The Wolf You Feed

An old Cherokee tale of a woman teaching her grandson about living:

"A fight is going on inside of me," she said to the boy. "It is a fight between two wolves. One is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, and false pride."

"The other is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too."

The grandson asked his grandmother, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one I feed."

Human Nature

I have been in Mexico two weeks today. I truly love this tropical paradise. The food is good, the locals are kind and I am feeling good here. It seems that the tropics make my body and mind hum. A major insight from my year of travel is just how much an environment impacts how you feel. And, we all have a personal spectrum when it comes to where we thrive. I am wondering how much thought and energy you have put into this for your own life? And more importantly, are you taking the steps to move towards your ideal environment?

Actually, my mind does experience bits of haziness as I attempt to reopen its Spanish speaking files. It's been about 8 years since learning Spanish and since then I have dipped my toe into learning Italian and French. Just this year I was tidying up my anglophone roots while studying to teach English as a foreign language as well as being immersed in French while living in Montreal. I am not fluent in Spanish, Italian or French and when I attempt to speak any of them my mind sometimes jostles to find the right words. I am happy to report this situation always seems to happen around the forgiving and fun folk who are happy to help me out. Sometimes it makes for a real good laugh.

Last night we decided to take a cab home. One of the many cars pulls up to us, my girlfriend converses in Spanish to negotiate a price with the driver, (she's such a show-off!) and we hop in. My love suggests I take the front seat as she slides into the back. To our surprise, the driver is listening to Human Nature by Michael Jackson. Usually there is festive Mexican music playing which always sets the scene for a good time out in Playa.

I am usually comfortable being with others in those moments of silence when no one talks, yet sitting in the front seat had me feeling the urge to chat with the driver. And so I dared, I asked him if he liked Micheal Jackson, "gustaria Michael Jackson?" He smiled sheepishly and answered si. His smile didn't go away. I knew something was up, why was it so funny? Doesn't everyone like Michael Jackson? I then feel a pat on the head followed by soft strokes as my girlfriend reveals with a loving smirk that I just asked the driver if he wanted Michael Jackson. Our giggling, from all three of us, lasted until the end of the cab ride.
Ay caramba indeed.

 

Five Tidbits I've Discovered About Travelling Light

Today I am packing my 55 litre backpack with all of what I currently own. Tomorrow we head to Mexico, our next temporary home, for a three month stay, balancing work and play.

The last ten weeks in Montreal have been an amazing experience and I am surprised to find that this round of packing is much easier than others. This can only mean something to you, the reader, if you know of my prior packing challenges, of how I would sometimes agonize over what to take and what to leave behind, anticipating what I possibly could need and do without as well as the justification levels I am known to assign to each item. The what-ifs alone can knock the serenity out of anyone!

But this time there is something different happening. Yes, one year of travel grants an easiness in knowing what I really need and can do without, but more importantly, the year has led me to confront my own perception of owning and possessing things. I've learned a few lessons that I want to share:

#1  Most everything is replaceable. And wow, this is a good mantra to use for easing any what-if anxieties!

#2  Having less is truly having more. When you free yourself from the unnecessary, you feel lighter, both physically and mentally.

#3  What about those things with sentimental value? Well, I've noticed that the memory remains, regardless of having the stuff around to prompt it. Ever notice how feelings regenerate when thinking of monumental life events? (And for those box of baby photos I left behind at my sister's, I do plan to scan and digitally hold on to them!)

#4 When you own less you think more. Meaning, once you break the habitual cycle of consumption you will actually think more about your buying decisions. There is a huge amount of personal freedom in this. Also, hasn't conscious consumption gone beyond just being trendy and is now essential for modern life?

#5 We assign the value of things. There is a lot of self-discovery in understanding why we feel and think the way we do about material objects.

So, in addition to a binge donation and garage sale weekend, I invite you to take your own inner inventory and question your perceptions. But like shopping in the bargain box at a thrift store, you need to dig deep to get to the good stuff, otherwise, isn't there a good chance that you won't reach some good old inner wisdom?

Chuckles

It's been a busy-bee kind of week! I've been balancing my workweek by laughing to the wit of Calvin and Hobbes. Here's a cute & clever post-worthy strip:  (click pic to enlarge)

How You See the Glass

I love a good trip to a museum to help with balancing out perspective. Most recently, it was Dale Chihuly's exhibit in Montreal that had me in total wonderment for the fine details, transformed from the simplicity of sand, through creative forces. I humbly left the museum that day feeling that the trivialities of life, especially those farcically labeled as important, were as large as a grain of sand, and really nothing more.

A Favorite Quote of Mine

"Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."      ~ Jimi Hendrix

Enough spoken. Have a great week! 

I'll Be Happy When...

Have you considered if you have a case of the I'll Be Happy When Blues??

To better understand this, think about how much you invest your current happiness for the possible attainment of future goals.

I'll be happy when I lose 10 lbs.
...when I make more money
...when I move out of this city
...when I find the perfect partner
...when I earn that professional title
...when I get one million Likes on Facebook

The ego says, "Once everything falls into place, I'll feel peace." The spirit says, "Find your peace, and then everything will fall into place."  ~ Marianne Williamson

Thought for this week:
Which one speaks loudest to you and which one do you listen to most--ego or spirit?
A couple of tips to help with your discovery process:
Tip # 1 : avoid allowing ego to take lead in answering the question or to dismiss the question as being foolish
Tip # 2: whatever you discover, ease up on yourself since critical self-judgement can be more harmful than it is healing

Good Feeding!

Have you ever noticed how you feel after you eat? Other than the mission of obtaining a full belly so you can move along in life, how much do you value the food you choose to eat as being influential to how you feel?

Eating foods that are raw and whole will leave you feeling energized, content, and with clarity. Foods that are heavily cooked and processed will weigh heavy on your body as well as your mind, affecting how you feel, think and perceive the rest of your day.

How much water do you drink per day? If you drink alcohol or coffee, do you balance your consumption with water?  Do you eat processed sweets everyday? What are your mood differences after eating certain meals?

This week, keep a journal to record what you eat, drink and how you feel afterwards. Then review it to discover negative patterns as well as what leaves your body humming.

One of my faves: lettuce wraps with cooked organic pearl quinoa, balanced with raw vegetables, mango salsa, greek yogurt dressing, and lots of water.  

Where Are You Now?

We've heard Ram Das and others croon the phrase Be Here Now--and as poignant as this advice is for living in the moment and experiencing life more fully, it's not always so easy.

When far, far away from being in the present moment, a helpful tool to use is your focus on a selected object. Using your full awareness, focus intently on the details of something. For example, gazing at the intricacies of a flower. Suddenly, everything else is drowned out and you feel yourself being gently pulled into the present moment, less in your head and more into your heart.

This week, give it a go for yourself and see what happens!

Quotes for Encouragement

I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles overcome while trying to succeed. ~Booker T Washington

It takes discipline to be a free spirit. ~Gabrielle Roth

Be not afraid of going slowly; be afraid only of standing still. ~Chinese Proverb

The Roots of Lion's Heart Yoga

While living in Austin during 2012, I answered an unusual Craig’s List ad. A mother was seeking a life-skills teacher for her 19 year-old autistic daughter. Her daughter, Kay, was going through big life transitions and had difficulties with change as well as handling stress.

I was confident in pursuing the challenge after having a positive experience in 2011 when I was hired to teach yoga and meditation to a young woman who suffered from fear and anxiety resulting from a trauma. Through time, my sessions with this client revealed beautiful changes and I remember feeling as if this was the start to something new with my yoga teaching.

Thrilled when Kay’s mother decided to hire me, I researched yoga asanas and breathing techniques best for autism. With each session, I listened with total awareness to Kay, which allowed me to adjust our sessions based on her responses and evolving needs. 

I held the space for her to open up so that personal discoveries were made smoothly and so that she felt safe. She began showing early progress as well as started expressing herself more freely and our bond grew deep. 

This bond was so strong that when it was time for me to move on from Austin, Kay, her mother and I agreed that it is essential to keep our connection going. I suggested continuing our sessions through Skype and after our first online session it was apparent that the progress could continue successfully online. This experience planted the seed for Lion's Heart Yoga to bloom.

Read more about Lion's Heart Yoga's Life Skills Coaching here and contact me at lionsheartyoga@gmail or click here to schedule a session. 



Namaste,
~Deborah

Yoga & Meditation

I offer guided meditation sessions via Skype and facilitate sessions based on individual needs. Cost is $1.00 per minute, click here for more information or to make an appointment.

A quick synopsis of my teaching experience:

Vinyasa-based yoga

Yoga for stress management

Yoga for artists & creativity

Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) at the 200 level with Yoga Alliance  http://www.yogaalliance.org/

My Story

When I first stumbled into a yoga class in 1997 while living in New York City, I had no idea what I was in for. Thinking back, I realize how much yoga has helped me through every major challenge in my life since that time. But it is not only the challenges I had help with, embracing yoga and meditation has led me to live a richer life.

2010 was an epic year for personal transformation through unexpected changes. In January, my 6 year romantic relationship had ended, in June, I was let go of my corporate job, and finding employment shortly after, I was let go again in November. Around Fall of that year I began to think about becoming a yoga teacher and following the second corporate lay-off I listened to the synchronicity and enrolled.

With more free time on my hands, I dedicated myself to yoga teaching training. The other yoga teacher trainee students had all dropped out of the program before it started, so much of my yogic philosophy learning took place in a one on one setting with my teacher. Our intimate discussions of the Yoga Sutras led to valuable personal insights. During the entire training program I gained a whole new level of clarity as well as had several opportunities to meet my true self (sometimes a pleasure and sometimes not so much).

After earning my certification I began teaching various types of yoga classes and discovered my favorite to be those classes with a more heartfelt energy to them. Students then began sharing with me the positive changes they were making in their lives and attributed much of it to coming to class.

I started teaching yoga for stress relief and opened the class as a forum for students to come together. Experiences were shared and students would connect and transform as they allowed themselves to be vulnerable in a safe space:

"Breathing deeper and more fully has increased my energy all day."
"I feel stronger and more able to communicate my needs with confidence."
"I realized how much I hated my job and how it was making me sick, and I now have the courage to quit and pursue my art for a living."
"When my boss annoys me, I use breathing techniques to get me through it and I am able to let it go."
"My relationship with my daughter has improved since I am able to clearly communicate my needs to her and I have more patience, awareness and flexibility with her needs."
"Being fully aware of when I become angry or upset helps me to just let the negative emotions pass."

What was remarkable to me about hearing these stories is that not long ago I shared some of the same experiences. There was a time in my life when I worked 11 hour days at a mundane job and felt overwhelmed. Within my corporate cube I thought about owning more of my life. I especially craved to have more free time to pursue travel and my creative passions. I didn't know it at the time, but what I was really asking for (and what I was entitled to) was claiming my personal power. 

This was all leading up to my epic year of change in 2010 which paved the way, creating space for a new type of day. After yoga teacher training completion I was able to secure some sweet teaching gigs. After meeting my lovely partner in late 2010, we discovered a shared interest of travel, creativity and adventure as well as being minimalists at heart. We began planning for a simple life of open-end travel with a loose itinerary and flexible boundaries.

In September of 2012, we left our comfortable home, sold our belongings and set out to explore. Since then our travels have opened up an entire range of adventure. This includes volunteering at a goat dairy farm, helping to build a cob house, becoming certified to teach English as a foreign language and teaching it to newly arrived refugees in the U.S., dancing while listening to an amazing high school band play on the streets of New Orleans, taking one of the most scenic North American train trips from NYC to Canada, and nestling as temporary locals by renting an apartment within unique communities such as Austin, Brooklyn, and Montreal.

There seems to be no upcoming end of our travels in sight and what started as an adventure has become a lifestyle and in the event you are wondering, no wealthy relatives or other financial support is involved here.  (-:

There are a lot of contributing factors to how I reached this time in my life, and I am still extending beyond myself and learning, now more than ever. It always leads back to learning how to listen well and venturing down unknown paths, physically and energetically, which takes strength and courage.

This is the inspiration for the life skills guidance that I am reaching out and offering to others.

Learn more about Lion's Heart Yoga Life Skills Coaching here.
Read our travel blog, kept by my partner and I, and started a few months before leaving home:  www.thefarmerandtheyogi.com

~Deborah 

Life Skills Coaching

I am excited to offer a unique blend of guidance, inspired by the spiritual wisdom of ancient yogic texts which focus on uniting the body and mind. Much of the internal conflicts we experience is due to the disconnection of the body and mind.

Through meditation, intuition and heart-felt discussion, I hold an energetic space for listening to my clients. This type of listening with an open heart and mind, with total awareness, is not widely offered by many people in our lives (people either do not know how to do it or are too distracted). The intentions behind my service is to assist in the learning process of listening and relying on your own inner guidance system that we all have. This is a skill that takes a kind of work in order to possess and it is for those who have the courage to hold personal accountability.

Life skills coaching is a heart-centered “work” that is unique for each individual. Some examples of common life skills themes:

Lack of attention and focus
Handling stress and feeling overwhelmed
Identifying negative patterns
Feeling stuck or lost
Fully accepting yourself
Accomplishing goals that are important to you
Simplifying your life
Eliminating clutter
Moving through a big change in your life


Being bombarded by modern life distractions are energetically draining and allow the ego to lead in life decisions. This type of prolonged living is based in chaos and clutter and it blocks clarity. Clarity is one of the keys to making positive changes for leading a happy and healthy life.

I guide clients to gain their own clarity. This clarity leads the way for establishing a greater connection to their own inner wisdom, deepening their relationship to their own self, taking greater accountability in their lives, stepping into their personal power and enhancing their personal relationships. Sounds scary? Sounds too hard? It can be, but it is very much worth it.


WHAT MY LIFE SKILLS GUIDANCE IS NOT:

Spiritual/religious advice or counseling and therapy. In addition, I do not consider to be a sublime spiritual master asking that you follow me because I know The Way. We all have our own way to be discovered and followed yet it does require courage----that's where I come in. Also, there is not previous yoga experience required, some of my clients have never stepped onto a yoga mat.

HOW WE MEET:

Our sessions will be video calls via SKYPE.

You can obtain a free SKYPE account here

COSTS (Listed in USD):

Four one hour sessions: $350.

Budget Series:
1/2 hour sessions, scheduled individually: $50.

Advanced purchase of four 1/2 hour session: $175.

*All sessions include e-mail support throughout the week*

*First one hour session for new clients is $30.*

Sliding Scale:
If you are drawn to this work yet have financial strains, please reach out to me and we can discuss a sliding scale pay rate. Payment plan options can be available too.


HOW TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT:

e-mail me, lionsheartyoga@gmail.com, to request an appointment or click here.


THEN WHAT?

Once we set your appointment, I will send you a confirmation e-mail that will best explain how to prepare for our session.


Are you ready?


Namaste,

~Deborah