This time of year, the time when we’re already reviewing and reflecting on our New Year’s Resolutions, there is a focus on balance. Balancing life and work and play. Balancing relationships in order to give more, take less. Balancing family relationships, marriage relationships, significant relationships. Balancing your checkbook so that you know that the bank knows that you know how much money is there.

I’ve noticed that after reading through my own resolutions, they fall within the categories of community, relationship, learning, and family. (One of my resolutions is to reread my resolutions once a week.)

But what ties these together? How do I balance between and reconcile myself to them? How can I become clear enough in my intention that I attune to the bigger picture?

In the February edition of Yoga Journal, there is an article that defines how understanding yoga’s four aims of life plays into our search for balance. Specifically: dharma (responsibilities), artha (prosperity), karma (pleasure), and moksha (freedom). Please read it. And over these first four weeks of 2010, let’s take them one at a time as an intention that simultaneously grounds and frees our practice, beginning with dharma.

Ready?

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1. Slowing Down.

This week’s nudge/shove was all about time. And it is…about time.

My a-ha moment came while I was trying to soothe my seven-month old to sleep for his afternoon nap. I did exactly what I had done the previous two days, but it wasn’t working! So frustrating. But as I looked down at my hand lying on his chest, I noticed that every time he’d nearly nod off into deep, limp sleep, he’d jerk awake and wrap his chubby little hands over mine, keeping me there. And oh, how I had things to do. I was losing my window. Oh, and my mind.

So I closed my eyes, calmed down, and felt.

Here’s what I discovered.

During those two days of successful napping, when I touched my baby, I was cheering him on. I was so completely present with him, encouraging him in every thought. My skin was relaxed completely – my face, hands, body language. Even the weight of my hand on his chest. How fantastic that had to feel, don’t you think?

On this day, however, even though my hand was there as before, I was energetically drawing away from him. I was not present. I was thinking in the future and becoming agitated and stressed. My touch was not warm, but impatient.

There’s a great article in the November 2009 issue of Yoga Journal titled, “Take Your Time” (page 19). The author, Ganga White, writes, “Time has always been precious, but too often we allow our lives to become frenzied and stressed.” Nudge #2.

This. Nudge #3.

Get the picture?

So while the list is intentionally time consuming, here is how I plan to be present and draw deeper into love this week:

• Allow my four-year-old to tell me as many stories that begin with, “Hey Mom, did you know…” as he can on our bike ride to preschool, even though it might make him late for school
• Okay, leave 20 minutes early for the 5-minute ride to school so that he won’t be late from stopping to tell me stories
• Touch my baby, intentionally and patiently, as long as he needs for restful sleep
• Practice yoga for 30-minutes v. the desired 90 minutes, and savor my thankfulness for it
• Stop for a well-deserved high-five with my husband to acknowledge making it through another chaotic evening routine of dinner/cleanup/bathtime/storytime/bedtime (he totally rocks this)

How will you be present this week?

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1. my obsession.
2. Ode To My Electric Toothbrush.
3. My Longest Yoga Practice. EVER.

Um, no.

Ogden, The Inappropriate Yoga Guy.

Three major things come up for me with Ogden. One, I was truly mortified when I first saw his YouTube video a few weeks ago. I thought that while a true depiction of some “yoga guys” I’ve seen in yoga classes, he was just awful. And I felt he was mocking yoga. (Might I add that while teaching yoga class a few years ago, one of my male students actually drawled, “Oh…talk slower.” WHAT?!)

Two, due to my background in advertising I applaud Yoga Journal for having the savvy to hire this guy, based on his popularity on YouTube, to do a web series for yogajournal.com. Very good marketing value, that one.

Three, the yogi in me is worried, once again, that Yoga Journal is not just dipping their toes in, but jumping full monty into the waters of yoga over-commercialization. A few years ago, in fact, I dropped my subscription to YJ because I craved the roots of yoga, not just the western take of it. (Now I just sneak copies into my grocery basket.)

I have to admit, however, that I do have a wicked sense of humor, and he is funny! But I’m left feeling guilty. Am I betraying my inner yogini and doing the full monty thing? Or am I missing the point: to reach an audience out there who doesn’t connect with those who take their yogic selves too seriously?

What do you think?

P.S. To really “get” the ending of Episode #2, you have to read this article from Elephant Journal and peruse the accompanying pics. Now THAT’S funny.

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