Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Love The One Your With



Angry little food stealer on top of the roof of the German bakery where we were having tea.


Hanuman, the Monkey God, opening his chest to show that Rama lives inside his heart.



Me in front of the Ganges after a rigorous Ashtanga Vinyasa class.  I was smiling because I didn't realize that I was soon to be in severe pain.  It felt so right when we were in the class....

-----------------
First week and a half down, four and a half more to go.  

Right off, let me say that the program has been all that I hoped for and more - amazing classes and teachers, wonderful students, and extraordinary growth in my yoga practice.  Folks have been asking about the program so here are a couple of links to my school:  www.rishikeshyogpeeeth.com and http://www.starlim.co.in/files/yoga_teachers_training.htm.

------------------ 
Over the past few years, my mind has been filled with resistance to what is.  I constantly replayed the same negative thoughts: I don't want to be at work right now; I’m too fat; Why is this happening to me; This should be going better; I need to push harder; I can’t believe I said that; I'm so angry that he did that; and on and on and on.  

Just one week into Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) has taught me that the best way to be happy is to love what is rather than constantly focusing on what I'd rather have, or be, or be doing.

Example 1: My three-month old computer was broken due to an aggressive lack of knowledge of how to get it to accept a wireless password that it was ostensibly rejecting. I was upset and annoyed.  My new computer!  The guy didn’t know what he was doing?  Why’d I let him make the change instead of trying myself?  Why’d I even bring my computer?  How am I going to get my blog posts up?  I lost so many business files and pictures!

Once I pulled myself together, I realized a few things: (1) my thoughts were making me angrier, so I needed to stop them before they drove me crazy; (2) the computer is still under warranty so it’s fixable but not until I get back to Amsterdam; and (3) life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get.  My computer breaking was a reminder that I came here to relax and unplug…and the universe helped me (against my will) to do just that.  I can no longer sit on my computer in my room, I have to use the public computers.  As a result, I leave my room more and am much more social than I probably would have been.  In addition, when I am in my room I am able to focus on more important things than whether Anthony Weiner really sent a pic of his manhood to a 21 year-old via twitter.  So loving the one you’re with means radically accepting the things you cannot change (thanks, Anne!).

Example 2: Yoga is also teaching me to love the body I’m with.  Before beginning this program, I was constantly pushing my body to do things that it had no desire to do.  My old goal was to beat my body into submission.  Here, we are taught to do each asana “with love.”  This means that instead of pushing my leg into some ungodly position that it’d rather not be in and likely pulling a muscle, I take my time with each pose and I work my body only as far as it is willing to go.  After a week, I’ve seen more progress with love than I’ve seen with years of aggression.  Training my body with love means that I respect and appreciate it for all that it has gotten me through, that I care about it enough to take the time to make it even better, and most importantly, that I listen to what it tells me.  What a difference from where I was.

Next time I'm dealing with a situation that I can't change, I hope that I'm able to see the positive and realize that "what is" is probably greater than anything I could have imagined.  And next time I find myself in a situation I can change, I hope that I employ my new understanding: namely that: negative energy does not and cannot lead to positive results.   Good luck on your personal journeys!

30 comments:

  1. I am so prod of you! Love ya lots, Teri Janine

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great, great post. Lots for me to think about. The cool part of travels are these realizations, the hard part is bringing them back with you. When you figure that one out (and you are probably the one to do it) share it. Ryan W

    ReplyDelete
  3. I LOVE YOU! About an hour or so ago, I didn't know why my spirit led me to read your blog at this time, on this day. Now, I know that this is what I needed to encode at this time, on this day. Thanks for your truth. I miss you. I guess I'll have to come to Amsterdam if I want to see you in the next three years; I picked three because I believe it's been three years since I've seen you. I need to bask in your aura. Love...Peace...Life...all that!

    Erin

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hoi Erica,

    I read you are from Holland (like me) but I am not sure you speak Dutch so I will write in English! I have just enrolled myself to this TTC starting in Feb! I am so exited but also a bit 'scared'! I read you had a wonderful time! Would you have some tips for me?
    Were you staying in the Ashram (Batch 1) or in the hotel nearby (batch 2)? I am allocated to the hotel nearby and was wondering how nearby is it? Do you know?
    Anyway, if you would like I would like to get in touch with you so I can hear more of your experiences etc!
    Namaste!
    Eva Alting Siberg (maybe you can add me on Facebook?)
    x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful Post!

    Hi Eva,

    I am joining the Feb 2012 batch as well and will be staying in the hotel as well.

    Excited to meet you :)

    Check me out at daniellefaber.tumblr.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Eva!

    My name is Anna and I'm a recent university graduate based in Canada. I'm also really interested in this TTC but at the moment I can't afford it. Would you mind if I used you as a referral to apply for a scholarship?

    Let me know :)

    Anna

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yoga can help you Improves Blood Circulation, Decreases stress, glow shining on face, weight lose and personal fitness. Yoga help in both Physical Health and Mental Health.
    Yoga Teacher Training Rishikesh

    ReplyDelete
  8. I recharge my body and keep healthy n fit with the help of yoga.
    Yoga Teacher Training India

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi guys,
    I,m arpit.if we do yoga. we don,t face any type of desease.Everytime we fit our body.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We provide best 200 Hrs Yoga Teacher Training Scholarships in Rishikesh, India at best affordable price for those who can't afford regular teacher training course. Our course curriculum includes, Hatha yoga, Aashtanga Vinyasa/ vinyasa Flow, Human Anatomy and philosophy, adjustment and alignment etc.

      Delete
  10. Yes yogas great http://www.rishikeshyogavalley.com/
    http://www.rishikeshyogavalley.com/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yog Amritam provides various Yoga courses like
    Yoga Teacher Training in India - www.yogaamritamrishikesh.org, 200 Hour Yoga TTC in India
    , 300 Hour Yoga TTC in India and yoga retreat sessions in Rishikesh affiliated with Yoga Alliance, USA. Hatha Yoga Teacher Training in India and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh are the basis for the various yoga teacher training courses at Yog Amritam. Classes for Hatha Yoga, Meditation, Ashtanga, and Vinyasa are conducted on daily basis at our school.
    visit website click below -
    Yoga Teacher Training in India - www.yogaamritamrishikesh.org

    ReplyDelete
  12. "Thanks for all the info

    Brahmavarchas International Yoga Academy” is a peace of evidence. We all believe that this institute shall benefit the students in national as well as international level and shall encompass the mantra “the whole world is one family”.

    Best Yoga Training Academy
    "

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello Dear,

    Congratulations, you have a wonderful blog covering a truly inspiring journey.

    We have also Yoga School in Rishikesh
    Please come & join our yoga courses once.

    Our Motto: You'll come here as a STUDENT and leave as a TEACHER...!

    Hariom Yogashala (Yoga Teacher Training School) is the best and oldest Hatha - Ashtanga Yoga TTC school in Rishikesh (World Capital of Yoga) and located on the banks of the Ganges.

    We provide various certified yoga courses which are a great opportunity to become yogic and helps you to sharpen your skills in yoga. Some of these courses are 100 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course and 7 Days Yoga Retreat Program.

    more about us: https://hariomyogashala.com/
    https://hariomyogashala.com/yoga-retreats-in-rishikesh-india.php
    https://hariomyogashala.com/100-hour-beginner-yoga-course.php
    https://hariomyogashala.com/200-hour-yoga-teacher-training.php
    https://hariomyogashala.com/meditation-teacher-training-in-rishikesh-india.php

    ReplyDelete
  14. We provide best 200 Hrs Yoga Teacher Training Scholarships in Rishikesh, India at best affordable price for those who can't afford regular teacher training course. Our course curriculum includes, Hatha yoga, Aashtanga Vinyasa/ vinyasa Flow, Human Anatomy and philosophy, adjustment and alignment etc.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  17. We at Yoga TTC Scholarship, are the group of few yoga enthusiast people who are practicing yoga for last more than 10 years with educational qualifications like masters and PhD in Yoga. We are living in Rishikesh and also running yoga teacher training scholarship programs for those who are financially unable to take up regular yoga courses due to high fee charges. So we are offering yoga scholarship programs for 200 hour and 300 hour yoga courses at our ashram in Rishikesh.

    https://yogateachertrainingscholarship.com/300-hour-yoga-teacher-training-scholarship/

    https://yogateachertrainingscholarship.com/200-hour-yoga-teacher-training-scholarship/

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is a great inspiring article. I am pretty much pleased with your good work. You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post.yoga teacher training in Rishikesh
    200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for sharing these amazing love one your with us! Online Yoga Teacher Training

    ReplyDelete
  20. Meditation is not practiced only for a few years in India but it has been practiced all over the world for thousands of years. Every religion use this technique for thousands of years.
    Meditation Teacher Training in India
    200 &300 Hour Meditation Teacher Training in India
    Online Meditation Teacher Training
    500 hour Meditation Teacher Training in India

    ReplyDelete
  21. Excellent Article. Thanks for providing valuable information kindly check my new written article about infatuation scripts review

    ReplyDelete
  22. Such a beautiful artical on rishikesh and it beauty , you define it very well Yoga essence rishikesh blog how to do meditation is very help ful for mediation lovers

    ReplyDelete