Kathy and Mo

Everything in life can be explained with quotes from the Kathy and Mo show Parallel Lives(Kathy Najimy and Mo Gaffney). The show was first broadcast on HBO in 1991.

Circumstances arise every moment where the comedy in a situation is mirrored by the comedy in the show. My VHS tape of the program was so worn that it simply would not play anymore. Luckily, the show was finally released on DVD. The Kathy and Mo show was the very first thing I ever recorded on my new TiVo.

On picking the color of human skin: "Tans, and reds, and don't you love that olive?" then: "White?....isn't that a little bland? We'll have to keep an eye on them."

"Choices, Choices, Choices"

"Messy's good!"

"Am I you, are you me? Are we we?"

"Don't worry about us, we fit in anywhere!"

"I'd like a white-wine spritzer please!"

"Spinning, Spinning, Spinning, Spinning."

To compliment someone: "you look verryy verry pretty tonight!"

When travelling, start singing: "On the road again......, I just can't wait to get on the road again."

If you are bombarded by product ads: "I don't want to smell fresh as a daisy!"

Upon recalling your misguided youth: "I lied....I lied a lot."

If you are talking to your best girlfriends: "Sistah-Woman-Sistah."

"I had a three-way....................................I think."

Life's not so bad.............except for those IceCapades."

move from your intelligence, not from your will.....

Today, my teacher told us to move from our intelligence and not from our will. I'm sure her teacher shared this wisdom and she chose to pass it on.....as I am passing it on here.

It sums up my practice in one sentence.

How often do we move from our will? All day, every day?

Well, let's see - the alarm clock goes off at 6 something (while it is still dark), and I will myself to roll over and hit the snooze button. Let me tell you that my body is not ready to crawl out of a warm bed on a cold morning.....I will it to.

I will myself some mornings to be patient and compassionate with other drivers on my way to work.....wishing them well, and breathing.

I will myself to stop and sit up tall and take a deep breath several times as I sit at my computer screen . Over and over and over again.

I will myself to breathe through painful back spasms.....which are occurring at least once per day now and sometimes twice (sigh), usually between my arrival at work and the lunch hour.

I willfully sit in my chair all day, drive all day, ride in a plane all day, go to meetings all day, on many days....

When do I get a chance to move from my intelligence (or if it makes more sense, from my breath and not my body)?

In yoga of course. Breathing into a pose, not forcing myself into it. Listening inward, not willing some action to occur, but letting it just happen.

In yoga I can do this.

Estes Park Colorado

I took my spirit to the rocks

And laid it by the stream

I asked my question,

Then I slept.

And this is what I dreamed:

A full moon rising over pines

That lit the shore like day

A lover's voice

A raging fire

My question swept away.

Spontaneous Yoga

Something spontaneous happened in our Yoga II class last night. The center is located at 9th and Edgemoor, surrounded by grass and trees, walking paths, tennis courts, a pool and a playground. The yoga room is at the end of a hallway next to the playground, and has floor-to-ceiling windows on two full sides. The blinds are partially lowered, but the glass goes all the way to the floor and we usually leave it open. Small children will sometimes peek in from outside, as the view into the room is about eye-level for them. They are not self-conscious about cupping their hands around their eyes, looking in, and watching our movements. I face the students and the windows; and will often wave at these youngsters (most wave back, a bit shyly....but they wave :).

Last night, a group of six or seven kids, around ages 4 -11 not only looked in.....they began to mimic our movements......so I went with it. I had all five students plus myself turn around, line up our mats, and face the windows.........and we had a yoga class for the kids. They stayed with us for 30 minutes! They did everything we did: knees to chest, cat/cow, spinal balance, mountain pose, tree, forward bends, on and on.....

It was so much fun.......and

what a lesson......

They smiled and they laughed, and they took turns acting silly. I could tell that they were exploring the postures, and they paid attention. It was freedom of movement - organic - unforced - a little rough, sure...but the joyous spirit was there....

We eventually lost their attention and they drifted off.....but they left this memory behind. The wonder and curiosity that children have is such a great reminder for us all.

Namaste,

Cindy

My Happy Place

Sunrise

Lost Bridge Village, Beaver Lake

Northwest Arkansas, USA

July 2007

Balloon Crew

Labor Day Weekend:

Was able to get up very early to help crew for a hot air balloon ride:

Several misconceptions I had:

1. The balloon does not just inflate with hot air. There is a cold inflate first with a huge fan and then the burn takes over and lifts the fabric.

2. There is more than one propane tank.

3. The balloon does not rise straight up and then float with the wind. The pilot can drift almost motionless near the ground. The ride can last over an hour, gently rising and falling as the pilot brushes the tops of trees and then hovers near the ground again (wind conditions just right of course).

And then they were off!

taking it on.....or August was for teaching.....

August was for teaching...

My introduction to the city's premier fitness club came in May with a weekend seminar. As I entered the yoga studio my heart was light, for this was a beautiful space. The warm hardwood floors, the prop room full of equipment, and a stereo system with speakers high above the mirrored walls - these spoke to me about attention to detail and invited me to practice.

I gave my business card to the director and left thinking "well that was fun." Two days later, I was in negotiations to begin teaching at the club! I left thinking "well they must really need teachers!"

On May 22, my first class began at 5:45 p.m. Students strolled in for the next ten minutes. What was billed as a restorative class was going to be a little more than just supported poses on the floor. I had been to class with three of the club's current teachers, and in those classes I realized that this club was a little more fitness oriented than mind/body practice oriented. The students seemed to want a work-out even in the restorative format. I saw someone come out of final relaxation and do ab crunches. I was astounded -but said nothing.

My self-doubt grew as I attempted to teach a Level 1/2 class the next week. During the first month, I questioned whether or not I was "fit" enough to be teaching there. I questioned whether or not the students were getting any yoga. I knew they were getting a work-out, but were they getting any yoga? Doubts, and more doubts....discussed endlessly with myself, my journal, my friends, and most of all -my teachers.

By the second month I had settled in - at one point, I taught seven hours in a single week. I was really enjoying the experience - letting a spontaneous teaching flow from me in the more advanced classes. I was starting to dread the decision I knew I had to make. Here was my dilemma: I was already teaching at a local rec center, but this fitness club maintained a "no compete" policy. I was able to circumvent this rule, but only through August. Once the summer (and the rec center session) was over, I was going to have to choose.

I chose the rec center. I told the directors of both locations what I had decided. One was happy, and one was not. My last class at the fitness club was August 21st. This was 90 days of teaching experience that I will cherish forever.

My last class was a restorative (read gentle), and it turned out so good -smooth, (bitter)sweet, and poignant. We used bolsters and blocks and straps and blankets. I shared yoga, I played well-suited music, and I spoke of the inevitability of change (the change of seasons is a reminder that change comes -even if we do not want it to). Hopefully everyone felt as good as I did when class was over. It is said that sometimes the teaching is as much for the teacher as for the student.

Namaste.