The Present Moment

Here it is, the present moment. What are you doing with it? Are you experiencing it fully? When you take a breath are you aware of it as it enters and fills your body and then begins it's journey back into the ether? With the economy in the toilet and the holidays upon us, I wonder how many of you are living in a future moment, robbing yourself of the one you are in? Perhaps the current moment is uncomfortable and you are trying to avoid it. If this moment is the only one you can truly be in what is stopping you from experiencing it?

Whatever it is that takes you out of the present, you already have the tools you need to come back to this moment, you only have to activate them. The key lies in the union of body, mind, and spirit; yoga.

You don't have to be an athlete or a gymnast to practice yoga, in fact you don't even have to have taken a class. All you need is the ability to focus your mind on the actions of your physical body, it can be as simple as observing your breath. You can try it right now if you like:

Become an observer, watch how you breathe without changing anything. How is the air coming into your body? Through the nose...mouth...both?

When you know how the air is coming in, follow where it goes. Are you breathing using your whole body so the breath seems to go all the way to the belly? Or are you breathing more subtly with barely any noticeable movement?

When you have that awareness notice how often you take a breath. Is there a steady pattern to your breath or is it more free form? (Continue observing for several breaths.)

Now that you have that awareness, experiment with deepening the breath inhaling and exhaling through the nose. Perhaps inhaling for the count of 3, exhaling for the count of 3. Become comfortable with this pattern, inhaling 1...2...3... exhaling 1...2...3...

Now with this steady breath try closing your eyes and continuing this breathing count for a few moments. Returning to your natural breath after a few cycles of this even breath or when you feel complete.

Sit for a moment and observe body, mind, and spirit opening your eyes when you are ready. Allow your senses to bring you back to the room, continuing to be an observer. Noticing the world around you through sight, sound, smell, sensation, etc.

Watch how you feel, not just physically, but mentally, and emotionally as well. Hopefully, you find yourself breathing easier, more relaxed, more aware.

As you move through the day, take with you the knowledge that you have the tools at your disposal to be peaceful and present for whatever moment life brings you.

Namaste.

The Secondhand Bandit

This is a follow up to my last post, O Fortuna, the gunman who was outside my chiropractor's office a few weeks ago was caught, the very day of the incident. In fact my chiropractor was outside talking to the police officers when the call came in that the suspect was spotted in an alley behind the office. Dr. Sue said the officers responded immediately and had her get her car and leave, apparently she was so rattled by the experience that she was shaking all through her lunch hour.

The Sun Times ran an article about the capture yesterday apparently "the secondhand bandit" has been wanted in connection to 20 robberies since 2004. If you are interested in reading the article go to www.suntimes.com and enter "secondhand bandit" in to the search engine. It's nice to know that the outcome was positive, no one was hurt and the suspect was obtained. Chicago, apparently is not as lawless as it once was. :-)

O Fortuna....

Perhaps I should have chosen the lyric "Bad Boys, Bad Boys, what you gonna do?" instead...

While en route to the chiropractor I made an unfortunate discovery: there were no quarters in the car nor on my person to feed the meter. Madly I searched, but to no avail. Irritation and fretfulness washed over me as I realized I would have to seek parking on a side street away from the office. As I was running late this development was sure to add minutes to my tardiness. Happily, fortune smiled on me and I scored a sweet meter-less space half a block from the office, which meant I was only five minutes late! Walking west on Winona towards Clark I made another happy discovery: a solitary chicken strutting along the sidewalk. (There is nothing like live farm animals on a city street to brighten your day.)

My adjustment was wonderful, however, as I sat up Dr. Sue whispered "We would like you to sit here a few minutes before leaving." Usually we exchange a few pleasantries then I'm on my way, however, today was different. Apparently, the receptionist, Kristin called 911 during my adjustment because people were fleeing past the office. The Reason: Someone had a gun! The cops were already alerted by an alarm and the situation was quickly under control. Glancing out the picture window, it was clear the danger had passed, people were milling about back to business as usual. To be safe I lingered talking to Kristin a few more moments, then headed out into the sunshine.

Exiting the building I noticed two cop cars on the east and west corners of Clark Street. A glance east down Winona revealed more police cars, officers, and detectives loitering along the street, leading me to believe the Chase Bank on the corner was at the heart of the action. Other than the high profile police presence, it was just another Tuesday in Andesonville. Getting in my car I it dawned on me, Fortune blessed me with tardiness and no coins. My regular spot was currently occupied by one of Chicago's finest and I was safely on my way home...

Oh, Give Me a Home...

The Jersey Boy and I finally found a place to call our own. Searching for this home was swifter than our first. (I credit necessity coupled with experience as the expediting factors this time a round.) Suffice to say, we are thrilled with our new condo and look forward to settling in toward the end of September.

Subletting has been illuminating, I went from having a cozy 3 bedroom, fully furnished colonial with a basement to a minuscule two bedroom apartment equipped with the barest of necessities; a futon, folding table, two chairs, media related electronics,and my yoga gear. What I discovered is that I miss my CD's, sheet music, bed and little else. Perhaps monks, nuns, and such have the right idea...there is a certain freedom in less is more.

Moving to our new home, I wonder if I will continue this practice of austerity? Keeping only the things I need and give me joy, or will I begin to accumulate belongings because I have the space to put them, hanging on to things that no longer serve me...

As always, I'll keep you posted

The Wild, Wild West

Last night there was a thunderstorm that beats any other I have experienced. It was loud and bright, with torrential rain to boot. Rain was pouring into the open windows sending me scrambling to shut them, which was not easy as the wood frames had swollen with the heat impeding movement along the track. Taylor, scared y-cat that he is hid under the futon, leaving Buckley and I to fend for ourselves. Adding to the chaos were the sounds of sirens and whistles, it was cacophony. This ruckus went on for several hours, but then there was blessed silence, however, just as I was drifting off to sleep the storm returned bigger and louder than before. Turns out in addition to the storm there were signs of tornadoes and all the whistles had been a warning system. (Too bad I didn't know it at the time, I was hunkered down watching TiVo in my third floor apartment when I probably should have grabbed the cats and huddled in the laundry room.) Today, the sun is shining brightly and the puddles have dried up, the only evidence of the storm were some traffic lights that weren't working and one tree that had been snapped in half blocking the road. Once again I am reminded of how courteous people in Chicago are, at the intersection of Lawrence Ave and Ashland, the traffic light was out. These are major roads running North-South and East-West and there are multiple lanes on each street. With the traffic light not functioning, cars were piled up for blocks extending in all directions. No one honked and everyone acted as if we were at a 4-way stop sign, allowing traffic to move freely, it was amazing, I am in awe of the mid-west courtesy.

Like a Drifter I was Born to Walk...

Jersey Boy and I went to "Retro on Roscoe" last night. Roscoe Village is a neighborhood surrpounding a section of Roscoe Street with shops and restaurants (including a liquor store named LUSH, love that) west of Wrigley Field. "Retro on Roscoe," an annual event, was packed with revelers of all ages. Street vendors sold jewelry, art work, clothing, food and drink, while bands played hits from the 80's on 3 separate stages. Our favorite was the Hairbanger's Ball, whose members sported coifs supporting their moniker and performed excellent covers ranging from Whitesnake to Joan Jett. (Check out their website if you are interested http://www.hairbangersball.com/) After enjoying the energy of the band and the crowd dancing and singing along to the 80's tunes for an hour or so we headed over to our latest discovery...Scooters for the best frozen custard in town. We topped off the night with a Grasshopper cement blend in for me and a Turtle Sundae for the Jersey Boy. Thank goodness we live in a third floor walk up, we save money on gym fees and still get to eat our way through Chicago, a win win situation if you ask me.

Strange Business Names

As I walk to my favorite neighborhood yoga studio I pass a business called "Good Morning Clinic," musical theater geek that I am I immediately start singing the "Good Morning" song featured in Singing in the Rain. Then I notice the prominently placed list of services, the top offering is a colonic. Somehow the idea of warm water being injected into that particular orifice by a complete stranger in the name of detoxification doesn't make me think "Good Morning" . . . then there is this newly formed connection between Gene Kelly and derrieres and I wish that I could scrub my mind out with soap. Needless to say I now walk a different route to the studio and have no plans to see Singing in the Rain.