THE BREATH

The breath of life.  This is what it comes down to.  In this most challenging, sad, and lonely year of the Covid-19 pandemic there are many lessons to learn:  lessons of love, gratitude, resilience, generosity, compassion.  We have all faced disappointments and felt times of disorientation and disconnection.  What has sustained you, at the very heart of it all?  The breath.

Today as I look out upon a clear and frosty morning on the Eve of Christmas Eve, I am in a contemplative mood.  I'm thinking of the pranayama class Karen posted on the Yoga Circle website in the Video Library.  It is a 20 minute invitation to just breathe.  When all else is lost, we have the breath.  The coming home to our bodies alive to the moment, whatever that moment may hold.  The breath can excite, calm, balance.  We need only be aware of its inhale and exhale and how to regulate it for maximum effect.   

The entire purpose of yoga is to calm the fluctuations of the mind.  You don't have to buy expensive yoga pants, a boxful of props, a dozen books, or do pretzel poses to be "doing" yoga.  Yoga is a practice of stilling the mind.  The books, poses, props, and comfortable clothing help our bodies stay strong and flexible so we are not distracted by pain or discomfort when we sit in the silence of the moment, focused only on our breath, only on the calm inner presence of the seat of the soul.  The breath will take you there.

This may be a disappointing Christmas, a lonely Christmas, or just the Christmas you want it to be.  Whatever your experience of this most unusual holiday season, my wish of you, for all of us,  is health, peace, breath.

Namaste,  donnajurene

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com

BE WITH WHAT IS

I love my yoga studio.  But, I have not been inside it since early March, shortly before the Covid-19 restrictions were announced by our governor that shut down all indoor activities where people gather, such as yoga. We went to an online model with live classes and a library of on demand classes. It wasn't perfect, but it worked. As time went on Karen, the Yoga Circle Studio owner, was able to open back up when restrictions were adjusted, to allow 6 students and the teacher to attend in person. But I never went. 

I am Covid-cautious. I found a couple of classes that were easy for me to access via Zoom, and stuck with doing those at home.  We also started to develop an online community, looking forward to seeing each other even if only in those little Zoom squares!  Over the weekend I set up a whole new yoga space for myself with a big TV that allows me to see the teacher much more easily than on my laptop. I was eager to try it out this week. Now that will be the way we all access our beloved yoga studio again. 

Covid-19 cases are skyrocketing all over the U.S. as people ignore the pleas to wear masks and refrain from indoor gatherings with family and friends. Many of us are desperately trying to gerry-rig some form of family gathering for the holidays. Some of us (my husband and I) have cancelled the traditional family Thanksgiving and will be home alone, finding a moment to Zoom with our adult sons and their families instead. I'm not even thinking ahead to Christmas yet. 

The new restrictions going into effect today will once again close our yoga studio to in-person classes. This morning I awoke to an email announcement from Karen about the closure. 

And this is the part I love: I know this is a difficult financial/business situation for Karen.  And yet, she emphasized her commitment to keeping us all safe, encouraged us to contact her if we'd like to buy or borrow props to use at home, reminded us of all the streaming and on demand classes, offered to extend class membership fees already paid, and ended with these words: 

 "We are deeply appreciative of the loyal yogis who support us...and with us, practice the virtues of patience and perseverance. Self care is at the core of yoga, and we validate that with this temporary closure of the studio. Take care of yourself! Of course, we will accommodate any extensions of class passes as needed, and continue to make a long term commitment to keep the studio going..... spreading the healing and wholesome message of yoga."

My yoga studio is an important part of my community.  This is such a hard time for so many reasons.  Many are balking at the new restrictions and ignoring them.  But yoga and those who practice are places of balm and calm.  We know all things change; nothing remains the same; we are more than this moment in time.  We can be here for each other in disappointment and sadness, yes, but also in acceptance and in peace.  ©

Namaste,  donnajurene

THE SKILLFUL PATH

I have been writing postcards and letters to voters through four different organizations in various states to urge them to be sure to vote in the November 3rd election.  My dining room table has been 'activism central' strewn with cards, pens, letters, envelopes, address lists, scripts, and stamps.  Now, less than two weeks out, that job is winding up.  I have completed over 200 cards and 100 letters. Still, in the last week I felt like I should have done more.  I felt a bit of a compulsion toward the end to download more and more addresses, buy more and more stamps!  

Next my intention was to begin as a "text bank" volunteer, continuing to reach out to voters via text.  But after taking the training twice, I realized I was nearing burn-out and realized also that I just didn't want to do it.  I would have to learn new software skills, be responsible for numerous shifts, interact with voters over time, fill out response surveys for the campaign -- basically it was more than I wanted to do.  So I decided to let it go.  I felt horrible -- like I'd let myself down and was out of integrity with my commitment to myself to do this outreach.

This morning a friend sent me an article from the Buddhist magazine, The Tricycle, (Winter 2013) which discussed making skillful effort: the tension between effort and ease in the way we approach life's tasks, be they chore-like or joyous.  Either way we can get off-kilter and find ourselves either behaving compulsively or slothfully and not finding the middle ground, the place of self-compassion, the sweet spot of doing enough but not too much.

That got me to thinking about how we approach our yoga practice.  Karen often advises that we find the tension between effort and ease in the pose.  This is the best advice ever and I channel her voice telling me that even when I'm not in her class.  I forget it, though, when I'm doing other things -- like political activism.  I feel like I can never do enough...it's all effort and no ease.  My brain tells me that to ease up is to be lazy and selfish and ultimately, to lose.  Maybe for some, it can be all ease and no effort --they trouble themselves with thinking they should do something, but never do. 

How often do we come to class, or to meditation, or to anything we do, with the determination to do it "best"?  To disallow any slacking off, to push and push and push.  Or do we find we always intend to come to class, but somehow it never happens, or we show up, but half-heartedly.  Do we beat ourselves up for being lazy?  Does this show self-compassion?  Hardly!  We would certainly counsel a friend in the grips of a quest for perfection, or lost in self-flagellation, to stop, to think it through, to find the inner knowing that informs our actions.  But do we do that for ourselves?

The article reminded me that Effort and Ease are our guides on Skillful Path; that making skillful effort, not too much, not too little, is the way of compassion, the way of the heart.

Next time you show up to the mat, determined to perfect your pose, stop.  Take a breath.  Be easy on yourself.  Grab a prop, or sit out that Pigeon Pose out if you want.  Next time you sit for meditation, determined to clear your mind of uninvited thoughts, stop.  Take a breath.  Notice what thoughts come and then let them go, over and over.  Just sit and breathe through it.  Next time you make an intention but fail to follow through and start with the negative self-talk, stop.  Take a moment to look inward to discern why you are holding yourself back.  Next time you take on a task that is growing into more than you bargained for and feels overwhelming, stop.  Decide how to proceed slowly, or not proceed at all.  

This is yoga too....knowing your own limits, listening to your own inner wisdom, finding your own path, honoring your own tender heart.

Namaste,  donnajurene

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com

 

YOGA AND THE ENNEAGRAM -- TYPES 8 AND 9

Here we are, at the last two types of the Enneagram.  Have you identified yourself yet?  Remember these summaries are brief and broad.  There are subtypes that help refine each major type.  Please refer to the sources I cited in the first post here for more information.  I've loved sharing these insights with you and hope you have found them helpful.

Another important thing to remember is that the personality our ego has constructed to help us in this human body life is not the be all, end all of what and who we are.  We can grow into greatest emotional health by exploring these types and aiming for our highest good.  AND above and beyond these types lies our True Self -- the constant, never changing, always watching and supporting Essence of our Soul.  In Elizabeth's Yoga Nidra class today, she reminded us of this place with her guided meditation.  We are so much more than the personality we have developed and we can use various tools to touch this place of "beyond".  The Enneagram and Yoga are two important tools to help us on our path.

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TYPE EIGHT:  Known as the "Asserter" or the "Challenger", the TYPE EIGHT has a strong personality characterized by being direct, authoritative, protective, self-confident, and loyal. The Eight enjoys taking on challenges and also enjoy challenging others.  They are natural protectors who will go to great lengths to ensure the safety of those in their care.  They are persistent, showing great endurance when pursuing a goal or interest they find worthy.  They show great leadership, not caring to follow the crowd, and have a solid and commanding presence.  The TYPE EIGHT often runs into trouble when their intense personality is misinterpreted by others as too abrasive.  Eights like a good argument and often can push the limits and make people feel intimidated or overpowered by their passion.  They may persist too long and raise their voices.  But while others may interpret this as being "bullied", generally the Eight sees this as a normal interaction, just trying to make a good point.   

The TYPE EIGHT may have heard a message like "You are good or okay if you are strong and in control of your situation."  This leads to a fear of being harmed or controlled by others.  Their deepest desire is to protect themselves and determine their own course in life.  Consequently the Eight often has a hard time taking advice, compromising, or trusting very many people.  The Eight can feel threatened and find a "fight" where there is none.  At the very same time, under this challenging exterior, the Eight has a huge loving heart and a very tender vulnerability that they have a hard time revealing except to a very chosen few.  They can be amazingly generous and insightful, have concern for others' welfare, watching closely for unique ways to show their love and care.

The TYPE EIGHT in the Covid crisis might initially decide that silly virus cannot touch them!  I dare ya!  But they are also practical and face reality head on.  They would carve out a path of "normalcy" in going about their lives as usual, but would also try (maybe not consistently) to take necessary precautions. They would want to help and protect those close to them, offering solace, distraction, and encouragement.  They will be eager to help as a way of showing protection -- getting groceries so a more health-compromised person doesn't have to.  But they might also take risks, feeling they are impervious to the virus.

TYPE EIGHTS can move to a healthier place by learning to open their vulnerable hearts to others.  Eights show this often in their love of, and ease with, children or animals, when they feel freer to let down their guard.  They do not have to always be strong and in control to be safe, which is a valuable learning for an Eight, but a lesson they will need to practice to stay in touch with it.  The Eight can be as intensely loving as they are challenging, and finding this balance will help integrate the intensity of emotions the Eight feels.

YOGA FOR THE TYPE EIGHT:  The Eight does not need strong Warrior type poses.  You might want to include a gentle flow into their practice.  Heart opening poses such as Cobra or Bow will allow you to expand your chest and lead with their hearts.  Deep hip opening poses, like Frog, can often help access deep emotions.  Finding restorative, meditative poses will allow you to practice letting down your guard and resting in safety and comfort.

Type Eights are the enigma of the Enneagram.  Intensely assertive and intensively sensitive they can yell in anger (publicly) and cry in grief (privately) in equal measure. They are serious and funny, strong and soft, self-promoting and self-deprecating.  Eights, we depend on your strength and appreciate your protection, but we see the toll this can take on your ability to share your true self with others.  Be gentle with yourself; show us your heart.  There is great strength in your vulnerability.

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TYPE NINE:  "The Peacemaker", Nines are pleasant, patient, generous, empathic, and receptive. Nines seek to avoid conflict and want to always find peace and harmony internally and externally.  They do not like to get angry, or feel out of sync with others. They have a hard time forming an opinion or following through on their own ideas, especially if they are challenged or intimidated by someone they see as having more strength. The Nine is often thought of as an amalgam of all the other types, having some of the best aspects of each, but never feeling they are fully themselves.  This melding into the characteristics of others is the challenge for Nines -- to assert their own independence.

The Nine may have heard a message like, "You are good or okay as long as those around you are good or okay."  This co-dependent message becomes a life goal for the Nine -- making sure others are okay so they can feel okay too.  They fear being lost or separated from others and work hard to maintain stability and peace of mind.  Often this takes on the form of people-pleasing or of always looking for a silver lining.  This is not bad, but can be limiting.  The Nine often feels they are living half a life, shutting out all "darkness" and trouble, seeking only peace and calm, which is unrealistic.  They may end up in jobs they don't like, in relationships that are less than ideal, with friends that don't quite fit, but the fear of conflict or of hurting another's feelings is too big a risk for a Nine to take to find their own true happiness.  They tend to "go along to get along" and try to find a way to make everyone else happy, which keeps the peace externally, but can bring up dreaded (and repressed) anger internally.

The TYPE NINE in the Covid crisis would be concerned but perhaps slow to embrace the magnitude of the issue.  They would follow the lead of others around them in their response.  They will be generous and caring, looking out for others and doing all they could to ensure others are feeling healthy, safe, and cared for, even if they themselves might question the seriousness of the situation.  They will try to find the bright side, looking for optimistic outcomes.  They will generally follow the rules although "cheating" on them might also bring the Nine a bit of release from their constant self-restraint; they can often act out their anger passive-aggressively.

The Nine can move to a healthier place by fully engaging in their lives in the present moment.  They may have a habit of escaping into a fantasy "what if" life (or a deeply "blissed out" spiritual life) that ultimately is unsatisfying.  By living in this fantasy, they may have a hard time showing up in their own real lives, instead "checking out", and "going with the flow" to the point of being a passive observer to their own experience.  To find their true self, they need to learn to acknowledge and express anger and to face the fear of taking a risk on disrupting the peace.  Learning to be assertive will serve the Nine in growing toward a fully lived life.

YOGA FOR THE TYPE NINE:  Nines need to find inner strength.  A Sun Salutation practice will get you moving through a strong flow.  Core poses like Plank and Boat will allow you to focus on inner energy.  Deep hip openers often provide access to intense, hidden emotions.

Nines are selfless, gentle, kind, and generous -- all good qualities much needed in a harsh world.  We love the safety and peace we feel with Nines.  Yet, for you to be fully in your gentle power we need to see the whole, real you -- warts and all.  Asserting yourself confidently will not make us leave you; we will love you all the more.  ©

Namaste, donnajurene

Photo Credits: pixabay; wikipedia; yoga journal

YOGA AND THE ENNEAGRAM -- TYPES SIX & SEVEN

 

NOTE:  I started this September weekly series on the Enneagram and Yoga on September 2. Please go here for an introduction to the Enneagram and a list of resources for more info.  I won't repeat that information in each post, but it's important for you to have.  Thanks.  🙏🏽

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Moving on, let's look at the TYPE SIX and TYPE SEVEN.

TYPE SIX:  Known as both the "The Loyalist" and "The Skeptic", this tells you about the complexity of this type.  Sixes are likable, caring, warm, compassionate, witty, and responsible.  Sixes are the most loyal of all types to their families, friends, and to their beliefs.  They will defend their communities and families tenaciously. They can be hyper-responsible, taking on too much at times, but proud that they live up to their commitments.  They are generally bright and articulate, and can be very clever and funny.  They may find a group or cause with which they identify and find a home there, working tirelessly to advance the common cause.  Yet Sixes can be filled with anxiety as they anticipate all that can go wrong.

There are two main SIX TYPES:  The Phobic who is a bit on the timid, people-pleasing side, and the Counter-phobic who acts out the type as defiant and confrontational.  Either way, they are ruled by underlying fears.  They fear having no support or guidance and question whether they can survive on their own.  While they seek to find security and support, the Six has trouble completely trusting others, is wary of authority, and often riddled with anxiety about the dangers they perceive in the world around them. 

Sixes may have heard a message that sounds like: "You are good or okay if you do what is expected."  This message was deeply ingrained and has caused the Six often to not know their own mind.  They seek authority outside themselves for reassurance and to discern "what is expected", but at the same time the skeptic in them can't trust just any authority.  They spend a great deal of time seeking answers from a variety of sources to questions that plague them. They like rules and if they have determined the rules to be just and logical, they will follow them.  The Six can be a riddle of contradictions -- some facing real or imagined fears with flight or freeze response, or for some, a strong fight response.  But all are seeking safety and all fear abandonment which would leave them alone and vulnerable in the world.  

The TYPE SIX in the Covid crisis would initially be a mess!  They like predictability and the ability to control situations that are a threat to their safety.  Since they are always scanning the horizon for these threats, the Covid crisis would feel terrifying and chaotic to them -- there is an unseen, but deadly enemy.  The Six would look desperately for an authority to trust, would read voraciously.  They would also seek to connect with others who feel the same and form alliances to address the situation.  They would definitely be mask-wearers!  Over time, their compassionate natures would likely lead them to reach out to others, checking in, offering encouragement and gratitude, hoping to receive the same in return.  The Six would have a very hard time with the disconnection they feel from their trusted group, feeling their fear of being alone in the world playing out.

The Six can come to a healthier place by realizing that they have an inner wisdom that can serve them.  They can learn to trust their own instincts, rely on their accumulated knowledge, and learn to have faith that they can count on themselves to figure out how to deal with any challenges that arise in their lives.  Putting faith in their inner authority can help to relax the frenzied search for reassurance and connection outside themselves to know they will be OK.

YOGA FOR THE TYPE SIX:  Partner poses would be great for a Skeptical Six.  You can build trust and dispel fear by literally leaning in to another.  Sixes also need a retreat from their whirling thoughts and "what if" rumination about possible disasters.  A regular seated meditation practice and/or a grounding restorative practice would bring welcome respite to your busy mind. 

Sixes are the sentinels of the Enneagram -- on alert for trouble and often able to help others see the roadblocks in a plan and/or help others find a way through a sticky situation.  They are thinkers, planners, and experts at anticipating what's needed to smooth the way.  They also feel deeply and long for deep connection; yet, doubt and anxiety too often cause Sixes to hold back from new experiences or from sharing their considerable gifts.  Sixes, you are amazing.  Fear not!  We see you and appreciate you; we want you to see how you shine!

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TYPE SEVEN:  Known as "The Adventurer"  or "The Enthusiast", Sevens are the "life of the party" on the Enneagram.  Sevens are generally charming, fun-loving, spontaneous, confident, curious, productive, and enthusiastic.  Their sense of adventure and outgoing nature is contagious -- they are the Enneagram extroverts and people are drawn to them.  They grab life with gusto, involved in many pursuits simultaneously.  They work hard and play hard, fitting as much into one day as many do in a week.  However, this "busyness" is often a tactic to avoid having to feel anxiety and to keep negativity (frustration, fear, hurt) at bay.  They may be prone to indecisiveness; they worry they may never find what they really want in life.  They are always looking ahead and have trouble being in the present moment.

The Seven may have heard a message sounding like, "You are good or okay if you get what you need."  They seek to be happy and satisfied, and fear being deprived and trapped in pain.  They can be consumed by life's menu of choices, from where to go on vacation to what flavor ice cream to choose.  They want it all; they do not want to miss out!  This frantic activity can become a problem when the speed of their lives leads them to make unwise choices (over-spending, thrill-seeking, over-indulging) or they become disconnected from really being present in life as they plan the next thing on the list.  They may find that their busy minds and bodies become exhausted -- often with stress-related illness being the only thing that slows them down.

The TYPE SEVEN in the Covid crisis would take it in stride to a certain extent. They are natural optimists.  They can offer reassurance, distraction, and good-humor.  They have quick minds, able to brainstorm and synthesize information rapidly and come up with a plan.  They would try to continue on with life as usual and find a way to make all of the concerns and accommodations become just another adventure to experience and get through.  The hardest part for these extroverted Sevens would be to distance and isolate.  They likely would become moody, angry, and frustrated by needing to stay home and away from circles of friends and colleagues, feeling imprisoned by the situation.

The Seven can come to a healthier place by finding an inner calm.  Slowing down, spending time in introspection, cultivating self-discipline all will keep the Seven from suffering from their over-exuberance and at times over-indulgence.  They might decide to seek counseling to guide them through looking at the fears they are running from, helping them understand there is good and bad in life in equal measure and experiencing both to the fullest degree will ground them in a here and now reality.

YOGA FOR THE TYPE SEVEN:  Sevens will benefit from starting with a fast flow practice to expend energy, then slowing down and holding deep poses, like Pigeon or Frog,  for long counts, with at least 5 long breaths between poses.  Keeping your eyes open on a focal point will also ground you in the here and now.  This is an opportunity to practice staying still -- a challenge, but a beneficial one.

Sevens are fun, optimistic, enthusiastic, friendly, quick, and playful.  This hard and serious world needs more of all of that!  People love being with Sevens and feed off their energy.  But Sevens can wear themselves, and others, out at times too.  It's OK to get quiet.  It's OK to be content with "what is".  The grass may not be greener over there, Seven.  Stay put.  And find everything you truly need within you.  Breathe. ©

Namaste, donnajurene

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com

YOGA AND THE ENNEAGRAM -- TYPES FOUR & FIVE

NOTE:  I started this September weekly series on the Enneagram and Yoga on September 2. Please go here for an introduction to the Enneagram and a list of resources for more info.  I won't repeat that information in each post, but it's important for you to have.  Thanks.  🙏🏽

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Alrighty!  This week let's take a look at Enneagram TYPES FOUR and FIVE.

TYPE FOUR:  Known as "The Romantic" or "The Individualist", TYPE FOURS are warm and compassionate, introspective, expressive, and above all, creative.  They can establish warm connections with people, as others are drawn to their quirky world view and irreverent humor.  FOURS feel unique and different from other people, often feeling others don't fully understand them.  They can move toward melancholy when disappointed by life.  They often might feel something is missing from life and their lonely quest is to find it to feel complete.  They fear having no identity or personal significance. They can live in an intense inner world at times, but are also vibrant and artistic, creating beauty in their surroundings, making them fun and interesting to be with.

FOURS may have heard a message that sounds like: "You are good or okay if you are true to yourself."  This sounds like good advice until their search for this Truth can create feelings of alienation; no one can adequately share their depth of longing.  FOURS can be tempermental and consumed by their feelings.  Often they are seen, and see themselves, as loners.  They can become rageful toward those who they perceive do not understand them, but this rage covers a deep longing to be known and accepted by others (as well as themselves.)  

I imagine the TYPE FOUR in the Covid crisis turning inward, contemplating the suffering of those around them, both those they know and those they do not, feeling a deep sense of compassion but also helplessness.   They might turn toward a creative pursuit to express their own feelings, creating something that resonates with others and helps with their emotional expression and healing as well.  The TYPE FOUR will acknowledge their own grief and that of those around them, but it can take a toll on them as well. They must guard against depression and isolation.  There is nothing more "disappointing" to a FOUR than a world gone mad; it can feel overwhelming.

The FOUR can come to a healthier place by channeling the dark places of the soul into expressions of art, music, poetry, drama, or even humor.  They can creatively express what so many of us feel, which is a gift to all.  Even better, finding meaningful actions will get them out of their emotional rumination and into the real world, becoming involved in activities that feed their souls and put them in connection with others.  They may find the "true self" they are looking for in action rather than circular rumination.

YOGA FOR THE TYPE FOUR:  Emerge from of your deep emotions and out into the world on a regular basis!  FOURS will benefit from a consistent studio practice, rather than a private, home practice.  FOURS can benefit from a strong core practice, getting in touch with their inner strength.  Flow classes will complement their moving emotions, giving physical release to them through movement.  Keeping eyes open and finding a focal point (drishti) during practice can help FOURS focus and stay in the material world.

FOURS are sensitive, introspective, deeply feeling people.  The world desperately needs your deep compassion, caring heart, and creative expression of insight and beauty.  And you need to engage in the world around you to mirror back your own inner strength and power.  That for which you are searching -- your True Self -- is here for you, between your heart and the horizon.

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TYPE FIVE:  TYPE FIVES are called "The Observer" or "The Investigator".  FIVES are analytical, objective, perceptive, and sensitive.  They like to stand back and take in all that is happening around them, watching events from afar, and gathering information.  They love to delve deeply into a topic, studying and researching until they feel they have gathered all the information they need to feel a degree of expertise. They are often seen as aloof or cerebral and can tend to isolate themselves as they need a great deal of quiet alone time to think, research, and study their interests.  They do not like demands put upon them, which they see as intrusive.  They can easily become emotionally drained.  They like to feel in control and competent, and find this control and competence in knowledge, which is highly prized by the FIVE.

The message FIVES may have heard is:  "You are good or okay if you have mastered something."  Consequently they can have an underlying insecurity about being useless or incapable, not being clever enough or educated enough or able enough compared to others.  They can be drawn to esoteric studies, not interested in what most already know, but finding new information they alone can impart.  They are often experts on topics most do not know about... or they might know quite a bit about a variety of topics, enjoying being a generalist and proud of that breadth of knowledge.  They desire being capable and competent.

In the Covid crisis, I imagine the TYPE FIVE gathering all the data and statistics on the virus, tracking its spread, reading medical studies on causes and cures. They will have the most recent data on all aspects of the "virus story".  They like to be prepared, which alleviates their inner anxieties.  They will find the most effective mask to wear, and will be happy to tell you about it, but you may have to ask them for this information instead of assuming they will reach out to share it.  Their reclusiveness often leads others to believe they are uncaring -- which is far from true. FIVES are compassionate, trustworthy, and kind.

The FIVE can come to a healthier place by getting out of their heads and into their bodies.  They prize the intellect to the exclusion of all else.  It is said they can understand life, but have trouble actually living it.  In a healthier place the FIVE is engaged in life, in activities, in friendships.  They overcome their self-consciousness and become more carefree and fun-loving.  

YOGA AND THE TYPE FIVE:  TYPE FIVES, you need to connect to the present moment.  Like the Four, an open-eyed focal point practice helps ground the Five in the here and now.  Partner poses would be a challenging and rewarding practice for a FIVE to find connection with others.  Being generally less physical than some types, the cerebral FIVE would also benefit from a vigorous asana flow practice like Sun Salutations and core strengthening.

TYPE FIVES are holders of knowledge and have much to contribute to our deeper understanding of any topic.  FIVES, when you come out of the "library" and into the material world,  you will find we are out here ready to embrace you, not just for what you know, but for the caring person you are. ©

Namase, donnajurene

Photo Credit:  www.pixabay.com

YOGA AND THE ENNEAGRAM -- TYPES TWO & THREE

 NOTE:  I started this September series on the Enneagram and Yoga on September 2.  Please go here for an introduction to the Enneagram and a list of resources for more info.  I won't repeat that information in each post, but it's important for you to have. Thanks. 🙏🏽

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Let's continue to explore the Enneagram Personality Types by taking a look at our TYPE TWOS AND THREES.

TYPE TWO:  Often identified as "The Helper" or the "The Caretaker".  TYPE TWOS need to feel loved and valued and like to show this positive regard for others as well.  They are patient, caring, adaptable, generous, and tuned into others' feelings.  They can express emotions easily and feel happiest when they can anticipate and meet others' needs. People like to be around Twos and feel safe and cared for in their presence. Twos tend to be friendly and supportive, always willing to lend a hand. They are the "best friend" to many.

Twos maybe have heard a message like this as a child: "You are good or okay if you are loved by others and are close to them."  The Twos basic need is to be loved.  They fear being unloved or unwanted for themselves alone.  They are so focused on this that they may become manipulative, making themselves unexpendable so they can stay in relationship.   They often put their own needs at the bottom of the list, perhaps losing touch with what might actually make them happy.  They might feel selfish and do not ask for what they want/need.  This can lead to anger and resentment that is hard for them to express, so it comes out "sideways" in moodiness or flashes of anger seemingly coming from nowhere.  Or their constant giving may manifest in exhaustion and withdrawal, which then makes them feel guilty for not doing enough --  a vicious cycle. 

I imagine the TYPE TWO in the Covid crisis might respond by reaching out to all the neighbors, making sure everyone has what they need, perhaps leaving gifts on doorsteps or offering to run errands or buy groceries for others.  They might feel overwhelmed by the crisis, but will continue to be available to everyone's needs without regard for their own emotional and physical well-being.  Their need to "help" puts them at the center of every personal crisis of those they care about, so the Covid issue is just one more problem to soothe.

Twos can move to a healthier profile by realizing they can't solve every problem for everyone else.  They can take a step back and evaluate what they themselves might need.  Twos often get overwhelmed and exhausted by their caretaking and can benefit from setting healthy boundaries and taking as much time to nurture themselves as they give to others.  They can feel like they are flying apart and need to become grounded in the here and now.

YOGA FOR THE TYPE TWO:

Grounding and core strengthening poses that put you in touch with your inner resources are great for Twos.   Stand tall in Mountain Pose, fully erect, grounded, and confident.  Stay still; breathe in this grounding and uplifting pose.  Perhaps a Plank Pose or a Boat Pose, both engaging the core, will remind you of your inner strength.  A strong Warrior II pose will help you find strength in setting boundaries.  Supported restorative poses are great for self-nurturing.

TYPE TWO is a very giving person, sometimes at their own expense.  If this is you, take a step back and learn to count to 10 before diving into a "rescue mission".  Your love and generosity are so needed in this world -- and you need those for yourself too.  Be as kind to yourself as you are to others.

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TYPE THREE:  Known as "The Achiever", this type is optimistic, confident, efficient, and industrious.  They like to set and achieve goals, striving toward the next big thing. They are generally successful in whatever they do, even if they have set backs.  They persevere.  Their personal accomplishments are admired by many. They often have, and enjoy, status in their social circles, workplaces, and community.  They are can be charismatic leaders who like to stand out.  Performers and politicians are among their ranks.

Threes may have heard messages in their childhood such as: "You are good or okay as long as you are successful and others think well of you."  They fear being worthless or without value.  Their basic desire is to feel worthwhile, accepted, and desirable.  Threes will push themselves hard to accomplish, which can lead to a feeling of alienation from themselves and others.  They are often workaholics.  They may appear distracted, aloof, and unemotional except for an "extroverted" nature in pursuit of their goals.  Success may manifest in being materialistic and/or focusing on their personal appearance.  They constantly worry about what others are thinking of them, needing praise and recognition to feel okay.

I imagine TYPE THREE in this Covid crisis gathering a team together to tackle a project.  They will use their powers of persuasion to organize a mask-wearing campaign or to support local restaurants by planning a weekly "to-go" night amongst people they know.  They will work tirelessly to try to deal with the crisis as positively and successfully as possible, at home and possibly on the job.  They will be models of perseverance but also may find themselves unable to access their emotions about this pandemic because they are so busy with tasks outside themselves.

Threes can move to a healthier profile by giving themselves a break to take time to relax and recharge. They often try to portray a successful image, but underneath feel insecure about being judged.  They would benefit from seeking out people they trust with whom they can be their vulnerable selves.  Creative outlets, just for the joy of creation, are good activities for Threes.  Being part of a team, not the leader, can also help alleviate the "must be seen and acknowledged" stress. 

YOGA FOR TYPE THREE:  

Threes can often spend much time in their heads, so they will benefit from heart-opening poses such as Cobra and Upward Facing Dog to bring them back to their body.  Their racing minds and stressed nervous systems on overdrive would benefit from a meditation and/or pranayama practice that calms and restores a place of peace and acceptance of what 'is', in this moment, not planning for the next.  

TYPE THREEs are optimistic with a "can-do" attitude.  They are resilient and can motivate others, and seem to love working tirelessly.  These are great traits!  But Threes often lose themselves (and their relationships) in workaholism and a quest for success.  If this is you, know that it's OK to step back, relax, and find a someone to be completely yourself with.  You are valued for YOU, not just what you do. ©

Namaste, donnajurene

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com

YOGA AND THE ENNEAGRAM -- TYPE ONE

 INTRO TO ENNEAGRAM:

Class, who can tell me what the Enneagram is?  

Yes!  It's a system of identifying NINE different personality types (sometimes compared to the more well-known Myers-Briggs scale), which is reputed to have originated many centuries ago, but was popularized in Europe in the 1920s and the United States in the 1960s.

Pronounced ANY-a-gram, the Enneagram is represented by a circle with each "type" at one point on the circle.  The Enneagram posits that we develop a strategy for addressing and coping with early life experiences and family circumstances by using our natural talents and abilities.  Sometimes this is a good thing -- we develop healthy coping mechanisms.  Sometimes we go off the rails and our "type"functions in an "unhealthy" range of behaviors, especially under stress.  Most often people fall into an "average" range of response, which is all well and good, but could be better.  The Enneagram shows us a map for climbing out of the "unhealthy" range and growing toward increasing "health" and a better life all around.  (This is a gross oversimplification, but you get the idea.)  

Each of the NINE TYPES have distinct characteristics.  These basic types are influenced by the type which appears on the circle on either side of them, as well as those connected by a line across the circle, to further refine the type.  In addition, there are sub-types within each type....yes, it can get a bit confusing.  For our introductory purposes, we are sticking with the basic NINE.  

I have spent my Covid LockDown months taking a closer look at the Enneagram and find it fascinating.  I kept wondering why I was reacting to the current pandemic in ways that others were not.  What makes us face any challenge, or even every day life, so differently from others?  I turned to my rudimentary knowledge of the Enneagram and took a deeper dive.  I learned more about myself, and about others as well.  A lot of my questions were answered about how we can all face the same set of circumstances with vastly differing responses.  Then I discovered, hallelujia!, that Yoga can mesh nicely with Enneagram work!  Win-Win.

***************

So, let's dive in.  

TYPE ONE:  Often called "The Perfectionist" or "The Reformer".  Type Ones want to improve themselves and the world.  They are rational, self-disciplined, orderly, organized, fair, productive, reliable, ethical, and eager to get to work to change the world for the good.  They are problem-solvers and "fixers". They are hard workers and strive to get everything right.  

They may have heard messages as a child to the effect: "You are good or okay if you do what is right." So they want to be good and virtuous and fear being bad or evil.  Therefore, they can be very self-critical as well as judgmental and critical of others who they perceive as not trying as hard as they are.  They want to take charge, but also often feel they are doing all the work and getting no help or recognition. Their bodies can hold tension with tight muscles and they may be emotionally stressed, feeling they can never achieve their perfected ideal.

I imagine a TYPE ONE would face the Covid-19 pandemic by working hard:  They might see it as a time to tackle the "to do" list they always have going, basically ignoring the crisis and carrying on with tasks.  Or they might dive into the crisis by getting organized, collecting information from a variety of sources, making lists, making plans, trying to get others on board with their plan, coming up with a solid strategy and assuming all should do it their way because they know best, obviously, and they are genuinely trying to help so all will survive!  Ones are people of action: "Come on, gang! Do it my way!"And they get frustrated when their lead is not followed, because they thought it all through; they were rational, thorough, and complete, and well, often they are indeed right. Still....

Ones can move toward a healthier profile when they learn to relax, give up a bit of control and go with the flow, to accept that others have a different style, and that they, as Ones, are perfect as they are without having to prove anything.  They will benefit from knowing that it's OK to make mistakes and also OK to sometimes just be playful, spontaneous, and enjoy life as it is in the moment.

YOGA FOR THE TYPE ONE:  Have fun!  As part of your practice move into Tree Pose with a playful attitude.  If you fall, just laugh and try again.  Or give that pose up and try a Warrior Pose pretending to be a statue or an ancient Samuri.  Try some Laughing Yoga - just "fake laugh" until it becomes real.  Or maybe find a bit of peace from your striving and relax in Child's Pose, not moving or trying, just being.  NOT perfecting the pose and NOT pushing beyond comfort will benefit the ONE.

TYPE ONES put a lot of pressure on themselves and tend to be serious and goal directed.  If this is you, be gentle with yourself.  Do something spontaneous, silly, and fun.  You are perfect just as you are...really!  ©

Namaste,  donnajurene

Photo Credit:  www.pixabay.com

Resources:  There are lots of books, videos (some humorous!), podcasts (some better than others).  Many people have jumped on the bandwagon, so there are LOTS of people out there teaching with varying degrees of expertise.  I was surprised to find there is a strong Christian following of the Enneagram, but this is not an inherent part of Enneagram study by any means.  Just FYI in case you run across this slant on the study or are looking for it, it's there.

These are the sources I will use for this series; information cited is mostly from the first two books and the Yoga article:

The Enneagram Made Easy, Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele, Harper San Francisco, 1994. (This was my intro to the Enneagram and is a very simple, fun, basic introduction for a beginner.  It will help you figure out your Type.  But I highly recommend moving on to a more in-depth study such as the next book on this resource list.)

The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types, Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson, Bantam Books, 1999. (A great intro with depth, but still very accessible and helpful in learning how the Enneagram can foster personal insight and growth.)

Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery, Don Richard Riso with Russ Hudson, Houghton Mifflin, 1996.  (Riso and Hudson are the best known and recognized authors and investigators of the Enneagram.   I find this book dense, but full of great detailed info.  Would not be my introductory text, but for someone with a bit of knowledge or a desire to dive into the deep end, it's a classic.)

The Complete Enneagram, 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge, Beatrice Chestnut, PhD, SheWritesPress, 2013. (All the types, wings, subtypes -- how it all fits together and how to grow in each type to a more healthy place.  Lots of "how to" information to explore once one fully understands their type.)  

EnneagramInstitute.com  -- Yes! People get actually teaching degrees in this!  Explore this website; you can take the "official" test ($12) to learn your type, but there are plenty of free options out there as well. 

Creating a Yoga Practice with the Enneagram by Ali McGhee, August 28, 2015, YogaBasics.com

BACK-TO-SCHOOL COVID STYLE

Happy September! It's back-to-school month!  Kids, parents, and teachers are dealing with the new normal of "distance learning" via Zoom.   Some districts in some areas are doing a hybrid of in-person and and online.  

Same with Yoga Circle Studio.  Online classes have been available all summer.  Now there is an option of four students being able to come in person to the studio with the teacher who will be teaching online simultaneously.  I'm happy Yoga Circle is large enough to accommodate a few in-person students.  My son is a local Park District Recreation Supervisor and they had to cancel their in-person classes when a new rule was implemented in August stating a requirement of 300 sq. feet of space per person.    

I'm also happy the online option is still available!  I'm not yet comfortable returning to indoor settings for anything except grabbing groceries, and mostly it's my husband who is the shopper. Reading now about the spread of Covid-19 through aerosols (teeny tiny little sprays that come from our mouths when we breathe, talk, laugh, cough, sneeze) and how they float in currents in the air, or hang in one place depending upon the indoor ventilation efficiency and direction of air flow makes me crazy!  On top of everything else, will we all have to become ventilation experts?!?  

There are science-backed measures we all should be taking (some are not, however) such as wearing a mask, washing those hands, keeping at least 6 feet apart, and not going to big gatherings, especially indoors. (The coming fall/winter/holiday season will be a new challenge!)

At a certain point, it's a leap of faith I guess.  Many people seem perfectly comfortable, and have throughout this period of time, with trusting their immune systems, the fates, God, whatever flavor of "expert" they've decided to follow.  I guess I'm a skeptic and and bit of a worrier.  I like knowing all the facts, studying the data, erring on the side of caution.  We are all built differently in that regard. 

I hinted a couple of posts ago that I want to explore how our personalities might inform our decision- making about health and so much more.  I want to explore how yoga can work in tandem with various personality types to help us best address our type's needs.  

Part 1 of Yoga and the Enneagram is coming soon and will continue throughout this month.  Be ready to learn!  It's back-to-school month!

Namaste, donnajurene

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com

YOGA NIDRA -- WAKEFUL SLEEP RENEWAL

Today was Yoga Nidra day at Elizabeth's Zoom class. I forgot again. I think it's a trick my brain plays on me. My first few experiences with Yoga Nidra were not positive, so I decided (consciously) that I don't like it; it's not for me.  Since that time I've actually had some very pleasant experiences, but that early declaration is stuck in my head, so when I know it's coming up (4th Wednesday of the month), I tend to avoid that class.  Except....

A few times, including recently when we are meeting online, I forget. I show up and Elizabeth announces it's Yoga Nidra day and I am surprised, even though I can read a calendar as well as anyone.  I think my UNconscious mind is looking out for me.  That mind knows I'll benefit even if I don't know it!

Yoga Nidra is a practice often called "Yoga Sleep Meditation".  Elizabeth starts with a 45 minute gentle asana practice to stretch and strengthen the large muscles of our bodies to prepare us for a 30+ minute lying or sitting meditation.  During that meditation, after we gather extra props to ensure maximum comfort and relaxation, she guides us through the 5 koshas (you don't have to know what this is to benefit!) beginning with a detailed body scan, then suggesting images of disparate objects to bring to mind...and then other stuff, because frankly I'm so deeply in a state of relaxation by then that I hear her voice and follow along, but afterwards I'm not entirely sure where she took me.  I just know how quiet, calm, and at peace I feel in that state.   

I am NOT asleep in the traditional sense -- this is a wakeful sleep.  That makes no sense, right?  It will.  Eventually.  Like I said, it didn't work for me at first.  Lying on my mat I was physically uncomfortable, distracted, agitated.  Then Elizabeth suggested sitting on a chair.  That was better for me.  But what has been BEST is to do this practice at home, via Elizabeth's Zoom class, sitting in an upholstered chair in my bedroom, feet on a bolster, blanket over my lap, eye shade covering my eyes.  I feel myself sink into the moment almost immediately.  

This morning I started on Day 3 of grieving all the losses of this Covid Summer -- concerts, ballgames, fairs and festivals, trips, friends, grandkid sleepovers...just the ease of the pre-Covid life where distancing and masks and hand sanitizer were unheard of.  As summer nears its end, I am already anticipating even more restrictions as the cold and rain drives us indoors again.  So, my emotions have been volatile and there have been lots of tears.  I want to hug my grandkids!!!

So, I switched on my computer for class rather reluctantly.  I wanted to just skip it and wallow in sorrow some more.  But my husband urged me to show up for the class, reminding me that Yoga always helps.  He's right of course, and when the first words I heard were: "Good Morning! It's Yoga Nidra Day." I didn't feel a sinking sensation of reluctant acceptance.  I felt relieved.  I felt nurtured.  I knew it was exactly what I needed.

I write this now, 2 hours post-class time, still floating on the cloud of renewal.  I know there are sorrows, but they do not consume me.  The sun is shining.  There is a cool breeze blowing across the back deck where I write.  I'm looking forward to a long walk with my husband at the waterfront later this afternoon and a simple summer supper on the deck tonight. I feel gratitude.

Sorrows come and go.  We watch them.  Happiness comes and goes.  We watch it.  Life happens to us and around us.  We watch it.  The Watcher, the Seat of our Soul, remains constant.  And when we forget what's best for us, we are reminded.  Over and over and over again.  

Namaste,  donnajurene

(Link to an article about Yoga Nidra and the 5 Koshas: https://yogainternational.com/article/view/yoga-nidra-and-the-five-koshas

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com

PANDEMIC SUMMER

I took a July vacation from blogging -- here and also on my other two blogs.  But this being the last day of July 2020, I just couldn't completely let it go...so here is "hodge-podge" post of random thoughts.

I'm tired of the Covid-19 pandemic.  I'd like it to be gone now.  Oops---that is grasping for an outcome over which I have almost no control. (The only control I have is over my own behavior: stay home most of the time; wear a mask all of the time; create physical distance between me and others; wash my hands!)

The only real thing I can do about this historic event is to Be. Here. Now.  

So, yes, we are still in the midst of this pandemic and it's not getting better.  In fact new cases and more deaths are on the rise.  I won't delve into the political decisions and culture wars that may be contributing to this situation, because wishing for all of that to be different is also grasping at something that is not our current reality.  (Not to say we can't make our voices heard on the matter!)  So, let's just say, I understand the realities.  I am mostly accepting what is.  I am aware of feeling sad, mad, and afraid, along with content and grateful.  I breathe through those cycling emotions multiple times a day.

How is Yoga sustaining me?  Well, our pranayama practice helps.  That calming breath that is always available to us.  Inhale, hold.  Exhale, hold.  Exhale breath longer than inhale breath to calm the sympathetic nervous system and access the parasympathetic nervous system.  We don't need to fight or take flight.  We just need to "be".  Quiet.  Calm.  Patient.  It's hard sometimes. And with dedication to the practice, it works.

My asana practice is also calming.  Seeing the faces of familiar teachers and other students at the "online studio" is a balm to an aching desire (grasping again!) to be back to normal, gathering together at Yoga Circle.  I practice gratitude for the technology available to us to meet and practice in this way.  I love the feel of each pose, the familiar flow from one pose to the next, feeling my muscles strengthen, stretch, and relax.  The final Savasana, or Yoga Nidra practice, brings me to a deeper sense of peace in the moment.

My Sutra Sister group helps too.  Having met and spent 6 months together at our 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training last year (our one year graduation anniversary was yesterday) a small group of us decided to continue to meet and support each other in our yoga adventures as new teachers.  Some of us teach classes; some do not; some teach in other ways; all of us have grown closer both in person at first and now on a regular Zoom meet up, continuing to support each other in Yoga and all things "life", including how to navigate this challenging time.  Friendships need to be nurtured with special care during this time of physical distancing and staying home -- we are doing that.

My husband had total shoulder replacement surgery earlier this month, so we are walking the healing path together.  We've begun to see our extended family on occasion, trying to take advantage of these summer months when outdoor activities (still masked, physically distanced, and hand sanitizer at the ready) are safer than sharing indoor air.  I want to hug my grandkids with a palpable longing -- but we have a little ritual of wrapping our arms around ourselves and saying we are hugging each other with our hearts.

I have grown curious about how others are dealing with this strange and terrible worldwide event.  Why do some handle it with nary a care while others are perpetually frightened?  How do some maintain a sunny outlook while others are angry and resentful?  How have some deepened relationships with friends and family while others have pulled away or feel isolated and alone? 

I'm on a quest....stay tuned for more on this next month when I delve into my current twin passions:  Yoga and the Enneagram!

Namaste,  donnajurene

YOGA WHERE YOU FIND IT

Well!  Here we are on June 30.  I thought if I waited all through the month of June, I'd be able to announce the End of Covid!  HaHa  Just kidding.  But I did anticipate that the numbers of new cases would be much better -- not getting worse.  (PLEASE wear a mask!  PLEASE keep your distance!  PLEASE stay home most of the time.  PLEASE wash those hands and don't touch your face and say some prayer or incantation to the health gods to take this scourge away!)

Hmmmm....so given that we are still in this, how are you doing?    I have my ups and downs.  But one sustaining constant is my yoga and meditation practice....it just looks a little different.

I know there are a jillion online yoga options.  I know of a group of friends who are doing "backyard yoga" together while keeping their distance.  I know many of us have found our way back to Yoga Circle, either with the library of videos or the live stream classes.  It feels good to hear our teachers and see the studio. 

I also try to throw in a pose here and there during the day just randomly.  I am in Tree Pose while I wait for my tea water to boil; I stand in Mountain Pose and reach high arms overhead, on tiptoes, when trimming branches on our Japanese maple;  I kneel in Hero's pose while weeding until my knees scream at me, then I switch to a squat, or just plop down on my bottom and twist and reach.  One day my back called out for Child's Pose right in the middle of a planting session.  Boom!  Down I went, nose to grass, recalling how many childhood hours I spent crawling around my yard, playing in the dirt, making daisy chains, watching ants busy at their anthills. 

My meditation practice is centered around the app, The Daily Calm, that I have downloaded on my phone.  Every day there is a pre-chosen 10 minute meditation that I do right away.  It's a wonderful centered practice to start the day.  Other times I can run through the extensive menu and choose just what I need -- meditation for anxiety, meditation for peace and calm, meditation to help me sleep, and on and on. 

I have had so many good intentions to use this enforced down time to be productive and tackle projects long on the back burner.  I've done some, but not with gusto and not with unlimited attention and energy.  This time has also been one of just quiet.  Just "vegging".  Just contemplation.

I think we are living through a national trauma, a time of intense transition, that takes an emotional, psychological, and even physical toll.  But we have a secret weapon at our disposal: Yoga.  Remember....the entire purpose of yoga is to calm the fluctuations of the mind.  If you are like me, there are some days when all there is is fluctuation!  We all need our yoga practice to come back to center, to the seat of the True Self. 

We are in this together.  We can do hard things.  Lean in to kindness -- toward others and to yourself.  One day we will look back and remember this time.  One day it will be over.  Just not yet.

Namaste,  donnajurene
Photo Credit: www. pixabay.com

ONLINE YOGA CHALLENGES: DOES MY BUTT LOOK TOO BIG?

As I have said in previous posts, I am very grateful for my beloved Yoga Circle Studio going "Live" with online classes.  As this Covid-19 lockdown goes on, we are indeed creating a "new normal" for ourselves and that includes getting back some of what we lost when life as we knew it abruptly shut down.

That said, it has not all been smooth sailing.  The studio spent some time beta testing the software that makes online live feed available to us.  There was (for me anyway) a complicated sign in process and once signed in we encountered some audio challenges.  We all persevered and with continuous feedback and tweaking, it now seems to work well.

On MY end, however, I'm still working out the kinks.  I still have a hard time logging in and inevitably end up in a "redirect" loop that takes me back to where I started until by some quirk of magic I click on a right link and Voila! I'm in.  I wish just once I'd figure out how I did it so I could duplicate the process every time.  I'm sure this is no fault of the process, but rather my brain.  I run into these glitches on other sites as well.  I'm not super terrible at navigating Computer Land, but hey, I still remember black & white TV and recall my mom listening to soap operas on the kitchen radio.  Tech is not my native language.

Once connected to class it's great to see the studio, and our terrific teachers,  and familiar faces of yogi friends.  As students sign in we mostly we can see each other in little boxes across the bottom of the screen rather like on Zoom.  But for me to see well, I have to get really close and when I glimpse my gigantic head peering into the camera I scare even myself.  Not a good look!

Class often starts with us sitting and letting the instructor know what we'd like to work on so my computer screen is placed appropriately to make my head appear in the middle of the screen for that. But the moment we are asked to lie down I, of course, disappear.  So I try to adjust my screen to capture at least some of my body, but who knows?  Because the little box where I appear is hard for me to see without my glasses, which by this time I've ditched.

I go ahead with the class wondering at various points how big my butt must look to the teacher seeing me on her computer as I roll around in Happy Baby pose.  I wonder if, in Mountain Pose, all she can see is my torso with my pants heading south and my shirt heading north.  I keep trying to catch a glimpse and make appropriate adjustments to ensure some decorum, but it's a daunting task.

At some point I notice most other students have turned off their video and I begin to understand why.  All that self-monitoring is distracting.  But I also feel that if the instructor can't see us, she can't know if we are doing something truly dangerous that she should correct....or whether we've grown distracted and started to scroll Facebook.

I also need to move more furniture, but I try to keep the coffee table close for my computer to rest on so I can see the screen, which means much of the time when I'm lying down my legs are extended under the table.  To move them I have to move me again, skootching up and then often whacking my head or my arms on chairs surrounding me. This is just laziness on my part; I try to squeeze into too small a space for being able to effortlessly achieve full range of motion.

In spite of these personal failings and "yoga at home" challenges, I'm still grateful.  I'm grateful for the calming cadences of my teachers' instructions, for a glimpse of the most beautiful yoga studio in the world, for moving my body, and and for eventually finding moments of stillness of mind.  I can laugh at my clumsiness and know with a sense of peace and acceptance: "this is real"; "this is now"; "this is life"; this is yoga!

Namaste, donnajurene

FROM CHAOS TO CALM

Yesterday morning a thunderstorm rolled through our area.  This is not usual.  We get drizzle, mist, showers, even steady rain sometimes.  But yesterday morning the skies darkened, the temperature dropped, and winds picked up.  Soon, there was distant rumbling.  And a pelting non-stop big drop rain.  By the time I signed on to my weekly Zoom visit with my Sutra Sisters yoga group we all heard the loud cracks of thunder and flinched a bit at the flashes of lightening outside the windows in our respective homes, although some of us lived 20 miles apart.

This deluge, replete with sound effects seemed fitting.  Our world has been storming lately.  We have been living in a whirl of chaos it seems -- where nothing is as it was.  In the Ayruvedic tradition, one would call the energy around us "Vata" -- a swirling chaos of unpredictable movement.

The Covid-19 virus is still amongst us.  We here in Washington are still in a Phase One of a four phase plan for returning to "normal".  It will take awhile at the rate we are going, no thanks to those who want to hurry us along refusing to comply with "Stay Home/Stay Healthy" orders along with not physical distancing, nor wearing masks.  The "mask" debate has become politicized with some wearing them as a statement of compassion and solidarity -- doing what we can to slow the virus.  Others vehemently refuse to wear a mask seeing it as unnecessary and an assault on their rights as citizens to live as they want.  Chaos.

We are experiencing an increased level of civil unrest in response to last week's killing of a suspect in Minneapolis at the hands of a police officer who continued to subdue the handcuffed victim with a knee to his neck until he stopped breathing.  For days, protests have turned to riots and looting in major cities across the U.S. and a few in Britain and Europe.  Chaos.

Some believe there is a lack of leadership from the White House, with their ever shifting directives on the Covid crisis, their downplaying the severity of it, their eagerness to get the economy moving again in spite of rising rates of virus in certain hot spots.  Others stand with the current president, protesting and storming state houses (some with weapons) to protest being told to stay home and demanding businesses reopen.  Chaos. 

What's a yogi to do?  In some people's minds we yoga practitioners take a neutral stand on such issues.  We sit in lotus position, hands at rest, eyes closed, Zenning out and shutting out all the troubles of the world.  I guess it can look like that from the outside.  But there is grit amongst us, and compassion, and a call to action in our practice as well.  

We give ATTENTION to what needs to be done, then act with INTENTION to effect change.  We go inward to find our core being, our oneness with all that is, and come out with greater certainty that all is connected.  Every individual action we take (or fail to take) has impact on the whole.

Just as we link the in breath and the out breath with our asana movement, the in breath and out breath of our lives also moves us along the path of doing what must be done.  For some that may mean marching, writing letters, registering voters.  For others it might mean sewing masks, baking cookies for lonely neighbors, writing letters of gratitude to essential workers.  

Yoga practice is not apart from this world, but a part of it.  Yes, go inside.  Get quiet.  Find Source.  Then return in strength, balance, and breath to join in creating a place where all are welcome, where health and vitality are celebrated, where our individual lives become a model for our elected officials as we show them the way to lead us to a vision of a calmer, more peaceful world for all.

Namaste,  donnajurene

NEW YOGA CIRCLE VIRTUAL CLASSES!

Oh my!  I sure do hope you are signing in to Yoga Circle's online classes.  As I wrote in my previous post, I was so excited to hear that the online option would be available to us.

I don't know about you, but being away from the places and people I love is a bit on the stressful side. It feels like such a relief to see the studio, even online, and to hear familiar voices leading classes and meditations.

Yesterday I settled in for Karen's Goddess Moon Salutation class.  It was just what I needed to calm my frazzled nerves.  Moving my body, breathing with movement, stilling the mind...ahhh....yoga.  (You can find this offering and others in the video library tab on the Yoga Circle website.)

And NOW, even more! Karen has announced regular full-length online CLASSES which she and Elizabeth Gray will lead starting May 18 -- almost like being there!  Karen will lead on Tuesday/Thursday at 10 a.m. and Elizabeth will lead on Wednesday/Friday at 2 p.m.  This is such a welcome respite from the long Yoga Circle drought!

I know yoga is about so much more than asana -- so much so that I thought my meditation practice would suffice during the these days of Stay Home/Stay Healthy during the Covid 19 pandemic we are all experiencing.  But I miss asana practice more than I thought I might.  It's part of the yoga package.  I notice more aches, more being out of alignment, less strength.  I want to get back to a fully integrated practice of asana, pranayama, and meditation.

I know...I could access any number of other online yoga classes and I have; just not regularly.  Besides, there's no place like home....and Yoga Circle is like coming home for me.

Hope you'll tune in to a virtual class soon.  I know I will!

Namaste,   donnajurene

https://www.yogacirclestudio.com/

I'M SO EXCITED...AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT!

Do you remember that old Pointer Sisters disco-era song from the 80's?    🎶"I'm so excited..."🎶

Well, that's how I feel today.  I'm going back to the Yoga Studio!!!

No, the Stay Home/Stay Healthy order has not been lifted in this time of the Covid-19 quarantine.  I'm still staying home 98% of the time.  The other 2% is my almost daily 2-4 mile walks either in the neighborhood or at the waterfront marina.  It feels good to move my body and get my heart pumping; to breathe fresh air and nod and smile (behind my mask) at others as we swerve to stay 6 feet apart.

I know I could be doing my asana practice at home as well.  But....well....I have only been oh, so sporadic at finding classes online.  It's just not the same as being in my familiar and nurturing space at Yoga Circle with teachers I adore and friends I love (and miss).

But studio owner Karen has begun to post short, gentle, accessible-to-all classes online and I guess because it's "my" studio, whenever I practice with her online, it feels so much more familiar and nurturing.  To date, in addition to Karen's classes, Elizabeth also has a video on the site where she guides us through an abbreviated version of her crazily popular Yoga Nidra (meditation) class.  As a bonus, Warner Blake's beautiful Tai Chi practice takes us outside along the Snohomish River for a breath of (virtual) fresh air.

These are difficult times.  Most of us find ourselves missing our familiar routines, missing seeing family and friends, missing a sense of peace and calm as we navigate the very real stresses and worries of this pandemic era in our lives.

Let's remember yoga is always there for us.....in our deep belly breathing, in our strength and stretch through an asana practice, in our slowing the racing thoughts of our busy minds, in knowing that right NOW, in THIS MOMENT, all is well.

My "attitude of gratitude" has grown today as I've gone back to the studio with Karen and friends online.

I hope you'll join in too and remember to check the website for additional videos.  (Just click on the logo on this page and then click on Online Classes.) We are all in this together, a community of yogis/yoginis, finding calm in the storm.

Namaste, donnajurene

A PRACTICE TO CALM CHRONIC STRESS

A couple of months ago I took a series of classes with Elizabeth at Yoga Circle exploring how yoga can help with chronic pain.  I thought it would be asana-focused.  While that was an element, it was not the main focus.  I should have known better.

The purpose of yoga is to calm the fluctuations of the mind.  Even after all my study and experience I still sometimes first think of yoga primarily as a means of strengthening and stretching the body.  Nope.

As we explored how chronic physical pain can become all-consuming to the mind and how secondary emotions (sadness, anger, frustration, etc) can exacerbate that pain, I began to see how emotional pain can also be chronic and can also be all-consuming.

Perhaps you are feeling that chronic emotional pain now, in this time of fear and uncertainty, as we face the Covid-19 health crisis.  I know I can get stuck in a loop of worry and anxiety.  I cry more easily; I feel afraid, sad, angry, and frustrated, longing for this to be "solved", longing to see and hug my grandkids, longing to feel safe.  Hearing about illness and death, it is hard not to project ourselves and loved ones into that reality.  And maybe we even know someone who has the virus and has been sick or even died.  This is a very stressful time.

I want to share something with you that I hope will help.  I'll use the 4-step guide to using yoga to address chronic physical pain as guide to addressing emotional pain as well...

1.  What to do with our emotional anxiety?  Become an observer of your experience.  Instead of being on autopilot, notice how you are responding to this idea of emotional pain and name it.  As soon as you feel that first skip of a heartbeat, say, "Oh, there it is.  I feel afraid.  I feel fear when I think of this."

2. Then, know that the symptoms you experience are signaling you to keep you safe.  They are internal messengers of an external experience.   They are getting your attention; they are trying to help.  Hello, Messengers!

These messengers manifest in a sympathetic nervous system response that yells, "Fight!  Flee!"  Freeze!"  Our heart rate goes up, breathing gets faster, stress hormones are released and we are suddenly sitting in a chair thinking we can't breathe (and the virus has us in its grip!)....and the anxiety and nervous system response to threat are in a continuous loop of fear and dread.

3.  How can you reassure your body that you are OK?  Breathe.  Ah, yoga.  You've taught us to breathe.  Deep, slow in breath; deep and even slower out breath.  Over and over until things start to calm down.  Just this act of breathing with intention, with letting the belly poof out on the in breath and draw in on the out breath lets our nervous system know there is not an immediate threat in this moment.  We are safe.

4.  a) Now it's time to explore the depth and width of that emotional pain.  Can you think about where you feel stress in your body?  Can you see how big it is?  For me, stress feels like tightness in the chest, maybe the neck.  I can trace its circumference to that area and sometimes into the gut.  That's where my stress lives, just within the confines of a certain part of my body.  Trace it to its edge.

4.  b)Now it's time to explore the opposite.  Move your awareness beyond that place where emotional stress manifests for you.  Can you notice that if your chest is feeling constricted this same constriction is not not happening in your leg or your big toe?  Can you sense there is an opposite of stress in other parts of your body?  Focus there.  Breathe.  Notice that you can use your mind and your breath to move your body from a stress state to a calm one.

Pain in any form is a message to pay attention.  That message can be subtle or inescapable.  We can notice how our body is responding to that message and use it to motivate us to get help, if needed.  We can also notice that sometimes our very thoughts, and not a physical reality, are causing us pain and stress and our body is reacting just as it would to a physical threat.  We can calm ourselves through breathing, bringing awareness to the area of stress, then moving awareness out and beyond that to a place of peace.

I hope this practice helps those of you who are struggling right now.  I know it helps me.

Deep gratitude to Elizabeth Gray for her wise teaching and permission to pass this information on to you in this blog post.  Be well, my friends.

Namaste, donnajurene

Photo Credit:  www.pixabay.com