I recently heard this interview with Gabor Mate on CBC radio. It aired April 11 2008 and can be heard for a month if you follow the link from this page.
Dr. Mate talks very eloquently and sincerely about our addictive culture and how we can respond with compassion and also take action; for ourselves and each other.
Much of my yoga practice in the last few years has consisted of (trying) to be a mindful parent to two less and less helpless human beings. This has been more challenging than any asana but often requires using the same “tools”. Tools like breath, strength, flexibility and sense of humor.
I recently attended a seminar that has really helped in this endeavor , put on by Alfie Kohn. His most recent book is called “Unconditional Parenting”. Simply put, I am thinking more and more about the difference between controlling your children (to make sure you look good to other adults) and actually parenting your children, which seems to involve a lot of “effortless effort”.
One thing that is interesting is the concept of attention and children. I’ve found one cannot demand attention or focus. Alan Watts said, if you are told “PAY ATTENTION”, you can scrunch up your face and get hard around your ears but its like staining forward in your seat to get the plane to take off faster, it does not work. Attention is something given freely, because there is interest and curiosity.
“True attention is free from fear and cannot be forced”. This is a quote from a book called “Yoga for you and your Child” by Mark Singleton; a great book for parents. The last chapter is called “Yogis at School” and has some great mental exercises for kids. The asana chapters are also good.
sorry to be away from posting for so long!
I have been on holidays in Mexico and working hard on various projects
here are two really good links
the first is a presentation on how yoga can lead to real personal transformation and how that could change the world
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVSD35CZjp8
the second is a sweet Anusara workshop video - 10 minutes or so