Letters

By now you should have received the letter you wrote to yourself during the cleanse (if you wrote one and gave it to me). Anybody want to share their thoughts or feelings upon receiving your own words?

Delicious Greek Heaven

Jeff and I went to Santorini last year on a yoga retreat. Besides the breathtaking scenery and fantastic yoga, we both flipped for the yogurt in Greece. It's a little thicker and creamier than US yogurt and it's plain. You make it more flavorful by adding chopped fruit, walnuts and...HONEY. It's amazing. And yesterday I was shopping at Nature's Pantry and see that they are now carrying large tubs of it as well as individual tubs that have either a fruit or honey in a little sidecar so you can take it with you in your lunch. I just ate one and it is superbly delicious. The brand is caled "Fage" (Fay-yah) and it is some seriously delicious stuff. Since we don't eat dairy on the cleanse, one could argue this isn't the right place to post this info but as far as dairy goes, yogurt is best for you.

Bon appetit!

Bollywood

Mike and I just had a wonderful meal at the newly reopened Bollywood restaurant in little blue parkway in Independence. In case you were missing this neighborhood spot as we were, I thought I would share that they are open again!

Awakening Compassion

Yesterday afternoon, my friend came into my office and plopped himself down in one of my chairs. He then asked me had I heard about this dog fighting controversy with Michael Vick. I said I had heard a little, but hadn't looked at it closely. He proceeded to tell me a horrific story -- of people breeding and training dogs to fight each other, of dogs that aren't considered good enough fighters being killed in cruel ways (hanging, electrocuting, slamming their heads into the ground), of female dogs put into crates that immobilize them in order to impregnate them. I sat behind my desk completely stunned. I nearly cried as I thought of the fear a dog must feel as a human hangs it or slams its head to the ground. The cruelty of this is shocking.

Those who know me, already know that I don't eat meat (although in a spirit of confession I will say that recently I did try to eat a few eggs and a piece of fish on the advice of a nutritionist -- I have, however, happily returned to a diet free of animal products) and am not restocking myself with leather shoes, belts or purses as old ones deteriorate. I tend not to be a proselytizer of my way of life, other than to encourage people to be healthy and to think about their food choices. But, as I drove home from work, this dog fighting story was being discussed on the radio, and even the DJ recognized the inherent contradiction in our disgust over Michael Vick's behavior...You see, he wondered out loud how he could be so angered and saddened by doing this to dogs and not think anything of what is done to cows and pigs and chickens and turkeys, which, let's be honest, is cruel. They are routinely kept in small spaces, forced to breed, and killed for efficiency first, humane concerns second.

So, perhaps something good will come of this terrible discovery in Virginia. Perhaps more people will wonder how we can say that an animal like a dog has feelings and shouldn't be tortured, while simultaneously supporting the mass killing of other animals. Perhaps those of us who are already on the path and feeling our compassion awaken, will consider ways in which we can lessen the burden of suffering and violence in our world.

"He alone sees truly who sees the Lord the same in every creature, who sees the Deathless in the hearts of all that die. Seeing the same Lord everywhere, he does not harm himself or others. Thus he attains the supreme goal." Bhagavad Gita

Anyone, anyone?

I am so troubled by how many people from the Spring Cleanse Kula have dropped off the mat since our time together. Some of you had a consistent practice prior to the cleanse and immersion and then after a week that is meant to enhance and deepen your practice, you have all but disapeared. If anyone of you that is MIA is still reading this blog, can you help me understand? It is making me feel very reluctant to continue to offer the cleanse and immersion if the effects are not serving to deepen your yoga practice and improve the quality of your life. Anything you are willing to offer will help!

Love to you all,
Gina

The power of yoga class, our Kula

Today was one of those challenging days. Feelings that I had not experienced in over 3 years came roaring to the surface. Where did that come from? Thought that was gone, surprise! Frustration and anger boiling within, building to that tension in the neck and shoulders. But that's it I noticed, I was the observer, watching that old familiar person. Now is the time when the true practice of yoga begins, on the edge. Time to step away breath deep and feel my center. Let that old reaction go, easy to say but hard to do. Like fly paper on your hand, just doesn't want to let go. So I calmed down and continued thru my day. But, still I felt an emptiness. I was going to go home and run some erands, but instead decided this feeling should be dealt with, so off to yoga class I went. I thought I had a rough day (old point of view) turns out my day was a blessing, (came thru during class). I am mindful, observer, compassionate with myself and those around me. I was given the opportunity to practice yoga at work and to share this with all of you. At the end of class I felt blissful and full of love again. May you all be blessed with the yogic point of view.
Om Namah Shivaya, Mike