PASSION

True happiness comes when you are doing that which you are most passionate about. 

A few weeks ago I took a course with Deborah Williamson, the founder of Wild Abundant Life (and an amazingly passionate person) that forced me to look at what my passion is. I am fast approaching the BIG 4-0 and simultaneously I am starting to shift into a new pathway in my life. So moving forward in the next 40 years or so from the approach of “knowing what my passion is” will certainly ensure a happy and successful journey. In the past, I have pursued my passion, however it is a bit outdated and has lost its vibrancy. And that’s ok! I am certainly not the same person I was 20 years ago, so the same passion I had back then just doesn’t fit.

So how do I know what my passion is today, right at this moment? There are so many things I love about life but it has been a bit of a challenge for me to pinpoint my exact passion. I seem to have so many! 

Here are 3 questions I have been contemplating to attempt to answer the BIG question: What is my passion?

1. What people, places or things bring your core passion to the surface?

2. What activities, interests and experiences arouse your core passion?

3. What noble pursuits do you (or can you) have that allow you to experience your core passion more often? 

I am not a religious person but I started thinking about iconically passionate people and immediately Jesus came to mind. Think about it. Jesus was the ultimate passionate person. He loved going around preaching the word of God and shared that message no matter what people said about him. He was so passionate that despite being threatened with death, he continued in his life's work because he felt in his heart it was the right thing to do.  

While I toy around with this notion of what my own passion is, I have been in inquiry as to what passion looks like in modern times.  All I had to do was look around me to take notice of all of passionate people around me doing some really amazing life work! All of them are living their passion:

Devine Interventions is a genre-blending trio out of NYC that fused Hip Hop/Reggae and Soul with infectious harmonies and a laid back, witty and progressive style. They are well known for their live street/subway performances and acoustic sets in clubs and cafes around the city. They troll the NYC Subway system daily to spread their passion of music and peace to anyone who will listen. Despite their struggles to be heard, they keep moving forward with love in their hearts knowing that people who are listening receive joy from their efforts. Through Facebook, my friend turned me onto them and then one day ironically, I stumbled upon them on the "A" train, where we had an amazing conversation about their noble pursuits! My favorite song they perform is "A Brighter Day". 

Support Devine Interventions by checking out their website, go see a show, friend them, or if you happen to see them on the subway one day, just listen to their magic and drop a donation in their cup! 

Farmer John Krueger is the owner/operator of Starbrite Farms in Andover, New Jersey who provides fresh, organic produce to city folks in New Jersey and New York via numerous Community Supported Agricultures (CSAs). John is passionate to own his own farm as he has been cultivating the land he rents to service over 20 CSAs. Over the past few years John has attempted to save the down payment to purchase the land he currently rents. The landlord is forging forward willing to sell the land to anyone who will buy it before John is ready to make the purchase. John's passion is to keep farming, purchase this land and move forward on his journey to bring amazing produce to the people. Despite his struggles, John has transformed fear into excitement, collaborating with CSA members with various skill sets to generate revenue to purchase his farm. Some ideas include graphic designs for tee shirts and a fundraising gourmet dinner, with a famous chef on the farm. But it will take motivated people like you to make this all possible! What came to mind for me is a yoga day on the farm: a yoga practice and then a community dinner to follow. Hmmmm...

If you wish to collaborate with Farmer John to create a community event or raise revenue to purchase the farm, reach out to him at: kruegerjohn@earthlink.net

What I have realized about the above named passionate people is that they all exhibit the same qualities:

1.       They LOVE what they do.

2.       They keep MOVING FORWARD, despite the hardships.

3.       They SHARE their gift with others.

4.       They spend every moment of their free time DOING it.

5.       They feel JOY when they are in creation.

If you are at a plateau, perhaps realizing that a big shift is needed to revitalize your being, start considering evaluating your passion at this moment! Get into inquiry about your passion and see if it's time for an update!

Life is short, so get messy! 

A View From the Floor

Friday, June 21, 2013, the first day of summer and it was a great day to play hookie from work!

So I left my suburban neighborhood in Bay Terrace, took a short ride on the Staten Island Ferry, caught the 1 train to Times Square and rolled out my yoga mat in the middle of the street.

Yes...in the middle of the street.

Not only did I have the opportunity to lay my yoga mat down in the middle of Times Square without getting a citation from the NYPD or being brought away in handcuffs (or a straight-jacket for that matter), but I had the opportunity to join with thousands of yogis and thousands more onlookers, to celebrate the first day of summer at the 11th Annual Summer Solstice in Times Square, New York. I stood in my greatness in "yoga" (or "union") at a crossroad of the modern world, inspiring others to be bigger than they are now, amidst the chaos of New York City and the world. All proceeds for the event went to Bent on Learning, a non-for-profit yoga effort that teaches yoga to New York City Public Schools.

This year 15,000 yogis registered for the event and I joined forces with them in one of the five sessions to mark the special day when the sun is at its highest point in the sky for the longest period of time. Similar traditions, some centuries old, such as gatherings in Stone Hedge, have celebrated this transformational moment in the universe. Today I participated in a modern celebration, 11 years young, with a growing community who use mindfulness, breath and intention to counter the turbulence of the big city.

Before getting into the vinyasa, I almost got caught up in the fixation of looking good and posing in my incredible yoga postures for the camera (later to post of Facebook), but I soon realized where I was and why I made the journey.

When opportunities come to you, you have two choices:  

You can take it

or 

You can ignore it

I chose to take it! 

Taking it meant breathing in every moment with my entire being.  I soon realized that rather than getting caught up in "autopilot", taking pictures or chatting away, I needed to reflect on what I was a part of.  I laid down on my back looking up at the world I walk through on a daily basis to view it from another perspective: A View From the Floor.
  

From the floor I could see and feel the vibrations of the sun go through me. Looking up meant a whole other world that we are closed to. From the floor I realized the importance of this opportunity that only a few of us had, an opportunity to change our perspective and stand in our greatness.

As the practice commenced, not only did I feel the energy of the sun but I felt the energy of the thousands of yogis practicing. Through our collective silence, I heard every noise in Times Square. Soon, onlookers were mesmerized at our commitment. I peeked up to catch a glimpse of those around me and I could see glimmers of curiosity and introspection coming out from onlookers, questioning if this could be something they have been searching for in their journey. 

From that moment, I realized what Summer Solstice was really about.

It is a time to reflect on things in our lives that have peaked and need to transform. The sun, in it's greatness, merely supports the way :)

Life is short, so get messy! 

Escape Your Prison Through Breathe

Yoga Room at an Airport (but not at LAX)

While traveling home from a weekend of training, I arrived at the airport with all of my electronic devices on the verge of zero battery life. With a pending 4 hour flight and desperate to charge up, every gate in my terminal was packed to capacity and because of that, every outlet at the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) was occupied. Needless to say, LAX needs to rethink their outlet situation (and perhaps their Yoga Room situation since they still lack a formal space for practice.)

In an attempt to obtain at least one outlet, I hovered near an outlet stand where a swarm of 8th graders from California were waiting for their flight to Washington D.C. to celebrate their graduation. I chatted with chaperones and students and before I knew it...BAM! ...their flight was boarding and two free outlets were made available to me.

Not the actual lady but a reenactment.

All charged up and ready to board my flight, I walked to my gate and noticed that my group, Group 4, had already boarded. Group 5 was already lined up and slowly moving onto the aircraft.  Since there were roped off entrances for each group, including Group 4, I made it my business to go through my designated line and merge into Group 5 who was boarding the flight... And that's when trouble erupted.

A woman in Group 5 noticed that I had arrived late and now had a big problem with my merging into her lane. She proceeded to exclaim out loud to everyone on the line, "Who does this woman think she is?" and "She's getting on the line now, when they called Group 4 ten minutes ago." As my Brooklyn blood started to boil, I reflected on my weekend training with James Fox (founder of the Prison Yoga Project) who exposed me to breath and its anchoring ability in stressful environments such as prison.

My old behaviors creeped in and I turned around to see who was bad mouthing me. Now mind you, a disciplined yogi would not even have turned around but I am still developing my impulse control and I am a work in progress.

We made eye contact and she remained silent.  I looked at her and thought to myself:

"Definetly passive-aggressive."
"This woman is making assumptions about why I am late."
"I was charging my battery, lady."
"I paid for my ticket too."
"We are all going on the same plane."
"You would have to wait for me anyway."
"I can't believe you are judging me with that yoga mat on your back."

And YES - she was carrying a yoga mat!

A million things were sounding off in my head. I could have gone Brooklyn on her and thought to myself, had this been 10 years ago, I would have. Heck, if this was 6 months ago, I would at least given her a tongue lashing for pretending to live a yogic life...but I didn't.

Flashback to training at the Prison Yoga Project (PYP) and how those prisoners are met with confrontation consistently throughout their day. Think about it... a small beef in the prison could turn into a full out brawl that can lead to far worse repercussions. With a program such as the PYP, individuals who have access to a yoga practice while in prison are taught to use Pranayama (or breath) as a means to anchor themselves in challenging situations.

Pranayama translated means the "extension of the breath" or the "extension of the life force".  I thought  to myself, if those who are incarcerated could use breath to ground themselves in one of the most unpredictable environments in the world, prison, why couldn't I do the same in an average situation like this. Rather than allow my body to be on autopilot, I slowly began to breathe in and out through my nose, ujjayi breath, gaining control of my mind.

"Pranayama is considered a cleansing process by increasing the heat in the body.  By directing areas of the system into the increased heat or fire (agni), obstructions are burned and removed." 
- Mark Whitwell,  Yoga of Heart 

ZAP!! Take that! Soon my focus shifted and the tension that was boiling through me ready to expel outward in a wrath of recycled negative energy, dissipated. Clarity took over my body and I shuffled off in silence into my seat in Group 4.

A Brief Intro to Pranayama

"The mind is the king of the senses and the breath is the king of the mind." - B.K.S. Iyengar

I made my way to my seat and continued my breathing. Now sitting, I realized that this notion of breath could really take me places. Calming, peaceful places, that are more powerful than any Brooklyn reaction I have ever exhibited.  If I can control my mind and my reaction to the drama unfolding around me by using my breath, I could really have something here. I opened my books and started to explore aspects of Pranayama subsequently quelling any need for digital devices on my airplane ride back to the East Coast.

Pranayama, the 4th of 8 Limbs of Yoga, comes in many different forms and uses, some of which are briefly described below (reference "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga" by Deepak Chopra, M.D.)

Note: Always consult a qualified medical professional before beginning any exercise program.   

• Ujjayi (Ocean Breath/Success Breath/"Darth Vader" Breath): This diaphragmatic breath is the foundation of asanas, allowing focus without mental friction. With your tongue/mouth soft,  inhalation and exhalation is slightly longer than a normal breath and of equal duration through the nostrils and through the back of a relaxed throat. This breath is also helpful in regulating the mind/body in "aerobic exercise". 

• Nadi Sodhana Pranayam aka Anuloma (Channel Clearing Breath/Alternate Nostril Breath): This breath reduces mental turbulence leaving a calming affect in the mind/body and is used to "invoke a state of calm inner awareness". Smoothly inhaling and exhaling, close off the right nostril and inhale through the left nostril, then closing off the left nostril to exhale the air through the right nostril. Alternating sides, inhale through the right nostril, then close it off and exhale through the left nostril. All inhalations and exhalations should be filling and expunging the lungs of air.  Repeat this procedure for a few minutes. 

The below pranyamas are considered more advanced and should be practiced with care and understanding:

• Bhastrika Pranayam (Bellows Breath): This breath is used to revitalize/reenergize. In a seated position, this breath is supported by deep inhalations and forceful exhalations, in and out of your nostrils not to exceed 15 seconds, a breath per second. After completing the first round, pause for 15 to 30 seconds, noticing the sensations your body, before starting the next round lasting 20 seconds (a breath per second) in duration. After a pause of 30 seconds, perform a final round of 30 breaths. 

• Kapal Bhati Pranayam (Shining Forehead Breath): With similar affects of Bhastrika, this breath is supported by a slow and unforced inhalation and a sharp and forceful exhalation, contracting the stomach muscles to force the air out. Taking a seated position, forcefully expel the air from your lungs allowing the air to "passively" refill your lungs. Complete these breaths 10 times for 3-4 cycles.  

Empower Others to Breath: The Prison Yoga Project

So my weekend of training doesn't end using my yoga practice to counter some lady on an airplane. It becomes a platform for me to teach yoga to people who may not necessarily have access to it. Here's how...            


The Prison Yoga Project (PYP) training is a creation by its passionate founder, James Fox, to empower yoga instructors with the tools to teach "the practice of Hatha Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation" to "at-risk populations in prisons, residential rehabilitation facilities and community programs". Fox founded this program at the San Quentin State Prison, where he has been teaching yoga to "determinate and life-sentenced prisoners since 2002".  This program attempts to counter two main themes prisoners are facing: violence and addiction.

Fox has crafted a teaching training program that empowers yoga instructors with the tools needed to develop their own at-risk program or sync up with an already existing one.  Fox synthesizes critical academic research on complex trauma with timeless yogic studies to formalize a yoga practice that carefully assists in developing "self regulation" or "impulse control" for these individuals. Subsequently, these individuals not only learn how to deal with their own emotional issues but reduce the overall negative conditions within their environments.  Finally, through what Fox describes as "emotional intelligence work", individuals come to the realization of personal accountability for their actions through the concept of "Restorative Justice".

Throughout the training, yoga instructor trainees participant in group discussions about research concepts, practice typical asanas specifically designed for these at-risk populations, learn about the daily realities of prison life, understand how to interact with prisoners and prison staff, hear success stories from primary sources and are empowered with resources to commence a program in their own community.

Come to your HIGHER BEING:

• Learn More: Check out this AMAZING PYP video, "How Yoga Can Help in California's Overcrowded Prison" or visit the Prison Yoga Project website HERE.
  
  
• Buy a Book: Fox's book, Yoga: A Path for Healing and Recovery, was developed in direct response to prisoner requests to continue their yoga practice on the inside. This is proof that prisoners are searching for a way to get to their "Higher Being". For just 10$, purchase a copy of Yoga: A Path for Healing and Recovery for a prisoner in need by clicking  HERE.  

• Get Trained: Attend an upcoming PYP Training...Registration is ongoing.

San Francisco Bay Area Training/Workshop

June 29-30, 2013

California Institute of Integral Studies

Register HERE or email jennifer@insighprisonproject.org

Sacramento Training/Workshop

August 3-4, 2013

Asha Yoga Sacramento

Just confirmed - 

Denver/Boulder, October 4-6, 2013

New York City, November 16-17, 2013

See the Prison Yoga Project website for registration details.

• Join a Program and TEACH - *WANTED* Male Yoga Teachers (or Women Yoga Teachers): There is a huge disparity between the amount of males in prison (93.4% of the prison population in the United States is male - reference Bureau of Prisons) and the amount of male yoga teachers in the United States (72.2% of yoga practitioners in the United States are females - reference Statistic Brain).  This has a significant impact on the amount of male yoga instructors who attend the PYP training and ultimately who facilitate training for these predominately male at-risk populations. There are many programs currently working to help at-risk populations.  Find out whats available by clicking HERE or be in creation and develop your own program within your community.  

Life is short, so get messy! 

FEAR

In the United States, death is an occurrence that is rarely discussed yet it happens everyday.  

Take these statistics into consideration: 

The world death rate is approximately 172,800 deaths per day. That is 2 deaths per second, 120 deaths per minute, and 7200 deaths per hour. In the United States there are approximately 6000 deaths every day, 1500 of which are the result of cancer.

So why is death a subject most Americans don't like to talk about?  

After my mother's diagnosis of Colon Cancer, I have witnessed FEAR as the essential cause of a variety of emotional responses to death. Whilst we pray for a miracle, the odds to beat Stage IV cancer are slim.  My response to this grave possibility is to spend as much time with her, reflecting on life.  I am proud to say that these past few weeks have been eye-opening, as everyday that I am with my mother, I learn something new about her and about myself.  

As it relates to FEAR in these life and death situations, emotional responses expose dormant traumas of our past for which our FEAR is based upon. Our personal stories (the stories we tell ourselves) drive our FEAR and set the tone for our emotional responses to that FEAR. Then, our actions coincide with those emotional responses.  Unfortunately, these actions land on other people in our relationships like giant boulders (crash!) impacting everyone around you. Now you have chaos. 

So how do you hold the emotions back before the dam breaks? Simply put, my answer is to identify your FEAR, understand your emotional response to it, acknowledge the naked reality of it and then, try another way.  

Name that FEAR

Fill in your FEAR here _____________________________

Emotional Responses to FEAR

Choose 1 of 3 Emotional Responses to FEAR that usually come up for you.
(How do you respond when you are in a stressful situation?)
____________________________________

FIGHT - You get flipping tables mad!
Associated Actions: punch, yell, scream, argue, defend, and strike

FLIGHT - "I'm outta here!"

Associated Actions: run, flee, escape, avoid, deflect, and avert

FREEZE - "I'm a myatonic goat...baahhh!"

Associated Actions:  numb, harden, and stiffen

Getting to the Truth

While reading Baron Baptiste's new book "Being of Power: The 9 Practices to Ignite an Empowered Life", chapter 7 (Embracing Naked Reality) discusses how we should not get too consumed by the stories we make up about FEAR, rather we should practice "seeing the difference between what actually is and the garbage we add to it". By getting clear on the facts of a situation and not jumping ahead to what could happen, we deviate from the stories we routinely create. 

For example:

FACT: My mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer.  Nothing more, nothing less.  

MY STORY: My dad died suddenly when I was 13. This event was traumatic, life changing and extremely painful, therefore, my mothers death will be traumatic, life changing and extremely painful. 

NAKED REALITY: My mom's illness is a new experience. While she is likely to experience some of the affects of chemotherapy, it will impact her in a unique way. While she is likely to die from this illness, the time I have with her left here on the earth is special to me and I choose to spend it getting to know her in a way that works for both of us. 

Old Habits Don't Die Hard

What I have come to realize is that while one may have made some significant progress in their response to FEAR, old habits live dormant within us and trauma awakens the beast. Take for example addressing family members in regards to my mothers care. Over the past few weeks I saw myself reverting back to my old habit of FLIGHT (avoidance) when addressing actions I was feeling.  This has been an issue for me for years. I often don’t address emotions right away because I don’t want to FIGHT so I inevitably avoid to the point where my point of view gets lost in the moment. NAKED REALITY - I have made a commitment to my mother and myself to be authentic by being who I am and providing information for the best care for my mother, even if others take it personal. It is who I am and I am coming from a place of LOVE. For years, I buried myself in so many emotions by way of FLIGHT (avoidance) that I am now committed to putting in the work and excavate my way back to my authentic self.

 Examples of my past FLIGHT (avoidance): 

1. When I was an adolescent, I ran away (a few times) avoiding my home life. (Granted running away was sometimes down the block, but you get the point.)
2. When I was 13, my dad died and I went shopping at the mall to avoid having to deal with being present at my fathers wake. (Who does that?)
3. When I was 18 and pregnant, my grandmother gave me an ultimatum.  So I left. (No regrets of who I have become but it meant years without my family.)

These old habits just don't go away. You have to work at them the moment they resurface. This is evident for me when operating in this new trauma.  Being of power is about facing FEAR with PATIENCE and making a shift to LOVE.

Love, Love, Love

"Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the FEAR (of punishment) and the other by acts of LOVE.  Power based on LOVE is a thousand times more effective and permanent than the one derived from FEAR (of punishment)." - Mahatma Gandhi

Try this Recipe to Replace FEAR with LOVE

1. IDENTIFY your FEAR.
2. NOTICE your response to FEAR and the mechanism you use (i.e. fight, flight or freeze).
3. GET the facts straight surrounding your FEARful situation.
4. TELL the story that is the root of your FEAR response. 
5. REPLACE your story with the intention of LOVE - cause LOVE is all you need!

Life is short, so get messy!