for some reason I couldn't upload the latest video!
Enjoy my ramblings on What Yoga is to me... on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kap3R8Iils8
A s h l e y . L o r d ...an unedited collection of...W o r d s . f r o m . t h e . h e a r t .
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Elements of Frustration on the mat deepen our practice and understanding of self.
The following things may seem problematic in a yoga class. When we come to understand them a little differently, we realize how beneficial the experience of the following elements can be:
-intense heat (hot yoga)
-sweat dripping
-holding postures for an extended period of time
-discomfort or difficulty in general
-distracting music
-teachers voice we don’t like
-a fowl smell
-the list goes on…pretty much anything that is not going exactly the way you thought or find frustrating in a yoga class….perhaps look at it as an opportunity to learn from.
These elements aid us in understanding ourselves and returning us to balance, playing a certain role. This role, one of the essential concepts of yoga practice –awakening to our fullest potential, benefit us by challenging our mind. To combat this challenge we must engage the breath fully, the breath triggers a relaxing response to the body and we inherently become more focused and able to control how our mind perceives and how we act. It enables us the control we need over the mind when faced with difficulty, stress, etc.
We must engage fully with the breath to learn from these challenges, we are practicing how to control our mind when faced with difficulty, using our breath. When a stressful situation presents itself, remember to breath. Perhaps take a few seconds to take a couple deep breaths, and then return to the situation. (Eventually you may not even perceive the situation as stressful at all – because you know you can handle anything!) Practicing yoga we activate what is already inside us, not searching for something outside ourselves, but knowing we have everything we need already within.
Essential elements such as these allow us to practice these feats of difficulty, so that when we step off our mat and into the world, we are more fully awake, aware, present, connected and better able to deal with anything the external world throw as us. In yoga, we are becoming strong internally, creating a strong “container” of mind and body, so that when faced with difficulty we are that much better prepared – have perhaps experienced a similar frustration in our yoga practice, and we are able to draw on that experience to better handle the situation from a place of balance, neutrality and familiarity.
Through yoga we also become more mindful of ourselves, better able to recognize when we start to re-act, instead of the preferred; our choice to act from a place we are fully in control of.
LEARN CONTROL OF THE BREATH TO MASTER THE MIND AND INSTILL A SENSE OF CONTROL AND CALM OVER YOUR LIFE.
Restorative yoga, in my opinion is the exception to this as it is is intended for immediate relaxation and rejuvenation, and adding other elements of difficulty may be counter productive to its purpose.
-intense heat (hot yoga)
-sweat dripping
-holding postures for an extended period of time
-discomfort or difficulty in general
-distracting music
-teachers voice we don’t like
-a fowl smell
-the list goes on…pretty much anything that is not going exactly the way you thought or find frustrating in a yoga class….perhaps look at it as an opportunity to learn from.
These elements aid us in understanding ourselves and returning us to balance, playing a certain role. This role, one of the essential concepts of yoga practice –awakening to our fullest potential, benefit us by challenging our mind. To combat this challenge we must engage the breath fully, the breath triggers a relaxing response to the body and we inherently become more focused and able to control how our mind perceives and how we act. It enables us the control we need over the mind when faced with difficulty, stress, etc.
We must engage fully with the breath to learn from these challenges, we are practicing how to control our mind when faced with difficulty, using our breath. When a stressful situation presents itself, remember to breath. Perhaps take a few seconds to take a couple deep breaths, and then return to the situation. (Eventually you may not even perceive the situation as stressful at all – because you know you can handle anything!) Practicing yoga we activate what is already inside us, not searching for something outside ourselves, but knowing we have everything we need already within.
Essential elements such as these allow us to practice these feats of difficulty, so that when we step off our mat and into the world, we are more fully awake, aware, present, connected and better able to deal with anything the external world throw as us. In yoga, we are becoming strong internally, creating a strong “container” of mind and body, so that when faced with difficulty we are that much better prepared – have perhaps experienced a similar frustration in our yoga practice, and we are able to draw on that experience to better handle the situation from a place of balance, neutrality and familiarity.
Through yoga we also become more mindful of ourselves, better able to recognize when we start to re-act, instead of the preferred; our choice to act from a place we are fully in control of.
LEARN CONTROL OF THE BREATH TO MASTER THE MIND AND INSTILL A SENSE OF CONTROL AND CALM OVER YOUR LIFE.
Restorative yoga, in my opinion is the exception to this as it is is intended for immediate relaxation and rejuvenation, and adding other elements of difficulty may be counter productive to its purpose.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
"Leap and the net will appear"
If you have a dream, a vision, follow it - LIVE IT.
Have a great day,
Ash
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
NEW Video Project!!
Hey everyone!
I would like to welcome the start of a new project from Ashley Lord Yoga. Its a daily/weekly video blog that will include inspirational quotes, words of the day, yoga posture tips, meditations, relaxations etc.
Rock on. Enjoy.
Much love,
Ashley
Costa Rica Retreat Promo Video
a very fun snowy winter day filming a jokes promo video for a Costa Rica yoga retreat.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Nothing is a waste of time
Recently I heard a thank you speech at an awards show. The recipient thanked his parents profusely for being a constant beacon of support, but dedicated the speech to those people who do not have that same type of support. The recipient stated "Nothing is a waste of time".
Continue to do what you want to do - what makes you happy, you are not wasting your time! If you are an artist who wants to paint, a snowboarder who has an olympic dream, or even someone who loves dogs and wants to run a successful business as a dog walker - do IT. Live the life you love and follow your dreams. Continue to pursue your passions and success will follow you!
I really think it is important to know that where you are is right where you should be. All those little steps along the way has only got you to where you are right now - so don't give up. You are closer than you think!
Too many people think down on themselves, because they have a voice in their head telling them to give up on their dreams. Don't listen to it! Do what you want to do.
"Leap and the net will appear"
If you start to measure success in terms of happiness you are richer than you think.
DO WHAT YOU LOVE!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
no danger...from these eyes of a stranger
Woke up this morning at my moms, packed up the pooch and hit the road! Made a tastey cinnamon bagel to go.
So driving down the road and almost run out of gas! Make it to a gas station, I may as well of just coasted in there - it was a close call.
I fill up with only $15.....because I get this crazy feeling my debit card is not gonna work (last week the bank shut it off due to "suspect" activity and I had to call them to reset my pin, then it was working again!) - but I had this feeling for some reason. And sure enough, I go to pay and my card is declined!"Declined - contact bank" was the message. So (at this point I am just going to make it to teach my 9am class, it was just before 8 and I had about a 45 minute drive ahead of me!), I try to reason with the extremely serious merchant at the desk, asking if I could leave something there for him as collateral - until I paid later that afternoon!) Needless to say he didn't budge! (He wanted me to leave my phone - but like that was gonna happen!! Hehe). I tell him I am just gonna go outside to see what I have in my car......
I am still pretty calm at this point, and seriously thinking about what my plan of action is going to be! Then I see an old gentleman walking across the gas station, en route to pay for his gas inside. I didn't even hesitate and turned immediately to him as our paths crossed. "Hi sorry to bother you....and explained my situation, oh and here come the tears!! Just a few start to trickle down my cheek as I plead with him, and with out even saying anything to me, we walk inside together, smiling kindly, as if to say, sure of course I will help you!" SO - wow. He pays for my gas and I ask him for his address so I can send him a cheque, of course. His tiny act of selfless kindness enabled me to get back on the road, make it home to drop off Nala, and get to my yoga class on time. I arrive to my sunday morning (dedicated) students. This tale of kindness proves that one little (seemingly insignificant) event could have changed the course of 21 people's lives that morning, whether I made it or not.
"Small acts of kindness can make a world of difference" and that is the story and lesson that I started off this morning's yoga class with. Sharing a tale of kindness that benefitted us all (and others sure to come, as each one of my students will be sure to help out a stranger in need one day). The circle of life. Do things without hesitation, be kind without expecting anything in return. You don't know how many people you are helping.
Love Ashley
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