Nightclubing Yogini?

"Being yoga" is easy when seeking out peaceful and conducive environments like a yoga studio or out in nature's solitude. But "being yoga" means just that, to BE yogic in ANY environment.
I recently got back from vacation in San Francisco and Redwood City visiting friends, sightseeing and getting out of the SW Florida heat. Our activities ranged from hiking in the Redwood forests, wine tasting in Napa, experiencing the Gay Pride Parade to nightclubbing. During this vacation week I did very little yoga practice or working out at all. Except for a lot of walking, I purposely decided to NOT try to have a daily workout since when traveling with others, you have to stick to the plan which involves everybody and not just oneself.

THAT is the challenge.

My close friends had been scheduled to perform this night at a standing room only nightclub in San Francisco. Basically there was a bar and a stage and that was all. I never really liked nightclubs. There are too many people, mostly drunk, spilling their alcohol on you and the music is usually far too loud to have a conversation let alone hearing each other at all. This is surely the appeal for many club frequenters. But yoga and Buddhism have taught me not to judge, so for this night I would be flexible and introspective. If something bothered me I would look inside and usually find an ego standing there, which I can work with. I would not be bothered by spillage of which there was plenty... everything is washable anyway. And most importantly I would be there for my friends, to support and cheer for them until my throat was sore. I ended up having one of the best nights ever and didn't even use my earplugs.

So "being yoga" is a constant process, a moment by moment practice of letting the ego go and being there for others. As I continue my practice, I realize that that is where true happiness resides. But BEWARE, the nightclub is no place for SAVASANA.

Conflicts Within?

Can we embrace the conflict within? A psychiatrist friend once said, "we HAVE to be able to deal with our mixed feelings." It is normal and natural to feel mixed about things. In this day and age of instant and immediate reactions to events and ideas we are encouraged to feel only one way about things. What ever happened to saying "Well, I'll have to think about that for a while," or let me "meditate" on that. Can we admit that we have mixed feelings about something or does that somehow say we are "weak" and/or indecisive?
I feel that if we embrace our mixed feelings it will ultimately make us feel more whole and integrated. We ARE NOT one dimensional, we DO have many different feelings (sometimes opposing) that make us whole and human. It's a beautiful thing... EMBRACE YOUR TOTALITY!

A Friendly Conflict?

"Anger cannot be overcome by anger. If someone is angry with you, and you show anger in return, the result is a disaster. On the other hand, if you control your anger and show its opposite – love, compassion, tolerance and patience – not only will you remain peaceful, but the other person's anger will also diminish". Dalai Lama

I have recently been involved in some conflicts between friends. I find myself in the middle of things since I have loved every one of them. And now it is coming down to picking "sides". Which for me is impossible since I believe each of them have been both in the wrong and in the right. The actual "truth" is subjective depending on who I talk to. And I too have been right, wrong and selfish. So how am I to judge?, and choose a side. (This is why I would make a terrible juror by the way).
So what I have decided to do is take no one's side, stay friends with everyone and move on from here. That is my lesson.