10.29.15 Wilmington. Badass practice today

10.26.15 Wilmington

What are you gonna do?

The Challenge just ended this past Sunday and I missed the required 45 classes by four. I came down with the flu last week.  What an experience! I have never had the flu before. I made the mistake of mentioning to Sara that I thought I could finish the Challenge. The hammer-head voice inside of me was yelling, “Get back in there and finish the Challenge!” I knew if I tried to finish it would be foolish:  the flu symptoms would most likely reappear and it would put me in the doghouse with Sara for not listening to her motherly instructions to stay home. I listened to the voice of reason and the hammer-head voice gradually quieted down.

 

So, in the infamous words of Tony Soprano, “What are you gonna do?” (You have to say it with the Tony Soprano voice and facial expression to get the full effect.). Sometimes in life there is nothing you can do about the situation at hand or the cards you have been dealt. In some religious traditions this is referred to as the practice of “surrender”, an unappealing word indicating a loss of control or power. It can be a real hit in the heart or a gentle reminder of our vulnerability as human beings.  I prefer the latter of the two.

 

Human beings are very vulnerable. If we embrace our vulnerability, it allows us to develop a deep sense of appreciation for what we have.  We can realize that at any given moment our life can change dramatically, or be over, and many times it is completely out of our control. The realization of this truth can bring a profound sense of preciousness and appreciation into our lives.

 

It is Monday and I am about 90% back to normal. I have decided to continue writing a blog. Congratulations to those of you who completed the Challenge. Namaste

 

Home Sick with the Flu

Last week I practiced on Monday.  After practice I didn’t feel right. One of the many benefits of practicing yoga is the increased level of sensitivity you develop with your body. I skipped Tuesday but practiced Wednesday.  After Wednesday’s practice I really didn’t feel right. 

 

As I said in my last blog, I decided to rest up for the three workshops I had to lead last weekend.  Unfortunately, late Friday it hit me. By Saturday morning I had all the typical flu symptoms, along with a high fever. Needless to say, all three workshops had to be cancelled.

 

Today is Tuesday.  I feel like the worst is over, but I have been cautioned to continue to take it easy or else the symptoms will come back and I’ll be sick all over again.  With only four practices left and the Challenge ending this Sunday, I’m not sure what is going to happen. I want to finish the challenge but I don't want to be a hammer-head and wind up back in bed for a week. I can only take it day by day at this point. Back to bed.

 

Day 51

Today is day 51.  I haven’t written in six days.  I have only practiced twice in the last six days because I have been under the weather.  I am up to 41 practices and have only four more to go until the challenge is completed.

 

I’m often asked, “Should I practice when I’m sick?”  For me, it has been an experiment of trial and error – sometimes it brings the sickness on with its full wrath – other times it knocks the sickness out of me.

 

This weekend I have to lead three workshops. I will need a lot of energy, so I have chosen to do some light asana practice throughout the week, conserving my energy for teaching. Depending on how I feel tomorrow I might take class in the morning. For now I am going to go rest and shut the computer down.

Inspired on Friday February 15th

So the flow is now inspiring! Today is day 45 and I completed my 39th practice this morning. I intended to practice six times this week, but yesterday my life off the mat didn’t cooperate. So this week I will practice four times and next week I’ll get a little closer to completing the challenge.

 

I am feeling strong in body and clear in mind. Tonight we have a teachers gathering.  All the teachers get together to practice and I'll share my vision of Empowered Yoga. The dedication of our teachers and their commitment always humbles me.  When building a business, you work very closely with people.  This ongoing process has taught me that the sum of the parts is always greater than the parts itself. When people come together for a common goal and support one another amazing things can happen. I have truly learned I am only as good as the people around me. Fortunately, I’m surrounded by some great people.

Uninspired On Tuesday, February 12th

I have been feeling flat since Monday. I’ve felt flat since yesterday.  Today I told Sara how I felt and she told me to “snap out of it” as only she can.  I am lucky to have her as my wife.

 

We all experience ebbs and flows in life. Some mornings you wake up feeling great and some mornings you just want to stay in bed. The idea is to start seeing the constant flowing nature of life. When you truly embody this flow you begin to see that even though you are the flow –you are not. You can see the feelings and the thoughts. There is a dimension of awareness where you can become pretty comical about it. Learning to laugh at yourself can be better than taking yourself so seriously. Instead of saying I am feeling flat you can start saying that there are some flat feelings happening within me. I train myself to look at the feelings as “interesting”. This kind of awareness helps me in not identifying so much with the day to day emotions and thoughts because I know they are short lived. I will feel differently in 5 minutes, one hour, tomorrow morning and on and on. It is the permanent nature of living in an impermanent world.