Mind-Body Yoga of Butler's August blog, by Roger Fallecker

Finding My Way Om

Two people walk into a yoga studio (I know, this sounds like the beginning to a cheesy joke, right? …but seriously…).  One is having a difficult day.  She steps onto her mat looking for a good workout.  She wants to get sweaty, go home, take a shower and relax, putting this day behind her.

The other is having a day that’s normal in most respects.  After exchanging greetings with others in the class, she steps onto her mat, and begins to slow and deepen her breathing.  She draws herself into the present moment, turns inward and purposely pays no attention to the activity around her.  For the next 60 minutes, she is focused on her breath, her body’s motion and the instructor.  She treats this class as a mental “reset switch”, grounding her and bringing her back to center from the dozens of issues she considers on any given day.

Both leave the studio happy with their hour of yoga.  They were in the same class, but each had a different experience.  Neither is a better yoga student than the other.  Each got out of the practice what they wanted.  The point is that yoga is different things to different people, and that is how it should be.

To me, yoga is (among other things) a journey.  I love that my yoga is a journey with no end in sight.  I’m excited and curious about what lies around the next bend.  For me, the next bend in my yoga journey takes me directly into the heart of Kundalini yoga.

By now, most of you know I’ll be out of the studio for the month of August.  I’ve told you this trip is for yoga teacher training.  It lasts 27 days…an “immersion” they call it.  I’ve mentioned the vegetarian-only menu.  You’ve heard about the absence of chairs to sit on, and the 3:00 a.m. wake-ups.  But I haven’t taken time to explain Kundalini yoga.

In August, 43 yogi’s and yogini’s (boy yoga people and girl yoga people) from 13 countries will converge on Espanola, New Mexico at the Kundalini Research Institute’s central training facility, known as Hacienda de Guru Ram Das.  These 27 days will forever be a nexus in our collective yoga journeys.  We range in age from 23 to 60 (yay! I’m not the oldest!).  I’m anxious to hear what brought them from as far away as Australia and Taiwan, and I plan to share some of the stories with you in the months to come.  But…back to Kundalini yoga…

The name “kundalini” refers to an energy that lies within each of us.  This energy lies at the base of our spine, coiled (like a snake) and waiting to be drawn up through our body, following a path that roughly approximates our spinal column.  Along this path, which is called the sushumna nadi, are located a number of energy centers called chakras.  Some yogic schools of thought recognize seven main chakras, Kundalini yoga recognizes eight, the eighth being your aura, the electromagnetic field that surrounds each of our bodies.  The chakras exist in our astral or subtle body, not our physical or gross body.

Before you scoff and roll your eyes, consider that historically, science never accepts something it can’t detect or quantify in some way.  Like the earth being round, instead of flat, or for that matter, the earth NOT being the center of the universe, or gravity, or that our physical world is made up of tiny little things called atoms, which is an entire school of thought that’s evolving even as you read this.  Also (for doubters), search “Kirlian photography”, for images of auras.  Search “Caduceus”, for images of the coiled snake, and “national flag of India”, for a chakra.

Swami Vivekananda is credited with introducing yoga to America in 1893 at the Parliament of Religions, in Chicago, but it wasn’t until January, 1969 that Yogi Bhajan came to America (Los Angeles) and began to share Kundalini yoga, which had been kept a secret in India until that time.  He founded 3HO (Happy, Healthy, Holy Organization), and later, with followers, started the Kundalini Research Institute.  Yogi Bhajan left this existence in 2004, but many of his original students are now instructors at the immersion training at Hacienda de Guru Ram Das…I’ll be studying only one generation removed from the master!

Those of you who know me know that I could go on and on…and on, so…

Back to yoga being different things to different people:  If all you want from your yoga is a stretch out or a workout, that’s absolutely perfect for you.  But, yoga offers more, if you are interested.  If you take yoga to its “end point”, the goal is to unite the “individual’s unit consciousness with the infinite consciousness” (italics by Yogi Bhajan).

Yoga is not a religion, but yoga, in general, is a spiritual science.  You squint your eyes and ask, “Ok, so what does that mean?”

To call something “spiritual” infers that it affects the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.  To engage in a spiritual activity can (if you wish) give you a feeling of being connected to a larger, immaterial reality.  Please note that because something has a spiritual component, it does not require that you believe in somebody else’s vision of God.  Feel free to continue to believe in your personal vision of God, or, I suppose, no God at all, if you are an atheist.

In Hatha yoga, which we practice here at Mind-Body Yoga of Butler, we could use chanting, mudras (hand gestures) and pranayama (breath control techniques), but we typically do not.  Ray Skiles and I open our practices with a chant, but we’re the exception.  If you were lucky enough to catch one of Lisa Williams’ practices, she usually included some breathing techniques.  In general, we disregard the spiritual aspect of yoga and focus on the physical activity.  In the “yoga biz”, we refer to the poses as “asana”.  Every class we do here, with the exception of Ray Skiles’ meditation class, is an asana practice of one flavor or another.  If you are interested in learning about “the rest” of yoga (asana is one of eight “limbs” of yoga as laid out in Patanjali’s “Yoga Sutras”), please let me know!

In Kundalini yoga, spirituality is interwoven throughout the practice.  It would not be possible for an instructor to strip away all spirituality from Kundalini practices, and still maintain her certification from KRI (the Kundalini Research Institute).  Again, please note that under no circumstance will I require or expect you to believe in somebody else’s vision of God.  KRI trains instructors to teach Kundalini yoga exactly as it was taught by Yogi Bhajan.  To be an instructor of Kundalini yoga “as taught by Yogi Bhajan ®”, instructors must agree (in writing!) to pass along the instruction as they are taught.  KRI has other requirements for instructors, as well.  Instructors are required to dress in white and wear a white head covering while teaching Kundalini.  I must do this…you can, if you like, but it’s not required.  Also, we will open and close each practice with a chant.  That’s not a problem for me, because I like to chant.  It will be appreciated if you chant with me, but again, I will not require you to do so.

Kundalini yoga uses mantra/chants, mudras, bandas (muscular locks) and pranayama (breath control techniques), such as “breath of fire” in nearly every practice.  Instead of Hatha style poses, Kundalini yoga practices use “kriyas”.  A kriya is a series of repetitive motions, or as “Sadhana Guidelines” puts it:  “By doing a kriya, a sequence of physical and mental events is initiated that affect the body, mind and spirit.  Each kriya makes a specific claim as to its effects, but all balance the chakras, stimulate the glandular system and strengthen the nervous system.”

There are dozens of kriyas, each for a specific purpose.  Some examples are:  Conquering sleep, for people having difficulties falling asleep, or sleeping through the night;  Nerve, navel and lower spine strength;  Abdominal strengthening;  Flexibility and the spine;  Disease resistance and heart helper…the list goes on.  So…we will have a variety of different practices, although I think we’ll develop some favorites as the months go by.  For those of you with bad knees, much of what we will do in a Kundalini practice happens in “easy pose”, sitting with legs crossed.

Some practices are extremely physical, but we will start out easy and build up to the more difficult practices.  Expect to see the first classes called “Beginner’s Kundalini Yoga”.

Is Butler, PA ready for Kundalini yoga?  The trip to New Mexico is almost certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, considering I will be trained by people who studied under the Master of Kundalini Yoga, Yogi Bhajan.  I love Kundalini, and I’m anxious to share it with you.  Please join me!

Random Acts of Yoga

The past two weeks I was fortunate enough to travel throughout Italy for a travel and food writing course through Slippery Rock University. Naturally, traveling to Italy was not enough for me; I was hungry for more and wanted to give back to the beautiful country that granted me so much joy and splendor. I saw my travel excursion as an opportunity to extend my yoga practice to a global level and embrace the joys of outdoor yoga in a foreign country. Before leaving I planned a social experiment that I titled “Random Acts of Yoga” in which I would teach a class in the city of Florence. Eventually the practice extended to three of the four cities I visited because I was so inspired by the beauty of the country, the history, the people, the language, the food, and the passion that lived so vibrantly in all of the city walls.

I knew that this would be both a rewarding and challenging task. Rewarding because I knew in my heart that I could share something beautiful with people that showed me so much magnificence and challenging due to a language barrier and space limitations. Each experience teaching provided a diverse response from the locals and fellow tourists.  My journey began spontaneously in Venice, made its way to two locations in Florence, and eventually to Bologna.

Venice

Since this was only a day trip I did not bring all of my belongings and my yoga mat resided with the rest of my bags in Florence. However, I was so inspired in one of the small squares tucked away along the streets of water in Venice that I decided to extend my practice in this glorious city. Something about the water lapping the shore calms the mind and body in a manner that is nonreplicable. There is an immense amount of lightness in the city of Venice. I do not know if it is the sun reflecting vibrantly off the water, or the fact that the city is literally floating on wood on top of a lagoon. I ran to my hotel and grabbed a towel out of the bathroom to practice, a great makeshift yoga mat. Passing the concierge desk I politely asked a strapping Italian gentleman how to say “free yoga” in Italian. After a few looks of confusion he translated it for me. I vigorously wrote the phrase in both English and Italian and was on my way. I set up my towel next to the water to feel the full embrace of Venice. The square was filled with lovers enjoying an early evening dinner, children playing soccer, and tourists wandering aimlessly. I began my practice slowly, setting my dedication to extend my passion for yoga to others. A friend, Rachel, accompanied me to take photos and for her own amusement of watching an American girl practicing yoga in the middle of Venice. I was mostly surrounded by locals who did not pay any mind to my practice. A few police officers even observed some asanas and then walked onward. I assume in confusion. After about a half an hour of my class, which I dictated aloud, I noticed a young girl and boy watching me. They sat cross-legged with large curiosity filled smiles. I motioned for my spectators to come join me and the girl eagerly did so. I greeted her with “Mi dispiace ma non parlano italiano Parla inglese?” which means I am sorry I don’t speak Italian, do you speak English? She shook her head at me. Challenge accepted. We practiced with a few sun salutes as she mirrored my motions and eventually made our way to tree pose.

 It was absolutely amazing to experience the difficulty of a language barrier during a yoga class, something that was as foreign to me as my language was to her. I worked to touch specific parts of my body to show the movement as she mirrored me. Her brother joined us after a few minutes and was not as responsive to my physical directions. I did not want to physically change either of their postures because I did not know how to ask for permission and obviously in this situation there was no parent consent. Our session was cut short when a Gondolier returned to his station and passionately told me that I was in way of his business. Apparently the police will not kick you out but the Gondoliers will.

Florence

After my first visit to Italy a year ago I deemed Florence one of the most appropriate places to teach yoga due to the atmosphere of the city and lightheartedness of the locals. I first practiced on the rooftop of our apartment, which overlooked the San Lorenzo Rotunda and was adjacent to the Duomo. The view was spectacular and instilled a sense of elevation both physically and spiritually. I shared this practice with one of the girls on the trip with me. We had discussed the difficulty of the language barrier in my class in Venice and both decided it would be an exciting challenge to teach the class without any verbal instruction. She watched my movement and flowed with me. It produced a great connection between the two of us. That night I made a more improved sign to offer others to join in my class.  

My second class in Florence was at gardens near Piazza Michelangelo, a square that overlooks all of Italy. My friends Karter and Rachel decided they would join in my class in hopes that their participation would spark an interest in those who pass by. Rachel, Karter, and I began our practice among the rose bushes that were silhouetted by the city of Florence. The smell of the flowers was intoxicating and filled my lungs so deeply that it still resides in the pool of my soul. The city hugged us from all sides in the garden. 

It was warm and inviting in every sense. We practiced together for an hour while crowds of people made their way through the gardens. Some sat and watched, others went on without question. One thing I will say for Italian culture is that locals respect what others are doing. I very seldom received looks of judgment during my practice. At one point there was a group of six college students from the University of Florence observing Rachel, Karter, and I. I invited them to join my class but they kindly refused and said they would be more content watching. That day we all stopped to smell the roses.

Bologna

Bologna provided the most authentic local experience of all the cities I visited in Italy. It does not have as many tourist attractions and therefore houses locals, family owned restaurants, and a slower pace of life. One day while lost, attempting to find our way back from the Medieval towers, we stumbled upon a park, the Giardini Margherita which means the Margarita Gardens. This is Bologna’s main park and I would equate it with something like Central Park in New York City. The park is lined with avenues of trees, large grassy knolls, a lake that inhabits countless turtles, and small cafes and restaurants. Upon entrance to the park my friend Cori exclaimed, “hippies exist in Italy too!” Surrounded by groups of men playing soccer, musicians with guitars and drum circles, lovers cuddling on the warm grass, and parents chasing children, I set up for class with three of my peers.

 We practiced for quite some time before three locals became intrigued and approached me to talk. They asked why I was teaching in the park and if I would be there again for them to join me at a later date. I explained that I was only visiting Bologna and it was my way of giving something back to a country that shared so much beauty with me. After our short conversation the three joyfully joined my class and we shared a beautiful practice. All of my new friends spoke English almost fluently, however I still relied on physical alignment through my nonverbal cues. The group was so generous at the end of our practice that not only did we exchange emails and phone numbers but they extended an invitation to stay with them if I find myself in Bologna again. Our practice united us across countries.

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make” –The Beatles

By: Julie Strittmatter

Living the Practice

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.” –B.K.S. Iyengar

The more I practice yoga and take note of its effects the more I notice yoga is reflective of life. I find myself gathering more from each yoga class to take into life off my mat. Each and every practice provides a new experience and endless opportunities in the same manner as each day offers infinite moments. On our mats we learn extremely vital lessons that should be applied to our everyday lives. I would like to share a few of the lessons that I have found to be extremely beneficial in my yoga practice and everyday existence. 

It is not all physical. There is much more behind the practice of yoga than what meets the eye. Many people find themselves at their first yoga class to work on strengthening, toning, and stretching the body. But it is those who find something beyond what meets the eye that become passionate life long students of yoga. I am not stating that the physical elements of the practice are not important, because they are.  I am simply expressing that we cannot judge the book simply by its cover. As lovers of the art of yoga we understand that our practice cultivates much more than the physical asanas. While we work on aligning, strengthening, and stretching the body on our mats there is something much deeper that takes place within.  During the practice yogis work to be present, stay balanced, obtain full breathing, gather focus, become aware, and remain enlightened. Seeking to find something beyond the surface allows one to fully dive into the pool of the soul, rather than float on the top of the water. Dive deep-- the greatest treasures are always hidden!

Be present (even when you don’t want to be). Sometimes we find ourselves in a demanding posture on our mats and wish the instructor would take us to the next pose. However, yoga reminds us to breathe through the tension or discomfort as long as it is nonharming to others or ourselves. Rather than searching for the next “out” in an uncomfortable situation, yoga conveys the importance of focusing on the breath and being present even when we wish not to be. I once had an instructor tell me that we must learn to endure uncomfortable postures on our mats just like we must learn to handle uncomfortable situations in life. This is fundamental in our lives because we all experience moments where we would rather be somewhere else. By applying this lesson to our lives we are reminded to stay where we are rather than looking for where we want to be. Looking toward the future takes away from the beautiful steps of the present, which is a gift we can never get back. Be where your shoes are, or in the case of most yogis, where your bare feet are.

It’s all about balance. Balancing is a vital aspect of yoga as well as life. In yoga classes balancing poses prove to be difficult for most students because they are extremely demanding. Balancing poses help to challenge our physical as well as mental equilibrium. They require great focus, alignment, and attention. Taking the gaze to one still point assists balancing poses because when the eyes are set on one still point the mind typically rests on the same space. Taking the mind to one point helps us to quiet a chattering mind and focus on where we need to in any instance. In our everyday lives we attempt to multi-task and sometimes need to allow the mind to rest on just one thing at a time. Balancing poses also greatly test our patience. Often times in a practice we find ourselves swaying or falling out of a demanding balance posture. In falling out of a pose we are reminded that balancing and falling are two sides of the same coin. We must honor it in its entirety and attempt to get back up even if gravity tries to pull us down. Similarly, in our daily lives we must remind ourselves that even if we fall we must challenge ourselves to try again. Such determination and dedication will take us out of our comfort zone and allow us to reach a new pose or goal. It is crucial to find balance because in our everyday lives we must balance our work, play, and relaxation.  Balance, in meditation and yoga, as in life, equates to acceptance of our current situation. Balance is neither resisting nor wishing to change internal or external forces. Find your equilibrium--live in harmony with yin and yang.

By Julie Strittmatter

Food For Thought

We are all familiar with the saying “you are what you eat.” However, many of us take this with a grain of salt, and continue our lives with little awareness of what we put in our bodies. We must remember that food is the body’s fuel and crucial to a healthy life. Our diets impact our entire wellbeing, which extends beyond our physical being to our mental health.  Therefore, we should not focus on “fad dieting” and instead place emphasis on refining our overall eating habits for a positive lifestyle change.

      Mind-Body Yoga was fortunate enough to welcome Dietitian Ruth Douthett, DTR to the studio for a healthy eating lecture on April 14, 2012. She shared fifteen practical ways to make healthy changes in our diets in order to promote overall wellbeing. Below are Ruth Douthett’s rules for healthy eating for a healthy lifestyle. Read, apply, and enjoy!

1.    If You Can’t Pronounce The Ingredient – Don’t Eat It

Read label and look at the ingredients. If you can’t pronounce it or never heard of it – DON’T EAT IT! Many ingredients used are also used in other ways like paste/rat poison (google the ingredients) Read the nutrition label – ingredients are listed in the order of amounts in the product.

Try eating foods that have only one ingredient or combination of them!

2.    Apple Pie Is Not A Serving Of Fruit

It’s easy to play games with yourself when you are trying to eat healthy – eat the real thing! There may be some broccoli hidden under the cheese or there may be some juice in that favorite breakfast drink.

Be honest with yourself, look for the real food.

3.    Eating All Your Pasta Is Not Going To Save Any Starving Children

Stop eating when you are full, box up the leftovers and save for tomorrow’s lunch. Make your pasta healthier by substituting white pasta for a multi-grain, whole wheat, brown rice, corn, or any of the other new pasta’s on the market. Look for whole grains and check the fiber!

Listen to your body. It takes 20 minutes for the message you are full to go from the stomach to the brain. Portion control is key: everything in moderation.

Pasta- ½ cup. Meat/fish/poultry- 3 oz. deck of cards or size of computer mouse.

Fruit- size of your fist.

No food is forbidden! Just remember everything in moderation!

4.    Choose Whole Foods

Adam and Eve ate the first fruit – Including the package! Mother Nature provides her foods with their own package to protect them. Select whole fresh foods rather than fruits squished into a “100%” fruit snacks or vegetables that are dehydrated, salted, and backed into a cracker. Whole foods grow on trees and out of the ground – fat, salt, and cholesterol free!

Eat 5-7 servings of fruits & vegetables daily

5.    Try One or Two New Foods Each Week

Substitute one or two foods a week for a healthier option. Involve the family in choosing a favorite food to substitute for a healthier option.

Challenge each family member to find new options and give a prize for the best!

6.    Go Meatless – Do a Meatless Monday

Rising cost of meat should be a cure for high cholesterol! Anything with cholesterol had 4 legs at one time. Reduce your red meat intake once or twice a week and only serve 3 oz. portions (deck of cards). Look for low fat (90-10% fat or lower on ground meat) try ground turkey! Use beans for a great protein substitute they are fat, salt, and cholesterol free and a great source of fiber.

Try: Meatless- Monday, Turkey- Tuesday, Wrap-Wednesday, Tomato-Thursday, Fiber- Friday, Saltless- Saturday, Smoothie- Sunday. Make your own ideas!

Need recipe ideas? Try looking on your computer!

(Allrecepies.com or just type in what you are specifically looking for)

7.    Eat the Rainbow –Different Colors –Different Nutrients

Eat different colors throughout the day. Each color has different nutrients –the darer the color the more nutrients. Dark blueberries are on the most powerful foods. Mix your colors for a meal with better eye appeal and nutrition. A good salad always has at least 5 ingredients of different colors: vegetables, fresh or dried fruit, buts, low fat cheese, and dressing. Instead of dressing try fresh lemon juice.

8.    Don’t Skip Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Starting your day without breakfast is like running a car without gasoline or starting a fire without wood.

Your body needs fuel!

Try new ideas: yogurt parfaits (yogurt, fruit, cereal), smoothies (possibilities are endless), whole grain pancakes or waffles topped with fruit, oatmeal with dried or fresh fruit and cinnamon, or whole grain low fat muffins.

9.    Don’t Skip Meals

Skipping meals can lead to uncontrollable food cravings and can put the body in starvation mode that will cause it to hold onto fat and store it for future use – you might call it hording. Eat every 3-4 hours. Eat Breakfast, 100-calorie snack, Lunch, 100-calorie snack, Dinner, and 50 to 100-calorie snack in the evening. Try to include a low pat protein each time to help keep your blood sugars level and prevent you from getting hungry for a longer period of time.

Low fat protein: handful of nuts, low fat or fat free yogurt, cottage cheese or cheese, beans, peanut, almond or other types of nut butter, 1 oz. chicken

10. Chew Slowly –Mindful Eating

Take time to chew your food slowly. This will not only enable you to truly enjoy the flavor of the food, but will aid in proper digestion.

Take mindful bites! Use your senses to enjoy your food!

Take time to look at the food before you eat it, smell it, notice the texture as you put it in your mouth and enjoy the taste as you chew.

Try laying your fork or spoon down after each bite- amazing what you may discover.

11. It Takes An Apple A Day to Keep The Doctor Away. What Would It Take To Keep A Heart Surgeon Away?

Limit unhealthy fats and cholesterol. The American Heart Association offers these guidelines:

Saturated Fat- Less than 7% of your total daily calories

Solid at room temperature (butter)- source- animal

Transfat (hydrogenated oils) – Less than 1% (Translates to none)

                        It is the most dangerous and man made to increase shelf life

            Cholesterol- Less than 300 milligrams for healthy adults

                        Foods that are animal based (eggs, cheese, milk ect)

            Healthy fats:

                        Olive oil- high % of monounsaturated fat

                                    Other foods include avocados, peanut butter, nuts, and seeds

                        Omega 3- 3 fatty acids: mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, tuna

12. Reduce Your Salt Intake

Eating a lot of salt can contribute to high blood pressure, a major risk factor in cardiovascular disease. The recommended amount for a healthy adult is 2,300 milligrams a day (about 1 teaspoon). The real culprit of salt is in our diet processed foods. Almost anything you buy that comes from a can or package will contain salt. Eating fresh foods, making your own soup, or buying low-salt or salt free foods can reduce the amount of salt in your diet. Choose your condiments carefully because many have hidden salt. Most of all avoid breaded products of any kind; they are not only high in salt but also fat.

13. Clean Out Your Cupboards

As much as you hate to part with some of the foods try your best to clean out your cupboards of foods that do not fit into your healthy diet plan. Donate the food to a food bank if you can’t just throw it away! Still too hard? Try disposing of one food a week you feel you can be successful at doing without. While it may be difficult to say goodbye to your favorite brand of snacks or cookies, if you do, the temptation to satisfy your craving will be reduced ten-fold.

Better yet, remember what goes in your cart, goes in the house, and goes in the mouth. Don’t put it in the cart.

14.  Drink In Moderation

Excessive alcohol use increases your risk of heart disease. Limit your drink consumption to the equivalent of less than 1 ounce of pure alcohol in a single day; 2 cans of beer, 2 small glasses of wine, or 2 average cocktails. Another suggestion is one drink per day for women and two for men.

15. Switch From Soda To Water Or Green Tea

Instead of drinking soda or other sugary drinks switch to water or green tea. You never go wrong with water and green tea has a long list of healthy benefits thanks to the presence of antioxidants. Sodas are empty calorie culprits!

By Julie Strittmatter

The Practice of Living Mindfully

“Live your life each day, as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point.”

- Harold B. Melchart

Have you ever pulled into your driveway and not remembered the journey home? Or gone to the store and managed to grab everything on your list but somehow cannot name one item in your cart? We are all guilty of these deeds or similar acts due to the busy nature of our lives. Everyone experiences moments in which the brain operates on autopilot and we simply go through the motions of life.  However, in doing so we rob our lives of many experiences in the present. Even though the necessary task is complete we deprive ourselves of moments between point A and B. It is like a dancer who lacks passion for the art and simply moves through designated steps. Our lives deserve passion in each step in order to appreciate the beauty in each passing moment. Through the art of mindfulness we will obtain the ability to turn the brain off autopilot and we begin to treasure each step in our journeys.

Mindfulness in essence is awareness. Mindfulness creates a consciousness in each and every act no matter how small or large. Through this consciousness we obtain the gift of the present moment without the worry of what lies ahead or behind us. Too often we search beyond the moment of immediacy for a sense of clarity when the answer lies within our hearts in the present. Mindfulness is the state of being completely within the self and all that entails in each passing moment. This does not necessarily mean we will love every thought that enters our mind or every path we reach; instead mindfulness serves as an acceptance of things as they are at any given moment. When we are mindful we are fully awake and aware of the possibilities that unfold in the present moment. Through the practice of mindfulness we produce a deep gratitude for the now and become fully awake to appreciate every moment.

Mindfulness is not necessarily an act of meditation or a religion; instead it is a practice with ancient roots. While mindfulness is at the heart of Buddhist meditation, is it practiced worldwide in a variety of ways. In yoga we practice mindfulness on our mats by using the breath to bring us to the present moment. The beauty of the practice is that we can take this off our mats and apply it anywhere in our lives. The art of mindfulness is practical for anyone who seeks a deeper sense of consciousness and awareness in their daily lives. For further reading I highly recommend the book Wherever You Go, There You Are by John Kabat-Zinn which makes the art of mindful meditation very accessible and applicable to everyday life. John Kabat-Zinn truly helped me make mindfulness a practical art, which I incorporate in my everyday life. If you chose to integrate this practice in your life I recommend dedicating several reflective moments each day to focus on being fully present. This can take place anywhere in your day such as a yoga class, the shower, driving, or eating. Allow yourself to relish in every breath in a pose on your mat, feel the warmth of every water drop in the shower, fully experience each bump in the road, or savor each flavor in every bite.  As you take your first steps toward mindfulness, remember it is not always the destination but the journey. Enjoy the smaller moments along the way. After all, life is made up of enchanting moments, which create each day.

By Julie Strittmatter