Day 51 Intention ~ To Smile at the People I Meet

Day 51 Intention ~ To Smile at the People I Meet Today

Pretty simple and pretty easy to do. My goal today is to just smile and be friendly to those I meet up with today. It could just make someone's day, who knows! It may cause a chain reaction of people smiling and being courteous and friendly to one another. Isn't that a nice way to live! 

In my yoga classes, I try to smile and laugh and put people at ease, so they feel more relaxed and calm and usually more willing to try poses they may not have been willing to try. Today was no different. I have a student who used to practice all the time, but has recently discovered that she has rheumatoid arthritis and things that she used to do, are much more difficult now, if she can even do them. But, she smiles and breathes and does what she can. I applaud her for that, and I am glad that she feels at ease in my class to know that that is okay. 

I even tried this smiling at the BMV today. And guess what, the woman behind the counter helping me, at first, wasn't looking at me, but then she yawned, and I smiled and cracked a joke. From then on out, she was as attentive and friendly as can be. Interesting. 

I am going to keep this going for the rest of the day, and try to do it everyday. We are all connected, so why not give a warm smile to someone who may look like they need it. You may just make their day! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Fear = Transition

I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong - Benjamin Franklin

The biggest fear that ruins life is that our dreams will end in failure. We move away from scary situations, clinging onto comfort and the illusion of stability instead of reaching for our dreams assuming that bravery is lined with ease, but not understanding that failure is just a lesson brought on to teach us what we are truly capable of.

The only true way to fail is to give up completely - if you have a dream or a goal and you keep working towards it, one day you will reach that goal. It may take hours, it may take years - but nothing worth having has ever been easy to obtain.

Bravery is pushing past your fears, it is to keep moving even when you're afraid. Strength is knowing that our imagination holds the trailers to our future and this moment is the future we were worried about yesterday.

AUM VAKRATUNDAYA HUM - Ganesha Purana

It is said if you repeat this mantra 1008 times it will bring you strength and healing. It will help when things aren't working either on a personal or universal level. Locally or internationally, this mantra - and Ganesha - is here for you when our minds drift off to bad places; become negative; depressed; or we feel simply discouraged by every day life. Turning towards Ganesha will help you move back to the brighter path in your life.

Abhaya "Fearless" & Varada "Giving or Welcome" Mudras

Abhaya "Fearless" symbolized protection, peace and dispelling fear. The Right hand is held at shoulder height with your palm facing outward. "I come in peace" it is a gesture that shows the hand is empty of weapons and a sign of friendship and peace.

According to Buddhist History, the Buddha made this gesture right after receiving enlightenment.

Varada "Giving" or "Welcome" mudra symbolises charity and compassion. It is the mudra of accomplishment of the wish to devote oneself to Human Salvation. Almost always made with the left hand, it can be made with the arm hanging neutral or your palm sitting up and open on your knee.

The five fingers symbolize: Generosity, Morality, Patience, Effort and Meditative Concentration. This mudra is rarely used alone.

Crow - "Bakasana"

Crow, or Bakasana, helps to strengthen wrist, forearms, and abdomen. It improves your balance - yet crow can be a rather scary pose. Balancing all of your weight onto your two hands, with your face inches away from the floor can feel daunting and like a recipe for disaster - but crow teaches us how to let go, to be free and to fly. When you are properly aligned there is nothing to fear.

Place your hands on your mat, this is your foundation. Fingers wide and creases of your writs facing forward, walk your knees onto your upper arms - but before you begin to lift your legs be sure that your arms are aligned above your writs and that you are engaging your core. Then try to lift one foot at a time, taking your gaze forward and then organically moving into the pose.

Fear is the moment we realize that what we want is worth being brave for, and it is the moment we understand that what we were is not the only thing we were meant to be. All great things come out of conflict, transition and they push past fear.

Now go find your crow and fly.

~Namaste