Resolution

Well, we’ve made it through another year. Can’t believe how quickly the time went. Soon, we will be stepping into a whole new year. As you well know, people at this time of year make New Year’s Resolutions. Have you made one? I’d like to suggest a few things to you if you’re still thinking about a resolution for 2012.

If you’re the kind of person that likes to make New Year’s Resolutions, try this one. If you have made the choice to continue living a healthy life (mind, body, and spirit) be sure to look at the things in your life right now that allow you to continue along that path without too many obstacles. One thing that I did a long time ago, which made a big difference in my life and my life journey, was stopping taking the newspaper and watching the evening news.

It was probably back in 1994 or ’95. It was when the O.J. Simpson trial was being televised. I remember that it was all over the news, people were so drawn into the experience, and it was all people talked about. I remember thinking, “I don’t even KNOW O.J. Simpson. Why would I want to know about his business? I don’t KNOW if he killed his wife or not. Should this even matter to me?” It was then that I decided to not follow the trial on television. I found that it had no positive impact in my life. Further, I decided to stop watching most news programs and stopped taking the newspaper. I’ll tell ya, after taking that step, I noticed that I was more positive in my outlook on life. The news can be so depressing and negative at times. It really served no significant purpose in my life.

So, as a New Year’s Resolution, why not try watching LESS news and watch more programs that are motivating, inspiring, and life changing.

Here’s the other option. If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t like to make resolutions, perhaps try this instead. Sit down and think of something that you did THIS year. For example, donated to charity, helped out at your kids’ school, or bought lunch for a friend. As a resolution for 2012, perform that same gesture again. Simple.

Overall, make it an inspiring year. Try new things along with some of the old things. Just continue to live the life you WANT to live. Move positively forward on your life path.

Namaste.

Out With The Old, In With The New

Happy New Year! Namaste!
For many people, starting a new year means creating a New Year's Resolution: something that you intend to do differently in your life. Or it may be something you'd like to give up (like smoking) or do more of (like go to the gym). Sometimes in making a resolution or doing something new in your life, it may also mean letting go of something else. This home yoga practice will help you to let go of the old to bring in the new.

The focus of this practice will be hip openers. It will feature two poses: Three Legged Downward Facing Dog and Cobbler Pose.

Let's start this practice with a Sun Salutation to bring you to your first pose. Stand near the top of your yoga mat in Mountain Pose. Place your hands at your heart, close your eyes, and set your intention (your new year's resolution). Perhaps bring to mind the thing or things you no longer want to do, say, or think. Using the power of your breath, exhale as a symbol of releasing those things. As you inhale, think of things you now want to pursue, gain, and experience in your life from this day forward. Proceed now with your Sun Salutations following the sequence below.

Mountain Pose
Extended Mountain Pose
Forward Fold
Plank Pose
Chaturanga Dandasana (Crocodile Pose)
Upward Facing Dog
Downward Facing Dog

Once you have made it to Downward Facing Dog, hold this posture, and focus on your breath. Feel secure and grounded in this pose: be sure your hands are fully connected to the yoga mat and your heels are drawing downward toward the floor. (Take a very small step forward with both feet so your heels just about touch the mat.) Also, be sure your hips are high with the sensation of moving them toward the wall behind you.

Inhale to lift your right leg up toward the wall behind you. You really don't have to lift it very high, just be sure the leg is straight with the effort of extended it toward the wall. Keep pressing your left heel toward the floor to maintain your secure connection to the earth. Now, bend the extended leg; bring your heel down toward your back side while lifting your knee as high as you can toward the ceiling. Open your hips and torso so you are now facing the right side of the room. This is your Three Legged Downward Facing Dog, but with a bit of a twist. Think of this pose as a hip opener. Try to stack your right hip directly over your left hip. Your left leg is very straight with the heel pressing down toward the floor. Hold this posture for 5-10 breaths. Come out of the pose and repeat on the other side.

We can think of hip openers as postures that help us to release stress, tension, tightness, and even negative thoughts and feelings.

From Downward Facing Dog, bring your knees to the floor, then take a seat on your mat bringing your legs out in front of you. Draw the bottoms of your feet together while moving your heels in toward your pelvis. The knees will fall open to the side. Hold onto your feet and sit up nice and tall. This is Cobbler Pose, more formally called Bound Angle Pose. This, too, is a hip opener and you are invited to hold this pose for several minutes. Use this time to move into yourself and re-examine your intentions for the new year. Create a vivid picture of yourself in your mind doing and saying the things you want in this new year. As the hips are open, you can feel release, and also a sense of experiencing gain: call in those things you want to be and achieve for yourself.

Feel free to remain in this pose or simply cross your legs (Easy Pose) to complete your practice for today. Hold onto your intention. Let it expand into how you want to live in this new year of 2011.

Namaste.