Everyday Yogini

Clara is my best teacher. Especially now that she is almost three and, well, sort of insane and super-toddler-y.

I mean that in the best way possible, really I do.

Take this morning, for instance. It’s Halloween and we have been shlepping a costume around in a suitcase during our move. Her school is having a party and a parade for the holiday and she was incredibly excited last night to be all dressed up for school with her friends, but this morning, when we tried to get the costume on her body, she started screaming bloody murder.

I. Was. So. Mad.

It was really silly. And poignant in many ways. Mostly, it was a terrible reflection of some of my own deep fears and insecurities.

As a child, well, probably up until my twenties, I would find myself in situations where I felt different and apart from my peers. In retrospect, it was often my very own decisions or perspective that put me in that position. It took many years of meditation, yoga, working with therapists and just plain experience to realize that I was in large part responsible for my feelings of not being included. What a relief to know it was me!! But, truth be told, I dislike this part of myself (because I still find myself in these situations occassionally, even now that I’m perfect <---which is a huge joke).

So, here I am this morning, getting overly frustrated with a toddler that is exhibiting normal toddler behavior (like saying No to everything). And, because I still struggle at times with feeling included, I’m assigning detrimental, life-altering significance to this incident. “Oh my gosh, my daughter is going to feel left out and sad and lonely for the rest of her life because she didn’t put her Halloween costume on the year she was three!!”

After I took her to school (without her costume on, but in a bag, just in case), it took a while to shake it off. I don’t want my daughter to suffer. At all. Ever. And naturally, I can only control that to a very tiny extent. I think the wisest thing I can do, outside of loving her as best I can, is to continue shining the light into my own dark corners and accepting and embracing what I find. Because at the end of the day I believe that by applying kindess and non-violence to my own neurosis, I will be able to clearly see what is my daughter’s path and what is mine. And when she struggles to find her way, I will be able to offer her my love and acceptance, hopefully because I will have offered that great gift first to myself.

And, by the way, she wore the costume during the party and had a terrific time with her friends.

The November issue of Ode magazine came to my mailbox this week and the first article that I turned to read was Fire Your Gurus! I was so pleased to see this, I could barely contain my excitement. In fact, I had been thinking about this ever since attending the workshop with Doug Swenson.

Until my late twenties, I read self-help and spirituality books incessantly looking for answers and guidance. I don’t think I’m unusual in this regard, I think we are often set up to look elsewhere for answers to our deepest questions. Especially in times of transition and uncertainty, I still find myself looking somewhere else for comfort and direction. It’s less work, and because I feel all shaky and unsure of my own worth and ability, I think someone else who sounds confident is definitely going to offer me the stability and sureness I crave.

The article made an excellent point about relying on other people’s advice, namely, that every time we rely on someone else to guide our decisions we are giving our power away and lose a bit of our authenticity. This really rang true for me when I read it. We are always our own best wise elder, if we stop to honor what we know to be best and truest for ourselves. And of course, this builds confidence and trust in our process and our ability to be resourceful.

This is not to say that having a good support system that gives us a shoulder to cry on, a good yoga teacher to give us some poses to assist our opening up process, a meditation practice, or a therapist as a sounding board should be rejected. These things should all be viewed as tools that can help us walk through life with some grace and dignity, instead of kicking and screaming. But ultimately, we have all the answers we need, no matter what the question is.

May we all learn to trust our ability to have the insight and answers we need.

Namaste~

Monday seems a good day to offer up a little nourishment. My family adores this dish, and I always seems to have the ingredients on hand.

Ingredients:

3-4 Yukon Gold Potatoes, sliced thin
1 Tablespoon olive oil
5 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup shredded cheese (I use a mix of sharp cheddar and swiss)
1 Tablespoon basil
1 Teaspoon marjoram
1 Teaspoon Thyme
Black pepper, to taste
1-2 tomatoes, sliced

Instruction:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large skillet, preferably cast-iron (really just oven-proof), sautee the potato slices over medium heat in the olive oil until beginning to soften and brown (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and spread the potatoes out evenly over the bottom of the same skillet.

Mix the remaining ingredients, without the tomatoes, in a large bowl. Pour onto the potatoes and top with the sliced tomatoes. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until the egg is set.

Serve with a green salad with vinegar and oil for a nourishing and delicious lunch.

Blessings from my kitchen to yours~

I was looking through the new site content over at Yoga Journal, which seems a lot more inclusive and user friendly. I haven’t spent a lot of time over there, but I did take the time to take their Yoga Snob Quiz! If you haven’t taken it, the link is below.

What kind of Yogini are you today?

Well, naturally, things are hectic and hassles abound at the moment. The entire family is on antibiotics for ear infections, the packers were really quite horrible, it’s raining today and they are going to be walking our furniture a not-so-short distance to get to the truck, and, yesterday, I was hit by another car while driving my husband’s precious Mercedes.

And then, when we checked into our lodging last night, the one bed is a double bed and, well, our daughter still sleeps with us. Needless to say, husband took the couch last night. Even with some space available to her, Clara managed to fall out of the bed and narrowly miss her eye on the corner of a bed side table.

I’m not complaining here, I actually think it’s enough to be funny. So, as my husband was grieving the side of the car last night, I realized there is an *om* in Rome, and I started chanting “Rrrrrroooooommmmmmme”! Erick started laughing, as did I, and it all seemed, well, managable.

And it will all be different by next week. The family will feel better, our stuff will all be on a ship, and we will board a plane to cross the Atlantic. We will be tired when we arrive and then we will get a good night’s sleep. We will probably have some difficult moments, but we will have some really amazing moments as well. Because that is just what life is like.

I feel so happy about that today. So happy that even though I am tired and sick and my family is tired and sick, I know it will pass and change sooner than I might imagine. I think this is called equanimity. May you all find a bit of equanimity in your lives today.

The chaos of moving is here, but I can still find my sense of balance and rootedness in Vrksasana (Tree Pose)! What an excellent pose to work on this week! As life marches on and becomes more chaotic and busy, finding our inner foundation is the key to staying present and in the moment. There is no better way to see if we are really here than to practice a balance pose like Vrksasana.

Instruction~

1. Stand with the feet together and the arms by your sides. Feel the weight of the body distributed evenly through the feet, front and back, side to side. Lift through the crown of the head, lengthening the back of the neck.

2. Bend the right leg at the knee, raise the right thigh and bring the sole of the right foot to the inside of the ankle or up to the inside of the left thigh (note, do not put the raised foot on the inside of the knee).

3. Balancing on the left foot, press the standing leg and the raised foot together firmly, creating a new center line of gravity, assisting your balance. Bring the hands to prayer position at the heart, or raise both arms over the head keeping the elbows straight with the shoulders and jaw relaxed. Hold the posture while breathing gently through the nostrils for 5 complete cycles of the breath.

4. Lower the arms and right leg with a sense of mindfulness and grace. Return to the starting position with feet together and arms at the sides. Pause for a few moments, noticing the quality of both sides of the body. Repeat on the opposite leg.

Pose Notes~

Regular practice of Vrkshasana helps to focus the mind and cultivate concentration in all areas of our lives. Imagine a tree in the mind’s eye, and begin to develop a sense of your body being the tree. The roots extending into the earth from the feet, The leg as a steady trunk, rooting you to the earth, but lifting you toward the sun. Branches reach toward the sky, in a relaxed, yet strong manner. You may be unsteady for a while and find the body swaying back and forth, but note this is one great strength of a tree: the innate ability to allow the wind to move it without knocking it down.

May your life be enriched through the practice of Yoga. I will post as often as possible as we make the transition to Rome. Namaste~

An email appeared in my inbox last night about a great blog that Greater Good has started on their website. Greater Good Science Center is dedicated to understanding and promoting happiness and compassion through scientific research. Their most recent project is scientific research into what makes for happy children. The upshot of the conversation so far is that promoting effort, not performance (called “Growth Mindset”), and teaching children emotional literacy, are two important keys to raising happy, well-adjusted kids.

There are a number of things I love about this, the first being that it’s so yogic, no? Focusing on the path, not the destination, brings happiness. Doesn’t this really boil down to mindfully living in each moment? Yes, we have goals, but we focus on what we are doing now- the process! And of course, we don’t do anything in a vacuum, we do it in relationship to others. And the best way to live in community is to have the ability to connect and empathize and communicate clearly!

So, although this may not be news to any of us, it’s a terrific affirmation of what we know inherently if we follow a mindful spiritual path… but please, spread the word to people you know. Let’s get the word out!

My daughter celebrates spaghetti. Well, really, she celebrates eating in general. She comes by it naturally, as her Father and I are both self-proclaimed foodies (and card-carrying members of the Slow Food Movement). We eat organic foods, focusing on local production. I enjoy cooking simple, delicious, vegetarian and fish dishes at home. Purchasing, preparing, and eating foods are cause for celebration and constitute spiritual practices in our household, so, quite naturally, belong here, as part of the Everyday Yogini offerings!

As we are moving into cooler weather and winter vegetables are abundant and fresh right now, I bring you one of my absolute favorite Fall offerings. It takes some time to prepare, but make extra! It holds up well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, however, I will be suprised if it lasts that long.

Quinoa and Zucchini Stuffed Acorn Squash
(adapted from The Healthy Kitchen by Dr. Andrew Weil and Rosey Daley)

1/2 cup Quinoa
2 T Olive Oil
1 cup vegetable stock
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (I use a mix of basil, marjoram, and thyme)
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup grated zucchini
2 Tablespoons currants or raisins
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon ground curry or cumin
1/4 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika
2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2-3 acorn squashes
2 teaspoons Italian breadcrumbs
2 Tablespoons pecorino romano

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Acorn Squash:

Puncture the surface of the squash 4 times with a knife, making sure that the stabs are spaced apart. Cut the squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a big spoon and discard them. Lay the squash, cavity-side-down, in a baking pan. Add water to the baking pan and bake for 30-40 minutes, until the squash is easily punctured with a fork.

Remove from the oven and allow the squash to cool in the pan. Leave the liquid from the squash in the pan, turn the cooled squash over, cavity side up.

Quinoa and zucchini stuffing:

In a small saucepan, toss the quinoa in 1 T of olive oil, stir, pour in the stock, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat.

Pour 1 T olive oil into a nonstick pan and saute the onions until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Add teh zucchini, currants, basil, curry, paprika, and lemon juice. Saute for another 2 minutes over medium heat. Scoop the quinoa into the saute pan and mix thoroughly until it is blended with the vegetables to create an aromatic stuffing. Remove from heat.

Scoop the stuffing into the acorn squash. Sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs and pecorino. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven.

Blessings from my kitchen to yours~

(Note- a friend asked me if we are vegetarian/pescatarian. The answer is no. We all eat meat in small quantities, at restaurants or when being entertained, just to be clear.)

As someone who has worked in the business world, I am always inspired when I see articles and stories about people who take their spiritual service (seva) into the world in a very tangible way. This one struck very close to home because I would love to find a way to use my business background for good purpose, not just profit.

I receive a magazine called Ode and it is a very positive, empowering magazine that is worth reading. In last month’s issue, there was a great article about a gentleman in South Africa who opened a business school in the worst part of Johannesburg and offered practically free education to students who would normally not recieve the priviledge of an education.

Taddy Blecher, the 40-year-old founder and executive director engaged the business community to finance the project and opened his doors to the first students. The students are required to serve the school, as the school serves them, meaning they participate in keeping the school clean, etc. The students, who otherwise would become part of the masses of uneducated poor in South Africa, often become incredibly successful and bring the hope and prosperity back to their communities.

To access the article in full, go here.

My friend Kristen told me about Kimberly Wilson and her podcasts when we were still neighbors in co-housing. Kristen still lives there and we still own our home, but we won’t be back for many years. I miss it terribly, but, in any case, that’s neither here nor there. The point being, Kristen introduced me to Kimberly and Tranquil Space and I thank her!

The Yoga and Writing workshop was (thankfully) small, with only five of us participating. It was a bit intimidating for me, because all the other gals have already been published in some form or fashion! But they were all wonderful and very supportive and open. We started out by discussing why we were there and Kimberly told us about her own process and background in writing. I have to say, Kimberly is extremely engaging and supportive, with terrific energy! It is no suprise that her ventures are all enjoying high success.

We spent time at the beginning of the three hours talking about why we were all there and what our ultimate goals with writing are. The desires were all very different, from being published in glossy magazines to achieving name recognition organically, through more of a grass roots, “Have you read that book by….” channel. I was completely fascinated by the different ways there are to define success as a writer. Why I never thought of this before is a testament to my ignorance and everything I have to learn if I’m going to pursue writing!

Of course, we talked about the connection between writing and Yoga practice. Both are, indeed, practices~ something to be done on a regular basis, that evolve and change as we grow and expand individually. Both can either challenge or restore, depending on how they are approached. They are both cathartic practices and encourage emotional release. Also, Yoga and writing require steadfast perseverance, because, as with anything, there will be days when showing up seems like too much to ask of ourselves.

Kimberly led us through a fairly brief Yoga practice, focusing on asanas that help keep the body supple when you are sitting hunched over a desk all day muttering at your computer! She had some great insights into using yoga to take a break, to clear the mind, to create some space for your writing to emerge. Most important, she reminded us all that in order to be fully present to write, we have to be solidly in our bodies. Of course!!! I know that I often feel like I become a weird, disembodied head when I sit too long in front of my computer, so I really related to that!

We finished up the last hour or so with some guided writing exercises and some questions to help us focus on what audience we are trying to reach, what we want accomplish with our writing, and what topics and writers speak to us. Almost everyone chose Elizabeth Gilbert as a voice that they really connected with. I suppose that’s no suprise considering we were at a Yoga and Writing workshop, eh?

I found Kimberly to be a wonderful mentor for the workshop. The most amazing aspect of the workshop for me was the feeling of clarity emerging for each of us, and the palpable excitement that grew from our collective awareness. I walked away knowing what I need to do to move my writing forward, with some new resources to explore, and a greater understanding of how to use my Yoga practice to support my writing.

Namaste and a big thank you to Kimberly, Tranquil Space, and the other gals who shared their excitement and passion at the workshop!

(Photo of Kimberly Wilson, courtesy of www.kimberlywilson.com)