Sandy's Yoga Blog

Live Wide Open!

The tagline of Joyful Heart Yoga is "Live Wide Open!" What does this mean? It means dismantling our defenses and habitual patterns of reacting from fear -- fear of the unknown, fear of loss -- and opening ourselves to all of life's wonders and mysteries. We find that sense of awe and enchantment that we had as children. We open ourselves to love even though that means opening ourselves to sorrow and loss. We allow ourselves to live in the flow of life even though we have no idea of where it will take us. Instead of sleepwalking through life, we become fully awake and alive.

The best way I know to live wide open is through the regular practice of yoga, pranayama, and meditation. These practices slowly peel away layers of resistance and help to loosen our old "stuff," sending it bubbling up to the surface so we can look at it and learn from it as it dissipates into the ether, leaving us feeling more free, more clear, more clean. In otherwords, wide open!


Namaste!
Sandy Pradas

Jan 24, 2012 2:09 PM

The Benefits of Yoga

While cleaning up my files, I ran across some notes that I scribbled in the year 2000. It was a list of the benefits that I had gained from my daily yoga practice. These benefits came automatically, without any conscious decision to change:

Benefits I've noticed from my daily yoga practice: 

·    I feel better.

·      I have better posture.

·      I have more body awareness, especially in my spine. I am always  comfortable now.

·      I go to bed earlier. I used to go to bed at 2:00am, and now it’s around 11:30.

·      I drink less alcohol, and never have it to relax or because I’ve had a hard day.

·      I drink less coffee.

·      I have no problems with eating or digestion. I know how much to eat and when to stop. I seem to know what my body wants.

·      I am more compassionate.

·      I’m less judgmental.

·      I’m more accepting and try to see other viewpoints.

·      I’m more comfortable with my place in life. I don’t fear the unknown.

·      I want what I have – I’m content!

·      I can adjust my energy, moving it through the chakras as needed.

Continue reading The Benefits of Yoga
Jan 7, 2012 5:39 PM

Courage

The seed cannot know what is going to happen. The seed cannot even believe that he has the potential to become a beautiful flower. Long is the journey, and it is always safer not to go on that journey because unknown is the path, and nothing is guaranteed. Thousand and one are the hazards of the journey, many are the pitfalls. But the seed tries, it makes an effort; it drops the hard shell which is its security, and starts moving. Immediately the fight starts: the struggle with the soil, the stones, the rocks. The seed was hard, but the sprout will be very, very soft and dangers will be many.

But the sprout starts towards the unknown, towards the sun, towards the source of light, not knowing where, not knowing why. Great is the cross to be carried, but a dream possesses the seed and the seed moves. The same is the path for man. It is arduous. Much courage will be needed.      -Osho

Dear Yogis & Yoginis,

When I meditated on what my New Year's message should be about, the word "courage" immediately came to mind. Maybe it's because my son is moving to the other side of the country tomorrow. It takes courage to leave the known for the unknown. But like Osho's seed, the voice within is strong and he's willing to put aside his fears and doubts and move forward anyway. 

Continue reading Courage
Jan 2, 2012 2:47 PM
contact: sandy@joyfulheartyoga.com             Live Wide Open!