NO_WHINING

Honor Your Voice…No Whining!

I think it is safe to say that no one likes whining, but despite that fact, regardless of age we all find ourselves doing it. It creeps up on you suddenly, born out of a desire for something youNO_WHINING don’t have, or to leave a place where you don’t want to be, or perhaps to resist somebody making you do something when you’d rather be doing something else. A whine is an irrational expression, characterized by a high pitched cry expressing dissatisfaction. No doubt, it is always irritating; hence the upsurge in bumper stickers, t-shirts and pillows boldly exclaiming “No Whining!”

At the instance of whining, we often sound like a scared, insecure caged puppy and may not even know why we are whining. What we really want is sort of hidden beneath dusty clouds. Like a child (or adult) may be whining for a cookie when what they really want is a hug. A child (or adult) may whine for a toy his brother is playing with when what he really wants is for mom to put down her phone and look into his eyes and listen. Instead of reacting with a scrunched face or anger to a whine, consider the deeper meaning and respond from your highest self. 

Often we may whine about doing the laundry when the real issue is that we haven’t had a deep meaningful conversation in a week.

When we feel cloudy and grey and like there is a dust storm inside of us…we whine. When we feel powerless, helpless, and stuck…we whine. When we feel disconnected, lonely, and bothered…we whine. It’s as if we have these feelings that are stuck inside of us like chewing gum on a shoe. What is one to do?

Ground Work, of course! :

HR15Close your eyes and connect to your breath. Bring to mind a scared puppy. Consider how you would hug that puppy and whisper that everything is going to be all right. Hug your skin to your muscles to your bones that much. Perhaps sing a song or repeat a beloved word or whisper…

From Down Dog pose, become that huggable puppy. Spread the fingers of your right hand like big puppy paws, clawing the floor. Inhale and draw power up from the earth through your arm bone and into your atrium (bottom of you heart) in front, bottom of your shoulder blades in the back. Exhale and sweetly melt your heart with puppy love. Melt the whines away. Trust the strength of your right arm to support you as you inhale and bring your left palm to the outside of your right leg. Exhale and extend out from your atrium. Press your palm into your leg and your leg into your palm- twisting to look under your right armpit. Keep your basement floor level. Inhale and switch sides. Your left arm supports while you place your right palm to the outside of your left leg. Sense your pack nearby; you may want to bark, but there’s no need to whine.

Do your part in creating more harmony in the world. Enjoy how your people respond to your clarity.

More to Explore

  • Certified to Teach Kids Yoga in Middle School

    Last night felt surreal.  I was standing in my kitchen with Lee, Amy & Cheryl when they handed me a single piece of cardstock with the words ‘Certified Grounded Teacher.’ I felt my throat clench and my heart skip a beat.  Though I have been teaching Grounded Yoga for over a year, it was this small piece of recognition that let me know that I am now officially recognized as part of one of the greatest movements of my lifetime.

    Once I received my 200hr teacher training in 2012, I had begun leading my daughter’s classes at school once a week and eventually took over the Tween class at my studio.  I pulled resources from all around- other teachers, online sites, books, games…everything I could find to help create a well-rounded class.  It was a year of growth and some things worked and some failed miserably.  What I did know was that I loved teaching children- their honesty in their bodies and mouths and they way it was starting to create a shift in their perspective. My dear friend and teacher, Lee introduced me to Grounded in early 2013 when she came home lit UP from Level 1 training.  I watched her do Go To Your Room and that’s literally ALL it took!  I knew that something special was going on with Grounded…something that hadn’t been done before…something that was about to change how the world looks at kid’s yoga.  We put a plan together to “sell” our yoga program to our school as a full-time yoga curriculum.  And it WORKED!  I decided to take the Level 1 training just after school started so we could teach the same material and use each other to bounce ideas and begin to try to understand the huge undertaking we’d just landed.

  • OM is a Magic Word

    We chant OM in order to ground our energy in the present moment. When teaching kids who are brand new to yoga, I am determined to invite them into the wondrous world of all that is yoga without pushing them into a place of spooky sounds, weird ways and stuff completely unrelated to anything they’ve ever known. This mantra is a mode of transportation from where we were in our individual lives moments ago to where we are now – together in yoga

  • Inspiration

    GROUNDED. (ADJ.)

    IMG_07761. HAVING A SECURE FEELING OF BEING IN TOUCH WITH REALITY AND YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS.

    2. A FIRM FOUNDATION TO BE INSPIRED AND INSPIRE OTHERS.

    Two weeks ago my Grounded class wrote letters of congratulations to Emily, who had just earned her White Bandana. She’s nine years old and lives in Atlanta. The kids in my class were amazed that at just nine she had achieved this. They were inspired. The letters they wrote were thoughtful, complementary and from the heart.

  • Moving on….

    Our children have an opinion and I feel it is important for them to be heard. In my classes I welcome discussion and I let my students know that their opinions matter. Yesterday’s classes were magically healing. My Thursday morning class at LEAD Homeschool in Avondale Estates started off the day with heart opening poses…

  • Lasagna Savasana

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