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 | | Same same. But different. |
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Greetings~
We could spend a week discussing how we're all the same, and then another week discussing how we are all so different. There is so much that binds us, connects us, and yet so much that separates us. This is the human paradox. In one moment I can feel so in sync with someone, as if we were the same loving breathing being...in the next, like enemies in warfare, opponents on this journey of life, alone and disconnected.
Paul and I recently hosted our first Yoga and Qi Gong retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This retreat came at the end of a week I had been feeling particularly separate. From first sight of the mountains on Interstate 40, my body began to settle with a sense of "it's all OK." I couldn't help but contemplate over the weekend, how easy it is to be with the "it's all OK" in a serene mountain setting, good food, and time to rest. But the dificult part is, how can we be with the " it's all OK" when it's not?
It's not OK when the house is a mess, the laundry is forever accumulating, the phone hasn't stopped ringing, the stack of papers only gets higher and the to-do list keeps growing ... sigh. So how do we find the "it's all OK" in that?
Well, I haven't got the answer, but it's a question worth exploring. Perhaps somewhere in the "its all OK" there is a link to our connection with others. I'm alone, and so it feels hard. I'm connected with others, and so it feels easy...hmm....OR...is it the other way around? Life becomes hard, and then I feel alone, or life is easy, and then I feel joyfully connected with my fellow human beings?
Either way we spin it, the difficulty and ease, the apart and together, while both true, are not true at the same time. What is true always is that we're in this together, or we wouldn't all be having so many similar experiences. Beneath this paradox, is the Spirit, the indomitable Spirit. It is the piece we share with Grace, the part of us that never questions or undermines. Even if you can't feel it in a moment, it hasn't gone far.
Just look in the eyes of someone you love, and you'll rediscover the essence of "it's all OK," and perhaps you'll find the desire to move forward in your life with inspiration and motivation.
Namaste,
Anisha
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Pan Gu Yoga & Qi Gong Workshop in Florida
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Pan Gu Yoga is a new practice that uniquely blends the benefits and essence of yoga with the deep principles of Pan Gu Mystical Qi Gong. Both paths share a common purpose -- to discover the profound relationship between man, nature, and the universe; to be in union with Grace, with Divine Spirit; and to share that Compassion and Kindness with others.
 Pan Gu Yoga & Qi Gong Workshop
August 24-26
Gainesville, Florida.
Join us! For more information or to register, email Anisha.
We'd like to share the experience of a student from our most recent Pan Gu Yoga Workshop in Raleigh, North Carolina.
At the beginning of class, Anisha had us visualize being in a sacred, holy, quiet place with a soft light around us. She then led us through breathing that brought the breath and the light in through the nose and the skin of our entire being, and exhaling with intention down through the body, releasing negative energy and the breath through the soles of our feet.
The first few times I did this, I saw the white light as I inhaled through every pore in my skin, but as I exhaled, the energy and color leaving my body through my feet was black. We came back to that breathing exercise multiple times throughout the practice. Each time, the color of energy leaving through my feet became lighter -- a charcoal grey, a light grey, a muddy brown, a light tan. By the end of the practice, I saw the soft, the white light being breathed into my body, and now it was still just as white, bright and strong, leaving through the soles of my feet. My energy had definitely shifted.
After the class, I felt grounded, yet light; strong and stable, yet at ease; alert, yet at peace. I am a yoga practitioner and teacher, and the connection of breath and body, mind, and spirit is the foundation for my life in many, many ways. The Pan Gu Yoga practice allowed me to experience breath and energy in a different way, and left me wanting to explore the practice even more, to realize what else there is to be learned.
~ Sandra S.
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Restorative Yoga ~ relax and let go!
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May 11 and June 15 at blue lotus
Join Anisha for Restorative Yoga, and invite your body and mind to unwind. The practice is also great for those new to yoga or those recovering from injury.
 Restorative Yoga with Anisha at blue lotus
6:30 - 8:00 pm, Fridays, May 11, June 15 |
The Season of Wood Energy
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As nature awakes from winter, the Wood, which has been resting, begins to burst forth with new life. We, too, as part of nature, rise up into spring with new energy and purpose. We plant seeds, form new plans, make decisions, and move into action. Out with the old, in with the new! So, it's no surprise that spring is also the ideal time for cleansing and rejuvenation for overall health and well-being.  In Chinese medicine, Wood represents the liver and its complementary organ, the gall bladder. These organs are the primary targets for springtime cleansing and health regimens. The liver function is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi (energy) throughout the body and sees the directions we must take to live our lives in harmony with nature, while the gall bladder function gives us the ability to make decisions and judge wisely. When the liver functions smoothly, physical and emotional activity throughout the body also run smoothly. For optimum health this spring, move your Qi! Put some spring in your step!Stretch - The liver controls the tendons. According to Chinese medicine, the liver stores blood during periods of rest and then releases it to the tendons in times of activity, maintaining tendon health and flexibility. Incorporate a morning stretch into your routine. Try Yoga or Tai Qi. Eye Exercises - The liver opens into the eyes. Although all the organs have some connection to the health of the eyes, the liver is connected to proper eye function. Remember to take breaks when looking at a computer monitor for extended periods of time and do eye exercises. Eat Green - Green is the color of the liver and of springtime. Eat young plants -- fresh, leafy greens, sprouts, and immature cereal grasses -- to improve the liver's overall function and to aid in the movement of Qi. Taste Sour - Foods and drinks with sour tastes are thought to stimulate the liver's Qi. Put lemon slices in your drinking water, use vinegar and olive oil for your salad dressing, and garnish your sandwich with a slice of dill pickle. Go Outside! - Outdoor air helps liver Qi flow. If you have been feeling irritable, find an outdoor activity to smooth out that liver Qi stagnation. Try hiking or take up golf. E njoy Milk Thistle Tea - Milk thistle helps protect liver cells from incoming toxins and encourages the liver to cleanse itself of damaging substances, such as alcohol, medications, pesticides, environmental toxins, and even heavy metals such as mercury. Get Acupuncture Treatments - Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help improve the overall health of your liver as well as treat stress, anger, and frustration, which are often associated with liver Qi disharmony. Acupuncturists choose among hundreds of acupuncture points, each with its own special quality, energy, and "spirit," to help nature do its healing work. Seasonal acupuncture treatments just five times a year can serve to tone the inner organ systems and can correct minor annoyances before they become serious problems. |
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Men work together whether they work together or apart.
~ Robert Frost
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