Tag Archives: joy

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No Joy – No Gain

Sometimes we think that steady effort is pain. We think of the adage ”No pain, no gain.” Do we not? We think, “I have to muster up the resolve somewhere inside to do it anyway” and then wonder why we have no joy once we are actually doing the work. Half-way through a project, any project, you can decide you wish you hadn’t chosen it if you start to feel it is a burden rather than cherished time. But this is not hard. What our challenge is is this: can you move your own mind to be more creative than that? Can you find a way to apply yourself so you do not get lost in the habits of the mind? Can you approach whatever is in front of you with more joy than that? This is the real work, isn’t it?

In yoga, we do not approach pain the same way you might in other practices. We are not looking for a smarting pain. But sometimes the pain we experience is actually more about the emotion of not wanting to feel intensity. This we can work with. You only add to your experience of pain if you treat the work you do like it is drudgery and a chore. Do you tend to let go of the creative aspects to how you approach what you are doing? Thinking of how you move, how you do the work, and how you apply the mind can make a huge difference in your experience of any process. It isn’t the work itself that is a problem. In fact, the work itself has absolutely nothing to do with how you experience the process of doing the work. Your habits of how you approach the work does.

Once there was a time I remember, when I did 35 sun salutations. The day before I did 31, and I was really thinking I would go for 41 the following day. But, I was also aware of the fact that my body was still in the soreness phase with this increased repetition. I wanted to apply effort, but I also found it important to honor my body, and what soreness means. So I did’t want to push too hard. Just to push hard enough required a sort of balance.

What was interesting was this: I decided I would just continue to do the movements once I got to about number 20, and my body started showing some signs of fatigue. The mind jumped right in and started thinking “hmmm… maybe its okay if I don’t finish so many today. There is always tomorrow.” I had to remember that thinking something doesn’t make it true, and I needed to try to relax, see if I could enjoy.

I closed my eyes, while still doing the sun salutations. Can you believe –  a whole different world came into my experience. It was really one of those beautiful moments in yoga practice, where you realize there is more going on than the mind is really able to think about or process. I felt peace, and was able to use my thinking to count, but my emotions were not with the counting. This is the step that is so critical, right? My emotions were not invested with the thinking mind. My emotions were right with the feelings of, well, movement, and how much it felt like dancing. There is a joy that can come out as we do yoga. It felt so good to just be with the movement. Let the mind veg out with the counting and have my feelings/sensations take the lead for a little while.  If you are going to dance with a sense of drudgery – why dance? I mean, can you imagine someone on American Idol singing with a sense of obligation? The same is true with yoga, or cooking, or anything that we do.

Take a deep breath when you feel you are pushing yourself into the painful drudgery mindset, or the boredom of that “have to” sense of mind. Remember why and what this practice can be. There is something beautiful in the human psyche that is always available, if we will just bring our attention to it. All that we do can be done with a little creativity, if you decide to take that challenge.

Honestly, I can’t wait to get back to the mat. With the beginning of 108 Sun Salutations starting soon, I mean, what would happen if I thought about it like this:

No joy – no gain.

Really.

Maybe it will be difficult to make every single aspect of life about joy – but it will sure be more fun to try than not.

Poses of the Day: 10 – 15 Sun Salutations (try to do this each day this week, if you can)

Yoga thought for the Week:  What brings joy in this moment?

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Comfort

Merriam-Webster defines comfort as :

1
: strengthening aid:a : assistance, support <accused of giving aid and comfortto the enemy>b : consolation in time of trouble or worry : solace
2
a : a feeling of relief or encouragementb : contented well-being <a life of ease and comfort>
3
: a satisfying or enjoyable experience
4
                                                                                            : one that gives or brings comfort <all the comforts of home>
When I look at these definitions, I am reminded of Swami Satchidananda’s discussion of the goal of yoga. He said that the aim of yoga is to have ” an easeful body, a peaceful mind and a useful life.” I cannot disagree with this. It is a wonderful articulation of what we are all trying to do. All people wish to be at peace and in harmony with the world around them. Having a sense that all is well, and that we belong is truly satisfying and even restoring to our spirits. But going looking for it isn’t exactly how yoga works.
We practice. Each day, we set our aim and practice doing it. Some days we feel we did something well, some days we feel we didn’t quite get it. No big deal. Regardless of how today went, tomorrow is another great day for practice.
In some ways, perhaps the idea of practicing yoga to find ease is a little off. We practice ease as a practice of our yoga. In actuality, this ease that comes from yoga is already there, under the surface of our lives. So our practice is just reconnecting to what is already around. If we become still in meditation, or just in the moment, we can sense this peace that underlies all that is happening. We may be  busy hustling to get everything done, to get work finished, to get gifts wrapped, to say our greetings to each and every person that has meant something to us. Take a breath every now and again. Beneath this buzz of work and hurrying is a peace, and ease.
Once we can connect to the peace that is with us at all times, we can realize that a sense of ease or comfort will arise quite naturally, once we get out of the way. We get out of the way by allowing more quiet in the mind. Put your work to do on a list so you can let the mind rest. Don’t let your attention stay with any worry that arises.  If we can just stop trying to so hard to do everything and instead come to trust that we will get everything done, then we can put forth our effort to do our best, and relax knowing that this is enough. We can find the contentment (santosha) in what comes of our efforts, however this happens (acceptance). We can listen to what others are saying with more attention, and we will we realize that the people around us generally have good cheer and well wishes for us this season. We can let go our thoughts of those who seem to be less cheerful (allow them some space – lock and key #4) and draw our attention toward ideas and sharing that  is nourishing, encouraging, and strengthening to us and to those around us.
I invite you to practice yoga – practice having ease and comfort today as you open your heart to the comfort and joy of the season. :)
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Joy

What brings you a little joy? Can you integrate that with your plans for Thanksgiving? It seems that there are myriad things that can bring us joy – but do you know how you can create an atmosphere of joy that will involve everyone else?

Prepare for an experience of joy at your Thanksgiving, whether you are the host or not:

Joy comes from experiences, not objects.

That is right, the turkey and dressing and such are objects that hold significance for us, but it is what we are doing while we eat them that matters. Check out this article about how experience matters more than objects:http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/01/experiences-beat-possessions-why.php

So – how to create experiences: 

1. Come with plenty of good topics to discuss that should leave people with interest but not anger. Spend some time this week preparing these topics, but not thinking them through. You don’t need to know everything to start the topics. Get everyone else talking.

2. Prepare to ask questions, not explain. People generally have a good time if they are the ones talking.. Be gracious. Show interest in others as a way of showing gratitude.

3. Offer help in the kitchen. Bring food, and do something to help clean up. Ask if there will be other guests with special dietary needs so you can perhaps help make that person feel comfortable.

4. If there will be children, brings games or other diversions to share with them. Children will remember this fondly when they are older. Don’t you? But don’t expect they will actually want to play. Allowing more options for the kids is the point. Some kids will appreciate the options, but will not take you up on them. Do not take it personally.

5. Let go of your expectation that you will set the tone. Let others do it. You are able to relax, contribute, but relax. Enjoy the setting and the effort others are showing you, even if you are the host.

6. Figure out what you enjoy about each person. If you think you already know, let that go and try to find what you like about the person, now. Allow your perceptions of others to change. This is a great time to talk about plans for new beginnings, next year, and all sorts of unexpected ideas. Allow others to sense that you can let go of the past and move into new territory.

If you have ever had someone take an interest in you, you will know how much that experience can mean. It doesn’t matter what age the person is, it is never too late to take an interest.

See you tomorrow!

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Gratitude Postcard

I have a habit of collecting postcards when I travel. What is funny is that I really have no use for them. I mean, I have a box, and I like to look through them and remember the places, but they sat there for a long time, one more thing to move with me when I move. I realized a few years ago that these were all opportunities to share something with people. So few pieces of mail are actually fun or enjoyable. I think nowadays most people just get mail for bills or junk. I, however, decided a couple of years ago to use these postcards to say a brief hello to people I thought about. I hope it brings them joy. Oftentimes people don’t respond to postcards, like they do letters, but I have noticed when I visit that people like to put them on refrigerators or have them on tables. I also like to keep the ones I have received, especially near the holidays, to put up around doorways or elsewhere in my home, as reminders of the connection I feel to others.

So – gratitude. This week we are expressing gratitude in so many ways… keeping our minds focused as we go about our days, beginning to make plans for the big meal. Why not take a quick break and send a postcard (or three) to some people you are grateful for. Maybe they don’t even know you think of them. But – you can still send a quick thank you and maybe even make someone’s day. I have decided to write thank you postcards for my doctor (when do they get thanks?), the person who is always nice at the grocery store (I may have to mail it to the grocery store? But it would be cool to get a postcard of thanks at work, right?). And the mailman. I have no idea how to send a postcard to the mailman – but they always carry the mail, right? And there is one at the post office here who is just so nice to everybody. I can’t imagine he ever gets a thank you (He may be reading though! Hi there, Coldwater mailman!) It is so funny how little things can make someone’s day. It makes me think of the movie Amelie. If you haven’t seen it – it is a joy to watch as this terribly shy lady sneaks around giving presents to people throughout her town. If we all did this, it would surely make the world a more joyful place.

So, consider sending at least one thank you postcard to some unsuspecting person who makes your life better. The less they know you appreciate them, the more the impact. Pick people who won’t be coming to your thanksgiving dinner, but people who may have no idea who you are. Take a try of cookies to the people at the dentists, write a random card to hand to the car wash attendant. Whatever seems the least likely in your day. Practice being an angel to someone. I hope you will enjoy!