Beyond the Mat

A compilation of life reflections inspired by yoga. Led by an LA yogini, the forum is intended to create a community to share yoga experiences beyond the mat.

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"My practice reminds me that I am whole."

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New Study Shows Yoga Has Healing Powers

"Now, in the largest study of yoga that used biological measures to assess results, it seems that those meditative sun salutations and downward dog poses can reduce inflammation, the body's way of reacting to injury or irritation.

That's important because inflammation is associated with chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. It's also one of the reasons that cancer survivors commonly feel fatigue for months, even years, following treatment." Got it? DO YOGA!!! [Thanks to Noah Maze Yoga for this link today]

[yocalm]

[espressorunner-deactivated20151]

In case that happy zen feeling wasn’t enough of a reason…

[yogibe]

for the willing…  

[beyondthemat-blog]

“. . . I become aware of this presence, like the hum of a great song constantly reverberating throughout and emanating from my body, the ground beneath me, and the people around me. And I know this presence as a whole that is larger than the sum of the parts and yet inseparable from the parts. . . . And I experience this presence, this blood red thread of being that runs through the dark tapestry of daily life, as that which gives me the innate ability to truly know each other as another myself. . . . If I stay with my awareness of this presence I know it as the heat at the center of life, as the innate orgasmic joy that shouts “Live!” even as it spends itself fully. I know it as the essence, the very stuff of which I and everything that exists is made, and I remember that this- this Mystery that is sacred- is who and what we are.”

~Oriah Mountain Dreamer from The Dance.

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Yoga Benefits

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The 4 Agreements by Miguel Ruiz - 4 simple rules to live life with integrity and peace.

[mamayogi-blog]

Mama Yogi

I’ve acquired a major new role in my life, that of mother.  It occurred a little sooner than anticipated, as my son, William Monte, made his appearance almost 6 weeks early.  I’m sure it’s just the first of many surprises I’ll be thrown as a mother.  So far, and I’m just shy of 7 weeks into this new role, I’m absolutely loving it.  It’s not “easy”, but it feels so natural.  I could definitely call it “easeful” at this point in time.  I’m grateful for all my life lessons and experiences leading up to motherhood, as I think they will serve me in this amazing endeavor.  Yoga lessons abound, I’m sure.  Here are a few worth noting so far:

Life cannot be perfectly “planned”.  Luckily Monte came before I even had a chance to write a “birth plan”.  But really, all plans were easily thrown out the window when a pre-term delivery is about to take place.  The first few hours at the hospital were the hardest because I had to come to term with how things were vs. how I wanted them to be.  For instance, learning my baby would be in NICU for up to several weeks was not happy labor news.  Once I let go, and just let it be what it was, everything fell into place and what I got was pretty much what I wanted: a quick labor, no pain medication, supported by midwives and with awesome medical support at my side.

You gotta be flexible.  Because things can’t be well planned with a newborn (see above), you gotta be flexible and need the same from others for some time.  Set time commitments freak me out a bit because I have no idea what Monte’s eating schedule will be day by day.  The ability to “go with the flow” is extremely beneficial for all.

It’s not about “Achievements”.  In yoga, it’s easy to get focused on achieving a certain pose, but I think one achieves an advanced practice when one let’s go of this criteria.  The same goes with parenting.  It’s not about hitting the milestones on target or the number of activities one can complete in one day.  Parenting, like yoga, is about the long-term journey of life.  Yes, achievements are made along the way, but a present-minded focus reveals what basic steps must be taken today, even if it’s simply keeping everyone clean, fed & well-rested. 

These are just a few lessons I’ve seen so far.  The fact that I started this post 4 weeks ago and am just now completing it demonstrates most of the points I made above.  But I look forward to sharing more regularly how yoga has taught me (& others) lessons that I can apply to this new journey of parenthood. 

[beyondthemat-blog]

I've been MIA for the past few months because I've been transitioning to motherhood.  I created a new tumblr to focus specifically on the parenting side of yoga in case some who follow Beyond the Mat are less interested in the parenting topics.  I aim to maintain both blogs, but if you are interested in yoga as it relates to parenting please follow me at mamayogi.  The first Mama Yogi post is below.

Namaste.

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"Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality."

- Albert Einstein

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"We need to reimagine non-attachment as a practice of not clinging to fixed ideas so that we can be engaged with the world."

- Michael Stone, The Heart of Non-Attachment

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"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at anytime and be yourself."

Hermann Hesse

[100daysofyoga-blog]

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Thoughts During Yoga Relaxation (savasana)

Finding silence in the mind is among the greatest of challenges.  That's why savasana can be the hardest of poses for so many. 

(via: 100 Days of Yoga : My Yoga On)

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"Kids with autism suffer from a wide range of difficulties, including high levels of anxiety and depression, difficulty with imitation, and the inability to make eye contact or feel comfortable in their physical selves. By teaching kids to be more connected with their bodies, and offering a casual social setting to do so, yoga is proving to be the perfect practice."

[dancequeen1284]

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There are so many natural medicines available to us in our foods.  And the inverse, food can also cause illness.  Ayurveda, the science of yoga, has studied the healing powers of herbs and foods for thousands of years.  Worth learning more about, if you are unfamiliar.  Namaste.

(via caitlinshmatelin: belavida: loveoflopt: downtoavenge: savviesays: withinitself)

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Annie Carpenter on the Mother of all Kleshas - Avidya

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It's personal.

Not taking things personally is always a challenge, and I often think back to Don Miguel Ruiz's Four Agreements when I'm confronting that challenge.  However, not taking things personally with a body filled with pregnancy hormones is at least 10x greater.  The unity of body, mind and spirit has never been more obvious to me.  Trying to find balance when one or two of these areas get out of whack feels near impossible.  Awareness is helpful, along with deep breaths and a bit of perspective.  Not reacting, which does not mean not feeling or thinking, is often the best outcome I can hope for. 

Still, if you ever have the opportunity, do whatever you can to not aggravate a pregnant woman.  When in doubt, don't say it, and if you aren't certain what action to take, just ask what she prefers and then do it.  Seriously.  If you are still having to do this months after the baby comes, then you can have a heart to heart to talk about it.  Until then, just love, accept and support her.  It's the best gift.