Getting the Most from Coming in Last

Some people just have the darnedest time learning from mistakes. Over and over again we suffer the outcomes of extemporaneous decisions and wonder why life has to be so hard.  Somewhere down the line,  life hands us a gift of time and perspective so that the "mistake" turns into a "life lesson," and further on, "a turning point."  How beautiful that our reactions and responses CAN change once our perspective on our experience has changed!  And still we wonder why we had to come around "the hard way" (and perhaps roll our eyes at others who learn --gasp-- by watching others!)

If you are one of those who spun chaos into existence just to have the experience of it (and marvelled at the ease, or boredom, of the lives of others) this parable is for you. It's called "The Worst Horse," a parable from a book called Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Suzuki Roshi.  And no, it really has nothing at all to do with horses, or being bad.  Distracted and chaotic we may be, but we are neither of those.
                                                               
It goes like this: "The best horse will run slow and fast, right and left, at the driver's will, before it sees the shadow of the whip; the second best will run as well as the first one does, just before the whip reaches its skin; the third one will run when it feels pain on its body; the fourth will run after the pain penetrates to the marrow of its bones. You can imagine how difficult it is for the fourth one to learn how to run!"


You see, the best race horse in the stable learns easily from its owner, is rarely if ever punished, for it can do no wrong.  It gives its best efforts every time, and can even anticipate its owner's commands.  How lovely for the owner to own such a horse!

The next best horses in the stable are the ones who can learn easily, but anticipate the consequences of punishment and pain to motivate it to action. There is little appreciation for anything achieved so easily.

The so-called "worst horse" in the stable is the one who has experienced first-hand the consequences of pain and punishment over and over.  They learn best by trial and error, pain and consequence.  They integrate the results of ineffective decisions and responses to the marrow of their bones. Learning anything deeply, then, is most precious when seen in relation to all the efforts made while doing it wrong.

Celebrate, then, your hard work, your mistakes, your ineffective methods! Imagine how precious your efforts will one day be.  Read the meaning behind The Worst Horse here: http://www.theworsthorse.com/why-v1.html   The Worst Horse blog is a really fun read, too.  Enjoy!

Dealing with tragedy and loss through yoga and meditation

I have lately become aware of friends and acquaintances who have experienced the death of close friends, family, neighbors, and pets.  This knowledge has led me to an awareness of what is so close, but has yet to storm my own life.  This will not always be the case, as death, loss, and grief are all a part of life.  This blog is my prayer and acknowledgement to those around me who have been affected in this way. ~KF  

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is one of the most stressful events in life.  Research shows that about 40% of bereaved people will suffer from some form of anxiety disorder in the first year after the death of a loved one. How much stress a person experiences when facing the loss of a loved one is at the top of the list of the most serious stresses to endure. The effects of losing a pet should not be minimized. Pets are often considered another member of the family, and therefore their loss is grieved as well.

But how to get back to "normal" life after such a life change has occurred? 
How do we move on in a way that allows us to express our feelings without losing control of our life? 
The practice of yoga brings us to what we are experiencing in the moment we experience it. Yoga has a way of opening the body to what is happening in the present moment, and when practiced regularly can be a routine that brings a sense of normality and peace into an otherwise chaotic and traumatic situation.  

Many yoga instructors have the experience and willingness to help students feel safe and supported when emotions release on the mat (called somatization, or emotional release), even in the middle of a class.  An alternative to group classes are custom practice routines (viniyoga) created by an experienced yoga instructor who can help students sustain a private practice at home, a park, or other natural setting.   

I have been fortunate to come across several resources that could be helpful to those grieving the death or loss of a significant person or pet in their loves.  My heart goes out to all of you, as I know yours will be with me when my time comes. Namaste' 

Healing from tragedy:  http://www.doctorpuff.com/view-tv-show.php?id=29  
Pam Pence, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy (Tustin, CA): http://www.meetyourselfyogatherapy.com/
Article on grieving through yoga: http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/1966 

Breaking Down with Gym Yoga

We opened Full Circle Yoga in west Yorba Linda 3 months ago and we are so pleased to see the community coming forth to enjoy yoga, meditation, Pilates, and Gyrotonic training in our peaceful studio. We provide a mindfulness-based fitness practice in the yoga arts for each individual to explore at their own pace. We offer a variety of classes for beginners and more experienced practitioners by modifying poses to suit the needs of the individual. We think this is best done a smaller group to give proper attention to each student, their questions on the practice, and their progress. Full Circle Yoga provides the space for a new way of exploring health and fitness in this Yorba Linda community that lately seems drawn to the big gyms and big results, often with big consequences.
Yoga became trendy in the United States in the 1960's with the hippie movement. Even The Beatles have been credited with bringing yoga to the US through their acquaintance with Swami Vishnu-Devananda, the founder of Sivandana Yoga (http://people.howstuffworks.com/beatles-yoga.htm), but it didn't hit big in north Orange County until the late 1990's, and when it did, it showed up-- at the gym.

While the gym is a fine place to be introduced to yoga-like asanas for experienced athletic people, it shouldn't be confused with the more complete yoga practice as would be learned in a certified, insured yoga studio. Yoga is really not intended to be learned in a large group atmosphere like a gym where micro-injuries go unnoticed and little instruction is provided in proper breathing techniques or meditation. In most cases, gym "yoga" is merely a series of exercises equating to no more than calisthenics. It is this type of large group activity that breeds slow injury to the public, who are then cared for by a plethora of doctors and hospitals for the years that follow.

We aim to prevent this kind of suffering with mindfulness of body and it's limitations, while encouraging personal growth and depth of peace. Yoga can be adapted to every level of physical ability, including people with sight and hearing challenges ( http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1990/cmay90/yogadeaf.shtml).
Yoga has many health benefits, and yoga can be used to complement other sports or exercise activities, but yoga that is seen AS the exercise itself, with no specific guidance, misses the point entirely and can cause great injury.