everything is ok (isn't it always)

colonoscopy- check ok. everything is copesetic and i was happy to eat some zen garden when i got outta there! going to lay around now and drink some tea. found out that i create my own stress and anxiety for the most part and that is so frustrating. the longer i have chronic pain and anxiety, the more i know they're connected. thank god that yoga helps to strengthen the body and mind, relieves stress and makes one feel overall better. i guess i will be dragging out the old dr. sarno book. even though that annoys me to no end, but i guess if i have the power to create it, i have the power to destroy it.

not eating for a day

yesterday, i started my prep for the colonoscopy. i can say it was not the most pleasant things in life, however i remember that there is an ancient yoga kriya in which salt water is taken either to make one vomit or to completely clean the intestines thru elimination. general information for the shatkarma (no pun inteneded here) can be obtained here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhauti
this is part of the intestinal cleanses of antar and this one is shankhaprakshalana. they recommend taking 16 glasses of salt water for a thorough cleanse. stay close to the bathroom if you choose to try this. here is some more info http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1991/cmay91/dhauti.shtml
so, i am heading to the hospital soon for the scope and hopefully all will be well.
i think it is so amazing how so many yoga techniques are now used in modern day. all that was in my "medicine" to prep were many different salts! sodium this and that. all freaking salts. but, believe me, it works.
so, anyway, i have been rereading "the yoga of discipline" by swami chidvilasananda or gurumayi. she talks about not being a slave to the senses. that is something i really noticed about not being able to eat for a day; i did not want to eat jello, etc because i wouldn't normally eat that anyway, so i choose edy's lemon popsicles and that was it. just really for the hydration because i was loosing so much anyways. i don't usually eat a whole lot in the morning, but wanted to yesterday. of course, i was able to quell the urge and was enjoying my hunger like she says, to let the fire of agni burn, knowing the hunger of my own self to continue to seek the lord inside my own heart. she also recommends eating as if one is feeding the lord. i will try that later today when i introduce back a little bit of food, who knows i am enjoying the flame! om namaha shri guru om

an unexpected cleanse

i was expecting to start a cleanse new years day, however, due to my recent gi dr visit, i will be starting a day early with a colonoscopy! very interesting. so today, billy and i will eat lunch and then i will start the process tomorrow. i have to teach a couple of classes tomorrow, so it may be a challenge. waking up tomorrow, no coffee with cream, only clear liquids. not so fun when it's imposed, but what the heck, i'll enjoy it as best i can. i will also be using the master cleanse of hot h2o, lemon juice (thank god i have some meyer lemons!) and as much cayenne pepper as you can stand with a bit of honey or maple syrup. i have been reading "the yoga of discipline" by gurumayi (swami chidvilasananda). i highly recommend it as the book is geared towards the disciplining of the senses and the mind-body-sense complex. i certainly plan to enjoy my practices tomorrow, physical and other sadhanas. it should be god's sit-com, a gimpy finger almost half sliced off and prep for a colonoscopy.

awareness; drishti

awareness is the topic for today considering that i almost whacked my finger off last night with a serrated knive. thank god the knuckle was there to stop it. i realized i do many things like that, in a hurry and not really paying attention, just on auto pilot. this is another reason why it's important for me to enlarge my practice. there are many days when a physical practice is damn near impossible, but chanting and praying and reading/ studying, contemplating, pranayama, etc. are available, for the most part, always. regarding cooking on autopilot, in "healing with whole foods" paul pitchford comments that when cooking, we should be in tune to each item as we slice it, considering the energy of each will be unique. i love to cook, so i am going to employ this new little tidbit so i won't kill myself in the kitchen.wonder how this will go when shelling 15 lbs of limas?

Yoga has Inspired My Life

Yoga has inspired my life and since discovering it, I have been studying many of the limbs and practices. In the upcoming year, I aspire to adjust my schedule to fit around yoga in this modern world. Luckily, I have the privilege of teaching this science to others. I plan on enlarging and also refining my spiritual growth through this wonderful practice. This year, I plan on making schedules and employing better time management skills to optimize my time both on and off the mat and to assist my discipline level. Each day is a journey, so I another goal I have is to build slowly so that I don't get overwhelmed. Some things I would like to and can realistically do: Develop a daily chanting practice, build more time on working on my own practice without distractions, more reading, studying and putting my Vedanta studies into action, continue reading my way through my pile of books, studying with my teacher Ramanand Patel 3 times this year, studying with another teacher Francois Raoult and going to see my guru Swami Dayananda Saraswati in the late summer, to go back to learning the viola and integrating nada yoga more deeply into my practice, to continue to be of service developing the yoga programs where I teach by continuing to build enthusiasm about the science from the participants of the sacred tradition.

Giving much thought to it and inspired by one of my yoga students, the theme for the new year is: Giving, Seva= selfless service. I will be encouraging myself and my students to learn compassionate giving and absolute altruism. I will challenge myself and my students to take the work we do on the mat out into the world so the soulshine can be spread to the creatures of this world, all the way down to the very bones of the earth.