Yoga is Like Ice Cream

I love Jamocha Almond Fudge ice cream.  I'm not really sure what a Jamocha is but I think it might be Sanskrit for coffee.  To me it's a perfect balance of coffee, chocolate and nuts.  I think it is delicious. As a matter of fact I think it might just be perfect.

Now that doesn't mean I will pass up a creamy bowl of butter pecan or a simple chocolate cone.  Digging into a carton of pistachio reminds me how good it is.  How could I have forgotten? But, personally, I'll pass on cherry ice cream.  It's not for me. 

But back to Jamocha Almond Fudge. You may argue that Jamocha Almond Fudge does not have a monopoly on coffee, almonds and nuts. Coffee ice cream with nuts and chocolate sauce is the same thing, right? Maybe you feel that your homemade ice cream is superior to anything you could buy because it’s organic, pure and has no trans-fats. Maybe you’ve never met a bowl of ice cream that you didn’t like and you’re secretly happy that my preferences will leave more cherry ice cream for you.

 And you would be right.

Yoga flavors are a lot like ice cream flavors.

 I love Anusara Yoga. I think it’s a perfect balance of spirit, body and mind; of attitude, action and alignment. The ‘heart centered’ language speaks to me like no other; the alignment sings to my body and soul. I think it’s delicious. In fact I think it might just be perfect.

 Now that doesn’t mean that I’ll pass up a great flow session or a classical ‘hatha’ class. Wandering into an Ashtanga class reminds me how good it can be. How could I have forgotten? But personally, I’ll pass on  "Hot” yoga styles. They are just not for me.

But back to Anusara. You may argue that Anusara does not have a monopoly on ‘heart’. All yoga claims to balance the mind body and spirit, right? Maybe you feel that generic hatha yoga is organic, pure

and does not sell t-shirts. Maybe you’ve never met a yoga class you didn’t like and my preference just leaves more mat space for you in the 6:30 Bikram class.

 And you would be right.

We need to remember that yoga is like ice cream. One person’s preference does not invalidate another’s. It is not a question of right or wrong. There is a flavor for everyone and plenty to go around.

So let’s make like ice cream. Keep it cool, keep it sweet, keep it fun and don’t forget to pass the sprinkles!

"Enough with the breathing already let's do more yoga!"

Throwing myself back into a yoga practice after a three year absence has been exciting. From a physical perspective I am surprised and relieved at how quickly my poor neglected body has responded to the asansas. My strength and flexibility are growing almost daily. I no longer feel the urge to go lie down in the middle of yoga class or worse, vomit. I can actually think about the postures aside from "ouch ouch ouch", "This can't be right" or the old stand by "When will this be over?" which is the equivalent of "Are we there yet?" I can honestly say I am enjoying the 'work'. Well, most of the time.
Balance is always an issue for me. I am careful in standing poses but if I'm close to the ground I go for it. Really, how far do I have to fall? That's why I bought that extra thick yoga mat, right?
Do you remember Weebles? They were a children's toy that got their start in the seventies with the advertising slogan "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down" Well, Weebles are one up on me. I fall over a fair bit. Here is what Wikipedia says about Weebles "Shaped like eggs with a weight at the fat, or bottom end, they wobble when pushed, but never fall completely over, hence the name." You would think that our similarity in shape and weight distribution would help me harness the same laws of physics but ....

This time around as part of my yoga practice I am also focusing on aspects of yoga outside of postures. The aspects of yoga practice that I have impatiently skipped over in the past. As in "Enough with the breathing already lets do more yoga!" "Chakra Smakra let's do a down dog!" For instance the idea of yoga as a liberation teaching and exploring the 'seven branches of yoga" are concepts I have heard but brushed aside before. Now I am ready to delve a little deeper.
My first goal is meditation. Now you have to understand I have the attention span of a crow. Oh look, a bright shiny thing. My foot itches. Is it lunch yet? "I'm sorry, where you talking to me? "Huh? What? Oh yes I do take this man to be......." So right now I am trying to use guided meditation/relaxations to help me focus and learn more techniques, along with going it on my own. I believe I am getting better. I don't fall asleep in the middle of the meditation session as often as I used to. I am better at focusing on nothing. I notice I can find my breath and calm my self a little better during stressful situations during the day. But I have a long long way to go.