Category Archives: Lifestyle

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SUPER SNOW MOON 2020

 

 

A Vermont Full Moon                                                                                Stephen Hard

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth.”  The Buddha

With luck, and a break in the weather, on February 9th this year we should be witness to a rather spectacular, and aptly named, full moon – The Super Snow Moon. Just days before we are being pummeled with the wonderful white stuff after which this moon is named. Albert Einstein said: “I like to think that the moon is there even if I am not looking at it.” Believe me, if it is visible, we’ll all be looking at this one!

A full moon hints of magic and begs celebration.  A mixed bag of behaviors accompany full moon lore – sometimes outlandish sometimes silly sometimes dark and dangerous. But are there forces of the moon that cause these behaviors or is it coincidence illuminated by the light of the moon and the unusual attention irresistibly drawn to the night sky. Perhaps the strangeness of the woods or the increase in midnight activity that so many of us report of humans or animals both domestic and wild (lunacy? looney-tunes?) can be rationalized by the fact that we are up and about during moonlit hours. However, if you are reading this, I’m pretty certain you have your own stories to tell of actions or events teased by the moon.

Here in the mountains of the NorthEast, celebration seems to succumb to the magnetic pull of nature. Over a decade ago I was invited to join good friends for a full moon snowshoe. That hike, as well as the brilliantly lit drive back home on a normally dark country road, was so remarkable that to this day I continue to find some way to celebrate as many full moons as possible. Today I plan a hike with my dog and 2 family members to a summit that will give me a 360 view from the lake to the mountains. The moon rises early so I’ll probably hike up in the alpenglow of the sunset and bathe in the light of the moon at the top. At other times I have paddled off the coast of Maine, picnicked in the dark, led a full moon Yin Yoga class or walked along the river. Always I marvel at the speed with which the moon rises. Always I value the opportunity to experience the moon – alone with my pup or with friends or family – with those in my life.

“You cannot look up at the night sky on the Planet Earth and not wonder what it’s like to be up there amongst the stars. And I always look up at the moon and see it as the single most romantic place within the cosmos.” Tom Hanks.

Not surprisingly, contemplation of this natural wonder leads to profound thinking. Significant individually and collectively is the moon’s relentless pattern of cycles. Notable is the Moon’s cool balance of the Sun’s heat, the Yin to the Yang. Though it is easy to consider the full moon to represent culmination, it is equally appropriate to see it as the peak of the lunar cycle – a time for magic – and yet more, to accept the fullness as a beginning, especially with respect to the setting of intention. The moon represents the divine feminine. The hours surrounding its fullness are hours of perspective and introspection, calming and cleansing to the spirit.

This lunar marvel may say it all; it may challenge us to acknowledge possibilities, relinquish completion, recognize abundance and let go of that which we inappropriate cling to and yet no longer need.

Finally, pausing to give the full moon a moment of ourselves is also pausing in connection. After all, aren’t we all? Connected, that is. All living beings, the earth, the universe? May I share a sweet habit with you? I began this as a child with my mother and I continue it regularly with my brother and any of my family members who happen to remember this sappy thing that mom does. Sigh. I look at the full moon and shout out “Hey brother!” And sometime before dawn an email will arrive with a “Hey sis – did you hear me?” Of course.

Full Moon Hike, Bolton, Tara Dugan

May you indulge in the Super Snow Moon of 2020 and may you give a shout out to someone you love.

“I still say, ‘Shoot for the moon; you might get there.” Buzz Aldrin.

JANUARY THAW 2020

The concept of THAW is pretty simple: what is hard or frozen softens or liquifies in the presence of warmth. When THAW = MELT one can explore myriad possibilities and implications – physically, mentally and emotionally.

When the thermometer rises, the winds blow and the rain pounds down in Northern New England, plans change abruptly to include flood warnings, power outages and just plain disappointment. As I write this, it is January 11 and there is, of course, the notion that this is simply our “January thaw” for this year. On the other hand, with all the horrific weather events that we’re (almost) getting used to, and the fact that this is, what, our 6th thaw this winter (?), is this alarming? At best, though it gives us pause. In spite of the ever-present threat of the possibility of damage or danger caused by irresistible forces of nature, there is relief from biting cold and an almost playful tease in the air. (60 degrees? Really?!)

Yes, our snow sports, and by extension, our winter recreational industries, take a hit. Alpine trails are at the mercy of lifts shut down on wind-hold, deadly dangerous ice and nearly as dangerous slush. Kids and young athletes wring their un-gloved hands in distress when they hear that their early races have been cancelled. Nordic ski areas suffer the melting of meticulously groomed tracks, ponds transition to off-limit, VAST trails reduce to dirt, and even wooded walks require a strange mixture of waterproof boots and microspikes to slog through varied conditions.

Perhaps there’s a good side to all this. For one thing, we do so appreciate the vividly clear winter day when there is nothing more beautiful than sunshine on clean white snow. The flip side is always bleak, muddy and messy.  But isn’t life like this?

Today, while Sophie, my Chocolate Lab, and I took an unusually long time to travel an unusually short distance trudging our usual trails, I had plenty of time to laugh at her as she found opportunity to make a game out of just about everything. I also pondered the word THAW. Playing with shades of significance is an organic game. Toss a pebble (word) into a pond (mind) and watch the ripples (ideas) flow and expand.

To look on the dark side, thawing represents loss. To look on the bright side, thawing suggests softening, warming, even reshaping. Perhaps a thaw is a reminder of impermanence.

And then there’s the notion of melting. Yoga practitioners are familiar with Anahatasana, that wonderfully delicious heart-melting pose. After several minutes settling into this posture, the pose informs the body and the body informs the heart – it is good, it is safe, it is worthy to open, to be receptive, to love and be loved.

From the wisdom learned and shared by those who have come before us throughout generations, centuries, millennia, and previous to that, we embrace the balance of power and peace, strength and flexibility, masculine and feminine, Yang and Yin. We learn that softening the rough edges of aggression and force does not necessarily dilute strength. We hear the suggestion that melting the heart to practice tolerance and empathy does not, in turn, open us to vulnerability. We hope to melt debilitating tension to a form of useful energy. We recognize action as positive and, likewise, that passive does not mean weak, lazy or ineffective, but rather, thoughtful, generous and enduring.

A Yoga class is often ended with “OM” or a metta – a heart opening practice of loving kindness expressed to self and to others. In closing, I open my heart to you: “May you feel protected and safe. May you feel contented and pleased. May your body support you with strength. May your life unfold smoothly and with ease.” Happy January Thaw!

NOVEMBER NOTES FROM VERMONT 2019

 

A PERSONAL NOTE. On October 28, 2018 I moved into my new home, returning to the place I love the most – the Mad River Valley, Vermont. On October 30, 2019 I closed on my former house after an arduous and anxious year of being the “seller.” These 2 dates seem to be so clean and neat and uncomplicated, but they represent years of seeking, finding and adapting; years of identifying problems and defining solutions; years of change bolstered by the need to be bold yet sustained by faith, family and friends.

Now, before I go a sentence farther, rest assured – I am completely healthy, strong and always grateful for an inordinate supply of energy and positivity. No, there was nothing really wrong with my life, but it was simply time to change things up, to take the next step, and to live a life more in concert with my personal goals, ethics and inner voice. (and no I am not talking to myself – though I do talk to my dog a lot!)

All of this being said, perhaps the thoughts that are front and center to me from my waking minutes on throughout my day are thoughts of gratitude. As I return to these thoughts time and time again I find I am continuously renewed and supplied with the curiosity and creativity I need to do my work and live my life.

Irresistible advice shamelessly lifted from the FB page of Janet Richardson.

So, that’s me. What about you? Do you relate to any of this? Does each day’s sunrise herald a new day to explore or the start of yet more drudgery? If the latter, are there any changes you can make to find joy? Do you pause to notice the trees’ shadows on the snow as the moonlight shines through? (Yeah, I know, snow, right? But that’s exactly the pause I needed to observe last night and it’s only 11/9.) Yes, of course, life can be unerringly difficult, but even finding a few pockets helps….

STUDENT LIFE. I love being a student. I love research and prefer it always to creation. I could never, for example, write fiction, but I could do a decent job collecting and sharing researched material. I’m not clever enough to reinvent the wheel, but will happily use what is already in place, the excellence of someone smarter and wiser who has gone before me. It is natural, therefore, that my work is in the field of fitness, and in recent years Yoga, where student opportunities are infinite and experience plays a significant role.

And now, in November, I find myself associated with a beautiful studio near my home, Mountain Rose Integrated Wellness Center, (http://www.mountainrosevt.com) founded and led by Ana del Rosal, a deeply qualified and gifted professional who has created a sacred space in which to share the practice of Yoga and oh so much more. Furthermore, though I had roots in this Valley, I am excited to reconnect with friends, make so very many new friends through my teaching, and sharing my work with former clients in new surroundings.

When I first visited this area way back when my babies were babies, I distinctly remember driving to the grocery store and thinking – “wow, in this place, even a mundane task is gorgeous!” – and I promised myself that I would never take it for granted. This week, in one of my classes, I shared this quote and it reminded me of my previous vow. “Life is mostly about mundane experiences. When you start thinking that only your most thrilling experiences are significant, you have already lost the most precious thing in life, the ability to fully immerse yourself in every experience.” (tricycle.org)

Please, I implore you, find the student within. Now that we are all grown up (ha!), we have probably left behind our childhood aversion to school. Whatever our personal lives may look like, whatever physical, emotional, financial and professional limitations are imposed from without or self-imposed, we can always jump on that wagon of curiosity and take a little ride. (And don’t you just love that word – curiosity?!)

ARE YOU SAFE? My final November note comes from an unlikely source. Recently I had a flat tire. As a cyclist, “flatting” took on a dreaded significance as I truly hated changing a tire on the side of the road. Did I say I hated it? Indeed! But when it comes to my car, it’s AAA all the way. I made the call and the very first thing the answering voice said was “Are you safe?” I was. I was at home and my car was in the parking lot outside my door, thanks to a very slow leak. I was serviced immediately and everything turned out just great. But those 3 words set me off down many mental paths. Should this be a question we ask ourselves far more frequently during each day? Should these three words govern decisions or initiate warning bells in our heads?

You know what? I’ve sounded a bit too preachy in this post so I’m going to leave it at that and let you take it from here. If you have shared a Yoga class with me you know that I often refer to our Yoga mats as a place of safety, our own personal space where we can move and experience our practice in an entirely and uniquely individual way. (Note, even here we must always question those 3 words. That’s a topic for another day. It is also the blessing of an impeccable studio and staff.)

NOVEMBER, by Terry Cockburn (https://freeportyogaco.com). This week I taught a 90 minute Yin Yoga practice and borrowed the following words from my teacher, Terry Cockburn. The only hitch was that our outside world was being quickly covered by snow so the timing seemed a touch off. But you’ll get the pointJ Enjoy, be safe, be curious and be bold.

“November is a time of transition.  Here in New England, we witness the rapidly changing landscape as the trees shed their leaves, and the chill of wind moves through, drying the earth, the air and our bodies.  As we move toward shorter, darker days, the expansive, yang energy of summer is consumed by the contractive, introspective yin energy of the autumn.   Observing and honoring the downward, inward energy of this time of year and learning to live in harmony with the spirit of the season can contribute to our overall health and wellbeing.  Taking a cue from nature, as it slows down and rests for a bit, we too, may benefit from sleeping a little longer, eating warm, nourishing foods and paying closer attention to our inner world.”

a snapshot of inevitability – lfreeman

TRANSITIONS

Life is not a toggle switch. Exempting trauma, accident, lightening strikes and the like, life seems to plod or race from one stage to another, but always with some sort of modulation. Though arrival at the next event is the goal, perhaps it is in the interim, the preparation, the transition, that life is experienced authentically.

Transition, by definition, is a change from one thing to the next, either in action or state of being. Transition in writing connects and relates. Transition, according to one source, “is awfully reassuring in its tidy reliance on regular forms.”

Transition may conclude or recover from what came before and turn focus and energies towards what is to come. In music, in labor, on birthdays and anniversaries, there may be pause, pain or celebration, but one moment leads to the next by way of transition.

Seasonal changes speak volumes without words. As I write this post, it is the Autumn Equinox 2019. Equinox. Equal night. The sun shines on the equator and the length of day and night are approximately the same. Balance.

Today did we turn off summer and turn on autumn? I think not. This morning I took a few pictures of my gardens, loving the richness of color and the integration of signs of autumn, fallen leaves among the remaining blooms. Nature defines transition by the juxtaposition of the good with the bad, the colorful with the bland, the new with the old.

In Vermont we love to enumerate more than four seasons. We need to do so to recognize all the transitions that are normal because they are not normal. When images of autumn fade: foliage, pumpkins, corn mazes, harvest dinners, there’s space before the Winter Solstice. Stick season. When snow melts and rivers overflow, before fragile signs of spring appear, we endure mud season. (well, actually there are usual several mud seasons throughout the year but we don’t like to acknowledge them) June, when we’d rather be thinking of weddings and camping trips, Vermont can be cold, windy and rainy. The only thing certain, is that the next season will arrive and that there will be undesignated space before it does so.

Seasons teach us life lessons. Letting go of the past and moving on can be heartbreaking or exhilarating. While we honor the past for joys and sorrows, skills to progress and experience to rely upon for future challenges, we recognize that each step has led us to where we are now. We are grateful for the textured fabric of existence that weaves a piece of great beauty. We are reminded to protect and to give back.

“One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through. Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters – whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.” Paulo Coelho

In transition we must let go, hover suspended in physical, mental and emotional space. Rather than trapped amidst paradoxical demands, life in the midst of transition allows for renewal, regeneration and balance. Like a dry sponge soaking up water we are made ready to move forward with energy, enthusiasm, positivity, expectancy and grace. We don’t want to jump ahead so quickly that we miss the experience of step-by-step transition. In fact, we don’t want to miss a thing.

“Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.” Wumen Huikai, “The Best Season”

The Role of Optimism in Fitness, Life and Longevity

Optimism – define it as you like, but in general it’s about hope, confidence, positivity and the expectation of a good outcome. Are you an optimist? A glass half-full kind of person? Perspective.

Is the cloud cover disappointing or fabulously interesting? Camel’s Hump 9/2019

Pausing for a moment, let me suggest that we are not talking about a Pollyanna, nor are we talking about the person who claims he or she has never had a problem or the couple that has never had an argument. You’ve heard that, right? No, we are talking about the person who rides the highs and lows of daily life anticipating that the mixture of challenges and successes serve to enrich the overall quality of one’s life and that in the long run, a positive outcome is possible. Perhaps an optimist simply finds nuggets of good buried in the messy business of living in a flawed world and assumes that those nuggets will ultimately grow to satisfy all needs, wants and hopes. Or perhaps the optimist is one who truly believes he or she can be an effective part of the solutions so sorely needed. Vision.

Mist or Magic? Mt. Abe, July 2019

Looking at optimism from a health and fitness perspective, it’s easy to see how a positive attitude, a willingness to put the effort into caring for one’s body through exercise, nutrition and appropriate lifestyle choices, improves the odds of dealing optimistically with health or performance trials that are sure to appear along life’s journey.

Of course, reason also factors in. It would be unfair to embolden an average runner, for example, by saying “of course you can qualify for Boston,” when the poor athlete has only run a community 5k; or to dangerously send someone off ill-equipped or unprepared on any adventure with the tired assurance of “oh, you’ll be fine.” But, and this is a big BUT, if you define a goal – even one that seems a bit of a reach – and pursue that goal intelligently, mindfully and with a huge chunk of energy and determination, expecting good results, then to be sure you are guaranteed an encouraging journey with results that far surpass not having tried or slogging through.

Much of this is common sense. Now, let’s look at the longevity issue. Just days ago a study was published that puts teeth into the claim that optimism actually does something great, in fact, it contributes to longevity. Moreover, as optimism contributes to extended years, clearly, quality of life is affected and those added years are good ones. Significantly, this study is no slouch. We’re talking research based on 69,744 women over 10 years and 1,429 men over 30 years. Be sure to go to: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190826150700.htm

Perhaps the Dalai Lama XIV put it all in perspective when he said: “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.”  Now it’s your turn. What do you think?

SUNSHINE AND FITNESS

 

How sunshine affects one’s fitness level is obvious, but significant in definition. It is patently apparent that a good, sunny day puts a spring in our step and lures us outdoors to participate in a variety of healthy activities that might have seemed drudgery on a different day.

The physical advantages to exposure to sunlight include sizable doses of Vitamin D, which is credited to help strengthen bones and inhibit some forms of cancer. Thanks to Wikipedia, I also learned that UV exposure boosts endorphin levels, while simply viewing the sun through the eyes adds to “robust circadian rhythms and reduced risk of seasonal affective disorder.”

OK, so far nothing sounds like new news.

The dangers of sunlight are also familiar. Skin takes a beating with the risk of cancer and premature aging. Though some question the use of sunscreen, most strongly advise being adequately protected all seasons of the year. Furthermore, wearing sunglasses is encouraged – not so much as to appear suave, but to protect eyes that are vulnerable to damage resulting in cataracts and macular degeneration.

Once again, as with so much of what we live with in our personal lives and in the world around us, too much is too much and too little is too little. (When it comes to sunlight, “Conversely, sun avoidance is associated with increased mortality.” Wow.)

Finally, sharing again from Wikipedia, “…a number of public health organizations state that there needs to be a balance between the risks of having too much sunlight or too little.” Not exactly profound, but there again is that word BALANCE.

Leaving these thoughts behind, but ever cognizant of balance, let’s look at the lift a sunny day gives to motivation and energy. Living here in Vermont where a spectacularly clear day is treasured, as much as possible, those who live and work here do their best to adhere to the notion that, should one of those days dawn, rearrange the schedule and GET OUTSIDE! For many, this is why we live here. The scenery is gorgeous and there seems to be a shared expectancy that everyone here wants to actively appreciate it.

(On the other hand, there is a great deal of moaning and groaning when wet soggy days link together or, for some, when sub zero days do the same. In fact, something I personally don’t understand but do honor, quite a few complain of the heat when we hit 70 or above!)

In Yoga, practicing a few Sun Salutations first thing in the morning prepares body, mind and spirit to face the day with clarity and a degree of readiness. Whether the Sun is symbolic or actual, it propels us to move forward energetically which in turn maximizes whatever movement we are practicing and multiplies the gains.

For example, headed out the door for a fitness walk or training run, chances are that when the day is bleak, so too is the outing – a slog that is happily over at the end. On the other hand, if the sun is beckoning, steps are invigorated, faster, more powerful with resulting enhanced fitness and training rewards. Many bodily systems are taxed and, having risen to the challenge, are enhanced. Muscles strengthen, joints protect their range of movement, heart and lungs efficiently handle aerobic and anaerobic tests and even coordination, quickness and agility benefit. Emotionally the activity turns to pleasure, fun (maybe even play) and mentally, thinking becomes more creative and logical. Can we do this without the sun? Sure. We can. But environment is enormously influential as many architects and planners have learned.

Technically it is still spring. In some parts of the country it has apparently come and gone; in others it is still fragile. But the notion of new growth budding and blossoming and all that it represents is a notion to hold dear. Each new morning is the springtime of a day. Each new idea, each new adventure, each new connection is the onset of creativity and ultimate fruition.

Perhaps it is helpful to view life itself as organic and those who seek the sunshine will grow accordingly. While awareness, education, protection and balance are integral to our best experience, so too are enthusiasm and joy.

And then there’s this:

“I have noticed that people are dealing too much with the negative, with what is wrong. … Why not try the other way, to look … and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?”

― Thich Nhat Hanh

Motivation – possibly the most important tool in your toolbox!

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” —Eleanor Roosevelt  Motivation is possibly the most important tool in your toolbox. Motivation  drives many minutes of each day. It is motivation that underpins major chunks of enthusiasm, fuels the determination to persevere, and keeps one moving on a forward path professionally, personally and simply in being alive.

What IS motivation? It is many things to many people. Motivation can be defined as that which inspires one to thought or action. It can be a basic need for survival or switch that turns one on to maximum effort, performance or creativity. For some, it is extrinsic, set in action by outside influences. For others it is intrinsic, a life force from deep within. For yet others it is the seed from which inspiration is born, the putting one foot in front of another to keep going, or the explosion of energy, power and one’s being to make a quantum leap. Bottom line? I challenge you to pause for a moment right here and define motivation in your own words for your own use.

Type the word into your search engine and you may come up with something like this: Motivation is “the general desire or willingness of someone to do something.” Pretty basic, huh? Enthusiasm is a word that keeps popping up, also goal and sense of purpose. To broadly consider the word, yes, sure, without purpose why would anyone do anything?

As some of you know, I work a great deal with the word “functional.” Don’t you think that “purposeful” comes in a close second? So, if one is motivated by what might work functionally for one’s unique self, wouldn’t it follow that proceeding with a sense of purpose would carry out what is needed to sustain the motive and/or goal? “One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals.” —Michael Korda

Recently I have been involved with a corporate group doing its best to prepare for a local 5K race. Many in the group have limited experience in doing so and, not surprisingly, the demands of consistent training have taken a hit in the form of disintegrating motivation. Try as one might to help influence another, it is only by embracing the tasks at hand can one succeed.

This is one of my all time favorite photos, taken in 2010 by my friend Jeb Wallace-Bordeur.

This is the time of year to find a variety of motivational signals bounce off each other. A nice sunny day makes us want to abandon responsibility and rush outdoors. Likewise, a cold and dreary day tempts one to table some of the day’s goal-oriented activities – especially ones that require intensity, creativity or physical and mental effort and endurance.

On a personal note, I found myself slipping from some of the structured practices that I know benefit my day. Early morning journaling and meditation was being lost in a few minutes of extra sleep, at home Yoga practice was giving way to lethargy, outings in the woods with my pup were abandoned. Of course, there is solid reasoning behind this – I need that sleep or the woods are just too wet and messy right now. (Besides, the bears are waking up and they’re hungry!)

The results of these failings began to add up and I noticed a general malaise, a sluggishness that is simply not my general demeanor. So, I went back to my own advice: put one foot in front of the other and just do it. Is it working perfectly? Of course not. But at least I am moving. I have resumed my practice of planning each day to include the necessary time to achieve my goals. Even if my mediation and Yoga practices are short, they need to exist to retrain the HABIT, which will ultimately perpetuate  

Because one of my goals is to be ready to hike when Vermont trails open again the end of May, I need to build strength and endurance now. Much to the delight of my dog, we are leash walking dirt roads a minimum of 3 miles a day, adding ½ mile to our one weekly long walk which should give us at least 10 miles by the time the hikes begin, adding at least one straight up climb each week (useful to live near a ski area that is closed for the season), and, for fun and mental flexibility, daily making sure to have plenty of off-leash ball play and some agility drills for both of us.itself.

Do I love doing this? H— no! Some days I think I spend as much time getting the mud off of both of us as we do in the activity. Some days I come home drenched to the skin. Other days, however, I am so happy and feel so energized that the motivation that got me out there has blossomed into enthusiasm, inspiration and pure joy! And, in June, when I want to hit the heights, will I be glad that I’d prepared a strong foundation? H— yes!

Utilizing motivation as a tool or as fuel is a skill. It is also deeply personal. No one can do it for you. A coach or trainer can stand on the sidelines and cheer, shout, badger, encourage, curse, scream, plead or whatever; but, only you, the individual, can do this.

And without that spark of vitality, excitement or energy, what would life be like other than flat, dull, and perhaps boring. (Heaven forbid!) And then there are dreams. Do you have one or more? I certainly hope so. “The future [does indeed belong] to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

 Note, I have no idea where the motivation to write this post came from. I had just returned from a Yoga class, it was snowing pretty hard, I sat down to check my email …. ? lf

One Woman’s Path to Meditation

One Woman’s Path
photo lfreeman 2-22-19

“Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing their mind on a particular object, thought or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.” Wikipedia further suggests that in today’s world, the practice of meditation is being examined as a tool to be used in the rising struggles with mental and physical illness and debilitation.

Happily our medical and philosophical society seems to buy in to the proverbial mind-body connection, and has been doing so for quite a few years. In fact, meditation, once considered a land populated by peculiar and extreme individuals to whom self-harm was a norm, has become a part of everyday speech. Programs abound to guide a huge variety of people to the practice of meditation – from school children to cancer patients to athletes to the elderly, and so on.

But just what is meditation? Is it as vast and unattainable as it appears? I am one of those who prefers an academic approach to any subject. In a lecture, I am the one scribbling madly trying to capture every word being said (and often missing the meaning in the process; yes, I know). I am the one who wants clear definitions. I want to know what skill sets are required and how to obtain them. I want to identify progress and see an end result.

I am but one woman on the path to meditate (or rather meditating along the path) that has but one beginning and one ending – birth and death. I’d like to share a few thoughts. To me, what meditation is NOT, is sitting painfully while disallowing my mind to wander, constantly reeling in my thoughts to a static center. Also, to me, while sitting is centering and possibly calming, it is also energizing. Keep in mind that I am a novice, barely beginning this fascinating and transformative practice, and about as far from an authority on the subject as one can be. But I hope that my musings might stimulate musings of your own, openness and acceptance of what you may already be doing, or even that little nudge to search your own experience for signs of meditation and perhaps bring a practice to your daily life.

  1. I have recently returned from another block of training with my teachers Josh Summers and Terry Cockburn, this one themed as “Mindfulness,” a required module in the Summers School of Yin Yoga teacher training. I emerge from this experience realizing that there are not enough years remaining to me to possibly understand the avenues, teachings and precepts that underpin such broad concepts as mindfulness, meditation, spirituality and right living. But oh what a gift to travel the path in the company of valued guides and understanding companions!
  2. There seem to be unlimited ways to meditate. Let me be clear, I stand (or sit) in awe of the dedicated seekers who spend weeks, months and years, even a lifetime, with their personal guides on the path to meditation, often in unimaginable situations of hardship. For thousands of years representatives of mankind have sought more, have sought meaning, have reached deeply into soul often neglecting body in the process. To me it is irrelevant if the path is marked by The Buddha, Patanjali, Moses, Jesus or any other magnificent leader.
  3. In fact, in my own experience, I am coming to believe that meditation takes on many shapes from a mere pause, to prayer, to sitting on my meditation cushion for a predesigned period of time. For example, as a child I was raised in a lovely and loving Christian religion that encouraged spending a few minutes at the beginning of each day reading a lesson from the Bible and having a conversation with God. Over the years this practice has continued and morphed into various ways to begin each day in some form of stillness, listening, balancing or centering as I prepare for the hours ahead. Is this meditation? Looking back I see examples: as a professional performer, I would stand in the wings before my entrance and pause to collect myself and dispel the fears; before entering the ring I would stand at the in-gate and find moments of calm that united my horse with me; minutes before a client walks in the door to my studio, I pause to be open and sensitive to his or her needs of the day. Are these examples of meditation?
  4. In our training, we learned of both Yang and Yin  styles of meditation, recognizing that there is no right or wrong but that each and both can be practiced. Perhaps I might prefer the structure and direction, the generative aspect of Yang meditation. But the notion of an anchor to stabilize my practice does not appeal. An anchor is cold and heavy, attached to a massive chain, and lands in the mud at the bottom of the waterway. I prefer the buoyancy, grace and freedom of the Yin approach, the Perch to which I might return lightly for stability and the permission to fly away again should I chose to do so. I want something to go back to, but I also want to explore my mental edge and to be comfortable in doing so.

I close with a little story. My morning meditation today prompted me to share these thoughts with you and encourage you to sift through your own experiences. Use them as foundation for what lies ahead, gift yourself with a meditation practice that both comforts and supports as it teachers and expands your horizons. Functional. There’s that wonderful word again. Meditation, mindfulness, introspection, prayer, whatever, need be Functional!

My 20 minute morning practice: I took my seat in front of my wall of windows looking out at the snow covered landscape that lights up with morning color as the sun rises. My dog and I had already been for a walk and I had already had my first cup of strong coffee, so was ready to get down to it. But today, though physical stillness was, as usual, my go-to, my mind was active. So, I decided to “notice.” I noticed the warmth of my sleeping 65 pound dog as she tried to become one with my body. I noticed the increasing brightness beyond my closed eyelids. I began to think that just a week ago I was sitting in a studio doing just this in the company of a dear community.

Then I was drawn back to the present as I noticed that a squeaky toy was being pushed invitingly into my lap. And when that got no response, the toy was crunched repeatedly making quite a racket. Then came the sloppy kisses. Then stillness. OK, I peeked. My Chocolate Lab was upside down with nose and legs in the air hoping desperately for a belly rub. No deal.

I returned again and again to pondering what is meditation? I love stillness – physical stillness helps me find mental and emotional stillness, even if only for a brief time.

Then, without knowing how I got there, I actually was still. I had decided to post these reflections and had then let it go. Also, one of my most useful tools is to return my attention to my hands. Usually they are resting on my thighs. This morning, for perhaps the second half of my meditation period, one hand rested on my dog. When I noticed that this had happened, I settled, honoring the connection with my furry friend and companion, the one who pours loyalty and unconditional love into every minute of my day.

When our metta transitions from self, to those in our lives and finally to all living beings, surely my pup (and yours) are included. When my iPhone timer chimed and I opened my eyes, I saw that my dog was relaxed, pressed up against me, not sleeping, but awake and still. Ahhhh shared stillness.

 

See also earlier reflections on Meditation, Stillness, and a Silent Meditation Retreat, written after a week in the Berkshires with Josh Summers and Terry Cockburn as a student of the Josh Summers School of Yin Yoga. http://lindafreemanfitness.com/2018/09/

ENERGY, STRENGTH & COURAGE

An athlete, (and here I include anyone who strives for fitness and well-being), is familiar with words like energy, strength and courage – as well as concepts of power, force, endurance, patience, effort and performance.

Flexibility is another one. We make our plans, structure training and when something topples that structure, are required to become flexible in more ways than physical. For me, today was one of those days. Beautiful though it is, a heavy wet snowfall cancelled my work-day but gave me time to pursue studies.

As a student of the Summers School of Yin Yoga (https://joshsummers.net/school/), and, preparing for an upcoming week of training in “Mindfulness,” I am about halfway through reading Joseph Goldstein’s “Mindfulness, A Practical Guide to Awakening.” Often my study requires mental discipline. Sometimes I set a timer for one hour and force myself to persevere. Physically it is an effort to remain seated for that period of time and to exercise patience with myself. But the study stealthily creeps into my thinking and I find myself revisiting bits and pieces and, my favorite exercise, flip to the Index to pursue more pages about a word that has teased my interest. Ultimately I suppose I could say that my performance is enhanced and I am empowered to take the next step. Hmmmm.

This morning, after my timer had jingled, I hop-skipped-&-jumped through the citations pertaining to energy. So, let me ask you, have you ever deliberately connected these three words: ENERGY, STRENGTH & COURAGE? I guess on some level we have all assumed that they relate. However, let me share with you a few sentences of observation written by Goldstein who

suggests that “Energy (viriya, in Pali) is the root of all accomplishment….and is the capacity for activity, the power to do something. This energetic capacity, the power to do, manifests in a variety of ways.”

Strength, therefore, is the power to do, a “channeling of energy for the development of wholesome states of mind….” Courage, at first an unlikely companion to energy and strength, “powerfully energizes our heart as we walk on the path.” And here might be the crux of the matter: “Courage is energized by challenge; it is inspired by difficult tasks and even seeks them out. When courage is present, we rise to meet different challenges for the sake of what we want to accomplish, and we’re not discouraged by thoughts of hardship or by the length of the undertaking.”

We are all familiar with exhortations to play with our edge, move outside our comfort zone, achieve balance in all things, yadayadayada. But here is something we can sink our teeth into. Use energy purposefully – perhaps not as if driven, but as if seeking. Support our energetic endeavors with moral, mental and physical strength and perseverance. Utilize courage to embark, continue and perhaps complete. Rather than imposing limitations upon ourselves based on an inadequate assessment of what we are capable of, after choosing a course of action, do so with “qualities of interest, willingness, and the courage to explore. It is not a question of ‘should’ or right and wrong.”

Thankfully we are all students. There is so much to learn, ponder, process, practice and either embrace or discard as something that is not inherently bad, but as something that is no longer useful to us.

This snow will melt. There will be more. Flexibility will always be needed. May we all have the energy, strength and courage to move with life’s changes and challenges in a way that is most beneficial to ourselves and others. May we all always be practicing students.

REVISITING JANUARY 1st

Spring – somewhere

Are you on track to reach your personal and professional goals?

One-third the way through 2018 is a good time to check in with goals inspired by January 1st. An honest assessment of where you are right now can be boosted by a look back into your personal history. In a society in which one is encouraged to look ahead, move forward, set the bar higher, plan for tomorrow, it is also helpful to underpin expectations with snapshots of past performance and recognize possibilities.

In the short term, looking back to January 1st is one step. This year I posted each client’s goal on my waiting room bulletin board. Some goals are specific and some are general but already many have been met: my skier has exceeded his goal of 90 days of skiing, my yoga wannabe has included more yoga classes, others are noting measurable changes in fitness, and others have begun to anticipate summer activities. Some have just plain forgotten….

Then there is another aspect of goals – often they assume new shape and new purpose. That’s ok too. Simply making a goal helps to focus on what is both desirable and important at a particular time of one’s life. Doing nothing is simply not a good idea.

There is much to be said about the present, acknowledging the moment, neither mired in the past nor wishing for the future. However, there is value to considering history. On a micro level, remember the 5k you ran at Thanksgiving or the mountain trail or century ride you completed last July. Looking back a little farther remember the journey through a rehab, recovery from childbirth, or time away from your regularly scheduled fitness practice. In each event, despite struggles or disappointments, you made it. And you carry with you the nugget of knowing that you did!

Lessons learned from the past are certainly helpful building blocks for the present and future; but perhaps even more significantly, the emotional and intellectual gems are what need to be treasured and revisited.

Nothing marks time like the growth of a child or pet. But there are signs of growth all around each day. Perhaps it is simply a sign of approaching spring.

Perhaps it is the physical ability to dig a little deeper or stretch a little farther or lift a little more. Perhaps it is the spark of purpose that ignites new goals or broader horizons for the days, weeks and months ahead. The key is to acknowledge growth and to gain courage from it.

Of course it is imperative to be thankful for what you have right now, but it is also imperative to know that what you currently manifest is organic. While energy seems to ebb and flow like the tides, it is alive and as much a part of our being as our bones and muscles.

Yesterday in a yoga class we practiced quite a few twists. Our teacher reminded us that in Ayurveda, spring is the season of Kapha – of earth and water. (Mud season?!) So we practiced twists to stir up the sluggishness that Kapha signals. What a great metaphor for daily life when twists and turns force departure from planned paths and schedules. How many times have you noted that “things worked out for the best” or that some better way resulted?

Was it Einstein or Mark Twain or someone else who said: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”? This is an often overworked quote but oh so true. Once again history plays a part.

Bottom line here? Use past experience to support present actions, and guide and sustain the future? I don’t know what will work for you, but today is a good day to pause to revisit your goals then move forward with gratitude for what is past and hopeful enthusiasm for what is yet to come, while savoring what is.

Pausing, savoring, and looking forward.