Evan and Maya hanging out together....

Beach Hit-the-ball

All You Need is Love

Love, Love, Love....

Love, Love, Love....

Love, Love, Love....

Love is all you need!

The Beatles said it, and I agree. Love is all you need. And in this household, everyone needs there love. This is what I mean:

Just before 7am, with even more regularity than my alarm clock, Evan "goes off." It's time for him to get out of bed and entertain us for the next few hours. Of course, little Maya is in the mix too.

What a sweet baby girl, just wants to be held (but don't we all.) She gives a little cry to say, "Hey pick me up, too!"

Why not? Two babies, two arms. Poor mamma, at least I get a "break" when I go to work, she is on duty 24/7. Feeding, cleaning, watching, worrying...

By 1pm, the babies are down for a nap. Finally a moment to myself to lie flat....But who's that bounding up onto my chest? Kitty!

"Oh, Hi kitty. I love you too...I know, I know, you need your snuggles too."

Kitty is easy to please. A few minutes of earnest stroking and he is set. Of course he would still rather sleep on my face if I don't mind...

Oh yes, didn't I have a wife somewhere amongst all these children?

I have to find out if she is getting her snuggles....

We all need Love

(the Beatles play out) "Love, Love, Love. Love, Love, Love. Love, Love, Love. All you need is Love...

Bedtime!

Maya's First Days

We've finally got a few more pics up! You can click on the slide show and a larger window will open with high resolution photos.

Introducing...

Maya Lief Williams

born 2/10/10 4:58am Mountain View, CA

7lbs. 9oz.

20 inches long

mamma and baby (and dad and evan) are doing well. "the picture perfect delivery" according to midwife and nurses. God Bless

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Super Mamma = Super Baby! After a mere 5 hours of labour, down from 24 for baby #1, Little baby girl appeared on the scene. 4:58 am Mountain View, CA; 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20 inches long. Big Girl!

Using breath work and deep humming, Mamma was able to give birth completely natural, no drugs (brave woman) and no complications. Our midwife Linn deserves a ton of credit. After delivering Evan, we have total trust and faith in her Wisdom and Knowledge. She did put me to work though, pulling and guiding that slippery one out!

Hopefully, pics will be up soon and a name announced too!

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Our home is a shoefree home but there's one pair of shoes that we allow Evan to wear inside: his "klompen". They're his favorites and it makes us laugh hearing him make his music with it around the house. Cute little dutch boy.

In ons huis worden geen schoenen gedragen maar er is 1 paar die Evan binnen wel aan mag: zijn klompen. Het zijn zijn favorite schoenen en het brengt ons aan het lachen als we hem zijn klompen muziek horen maken. Schattig klein Nederlands jochie.

Adarsh and Evan working in the garden. Evan loves it every time daddy goes out with him to dig in the ground. We have a lot more garden work to do which is good cause we have such a good little helper around....

Adarsh en Evan aan het werk in de tuin. Evan vind het heerlijk als papa met hem buiten aan het werk gaat. We hebben heel wat meer tuin werk te doen en dat is goed want we hebben een hele goede kleine helper...

Post Op Yoga Follow Up

It has been a little over a month since the appendix was removed from me' belly. When asked "how you doin' ?" I generally offer two answers:

1.) I'm doin' good, pretty much normal in fact. One of the hardest things was not being able to submerge my body for 6 weeks. This meant no bath time with baby...Finally, this past Sunday, Evan and I were able to slash around the tub again, yeaaaaa!

So, I'm pretty much normal as far as daily activities such as lifting, carrying, taking a bath.

2.) The other part that I feel compelled to answer is how I'm doing yoga-wise. At this point, I'm probably at about 65-70 % of where I was pre surgery. Before I get into specifics I should say that I'm so happy in practice at the moment and having a really good flow. I haven't been goal oriented in asana in a long time anyway. I'm really in the space of gratitude just to have 90 minutes to my self in the quiet of the early morning.

As far as specifics, I'm able to do all of the Primary Series (with care in Marichiasana D so the heel isn't pressing to much) and have added postures of the Intermediate. I've been cautious with deep back bending, but have started adding some things like a mellow version of kapotasana (if there is such a thing) and dropping back/standing from urdhva danurasana.

Given the fact that we are days away from hatching a new baby, I'm not expecting to intensify practice in any way....I'll do what I can, when I can! Or I'll simply substitute yoga for sleep...

It has been a great and interest January working with my changed body in asana practice. I do see the body as a Koan, to be worked with and investigated for greater insight into one's own nature. A large part of this is the ability to observe change without attraction or aversion. Just pure observation as it is...

What is the sound of one body breathing?

a

Tweet!

I wanted to point out that I have started a twitter feed on the right hand side of this blog, just below the slide show. Although I've only been tweeting for a few days now, I quite enjoy it. A little different than updating my status on facebook, which I rarely do. I figure it's a place where I can give a quick thought without bothering anyone, unless they are following me. Since I have zero followers, I am not bothering anyone. Heleen thinks that I'm a little silly, twittering away with no one reading, but I kind of like it...

Take a poll of yoga teachers and most will tell you that the corpse pose is the most important of all postures. This final resting position allows the body to integrate the various asana and pranayama forms that have been practiced. Additionally, we have a chance to stop and do nothing, the body has a chance to "re-boot" and prepare for the next activity.

Often, we tease students who quickly jump up from their corpse as doing the "New York City Savasana." Rushing off to the next activity without resting leaves the body jittery and sore, and the mind is more likely to give into agitation.

Although the corpse seems simple, it takes practice to really reach a state of complete relaxation.
I could go on and on about why yogis should learn to master the corpse, but I'll assume you believe me and tell you how to do it the Mysore way:

1. After completing Utpluthi and your vinyasa, jump through to the seated position. Massage the sweat back into your body, especially around the joints and any areas that feel tight or sore.

2. Cover your body with your sarong (called lungi in South India) or large towel and lie down. Even if the room is warm, you do not want the body to cool down or catch a chill after your practice.

3. Cover your eyes with a small towel (I typically use my shirt to cover the eyes). In the picture below, you can see how the eyes and head can be wrapped with a large ace bandage. This is really helpful in allowing the senses to soften and quite practically it keeps the light out so you may rest more deeply.

4. Take care to align the body in a way that is natural and comfortable:
Open the feet about shoulder width apart, allowing the legs to naturally rotate out-soften the hips and buttocks. Allow the pelvis to become neutral in neither a tilt nor a tuck so the lower back is relaxed.

Turn the palms up resting just outside of the thighs. Press down through the back of the head so you can "walk" the shoulder blades under. Have the shoulder blades flat under you will keep the chest open for easy, deep breathing.

Rock the head from side to side until it reaches neutral and the neck is relaxed. Soften the face and scalp, release the jaw.

5. Continue with about 5 Ujjayi breaths until the body softens. Then allow the breath to become so soft that you can hardly feel it on the nostrils.

6. Become still. The first of the yogic abilities (Siddhis) to develop is stillness. Do not fidget. You could move, but for now you choose not to move.

7. As the body and breath reach a point of stillness, the mind is certain to follow.

8. Rest here for a minimum of 5 minutes, longer is better 15-25 minutes if you have the luxury of time.

9. This is not a sleeping pose. You may drift into a Theta brainwave state which may resemble lucid dreaming or the space just before sleep, but no snoring please!

10. Exit your corpse with care. Gradually deepen the breath and move a stretch slowly. Bend the knees and roll to the side, take a moment on your side before pressing up with the arms as to not strain the back.

The corpse can be practiced anytime. I'll do it several times in a day, just for a few minutes, so I may feel refreshed and energized - Truly better than a cup of coffee!