Day 361 Intention ~ Get Reinspired

Day 361 Intention ~ Get Reinspired

 

 

I suffer from end-of-the-year-itus right now. I am excited that I have only three more classes in 2013. There is this thought in my head that come next Thursday when I am back to teaching, that everything will be new again just at the turn of a calendar page.

 

Why wait?!

 

Well, much to my surprise, instead of leaving 2013 feeling burned out and wanting to just hole up and hide for a month, I am already feeling renewed.

 

How did this happen?

 

Well, inspiration can come in the simplest ways. I needed to drive my husband to work this morning because his car is in the shop. I don't have class til later this afternoon, so I decided to watch a yoga documentary this morning. As I listened to different yoga masters talk about yoga, I started to feel that spark inside again. I started to realize that yoga is so important, not only for me but for millions of people. It is such a healing and growth tool. It is simply transformational and amazing.

 

Once the film was finished, I took George for a walk. As we walked through the snowy streets, I felt inspiration. Just being outside in the fresh air with a being who is so present there is no ignoring it.

 

I came home and started to write notes for an article that I have been struggling with conceptually for a long time now. I rolled out my mat and am warming up my little yoga room as I type this, and again, I am awed by the life I get to live and create and connect in.

 

Til tomorrow...

 

Shanti,

 

Marcia

 

 



Day 331 Intention ~ Give Thanks

Day 331 Intention ~ Give Thanks

My in-laws came today to celebrate Thanksgiving. They have to leave tomorrow, so we had the big meal a day early. 

So, this means it's time to reflect on what I am thankful for in this life today. 

I could do a whole year/life long list of thanks (and there would be a lot), but I think in an effort to keep it simple, I will just go with 10 things that I am thankful for today. 

10 things that I am thankful for:

1. Our cozy home and the love that is inside of it. 

2. The fact that we have family/friends that will travel in the snow to spend a holiday with us. 

3. The delicious meal we prepared and chowed down. 

4. For getting through a spynga class this morning, when I wasn't feeling quite up to it. 

5. The fact that I started to feel better. 

6. The laughter around my living room while watching Christmas Vacation after dinner.

7. My animals. 

8. My family. 

9. My friends. 

10. My life. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 330 Intention ~ Take The Challenge

Day 330 Intention ~ Take The Challenge

At one of the studios where I teach yoga, there is a yoga boot camp class. I have always avoided this class for more than one reason. 

Reason #1: In my snotty vision of yoga, boot camp doesn't fit in the description.

Reason #2: When I heard about all of the other students about the amount of planks and chatturangas involved, my arms got sore thinking about it!

Reason #3: Really, most Tuesdays I work, but am off from that job til 2014. 

So this morning, I went. I took the challenge. Now, no, I still don't really think of it as yoga, but it was fun, it was tough, and I got to see that I am stronger than I think I am. 

I used to shy away from things in life that seemed like they would be too much of a challenge...not only physically, but mentally and emotionally too. These days, I like trying things that scare me a little bit. I feel like I learn about myself, I become stronger and that is how you go forward in life. 

So, whatever challenges you in this world~ do it!! You won't be sorry. You will be grateful that you tried.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 290 Intention ~ Don't Get Discouraged

Day 290 Intention ~ Don't Get Discouraged

The past couple months have really slowed down in my classes. Even some of my steady students for a couple years now have seemed to have evaporated into thin air. In my business, it's hard to make a living. It's also hard to not get discouraged and start beating yourself up when your class is suddenly empty. One week is one thing, but when it seems to be over a period of time, you start to question what you are doing. 

Granted, schedules change, the season has changed and heck, people have lives. I get this. But, as far as today goes, I am just feeling a little down about it. Negative thoughts and feelings tend to multiply once they are opened, so I am trying to not get discouraged and figure out what I need to do to get my people back. 

As soon as things are back on track, I will take a stance of everything happens for a reason, which I do believe. But, sometimes it's hard when you still gotta pay the bills. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 288 Intention ~ Know How Lucky I Am

Day 288 Intention ~ Know How Lucky I Am

And appreciate every minute of it....

As I was driving to work this morning, I noticed so many people with angry looks on their faces. Maybe not angry, but not happy. It was one of those mornings in which my iPod shuffle was hitting all tunes that I wanted to hear, so I was singing and boppin' down the road and yet still, it was hard to ignore the looks on people's faces as they headed into each day or when they insisted on tailgating me or having to pass me, and believe me, I wasn't driving slowly. 

It was sad to see this on the morning commute. It's not that I am unaware that I am lucky to get to do things that I love to make a living, but it was just blaring in my face (and consciousness) this morning. I love going to work for my friends, it's like I'm getting to go hang out and get paid. Please note, I do actually work when I am there...most of the time. :)

So, once again, just wanted to appreciate that I love what I get to do in this world and I am so so grateful for it. It is sad that I feel lucky to get to do what I want...I wish everyone could do what they want, follow their dreams and feel lucky.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia 

Day 264 Intention ~ Lighten Up

Day 264 Intention ~ Lighten Up

Been feeling a little "heavy" in my mind the past couple of days. Not sure if it's the rainy weather or too much tme watching Don Draper pout in Mad Men reruns, but it is time to lighten up. Sure, classes were a little bit lighter this week for some reason (I have given up trying to figure out the waves in yoga class attendance!), but other than that, things are GOOD! 

Lots of work to do, fun times with friends, my husband's art & guitar work are starting to gain some traction, we're healthy, our family and friends are healthy. Life is good. 

So, although, I am working this evening, so that I can have the next two days off instead, I need to try to get out of my head, and just enjoy. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 257 Intention ~ Show My Love

Day 257 Intention ~ Show My Love

Leading with an open heart, it can help others to open their hearts too. This helps to bring people together. People tend to act in the way they are being acted toward. Today, I want the people in my life to feel how much I love them. I want them to know. It will make them feel good and that makes my heart burst.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our own little world of work, play, errands, just life, that we take those that are always around us in our whirlwind for granted. Today, I am taking a moment out to show my love to my husband especially. He gets the brunt of my moods, my ignorance, whatever is going on with me each day and I want him to know how much I love him and how much he means to me. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 233 Intention ~ Take Some Time to Regroup

Day 233 Intention ~ Take Some Time To Regroup

Having many different responsibilities and obligations seems to be either the American way or maybe just how life goes. 

Between teaching classes, writing, working for JAK, changing teaching schedules, meetings, cleaning, shopping, preparing meals, walking the dog, mowing the lawn, getting my own practice in and on and on, things can get jumbled in my head. 

Today, luckily, at least for the rest of summer, is one of my mellow weekdays. It allows me to stop and think and put things in order in my head. These days are important to have. If they didn't happen every once in awhile, I would turn into that frazzled, burned out yoga teacher from which no one would want to take a class. 

If this doesn't seem like a possibility in your coming days, even just taking 10 minutes in the morning, midday, or really, whenever you can and just meditating can help clear the mind. It can help to bring back focus and calm. 

Find a comfortable seat, sit up nice and tall and close your eyes. Focus on the 3rd eye and breathe. When outside thoughts float in, and believe me, they will, just acknowledge them and let them float right back out. It's unbelievable how just a short meditation can turn your mind and day around. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 218 Intention ~ Hang in There

Day 218 Intention ~ Hang In There

Although an afternoon and night away from reality was great, as soon as I got home this morning, the "to do" list started ticking in my brain. 

How do you turn it off?? 

Well, you take deep breaths and try to tackle one thing at a time. Once you get going, it's really much easier to keep the pace up. Sometimes that is easier said than done, sure, but once you get up and do it, it usually starts rolling. At least that is what I have found, not just today, but other days when I am trying to get back into the swing of things. 

Appreciate the time away, and appreciate the time in the daily grind. It's the only time to celebrate this particular time, so appreciate it and enjoy life...hang in there! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 192 Intention ~ Find Joy

Day 192 Intention ~ Find Joy

Finding joy in all that you do, whether it is work or play, whether it's rainy or sunny, hot or cold. Even if it seems as mundane as balancing your checkbook (although that is not always a joyous outcome!), try to just enjoy life, being thankful for each moment. 

If you hate your job, and hate every moment you are there, guess what?! It won't get any better until you find something there that gives you joy. The attitude in you has to change for things to turn around. 

It's amazing how just tweaking your mindset a bit can really change how things look. And then, when you are joyful and positive, joyful and positive things start to happen around you! The energy shifts. Misery loves company is the saying, and yes, if you wallow in the misery, it continues. 

Who really wants that? No one. 

So, today is the day, this moment is the moment, make a choice to find joy & start enjoying your life now.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 177 Intention ~ Keep Counting The Blessings

Day 177 Intention ~ Keep Counting the Blessings...

It is always good to look at the things in life that are positive and good. Whether it is something personal or more universal. 

Today, I continue to count the blessings for having such a wonderful husband, dog, cat, family & so many wonderful friends. I am thankful that I get to do what I love to do for a living. I am thankful to have a home I love with food on the table and that we get to go have so much fun in this life. 

I am thankful for the downfall of DOMA today too so that others can share in some of the happiness and feel support in their equality in this life. 

We have this life (and maybe some more- ha ha) to be the best person we can be and live in love, harmony, peace and respect for all other living things. Let's not take these things for granted. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 175 Intention ~ Put One Foot In Front Of The Other...

Day 175 Intention ~ Put one foot in front of the other...

Thinking about this week could overwhelm me, but just going step by step, I think will be the best way to go. 

With writing assignments and *gasp* 17 classes to teach, my uncle passing away, my wedding anniversary tomorrow, and trying to get things together for our vacation next week, yep, my head may fly off my body at some point. 

In an attempt to not get stressed about these things, I have decided to just put one foot in front of the other and only take one step at a time. Find organization and lots of breathing and meditation to help it all come together without me freaking out! 

At this point, my emotions are only allowing me to do one thing at a time anyhow, so it's a good lesson and start to this week. 

Pacing oneself and focusing on just one thing, gives us all a little more piece and peace of mind when we are busy and it just allows us to remain more calm. Stopping every once in awhile when you are stressed at work or at home and just taking 10 nice deep breaths can help change your perspective. 

That is all for this Monday! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 174 Intention ~ Remember Uncle Warren

Day 174 Intention ~ Remember Uncle Warren

I just found out that my Uncle Warren passed away a few days ago. Besides my father, he was the last of that generation of Ghyzels still alive. 

When I was young my parents always had an open house on Christmas eve and my aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends would come over to celebrate. I LOVED this get together. My Uncle Warren always joked around with me & taught me how to make his beverage of choice. VO was involved, and yes, it was the '70s. :) He also would joke that he wanted to marry all of the Charlie's Angels and me being young & naive didn't get the joke, but I was obsessed with the angels, so thought that was a pretty cool idea. Of course, later I realized what he meant, but I still didn't hold that against him because I just adored him. 

There were 4 Ghyzel boys and one Ghyzel girl in that generation: Frank, Ken, Warren, Nell & my father, Wes. They were always laughing whenever they were all together and those are some of my favorite moments...just being around that much love and enjoyment of each other. 

It's strange to think that I have no more uncles living, but I thank them all (and all of my aunts that have passed on) for always being so loving and full of life & laughter. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 173 Intention ~ Celebrate Life!

Day 173 Intention ~ Celebrate Life!

Today is one of those days where I had plans from a.m. through p.m. (Just making a quick pit stop to get this out.)

I won't lie, although each individual thing sounded fun, all in one day, to me, sounded like too much! I was kind of dreading it, but about to head to my last stop, today has been a barrel of fun! So, I am celebrating each moment & life! 

Enjoy your Saturday night! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 170 Intention ~ Start Today Fresh

Day 170 Intention ~ Start Today Fresh

Part of being present is starting each day fresh. We get a chance to start over every single day of our lives, so the choice is ours to have a good day or wallow in the past or get anxious about the future. It's so much easier to just choose now. 

Yesterday I was feeling down and out of sorts and just a little bit grumpy. But this morning, everything seemed new and exciting and I found gratitude again. To have so much in this life to be thankful for and not take for granted is so so important. 

So, maybe today hasn't been your day so far. If you can't turn it around for yourself right now, just remember to hit the "refresh" button on your mind when you wake up tomorrow. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 168 Intention ~ Stand For Something

Day 168 Intention ~ Stand For Something

Back to my old African proverbs calendar today...I know you all have missed it! 

"If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything." 

                                                          

Not sure exactly what country that is from, but it stirs up some thoughts. What do I stand for? What do I do to fight for what I stand for? Is it working? 

Of course I have many things that I believe in and stand for, but am I actively protecting and fighting for these things...meh. Not really. Sure, I sign online petitions and sometimes send money to the Cleveland APL or ASPCA and eat vegan and recycle and try to leave less of a carbon footprint. But, when it comes to marching for GMO labeling or going to any meetings of any sort, I suddenly have no time. 

It's not that I think that actually changing your habits and lifestyle don't count as legitimate ways of supporting an idea or doing what I can, but why do I cringe at the idea of doing more? 

For a long time, I have wanted to put on a class to benefit the animals at the Cleveland APL. Perhaps today's African proverb was just the kick in the pants I needed to get it organized. 

Whatever it is you believe in, stand up for it, work for it and live your life true to what you believe. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 164 Intention ~ Be More Present

Day 164 Intention ~ Be More Present

In this day, in this moment, in this life. Just as I am finally coming out of my weary traveling nonstop oh poor me attitude, I start to think about how I would feel better about not only my yoga classes, but of other things in my life if I just became present. That, of course - thank you yoga, is when I stumble upon Max Strom's facebook post about being present. 

The common state of the ego-mind is that it almost never wants to be in the same place the body is. “Anywhere but here,” that’s its motto. Again, this is the reason we don’t remember most of our life, because we weren’t truly present. The ego-mind is very tricky, very cunning; it avoids being present and still. Watch how when you’re extremely busy and distracted it will tell you, “I can’t be still and peaceful now, there’s too much to do. I’ll be calm when things have quieted down.” Then when you get into a
peaceful situation, the ego will complain, “I can’t stay present here, this is boring,” and off it goes into the future, or to revisit past memories. Perhaps while practicing yoga, you’ll find yourself in a posture thinking about your upcoming dinner, and then later you’ll be at this dinner,
and you’ll be discussing your yoga class with your friends. “Anywhere but here . . .”
~ Max Strom (from A Life Worth Breathing)

Thank you Max. No matter how many times a day, in pretty 

much every class that I teach, I have to remind students to 

let go of outside thoughts and concerns. Just today, a 

student went into a child's pose instead of going into the left 

side of a sequence. When I went over to make sure she was

okay, she said she was just distracted. When we go on our

mat, no matter how stressful our lives are, we need to allow

that time to be ours and ours alone. Be present on the mat. 

It will bring more presence into your whole day and your 

whole life. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

*I apologize for the different formatting on this post, but once I added Max's quote, I couldn't get the formatting back to normal!!*

Day 152 Intention ~ Look Around & Smile

Day 152 Intention ~ Look Around & Smile

Yesterday I was driving home from class and realized that I had a grin across my face as I drove in this crazy traffic that was happening. It was that moment of realization that struck me...life is a wonderful amazing thing, no matter what is going on. Sure, sometimes things don't go as we would wish and are tough or sometimes we're just plain bored, but sometimes that is okay. It all moves in cycles and we need those times to appreciate the blissful times. 

Last weekend I spent so much time driving, from Cleveland to Rochester to Toronto, back to Rochester and then back to Cleveland, all with so much activity inbetween (which was fabulous), but it was also exhausting. 

Today, after my class, I chilled at home, made vegan cookie dough and watched "Dexter" with my husband, dog, George & cat, Stella. At first I felt guilty, wishing it would start raining, so that I didn't feel like a lazy good for nothing. But then I realized that there was nothing else I'd rather do than have a lazy afternoon with my family...relaxing. Bring that smile back to my face. 

Lo and behold, as soon as I came up here to write this blog up, the downpour came outside. Hopefully it cools it down, so that actually baking the cookies won't create a sauna in my house! 

Til tomorrow...just look around and smile...life is so full of richness & wonderment. Enjoy.

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 125 Intention ~ Live, Laugh, Love

Day 125 Intention ~ Live, Laugh, Love

 

 

Just spent most of this weekend with my in-laws. They live in a wooded area, just a short walk from a private beach on Lake Huron. It was a beautiful escape from reality for the weekend.

 

 

Sandy beach, woods, lying in the hammock, sharing stories, laughing, taking walks, looking at art ...enjoying family. John & his father worked in his dad's woodshop and turned a beautiful piece of wood together. This is what life is about. Spending time with loved ones, whether it be family or friends, being in the moment and appreciating the beauty all around you.

 

 

 

Ahhhh, sweet dreams.

 

 

 

Til tomorrow...

 

 

 

Shanti,

 

Marcia

Day 122 Intention ~ Be True To YOU

Day 122 Intention ~ Be True to YOU

Alright, so I know that the fortune cookie posting has been overdone, BUT this really was in my fortune cookie last night. "A man who trims himself to suit everybody will soon whittle himself away." No doubt. We, although we look similar to each other, are all unique and have wonderful beautiful quirks that make us all different in this vast world. It keeps things interesting and it keeps us happy. 

Who ever feels good when they're faking it? No one. Not really.

But, when you feel the freedom to relax and just be who you are, life is just more enjoyable. You feel more at ease. 

There is a quote in The Bhagavad Gita that says, "It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection." 

So, feel free to be you and you may just find a little more contentment and peace in this world while you are here. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia