Why Yoga?

Today is International Day of Yoga.

The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21st as International Day of Yoga in 2014. In one of the videos I saw of people around the world celebrating this day, the Prime Minister of India states that, "Yoga is health insurance with zero budget."

Isn't that important?  Our health.  Our wellness.  Our well being.  And reduction of costs.

Health insurance, absenteeism in the workplace, health care - it's all expensive.  Our systems focus on taking care of the symptoms.  Workplaces spend resources measuring absenteeism and developing and enforcing policies to try to reduce absenteeism. Health care, although wonderful, puts bandaids on wounds.  Of course, once an illness is present, the symptoms need to be addressed.  BUT... what if we had an opportunity to reduce sickness... reduce illness?

Yoga is a practice that is accessible to everyone at no or limited cost and could save money in workplaces and in healthcare.

Yoga is the union of body and mind.  Sure, yes, it's a physical practice.  But it's a physical practice that anyone can access.  There is advanced yoga, of course, and we see lots of pictures of yogis in pretzel like poses.  But there is also chair yoga, gentle yoga, and other forms of yoga that do not require the kind of flexibility you see in many of the images in the media.

No matter what type of yoga you practice, the physical practice allows your body to be more mobile and stronger.  The physical practice enhances digestion, circulation, and respiration.  The physical practice improves balance and flexibility.  If you are not flexible, yoga is a solution for you to become more flexible!  And, yes, yoga can help with weight loss.  It also improves athletic performance, and many famous athletes practice.

But there is something else to yoga.

Yoga brings mental acuity.  Calmness.  Compassion to self and others.  Clarity.  Insight.  Creativity. Focus.  Yoga brings harmony to the chaos in life.

Yoga is your attitude and your lifestyle.  A smile.  An act of kindness.  Cooperation.  Forgiveness.  Gratitude.  Silence. Integrity.  Contentment.  Vitality.  Devotion.

Yoga brings wellness and is an inexpensive way to help treat and prevent illness.

On this International Day of Yoga, I challenge you to find something in yoga that can bring wellness to your life, to your workplace, to your community.  Here are 12 suggestions:

• Find a yoga class in your community or on You Tube and do it!
• Sit for a few minutes in nature and enjoy the sounds.
• Do a random act of kindness.
• Contemplate on what is important to you.
• Call someone who needs an ear or a shoulder.
• Spend face to face time with your partner.
• Run barefoot in the grass.
• Forgive someone.
• Focus on your breath for five minutes.
• Complete a few sun salutations.
• Join my Living Your Yoga Facebook Page
• Sign up for my summer yoga classes at tina@pomroy.ca
• Tuesdays, July 5-Aug. 30, 7-8 a.m. - Gentle Morning Yoga, Yoga Kula Coop
• Tuesdays, July 5-Aug. 30, 12-12:50 p.m. - Lunchtime Flow, Quidi Vidi Lake, near bandstand
• Tuesdays, July 5-Aug. 30, 7-8:15 p.m. - Mixed Level Hatha Yoga, Yoga Kula Coop

The list is endless.  I would love to hear what you find and what you experience.  Yoga is also about inspiring.  I am always inspired by my students' and yogi friends' stories.  I encourage you to share yours on my Going Om Facebook page!

Namaste <3 

A Creative Return - The Turning Point from Depression to Passion

Last year, I realized I was experiencing depression.  I'd gone through burn-out, an identity crisis, many high stress life situations (good and not so good), financial crisis, and I was experiencing chronic pain with no solutions.  It seemed it all began when I made a huge step to change my life, leave my job, house and business, and begin traveling the world.  I started my life with my husband and had a second child.  My oldest was having worldly experiences and was happy.  Life was truly wonderful.  And my downward spiral was beginning at the same time my life was amazing.

I had come to that point in your life when you let your guard down.  Maybe I could no longer go on the way I was - go go go.... do do do.  I was present for my oldest child.  I was lucky enough to know that the years pass quickly so be present for every moment.  And I was.  And I'm thankful of that because I hear so many people talk about missing their children growing up.  I did not miss her growing up, and I loved every moment of it... most of which were as a single Mom.  Somehow, and with the help of my parents, I managed to be there for her for it all, have a fabulous career, and take care of my health. I didn't have much money, I put my dreams on hold... but I was happy.

It certainly wasn't a bad life.

We all know, though, that when we continue down a path that imprisons your Self, no matter how good it looks, we will eventually hit a wall.

My life had a lot of meaning.  I was a Mom and revelled in my relationship with my daughter.  I was in a leadership role in my work and had opportunities to work with amazing people and businesses to create change - personally and organizationally.  And I did.  But somewhere along the way, I felt I lost my identity and everything began to shift.  I lost my purpose.  I hit the wall... but I pushed through the wall for a few more years.  I was often exhausted and in pain.  I found myself lost in business and, frankly, lost in life.

I was lucky to have my husband and oldest daughter to help.  I did not have to get up and go to a job because my business income (as limited as it was) was not required to put food on the table.  If that had been the case, I probably would have been fired for low performance.  I had no idea I was depressed.  I fought it really hard.  And I probably never would have told anyone.  In fact, when my husband suggested I might be, I said I was not.  I tried to hide it as much as possible - from everyone.

I shifted my business a kazillion times... never quite fully committing to what I was doing and constantly making changes.  I was unfocused and simply didn't know what I wanted.  One day, I decided to go after the dream.  You know that dream you had when you were 20 but you knew you had to go to school and make money to survive, so the dream was put on the back burner?

That dream for me was having a retreat centre.  It was called A Piece of Peace.  And it's been sitting in my mind for over 20 years.

So I talked to a business advisor about how to make this happen.  She told me I'd never make money at it around here and advised me to not do it.

But, just like in the past when something was really important to me, the fire in my belly took over. Somehow, I drummed up the energy to organize a yoga retreat... and somehow I decided it had to be a yoga AND creativity retreat!  WHAT?!

I'm not a painter or sculptor or singer or designer of any kind.  But I knew deep down that creativity was key.  I just didn't know why.  I always enjoyed creative activities - I danced most of my life - but I did not KNOW anything about it.  So why did I think I had to have a creativity retreat?

Things happened that you couldn't plan... like... an artist approached me to hold a retreat and wanted to help.  I was still contemplating the whole idea and hesitated but finally gave in and said yes.  So I worked long hours designing, marketing, and preparing for this yoga and creativity retreat.  I had no idea if anyone would register, but I went ahead and booked the space and food.  I had many bumps in the road, but the retreat ended up being perfect.  It was the perfect size.  The perfect location.  The perfect people showed up.

Participants gave amazing feedback.  I was thrilled I could offer these people something they wanted. Needed.  Valued.  Some of them had deep insights - not that it is a requirement for a great retreat. And I found something too.

I found myself.

I had forgotten who I was.  I lost my purpose.  The time leading up to the retreat, I found me.  And I realized, I'd been depressed... for quite a long time.  I felt like I just opened up a window that had been stuck and I could finally get some fresh air.  It was a step towards healing.

I knew I would hold more retreats.  And I knew they would help people.  But, I still didn't know exactly how... even though I'd had this personal experience and others came to me telling me how the retreat impacted them profoundly.

My next Unleash Your Creative Spirit Retreat is May 27-29.  And I've been marketing it without really understanding the whole purpose of it.  The other day I realized what I found is what others can find.

A passion and zest for life.

It is not necessary to have lost your purpose or passion to attend this retreat because a dose of self-expression is good at any time.  But if you feel lost, overwhelmed, empty, or like you've hit the wall, this retreat can help to give you the space to realize your Self.  Creativity is a form of self expression, and when we feel lost, accessing that place where we can truly express ourselves can save us.

When I was in a state of depression, I felt I added no value to this world.  I knew it was silly to think this way, but I truly could not see it.  I knew people would be sad if I was not here.  But I did not believe I was adding value by being here.  I felt so strongly about this that I wouldn't dare tell anyone I felt this way in fear of what they would think or say.  I was not interested in people telling me I did add value or I just had to change my perspective.  I needed to go inside to create space and cultivate something... anything... that felt good again.

The process of creating the Unleash Your Creative Spirit Retreat itself cracked open my soul and cultivated a spark of something that felt good.  Although I was leading the retreat, the energy, participation, and feedback from the participants made me realize I did something good.  Although this feedback made me feel valuable... the best part of it all was the realization that my true value is simply being here... and taking steps to make things happen that ignite my soul.  And that passion will ripple outward, just by being truly me.

The Unleash Your Creative Spirit Retreat offers a step to ignite your soul.  If you are interested in this retreat, email tina@pomroy.ca.  More details can be found on the Facebook event page for Unleash Your Creative Spirit ~ A Yoga and Creativity Retreat.

A Yogi Valentine's

Since I first practiced yoga about 20 years ago, I knew it was something I believed in.  I wasn't quite sure why, but I knew.  Since then, I've practiced, read, researched, and completed my 200-hour teacher training... and I now teach, continue to practice, and continue to learn with training, reading, researching, and reflection. I still know very little, but I have a little bit of understanding about why I believe in yoga.

Valentine's Day has been a special time for me for many years.  As I've written in a previous blog post, Presence for Presents, it wasn't always.  I once rolled my eyes at all the stereotypical romance promoted for this day of love.  But I live in the 'love world' - that's what I call it - and that means love comes in many forms.

I'm that kind of person who finds joy in small things.  I always connected to nature.  I was told a young child told his mother that, "Tina is always smiling."  Of course, that was from a young child's perspective - I wasn't always smiling!  But, I was that person who generally lived in love... without trying and without knowing it.  Even in the workplace, I used love as a tool.  As a leader of a team, I did my best to use compassion in times of uncertainty or help me manage a difficult situation or empower my team.  I also turned to love when I didn't know what else to do.  I didn't really have a clue how to be a parent at 23 years old and single... so I decided I will simply love my daughter with every cell of my body and mind, and at least she would know love.  That couldn't be a bad thing, right?

This was the love world I lived in.  However, I was often (very often) without romantic love.  From others' perspectives, I didn't have much either.  I struggled financially.  I did not travel much.  I lived with my parents for several years until I could save a downpayment for a house.  I was rarely adorned with gifts at times like Valentine's Day.  I was single a lot.  I was often questioned about my single-dom and received looks of pity.  My response to this was usually that I loved my life as it was.

There were times over the years when I lost my sense of the love world.  If I go back and reflect on those times, I would probably see that every single time, I lost a sense of myself.  I forgot who I was. I disconnected from myself - the true source of love.

THIS is true love.  Romantic love is fabulous, and I'm grateful I have a wonderful husband to share that with (who DOES adorn me with presents and presence).  There probably isn't a better feeling in the world than the love a parent has for their children.  And I'm grateful I'm lucky to have the privilege to experience that love... and receive a child's love back in return.

But... I've come to learn that these things, as important as they are to me... are not where true love lies.  They could disappear.  Depending on them as a source of happiness is seeking love externally.

My source of happiness, I have learned over the years, is finding love for me.  That does not mean I need to pamper myself in the way many ads portray self-love.  Rather, for me, that means an unconditional acceptance of myself.  Really, you can get a weekly massage and a daily bath and take time to do all the things you love, and if you don't have complete self-acceptance, you still do not have self-love.

My Valentine's Day is every day.  Love is a practice.  If we cannot find love within ourselves, the external sources of love will never satisfy us.  We will always feel like we are seeking love.  Love and acceptance of ourselves is sometimes difficult, but like I tell my students, when you can become friends with all parts of yourself, the things you like and do not like, you can experience love... and then, and only then, can you spread it around.

As a yogi, I practice love everyday (practice meaning I'm not always successful).  However, I also love Valentine's Day and I definitely do chocolate and special activities.  Do these things make me happy?  Of course! The difference is that I practice not depending on them for my happiness.

"Only love of the absolute, eternal truth is the greatest."  ~ Naradi Bhakti Sutras 1.81

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How Desire Strips You of Happiness

Have you ever tried really hard to be friends with someone and the friendship never really came to fruition?

When I moved back to NL almost four years ago, I was starting new.  I was in a completely different place in life with a baby, I was beginning a new career and business, and most of my friends did not live here.  I met so many wonderful people; however, I have not made many new close friends.

I was yearning to make friends with certain people.  They seemed to be like-minded, fun, and 'real'.  But there was something missing....

They didn't include me.

That's not entirely true.  I was included in some events, mostly for business.  And everyone was kind to me.  But I wasn't invited out to dinner or for a girls night or to exclusive events.  I wasn't included on their list of 30+ like-minded friends tagged on social media posts.

So I kept trying.  You know... engaging on social media, sending personal notes, and working at the possibility of getting together beyond business.  And it just never happened.  This all did not bode well with me in my mind.  I have always been a likeable person and have not had to work so hard to make friends.  What was wrong with me?  Why didn't these people want to include me?

A couple of months ago in yoga teacher training, my teacher said, allow the karmic experiences to come to you.  And it struck me.  I've been pushing.  I've been desiring.  I've not only been searching for friends, but I've been searching for ways to help the world.  I've offered my time to a few associations and organizations and was turned down!  I've been seeking out ways to just do good.

I was filled with desire.  It was good desire.  Desire to help.  Desire to be around like-minded people doing good in the world.  But it was desire.

I had to surrender.  I had to stop desiring and start being in my life as it is.  Doing good starts right here.

Sometimes situations or people are not aligned with you even when it seems that they are.  This does not mean you or the other person is in a better place or that you don't deserve what you desire.  It simply means you are in a different place - right now.  That situation or person may very well come into your life at a different time - when you aren't pushing for it.

When your energy goes into desiring things to be different, you miss out on all the opportunities that enter into your world naturally.  Desire can strip you from happiness.  Desire results in wishing things were different.  But they aren't.  When you surrender to this moment, and you focus on all the things you CAN do, you find peace.  You find contentment.  You realize that you have choice.  You begin to put your energy into your own path, rather than desiring someone else's.  And it's far from selfish because you then have the energy to do good in the world.

In yoga practice when you do a balance pose... you must be grounded and focused or you lose balance.  If you look around the room and compare yourself to others or desire to be in their position, you lose balance... you might fall on your face (I have done that).  The key to a balance pose is drowning out the noise (literally and in your mind) around you and find focus.  If you wish you could be in a different place with the pose, you will likely lose your balance and not accomplish what you can do in that moment.

I began focusing on my own life.  I began focusing on what I do have and the beautiful people around me.  And I realized that there is a lot of good to do right here - I was missing opportunities to help that were right in front of me.

We all desire things.  Like in mindfulness meditation, though, if we can catch the desire... become aware of it... then we can take action to reduce and maybe even eliminate the desire.  Then you have the possibility to live the life you want.  You can't do that when you are desiring someone else's life.

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