Seattle Yogini

Pause for the Cause - Support for Midwifery

Sri Aurobindo wrote, "All Life is Yoga".  What he meant was that the work to bring harmony and union into our lives is done through every aspect of life, not just the time we spend doing our asana practice.  The bigger work of yoga - seeing, supporting and manifesting the Divine in all matter - must be done through every aspect of life, in each moment and with each breath.  This statement conveys the empowerment and responsibility that each person has to continually grow, inspire, and connect.

Today I am writing to beseech you to participate in a grassroots movement to persuade the federal government to support the Midwifery Model of Care in upcoming healthcare reforms.  Specifically, the intention is to mandate Medicaid coverage for CPM (Certified Professional Midwife/"Direct Entry Midwife") care...a step that would greatly increase the overall recognition of the outstanding level of care women and infants receive from Midwives.

We will need all the support we can get, as the AMA (American Medical Association) and ACOG (American College of Gynecologists), both large, vocal and well-funded industry associations/lobbyists are opposed to midwifery and homebirth (not all midwife-attended births are homebirths, but it is nearly impossible to have anyone but a midwife attend a homebirth).  Their position is not a fact-based position, but rather a $$$- and power-based one.  In contrast, it is notable that the World Health Organization's position is clearly for the midwifery model of care.

I strongly believe that the way we treat conception, pregnancy, labor, mamas and newborn babies has the potential to heal, or set us up for a great deal of hardship.  Gentle birthing practices that respect the mother and child individually and as a dyad are imperative.  With cesarian sections at 33% of births nationwide (an appalling statistic that merely represents the nation's average), the concept of "informed consent" questionable (to say the least), misinformation and mistreatment of women's (and babies') bodies rampant, we have reached a very low point in our method of welcoming new life.

The midwifery model of care must be secured as an option for those who seek safe, supportive, self-directed labor and delivery experiences.  Whether one personally chooses to use a midwife or not, the option must remain available for all families.

We have just about a week to make our voices heard.  Please review the statement below, from the Seattle Midwifery School.  Put your values of non-violence and compassion to good use and click through the link to voice your support.

Namaste,
Kelly

From the Seattle Midwifery School:

"We are at a moment in history that could affect the future of midwifery for decades.  We have the opportunity to positively influence health care legislation to ensure access to midwifery care or be left behind as details of a reformed system are established in law in the next few months.  

The M.A.M.A. campaign is a historic coalition of the key midwifery and consumer organizations in the U.S. unified behind the goal of achieving federal recognition of Certified Professional Midwives.  Our specific goal in the next weeks is inserting an amendment into the health care bills that are moving through congress right now to mandate Medicaid coverage for CPM services on the federal level.  

This multi-faceted campaign is being directed by a steering committee of dedicated volunteers, and paid staff: an experienced lobbyist in Washington D.C., campaign coordinator and a project consultant with national health care reform experience and connections.

This week Amber Ulvenes, lobbyist for the Midwives' Association of Washington State and a midwifery consumer, and I are participating in a country-wide "fly-in" of midwives and advocates to DC to work with the campaign's federal lobbyist to amend this language into the Senate Finance bill when it goes to committee mark-up the week of June 22nd.

In addition to mobilizing grass roots support, right now funds are urgently needed to sustain this work through the next few months when legislation is being drafted.

If you believe midwifery care represents a vital resource in a reformed U.S. health care system and support access to midwifery care for all women, please join us!

What you can do now:

1. Visit the new M.A.M.A. Campaign website at www.mamacampaign.org.   Sign up as an endorser, volunteer and donate!
   
   
2. Forward this message to everyone you think supports increased access to midwifery care and ask them to join the M.A.M.A. campaign also.

Numbers count.  Dollars count. This is a moment when we must mobilize all available resources!

Thank you,

Seattle Midwifery School Midwifery Education Chair
Board of Directors, National Association of Certified Professional Midwives"

Talking Points for Yoga Teachers - Clarity

At the risk of dating myself:  Do you remember the sound of Charlie Brown's teacher?  Spelling it is difficult, but basically it was, "Hwa hwa, hwa hwa hwa hwa".  Does it ring a bell?

That is what any teacher sounds like if they have not worked on speaking clearly, directly and in an interesting manner.  Yoga teachers are no exception.  The fact that we are fascinated by our subject does not inherently translate into an ability to hold our students' attention.  Yoga teachers have the additional challenge of blending the above-mentioned adjectives with compassion, so that our class directions don't sound like barked orders, but neither do they sound like those of a preschool teacher.

I have had many years of public speaking experience and training, which have proved invaluable to my teaching work.  There are many ways to improve your own speech, from hiring a voice coach to joining a local chapter of Toastmasters International.  In the Purna Yoga teacher training system, "delivery" is a crucial area of study.  You can have all manner of insightful, helpful information to share, but if your delivery is "blah" or otherwise unconvincing, it matters little.

Many of us have had the experience of being in a yoga class and spending much of the time turning our heads to see what, exactly, the teacher is trying to get us to do.  I have experienced this in local classes as well as national Yoga Journal Conferences with "big name" teachers.  How long a teacher has been teaching seems to have very little to do with the efficacy of their delivery.  Training, practice, and an appreciation of the importance of delivery are what make the difference.

How can a yoga teacher avoid the Charlie Brown's Teacher Syndrome?  Record yourself while teaching and play it back, pretending that you are the student.  Can you follow your own directions without the benefit of a demonstration?  Now listen to the recording as a colleague would and give yourself constructive feedback.  Listen for the following pitfalls:

• verbal pauses - These include "um, ah, uh, y'see, right?, ya know" and other things that we say when we're trying to think of what to say next.  Decide what to say, then say it.  Try not to let your mind get ahead of your mouth.
• talking too quickly - Yourstudentsdon'tgetachancetointegratetheplethoraofinformationcomingoutof yourmouthifyourtalktooquickly.  Slower speech is not only more soothing, it's easier to comprehend...particularly when you are presenting new information.  It is also unusual to speak slowly in today's world, which makes the brain pause for a moment.  That moment is all you need to really get a person's attention.  Think of the pauses between words as the "white space" between typed words.  They are necessary in order for us to understand the transmission.
• unclear directions - Notice if you consistently confuse left and right, cardinal directions (as in, "face North...no, wait, sorry, I mean face East") and work to (1) think before speaking and (2) speak more slowly in order to give yourself time to determine which leg/direction you mean.
• voice overly soft, airy or unsure - When a teacher sounds confident, the student will feel more confident (in themselves and in you).  When a teacher sounds joyful, the students will feel more joy.  If you are teaching a Restorative Yoga class it is appropriate to modulate your volume and tone toward a more soothing sound.  Many teachers, however, use that lullaby voice for active classes (in an attempt to make the experience "soothing", perhaps).  I do not recommend this, as it ends up working against them...and their students.  Make your voice match the activity level of the class.
• future-focused speech - "You're gonna xyz with your abc" is not directive speech!  I was once in a conference with a teacher who constantly told us what we were "gonna" without ever sharing when we were gonna.  Since we were on our backs and I couldn't see what she or my fellow students were doing it took me awhile to understand that "you're gonna" was her way of saying "Lift your xyz over your abc".  It was distracting and irritating, which are not feelings we seek to induce in our students.
• too many words - Be concise in your instructions so that students can focus on the basic message.  The practice can be challenging enough without adding to it with a "gobbledygook" delivery.  Be precise and clear so that your students can focus on their inner work throughout the practice.

These are just a few of the pitfalls for clarity.  Others include grammar, intonation, and the use of language itself (as in, be interesting!).  I'll cover those in future posts.  The point is, "knowing your stuff" does not ensure that you can share/teach effectively.  Decide on three main points to share for each pose (allowing for additional safety points, as needed) and stick with them.  Repeat your points at least three times - you'll eventually bore yourself to tears, but it can take many repetitions of the same direction (even over years!) for students to finally "get" it.

Consider the way in which you teach just as important as what you teach in any given class.  Prepare for your class and practice your speech so that you can avoid some of the most common confusion causing pitfalls.  You will avoid the Charlie Brown's Teacher Syndrome and in so doing see a great surge of growth in your students as they become more clear along with you.

Monday Quote - Audre Lorde on Feelings

"Our feelings are our most genuine path to knowledge."

                                                                                           ~ Audre Lorde

Weekend Knitting Roundup - Ishbel is One Great Scarshawl

This is Ishbel, and I love it.  I made the scarf-sized version, hence the peculiar "Scarshawl" title.  What do we call the love child of a scarf and a shawl, anyway?

Details are on my ravelry page.  I used Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn, in colorway "Butter Peeps" (really enjoy that color name, it makes me smile just imagining the inspiration behind the name).  I wanted a summery, cheerful little something to toss on during cool evenings.  This just covers the shoulders, which is nice.  It can also wrap up around the neck in a very cozy manner.  I am smitten.

I first glimpsed this lovely on the designer herself, on the ravelry blog (if you click the link, scroll down and look at her turquoise Ishbel).  I didn't know who Ysolda was, though I had admired many of her patterns, as it turns out.  I had no idea that she had designed the very scarshawl she was wearing in the photo, but I knew that I wanted one.  So I started investigating and...well, my skillz, they are bottomless (That's a musical link, there, so adjust your volume before you click!  If you don't like Flight of the Conchords, do not click the link.)  I may totally copy her and make one in turquoise, as well.  Ha!

The blocking.  Sigh.  I longed for blocking wires, so I took myself to my local ACE Hardware store and looked around until I found something comparable:  music wire.  Perfect!  Again I say: my skillz, they are bottomless.

Anyway, it worked up in a week (including the blocking).  It was my only project during that time, and I may be in the midst of a knitting-monogamy conversion.  I'll keep you posted.  I likes FOs, that's for sure!

Help for the Body - Keep Your Cool this Summer

Keeping Your Cool During the Dog Days of Summer  

Ayurveda teaches us that summer is the season of Pitta (the fire element).  When the weather turns warm, we feel it not only by our body temperature, but our mood, digestion, patience-levels, attention-span and sleep.  For those of us who already tend toward a "fiery nature", summer can create a whole slew of uncomfortable symptoms...all of which tell us it's time to cool down!  Below are a few tips for keeping your cool this summer, which I myself use all summer long.

• Avoid spicy foods.  The spicy taste exacerbates the fire element.  If you get cravings for spicy in the summertime, you know your fire is burning too hot and taking you out of balance.  Opt for cooling foods with the following tastes:

• sweet such as rice, milk, coconut, maple syrup, fruits and some vegetables like carrots
• bitter such as bitter melon, aloe vera, bitter greens, rhubarb, turmeric (bitter is the taste we in the U.S. use the least, so it may take some exploration to find it)
• astringent such as pomegranates, garbanzo beans, green beans, okra, alfalfa sprouts
• also limit your salt, alcohol and caffeine intake

• Don't let yourself get too hungry.  We fiery folks tend to go from content and pleasant to angry-hungry very quickly.  In the summer heat, appetite is sometimes suppressed.  Put yourself on an eating schedule if you must, to ensure that you don't get irrational due to something as simple as hunger.
• Avoid excessive heat.  Summer is not the time for saunas (steam or dry), hot tubs or cleanses.  Try to be as slow and quiet as possible during the hottest part of the day.  I know that my schedule is...shall we say, unconventional...but one of my most useful summer sanity tools is to turn off the phone, shut off all of the electronics (they generate a lot of heat) and settle in for a quiet repose from about 2 - 4 pm.  Whatever your work environment, look for ways to slow down a bit in the afternoon.  Think of it as your very own Seattle Siesta!
• Drink cool - but not iced - drinks.  Choose room temperature water, which is much easier on your body and your digestion than iced beverages.
• Engage in physical activity during the cooler parts of the day.  Morning and evening chores, exercise (including gardening!), and yoga practices are preferable to mid-day options.

You'll probably notice that yoga classes at Maple Leaf Community Yoga are planned differently during this season.  As a pitta-dominant person myself, I know the benefits of cooler asana practices and really enjoy sharing that knowledge with my students.  I hope that you feel - and enjoy - the difference!

If you would like personalized health guidance, please consider arranging private yoga instruction at Maple Leaf Community Yoga today! 

Yours in health,

Kelly

Much of the information above is gleaned from a wonderful book to which I often refer:  The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies by Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A.Sc.

If you enjoy posts such as this, check out our newsletter and join the mailing list!

What's Your Hurry? On slowing down and living better.

The speed of life is getting faster and faster.  Jobs require more hours, children are more "scheduled", physical fitness requires a "work out" to make up for hours of sitting.  We run, we talk on cell phones while driving, we eat "fast" food, we TIVO, we run to and fro.  The prevailing belief is that we might miss out on something were we to slow down.  "How can I fit more in?" seems to be the question that haunts people.

Here's the thing:  the faster you go, the more you miss out on.

Think of your life as a speeding car.  You're zooming through a landscape so quickly that, when you look out the window, all around you is a blur.  You can't see the trees, flowers, grazing deer.  You can't hear the birds' songs or feel the sweet, soft breeze on your face.  There's this idea that by going fast one can get more "done", live a more efficient life.  My question is...how well can you do it if it's done quickly? 

When did an "efficient" life become a "good" one?

I used to run around at breakneck speed.  All the better to distract myself from the disatisfaction that tainted much of my life.  I didn't want to miss out on anything, and believed that cramming lots of activities and people into each hour would protect me against that.  My pace also ensured that I would not take the time to sit down and get to know myself, connect with Spirit and learn to live in a way that would nurture me.  Essentially, the pace of my life kept my from my Self.

Now, having slowed down enough that I can feel the difference in my life, my body, my mind and spirit, I can speak from both perspectives.  Rushing through life didn't get me more life, more satisfaction or more happiness.  It got me stress, exhaustion, lethargy, poor health and lots of injuries.  Slowing down has allowed me to connect with the people, places, activities and feelings that make my life sweet.  By going through life more slowly, I am able to actually experience my life and its surroundings.  I live more by resisting the temptation to cram a lot into life.

Monday Quote - Aadil Palkhivala, on Feeling

From his book, Fire of Love:

"Feeling is the essence of life.  Without feeling, we are not quite human.  The real value of our asana practice is that, as we do pose after pose with awareness, we are inviting more sensitivity into our bodies and our lives.  We are learning to tune in and feel.  So we not only feel better, but we feel better."

                                                                                            ~Aadil Palkhivala
                                                                                              Co-founder of Purna Yoga