6.17.2012
Today
Today. This word holds a great deal of promise, without weighing us down. Limitless things one might accomplish: float, available. Over a string of todays, we arrive at something else, the future. That can be a heavy place, unwieldy, rather hard to grasp. In contrast, today is light and airy, while manageable and succinct. So, go for the spirit of yoga that embraces today, this present. Each morning, cast your mind's eye over today, and bask in the closeness of these series of 24 hours, 1440 minutes, so many moments. A day can really be quite eternal in its own way. Why seek the before or after, when you have the here and now? Here's to embracing this present opportunity.
My today involves: a visit to our new home, lunch with family, two happily lounging felines, a sweetly sleeping baby boy tucked amidst his lion and oli dreaming soundly, crickets chirping, and now peace falling over the apartment before my slumber.
Namaste,
Kat
5.25.2012
Ch-ch-ch-Changes
Often in life we go along happily falling into a routine. Suddenly, life can experience a huge shift. I think of this sort of like an earthquake. A large event forever changes your personal topography. That event for me was having a baby. I quit my job. I moved. I'm moving again soon. I love it all. It's a grand experience and I feel like I'm along for the ride, occasionally captain of this ship. Once things settle I hope to embrace yoga once again. For now, I'm embracing aspects other than the physical practice. What is your latest earthquake???
Namaste,
Kat
4.29.2012
Yoga Outside the Box
Have you ever done yoga outside? It's quite different than practicing indoors. We're about to move to our new house in June, and given that it's on 3 acres, I plan to teach some classes out and about in our yard. I may even design a living wall near the class location. When the sun and wind and trees are overhead, the earth below, its quite a bit easier to sink into the present moment. I hope to see you sometime soon out on the lawn! All you need is a little sunscreen, some water, and your body and soul.
Here's a quote to ponder, courtesy of the Dalai Lama:
"Every one of us is getting older, which is a natural process. Time is constantly moving on, second by second. Nothing can stop it, but what we can do is use our time properly; that is in our hands. Whether we believe in a spiritual tradition or not, we need to use our time meaningfully. If over days, weeks, months and years, we have used our time in a meaningful way – when our last day comes, we'll be happy, we'll have no regrets."
Namaste,
Kat
12.28.2011
Expecting...
One day in mid-July, I stood outside Body & Soul Yoga in Brookside for our weekly evening pre-natal class. It was warm, I felt relatively good considering I was about 8 months pregnant, did I mention the mid-July part, ick. A woman walked up and I thought that she was new to our class because I didn't recall seeing her there before. We chatted a bit, she was pretty early in her second pregnancy. What are the odds that this woman would be present at my child's birth? Low you would think, I didn't even know her name. Turns out she was the back-up doula for my original doula who ended up having health complications and couldn't be there (which I found out about the week before the event I think, it's a little blurry now).
Life is pretty amazing. That is actually the only time we met in person, until said birth, although we had a great chat or two. Many other things about the birth did not go quite according to what I had envisioned, however, I am proud to say I felt pretty calm and was able to handle the issues as they arose. And I feel okay with it now. No tub, no walking, constant monitoring, induction, pitocin, etc etc rats rats rats. What I could decide about was enough. I handled the pain in my own way, much thanks to my doula of course both in advice and physical aid, and to my husband as well. It all ended well with the birth of our dear little healthy son. I do give yoga some of the credit for me being able to roll with the changes, letting go of the expectations of "expecting". I also give my pain-tolerating Slovak genes some credit. I also give me credit. Birth is important to societies says one famous midwife, I agree wholeheartedly. This is a random post and my first as a mother. Better go check on the little dude.
Namaste,
Kat
Life is pretty amazing. That is actually the only time we met in person, until said birth, although we had a great chat or two. Many other things about the birth did not go quite according to what I had envisioned, however, I am proud to say I felt pretty calm and was able to handle the issues as they arose. And I feel okay with it now. No tub, no walking, constant monitoring, induction, pitocin, etc etc rats rats rats. What I could decide about was enough. I handled the pain in my own way, much thanks to my doula of course both in advice and physical aid, and to my husband as well. It all ended well with the birth of our dear little healthy son. I do give yoga some of the credit for me being able to roll with the changes, letting go of the expectations of "expecting". I also give my pain-tolerating Slovak genes some credit. I also give me credit. Birth is important to societies says one famous midwife, I agree wholeheartedly. This is a random post and my first as a mother. Better go check on the little dude.
Namaste,
Kat
7.31.2011
pre-natal yoga ponderings
How does one do yoga with a baby on board? About the same as pre-bebe for me. Common sense should prevail of course, but in general avoid major twists, long stints on your back, and anything that doesn't feel right, as usual. My own yoga experience during pregnancy has been interesting. In the nauseated days when I was still teaching class, I had a constant fear of tossing my yogi cookies in front of potentially horrified participants, but thank goodness it never happened! As I progressed I could do most stuff and some things even felt more stable, surprisingly tree, half moon and down dog were highly doable.
As I enter the last couple weeks of this unique approximately 266 day experience, some issues have arisen and are fine, but new to me. Potty break before, during and after class was necessary last week, ha ha, listen to your body is never more unignorable than during pregnancy. The body is practically shouting its messages, take it easy, rest those feet, EAT. I shortened my down dog to just one breath, and propped my hips up for all floor work, blankets are a pregnant ladies best friend, next to pillows of course. I wonder how to best carry yoga into the birth experience. I find that yoga helps me release tension (cos I yawn the whole class pretty much) and I know the hospital is not my calm place yet. I will do some chair flow, lateral flexion, and mountain in the early part of labor, possibly cow and cat. I will practice letting go, and visualization of another place. Above all, I will concentrate on my breathing, slow and steady is what mom and baby both need. Letting go of expectation is probably the hardest for me, since I have high hopes of a natural birth. I know it will be hard for me to let go of that if something freaky happens. Eventually I know I have to let go of judgment as well, of myself and others throughout the experience, trying to stay positive, focused and deliberate, we will all do the best we can and keep the intention of healthy mom and healthy baby in mind at all times. Namaste,
Kat
As I enter the last couple weeks of this unique approximately 266 day experience, some issues have arisen and are fine, but new to me. Potty break before, during and after class was necessary last week, ha ha, listen to your body is never more unignorable than during pregnancy. The body is practically shouting its messages, take it easy, rest those feet, EAT. I shortened my down dog to just one breath, and propped my hips up for all floor work, blankets are a pregnant ladies best friend, next to pillows of course. I wonder how to best carry yoga into the birth experience. I find that yoga helps me release tension (cos I yawn the whole class pretty much) and I know the hospital is not my calm place yet. I will do some chair flow, lateral flexion, and mountain in the early part of labor, possibly cow and cat. I will practice letting go, and visualization of another place. Above all, I will concentrate on my breathing, slow and steady is what mom and baby both need. Letting go of expectation is probably the hardest for me, since I have high hopes of a natural birth. I know it will be hard for me to let go of that if something freaky happens. Eventually I know I have to let go of judgment as well, of myself and others throughout the experience, trying to stay positive, focused and deliberate, we will all do the best we can and keep the intention of healthy mom and healthy baby in mind at all times. Namaste,
Kat
7.05.2011
Yoga Mama
As I sit here, the baby is kicking quite a lot, most often in the right ribs, simmer down sweet pea, we'll meet soon :) This has been quite a journey over the last 34 weeks and counting, around 6 to go! Those early and long couple of months of wretched nausea gave way to relative normalcy. Okay, it's been different but not too bad - nighttime jaunts to the restroom and kitchen, more doctors visits than I've had in my whole life to name a couple. Of course the ever present reminder is the central-level expansion right around my root chakra, on a costant mission to grow a baby. In the meantime I have felt pretty good, but a little more tired, more popping of the knees, more food-focus, less shoe-lace competence, and a host of emotional experiences that are fine but can also be overwhelming at times.
Through this trip I've come to realize a few things from yoga apply now more than ever. Number ONE (which takes care of all others, really): Find the present moment. Having a baby will pull and tug and rip you into the future, and possibly the past. You can lay awake thinking about birth: "What will feeding be like, do I have all the right stuff? Will my body go back to the way it was? Will I be an okay mom? What was good about my childhood that I want to recreate? Anything I want to avoid? What will I do if he won't stop crying?" It's good to have a counter-voice in the back of your mind. "We'll cross those bridges when we get to them, you know?" Number TWO: Stuff! As parents we get pulled into needing all kinds of stuff and it distracts from the central focus. Carseat, crib, most essential, along with diapers, cremes, and clothes of course. What about toys, blankets, stroller, high chair? Where to store it? Do we need to move? Is our car safe? Again, the yoga voice is hopefully whispering, "We can always get that later if we really need it."
For now I feel pretty ready to meet my little one, but am trying to stay flexible. Here's another final biggie: Let go of expectation. Down to the day he comes we won't know when we'll meet and can't really control exactly how he comes. For the first time in my life, I'm going to be the main and constant (okay co-)caretaker of another human for everything, food, warmth, shelter, love. I am excited to be a mom. It's a steep job, but one that becomes easier to handle as I realize that I will take each day as it comes, and will have lots of resources to help if I get stuck. I'll have my dear husband, wonderful family and friends, as well as doctors and hotlines just in case. I get this chance to spend an amazing first year learning the ropes of rearing a little one, and getting to know this human being, and to help encourage and nourish him and see what unfolds. What more fascinating job really could someone ask for?
Namaste,
Kat
Through this trip I've come to realize a few things from yoga apply now more than ever. Number ONE (which takes care of all others, really): Find the present moment. Having a baby will pull and tug and rip you into the future, and possibly the past. You can lay awake thinking about birth: "What will feeding be like, do I have all the right stuff? Will my body go back to the way it was? Will I be an okay mom? What was good about my childhood that I want to recreate? Anything I want to avoid? What will I do if he won't stop crying?" It's good to have a counter-voice in the back of your mind. "We'll cross those bridges when we get to them, you know?" Number TWO: Stuff! As parents we get pulled into needing all kinds of stuff and it distracts from the central focus. Carseat, crib, most essential, along with diapers, cremes, and clothes of course. What about toys, blankets, stroller, high chair? Where to store it? Do we need to move? Is our car safe? Again, the yoga voice is hopefully whispering, "We can always get that later if we really need it."
For now I feel pretty ready to meet my little one, but am trying to stay flexible. Here's another final biggie: Let go of expectation. Down to the day he comes we won't know when we'll meet and can't really control exactly how he comes. For the first time in my life, I'm going to be the main and constant (okay co-)caretaker of another human for everything, food, warmth, shelter, love. I am excited to be a mom. It's a steep job, but one that becomes easier to handle as I realize that I will take each day as it comes, and will have lots of resources to help if I get stuck. I'll have my dear husband, wonderful family and friends, as well as doctors and hotlines just in case. I get this chance to spend an amazing first year learning the ropes of rearing a little one, and getting to know this human being, and to help encourage and nourish him and see what unfolds. What more fascinating job really could someone ask for?
Namaste,
Kat
5.15.2011
A Perfect Storm
I was at work a few weeks ago chatting with a gentleman with a really positive and energetic take on life. It was a breath of fresh air so to speak and got me thinking about the difficulties in life and how we survive them. Often on this blog, I enjoy the lessons we can draw from the parallels of nature and human experience, and at no time is this more relevant than now, with the extreme flooding taking place around our country. Of course we do not wish for this misfortune, but neither can we change it or prevent it completely. We cannot always control the world around us, but rather we can regulate our reaction to it, whether that be people we encounter, or the whims of the atmosphere.
If you have ever watched the plants during a terrible downpour, it can be unsettling. Limbs droop, stems and branches sway almost wretchedly, and yes even some damage can occur. However these very flora would not last without the life-sustaining water trickling down to awaiting roots. They are soaking and slowly giving strength and stamina to the green gentles of this world. Although the plants appear bent and beaten, the reality is that they needed the process to strengthen, and quickly adapt to the vagaries of their surroundings. Within hours the plants once more stand strong, roots lengthening, leaves rising back upward toward the sun, replenished by the experience.
What can we humans do in the wake of a storm in our lives? It may take more than a few hours to recover depending on the size of the storm, the length of time is not to be measured as a competition of any sort. Instead, each individual must unfurl at their own pace, testing their roots, growing at their own rate. For some, a similar storm is more disruptive for one, vs. another, given their experience. For those less tested, the recovery may be longer, but no less important or relevant. In fact, the very diversity of the plant and human condition gives collective strength to life.
I recall a quote that is an excellent summary of how we can make our reaction positive, present, and relevant. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain." Maybe this is one intention we could hold, that even in the times of darkness, we find celebration and acceptance.
Namaste,
Kat
If you have ever watched the plants during a terrible downpour, it can be unsettling. Limbs droop, stems and branches sway almost wretchedly, and yes even some damage can occur. However these very flora would not last without the life-sustaining water trickling down to awaiting roots. They are soaking and slowly giving strength and stamina to the green gentles of this world. Although the plants appear bent and beaten, the reality is that they needed the process to strengthen, and quickly adapt to the vagaries of their surroundings. Within hours the plants once more stand strong, roots lengthening, leaves rising back upward toward the sun, replenished by the experience.
What can we humans do in the wake of a storm in our lives? It may take more than a few hours to recover depending on the size of the storm, the length of time is not to be measured as a competition of any sort. Instead, each individual must unfurl at their own pace, testing their roots, growing at their own rate. For some, a similar storm is more disruptive for one, vs. another, given their experience. For those less tested, the recovery may be longer, but no less important or relevant. In fact, the very diversity of the plant and human condition gives collective strength to life.
I recall a quote that is an excellent summary of how we can make our reaction positive, present, and relevant. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain." Maybe this is one intention we could hold, that even in the times of darkness, we find celebration and acceptance.
Namaste,
Kat
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