11 Jul 2012

Guest Blogger Carrie Owerko on Spiritual Practice

My inspiring yoga teacher Carrie Owerko’s beginning of a blog entry on “ practice”:

“How does our practice become our own practice? One that is created from and supported from within? Who is the one who will always be with us, inside of us, holding the space, the sacred space that allows for the intimate observation of our breath, our life, even at the time of our very last breath, the very end of this life? How intimate are we with this innermost host? Do we have time for this relationship? Underneath all the other voices, the voices of our parental figures and teachers and all with whom we have been in relationship, underneath all of those voices, the chattering, poking and prodding cacophony of our histories, is a silence and a space that holds our innermost host or teacher. It takes real courage to hear and feel this silence, and then to see and listen into all that is revealed. What if we don’t like what we see? Or it doesn’t take the form we expected?.....”

Continue reading this entry at carrieowerko.com ( a fantastic website!)

11 Jul 2012

Guest Blogger Sofia Elizalde Duran on Wellness Practice

From writer, yogini and artist , Sofia Elizalde-Duran:

"It does not matter how slow you go, so long as you do not stop"

--Confucius

"Personal transformation can and does have global effects. As we go, so goes the world, for the world is us. The revolution that will save the world is ultimately a personal one." -- Marianne Williamson

I start off with these two quotes, taken from two different individuals from two different times and backgrounds. However they both express clearly what I like to consider my life’s practice. I work towards living a life with awareness; hence “luck”, “chance”, “fortune” does not really play a big part in this scenario.

We have intentions, attitudes, behaviors and action. Practice, practice, practice. Experience, as a verb, in action. Practice what you preach. Acting in accordance to your beliefs. It's an internal force that drives you. God is nowhere to be found, God is not outside. Religion is not behind doors or does not come with instructions. Dogmas.

God is ultimately Love--the foundation of life--and it is inside me, inside you, in every living palpitating thing and creature in the universe. For me it is Yoga. Yoga and life. My daily practice, where I show up on my mat, where I connect with what is within me and around me. That is my starting point, my spring board. Yoga and life--
The privilege, the wonderful gift of discovering, exploring my rhythm, my timing. Having the opportunity to really sense, with my heart, with love, the beauty of living and existence. I'm not talking about being illuminated here, or being enlightened--it's about practicing actively, speaking truthfully with myself--my wants, my needs, my beliefs, my love. And act accordingly.

Not an hour practice on our mats--abandoned and forgotten for the rest of the day. God, Divinity, Belief, Prayer. Not a sporadic, isolated appointment in our daily lives-- what about the other 23 hours of the day? The art of living comes from love, comes from that awareness of love and responding-- with feelings, intentions, behaviors, actions-- to that love.
That is breath. That is breathing. Life

The great teacher Krishnamacharya said: “If there is breath, there is always something we can do.”

Please visit Sofia’s blog anytime for more wonderful thoughts and open hearted sharing!
www.ando-como-hormiguita.blogspot.com

Thank you Sofia!

Copyright © 2018 SUSAN LAMBERT, LCSW