We put thirty spokes together and call it a wheel,

But it is on the space between where there is nothing that the usefulness of the wheel depends.

We turn clay to make a vessel,

But it is on the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the vessel depends.

We pierce doors and windows to make a house,

And it is on these spaces where there is nothing that the usefulness of the house depends.

Therefore, just as we take advantage of what is,

We should recognize the usefulness of what is not.

- Lao Tzu

When we learn to draw, one of the books commonly used to initiate the creative process is Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  In scientific thought, this is the creative side of the brain, where spacial awareness and thought comes from.  Very different from the left side, where details and calculations and such are from.  We sometimes refer to this same type of “thought” as being more subtle, or being from the heart.

In this method of learning to visualize things differently, and to move into this other place of awareness, into that creative mind, is to visualize the space in between things.  If you are drawing your hand, for example, you don’t draw the fingers, you draw the triangles that appear between them, and suddenly fingers appear, more realistic and lifelike than if you tried to draw the fingers themselves.

In yoga, as we move toward finding that quiet, that space, that moment that we are united in our true Self, we can get lost in the journey if we focus on it too hard, and get caught up in thought.  If we’re journeying there through asana or meditation, that might also manifest in a tight hamstring or hip, and in chasing that, we can also lose the Self.

Yoga is sometimes translated as union or as yoking.  And in this definition, it is important to remember that it is not making two things the same.  It is bringing them together.  The heart and mind dancing together, organic and muscular energy, swirling and changing with the breath, but not becoming one - continuing to be unique in their own manifestation of the Self.

As we practice, we can think about the spaces in between the in breath and out breath, and between each asana.  Each movement is led by the breath, and that breath creates the space between.  The pause between the inhale and exhale creates a moment to notice where we are.  And in each one of these spaces, there is so much to be explored.

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Posted on November 21st, 2008 by amy
Filed under: asana, breath, root of the lotus, teaching, themes | No Comments »

One of the most amazing things about being human is our ability to think critically.  When we look at a situation, we don’t just see it in an instinctual way, framed by what is live or die, or will cause pleasure or pain, like most animals do.  We have the ability to feel, and to add our collective experiences to what we are seeing, giving us more information about what is in front of us.

The flip side of this luxury is that we all have different experiences that lead us into the present moment.  So when we get to an event or experience that several people are seeing, we all create our reality of what happened based in our experiences in our lives up to that moment.  So chances are, none of us will agree about what really happened.

The key is, none of us are “right”.  Because we have each colored, or clouded, the lens with our own experience, chances are, none of us saw the event or experience clearly.  So how do we deal with this?  How do we see clearly?

Meditation can be just such a tool.  When we meditate, thoughts go by, like clouds in the sky.  This happens in our daily life as well, we’re just not as aware of it, because we’re focusing on everything else that is happening.  When we meditate, we practice letting these clouds simply be…we don’t grab on to them, linger on them, but just notice them and let them pass.  By doing so, we clear the lens.  As we clear the lens, we become less attached to the thoughts, the experiences and the feelings that have formed our life experience.  And as a result, we get closer to seeing the truth.

Even with great experience as meditators, we must remember that we cannot clear all of the clouds, and therefore, we still will not have grasped the single, correct view.  Ultimately, there is no “one” experience, because the larger, universal Self desires to see things from different perspectives.  As should we.

So when confronted with such an experience, remember to watch what colors your world, and remember that really, none of us are right.

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Posted on November 16th, 2008 by amy
Filed under: root of the lotus | No Comments »

I’m working through an injury right now.  I hope it’s not a big deal, and it probably isn’t, as long as I listen to my body and I don’t push it.  And my personal practice is the best place to play with it.  Because then and there, in the relative silence of my own room, I can find my little habits.  My little places where I let my body go and lose a little awareness.

In my case, the issue is my hip flexor.  And despite the fact that I know that standing poses are a delicate balance of prana and apana, I noticed that I’m letting myself drop in my back leg in standing poses, particularly on this side.

Hmmm.

I wonder where that came from, and why more on this side?  So what if I try a little inner spiral here, and a little lift there, and a little pinky toe grounding here?  Zip, slip, slide, and the pain subsides.  It’s not gone, I’ll find it later in pinchamayarasana, when my prana goes the other way.  But it’s a little puzzle.

The key is that I need to be completely in my body, not in my thoughts, not in the music, when I’m “solving” an injury.  And it reminds me that I need to be more present in my overall practice.  Maybe that’s even why it’s there.  Perhaps my hip flexor is my Shiva right now…my teacher within.

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Posted on November 14th, 2008 by amy
Filed under: anatomy, asana, home practice | No Comments »

One of the many things that makes me wax poetic about yoga is that it is such an incredibly deep well.  Just when you think that you’ve gotten to the heart of something, you realize that you’re just scratching the surface, and that there is so much more “there” there.

I have had an awesome weekend of playing with my yoga on my own…something I haven’t given nearly enough attention to because my space is small.  I practice for a while, but kind of peter out when I get to the point where I want to play with the big stuff – where I might fall on my face, where I might come crashing down on top of my husband’s mac or the cat food.  ☺

But this weekend I was able to spread out, and without fear, could play with what happens when I play with balance more radically upside down, what happens when balance fails and I find myself pretzeled in a direction that wasn’t what I intended.

CRASH!

But it’s OK…once I have sorted out that everything is still in one piece, myself included, I’m ecstatic.  I played with the edge, and crossed it, but now I know right where it is.  And I’ve gone further than I’ve gone before.  And there is no end to it.  Because there will be more lines to cross later, as my balance, strength, flexibility, patience or resolve improve.

I can’t wait to go back!

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Posted on November 11th, 2008 by amy
Filed under: asana, home practice | No Comments »

Hello again!  I’m sorry I’ve been missing…but I haven’t been lost.

I’ve recently taken on a wondrous new adventure.  I’m mentoring the maiden voyage of Tillai University – omtime’s new teacher training!  It is set up in a new format, with classes every other week or so, Shannon and Chris’ great perspectives, and an awe inspiring collection of national teachers, including Carlos Pomeda and Douglas Brooks.

Mentoring is a great tightrope between my personal practice and my teaching.   I’m responsible to others to make sure this training can be the best it can be.  Much like teaching, but I’m feeling out the vision of others.  I need to be quick on my feet, intuitive, responsive, loving, ponderous, available, humble, generous, open, new, inspired and inspiring, lost and confused, known and knowing, the list goes on.

What that also means is that I jumped deep into the heart of yoga immediately on my return, and I only just swum to the surface for my first breath of air today to share a little yoga love.  So I’m sorry for the pause, but I’m back, and with all of this new inspiration, I imagine that you’ll be hearing from me more often.

Namaste my fellow seekers!

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Posted on November 9th, 2008 by amy
Filed under: teaching | No Comments »

I’ve missed you!  I’ve just returned from a long trip to one of the most beautiful, pristine places in the world, the Kingdom of Bhutan.  Nestled away in the Himalayas, this is the land of Gross National Happiness rather than GNP, and a place where people enjoy everyday life to it’s fullest.

In many ways, this outlook on life comes from the basis of the religion there, Mahayana Buddhism.  Simplistically, they believe that life is not a problem to be dealt with, something to go off and meditate in a cave to rise above.  Not that they don’t meditate, and certainly, many of the most famous figures from this region, such as Guru Rinpoche, certainly did that.

But for day to day life, they believe that life should be embraced.  That everything that life deals you has something to give back, even if it might seem like there is nothing good to be found in it.  And everything positive has a lesson as well, and deserves reverence. Read more…

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Posted on October 25th, 2008 by amy
Filed under: root of the lotus, themes | No Comments »

As I prepare to leave for Bhutan, I can’t help but mourn for all of the fruits of the harvest that will come as I’m gone.  I wouldn’t trade this trip for anything – I’ve been planning it in my mind for over a decade – but as I go to visit my garden and see that it is so fervently in production in late September, I mourn the vegetables and fruit that I’ll miss.

I’ve filled myself to the gills this summer with produce, no doubt.  It is not as though I never got to enjoy a tomato from each and every plant, savor a month of peaches, make salad upon salad.  But I have always found I have a bit of a squirrel mentality when it comes to the garden.  I want to make something from every last morsel. Read more…

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Posted on September 25th, 2008 by amy
Filed under: root of the lotus, teaching, where and what | No Comments »

When seasons change, we can feel it in so many ways.  The air changes…from moment to moment, it is warm, then a cool breeze chills the hairs on your arm…then the sun warms you again, to the core.  The light changes too.  Somehow, the light is a little sharper right now as well.  Morning light is crisp, and the days are punctuated by the brightness of changing leaves, the scent of them falling, and the sharpness of the breeze.

The ancients found this time to be incredibly important.  It is part of the circle of life, the part when everything dies.  But this is not a time of sadness, as it is a time that lays way for all things to be born anew as well.

In yoga, the amazing opportunity that we see here is the ability to notice all of these changes as they happen.  To feel the hairs on your arm rise with the breeze as the sun tucks behind the clouds.  To hear the leaves rustle, to hear them falling.  To smell the earth preparing for it’s dormant state.

So as you practice, and as you sit for meditation, and as you go through your daily life, take the time to notice, right now, the beauty of each moment.  To pause, feel your breath, smell the air, hear the sounds that surround you, and delight in them.  Fall is fleeting, but a valuable season to show us the value of the changing nature of existence.

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Posted on September 21st, 2008 by amy
Filed under: root of the lotus | No Comments »

What a week!  This week’s convention has been a great thing to be a part of.  The vibrancy of Denver was increased, minds were expanded with ideas about sustainable living and energy options.  And the speeches by one after another of the luminaries of the Democratic party were fantastic and inspiring.

And Obama’s speech was spectacular.  He addressed what he’s for, addressed our need to be united, demonstrated that he has the strength of character to lead.  But what I really loved about Obama’s speech tonight was not all the things that he’s going to do for us, although of course those things are important, and ultimately what frames the reasons that people are voting for him.  But what I loved is that he also acknowledged that we need to be part of the movement for change as well.  He can create policies to drive change, but we need to help as well.  We can not sit by and expect change to be handed to us, we need to drive it ourselves, drive it to Washington.

So now, if I have my count right, we have about 67 days to make sure that happens.  I’m on board!  Are you?

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Posted on August 28th, 2008 by amy
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I just spent my afternoon at the Huffington Post Oasis tent, assisting Arianna Huffington’s publication and Seane Corne and her Off the Mat charity chill out the luminaries and journalists for the DNC.  And what an amazing experience it has been!  Arriana and her team were amazing, the Off the Mat team was fabulous, and Pangaea Organics, who provided hand massages and facials were a fabulous highlight.  

In addition, Essential Living Foods was providing these amazing green smoothies with any number of power greens inside.  Super yum.  

Not to mention the vegan nibblets that were served.  

It was a pleasure to demo some yoga poses, and lure people slowly to their mats to join us.  To serve some delectable vegan delights to these lovely people, and get to know a little of the DNC from the flip side of the cloud.  Come join me throughout the week for some great mind and body awakening at om this week!

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Posted on August 24th, 2008 by amy
Filed under: books, where and what | No Comments »