Zuri Hears about the Violence in Nairobi, Kenya (9/21/13)-- Sutra 1.3: Then you abide in your own true nature

Zuri Hears about the Violence in Nairobi, Kenya (9/21/13)

Sutra 1.3: Then you abide in your own true nature

Zuri Hears about the Violence in Nairobi, Kenya (9/21/13)

Today, Zuri woke up to the sound of CNN on the TV downstairs. Her mom was already awake (not normal for a Saturday). She came downstairs to the sight of her mother watching CNN, tears running down her face. Her mom had a coffee mug clutched within her interlaced hands.

Zuri says, “Hey mom. What is going on?”

Sherece shakes her head, “More violence baby, more violence.”

“What happened?” she asked.

“I don’t know baby. It looks like some people shot up a mall in Nairobi. There are anywhere from 11 to 20 people killed and maybe as many as 50 injured. That is what they are saying now."

She pauses, shaking her head. "This is where our people are from, Nairobi. Your family, going way back, were coffee workers in Kenya. Your babu (grandfather) and bibi (grandmother) came here from Nairobi to find work and land here in the U.S. Babu wanted to work his own farm. Babu worked hard his whole life as a migrant farm worker *(see link below about migrant farm workers in the US).  You know bibi struggled with her mind and pombe (alcohol in Swahili). I watch this baby, and I see our faces in the faces of the Kenyans. I feel so much pain.”

Zuri felt like she knew something about Nairobi, Kenya. She remembered reading about it somewhere. “Where did I see that?” she thought. Her mom never talked about Africa or Kenya or Nairobi or her grandparents (both gone now). She felt like she had to ask as many questions as she could while her mom was open to it.

“Mama, tell me more about Nairobi. Tell me more about Kenya.”

“Ah, baby, I don’t know a lot. Babu and Bibi missed Kenya so much. Their whole life-- all of their family was there. They came to the U.S. a long time ago, before I was born. They wanted good work, land, and a nice house for our family, your Aunt Jasmine and me. I know Kenya is beautiful. There are palms as tall as buildings and elephants that live on the land. Rich people travel there now to see all of the animals in the national parks. The cities are a lot like ours. See the TV? See this violence?It happened at a mall, a lot like our malls.” Zuri’s mom went quiet and was slowly shaking her head back and forth.

“Zuri, I have a few errands to run. Will you watch out for Rashan? And don’t let Eric sleep in too late.”

Zuri’s eyes started to fill with tears. She looked down to hide them. She knew her mom was going out to drink. Ahhhh, it was still so early, not even 11:00 AM. She felt her stomach clench. “Mama, I will go with you! Please!”

“Zuri, I will be right back. It is just a few errands. And you have to watch out for Rashan. Eric is no good at that.”

Her mom set down her coffee, grabbed her car keys and her purse. As the front door shut, Zuri’s head fell into her hands and she sobbed. Her mom might not come home tonight.

After a good cry, Zuri started to settle down. She kept watching CNN and thinking, “Where did I read about Kenya?” Then, it hit her—The Yoga Bag.

I had kept some of my Africa Yoga Project (AYP) notes in the bag, folded inside one of my Baptiste books (Journey into Power, Baron Baptiste). I had taken the book to an Art of Assisting Workshop and Paige Elenson (http://www.africayogaproject.org/pages/about-us) the founder of AYP was running the workshop with Tami Schneider, owner of Cleveland Power Yoga (http://www.clevelandyoga.com/yoga-teachers/tami-schneider-owner/). 

Hearing about the powerful work AYP was doing, I had approached Paige about conducting a research project in Nairobi the summer of 2013. She said that it sounded like a good idea. I grabbed all of the material on AYP I could get my hands on, folded them inside of my book. Zuri had found these materials.

I remember the first time Zuri opened the book. She looked to the back because that is where she writes all of her most personal stuff. This is where she might find out the really interesting stuff. It's funny, that is where I write my secrets too, in the back pages. She unfolded the AYP materials and traced her finger over the magical images in wonder.

“Yes,” Zuri thought. “The Yoga Bag.”

She ran upstairs and grabbed the bag out from its new hiding place, deep in the back of her closet under her winter boots, a blanket folded around it. She unwrapped the bag, and dug in to find the book. She flipped to the back and found the AYP materials. She read about teachers, and students, ambassadors, and mentors.

She saw all of the stunning images and broad smiles. She looked right into the eyes of a girl that looked a lot like her and thought, “Some day, I will practice with you in Nairobi, Kenya. Someday, that will be me with a big beautiful smile.”

She set down the card with a photo of a strong woman doing wheel pose (see all of the amazing images on AYP page).

http://www.africayogaproject.org/pages/what-were-up-to

She laid down on her back, knees bent, the souls of her feet flat on the floor. She placed her hands near her head fingers pointed toward her feet. She in inhaled and on the exhale; she lifted up into wheel, a full gorgeous wheel. She felt her heart beating, her breath moving through her body, and she felt, for a moment, just a moment, her anxiety disappear.

She dropped out of wheel and looked for more yoga photos. She found them. Warrior one. Warrior two. She tried them. Feet grounded, arms reaching, hands open, fingertips lifting up toward the ceiling. She took deep, deep breaths. She felt energy from her grounded feet through her reaching fingers. “Ahhhh, this feels so good.” She sat down and opened the book. “Oh, there are so many poses. All the instructions are here.” She sat and smiled and felt a warmth rise in her chest.

Zuri felt like she feels when she meets a new friend. She felt hope. The sound of the TV distracted her. She tucked the book, the AYP notes, the bag, the blanket, all back into her closet. She hollered into Rashan and Eric’s room, “Get up! I am making breakfast. No sleeping all day!”

She mixed up eggs and thought about yoga, Africa, Kenya, and Nairobi. She thought about the paths people take and how powerful choices can be. Her bibi and mom faced fear with drinking. Zuri knew her path would be different. She felt her feelings full on and then found the grace in the rubble. At that moment, she said the first of many, many prayers for the people in Nairobi and one more of the million-- already said-- prayers for her mom.

I am so proud of Zuri as I watch her making breakfast for her brothers. I am so proud of her being able to negotiate all that has happened to her already on this Saturday morning. I am so happy that she has practiced her first asanas today inspired by the AYP images tucked in the back of my Baptiste book.

Good work Zuri. You are on the path toward your own true nature, toward our true nature.

The Process:

Sutra 1.3: Tada drashtuh svarupevasthanam

Interpretations:

1.     Looking at the Sanskrit of it (adapted from agorareview.ca or Agora Review):

a.     Tada = then, at a time, at the time of concentration and meditation

b.     Drashtuh = the seer’s, of the soul, the witness

c.      Sva = own

d.     Rupa = form

e.     Svarupe = in its own form, nature, essence

f.      Avasthanam = stability, resting, being in a state (stha= to stand)

2.     On that day the seer comes to dwell in his own true nature (Roach & McNally, 2005)

3.     Then man abides in his real nature (Prabhavananda & Isherwood, 1953)

Roach and McNally (2005) say that this is one of the most important days in our spiritual journey- the day we stop engaging the Big Mistake (Roach & McNally, 2005). Prabhavananda and Isherwood (1953) say that this is when an individual sees how he really is, always was, and always will be-- a free illuminated soul. Our identity is just a mask that covers the soul.

Zuri’s mom, Sherece identified with what was happening in Kenya. It is horrible. I am watching on the news channels as I write. It is terrifying and I am sending prayers to my friends in Nairobi affected by this horrific violence. Feeling this pain and the compassion for others is important. Sherece was not able to negotiate the feelings. She does not trust in her own true nature, which, truth be told, could in fact handle this very scary and hurtful experience. Rather, she becomes overwhelmed by it. She lets this violence, and many other things, take her out of her self, out of her purpose, out of her role as a parent. She lets these things take her into her addiction and away from her children.

Zuri felt her feelings. She sobbed. She cried until she felt wrung out. She, then, found herself. She found asana and breath. She dug into her being—her actual sense of being present. These practices can be like a trusted friend, always there. Overtime, we become one with them, knowing they take us deep into the seeing and the being of our existence. Early in our practice we get tiny glimpses of what is possible. As thousands of sun salutations pass through our bodies and millions of mindful breaths through our lungs, we get deeper and longer glimpses into the sense of peace, stillness, and grace that is all that is.

And from that place, all things are possible and love grows.

When a tragedy happens, all too often, I know that that darkness needs is light. In each of us is this light—the one you see in me and I see in you. I re-commit each and every time darkness falls to not let this tragedy, this act of violence obscure my light. Instead, I feed my light with practice, breath, connection, gratitude, and prayer. Like Zuri, I am on my path, and like you, we will—together—bring light to the Earth—not someday- today- September 21, 2013—today.

My love and prayers go to all of my friends, fellow yogis, and the beautiful people of Nairobi.

Peace, Peace, Peace,

Catherine

A link to information about migrant workers like Zuri’s Babu:

* 
http://life.time.com/history/bitter-harvest-life-with-americas-migrant-workers-1959/#1

For an overview of the people in Zuri's life go here:
http://theyogabag.blogspot.com/p/zuris-people-overview-of-poeple-is.html

Research Mission Entry Eleven (posted 7/30/13) Feeling Good with Family: Last Days of Our Research Mission to Nairobi Kenya

Entry Eleven (posted 7/30/13)

Feeling Good with Family: Last Days of Our Research Mission to Nairobi Kenya 

Family (jamii- in Swahili- according to the dictionaries online) was the theme for the Saturday 7/28/2013 Shine Center Community Class in Nairobi, Kenya with the Africa Yoga Project. Paige began 200+ student class with some Adele that inadvertently went on repeat. Paige explained that that is how yoga is, it repeats and repeats and in there, in the practice, you figure it all out. I loved that. It was true to what I know in my heart. In the practice, you find your truth. The whole research team was in the building and we were all in the moment. The class was co-taught by the AYP teachers and the experience was wonderful. Like the week before, it was a hard class : ). The assistants rocked it and we felt amazing at class end. We had that yoga-class-feeling of jamii or family.

 After a Saturday class at the Shine Center, there are many announcements. My mind was on the research and I was struggling to be in the moment. We were supposed to collect teacher data and Phase II student data after class. We had collected data for 46 adult students after the previous Saturday’s class and we hoped for 45, at least, for Phase II. The announcements were many. I was so very anxious people would leave and not help because it was getting so late. I had reason to worry.  First, we where headed to Thika school after the community class data collection. Second, Thika is about 1 hour away. Third, the children there are vision impaired or blind and Phase II would take us a very long time there. So, this was why I was struggling. People kept sharing and announcing. I kept telling myself, “Stay present Catherine. Stay present. It will work out.” My heart was pounding. Then, something pulled me right into the moment. A group of the AYP teachers were surprised by an announcement that they had officially become Baptiste Certified Teachers and in the group was Irene!! Irene was a member of our Research Team Family or Jamii. Ahhh, I was in the moment and glad to be there.

 Finally, it was announced that those students who were willing to help us with the research could eat first and bring their plates over to the yoga room and begin. My heart was pounding again. One person, two people, and soon a group of five people was sitting down. Ugh— not enough. Then, Joyce, Musa, and Wanji began recruit volunteers.  Soon there were 15, then 20. When all was done, we collected 47 Phase II packets! We were at target! Phew. In the midst of all that, there was a Thika surprise.

 You see, Nan and Susan had chipped in to pay for a large group of Thika students and teachers to be transported to the Shine Center for the community class. Nan, thinking on her toes, suggested that since the Thika children were already at the Shine Center, why don’t we begin Phase II with them. Of course! Brilliant! So the team split, some helping AYP community class students and others helped he Thika students. We were able to finish the Thika students without having to drive 2 hours to collect the data! The Thika students were such hard workers and so committed to the work. Can you imagine sorting ideas without being able to see them or read them- all through audio input and communication? ….. no, me either. I began hearing Nina Simone in the background—If you have not heard her sing “Feeling Good” Google it right now- it is perfection.

“Feeling Good”

Birds flying high

You know how I feel

Sun in the sky

You know how I feel

Breeze drifting’ on by

You know how I feel

It’s a new dawn

It’s a new day

It’s a new life

For me

And I’m feeling good

I’m feeling good

Then, to the complete and utter joy of the entire research team, we had 2 hours off to get ready for the final team dinner. Susan and Nan were leaving for safari (Susan that night and Nan the next day). Sunday- Steve was heading out early to help children on the coast and Brooke had a flight back to the USA in early afternoon. Sunday morning Jessalyn, Carla, Jerry, and I along with the whole Kenyan team would be headed out to Mama Fatuma Orphanage on Sunday AM to wrap up the data collection (except Jamo- who would be getting ready for his art show). Still,  Saturday night was our official last dinner. We all waited for Jerry to secure and Jembe deal (a wood and animal skin drum) and then our drivers took us back to Gracia Gardens to shower and pack.

Fish in the sea

You know how I feel

River running free

You know how I feel

Blossom on a tree

You know how I feel

It’s a new dawn

It’s a new day

It’s a new life

For me

And I’m feeling good

 Zack and James our drivers/security for the week, picked us up at Gracia and took us to an Ethiopian restaurant. Angie led the evening. When we arrived, there were assigned seats for the whole team- Kenyan and US. There were bags made by Benta (check our her stuff at the AYP store online- super cute). In each bag was a SHINE research team t-shirt. At each place setting, there was a set of cards and things to do. I don’t want to say too much because if you decided to do a seva safari (which you should absolutely do) I don’t want to spoil anything. I will just let you know that there was fire and happy hearts involved. We ate from big platters of sour dough bread, beans, hummus, and other amazing vegetarian tastes. Jessalyn and Musa were officially the first to eat their WHOLE platter and it is the first time I saw any competitiveness manifest from this young yogi’s eyes. I will post the photo on Facebook- Musa with a smile and Jessalyn with an intense, victorious glare : ).

We had a great time and said good-bye to Susan as she left on safari. A group of us went to the Italian place for dessert, some went to bed, and Steve and Brooke headed to the Moroccan Bar for an evening of cultural education (which I still want to hear more about- Brooke)! My heart was wide-open, thankful, loving, and feeling like family after a big Sunday dinner. Earlier that night as we were eating, I looked around the table thinking that just over a week before I was just meeting some of our team members. Other members I knew from the yoga studio, some were my friends, close friends. But after this collective effort, I was looking at my family. 

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don’t you know

Butterflies all havin’ fun you know what I mean

Sleep in peace when day is done

That’s what I mean

And this old world is a new world

And a bold world

For me, For me

 Sunday, those of us who were left felt like people must feel when their kids go to college. Jessalyn, Carla, Jerry, and I were there and things felt small. We were thrilled to see Nan and her friend who was joining her for safari and then some of the Kenyan research team members. Ahhh- things were feeling right as the numbers grew. We hugged Nan goodbye and got into the van for Mama Fatuma Orphanage. The kids were as beautiful and hard working as the last time we visited. They completed Phase II and I think it was harder to leave this time than the last. It was then that it hit me, “We are done. We have collected all the data.” I looked at the team members and I drew my scarf to my mouth over my eyes and said, “I think I am going to cry. Wait, I am crying.” I cried tears of utter relief. We had 118 phase II packets of child students, 87 packers for adult students, and 40 teacher packets. We more than surpassed the numbers we needed for  validity and more than exceeded our hopes. Yes, I cried.

 It was now official. There were no more questions about the possibility of pulling this off. I promise you that less than a year ago when I approached Paige at Art of Assisting in Cleveland, Ohio, I scared myself with the idea of completing a study, on yoga, in another country. I stood on my own two feet and said, “Hi Paige, I have an idea.” Well, from that point on this was about manifesting something that has never been done before, anywhere else, in any form. An BY GOD- WE DID IT- me, Jessalyn, Carla, Nan, Susan, Jerry, Brooke, Steve, Irene, Jamo, Musa, Wanji, Joyce, Louis, and Angie. WE, our research family, did it. Each person on the team did at least one thing that saved the day. Without any one member, —- ahhh- I can’t even imagine. I was feeling good. 

Stars when you shine

You know how I feel

Scent of the pine

You know how I feel

Oh freedom is mine

And I know how I feel

It’s a new dawn

It’s a new day

It’s a new life

 The beauty of the day began. We arrived at the contemporary art space next to what I am pretty sure was a mansion outside of the city of Nairobi. Jamo was showing his amazing photographs– a series on Kibera. The images were themed on the home as a shrine and illustrated the beauty and care that can take place on the inside of a home even in the most challenging of circumstances. It was a breathtaking exhibit. There were authors and dancers and musicians along with a gorgeous spread of food and drinks. We spent the whole afternoon bathed in beauty stimulating every sense- eyes, ears, and heart. We then headed to the national park for a Debe Debe- a drum circle with Irene, Louis, Wanji, and Musa. We played drums in the park, in the sunlight, and open air. Jerry was in absolute heaven. 

It’s a new dawn

It’s a new day

It’s a new life 

It’s a new dawn

It’s a new day

It’s a new life

It’s a new life

For me

 It was time to go. We hade to finish packing and leave for the airport. Before I close, I want to tell you about the data. We had taken to calling the bundles of completed, Phase II data packets “babies.” Each data collection trip, we put members of the research team in charge of the babies (data packets). This was done in fun and jest and in all seriousness. Our family, our jamii, had been quite productive and had “birthed” several big babies. We took the care and feeding of our babies extremely seriously. Once a team member was charged with the care of one of the babies, it was his or hers until it was placed in the large “play-pen” or suitcase in me and Jerry’s room. In fact, on the flight home all of the data went with us on the plane- carry-on- NO checking of the babies- these beautiful bundles of joy when with us on the plane!

 We got back to the USA later yesterday- data in hand. We had a little bit of a dramatic flying story- ask Jessalyn, Jerry or I in person- ugh. Still, we landed safely and soundly with the babies. I went to bed early and woke up in what would be late morning Nairobi time- so I felt awesome. I taught my 6 AM yoga class at Power Yoga Buffalo, loving very minute of it.

 I got home and threw on my running shoes and headed out the door with my music in hand. About a mile up the road, toward the falls, it came on, “birds fling high, you know how I feel…” I put the song on repeat and ran as fast as I could. I felt as if I had wings on my feet. If you ever wondered if it is possible to run, cry, and laugh at the same time—the answer is – yes, yes you can.

And I’m feeling good

I’m feeling good

I feel so good

I feel so good

Namaste! (and Kenyan Team- I miss you already)

Catherine Cook-Cottone

AYP Research Mission Entry Ten (July 26, 2013) One Starfish at a Time…. Africa Yoga Project Research Mission Blog 7/26/2013

Entry Ten (July 26, 2013)

One Starfish at a Time…. Africa Yoga Project Research Mission Blog 7/26/2013

 Today we began the day with a centering meeting. No need for AM yoga because later we were to do Dance Your Yoga with Billy Sadia. We discussed the 21^st mile and staying strong whether or not your body, mental clarity, and/or emotional regulation is at 100%. After breakfast, we headed out to Giavanna School for the Deaf. The school is called the school of affection and also services children with autism. The Phase II process involved sorting and rating, requires concentration, and an understanding of the process. We worked through interpreters and with patience the children were able to rate the items and sort the items into piles. I was so moved by how long and hard they worked. I know the research team was working very hard as well.  

 After a break at the mall and some food, we headed out to Rehema School in Kariobangi. We got there a little after 3:00 PM and the kids were waiting. They cheered when we walked in and it was FUN! After a short yoga session we began Phase II with the children. There were 60 kids in a one-room classroom and another 10 or so children under 9 who were in need of attention while we were there. Susan and Steve taught the under 9 kids yoga, acro yoga, and lots of fun stuff for a few hours. The rest of the team worked with the 60 kids completing Phase II. These little ones wanted to help so much. The whole environment was a challenge, space, noise, number of adults to children ratio, Swahili to English, the whole thing. In the sea of these gorgeous, happy children, I recalled a short story that is a favorite of one of one my colleagues at UB-

The Man and the Starfish.

 “Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

 One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

 As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

 He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

 The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

 “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.

 To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

 Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

 At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said,

“It made a difference for that one.”

 ― Loren Eiseley

 I found one child and sat down and worked with her. I went through each item with her and helped her think through sorting. Together she and I completed her sorting. I put all of her work in her packet, we smiled at each other, and I gave her a huge THANK YOU. I stood up and found the next little one who needed help. We sat down and went through his cards one by one. Then the next child and the next child. One beautiful little one at a time.

 Things can seem impossible sometimes. So much to be done and only one of you. Don’t let this stop you. Don’t let the belief that the mission is too big or too complicated get in your way. Get into your feet, your breath, and take one step forward. Any one action (big or small) of being there for others is powerful, so very powerful just as it is.

 Each child that was able to sit with one of us, was able to spend time being heard and seen. Each child that was able to spend time with one of us, got to see that his or her ideas about yoga and his or her ideas about life experience are important, really important.

 In the state of being overwhelmed, we sometimes lose sight of the power of our tiny steps in toward what is needed.

 The day ended with Dance Your Yoga. We LOVED it. Billy was wonderful, fun, and inspiring. It was also a fantastic workout. I have not done any African dancing in years and it felt amazing in  my body. We are back in our room now after a late Gracia Garden’s dinner. The materials are ready for tomorrow.

 Tomorrow– I will be heading out to do my research– one starfish at a time.

 I am thankful today for Candice Cinquino and her Yoga Jam efforts. She raised $5,000 of the money that we needed to get her during her YOGA JAM Buffalo. Thank you  Candice!

 I miss Chloe and Maya.

 Namaste!

 Catherine