Be Like A Tree

Over the past few days I've witnessed a friend dealing with some pretty tough life lessons.  When we see our friends or loved ones struggle, it often feels like words aren't enough. Sometimes just being a silent, rooted presence is the best support we can give and a reminder that they too can find the strength and steadiness to rest like a tree in the midst of their troubles.

As I was preparing for Monday morning's class, I came across the following quote along with some words of wisdom from Mark Nepo: 

"Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a great tree in the midst of them all." 

(Buddha)

"It helps to remember this.  Of course, it's hard to remember this when feeling blame, loss, or sorrow.  But that's when we need this wisdom the most.

Like everyone, I'd rather not experience the undercurrents of life, but the challenge is not to shun them, but to accept that over a lifetime we will have our share of them.

Avoiding the difficult aspects if living only stunts our fullness.  When we do this, we are like a tree that never fully opens to the sky.  And dwelling on our difficulties only prevents them from going on their way.  When we do this, we are like a great tree that nets the storm in its leaves.

The storm by its nature wants to move on, and the tree's grace is that it has no hands.  Our blessing and curse is to learn and relearn when to reach and hold, and when to put our hands in our pockets."

When we practice asana, pranayama or meditation, we are teaching ourselves how to evoke the qualities of a tree: strength, rootedness, flexibility, grace and stillness in the face of challenge. 

Whether we're helping a friend who is weathering a storm or experiencing the fluctuations of our own lives and challenges, our practice is to rest like a tree in the midst of them all.  It's a beautiful practice and reminder that it is in our power to either hold on or let go.

Until next time...

Monday's practice:

OPEN-

SEATED SUKHA PURVAKA  PRANAYAMA (BALANCES ENERGY) 

WITH A TALL SPINE, AND CLOSED EYES, GENTLY BLOCK OFF YOUR RIGHT NOSTRIL WITH YOUR RIGHT THUMB AND BREATH SLOWLY INTO AND OUT OF YOUR LEFT NOSTRIL.  REPEAT FOR 12 BREATH CYCLES (FULL INHALES AND EXHALES).

REPEAT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

WARM UPS-

WIDE KNEE CHILDS 4 MINUTES

TOE STRETCH 1 MINUTE

CAT/COW

DOWN DOG 5 BREATHS

DOWN DOG/PLANK WAVES X3

UTTANASANA (STANDING FORWARD FOLD)

TADASANA TIPPY TOES DYNAMICALLY UP AND DOWN

SUN SALUTATAION-

IN-TADASANA 

EX-UTTANASANA

IN-FLAT BACK 

EX-HIGH LUNGE (HANDS TO BLOCKS)

IN-ARMS UP

EX-PALMS DOWN

IN-STANDING SPLITS

EX-UTTANASNA

FLOW X 3 THEN HOLD EACH 5B

REPEAT-L

STANDING

TADASANA W/LIFTING LEG SIDEWAYS FLOW X3 W/BREATH

TREE POSE-R 

UTTHITA HASTA VARIATION-R INTO 

WARRIOR III-R

FORWARD FOLD SPLITS-R (PULSING THEN HOLD_)

UTTANASANA

UTKATASANA (CHAIR POSE)

SLOW VINYASA

REPEAT-L

CHILDS/HARE

DOLPHIN TO 

FOREARM SIDE PLANK-R INTO

VISHNU’S COUCH

SEAL 2 MINUTES

CHILDS

SADDLE 3 MINUTES

CHILDS 3 MINUTES

BADDHA KONASANA 5 MINUTES

RECLINING BADDHA KONASANA 5 MINUTES

RECLINING TWISTS (BS) 3 MINUTES

SAVASANA  

Advice from a Tree
By Ilan Shamir

Dear Friend,

Stand Tall and Proud
Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
Reflect the light of a greater source
Think long term
Go out on a limb
Remember your place among all living beings
Embrace with joy the changing seasons
For each yields its own abundance
The Energy and Birth of Spring
The Growth and Contentment of Summer
The Wisdom to let go of leaves in the Fall
The Rest and Quiet Renewal of Winter

Feel the wind and the sun
And delight in their presence
Look up at the moon that shines down upon you
And the mystery of the stars at night.
Seek nourishment from the good things in life
Simple pleasures
Earth, fresh air, light

Be content with your natural beauty
Drink plenty of water
Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes
Be flexible
Remember your roots

Enjoy the view!

Tree Of Life

 by Danna Faulds

I am the immovable root

of a tree I can't see, whose

trunk and branches extend

up and out to an infinity of 

being, whose leaves catch

light and transform it into

energy.  I feel the taproot

running deep, sustaining me.

Without it, I couldn't

bend in the wind or stand

through raging tempests.

It extends down and in,

anchor and liberator,

reaching back to the

primordial sea of love,

connecting me with the

unseen in all directions.

My fruit falls far beyond

my reach, and the seeds

are scattered far and wide.

A few are planted by wise

hands in fertile soil, and

grow-even though

I don't know where.