Russell Brand - Awakened Man

music for stretching on a rainy day

Settle in

"Look at the plants and trees; their foliage flourishes, then drops in late autumn, returning to the roots, as a natural pattern. Returning to the root, it does not die but regenerates come springtime. From this principle we can see that endless regeneration is the Way of nature, while returning to their roots is the inherent pattern of beings. Those who know the inherent pattern and do not violate the Way are real people. That is why "real people breathe from their heels" - the heels are like the root. During the 3 months of winter, which is the season to return to the root, you should quietly nurture this."

~Taoist Meditation

by Thomas Cleary

Body Intelligence

By Rumi

Your intelligence is always with you,

overseeing your body, even though

you may not be aware of its work.

if you start doing something against

your health, your intelligence

will eventually scold you.

If it hadn’t been so lovingly close by,

and so constantly monitoring,

how could it rebuke?

You and your intelligence

are like the beauty and the precision

of a astrolabe.

Together, you calculate how near

existence is to the sun!

Your intelligence is marvelously intimate.

It’s not in front of you or behind,

or to the left or the right.

Now try, my friend, to describe how near

is the creator of your intellect!

Intellectual searching will not find

the way to that king!

The movement of your finger

is not separate from your finger.

You go to sleep or you die,

and there’s no intelligent motion.

Then you wake and your fingers

fill with meanings.

Now consider the jewel-lights in your eyes.

How do they work?

This visible universe has many

weathers and variations.

But uncle, O uncle,

the universe of the creation-word,

the divine command to Be, that universe

of qualities is beyond any pointing to.

More intelligent than intellect

and more spiritual than spirit.

No being is unconnected to that reality,

and that connection cannot be said.

There, there’s no separation and no return.

There are guides who can show you the way.

Use them. But they will not satisfy your longing.

Keep wanting that connection

with all your pulsating energy.

The throbbing vein

will take you further

than any thinking.

Observe the wonders as they occur around you.

Don’t claim them. Feel the artistry

moving through, and be silent.

-The Essential Rumi translated by Coleman Barks

http://yogapracticeandreflection.com/about/recommended-reading/poetry/

In just a few minutes - Move

New job has got me wearing big girl shoes in an effort to appear more professional. Big girl shoes are wreaking havoc on my feet and legs.


I needed just.10.minutes. (which is good because that's really all i had). So, here is my 10 (maybe 15 minute practice)

1) 2 minutes of breath of fire in Thunderbolt pose on a block
2) Cat & cow - how ever many feel right

3) leg stretch on hands & knees - extend one leg out, point & flex  toes take ball of foot to floor. stretch thru heel and calf.
4) step foot through to low lunge -
 5) extend front leg into half monkey pose  - bend knee back into low lunge -rotate body and lift outer arm into a twist
then back to low lunge
half monkey
Repeat 3x ending w/resting in half monkey for a few cycles of breath.
6) low lunge to gate posture
7) back to low lunge.

8) cat & cow
9) knees/chest/chin
10) cobra
11) 3 legged dog (unstretched leg lifted)

12)Hands and knees
Repeat steps 3 - 12 on opposite side.
From 3 legged dog

13) Downward dog
14) Forward fold
15)Mountain

16) Arch building  exercises -
      Spread the toes wide
      Roll to the outsides of the feet ***VERY IMPORTANT to press into the outsides of the feet and NOT
      roll into the ankles.***** Keep the pinky toe active and walk from the front to the back of the mat on
      the outsides of the feet.
      Repeat on the insides of the feet ****
      Alternate the inside of one foot and the outside of the other - then switch feet.

17)Mountain
18)Lift heels and arms then rock back lifting toes and dropping arms.
19)Goddess squat with eagle arms  - both sides.
20) Sitting meditation or savasana.

Teacup arms

I really enjoy the Qigong movement of teacup arms or tea light arms.

I work this movement into many asanas in my personal practice. Also, on those days when there is little time, this movement is very helpful in waking up the body & lifting my spirits at any time of the day.

This is a wonderful way to move through the back, shoulders, wrists.

Let the groovy Dr. Love demonstrate.

The Journey

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices  around you kept shouting 

their bad advice ~

though the whole house 

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug at your ankles. 

"Mend my life!" 

each voice cried. 

But you didn't stop. 

You knew what you had to do, 

though the wind pried with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations, 

though their melancholy was terrible. 

It was already late enough, 

and a wild night, 

and the road full of fallen branches and stones. 

But little by little, 

as you left their voices behind, 

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds, 

and there was a new voice

which you slowly recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, 

determined to do the only thing you could do ~

determined to save the only life you could save."

~Mary Oliver