Giving

I have a cable TV program called The Gentle Way to Fitness. I have no idea how many people watch and follow it. I've received a couple of phone calls and a few of my friends have told me they've seen and enjoyed it. I've finally realized that I wanted confirmation, affirmation, maybe even a thank you!

Recently I gave someone a birthday gift of a necklace I'd purchased in India. She didn't acknowledge it. I realize that I wanted an acknowledgment.

I'm told that the greatest way to give is to do so without expectation. Just as the sun shines (even through clouds) every day giving us life, so too I am learning to give whatever I have to give without expectation. This is the Joy of Giving.

Same here. Maybe no one reads this blog. Maybe hundreds do. Maybe no one's life is affected by reading this. Maybe there is transformation, healing and joy coming from this blog.

My job is to continue shining whatever light I have, to give whatever gifts I have to give - whether they are appreciated or acknowledged or not. I'm not there yet. Maybe that's why I don't always get a thank you!

Sigh.

Sguatting and the Joints

I received an email asking me for suggestions regarding the Nia 5 Stages. For anyone reading this who doesn't know what they are, you can go to www.nianow.com and look them up. They are also described with pictures in the Nia Technique book. Basically, they follow the developmental stages of movement that most babies go through: Embryonic, Creeping, Crawling, Standing and Walking. In natural development, Sitting is in there also. The 5 Stages Nia Technique doesn't include sitting. Here's what I wrote to my friend:

About the "Standing" movement (squat) in the Nia 5 Stages. Here are my suggestions from personal experience:

By doing the 5 Stages consistently, I was able to get an overall increase in flexibility and strength in the joints. And yes, every time I'd come to Standing, I'd be discouraged UNTIL I accepted that it wasn't as comfortable as the other stages. I'd remind myself to love and honor my body and make adjustments to coax it into the posture and allow that it might never be "perfect." I assist myself by hanging onto doorknobs or other props - just as babies do. I make sure to breathe into the posture. This works for all postures! I do use the suggestions to get into it - i.e. widen the knees and feet. For me, it works to go right into flat feet rather than have one heel raised. You'll find your body's way. That's the key.. to find your body's way...tweak tweak tweak. I love to watch babies go through this process. I learn so much from them. One of the things I've added is to go into sitting - especially during the crawling stage.

The main thing, of course, is to be patient and loving to my body - to appreciate it in all it's abilities and disabilities. I am so very thankful that my body is as able as it is. I'm actually in awe of it! I attempt to feed it, bathe it and move it in ways that nurture it. I say attempt, because sometimes I forget what a gift it is and don't serve it as well as I could. It helps me to have people ask for assistance - Thank you!! Then I am reminded of the tools I have been given.

Being of Service

A student came back to my class today. She had taken one class with me about two or more months ago. She wasn't able to continue because of her schedule. Well, now her schedule has changed, so she can resume. She told me of something I had said during that one class that stayed with her and affected her life! I had suggested the principle of Dancing Through Life by infusing our ordinary movements with consciousness and grace. Wow. Today was about the heart chakra and my heart is filled with joy and gratitude that I am able to bring something like this to humanity.

So maybe I'm not always keeping the rhythm or phrasing exactly perfect. So maybe I can't do a split or a back bend anymore. So maybe I don't look like a fashion model or movie star any more. Big DEAL! I can still say and do things that help people raise their consciousness, awareness and joy level YAY!!

Is Anybody Reading This?

I won't go the Facebook Route. It's just TOO time consuming. Anyhow, this blog is read by me, and maybe that's enough. I've filled books and books of journals with my musings, and I don't share them with anyone. So maybe this is the same and I'm saving paper.

Had another vivid dream. In that one I was lost in a city that had HUGE building structuring going on - almost otherworldly. Even though I had foolishly not taken the phone number and/or address of the place I had departed from, I wasn't all that panic stricken. Somehow I knew I was dreaming.

Busy Busy Busy. We're starting a qigong/tai chi practice with some other people. I arranged a space. Steve is feeling a wee bit better. This should be really good for him to do. Me too.

Learned a new Nia routine with a group. I haven't learned it well enough to teach, but it's a start and it was good to be with the group; a gift. I was surprised that my body was able to spend all those hours without falling apart.

The caterpillar can still transform into a butterfly - perhaps not as big and bright as some others, but still a butterfly who flies.

More dreaming

So here's a bit from another dream. I was introduced to someone who could tell you about yourself by the foods you liked and chose to eat. He looked at what I'd put on my plate from a buffet and told me I was someone who loved adventure, loved to try new things.

When I woke up I wondered about that, i.e. what can you tell about someone's choice of food? I know I like to see what others are buying when I stand in line at a supermarket. Who's a parent, who's giving a party, who's on a diet, who's a gourmet and who's a gourmond.

Busy busy busy these days. Life.