Monday, March 7, 2011

foot in mouth, almost, but not quite

my "un-yogic" blog post caused quite a stir. i got a lot of comments on both the post itself and on my facebook page.

while i was writing this from a point of view of me being un-yogic some others feelings got hurt in the process.

this was not my intention - ever!!

when i started this blog (3 years ago the 16th of this month!!) i laid some very basic ground rules:

would i want people to read this if is published on the front of the new york times??
** yes - proceed ** no - definitely do not publish ** maybe? - still, do not publish**

and i still stand by this today.

when i re-read what i wrote for the umpteenth time i thought that maybe something that i had written might be taken wrong. but as always in the publishing world, it was too late...

so, i say this out of complete sincerity - i never meant to hurt anyone's feelings and since that i know i did, please know that i am very, very sorry!!


it's not about one specific person, incident, situation, etc. it's about the shifting of energy as a whole. i am reminded of the quote i put up a couple of monday's ago for the moment of zen.

"in the entire world, there is not one human being who is free from pain. even in favorable conditions, a person encounters struggle. the external form of struggle appears to be cruel. some describe it as a horrible demon, but its nature is not malicious. in fact, it is proper to welcome struggle, for its arrival is always auspicious. struggle keeps us from growing sluggish. it changes an animal into an ideal person. it transforms an ordinary human into a spiritually-awake person respected by the world... it is alright if we cannot receive struggle with love, but struggle should never be discarded. to discard struggle is to discard god's grace."
~ swami kripalu

although it may be hard to welcome struggle when you are in the midst of it, try to remind yourself that it is there for a reason. you will take away a lesson from it. for each time there is struggle there is also a shift of energy that helps us grow. and yes, i have to remind myself of this exact thing when i'm in the midst of struggle. :)


one of my favorite mantra's is lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu

which translates to "may all beings everywhere be happy and free. may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all."

with an emphasis on the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life being key.


so what about you guys, any mantra or quote that you go to when in the midst of struggle?

image credit

8 comments:

keishua said...

Hi, I think your unyogic post was very truthful to me. I just wanted to say that. I didn't feel it was malicious in intent, just funny.However, people have different interpretations, so I can see how simple misunderstandings can happen.

In the mist of struggle, I like old mantra-Let Go and Let God. Or Om Namah Shivaya. Both work like a charm.
I love reading your blog.
Peace.

Eco Yogini said...

i liked your "unyogic" post- and it didn't offend me.

that said- I did have a twinge at the term "unyogic". I don't like it.

But I understood that it wasn't your intention. :)

Much Light!
(I don't use mantras... not really my thing- but I do try to breathe)
Lisa

Sarah said...

I loved your unyogic post. To me, it represented that even when we try to go by our best intentions, sometimes we make mistakes. We are not perfect. No one is perfect, and to expect proper yogic behavior at all moments of the day is simply creating a false universal.

Be who you are, and that is all that is important!

Jessica said...

I guess I am biased, because I really enjoyed your post.
But I just wanted to say how I like the "realness" of it. Sometimes the pressure to be yogalike all of the time can be a bit much. That is what is SO refreshing about your classes, and your approach and attitude in general. I always feel respected and appreciated, no matter how much or how little I can do.

Just to let you know there are people out there who are oh so thankful for you and your guidance :)

XOXO,
Sending good vibes your way

Annie Stenger said...

Sweets, your blogs are beautiful and inspiring. They are also informative and helpful. I cant see where it would have ever been hurtful. I agree with keishua that people do have different interpretations. I know how ya feel though, when I post or write anything, I question it a million times. Just keep doin wut u do dahlin ;) X0's

Hollee Temple said...

I don't think there is a "yogic" workplace in the real world -- even at a really nice place, there are people, and people aren't perfect. I love your yoga studio and all of the good that you do there.

For me, it's about the quest for positive energy. You bring that out in all of us.

Globetrotting Cacti said...

I was not offended by your post but grateful for the realness of it. We are all humans, all navigating through our lives and we all have our moments (!)...

Love reading your blog and I hope you keep sharing both the zen and not so zen aspects of life.

Elizabeth Halliday-Reynolds said...

I love the fact that anything to do with yoga can bring about such passion!
Yogic, un-yogic... Who gets to decide what is yogic behavior? and when you get called un-yogic how do you react?

Like any incident that is taken out of context, mis-read, mis-understood the mind travels it's habitual path... Oh it's back to the meditation cushion again!

This reminds me of my favorite Rumi quote. "Somewhere On the other side of right thinking and wrong thinking there is a field. I'll meet you there.”—Rumi
If only we could always see the field.

PS.. I especially like the picture of that puppy! yogic or un-yogic or just plain cute? - Elizabeth