Don't do this at home

Don't do this!

Please don't do this at home!

The photo here is from a wildly popular wellness centre with a strong web presence and great content. However, this photo of downward dog is an exception and 'got my goat,' so to speak. To me it underscores the importance of trusting our inner teacher and not just trying to recreate what we are told or shown to be the thing to do.

Whether we are at a yoga class, reading a yoga magazine, or sifting through our inbox we are inundated with cues and advice of what is good for our body. But is it good for your specific body?

How do we know? We begin to listen inwardly. We get quiet and learn our patterns of tension, compensation and pure movement. We begin to recognise which postures are feeding our compensations along with our tightness and aches, and which are feeding stability, strength and well-being.

Can you see the rounding of the back in this photo? I believe she is honouring the form more than the function of the pose. She is feeding her tendency to round at the mid and lower back. This is likely a compensation for what is not happening in her pelvis' ability to hinge forward. Her elbows are pointing out and heels in, speaking volumes about shoulder mobility that is not developed enough to be in this posture without strain, and alignment through the feet that is telling me what is not happening in the hips and back line of her body.

In person or in a class, when I see this, it is good news for both of us! It means the client and I can work together for them to FEEL what is happening. Understanding the muscles groups, technical terms or Sanskrit names is not important, feeling is.

Then, their downward dog (or another movement that will prepare them for downward dogs of the future) can be a whole new experience, moving them toward ease and a pain-free body, rather than away from it.

When I see this in an image that is meant to inspire others, it is frustrating for me. So, I feel into the frustration, the tightness in my jaw... allow it to be. Then things soften, and I realise this is precisely why I do what I do. It is not that the advice out there is wrong and I am right. (If I ever feel the need to be "right", then I have lost my willingness to be open) It is that we have our own inner wisdom that is the best filter we can ever have. We need to trust, feel and be curious as we allow ourselves to be informed and led in line with our truth.

My advice is no exception to any other advice out there... don't take my word for it. Feel into it, Try it and feel again. Then, let me know if you have any questions. I'll give you something to explore, but don't take my word for that either...feel into it, try it and feel again. And on and on, like the song that never ends, my friends.

Sadness: A Note Within the Song of Joy

Do you ever wonder how we could be realistic and caring toward tragedy and pain in the world, without depleting ourselves? How can we continue to support and serve, rather than turn away from the suffering of a family member, close friend, the planet or a political crisis - without burning out?

To me, understanding our own answers begins with noticing how we relate to both suffering and joy. Perhaps we believe that to care means to worry or feel the pain of another, so we find ourselves doing just that. Or, we might not feel worthy of joy when we know others are hurting. Guilt or shame for feeling good might nip joy in the bud. Or, as in my own experience, I feel cold or uncaring when I turn away from the negative and am drawn to my strong preference for joy.

Try reading some news headlines and you will see your own tendencies.

This year my mentors have a particularly strong presence in my life. They help me with my relationship to joy and sorrow. From being on personal retreat in Burma to working together at trainings and retreats around the world, their wisdom falls into my heart and mind like steady, gentle rain.

While giving a dhamma talk in Burma, Michele McDonald said "If we can't appreciate the joy, we are out of balance. If we don't care for the suffering, we are out also out of balance."

Anne Douglas at a recent iRest training in Banff, Canada, said "Notice which end of the spectrum of opposite feelings you are more often in. What about exploring the other?"

It is always powerful for me to hear essentially the same teachings from different traditions.

Images come to my mind: a 1960's patchouli-infused flower child, hands in the air declaring "It's all peace and love!" Next to her is Eeyore, the long-eared, slow talking, gloomy side-kick to Winnie-the-Pooh. I see aspects of myself in each, but you can guess which one I spend more time in.

As we open our hearts it is helpful to recognize anger, give it space, and cultivate compassion. In Burma, Steven Smith said, "Fierce compassion is the moral equivalent to anger. The motivation is wisdom and compassion, not ill-will or fear." This is worth re-reading as the teaching holds so much. My interpretation is; compassion arises when we acknowledge suffering, not when we turn away from it or react with rage.

With practice, we learn to acknowledge and allow even the most difficult situations. It didn't mean we have to endorse or approve of them. With this acknowledgement we can choose with wisdom whether to take action or not. Our compassion may be strong (fierce) enough to take action. It isn't born from anger, which feels constricting in the body. It is born from care and feels good. Or we may choose to care without taking action, knowing it is not our battle and 'things are as they are'. Either way, we turn toward the suffering, not away from it. Both have a pleasant feeling tone, even though the subject may be unpleasant. We feed caring rather than feed war. What about joy, who says we are worthy of it? The iconic image of the Buddha touching the earth when asked of his worthiness reminds us that by this very earth, all are worthy. If we have forgotten this, wisdoms traditions, paths of meditation and personal inquiry help us remember joy as our birthright.

As we develop skills to open to hardship without being swept away, we also open to joy. We can't stop suffering from happening, but we can choose our response.

In this newsletter, I offer retreats and private coaching to support your skills in opening to challenge, joy and ease of being in your body and in our world.

May our hearts awaken together,

Julie

Considering a yoga retreat with Julie? 5 questions, answered

If you are new to the experience of retreats, or have never studied with me before, consider these five questions to help you decide if a yoga retreat could be your next step to an even more amazing life.

Can I call or connect with you before I pay?

As the lead teacher, I welcome a short chat by phone or video if you wish to talk about how I can meet your needs through this retreat experience. This can also be an important way for me to determine the fit of the overall group in terms of skills and expectations so that we can, together, craft an amazing experience that meets the needs of all participants.

Are other retreats occurring at the venue while we are there, or is it an exclusive experience?

My yoga retreats are all about deepening into relaxation, opening the heart and body, and finding a sense of safety on all levels: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The retreat locations are hand-picked by me, and include places I have personally been to and where I have conducted retreats before. My retreats hold the space for privacy and freedom to be yourself without having to interact with others outside your immediate retreat community.

Will I be asked to subscribe to a certain faith or dogma while at the retreat?

Your personal spiritual and philosophical beliefs are welcome. It’s my job to help you “come home” to your own truth. I introduce paths of spirituality, like Buddhism and yogic philosophy to show that the essence of these ancient teachings are not unique to one path. The meditations and all sessions are led from a secular perspective and you will not be asked to subscribe to dogma. One aspect of all my retreats is exploring the path of acceptance.

Can I easily bring home the skills I learn to apply to my post-retreat life?

A feeling of relaxation and contentment will be achieved in our beautiful retreat setting. While achieving this feeling away from everyday stressors is a retreat goal, I also feel it’s important to teach solid tools that you can use in everyday life, regardless of where you are. My goal is to give you an amazing retreat experience, but also prepare you to re-connect to the joy of the retreat, after you return to work, family and everyday life.

How can I find continued support after the retreat, once I am home?

I offer many options for post retreat follow-up in the form of distance one-on-one coaching, training, video clips or audio recordings. These tools have successfully helped other retreat participants stay on track with relative ease after a retreat experience. It’s my greatest joy to connect with my yoga tribe on an ongoing basis to continue what we learned together at a retreat. I hope you’ll consider joining my community!

Book your retreat early to assure your space. View this years' line-up here: https://www.bodymindease.com/retreats

Certified Yoga Therapist and Teacher, Julie Seibt, has been leading international yoga retreats since 2009. The healing embrace of nature in a remote and spectacular location, nourishing local food, and transformative teachings allow individual practices to deepen within a community of kindness.