Today was an exciting day in our nation's history and I am so proud to be a part of it. Looking at the million of folks gathered to watch the inauguration, I was heartened by the unity of those participating. Everyone was included. It's the first time since 1993 that I have been hopeful and full of passion about my government.
Yes, I claim it. I hope you do, too.
Change,
Ma'lena
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Snow . . . and more snow; yes, snow
The steady accumulation of snow has been making it difficult to maneuver around the streets of Spokane. I live on a hilltop, and while I might successfully get down off of the hill, the challenge of getting back up frequently is enough incentive to keep me home.
We have just begun our first session of the new year, 2009. I am hoping that you will all show up for classes in spite of the snow, or perhaps because of it.
This week we will be exploring the theme of hibernation. Slowing down, moving into dormancy and stillness so that we might simply be.
Stay warm,
Ma'lena
We have just begun our first session of the new year, 2009. I am hoping that you will all show up for classes in spite of the snow, or perhaps because of it.
This week we will be exploring the theme of hibernation. Slowing down, moving into dormancy and stillness so that we might simply be.
Stay warm,
Ma'lena
Ahimsa
The Kindness of Strangers, Including Ourselves
By
Ma’lena Walley
2008©
Often it is easier to be kinder to strangers than it is to extend kindness and compassion to our families and ourselves—if we feel secure we release the beasts of anger, violence and cruelty. No matter how we may wish to behave, our limbic system rules our instinctual emotive life.
The basic yogic precept of ahimsa means nonviolence. Along with ahimsa’s nonharming/nonviolence definition there is also the connotation of kindness.. Acting with the compass of kindness makes violent and harmful acts difficult; when done, these then become acts of intention. Behaving, speaking and thinking as well as being mindful in ahimsa obviates harmful or violent acts—in theory because we are humans with foibles, flaws and passions. We fail, we falter, and we lose faith. After any unkindness, we come home to ourselves, the aftermath. This is when we need an open heart, a softening, an opening and an invitation to compassion.
It is challenging to act kindly in our culture of violence. Violence prevails; it is casual and pervasive. We are so desensitized that many of us no longer recognize it. Our language reflects this: think about what happens when you are angry and you say, “I’m gonna rip your lungs out,” or similarly brutal language. Your body and psyche hears this and responds in the limbic system by reverting to the fight or flight mode of shallow breathing, elevated BP, etc. As a complex system of nerves and networks, the limbic center of our brain involves instinct and mood, basic emotions—fear, pleasure, anger—as well as drives and urges. These primal components are often sealed into our cortex in a bonding of memory and sense.
For myself, every time I overeat, or choose unhealthy food I am acting with violence towards my body—I harm myself. The sequela of guilt follows—harming. This cycle continues and I succumb to stress, self-loathing and feelings of failure and futility. Ahimsa allows me to release part of the calculus of failure. When I do eat something unhealthy, I can compassionately accept that it is a behavior with which I continuously struggle. Yet kindness helps me avoid guilt and recrimination and more harmful eating. With guilt removed from the equation, I am free to act with kindness towards myself and everyone else.
Ahimsa requires patience, acceptance and being in the present. When macerating fruit, the fruit sits in a sweetened bath of liquid. While steeping and infusing, the fruit responds by softening, sweetening and taking on the characteristics of the sweetened liquid. Let yourself steep in ahimsa so that you become infused with it. Intensely flavored with kindness, you will telegraph the soft sweetness of ahimsa into your limbic and immune systems, your autonomic nervous system, as well as your heart, mind, and spirit, and these will act in concert to calibrate your behavior. The longer you steep, the more profound the changes.
By
Ma’lena Walley
2008©
Often it is easier to be kinder to strangers than it is to extend kindness and compassion to our families and ourselves—if we feel secure we release the beasts of anger, violence and cruelty. No matter how we may wish to behave, our limbic system rules our instinctual emotive life.
The basic yogic precept of ahimsa means nonviolence. Along with ahimsa’s nonharming/nonviolence definition there is also the connotation of kindness.. Acting with the compass of kindness makes violent and harmful acts difficult; when done, these then become acts of intention. Behaving, speaking and thinking as well as being mindful in ahimsa obviates harmful or violent acts—in theory because we are humans with foibles, flaws and passions. We fail, we falter, and we lose faith. After any unkindness, we come home to ourselves, the aftermath. This is when we need an open heart, a softening, an opening and an invitation to compassion.
It is challenging to act kindly in our culture of violence. Violence prevails; it is casual and pervasive. We are so desensitized that many of us no longer recognize it. Our language reflects this: think about what happens when you are angry and you say, “I’m gonna rip your lungs out,” or similarly brutal language. Your body and psyche hears this and responds in the limbic system by reverting to the fight or flight mode of shallow breathing, elevated BP, etc. As a complex system of nerves and networks, the limbic center of our brain involves instinct and mood, basic emotions—fear, pleasure, anger—as well as drives and urges. These primal components are often sealed into our cortex in a bonding of memory and sense.
For myself, every time I overeat, or choose unhealthy food I am acting with violence towards my body—I harm myself. The sequela of guilt follows—harming. This cycle continues and I succumb to stress, self-loathing and feelings of failure and futility. Ahimsa allows me to release part of the calculus of failure. When I do eat something unhealthy, I can compassionately accept that it is a behavior with which I continuously struggle. Yet kindness helps me avoid guilt and recrimination and more harmful eating. With guilt removed from the equation, I am free to act with kindness towards myself and everyone else.
Ahimsa requires patience, acceptance and being in the present. When macerating fruit, the fruit sits in a sweetened bath of liquid. While steeping and infusing, the fruit responds by softening, sweetening and taking on the characteristics of the sweetened liquid. Let yourself steep in ahimsa so that you become infused with it. Intensely flavored with kindness, you will telegraph the soft sweetness of ahimsa into your limbic and immune systems, your autonomic nervous system, as well as your heart, mind, and spirit, and these will act in concert to calibrate your behavior. The longer you steep, the more profound the changes.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Haiku Summer
Oh, where, oh where did our sweet summer go? My last entry was somewhere in the Spring and I was lamenting the snow . . . now I'm brooding over the loss of summer.
We have three new teachers, and I managed to hang on to Patty for the Gentle Strengthening class on Wednesday nights. Please go check out the schedule at www.moontreeyoga.com on the schedule page. If I thought the link would actually work, I'd place it in the body of this blog, but last time I attempted I failed.
We're in the process of getting pictures of all the teachers at the studio courtesy of Marti Martin, who generously offered her services in order to gain experience. It's a mutually beneficial trade. Keep checking the teachers page. For anyone who is interested, my profile picture is one of me and my mom, Wanzie, from a few years ago. I like it.
Since I am washing blankets--all of the blankets in the studio--I must go attend to them right now!
Cookies and bliss,
Ma'lena
We have three new teachers, and I managed to hang on to Patty for the Gentle Strengthening class on Wednesday nights. Please go check out the schedule at www.moontreeyoga.com on the schedule page. If I thought the link would actually work, I'd place it in the body of this blog, but last time I attempted I failed.
We're in the process of getting pictures of all the teachers at the studio courtesy of Marti Martin, who generously offered her services in order to gain experience. It's a mutually beneficial trade. Keep checking the teachers page. For anyone who is interested, my profile picture is one of me and my mom, Wanzie, from a few years ago. I like it.
Since I am washing blankets--all of the blankets in the studio--I must go attend to them right now!
Cookies and bliss,
Ma'lena
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Spring Snow? WTF?
Dear Readers in the Ether:
Oh the persistance of snow. Winter is being obstinate. "Enough already," I say. "Leave, and don't let the door slam yer ass on the way out!"
Some updates for you, if you care to know:
1) Because of poor and/or unpredictable attendance, the Tuesday Restorative class from 4:30 pm until 5:45 pm class is in danger of being put on indefinite hold . . . I truly like this class and would love to keep it on the schedule. Those of you who care might want to take this into consideration, please.
2) Likewise, the Sunday Restorative class that used to be at 8:30 am but is now at 1 pm is up in the air. What to do? Any suggestions/comments/questions?
3) Because I'm placing the Tuesday Restorative on hiatus for now, the Tuesday Gentle Yoga class will be moved to an earlier time: 5:30-6:45 or 7.
Coo coo ca choo,
The Walrus
Oh the persistance of snow. Winter is being obstinate. "Enough already," I say. "Leave, and don't let the door slam yer ass on the way out!"
Some updates for you, if you care to know:
1) Because of poor and/or unpredictable attendance, the Tuesday Restorative class from 4:30 pm until 5:45 pm class is in danger of being put on indefinite hold . . . I truly like this class and would love to keep it on the schedule. Those of you who care might want to take this into consideration, please.
2) Likewise, the Sunday Restorative class that used to be at 8:30 am but is now at 1 pm is up in the air. What to do? Any suggestions/comments/questions?
3) Because I'm placing the Tuesday Restorative on hiatus for now, the Tuesday Gentle Yoga class will be moved to an earlier time: 5:30-6:45 or 7.
Coo coo ca choo,
The Walrus
Monday, March 24, 2008
Crow/Spring Moon and New Session
Friday's Crow Moon Salutation class was pretty fun. Five of us laughed and said goodbye to Winter, welcoming in Spring with it's promise of blooms--both inside (of us) and outside. We worked hard, too. Since many of the people who come to class are regulars, I amped up the vinyasa, and we earned our Savasana at the end of class. Thanks to Zoe, Ron, Cate and Vivian.
Next: a big, fat apology to Ann, who showed up on Easter Sunday at 1 pm expecting a class. I was a no show; how irresponsible. Many others had told me they weren't coming to class. I was comfy at home in my jammies and just stayed that way, so, Ann, a special chocolate goody basket is being prepared for you whether you read this blog or not.
New session. Yea! First session of Spring, and we have a new teacher, Patty Heath, who is offering a Gentle Strengthening class on Thursday mornings from 8:30-9:45 am. This sounds promising and I received a little taste a few weeks ago. . .it's a nice blend of restorative, gentle and detailed standing poses. I think one of her goals is to have everyone move into a comfortable down dog! Since I've never been even close to comfort in that pose, I am looking forward to the class. We already have a few students--including me--so sign up now!
Daniella's schedule has gotten crazy so she wants to have a minimum of 4 students in her Monday night Gentle Flow. We don't have those numbers for her yet, so in the meantime, I will be tucking introductory classes in this timeslot. Keep checking the class schedule page .
If you are interested in bringing back this wonderful class of flowing poses, primarily sun salutations, then you must preregister. Check our schedule page (see above link)for an introductory class, which might happen towards the close of this session--maybe the first monday in May.
Next: a big, fat apology to Ann, who showed up on Easter Sunday at 1 pm expecting a class. I was a no show; how irresponsible. Many others had told me they weren't coming to class. I was comfy at home in my jammies and just stayed that way, so, Ann, a special chocolate goody basket is being prepared for you whether you read this blog or not.
New session. Yea! First session of Spring, and we have a new teacher, Patty Heath, who is offering a Gentle Strengthening class on Thursday mornings from 8:30-9:45 am. This sounds promising and I received a little taste a few weeks ago. . .it's a nice blend of restorative, gentle and detailed standing poses. I think one of her goals is to have everyone move into a comfortable down dog! Since I've never been even close to comfort in that pose, I am looking forward to the class. We already have a few students--including me--so sign up now!
Daniella's schedule has gotten crazy so she wants to have a minimum of 4 students in her Monday night Gentle Flow. We don't have those numbers for her yet, so in the meantime, I will be tucking introductory classes in this timeslot. Keep checking the class schedule page .
If you are interested in bringing back this wonderful class of flowing poses, primarily sun salutations, then you must preregister. Check our schedule page (see above link)for an introductory class, which might happen towards the close of this session--maybe the first monday in May.
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