desired way during the adjustment.

There is art and science to adjustment, both equally important. The science is the knowledge of human anatomy.   The application of that knowledge or lack thereof, is the art of adjustment.

This is where the whole thing gets a little trickier...

Now, you should know that not all teachers offer adjustments and not all students want adjustments. Sadly, some teachers don’t have the necessary knowledge or skill to safely apply adjustments and others can be aggressive; students can get injured. Therefore while I consider adjustments an added bonus, they are welcomed with caution until I get a feel for the teacher’s abilities.

I can happily say this: oh man, have I been to the edge!

The adjustments have been amazing. With each adjustment, I have experienced these incredible moments - I have felt my body unfold, open up, become more spacious and yet, more relaxed, while holding, what for me was, a really difficult posture. Of course, I can’t help myself from reflecting on things through the lens of mindfulness and meditation practice. These glimpses of what the body can do with a skilled adjustment, with gentle guidance, makes me think about those same types of glimpses of enlightenment that are possible during meditation. If only I had a skilled teacher to gently bend my mind!

However, during meditation, we are called upon to operate as both teacher and student, both witness and participant.

We are the teacher by witnessing, being aware of, when we appear to be at the “edge.” We use that awareness to make the adjustment - gently bringing the breath to bear on the present moment. As the student, we participate by using the breath to relax the grip, to create space, to help us unfold into the moment even while holding a difficult physical sensation, a difficult emotion, a difficult thought.

Yoga and meditation takes us to our edge and help us to not be afraid to stay there and take a look around.   We get a glimpse that enlightenment, being fully present and awake, is truly possible.

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Dying on the mat...in savasana, that is.

Who doesn't like a cool card?

Going to the Edge

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