Finding in your seat in life - an unexpected lesson.

I was surprised the other day by yoga. I thought I had a decent understanding of the philosophy of yoga and had invested ample amounts of time in Karma yoga. However, I had an interesting experience that taught me a lesson I did not expect to learn from yoga.

I have begun a little freelancing with my yoga studio and we were going to work on a trade and in doing so I found myself in a quandary. The business side of me understands my prices, why I charge what I do and I have it all thought out and solidified. I have a solid billing system and things work for me. But when pressed with coming up with an hourly number for my yoga studio, a little voice in my head said, "Really? You're going to charge your normal prices, really? Come on Karma yogi, really?"

I was struck at how awkward it seemed to charge my yoga studio so much for my work. I thought and pondered about it for a while. On one side, the yoga studio is not lacking in business, it charges me a lot for my unlimited access, and my work is quality and my time is precious. But on the other side, the humble yogi in me wasn't so sure. It seemed to me that a discount was tolerable in this situation as I felt it would be karmically positively charged. I mean it's yoga.

So, I made up my mind to charge much less than I normally would for other clients. This was going to be a special exception to my rules. So, proud of my decision, I sent off my hourly rate to the manager of the studio, a woman I admire and look up to as a mentor.

Her response was a quote from the Gita:

“The secret of karma yoga is never to accept a wrong situation, a situation in which you are exploited, discriminated against, or manipulated, because it is bad not only for you but for the exploiter as well.”

And then she proceeded with her own interpretation:

Not that I am an exploiter but part of Karma in the Gita is finding our ‘seat’ in what we are actually worth. This practice allows for others to step on the path to self-recognition of worth. Ya know? So please rethink what you would like to charge us for your services that is fair and worthy of your beautiful talents and that is what we will move forward with.

I was humbled. I thought I was being the "good yogi" by lowering my prices, when in fact, I was doing the opposite. I had no idea. I was so surprised by her response and the quote from the Gita.

In the end, I charged my normal prices, and the response I received from my yoga teacher, was that she was proud of me.

In the end, yoga continues to surprise and encourage me. It is continually encouraging us to find our own seat in life, and be aware of and acknowledge my own self worth.

You too, are worthy. Where is your seat in life?

The Time of the Lion

The current positioning of the earth has placed us in the realm of the Leo, astrologically speaking. The proud King of the Jungle is marching around his territory, eager to prove himself the regal animal he is. The Lion is the proud performer that is satiated when his ego is petted.

However, in yoga, oft times it is our ego, the proud Lion in us all, that gets in our way and will even injure us physically. We look around the room and see the yogi who is a bit deeper in the pose, or has found stillness is a difficult balancing posture. Our ego tells us we should be able to do that too, and so we force ourselves to push, and sometimes too far. This is not to say that if you assess your body and find that you have room to progress, then of course it is time to try to move a bit deeper. It may just be your time to find experience the posture in a new way, if your body has asked it of you. But if not, your ego is only being taunted into advancement.

If you find yourself pushing too hard, and straining your body and becoming frustrated, take that moment to close your eyes and assess what your body can do, what it has already done and thank your self for coming to your mat and learning to be thankful for yourself. You are exactly where you should be at that moment, whether the best in the pose or struggling. It is not a comparison; each individual yogis story is a different genre and therefore incomparable. Each has a proud Lion within and each has something strong and special to share with the world. It's more a matter of knowing when it is time for you to move deeper into a posture. When your body melts into the asana, it is time. When it is forced, take a deep breath and withdraw. Even the Lion must sleep.

If you are having an already frustrating day, try to show up to your yoga practice early. Take advantage of this time and embrace Simhasana (sim-HAHS-annah; simha=lion): Lion Pose.

This pose is a good posture to use to "Clear the Air." The strong exhalation, the roar so to speak, helps to remove stale air from your lungs while simultaneously increases the ability for you relax the platysma (the flat, thin, rectangular muscle that cover the front of the throat.) It also tones this muscle strengthening and tightening your throat skin. This exhalation also activates the three diaphragms; thoracic, pelvic and vocal while the simultaneous lengthening activiation of the tongue lifts the hyoid bone, activates the digestive system and activates the hyoid muscles, sternum, rectus abdominis, public bone and pelvic floor.

How to do it

Kneel on the floor and cross the front of the right ankle over the back of the left. The feet will point out to the sides. Sit back so the perineum snuggles down onto the on the top (right) heel.

Press your palms firmly against your knees. Fan the palms and splay your fingers like the sharpened claws of a large feline.

Take a deep inhalation through the nose. Then simultaneously open your mouth wide and stretch your tongue out, curling its tip down toward the chin, open your eyes wide, contract the muscles on the front of your throat, and exhale the breath slowly out through your mouth with a distinct "ha" sound. The breath should pass over the back of the throat.

Some texts instruct us to set our gaze (drishti) at the spot between the eyebrows. This is called "mid-brow gazing" (bhru-madhya-drishti; bhru = the brow; madhya = middle).Other texts direct the eyes to the tip of the nose (nasa-agra-drishti; nasa = nose; agra = foremost point or part, i.e., tip).

You can roar two or three times. Then change the cross of the legs and repeat for the same number of times.

Use Simhasana to relax, clear the air, and to give your final Lion Roar. Then allow the Lion to become a quite observer, a non-judger. There is a time and a place for the Lion (ego) to excel and to be used and explored. The yoga mat may not be that time and place. Allow yourself to flow through your yoga practice without your ego. Without judgement, without derision, but with peace, serenity and acceptance.

Shanti