"All You Need is Love" 

Integral Yoga

Living Yoga - The Life and Teachings of Swami Satchidananda

The summer of 2004 I was able to visit the Integral Yoga Studio in New York City. It was a lovely class, with chanting, several Shavasanas, pranayama, and of course asana. I knew it would be an experience I would always be grateful for. Now upon watching the movie "Living Yoga - The Life and Teachings of Swami Satchidananda" I am truly grateful to have had this life experience  and hope to include more learning from one of his many centers. 

The past few days I had been praying about something heavy on my heart and was inspired to share this after much prayer, meditation, and watching the life of this great Swami.

This week I had been struggling with a challenge. I knew it was an opportunity to examine myself, my reactions, my behavior in light of everything. The situation had hurt very badly, it was something I did not understand. I knew I could deflect the anger on to the other person or own the lesson. So I am choosing to own the lesson. There have been so many lessons of late. There are times I wish growth didn't come with struggle but it does.When you begin to grow and change people you have had in your life or have attracted don't often know how to take you. When you have lessons to learn you are given opportunity upon opportunity to practice. 

The past twenty nine years of my life I have been practicing meditation, for the past twenty six I have practiced yoga. At this point, at forty four, I often feel I know less than I did at fifteen. I'm so overwhelmed by all I have learned and all I have to learn sometimes I literally feel as if my tongue is tied. Many years ago, in my mid twenties I started practicing with Erich Shiffman, a great and wise yoga teacher. I had his VHS tape and his book "Moving Into Stillness". He would often say "When you let go of everything else the only thing left is LOVE". There was a part of me that was like "yeah right, okay dokey then, love, love is the answer, sure thing", then imagine a bit of eye rolling on my part.
Now as I have practiced with many masterful teachers, studied many great text, practiced yoga, and lived a yogic lifestyle I had come to understand what Erich meant. The answer is always to be love. 

Now we need justice in the world, we need law and order, we must stand up for what is right but we must do that in love. All the history, philosophy and teachings of yoga come down to that simple philosophy - love. Find peace, be peace, be loving. You can understand and try to understand all the history books and all the asanas but if you don't have love you don't really know yoga.

The best answer I can give to my students today based on my own experiences is to slow down -  the journey is the destination, today you can find peace and happiness - right now. Practice, practice, practice,  not only your asanas but all eight limbs of yoga. If you don't have the Yama's and Niyama's in your heart you are not a true yoga practitioner. If you do not try to cultivate a heart for all eight limbs then you will be out of balance. And in the end know that in you, and in every human being there is someone who needs love and all of our actions in this world are based on needing that love, the lack of it, the fear of not having it, or the desire to share it and give it away freely. We are all flawed, we will all make mistakes and do things out of fear but if we know how to come back, to come back to love, our lives will be more harmonious and balanced.

This cannot be imparted to you by only listening to a teacher, it must be practiced to "get" it. You must do the work, no teacher can do it for you, they can guide you, but "you" and only "you" can do the work. You must show up and practice, practice all eight limbs, whatever it is that brings you to that place do that. It may not look like asana, it may look like cooking for someone you care about. It may look like being a loving parent, it's all yoga, it is all union. It's all about the intent in which we show up and practice, practice being more loving, loving ourselves and others.

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti, Namaste.

Yoga as a Metaphor for Life

*Or Yoga according to my theory of Pooh Bear

Going into child's pose I go inside, it feels the same as when I eat a warm bowl of soup. The same cozy feeling I get when I pull a soft blanket over me or put on my fuzzy lined boots.
Standing in Tadasana - Mountain Pose, I feel strong, stable, steady, proud, stoic just like when I stand up against intolerance, prejudice or do something awesome like balance my checkbook or parent without losing my cool.

When teaching I find myself relating poses to food, characters & feelings all the time. One day I just said out loud "yoga is a metaphor for life", yeah that's right, that's what it is! Someone told me once that smart people think in metaphor so I felt a little superior for a moment and then thought the better of myself and my ego. Certainly a superior human being wouldn't equate life with mashed potatoes!

Here is the deal: when you start to practice asana (yoga postures) all of a sudden you notice changes in your body and in your mind. You might be like "Hey um, why when I do this back bend do I feel so much happier?" Or when I do this deep twist do I think about how someone hurt me and then I feel like crying and releasing that hurt. In yogic philosophy and Eastern philosophy there is this term called Samskara, the release of blocked energy in the body. The tissues remember everything and hold onto everything, sort of like muscle memory. So often when we do the asanas it's similar to having those memories poked, prodded, and pushed until the come out and whew release! It's a little like the characters in the stories of Pooh Bear. Stay with me folks.

If you have been in my classes you also have heard me talk about Eeyoritis. Eyororitis looks like this:

Look at poor Eeyore's spine. It's rounded over, now think about Eeyore doing a Warrior 1 pose, what happens to Eeyore's heart? It's lifted, he feels proud and happy and oh my gosh that sadness just starts to pop right out of his solar plexus and heart, he lets it go.

We can also have Tiggeritis. It looks like this:

Maybe not such a bad thing, but the theory I use with this is always pressing towards the future. Look at Tigger's spine. In theory a person with this type of spine might always be looking towards the future, not necessarily unhealthy but maybe unbalanced. Because we need to plan but be in the present moment. So for the Tiggers in the world I would put him in a Mountain Pose and breathe really slow. 

Then you come to Pooh :

Pooh is the questioner but also represents love.
“Some people care too much. I think it's called love.” 
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Look at Pooh Bear, his spine is nice and straight, he is in the moment, he is experiencing love and being in the present. 

Let us all try to strive everyday through the practice of our spine, our words, our thoughts and our meditations to be like Pooh. 

And mentioning meditations to be like the wise Piglet: Who says “How do you spell 'love'?" - Piglet
"You don't spell it...you feel it." - Pooh” 
― A.A. Milne

Ah yes, Yoga is a metaphor for life: Stand up straight, be in the moment, ask big questions but above all LOVE.

Love and Light,
Courtney



*Just to show that there are no original thoughts left (not that I really believe this) here is an article I found when doing some research about yoga being a metaphor for entrepreneurs for those of you who wish to explore this topic further.

://www.forbes.com/sites/loisgeller/2014/08/08/yoga-as-an-especially-apt-metaphor-for-the-life-of-an-entrepreneur/

Fill Your Life with the Positive

I was born with a sense awe of people who are older, wiser, and more experienced. As far back as I can remember I have loved older people, sage like people, people who were successful in some way that they achieved happiness or seemed to be full of an amazing spirit. These people came to me in many forms, the first being my saint like grandmother, Ruby. She took me to the Methodist Church early on and taught me many lessons about love and life and people. She told me stories from the Bible in terms that were relate-able to life. My life has been shaped by watching, listening, and talking to people as well as reading books, listening to recordings, and more. I started to meditate at the age of fifteen due to a high level of stress, I used meditation tapes and read books on spirituality and positive thinking at an early age. My aunt and a friends mom often took me to Alanon where I was introduced to a whole new way of positive thinking. I had many of the troubles that come with being a young person and had a very big void in my heart that I tried to fill with a mix of things, some healthy but most not.
At the age of seventeen I signed up for vocational college in the field of Health Occupations and became the President of that group, it was 1986, A.I.D.'s was a new and hot topic and I would be assigned to cover this topic. The world was scared and I was put in charge of researching and sharing information to the other students in high school and the community college. Then in my second term we had to volunteer in the hospital, I chose the physical therapy rehab department at the old St. Joseph hospital. This would lead me to want to serve others in the field of physical therapy. I continued to volunteer well into my college years at Levi hospital and also worked at the school for the disabled taking care of a child with Cerebral Palsy who was spastic quadriplegic. At the age of eighteen I was introduced to Yoga as a regular practice.At the age of nineteen I got pregnant and then had a still born baby at five months. I suffered severe and debilitating depression, I couldn't cope. I reached out to an Indian physician who gave me anti-depressants and suggested counseling. Through all of these experiences good and bad I met amazing and wonderful people who guided me, they were lights in the dark. They were part of my healing. And I am grateful that God has put these people in my life and given me an open heart to listen and learn. Because of these experiences I knew I wanted to work in a profession that helped people to heal. That by helping others to heal I would heal myself.So I wasn't able to go to P.T. school because of getting pregnant and the ramifications of it,  so my life took a different turn. For many years I worked in the field of Early Childhood Education, then at thirty I became a yoga teacher. To this day I teach others to teach, lead workshops on all aspects of a yoga lifestyle and counsel others.
In this life I have no regrets. Sure I've made some mistakes, however, they have all shaped me.
To this day I spend some time every day finding something positive, whether it's a positive show, movie, book, friend, older person, wise person, music, yoga practice, being in nature, spending time with a friend or family member who supports me. Yes, every day, something small can change your life.
Recently on my yoga workshop tour my friend and fellow classmate from yoga school introduced me to the show "Super Soul Sunday" on the OWN channel. She and I both went over 10 years without t.v. and yet here we were watching this show on Miquel Ruiz speaking on The Four Agreements. I went home and ordered the channel on cable and set my DVR to tape all the inspirational shows, with the great authors, wise people, successful people and now it's another way I stay positive and decompress when life gets to full or overwhelming. Today I listened to many of the speakers, mostly these were people I have never heard of and they shared stuff that for the most part I know but constantly need to be reminded of. Good words, sights, sounds, etc.. are like food for our soul. We must always be putting them in because we use them as energy.
Here are some of the words I heard today, and these are the same words I've heard over and over again in my studies and as I have applied them to my own life. #1 continues to be what I hear from wise people, over and over again and what I apply in my own life and this concept alone has been the guiding force in my twenty five years of yoga practice and twenty eight years of meditation practice.

1. Be here now.
2. Now is all we have.
3. Spend your life in service to others.
4. Give passion in everything you do. Rather than thinking about what is your passion, live passionately to discover your passions.
5. We all have a hole in us that we try to fill, we can fill it up with bad stuff or we can fill it up with good. Good things will sustain us, bad things will destroy us.
6. Think about others, think about how others feel and take action if you need to. You will gain more by helping than by doing nothing. Happiness is found in service.
7. You are not alone. If you feel alone find a way to serve.
8. Nothing outside of you will make you happy for long, everything you need to be happy is inside of you.
9. When you start getting your self together, life will probably fall apart, that is how your faith is developed. Don't give up, hold on.
10. It's okay to reach out for help. We all need a hand sometimes.
11. Once we are open what we need will appear.
12. Most of the time we need to get out of our own damn way.
13. The universe will deliver what you need, be open to seeing those signs.
14. Say "yes" to good things in your life.
15. Every day try to connect with someone.
16. Get off your phone and be here now, with the person in front of you or the animal or the situation. Life is short. * As a mother I struggle not to check my phone, but I am learning to let go and be rational.
17. Use all your senses to engage. Listen, touch, feel, see, taste. Life is extraordinary when we get out of our own heads.
18. Every one has a story. Listen. Be empathetic. Be positive.
19. Make sure you fill your own cup to avoid becoming depleted.
20. Be kind. Everyone is working from their own reality. Try to see God in all people and things, we all have a connection, even to those that test us.

For more information and guidance I suggest you check out the OWN network, Read The Four Agreements, Subscribe to the blogs The Daily Love Blog, Zen Habits, Go to a Yoga Class in your town with like minded teachers, & find positive people and outlets in your area.

Wishing you all the best life has to offer.

Courtney

The Wild West of Yoga

This morning I had a phone conference with the standards department at Yoga Alliance. Here is what I and the woman I was speaking to agreed on "it's become the Wild West" in the yoga world. The fact that someone is a yoga teacher does not make someone humble or honest.
I myself have had huge amounts of intellectual property stolen because I was naive. I was brought up in a yoga culture so different than the one I live in today. Twenty five years ago you had your practice which you learned either from a book, a VHS, or a teacher. Likely a combination of all three. There were no credentialing agencies. Most people went to India or had to go out to either coast to train with Master teachers and then come back and shared their knowledge.

*Pictured with one of my best friends and lead teacher in my school Stacey Faught 500 RYT, 200 E.R.Y.T, & my teachers: Elana Johnson E.R.Y.T. 500, R.C.Y.T., R.P.Y.T. & Robin Johnson E.R.Y.T. 500, R.C.Y.T., R.P.Y.T.

In the yoga school I own we accept people for various reasons, a man who has practiced meditation for 10 years but only asana for 1 because mediation is a very important part (limb) of yoga. A woman who has been practicing for one year after neck surgery and is passionately wanting to share the gift she gained from yoga with others. The man who has practiced for twenty years and even teaches some but now wants to be registered with Yoga Alliance. A woman who works for a college that is training people to use yoga in the public schools.

Who do we not take? Anyone who we believe has work to do before they are ready, we have a long discussion on the phone before anyone is accepted. They must have a general overall desire to help others & show a true willingness to grow and learn. If they believe this is like going to beauty school for a technical education then we send them to a teacher for a year and ask them to call us back. This happens in 50% of the calls we receive.

For me opening the school was what I call a "God Thing". Literally I felt called to teach teachers after I had practiced for seventeen years and had been a teacher for eight. I'd learned quite a bit and I felt that I was blessed in my ability to make hard things seem easy. *I should say the more I learn the more I realize I have miles and miles to go.
Now you have a few people (I say a few because I believe 95% have the best intentions) going into teacher training to become "Rock Stars" and it's causing a big problem. Many yoga teachers lead their business based from their hearts, they truly believe that if they follow the yamas and the niyamas that all will be okay and good prevails, as one of my teachers, Elana taught me "good equals good". Today in my talks with the woman at YA (I don't think it appropriate to mention her name without permission) she told me of countless stories of experienced teachers who have been taken advantage of and had believed in the good of the yoga community only to be used for their knowledge and experience. Unfortunately sometimes good equals being taken advantage of when you don't know you need an intellectual property agreement. Hopefully these painful lessons some of us are learning the hard way will positively make a change for others in the future.

For me the fact that this has happened allows me, after much reflection, to make a stand for what is right, to stand up and ask for accountability by Yoga Alliance to make sure those who teach others are qualified and have not just the proper credentials but proper experience. They are in the process of reviewing all standards for credentialing, due to many people coming right out of school with little to no experience and opening schools, to make sure that in the future they can identify who are the more qualified teachers. Social credentialing will do some of this with a rating system put into place by the students who graduate from their programs.
In summary, "things change", a capitalistic society breeds not only competition but also allows for greed, however it also allows for the best to shine through given time. For me I will continue to focus on how we can serve our students and always become better ourselves, continuing our studies and sharing in the spirit of love what our teachers so humbly taught us.

The Yamas include:

Ahimsa ~ Nonviolence

Satya ~ Truthfulness

Asteya ~ Nonstealing

Brahmacharya ~ Nonexcess

Aparigraha ~ Nonpossessiveness

And the Niyamas include:

Saucha ~ Purity

Santosha ~ Contentment

Tapas ~ Self-discipline

Svadhyaya ~ Self-study

Ishvara Pranidhana ~ Surrender

Courtney Butler
E.R.Y.T. 500, R.C.Y.T., R.P.Y.T.
Owner Balance Yoga and Wellness Studio and School
Co-owner of Balance Barre

Character

December 11, 2013 at 8:41am

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I rarely get on a soapbox publicly but today I feel called to say this. Training people to go into the world and teach yoga I feel a responsibility to teach the ethics of what yoga stands for. I only work with teachers who I believe represent these same high ethical standards. Doing no harm and not stealing is a main component of who we are suppose to be and if under pressure to succeed we lose that we are then no longer yoga "teachers", we are people who teach asana and speak a bunch of words that we cannot authentically back up.
I hope that every person who walks out of the doors of (our) school has the character to be of substance not just surface words.

When you don't get your way be of good character.  Admit your wrongs. Be respectful when you disagree and focus your energy on your own business, not on seeking revenge. If you get ideas from others ask permission before you use their work, give them credit (Yes publicly) and if you gain from their ideas say "thank you". Don't try to gain by jumping over someones back and profiting from their hard work, ask them how they did it and to mentor you, chances are they will be flattered to do so. It's one thing to be inspired by someone it's another thing to copy and paste and claim it as your own. As my friend Elana says "good equals good". Everything catches up with you in the end so have good character.

A note for upcoming RYT and CYT trainings

Hello, A new school year arrives for yoga lovers!

Here is some basic info you will need before starting class: please find your training and read carefully.
Everyone please bring your mat, your books that required you to preread, and items listed below. You will need a notebook, pen and folder also.

 *One of your sweet teachers, Elana Johnson E.R.Y.T. 500, R.C.Y.T., R.P.Y.T.

RYT 200
Meets at Balance Yoga and Wellness, Hot Springs

http://www.balanceyogaandwellness.com/teacher-training.html

Sept 14th  11:30 arrival -5:30  (see below for practice hour)

Sept 15th 10:00 a.m. arrival - 3:00(see below for practice hour)

Choose one class to take this weekend, either the 10:00 a.m. class on Saturday or the 3:30p.m. class on Sunday to attend.

Pre -work: Read Chapter 1 in Instructing Hatha Yoga  and answer questions (bring with you)and
Idiots Guide to Yoga Read Chapter 1
Take notes, highlighting what interest you so you can share in group discussions. 

Wear comfy clothes

Bring one of the following: a vegetarian dish to share,  side item, drink, or paper  or plastic goods (plates,cups, napkins, forks, spoons)

Bring your mat. 

Children (s)Teacher Training: CYT
Meets at Blue Yoga NYLA North Little Rock

http://www.balanceyogaandwellness.com/childrens-teacher-training.html

Sat. Sept 28th
12 - 6 p.m.

Prework -
Yoga Kids Book by Marsha Wenig,read pages 1-17
Teaching Yoga for Life - Tummers , read Chapter 1
The Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga, Yoga with Kids, Komitor and Adamson, Read Chapter 1
On each chapter take a few notes, make highlights of things that interest you or stand out for sharing.

Wear comfy clothes

Bring one of the following: a vegetarian dish to share,  side item, drink, or paper  or plastic goods (plates,cups, napkins, forks, spoons)

Bring your mat. 

Thank you to everyone. If you need anything before class starts please call me or email me.
*Also I request if you need to make a payment please use the link online or write a check at training. 

Business & Yoga

It is the time of year when our teacher training starts to get full and people start booking the Seva Retreat. As with all things in life experience brings perspective. Lately the last five years has run through my mind many times, seventy students have been through the school, sixty five graduated with  the certification to register with Yoga Alliance as 200 hr teachers. Four of those same folks went through the Children's Teacher Training and became certified to register with YA for that training. The Seva Retreat has run for four years and each year we have forty to fifty people attend.
In that five years I have had many life changes as my children have all become teens, one moved out, and I got a divorce. I have now been with a man for over a year who has operated several  successful martial arts schools over a 40 year teaching career. What a gift he has been to me in operating such a business. A business that is blending business with an Asian Art form that has it's basis in integrity, honor, and ethics. So here is a list of what I have learned from teaching, running a brick and mortar business & learning from Jim, a World Champion 7th Degree Martial Artist (Tae Kwon Do). I have to give much credit to my teachers and friends also Robin Johnson and Elana Johnson, Stacey Faught, and the many female entrepreneur friends I have in my life.

1. Yoga & Martial Arts are not about a "goal" they are about a process. Becoming a "better" person is a process, a life long process.
2. History is important. It gives us a framework about where we come from. Learning about the history of yoga or martial arts gives your practice meaning and depth.
3. If you are in the business for the money or the fame.. you will always be searching. A few people become wealthy but I guarantee you that is not where their heart was when they set out on this journey.
4. When you start out becoming a teacher or getting certified to teach you need to have a heart for touching other peoples lives.
5. Running a yoga business or a martial arts business is still a business and should you move beyond teaching to opening a space your time will be dominated by administrative work, not teaching. You will end up teaching less & less very likely.
6. You will meet a diverse group of people and run into many view points, be open minded.
7. Always treat people with respect and honor, respect your seniors and instructors.
8. There is no substitute for experience, take your time and get experience. Don't be in such a hurry.
9. It is not necessarily good to try to teach in many places, it muddles the water when it comes to behaving with ethics. Business Ethics are not different from personal ethics. The Golden Rule applies everywhere. Again this is often why we shouldn't be so much about money. In Martial Arts it would never be acceptable to teach at one Dojo and then teach at another in the same town on regular basis. I am outspoken on this where others do not feel comfortable.
10. This business of being a free agent in yoga and everyone branding themselves is becoming very egotistical and is getting further & further away from yogic philosophy. I didn't become a studio school owner over night, I worked for many years and always respected my teachers and other teachers when doing so. That being said I made some mistakes and once realized them I faced them, made a mends and changed my way of doing things. Often we don't realize we may be behaving unethically until we are faced with a similar situation, then it's time to do the right thing.


The Connection with Martial Arts, Yoga and Business:

Tae Kwon Do exploded in the West in the 60's and 70's, Yoga has been growing by leaps and bounds in the U.S. since the 80's & 90's. Both were introduced to the West in the early 1900's and both have had their growing pains. We can learn a lot from Tea Kwon Do by comparing our similar philosophies that originated in the same part of the world

Tae Kwon Do: Tenants and Student Oath

Explanation of Tenets

1. Courtesy (Ye Ui)

Taekwon-Do students should attempt to be polite to one another and to respect others. Students should address instructors as Sir and to bow to the instructors before and after classes. Turning up early or on time for classes is also an aspect of courtesy.

2. Integrity (Yom Chi)

One who has integrity is able to define what is right or wrong and have the conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt. Taekwon-Do students should strive to be honest and to live by moral principles.

3. Perseverance (In Nae)

Perseverance means having patience. One of the most important secrets of becoming a leader in Taekwon-Do is to overcome every difficulty by perseverance. Confucius said," One who is impatient in trivial matters can seldom achieve success in matters of great importance."

4. Self-Control (Guk Gi)

Without self-control, a Taekwon-Do student is just like any fighter in the street. Loss of self-control is disastrous both in sparring and personal affairs. "The term of stronger is the person who wins over oneself rather than someone else", Lao Tzu.

5. Indomitable Spirit (Baekjul Boolgool)

A true student of Taekwon-Do will never give up, not even when faced with insurmountable odds. The most difficult goals can be achieved with indomitable spirit.

Student Oath

I shall observe the tenets of Taekwon-Do.I shall respect the instructor and seniors.
I shall never misuse Taekwon-Do.
I shall be a champion of freedom and justice.
I shall build a more peaceful world.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

1. Laws of Yama - Abstentions

• Ahimsa: Non-violence
• Satya: Truthfulness
• Asteya: Non-stealing
• Brahmacharya: Sense Control
• Aparigraha: Non-greed

2. Laws of Niyama - Observances

• Saucha: Purity
• Santosa: Contentment
• Tapas: Austerity
• Svadhyaya: Self-study
• Ishwara pranidhana: Attunement to the Indwelling Reality

3. Asana - Posture

4. Pranayama - Breath Control

5. Pratyahara - Sense Withdrawal

6. Dharana - Concentration

7. Dhyana - Meditation

8. Samadhi - Enlightenment

According to the tradition, the eight limbs are interdependent and practiced simultaneously.

Om Shanti