The cage is the body

Here's a story a friend sent me from yogamates.com; it is definitely one that reverberates for me

The cage is the body

A traveler from India went to Africa to acquire some local products and animals, and while in the jungle he saw thousands of beautiful multicolored talking parrots. He decided to capture a talking parrot and take it back as a pet.

At home he kept his parrot in a cage and fed him wonderful seeds and honey, played music for his pet, and generally treated him well. When it was time for the man to return to Africa 2 years later, he asked his parrot if there was any message he could deliver to the parrot's friends back in the jungle. The parrot told his master to say that he was very happy in his cage and that he was enjoying each day and to convey his love.

When the traveler arrived back in Africa he delivered the message to the parrots in the jungle. Just as he finished his story, a parrot with tears welling up in his eyes fell over dead. The man was alarmed and decided that the parrot must have been very close to the parrot in the cage and that was the reason for his sadness and demise.

When the traveler returned to India, he told his pet what had happened. As he finished his story, the pet parrot's eyes welled up with tears and he kneeled over dead in his cage. The man was astounded, but figured that his pet died from the despair of hearing of the death of his close friend back in the jungle.

The trader opened up the cage and tossed the dead bird outside onto the trash heap. Immediately his pet parrot flew up to a branch on the tree outside.

The trader said to him, "So, you are not dead after all. Why did you do that?"

The parrot answered, "Because that bird back in Africa sent me a very important message."

"What was the message?" the trader inquired impatiently.

"He told me that if you want to escape from your cage, you must die while you are alive."

Present Moment reminder

Last night I taught at one of the Senior Centers. This class has grown in leaps and bounds; originally I only had maybe 5 students and now the class has 24 people in it. It's at its max (which I am so thankful for). One of the students I haven't seen since Christmas. She had arrived early and we were chatting about her holiday. As I listened I was moving a platform off the stage. All was fine, until....

I dropped the thing on my right foot! OUCH... I think my big toe is broken; its purple and throbbing.

Just goes to show you what happens when we aren't using present moment awareness. If I had of been focusing on what I was doing it wouldn't have happened in the first place.

It reminded me of how many distractions we can have while we are on the mat; other people breathing, talking, moving, sounds that filter in from outside or from other parts of the building etc.,

It is a great time to practice pratyahara (retraction of the senses) and simply focus on your breathing. I think I'm going to try it, if I keep focusing on the here and now; focusing on my breath, maybe I'll forget all about my sore toe? One can wish!

Frustrated

As per our usual Friday night, we ordered take out. One ear was listening for the door as we watched the Barrett Jackson Classic car auction. The front door does not have a traditional door bell, it has a bell built into the door; however, most people either do not notice it or do not believe it works so it rarely gets used. They pound on the door instead. Twenty minutes after ordering the food I hear someone on our front porch.

It was the newspaper boy. He was fighting to get the newspaper into the mailbox, slipped on the snow covered wooden porch he was on his knees crying. He had papers all around him and was fully frustrated; punching the evil mid-air around him. Poor little guy; I opened the door to see what I could do to help.

"Must be hard to deliver these papers with all this snow, huh?"
"Yeah," he replied with crockodile tears streaming down his face. "And I'm just so tired."

As I helped him put the papers back into proper order, he seemed to settle a bit.

After he left I started thinking how frustrations can easily build for people some days. And how to help little people better deal with the seemingly insurmountable stress. Then again, if as adults we are unable to help ourselves, how do we show the young?

Cancellations

Sorry about the cancelled classes today. By 9:30 this morning, I had already received the calls to cancel. I did venture out and the main roads we not all that bad. However, the side streets were still very slippery. Especially with the continued freezing rain it was most likely best we all stayed at home and enjoyed more time with our families, or created space for other things.

I personally found an amazing free ebook. The 5 minute facelift. This book which you can download to your computer is an excellent little resource and shows facial exercises you can use. I'm not sure it will prevent aging, but it definitely works, I've tried one of the techniques already and my throat muscles are feeling things they haven't in years. That's only with one day of trying! You can find the book here at: http://www.edensong.com/ebookshealth.htm

ps. The owner also offers other free ebooks on health and healing. So far, they look good.

Hidden Surprises

This weekend we watched the film The Scoop from Rogers on Demand. I was saying to Lyle this is a film that I would normally have walked past (probably several times) at the Video store. However, with Rogers on Demand you can preview the films and once we did it looked very good. We definitely were not let down! Woody Allen, whose work I usually avoid (sorry, but its true) was incredible. I seriously laughed aloud at many of his one liners. The film pretty much keeps you guessing right until the end. I highly recommend this BBC creation. It also features Hugh Jackman and Scarlette Johannson.

It just goes to show you should never judge a book (movie, person, animal etc.,) by its cover! LOL

PS. You can view the trailer if you click the above link.

PSS. Hope you are enjoying the snow!

Fiddlesticks

I was over to the Kaboose store on Hespeler Rd. the other day looking for a natural health supplement that I currently take. The woman who was working told me the product would not be there. A conversation ensued regarding the sale of Kaboose. It turns out Fiddlesticks, a health store from the Waterloo & Guelph areas will be taking the store over. Although I was a tad sad about not being able to get my favourite sports drink from Kaboose, I am happy to be able to get the supplement I'm looking for.

It's such a time of growth when we need to shift gears, careers, close or open a business. Any change can be challenging unless we are open to receive the blessings. Saying that.... I wish the past owner the best of luck in his new venture and the new owners the same. May they both be fully supported by those who surround them and are able to receive exactly what they need, when they need it.

If you're looking for new product come the end of the month, head over the Blockbuster/Winter's Plaza on Hespeler and check out the new Fiddlesticks store! I know I will be.

Soul recipe

A few days ago I posted a receipe given to me by my Iridologist. It has such great healing properties. Today, while surfing the net I came across another free Recipe book. It is a great one to read as it contains recipes for living a fullfilling life. Cindy Cashman, the author has put this free ebook together so well; there's appetizers, sauces, main dishes and desserts. Consider it like Chicken Soup for the soul....

Recipes for the Heart

ENJOY! (I know I'm going to.)
Tammy

PS. It's great to see so many of you back to class this session. It feels good for me too! If I haven't said it to you yet Happy new year btw

How to Meditate

I was watching Utube last night and came across several video's on meditation. They were so amazing its gotten me fully excited about meditation again. The process has never really left my life. I was introduced to it years ago and have practiced many different aspects and variations of it. One of the things I've wanted to do for awhile now is to add some free meditation downloads onto reikiandyoga.com Over the holidays I made time to actually set up this page. If you haven't seen it yet you'll find it by exploring the site. Today, my intention is to upload another free meditation using Chakra clearing. I truly hope you enjoy it. This free meditation emphasises some of the work that helps us to find peace, happiness and harmony in our lives. If we are already thinking peace, happiness and harmony we are sure to reap and get more of these wonderful things. Enjoy this free gift and this Monday!

Dressing

I normally do not post recipes and the like yet this one tastes far too good to keep all to myself! This salad dressing recipe comes from my iridologist and is a wonderful tasty treat. Although she didn't give me the exact amounts, you can adjust it to your own liking:

Lemon Juice (lots of it)
Basil
Fresh Garlic
maple syrup
Olive Oil

Beyond the healing benefits of garlic and basil, this home made dressing seems to help clear phlegm from the body....a good one to keep on file! You can make enough for one meal, or in larger quantities as it keeps in the fridge for one month!

To Give

I was speaking with my Mom this morning about the Secret. She is very good at applying the laws of attraction and thinking of what she would like to see manifest in her life; but, as most people, can get easily sidetracked so words do not support belief. During the conversation we discussed a woman who is having issues with health. This woman spends so much time focusing on illness, she is creating it in her life. What we focus on becomes truth. We agreed we all have our challenges; some more, some less. Mom said, "And I have a challenge for you!"

Uh ho

She challenged me to
1) Begin to donate $10 per month to a charity of my choice.

Normally, I donate to Trent University or Amnesty International; once per year.
Monthly? Hmmmm...

2) Open a savings account in which I deposit $5.00 per month.

Now, if I say I can't then I am focusing on lack. If I have enough or more than enough then this should be easy, right?

Shifting Gears

You may have noticed many of the changes that have occurred with reikiandyoga.com over the past few weeks. Today I added even more! Isn't technology wonderful?

I personally consider myself a techno junkie and love the latest and greatest things especially when I can figure out how to do them myself! No, I was never one of those people who could not programme their VCR. And infact, up until we signed on with Digital cable, my husband always came to me to program it for him! LOL

Please enjoy the new mantra page - before you listen to the .wav files know that I am NOT a seasoned chanter or singer...yet, you will get an introduction to mantra just the same.

You can find it hereat www.reikiandyoga.com/mantra.html

Speaking of updates, if there is something you'd like to mention about the website, be it positive or constructive critism please email me at:
reikiandyoga@yahoo.com

I'd love to hear from you!
Enjoy this Wednesday

Sending Blessings

I received this link from a wonderful woman the other day in my email. It's so wonderful, I have to share. It is a tad long, but lovely piece of inspiration if you are in need of some:

We Send You Our Blessings

Enjoy your day!

Double 0 Seven

My brother mentioned last night this is the 007 year. I knew it was 2007, but funny enough I didn't even think of the James Bond connection being this year!

It would seem the year will be full of prospertiy, fine food and cars.
Wondering why?

Well, easy, ask yourself what does James Bond have that we don't have?

NOTHING!

Maybe double-0-seven will be the best year yet?!