Life is a Practice in Being Human

Life is a Practice in Being Human
Relax in the knowledge of your inherent goodness.
Relax in the knowledge that no person or supreme being expects you to be perfect.
Practice gentleness and compassion towards yourself and others.
Appreciate the ordinary of every day living.
Accept the reality of what is- not what you would prefer or what didn't happen.
Forgive your mistakes and the mistakes of others.
Acknowledge your deep connection to all beings.
Open to all possibilities.
Love, be kind, be of service.
Practice life- that's all there is.

A few ideas on self-acceptance

Here's a list of ideas I came across that were meaningful to me in my exploration of self-acceptance in the month of March.
1. Accept I am whole, as is, not broken.
2. Accept my imperfections.
3. "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change." Carl Rogers
4. Cultivate Maitri- unconditional friendliness or loving kindness- to help self acceptance.
5. Realize that people everywhere experience joy and suffering and everything in between just like me.

The Guest House by Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

Awesome Workshop- Anatomy of Yoga

I am really excited about this 2 hour workshop I am doing Sunday March 13 from 10am-noon.  We are going to take a closer look at three of the eight limbs of yoga to get a deeper understanding of the structure  of asanas(postures), pranayama(breathing) and dharana(concentration leading to meditation).  We will focus on some of my favorite yoga postures like Half Moon, Triangle, Tree, Downward Dog, etc.; get to know the three dimensional structure and action of breathing and check out the basic anatomy of mindfulness meditation.  All in 2 hours!
You can expect some yoga flow practice to warm up and then we will  delve in to the beautiful  geometry of a few poses.  We will learn to visualize and feel how the body breathes and practice a few pranayama exercises.  And then, I'll take you on a tour of inner space according to the map of basic mindfulness.
Ambitious beginners are welcome as well as anyone with an interest!
Please register with me at indystewald@comcast.net.  The cost is $25/person.

Self Acceptance

What if you wholeheartedly accepted yourself right now as good enough, not broken, as is....including all your neurosis, talents, fears, accomplishments and those extra pounds?
Does this seem like an unfamiliar mind set?  I realized that for me it is.  Underneath my "feel pretty good about myself most of the time.... except when I yell at my children, don't complete a project on time, spend over budget,  blah, blah, blah"....that I have never really considered, forget embraced, that I am good enough as is.  That perhaps I do not have to constantly pursue self improvement because I am lacking or fall short.

I am very curious about this idea of self acceptance and for the month of March I have collected a few books to help me look at this idea from various angles.  I am learning, through my relatively new meditation practice and study, that the lessons of Buddhism have a strong message of acceptance in general.





Perhaps, then, it is not so surprising that 3 out of 4 of these books have a mindfulness meditation/Buddhist background.
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth

Pocket Pema Chodron by Pema Chodron

The Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chodron 





Relax and breathe in the goodness that you are....

Free Mindfulness Meditation Training

This is a special opportunity to explore mindfulness meditation with a world renowned teacher and scholar.
Shinzen Young leads a free Saturday retreat once a month at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

This Saturday, March 5th from 9am-1pm and 2-6pm at the Engineering Offices 81 Demeritt Place Waterbury, VT.
The next free retreat is Sat. April 2nd.  All you have to do is show up!
Link to Shinzen's retreat schedule
Link to Shinzen's info on mindfulness meditation

My favorite stretch ever

Stand with feet shoulder width apart.
Interlace your fingers behind your back or hold a strap/belt/scarf.
Roll your shoulders back and down.  Squeeze shoulder blades toward each other.

Bend forward, knees slightly bent.  Continue to lift arms away from back and shoulders away from ears.  Breathe deeply and feel the lower back and back of legs lengthen while you open the chest and shoulders.

3 Short Book Reviews

Back to Basics
12 Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong
In this book, Armstrong beckons readers to take responsibility in their own lives for cultivating compassion for themselves, within their family, work place, community and the world.  Her basic premise is that the common thread of all religions is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."   I love that she states the obvious while providing fascinating historical information on the cultural context and manifestation of various world religions.  Armstrong is the creator of The Charter of Compassion, an instrument to impel individuals and religious organizations to recommit themselves to the practice of the Golden Rule- i.e. "Love thy neighbor as thyself."  ( Have you often wondered why this concept has seemed more theory than practice)? 1000's of leaders from religious organizations all over the world have signed this charter.  And we all know, actions speak louder than words!

Feeling Self Righteous?  
In Her Own Words by Mother Teresa
Almost every one of the short excerpts I read in this book I am either moved to tears or feel like getting down on my knees.  I am humbled and inspired by Mother Teresa's pure love and devotion to the care of the poor, sick and dying.  Seeing a glimpse of her work in this world through these pages helps me to let go of my self importance and move me toward a deeper understanding of unconditional love, compassion, and understanding.  A daily dose of humble pie is a perfect antidote to a "what's in it for me" culture.

On a Lighter Note...
Poser: My Life in 23 Yoga Poses... by Claire Dederer
Entertaining and honest memoir by a mother/wife/daughter/friend, commingled with her new found yoga practice.  Dederer writes with humor and insight about her growing relationship to motherhood; her marriage now with children; her relationship to her parents now with children; the parenting culture of Seattle, WA where she has lived all her life; and reflections on her own un-traditional childhood.  Currently my bed time reading book.  I appreciate Dederer baring her real life in a thoughtful, funny memoir and how yoga played a role in her journey.