Energy For Life

I have been reflecting on my life a lot lately. As my daughter, Alyssa, and granddaughter, Hannah, and I finish our book “Be Your Best Self: Yoga for Families,” I realize a new chapter in my life is beginning. I am open to how I can serve you, your family and your community. I will be on a day’s retreat in early March to gain clarity and focus. I know I am being called to a greater arena of influence. I long to amplify passing on my legacy of what I have been learning in my 63 years of life. I invite you to look for the ways that you are passing on your legacy to your family, friends, workplace, community and the world. Here are a few snapshots of my reflections.

Last Sunday I met with Casey Feicht and other teachers of yoga for children and families. I am thrilled we can meet monthly and collaborate with each other on projects to touch our community and beyond through our internet presence. What a ground swell of passing yoga to our next generations! I am honored to be sharing yoga’s ancient wisdom for health, vitality and family closeness.

On Saturday night, Jim and I attended a Be Men event with founder Brett Zachman and facilitator Michelle Fox, with a lively group of divorced and married people. We discovered and discussed our Love Languages (from Gary Chapman’s book). How lovely to look across the room at my beloved Jim and to share some of our “secrets of a soulful relationship” with terrific people longing to love and to be loved. How grateful I am to pass on our legacy!

Last week we had the pleasure of reuniting with our dear friends Regina and Jere, from our 1970’s Greeley days through the 1990’s in Denver. Since they have moved to Arizona, it’s been 15 or more years since we have been together. What a touching heart-filling moment to sit at dinner with our daughter, Alaina, and her family, whom Jere and Regina have known her whole life, having lived with us when she was 7, and here is granddaughter Hannah at almost 7! What a lovely legacy to the next generations that true friendships make time dissolve! See Jim’s blog post about his experience, too.

During my whole adult life, I have been a student and teacher of wellness, yoga and meditation, healthy relationships, peaceful conflict resolution, spiritual practices from many disciplines, human rights and nature conservancy. I hope my progeny and those whom I touch continue on the path of fulfilling the soul’s purpose. This gives my life meaning.

Please write comments here or send me an email about your evolving legacy. What motivates you? What do you pass on to your family? I would love to learn from you!

Be true to yourself.

With warmth and gratitude,

Ruth

Happy 2012!!

As we enter this auspicious new year, I am remembering the famous quotes: “Be the change you want to see in the world,” and “Let there be peace in the world, and let it begin with me.” My intention for 2012 is to make my own personal changes (just met with a fitness coach, for example!), align with my best self and serve as a hopeful example for others. What changes do you want to see in the world and what peace/piece of this do you want to take responsibility and ownership of this year?? We are all called to something….what’s your deep desire??

Check out this inspiring ten-minute video: “Change for a Dollar”!

Please feel free to let me know your intentions for change in 2012, by email, phone (303-796-7004), in person, or in the comment section.

As predicted, this is time of great polarization and upheaval. Many of my clients, students, neighbors and extended family feel the societal downward pull into fear, fatigue, anxiety, depression, resignation, misbehavior, dishonesty, deception, illness, instability and terror. The younger generations seem so confused about what life is really about and how they can make a difference. They long for models and guidance. I call on myself daily to raise my own awareness/wakefulness, to choose my thoughts, words and actions with utmost care, and be present to participate fully in each moment. How can we serve as models for our young people and our peers? Let’s rise to the challenge!

“Be Your Best Self: Yoga for Families” is my new book, soon to be released, that I wrote with my daughter and granddaughter, as a contribution to serve the next generations. We offer some practical, healthy ways to take care of ourselves and build family closeness.

This book title reflects my spiritual longing. How can I awaken to who my “best self” is and energize the ability to manifest what is best in any moment?? Many of us are calling on ourselves to be/ do the same. The five chapters of the book share yoga practices and other methods to be flowing, be flexible, be strong, be balanced and be calm.

Hopefully, we can move through 2012 as the change we want to see and make peace with ourselves and with those in our sphere of influence.

Be well,
Ruth Sharon

For 235 years, our nation has been celebrating its independence from England and its pride of autonomy in general. Especially in the Western world and in the Western section of the United States, “rugged individualism” has often been heralded as a noble life posture. I also champion a strong measure of personal autonomy. However, in our ever-shrinking globe, we are quickly learning the need for and power of community connection, collaborative teamwork, selfless service, political cooperation, etc. As the seventeenth-century English poet, John Donne titled one of his famous poems, “No Man is an Island.”

I was so moved by the synergy and joy experienced by the nine of us who recently participated in the first day of a two-day photo shoot. My wife Ruth, daughter Alyssa and granddaughter Hannah are co-authoring a three-generation family yoga book, Be Your Best Self; Yoga Book for Families. Ruth gathered a crew consisting mainly of family members — along with a photographer’s assistant and a friend who is a yoga teacher — to support the tedious process of photographing the three female authors doing a number of yoga poses for their book. We worked around one another for eleven hours, mostly in 94-degree heat, in the remote woods of a nature center. Although each of us was assigned a distinct role, we took on interchangeable tasks as my son-in-law Bill Green meticulously lit and photographed the threesome. The challenging, painstaking process, including carrying and moving heavy equipment, offered plenty of opportunity for irritability and bickering. Rather than yielding to fatigue and egos, we consistently collaborated beautifully in a highly-focused effort to create book-quality photos.

Our dinner celebration that night was genuinely festive, as we rejoiced at supporting one another magnificently through a long day filled with challenges and obstacles. The synergy was strong enough to carry into the next day of shooting, in which only half as many people were involved to efficiently complete the project.

Indeed, when people passionately rally around a common purpose, suspending their egos to achieve a worthwhile objective, noble autonomy consistently takes a “backseat” to glorious accomplishment—and often, to love.

-Jim Sharon

I love summer! Last week I was picnicking at a beautiful park. My glance fell on a group of young adults practicing tightrope walking across a long cable they attached to two trees. I watched them for a while and realized how delicate it is to find the “balance point” and sustain it all the way across the tightrope.

This reminds me of our lives—walking the delicate line with a pole in our hands, balancing the opposites. If I tip one way or the other too much, I can fall or live in stress of trying to hang on. The rope shakes and life feels so hard and scary.

I am watching myself this week, as I engage in finding and sustaining the “balance point.” Here are some of the dimensions of my exploration; I invite you to engage in your own!

Doing/lists of stuff to accomplish ———————–Being/relaxing/receiving

Believing it’s up to me———————————–Divine plan prevails, let go

Striving for more——————————–Accepting and appreciating what is

Taking charge, being an authority——————-Being guided, being a learner

Driving the outer focus of goals————————Observing the inner process

Masculine accomplishing energy———————Feminine relationship energy

Eating “yang” dense foods———————————-Keeping a light “yin” diet

As I read this list, it seems apparent that I must include the opposites to empower my wholeness!! We are not in an “either-or” reality; this is an “and” creation: night AND day; good AND evil; male AND female; up AND down; ideal AND actual; active AND receptive etc.

I also love the challenge of balancing all the aspects of my life. My collage includes: business owner, wife, mother, grandmother, family member, community-builder, teacher, author, volunteer, gardener, organizer, housecleaner, cook, spiritual practitioner, wellness coach, friend, etc. Life is so rich—we are given just what we need to fulfill our soul’s purpose.

My focus is to come to the center of myself where trust, faith and belief in my Higher Purpose bring me peace, well-being and lots of energy for life!

I incorporate breathing, relaxing, practicing yoga poses, meditating, exercising, journaling, speaking my truth and managing my calendar. As I fill myself, then warm, loving, balanced energy flows out to the people and activities of my life.

Check out some of the balance poses I will be teaching in my July yoga classes at 24 Hour Fitness!

I invite you to find ways to balance yourself and comment below to let me know what you’ve discovered!

Namaste,
Ruth Sharon

Some words are so appropriate, like the word “retreat.” Indeed, I felt re-treated: treated yet again, by the week I just spent with my Sufi community. Having participated in many retreats for many years (including with other groups and on my own), I feel so enlivened and expanded each time, without exception. I found this recent retreat to be particularly refreshing, nurturing and powerful. The various practices we engaged in, alongside of the warm relationships, opened so much internal and communal spaciousness.

The Great Stupa at Shambhala Mountain Center

About a hundred members of The Sufi Order International (SOI)  gathered June 20-27 at Red Feather Lakes, CO, nestled in the midst of splendid mountains and valleys about 25 miles west of Fort Collins, to participate in an annual summer camp. We were hosted so graciously by Shambhala Mountain Center, a well-established Buddhist community that welcomes people from other traditions. Sufis and Buddhists share some strong commonalities; perhaps the main mutual belief involves the essential unity of all creation.

About half of the week was devoted to activities such as seminars and leadership training and group singing and dancing. The last half involved a silent retreat, replete with prayers; eliciting and embracing numerous Divine attributes; and mystical “journeying.”

One of the trusting deer at Shambhala Mountain Center

I’ll share a tiny sampling of some special moments: the trusting deer, rabbits and birds that allowed people to come within several feet of them; a hummingbird (representing joy) that twice flew into our meeting room during particularly “high” group experiences; an impassioned dance performance depicting the life of a very courageous World War II martyr from our ranks; attending an awards ceremony for 17 SOI members who contributed a dazzling quantity and quality of service to our Order; and meeting a number of people for the first time who by the end of the week felt like brothers, sisters or close cousins.

One of the richest and most beautiful rituals (a consensual sentiment) we periodically perform is a “Universal Worship Service.” This service, which was lengthened and embellished at the end of camp, is designed to honor and respect all religions and traditions via brief scriptural readings and songs from each discipline.  A candle is then lit to honor the specific religious tradition.

Each of our bodies contains an extraordinary number of miles of capillaries. Our inner spiritual “landscape” is literally endless. Every time I partake in intensive spiritual learning, practices and ancillary activities, my realization (certainly not mine alone!) of infinite consciousness is reinforced—usually with a big “smile in my heart.” I am most definitely re-treated!

-Jim Sharon

Photos by William Green Photography

This Bird of Paradise has become my symbol of remembering the awesome wonder of the Earth’s creation!

In the lobby of Ka’anapali Beach Club on Maui

As Jim and I return home from our 40th anniversary “honeymoon” on Maui, I am savoring our memories of the wonderful experiences we shared. The beauty, calmness, and flowing nature of vacation are so appealing!

What I am realizing is I can create the same peaceful rhythm here in my usual working life! This is definitely a learning process; here is what I am noticing so far:

Beauty is all around me. I look out my window in the early morning to meditate and the “Garden of Eden” is right here, right now! I see magnificence in an array of colorful flowers, vibrant green grass, variegated trees, hues of blue skies and in the busy squirrels scampering in their mating and playfulness. Slowing down at the window and breathing creates a spacious vacation in a moment!

Calmness is my choice at any time. Am I frantic, breathless, stressed, hurrying or am I taking my time, doing one thing at a time, making lists/plans and following through with the right actions for the right results? Just as we snorkeled in the calm waters of Hawaii, so can I travel through my day observing, connecting, striving, accomplishing, relaxing.

Vacations offer the timeless zone with little structure and stress. What if I can have the same flowing nature in my day to day life? I have been experimenting. I dedicate each chunk of time to a different aspect of what I want to do. For example, this morning is devoted to writing this blog, then I go to 24-Hour Fitness to teach yoga. I have meetings set up after that for building my business, then seeing clients. When the last client leaves, I have dinner with my husband and daughter. The evening is free to take a walk, talk, read, rest, stretch, call/email people, write a letter, etc. Keeping stress out of my day allows the flow to be enjoyable and sweet.

Join me in the experiment of having each day be a vacation! Breathe and relax into the gratitude of being alive!

To keep the spirit of the Bird of Paradise alive, I am using this as the “challenge pose” in my yoga classes for the month of June. We are taking it step-by-step through the month with hopes of completing the pose! Try it with me and let me know how you progress. Namaste.

-Ruth

My focus for the month of March is “Soft Power”–balancing the male driving energy with the receptive feminine energy of Life.   Mother Earth is opening and moistening now, preparing for the new seeds of Spring!  What “seeds” are you planting??

We all hear so much about the Law of Attraction; I had an “aha” yesterday…Learning to “receive” is similar to “attracting”. I am letting in the ideas, people, projects, activities, prosperity, awakening that I most need for my soul’s development!  Ahh, a comforting belief that all I need is here and I simply have to open to it!

I picture holding the sides of a Wheel of Life–rolling it forward to bring my gifts into the world, then bringing the wheel closer to me so I receive the bounty of this creation. This yoga pose is known as “Buddhist Prayer Wheel” and can have a real calming effect on the mind, body and spirit. Using a different yoga pose each month helps me focus on “seeds”of qualities I am developing in myself.  “Soft Power” is available all day long if I just attune!

I awake with prayer and meditation as I deeply feel gratitude for my husband Jim, our children Alaina (and husband Bill, daughter Hannah) Michael and Alyssa, our extended family, gracious home, rewarding career, healthful activities, abundant opportunities, rich spiritual life and supportive community. I am sure you have a long list of what you are grateful for!  Today, I did some Spring Cleaning–rearranged, refreshed and re-dedicated my prayer sacred space in my room.

Being of service is a core principle in the yogic (Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, etc.) lifestyle.  Who and how can I serve in God’s creation today? Who can I touch? Who can I uplift? Who can I comfort? Who can I play with? Who can I build success with? I pray to be shown how to be used for my purpose each day.

Pausing with a moment of silence before eating  lets my mind, body and breath settle so I can derive the most benefit from the life force in the food. I love to open up and receive the colors, textures and fragrances of the food.

Using many techniques and asanas (postures or poses) throughout my day keep me centered, balanced, flexible, strong, healthy, joyful and present. As I spend time with people in counseling, wellness coaching, yoga and meditation instruction, and helping build additional streams of income, I keep my focus on what serves them.  I am devoted to open the way for peace in the soul’s unfolding.

Namaste!  May peace abide in your heart.

Ruth Sharon

YOGA DAY Encore, Thursday Feb. 11, 11 am- 1 pm

Yoga Day on Sat. Jan. 23 was a wonderful and useful experience for all who attended!  The requests are pouring in to host an Encore!  You are invited to Thursday, Feb. 11, 11 am – 1 pm for a special time to breathe, center, meditate, visualize, journal and practice yoga poses (asanas) for specific purposes.  We will learn about and experience our life energy and chakras, and how to clear, revitalize and balance our energy for life!  Bring your journal, a healthy potluck lunch food and suggested donation of $10 for the Haiti Relief Fund (Amway Global will double our contributions).

Call or email to RSVP and to get the address for Yoga Day: 303-796-7004, energyforlife111@yahoo.com

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Here is a daily practice you can do that only takes 6 minutes and enlivens every muscle and fiber in your being!   Join me in the Salutation to the Sun clip from the Yoga for Life DVD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEbx5mHTxY4

You may order the  DVD “Yoga for Life” from me, as well as my CD “Meditation for Life”.

Namaste: “The Divine essence in me recognizes and acknowledges the Divine essence in you. We are One.”

May Peace fill your heart and soul and may your life be blessed with happiness.

See you at Yoga Day! Call me for a conversation about your wellness : 303-796-7004

Ruth Sharon

I woke up with a smile in my heart this morning.   Last night my 20-year old daughter, Alyssa, and I practiced yoga and meditation together in our living room,  She is just beginning the yoga teacher training program at Samadhi Yoga Center in Denver!  What a deep sense of joy I feel in sharing yoga with Alyssa!

I have been practicing yoga since 1974!!   I have such vivid memories of the early days before kids — husband Jim and I quieting down at sunset in our small living room, lighting candles, putting on serene music,  breathing, stretching with yoga poses, meditating.  Then cooking a nutritious, vegetarian meal and sharing about our day.  Life was very simple then!

As our lives became more complicated and stressful, yoga has always been here for me to center, refresh and strengthen myself.  Yoga practice has helped me recover from numerous injuries (car accidents and falls), difficult situations, deaths of family/friends, anxieties, etc. Yoga is my Friend!!

Jim and I feel the satisfaction of raising all 3 children with the principles and practices of healthy, conscious living that yoga provides.  Joining with our other spiritual practices and traditions (Jewish heritage, Sufi attunement), we have provided a universal home for our family.

Now, in 2010, I am still teaching and practicing yoga, finding the benefits help me age gracefully and joyfully. My granddaughter Hannah (age 4), my daughters Alaina and Alyssa and I often share yoga poses in the living room and discuss/practice the value of breathing, centering and clearing ourselves. Son Michael, 21, at the Colorado Film School, helped me produce the DVD “Yoga for Life” and CD “Meditation for Life”. We have plans to develop streaming videos of monthly yoga challenges I offer my students at 24-Hour Fitness in Centennial.  Tune in later for that!

As a counselor and wellness coach (www.energyforlife.us) I use yoga regularly to help clients –with stress, mind-body alignment, clearing old traumas, strengthening, balancing, empowering, healing.  Yoga therapy is helpful with children as well–I will blog about those stories another time!

So with great pleasure, I invite you to my home to share Yoga Day on Saturday, Jan. 23, from 11 am -1 pm. We will settle in, breathe, meditate, visualize, learn about and clear our chakras/ energy system, and share a potluck healthy lunch.  Please RSVP to me at 303-796-7004 or email to energyforlife111@yahoo.com.  Directions to my house when you RSVP. $10 donation suggested.

Namaste!

Ruth