Inner Light Outer Peace Yoga Blog

Children are natural yogin. You can observe babies, toddlers and school age children spontaneously moving into yoga postures. Many of us, as adults, may even be led into our first sarvangasana (shouldstand) recalling our own childish joy of lying down and sticking our feet up in the air to ride an imaginary, upside down bicycle.

Admittedly, for some that may not be a joyous recollection. I once led a class into legs up the wall pose as a primer for sarvangasana when one gentleman immediately stopped what he was doing and said, ‘my mother would kill me if I ever put my feet on the wall!’. Fortunately, Yoga helps us to transform old obstacles and that man, once assured it was okay, found even more fun and freedom in the pose.

I sometimes refer to Sphinx pose as the children’s version of TV-watching pose. Babies often explore becoming vertical by passing between Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog) and Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend). And how many of us as children tried out a Reverse Table Pose just for the fun of it? How about all those delightful and silly sounds children make, everywhere from the grocery store to the playground; humming, exhaling like dragons and HA!-ing? Those are the sounds my adult friends only dare to make on the yoga mat.

There is no question in my mind why children naturally erupt into Yoga practices. My own daily experience validates my belief. It feels good!

Ahhh, the wisdom of children.

Schools are becoming more and more inclined to incorporate Yoga in the classroom. Read a CNN report about it here.

Last night I had a very strange dream involving a wolf. It was one of those very vivid dreams, filled with color, texture, even a soundtrack of Native American music playing in the background of my mind. I woke this morning still experiencing all the textures, sounds and colors and wondering what message the wolf was trying to deliver.

Photograph by Joel Sartore

I reflected a bit on the demonization of wolves in mythology, literature and even Disney. How ironic when the Native Americans saw the wolf as a symbol of freedom, love and peace. The wolf as a totem represents all wonderful and good things that I love to bring to my teachings. After my reflection I recalled a story I read not too long ago that I will summarize here…

A Native American grandfather counsels his youngest kin on finding a right path in life. He shares with them that inside of himself, lives a loving, gentle wolf who supports his family, his community and treats the Earth with respect. This wolf is a valuable member of his pack and secures the vitality of his kin by loving and supporting his family, community and Earth.

Another wolf resides in him as well. This wolf is full of hatred for the ways his wolf brothers have been hunted, trapped and slaughtered. He is a predator and believes he can secure the safety of his kin with aggression, violence and protection. Both wolves know there is not a way to live together in peace nor space enough for their kin. They have no way to work together in community since their views are so different.

At this point in the story, it seems the grandfather has concluded. The children are perplexed and ask, “Grandpa, which wolf survives?”

As though it were obvious and without condescension, the grandfather says, “The one we feed.”

From CNN, a really lovely interview with Guru ji. Read it here.

Last night I shared the final beach class with some lovely yogin. The focus of the class was meditation. As they rested in shavasana I layed clementines at their feet and had my own brief meditation. Class was over and it was too late to share with them but I offer it to you now.

Take a five minute break in your day for a fully mindful little pocket of time. Have a fruit that you like available - maybe a clementine, since it is the season for those little orange jewels.

Sit up in a chair or comfortable seat with a long upright spine and begin with three full deep breaths to transition from whatever you were doing before and to mark the beginning of your 5 minute meditation.

Continue to be aware of your breath as you inhale and exhale.

Notice your senses:

Listen to what sounds you hear around you and inside of you.
Look at your clementine. Notice the color, texture, uniformity or uniqueness.
Touch it. Pick it up notice it’s weight, texture, density. Notice if it reminds you of any time, person, place or thing.
Smell the clementine, notice what the skin smells like and what sensations arise in you after doing so.

Continue breathing fully and deeply with awareness of the breath moving in and out of your body.

Peel your clementine, feeling the textures change on your skin, notice any droplets of juice that escapes, wetting or making your skin sticky. Notice the fragrance inside the peel. Listen to the sound of the skin tearing or wedges splitting apart. Observe with your eyes, the beauty of it’s shapes inside the skin.

Taste it! Enjoy and savor the flavor of the fruit, the texture of the citrus popping on your tongue and the way that it feels as you swallow each piece.

When you are finished sit a moment and notice how it feels to have taken in this bit of earth. Consider where it came from, how it absorbed sunlight and water, how it grew and matured on the tree. What measures were taken for it to travel from the tree to your hands? Finally, consider what nutritional value it serves in your day.

Take three full deep breaths to transition back to your day.

Meditation is to be mindful and that is being mindful.

Try it! Be fully present to the vibrant experience of eating a clementine.

Enjoy!