Take The Time To Chill Out

A cool girl that comes to the yoga studio had been buried in a gigantic book for a few weeks right up until class time. It was one of those books that you knew had to suck you in because it's a commitment just to lug the thing around. I asked her what it was and she started to describe a fascinating story about a man that had escaped from prison, fled to Bombay and lived in a slum where he provided medical aid to the residents. She said she had never been to India but the author's use of language took her there. Interesting. Next thing I know she finished the book and passed it off to me. Oh no! This book has almost a thousand pages, what if I start it and I hate it? I'll feel bad reporting back. I felt like I had made a huge commitment accepting her gift, but I had some travel coming up and it would be something to do on all the flights. It had a place in my life now.

Shantaram gripped me from the beginning. I've passed on in-flight movies, friend-making while gathered around waiting in line for the bathroom, and the ultimate in-flight time killer, Sudoku - a game I try to keep a safe amount of distance from my addictive personality. Gregory David Roberts has a great trick that keeps the pages turning. He leaves you dangling at the end of a chapter mid-story and introduces something else that is interesting in the next. When you've forgotten that you might have been frustrated from hanging on two chapters earlier, he sweetly rounds you back. Shantaram reads like a meditation.

When your mind is calm all the good stuff has room to show up.

There are many styles and philosophies of yoga accompanied with many ways to practice. Some styles focus on each pose. They dissect and perfect alignment in one pose, and then drop it and move on to the next. The perfect pose is the goal with no attention given to the in-between. Great amounts of time and preciousness are taken for poses that are decidedly difficult. Classes are stopped and people moved to the wall to attempt a handstand. That's one way to go about it.

I've always been a fan of the in-between. You know, the stuff in between the stuff. That's stuff too, right? The way we practice yoga is the way we live our life. This is such a good tool that we all have available to us. I started practicing yoga when I was a teenager, studying classical dance. My body and mind were very open, but not very strong. I was trusting, excited, passionate, and receptive. All good qualities when balanced with the proper amount of strength and awareness. My teachers taught me how to practice. Practice taught me how to become aware. Awareness taught me that I needed strength in my life. I needed to be able to discern what was right for me and what I could offer the world. I wanted to gain these qualities physically and mentally while keeping my passionate, open, and excited natural qualities. Yoga teaches me constantly that everything is a practice. There is no "here" or "there." Ram Dass so eloquently tells us to Be Here Now. There is no pose. The whole damn thing is a pose.

When this concept clicked for me, that the whole thing is a pose, I felt a physical and psychological weight lifted. Each thing that happened, good or bad, wasn't the whole world. It is just a thing that happened, good or bad. Things happen your whole life, every day, until you die. And then things will still happen.

At Strala we practice moving and breathing. Use what you need. Relax what you don't. We don't make a big deal out of "difficult" poses, but we do move through them. We pay attention to alignment, but then bring focus back to the breath, where we can be in the moment. Thankfully my husband teaches and practices this. He can do all the crazy tricks and cool poses, but it's just breathing to him. It's nice to be able to share these ideas with someone and not think that I am an isolated bubble going crazy.

Practicing this way has helped me tremendously with life. I still get stressed quite a bit, but I know what to do about it. I still care if I get that thing that I have been hoping for, whatever it is, but I know better. It's all practice and the kicker is your life becomes broader and you actually get more of the "poses" and "things" you want when you stop obsessing over them. Interesting.

This is a 4 week chill-out series that I made to help chill you and me out. Part one focuses on shoulders and upper back, where a lot of us carry tension and need constant maintenance. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Follow Tara Stiles on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tarastiles

Comments

[Pema]

03:03 PM on 11/01/2009

tara i love your bringing yoga to the masses via hp. i would only add that people should check with their doc. first. i have 3 massivly screwed up discs, (actually the doc who did the cgi steroid shots that never worked in my spine recommende­d yoga and i am a convert) but i could never do some of the poses, if i tried it could get ugly lol. i have an incredible yoga master who wors with me doin specific poses, some ill never do, but i am rockin with my current 7 poses., ok. i am not graceful, but i got spirit!
i think your doing a great service. not just for bodys, but for minds, hearts and souls. i wish all people around the globe esp those in horrible politcal conditions could have a yoga studio. what can we do?
cyber hugs and happiness!­!
pema

[khanti]

03:36 AM on 11/02/2009

Is there a less stenous pose(metho­d) in yoga for people above 45 years? In Taichi there is no problem for the elderly as everything can be toned down to suit your mobility.

[Pema]

10:03 AM on 11/04/2009

hi Khanti!
I enjoyed reading LCLA's post, i bet he just rocks the studio. the traditon in which i practice is Iyengar, my yoga teacher just opened one for older or elderly students about up the coast from me in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego.
I hope to see more theraputic and elder yoga centers. sometimes, many older people want to be in a class of their peers, they feel more confortabl­e, open and less vunerable.
its funny, i have an elderly woman who practices right near me, she is a seasoned pro, i look at her like see i tightened my strap today! im 51 and shes got a good 30 years on me and she so inspires me.

[LCLA]

12:57 AM on 11/04/2009

My yoga studio teaches mostly from the Kripalu tradition which, in part, emphasizes respecting your edge.
We are encouraged to try poses and taught the proper way to do them, but we are also admonished to never do anything which hurts. Sensation is good; pain is not.
We are taught alternativ­es to the poses (asanas) which still give a workout but provide a workaround for injuries or lack of strength or flexibilit­y. We are urged not to compete... not with each other or with ourselves.
We've added some viniyasana classes which are much stronger flows and nice challenge. They seem likely to be better for intermedia­te or advanced students as opposed to novices. We are taught to strive to maintain the fresh perspectiv­es of the beginner mind, but obviously experience and fitness affect the perspectiv­es.
I chose yoga a few years ago, because I could not run anymore with knee injuries and found that it is the kind of fitness regimen which one can do into old age. I found more than the strength and toning I sought. As lagniappe, I also found stress management­, mental focus, and a sense of spirituali­ty.

[H2Opolomom]

10:31 AM on 11/01/2009

Putting the yoga, etc aside, I have to say that having read Shantaram over 2 years ago, I am still infatuated with the characters in the book and the realities that were so skillfully portrayed on page. This is an amazing book, well worth the weight. About 2 months ago I heard that a movie is in the works, with Johnny Depp as the main character. Movies based on incredible books are never the same, so my recommenda­tion to all, is to escape into the tapestry of Shantaram, lose yourself, and be prepared to cry, be angry, and to fall in love.

[rising sun]

09:14 AM on 11/01/2009

thank you..thank you...than­k you...this is just what I needed this morning.

[Acleacius]

04:10 AM on 11/01/2009

Miss Stiles,
I am trying, I seem much too focused. How many cold showers should it take before my focus is normal again?

Thanks for any tips. :)

[Casey08]

01:49 AM on 11/01/2009

I am the Chillout King hands down.

I like to relax and listen to some nice chillout tunes on di.fm. No drugs but enjoy a drink here and there.

I was very active in my youth playing baseball, basketball­, soccer, wrestling and snowboardi­ng.

I really enjoyed taking my first Yoga class in Hermosa Beach with my roommate Maggie and her hot friend. I was kind of skeptical of the whole Yoga thing, but after checking it out I really enjoyed it.

It stretched me out in natural ways and made me sleep like a baby. I always thought Yoga was another hokey exercise but after I checked it out, it's a great place for guys to meet women who you know are already limber and it's great for your body - double whammy!!!

[LCLA]

01:59 AM on 11/05/2009

Casey08/Ta­to Salad/Chil­lout King:
I looked up your video.
Some things never change!
http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=qtWcb0bcA­-A

[davism97]

06:55 PM on 10/31/2009

So far my whole approach to life has been "stay as busy as possible." I need a vacation ...

[Erdgeist]

05:37 PM on 10/31/2009

We need to do yoga of the Mind as well! According to Patanjali, all this is the vrtti (vibration­s) of Mind (citta). From a glaxay to a sand flea--and yes even our body and our crazy untamed thoughts and anxieties-­-all is Mind vibration. Pantajali wants to to transcend (nirodha) these vibrations to see or yoke (yoga) directly with Mind itself. So let us stretch and relax (chill out) but also fix our attention to what Patanjali said, too. Within us is the transcende­nt Mind. When you see it, your asanas (postures) will be light filled. You will become a true Yogi.

[JR Jake]

05:31 PM on 10/31/2009

I am a firm believer that you take what is given you, or simply put 'never give up an advantage because you never know if you will get it back'. I am also reminded daily there are so many simple things that we possess that costs us nothing, that can benefit us the most.

Mediation is great I do it all the time. Good healthy foods instead of junk we buy. Taking a long walk with your love instead of going to the movies. Simple things in simple ways can alleviate the stress levels in our lives tremendous­ly. However, there is no substitute for spending invaluable time with the woman or man in your live. A vacation has to be taken by couples on a yearly basis to regenerate the passion they made them the couple in the first place.

Spending valuable time with your children will pre-condit­ion them to options availed them for later lessons in life. The list goes on and we do have to purchase material things to have a full and satisfying life and still have everything you need. The beauty of the mind and the heart in concert and than findinging that other person in your life you want to share and explore.

The trick is finding the compatibil­ity, ability, accessibil­ity and opportunit­y to locate that person who can help you be the best you can be. It is never fun to workout by yourself but better to 'tango' with a partner. GREAT ARTICLE.

[rising sun]

09:16 AM on 11/01/2009

Great comment

[NewYogini]

03:54 PM on 10/31/2009

Thank you.

This was perfect for where I am today.

[kkrimmer]

03:07 PM on 10/31/2009

I can watch her every morning... nice way to start the day.

[duhtruth]

02:04 PM on 10/31/2009

The largest concern is that we have become a people who think that all of our problems and unhappy feelings can be solved by aquisition­s. We must get to the root of our tensions. All of the gyrations in the yoga approach deal with symptoms not with the root of the problems.
Each aquisition brings a new responsibi­lity, which morphs into a new tension. One gets a new, expensive car and he must increase his insurance payment to cover it, worry about it being bumped in a parking lot, stolen, hit by a careless driven, etc. etc. Soon it becomes taken for granted. Let's trade it in so we will be happy with another car or a bigger house or a boat. In order to buy this new car we work more hours, wonder why the wife and kids seem distraught with the lack of attention we give them. The end result is that we are sold a bill of goods. Love is what life is about, helping others, sharing with others. Volunteeri­ng to help the needy some way. Doing with less so you can share more. CAPITALISM AND ALL ITS DEEP SEATED GREED ONLY BENEFITS THE TOP PIGS IN THE STY. The rest will eat dirt and be made to feel that they are privileged doing so. Wake up America! We are on a steep, slippery slope that has shown its ugliness in this latest financial fiasco. The rich will get richer as average folk lose the greed game.

[CompashCat]

05:54 PM on 10/31/2009

Amen. Not to mention what our Capitalist­ic/Materia­listic society is doing to our Planet. Have you ever seen "What a Way To Go" documentar­y? It spells it all out so clearly. I'm all about the Simple Life, for my Peace and for the good of the Planet.

[bmonaghan]

01:52 PM on 10/31/2009

I discovered herbal tea about a year ago after I had to give up caffeine. There is something very nourishing and reflective about drinkig something that is good for you. I found a tea called Holy Tea which is blended from Holy Basil and other adaptogeni­c herbs that help the body recover freom stress. Not only does it provide me with the anti-oxida­nts I want, but also gives me the mental clarity and focus to concentrat­e. I found it at http://hom­egrownherb­andtea.com Good luck.

[CompashCat]

05:56 PM on 10/31/2009

Bookmarked that link. Thanks!

[Kzb]

08:31 PM on 10/30/2009

This is central to my philosophy­. Take leisure time and find a job doing what you love. Unfortunat­ely video game napping is a field with a poor employment outlook. Seriously though, I've always suspected that "protestan­t work ethic" was a creation of the industrial revolution­'s equivalent of the heritage foundation­. That would be pretty easy to verify, but it would be too much work to do in my down time.

How does "fat lazy american" coincide with our uniquely american status as the richest country working the longest hours with the least vacation? It's all part of the brilliant strategy to get people working too much to look beyond the screaming headlines and find out how badly we're getting screwed by the robber barons, how stupid "death panels" are, how stupid calling barack obama kenyan is.

Why do you think most of America thought Saddam Hussein attacked us personally on 9/11 and we found weapons of mass destructio­n in Iraq for the longest time? It's not because Americans are somehow more stupid than the rest of the world, its because we all work at least 50 hours and we're constantly stressed about losing our jobs, so when we are actually in down time we need to turn our brains off. I used to have a link on gallup.com with terrifying statistics on how uninformed Americans are.