OM with Michelle

Embrace the Dragon

Happy Chinese New Year!  

What’s that?  You’re not Chinese? You have already celebrated your “New Year”, resolutions and all?  Well, my friend, this is the Year of the Dragon....I think you might want to celebrate this one....there is definite inspiration here! 

The Chinese Zodiac dedicates each year, within a twelve year cycle, to a different animal. We have rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dog, snake, horse, ram, pig, monkey rooster and last but not least (but certainly most unique), dragon.  Each and every one of these animals found to exist in nature, except the mystical, enigmatic, and dramatic dragon.  And this is why this year is particularly special! 

2012: Year of the Dragon, brings us the ability to play, be creative, fantasize, take risks, and live outside of the box like no other year.  Expect the unexpected, shift and move in unique ways, and consider this the time to be innovative.  Consider that dragons are free spirits, with restrictions, rules and conformity only dampening the creative spark of this beautiful beast. 

This year is even MORE special in that this Year of the Dragon cycle we will be experiencing the Water Dragon; featured once every sixty years in the cycle of the Zodiac.  This means we are in a very yin year; contradictory to the fiery yang image we have of the dragon. Water has a calming effect on the Dragon's fearless temperament. Perfect for taming the Dragon’s otherwise rash and quick behavior. Water allows us to re-direct our Dragon enthusiasm, making us more perceptive of others. We become better equipped to take a step back to re-evaluate a situation and are given the opportunity to practice the art of patience. 

As you absorb this information why not embrace the Dragon in your own life? Consider your “dragon qualities”: Where are you fierce and fiery?  Where are you playful and creative?  Where are you stepping out of the box and being innovative?  Where are you able to shift and flow like a water dragon? Where are these elements lacking in your life? Your relationships? Your self?

One of the safest places you can explore new elements, new concepts, and break new ground is your yoga mat.  Take the time over the next year to embrace the Dragon on your mat. Welcome in a few of these explorations:

Have you been practicing the same kind of yoga for a long period of time?  Commend your road of discipline; but also consider stepping out of routine and trying a different style of yoga once and awhile. Join a new class, consider a different teacher, explore a new form, and break away from your routine in order to spark creativity and find new perspectives. 

Are you heavily adhered to alignment in your practice? Consider sometimes that rigid alignment and rigid thinking can suck the creative life out of movement and living. Play, move with flow, explore, and consider adding asana that might be more rooted in freestyle or authentic movement.  Provided you are practicing with inner and outer awareness while in the moment, you are still doing “yoga”.  

Are you considering a balance of water and fire (yin and yang) in your practice?  Is it all hot yoga and no time for replenish and restore? Or is it all surrender with no spark of fire or step towards strength?  Invite yin and yang onto the mat.  We all gravitate towards a yoga that resonates with us, some are pulled more to yang styles, and others more to yin styles. Chances are that what you gravitate towards is your comfort zone. Consider challenging yourself to find a balance in your practice inviting in more yang styles or more yin styles. This is not only beneficial to your body but also in balancing yin and yang in your mind and spirit.

 

Once we begin to give ourselves permission to explore new spaces on our mat, and we allow ourselves to charter unnavigated territory with our bodies and our awareness we open the pathways to explore new spaces and new territory in life: our relationships, our work, our play, our home.  These journeys can be done with playfulness, creativity, a sense of humor, a flair, and an inquisitiveness that keeps us from rigidity, conformity and allows us to celebrate our individuality. 

So go ahead this year....embrace the dragon!

 

 

The Practice of Discernment

“Listen to your body.”  “Honor your body, today” 

We’ve all heard our yoga teacher guide us through class with these words.  And as simple as the words appear to be on the surface, we realize that the act of inward listening can be difficult, confusing, clouded, and nothing closely resembling clear cut.  How often have you stayed mindfully present in a yoga pose watching the physical sensations rising (some of which include a really good stretch and some of which might include a level of difficulty) and at the time it felt like the right place to be...only a day later your sore back or tweaked neck tells you otherwise?  Then you think, “Gosh! I guess I wasn’t listening to my body!” OR “I really thought I was listening to my body!”

Discerning how far to push and when to pull back in yoga is a spiritual practice.  It’s an inner-conversation we must have with ourselves again and again and again and again.  Sometimes we get it right, some times we miss the mark.  I like to think of the practice of discernment as a delicate discrimination.  We must train our inner-listening to be able to pick up on many, many layers of sensation in our bodies, not simply the first loud layer speaking to us in a stretch. We must stay present enough to go beyond that first sensation and allow our awareness to recognize the whole experience in the moment.  When we practice deep inner-listening or discernment on the mat we begin to find patterns of resistance, patterns of strive, patterns of fear, patterns of stress, as well as emotions, thoughts, and physical tendencies.  In other words, we get to know ourselves deeply....very deeply.

As the practice of discernment unfolds on the mat, the ability to practice mindful discernment in life (i.e. work, relationships, family) comes to us more easily.  Our decisions start to come from our own center rather than being dictated by those around us.  We are able to discern what nourishes us, what allows us to feel confident and loving, and what allows us to be full and whole.

When you next step onto your mat, consider setting your intention to deeply listen from within.  Let the listening be heard....so rather than judging, criticizing, intellectualizing, adding opinion or meaning....really listen to all the layers of sensation that come with your practice.  Let discernment, delicate discrimination, play itself out by exercising self-care in your practice. You will begin to find new ways to challenge your body, restore your body, and nourish your body. These new ways coming from a completely different perspective: YOU!

 

A Seasonal Change of Perspective

We are on the cusp of bringing Autumn to a close and beginning to see the signs of Winter: bare trees, fat squirrels, and the hints of flurries coming from the grey skies.  

According to the Five Elements we are moving from the season of Metal to that of Water. As the Metal element embodies Autumn we see leaves fall from the trees to cover the earth, their riches of decay reenter the earth and return everything of quality to the soil.  Without this enrichment, the process of letting go and the furthering of life cannot occur.  When we grip, hold on, and attempt to deny this process in our lives we do not give ourselves the opportunity to grieve and accept loss on many levels.  Autumn can be seen as a time of grieving, accepting the loss of long summer days, warmer weather, and outer more vibrant energies.  

The seasons continue every year, this natural cycle cannot be controlled, changed, ignored or denied.  And yet we resists with our minds, we resist the weather by making it our arch-nemesis in life.  How many times have you heard or said, “Ugh, SNOW again?!”  “I can’t STAND winter!”  “This rainy day is such a downer!”  “I am sick of this cold (or hot) weather!”  Despite any of these exclamations the weather is going to continue to change, be inconsistent, and dodge our expectations. Wouldn’t life be a bit easier if we simply accepted the things we cannot change, starting with the weather?  It’s essentially wasted energy to complain and resist the seasons.

As we begin to accept the seasons we start to see the beauty in all cycles. I am reminded of traveling in an open-aired train in Northern India through the open deserts of Rajasthan when a sweeping rain storm came across the flat land toward our moving locomotive. As Westerners our natural instinct was to begin to close the windows to keep the rain from seeping in and our bodies dry. The Indian locals were astonished, they asked, “What is the matter? Do you not like the rain?” I was immediately struck by my own conditioning.  Why have I shunned the rain?  Why is the rainy day a negative thing and the sunny day a positive?  The rain sweeping through the Rajasthani desert that day brought the gift of moisture, nourishment to the land, and a cleanse to the dusty desert people and the locals welcomed it with open arms. 

Like the cleansing rains across an Indian desert, the season of the Water Element, Winter,  approaches and we prepare to move inward.  We accept Winter’s changes which includes more time indoors spent reading, cooking, and nestled into our homes. The quiet of the Winter months allows us to spiral inward taking the time for introspection. As we move through the season of snow, cold, and crisp air we are able to look around and find comfort in the warmth of long forgotten mittens, an old soup recipe, grandma’s afghan, and the kinship of friends and family.  

Resisting and denying nature’s inevitable change blinds us; it keeps us from seeing the wonders of rain, the beauty of snow, the grace of clouds, and the miracles within seasonal transitions.  If we come to a place where we can embrace the cycles of life and move with grace in and out of our own changes we experience a sense of freedom and we keep from being tethered by our own rigidity.  Ponder what it might feel like to be open and rather than resisting what is to come or what is in front of you, be fluid and adaptable like the flow of water allowing you to welcome and accept the beauty of what nature gives daily, seasonly, and yearly. 

To learn more about the Five Chinese Elements experience Yin Yoga + Chinese Tea with  Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner, E-RYT 500 Certified Yoga Instructor & Certified Yoga Therapist.  Each month this workshop features a new element of the five with a Yin Yoga practice followed by a meditative Chinese gongfu tea ceremony at The November 13th workshop will feature the METAL Element and the December 11th workshop will feature the WATER Element. For more information visit: WORKSHOPS.

 

A Peak into my Library....

Many of my students, clients and colleagues have been asking more and more about books and resources to help quench their thirst for knowledge and help propel their spiritual journey forward.  This is just scratching the surface, but here are a few books that have helped me along the way...I hope in some way they speak to some of you.

If you are interested in adding some of these books to your own library, please consider your local independent bookstore first, they are sadly a dying breed. If that path is unsuccessful, you can buy used books on Amazon....many of those sellers happen to be independent booksellers from around the country. Buy with integrity.

 

Inspirational & Growth...

Yoga and the Quest for the True Self by Stephen Cope.  A yogi and a psychologist who shares his journey of yoga at Kripalu while embracing the philosophies of yoga.

Yoga Beyond Belief by Ganga White.  A great beginners guide to the philosophy of yoga in modern life.

A Gradual Awakening by Stephen Levine.  A simple and gentle book on meditation...one you will come to again and again.

Unintended Sorrow by Stephen Levine.  Beautiful book on how to work through sorrow, sadness, and grief. A must for everyone in finding peace and ease.

Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser.  A series of stories and insights and lessons on the transitions and changes through life.

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.  Steeped in Zen, Taoism, Buddhism and Christianity this is a book on how to live in the present moment in modern society.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.  More in depth than the above listed New Earth...Tolle goes deeply into presence of mind and it’s obstacles.

When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron.  Perfect for extreme life transitions, buddhist thoughts in wading life’s turbulent waters.

Comfortable with Uncertainty by Pema Chodron.  Similar to the book listed above, Pema guides us into a place of peace during times of unknown and uncertainty allowing us to let go of control.

Waking: A Journey of Trauma & Transcendence by Matthew Sanford.  Matt’s autobiography outlining the journey of a spinal cord injury at age 13 and finding a practice of yoga that allows him to live and be in his whole body. Beautifully written, and life changing for all who read!

Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor.  A Neuroanatomist’s journey through having a stroke and her rehabilitation back into life.

Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind by Jon Kabat-Zinn.  This is a book of using mindfulness meditation to move through stress, illness, and chronic pain.

Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child by Thich Naht Hahn.  Title speaks for itself.

Anger: Cooling the Inner Flames by Thich Naht Hahn.  Title speaks for itself.

The Hidden Messages of Water by Dr. Masaru Emoto.  This book has the potential to profoundly transform your world view. Dr. Masaru Emoto discovered that crystals formed in frozen water reveal changes when specific, concentrated thoughts are directed toward them. This is significant in how you relate to water in your body and in the world through your thoughts, words, and intentions.

 

On Classical Yoga Texts...

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Commentary on the Raja Yoga Sutras by Sri Swami Satchidananda

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: With Great Respect and Love by Mukunda Stiles

Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by B.K.S. Iyengar

The Principal Upanishads: The Essential Philosophical Foundation of Hinduism (Sacred Wisdom)

The Upanishads by Alistair Shearer (Translator), Peter Russell (Translator)

Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita by Ram Dass

Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation by Stephen Mitchell

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. Classic read.

Living Your Yoga by Judith Lasater.  Easy to approach book on the concepts of the yamas and niyamas. Judith shares stories and insights from her own life.

Yoga Masters: How Theory can Deepen Your Practice  by Mark Forstater.  This is a great book that covers many of the classical texts in yoga and approaches the basic philosophy of yoga in layman's terms.

Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar. Classic read no matter what style of yoga you practice.

The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker’s Guide to Extraordinary Living by Stephen Cope. Cope rises out of Kripalu and is an informed writer with a psychology background. This is a great book for approaching the classic philosophy of yoga through the lens of practical life.

 

On Yin Yoga and Taoism....

yin Yoga: Outline of a Quiet Practice by Paul Grilley.  Small thorough reference book on the yin postures and theory.

Insight Yoga by Sarah Powers.  Sarah Powers philosophy combining Yin, traditional yoga, and Mindful Buddhism. Includes specialized and very useful sequences. 

YinSights by Bernie Clark.  Comprehensive book into the philosophy and practice of yin yoga.

The Yin Yoga Kit (book & DVD) by Biff Mithoefer.  Approachable book with DVD - focuses quite a bit on the meridian system.

Tao Te Ching: New English Version by Lao Tzu translated by Stephen Mitchell.  Basic translation of the Tao.

A Path and Practice: Using Lao Tzu’s Tao as a Guide to Awakened Spiritual Life by William Martin. Great useful book for putting the Tao into practice in life and on the mat.

The Tao of Inner Peace by Diane Dreher.  Another practical book with useful exercises for incorporating Taoist philosophy into life.

Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Wayne Dyer.  Beautiful book of Taoist thought & affirmations applicable to life. Dyer has 3-4 books using the basic Tao. 

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff.  Simple book on Taoist philosophy through the eyes of the Winnie the Pooh and his friends. This is a fun a simple way to become connected to the basic ideas of the Tao.

 

On Chakras....

Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith, Ph.D.  Anodea Judith is probably one of the most reknown experts on the chakra system and it’s link to social and psychological behavior today. This is a very solid, well-rounded book to have on hand regarding the chakras. 

East Body Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self by Anodea Judith, Ph.D.  A very in-depth read of the chakra system and it’s link to behavioral patterns and the psyche.

The Seven Healing Chakras by Brenda Davies, MD.  Covers all major chakras but spends most of her time discussing the root chakra.  Excellent meditations.

The Seven Healing Chakras Workbook:  Exercises and Meditations for Unlocking Your Body’s Energy Centers by Brenda Davies, MD.  Excellent workbook with meditations and opportunities to journal emotions, feelings, and issues.

The Chakra Workbook by Anna Voigt.  Well-rounded little book on chakra system, yoga, and self-exploration through your own chakra balancing.

Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing by Caroline Myss, Ph.D. A reknown medical intuitive known as an authority on the chakras. This book is practical knowledge of the chakra system explaining why we create the behavioral patterns we do and how to break from them.  Dr. Myss also explains deeply how the chakras relate directly to the the sacraments of Christianity and the branches of Judaism.

Wheels of Light by Rosalyn L. Bruyere.  Standard text on chakras, auras and healing energy. 

 

On Rumi....

Rumi: Bridge to the Soul translation by Coleman Barks.  Small sweet little book of newly translated poems marking the 800th Birthday or Rumi.

Rumi, The Big Red Book translation by Coleman Barks.  Large collection of Rumi poems.

Rumi: In the Arms of the Beloved translation by Jonathan Star.  Sweet and meaningful translations.

A Year with Rumi by Coleman Barks.  365 days of Rumi quotes and poems accompanied by a written exerpt that invites you into more pondering.

The Soul of Rumi: A New Collection of Ecstatic Poems by Coleman Barks.  Contains some of the more obscure and hidden works of Rumi.

Love Poems from God by Daniel Landinsky.  Twelve Sacred Mystic Poets from East to West. Included Rumi as well as his contemporary Hafiz.

Me and Rumi: The Autobiography of Shams-I Tabrizi by Shams Tabriz.  A more in depth guide to the relationship between Shams and Rumi.

Sufism: A Beginner’s Guide by William Chittick.  Understanding the basic philosophy of Sufism.

 

 

 

Replenish from the Inside

Soup can replenish and nourish any time of day....

When we consider replenishing our body, heart and spirit we cannot leave out the nourishing activity of eating.  What if you were told the Buddha was coming to dinner this evening?  What would you serve?  Would you order pizza? Dig through the freezer and find a LeanCuisine?  Or would you find the most amazing ingredients you could find, prepare them lovingly, cook them with love and gratitude and serve them in the most beautiful display on your best china?  Well, guess what? The Buddha comes to dinner every day my friend!  You ARE Buddha! And you deserve to be nourished lovingly, beautifully, and with the quality that nature has so wondrously provided us humans....every day you deserve this; every meal!  

Much effort goes into cooking and preparing dinners for many people. It seems for many, it is the most important meal of the day.  I beg to differ. I believe that when you are breaking a fast that the first meal you have after that fast is the most important.  Therefore, after a full and restful night of sleep (and especially after a not so restful night) the best thing you can do for yourself is to replenish your body with a nourishing breakfast so that you are able to embrace your day.  This recipe for morning soup does three things: 1) Breaks the mold that breakfast must look like breakfast (eggs, toast, cereal, etc)    2) Takes a little time to prepare ahead of time, therefore slows you down and allows you to reconnect to your food with gratitude   3) Provides well-rounded nourishment with quality whole foods moving away from packaged products and common allergens.

 

JAPANESE FISH SOUP

1 whole fish, including head (about 3 lbs)

1 large onion, chopped

1 carrot, peeled and chopped

3 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 cup of white wine or sake

1-2 inch of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

3 quarts of filtered water

1 white daikon radish, peeled and grated

3/4 cup of enoki mushrooms (can be replaced with other varieties)

1 bunch of green onions, finely chopped

Sea salt or fish sauce for seasoning

 

In a large, stainless steel pot, saute onions and chopped carrot in olive oil until soft. Add wine/sake and bring to a boil. Add fish, water and ginger. Bring to a boil and skim. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for several hours (6-7) or over night. Remove fish and pour remaining stock through strainer into a clean pot. Remove flesh from fish and return to stock along with grated daikon and mushroom. Season generously with sea salt or fish sauce. Simmer 10-12 minutes and serve with green onions for garnish or stir in before serving.

Of course this recipe can be played with...exclude the fish and add tofu, swap carrots for daikon, add or replace your favorite vegetables....enjoy! 

This article was featured in Yoga Center of Minneapolis' Summer Magazine edition 2011 by Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner, E-RYT and Certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist.

But I'm not broken...

"I don't have any issues, nor am I in crisis...why would I want Yoga Therapy?"

The word therapy implies that there is a need to solve a problem, or remedy some imbalance, or take away some disease or pain. Our general thoughts around getting therapy whether it be massage therapy, physical therapy, or talk therapy is that when we come out on the other end we are "better" in some way. Which implies that we were cracked, broken, or imbalanced beforehand.

Because of this meaning attached to the word therapy, so many of us avoid the self-care needed in creating a balanced life. Unfortunately, we coast along navigating the peaks and valleys of life without reaching out for support and tools that can help us along the way. And it's only until we hit crisis or catastrophe do we then decide we are in need of some kind of therapy.  What if we were to take away this linear, improvement-driven thinking around therapy and just look at it as an opportunity for self-discovery? Couldn't we all use a little self-discovery as we move through life?  Wouldn't life be a bit easier if we could see the early stages of the slow and insidious patterns we build over time in order to hide and isolate ourselves?

I can't tell you how many times I have shared the essence of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy with someone in a conversation only to have them say, "So you must work with people who have very heavy issues or who are in deep trauma or crisis?"  And often they are very surprised to hear that the majority of my clients are normal, every day people who deal with the same pitfalls and successes we all have in life, like having their kids go off to college, a change in their career, a sudden move or relocation, or the loss of a pet.  To some, these things CAN feel like crisis. But, the reality is that every phase in our life, whether it is riddled with drama, or serene and mundane, is an opportunity to look within and allow for our full authentic self to flourish.

Issues, traumas, crises, or hiccups....Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy is self-discovery, allowing the client to quietly and safely look within and see the amazing beauty of their own true self, regardless of what life is handing them. Instead of aiming to be fixed, healed, or repaired, PRYT acknowledges that the client is already perfect and simply allows them to discover all of his/hers strengths and tools for living a balanced life. 

Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner is a Certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist and a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She sees clients one on one and teaches classes throughout the Twin Cities. She is holding an upcoming workshop, A Taste of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, at taraNa Yoga in Minneapolis on Saturday, September 10th, 1-3pm. 

NEW CLASS...Guys Yoga!

Yoga's not just for the ladies!

There has been plenty of media surrounding the lack of men in the yoga room these days. Reports by Yoga Journal (click here for article), Men's Health, Men's Journal, and even MPR (click here for MPR article), have all featured stories from the male perspective of entering a yoga room surrounded by flexible women. And although this might appear on the surface to be a male's dream situation, no one likes to feel vulnerable and out of their element when trying something new. Hence the need for a strictly all guys yoga class!

Think of it...a place where a guy can go to practice yoga with or without his buddies and be ok with not being able to twist himself into a pretzel yet at the same time be able to utilize his strengths.  Face it, guys are built a bit differently than women. They are more likely to have more upper body strength which can give them the advantage in many yoga postures. And yet, lower body tightness might make for an inflexible life-style which can be improved with a regular yoga practice.  

A little deeper yet, is the body/mind connection. Guys in general tend to whisk away their stress as if it can be compartmentalized and hidden away.  Or they may find their stress a thrill, using it to stay motivated by operating like an adrenaline junkie day to day. Either way, yoga is a way to manage stress, calm the mind, and help form healthy and balanced lifestyle habits.

This is an invitation by me (Michelle) to all the guys out there, flexible and inflexible, to check out Guys Yoga at The Om Collective each Wednesday morning 7:30-8:30am....whatya got to lose?

CLASS DESCRIPTION....

GUYS YOGA • WEDNESDAYS, starting March 16th • 7:30-8:30am

Gentleman!  Are you a runner? Cycler? Golfer? Weekend Warrior?  Or even a stressed out Office-Jack-of-all-Trades?  Well, the benefits of yoga are NOT just for ladies!  Enjoy your own class where you can reduce stress, invest in your body, and up your game. Geared towards getting into the tight places while working on strength and range of motion, this class will be a combination of Yin/Vinyasa styles of yoga. Yin yoga works to open up your flexibility by targeting the deep connective tissue with quiet and intense holds. Vinyasa, a moving and flowing yoga, will maintain and build strength and mobility in your body.  Emphasis on breath and mindfulness will also help to reduce stress and clear that cluttered mind.  Beginners and the inflexible welcome.  

The Om Collective   3350 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis  www.theomcollective.com
Drop-in rates are $15 per class or 5-class pass for $60 (payment directly to Michelle • cash/check only)

 

Knitting & Yoga as Life's Teachers

Think about it, it’s a rare sight in our high-tech, fast-paced world to see someone sitting still and working with their hands in an effort to create something...and no, sitting still and staring at a small screen with thumbs idling tapping away a text message does not compare.  I’m talking about the crafters: the knitters, the crocheters, the needleworkers...those holding up a history of tradition in their own small way in a world filled with cheap and easily accessible manufacturing.

I myself, am a knitter, an avid one. There are at least 3-4 knitting projects going on in my life at any given time, year round. Some I whip out fast and furiously, anxious to get to a final product, some take their own sweet time slowly growing into their final destination of a blanket or a pair of socks, and frankly some have lingered for years never having reached their goal of their tale ends being tucked in or parts sewn together to become a wearable garment.  In recent years my knitting took a new direction as my approach became more spiritual and linked to my yoga practice.  I started to look at the meaning behind two very important concepts:  perfection and final destination.

Letting Go of Perfection

When you are creating something by hand, you don’t usually decide to put in all that time just to produce a hap-hazard, sloppy product.  One takes pride in their work. Ask any artist, crafter, designer or creative.  However, what makes a hand-knit sweater or a crocheted blanket so much better than the one you bought from the store for a quarter of the price?  It’s the slight imperfections in the slip of the human hand that creates that beauty; an individuality to the piece not obtainable by machine.  As I have discovered, striving for perfection can be a huge barrier in knitting. It means keeping yourself from trying something new, like a more difficult pattern, or worse constantly ripping out stitches and starting over only to find you are not able to duplicate the picture on the pattern perfectly.  This rigidness can be seen in the knitting, often tight and overworked.  My disappointment with various projects along with my fear of completing some projects due to not wanting to screw them up lead me to reassess my relationship with knitting.  Ever-looking at my yoga practice for guidance in every corner of my life...I recall that if I were to strive for perfection on the mat that I would be sabotaging an authentic practice that doesn’t make room for me to show up as I am. Letting go of perfection, means that I can make room for acceptance. What happened when I started to embrace this in yoga is that I had more fun, felt more free, and came into my own body. It’s no different in knitting....I became more relaxed as I knit, more confident in trying new things and more accepting in my mistakes and mishaps.  

As a teacher of yoga and knitting: beginners are my favorite.  Constantly reminding students to let go of what things look like, I tell them to simply feel the pattern of knitting in your hands or feel the yoga pose in your body. This is the best way to learn.  Awkwardness is a part of starting anything new....when you can leave some space for that to show up, your experience becomes easier and begins to flow.

Letting go of the Final Destination

It’s simply human to always be looking at the end-product or the outcome of things. But when we do this, we take ourselves immediately out of the present moment, cutting off our current experience.  In knitting, we often choose what we will knit based on the final product we see in a book or a yarn shop window.  Yoga is no different, we see the pose in a book, DVD, or modeled in class by the instructor and we strive for that final expression.  But what if there were no pattern? No names for asanas in yoga? Instead we were asked to simply knit and purl to our hearts desires? Or stretch and move to our body’s liking? Would these still be knitting and yoga? Absolutely!  It’s this very concept that ignited my knitting in a much more spiritual way. Choosing yarns and colors only because I was attracted to them in that moment, not because they would be good for socks or a hat or a great scarf, then casting on these luscious wools onto my favorite wooden needles and knitting with no final destination in mind. Knitting whatever patterns I wanted, making mistakes along the way, sometimes fixing them, sometimes leaving them.  What I found was a deep liberation in the craft. The simple act of looping wool around wooden sticks became a quiet meditation and the opportunity to be in the present moment with my handwork. Of course, I still choose patterns and knit with the intention of finishing something to be worn by me or given as a gift. And I still find poses in my yoga practice that I work towards. The difference now is I try to enjoy the journey along they way, knowing that each and every moment that takes me there is important and worth experiencing.

Of course, these concepts of letting go of perfection and final destination can be applied to all aspects of our life allowing us more freedom to live authentically. But what I have personally found is that when we take concepts as full as these and attempt to blanket them over all that we do our efforts tend to get lost.  For me, my teachers have been yoga and knitting.  Who’s to say you can’t explore these concepts in gardening, cooking, or dancing?  Find what you love to do....and embrace the present moment allowing for acceptance in these activities and watch them unfold in your life as one of your own spiritual teachers.

Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner is a Certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist and Yoga Teacher. She teaches YOGA+KNIT, a combination yoga class followed by a community knit circle that welcomes all abilities including beginners. Upcoming YOGA+KNIT dates at Devanadi Yoga in Linden Hills on Nov 21, Jan 9, and Feb 20. Michelle also runs two knit blogs revolving around knitting in the community: CommunityKNIT and RANDOMknits.

 

Finding a Deeper Balance

Your morning is rushed because you decided to hit the snooze one too many times. Breakfast is gulped down if not missed. The kids just barely made it off to school and you are rushing to get one errand in before the morning meeting.  Back to back meetings and tasks fill your day. Lunch is grabbed on the go and by the time five o’clock hits you are off and running into the evening frenzy of getting kids off to sports and activities, making sure the family is fed and potentially (hopefully) squeezing in a little “me” time.

In amongst all the busy-ness and rush of day to day life....what does your “me” time look like? Is it throwing yourself on the couch from exhaustion with the TV projecting mindless pictures into your brain?  Is it an attempt to cram in some extra errands like grocery shopping?  Is it a run, massage, trip to the gym, or yoga class?  And is the quality of your “me” time supporting and balancing out your busy lifestyle?

In a chaotic and hectic world filled with stimulus from fast-paced technology, quality alone time, where one can truly decompress, is difficult.  Our body and minds are so used to stimulus that we thrive on just as much of it, if not more, in our personal activities: running marathons, hot yoga, Crossfit training, movies, sports games...these are all personal activities that involve stimulus.  Indeed, these stimuli are removed from the office and the family and provide a break from life, but are you getting enough space, quiet, openness and reflectivity in your life?

If you practice yoga as one of your “me” activities or if you have a very physical exercise program you may want to consider a quieter, more spacious practice 1-2 times a week.  Your nervous system will thank you, in turn boosting your immunity.  A fast pace over-stimulated body and mind is in constant ‘fight or flight’ mode keeping the sympathetic nervous system switch stuck in ON and constantly producing cortisol in your system.  A quieter more yielding yoga practice or activity allows the parasympathetic nervous system to take over, creating a deeper sense of calm and release in your body.  

A quieter more spacious yoga practice does not have to be filled with fluff or be unchallenging. In fact, you might find a meditation class more challenging than a Bikram class because in Bikram you are relying on the stimulus of heat, extension, and strength to keep you in check. Meditation instead requires you to meet yourself on the mat along with your vulnerabilities; no barriers, no smoke and mirrors. Challenging in it’s own right, a Yin yoga practice is also another deep and quiet way of coming into a more yielding space. The postures can be challenging in their holds but are fully supported by gravity and props. The spaciousness that is provided in Yin’s journey allows for the opportunity to quiet the body and the mind while finding the language of tuning into self.  Other more yielding practices might include: Restorative Yoga, Gentle Yoga, and Tai Chi, and any meditation practice. 

At first, these will be difficult to embrace, especially if your life is filled with very physical practices/activities. But over time as you invite space into your life you’ll begin to see how it starts to show up in your day to day activities. You’ll notice that you have been practicing being in more of your parasympathetic nervous system which ultimately promotes that sense of calm. That way, when true stress shows up in your life, you may not need to flee from it with that “run to shake things off”....instead, your desire brings you to the mat for some welcomed quiet space.

Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner, E-RYT teaches Yin Yoga, Gentle Yoga, & Mindful Vinyasa and is a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist. Her upcoming workshop Yin Yoga: A Deeper Practice will be held at Sigh Yoga + Boutique on Saturday, November 13th, 2-4pm. Look for her upcoming workshop: A Taste of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy in January 2011.

 

Making the Space for Transformation...

Many words of wisdom, from Buddha to the Tao to Jesus, often express that the path to liberation is not fed by the outside world and the circumstances we are in, but by the transformation that happens with in us.

I recently was geared and ready to head to Guatemala for a three-week trip of hiking and culture in Central America with my husband and distant friends we haven't seen in years, when a sudden hurricane and eruption of volcano, Mt. Pacaya, created disaster in the country forcing us to cancel our trip.  My three weeks of sun, adventure, and exploration turned into a stay-cation of Midwest summer rain and unusual cool June weather. 

With time to attend to my personal yoga practice I attended various classes around the Twin Cities. In one particular class my ears rang with a quote shared out loud reminding us that it is not necessary to travel to faraway places or exotic destinations to find ourselves and our bliss if we truly know and believe it is within us.  I refrained from gritting my teeth, but I felt that the words were directed right towards me. And yet, despite my free time to spend at home cooking, cleaning out old boxes and closets, gardening, and catching up on reading and doing yoga, my pause was un-inspirational and not as refreshing as I would have desired.  I felt like failure. What was wrong with me? Why was I not refreshed and beaming from my stay-cation?  I had plenty of time without life's usual pull to relax my body, refresh my thoughts, and recharge my creativity...only it just hadn't happened.  Am I attached to my outward experiences to create my happiness?

Fortunately, a couple weeks after my "stay-cation" I had the wonderful opportunity to enjoy a trip to Switzerland/Italy for ten days with my husband.  Our time there was glorious in many ways from weather, to food, to new friends.  We embraced being lost in the moment, never knowing what time it was and often times even being lost in cities not knowing where we were, oblivious to life and work back at home.  When it was time to come home, we were ready to return to our lives, our work, our community.  The feeling of being inspired, refreshed, and rejuvenated accompanied me back to my daily life in Minneapolis. 

As I reflect with curiosity on the stay-cation vs. the vacation and the effects it had on my body, mind and spirit, I realize that the container in which our experience occurs continues to be important to our transformation. We all experience the feeling in our bodies and our minds when the sun doesn't shine for weeks versus eight to ten days of glorious warm sun guiding our days. When we recognize that the space and environment around us needs to be supportive, nurturing, and fulfilling we create the space for creativity and inpiration within us.  I was at a place in my life where I needed a new perspective to feel refreshed....Switzerland/Italy gave me that, and I am most grateful for the opportunity.  

It's true. Not everyone has the ability to travel to far away lands to find a slice of bliss. And of course, these moments of bliss are truly available within us as well. But recognizing that your environment is essential to your thriving and flowing through life is key to your happiness. You wouldn't tell a flower that it should just figure out how to bloom without sun, water, and soil to nourish it! We must recognize in ourselves how to best nourish our spirit knowing that each of us will find that nourishment differently.

Eckhart Tolle says it best..."As far as inner transformation is concerned, there is nothing you can do about it. You cannot transform yourself, and you certainly cannot transform your partner or anybody else. All you can do is create a space for transformation to happen, for grace and love to enter."