EZ 2B Anti

Every day we hear of people who are doing "good." They dedicate their lives to a passionate, bitter fight against this world's evils. This is a wonderful thing... or is it? It's truly a small issue of our own motivation that determines whether our paths as activists are sustainable.


When we direct our energy towards fighting against something, no matter how wrong we perceive it to be, we're draining ourselves. We're maintaining a negative focus. We see the world as "us vs. them", as full of evil, or as something that needs to be fixed. We risk becoming immersed in this negative worldview and our reaction against this perceived evil becomes the driving force behind our actions. We become overwhelmed by the mounting injustices that we struggle against and we burn out.


As hard as the negative and unjust can be to ignore, a shift in perspective can greatly improve our motivation to bring about change. Do things FOR others. Instead of fighting against the oppressor, be the voice of the oppressed. Share your gifts and see the changes that come about in the lives of those who are touched. We cannot help everyone in the ways we envision, but those that we do help are forever changed and that change affects us all. A shift in the global attitude starts with one individual. Perform your service for the good of all, without attachment or desire, and see how your flame burns brighter as a result.


Though it may not appear that way, everything is already perfect. The wheels of karma are spinning and things are playing themselves out exactly as they should be in order to balance out all deeds from the past. Your karma may or may not be to make great changes in the lives of others in the way you've imagined, but continue on your righteous path knowing that your thoughts, attitude, and actions influence change all around you in ways that are both subtle and monumental.


“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” Dalai Lama XIV

Going Beyond the Pets

So, I occasionally teach Doga classes. Yep, yoga for you and your dog. I will write more at another time about how goofy I think this concept sounds and how actually non-goofy I think it is in practice. I mean, how much time do we spend around our dogs without REALLY noticing them? How much time do we spend like that with other people for that matter? There is something to be said about taking 30 minutes and sitting down and giving your full attention to your dog. They are loving, devoted, honest friends and we should feel fortunate to have them and we should tell them as much in a language that they understand. Doga is a great option.

Somehow, people have come to know that I teach Doga and I get requests from time to time to teach at special events and fundraisers for pet rescues. The whole Doga thing started in the first place when my friends at One Tail at a Time rescue asked if I could come up with a Doga class as a fundraiser. I figured that I was already doing plenty of yoga with dogs around in my own home that I might as well learn to invite them into a few poses. It was a success and now the requests come in from all over the city.

One request last year was for an event in a city park. It was a dog-themed event with dog-themed vendors, rescues, and more. All of them in some way touting the benefits of a healthy relationship between you and your pet. While I taught at this event, to my left was a tent cooking and selling bar-b-qued animals. So here I am trying to encourage people to connect with the animal at the other end of the leash (which was one of the goals of the whole event, responsible pet care) while this tent is serving up the cooked flesh of animals that are not all that different than the dogs we're there to celebrate. Another Doga event I was invited to teach, which I turned down, was for a monthly class followed by a social bar-b-que. Connect with this animal as your trusted friend and devoted companion, but butcher another and call them dinner? Where is the disconnect, my friends?

Yoga teaches that all beings have a divine spark. A part of them that is exactly the same as any other being. Yoga practice leads us to a place where we can discover that spark in ourselves and eventually, in everyone else (including our pets, animals formerly knowns as "food", and insects). The ethical rules of yoga become easy to follow when we look at others and see ourselves or our loved ones. When I look the expressions and behaviors of a cow or a pig or a sheep, I see my beloved dogs and cats. I see animals that want and deserve compassion and dignity. They do not deserve to exist as nothing more than a commodity. As Sri Dharma says, our compassion must extend "beyond the pets." This practice is yoga.

(Photos by Alyse at Out-U-Go Chicago and my partner, Dan.)

Introduction

I am Nicole Sopko, a yoga student who is always learning and a yoga teacher who is eager to do what I can to enable others towards the goal of yoga. I have been practicing yoga since sometime in 2003 when I joined a gym and popped in to my first class. Having never been an "athlete" of any kind, I was somewhat surprised how at home I felt in the yoga postures. Over time, the passion for practice grew and I attended a 200 hour teacher training with the intention of learning as much as I could about yoga. What I learned, was that despite being formerly terrified of speaking in front of groups of people, this yoga stuff was just too good to keep to myself! So, I began teaching at the studio where I did my training as well as a few gyms. After my training, I continued to explore the world of yoga taking workshops with respected teachers and reading many many books on the subject in an effort to figure out the deeper part of the practice that I could sense, but could not yet access.

At some point shortly after becoming a "yoga teacher," I ventured to New York City to check out a real teacher there by the name of Dharma Mittra. I didn't know at the time how it would change my life, but that first class was mind blowing. Dharma was speaking what appeared to me to be the clear truth, backed up by his many years of practice. I felt transformed. I would spend years traveling to NY as I was able in order to study with Dharma. I would get on the train/plane/automobile with a mind full of questions, but as soon as I was seated in front of the teacher, all of the questions disappeared. I was always at perfect peace in Dharma's presence.

Some time later, I enrolled in and attended Dharma's 500 hour teacher training, which was the best choice I could have made, especially at that time in my life. Through Dharma's generous teachings, I have learned much about yoga and most importantly, have learned the critical importance of living yoga as daily life. There should be no interruption between the attitude on the mat and off. Yoga gives us the ability to sit quietly and find opportunity for deep reflection, which can answer all of our questions and quell our doubts, giving way to a more peaceful mind and a more compassionate existence.

This blog is a place to attempt to share experiences that touch me and yogic teachings as I understand them. I humbly offer the fruits of this labor to you, whoever you are, and to the divine spark inside of all of us who I hope will guide this project as it progresses.

Doga Fundraiser for One Tail at a Time

You may know that I share my life with rescued dogs and cats. Pets are such an important part of our families and our lives and it's really necessary to take the opportunity to bond with our furry best friends. Even better that we could donate the proceeds from this class to One Tail at a Time rescue!

Thanks so much to Yoga Tree for donating the space to hold class, to the ladies from Fido To Go (Chicago's Premiere Gormutt dog food truck) for stopping by with treats afterwards, and to Heather at One Tail at a Time for bringing it all together! Love to all of you!

Vegan Cooking & Yoga Retreat

What a wonderful time we had on retreat at the beautiful Stronghold Retreat Center in Oregon, IL held from Friday May 20 through Sunday May 22, 2011! Despite the prediction of storms, the weather was perfect and our diverse group of both the yoga- and vegan-curious assembled for a weekend of fun, connection, and delicious vegan food! It was a wonderful time with a great balance of free time and activity with lots of opportunities to ask questions about cooking, yoga, and more. Many wonderful connections were made and I hope to see you all again in the future! This retreat could not have been possible without the dedication of my fellow retreat hostess, Chef Kim Gracen, of the world-famous Chicago Diner. I hope that we can do it again sometime! (See more photos on Facebook!)

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your inspiring talk during the retreat.... linking yoga with veganism! You did this in such a sweet, gentle way... I know everyone agreed with your approach and loved it! It was a Treat of a Lifetime to be there!" - Tina C.

Yoga for Students at OPRFHS

One of my regular yoga students, who is a high-school teacher, kindly invited me to give a yoga demonstration and class to the World Cultures class at Oak Park River Forest High School. Having almost no experience with teaching a classroom full of teenage boys (which this class mostly consisted of), I as unsure about how the day would go and was actually pretty nervous. In the end, we all got along great and had a great time, even doing a partner pose together without too much resistance!

Before Savasana (final resting pose), I advised the students that this would be the most difficult pose, as it requires complete surrender of the body and the mind. After a fully silent 5 minutes, we released the pose and the difference in the students (and the surprise of their teachers) was evident! What a fun group! Thanks so much to Marci for giving me the opportunity to come out and share yoga with the students!

Doga at Dog Day on the Green

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I had the opportunity to share the practice and teachings of yoga with the attendees of Dog Day on the Green, a yearly event sponsored by the Chicago City Clerk's office. The event was a huge success and was a great time for both dogs and their human caregivers alike! The event works well to promote responsible pet-ownership as well as rescue, which is a cause that is close to my heart as my own beloved mix dogs (as well as the resident cats) are all rescued.

Our Doga class was near the beginning of the day and was immediately followed by a great Q&A with members of Safe Humane Chicago as well as John Garcia from Best Friends' Dog Town in Utah (pictured)! It was such a treat to be surrounded by inspiring, dog-friendly folks and hope to seize the opportunity to get involved with even more positive volunteer activities in the future. I also hope to continue to offer regular Doga classes as an opportunity for you to reconnect with your canine companion and to offer you both some coveted one-on-one time!