Olive Tree Yoga & Pilates

Resurrection

marco — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:44:10 +0000

Recently at the studio I’ve been asked about meditation by a few people. I thought I would share some insights.

Its difficult for most people to meditate because they haven’t understood “why” they’re sitting there. Until your intention is clear about the reason you’re sitting, the relaxation and peace desired will elude you.

What does meditation mean to you?

When you can answer this question with certainty you’ll be able to meditate anytime and any place.

Ask yourself what does meditation mean. I would answer peace, relaxation, and fulfillment. Most of us will resonate with these words, but how are they experienced while meditating?

Say them again. Peace, relaxation, fulfillment. Realize what these words are.

Don’t think. FEEL!

These words are actually feelings we experience in our bodies. Meditation is paying attention to how we feel in the present moment.

Realize how the “imaginary” thoughts racing through your mind are creating “real” sensations in your body. This is the mind-body connection.

Thought creates feeling. Feeling creates reality.

How we feel IS our present moment experience. Sitting in meditation allows you to observe the process of how we create our reality.

This is why the ancients taught the “truth” is within oneself.

It is in not doing that the doing is revealed.

Sit still and listen.

Saluting The Sun

marco — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:56:22 +0000

You are incredible.
Beautiful and bright, a glowing ball of love, showering me in warmth.
The great symbol of immortality.
The dying and resurrecting god that never fails us.
Each morning rising in the east scattering darkness, breathing color back into creation in an instant.
I stand in awe of your presence.
Come into my heart. Melt away my fears and prejudices.
I radiate loving awareness to all.
I salute you.

Have a great summer.

Flying Free

marco — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:09:53 +0000

I was thinking about yesterday’s Mother’s day celebration. I had a wonderful day with my wife and two children. Me and Jeannette were talking about what it means to be a mother and how it dramatically changes your life forever. Parents have the incredible opportunity to experience unconditional love being offered by their children to them. A real blessing.

We also discussed the idea of the energy of a mother existing within all of us. This is an important idea to contemplate. It has great healing potential.

Don’t think of your own mother.

Connect to the qualities of the one mother which sustains us all, Mother Nature. There are infinite ways of learning from the web of life we are all part of. Open your mind and use the power of your imagination to take you anywhere.

Decide the type of quality you would like to experience as reflected by mother Nature. For example…nourishment, peacefulness, happiness, fertility, or power. Think and feel a scenario related to that aspect of the earth and allow your imagination to take your spirit there.

One of my favorite meditations is connecting to the earth’s abundance. I enjoy visualizing a beautiful, plentiful tropical paradise where I relax with ease.

The idea of heaven is one creative thought away. Give yourself the freedom to go there now. Its yours for the taking.

Earth Mother

marco — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:04:58 +0000

I recently watched the movie The Force Of Nature by David Suzuki. I really enjoyed its message but especially the ending where he explained our connection to the environment. He said we ARE the environment.

We are the sacred elements: earth, air, water and fire. There is no division between us and our outer world. Nature sustains us externally and internally, forever interconnected.

The earth really is our mother.

This is a powerful meditation. Contemplate your connection to the elements. The soil beneath your feet, the food you eat, the fuel of your metabolism. The sky that surrounds you, the air you breathe and fills your lungs. The vast oceans that cover the earth, the water we drink, the blood that flows through you. The eternal shining sun, the clothes that keep us warm, our beating hearts.

We are the elements.

Happy Spring!

Marco

Be My Valentine

marco — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:55:24 +0000

As children we became very excited on this special day of the year. We made cards, handed them out to all our friends and maybe we secretly had special feelings for one of them. It was a special time in our lives filled with innocence and passion.

I believe in love. Like the fairy tales we grew up reading, I hoped to one day fall in love with a princess and live happily ever after.

We are conditioned to believe that someone else coming into our lives would make everything better. We all discovered that this like many other things is a half truth. Yes our lives do improve with the love of others, but the feeling of lack or needing something else always seems to return.

What is it that we are searching for?

What do we need to make us feel fulfilled?

Imagine you were taught to love yourself unconditionally. That real love comes from the deep appreciation and realization of the preciousness of your own life.

The idea is to fall in love with yourself. To be your own Valentine.

We need to heal ourselves within. To be that loving and understanding person we always hoped to find to yourself. Its our own love that we crave. To hear internally that we’re perfect and we will always be loved no matter what.

This is not a selfish love. This is the most selfless thing you can do for yourself.

To feel peace within.

It is from this foundation of self love that we become wonderful lovers and friends to others.

Love everyone unconditionally, especially yourself.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Marco