Namaste Yogis and Yoginis,

Welcome to the 50th issue of Yogalicious! This issue is a milestone for me. Why then has it been so hard to write? Usually my newsletters come easy, but I’ve been so focused on making this anniversary edition special that I just can’t get it off the ground. In fact, after over 40 hours of writing I scratched every version I drafted. And even worse I don’t remember enjoying any of the process. Normally I have so much fun writing Yogalicious, however this time I’ve only labored over ‘getting it right’.

Okay…Truth be told, I’ve always been easily high-jacked by the impulse to perfect my endeavors. Of course ambition and desire are healthy, but I inevitably sacrifice the experience of being present, our balance, and joy when striving for an ideal or flawlessness.

While it’s not always easy for me to distinguish between my positive bursting enthusiasm and my negative over effort, I have found that since I started doing yoga I can more readily catch myself overworking. When I began practicing I mostly focused on getting the poses ‘right’ and perfect. . I eventually learned to listen to my breath and use the practice for guidance and feedback, instead of achieving picture perfect shapes. Yoga works like an inner mirror this way. As we learn to pay attention to the way we practice we get a clearer reflection of the quality of our actions and the feedback we need to make changes. For instance, I realize I am trying to hard when my breath becomes labored, shallow or rigid; I recognize I need to ease up a little when I feel my muscles tighten and resist instead of expand and release; and I know it’s time to slow down or soften when my practice leaves me depleted instead of refreshed and invigorated.

When you study the way you practice (in Sanskrit this self study is called Svadhyaya), sooner or later you discover ways to create more balance, ease, and joy. Of course, all this is easier on the mat than off. But I promise that practices makes… well, good enough! And eventually you’ll find yourself bringing your practice into your daily life even if only for a moment. Remember each moment you become aware counts, like a savings bank, they add up to help you experience a richer life.

So now I happily scrap the 40 hours of labor and rededicate this issue to easing up and enjoying the ride.

With joy,
Jillian

PS. BRIGHT SPIRIT YOGA TEACHER TRAINING 200-HOUR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM STARTS OCTOBER 2006 – in Hoboken NJ at Devotion Yoga. Learn more at our Open house on September 9th 1pm at Devotion Yoga and read more below. This is our 6th class and will be an amazing year to be part of the program.

When I began this newsletter series six years ago, I had no ‘big plans’ for its future. A “cyber news letter” was a relatively new idea and simply a way to expand on topics that I introduced in class, offer ideas to help deepen my students’ home practice, and stay connected with students as they moved out of town. I never imagined it would grow to be read around the globe or that I’d have an opportunity to meet so many of you via email. It is so exciting to get to know people first via the internet and then face to face in a class, retreat or workshop! I am grateful for all the emails and connections I’ve made through Yogalicious. Thank you for your friendship and of course readership. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for meeting me here! I hope to share 50 more with you!   back to top

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” - Thich Nhat Hanh    back to top

“Celebrate what you want to see more of.” -- Thomas J. Peters
William turned 3 on July 30th transforming the entire month of July into an endless birthday celebration. In June, at my own birthday party, we began talking with William about his up coming birthday. I think he was so enamored with my cake (a gluten free flourless chocolate truffle cake) that he began asking for birthday celebrations on a daily basis. So I went with it and found a way to make a party on most days. While we didn’t indulge in chocolate truffle decadency each day we did have many stuffed animals parties with make believe cake, breakfast parties with candles in our pancakes, lunch parties with candles in cheese sandwiches, snack parties with candles in blueberry muffins, and dinner parties with candles in chicken. We sang happy birthday at each party. Mostly to William but also to his stuffed animals, friends, relatives, the sun, the moon, and even to the food we were eating. It was amazing how our ordinary meals became special celebrations. William was equally titillated each time we light candles and sang. In fact, I too was lifted by these moments. And for the first time, I truly understood the slogan “make every day a celebration.” It really is simply a choice! Well, July 30th finally arrived and William was totally prepared for his big day. He surely knew how to enjoy a party! (He had a great yoga birthday party at Devotion Yoga in Hoboken lead by Tara and Katie.)  back to top

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 (600 B.C.)  back to top