Community: a unified body of individuals; a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society

Yesterday I learned that positivity in any situation is far better than negativity.  When faced with a tough situation (like having an event that only 3 people come to) I think about could this have been planned better?  What can we change for next time?  I do not give up easily.  This is what I have learned from my practice of yoga.  To never give up, be patient, be dedicated (it is a practice!), and be kind.

Over the last 8 years my life has seen extreme ups and downs.  I have seen what can happen when you start to give up and not care about anything, work, friendships, health.  I have also seen what can happen when you strive to be the best you can be in all aspects of your life.  If you would have told me 8 years ago this is what I would be doing I would not have believed you.  I am pretty sure at the rate I was going I would still be living on Sherman St. staying up until ungodly hours and not giving a damn about much of life and who I hurt while living it.  Things sure have changed.

Every moment of the day I try to learn something,  be open to a new idea. I love to read and study, but life lessons are what I am really after.  Connections with people,  creating stronger bonds and hoping to encourage more people to let down there walls, there judgement, there grudges, and to create a stronger sense of community.  This is the potential I see for the yoga community I am a part of.

I asked a friend yesterday if she thought I was naïve in my dreams of what a yoga community could be.  She said "no!" Ok, that is two of us now.  That is really all it takes,  a couple of people to have a dream and act on it.  It does not happen overnight (really? it doesn't!)  I learned from another friend a while back that it is you that is your creator.  You create what you want out of life,  you have the power to affect people positively.  I really do believe that.  You have the power to change your life and have a positive impact on people.  Be supportive to your community, whether it is your family, your friends, your co-workers.  Life is not just living in your cave, practicing asana, reading philosophy.  We are part of something bigger whether we want to believe that or not, whether we want to be part of it or not.  There is a big world out there and we have the opportunity to impact it.  That's all people.

Salamba Sarvangasana

Salamba Sarvangasana-Supported whole body pose is an incredible asana that most should do whether supported in a chair or as shown in the pictures below.  In Light on Yoga, BKS Iyengar describes Sarvangasana as: "...one of the greatest boons conferred on humanity by our ancient sages. Sarvangasana is the Mother of asanas. As a mother strives for happiness in the home,  so this asana strives for the harmony and happiness of the human system."

Here are a few more reasons to practice this pose:

Blood supply is increased to the Thyroid, helping to regulate its functions
Venous blood flows without to the heart with no force
Nerves, headaches, asthma, stuffiness are all soothed do to the increased blood supply to the upper body, head, neck, and shoulders
Increases energy
Helps to maintain healthy balance in digestion

Ok,  now how do you do it?
Get 3 blankets,  a sticky mat and a belt.  Follow the set-up here,  use a chair for your feet in Halasana. Make sure to prep with a dog pose, an uttanasana, and a couple shoulder openers.