Well, you just knew that someone would take me up on my offer to be a guest contributor … .
Anyway, Songbird 13291 has decided to use the Ranting and Raving Blog as her own personal lectern for the day, pontificating about yoga and some other things that have made her life more whole.
I know nothing about yoga, so I will leave it to her to tell us all about it.
Here it is, and again, anyone who wants to use this blog a few times a year to talk about anything is free to do so--send me what you have at l_lapka@yahoo.com, and remember, it must be completely original.
Yoga, Mindfulness and the Nice Jewish Girl
So, at my advanced age (I won’t reveal the number, but I
have two adult daughters), it finally occurred to me that if I want to live a
long and healthy life, I really needed to find some physical activity. I joined
a gym, and it wasn’t the disaster I thought it would be. I actually enjoy my
time on the treadmill, to the amazement of my inner couch potato.
My activities at the gym--circuit training and cardio--really
felt good. But I needed more. I needed something
to improve my flexibility, not to mention my balance. I’m not exactly light on
my feet these days, and I’ve got an overly-large fear of falling …
And then I discovered that my local high school offered yoga
as part of its continuing education program.
Yoga? Me?
Well, my daughters take yoga classes, but they are both
20-somethings, former dancers/cheerleaders, who thrive on physical
activity. Their mom, not so much.
But I gave it a try. The course was designed for multiple
levels of ability, beginner to advanced. The instructor would get us into a
pose, and then say, “If this feels good, stay here. If you want to take it
further … ” and he’d show the way for more experienced students to advance.
It felt good.
But yoga, when taught correctly, isn’t just physical
exercise. There is a huge spiritual
component to the practice, including mediation. In fact, there are some religious groups that object to yoga as a “pagan
practice.”
About a year ago, I
started reading about “mindfulness,” a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the
present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts,
and bodily sensations. It’s a meditation technique that arises from Buddhist
practices. And the more I read, the more
I realized that zen and yoga exist in the same spiritual plane. Similar goals,
similar techniques.
Being a modern, 21st
century woman, I downloaded an app and began to meditate.
Open yourself to
the moment. Find your inner calm. Develop your gratitude, your compassion. These
are the themes that predominate in the meditations.
But there’s another
aspect to my life. I’m Jewish, I’m active in my synagogue, and I’ve studied the
theology behind Jewish rituals and prayers. My faith is very much part of who I
am.
Traditional Judaism
addresses the Divinity, the Creator, that which we call G-d, separate and apart
from ourselves. Eastern philosophy, mindfulness, focuses on the divinity within
each of us, that which we call the soul. Very different aspects of
spirituality. And yet, they are tied together.
Enter Jewish
mysticism.
No, I’m not talking
about that kitschy “Kabbalah” practiced by Madonna and other celebrities.
Traditional
Kabbalah focuses on the nature of G-d and how the universe works. Modern Jewish
mystics, such as Rabbi Jeff Roth of the Awakened Heart Project, incorporate
Eastern mindfulness techniques into our understanding of ourselves, our world
and our relationship with the Almighty.
Very different
aspects of my life, and yet they all come together. The physical leads to the
spiritual. The spiritual leads back to
the physical.
Namaste. And
shalom.
Again, I know nothing about yoga, but this was a good first step in really opening up this blog to other beliefs, opinions and topics. If anyone else wants a go at it, send me what you wrote and it will go in at a later date. Again, it must be totally, completely original writing, and I would prefer if you used your actual name, although that is not mandatory. So, blog readers, what do you think about our first guest post?
ReplyDeleteSongbird, I think it is a shame that after reading your essay, which we know he read and edited, Larry still claims to know nothing about yoga. What do you think it would take to motivate him to try yoga, let alone exercise?
ReplyDeleteI still don't know too much about yoga after reading the article. Is it exercise, more of a mind relaxation technique, or both? And whether one exercises or doesn't is really my business, not yours. I choose to exercise my mind. Right now, the doctor has just given me a clean bill of health, so yes, I can lose a few pounds, but otherwise, I am fit as a fiddle, think goodness.
ReplyDeleteLarry, don't get your nose out of joint. Why are you getting so defensive pal? I consider anything you have written here grist for this evergrinding mill, and you have proclaimed you hate to exercise. Physical exercise is beneficial whether one is overweight or not. I was asking the writer of this piece for her opinion. By the way Larry, how much is a few pounds? 20? 30? Have a Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteLarry has taken off some weight, he does look good these days.
ReplyDeleteLarry, if you want yo know a bit more about yoga, go to YouTube and search "Yoga with Adrienne". She focuses on the physical aspects of yoga practice, the flow of movement from pose to pose, the stretching and balancing required to hold a pose. But if you listen to her instructions you'll get a glimmer of what the spiritual aspects of yoga.
No, I am not one to exercise. I did lose some weight on my own, probably put some of it back by now, but as far as actually exercising, it just isn't my thing. At least I know my fingers and brain are well toned, especially with the job search I have at hand the past few weeks and into the new year. I am happy with my weight, have been given a good report by my doctor, so I feel physically fine, at least right now, the best I have felt in many, many months.
ReplyDelete