You walk into the classroom and gently touch one of the hammocks. The room is bright and welcoming, and you're a mix of emotions - nervous, excited, curious. You choose your place and follow the teacher's instructions to make sure your hammock is the right height. Your neighbor asks if it's your first class - in response to your nod she says "ooh exciting! I was here last week, it's so fun!" and gives you a bright smile.
You learn to sit in the hammock, swinging gently a few feet off the floor. It's not unlike being on a swing and you feel a little more calm as you close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. You choose to be courageous today - to go where the practice will take you and hope you don't fall on your head.
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It's that time of year. As we wrap up work, do our holiday shopping, and enjoy the endless treats of the season, we can't help but think about what the New Year will bring. For some, it's about making resolutions - more of this, less of that. Setting targets, goals, and even adding things to our (seemingly never ending) to-do lists.
What if we slowed down for just a moment? To savor mugs of hot apple cider and enjoy evenings filled with laughter, family, and friends. This week, I set aside little time to plan for my Winter Wellness Week and Spring into Wellness Program as well as set some powerful intentions for the New Year. After all, its the last week before many of us head out of town and things need to get done! But with the plans set and laptops closed, I invite you to join me in fully focusing on friends and family, celebration and relaxation. Take the final hours of this week to plan, design, report, and set some goals for your New Year. And after that, choose to live in the moment. Enjoy the Christmas lights around your neighborhood, find a cozy spot to curl up and celebrate these final darkest days of the year, and spread joy with your friends and family. I wish you the best and most beautiful holiday season yet! I wasn't sure what to expect when I started practicing yoga. A friend of mine was enrolled in a teacher training program in New York and offered to teach me as she worked on her certification. We practiced together in her apartment and I found it to be a nice way to move and stretch my body.
Later that fall, I accompanied her to a Jivamukti "open level" class in the city. I spent at least half of the class trying to catch my breath in child's pose while those around me jumped back through vinyasas, breathed gracefully as they balanced on their hands, and stood on their heads with ease. Even though I was sore for about 4 days after the class, my mind was more relaxed - I had found a bit of calm amidst the chaos (of the city AND my brain). I realized there was more to this practice than I had originally thought. After years of being a student, I took the leap to become a yoga teacher. We delved into studying the sutras, yogic philosophy, and the science that supported the extensive health claims of the asana and pranayama practices. I knew the effect my daily practice was having on my own body, sense of being in the world, and treatment toward myself and others, but putting it into a scientific context helped me to understand more deeply exactly how transformative yoga can be. A friend sent me this article written by a neuroscientist that reminded me of my own yoga journey - re-training my body and my brain to find calm amidst the chaos. I'll be focusing on this theme in my class from 6:00-7:20pm this evening at The Yoga Fusion Studio - I hope you'll join me! On this sunny Friday choose to change your perspective. Instead of defining your life by what has happened to you, choose what you want to become and move confidently in the direction of your dreams!
Happy Friday!
It's my pleasure to announce a special summer discount on my 3-month and 6-month personalized holistic health programs. Until July 31st, 2013 I am offering 20% discount to support you in reaching your health and wellness goals. Throughout the program, I'll guide you to make sustainable changes to improve your diet, decrease stress, increase energy, and reduce your risk of disease. You'll set and reach goals to create the life that you've always wanted - living your passions, feeling great in your body, and finding happiness and balance. My programs are available in-person in the DC Metro area or virtually (via phone or Skype) to anyone in the world. The promotion includes the Beautiful, Balanced Bride program - supporting women to stay calm and balanced through the wedding planning process and establishing healthy habits that will last throughout their marriage. To redeem this offer, you must schedule your free initial consultation and sign a program agreement by July 31, 2013. I only work with a limited amount of clients at a time, so please contact me today to redeem this special offer! It's the longest day of the year! Well, in the Northern Hemisphere anyway. The summer solstice is a time to celebrate the light in our lives. And what better way to celebrate than trying something new? Do you notice in summertime how everything seems promising? The plants are in full bloom and the sun feels glorious on your skin. The longer days give you boundless energy, making you feel like it’s possible to achieve all your desires and dreams. Why not harness this energy, ride the wave of summer and try something new? “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ~ Viktor E. Frankl Today, explore that space.
So many of our responses have turned into reactions and these immediate replies to difficulty often leave us feeling out of control. Next time you receive a stimulus - an email, a comment, a difficult situation - see if you can find that space just before you react out of habit. Breathe. Hold on to that space just a little longer and make your response a choice instead of a reaction. Explore your freedom to choose how you react and notice its effect on your day. We'll be playing with this theme tonight at The Yoga Fusion Studio in the 6pm open flow class - hope to see you there! |
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