Day 345 Intention ~ Keep Learning

Day 345 Intention ~ Keep Learning

There is so much going on in this world, in this life, that there is no reason to not keep learning through it all. It keeps life exciting and new and helps us from becoming stagnant. 

Besides, nobody likes a know it all anyhow!

In yoga, I am still always learning. I have been teaching for just about 4 years now, and practiced for years longer than that, but yet, I still learn something every class I take. It may not be about a pose, but often, it's something about myself. How I react to certain movements, what it brings out in my body and my mind...and, yes, no day is ever exactly the same. 

When I was in teacher training, I remember it being said at one point that as soon as you think you know it all, you know nothing. I have always tried to keep that in mind as I teach and as I take class. I think it's a great mantra for beyond the class too. 

As soon as we think we know everything, we start to close ourselves off in a way. We aren't open to new ideas, we are definitely never wrong and we slowly become all about the ego again. I, me, mine. We forget that we are all living and breathing as one, it may appear we are living separate existences, and from certain angles we are, but in the grand scope of the universe and life, we are all part of the same beating energy and breath. What I do effects you and vice versa and on and on. So, let's try to keep open. 

Breathe deep, lift your chest and your heart and open your arms to the universe and all it has to offer. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 328 Intention ~ Honor How My Body Feels Today

Day 328 Intention ~ Honor How My Body Feels Today

I say that in class all the time to students. One of the wonderful lessons of the physical yoga practice is that you learn to hear what your body is trying to tell you each time. 

You also become more aware off the mat. 

Today, I feel run down. Exhausted, physically and mentally. So, although yesterday's intention was to follow through with plans, we didn't go to the Browns game as planned. I rested by the fire, under a down blanket & dozed on and off all day long. Just what I needed. (And the game was horrific anyhow!)

So, learn to pay attention to what you physically need. We tend to push ourselves to do everything...too much...all of the time and this can not only wear us out, but can make us sick. 

Save yourself! Listen and do what your body says to do. Honor that vessel while you are here on Earth. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 268 Intention ~ Play To My Audience

Day 268 Intention ~ Play to My Audience

I have three yoga classes today. All are very different audiences. The first are at the Centers for Families and Children. Most of these students are stressed out and just need some gentle poses and breath work to find ease and relaxation. We always practice yoga nidra also to soothe them even more. 

The next group is a group of seniors that need to go a little bit more slowly and gently. I also need to be clear and talk a little bit louder. They still do many of the standing poses, but just enter into the poses a little bit differently and more gently than in a full on vinyasa flow class. They usually have more questions or things that are harder for them to do, so it's always a good lesson for me also to discover what directions and processes are the best to help them get the most out of their practice. 

Lastly, I have a class at the community center. It's an open level class and it runs in 6 week sessions. Some of the folks have been coming since I started teaching this class 3 years ago and are getting pretty advanced; this time there are also a number of new people that are new, not just to my class, but to yoga in general. Although this class is more vigorous than the other two today, we are still working on some basic poses for the newer people. 

I used to go into classes with a whole plan and if I got off of that class plan, I was thrown off completely. As time went on and I got more experience, the plan became less strict. I always have something in mind that I would like to work on, but depending who is there and their injuries or limitations, teachers need to be able to adapt to what is going to be best for their clients that day. We always want to offer a safe, maybe challenging class to our students. A class that makes them learn how to listen to their own body, to feel stronger, more flexible, relaxed, and wanting more.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 148 Intention ~ Work, Rest, Work, Rest...

Day 148 Intention ~ Work, Rest, Work, Rest...

Apparently I am pretty exhausted from all the excitement of the holiday weekend & am finding that I've needed to switch from work to rest, back to work and then rest again all day long. 

I suppose this could lead into a discussion about balance in one's life or listening to what my body is requesting, but the reality is, I have work to do, but I'm tired. Therefore, instead of work and play, today, it is work and rest...in short shifts for each. 

Sorry, but that is it for today! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 131 Intention ~ Be Okay With It

Day 131 Intention ~ Be Okay With It

I'll admit, today I am tired. Today's intention is about me being okay with having a lazy day...including in this blog. 

I often feel guilty if I am not being productive or doing something all of the time, but the reality is, it is more important to listen to what my body, mind & spirit are telling me. Today, that is to chill out.

Tomorrow, we can contemplate the niyamas and bringing them to our lives, but for this chilly evening, I am going to enjoy my family and watch a movie, snuggled on the couch. 

Namaste.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 112 Intention ~ Rest

Day 112 Intention ~ Rest.

Rest and rejuvenation are what is on the schedule for today. 

As much fun as it can be to go, go, go, it's time to listen to the body and let it recuperate after a long weekend of walking all over, camping, dancing and driving. 

Give yourself a break when you need it. Your body will be a much happier shell if you do. 

Til tomorrow...zzzzzzzzzzzz

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 101 Intention ~ Remember to listen to my body.

Day 101 Intention ~ Remember to listen to my body.

One of the great things about the physical practice of yoga is that you learn how to tune into your body. Although, I try to practice everyday and teach 15 classes a week, I still get surprised when I feel sore. Not that I practice the classes I teach, but you do find yourself getting into positions to demonstrate or in even more awkward positions to adjust students, so it's not strange that I get sore sometimes. The last few days, my left side has been so so sore...more than usual. Hip, glute, thigh, shoulder...ugh. 

So, today when I have 4 classes (5 today because of an emergency sub situation), I am listening to my body and allowing myself to rest the body as much as I can between classes. 

Just as with other exercises, you can overwork the body and cause strain. I am hoping this is all this is :)

So, listen to your body. It will tell you what it needs. Today, mine needs rest. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 76 Intention ~ Stop With the What If's

Day 76 Intention ~ Stop with the what if's

Enjoy the moment. It's Sunday and it's the perfect day to hang out with the hubby and relax. My head loves to start to take over and over think the week ahead. The what if's set in: what if no one comes to class, what if my car isn't finished, what if I can't get over this cold, what if (fill in the blank with anything that's been on your mind lately). It's ridiculous. 

There is no sense getting worked up over things we can't control. What we can control is our reaction to it. Things will happen as they are going to whether or not I spent time on my day off worrying about it. 

The mind challenges us in these scenarios just like we challenge our body on the yoga mat. We can either react or just do it. Things go way more smoothly if we just do it. Once you over think it, the mind starts to stress or the body tenses up...you lose that moment. 

So, no more what if's. Just allow things to unfold as they may. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 52 Intention ~ Get Organized

Day 52 Intention ~ Get Organized

Yogash Chittah Vritti Nirodah ~ Yoga happens when the mind chatter ceases. 

Well, for me, that means, getting things organized in my physical and mental universe. If things are messy around the house or bills are stacked up (that I've been avoiding), I have a hard time getting anything else done. Not only, do I not get work done, but the tendency is the worse it is, the less likely I am to do it. 

We have a spot on our kitchen counter, right when you walk in the side door, that everything gets piled on...and ignored. It is my least favorite place in the house. This morning, I cleared it out. Ahhhhh, then I came up here and started working. 

Trying to help un-clutter the mind helps even when we just clear up the clutter around us. Making a list and prioritizing how and what order things need to get done. This makes me feel less scattered and then I can sink in, breathe, meditate, practice yoga, and even have some fun. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Yoga Gives Me a Sense of Control

Yoga Gives Me a Sense of Control

By April

It is hard to believe that it has been almost three months since I lost the baby I so desperately wanted.
At first, I complained about having to wait three months before trying to conceive again. Now that the
time has passed, I realize that I really did need to heal physically and emotionally.

As we prepare to start trying again, I’m worried about losing another baby or it taking almost another
year before we even get pregnant. The past year has been such a roller coaster that I can’t help but
expect the worse. There are two things that have kept me sane throughout this process: writing and
practicing yoga.

Writing gives me a place to explore and discuss my concerns and fears and struggles. There aren’t many people who know or understand my miscarriage, so writing is like my free therapist.

Yoga, on the other hand, has given me control over my body. For the past year, I’ve felt like my
hormones were so out of whack. I almost didn’t even recognize myself anymore. I gained weight and
started breaking out like a teenager. Yoga keeps me from feeling helpless.

When I practice every day, I remember that while I can’t control when or if I have a baby, I can control
how I treat my body. I can make myself as healthy as possible for the child I hope to bear, and I can keep my mind calm and focused. I don’t have to feel out of control.

I don’t know what will happen in the next few months, but I know I am strong enough to handle
whatever life throws my life. Let’s just hope it’s a healthy pregnancy.