Hello everyone! Here's the second of our collected Facebook posts! The Managing Roadblocks to Wellbeing Collection 2 of practical & relatable yoga mindsets is still growing, so visit often.
To that, this blog will be updated as we go along. For sharable MRW cards, visit the Affirmation Gallery.
So, here we go:
Winter has formally arrived in the southern hemisphere...brrr...
Who wants to just rug-up, slink under the sheets and take a nap? I know I do - literally and metaphorically.
I say this because winter has the effect, at least on myself and from observation, of reflection, internalisation, quiet and stillness. This can often feel contradictory to personalities that thrive in busy, high-energy lifestyle.
It can also be triggering for those who already have the propensity for what we would call "darker" moods.
How can we balance this?
Well, balance is the key, isn't it. Let yourself rest when you need rest. Winter is a great time to do this. Hibernate and recuperate the body, mind and emotions. It takes courage to be with one's thoughts.
BUT come out every now and them. Stretch out. Sweat a bit. Feel the bracing chill winter air on our face!
Happy winter, everybody!
Have you heard this quote or a variation of it - "There are more things that make us the same than make us different".
I find it so brilliant and comforting. In the harsh realities of life, we could all use the comforting thought that we are not alone. We had plebiscite a few years back on gay marriage. I voted YES...and it won.
The LGBTQIA community won. And in winning, we all did. Humanity won.
Harmony, acceptance, unity, friendship and LOVE WON.
It was heartening because it meant that a lot more people chose to help make the world a kinder place and bring us all together. This isn't homogenising. If you have differing views, go ahead. But we can't let our differences divide us any longer. We can argue and we can debate, and we can agree to disagree.
What we should stop is the disrespect and the hatred that come from it.
Here's my own take on the quote above -
Our differences make up a beautiful mosaic, if you choose to see it.
Here's a funny story...
I schedule my posts on a bi-monthly basis, more if I'm in the mood. I'm usually fired-up when I do my scheduling and can just type out the captions for every post.
But when I was finishing up the June schedules, I was drawing up blanks - I hit a roadblock, and with this particular post as well!
I was staring at it for the longest time, typing, then backspacing.
And then it hit me - my story is what I already said (in the card, which I had done a few weeks back) - and here it is...
When you hit a roadblock, identify what it is. This opens up all possibilities of tackling it!
To manage my particular roadblock and bring me back to calm, I just had to tell it like it is, accept it, and I had something to say. Another thing I reminded myself : What is it I always say? Practical & relatable yoga mindsets always work. Keep it simple, right?
What roadblocks are you experiencing right now?
Has the idea ever entered your mind that If only you had (such and such...enter your big thing here) you'd be happy? We've all had that moment when we associate happiness to big things like wealth, prestige, recognition.
We've also, at some point, believed in that so much that we've completely missed the little things - hugs, family time, eating ice cream on the couch while watching your favourite channel on Youtube (yes, that's my family)
I'm inviting you to stop for a bit and enjoy the simple things that are in abundance in your life and rediscover the happiness that they offer - accept that offering and reclaim your happiness!
It may be somewhat curious to talk about the use of time during, well, this time of lockdowns. We seem to have too much since our regular routines, which we've already allocated time to specific activities, have been disrupted.
But ironically, all these lockdowns can (and possibly have) also ignite a sense of immediacy; as if we're already running out of time because we (might) feel like we're wasting it all.
But regardless of the circumstances, the value of our time, what we use it on, is entirely up to us.
If switching off all our socials in favour of gardening adds more value to your life - say, fresh air, a bit of Vitamin D, and invigoration from physical work - at least for that moment, then it was well worth it.
Conversely, if spending most of your time on your online presence is what gives you that sense of wellbeing (personally, not for me, but to each our own) then that's your time-investment.
The point is this - your wellbeing is always present in what you do, or should be.
So spend your time in activities that enrich that - your wellbeing - even if that's playing computer games to switch off your brain from stress!
That's time well spent!
Growing up, I always felt like the odd one out. I had ideas which contradicted and challenged the status quo, specially the very Catholic norms of Filipino society.
Needless to say that conforming was never an attractive prospect.
Thing is, this burden of conformity is, unfortunately, universal. I had a very upsetting messenger discourse with another yoga teacher. She was judging my chosen niche and implementation because I dared to say the words "Yoga without the woo." I won't tell you the details, but the feelings of frustration, self-doubt and the all-poisoning Impostor Syndrome were the consequences of her judgement.
And they were familiar, unfortunately.
After a few weeks (yes, it took a while to claw myself out of the ditch) I'm up again.
I needed to give myself some time for my own wellbeing, mainly to remind myself that going against the currents of society's norms has always been in me and it's where I find myself.
Of course, I needed to re-set myself, like I said. Accepting this is also part of the self-rediscovery and healing process.
If you find yourself being judged for being you, go ahead and find your path, even if that's against the currents of everybody else. You won't be alone and you'll find yourself free and happy.
How often do you have a conversation - with yourself or with others - over what you value in life?
It may be confronting, confusing and can even be an existential crisis for some!
While it can be triggering, it is a good self-assessment. Our values drive our purpose and actions in life. They are the rudder that steers our lives and what affects the lives of those closest to us.
Our values don't affect only us, but other lives as well. So, make yourself a mug of coffee, get a pad and pen, do some self-reflection and manage the roadblocks to your wellbeing.
This is how we Rediscover ourselves.
The word "wellbeing" is one of those that can be so used and abused, isn't it?! It's so easy for those of us in the health, wellness and fitness industry to fall into the habit of using it so often that it's meaning and importance gets drowned in word salads. That's unfortunate.
I invite you to try and look past all the marketing and connect with how YOU define wellbeing.
What, to you, is health?
What makes you happy?
What makes you calm?
Do your definitions apply to your body, mind and emotions?
The answers to all that is what defines YOUR wellbeing.
How do you define "unconditional love"?
Do you hide behind it when some "tough love" is required?
Can you be strict & say "no" when needed?
Or do you use "unconditional love" as an excuse to avoid tension and confrontation?
Conversely, do you use it convince people to "see" your side of an argument?
Do you use it as an excuse to do or let people do whatever they want, in the name of "unconditional love"?
Do you use it to promote a woo-woo mindset over this concept? Because...unconditional love!
Mull over these questions for a bit...
Unconditional love applies outwardly (to other people) and inwardly (to ourselves).
We can't hide behind it and sacrifice our own calm and sanity just because we don't want to go against this axiom.
We can't abuse it either and take advantage of those who extend this love to us.
And, we can't be blind to genuine unconditional love either, regardless of how busy & stressed we are...specially when it's staring right at us.
But the bottom line of this internalisation is this - what are your values? Regardless of what I say, what do YOU value?
Because our VALUES are the basis for all our intentions and actions, including how we practice Unconditional Love.
(A post from the Covid years)
Ok, so...who feels like a clown on a unicycle juggling balls and spinning plates!
We all feel like that sometimes, don't we? And with home-schooling, working-from-home, being in lockdown, in quarantine and all that, this juggling has become our everyday life!
But enough with the doom and gloom, eh?! Enough with the complaining and the conspiracies!
Ask yourself these questions:
WHAT DO I VALUE?
Kindness? Compassion? Logic and reason? Conspiracies? Conflating issues to fit a narrative?
HOW CAN MY VALUES HELP ME IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS?
Do they help me be more understanding? More empathic? More clear-minded? More angry? More clouded? More whingy?
WHERE DO MY VALUES LIE?
Towards kindness and empathy? Towards understanding? Towards critical thinking and reasoning? Or all the opposites of these?
The answers - whatever they are - are your values.
Hopefully, you'll be leaning into the good.
If not, maybe that's where your stress really comes from.
Reflect. You have an opportunity here; take it.
Accepting support can be very challenging for some personalities. They feel it is a sign of weakness or a cop-out and a stain to their honour.
But really, it isn't.
We use straps in some of our Yoga VODs (videos on demand) as a modification or part of the flow. It's a useful tool to test and support our strength and flexibility as well as challenge us to remember to Hug & Lift© (internal deep core activation).
Circling back - this is a good analogy for our life off the mat. At times of stress or the need to reconnect with ourselves, we can reach out to our support system.
That can be external - other people (actual or online) or internal - our skills, our experiences, maybe even our need to stop and rest.
So when you're next on the mat, try out using a strap in conjunction with feeling the deep activation of your muscles.
External/internal...like breathing...enjoy!
Happy Halloween everybody!
Who likes ghost stories? I do...so much!
Thing is, I'm such an easy target for jump scares I love the whole genre in general. But my favourite stories are those were the antagonist ghost isn't a clear-cut "bad guy" ( Bly Manor, anyone?).
The story is richer and deeper because well-crafted stories that present the ghost as a deeper character is, in a way, more relatable. Then the story transforms from a scary ghost story that aims to trigger fear to a human story that invites us to think and weigh our values against the plots points of the story.
The best fate of a story is when it triggers discussion and understanding of ourselves and others.
Through out history, people who were misunderstood triggered fear. So much suffering came of it, mainly due to the refusal to understand.
When coming across something you don't understand, take a breath and try.
Don't deepen the fear.
I've been seeing posts that say "no props!", as if using props was somehow a burden or something negative?!?!
Why not use props in your yoga?
Maybe because not everyone has yoga props at home? Well who ever said we had to use only "yoga" props.
There are many alternatives we already have in our homes - small stools, stable chairs, the wall, non-stretchy scarves... heck, you can use tea towels as straps!
Don't be marketed to by this "no props needed!" line.
Go ahead and use your props.
The support they give during your practice carries this important lesson for life off the mat - it's ok to admit & accept support.
"You be You" - a great sentiment, isn't it? But is there a downside? Have a read of our blog on this here.
The breath is one of those aspects of the yoga practice that can easily fall into an air of, well, airy-fairyness; what with all the "...and breathe..." lines from yoga teachers, complete with the "yoga voice". But apart from this, Pranayama really is a wonderful practice. Let's have a read of the blog here.
Self-care. We've been hearing it so much lately, specially in the past two years. I think this is part-and-parcel of the increasingly defined mental health care our society is currently focussing on.
Have you thought about your self-care? How do you practice it? How do you let it manifest in your everyday life?
Do you even believe it's a thing?
Have a read of our longer blog here.
The card below is a follow-up to our Self-Care topic. It came about after I've been seeing uploads that, while spouting "self-care" would also have a tone of over-focusing on the SELF.
I don't want this important concept to be distorted. That would be a tragedy we can't afford.
So, don't forget the CARE in self-care.
The most beautiful thing about self-care is when you can share it with the people you love, and even to those you don't.
"Gratitude" is one of those word used often in the yoga community and in the greater societies of the world; particularly in social media.
However, have you ever stopped and questioned if the popularity of "giving gratitude" stems from a genuine sense of it, or just a social post? I know, this may be abrasive to you, but have a read of our blog; give me a chance to explain.
Either way, you have my genuine, heartfelt gratitude for being here.
I wrote a blog about life, gratitude, personal values, turning 50 and appreciating the small things in life!
Read it here.
We've all heard the old adage that aging is just a state of mind - and that's true.
If we consistently tell ourselves that we're still not enough, even in our middle age, or we've never been, or that life's passed us by...
...we'll start to believe it, and make it our reality, if we haven't already. This mindset is what will make us feel old - at any age.
That's why it is important to address our mindset, because "aging" is just a transition from one state of being to the next, not a judgement on us.
So, we have a choice to make, don't we?
Read more here.
Spring is universally accepted as a signal to renew ourselves. But how do we? In our new MRW card and blog, I offer you 4 very simple and practical ways to Use the Spring Equinox as a signal/symbol to Rediscover Yourself.
Read the blog here.
There was a time when buckling under the stress of all the different hats we wear was somehow a badge of honour, while at the same time lamenting over "loosing ourselves" under it all.
Thankfully, we've grown out of the mindset that stress=pride in oneself.
But now, we should recognise that we are not different people under all our "hats". It's all still us, just acting appropriately in different situations.
If there was ever a yogic lesson we should take with us off the mat, it's this -
a sense of wholeness starts with rediscovering ourselves.
Hello everyone! So, How was you Halloween? Without touching the commercialization debate, isn't it funny that all the dress-up and decorations, made from ordinary everyday things, are made to look scarier as the sum of their parts.
As an mindful, Active Meditation practice, this gives us a wonderful opportunity.
It teaches us to observe objects and situations that could trigger stress as a knee-jerk reaction, and see beyond the fog of emotion. When we do, we give ourselves the space to think and choose our reaction - even if that's to give in to the scare!
Now, keep this in mind as we go into the REALLY stressful season of all!
Hello everyone! We're in Summer here in Australia and the garden is in full flush of herbs, veggies and all sorts of meadow flowers. But before all this growth, there were raised-bed planning, struggling seedlings, and buds of flowers with all their promises of fruits and blooms.
All stages were, and are, beautiful.
My point? Enjoy all the stages of all aspects of your life.
This helps you live in the present.
When I first posted this, I got some metaphorical raised eyebrows from friends who are steadfastly religious.
But, I stand by my humanist perspective of this season.
My point and mindset shift offering is this:
Make this a season to celebrate life & love.
Have a read of the blog here.
I know it's just the start of the year, but why wait to start your self-care? Besides, it's the perfect time to establish a healthy & mindful self-care practice, which, would you believe, doesn't have to be a solo journey.
When we share the CARE (from self-care) and the TIME (from me-time) , then the experience can become more meaningful.
Try it.
Hello everyone! I'm sure you know the old axiom of "no pain, no gain". But you will never hear this in my classes.
This mindset drips in ego and self-judgement. Rather, what you'll hear from me is a recommendation to have an honest conversation with yourself, without judgement.
Ask yourself:
- Are you ready for this challenge? - Where is this challenge coming from? The ego or a genuine sense of testing yourself? - If you decide you are not ready, is it from fear or is there something else stopping you? - Or is where you are the place you want to be; which is, I reassure you, just as valid as testing your edge.
Have a read of our MRW Card and have a think.
Enough said.
The Autumnal Equinox signals the turning from the warm, bright months to the darker, colder days.
With this, we get the opportunity to shift our mindsets from heavy and dark (as influenced my the same sensations from the environment & weather) to a sense of introspection, rest & comfort. We can also take this time of year to allow ourselves to slow down, reset ourselves and
REDISCOVER OURSELVES in the quiet of autumn and winter.
Respect is a multi-directional path and mandatory in the journey.
Here's what I mean - our societies, communities, and private lives are more complex than ever. There are more shades of grey that we are only now acknowledging, or have been made aware of but still refuse to acknowledge.
Some people are also very vocal in the insistence that their way of living is the only way, and condemn everyone else.
Thing is, if we want our way to be respected, we should be willing to give the same courtesy; not just to one, but to as many as we can.
When I was still doing my YTT (yoga teacher training, for those who don't know), I struggled with practices and mindsets that, in my opinion, ironically encouraged the ego, which is anathema to yoga.
This was mostly because people took yoga too seriously.
For example, meat-eaters are condemned as "not true yogis".
Same goes for non-spiritual yogis, like myself.
{I invite you to think about that.}
As soon as I found my own voice in my teaching and courage for deeper introspection, I realised I didn't want to take yoga seriously.
But I do love and believe in this practice.
So, I told myself this - Practice yoga with sincerity, rather than seriousness.
It's kinder, non-judgmental and considerate. That's more yogic.
We've all heard that yoga is a journey, haven't we. While we may instinctively understand what this is, what does it actually mean?
During our Mad Yogi classes, it is typical that you'll hear me say:
"Let your practice transition through familiarity, to fluency, and then into a meditative state."
This guides you through the process of understanding and accepting what your body, mind and emotions can do, might be able to do and, possibly, shouldn't do - all with acceptance, non-judgement and self-love.
Like everything that lives and grows, our yoga practice also goes through its essential phases in order for it, and you, to flourish. This is how you REDISCOVER YOURSELF!
We're talking about how to practice Gratitude & Santosha/Contemtment with my onion as the subject!
Go over to the Reading Room for the full blog.