Thought of the Day: Footwear

It’s been a little over a year since I purchased my first pair of Toms shoes; the red canvas ones. They are slowly beginning to show wear—the soles deteriorating, which is probably more my fault than anything as I tend to drag my feet a bit when wearing flat shoes.
One year in and they are a perfect fit, completely molded to my feet. After work, or any other high-heeled day, I throw off the sling-backs and slip on the Toms. They don’t really match with anything in my wardrobe, but I’m willing to clash knowing that just the very act of wearing these shoes inspires. I can’t think of one time that while pounding the pavement that I haven’t been stopped and asked about my funny looking slippers. “Are those TOMS?” they ask with a genuine nod of approval. “Why yes they are… and did you know that for every pair that is purchased another pair is given to a child in need?”
In fact, since Tom's conception in 2006 more than 50,000 pairs of shoes have been donated to children in South Africa.
Just think buying one pair of shoes is gifting a child with a pair of shoes. What a great way to give back. So, pass it forward. www.tomeshoes.com

photo credit: tomshoes.com

Like Breath for Water

It wasn’t until 70 minutes into my 90-minute practice that I realized I hadn’t sipped from my water more than twice. Ten minutes into the floor series and I hadn’t taken any of the opportunities to partake in the wetting of my lips. Well, technically they (my lips) were already wet…with sweat. I was dripping head to toe, and actually wasn’t really aware of it. I wasn’t really aware of anything. Yes, I slid and floated from posture to posture with the class, I even adjusted according to my instructor’s direction, but I never reached for my water bottle.

I was there, completely present in the moment, and yet so completely far away. I was focused on one thing and one thing only: the rhythm of my breath. I sucked air in deep through my nose and slowly allowed it to make its way out.

Inhale; lift up into locus pose; 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, exhale, release.

This steady in and out of my breath sustained me. I felt solid like a tree and yet was limber like a noodle. I had command of my postures rather than my postures having command over me. It’s been weeks since I’ve felt that sort of release. My breath became the controlling factor in my practice. It dictated and spoke to my muscles; it told my stomach to tighten, my legs to lock; my arms to relax. My breath washed through me. It hydrated my organs and bones; it loosened the tightness in my back and released the furrow on my brow. It felt the day, no the week (and actually the week before it) fall off of me. It was such a peaceful release that I felt my eyes well up.

As my practice approached its end I felt fatigue hit, I began to succumb but my breath fought and won the battle. I finished my practice a new person, with a new body. I felt energized and peaceful. Even now, as I sit up in my bed three hours past my “bed time” I feel sustained, productive, and clear of mind. It’s this connection to the breath that energizes our lives, a connection that, when realize, is more powerful than sleep, and more hydrating than water.

LET IT GO

“You’re a yogini now.” A yogini: The female origin of a practicing male yogi; having a steadfast mind cultivated by the disciplined pursuit of transcendence through Yoga—or at least that’s what Wikipedia said. The definition is correct in that I am female, and yes I’m attempting to be disciplined with Yoga, or anything in my life for that matter, but what is this pursuit of transcendence? And is my mind steadfast?
In my daily practice I am always met with variations of distractions:

“Did I pay my phone bill?” “No. Now let that thought go.”

“What should I eat for dinner?” “Pasta. Now let that thought go.”

“I wish I could get my leg up a little higher.” “In time. Now let that thought go.”

My former instructor, Erika, would always say during our short sessions to acknowledge our thoughts and then let them go. But some days I feel bombarded with these pestering and unimportant questions. They attack me in my moments of silence just like they used to attack me before sleep. I don’t want to be that bad “put it off until tomorrow” person. I want to do today what I can do tomorrow, and more. But as a friend said to me today, “Step 1 before Step 5.”

This is truth. We must master our concentration to focus on the current, to focus on what is important, and what is true is this moment. It is not until we focus on our now that we will begin to live back in the today.

Tomorrow is a beautiful imaginary place that we will never reach. So find your today and master it. Be the owner of your todays, everyday. With this peace and mastery there will be no room for yesterdays regrets or tomorrows wishes. You will become the owner of your thoughts and the silence in your practice. What a beautiful place that is.

Love and Namaste.