I discovered another great article about the amazing health benefits of making a yoga practice part of your life.

So roll out that mat and get started!

Yoga Journal Article: Count on Yoga: 38 Ways Yoga Keeps you Fit

As Buddha said, impermanence is the nature of the human condition.  This is a truth we know in our minds but tend to resist in our hearts.  Change happens all around us, all the time, yet we long for the predictable, the consistent.  We want the reassurance that comes from things remaining the same.  Yoga philosophy offers an alternative to these tendencies.  It is to embrace the powerful truth: the power of living in the unchanging, eternal present.

We can even look to our yoga mat to watch the attachment pattern play itself out.  We often find ourselves attached to a never-ending process of “improvement” in our asanas. They do improve quickly at first—in the beginning, we are on a honeymoon of discovery; we grow by leaps and bounds in ability and understanding.  After a couple of decades, however, our poses change much less.  Oftentimes, we can no longer practice certain poses because of age or injury, yet we feel agitated because we assume that the poses of our youth should be the poses of our middle and old age.

What gives life its juice is the ability to mourn anything fully and simultaneously know it doesn’t ultimately matter.  In other words, we can live to the fullest when we recognize that our suffering is based not on the fact of impermanence but rather on our reaction to that impermanence.

Source: Yoga Journal

International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.

“Gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the global mission of the United Nations to achieve equal rights and dignity for all… But equality for women and girls is also an economic and social imperative. Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all our goals — peace, security, sustainable development — stand in jeopardy.”

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Many challenges to gender equality and women’s empowerment require urgent attention

• Little progress has been made on reducing maternal mortality rates.  Every year, 536,000 women and girls die as a result of complications during pregnancy, childbirth or following delivery, the overwhelming majority in developing countries. Most of these complications are largely preventable and treatable.

• Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic, with up to 70 per cent of women experiencing violence in their lifetime. The problem remains universal, with women and girls affected by violence in every region and every country.

• Access to labour markets and to decent work remains limited for women.  Women are more likely than men to have low-paid, low-status and vulnerable jobs, with limited or no social protection or basic rights.

• Serious challenges persist to women’s full and equal participation in senior decision-making positions. These include negative stereotypes about women’s leadership roles and potential, a lack of commitment by political parties and men leaders, inadequate funding and training for women candidates and government officials, and discriminatory selection processes in all sectors and at all levels.

• Women continue to be excluded from or seriously under-represented in peace negotiations, peacebuilding and disarmament processes.

Why do so many challenges remain?

• The prevalence of negative gender stereotypes based on societal beliefs and attitudes affects women and men and constrains their opportunities and choices. Stereotypical assumptions about women in the labour market lead to occupational segregation and a gender wage gap, while the stereotypical view of men as breadwinners limits their involvement in family life.

• Limited involvement on the part of men and boys restrains advances towards gender equality in all areas. Focusing attention on gender issues and building support for social change can only be achieved when men and boys are engaged, for instance, in measures to eliminate violence against women and overcome stereotypes.

• Women’s under-representation in decision-making positions in all sectors limits the incorporation of gender perspectives in public policies and programmes. For example, the absence of women in top positions in peace processes limits the attention given to gender in peace agreements.

• Violence against women represents an obstacle to progress in many sectors, including health, education and employment. Sexual violence at and on the way to school, for instance, is a major impediment to girls’ participation in education.

• Women continue to be responsible for most domestic and caregiving work. This unequal sharing of responsibilities negatively impacts their educational and employment opportunities, and limits their involvement in public life.

In order to progress, governments must give priority attention to addressing the challenges faced by women. It is not enough to adopt laws and policies; they have to be effectively implemented.  Measures to help ensure successful implementation include training public officials, raising women’s awareness of their legal rights, and allocating adequate resources.

Source: United Nations

For further information and resources on International Women’s Day 2010, visit:

International Women’s Day

United Nations

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Here are some of my current favorites to practice to…

Wah!

Bachan Kaur

Deuter

Anugama

Snatam Kaur

For me, my yoga practice has been the perfect place to observe my habits.  Each time I come onto my mat, I begin by focusing my attention inward and becoming interested in the space inside me.  By becoming aware of the quality of my mind and body at that moment, I am able to move from a place of deep connection.  Initiating each movement with the breath is a great way to move through your practice mindfully.  Without judgement, our yoga practice can be a tool that allows us to not only relax and open up, but to recognize our habits.  We all have physical habits, whether it is favoring one side of the body, forcing ourselves to “get into” a pose, or maybe not allowing ourselves to really let go.  In the end, it’s about becoming aware of our habits and working towards creating as much evenness and balance as possible.  It’s about finding that balance between effort and ease in yoga and in life.

This New Year, focus on becoming aware of your own, personal habits on and off the mat.  Start fresh, set new goals… and enjoy the balance of energy and ease your practice will bring.

Here are some of the most popular goals in the U.S.

• Lose weight
• Get out of debt
• Become more organized
• Maintain a diary
• Save money
• Improve grades
• Get a better job
• Get fit
• Eat right
• Get a better education
• Drink less alcohol
• Quit smoking
• Reduce stress
• Take a trip
• Volunteer to help others

Here are some of my personal goals for 2010

• Learn to speak Spanish
• Commit to writing in my new Standard Diary each day
• Omit high fructose corn syrup… as often as possible
• Eat seasonally, locally grown food
• Seva (selfless service)… find something I’m passionate about and have time for and do it regularly

“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.”

Goethe

Establishing a rhythm is easy at home, where you control your schedule and can settle into a comfortable routine. But when you’re traveling (for business or for pleasure), that rhythm is disrupted, which can throw you off-kilter. To set yourself at ease on any journey, learn how to ground yourself.  Staying grounded away from home really comes down to being mindful and centered regardless of changing environments, time zones, and meal plans.

Here are some tips to help you stay grounded during your travels

Create a harmonious space

Cluttered surroundings can make you feel unbalanced and anxious. Unpack your belongings as soon as you arrive and take the time to arrange your room so it feels comfortable. Buy flowers or set up personal photos to make you feel more at home.

Invigorate with oil

Like candles, essential oils stimulate the sense of smell, which can influence how you feel. Ayurveda prescribes lavender oil for vata imbalance, jasmine or sandalwood for pitta, and eucalyptus for kapha. Add two drops to a bath or mix a few drops with almond, olive, or sunflower oil and massage into your skin.

Light a candle

To refresh your senses and calm your nerves, try one scented with lavender, lemongrass, or musk.

Detach from results

It’s natural to harbor dreams of perfection when you travel, because you’ve invested time, money, and effort. But when the inevitable mishap does occur—like missing a connecting flight, getting sick, or being stranded without a hotel reservation—yoga philosophy can help.

So what would Patanjali do? He’d probably remember the second of the eight limbs of classical yoga, the niyamas (observances). Cultivating two of the niyamas in particular, Ishvara pranidhana (the practice of surrender) and samtosha (contentment), can help remind you that oftentimes, the joy is in the journey, whatever unexpected form it may take.

Modify your usual yoga routine

You may not have the time, space, or energy for your full yoga practice, but sticking to some form of it will make you feel better. Try to meditate for a few minutes, and practice mostly standing yoga poses.  By grounding your feet, you’ll automatically feel stable.

Source: Yoga Journal Article By Karen Asp

Books can be a source of inspiration for the new year.  One of my favorites is a book called Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison.  It’s a book that any new or experienced yoga practitioner can enjoy.   The book includes 365 meditations that integrates yoga teachings into everyday life.  Get off your mat and cozy up with a good yoga book!

If you’re like me this year, in effort to save money, I am getting creative and crafty with my gifts.  A simple idea is making a lavender sachet.  You can purchase lavender buds (naturally organic) and make your own sachet to hold the fragrant lavender flowers to scent your linens, drawers and pillows. Lavender has many uses.  If applied to the temples, lavender oil soothes headaches. In pillows, lavender seeds aid sleep and relaxation.  I like to place the sachets in my drawers to add a soothing scent to my clothes.

How to make Lavender Sachets

This season, enjoy shopping and crafting… and always remember to give yourself a little time and self-love.

Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar

Light on Yoga has become the bible for hundreds of thousands of people who practice yoga daily for exercise, meditation, or simply relaxation.  It is a comprehensive source, with more than than 600 photographs of yoga postures and breathing exercises.

Heart of Yoga by TKV Desikachar

Sri Krishnamacharya, who lived to be over 100 years old, is one of the most well respected and well known yogis of the modern era.  TKV Desikachar is Krishnamacharya’s son, who lived and studied with him his whole life.  The core of his teachings is based on adapting yoga practices to individual’s changing needs to achieve maximum benefit. In The Heart of Yoga, Desikachar offers his father’s system as well as his own practical approach which he describes as “a program for the spine at every level – physical, mental and spiritual.”  Included in this book is Desikachar’s complete translation and commentary on the Yoga Sutras.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

The Yoga Sutras are a complete manual for the study and practice of yoga.  In this translation, Sri Swami Satchidananda shares his practical, down-to-earth advice on mastering the mind and achieving physical, mental and emotional harmony in life .  There are may translations of the Yoga Sutras.  I suggest finding a translation that speaks to you.

The Bhagavad-Gita

The Bhagavad-Gita is a conversation on a battlefield between the god Krishna and the warrior Prince Arjuna, as he confronts a life or death moral dilemma.  What is the purpose or justice of war?  Where does the right path of action lie when one duty conflicts with another?  Arjuna is led to a higher understanding of the spiritual nature of man and the world.

Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit by Donna Farhi

Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit is a comprehensive guide using universal movement principles that may be applied to all styles of yoga.  Donna Farhi provides detailed instructions, practice tips, and inspiration for students at all levels.  The book includes 75 illustrated asanas with descriptions of executions and benefits.

Anatomy of Hatha Yoga by H. David Coulter

The Anatomy of Hatha Yoga is the first modern source that combines the study of hatha yoga with anatomy and physiology.  It is a manual for students, teachers and practitioners.

Walter Anderson

“Breath is central to Yoga because it is central to Life… and Yoga is about Life.”

T. Krishnamacharya

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

Gandhi

“There are two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle”

Albert Einstein

“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.”

Goethe

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Mother Teresa

“It’s not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult”

Seneca Indian

“Deep listening is miraculous for both listener and speaker. When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested listening, our spirits expand.”

Sue Patton Thoele

“Who are we, not to shine.”

Nelson Mandela

“Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos — the trees, the clouds, everything.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.”

The Dalai Lama

“Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox, what is soft is strong.”

Lao Tzu

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”

Hans Hoffman

“Learn to let go. That is the key to happiness.”

Buddha

“When you stop comparing what is right here and now with what you wish were, you can begin to enjoy what is.”

Cheri Huber

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

Anais Nin

“When your body, mind, and soul are healthy and harmonious, you will bring health and harmony to those around you and health and harmony to the world- not by withdrawing from the world, but by being a healthy living organ of the body of humanity.”

B.K.S. Iyengar