Taking the Fall

Why work so hard? No really. What is there ultimately to attain by aspiring to betterment? My own teachers...who are BRILLIANT and RIGHT...are also bent (be it ever so slightly...) on becoming acute and aware through (...and I might be wrong on this...) deprivation. Yep. I think I think too much. Too hard. Worry too much. Too hard. Care too much. Too hard. But...apparently, I'm supposed too. It's the only way to grow. Ok. Maybe. But. What if it isn't completely...or remotely...necessary to feel so much? So hard. What if...and this might be a stretch (and it might even get me excommunicated...)...it's fine...okay...even WORTHY...to simply accept it all. And sundry. I am. What I am. And, by Golly...so are you. Honestly, sometimes I get downright agitated by over-arching assumptions that in order to deserve enlightenment or bliss...one must learn how to suffer. Quietly. Well. I have never likened myself to a quiet, non-sufferer...nor have I EVER likened myself to someone needing to be enlightened. I am here to serve. Period. And. Maybe I starve myself. Maybe I drink beer on a regular basis. I married a meat cutter...so, yep...not a vegetarian...I don't recycle...(much...)...by all standards, I am karmacally doomed. Ok. But. Someone out there can relate. And...well...they don't have to admit it. Cuz I already did. ROCK ON!

Pearl

“Pain in the ass”. Something I say (at least sub-vocally) pretty frequently. Probably too much. Probably at the “wrong” time...and undoubtedly in bad context. So. This is for you, in case you happen to hear that phrase come out of my mouth. Ever.

The other day, a student was a bit incorrigible...not just a little whiney and maybe too loud...but still a very sweet, loving and genuinely GREAT person that I REALLY love...(I’m not very committal with my wording...)...and I let it slip. Yep. Out loud. “Guh. What a pain in the ass...” The realization that surely SOMEONE heard me say it (despite Santana in the background...) kept me up ALL NIGHT. The monkey in my brain would not let it go, “Oh. You really did it this time, Kim. How the HELL are you gonna rectify that ginourmous boo boo? Every one of the students in that class is gonna think you’re a hypocrite...in fact...everything you teach is BULLSHIT in their interpretation cuz you just called one of their peers a ‘pain in the ass’.” Yep. So this is my strategy: I sorted this all out in the wee hours. “Pain in the ass” is analogous (that’s right) with the “sand in the oyster”.

How can it not be? The most unforgettable lessons in my life have always been taught by the people who annoy me the most. It’s true. The most annoying people have taught me the most. Hrm. Not to indicate that the people I love and hold most dear in my life haven’t taught me loads...it also doesn’t mean that all the people I love and hold the most dear are not annoying. Because, the truth is I pretty much love everyone. Yep. And, since I found my practice (though, admittedly I don’t always function from that place of integrity..ie. calling my sweet student a pain in the ass...) I have realized more readily my crazy sparkle-shine attitude about people. What I’ve begun to understand is it’s OK to be full of love and light and express it everywhere and to everyone (in probably IMMENSELY annoying ways...) but it’s ALSO, at least, human (and therefore Divine) to swear like a trucker (for example. That’s not an admission...)

So. Let me just say to you now, should you be one of the annoying ones in my life...You are my GREATEST teachers. Know that I love you immensely. And...please don’t stop being annoying...without the grit, there is no Pearl.

Great LOVE (and near as much gratitude...) -Kim

Proud Mary...Tina Turner Style

Keeping it real. I don’t meditate...or, rather, certainly not like I am “supposed” to. Formal meditation remains as elusive to my practice as the fountain of youth...or the Philosophers Stone. Friends of mine have, of late, told me that I “should” meditate. For reasons of self-development. For a way to release this bridled love that I carry...that we ALL carry...inherently. And, perhaps, more specifically...to help me process the dramas of raising a family with diverse issues. Yep. Well. I have a great intention to begin a formal meditation practice. Soon. Really. When are they adding that 25th hour to the day? I hear it’s soon...Congress is working on it.

I’ve struggled with my lack of meditation...FORMAL meditation...for awhile now. So. I’ll sit. In my room. On the floor (not in Lotus). With my back supported. And all the props I need to sit still comfortably for 10 minutes. Just ten. Not the 15 minute marathon. Just the 10K (...which is really just 6.2 minutes...) I breathe. In. Out. No really. I do. Breathing is, well, part of meditation...right? Follow the breath. In. Out. Repeat.

[*CRASH*]

In. Out. Repeat. (change legs...)

”MOM!!!”

In. Out. Repeat. (heart rate slightly increases...)

[*SCREAMING*]

In. Out. (ok. respirations rapid and pulse following in good form...)

“MOM!!! He won’t stop HITTING ME!!” He, “SHE started it! Broke my favorite pottery motorcycle!” She, “MOM! He called ME a DUMBO!” He, “DID NOT!”

[*more SCREAMING. CRYING. Pounding of doors.*]

In. Sigh.

Eyes open. 3.1 minutes. A new record.

Rock ON!

Slef-less love

Three years of hard work culminates in this highly-regarded (at least to me) trademark: "Anusara-Inspired" (tm) yoga teacher. Meanwhile...life continues on in the context of home-maker, wife, mother...strangely I am still fascinated by (or perhaps still clinging to) my life pre-accomplishments. Right. No kidding. As I read my teachers' blog, my inner-voice pipes in "Oh Kim! Get with it! Now you're Inspired...deepen your practice! Meditate more! Journal more! Read more philosophy! Chant more ! GET INTO LOTUS!" Then, some great Pop song comes on the radio and I'm transported back to my life as a hot, 28 year old holding the world (at least as I perceive it) in the palm of my age-spot-less hand (as a 28 year old). So it is,...in my poor head...not little, by any means. I'm comforted by the fact that I find myself extremely hilarious. A great teacher that I adore once said, "The key to being a successful teacher is to entertain yourself." That I do. As a Gemini, I have full conversations with my other "Self". And I laugh. A lot. I recently received 62 "evaluation forms" from my students at a local university that I teach at...all but one seemed to be as entertained by my humor as I am. In fact...leaving me with the average "1 in 60 students that I teach don't like me". Not bad. And, I'm trying not to care about that one persons' opinion. But. I do. Guh. I KNOW! "Really Kim (says the other, more confident and sassy side of the Gemini)? THAT'S ONLY ONE out of 60!" So...what do I do? I sit and conceive of a plan to teach NEXT semester so EVERYONE likes me...right. Yeah. The logical half of the Gemini says, "Duh. The kids are taking you for one credit. A good majority don't even CARE about yoga...much less you as a teacher. Get over it!" So...I'll listen harder to the logical side of my self. Or...should I say "Slef"...and make my lifetime friends outside of university credit classes.

This is the path of the householder. Make no mistake. The hardest path. There isn't a day that passes I don't dream of some far off cave in the Himalayas...cloistered. Cloaked from the view of others who may judge me harshly. Alone. Independent. Except for the two sides of my Slef. In constant conversation. And then...I remember how much I LOVE people. Even if they don't always love me...people fascinate me...and if it wasn't for teaching yoga, I'd have no excuse to remind them ALL how incredibly AWESOME they are. How awesome YOU are. And...how LOVED I am...

ROCK ON!

Fall Teaching Schedule

FALL SCHEDULE!

I am happy to announce the beginning of something destined to be beautiful! I have partnered with Emily Arger of StudioFit here in the Valley to bring you MORE full length (90 minute) yoga classes influenced by the teachings of John Friend and the method of Anusara Yoga.

Beginning Wednesday, September 8th I will be teaching at StudioFit:

Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 PM (Mixed Levels...all are welcome!)
Fridays 9:30-11:00 AM (Mixed Level)

At the Valley YMCA (unchanged):
Sunday 2:00-3:30 PM (Mixed Level)
Tuesday 10:50-11:50 AM (Mixed Level)

Thursday 10:50-11:50 AM

At the 4th Avenue Spokane Club (note time changes):
Monday 10:30-11:45 AM (Yoga Therapeutics)
Tuesday/Thursday 9:00-10:00 AM (Mixed Level)

I am also available for private therapeutics and full-length yoga classes for individuals or small groups. Please contact me.

Thank you for your studentship! Happy FALL!

LOVE!

Theme Intro "Looming our Tapestry"

Funny. Really. Who KNEW?!

Today, my yoga theme was completely inspired by a song that anyone would NOT associate with yoga...yet, I felt it so COMPLETELY in my body that I had to share it. That's right. This song tells the tale of my journey to where I am right now...in life. In yoga. And, I dedicate this rendition entirely to my teachers...particularly John Friend...who, I believe, would thoroughly appreciate the humor in converting this hard rock (and not ENTIRELY inappropriate) song into that of devotion and gratitude. Yeah...I had a bit of fun. It's corny...but, truly IS what happened (and continues to happen) to me. I WAS Thunderstruck!

Shaktified
(to the tune of "Thunderstruck"...many thanks to Bon Scott and the other, lovely members of AC/DC...ROCK ON!)

I was Caught
In the middle of a railroad track (Thunder)
I looked round
And I knew there was no turning back (Thunder)
My mind raced
And I thought what could I do (Thunder)
And I knew
It was all ‘cause, all ‘cause of you (Thunder)
Sound of the guns
Beatin' in my heart
The thunder of guns (it)
Tore me apart
I’ve been - Shaktified (Thunderstruck)
[Rode | Went] down the highway
Broke the limit, I hit the town
Went through to Texas, yeah Texas
And I had some fun
I met some Dude
Some yogi who knew a good time
Expanded some old rules, They were really COOL
Yeah, yeah, they, they, they blew my mind
I was shakin' at the knees
Could I have found peace?
Yeah this yoga was sublime
I've been - thunderstruck, thunderstruck
Yeah yeah yeah, thunderstruck
Yeah
Oh, thunderstruck, yeah
Now I'm shaking at the knees
One more time again please?
Thunderstruck, thunderstruck
Yeah yeah yeah, thunderstruck
Thunderstruck, yeah, yeah, yeah
Said yeah, it's alright
We're doing fine
Yeah, it's alright
We're doing fine
(So fine)
Thunderstruck, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Thunderstruck, thunderstruck, thunderstruck
Whoa baby, baby, thunderstruck
I've been thunderstruck, thunderstruck
Thunderstruck, thunderstruck
I've been thunderstruck