tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post2023470388583091315..comments2024-03-21T00:30:14.738-07:00Comments on Yoga in the Dragon's Den: Shit hits the fan, Yoga is for Peter PansNobelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00655577410721103577noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-48348311340523469682012-05-08T11:54:42.388-07:002012-05-08T11:54:42.388-07:00Thanks :-)Thanks :-)Nobelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00655577410721103577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-22767775875489307662012-05-08T11:52:47.153-07:002012-05-08T11:52:47.153-07:00Right on! Just keep going. :)Right on! Just keep going. :)michellehttp://www.florenceyoga.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-72010545168386902712012-05-08T11:47:13.193-07:002012-05-08T11:47:13.193-07:00Joy and Success... much food for thought here. Tha...Joy and Success... much food for thought here. Thanks.Nobelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00655577410721103577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-63733546184775712672012-05-08T11:42:30.272-07:002012-05-08T11:42:30.272-07:00Joy: Finally doing headstand unassisted, holding a...Joy: Finally doing headstand unassisted, holding a new born anything, you get the idea.<br /><br />Success: Whether that action was perceived as popular by those people you care about.<br /><br />Sometimes joy and success attend events together, sometimes they party separately.sereneflavorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918585302744520840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-90426467624780520492012-05-08T10:53:52.836-07:002012-05-08T10:53:52.836-07:00"shit's hitting the fan everywhere...it&#..."shit's hitting the fan everywhere...it's cosmic"<br /><br />Cosmic shit? Hahaha...<br /><br />Thanks for the inspiring words, Frances. I shall try my best to let this (and everything else) pass. :-)Nobelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00655577410721103577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-31119567487293190812012-05-08T10:52:11.383-07:002012-05-08T10:52:11.383-07:00Thanks Sojii. I also think that many cliches conta...Thanks Sojii. I also think that many cliches contain at least a grain of truth. The trick is to sift out that grain amidst everything else :-)Nobelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00655577410721103577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-13816319549160433552012-05-08T10:49:54.267-07:002012-05-08T10:49:54.267-07:00Thanks Michelle. I'll go check out what the bi...Thanks Michelle. I'll go check out what the big P (Patanjali :-)) has to say about the nine obstacles soon. <br /><br />Yes, shit and fans are always hitting each other to varying degrees. I guess right now, in my corner of the universe, they happen to be hitting each other at a much higher speed than usual... My friend does Ashtanga from time to time (from the point of view of us hard-core Ashtangis, I supposed he would be a "dabbler"). He thinks that the whole getting flexible, strong and having a Madonna-like Ashtanga body is all very nice, but not worth jeopardizing one's livelihood over. Which sounds very sensible. I'm still mulling over his advice. <br /><br />I like to think that my practice has helped me be myself in the midst of all this stuff that is going on. During practice the last few mornings, for instance, I couldn't help thinking of that famous Zen saying, "Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water." I think the same is true of our practice too: "Before enlightenment (or whatever the big event is), roll out mat, take practice. After enlightenment (or whatever the big event is), roll out mat, take practice." It's really wonderful to know that this practice is the one constant amidst all this rapid change and flux. I feel very grateful for every downward dog, every Surya Namaskar that I am able to do. Actually, even Kapotasana feels easier with this attitude. :-)Nobelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00655577410721103577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-63798880322973618092012-05-08T09:59:35.272-07:002012-05-08T09:59:35.272-07:00hey nobel.
shit's hitting the fan everywhere.....hey nobel.<br />shit's hitting the fan everywhere...it's cosmic, just part of these shifting (shitting...haha..) times. that means, more than ever, it's important to stay committed to your practice!<br />so take your friend's advice with a grain of salt, don't ignore it completely but see what/if something about it rings true to you and follow that, not what you think you "should" do just because someone says so, you know? <br />it's a big year for this planet and we have to remember that when it feels like our own mini-worlds are falling apart. you are not alone! i know that sounds woo-woo, but wow, all the evidence points to that being true right now.<br />stay focused on what's right for you and what your heart tell you. don't beat yourself up over uninspired blogging - that too will pass!<br />blessings<br />francesFranceshttp://www.lilablog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-678683990039797532012-05-08T02:33:19.658-07:002012-05-08T02:33:19.658-07:00Some people live to work, and others work to live....Some people live to work, and others work to live...I know that's a bit of a cliché, but there's truth in there. Hope things lighten up :)Sojiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408235679001384182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-89668991732794471372012-05-07T23:15:51.090-07:002012-05-07T23:15:51.090-07:00Don't be hard on yourself, Nobel! "This t...Don't be hard on yourself, Nobel! "This too shall pass" <br /><br />Good old Patanjali talks about the nine obstacles to practice. Doubt is a big one! <br />(Here's a good overview. http://swamij.com/yoga-sutras-13032.htm)<br /><br />It's comforting to know you are not alone and that many have been there before you, thinking, "Why am I doing this and does it really help me?!?"<br /><br />Shit and fans are hitting each always, to varying degrees. That's life. And your friend, while well-meaning, is also perplexed by your dedication to Ashtanga, and so, gives advice about it from his viewpoint as someone who (I assume) doesn't do the practice. Take his advice with a grain of salt - graciously, but also with some pragmatism and perspective - and you may see if there is a grain of truth in what he says. Or, he could be wrong, too.<br /><br />Has your practice been, in times of great trouble, both in work and in family life, a solace and a support? Or are you drained, do you feel more harried and hectic because you chose to do practice vs. "work"? The practice can bring relief, healing and equanimity or it can bring up obsession, stress, desire. Ask yourself if you feel that the practice supports you in other areas of your life, or if it helps you in these areas. Daily practice should not adversely affect your means of living, your relationships, putting you out of whack or causing stress. If it does, then, perhaps, you need to do a shorter practice on a daily basis, even just 15 minutes. Focus on one-pointedness as Patanjali suggests, and do more Primary to ground you during the tough times. <br /><br />Growing up is overrated, btw!Michellehttp://www.florenceyoga.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-87944303754523340612012-05-07T14:01:49.388-07:002012-05-07T14:01:49.388-07:00Thanks for your very encouraging and wise words, C...Thanks for your very encouraging and wise words, Claudia. I've read your comment about three times now, just to allow everything to sink in. <br /><br />You know, I think a time like this is both a time to not be spiritual and yet also a time to be spiritual. It forces me to not be spiritual in that "woo", "b.s." kind of way. But it is also a time to be spiritual, because I really feel every single thing that I am doing in both my daily yoga and Buddhist practice. Everything has a certain immediacy to it that's quite impossible to put in words.Nobelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00655577410721103577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-2567654944257115922012-05-07T13:45:58.273-07:002012-05-07T13:45:58.273-07:00Yes, that is a good way to look at it... also, if ...Yes, that is a good way to look at it... also, if there is THAT much coming at you, it does merit a moment...<br /><br />Recently I saw an interview with a woman who lost everything with the Madoff scam. She was being interviewed by Eckart Tolle, she said she had 30 years as a Buddhist meditation practitioner, but in the first conversation with her mother, the first thing that came out of her mouth in the desperation was "This is NOT the time to be spiritual"<br /><br />When everything hits is scary, and yet such an opportunity to experience full presence, like James says, to stop pretending, be real, scared, scarred, naked and all that, yes... but it is important also to give yourself a break! Not yet another pressure the likes of "growing up", it just is what it is...Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06609779915009954933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-56640830410511276922012-05-07T12:35:35.917-07:002012-05-07T12:35:35.917-07:00Many thanks for your kind words and thoughts, Eric...Many thanks for your kind words and thoughts, Erica. Perhaps sometimes, going through the rough time is part of the healing process. <br /><br />I'll think about joining Facebook :-)Nobelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00655577410721103577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449952380128375575.post-63235330479331014662012-05-07T11:52:55.632-07:002012-05-07T11:52:55.632-07:00Hey Nobel,
Interesting Haiku format. I think you ...Hey Nobel,<br />Interesting Haiku format. I think you should enter Richard Freeman's contest: How Yoga Ruined My Life. But of course, you're not on Facebook. Alas. Perhaps that's what's holding you back in your career. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yoga-Workshop/255252766139 There you go, grow up and join facebook! But I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough time. Hope all heals well soon. And James is right. Give up and then there's nothing to lose. Give up and let go. All the best, Erica. xo.ExuberantBodhisattvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01789210840512529095noreply@blogger.com