The Intersection Between Acceptance and Change

Letting go of the outcome is one of my biggest challenges on the spiritual path.  Here's the idea: You put your time, energy and effort into a project and then release the results to the Universe.  You do not get to decide what ultimately happens.  You trust that the Universe will take care of you and give you the best outcome, even if it's not what you thought you wanted.  In this way a delay or a change can turn into a gift.  However, it only works if we release our grip on one certain outcome.

If we are feeling angry, frustrated, impatient or disappointed, then we are probably attached to the outcome.  Of course it's not bad to feel these things, and these emotions can be signs that we need to practice surrender, the art of letting go.  Every day I find new opportunities to forgive and let go.  For example, today I have an important meeting with a team of 8 people.  I know that I am attached to a certain outcome (medical testing for a student) and I am trying to stay open to other possibilities and other solutions.  My practice this week has been to speak my truth in a calm way and then step back.  By stepping back and letting go of the need to control or manipulate, the Universe can do her thing and send all of the help/answers/solutions that we need.  If we are completely locked in to only one right answer, then we will be angered and frustrated by any other solution.  Today my intention is to stay open.  I'm doing everything I can and now I get to let go.  I know that I am taken care of.  This situation will work out in divine timing and order.  It feels so good to let myself off the hook.  Now is time to live in faith and surrender.
 

Book Club: A Return to Love

The right people and the right books always have a way of finding their way into our lives.  Recently I have been connecting with some amazing women through the networking site, Herfuture.com.  Gabrielle Bernstein created this site for women to find new connections and mentors based on shared interests.  The networking groups have themes and are called Power Posses.  I have also made two dear friendships through the Seattle Power Posse.  We have started a book club to share books, spark conversation and connect with like-minded people.  This month we are discussing Marianne Williamson's book, A Return to Love.

Reading this book feels like meditation.  Marianne has such a beautiful way of explaining how to choose love instead of fear in our daily lives.  After reading for a few minutes, I can feel my mind relax and absorb her ideas.  She writes,

 

 "We have the free will to think whatever we want to think, but no thoughts are neutral.  There is no such thing as an idle thought.  All thought creates form on some level." 

If you would like to join us for book club, we are meeting on Tuesday, November 12th at 7:00pm.  Email Amelia at amelia.greim@gmail.com to confirm.

If you would like to join our efforts in bringing Gabrielle Bernstein to lecture in Seattle on her next book tour, join our Facebook group.

Hatha Yoga Center Tribute Video

"A sweet short tribute documentary my fellow yoga student and teacher Nicole Perriella made last year when our beloved Hatha Yoga Center was forced to move after 32 years of operating in the oldest church in the University District. The video features my teachers Bob Smith and Ki Mcgraw, as well as myself and other students and teachers discussing the history of the HYC and what it has meant to us. I am so fortunate to have walked in that one evening for class many years ago...it changed my life."

-Chris List, author of misslisted.com

 

  

For more information about classes at the Hatha Yoga Center click here.

 

Ayurvedic Apothecary

As I dive deeper into the world of Ayurveda, I'm constantly discovering other amazing Ayurvedic practitioners and yoga teachers.  This alternative approach to health attracts many creative, interesting and talented people.  Cue Sarah Louisignau.

Sarah is the founder and developer of Ayurvedic Apothecary.  I discovered her by reading her blog post about How 12 Design Principles of Permaculture Apply to the Business of Yoga and Ayurveda.  Sarah is a master of finding links between her various interests.  By combining her passions for Ayurveda and Aromatherapy, she creates a beautiful line of oils designed to balance the 3 doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha).  I knew I had to try them!  When the package arrived in the mail, the little bottles reminded me more of precious perfumes than the big bottles of Ayurvedic oil I usually buy.  These bottles are about the size of a lipstick tube and easily fit in a purse.

My favorite is the Vata blend because of its musky and sweet/spicy smell.  It's intense at first, but the scent evolves and becomes more subtle within a few minutes.  The best part about these oils is that they are working to balance your body.  She uses base oils that are tridoshic and nutritional for the skin, without the use of any alcohol.  Sarah explains further:

"For example: Clove Bud Oil is known for it's carminative and it's analgesic properties - so by putting this oil in my Vata blend, I help the person using it medicinally with the prevention of flatulence and with mild pain relief in achy dry joints.  Ayurvedicly, it is warming and sweet, which will take the chill out of the Vata body and add an aphrodisiac quality to ease anxiety!"

Since Autumn is Vata season, now is the perfect time to start using this oil.  I even took Vata blend on the plane with me during my trip to India.  The roller tip makes application easy and mess-free.  It's fun to experiment and play, applying them to the third eye, neck, wrists, inner elbows, back of the knees and even feet soles.  Soon Sarah will be launching a new line of body massage oils, designed for daily Abhyanga massage, and for massage therapists working with Ayurveda. 

In addition to teaching yoga retreats and running her business, Sarah recently became part Yoga Prosperity Program as a Program Host and Yoga Business Coach.  Her unique passions include pelvic empowerment through yoga, Ayurveda, the fusion of yoga and paddleboarding, acro yoga and asana as a therapeutic tool for athletes.  To learn more about Sarah and Ayuvedic Apothecary, visit www.ayurvedic-apothecary.com.

My Greatest Teacher

Sometimes an injury is your soul speaking through your body.  This has been the case for me.  Over the last 9 months, I have been experiencing swelling in my right knee.  There was no big pop, no accident, no obvious moment of injury.  This is common for inflammation problems.  They creep up on you quietly and kick you in the ass.  Or the knee.

I am dedicated to natural health and nurturing self-care.  This knee has sent me to the orthopedic surgeon, rheumatoid arthritis doctor, acupuncturist, massage therapist, naturopath, counselor, physical therapist, yoga teacher and back again.  Now I see that my true healing began in India when I finally learned what it means to rest.

Who doesn't want to rest?  Well, me apparently.  It wasn't that I didn't want to rest my knee.  It was more like I didn't know how to give myself permission to rest.  An active mind and an active body always keep me moving, working, doing chores, errands and exercising.  Like many American woman, I had been brainwashed into thinking that if I wasn't running or doing the elliptical or squatting or box jumping or sweating then I would get fat.  No matter how balanced or centered I think I am, the desire to maintain a slim figure outweighed what my body was really craving.  I'm so grateful that I am finally heeding the call.

When I was at Ayurvedagram in India, my doctors told me not to walk too much.  This meant that I only walked to meals, treatments and to the yoga room.  Yoga class was not cracked-out, hot ashtanga flow.  This was therapeutic yoga.  Sometimes we didn't even stand up during the entire class.  My ego got out of my way by day 2 or 3, and I just embraced the slow pace, movement repetitions and focused on my breath.  Mohanty, our wonderful teacher, would sing, "Inhaaaaaaaaaale. Exhaaaaaaaaaale."  His style was calm, focused and careful.  At one point he said, "If you can't do the pose, that's fine.  But if you can't relax during the pose, that's a big problem."  We weren't in class to sweat and get a hard workout.  We were there to loosen up, stretch our muscles and ultimately, relax.

These days instead of trying to squeeze in a workout after work, I put my legs up the wall and breathe.  This gentle inversion has great effects on my body and mind.  My job is very active, and I let that "count" as exercise sometimes.  My yoga practice has never been more rewarding now that I'm letting me body tell me what it needs each day.  The concept of rest is finally sinking in.  It's not only good sleep, but choosing conscious rest while awake.  I'm grateful for my knee and the way it's teaching me how to truly rest.

Back to Life

This first week back from India has been so interesting.  I feel like I'm an outsider in my own life and witnessing all of the people, places and events from afar.  It's like my vision has been cleared, and I see my whole life as "big picture."  I'm not back at work yet, so I have no routine, no serious obligations and my life is just wide open.

When I got back on Friday, I felt overwhelmed and in love with my boyfriend, Kevin.  He cleaned our entire place, left me a sweet note, came home with flowers and took me out to dinner.  I had been dreaming about that big, long hug for weeks.  As we sat at an outdoor Mexican place on our bustling street, I was looking around like a tourist, like I'd never been there before.  I was even looking at Kevin and thinking, "Wow, this guy's cute," as though he wasn't already "mine."  I was more quiet than usual because I didn't immediately verbalize every thought that came into my head.  It was such a strange feeling.

I've experienced this phenomenon again and again as I see friends (Wow, I see why we're friends!), enjoy my apartment and ease back into school life.  My concept of time has also shifted.  Before I left for India, I was constantly focused on my next step, next post, next project, next meal, next social event, go, go, GO!  Now I can step back and see all of the tremendous things that have already happened this year.  It really takes the internal pressure off to see how much I've already accomplished and not feel that nagging, urgent feeling to constantly need more.

Gratitude.  That's the overall essence of this week.  I'm so grateful for my life with it's bumps, beauty and love.  There is so much goodness, so many experiences waiting to manifest, so much learning and so much fun yet to have.  I don't have to force it, just flow with it.  Thank you for reading as I share this weird and amazing life.

My Ayurveda Adventure

 

Have you ever wished that you could take a time-out for a few weeks to rest, recharge and detox your soul?  That is exactly what happened when I went to Ayurvedagram near Bangalore, India.  As I sit at home writing this post in the early hours of the morning, completely jet lagged and utterly happy, I'm realizing that this trip was exactly what I needed.

Ayurvedagram means "Ayurveda village."  It is a gorgeous wellness oasis.  The stone walking path leads around sculpted gardens, a calming lotus pond and the traditional Kerala-style buildings of a palace.  Previous warnings of deep poverty, begging, illness and congestion had me prepared for something difficult and grueling.  Instead, my dad and I were greeted by our driver at the airport with a sign, whisked to the wellness center and treated with yoga, massage and 2-hour doctor consultations on our first day.  Not to mention delicious vegetarian food and very friendly staff.  I did have a mini break-down with the doctor in the first ten minutes of my consultation.  I blame the 20-hour flight, exhaustion and overwhelm.  I got to see my beloved teacher, Dr. Jay, for a few minutes because he happened to be in India at the same time.  It was funny to me that he's from India, but seeing his face reminded me so much of home and the many hours spent learning in the Wallingford Kerala Ayurveda Academy.  It was all too much and the tears bubbled over.  Luckily my doctor, Dr. Manu, passed me some tissues and told me never to suppress a natural urge, thereby giving me the green light to cry my heart out.  I love that man.

It took a few days to adjust to being on the other side of the world (12.5 hour time difference).  My dad and I greeted the daylight by walking the grounds and listening to nature.  During our stay, we saw white owls, huge butterflies, frogs, bats, squirrels that chirp, crows that caw so loud they wake you up, crickets, geckos, mosquitoes that loved me too much, dogs, turtles, geese and so many cows.  I reconnected with nature during many relaxing hours on our veranda with my journal, book and thoughts, watching and listening to the sounds.  When I first arrived at Ayurvedagram, I toured the gardens, library, yoga studio and wondered, "Am I going to be bored here?"  There were times when I wondered what to do with myself.  It was a real adjustment to release my need to be productive, soak in the moment and turn 45 minutes of meditation into the most important part of my afternoon.  It's incredible what comes up and out when not constantly distracted and busy with daily life.

During our stay, it was unusually busy for August.  The entire center was full, which meant that we made many international friends and enjoyed long meals and interesting conversations.  Guests from India, England, Malaysia, the States, Tanzania and the Netherlands joined us at the long table in the dining hall.  It felt like we got to have a healthy dinner party every night.  Most people go to Ayurvedagram with a specific health problem or to lose weight.  Many people had special diets, and we all learned the lingo that went along with each detox treatment.  It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but chatting about oil and herbal enemas and purgation days (herbal laxatives) became the new dinner table norm.

Our daily schedule:
6:00 morning walk
7:00 morning routine- a therapist arrives at your door to rinse your eyes, administer nasya (nasal drops), have you gargle with triphala water with honey and take your medicine (a shot of herbal goodness).
7:30 yoga class
8:30 morning treatment (incredible oil massages)
9:30 breakfast
12:15 pranayama (breathing exercises)
1:00 lunch
3:15 meditation
4:00 afternoon treatment
6:30 dinner

As you can see we were "busy," but it was all meant to help release toxins, clear the physical and mental clutter and learn to relax.  I love to walk and exercise and stay busy.  But during my time at Ayurvedagram, the doctors were focused on helping me heal my knee.  They told me not to walk too much.  So while my dad was power walking for 45 minutes in the morning, I was only allowed to take 2 laps around the grounds.  Maybe it took me going to India to finally learn how to rest.  My knee is doing better than ever and I was sent home with a big bag of herbal medicines and paste to continue my healing now.

This experience has helped my Ayurveda study really sink in.  I was able to experience so many different treatments (34 to be exact) with medicated oils specific for me and herbal medicine shots 4 times a day designed to strengthen my joints, slow down degenerative changes and improve metabolism.  Dr. Manu and Dr. Natasha shared so much Ayurvedic knowledge with me.  My lovely therapists pampered me multiple times a day and made me feel so cared for.  Our yoga teacher, Mohanty, taught and inspired me with new pranayama techniques and a loving example of the yogic lifestyle.  It was truly humbling to realize that there is so much more to learn and that I am still at the beginning of my journey with Ayurveda and yoga.  I know I've barely scratched the surface of India's rich culture.  I have a feeling this won't be my last visit.  I feel so lucky and grateful to be able to carve out this time, share this experience with my dad and come back feeling inspired and rejuvenated.  Let the Ayurveda adventure continue!