The Divine Ms Pema
"I used to have a sign pinned up on my wall that read: Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us."- The Divine Ms Pema Chodron
It's either a very good sign or a very bad sign when a whole lot of people that you know start to pick up Pema Chodon's "When Things Fall Apart." Good because they are reading something everyone in their wrong mind (as opposed to 'everyone in their right mind') should read. Bad because it means that we're hurting.
This book has the remarkable quality of making you feel like you're getting closer to something really juicy when you're in the throes of suffering. Personally, it's given me some ability to step in a little closer and say, "Well, that's interesting." The truth is I haven't even finished the book, yet. It's not something to rush through and I believe the lessons come as you need them. I promise that my classes are going to be flush with Pema Chodron quotes. Do folks out there have favorite Pema one-liners? Or books? It would be lovely find others out there to gush with.
In trade for your Pema Chodron love stories, I will provide a quick sequence (what? I know! Maybe it was Nikki that finally goaded me into it...)
1. 5 minutes of "core" strengthening on back
2. Roll up to seated
3. Cat/cow
4. Side to side stretch in table (right ear to right shoulder, right hip out; and vice versa)
5. Downward Dog
6. 8-12 Sun Salutations (a + b)
7. Downward Dog
8. Inhale to lift right leg up
9. Walk hands back to left foot at back of the mat
10. Standing splits
11. Cross right leg behind left as it comes down, for cross-legged forward fold
12. Engage left leg strongly around right as you bend the knees, engage the core, and come up into eagle (garundasana)
13. After a 5 breath eagle hold, uncross left leg, and shoot it back into Warrior III (Flying Warrior, Virabhadrasana III)
14. Engage to lower gracefully into High Lunge (Crescent Lunge)
15. Exhale into High Lunge Twist (Prayer hands or one hand to inside of forward foot to twist)
16. Inhale to High Lunge
17. Vinyasa to Downward Dog
18. Repeat 8-17 on the other side of the body
19. Cool down of 10-15 minutes, include a supine twist and some happy baby, maybe some pigeon, I don't know, make it up
20. Savasana or Seated meditation
It's either a very good sign or a very bad sign when a whole lot of people that you know start to pick up Pema Chodon's "When Things Fall Apart." Good because they are reading something everyone in their wrong mind (as opposed to 'everyone in their right mind') should read. Bad because it means that we're hurting.
This book has the remarkable quality of making you feel like you're getting closer to something really juicy when you're in the throes of suffering. Personally, it's given me some ability to step in a little closer and say, "Well, that's interesting." The truth is I haven't even finished the book, yet. It's not something to rush through and I believe the lessons come as you need them. I promise that my classes are going to be flush with Pema Chodron quotes. Do folks out there have favorite Pema one-liners? Or books? It would be lovely find others out there to gush with.
In trade for your Pema Chodron love stories, I will provide a quick sequence (what? I know! Maybe it was Nikki that finally goaded me into it...)
1. 5 minutes of "core" strengthening on back
2. Roll up to seated
3. Cat/cow
4. Side to side stretch in table (right ear to right shoulder, right hip out; and vice versa)
5. Downward Dog
6. 8-12 Sun Salutations (a + b)
7. Downward Dog
8. Inhale to lift right leg up
9. Walk hands back to left foot at back of the mat
10. Standing splits
11. Cross right leg behind left as it comes down, for cross-legged forward fold
12. Engage left leg strongly around right as you bend the knees, engage the core, and come up into eagle (garundasana)
13. After a 5 breath eagle hold, uncross left leg, and shoot it back into Warrior III (Flying Warrior, Virabhadrasana III)
14. Engage to lower gracefully into High Lunge (Crescent Lunge)
15. Exhale into High Lunge Twist (Prayer hands or one hand to inside of forward foot to twist)
16. Inhale to High Lunge
17. Vinyasa to Downward Dog
18. Repeat 8-17 on the other side of the body
19. Cool down of 10-15 minutes, include a supine twist and some happy baby, maybe some pigeon, I don't know, make it up
20. Savasana or Seated meditation