Life is pretty messy! And so am I!!!or should I say pretty but messy??? I try and keep it real... because we all need a little more REAL! Enjoy and share xox
Showing posts with label Yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yoga. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Why I don't like labels
"We must never allow other people's limited perception define us" Virginia Satir
I used to define myself as a minimalist vegan yogi.
I no longer do...
Let me explain...
I used those labels as I was trying to figure out who I was. I needed to belong to a group in order to exist. I became different then how I was raised and all my knowledge of who I was or who I should be was shaken up... I was rejected by so many... I needed like minded people and groups of strangers with similar beliefs was the closest thing I could get.
Those labels, those strangers were giving me a feeling of belonging. Guidelines to follow.
They made me realize who I truly was.
If you give me guidelines, I will give my 200% to follow them and be the best at it. Or at least I used to.
Then I realized that guidelines easily become rules for extremists... and then you loose me. When people push to much, I question more...
Let's look at each of my old labels.
Minimalist.
Most minimalists will say that there are no rules to be one. But social media, can be wonderful but also the worse thing tbat was ever invented! Dig a little and you will find classes of minimalists. Those who own less than a 100 items, those who dress with 33 items of clothing, those who live out of a backpack and travel the world owning nothing, those who own nothing physically but everything digitally and I could go on and on... There is nothing wrong with that in itself... as long as they are happy that way! What is wrong is the judgement between the different minimalists. They are apparently not all created equals. In the end it made me feel like no matter what I did, I could never be "minimalist enough"... so I came up with what works for me!
I don't own very much because I like to move and it makes it easy... I have 7 cupboards in my kitchen and everything fits in there including food... I own 7 books and 5 cd's and most of the time I live without home internet! But I have many clothes and jewelry! Not even close to what I use to have but more then some... and that's ok! I LOVE CLOTHES! Very little furniture and all 18 years or older... because I don't care for furniture... but that is what works for ME!
Vegan.
I was vegetarian but then became vegan to be "closer to perfection" so I thought. I was a strict vegan for 4 years. But here again, go figure, you can be "not vegan enough"! I would have starved or be naked instead of eating/wearing anything that may have touched an animal! But it was not emough as I was not an animal activist or owned a shelter... It was really hard! Anyone who says the opposite is lying! I wanted to travel more... and being so restrictive with food makes it hard! And I don't always feel like making all my food all the time! So, I started allowing stuff... I would eat a muffin even if it was most likely made with dairy, I would get store bought cookies every now and then... but no dairy as stand alone! and then added back eggs! If there is caramel M&M I WILL eat some! This summer, while camping, I had marshmallow on the camp fire and I absolutely loved it! I am definitely no longer vegan but not vegetarian either as I don't eat cheese ever... and that's ok! I eat what I want and what works for me... and it will change over time. Because this is what humans do: change, adapt, evolve!
Yogi.
Same thing here... I do a simple yoga practice that focuses more on basic asanas, meditation and pranayama. I also follow the yamas and nayamas as well as dietary guidelines because they work for me. It makes me feel good and healthy! I don't follow yoga trends... I do yoga in my pj's, at home, never post a picture of me in a yoga pose... it is more of a spiritual practice and how can you capture spirituality in a picture!? In my opinion, developing my spiritual self means letting go of my ego self... so there can't be no pictures of me showing off in a head stand or arm balance...
Therefore, honestly, use any words to describe me you want to but I will never fit perfectly... I don't do rules. I don't want to anymore. I don't need to. I am happy and busy enough being me. I do what works for me. And so should you. But you need to figure that out... so try stuff! Experiment! Try labels and then own them... make them yours -your way! Nothing can be one size fits all! We are complex beings... at the very least, I know I am! Very complex... and proud of it!
Chloe 💜&✌
Monday, August 20, 2018
My current yoga practice
I started practicing yoga in March 2006 as an "homework" from therapy. To be honest, I had been attracted to it for a while but never did it. It was not a bad homework. At the time, I was doing mostly stretches, breathing and meditation... and a few basic asanas. However, I was not very flexible and too busy in my head (ego) to be able to meditate. Although it actually made me sleep better if I did my stretch, breathing and attempted meditation before sleep, I didn't feel it was working very much...
I should have known better.
I had planted a seed...
The seed started growing in September 2007.
At the time, my infrequent yoga practice had brought me to another place in my life and I was ready for more. I started looking into the yamas and nayamas, the philosophy and history of yoga. I started going to yoga studios to attend actual classes. I read books on yoga - many books. Over the years I tried hatha, ashtanga, yin, kundalini. I studied and changed my life to respect a yogic lifestyle. It spoke to me in a language I understood. It gave me answers to my life long questions.
I am not saying I became the perfect yogi overnight or that I am now... not even sure there is such a thing. It is the work of a lifetime. Perhaps even more so in a materialistic ego based society like ours...
Letting go if our conditioning...
Letting of our misbelief...
It takes a while... it takes works... and there is a price to pay.
You may not "fit" in your old life. That's OK.
It's a small price compare to what you gain.
So, I showed up and did the work. I changed the way I lived, the way I ate, the way I worked. Slowly but surely I changed everything. As seen from the outside. However, as seen from the inside, it felt like going home. Every step was liberating. Every step brought me closer to my true nature.
I gain knowledge of myself.
I gain respect for myself.
I started to love myself.
I found internal peace.
Years later, I like to attend a Kundalini yoga class when I can but there are no such studios where I live now. Therefore, I developed my own home practice consisting of meditation, breathing and some basic asanas.
The finding that twelve asanas were created five thousands years ago to prepare the body for meditation changed my practice and made me question the complexity of today's practice... being a simple person, a simple practice that was complete was very appealing to me.
So here's what I do Monday to Friday upon rising:
Short meditation
Alternate nostrils breathing
Breath of fire
Stretches
Mountain
Tree (on each leg)
22 Sun Salutes (20 on Fridays)
Warrior dance (warrior 1, warrior 2, triangle, warrior 3, dancer -on each side)
Boat
Bridge
Savasana
Longer meditation
It totals up to 108 Sun Salutations per week. The sacred number. This number is sacred in so many ways. You can read more about it here . Essentially, 108 is a frequent number mathematically, astrologically and spiritually. There are:
-108 beads in a japa mala
-108 stairs to a Buddhist temple
-108 Hindu deities
-the distance between the Sun and the Earth is 108 Times the diameter of the Sun (same for the moon)
-there are 108 stitches on a baseball
...and I could go on and on...
This is what works for me.
This is what I can do any where I live.
This is what makes me feel at home, centered, at peace, healthy...this is what allows me to be me.
No excuses. No apologies needed.
This is all I need.
For now.
If there is one lesson I took from all that yoga studying and doing, it's that we change constantly... and we need to adapt. I also learned that simpler is better and all you need. The rest can be fun, challenging, but it doesn't add anything to the results.
Don't forget that "Yoga is not about tightening your ass but about getting your head out of it." (I can't remember who said that but I love it).
Therefore, perhaps we could revise what we are lead to believe about yoga here in America... did we manage to turn this millennium old philosophy/spiritual practice into a money making ego based practice???
Just something to meditate on...
Chloe 💜&✌
Saturday, September 26, 2015
12 yoga poses or so that I think make a complete practice
After my last post, I have had a few questions which I would like to address here...
But first, I would like to mention that I forgot 2 important days each month where it is also best not to practice: Full Moon and New Moon.
Also, please note that those "interdiction" (Saturdays, Full Moon, New Moon, Women's cycle, state of illness) are not set in stone... as yoga is about being flexible, sometimes Saturday is the only day you have to practice... in which case, you can still do it is just that your practice may "feel" different then if you were to do it another day - and maybe more difficult... same for the others "preferably-no-practice-days". These no-practice-days are also based on the traditional Ashtanga practice which I base most of my lifestyle on even thus to me the actual Ashtanga series are to physical to complete with my condition - it would be long to explain why here, but it has to do with the Doshas and the Chakras. My daily practices are inspired by it but modified to fit my health condition. Also according to Ashtanga, you have to practice 6 days a week which I do not ... 3-4 are as good as it gets for me now... and that is OK too.
What you have to remember is that you should practice as often as you can.... but don't beat yourself over it... slowly your life will adapt to allow for more practice and remember that practice is NOT ONLY ASANAS... practice is the complete lifestyle of a yogi (so in that respect, I do practice every day after all). You can do 2h of Asanas per day and never be a yogi. Practice compassion, empathy, change the way you eat and the impact you have on all living being around you, this is ALSO practicing yoga.
One of the question I got was why no practice on Saturday... and basically it has to do with the moon which is associated to that day. Any serious Ashtanga yoga website or book will address it but you can read more about it here for a basic explanation.
As for all the others questions, they were ALL related to what are the 12 positions to get a complete practice. Well, I must say that this is my own personal best... I am no yoga teacher - I did start my training as a yoga teacher but stopped for personal reasons... but I have learned over time that in ANY course you'll go you'll end up doing those... that those Asanas ensure all your body is solicited and that all your Chakras are impacted. This is MY personal routine and I am happy to share with you... If I was not so self-conscious, I may add a video or pictures but I am not ready for that yet...
So here it is, my personal daily practice, it does the job for me!
I always start sitting down cross-legged, eyes closed and take really deep breath for a few minutes. Kind of like a meditation where I clear my mind of everything - or try to anyway.
Then I do a few neck stretches, stretch my arms and side by bending my torso left and right... proceed to rotate my torso in a twist. I always do this starting with the left and then the right (why you should start with the left has to do with your digestive system). I then bring the sole of my feet together and do butterfly for a while to open my hips. Then stretch my left leg and right leg independently. All this with my eyes closed while deep breathing. I then go into child pose for a few deep breaths.
I then proceed to 5-6 sun salutations (if you are new to yoga and have no clue what the sun salutation is, you can look it up on YouTube)
Then I have my own flow of Asanas I like to continue with:
Mountain
Tree - both legs
Warrior 1, Warrior 2, Triangle, Warrior 3, Reverse side angle pose. (then switch side and do the same)
Then, Crow pose for arm balance, Boat pose, Bridge and either Headstand or Leg-up-the-wall for an inversion.
I always end up with closing my hearth - lying on my back, and holding my legs with my arms on my abdomen. Then a few twists on each side always starting with the left and Savasana for as long as you can. It allows your body to "digest" your practice.
I do all Asanas for anywhere between 5-8 deep slow breaths depending on how I feel. I try to hold the Headstand up to 12 breathes.
When I feel like doing more, I can do more Sun Salutations... maybe do the "warrior-triangle" thing twice on each side...stay longer in meditation or do a few more stretches at first. I can try and Handstand or any more difficult Asanas. I can also look up YouTube to find great teacher on-line that post free routine you can do while watching.
This is about it... I hope it addresses you questions and concerns and please do not hesitate if you have more... it is always a pleasure to hear from you and see you are interested in improving your lives.
Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste
love&peace,
nath
xox
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Tuesday, September 22, 2015
about yoga...
I've been wanting to do a post about yoga for a while.... but did not know how to address it...
I wanted it to be clear and simple and wanted to address pre-conceived ideas people have about yoga...
I was thinking something about what yoga is and what yoga is not... and then it was not clear and simple anymore... Therefore I decided to go with what yoga is... it was much simpler... and anything else you've heard or read about yoga is just pre-conceived ideas...
Yoga is a healthy lifestyle. Period.
It entails breathing and stretching exercise...
It entails asanas (physical posture to strenghten your body)...
It entails rules on how to conduct yourself towards your own body/mind/spirit and towards that of ALL other living being - human or not.
It entails rules on how you should feed your body.
It will change you body/mind/spirit for better - in due time. It is a long process.
Yoga as, unfortunately, became really complicated with it's arrival in America... it can be overwhelming.
All you need to remember is that you need comfortable clothing (not necessarily expensive - your pyjama can do)... a room big enough to put your yoga mat (basically a floor space 6'x3')...There are really just about a dozen positions that you need to have a complete practice... You especially DO NOT need a heated room... Meditation is NOT easy but is MANDATORY... and no matter how long or short your practice is, you HAVE to do Savasana at the end for about 5 minutes.
Now for a few rules to remember during your daily practice:
Yoga is NOT practice on Saturdays but can be done all the other days.
Yoga practice can be as long or short as you need it to be or have time for it to be.
Consistency is the best thing - better to practice 10 min per day then 2h one day a week.
Yoga is not practice on the most abundant day of your period. You need to rest on that/those days.
Yoga routine can change from day to day according to your mood and how your body feels.
Inversion should NOT be done during your period.
You do not need to do an asana that makes you really uncomfortable - respect your body.
You do not need to be thin, young, flexible - it will come in due time. OK maybe not the young thing but the rest will... ;-)
And this is about it...
Yoga is simple...
Demanding but simple...
It requires time, discipline, practice...
But what doesn't?
It is really rewarding once you involve yourself truly into it. It will change your life forever! Maybe not how your expected.... maybe not how you wanted it to be... But it will make you your best self... it will show you your way... It will teach you more about yourself and others then anything ever did.
Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste
love&peace,
nath
xox
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Friday, February 27, 2015
Why you will never see a picture of me in an asana
I have been doing yoga for years... and yet, none of you have seen a picture of me in ANY asana.... except one, in this blog where I am in prayer pose (in my early practice) and one on FB where you can see only my feet.... why is that? Lots of people have asked me to post pictures in asanas and I refuse to do it...
Because yoga is personal... what an asana looks like has nothing to do with your practice.
It has nothing to do with how you experience it.
And I do not want to have a photograph present in my practice.
And I do not want to have to think about what I look like because I know I need to post a picture.
For example, after all those years, I can do balancing pose quite well.. I can do headstand, even in the middle of a room sometimes... I can do crow also on good days.... And my triangle is fabulous!
Or so this is what they feel like... and I do not want to get judgemental about my practice, or yours, if an asana doesn't look like I feel it.
There also are a few posture that I still struggle with... anything that has to do with forward bending... of hip opening... or arm balances... and that's OK! I struggle with those and I know why... and I am working on it... slowly but surely! And even though I cannot put my forehead on my knees in forward bending, it still feels good to do it!
In my yoga practice I have no set goal in my mind... other then to find inner peace.
I practice it because it brings physical and mental benefits to me... it improve my health and my overall well being...
Yoga is a journey, not a destination...
You have good days and bad days... and if I was to post pictures, I would choose the "good" one because my ego would talk... and that would not be fair to me and to you... no one looks exactly alike in an asana and that is the beauty of it.... it is adaptable to anyone and this is why anyone can do yoga!
Yoga is not about touching your toes... but what you learn on the way down! (so they say)
And I have learned plenty.... about me... good stuff and bad stuff...
And also about life... and others...
One more thing: I do not wear fancy gears to do my yoga... I am in whatever home lounge wear I wear regularly... I do not own any fancy Lululemon outfits... and I basically wear leggings and t-shirts (and they don't always match and they are most of the time pretty old!) ... because yoga does not need fancy outfits... awesome mat... and matching props! You can do yoga in any clothes you want... I even know people who like to do yoga naked! It really doesn't matter what you wear in your practice as long as you are comfortable in it!
I really do hope that all of you will give it a good try... and I am not saying trying to touch your toes in a forward bend to see if you are better then me or not... but really give it a try... a fair try... this means months of practice before you decide it's not for you!
If there is one thing I wish every one would try in their life...
If there is one thing I sincerely believe can change everyone's life...
It's YOGA!!!!
namaste,
love&peace,
nath
xox
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Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Om... shanti
I rarely write about yoga... even though you must all know that it is a huge part of my life...
It "dictates" how I eat... how I dress... how I live... the work I do... how I think and breathe...
I am Minimalist Vegan Nath because I started yoga! 7 years ago...
Why do I not write more about it? Because to me, yoga is REALLY important... it is powerful... it can change someones life in way you would not even expect or can't even imagine!
7 years ago
1) I was sick with MS
2) I ate anything that was convenient... meat and dairy included... processed food and fast food... and I did not cook
3) I was gaining weight, very little but still, every year...
4) I was trying to be rich to get a big house, fancy cars and travel
5) I was in debt buy 50 000$ without even a mortgage...
6) I was doing work I did not love so much to pay off for that debt and those dreams
Then I started yoga... and it all changed...
1) I am now Minimalist Vegan Nath as you know me
2) I still have a little debt but I am expecting that withing the next year I will be down to 0$ while working part-time at minimum wage and working on my savings too!
3) I no longer want a house or fancy car... or travel to escape from my life: I want a home, something to get me from A to B, and I love my life therefore I do not need to escape from it.
4) MS, 99% of the time is a story from the past
5) 90% of what I eas is homemade
6) I am back to my young adult healthy weight
Change was desirable in my case... if not mandatory! It was not easy... and it took me years... but I would not go back! Not for all the money in the world!
Change was only possible because I started yoga, met great teacher who knew the discipline and shared it with me...
Change was possible because of the Yamas:
1) Ahimsa - non-violence : to yourself, others and the environment : This make me become vegetarian and then vegan... to not hurt my body first of all, then the animals and the planet. A vegan diet is the most compassionate thing one can do.
2) Satya - truthfulness: to be honest with yourself and others : Acknowledge change is require, be honest when you speak with others - honesty does not mean rudeness... you can be honest in your words without harming others.
3) Asteya - non-stealing : you should not take what does not belong to you and on top of that, that principle pushed to the extreme means that what ever you do not use is steeled from someone else. Hence minimalism or simple living. However you like to call it.
4) Brahmacarya - moderation in all things : no excess in anything... and everything should be done with respect to your body, mind and soul and that of others.
5) Aparigraha - non-greed : there is no point in wanting things - whatever you need you already have and what you'll need in the future will be there when you'll need it.
These were life changing to me and today dictate the way I live... I try and apply all of them at all time... sometimes it works... sometimes it doesn't... but yoga is a lifestyle... a journey... not a destination! It requires constant discipline... and there are set backs... and that is OK! You learn from your slips (mistakes) and move on...
Satya and Aparigraha are the most difficult to me... Speaking honestly without hurting people is not always easy... it takes lots of practice... And non-greed in the society we live in is not that simple... as long as I stay away from the mall and the radio and television I am fine... At least I no longer want stuff just to want stuff... usually when I want something I could really use it! And I use it a lot!
I keep on studying yoga... and a practicing it: asanas, yamas, pranayama (breathing) and meditation... because I love it... because it makes me a better person... and because it has improved my life SO MUCH!!!! I want to know what else it can do for me!
One last thing that yoga brought me is to meet amazing people as teachers... and I hope I will not forget anyone here: Yasmin, Kate, Angel, Karen, Gaelle, Maryse, Trish, Deep, Miranda, Madan and Penka... and these were my teachers.... but in every classes there was also amazing students that I met... and I can't name all of them but you know who you are!
There you have it... me and yoga.... maybe I should write more about my practice... and what experiences I get from it... would you like that?
love&peace,
nath
xox
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Friday, March 28, 2014
Yoga challenge for me - 21 days
Ever since I started and then stopped running earlier this year, my body has been different. I know now that I cannot run... it won't let me... because of MS.
I also know that before that idea of running a marathon came to my mind, I had my mind, morale and weight under control... not ever since...
I am struggling a lot and it seems as if, in a few weeks of running, I have lost the balance3equilibrium I had created over the years despite MS.
I do not sleep as well, I am more hungry, my head is "more busy" and "less organized"... I am more stiff... I know where this is going and I will not let it.
I have already address my eating over the last week or so... even thus I did not regain complete control, I know I am going back to a good place.
I increased my meditation practice to calm my mind and regain focus of my thoughts. It is improving.
I will also start this 20 minutes yoga practice for flexibility to aid in the stiffness. I never really stopped my yoga practice but it seems as though I was not practicing the "right" way for my current state. I need to take a step back... and this is what I am going.
I am now on day 3 of doing this practice and it feels good. I can feel my body working, releasing the tension and opening up. I can't wait to see what will happen during the next few weeks. I will do the same practice day after day for 18 more days after today and see where it brings me.
Along with my diet and meditation practice, it should bring me to a state of openness and balance/equilibrium that I had before January...
So here's the link to the YouTube video I am using.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fztE4mK7C0&feature=youtu.be
who will try it to?? let me know...
thanks for reading and sharing...
love&peace,
nath
xox
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Monday, March 24, 2014
Karma, your life and how you can change all that with mindfulness
In the book "wherever you go there you are" that I finished reading a few weeks ago, they talk about karma. It is very interesting. A concept, that I think is fairly misunderstood.
Karma is often link to past and present life..." I have a life that sucks now because I did something bad in a past life"... for example. I also often hear, "I have bad karma... it's my destiny".
Well this is not all there is to karma. Let me try an explain it to you in a different way. I f you've red my post on interconnectedness it will help. If not I suggest you go and read it before going on.
"Karma means that this happens because that happened." Does it ring a bell? It's like the interconnectedness but within your own life. The interconnectedness I was writing about applies to life in general because everything we do or do not do.... and everything everyone do or do not do impacts everything and everyone else. However, every actions, thoughts, feelings and desires you have impact you own life. At any time. All the time. And at every moment we have thoughts, feelings, desires or do an action right?
Now did you ever stop and think where these come from?
What are you thinking right now? Why?
What are you feeling right now? Why?
What do you desire now? Why?
Actions are easy... you are reading this blog... but why?
Do you ever stop at any point during the day and ask "why"?
let me do it as an example.
What I am doing now: writing a blog post
Why? because writing makes me feel good.
Why? it allows me to understand a concept or an idea when I explain it in writing
Why? because it forces me to think about it and use simple ways/words and rephrasing to explain.
OK, now let's move up a notch... Why does it make me feel good to write and explain something to others? I could actually just write a journal... Because I feel oblige to share. I have a need to help others. Why? because I whished someone could have explain all those things I write about to me way earlier in my life...
And this could go on and on...
Now that you know why you do what you do... why you think what you think... etc...
Try and always be mindful of that... because this is what creates you karma. Daily.
In mindfulness we are conscious of every action, thoughts, feeling and desire. Therefore we no longer only react to old patterns. We can create new ones with news thoughts, feelings, desires and actions. At any moment... when we are present.
Why do we feel like always the same things happen in our life? Because it is a reality. Because we always have the same feelings, thoughts, desires and we always do the same action. Hence the same results happen over and over again. If we are stuck in a bad pattern, we feel like bad karma is our destiny. But there is not such a thing and you can always change your karma: in mindfulness.
Now let's try to be more mindful about all your feelings... thoughts... desires.... and actions!
Because good ones attracts good ones... and bad ones attracts bad ones...
Jealousy attracts jealousy
Love attracts love
Be mindful
Change your thoughts
Change your karma
Change your life
You can do it right now... or whenever you have enough. It is never too late. There is no expiry date for creating the life you want... well OK, there is one but you do not know when it is...
love&peace,
nath
xox
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Thursday, December 5, 2013
Exercise to find a better version of you
Hello lovely readers!
In this post, I would like to give you some piece of advice
I wish I had got when I decided to turn my life around… it would have help to find myself again to do
this exercise… To remember what was important
to me before… what my dreams were all
about… before I graduated from university…
before I got into this big machine that is our society and forgot who I was…
before I listened to people telling me what I should do, who I should be… before I became a mature responsible uninteresting
adult… Who was I before that? Who were
you before that??? I can’t answer for
you, but I can give you an exercise to help yourself find that young innocent person
and his/her dreams again…
Steps to follow to do the exercise:
1)
Sit in your favorite room by yourself – no noise,
no distractions
2)
Close your eyes
3)
Imagine a huge white screen in front of you
4)
Now imagine, someone is showing small pieces of
your life on this screen, moments, events… it could be anything… It will be like the movie of your life… when
you did not know you were filmed. Take
it all in… good or bad… you will see
flashes from any and all points in your life… you will see people (still by you
or gone), you will see emotions… you
will see your life in all it’s good and bad side…
5)
Once movie is over, keep your eyes close and let
the emotions out… all out… you may
laugh, you may cry, you may be frustrated… let it all out
6)
Once done, open your eyes, still staying in the
same quiet room, take a pen and paper and start writing… what comes to your
mind.
7)
Once done, go back to those places where you
were proud, happy, satisfied and analyze those… what were you doing, who was
there… and this is the beginning to finding who you were before… this is
finding what was making you happy, what was driving you, what was making you
proud… it may have change in it’s finality but the essence is still there… find
that essence and work from there to build yourself over… to reinvent
yourself!!!
Now this exercise is not easy… and you may have to do it a few times… but it’s allows you to dig in… it makes you think about yourself… about what you value, what is important to you… about your essence... who you truly are...
Now this exercise is not easy… and you may have to do it a few times… but it’s allows you to dig in… it makes you think about yourself… about what you value, what is important to you… about your essence... who you truly are...
You will see things you’re not proud off… time to let it go… You will see things you miss… time to find them back… you will see dreams… time to realise them!
Now go… do the exercise and reinvent yourself… become a better version of you!
love&peace,
nath
xox
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Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Yoga practice and Christmas decoration
Hello lovely readers!!!
You might be wondering how I can link a yoga practice and a Christmas decoration!?!
Well it's fairly simple... I do a yoga practice everyday... actually my whole life is a yoga practice!!! Yoga is so much more than asanas that you do on a yoga mat! I mention it often... But actually, this is the most challenging part of yoga! Living it daily... minute by minute...
I am good at doing my daily mantra practice and 3-5 times per week practicing asanas and meditation ... the rest of the time I try to be a true yogi in all I do.... I'm OK with the food... I am pretty good at speaking the truth and being kind... I do not steel... I share...
What I, most of the time, have trouble with is being in the present moment at all time!!!! And I find that when I do something that does not require a great deal of concentration, it is even worse!!! My mind wanders a LOT!!!! I am working really hard on controlling it and not letting it go every where at anytime... but it is not easy... therefore, I had set forth an objective for myself today...
To do my Christmas decorations with my son without looking at my phone, thinking of anything else on my to do list.... just enjoy doing the decorations and being with my son... and I am happy to say that IT WORKED!!!! I had put some Christmas music... and we took out all the decorations we have (it really is actually only 3 small boxes including the tree) and decided which ones we would use this year... I wanted to do something really minimal... it took us all in all an hour.... if I stretch it... and I was There the whole time... and it was so much fun...
Why is it so difficult to be present at all time? What do we have to gain or loose by letting our mind wander so much???
Will my to do list complete itself?
Will my emails, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest account miss me? or vanish?
Am I gona forget something that is life threatening?
Am I gone solve some major issues suddenly just like that by constantly thinking about it?
No, no, no and no!!! Surprise???
You shouldn't be.... Life does not stop because we are busy doing something that we care about... If I completely focus on being here and now, everything else will still remain unchanged... will still be there when it becomes my new here and now!
But you have so much more to gain by being here and now... all the small life details that we may miss when we are "elsewhere"... when our minds are busy on something when we are doing something else.... we miss the light in our child eyes.. the smile on it's lips when looking at a particular decoration... the questions they ask us... the comment they pass that might be "insignificant" to us mature adults but so important to them...
We miss those moments and THOSE are never coming back... every minute you miss being here and now is never coming back...
I will try that more often..... and instead of waking up wishing that today I'll be able to be in the here and now all day, I will give myself smaller objectives... one task at a time... and if my mind wanders, I will stop, breathe and get back on track as soon as I realise it... I think that even being in the "here and now" has to be the objective every minute... not for a whole day or week...
What will be your next challenge? On what task will you try to be in the here and now?
If you liked this post, please share and invite more people to join us here on a regular basis by subscribing!!!
And don't hesitate to leave a comment!!! I love reading you too!!!
love&peace,
nath
xox
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http://instagram.com/nbrisebois?ref=badge
You might be wondering how I can link a yoga practice and a Christmas decoration!?!
Well it's fairly simple... I do a yoga practice everyday... actually my whole life is a yoga practice!!! Yoga is so much more than asanas that you do on a yoga mat! I mention it often... But actually, this is the most challenging part of yoga! Living it daily... minute by minute...
I am good at doing my daily mantra practice and 3-5 times per week practicing asanas and meditation ... the rest of the time I try to be a true yogi in all I do.... I'm OK with the food... I am pretty good at speaking the truth and being kind... I do not steel... I share...
What I, most of the time, have trouble with is being in the present moment at all time!!!! And I find that when I do something that does not require a great deal of concentration, it is even worse!!! My mind wanders a LOT!!!! I am working really hard on controlling it and not letting it go every where at anytime... but it is not easy... therefore, I had set forth an objective for myself today...
To do my Christmas decorations with my son without looking at my phone, thinking of anything else on my to do list.... just enjoy doing the decorations and being with my son... and I am happy to say that IT WORKED!!!! I had put some Christmas music... and we took out all the decorations we have (it really is actually only 3 small boxes including the tree) and decided which ones we would use this year... I wanted to do something really minimal... it took us all in all an hour.... if I stretch it... and I was There the whole time... and it was so much fun...
Why is it so difficult to be present at all time? What do we have to gain or loose by letting our mind wander so much???
Will my to do list complete itself?
Will my emails, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest account miss me? or vanish?
Am I gona forget something that is life threatening?
Am I gone solve some major issues suddenly just like that by constantly thinking about it?
No, no, no and no!!! Surprise???
You shouldn't be.... Life does not stop because we are busy doing something that we care about... If I completely focus on being here and now, everything else will still remain unchanged... will still be there when it becomes my new here and now!
But you have so much more to gain by being here and now... all the small life details that we may miss when we are "elsewhere"... when our minds are busy on something when we are doing something else.... we miss the light in our child eyes.. the smile on it's lips when looking at a particular decoration... the questions they ask us... the comment they pass that might be "insignificant" to us mature adults but so important to them...
We miss those moments and THOSE are never coming back... every minute you miss being here and now is never coming back...
I will try that more often..... and instead of waking up wishing that today I'll be able to be in the here and now all day, I will give myself smaller objectives... one task at a time... and if my mind wanders, I will stop, breathe and get back on track as soon as I realise it... I think that even being in the "here and now" has to be the objective every minute... not for a whole day or week...
What will be your next challenge? On what task will you try to be in the here and now?
If you liked this post, please share and invite more people to join us here on a regular basis by subscribing!!!
And don't hesitate to leave a comment!!! I love reading you too!!!
love&peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1
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Labels:
Yoga
Friday, September 20, 2013
The organic sisterhood
Hello lovely readers!!!
For my regular reader, you know that I am going thru many changes currently... I recently wrote a book, Life Happens , I am starting to offer conferences on nutrition and stress management... and will soon start to offer one-on-one coaching and start writing my second book... I also want to launch all this using videoconferencing and skype and all that... it's HUGE... especially that I have no clue as to how any of this works!!!
This is a lot on my plate... and most of it is going against how I was raised.... against what most people expect or want to do in life... it comes from me... deep down... I digged deep to find this desire in me.... it was kind of forced upon me after I was diagnosed with MS and I sometimes feel like this poor lonely bird... on the ground... but I need to learn how to spread my wings and fly up high in the sky!
I do have a few supportive friends.... and supporters.... and lovely readers! But most of them never went thru such a major life change... and hence they can offer all the support they want, and the listening I need... and the love they have... but they can't really direct me... or tell me how to proceed... I needed to find some kind of "I know how you should do it cuz I've been there" person...
I was looking for a group of people that can think outside or the box... that tried stuff and succeeded or not but still... that can provide support and cheers when needed... give suggestions... and referrals... but I was mostly looking for a place where I could throw any "stupid" idea and see what happens... what do people think of it?
I found such a group by chance.... it's called the organic sisterhood led by Tara Wagner!
Tara is an amazing woman who turned her life around... and whether people like it or not she does what she wants... when she wants... and I have a lot to learn from her and her group... I might mention now that this group is for women only... sorry for you my masculine readers... but for every women who reads this blog and is looking for support, help, crazy outside of the box ideas... for everyone wanting to turn their life around but not knowing how... if you have a goal but not vision on how to get there... go visit the organic sisterhood by using the link above... and see if it's suits you...
who knows.... we might virtually see each other there too!
I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!
Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...
love and peace,
nath
xox
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Yoga and the present moment
Last week, I decided that I wanted to try to be in the present moment a little bit more...
Well it is going well... I have been working really hard at it... constantly reminding myself to be here and now as soon as I realise I am not... but I also notice that it happens less and less.... so there are some progress... of course I keep doing my yoga, meditation and breathing... and it helps!!!
Talking about yoga, my friend Rita from the Busy woman and the stipy cat reminded me of something when I read her blog this morning... when I first started practicing yoga years ago, I did it to get better, to manage stress and to improve my health... When that happened, I started looking into more advanced type of yoga... more advance asanas... and I found some "goal" asana that I wanted to be able to do in my practice... I worked really hard on them... and most of them I got (back then I was so competitive)! I could physically do them.... I even managed to do the complete ashtanga serie as it is designed... but by doing so I was going against what yoga is really! Let me explain what I mean....
Of course yoga is a beautiful discipline... a way of life... it teaches you a philosophy of life to which I like to adhere as it is really in sink with my own personal values... who I am! Yoga also is asanas (or physical posture)... and some can be quite challenging... and the flow from one to another can be very difficult to master... if you look at the video's in Rita's blog you'll see what I mean... Initially there were a very limited set of asanas (20 or so if I remember correctly) and today, there are hundreds of them... there are as many types of yoga as there are "gurus" that invented their own method that is supposedly better than the others... REALLY? This kind of upsets me... when you know that the Sun Salutation in itself if complete... when you know that using roughly the sun salute and a few extra poses can "do the job".... WHY? Why do people feel the need to "invent" or "improve" yoga? Yoga is now becoming a popular trend and as anything that is popular in this world, it needs to be made more complicated, better, more expensive, less attainable, more selective.... but all that goes against yoga... sad but true!
Yoga is perfect as it is... as it has been for thousands of years.... the purpose of the asanas is to make your body stronger to sustain a longer meditation practice... the purpose of the life style is to improve you "karma", to become a better person... to sustain your mediation practice... and as you live in sink with your meditation practice you'll see your quality of life improve and stress level decrease.... and thus eventually reach what they call nirvana... You'll be healthier and happier than ever before!!! YOGA means union... union of all parts of yourself into one! Body, mind, spirit!
Yoga is not designed to make circus artists... or rich gurus to whom you give your money in exchange for the perfect solution to everything... Yoga is not to obtain the perfect physical body....
Yoga is all within you... once you know the basic asanas and teaching, you actually need to practice... practice... and practice some more... 24/7... all your life... you have to become yoga in your every cell.... every breath... for it to transform you... and the world around you...
Every good yoga teacher will direct you towards yourself... within your own body, mind and spirit.... all the answers and resources are there... Of course, you can get books and DVD to help you out.... or attend a course... but all that is accessory... and they are tools to help you with your practice... but all that cannot do the work for you... or give you the answers...
As Rita said, you're better off practicing 15 minutes per day the asanas then 90 minutes per week with an teacher... and I must add, that in between the 15 minutes of asanas, you need to "practice" everything else yoga is... constantly... it is NOT easy!!! But so worthwhile... It's a philosophy, a way of life... it requires discipline... inside and out!
There is nothing wrong with doing the asanas for the physical well being of the thing... but that is s whole different story... and you will get physical benefits... and nice shape... but you will not experience yoga as a whole... and you might miss on something greater than you can ever imagine!
I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!
Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...
love and peace,
nath
xox
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Yoga
Friday, June 14, 2013
The present moment and yoga - update 5 days later
At the beginning of the week, I mentioned that I wanted to learn to be more in the present moment... I even challenge myself to work really hard at it for the next 7 weeks (until my August vacation).
I want to do this to be more quiet... more at peace... not worry so much... to find stillness. I have improved the "not stressing" a LOT between now and when I started my yoga practice... but I am not where I would like to be yet...
Since Monday, I have been observing myself... when I am here and when am I elsewhere? What prompts me going elsewhere? What brings me back? What keeps me in the now most of the times?
What keeps me in the now:
Spending time with my son
Spending time with my husband - most of the time (althus we sometimes both have a tendency to go in the future so we need to remind ourselves.... but we're both working on it so it makes it easier)
Giving a training - I am really passionate about it
Writing
Walking - I like to look around, smell the air a lot.... keeps me present...
Cooking
Talking/Reading about nutrition
Talking/Reading about yoga
When am I prone to leave now and go in the past or the future:
In the bus
When engaged in a discussion I am not passionate about
On my yoga mat! (Interesting)
When I am bored
Taking a shower
What brings me back:
Concentrating on my breathing - so when I have been going away in the last few days and I realise I am no longer here and now, I go back to by breathing... going back to my breathing makes me turning in... so I can't escape!!! I usually take a few deep breath and I am back here and now!!!
So as a result, I am not so much in the past or future... not as much as I thought I was! I was pleasantly surprised by that!
I have to work mostly on the situation that are more difficult for me.... of course I could start reading in the bus but that would defeat the purpose... I could keep busy all the time but that to would be kind of cheating.... to me at least! And don't even think about me skipping the shower!!! My goal is to be here and now in ANY situations... to find stillness... even when it is more difficult!!!
So this is what I will be working on for the next week and I will update you as I go along...
I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!
Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...
love and peace,
nath
xox
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Monday, June 10, 2013
The present moment and yoga
I find that the most challenging aspect in my yoga practice is to stay in the present moment...
I've managed the breathing a while ago.... once you figure it out and integrated it, as soon as you get on the mat, it happens...
The asanas are also something you can work on... of course there are so many of them... and some are really advanced... but you do not need to go there to be a yogi... as long as you have a set of asanas covering the different parts/section of your body you're OK. I personally like to do a few sun salutations, triangle, warrior, tree, forward bend, boat pose, bridge and some twists.. that is what my daily practice consist of. Obviously I start this with some meditation and breathing exercise... and finish in corpse pose!
As for the lifestyle that goes with the yoga philosophy, that I am OK too... I am talking about the yamas... I will not go into details but they are "rules" by which you should live... ethic.
However, living in the present moment do pose some difficulties... and I am not there yet... and I must admit it bugs me a little.... that after so many years of practicing yoga, I still struggle with that... it seems so easy... just be in the present! Do not think of the past.... or the future... Be here, now!
When I am on my mat, I constantly have to go back thinking of my breathing... if not my mind may go elsewhere!!! And in other spheres of my life, I have to keep busy doing something I really like if I want to avoid the wandering!!! But sometimes, I would like to just be quiet... physically and mentally!!!
I am in a fun, but not so easy, place in my life... in a decision making phase.... and it seems that my mind likes to go and makes scenarios for the future... and go back to the past and make different decision and see what if??? But this is not how it works... What is done is done... I cannot change it... and what is to come will come in due time.... based on decision made in the PRESENT!!! So if I am not in the present, how can I make the appropriate decision?
The thing I have observed with me lately, is that I am NOT patient... and I need to work on this... I have observed that by waiting to much for something, I project myself in the future and forget about the present! I would LOVE to be able to wait for something, put it on the back burner and move on!!! But unfortunately, it is easier said then done! In my case anyway...
I am not sure on how I will work on that.... perhaps by constantly calling back my wandering mind... as soon as I see it getting away! I guess it is like most habit we have... we can change it with discipline... which I do have! So between now and my vacation in 7 weeks, I will work on being present a LOT... and will tell you how it does.... my progress or not... and my challenges...
I have also noticed that when I practice yoga, my mind stays more quiet during the day... and that naturally, I have a completely counterproductive habit... in time of high stress or fatigue, I tend to practice yoga less.... and I should actually do MORE!!! I will also work on that... keep my yoga practice no matter what.... perhaps by adjusting the time or the length, the frequency or the actual asanas/breathing/meditation ratios...
I will see how this brings me back in the present... I will also focus on my breathing more during the day in general... this is a great way to stay present... when thinking about your breathing, it is almost impossible to think of anything else!!!
So this is my new project... working on being in the NOW!!!!
I will see how that goes... day by day... not projecting anything for the next 7 weeks!
I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!
Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...
love and peace,
nath
xox
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Thursday, April 25, 2013
Plan A, B, C et yoga
this post is in french... it's a translation of one of last week's post...
Ce matin, quand je me suis levée, je pensais beaucoup… et j’étais un peu maussade, ce qui est rare! Je me réveille normalement avec un esprit en paix et de bonne humeur!
Je suis une personne matinale, heureuse d’avoir un nouveau 24 heures pour me réinventer… la plupart du temps. Toutefois, je vis actuellement des changements majeurs dans ma vie et je devrai prendre plusieurs décisions lorsque j’aurai plus de renseignements sur certaines choses. Ce n’est donc pas un moment facile, mais peut-être que ce n’est pas le mot exact. Ce n’est pas « pas facile », mais plutôt instable, et je ne sais pas du tout quand ce sera stable et comment ce sera. Mais c’est correct! Je dois calmer mon esprit et m’enraciner, tout ira bien! Tout va toujours bien!
Donc, quand l’alarme est partie ce matin à cinq heures, j’ai pris un instant, comme toujours, pour évaluer mon état d’esprit. Puis, j’ai déroulé mon tapis de yoga et je savais quoi faire! Ce n'étais pas le temps de me mettre au travail et de transpirer… Je devais me calmer et retrouver ma bonne humeur. C’est donc ce que j’ai fait… et ça a fonctionné! J’étais beaucoup plus calme et heureuse après avoir fait les actions suivantes, qui ont pris environ 35 minutes!
1) Respirations profondes – ne penser à rien! En fait, lâcher prise pendant mon expiration sur chaque pensée qui venait lorsque j’inhalais. Ça a pris beaucoup de temps!
Lorsque mon esprit était plus calme, j’ai fait les actions suivantes :
2) Respirations alternées par le nez – inhaler le calme et expirer l’anxiété.
3) Rotations de la tête (de droite à gauche et de gauche à droite – sans aller vers l’arrière).
4) Pose de l’enfant.
5) J’ai utilisé la position du chien tête en bas à partir de la pose de l’enfant pour passer en position debout et étirer mes jambes.
6) Pose de la montagne avec mes mains en prière et les yeux fermés – j’ai remarqué que ma montagne bougeait un peu de l’avant (future) vers l’arrière (passé) – je l’ai maintenue jusqu’à ce que le calme soit revenu et les balancements arrêtés!
7) Pose de l’arbre – les mains toujours en prière – le plus longtemps que j’ai pu rester sur une jambe, à imaginer les racines sortant de mon pied pour créer une connexion profonde vers la terre.
8) Une autre pose de montagne avec mes bras dans les airs à regarder vers le haut – pour absorber toute l’énergie matinale. Cette montagne était très stable!
9) Je me suis assise de nouveau sur mon tapis pour quelques minutes encore en respirant profondément. Le calme était là. Il n’y avait rien d’autre dans mon esprit que ma respiration.
Après mon yoga, j’ai été prendre ma douche, faire mon lunch, m’habiller et j’ai marché pour prendre l’autobus pour aller travailler. Pendant que je marchais, j’ai réalisé pourquoi j’étais anxieuse… Je n’avais aucun plan B!
Laissez-moi vous expliquer… Je travaille sur quelque chose qui apportera des changements majeurs à ma vie. J’ai simplifié ma vie, rationalisé mes finances, diminué le coût de ma vie… tout ça pour une raison spécifique : travailler vers un objectif précis (que je ne peux pas encore annoncer)… et je n’ai pas préparé de plan de remplacement!
Mon plan A était tout planifié. J’avais quelques obstacles, mais je n’ai jamais préparé de plan B ou de plan C! J’ai tout mis dans mon seul et unique plan A! Et alors que j’arrive plus près, j’ai peur! Et si…?
J’ai toujours eu un plan A, B et C dans ma vie… TOUJOURS!!! Et j’ai TOUJOURS dû faire le plan B ou le plan C parce que le plan A n’a jamais marché (je ne devrais pas être surprise). Cette fois, je n’ai pas prévu de plan B ou C (pas parce que je ne voulais pas, mais parce que je n’en trouvais pas). Parce que tout ce que je veux, c’est que le plan A fonctionne. J’ai donc tout mis dans cet objectif! Toute mon énergie, tout mon temps, toutes mes connaissances, tout mon surplus d'argent du fait de vivre avec moins… TOUT! C’est pourquoi ça me fait peur… mais peut-être que cette fois, le plan A va fonctionner!
Vous devez croire en ce que vous faites! Vous devez trouver ce qui vous attire vraiment, ce qui vous fait sentir bien et faites-le! Encore et encore! Et trouvez une façon de faire de l’argent en même temps. Assez pour pouvoir éventuellement en vivre!
Bon, vous devrez peut-être apporter des changements à votre style de vie et/ou à vos priorités. Vous devrez travailler fort, pendant longtemps. Tout particulièrement durant la transition. Ça va demander beaucoup de sacrifices (ce que moi j'appelle des choix!)! Mais ça vaudra le coup une fois que vous saurez POURQUOI vous le faites. Particulièrement quand ce POURQUOI est votre choix! Votre vocation… ça n’a presque pas l’air de sacrifices…
J’arrive à un point, maintenant, où je commence à voir le résultat final. Et l’inquiétude en moi, qui est de moins en moins présente, aime venir et jouer avec ma tête de temps en temps… Elle aime me dire « et si le plan A ne fonctionne pas? Tu n’as aucun autre plan… que feras-tu ensuite? Et pourquoi ça fonctionnerait? Ça n’a jamais fonctionné! » (alors que j’écris ces mots, je peux l’entendre et c’est très agaçant! Haha!).
J’aime dire à ce côté de moi qu’aucun plan A n’a jamais fonctionné, car il n’a jamais vraiment été à moi. Et je n’ai jamais vraiment investi tout ce que j’avais dans ces plans (et je ne parle pas d’argent)… Ils ne m’ont jamais vraiment rendue heureuse… et ils n’étaient pas ce que je devais faire de ma vie. Et maintenant que je sais que c’est ce que je devrais faire et que j’ai fait tant d’efforts pour y arriver, et que c’est la SEULE chose qui me rend vraiment heureuse… ÇA VA FONCTIONNER!
IL N’Y A AUCUNE AUTRE OPTION…
Peut-être qu’après tout, mettre toutes les pommes dans le même panier peut payer (de toutes les façons possibles)!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Quand j'ai commencé à faire du yoga...
This post is in French.... most other ones are in English...
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| L’un de mes endroits favoris pour faire du yoga à l’extérieur, sur le bord de l’eau |
Comme vous l’avez peut-être lu dans « Life Happens », j’ai commencé à faire du yoga pour gérer mon stress et tenter de maîtriser ma SP (sclérose en plaques).
Comme me l’a suggéré ma psychologue, j’ai acheté un DVD de yoga et un CD de méditation il y a 7 ans. Puis j’ai commencé lentement, principalement en faisant des étirements, des respirations et de la méditation. J’en faisais pendant 10 minutes par jour… et c’était très demandant! Puis, lorsque je quittais mon tapis, je redevenais ce que j’ai toujours été…
Environ 18 mois plus tard, j’avais besoin d’en savoir plus. Je ne savais pas du tout pourquoi, mais quelque chose était en train de se produire et je voulais en connaître plus sur le yoga. J’ai donc commencé à acheter des livres et plus de DVD. Je lisais sur le yoga et j’ai commencé à faire des asanas au lieu d’étirements et de respirations. Je me sentais tellement bien! J’ai joint un studio et j’ai commencé mon premier cours d’introduction officiel au yoga Hatha. Tout ça combiné a été transformateur. Puis, j’ai commencé à faire des changements dans ma vie. Faire un peu de yoga sur le tapis me faisait sentir bien. Lorsque je n’étais pas sur mon tapis, je lisais beaucoup sur le sujet. C’était comme une obsession! Après un certain temps, j’ai commencé à aligner la personne que j’étais sur le tapis et celle que j’étais hors du tapis.
Pour en faire une histoire courte (si vous avez déjà lu mes autres publications, vous me connaissez un peu plus maintenant), je suis devenue celle que je suis aujourd’hui.
J’adore toujours le yoga!!! Mais le yoga est maintenant une façon de vivre plutôt qu’un exercice comme avant. Oui, je peux toujours être en équilibre renversé, faire la roue, le corbeau ou plusieurs salutations au soleil. Toutefois, ce n’est plus ce que le yoga signifie pour moi. Et ce n’est pas ce que j’aime faire sur mon tapis! Je fais mes routines de yoga la plupart des jours. Ça inclut des exercices de respiration, de la méditation, des asanas pendant au moins 40 minutes. Je me lève autour de cinq heures de matin. Je n’ai pas de routine particulière non plus. Je fais ce que souhaite mon corps, c’est-à-dire plus de respirations lorsque je suis tendue, plus d’étirements quand j’ai marché beaucoup et que mes jambes sont courbaturées, plus de salutations au soleil pour avoir plus d’énergie, plus de flexions arrières quand j’ai besoin d’amour, plus d’arbres si j’ai besoin de m’ancrer davantage. Ça change tous les jours! Je ne peux jamais prédire de quoi ça aura l’air le lendemain, parce que mon corps me dit seulement ce dont j’ai besoin lorsque je suis SUR le tapis! Mais je suis une yogi TOUT le temps… sur le tapis et lorsque je ne suis pas dessus!
Voici la MEILLEURE leçon que j’ai apprise par le yoga : lâcher prise.
Je n’ai pas besoin de savoir exactement quand, où et comment les choses vont se produire…
J’ai aussi appris que lorsqu’on est soi-même et qu’on suit nos idéaux et principes, quand on est honnête avec nous-mêmes et faisons ce que notre cœur désire vraiment, on finit TOUJOURS au bon endroit et au bon moment! Et des choses merveilleuses vont se produire! Les gens sentiront que vous êtes authentiques, vous aimeront et vous respecteront pour ça, même s’ils ne sont pas tout à fait d’accord avec vos idéaux.
Et c’est la leçon la plus importante que j’ai pu apprendre, parce que j’avais tendance à vouloir tout contrôler dans ma vie. J’ai probablement manqué de belles occasions/relations à cause de ça, mais c’est correct. Ça a fait qui je suis maintenant, et m’a emmenée où je suis aujourd’hui!
Ça a été une leçon importante aussi lorsque j’ai décidé d’écrire un livre. Je ne savais pas du tout où ça me mènerait, mais je voulais le faire et j’avais besoin de le faire. À ce jour, près de 3 mois après sa publication, je suis toujours incertaine de la direction que ça va prendre (et je serai probablement toujours incertaine, puisque ça changera avec le temps). Mais j’apprécie l’aventure au lieu de me concentrer sur sa destination, puisqu’il n’y a probablement pas de destination, n’est-ce pas? Une destination, c’est final, ça signifie la fin de quelque chose. Tant que j’apprécie l’aventure, je vais quelque part… et qui doit savoir où, vraiment? Les surprises sont GÉNIALES! Tant que j’apprécie l’aventure, Life Happens est en vie… et on en parle! Et j’ai la chance d’en parler et de faire ce que j’aime faire encore plus : parler et écrire sur le yoga, la méditation, en plus du changement d’alimentation et de style de vie!
Voici un petit résumé de cette publication, selon moi :
1) Apprenez à LÂCHER PRISE!!! (Vous n’avez pas besoin de tout contrôler et contrôler tout le monde… et de toute façon, c’est impossible. C’est une fausse impression!!!)
2) Faites ce que vous aimez vraiment!!! (La vie est courte, alors pourquoi la gaspiller avec des choses qui n’importent pas vraiment?)
3) Appréciez l’AVENTURE… il n’y a pas de destination! (D’accord, il y en a une, et nous avons tous la même!!!)
Et laissez-vous guider par ma citation favorite de Gandhi (c’est mon mantra et je me le répète plusieurs fois par jour. Elle est partout dans ma vie, même Life Happens commence avec elle!) :
« Vous devez être le changement que vous désirez voir en ce monde. »
Et vous, par rapport à quoi devez-vous lâcher prise? Quelle aventure appréciez-vous particulièrement?
Un merci tout spécial a ma traductrice bénévole Viviane Cauden. Voici ses coordonnées...
love and peace,
nath
xox
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