NAMASTE!
Namaste Yogis and Yoginis!

Buddha taught "Times of luxury do not last long, but pass away very quickly; nothing in this world can be long enjoyed." ... “Everything changes, nothing remains without change.”

As yogis, we actually ‘practice’ opening to change; a fundamental skill in becoming Present. To do this we study the ways in which we resist change and habitually exhaust ourselves trying to create solidity, stability, permanence, predictability, comfort, and ‘knowingness’. Yogis believe that each moment is literally new, happening for the first time. But because we are constantly grasping for the familiar we miss the real moment and further secure our fantasy world instead.

Through the use of poses, meditation, and breathing practices we learn to relax within our bodies and connect with our breath, which enables us to become present with each unique moment as it actually arises; with out limiting it or congesting it. Then, like its definition, Change becomes transformative, moving, shifting. When we flow with it, we tap the deeper, bigger, source of energy that helps move us along.

I am dedicated to practicing this aspect of yoga; it informs every class I teach. And this issue of Yogalicious celebrates our ability to change, transform and open to life as it magically and unpredictably unfolds. YES! WE CAN.

Thank you for meeting me here.
With joy,
Jillian
www.yogajillian.com
jillian_love@yahoo.com

“The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” - Charles DuBois

back to top

Scott Noelle inspires, “In a product-oriented culture, there's a tendency to "productize" and "package" people. We often forget that a human being is a living process -- a “human becoming.”

Just when I neatly categorize my 5 year old son William as not interested in sports or cars but only in dance and art, he turns around and says maybe I should try Teakwando again. Or a day after expressing concern over his ability to focus, he sits down and spends over two hours drawing ONE piece of art. Yesterday eggs disgusted him; today he devoured mine with out even touching his beloved pancakes. Day after day, as soon as I define William as this way or that, he magically opens up and shows me a different side. Of course, I know children are dynamic and different from one day to the next. Actually we all are! But it’s challenging to constantly remain open with out drawing conclusions, depictions, or classifications. Because of our ‘need’ for predictability, clarity, and consistency, it’s hard to allow for the uniqueness of each moment, person, and interaction. But as a result we wind up actually limiting our own potential and the potential of those we are defining. We miss the opportunity to see how our family, friends, and society actually do change.

How we participate really maters! William may “hate" eggs at the beginning of the meal and "love" them by the end of the meal, provided I don’t pronounce him an egg-hater in the interim.

back to top

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” - Charles Darwin

 back to top

Thank you for meeting me here!

As always, please email me and let me know how you are – or any updates on your email address. I’m passionate about spreading the ‘good word’ and would be grateful if you pass this along to anyone you know who may be interested.