The yoga of Procrastination

I am the Queen of Procrastination-- if not the reigning queen, at least some sort of royalty.   It's a habit that I cannot break because I have not tried.  Honestly, I didn't even consider it a "habit" (don't you hate that word--- honestly, when do we ever use it in a good sense?) until recently.

I've been procrastinating writing these blog posts, not because I dislike writing (it's actually one of my preferred activities), or because I dislike the topic of yoga (usually you can't get me to stop talking about yoga), and not because I don't have anything to say or contribute.  I have been procrastinating writing these blogs merely because it was an assignment given to me.  

Raise your hand if you can relate.

You could be happily engaging in your favorite activity when somebody else says, "Oh good, you're doodling endlessly on a notebook.  Would you mind filling up the entire cover before tonight?  I'll give you ten dollars!"  All of a sudden that fun task is now a job with a deadline.  Of course I would agree, wouldn't you?  Ten dollars for doodling on a notebook that is almost filled anyway?!  Heck ya!

But of course, within minutes, I would get bored and decide that it would be waaaay better to doodle on my shoe, or the other notebook I have, or my bare leg.  All of a sudden it's ten minutes before "tonight" and I still haven't finished the cover.  

Oftentimes you will find list making as a remedy to procrastination.  Am I the only one that finds that completely counter productive??  As soon as I write down a list of things that NEED to get done today, it feels like a demand.  I will almost always do everything else that needs to be done around the house EXCEPT for the things on the list.  I've heard one writer call this the "Ninja" approach to procrastination.  If you're putting off a task, do other things that need to be done, instead of doing unproductive things like endlessly googling pictures of celebrities or something.  

What IS it about being told to do something that makes me so averse to doing it!?  Well, here's my yogic take on this form of procrastination.

In order to resolve the problem, break the habit, stop kicking the wheel, stop the cycle of perpetuation, or whatever phrase you'd like to insert here, I need to see the situation clearly.  Is it a problem?  Really?  Why is it a problem?  Am I hurting people?  Am I hurting myself?  What are the consequences of continuing life without changing this part of me?  Do I like this part of me?

Pondering upon these questions will help you see the situation from different angles.  It's not judging the habit--- that can be counterproductive because judgment brings guilt or shame or embarrassment or other feelings with it.  You can't see something clearly when it is clouded by emotion.  Be honest and truthful.  It can be helpful to do some free-form journaling while pondering these questions.

Procrastination tends to correlate to the 3rd Chakra, the solar plexus.  Spending a few moments daily on awakening this chakra may help alleviate some of the symptoms.

Yoga poses that strengthen your core will help awaken your 3rd chakra.

Boat Pose and Lion's breath are explained very well here.
You could also do strong, standing poses like Warrior I and Warrior II.  Focusing on the strength needed to hold these poses.  Feel the strength radiating out from your core, granting you stability and power.

Taking time to meditate, using a mudra (hand position) that corresponds to the third chakra, will help awaken and enliven this power center in your body.   Come to a seated kneeling position (bottom on your heels), bring your hands together in front of your stomach fingertips together pointing away from you (like prayer position with the fingertips pointing away from your body), cross your thumbs and straighten your fingers.  With this hand position, focus on the third chakra and think about what it means and represents.  Chant the sound "RAM" (sounds like "Mom").

Bodhi Yoga offers a chakra healing deck of cards that is a wonderful tool in helping to awaken the chakras.

Journey

Everything in life is a journey, and if you can learn to enjoy it, you will love life.

That's not a famous quote or anything, that's just what I think.  So often I get trapped into looking for the end result, that I forget the journey.  

Parenting is a journey.  In my desire to raise righteous, wise, and loving children (an "end result"), I forget that I won't be able to gauge my success in that goal until the process is over.  Sure, there are signs along the way.  When big brother decides to give little sister a hug instead of a punching her, or when sisters bring you a bag of Halloween candy and ask, "Pweese? Some?"  instead of eating the whole bag by themselves in the corner of their closet.  Those are moments that give a glimpse of a "job well-done," so to speak.

But oftentimes I forget to enjoy the moments that will bring about the "end result."  When big brother decides to kick the sister who has taken his toy and you have to explain about hurt and pain.  You have to show him the pain he's caused and help him see the consequences of his actions.  Which all sounds so much more pleasant than what happens (i.e. "Uh-oh!  Did you just kick your sister?! We do NOT kick.  Kicking hurts people; look at your sister.  Would you like it if she kicked you?  etc. etc.)

My yoga journey is the same.  I love being able to share wonderful insights or bits of knowledge about anatomy and yoga philosophy while teaching.  I love being able to make my way into a forearm stand and hold it confidently in the middle of the room.  I love seeing lean, strong muscles in my arms and legs.  

But I forget to love the moments that gave me those things.  I need to love the dolphin plank pose, held for many, many breaths that helped build the forearm stand.  I need to love the hours of study required for my certification that gives me those bits of knowledge I like to share.  I need to love gentle monotony of a regular flow that strengthened my soft bits into muscle.  

The other thing about journeys is that nobody is ever taking the same one.  My yoga journey (and parenting journey) are different than yours, and even though we might appear to be at the same place in our journeys, we got here in very different ways.  That means there is no place for judgment, only appreciation.  

Bodhi Yoga

The Healing Arts

My father passed away recently.  I say recently because it still feels as raw as the day it happened.  Really, it was quite a few months ago.  He died, fairly unexpectedly, from cancer.  It was unexpected in how quickly it all happened, but obviously, we knew he had cancer, so the possibility was always there.

The most bittersweet memories of my life are the few days that I spent at his bedside while he withered away.  I cannot think of those days without shedding tears, but also being filled with gratitude.  My entire family was there.  It was incredibly spiritual and sacred to be with my father as he passed in and out of this world.

During class today, I rested in Savasana with my students.  As I lay there, I remembered gently massaging acupressure points on my Dad's legs and face.  I re-lived the moments of helping him through the pain and nausea.  I was able, during that time, to give my one and only partner-yoga session.  I'm not technically trained in thai massage or thai partner yoga-- and this definitely was not a "normal" session-- but I used what little knowledge and training I had in hands-on adjusting and Marma points, to relieve some of his muscle aches.  He had been in bed for a long time, unable to move himself and unwilling to let the nurse move him.

Because of my training, and a spiritual gift I had been ignoring, I was able to "hear" him when he couldn't speak.  I could feel my Dad's energies, letting me know where  and how to move his joints to relieve pressure.

Since his passing, I have had several experiences with his spirit, letting me know that I have been blessed with the "healer's art."  It's a gift I have been given, and it's there for me to cultivate.

Yoga is a healing art.  I have been healed through yoga, and I have witnessed others be healed.  My mentor, Syl Carson, was healed physically from many ailments through yoga.  I have been healed mentally.  I'm still healing emotionally.

Yoga in sanskrit means "to yoke."  To bring all parts of your being together.  In my words: to make whole.

Learn more about Therapuetic Partner Yoga here:  http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/utah-yoga-partner-training/