Monthly Archives: December 2011
December 30 – Karuna (Compassion)
Here at Yoga Freedom, our motto is “compassion + action.” What compassionate actions do you aspire to in the coming twelve months? a “Finding the courage to go to the places that scare us cannot happen without compassionate inquiry into the workings of ego. The Buddha taught that flexibility and openness bring strength and that [...]
December 29 – Poesía (Poetry)
Write a poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme. a a poem is so wonderful because you can break the lines however you want; and it doesn’t matter the black cat laughing at the moon sharpening his claws on my ocean blue yoga mat I twirl a white umbrella in the golden sunset anything goes it’s [...]
December 28 – Agradecimiento (Gratitude)
What eleven things were you most grateful for in 2011? a 1. great friendships 2. my wonderful family 3. a good job in a career that I love (teaching!) 4. the opportunity to teach lots of yoga schmoga 5. the freedom and ability to travel widely 6. Yoga as Muse 7. my continuing studies powerful Dharma [...]
December 27 – Metta (Lovingkindness)
The metta mantras are: “May you be safe. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be free from suffering.” a To whom do you wish to send metta? (Don’t forget to send it to yourself, too!) a “Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, ‘You owe me.’ [...]
December 26 – Seva (Service)
How did you serve in 2011? Do you plan to volunteer in 2012? a In addition to teaching 8th grade English, I am the Community Service Coordinator at my school in Guatemala. In this role, I have been fortunate to connect with some amazing nonprofit work going on in this country at organizations including Long Way [...]
December 25 – Milagro (Wonder)
Illustrate your own personal wonderland — real or imagined. What’s the weather like? Who else is there with you? Use vivid detail. a “We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” ~ Charles Kingsley
December 24 – Regalo (Gift)
What was the most cherished gift you received this year? What were the most thoughtful gifts you gave? a For it is in giving that we receive. ~Saint Francis of Assisi
December 23 – Karma (Action)
Actions speak louder than words. What daily actions will you take this year? How will you begin your January mornings? a We have so many choices in how we wake up. Meditation in stillness or in movement? Coffee or tea? Breakfast or not? Music or silence? a I, for one, will be having a licuado [...]
December 22 – Sukkha (Happiness)
Where did you encounter sweetness in 2011? Was there sweetness In the warm embrace of a trusted friend? In an unexpected home cooked meal after a long day of work? In the park at sunset? On the yoga mat? At the beach? Within the confines of your own bedroom? All of the above, I hope.
December 21 – Dukkha (Misery)
What was the low point of your year? How did you heal and move forward? a The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it. ~ Carl Jung
December 20 – Tapas (Heat)
What stoked your creative fire this year? What did your discipline enable you to achieve and/or create? Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience. ~George Washington
December 19 – Drishti (Seeing)
What is your vision for your spiritual practice in 2012? How do you see yourself achieving it? a As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
December 18 – Amistad (Friendship)
Describe your best friend(s) from elementary school, high school, college, and/or the present. x a A man’s growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
December 17 – Bhakti (Devotion)
What did you devote yourself to in 2011? How will you devote your energy in the coming year? a I devoted myself to teaching (school and yoga). To writing (essays and articles). To practice (of yoga, of meditation, of writing, of breathing…). I will continue to devote my energy to all of these things in [...]
December 16 – Viaje (Trip)
Where did you travel this year? What was your best trip? x Near… far… or wherever you roamed from home, how was your journey spent in 2011? What new places did you explore? What familiar favorites did you haunt? x I started the year in New York City (3:00 a.m. Coney Island / 5:00 a.m. [...]
December 15 – Acharya (Scholar)
What did you study this year? What did you learn? What did you teach? “Persistent questioning and healthy inquisitiveness are the first requisite for acquiring learning of any kind.” – Gandhi
December 14 – Jnana (Self-knowledge)
Name something you did that was completely out of character. How did it feel? Gracias to Yoga As Muse Facilitator and writer Dawn Curtis for offering this #reverb11 prompt. Reverb is a month-long endeavor in reflecting on the past year and envisioning the year to come. Find out more about Reverb11. Check out the daily prompts and feel [...]
December 13 – Sabio (Wisdom)
What lesson or piece of wisdom did you learn from a child this year? Did it surprise you?o Special thanks to Dawn Curtis for providing today’s question! I am lucky to love my career. As a teacher, I have the opportunity to witness the wisdom* of children every day of the school year. I currently [...]
December 12 – Libro (Book)
What book did you read in 2011 that was most inspirational? Why? a For me personally, three books rocked my interior world this year: The Places that Scare You by Pema Chodron, The First and Last Freedom by J. Krishnamurti and Cutting through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa. Each volume had to be savored slowly [...]
