LynnAnderson

Self Control

The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence, but in the mastery of his passions. – Alfred Lord Tennyson When the intellectual self is ruled by passion the mind can not discern between truth and untruth. It is the practice of living a truthful life (true to you) that produces a steady mind and this steady mind produces a stable and solid sensed of being. To think, speak, and act in balanced and healthy ways a person must develop the ability to master the world of passion.  Yoga is such a discipline that promotes the mastery of your passions. More…

When Things Go Wrong

Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset. – Saint Frances de SalesRecently my world became upset by something that was said to me.  I felt it rock me to the core.  I took a deep breath escaped to yoga and meditation and emerged with a sense of peace.  Nothing is worth a day of fighting, pain, anger, and disappointment.  I decide to rise above it and move onward.  I smiled my way through the incident and found it to be an event I could both handle and accept.  Inner peace is the ability to maintain your balance no matter what happens to you.I have decided to take the path of forgiveness. This means to set aside my pride, ego, and self conceit. It means the wisdom to realize that there is no absolute truth.  Truth can only be realized through the experience of life and each life experience is different. What is one person’s truth may not be so for another.  The world is full of illusions. The truth is that which bring peace and serenity to your soul. More…

Happiness

The world of those who are happy is different than the world of those who are not. – Ludwig Wittgenstein. I just returned from the Caribbean where I was invited to be the guest at an Inn with the potential of doing a yoga retreat. Our destination was the Turks and Cacaos Islands or more specifically the capitol of Grand Turk.  More…

One Day

Gladly accept the gifts of the present hour. – Horace I was searching through my closet and found some pictures of myself that are about ten years old.  I immediately flashed back to that time. The last ten years have flown by so fast.  My life was a different reality then and at that time my body, mind, and soul could not grasp my present reality.  I have changed in body and mind.  Looking at myself ten years ago I realize I did not appreciate the gift of my youth in that hour of time. More…

Role Model

A good example is the best sermon. – Anon I am a role model to many people. I teach health and fitness. My image, my persona, and my attitude, I project with a sense of strength, balance, and caring.  I am no one special and yet many of my students count on me to lighten their day and provide a strong shoulder to lean on when they are down and lonely.  Although I do project an example of professionalism, fitness, and health, my students over the years have provided me with such wonderful examples of real people with real hearts and souls. We are all in some way examples of both vices and virtues to each other and from each other we learn and grow. More…

Helping Others

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. – Herman Melville One of the premises of spirituality or enlightenment is the realization that we are all just one interconnected mass of energy.  All life force exist as it relates to and is connected to each other.  When we reach out and help others we also help ourselves. More…

Luck

In the queer mess of human destiny, the determining factor is luck.-William E. WoodwardI have always believed in destiny.  Luck and timing is simply part of the equation.  If one believes in destiny does that mean that all is pre-determined so the best we can do is to simply sit back and let life flow?  Probably this is true as most of life is completely unpredictable to us. More…

Taking Risk

Living life is a risk.  The risk we take if met with balance and strength bring us freedom.  I think it was Janis Joplin who wrote in one of her songs that freedom was just another word for nothing left to lose. I prefer another definition taught to me by a philosophy professor many years ago.  Freedom he lectured could never be found through rebellion but rather through the ability to take that leap of faith.  By this he meant having the strength and the courage to leap with conviction.  It is about an inner strength that transcends the ordinary and creates the extra-ordinary events of life.In yoga there is a search for freedom. It is the ability to detach from the emotionality of life and live it from a balanced and centered point of view.  Freedom allows us to let go and simply live each and every moment in complete awareness of the splendor and beauty of life. We realize that life is not about consumption but about the gaining of wisdom and wisdom can only be gained through experiences.  The greater the risk we take the greater our experiences. More…

Forgiveness

When we feel wronged the natural instinct is to want to even the score. We want to retaliate and one-up the other person.  To feel that we have been wronged is a slap against our pride, our ego, and our sense of self worth.  How could someone do us wrong; especially if they are close to us?  Those closest to us often hurt us the most. More…

The Future

As another year closes we all reflect back over the past remembering the good, the bad, and the indifferent moments.  It all seemed to have slipped away so fast and here we are facing a New Year.  We look to the New Year with enthusiasm and wonder at all the experiences it will bring.  As we age it seems that a year is a blink in time and the older we get the more we wish we could slow done time. But time is measured at the same rate for all of us no matter what our station in life.  Time does not give preferential treatment to anyone or anything. More…