My obvious answer would be sunshine! I revel in it-being outside, swimming in the sea, watching how the sun makes water shine.  I love it.  But then, I feel really connected to the energy of the world during thunderstorms-I mean it is palpable!

I also love the stillness jsut after a big snow, which I don't get to witness that often anymore, living in Portland. It is so light and still and beautiful after it snows.  And hardly anyone is out, so it feel like the world is VAST.

So, I guess it depends on what mood I am.  But nothing beats a hot sunny day with iced tea and friends in the garden, with all the veggies in the garden begging to be eaten. 

 

• 1. 1) What is your purpose?
  If you had to describe your calling in life, what would you say?
  What are you here to do? What gift is yours to give to the world?

I feel called to help people rediscover their bodies and their vital breath, which can allow them to heal and be whole again.

What is your wish for this world?  

I wish we, as a world community, could let go of the fear that separates us and remember our deep, abiding connection to one another.

• 1. 3) Why is optimism intelligent?
  Why is it brilliant to be hopeful? What's the benefit of looking on the bright side?
  How has a positive outlook helped your life?

Hope is what keeps us vibrant and alive.  There is nothing but the bright side, though there may be darkness around and within us.  We can choose to dwell on the darkness, or we can decide to move in the direction of light.  I choose hope rather than fear, love above hate, and compassion over righteousness.  My life has benefited greatly from making that choice, though I will not pretend that it has always been easy. When I broke my leg last year and my arm two years before that, I chose to look at these times as opportunities: to be still, to listen and meditate, to read more, and also notice the ways in which it enriched my life, rather than the obvious physical limitations. These events actually led me in the direction of my decision to choose Physical and Yoga Therapy as my career and life path. So, I credit those times of trauma as the reasons I returned to school, and ultimately, to my finding the Gaia website! We hear so many stories of how times of darkness can lead us to even lighter moments than before, so the fun and interesting part is remembering this, as well as being present enough to stay connected to the bright side. If we can find some sense of joy and celebration, even in things that might look bleak on the surface, maybe we can appreciate all situations as greater lessons about our truest selves.

• 2. 4) What do you plan to do next to brighten the future of the planet?
  Will you become a teacher and inspire a love of learning?
  Go on a meditation retreat to learn to embody peace in the world?
  How will you be that which you dream of?

I will continue to teach the many lessons of yoga to those who seek that knowledge. I addition to teaching yoga, I will learn a more complete wisdom of the body and how it can heal and rehabilitate, through my Physical Therapist Assistant program, beginning this fall.  If the universe allows it, I eventually hope to offer Yoga Therapy to individuals in need of this amazing holistic practice.  Combining the benefits of Physical Therapy with the mindfulness of yogic breath, mantra and meditation, I aspire to offer a service to those healing from injury or suffering from disease.  Since I have witnessed friends and family suffer from stroke and brain cancer, I hope to turn my attention especially to those people in need of this type of rehabilitation.  Whatever is in store for me, I will continue to discover my truest nature through the practices of yoga and meditation, as a means to Seva, or service.  On the karma yoga path, the only true way to love and peace is to serve others and to offer that service to the Divine. I have been so amazed at witnessing the recovery of health and well-being of people with the unconditional support of their friends, family and communities. I truly wish to be a part of that network of support and give back to this world that has blessed me in so many ways. 

 

This answer changes daily.  Sometimes I think I'd just take a million classes, in yoga, Spanish, energy healing, anatomy, meditation, etc.  Sometimes, I think I'd want to travel or spend a load of time volunteering in another country.   Other times, I think I'd love to start a non-profit animal shelter in Thailand for all the poor mangy dogs I saw there.  Or one for the cats in Belize. 

So, I'm glad I don't have all the time in the world, because what does that even mean?  All the time in the world is infinite and maybe I would just rest and sit with that fact and marvel at the beauty of the universe. Or merge with the great light of oneness, living in the moment, knowing that time would never end. Or just think WAY too much about all of that! J

A content, open, more free than last life time individual. Or not even an individual, More joined, more ONE than I was last life time But really, I am already THAT.. I just have to recognize and remember it. So, maybe when I am "grown up", that will be easier than now? Hmmm.. I guess we'll wait and see!

This is an interesting question.  Until I started teaching yoga (and even now, it sneaks in), I focused on the denying aspect.  Now I choose to embrace, rather than deny or reject. I still acknowledge that the practice is acceptance and non-attachment, and every so often (probably more often than I'd like to admit), I reject my perceived laziness, perceived lack of conmpassion, or selfishness.  I think recognizing where I can be of service is a better path than dwelling on "how selfish I am because I bought a coffee instead of gave it to charity", or drove instead of biked (we have high standards here in Portland!).

I have also stopped comparing myself to other people as much.  This has been an important thing on my journey.  It is so counter-productive! I now look at where I can improve and allow those parts of myself that are TRUE and real, rather than allowing the "default" to take over (in yoga, these are called Samskaras, caused by Vasanas-the habit patterns that cause karma; practicing yoga releases these bonds to allow freedom!).

It is a long journey, but one I am glad I chose to be on in this lifetime! 

Feeling so much calmer, healthier, and alive since that last post.  Had to take a few deep breaths, prioritize and take a workshop on mantra!  Oh, and vacation certainly helps.  End of term in school is always a tad overwhelming!

Yoga really is amazing.  When I let it, it rally helps me to cope with the everyday craziness of life. This is the reason I want to bring it into people's life-even if just the physical practice.  "When the student is ready, the teacher will come" a wise sage once said. So true.  I cannot force this practice on anyone, but I am open to teaching whomever shows up, for whatever reasons.

Peace to all, love to all (Snatam Kaur Khalsa!).

By technology in general, by Gaia, by life.  Part of me really likes that there is a online spiritual community, part of me thinks it is really hindering my spirituality to be online at all. Shouldn't I be out in nature?  Shouldn't I be out connecting with people in the flesh? Part of me wants to shun my computer for weeks on end and really talk and connect with people face to face.  I am lucky to live in Portland and get to do this.  Some people live in rural communities and perhaps these online connections mean more to them and are more important. 

Life is so busy right now:  with work, school, teaching yoga, teacher training.  I hardly ever get time to come on here and update my blog.  How is everyone dealing with Facebook, Twitter, Gaia, blogging, posting, texting, all while living their lives in the full outside of the internet world? 

I'm really asking here.  I want to know.  Maybe I will post this question on a group, but which group?  There are so many?  I'm not sure which ones to join, which posts to read, where to direct my attention.  All while preparing for finals, a trip to the desert to calm my brain and get some sun.

All in all, I am feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, and a little lost in all the online stuff.  It makes me feel kind of old! 

Love and light,
Tasha

My teachers, both living and dead, are continuingly reminding me of my purpose, whether though subtle hints, or outright saying it to my face.  Every time I want to run away to an ashram, or give up teaching, they are there to remind me this is what I am supposed to be doing. And the physical therapy of my broken limbs these past few years has led me to the offshoot of that, which is going back to school for Physical Therapy. I never really thought of it as a purpose, but it continues to unfold in the way that makes sense, even if not until later! I thank them everyday for their reminders, because without the grace of my teachers, I would be running from country to country trying to "find myself" when really, it all right here for me to see.

Thank you gurus!

I thought I'd take today, being home sick from work, to actually update by thoughts on this blog,

I've been teaching a lot lately, for it is teacher training time.  I always question my teaching, my study, my own practice when this time of year comes around.  And I think that is good.  For if I were always satisfied with my practice, I think that is when ego kicks in.  I'm not talking about that deep inner peace I hope someday to find, that's different than satisfaction.  Deep abiding peace is NOT ego driven, but when the witness is allowed to just watch it all unfold without hysteria!

Anyway, the words "enough" and "should" are coming up a lot in this questioning.  Do I meditate enough?  I should be practicing right now instead of writing on my blog.  Do I read enough?  Am I "spiritual" enough.  Is the way I teach yoga effective?  Should I really be teaching at all? There are moments of clarity, there are moments of despair, there are moments when I want to forget about all of it and watch trashy television and eat bad food and be enveloped in the worldliness.  But, as one of my teachers used to say, "You have stepped into the fire now, and until your work is finished, you'll be hot for a very long time."  So, my work continues.  It may be hard at times, but it is my dharma to do this work.  To open the door to more inquiry until inquiry stops and the Truth is known.

I don't consider myself super spiritual or high and mighty.  I am simply human.  A seeker, like so many others.  Someone who loves to share what I have learned through my own experiences and reading and exploration.  And I know we all have different path, different ways of experiencing spirit and love and light.  All I hope is that I can bring something good to this world-to my students, to the people I interact with.  I hope I can shine just a little light on the darkness of the path ahead for those that choose to come to my classes or mentor with me.  But that is all.  As another of my teachers says, "All I know is that I don't know, and for that knowledge I thank my gurus."

Guru Bramha Guru Vishnu Guru Devo Mahesvara
Guru Sakshat, Param Bramha, Tas Mai Sri guruvey Namaha

Om Shanti.  Amen. 

I think it is as difficult as we make it!  Is it difficult to be present?  To meditate?  To motivate myself to move and breathe mindfully on a daily basis?  Sure.  But the difficulty comes from my expectations of what a spiritual path should look like.  We are all already perfect-we just have to be reminded of that-through chanting, through reading, through yoga, or whatever path we've chosen to reach the same mountaintop of bliss and transcendence.
Or something like that.  Who really knows?  I sure don't.