Interactive Monologues

Adjustment

hello@cjr.agency (Claudia J. Rondon) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 09:28:00 +0000

Let’s play a game, shall we?

There is a finger on the shot - actually there are at least ten. The subject is against the sun, the ocean looks over exposed. Easy to simply state: this is a bad photo.

But how can we work with it?

Is the moment memorable? What’s the story behind the capture? Does it inspire any kind of thought?

Being critical and analytical takes practice.

Likewise, being able to see being flaw to work with what shows up to us is also a helpful skill to master.

We are so wired to look at what does not work and this creates a dark veil which prevents us from seeing what can actually work. And how does this inflexible way of seeing beyond impact our creative thinking?

It is easy to meditate far away up in the mountains somewhere. But can one do that amidst the chaos of traffic and or an argument with an infuriated loved one spitting wasps?

The ability to practice patience and creativity to see solutions can only happen when we can look beyond the problem.

The same happens with the body as it adjusts itself in postures.

In warrior two not only squatting down helps place the thighs in the right angle. Imagining that there is a string that pulls up and from the pelvic floor up to our head helps position hips and glutes and spread toes on the ground to maintain not just balance but also engagement of the inner seams of the legs. This sustains the posture, positions the hips with the right opening and protects all joints involved.

But if the focus is only on squatting to solve the “problem” of adjusting the thighs to being parallel to the floor, then knees can get overloaded, for example.

When we look at adjusting postures and adjusting to different situations in life also from a systemic perspective, it can become easier not to take certain unwanted situations personal. It can help with making it easier to understand that there are ways to adjust in another sphere which can positively influence an outcome which may look problematic and at first unrelated.

A note on purpose and priority

hello@cjr.agency (Claudia J. Rondon) — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 02:52:00 +0000

Sometimes certain moments in life can feel like trying to ride a bicycle on fluffy sand. I mean, it might work for some. Spinning wheels and skidding. Having fun along the way playing with resistance and a challenging not ideal environment. You kind of have to focus on the grip and get over the fact that the ride is not gonna be smooth, neither fast, nor happen on a straight line and that you just kind of have to let the bike move under you as you ensure you keep a firm grip. Tough? It might look good in the photos though. But not as fun as it seems.

I enjoy figure skating. I love water. On all forms. I enjoy gliding. The way I move through on the keyboard, in conversations, swiftly, lightly and with grace.

I enjoy flowing. I enjoy continuity and endurance. I don’t want to navigate difficult terrains.

However, though, the stones, gravels and sand along the way do have their place. If anything they confirm to us what we prefer in our lives and they also allow us to rethink our purpose and priority in the first place. For example, “if future purpose connects with present priority” instead of putting to much energy lamenting the uneven surface, we are better off just looking the other way. And like Julia Cameron in the Artist’s Way would say, so we can let our art fulfill its purpose, we gotta make the decision to stop live in a constant way of dodging what we don’t want and start directing ourselves towards what we want. What’s your best motivation quote at the moment? With thanks to @brasilfitaus for supporting my yoga journey. News soon. Discount code CR15, 15% off.

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Compassion and boundaries: how can yoga help with that?

hello@cjr.agency (Claudia J. Rondon) — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 03:08:00 +0000

Yoga means union. And to me, my yoga practice has been about integrating philosophy and behaviour. One of my favourite writers since I have discovered her in 2011 has been Brene Brown. I have read three of her books (Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly and Rising Strong). And I love what she says about how compassion and boundaries go hand in hand. People who are very compassionate, according to Brene Brown, are people who are very clear on their own personal boundaries - which therefore equip them to mirror that in the way they act towards others.

How we work, how we relate to our work, our discipline or lack of it. Our commitment or over commitment to our practises in general. These all says a lot about how we are establishing and committing to our boundaries. When I am on my matt practising my asanas and I set my intentions, what I am ultimately doing I feel is experimenting with those boundaries. I have started practising yoga in 2015 looking to improve my flexibility. But what I realised, was that what I probably needed to improve was my relationship with resistance. On a physical and practical level, when we are working on a posture that requires lengthening of our muscles, it is not flexibility that makes that posture safe and well-executed. It often is the balance between the right amount of lengthening and resistance (which I will translate into muscle engagement) which will then protect the joints, give the posture a base and allow the actual lengthening - or flexibility per se - to happen. In other words, when we understand the limits of our body and we are comfortable with them, we then know how to expand and extend that limit in a safe way. When we don't, we either hold on too tight or we don't let it go enough - which in both cases can lead to injury or /and not the best performance in the physical achievement that one is trying to reach. When we practise our postures with compassion towards ourselves - on a physical and emotional levels - and we can listen to our limitations with no judgement but discernment, this is when we can then create space for that posture to evolve. And in other situations in life, for that matter, it is also when we understand our own boundaries and we look at them with kindness so we don't over stretch, this is when we are able to offer the same quality of behaviours to those around us. And like the yoga practice that gives back to us exactly the same amount of effort or love that we put in it. Others can also respond similarly and proportionally to the same amount of loving kindness and compassion that we give them. When we believe that we are doing the best we can - whatever our personal best means at a given time - we make room to believing also that everyone else is doing the same. If you wish to explore this topic a bit more, I recommend watching the video "Are people doing the best they can" by Russell Brand and Brene Brown.

What is Cheeky Tunes Friday Happy Hour and what does Interactive Monologues have to do with it?

hello@cjr.agency (Claudia J. Rondon) — Fri, 01 May 2020 05:16:00 +0000

In times of isolation, staying motivated can be a challenge for many.

Yoga is for me - and for many I know - a practice that allows us to work on our body, mind and spirit.

And there are no excuses for not practising. We can always make it happen. And there are some amazing lessons available online.

Like Paramahansa Yogananda would say "“Music that is saturated with soul force is the real universal music, understandable by all hearts.”

So I paired up with other beautiful souls from Perth - Nikki Dagostino and Fiona Cooper - so together we can lift each other's moods and share all this joy with whoever wants to be part of it.

And although on my own I will do some mantra chanting, I love all kinds and genres of music and sharing this experience brings joy to my heart.

Click here to join via Zoom.

How did Cheeky Tunes come about?

Cheeky Tunes Friday Happy Hour via Zoom Live Streaming on Facebook is an independent initiative from three friends with a few common objectives: supporting positive moods, performing arts and small businesses during the COVID19 Crisis - Quarantine.

Nikki Dagostino is an accordionist and pianist, known as Little Miss Squeezebox, and a dear entertainer very well-known in Perth and across the music industry in Australia. When the Quarantine was announced, much like many musicians and performers world wide, Nikki had to all her events cancelled. As a full time musician, the shock was described to her friend Claudia J. Rondon - founder of newly born brand Sweet Cheeks Wear, who still works as an integrated producer and strategist and who is a hobbyist musician. Claudia then had the idea to join efforts together in a co-creation that would not just be a really good outlet to allow the creative juices to keep flowing and in supporting music - which we all love - the initiative of this interactive live show online could then allow music to also give us the support we all need right now to stay physically distant but stay socially and emotionally connected in the right vibe.

Nikki invited another friend who has also been working in the creative and online space to join and participate - Fiona Cooper, former ABC Radio host, experienced singer, MC and presenter.

Cheeky Tunes happens every Friday at 6:30pm (AWST) and 8:30pm (AEST) presented by Fiona Cooper, Claudia J. Rondon (founder of Sweet Cheeks Wear) and Nikki Dagostino (Little Miss Squeezebox). Featuring special guests from different industries, small businesses and musicians.

Missed any episodes? Follow Interactive Monologues You Tube Channel for updates on this live cast and more.

How to deal with hypercommunication? - Interactive Monologues - 01

hello@cjr.agency (Claudia J. Rondon) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 04:56:00 +0000

The world has gone full circle. Now everything is more digital than ever.
In this podcast we will discuss a few key basics on communication online and how to keep the "dialogue" healthy instead of simply having "an interactive monologue".
We all have different ways of communicating.
Especially now that everyone has turned to the digital environment for everything, some people may prefer quiet. Other people may prefer to talk through all channels.
If you are the quieter one being "bugged" by a little "chatterbox", here is a new perspective which may assist you in better understanding one's need to communicate.
Listen on Spotify

How can you give wings to your thoughts?

hello@cjr.agency (Claudia J. Rondon) — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 09:14:00 +0000

Breathe yourself up and into the pose, lift your heart, your mind, lift your mood, let the thoughts run past and let the dreams take off and manifest. Just fly! #dekasana #airplanepose #yoga #yogalifestyle #appreciation #imagination #creativity #selfdevelopment #love #lovehealsall #health #mindbodysoul #mindfulness #sunset #ocean #beautiful #moon #tbh #northernbeaches

How can you find balance in your own beat?

hello@cjr.agency (Claudia J. Rondon) — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 09:08:00 +0000

Namibian desert

For a while I have pondered about this pose. Although there are quite a number meanings attributed to it, mostly when you look closer into the mythological or spiritual meaning of it. I enjoy freely interpreting symbolisms and stories and applying them to my own logic and state of mind at the time.
As the saying goes, "practise makes perfect". But does it? Practise to me makes habit. If that will become the epitome of perfection or whether that will bring you the satisfaction you are looking for in that exercise, that is another story.

Here are three ideas for your own meditation when you practise dancers pose

1- Find your own rhythm

This pose is not about pulling your leg with your arm. Or maybe if for you it is, maybe if you start thinking lifting first and kicking your leg by activating you foot, you might find your expression of the pose will evolve more fluidly.

2- What grounds you is what balances you when up in the air

If you your padas, or your feet and hands balance you when you have the four of them on the ground, the same principle applies when you have them up in the air. The old saying "tight is light" I have found as being one the easiest cues to relate. So engage both your arms. Engage both your legs in what they are doing.

3- Imagine and visualize- it might help you get there

As with many things in life, it's not about the pose itself but how we get there. The process is what teaches us. The final destination is as rewarding as the journey to finally reaching it. Many people practise this pose with straps. But even if you don't have nor like one, by concentrating on the pose and visualizing it as achieving it you are helping yourself in practising that feeling.

How are you nurturing your wild self?

hello@cjr.agency (Claudia J. Rondon) — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 08:16:00 +0000

Ever since I have started taking my yoga practise more seriously, I have realised the more I give to it, the more fun it becomes.

Each #savasana or #corpsepose, a practise which to me symbolically means the death of old habits and possibility of rebirth to new ones, I rise inspired by a number of insights.

Here are a few thoughts on that may inspire you in your practise of a very expressive pose I really enjoy: #Camarkarasana or #wildthing

1- Instead of thinking stretch, think lift and lengthen

to me, it is clear that creativity cannot be found when it is chased. You can only but try to place yourself in that state of mind, time and site where you can encounter it.

2- Connect with your yin

I find this specially true for female adventurers like me. “The old one, and this reminds me of a quote from “Women who runs with wolves”: “the old one, the One who knows, is within us. She thrives in the deepest soul-Psyche of women, the ancient and vital Self. Her home is that place in time where the spirit of women and the spirit of wolf meet- the place where the mind and instincts mingle, where a woman’s deep life funds her mundane life. It is the point where the I and the Thou kiss, the place where, in all spirit, women rub with the wolves.”

3- Remember: balance comes from strengthening on one end and letting go on the other

How are you nurturing your wild self and moving away from that and those who weaken you and towards the practices and mindsets that strengthen you?

When you are holding yourself on the pose, I find it very helpful when I shift my thinking into forcing the stretch and actually start putting my effort into activating the muscles. Instead of putting your thought on stretching neck, chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps, upper back, hamstrings and psoas; perhaps - as you focus on your breath, try pressing your padas (hands and foot) on the ground. This simple act will activate the muscles of your upper arm, for example, and as a self regulating balance, your body will automatically respond with releasing the other muscles.

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