connecting, seeing, living - by photographer Penny de los Santos

This photographer and friend of mine sent me an email this morning about an event happening TONIGHT - Chef Dan Barber and photographer Penny de los Santos speaking at the Cleveland Public Library. Food and photography: what's not to like? Unfortunately, Thursday night is my teaching night at the university, so I won't be able to make it. Darn.

But I did chance upon Penny de los Santos' TEDxTalk above (I think TED Talks are one of the best things since chocolate). What she says is everything I aspire to be/do: to savor moments and connect meaningfully with others.

Worth watching! 

what's the world coming to?

So I heard on NPR that the day after Thanksgiving, or what is known as Black Friday, is also the "National Day of Listening". On this day, we are encouraged to invite someone to talk for an hour, while we listen.

I understand this is well-intentioned, but really?

We actually need an authority (whatever or whoever that may be) to tell us to listen to someone? We actually need to mark this day on the calendar? So what do we do on the other 364 days?

Just throwing my question out there.

more thoughts on passion

I am reminded yet again, of how the lines between the so-called "categories" of life become blurry. In an earlier post I wrote about seeking passion - in yoga and in other areas of life.

Work is definitely one area in which there must be passion. Sure, there will always be moments of frustration, or moments of doubt, when the challenges are great. But at the end of the day, there must be passion. This is what gets us up in the morning.

I am fortunate that I have found something to be passionate about early on, and have since worked in the field of early childhood intervention. Years ago, in my first year of teaching, I learned a very valuable lesson from a child and family I worked with, about the inclusion of a child with a disability. That child, that family, and that particular experience was my first teacher. I am humbled to this day, and I owe them much gratitude for teaching me an important life lesson and inspiring me to become a better teacher... and more importantly, to teach with compassion and passion.

I recently had an opportunity to listen to Ann Turnbull, a well-respected professor, researcher, and national expert in the field of special education, through a "webinar" for educators and families. She herself is a parent of an individual with a disability, and she spoke about her son, who passed away last year at the age of 40. He developed a passion for music in early childhood, and this passion for music continued on throughout his adult years. This was her message to the audience of educators and families:

"What passions are you facilitating in the children that you teach, so that they can use this passion as a way to connect with others, to feel self-esteem... as a way to contribute, as a way to truly have a quality of life?" 

Wow. That is a great challenge. It is a challenge that inspires: how do we take action from here?

She went on to say:

"Make room for genuine relationships."

And the most important lesson: "We are not just in the education business, or the rehabilitation business. We are in the dignity business."

These are important lessons, not just for the work we do to practice inclusion in classrooms, but beyond that. In yoga, we talk about yoga "off the mat" - we talk about how we "live" our yoga. Along the same lines, how do we "live" inclusion beyond the classroom? How do we truly include people of varying abilities in our lives, in our communities, so that they have dignity and quality of life?

So why am I writing about this?

Because I think that yoga - which by definition, is union - is also about inclusion. I am not separate from you, or you, or you. Which is why, at the end of a yoga practice, an instructor typically says, "Namaste." The word is derived from the Sanskrit namas, which means "I bow," and te, which means "to you," - "I bow to you." An extended translation is "The light in me honors the light in you" or "The divine in me honors the divine in you." Such beautiful, profound words - but made even more beautiful when it carries over to other parts of our lives: to our relationships, to our work, and everything else. Because what good is my spiritual practice, if it is not truly practiced?

So I am prompted, especially, to think about how I should try to live by these words in my work: to always remember that people are differently-abled, not disabled. To keep in mind that we are not separate, and that by disregarding your dignity I also disregard mine. To never forget to hope... and to be a source of hope. To not just teach with passion, but to elicit and foster passion in others, so that they can live out their passions. Because the purpose of education goes beyond the 4 walls of a classroom.

Because we should all be in the "dignity business."

And so I say to all those children and families who have taught me the most important life lessons, and reminded me everyday about dignity: Namaste. I bow to you. The light in me honors the light in you.

To Gabe and his mother, Mrs. K: Thank you for what you've taught me through your compassion and gentleness.

chocolate for breakfast

 

 

Chocolate French Toast from this local restaurant. Three thick slices of chocolate bread (which had chocolate chips baked into the loaf). I order one plate, eat one slice, then take the other two slices home for breakfast for 2 more days. Quite an indulgence for $5.99.

I love this place.

February 14, El Dia de Amor y Amistad, and a yoga workshop

A friend of mine said that some countries don't celebrate February 14th as Valentine's Day, but the Day of Love and Friendship - El Dia de Amor y Amistad. I like that idea. (Thanks, RZ)

Yesterday, I also had the great pleasure of attending a 3-hour yoga workshop with Sharon Gannon of Jivamukti Yoga. The yoga practice was challenging yet light-hearted and funny; it pushed me beyond my comfort zones, yet in a loving way. I've never attended a workshop with a teacher who actually cracked a joke while we were in sirsasana. There I was, on my head, concentrating on alignment and stability and contracting my core muscles and distributing my weight evenly across my forearms AND deepening my breath, and then she cracks a knock-knock joke and I burst out laughing. While doing my best to remain in headstand. Sure enough, I had to come down from it, all the while trying to do it as gracefully as possible (yeah right!) AND trying to control my giggling so that I don't crash on the floor, or worse, crash into somebody else in the process (the room was packed with 70 or so people, and our mats were 5 or 6 inches away from each other).

Sharon Gannon has a unique way of bringing out the deeper aspects of an asana practice (the physical practice of yoga). We were practicing back bends, a pretty challenging part of the sequence. Back bends can be difficult especially if one has tight hip flexors, the psoas muscles.

Sharon said (I'm quoting as best I can), "Do you know what all that tightness is? That's all the unresolved issues. Your body is made up of every thought, every word, and every action in your life." She advised us to think of the statement "Blessings and love." She said to think of a person in your life, and on the inhale, go up into the back bend, while saying silently, "Blessings and love to..." and on the exhale, say the person's name. Let go.

That was the most loving back bend I've ever done.

February 14th was also a day of sending blessings and love to family, friends, and perhaps even the stranger on the street. Blessings and love to you. And you. And you.

"We need a witness to our lives. There are billions of people on the planet... I mean, what does any one life really mean? Your life will not go unnoticed, because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed, because I will be your witness." (from the movie Shall We Dance... yeah, cheesy movie, I know... but I loved the story of Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere's characters in this movie).

Thank you, family and friends, for being my witness.... and thank you for giving me the honor of being a witness to yours.

photo from http://davidoceguera.wordpress.com/2008/03/

God Is

Ice storm, January 2009

Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means "to join" or "to unite". I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to deepen my yoga practice throughout the years, and although I am still in the beginnings of this yoga path I do realize that one cannot have yoga without spirituality. A yoga practice is really a spiritual practice -- and yoga and religion are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The word yoga means union, after all.

I heard this song at a workshop I recently attended and it really spoke to me of that union.

God Is
You want to know Me? You want to see My face?
I do not age with time; I do not fit into a space
I transcend the capacity of your eye, so who am I?
It is the question of the moment;
It is the question for all time
I am you, and you are mine

I am the beginning and the end
I am the faith in your believing
I am the color of truth
I am the dreamer of your dreams
I am the falling in your love
I am the words of a prayer
I am the silence in the music
I am the music in the silence

I am your father; I am your mother
I am the man who cannot cry
I am the story in your eyes
I am the orphan of war
I am the leper begging on the corner
I am the black slave in chains
I am the Muslim bride who cannot show her face
I am the cross you carry again

I'm all you have forgotten
I am all that you have not been
I am in you -- all of this is within you
Let the journey begin...
I am in you.

- Danielle Rose

souls collide

In the age of cyberspace and information technology, one has to keep up with the fast-paced changes... and I jumped on the bandwagon and joined yet another networking site. What can I say? A lot of my friends from home were on it, and if I want to know what's going on with whom and who's doing what, it would be a good idea to join. I feel like that's the only way to know what's-going-on-with-whom and who's-doing-what nowadays. Even my uber-youthful mom has an account on one of these social networking sites (I LOVE how she keeps up with everyone -- she has that "everyone's mom" personality, and she keeps up with my long-distance friends better than I do!).

On one hand, these networking sites can certainly bring long-lost friends together. Or it can give you the "heads up" on a company doing some hiring. Or it can give you the latest update on so-and-so's newborn baby through online photo albums.

On the other hand, it amazes me how we now have to go through a third party to simply send a message to someone. It used to be that we wrote a letter, or picked up the phone to call a friend. Or sent a direct email. Now, even if both sides actually HAVE each other's email address, we go through this third party -- a networking site -- to make a connection.

Of course, this is just my own humble opinion... I have nothing against these networking sites, and I am one of the millions of people who are members of one or more sites. Let's face it, it's fun, albeit addicting and time-consuming.

At church this past Sunday, when it was time to wish each other peace, I turned to this little old lady next to me. We looked straight into each other's eyes, shook hands, and said to each other, "Peace be with you." In that brief, fleeting moment, I felt an amazing connection, just by looking into another person's eyes. I wondered about her past experiences, and the wisdom of her years, and what strength, beauty, and grace those eyes held. I'd like to think she was also wondering about my life, and what might lay ahead of me. I thought about how alike and different we were. And then I thought, how often do we stop and look directly into another person's eyes? And how often do we say a prayer of peace for another person?

What a refreshing change of pace from online networking.

(photo: Collective Soul, 2007)

"There is nothing brighter, more beautiful, more bountiful, more wonderful than your own living soul." - Yogi Bhajan

yoga for peace

I'm starting to see a recurring theme running through my recent posts.

I think these thoughts have been inspired by the class I've been attending at this yoga studio, called "World Peace Yoga". It takes an asana class to a deeper level -- creating and cultivating intentions of peace and compassion, towards yourself and ultimately towards all beings. I find it to be a truly powerful class (plug: first class is free).

I'll be the first to admit, even if I always talk about being present in my yoga practice, moving with intention, etc etc., there are days when my mind just wanders: "oh, I should add this or that to my research paper...." or "I should remember to call so-and-so tomorrow..." or, even better, "I think I want to bake some chocolate cake tonight." So in all honesty, there are times when my yoga practice becomes.... routine. Mechanical, even. (Guilty as charged.) Then I have to snap out of it and bring myself back to the intention of listening to my body, listening to my breath.

So it really helps to be part of a class, with an instructor who takes you through the sequences. Every now and then she includes quotes and reflections to guide your meditation. As I move through a challenging pose I am reminded to release any judgment about myself, to let go of negative energy, and allow peace to enter... and by allowing peace to enter, we can radiate that same peace to others.

As I've written in my previous posts, we truly are SO connected, in more ways than we think we are.

"Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life, you will have been all of these."

-Lloyd Shearer, 1986

image from www.art.com

more on connection

“Each of us comes to care about everyone else’s children. We must recognize that the well being of our own children is intimately linked to the well being of all other people’s children. After all, when one of our children needs life-saving surgery, someone else’s child will perform it. When one of our children is harmed by violence, someone else’s child will commit it. The good life for our own children can be secured only if it is also secured for all other people’s children. But to work for the well being of all children is not just a practical matter—it is also right!”

- Lilian G. Katz, Professor Emerita of Early Childhood Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

One of my classmates in grad school talks about the "impostor syndrome" -- referring to the feeling of an overwhelmed first-year doctoral student; a "syndrome" characterized by thoughts of: "How long before they figure out that I'm not that smart after all..?" or "I'm not supposed to be here..." Or, my favorite one: "They mistakenly placed my application in the "in" stack and not the "out" stack...."

I go back and forth through periods of self-doubt, moments of clarity, and everywhere in between.

But at the end of the day, I am reminded again about why I do what I do... and how my life's work can reflect my own personal spirituality.

I strongly believe in the fact that we are all connected in some way. Our thoughts and actions have a pay-it-forward effect, whether positive or negative, intentional or unintentional. Will the decisions I make when this child is 2 years old have an effect when he is 10, 18, 21 years old? How will his actions at 21 affect those around him?

I know I've made many mistakes and I've experienced how it is to fall short of my goal of meeting a child's needs. But I've also learned from each child. I've learned from each family, and I stand in awe of these parents who commit and persevere to ensure that their child receives the support and education she or he needs... to move one step closer to their long-term vision and dream of their child one day contributing to society. In reality, however, these children already are.

I've heard educators say, "You are only given one chance to educate a child." And yet, I am given many, many chances to learn from each one I meet.

Childhood happens in a blink of an eye... my hope is to make every moment count. To "make room for the miracle of a child." (Beth Kephart, A Slant of Sun)

photo: my wonderful nephews, baking cookies

connection

I've just had a wonderful afternoon!

After being cooped up all morning in a sterile-looking room for this work-related training, it was so refreshing to have lunch with a new friend in this restaurant, and spend the rest of the afternoon in Spring Grove, immersing ourselves in our love for photography.

Afterwards I felt so inspired, and wanted to maintain that feeling of peace that comes from being in nature and re-connecting to the earth. I spent the rest of the daylight hours in my balcony and I finally planted that packet of basil seeds that I got from a store several weeks ago.

(I don't have a green thumb, so there might be a future blog post on the demise of my basil. Or maybe not.)

Today I feel grateful for:
- spring blossoms
- newfound connections
- great conversation
- comfortable silence
- closeness to the earth
- a feeling of deep peace

"It was enough just to sit there without words."

- Louise Erdrich

hope

"Hope at the end of the day connects us all, no matter how different we are." -- Marketa Irglova, Oscar award-winning musician, singer, & songwriter

photo by Anna - Yoga Teacher Training, Cincinnati, OH

"as we think, so we become."

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Speak or act with a pure mind and happiness will follow you as your shadow, unshakeable. - The Dhammapada

I often begin a yoga practice by creating an intention. The power of the mind, intuition, and intention sometimes goes unharnessed.... and so I think, what intention do I want to set for the next hour, as I move, stretch, and breathe?

The options are many... whether it's to stretch and heal a certain body part that's stiff or sore... or to focus on the breath, releasing stress with every exhale... or to listen to your body and be kind to yourself... or to send out positive energy to someone you know (or don't know) who may need some peace or healing.

Whatever it is, I encourage you to be present with yourself in your yoga practice... there is nothing else happening right now except your breath, your movement, and the creation of positive, healing energy through your intention.

I know it makes a tremendous difference in my own practice!

happy thanksgiving!

Every day should be Thanksgiving Day. And no, not just for the food... but for the people in our lives who make us laugh, surround us with positive energy, and stand by us during the best and worst of times, and everywhere in between. For adventures and quiet moments. For dreams fulfilled and yet-to-be-fulfilled.

Thank you, all, for making my life full.

As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world. ~Adabella Radici

(my adorable nephews, Lorenzo and Martin - photo from Cathy)

Diwali blessing

May the light of love and devotion shine brightly in your hearts.
May the light of understanding shine in your minds.
May the light of harmony glow in your home.
May the light of service shine forth ceaselessly from your hands.
May the light of peace emanate from your being.
May your presence light the lamps of love and peace wherever you go.

- Diwali blessing by Swami Chidanand Saraswati (Muniji)

I thought this would be timely, since this weekend marks the celebration of the Diwali festival. It is also called the Festival of Lights, and one of the traditions is to light lamps as a sign of celebration and hope for humankind.

Have a great week!

real life yoga

More reflections from the Bryan Kest workshop:
While power yoga is a very challenging style of yoga, one thing to take from his practice is if you can remain calm and peaceful during a challenging yoga pose, then hopefully you can carry that sense of calm when faced with a crisis or a stressful situation. And that if you can be patient with yourself while working on a pose, then perhaps you can do the same when someone cuts you off while driving, while waiting in line at a checkout counter even if the clerk takes almost forever. And really, this is what yoga is about... it's not about who can get themselves into a pose like a human pretzel. Yoga does not end once you step off your mat. It's about learning to release judgment and unnecessary negative energy, towards yourself and others. The world has too much of that already. It's about creating and spreading joy and positive energy through our thoughts, words, and actions.

My friend/running mate/fellow yogini Jen says that whenever we feel like we are going to say something negative to someone or about someone, start by asking ourselves these three questions:
Is it kind?
Is it true?
Is it necessary?

In a similar vein, when a stranger says something that could potentially be offensive, I try to ask myself, "Why does that bother me?" Many times, when I think about it, it really doesn't... and so I've gradually learned to preserve my energy for other purposes, instead of being angry about something that really does not matter in the larger scheme of things.

I have to say, I am a fan of fortune cookies. I don't really eat them, but sometimes I get pretty powerful and inspiring quotes from those tiny strips of paper. Here's one:

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."

Joy and light to all!

a grain of salt

Last Friday I attended Bryan Kest's Power Yoga workshop. It's actually a 3-day workshop happening right here in Cincinnati, but since I am pressed for time I only attended one session.

Bryan Kest has a different, but very straightforward style in his teaching. One of his statements that stayed with me is:
"Yoga does not want to change you because it does not come from the perspective that there is anything wrong with you in the first place. All yoga wants to do is to take care of you."

On Saturday morning, I sat down on my mat in preparation for yoga and meditation. As I was breathing and finding my place of stillness, I thought, "Wherever I am now is where I need to be. And really, I'm ok."

I taught 3 classes in a row on Saturday, and had a great morning! One of the things I tried to emphasize yesterday in my teaching was being kind to yourself and being patient with yourself. I find that many times it is easier to be compassionate towards others, but not to myself. Sometimes we are our own worst critics. I think that should be balanced with being our own best cheerleaders.