Daily “Pam”-oir

Tight Hips, Tight Jaw, Tightly Wound!

11/8/09

Recording life in EXACTLY six words, this top post is updated (almost) daily with musings & memoirs. My year-long project and all entries are on The Pam-oirs

In Case You Hadn’t Noticed …

… I ran away from home!

I have not written for quite some time. I miss my writing, I miss my yoga, I miss my yoga that comes in keystrokes on a blog. When you get away from something for awhile, it’s SO hard to return to it. All sorts of feelings & resistance surfaces: how much have I lost, what if I can’t do it, who is judging me? (Could anyone be harsher on me than myself?)  “What are THEY doing here, acting like they know what to do?”

And I don’t.

“We run away all the time to avoid coming face to face with ourselves.”

~Author Unknown

But what I do know is that I have to just start today ~ not wait until  or the new year, or the first of the month, or even Monday, but right now.  So I’ve started back at my 6 word memoirs, and I rolled my mat out onto the floor, and now I’m throwing something onto this blog to see what’s going to stick, and the Nike commerical plays in my head …

Just do it. Just do it. Just do it.

And trust.

“God, why do I storm heaven for answers that are already in my heart?  Every grace I need has already been given me.  Oh, lead me to the Beyond within.”

~Macrina Wieherkehr

Everyone Likes the New Boat

Checking out the other bitches at the lake

Begging to go out to the Boat

College Advice from the Trenches

Last month, my nephew graduated from high school along with my cousin’s daughter. Family gathered at my parents’ home to mark the double celebration. One of the “gifts” was a book of advice that my sister compiled for the two inbound college freshman. She had solicited input from everyone in the family ~ young & old, 8 year-olds & college grads alike. The result was quite entertaining, inspirational, and dare I say, practical as well.

Our oldest son, Austin, will be a junior at the University of Texas this fall. During the past two years, he has experienced both dorm & fraternity living, gained entrance into the McCombs School of Business, and navigated a host of extracurricular activities. While most of us waxed poetic, offering the high school grads a half a dozen pearls of wisdom, Austin took the task to heart and delivered pointed guidance to his cousins who are about to join him in the collegiate world.

From saving money on textbooks, to getting along with others, to utilizing technology tools effectively, I found his resulting list “33 College Tips for Freshman” to be worthy of a reprint. Maybe it will make you smile, or maybe you’ll nod in agreement. Then again, maybe you’ll simply rush out to buy underwear!

Advice for the College-Bound

by Austin Walsh

1. Get gmail and learn how to effectively use it. Seriously.
2. Paper plates and cups are gifts of heaven.
3. Get a good backpack: I recommend Northface Recon Black.
4. In Microsoft Office learn to use the program OneNote.
5. You’re in college, don’t take yourself so seriously.
6. Find “your place” to study. I like big open rooms that are cold.
7. First day at dorm/apartment meet EVERYONE on your floor. Go knock and introduce yourself, ask about major, tell where you live, what you do. It may seem intimidating but you will not regret knowing everyone when your printer runs out of ink last minute.
8. Meet your RA and treat everyone nice, always say hi. I had a computer science/ philosophy major neighbor who I had nothing in common with but made friends with anyways. Saved me when computer messed up during finals.
9. Walk to class if possible, adds up to a great amount of exercise.
10. MEET YOUR TEACHERS AND TAs. Grading is an inexact science, use personal relationships to your benefit.
11. Learn how to write e-mails. Don’t use shortcuts, (almost always) address it with “Professor Blank:”.
12. Find an organization, whether it’s a major group, fraternity, sports team, whatever it is, great to have a group.
13. Don’t eat while studying, drink ice water. Keeps you hydrated and limits useless calories.
14. A great healthy meal that can be made in 45 seconds: protein scoop with water. I recommend Syntha 6 Chocolate Milkshake.
15. Be a good roommate: clean up after yourself, don’t complain, and always offer to help out with chores. Good relations can literally change your year.
16. Download audiobooks you can listen to on way to class. Vango Notes are great if your book has it.
17. Get a pickaprof account immediately.
18. Register on the first day you can, the earliest you can. Classes fill fast, make sure you know the classes and schedule you want.
19. DO NOT TAKE A CLASS BEFORE 10 am unless you absolutely have to. It is not high school, you will not wake up.
20. Go to class. Seems obvious but many students don’t. Texas tuition translates such that every class missed is equivalent of wasting $280.
21. Plan ahead, what’s your long term goal? Find a way to make it happen.
22. Don’t bring video games to college. Time waste to the max, there is plenty to do.
23. Exoficcio underwear is amazing. Can be washed in the sink and dries quick. Lifesaver.
24. Anti-wrinkle spray: also great.
25. Don’t buy books at your campus bookstore. Use chegg.com, older friends’ books, amazon.com, Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, anything. Saves me roughly $500 a year.
26. Get an online calendar, I recommend google calendar.
27. If you like studying with music: pandora.com.
28. Limit Facebook profile to friends only and don’t post stupid pictures.
29. Have a positive attitude. I’ve bombed tests with 20’s and still made A’s in the class. Not the end of the world.
30. Do homework that isn’t required, usually where test questions come from.
31. Use pickaprof to figure out how tests will be. Most professors test off of lecture, some say they will, then use test bank questions straight from the book. Know their style.
32. You can cram. Although not recommended, it is possible to make an A cramming.
33. Try and take classes back to back and don’t take more than 12-15 hours per semester. A consistent schedule will save your life.

* * *

* This summer, Austin is studying abroad with the University of Virginia’s Semester at Sea program. On board a ship with over 700 other college students from 300 colleges and universities, he will visit 8 countries in 67 days. To read more about the program and his experiences this summer, check out his blog: Longhorn at Sea.

Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome (VCFS) ~ The Personal Side

It’s Not So Much What You FEEL …

… it’s what you DO with your feelings that’s important.

This is one of my favorite quotes … And I said it! Of course, many others have said it too in some form or another (and certainly long before I ever did) but still, I’m happy I figured this one out enough to articulate it quite some time ago. I also came across the writings of John Powell quite some time ago, though they’ve sat buried on my bookshelves for many years. I remember reading him back in my early 20’s, and found him wonderfully wise even then. Nearly three decades later, I ran across one of his books and pulled it out to read. His piece below illustrates “MY” quote perfectly I am happy to say his books are still available. Little wonder really, his insights remain timeless.

The Fully Human Person is an Actor, not a Reactor

Sydney Harris, the syndicated columnist, tells the story of accompanying his friend to a newsstand. The friend greeted the newsman very courteously, but in return received gruff and discourteous service. Accepting the newspaper that was shoved rudely in his direction, the friend of Harris politely smiled and wished the newsman a nice weekend. As the two friends walked down the street, the columnist asked:

“Does he always treat you so rudely?”

“Yes, unfortunately he does.”

“And are you always so polite and friendly to him?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Why are you so nice to him when he is so unfriendly to you?”

“Because I don’t want him to decide how I’m going to act.”

The suggestion is that “fully human” people are “their own persons,” that they do not bend to every wind which blows, that they are not at the mercy of all the pettiness, the meanness, the impatience and anger of others. Atmospheres do not transform them as much as they transform their atmospheres.

Most of us, unfortunately, feel like a floating boat the mercy of the winds and waves. We have not ballast when the winds rage and waves churn. We say things like: “He made me so mad.” “You really get to me.” “Her remark embarrassed me terribly.” “This weather really depresses me.” “This job really bores me.” “The very sight of him saddens me.”

Note that all these things are doing something to me and to my emotions. I have nothing to say about my anger, depression, sadness, and so on. And like everyone else we are content to blame others, circumstances, and bad luck. Fully human people, as Shakespeare puts it in Julius Caesar, know that “the fault, dear Brutus, is not with our stars, but with ourselves.” We must learn that we can rise above the dust of daily battle that chokes and blinds so many of us. This is precisely what is asked of us in the process of growth as a person.

There is nothing implied here that suggests repression of emotions or that denies the fullness of life in our senses and emotions. The suggestion is rather of balance and integration of emotions. In fully alive human beings, there can be no such thing as either deadening or unconditionally surrendering to the senses or emotions.

Fully alive people listen to, are attuned to their senses and emotions. However, surrendering to them would imply abdication of intellect and choice. These are the precise powers that make human beings more than brute animals, though a little less than the angels.”

From Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am? Insights into Personal Growth by John Powell

New Revolution Sticky Mat from Prana: The Videos!

Prana recently released a new yoga mat, The Revolution. Over three years in development, the mat was designed by Dave Kennedy in conjunction with Anusara Yoga’s founder, John Friend. It boasts an extra 6″ width over standard mats — a special boon to those of broad shoulders — and with all-natural materials, you can rest well in savasana knowing that YOU are an ecofriend.

Revolution Natural Sticky Yoga Mat by prAna (eco-friendly!) – NEW! From DrishtiYoga.com:

Check it out, guys! This is a new yoga mat that’s just been released by prAna. prAna designed this mat with the help of Anusara Yoga founder John Friend. They claim that this is the best yoga mat available on the market, and we agree that it’s pretty darn cool. The thing that stands out most about this mat is that it’s extremely roomy. Whereas the average yoga mat is 24″x68″ in size, the new Revolution Yoga Mat is a whopping 30″x78″ – wowza that’s big! In addition to its extra-large size, the Revolution Mat is also very well-made. It’s a rubber-based all-natural yoga mat which is made with no hazardous materials (i.e. no PVC), and it’s completely biodegradable. This mat also has excellent anti-slip properties and superior cushioning. At 4mm thick, you won’t experience any moving or bunching underfoot.

The Revolution Yoga Mat is very dense (meaning that it’s therefore incredibly durable), and because of that, it has a hefty weight of about 10 pounds.

Available in grass and burnt orange. 30″x78″x4mm.

For a slightly lighterweight version of this mat which is 26″ wide instead of 30″ wide, see the Neo Natural Yoga Mat by prAna. The only difference between the Neo Natural Mat and the Revolution Mat is that the Neo Natural Mat is 4″ narrower.

A Video Revolution

The videos touting the Revolution’s release are playful, fun and artistic. Put together by Michael Longstaff (aka Milo), they are a series of promotions that emphasize the mat’s features in a fabulously creative out of the box — or should I say, “off the mat” visual array. (FYI: Michael Longstaff produced the Anusara Yoga syllabus poster “From Tadasana to Savasana” featuring Darren Rhodes. For more info on Michael, visit Tirtha Studios.)

The videos are totally fun. For those in the Anusara community, there’s an added bonus of recognizable friends. You can find these on YouTube. It will only take you about 5 minutes to watch these … and don’t miss “The Finale”!

Let’s start a REVOLUTION … order yours today!

The Joy (with Christina) ~ A Revolution Makes Christina Sell TALLER!

The Size: (look for Kelly)

The Construction:

The Smell:

The Finale: (with John Friend, Christina & Kelly Sell, Peter Goodman, Tiffany Grimm, Darren Rhodes & more!)

* * *

Do you Twitter? Follow:

• Dave Kennedy
• Michael Longstaff
• (and of course) ME!

Working Towards Kapotasana: Open to Grace

The Journey Towards My Heels

My Face Off with Change

Backbends are challenging for me — both physically and on an energetic level. And as such, it’s a curious study to watch where my mind goes throughout the course of a backbending practice: I am aggravated, frustrated, invigorated and ultimately fascinated by them. If I learn nothing else from backbends, they do illustrate & remind me of the first principle of Anusara Yoga: “Open to Grace.”

These photos were taken at our Anusara group practice yesterday with Christina Sell. For more pictures, check out Christina’s blog.

When Babies Don’t Sleep: Don’t Worry

My Baby in 1989

Earlier this week I was speaking with a friend about her 3 year-old. She was worried about his current sleep habits (or lack there of) and was looking for my “expert” advice. As the mother of three, I’ve had more than a few episodes of sleepless nights beginning with their infancy when you don’t know why they’re crying to the toddler temper “I don’t want to go to bed” to the mysterious 4th grade year of unarticulated fears that kept them from sleeping through the night and sleeping over at friends.  It’s enough to make a mother crazy.

In my search for sanity, I left no stone unturned. I read books. I consulted doctors. I talked to my friends. I pretty much tried every technique and solution that was offered. With that, three boys and 20 years later, here’s what I learned.

Don’t worry so much about letting them get in bed with you & not sleeping in their own rooms. People will say, “Oh, they need to learn to do that on their own …  You don’t want to start a bad habit … They’ll never want to sleep by themselves! … Be firm … You have to show them who’s in charge.”

But the time goes by SO FAST! Before you know it, they grow up and they’re gone, and then you’re sleepless nights are more about where they are and what they’re doing, and you’d give anything for a few more moments of that precious quiet time together.

Besides that, have you ever met an 18-year old that still slept with their parents?! So my expert advice? Relax … Enjoy … Cherish!

* * *

My "baby" in 2007 with his dad, dog & younger brother

And if you’re lucky, you DO get another one or two moments of quiet time together!

Get Out of the Drama of your Life

Most of us would agree that language is powerful and particularly its impact on our own ability to clearly see our own circumstances.  “Be careful what you say” is advice worth heeding, yet when we are in overwhelm, we typically describe the situation with the use of extreme words like always, never, and totally. This has a dramatic impact, and one that keeps us from clearly seeing the truth before us.

The following is an excerpt from Debbie Ford’s book Spiritual Divorce: Divorce as a Catalyst for an Extraordinary Life. Though her book was written to help people heal from divorce, her insight on getting stuck in the drama of your life is relevant to any overwhelming situation.

* * *

Things Aren’t Always What They Seem

Divine guidance lays the foundation that gives us the support and understanding we need to begin practicing the Law of Acceptance. Acceptance is the essential ingredient that enables us to begin the healing process. We cannot accept a situation until we’re ready to look fearlessly at the facts of our circumstances. We can’t heal what we cannot see, and we can’t heal what we cannot feel. Yet too often the pain from our past and our fears of the future keep us stuck and unable to see our lives as a whole. Our blurred vision prohibits us from being in the present and opening up to higher levels of awareness. “It is only when we have the courage to face things exactly as they are, without any self-deception or illusion,” the I Ching states, “that a light will develop out of events, by which the path to success may be recognized.”

Acceptance comes when we step out of denial and judgment and are willing to see the present exactly as it exists in this moment, without any drama or story line. Drama keeps us stuck in an endless spiral of excuses that prevent us from being able to distinguish between fact and fantasy. Our drama serves as a defense mechanism designed to protect us from the pain of our past. When we’re caught up in our drama, we are no longer living in the present moment. Instead, we get hooked into every similar experience from our past that was left unhealed. We think we are responding to the challenges of our lives when in fact we are reacting to all of our unresolved pain.

We must realize that what is happening in this moment is calling us to heal what happened to us in the past. To break free from the confines of our story we must distinguish what is real from what is unreal. What is from the past and what is happening now? What is our present day pain and what is the unresolved pain of our past?

What’s Wrong with the Yoga Craze

I just ran across a yoga article on an online fitness site Testosterone.Muscle Unapologetic Muscle-Building Elitists. (Okay, not your typical yogi reading material, I’ll admit.) Mike Robertson’s article Yoga is Overrated makes a case against the yoga fitness craze. Surprisingly, I agree with him on a number of his assertions. Be sure to read the full text of Robertson’s article, (with my apologies for the cheesecake picture at the end). A summary of his points:

Yoga the Good

1. Mind-Muscle Connection
2. Decrease Stress
3. Balance

Yoga the Bad

1. Instability
2. “Tightness” does not equal “Needs to be Stretched”
3. Group Exercise/Lack of Individualization

Getting the Most Out of Your Yoga

1. Find an educated teacher
2. Smaller classes
3. Focus on Quality vs. Quantity

His points on instability and tightness do not hold water in the context of Anusara Yoga where the emphasis is on balanced action — you do not stretch a muscle until you draw in circumfrentially with muscular energy. However, Robertson’s “Yoga the Bad” reflects what IS bad in what I’ll call psuedo-yoga offerings. Unfortunately, there are all too many of these kinds of teachers and classes, not only in the gym setting but perhaps (more damaging) in the yoga studio as well.

Just like I’m sure Robertson would agree that incorrectly performed body building exercises are not good for you, I whole-heartedly agree with his assertions as they relate to “incorrect” yoga. His tips for getting the most out of your yoga are worth heeding; his summation a great prediction:

“I may be living in a dream world, but I believe that there will be a revolution in the yoga world in the coming years that puts a serious emphasis on moving in a biomechanically efficient manner.” ~ Mike Robertson

That revolution is here baby, it’s called Anusara Yoga.

* * *

I would really love to hear your thoughts and opinions of this article, and invite you to discuss your ideas here. What do you think of his assertions? Side note: My comments are written with an obvious bias towards Anusara Yoga which I study and practice. Other yoga methods also emphasize the biomechanics and provide effective instruction (with a tip of my mat to my Iyengar friends)!

YogaGlo: A New Approach to Yoga Videos

As the self-proclaimed YogiTechChick, I’m often weighing the effects of technology on our lives. At first glance, technology and a yoga practice seem diametrically opposed to one another. By its very nature, doesn’t it take us further away from “being present”? The endless stream of text messages, emails and 24/7 connectivity certainly bears witness to this shift away from the present moment with distraction only a fingertip away.

Still, many yogis are finding constructive ways to incorporate technology in their practice. Ipods give access to yoga podcasts and practice music. Iphones offer meditation timers. From blogs to Twitter to Facebook, the growth of the online yoga community has allowed like-minded folks to inspire one another, share event notices, and build the kula.

Sites offering online classes are another tech tool yogis are utilizing. Yogaglo launched last month with that purpose and looks promising. Their site “streams yoga classes globally from the Yogaglo studio in Santa Monica, California, to create the experience of participating in the class at your home or on the go.” Currently in their beta version, Yogaglo is offering a 15-day free trial period for unlimited access to their classes which are promised to be updated regularly.

“Classes cover the spectrum of asana styles, meditation, lectures, workshops, and special events.” Their home page displays the six most recent classes and you can sort archived classes according to teacher, style, level and duration. (You can pick by Levels 1-3 and duration of practice 5 – 120 minutes.) Advertised styles include: Anusara, Yin, Hatha, Vinyasa Flow and even meditation. Teachers include: Jo Tastula, Noah Maze, Stephen Espinosa, Genevieve Fischer and Tara Judelle. (Both Tara and Noah are certified Anusara Yoga teachers.) There is also promise of guest teachers as well.

The technology integration continues with a Facebook application:

With our Yogaglo Facebook application you can become part of the global yoga community.  Your friends on Facebook who have installed the Yogaglo app appear in your Yogaglo Friends tab.  With our Facebook app, you see from your profile when your favorite class is uploaded to the Yogaglo website.

While online classes aren’t for everyone, they certainly fill a niche. If you can’t make your regular class or need some guidance for a home practice, inspiration may be just a mouse click away. For those in smaller communities without access to large studios, this may be the only way they can experience a class with a seasoned teacher without traveling. As a yogi in the 21st century, being present may just be at the end of your fingergtips after all.

Gretchen Rubin’s Ten Myths About Happiness

Gretchen Rubin writes The Happiness Project blog, a wonderful collection of ideas on happiness which includes everyone from ancient sages to new-age gurus, spiritual advisers and pop psych touters. Rubin shares her experiences “test-driving” these ideas and has written a book which will be released sometime this year.  Earlier this week, she recapped her 10 Myths about Happiness, along with links to her thoughts on each one.

Ten Myths about Happiness — Which Do You Believe?

Each day for two weeks, I posted about Ten Happiness Myths. Today, for your reading convenience, I’m posting the entire list, with links. ~ Gretchen Rubin

No. 1: Happy people are annoying and stupid.

No. 2: Nothing changes a person’s happiness level much.

No. 3: Venting anger relieves it.

No. 4: You’ll be happier if you insist on “the best.”

No. 5: A “treat” will cheer you up.

No. 6: Money can’t buy happiness.

No. 7: Doing “random acts of kindness” brings happiness.

No. 8: You’ll be happy as soon as you…

No. 9: Spending some time alone will make you feel better.

No. 10: The biggest myth: It’s selfish to try to be happier.

What do you think of her list? Are there ones you’d add or modify?  Which ones strike you in some way?

Darren Rhodes & the Making of the Anusara Poster

“Late in November 2005, we concocted a crazy plan. 1) Darren Rhodes would perform every asana in the Anusara Syllabus in two days. 2) He would do all of the poses of each type (backbends, armbalancing, forward folds etc) in each level as an uninterrupted set (for Ross’ video purposes). 3) Michael would photograph every pose for output to a syllabus poster. This is some footage from the process.” ~ Ross Evans

Those of you familiar with Anusara Yoga have seen the poster. Darren Rhodes, an accomplished Anusara Yoga practitioner and certified teacher, took on the yogic task of doing every asana on all three Anusara Yoga syllabi … and that he did. Recently, I was directed to this video which was made during the photographic shoot. The beautiful background vocals are those of Darren’s wife, Bronwin. Hanuman Jai is one of ten songs available on her CD Bhavana. In 2008, Yoga Journal named Darren one their Top 21 teachers under 40 who are “shaping the future of yoga.” You can find more information about Darren, his studio in Tuscon, and his upcoming schedule at Yoga Oasis.

* * *

SPECIAL EVENT NOTICE

Anusara Yoga Immersion with Darren Rhodes & Christina Sell in Tuscon

• Part I – August 2009
• Part II – October 2009
• Part III – December 2009

For more information, contact Rachel at Yoga Oasis

* * *

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE …

• Read Darren’s approach to Hanumanasana and see more photos of him in the Pose of the Month column for Anusara Yoga’s Currents newsletter, Winter 2008 edition.
• See photos from his workshop with Christina Sell last summer on this blog.
• Special thanks to my friend Deirdra ~ my Twitter & Facebook friend ~ for bringing this awesome video to my attention.

Pamela Attends her FIRST Fitness Class

All you need to know about a 5:30 a.m. fitness class that involved a LOT of props AND even more concentration.  If there had been a Lifetime Fitness facility in Lucy Ricardo’s neighborhood, THIS would have been the script.  STAY TUNED!

The Anusara Yoga Question: Who’s Your Teacher?

Christina Sell

The story goes that it is not uncommon for John Friend to ask a student, “Who’s your teacher?” during one of his Anusara Yoga workshops. To his experienced legion of teachers, this comes more as an inquiry about THEM than the particular individual being questioned. And as such, there are lighthearted jokes in the Anusara yoga kula ~ but with a very real undercurrent ~ when someone playfully chimes, “Who’s your teacher?”

My teacher, Christina Sell, reminded us of that sentiment frequently in the weeks leading up to John’s visit to Austin last fall. “You know what I’ve taught you,” she’d admonish, “… so do it!” But it was more than simply wanting to “look good” as our teacher. Christina believes that her role is to teach Anusara Yoga culture as well as the methodology. She wanted us to know what to expect and how to behave not just in John’s workshop, but in any setting with seasoned Anusara Yoga teachers and practitioners. With the ferocity of a mother duck quacking at the feet of her ducklings so that they can safely navigate a busy intersection, Christina shared the wisdom of her experience to help us successfully navigate a John Friend workshop.

Lately, her travel schedule has afforded many more students the benefit of that wisdom. Yet this leaves those of us in Austin without her guiding “quack.” I’ve used this time as an opportunity to explore some other proverbial intersections in the yogic world, and last week ventured into a “non” Anusara Yoga class at the studio where I practice.  While I didn’t know the particular teacher, I recognized her from one of Christina’s recent classes that she’d also attended. She came over to me and introduced herself, then added with a nervous laugh, “You’re one of Christina’s students. I don’t want YOU in my class.” I smiled at her reassuringly and casually dismissed it.

Still, as I closed my eyes, I joined my hands in anjali mudra with a prayer of acknowledgment and gratitude. “Who’s MY Teacher?”… Christina Sell.

Yeah, baby!

6 Words Inspires Creativity

"Reflections always include light and dark" ~ Ron Box

As those of you who read this blog regularly know, my 6-word memoir posts are part of a challenge I made to myself: could I write one a day for a whole year?  The project is nearing the halfway point. While sometimes I am less than inspired in my posts, I continue to find it an interesting and insightful. The daily discipline alone sparks my creativity, and reminds me that benefits come through regular practice ~ true in writing as well as yoga.

In addition to recording my thoughts here, I also keep a separate blog, The Pam-oirs, that is dedicated to my six word musings. There is no other writing included with the posts, just my daily reflection and an occasional related photograph. As such, comments on that site are rare, but recently I received one from Ron Box, a professional photographer in Brentwood, Tennessee:

“Just browsing through the blogosphere and your site caught my eye. Not an easy thing to do. A cool concept which you are executing beautifully.” He followed up with his own 6 word post: “Challenge creates growth we never expect.”

I told him I LIKED that and was going to have to share.  A day or two later, another message arrived.  “I just downloaded some new pictures on my blog and tried my hand at 6 word descriptions of each picture.” Be sure to check out his beautiful photography and creative captioning. Six words inspires creativity in many different forms.

Creative energy builds when we are in collaboration, whether that be with one another or the universe as a whole.

27 Facts You Should Know About Men

Editor’s Note: This has nothing to do with anything other than it made me laugh. An internet thing that I don’t know who wrote but enjoy!

27 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MEN

1. Men like to barbecue. Men will cook if danger is involved.

2. Men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They’ve experienced pain and bought jewelry.

3. Marrying a divorced man is ecologically responsible. In a world where there are more women than men, it pays to recycle.

4. Men are very confident people. My husband is so confident that when he watches sports on television, he thinks that if he concentrates he can help his team. If the team is in trouble, he coaches the players from our living room, and if they’re really in trouble, I have to get off the phone in case they call him.

5. Men like phones with lots of buttons. It makes them feel important.

6. Men love to be the first to read the newspaper in the morning. Not being the first is upsetting to their psyches.

7. All men are afraid of eyelash curlers. I sleep with one under my pillow, instead of a gun.

8. A good place to meet a man is at the dry cleaner. These men usually have jobs and bathe.

9. All men hate to hear “We need to talk about our relationship.” These seven words strike fear in the heart of even General Schwarzkopf.

10. Men are sensitive in strange ways. If a man has built a fire and the last log does not burn, he will take it personally.

25 Things About Me

A.K.A. Pamela’s Meaningless Self-Reflection on Steroids

The Assignment: One of your Facebook “friends” sends you this note titled “25 Things About Me” which contains random stuff: personal trivia, goals, memories, beliefs. In turn, you are suppose to write 25 things about yourself, send it back, and forward it on to 24 other “friends.” This is one of those silly things that I have succumbed to. But it took me so dang long to come up with these that I’m not just leaving up on Facebook to fade away in a few days. Thank goodness there’s blogs to permanently archive such things. With that said, here’s what happens when I have a few cups of coffee, a whole morning and my keyboard …

1. I have 3 sisters and our middle names rhyme: Gayle Denise, Sandra Elise, Julia Rene & Pamela Faye.

2. I once lied about making baklava. Told someone I made it from scratch. “You used philo dough?” she asked. “Yes, of course,” I responded. I had no clue what philo dough was … or baklava, for that matter.

3. I can recite all 50 states in alphabetical order in approximately 20 seconds. I can also do it while walking on my hands with my ankles behind my head, though it takes a little longer to reach Wyoming.

4. The first PG-13 movie I ever saw was “The Way We Were” when I was in the 4th grade. I loved Robert Redford. And I thought my Daddy looked just like him.

5. When I was in college I embraced fundamental Christianity. I went door-to-door and shared the 4 spiritual laws with people I did not know. I listened to a lot of BJ Thomas at the time, and Amy Grant too (before she went pop & that whole Vince Gill thing.)

Getting In ~ or OUT ~ of the Habit

I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am at your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me,
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed, just be firm with me.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a
machine and the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then…do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am a habit.

Author Unknown

Yoga Feed Aggregator

Earlier today, I ran across Yoga Bin, a website desribed as “your one stop shop for EVERYTHING Yoga.” I don’t know about that, but I found their blog somewhat interesting. The site is an aggregate for other yoga blogs, which is a geeky tech term that means it’s automated to go gather up and share other yoga-related posts.  That said, the posts may or may not be of much quality or even yogic value, but it IS kind of interesting. And so, I’ve added the feed to my sidebar where today (January 25, 2009) you can see such things as: a Lego figure doing Legs up the Wall pose, a news feed about Muslims in Indonesia being banned from doing yoga, (which echos some of the rhetoric from fundamental Christian groups), yoga for surfers, and weight control with your exercise ball.  I’ll keep it on the sidebar for awhile and see what happens … after all, it DID pick up a couple of MY posts so how bad can it be?!

A Historic Age: A New Age

Tomorrow is a big day, and I’m not talking about Barrack Obama’s inauguration! On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, the Goddess that IS Desiree Rumbaugh turns 50, but don’t send the AARP card just yet. One of the first yoga teachers to be certified in the Anusara Yoga method, Desiree is a gifted teacher. As John Friend said, she’s in that class of people who only need a one name introduction: DEZ!

Desiree spent her birthday weekend here in San Francisco doing what she loves to do ~ teaching yoga and inspiring her students to realize the potential that lies within them. Whether that’s the ability to touch their heads to their toes for the first time, heal their own injuries, or live a resilient and vibrant life ~ she not only talks the talk ~ she walks the walk.

All of this made her workshop ~ Late Bloomers: Over 50 ~ all that more poignant! Those who were expecting to be led in a gentle flow were quickly engaged in strength-building asanas. Desiree explained that as we age we lose our flexibility more quickly than our strength. To reestablish our flexibility we MUST build and engage our strength. From push-ups to core work, she put us through our paces with the discipline of a drill sargent. She continued, “You do not have to give up any class of poses simply because you’re aging. When you limit yourself, you limit your teaching.”

Later that evening, there was a small birthday celebration for Dez which included a Japanese Bath House adventure (another story … seriously) followed by some southern Indian food (as if I would know the difference between northern & southern Indian cuisine). Sitting across the table from this strong, spirited woman, it was hard to imagine she was about to turn 50 & especially as I watched her try to lick gelato off the end of her nose.

Frankly, I’M not sure the AARP is ready for Desiree!

Yoga & Cancer: Workshop UPDATES (direct from my Twitter feed)

Jnani Chapman is affiliated with Commonweal, a nonprofit health and environmental research institute located in Bolinas, California which conducts programs that contribute to human & ecosystem health. Commonweal’s Cancer Help Program offers a week-long residential support program for people with cancer.

• The session opened with a reflection technique, The Witness Practice, recommended for beginning yoga work with cancer patients. It is “designed to focus attention on how the body is feeling, enabling us to attend to whatever is happening in that moment.”
• As a yoga teacher or yoga therapist, being able to love, forgive & accept your SELF may be the greatest teaching/example we can give our students.
• “Fixing is the work of the ego. Serving is the work of the soul.” ~ Rachel Naomi Remen
• How to communicate with those we love who have cancer: Whenever we don’t know what to say … Say, “Honey, I love you SO much.”
• Question arose ~ Could exercise be “bad” for cancer patients? That is, make cancer spread faster? Answer: No blood flow helps general health. It is important to keep in mind that physical exertion is stress. The body needs recovery time. Exhaustion after exertion results in depletion.
• Teach how to breathe with additional focus on extended exhalation. Poor exhalation fails to rid the body of gaseous waste.
• Jnani shared a thought-provoking piece written by Rachel Naomi Remen on the difference between service & helping. “Helping is based on inequality … helping incurs debt. Service is a relationship between equals … When I help I have a feeling of satisfaction. When I serve I have the feeling of gratitude.”

“Accept what is, and know that things change.”

Yoga & Cancer: A LIVE Feed

I am sitting in my last workshop of the San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference, a one day intensive on yoga and cancer. The session is being led by Jnani Chapman, a Registered Nurse and yoga practitioner for over 34 years. She has specialized in yoga as an integral practice for cancer treatment and care for the last 23 years.

Jnani has generously agreed to allow me to set up my computer in the corner of our room and blog “live” throughout the day. So for the next 8 hours or so, I hope to share several shorter posts (which are more likely to be typo-riddled, I’m afraid.) Hopefully, it will useful & interesting.

If you happen to actually be reading this sometime during the day of the workshop — that is on Monday, January 19 — and are particularly interested in this topic, your invited to concurrently follow my Twitter updates.

My deepest gratitude to Jnani and my fellow workshop participants for allowing me to share our experience.

A Leap into Anusara Yoga with Sianna Sherman

Sianna Sherman is known for her lyrical weaving of storytelling as she shares the Universal Principles of Alignment that define Anusara Yoga. Sharing yogic stories & philosophies with a theatrical presence, a class with Sianna is like listening to a beautiful soliloquy. With an ambitious agenda to take her students into Hanumanasa, Sianna worked her magic first thing in the morning on Sunday. Say “Hello” to the hamstrings at 8 a.m.

Hanuman, the great monkey deity, was renowned for his courage, power and faithful service. As Sianna took the class through an asana sequence that opened up the hips and hamstrings, she shared rich stories and how Hanuman made his great LEAP across the continent (hence the origins of the pose) to rescue Sita for Ram.

Sianna worked the class methodically through all of the 5 principles of alignment as she shared these stories. We used a partner exercise to help gain access to the power of the standing leg in standing splits for a different variation of the pose. As the class drew to a close, we all moved into Hanumanasa, our own heroic leap of faith in the yoga process, as WELL as our hamstrings.