Gratitude

When things are a regular occurrence in our lives, we sometimes forget to be grateful for them. I have a daily ritual of reciting three things I am thankful for each day. It keeps me in a positive mindset and helps me to give love and peace to those in my life.

As I took a break from some of my regular activities of teaching yoga, teaching school, working out, practicing yoga, etc. I look at it now as I return to my schedule and am grateful for the students in yoga and at school and all they brought to my life. I have missed the pieces of knowledge they brought into my heart each day. I am grateful for the ability to move my body and experience it as it slowly finds its old range of motion and the spirit once again searches for peace.

It is easy to remember to be grateful for the big things in life, for material things and for irregular occurrences in life, but to remember to be grateful for the everyday people and the regular routine happenings is truly where grace and happiness begin.

Just Be

I just saw a onsie with this labeled on the front of it. It reminded me how becoming a mother has been a lesson in yoga itself. My darling daughter started as a lesson in patience. Those that know me, understand that I am a planner. I plan to no end, and I am always looking ahead. To begin...my daughter, Kaya, was a lesson in patience for her conception. My husband and I tried for almost a year to make this beautiful spirit. It was a long 9 months, teaching me to "just be" in my practice everyday, and not to worry about what I used to be able to do and what I wished I could do. I learned through practice, that each day brought my body, mind and spirit to a place that it could be at that given time.As my husband and I anticipated labor to begin, Kaya, again taught me patience. She was in the womb for 41 weeks and 3 days. Although, hoping for a natural birth, we finally had to listen to the doctor and what was best at the time and we were induced. Again, my plan had gone awry. I was taught quickly, to be able to live in the moment and accept the conditions I had been handed. After a long labor and pushing, we again were taught a lesson in living in the present. We went in for a C-section. I at this point had learned my lesson that Kaya was sent to each me...I just let go and tried to "just be."

Now as I enjoy motherhood, I have learned to slow down and enjoy each moment for what it is. I don't always get to my destination in the time I want to get there, but I get there eventually. My to do list doesn't get done in the timeline I had planned, but eventually I get things done. I don't always know what is about to happen any longer, because my schedule revolves around Kaya, but as things arise, I accept them and I respond to the moment.

So, although yoga teaches us these lessons, sometimes outside forces in our life seek to also teach us to be good yogis. Kaya is my outside force teaching me day by day to live day to day, and no longer plan to far into the future, but yet to be grateful for each given moment, where I am and how I am at that time and "just be."

Intention

I recently attended a workshop on Attunement. I was very interested in this through my experiences with my prenatal massage therapist. It seems like a whole new practice, just as when I first came to yoga. I cannot wrap my mind around the entire practice of attunement, but I can take with me what I can comprehend and continue to learn and build from there.

I walked away with the reminder to stay ever present in my heart. To allow my heart to guide me in all paths. When I speak with or touch another person, do it with intention from the heart. Be focused on the person I am interacting with in my life at the time. Calm the vrittis, and vibrations of the mind, and lead from the heart. With a calm mind, sense the energy around myself and in some cases the energy that surrounds others.

I spent today trying to stay present in my conversations, heart-led, and acting through intentions of the heart. Transferring the love I feel in my heart out into the world and into others.

We learn together

I have found that as I teach, my students and I take a similar journey. When I take from my favorite teachers, I see the lessons that I gleaned from my practice resurface in the sequences I put together. I think primarily, this comes from my teacher, at one point telling me, to always teach the poses you personally are working with. In my case, this was my splits and handstands and backbends. I am noticing, even lessons in mindfulness and reverence of my body and mind are being reflected in how I teach others.

Thank you to each of my dedicated yogis for joining me on this wonderful journey of our practice. Learning together is so much more fun than learning alone.

Remember ...

I remembered tonight how much I enjoyed watching basketball. Remember the things you really loved doing, before life got busy? I was honored to attend teacher appreciation night at the request of a student that had selected me as a teacher that influenced him. I intended to stay just half the game and watch him play, then to get home and to bed early. As the game began, my students played his heart out, our team played hard and it was a one point game. I found I could not leave and all of a sudden, the simple enjoyment of sitting (which is very hard for me to do) and watching a basketball game came back to me. I did not want to be anywhere else, but sitting and cheering on our school team.I can't remember doing that since I was a college student at KU.

Isn't it funny, how as we grow up, life takes us over? It is easy to forget those simple pleasures we used to make time to do. I encourage you to do one thing you used to love this week. Enjoy the simplicity of life and smile while doing it!

Community

"As the world community develops in peace, 

it will open great untapped reservoirs in human nature."

~Emily Greene Balch~

Tonight at my 6:30 class people filtered into studio B. We fit 24 people, plus me! Some people do not love to be that close to someone else, when they practice, but my 6:30 class embraced the community around them. People moved mats around, and helped construct ideas on how to allow everyone enough room to practice. As a teacher, it is beautiful to see so many people practicing together. The energy is outstanding through chanting, breathing, movement, stillness, with that many people the true community of yoga exists.

I encourage you all to continue your dedication to your practice during this busy month of resolutions. Draw from other people's positive energy, and thrive in the encouraging community around you. Find gratitude for the energy people bring into your life.

LOKAH SAMASTA SUKHINO BHAVANTU
May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.

Meditate and Breathe

I attended the first of a three month series of Meditation and Pranayama instruction. What a great thing to sit and breathe and train mind to meditate. I am hoping I am able to do this on my own several times a week. The Sunday night class will hopefully act as my catapult into the week. A few years ago, when I first became interested in meditation, I thought it was something I would truly need to learn to do. I thought I needed specific instruction. I did get some, but I realized that meditating is the act of going beyond your thoughts. In order to do this, one needs to just sit and be still. Eyes can be open or closed, meditation can be focused or not. Meditation was not as hard as I had expected it to be. Pranayama instruction has truly helped my personal practice. I breath more purposefully during my practice, and I breathe with purpose during my day. I take frequent breaks to breathe during those times of day when we find ourselves waiting: Stoplights, doctor offices, passing periods at school. I make a point to breathe and reset my mind throughout the day.

I have downloaded an app on my phone for meditation. I have not found a great app for pranayama yet, so if you find one, please post it! Meditation Oasis: http://www.meditationoasis.com/ .

Join me in meditation and breathing! The class is open to anyone each week. If you add regular practice to your life, post how it changes your yoga practice and your life!

The Power of Intention

A big thank you to Sumya Anani for the beautiful chakra based class this afternoon. I attended the "Harnessing the Power of Intention" workshop at Darling Yoga today and left with an open heart and positive perspective on 2011. She led us through the chakras by alternating asanas, journaling and meditations. She gave affirmations for each chakra as well. I realized after journaling for all seven chakras, I would like show, express and cultivate more appreciation for those closest to me, appreciation in the roles of my profession, and appreciation through my yoga practice. I would like to express myself with more compassion in my strive to achieve my highest purpose in life. After two and a half hours of chakra focus, compassion, appreciation and regular yoga practice and meditation all were apparent in each of my seven writings. I was able to leave with a new focus for the year of 2011.

Here is a brief summary of my chakra journey in my practice today. I encourage you to journal your thoughts on each chakra focus and select a few affirmations to support you in the new year!

What are Chakras? Chakras are the sacred centers within that carry us on our journey toward greater awareness and aliveness.

7 Chakra Affirmation: "As I connect to my source of creativity, I discover my divine will to love and express a higher vision for my life in union with all life."

Root Chakra -Focus on the Foundation and Grounding to our life.

1. What can you do to create balance in your relationships?
   
2. What are actions you can take in thought or action to stay balanced in your finances?
3. What experiences have you had that you have felt highly connected to yourself?
   

Affirmations:

• I love my body and trust its wisdom
• I am exactly where I need to be

Sacral Chakra: Focus on Creativity

1. How do you express your creativity?
2. In what ways do you allow yourself to experience pleasure?

Affirmations:

• I am the creator of my life
• I am overflowing with the inner power of creation
• I trust myself to follow my dreams

Solar Plexus Chakra: Focus on Ambition and Divine Will

1. What limits and fears are present in your life and what can you replace those limits and fears with?
2. When in your life do you feel the most empowered?
3. What is a positive attribute others tend to notice in you?

Affirmations:

• I honor the power within me
• My enthusiasm empowers me to achieve great things
• I love discovering and suing my creative talents and abilities

Heart Chakra: Focus on Compassion and Love

1. How do you show love?
2. In what areas of your life can you develop unconditional love?

Affirmations:

• I am worthy of love
• I love and forgive everyone, including myself
• I live in balance with others
• Everyone is a link in a golden chain of my good

Throat Chakra: Focus on Authentic Expression

1. What prevents you from effective communication?
2. How do you express your desires and passions?

Affirmations:

• I develop my spiritual voice for good
• I communicate with wisdom, love and empathy
• I express my beliefs, creativity, and emotional needs openly with love

Third Eye Chakra: Focus on clarity of vision

1. What is your vision for your life?
2. Do you listen to your intuition?
3. What helps you to focus your mind?

Affirmations:

• I have a clear view of my life purpose
• I am blessed with a vivid yet disciplined imagination
• I am creative and highly intuitive

Crown Chakra: Focus on spiritual potential

1. What activities fuel your connection with something larger than yourself?
2. What are ways in which you nurture your spirit?

Affirmations:

• I will awaken my spiritual potential
• I receive guidance from higher sources
• I celebrate the beauty of all forms of life. We are one.