recent developments.......

Beth has carried mail for the United States Postal Service for nearly 26 years. She has experienced every kind of weather, all types of customers, vehicle breakdowns, dog attacks, trips and falls, and hostile supervisors. She has both received and bestowed many kindnesses, saved a life, been an eyewitness to criminal activity, and taken part in annual food drives - carrying hundreds of pounds of donations back to her station. Her customers absolutely love her. She proudly wears the uniform and carries out her duties as best she can, day after day, year after year. It was always her plan to spend her remaining working years as a Letter Carrier.

Unfortunately, the physical nature of the job, the addition of over 50 walking blocks to her route in the last 12 months (and the threat of more to be assigned), continued health issues, and her outlook for the future has brought her to a fork in the road.....a decision-point. With seven years left to "early" retirement, she has come to the hard realization that she simply cannot make it that many more years. We certainly wish there was a safety net for a postal employee who cannot walk that far every day, but is not eligible for disability. She believes that if she continues to "gut it out", she will, in fact, become disabled. She is taking far too much pain medication to make it through each long, hard day and we all know that pills only mask the problem, they do not solve it.

As I write this (December 10th), it is Beth's intention to leave the post office at the end of the year to pursue a degree in studio art at Wichita State University. While this may sound like an easy decision: "following your bliss" or "listening to your body", (which it is), there are serious financial consequences to leaving a job, any job, but especially a career job -and it is no light matter to plan and execute this change responsibly (health and life insurance mean very little to a 20-year old, and everything to a 50-year old).

So....a new chapter begins.......

Holiday Letter 2010

Happy Holidays 2010!

In February, with the long cold Kansas winter nearly over, we purchased tanning sessions, a first for me. It was NOT what I thought! My feet got cold, the tanning bed was cold, the air blowing on me was cold. But I felt like a bit of ‘color’ was a good idea on my pale skin before heading to Mexico!

March: We spent a week on the beach at Maya Tulum, a resort south of Cancun. It was a yoga retreat and a vacation on the beach! We had great food, great yoga, a self-guided tour of the Mayan ruins with our new friends, shopping, and of course….swimming in the ocean. Bethie met another watercolorist and they made instant friends. My schedule included yoga each morning for 2 hours and again each evening for 2 hours. For six straight days!

…..on the Yucatan Pennisula

We named Bethie’s new fishing boat “Maya” because (after buying it at the show in February), it wasn’t ready for delivery until the week we left for Mexico…so we asked Wichita Marine to hold her for a few extra days. She has a top! So Cindy doesn’t get sunburned in the summer!

Spring ---We had a good camping season with our friends and “adopted” family, the Welsh’s. We dedicated our outings this year to the memory of our sister, Mona Jones, who fought cancer until February 1st. We met Jeanne and Amy in Vegas in April, Beth hit a nice slot machine jackpot on the way out the front door (literally!). We met again in Wichita this November for a mini-vacation/weekend.

July – August – September
Still bit by the travel and yoga bug, I went to the Dallas area for a week in July and toured several yoga studios with my best friend Beth (YogaBeth) who had been visiting the area yoga studios, blogging about her experiences, and meeting new teachers and students. YogaBeth then gave me the tour! Great stuff! Meanwhile, Bethie took her first art class! We all had fun partying at the hotel pool with family and old friends (like my college roommate), and I finally got to visit a “Cheesecake Factory”.

August was our annual trip to Beaver Lake – new boat, bigger motor –so Bethie bought a tube called “Big Mabel”, and she turned out to be a lot of fun. You should have seen us try and “unseat” my brother Derek, his legs bouncing as high as 4 feet in the air! Rana and I managed to hang on when it was our turn……but just barely.

September was the long drive to Estes Park, Colorado for the Yoga Journal Conference held there every year at the YMCA of the Rockies. This time we took YogaBeth and Bethie’s sister and brother-in-law Jan and Gary Etheridge. Gary was a great fishing buddy to Bethie…..YogaBeth and I left each morning for the conference and we all met again for dinner and games in the evenings.

There was a lot to do: yoga, trout fishing, shopping, bike rides, and soaking in the hot tub. Other than a late night visit from a bear when we didn’t empty our trash and a close call with someone else’s car wreck as I rode my bike through a pedestrian intersection, all was well.

Volunteer work (Sept/Oct)

I volunteered for a local charity in September and October 2010. I sat on a panel that allocates funds based on various criteria and on the panel's analysis of several required budget forms (the main issue: How much is estimated to be available in 2011). Preparatory work involved studying the agencies financial statements, logic models, and proposals, and noting any questions or concerns to discuss during face-to-face meetings with this panel. This I did on vacation in Colorado and on the drive home.......

The agencies requesting money submitted their budgets and financial information in meeting after meeting, our panel sat through nine distinct program presentations from five agencies in just over a week. It was very intense! One day, I worked all morning, attended consecutive presentations that lasted all afternoon and then went to teach yoga that night. Our panel members got to know each other very quickly -however briefly - and for the specific purpose of voting on an amount to give away to each of the agencies in 2011.

As with any panel or committee, there were a couple of very strong personalities - hard-working professionals who had clear ideas about how money should be spent and what outcomes are desirable. Leader's in their respective organizations (banks, aircraft manufacturers, social work, law firms, real estate agents), they were an impressive bunch. It was actually difficult not to be intimidated or star-struck.

We voted after each presentation, one by one, day by day, meeting by meeting. Then we held a wrap-up session. I had spent some time preparing an argument (I wanted to take some funds away from one agency and give them to another - I had been disappointed that the panel lowered this agency's amount for 2011) and with little hope of getting what "I" wanted, I entered the conference room for our final meeting.

Based on what happened next, my arguments must have resonated with others on the panel, because a lively discussion ensued comparing these two charities. We had already decided what to allocate, and now we were discussing changing our decision. And sure enough, when the votes were counted, I was able to get the motion to pass. That was a warm glow I have never experienced before!

The sobering part is that one agency had to lose funds so that another would be allocated more. That is the hard truth of our current economic situation. Each of the agencies is "deserving"........but I personally felt one deserved more -from the very beginning. And if fundraising goals are met, they will have it.

time.............

In the book of time, our names are kept
Our stories written down
Our deeds will stand along beside
The love that we have found

And if much or little more remains
Time will catch us, me and you
How long given is not shared
(this of course, we always knew).

yoga - on your own......

I have a student on Thursday nights who asked me at the end of last session (ahead of a two week break) if I would give her some tips or written sequences for practicing yoga while she was on vacation. She was looking forward to a quiet trip into nature (a cabin by a lake or a condo in the mountains or some country setting....) with just the family.

I suggested that she see me after class, and we visited in general about designing a home practice and ways to practice away from home. I remember telling her a little of my own story - how, early in my practice, and with the advice/input of my teachers, going to the lake, finding a quiet spot and letting the natural surroundings, my own desires, and physical internal signals tell me what to do, how to move, how long to be on my mat.

What I didn't tell her was how concerned I was back then that I would not be able to practice on my own.....what poses should I do? what props? What if someone saw me and thought I was weird? Should I set aside an hour? Less? More? What if I just sat there? I didn't tell her that my first attempt at an individual practice in nature lasted less than 15 minutes (still fun and worthwhile, just short!) but that I learned a lot about myself.

Classes started up again this week. This student looked radiant, relaxed, and happy. After class she described her experiences, which not so surprisingly, mirrored my own. She saw an eagle fly overhead, she heard the wind, and she was inspired. She didn't go with a set plan and was willing to just see what happened. The first time she rolled out her mat, her practice lasted about 20 minutes, and there were several other opportunities during her trip. She told me it was the best experience she had ever had.

I smiled at her, told her how happy I was for her....and said: "now that.....was yoga....."

neighbors......tall grass, weeds, & last year's leaves

You have one. I know you do. The neighbor that doesn't keep their property up as good as you would like, or has loud parties, or parks cars in your way, or blows leaves into your yard or the street....or maybe you don't care for the color of the house, or the type of decorations they use......whatever it is.

I have a house on either side of me that could, if I let them, drive me absolutely to distraction. Twenty years ago, two little old ladies lived next door to me - one on each side. The houses were old, not updated (no central air for example), but the ladies managed to mow the yard and keep their homes reasonably repaired. Eventually.....both ladies died -and the homes passed to their daughters.

That's when it got bad, mostly in the spring, when grass grows quickly and needs to be treated for weeds. But also in the fall, when leaves need to be raked and composted. Nothing was done. Then...the honey locust tree died. Then the fence fell down. Then, the driveway cracked, and the guttering fell off.

One of the daughters still lives in her mother's house, the other house is abandoned. It was empty for nearly three years. Finally that daughter came back home to live, but she would say strange things (like her dog could fly), or just sit for hours staring into space. And she turned out to be a hoarder, a pack rat. She is gone again, probably living with family. And the homes continue to age, fall into disrepair, and the grass grows tall. Weeds, trash, limbs/branches, and last year's leaves are a nuisance.

I bring this all up to describe the circumstances, the "back story". But I bring it up to make a certain point too.......one that has to do with "living my yoga".

Last weekend, tired of looking at the front yard of the occupied home (I basically ignore the abandoned one, I'm helped by my wooden fence that blocks the view), I got my gloves, gathered all of the fallen branches and trash for the fire pit or the dumpster....hopped on my tractor and mowed her front yard. I set the blade on the second highest setting. She was not home when this took place. In years past, she sometimes would pull in the driveway when I was just finishing up, give me a look (or maybe say thank you) and go inside. I think she is a little socially inept, or maybe even a little bit impaired, or maybe ashamed?

I love my tractor. I work hard to afford to pay for my yard equipment and everything else I own. She has a mower (have helped her start it before) but doesn't seem inclined to use it very often. Mowing with a lawn tractor is easy work. Just ride awhile. I enjoy the ride. So....(and here is my point)...why did I finally feel resentment? Wasn't I just doing what I've always done? Helping out when I could no longer stand to look at the tall grass is my problem, though there are health concerns with unkempt properties (standing water, ticks, unsafe tree limbs, etc.)

I have to be able to perform a deed, without resenting it! If it's my choice to mow her yard, I can't be mad at her for NOT mowing it! I have the means (I own the equipment, I can buy the fuel), I am blessed with the physical ability, and I made the choice to act. That should be cause for gratitude not resentment. Just thinking about these things is a step toward living the yoga I say I practice.....

I will say that once I finished, I let go of the results. Maybe she noticed, maybe not. Maybe she will thank me, maybe she won't. She might think about mowing her own yard (I didn't touch the back yard), or it might not be on her mind......who knows. That is the part I can feel good about.

The next time I decide to mow her yard, I hope to do so in a spirit of service and unselfishness...then just continue on with my day and let it all go....thus "living my yoga".

Serving a meal at The Lord's Diner....

.....from the Lord's Diner website: "The Lord’s Diner serves dinner nightly from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays. A small paid staff, assisted by more than 5,500 volunteers representing many faiths and denominations prepare and serve a hot, nutritious meal in a spirit of compassion, respect and loving service. The Lord’s Diner is currently serving an average of 400 meals nightly".

It was the first Tuesday of the month (assistance checks had arrived the dining room director told us), and so it was a fairly light night (by the diner's standards). At times, the Lord's Diner will serve over 500 people in just under two hours. Tonight, when the doors opened, there was a huge rush. At first we were so busy scooping and dishing, that we couldn't really look up or around. As the first wave passed, we were able to take a breath and notice our surroundings. Behind us stands a team of men who restock the serving trays - "more potatoes...more bread", we call out as we need refills.

Some guests are open and friendly, some are drunk or high, some are surly, quite a few just shuffle past with trays and drinks, not saying a word, not making eye contact. There are more families with small children than ever before.

The sensory experience is hard to describe -steam in our faces from the storage carts that hold the hot food, the strong smell of cigarette smoke and unwashed humans as the diners pass by, the foot or leg ache from standing so long in one spot, how hard it is to maintain mountain pose during breather times (still that tendency to "sit" on one hip). The rubber mat that I was standing on ended at my right foot, so my left foot was an inch lower at my station. And...why is there always an itch on your face, just when you have clean hands and clean gloves on them? Ha!

The t-shirts worn by the diners with slogans like: "Carpe Diem", "I'm Excited To Be Here", "Power to the People" "River Run", etc. seemed to mock the plight of the person receiving this hot, free meal.

And, this being my home town for nearly half a century.......I did see someone I once knew. Someone who, 20+ years ago had a job, and an apartment, and friends to hang out with. Someone who looked right past me and did not see me. Someone once very much like me. Someone I was once very much like.

2010 will be my 5th year as a Lord's Diner volunteer.

Maya Tulum

I had an opportunity to visit the Yucatan Peninsula in March for a yoga retreat. Most of the participants came from the Bay area (where the teacher, Barbara Voinar lives), but she draws students from all over the United States. I met her in Wichita at a yoga workshop three years ago.

Maya Tulum is a resort and wellness center, offering mud treatments, vegetarian food, at least 8 different types of massage, a sweat lodge, beach activities, and yoga. Visiting yoga teachers reserve group trainings and retreats, like ours. We had a two hour class each morning and a two hour class each evening (doing the math: 24 hours of yoga in 6 days).

The food was good, with fish on the menu two nights (wahoo and grouper), plenty of fresh fruit, beautiful salads, traditional Mexican rice, tortillas and tamales - just without meat. The hosts arranged for a salsa dance class on Friday from two professional dancers (video on my facebook page), and there were a variety of eco-tours in the area. A group of us rented bikes (the old-fashioned kind – pedal forward to go, and backward to stop!) and toured the Mayan ruins up the coast a few kilometers. That day, El Presidente (Felipe Calderon) was there giving a speech, and the military presence was awe-inspiring. There were Mexican navy ships off-shore and certain areas were off-limits to tourists. Later in the week, some of the students went on a float trip, others went snorkeling.

The accommodations were modest, mostly thatched-roof huts and cabanas, but they were comfortable, well-furnished, and clean. I highly recommend it!

http://www.rrresorts.com/f.html#/maya_tulum/

Company newsletter submissions.....Yoga for the Office Worker

Time Out!

Try to allow yourself time each day, or weekly (!) to be without external stimuli–traffic, music, crowds, television, or engaged in a task like driving, doing laundry, or talking/texting. It may be difficult to find a place in our chaotic urban or home environment, but it is well worth the effort to do so. As you sit quietly with yourself, you may find your thoughts spinning like a Kansas spring storm, and that will be okay at first…..with a little practice, this “empty” time will start to have a positive effect on your well-being.

In our stimulation-based lives, we are constantly seeking fulfillment through activity, which leaves no time for the quietness of simply being present with you. If this is true, then how does our “turned-up-high” nervous system know when it’s appropriate to shift to a lower gear? Not only do we not know when to turn down the dial, we don’t even know how! What would happen to a machine that runs full-speed all the time? Wouldn’t you agree that the same thing could happen to people?

Give this quiet time a chance to work by finding a peaceful spot, sitting comfortably in a chair or on the floor, and turning your attention to your breathing. Is your breathing shallow? rough? smooth? short? tight or tense? Can you slow it down and make it more regular just by thinking about it? Does your cell phone or watch have a timer? Set your timer, close your eyes and relax your shoulders.

Give yourself just 5 minutes of this exercise. See if you feel a little calmer, a little less pressured, a little more restored to “yourself”. And if 5 minutes seems like an eternity….and it just isn’t working at all…..and all you can think about is what to fix for dinner, or how much work you have to do tomorrow…..then simply open your eyes…..pat yourself on the back for trying…..and try again tomorrow!

Cindy


Next time in 5-Minutes of yoga: Stretches for repetitive stress on your wrists and elbows……

Home remodel

Its a wonder what you find in your own home, especially if you didn't build it, or remodel it the FIRST time around!

I've lived in my house for 20 years. What was once upon a time an attached single car garage (probably not even big enough for today's monster SUV's or full size trucks), was turned into a fourth bedroom. Most of the homes in my neighborhood have similar remodels, using what was the original garage for living space: a room with a fireplace, another entrance, an extra bedroom or an office.

There was some damage below the window that was repaired with new Sheetrock, but it was not insulated. 20 years of heating and cooling only to find out that just a few dollars of insulation inside the wall would have made all the difference.

Pictures to follow.

This room is going to be a yoga room/art studio. It is turning out better than expectations and I am very happy with the progress so far.