June is also National Rose Month

Happy June 1st!  This is my favorite day of the year not only because it’s my birthday at the end of the month, but symbolically I see another birthday as a time to renew, to begin again.  This is why I spend the month reflecting on what I’ve done the first half of the year but mostly how can I be of bigger service for the remainder of the year.

For my birthday last year, I held a yoga graffiti contest to help raise money for the Africa Yoga Project.  That was so much fun!  Remember that?  I’ve been doing this type of “checking in” with myself for the the past several years and am convinced that if you don’t celebrate your birthday, you won’t get older.   It’s true… celebrating the people around you and being of service to them is an integral part of the journey toward finding fulfillment.  Happiness brings more happiness. No doubt about it.

It’s no wonder June is Rebuild Your Life Month. Life is full of opportunities and this month has been very generous to me.  To kick off the celebrations, I am attending Yoga Life Coaching (YLC)  training with one of my favorite teachers, Debbie.  This program is going to empower me so that I can empower others more powerfully.  And then little did I know that the Universe has diverted my other plans to “celebrate” my birthday, She has told me that I am going to Italy with Debbie to assist her YLC retreat at the end of the month.  My first thought was, “is this a test?”  I’ll complete my YLC and then I am given an opportunity to put it into action?  For a moment, I could hear my thoughts of why I can’t go… kids, money, no passport, yadah yadah ya… I catch myself and just say “HELL YES!”  The best part of June is finding out if I am the winner of the Jai Lao Foundation‘s School Search.  I’ve submitted my entry to have a school built in the village where my mom grew up in Laos.   If chosen, I will get to go with them and really be in service!  Stay tuned… I’m gonna need your help to vote for my village.

So dear readers, if June 1st isn’t bringing you the opportunities you want, can you create it?  If you’re not where you’d like to be, simply begin again with no rules this time.  Catch yourself contained in the rules you’ve made for yourself.  Get so excited about something that your enthusiasm propels you with momentum toward reaching your goal.  Most of all, have faith that the rewards will come with it.

In any case, celebrate TODAY!!!!

The 108 Sun Salutation Challenge is an opportunity for people to come together to celebrate yoga, each other, and most significantly so celebrate community through giving… giving of our time, giving of our love, giving of our support to charities and organizations that are poised to transform the world by empowering people.

On September 18 – 19, 2010, this challenge will take place across the U.S.  to raise money for four amazing organizations:  Off The Mat Into the World, Yoga for Youth, 4 One World, and my favorite, Africa Yoga Project.

If you are in my area, please come experience this vibration at Studio Rincon in Menlo Park, Saturday, Sept. 18th at 7AM.  The most challenging part of this experience is not in the practice or even in doing 100 or 108 or 200 sun salutations.  The real challenge is saying “YES!”  I will participate. The event is FREE to attend but participants can donate to any of the above charities or support someone else who is fundraising.   You can register or donate to the Menlo Park event’s page.

Why 108? 108 is a sacred number in several eastern cultures/religions.  In brief, a prayer necklace or mala contains 108 beads or stones where each one can represent a prayer or mantra.  It is believed that our soul resides in the our heart center where there are 108 energy channels or Nadis.  When a prayer or mantra is recited 108 times, the energy of the prayer or mantra travels to these channels which in turn radiate out to all parts of the body.  So you can imagine that doing 108 Sun Salutations is a unique opportunity to not only challenge the physical body, but it’s a deep meditative experience. Now imagine a whole group of people flowing together…. the vibration we will create is beyond words!

To explore the meaning of 108 more, check out Cora Wen’s awesome post at Elephant Journal.

Be a YES and join me!!!!

The winner of the Yoga Graffiti Photo Contest is:

Bravo Tacoasana by Amanda

I could not stop laughing at this one.  Taco, bravo,open… Very creative and brave, I must say.   Congratulations, Amanda!

Here are the runner ups:

The coffee shop is now open by Jennifer

Tree pose at such an inconvenient time by Scott.

Emma, I will always think of this pic when I tell my students to get into fire hydrant dog.

Nadia, I will try to remember this the next time I freak out in swim lessons

And of course the real winner is Africa Yoga Project who will be receiving $500!!!!

Raffle winners: lululemon headbands:  Emma, Lisa K, Tyrah
AND lululemon water bottles:  Gina, Nou, Cindy
(If you’re reading this, email me your address so I can send these to you otherwise I will contact you this week to get that info)

T H A N K  Y O U! You guys rock!  And as they said at the 1st grade field day:  you’re a winner if you had fun!

If you do more tagging beyond this contest, I would love to see the pics!

A HUGE THANK YOU goes to lululemon athletica:  Palo Alto Store for letting me teach to earn the $200 gift card and Santana Row for donating the raffle prizes!  I love me lulus!

Step 1:  Find an isle.  Inconspicuously walk there to claim your space before there’s a mad rush of organic maniacs.

Step 2: Place your right ankle on your left knee, squat down, right knee to right elbow, right foot hooks to left arm, heart forward, palms flat.  Quietly begin to shift your torso forward and lift your left foot off the ground.

Step 3:  Focus!  The ground is hot.  Never mind if anyone is laughing at you.

Step 4: Lift.  Lift.  Lift.  and BREATHE.

Step 5:  Quietly and inconspicuously land your feet before your face hits that hot pavement.  Get up, wipe your hands, walk away, and sample the fresh blueberries.

Waiting and waiting and waiting for those pictures   Have a great weekend!

Stop. Look. Yoga.

Today is the last day of school for my 1st grader and the last day we will see the super friendly crossing guard.  “Run! Hurry Up!” She says as she stops traffic for us nearly every morning because we are running late and the second bell has already rung…

But not today… we made it early enough to chat with the crossing guard.  For the entire school year, the only words that were exchanged were:  hi, good morning, bye, have a great day, thanks.  Well today, we made the effort to chat with her a little bit before the next group of kids came to the cross walk.  Found out that she is going to Vietnam for the summer to visit her mother.  She was kind enough to let me hold her sign that she used to control her corner of the street with… a powerful sign it was. STOP.

I am reminded to not only stop and obey all crossing guards, but STOP frequently to appreciate each moment, STOP to talk with a stranger, STOP to listen to whom ever is talking with me, STOP to pause, STOP to feel, STOP to breathe, and of course STOP to yoga.

And stop doing what you’re doing and send me those yoga graffiti pictures.  I’m patiently waiting

How many yoga studios do you know host over 100 classes a week with 42 teachers?  It amazes me that such a small group like the Africa Yoga Project has achieved this in so little time and with minimal resources.

Many of us have the luxury of teaching in beautiful studios where yoga is often regarded as a luxury.  But in the slums, jails, and shelters of Africa, yoga is a necessity.  Margaret, a graduate of the level 1 training that Baron and Africa Yoga Project taught a year ago speaks about her transformation.

How many of us teachers can say we reach 200 people a week?

The video above is by Deborah Williamson.  She is a Master Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Teacher and has announced today that she is planning a trip to Africa 2011 to continue the amazing work they’ve started.  Getting goosebumps cause I wanna go!  Oooohhhh the possibilities…

AWESOME!

photo credit: http://varrahyoga.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/om1.jpg

This picture is a great reminder for us that the goal is not the actual goal.

It’s classic to hear people say, “I can’t do yoga, I can’t touch my toes.”

“Yoga is not about touching your toes, it’s about what you learn on the way down.”  (From Judith Hanson Lasater author of A Year of Living Your Yoga).

This can be carried to other activities other than yoga.  It’s easy to get wrapped up in the physical exercise part of any sport or activity whether yoga or not.  If we focus on our experience, we can connect to our selves and begin the path of self-discovery.  I often like to remind students that those intense sensations that are felt in a pose is a way for the body to communicate to us.  The conversation is constant but we usually only “hear” (feel) them when they are screaming at us with pain.  Then we either react or completely try to ignore it and real experience is never experienced.

I’ve learned that easing off in the pose to a point where I can let go of getting a Yoga Journal perfect pose, I can focus on the sensations and where they stem from.  This helps me to focus on the experience and I usually learn a thing or two about my hips or my shoulders or where ever and whatever thing that is presenting the challenge at that time.

Yoga Graffiti Contest: As you tag away for your photo, remember that the ultimate goal is not all about winning.  It’s also not all about the Africa Yoga Project.  Certainly these are two factors/by-products (important ones for that matter) of the experience but it is ultimately about what you have learned about yourself during the process.  I’m certain that you will step outside of your comfort zone to get that “winning” photo, but discover something new in this new territory, often called your edge.

FEAR NOT, a bracelet I received from completing level 2 Baptiste Power Vinyasa Teacher Training.   What does it mean?  To me it reminds me to face my fears, whether it’s riding that big dipper roller coaster, confronting a friend, or how about a not so obvious fear like fear of success?  Yes, fear of being successful.  Do you know how many people are afraid of being successful?  Here’s the test:

1.  Do you think you are not worthy or deserving of reaching such an accomplishment even if you did?

2.  Do you think “it’s still not good enough” after achieving something?

3.  Do you think you’ll still be unhappy after accomplishing that “big” thing?

4.  Do you think if you achieved this thing this time, you’ll set too high of a bar for next time and you think you won’t be able to do it again?

5.  Do you think being recognized for your accomplishments is a waste of time?  Or does recognition make you feel uncomfortable?

6.  Do you think people won’t like you anymore after you become successful (you know envy is such a bummer)?

7.  Do you think after you’ve achieved your goals that you won’t grow anymore and you’ll become even more bored?

8.  Do you feel guilty when people help you become successful?

9.  Do you think for every success you win, you’ll be doomed with double the failure because you think a good luck streak just doesn’t run forever?

10.  Do you think when you accomplish something it’s because ‘you’re lucky?’

Chances are you probably answered ‘yes’ to at least one of the questions above.   Honestly, I said YES to all of those at one point.  Even some days I doubt my abilities.  I have many dreams that I am working on making come true, but along the way my progress gets hindered because of all the “what ifs” and what if I did make my dreams come true?  What would it be like then?  How will I be then?  Will I still continue to grow?  Isn’t it very ironic how anyone would be scared of success.  I have good news!  You’re not the only one who secretly feels like this from time to time.  It’s a sad thing but definitely a reality that “we” shine more light on our failures and down falls rather than celebrate our accomplishments… celebrate “US” just the way we are.   So it’s a wonder that we blush a little when someone gives us an honest praise or we have the need to feel guilty about our success because everyone else seems to be suffering and failing.  We don’t want to boast our own accomplishments and make the other person feel worse.

So how to overcome this?

Accept yourself.  Give others credit.  Honestly praise others for their success and celebrate their victory without a drop of envy or judgement for your lack of [fill in the blank].  Give yourself permission to shine.  Give others permission to celebrate you and your victory.  Commit to your goals and be present for them 110%.  Allow room for adjusting if current commitments aren’t working.  Committing 110% doesn’t mean you don’t have to stay married to them.  And of course, just allow, allow, allow… Allow your heart to open.  Allow your mind to open.  Allow your eyes to open.  FEAR NOT

On a side note: Are you afraid of entering the photo contest cause you’re afraid of having a little fun?  Are you afraid people might think you’re weird while posing in the middle of a intersection?  Are you afraid of winning because you’ve never won anything before?  Are you afraid to tell your friends about it cause you’re afraid they’re gonna win?  Are you afraid of posting a comment because you think you won’t have anything ‘cool’ to say and you’re afraid that the surprise raffle is not gonna be worth it?  I know you’re reading.  I see the blog stats LOL.   Hmmmmm…. apply one more thing:  Tell yourself you deserve to win! You’ll have something awesome to say, even if it’s “I agree.” You are gorgeous and you will look gorgeous in that pose.  It is a little risky.  You will be risking a little success and fun for a great cause… in the name of YOGA!  Now get to posing!  I want you to win!  It’s cool stuff.  I promise.

Don’t know what the heck contest I’m talking about?  Read HERE

One of my favorites from Michael Franti:

Big Sur, CA

Eeeek!  It’s June!

In past years, I would either feel less than happy about June because half the year is gone or it’s another year of my life that has passed and I’m left doing the same thing I did last year. But oh NO not this year!

This year will be different. Yes, I’m still turning another year older, but I’d rather think of it as another year of seeing how yoga has transformed my life. One of my favorite Baptiste teacher’s, Kinndli, points out that “in the yoga world, you are only as old as the number of years since you started practicing yoga.”  So I will be turning 6 years old.

Yoga has definitely kept me feeling and looking young not only physically but also my mental state.  People who know me will say that I’m a serious, over achieving, over planning, always crossing my t’s and dotting my i’s type of person.   Through my practice, I’ve learned how to accept this quality of me that has shaped me into who I am today, but it’s also reminded me that my true self really lies in the heart of my child like self.

So that takes care of the “ugh! not another birthday syndrome.”   What to do with the “what the heck have I done so far this year syndrome?”

I recently did a “no internet” day challenge and failed.  I can’t live with out the internet mainly because it connects me with people.  You’d understand too if you were home all day with a 4 and 7 year old.  Any adult conversation, even if it’s in cyberspace, is an adult conversation.  Anyways, after this challenge, I wanted to do something fun (thinking child like) to see how many people I can connect and reach by holding a photo contest.  Not just any photo contest —

A Yoga Graffiti Photo Contest.

Keep reading for rules and how to enter… be patient…

photo from: http://www.baronbaptiste.com/newsite/?p=522

As I was thinking of ways to make this fun and how I can connect and build a community, an opportunity came up.  I got an email from my other fav teacher, Baron Baptiste himself.  You can say he has been the catalyst that lit up my love affair with yoga as he’s done so to countless others.  Among one of these people is Paige Elenson, founder of Africa Yoga Project (AYP).  Her work has inspired me in so many ways that give me goosebumps everytime I think about the incredible amount of passion she has for yoga and how she’s being the catalyst for transformation far in the corners of Africa.  Baron and Paige are committed to raising $50K in the next 60 days to fund their next project where Baron will lead a Personal Revolution Immersion for 300 of AYP’s Kenyan yoga students, people from the neighborhoods and slums of Nairobi.

photo from: http://www.baronbaptiste.com/newsite/?p=522

These are hair raising numbers as they have shared yoga with over 2,000 people in prisons, women’s centers, primary schools, hospitals, and slums throughout Nairobi a just one year.  They have empowered over 40 Kenyans to learn a living wage by teaching yoga in their communities.   I get goosebumps every time I read about how they are constantly “up to something BIG.”

Baron and Paige have taught me to constantly question myself, “What am I up to?”   As often as I ask myself this question, there’s no doubt that I often say, “I don’t know.  I don’t know what I can do.  I don’t know if I have time.  I don’t know if I have enough money, I don’t know, I don’t know…”  I dream of going to Africa and meeting Paige and her team of teachers some day.  But the financial woes has become a familiar story and rains on me.  But upon reading Baron’s email, a spark of creativity lit me up.  Here’s the story.. bear with me…

photo from: http://lululemon.com/paloalto/paloalto

If you know me, you know I love lululemon.  I will save every penny I earn from teaching to buy that lulu outfit.  I have quite the collection.  One a side note, for those of you who are snickering at me right now, you don’t know what you’re missing.   They are totally worth every penny (and no, lulu did not pay me to say that).  I have clothes from 4 years ago that still look great… so great that I often get asked if I just bought “another” lulu. “You’re such a lulu girl,” they accuse me of being (say that with a little jealously sound effect).  So what does this have anything to do with a photo contest and Africa Yoga Project?

I’ve had the pleasure of teaching yoga at Palo Alto’s lululemon store the entire month of May.  As a token of donating my time, lululemon reimburses me with clothing equivalent to about $50.  In the true spirit of service, I’m going to reward the winner of the yoga graffiti contest with a lululemon gift certificate equivalent to a whole month’s worth of my time teaching there which is $200.

Ok, cool, right?  But how does this connect with Africa Yoga Project? 

Here’s the Yoga Graffiti contest rules:

1.  Tag yourself (aka strike a yoga pose) in the most fun, creative, and least expected place to do yoga. Be creative.  The more fun, creative, or least expected place to strike a yoga pose will get more brownie points.  (i.e. a beautiful dancer’s pose on a beautiful beach, although beautiful will probably not get much attention than say holding crow pose in a shopping cart in front of costco — those carts are big).  NOTE:  this is not about spray painting any walls with yoga symbols or poses.   You are participating at your own risk.

2.  Cost to participate is a minimum of $5 donation per photo entry.  All proceeds will be donated to the Africa Yoga Project.

3.  Each additional $5 donation (without a photo) will enter you into a raffle for another surprise lulu item.  There will be 6 (cause I’m turning 6! yay!) additional raffle winners.

4.  Each comment posted to my blog during the month of June will also give you another entry into the raffle.

5.  Photos should be emailed to me at:  snikkin at yahoo dot com.  Please include your name, email, and place where photo is taken.  Donations can be sent via paypal to the same email address.  If you prefer to send a check, email me for the mailing address.  Photos do not need to be 10 megapixels and 1GB in file size.   Just email/web quality will be fine.

6.  Poses must be actual yoga poses.  So a nose picking pose would not qualify.  (see end of last blog post on nose picking)

7.  Have fun and share with your friends, yoga students, and anybody who wants to sink their skin in a pair of lulus and see why I love to wear them

Other fine print:

You agree to have your photo published on my blog or any of my websites or emails.  Photos will be judged by me and perhaps another person TBD.  Photos will not be entered into the contest until payment is received.  You are participating at your own risk.  I will never spam you or sell your email address, but you agree to be contacted by me regarding anything related to this contest.  Photos must be submitted by midnight June 25th PST.  Winners will be announced on June 30th (my birthday yay!)

One final note:

I know $200 is not a lot of money to spend at lulu, but it’s not really about the lulu shopping spree or how their clothes hold up for 5 years.  It’s about me taking a step into something BIG and even BIGGER than me doing something to contribute to such a great cause is all of us connecting and adding a little bit of ourselves to the greater of the universe.  Although this is small compared to what Paige has done, I’m taking it one step at a time.  Just like when I first learned crow pose, getting to my tip toes was a huge deal but with commitment I can finally fly.  I know Paige and Baron is committed to bringing the power of yoga to the far corners of the world and I am committed to helping them as much as I can.  Yoga has no boundaries and I believe that no matter where we share our yoga, whether in the slums of Africa or our local lululemon store, we have the power  to “Be the change we wish to see in the world (as Gandhi says),” through the simple essence of connection… human connection (even if it’s through cyber space).  So please forward to all your yoga and non yoga friends and encourage them to enter the contest.  Maybe your non-yoga’ing friends who are scared to try yoga will find this to be a fun way to get started.  Not to worry if you’re not photogenic… you can still donate to the cause and be entered into the surprise raffle giveaways.