Yoga by Leah

01/21/2022

At midnight last night Vietnam time, one of the great Buddhist teachers of our time, passed away at 95 - Thich Nhat Hanh

Nobel laureate Martin Luther King Jr nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967.

In his book, "At Home in the World", published in 2016, Nhat Hanh addressed his inevitable death. He wrote:

"This body of mine will disintegrate, but my actions will continue me… If you think I am only this body, then you have not truly seen me. When you look at my friends, you see my continuation. When you see someone walking with mindfulness and compassion, you know he is my continuation. I don’t see why we have to say “I will die,” because I can already see myself in you, in other people, and in future generations.

Even when the cloud is not there, it continues as snow or rain. It is impossible for the cloud to die. It can become rain or ice, but it cannot become nothing. The cloud does not need to have a soul in order to continue. There’s no beginning and no end. I will never die. There will be a dissolution of this body, but that does not mean my death.

I will continue, always."

Food for thought for us all.

10/30/2021

The breath is the most underrated tool I have to cope with in life. I assume it's always there, but that's a fallacy. When I breathe deep on the inhales and slow on the exhales, my breath amazingly resets my nervous system. I feel grounded after a few minutes. The contrary is true; shallow breaths create anxiety.

How I breath is how I live my life. And so, I practice yoga and meditation. With my breath, I learn how to relax into what is and discover what could be possible with .

09/28/2021

09/25/2021

Since I quit working for a living three years ago, people often ask me, "How's retirement?" I respond, "I now have a new currency, and it's not money. It's TIME. I now have the freedom to spend my time the way I please. Before, someone (my employer) bought my time to spend with them.

And so, I endeavor to try new things, learn things, and most importantly, give back. I am discovering that joy comes from within; mindful practices like meditation and yoga help. And that joy lives in each one of us, only if we relax enough for it to surface.

And so my friends, you do not have to quit your day jobs if you are not ready yet. But know that a currency as important as money, if not more, is TIME. Spend it wisely.

09/18/2021

09/10/2021

My insight today: to live a grace-filled life, one must learn how to die gracefully.

Our state of mind during our final exit reflects the state of mind we have cultivated in this physical life.

And thus, the relationship of living and dying.

❤️

07/31/2021

I ponder on this thought quite often.

I reflect on how perceived metrics of successes in life like money, fame, and stature are just fine, but I would not have lived a good life if this is all I had.

Then I imagine the moments when I felt happy, well, and loved. These were the moments that I was with friends and family. Or even when I was alone in meditation, on a hike in the woods or the hills. It was moments when I was in the ocean paddling, feeling one with the water and my surroundings.

I find meaning in being generous and kind. I find purpose in doing little acts of kindness to others, helping others, and giving back to the community. Being compassionate to myself and others is something I try to practice more. "We're all trying to find our way home," my meditation teacher would say.

What I consider important are things and moments that money cannot buy; instead, they are things and moments that bring me inner joy. Regardless of anyone else's metrics of success in life, I have my own.

What is important for you?

07/17/2021

You Are a Breath Away from Changing Your State of Mind.  

Have you ever judged a situation incorrectly because of your past negative experience? If you are a parent, you may have experienced this with your child.

How we experience the world is always through the lens of our state of being. If we are fearful, we are also fearful for others, especially our loved ones. The contrary is true. If we have learned to forgive ourselves from past wounds that led to our fearfulness, then we have transformed our state of being to compassion and love, which in turn, we give to others. 

The problem is that often, we are not aware that our state of being is a contracted state. We are not aware that negative emotions, like fear, have become our default selves. 

Try this:
1. Take a comfortable seated or lying position.
2. Place both hands on your heart.
3. Think of a person, place, or thing that you truly love.
4. Notice the feeling that comes with this thought. Notice how expansive the feeling is. It might even bring you a smile.
5. Remember this feeling. Let it consume you with your breath
6. Quietly say, "thank you."

This feeling of love is a positive state of being. Most everyone, even the most fearful ones, has experienced some form of love. Allow this feeling to surface up.

Breathe in deep and exhale super slow, emptying your lungs. Try doing this for at least 3 minutes. Enjoy this meditative practice of breathing in love. When other thoughts come along, acknowledge them but like clouds, gently let them go. 

Meditate at least daily. Through time, the feeling of love will dominate as it slowly becomes your default state of being. 

The love you feel within you is this same feeling that you will emanate to others. We are a few breaths away from a new, more expansive state of mind. But it takes practice. The beauty of it all is your breath is free!

My meditation teacher would say, "How we breathe is how we live our lives." You are self-powered to transform into a more relaxed, self-forgiving individual whose state of being is not fear but love, compassion, and grace for yourself first and then to others.

Namaste!

07/02/2021

05/28/2021

The Makauwahi Caves on Kauai, Hawaii, have been around for at least 10,000 years. Walking through the cave felt like walking in a sacred place. There was a subtle but felt energy, like whispers from the past. Just be. This is all that mattered.

03/17/2021

Grace is always within us. What prevents us from realizing Grace is our physical, mental, and emotional tension patterns. If we can learn to soften, relax, dissolve those tension patterns and be open to possibilities, we feel Grace. We create a present moment that is not a replay of the past; rather a brand new opportunity for new beginnings.

To my sister, Grace, who will be celebrating her birthday this week - your name is the essence of you. Happy birthday! ❤️

03/14/2021

3.14: Happy PI Day!