What distracts you during your practice?

I'm truly interested. What distracts you during your practice?

Every day we run around in our fast-paced society - from place to place, responsibility to obligation, taking care of things for others - often times neglecting adequate care of ourselves. How can you continue to operate this way unless you stop the cycle and take a few moments for yourself? So you go to yoga, brilliant. You have taken the first, and often the hardest step by getting into the car, driving to the studio, and laying down your mat.

If you aren't taking the time each day to step away from the exhausting cycle that is eat, sleep, work, repeat -
Take a moment to tell yourself:
Self-care is not an option, it is a requirement. You have an obligation to care for yourself - mind, body, and soul.

So you made it to the studio, then what happens? You find a comfy Savasana, attempt to shut the mind off, and prepare for the physical practice. The breath begins to help you draw attention towards parts of your body that may not have received much love or attention during your busy day. You had a headache, but why? Then you take notice of the tension you are feeling in your neck - after all, you do carry a 10 pound head around on that neck all day, it is no wonder it is feeling a bit tired. You roll over and press back into child's pose, turn your head to the side, extend the arms palms facing up by the hips, and let that weight melt into the ground. 

The knot between your shoulders from crouching over the computer all day. 
The pressure and throbbing in the feet from standing for eight hours at work. 
You send the breath there. By doing this, you are already providing the gift of fresh, healing, restorative energy to otherwise neglected areas of your body.

The moving meditation begins. The fire you stoked within through the breath begins to spread through the limbs, helps you feel into the body. The legs burn, the arms feel tired, the core might collapse.
 Inhale to lengthen - exhale to surrender. Inhale to make space - exhale to soften the face and the gaze.
The initial tension passes and the beautiful dance between breath and movement keeps you flowing. The heat moves through the skin and trickles down your face in the form of sweat. Do you wipe it away? Or do you simply acknowledge it and continue flowing? Something might be coming up - you are furious that your teacher has kept you in Warrior II for this long. Your front leg quivers - you want to straighten it - you don't want to be there anymore.

Let whatever it is come up. Acknowledge it. Move past it. Find the breath.
It's just yoga.

You come to the balancing series and you are wobbling. The arches of your feet are tired. You are holding your breath, furrowing the brow, tensing the face. The frustration builds on itself. You look to your right and there is that flawless yogi (you know the one) - with the calm smile on their face, not even sweating, perfect alignment, not a care in the world - you find this annoying. You begin to wonder how long they have been practicing yoga..why you don't look how they look in a certain posture..you fall over.

Draw your attention inward. Everyone is at a different place in their own journey. You're at yoga for you, not for them. Do yourself a favor - allow the time you take away from your daily cycle to be just for you. There is nothing wrong with being a little selfish every once in a while.

The practice comes to a close and you find yourself in Savasana again, but this Savasana feels much different than the first. This juicy, delicious surrender is where moving meditation reaches mental stillness. The place you long for in the midst of the burn. Your mind will want to gravitate towards whatever is coming next. Let yourself find calm and deep silence in your mind and body in the present moment. 

What distracts you?
Whatever it may be, don't disregard that feeling, emotion, or sensation. Let it be there for a moment. Tell it that you see it there -and if it does not serve you simply let it go.

Even that seemingly perfect yogi..is not perfect.

Allowing yourself to acknowledge whatever comes up and move past it on your mat will help you do the same in your daily life. The angry driver on your daily commute - might make you laugh instead of honk. Others perception of you - may not matter anymore. When life is turned upside down - you may find it is easier to embrace the difficulty that often shows up in times of change.


When it gets hard?
Return to the breath. Return to a meaningful mantra. Return to your intention. Smile.
It's just life.

What are we capable of?

How do you know unless you challenge yourself?

How can you challenge yourself if you don't believe in yourself?

How do you begin to establish a firm and unwavering confidence in the person you are and what you are capable of?

How can you open your heart to life, love, and others if you have no faith in yourself?

Begin somewhere. Self talk and visualization. Tell yourself. Love. Then surround yourself with others who believe it too.

For example:

Do this for a week:

I am amazing. I can do anything. I will be positive. My individuality is beautiful. I will succeed. I can do ANYTHING I set my mind to. 

I am here to tell you that you can do anything you set your mind to. 

The more times you tell yourself, the more it will become second nature, and then it will spread like wildfire to others.

Yesterday, October 27th, myself and three (or seven if you count cousins of the family I am marrying into) other family members ran in the Marine Corps Marathon. As I write this I can't help but be overwhelmed with how awesome my entire immediate and extended family are. My brother has done four Ironman competitions and I have all the faith in the world he will qualify for the Kona World Championships in the next one he races. My sister has more strength in determination than any other person I have met in my life. My fiance is calm in the midst of a storm, tackling anything with steadiness and certainty. 

My sister Jackie, while I love her dearly and with my whole heart, was sorely under prepared to run a marathon. Did this matter? Absolutely not. There was little thought put into pre-race food or sustenance during the race for day of, and she clocked minimal miles in the months leading up to it. Was this a problem? Absolutely not. She decided she was going to run the marathon yesterday, beat the bridge, and finish and there wasn't a single doubt in my mind that it wouldn't happen. "It's 85% mental," she says. So she ran, beat the bridge and finished, and my heart swelled with pride as she ran up the final hill. 

"If you are losing faith in humanity, go out and watch a marathon" - Kathrine Switzer

No truer words. 

Both racing and spectating provide renewal and excitement about the good that can be spread through love, support, determination, and confidence in oneself.. Do I love running 26.2 miles? No. No I do not. But there is no other feeling like realizing that you are capable of more than you know. 

I traveled to Idaho and watched my brother Danny swim 2.4 miles, transition into a 112 mile bike then finish with a marathon. We ate, celebrated a job well done, and returned to the finish line to watch the last of the competitors make their way across the finish line. I have never in my life been so moved. The people who cross the finish line at midnight have been swimming, biking, and running for 17 hours. Can you even fathom that? Honestly. Stop and think about it for a moment...that is three times longer than most people sleep at night. There is so much determination, willpower and spirit in these peoples hearts and minds that they continue moving forward even though their bodies are clearly shutting down and trying to stop them. 17 hours. Strangers stand along the sidelines, pounding their fists, cheering, screaming, singing, dancing, doing anything and everything in their power to help a person whom they have never met make it that final treacherous mile.

When my own body felt like it was going to give out from under me yesterday, as difficult as it was (and it was not pretty) I found the presence of mind and ability to push myself a little harder, knowing that any pain I was feeling would pass and because there is truth and conviction in this:

If marines who have lost their legs can race 26.2 miles with their arms in a wheelchair..

If the 70-year-old man limping in a knee brace can cross the finish with arms pumping in the air..

If people who have lost the ones they love to war and violence can race in memory of them..

If people who have beaten cancer can turn around and finish a 26.2 mile race or an Ironman...

then I can undoubtedly do it too.

I am amazing. I can do anything. I will be positive. My individuality is beautiful. I will succeed. I can do ANYTHING I set my mind to. 

I invite you to challenge yourself today, this week, this month, this year. Step outside of your comfort zone and approach the unknown or something you are fearful of. It will help you grow. It will help you love. It will help you become who you are really meant to be. In a time when news shows us primarily corruption, political attacks, violence, war, death, and destruction-it might even restore some of your faith in humanity.

There is good, love, and wonder everywhere. Look around. Open your eyes to it. Begin small. Start with yourself. Then magnify it outward.