Praise the effort

As I was reading this parenting tip about praising children, it occurred to me that this could be the illusive inspiration for my first blog post...

to Jasper: "Hey, what a great drawing you made! You're such a good artist!"

We are all aware of the importance of praising our children. Like all of us, children like to know that the people around them approve of and support what they do. This helps build a child's self-identity, confidence, and a feeling of well-being. But here's the rub: it's how you praise children that subtly urges a child towards happiness, and it relates to the practice of yoga.

If you praise the achievement, and tell your child he is smart/strong/whatever "positive" label, he learns to love the praise, the achievement, and the label. But try this one on:

to Jasper: "Hey what a beautiful drawing this is. You must have really worked hard on it."

Praise the effort, and the child learns to love the effort. What you achieve is not important; it only matters that you're trying. This will lead to a happier child, and one who is more likely to try greater challenges.

In my yoga practice, I often wish that I could take out my brain during my practice in order to be less distracted by thoughts of "yep, I've got this one," and "cool, that's the first time I did that." Because I'd love to learn to love that I'm just here, on the mat. I'd like to love a more regular practice - the discipline of just starting. To love the effort of getting there dependably. Because, let's face it, it's really hard to get to the mat some days.

I can also see how this distinction will help my teaching. Praise the effort of just getting to class. Praise the effort of moving your hands towards your toes. Does it really matter if your pose is perfect? Nah. Just try. And see how all your hard work has paid off.

1000 Petal Lotus Marla Gage

the web site:

http://thousandpetallotus.weebly.com/index.html

1000 Petal Lotus Marla Gage

Neti Pot: Alternative to the Flu Shot

Nasal irrigation. Can't say it sounds comforting. It sounds sort of weird, sort of gross. Opposite of what I want in my nose. Despite my initial impression of nasal irrigation, the moment the benefits were explained to me, I found it necessary to step outside of my comfort zone and try the infamous Neti Pot.

Neti pots can be made from clay, glass, metal, ceramic, or plastic। I have a plastic blue pot. The one issue I ran into with this pot, is that I developed a small sore spot on the inner edge of one nostril. I realized there was a little plastic ridge on the spout that was a result of manufacturing. I solved the issue by sanding the spout with a very fine sand paper, then washing any plastic dust off with soap and water. This may be why most people go with the ceramic pot.

The Neti pot flushes out the nasal cavities by using gravity to draw the flow of saline water through the nasal passages। It thins out the mucus in the nasal passages making it easier to expel it. Germs, bacteria, and viruses get cleansed out and can not thrive for as long.

The type of salt you use in your pot will effect what you feel। Do not use regular table salt as it is treated with a variety of chemicals that harm the soft sensitive tissues inside the nose. After thinking I would save a little money by trying table salt, I quickly changed my mind after experiencing burning sensations and much discomfort. I recommend Ancient Secrets Nasal Cleansing Salt which can be found at Healthy Living in a 10oz container for only $4 or $5. It has lasted me for 10 months so far and comes with a measuring scoop. No more burning sensations in the nostrils.

I decided to skip the vaccinations this year considering I got just as sick just as often with a flu shot. I decided to work with staying hydrated, getting enough rest and adding naps any time I could, and also decided to use the Neti Pot more often. When I feel something coming on, I flush the nasal passages twice a day with warm water, being careful not to make it to hot or cold since the inside of the nose is such a sensitive area with so many nerve endings. Adding the Neti to my routine helps me breath more freely during the day, during work and during my brief morning practice which does include Pranayama (breath-work). Pouring the water through each side of the nose can be calming and feel similar to the practice of Nadi Sudhi (Alternate Nostril Breathing). Neti also has a moisturizing effect.

My approach to illness is different this season then it has been in the past. I Neti when the air is too dry, after being exposed to a group of sick people or when illness starts to spread at the office, and the moment I feel the tickle in the back of my throat. In addition to my regular use of the Neti Pot, I chose to literally slow down when I feel any sign of illness- no more pushing to get through the work day if i need to rest. No pushing in general and honoring my body by resting it, hydrating it, feeding it only the most basic and nutritious foods, and cleansing the nose.

If you have have not tried to Neti Pot yet, I encourage you to explore this interesting, ancient, and preventative practice. If you need a Neti Pot coach or have questions, feel free to contact me: gabygoldberg@gmail.com.

Happy Neti-Potting and Stay Healthy! It won't really come out of your ear.

Andrea Fossati Holm

Andrea Fossati Holm

Love cures because wholeness emerges. Om.

Gayatri Mantra

There are twenty-four letters in Gayatri Mantra which are related to twenty-four glands located in the body.  Upon chanting the Gayatri, each words vibration and meaning stimulate, activate and awaken the powers of righteous wisdom.  

-Claire

"The Invitation"

"The Invitation", by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dreams
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon…
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your
fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.

If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after a night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

I don't usually read to my classes, but I was subbing a class where the teacher ALWAYS reads something to open class and then again at the end to bring it full circle. So in order to provide some consistency with their usual teacher I decided to read something to them. This is what I chose to read and the theme of being true to ones self is really resonating with me lately...Om Shanti Om. love.

Sounds of class

Elastic snapping of clothes popping into proper place.
Echoing om.
Pregnant silence before the first salutation.
Thundering of feet jumping back.
Hips popping free into trikonasana.
Groans of relief as hands release from parsvakonasana.
Rumbling flow of breath and asana.
Grasping hold of the mat releasing as the feet turn to another virabhadrasana.
Grunting the feet above the head into handstand.
Nervous giggles at an impossible pose.
Excited squeak as the impossible has become possible.
Soft sighs of exhaustion lead the way to shavasana.
Snoring.
One last echo of om.