Day 322 Intention ~ Open My Heart

Day 322 Intention ~ Open My Heart

Giving and receiving love, compassion, kindness. Accepting others and yourself with open arms. When we give love, it tends to swing back our way. The old "what goes around comes around" quote comes to mind here. 

So why do we close ourselves off sometimes? Usually because we've been hurt and it's hard to put ourselves in a vulnerable position again. We tend to guard our hearts. Physically, we may start to slouch or roll our shoulders forward in a protective posture. Unfortunately, this physical action over time can cause us lots of tightness in the shoulders or our backs start to hurt, our posture suffers, even our breath is cut off a bit. Mentally, the more we close off, the harder it is to open up again. 

What can we do? 

First, we need to forgive and let go of our past hurt. Learn that we can't move forward until this happens. Easier said than done, but at least affirm to yourself that you are deserving of love in this world. 

Physically, bring the shoulderblades onto the back, sit up tall and work on the breath for starters. Start to activate the lungs, letting the chest open. Backbends and shoulder openers are key to getting the chest and the heart open. Backbends could include a locust pose variation that includes clasping the hands behind the back, camel pose, or even just arching back in mountain pose. Just be mindful to draw the navel towards the spine and the tailbone towards the floor to protect the lower back. In camel and when arching back in mountain, really lengthen the spine, lifting the chest and let the backbend start from the upper back as much as possible. Shoulder openers could include cow face pose arms or eagle arms. I have also found that taking binds in poses like extended side angle or triangle pose (if available) have really helped in opening my shoulders over time. If taking the bind, particularly in these two poses, be sure to continue to lengthen the spine on the inhale and rotate the chest towards the sky on the exhale. 

Doing these types of poses will help give you energy and fill your heart with love and acceptance. 

Sending you all best wishes for an open heart that is ready to not only give, but also to receive. Remember, you deserve it. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 262 Intention ~ Go Easy

Day 262 Intention ~ Go Easy

Trying to take it easy today, even with 5 classes to teach. Four down, one to go this evening. With the fall schedule coming into play, and the busier schedule upon me, I fear that I have run myself down a little bit. When I got home last night, I was worried that I was falling ill early in the season for me. 

In this yoga profession, having a cold is not an option. So, I am listening to the cues today and going easy on myself. 

Luckily, I have this break in the day to rest and get it together for class this evening. 

In yoga, we get to learn our bodies cues. We become so familiar with how our shoulders, arms, legs, back, etc. feel in poses and moving through the poses, that we know when something just isn't right. We learn to listen to what our body is telling us that day. How far it can go, push further or pull back a bit that day. The key is accepting and being okay with what your body is telling you any given day. 

Learning to apply these lessons in our regular life off the mat is helpful too. When to push for that promotion or raise, how to assess a situation and deal with it, how we handle stress, and even when to call in sick. Allow the body to rest and heal when it needs it. 

So, that is what is going to happen here this afternoon. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 219 Intention ~ Accept Whatever Happens

Day 219 Intention ~ Accept Whatever Happens

It's a rainy day today in Cleveland. I have 2 outdoor classes scheduled with no rain backup. As much as I would like these classes to happen, I am just going with the flow and accepting whatever happens. 

Finding contentment with what goes on...good or seemingly bad or unfortunate is just a part of life, therefore, we might as well not fight it. That just makes it harder. Everything happens for a reason, or so "they" say, so I am going to practice santosha and be grateful just for the day and be content with whatever happens. I certainly am not going to fight with Mother Nature about the rain! 

When things don't go as we planned, it can be an interesting investigation as to what the universe is trying to tell us. Maybe something bad would have happened if things went on as we wanted or perhaps something more important to the here and now will pop up. It's hard to know, but either way, I am content. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 171 Intention ~ Accept My Practice

Day 171 Intention ~ Accept My Practice

A.k.a., lose the ego. I just went to a class with a teacher that I have never gone to before for a demo class at one of the studios where I teach. As we moved through the poses, I felt super tight and my quads just felt tired. 

I noticed that as I was struggling, my mind started to wander and I started to get frustrated with my own practice. I would draw back into the breath and find a little recovery from my own mind. 

Then, just as soon as I found a little santosha,  I tried to enter bird of paradise (which I love!) and suddenly the burrito I ate for lunch earlier decided that my core was not ready to contract and lift, I fell back into that land of frustration again. 

What is going on?? Why is my ego taking over today in class?? Do I not constantly remind my students to be accepting of your practice that day??!! 

As I once again noticed my thought patterns and brought myself back into the breath, I finally felt a little bit of calm. I felt a little bit of peace within my own mind. I found a little bit of yoga. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 124 Intention ~ Be Gracious

Day 124 Intention ~ Be Gracious

This will be short and sweet. We are going to my in-laws this weekend. We always have a good time, but there is always the before trip anxiety. This time is no different. Sometimes the communication exchanges I hear upset me because I want everyone to be happy and I especially do not want my husband to be upset or stressed.

Family get-togethers are a wonderful crazy thing that can be great or can put unnecessary pressure on someone. I am just hoping to be a gracious guest and that we can all operate on a level of maturity, acceptance, understanding and love because it can only be people who care about each other that would let themselves get so emotional and crazy over each other and their opinions, thoughts, and actions. 

To family! 

And til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 117 Intention ~ Flow Like Water

Day 117 Intention ~ Flow Like Water

Perhaps I should say, "go with the flow", but flow like water just sounded a little prettier to me this afternoon. Being a pisces (not to get all hippie dippy on ya), this isn't really a hard task. We tend to go with the flow naturally. 

Today, I was supposed to be at a pretty public venue for yoga demonstrations and drumming up business for a new place I am teaching, but plans change. I was actually looking forward to doing something new (to me) and meeting new people and potential students. 

It is just too gorgeous out today and this event is indoors, so I have been called off duty. Although I was looking forward to it, I am also excited to get to enjoy this afternoon outside also (after I get off the computer of course!)

So, in this way, I am going with the flow. Sometimes it's easier than other times. This was an easy one. When we learn acceptance of events in our lives and don't get so attached to the outcomes, we learn to flow a little bit more gracefully through life. A person that loses attachment to outcomes becomes sattvic, or pure and balanced in body and mind. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 49 Intention - Embrace Monday

Day 49 Intention - Embrace Monday!

And, boy, was it one...hence, I am just getting this entered on Tuesday evening. My computer was freezing every time I went online yesterday. I tried to blog from my so-called smartphone, but, alas, it would shut down when I started to blog. Ugh. 

Monday battles: 

• discovered that a rate increase that my credit card pulled on me is actually legal and allowed when I was certain they were breaking the new-ish credit card act that passed a couple years back 
• the computer freeze started 
• a friend told me about the vegan bakery at Nature's Bin, so I made a trip (this is not a bad thing), so craving sweet delights, I drove over there between classes in a nearby neighborhood. Some punk kid (yes, I'm waving my cane as I type), chucked some sort of fleshy, I'm assuming rotting, produce at my windshield ~ side note, I am also assuming it was some young kid, which is still leaving a streak
• no one came to my last class

Ahhhh Monday! But, you've got to just roll with it, right? On the plus side, it's nice to know my credit card isn't screwing me over (well, this time anyhow), I didn't really have to do anything on the computer yesterday, aka no writing assignments due, I got my vegan sweet treats and I do think it's my karma from my teenage years when I will admit, I egged a car or two and luckily I had gone to Julie Kirkpatrick's class last weekend (sister to David Life, co-founder of Jivamukti yoga) who talked about one person showing up for her class, so I've learned to accept low attendance, so long as it isn't permanent! And, I got to go home to my family earlier than expected, so that's always a treat. 

So, there you have it. A day late, but these are the things I was thinking of yesterday, so til...a few moments from now, when I type up today's intention! 

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 44 Intention ~ Take Things As They Come

Day 44 Intention ~ Take Things As They Come

Just in the nick of time...it's been one of those days. So, hence, today's intention. Many of us have those days where things just don't run smoothly. It is just how it goes sometimes and that was how today was for me too. 

I did try to write this earlier, but my home computer was freezing up. Now I am back to where I am house-sitting and quickly getting this in before we reach day 45! 

Flow with the wind. It's the best thing we can do. Some of those days can get very frustrating, but if we just laugh at it and let things roll off our backs, it will just make your day better rather than worse. Learning to accept what is going on around you can be tough and it's easy to fall into that "why me?!?" attitude, but that just makes you feel like a victim and those around you roll their eyes. Therefore, let's laugh at life and enjoy. 

Happy early (by 1 hour) Valentine's Day! Let's spread lots of love tomorrow...and everyday! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 21 Intention ~ To Always Keep Trying

Day 21 Intention ~ To Always Keep Trying

I am a yoga teacher, but my practice is still just that, a practice. I struggle in arm balances. I have fear going up into handstand. But, I will always keep trying. I can feel myself get stronger the more I try, whether I get up into the pose or not. There was a time when I would just go into child's pose when this situation came up or I would watch all of those around me that seem to effortlessly float up. 

In my classes, I am often telling students to enjoy the journey, the end pose is not what is important. It's how you get there, physically, emotionally and mentally. Learn through the movements. Listen to your body. 

I have gotten hung up on my wishing I could get to these poses, but as soon as I let that go, I started lifting that second leg a little higher, I could feel my core engage or my thighs scissor towards one another. Just keep trying.

When we come into these difficult situations on our mat, discover your reaction to them. Try to calm it down rather than stress out about getting up into the pose. This training of the mind can also help when we experience difficulties in our daily life off the mat. It will help to keep us calm and hopefully whomever we are dealing with calm and solutions may come rather than strife. Breathing, being accepting, and enjoying the journey are all wonderful parts of this life. Enjoy.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 15 Intention ~ Remember That When One Door Closes, Another One Opens

Day 15 Intention ~ Remember that when one door closes, another one opens.

At least that tends to be my experience. Even if a door closes, maybe not all of the way, it is opening up bigger and better things on the other side. We hope. At first, we usually tend to stare at that closing door, wishing it were still wide open. 

Alexander Graham Bell said, "When one door closes, another door opens; but we so often look so long and regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."

There are going to be constant changes in life. The test is how we react to these changes. In my experience, when I have reacted in a way in which I acted as if my world was forever changed for the worse and I would never recover, well, no surprise, it took me longer to enter a new positive space. 

When I have reacted with acceptance that the universe must have a bigger and better plan for me, that new door has managed to open a little bit more quickly. Of course, let's be realistic here, it still takes hard work and determination to get what you want in life (at least for most of us). When unexpected changes occur, of course, our hearts may sink a little bit and we feel disappointed...we are still human after all. But, it's how we carry on after that initial disappointment that allows us to move on and grow. 

In yoga, we learn to accept what is happening around us at any moment, knowing that change is constant. We are tested through our reactions. When we can come face to face with change and find calm and acceptance, we come that much closer to the end goal...samadhi or bliss. 

Day 7 Intention ~ Be Open to Others

Day 7 Intention ~ Be Open to Others

Ahhhh the cruise ship! Before boarding, you wait in line for hours with the other 3000 people getting on board. This particular cruise is Jam Cruise, so I'd say that the cruisers are a tad bit more rowdy than other cruises. John & I live alone with a dog and a cat and really lead a pretty mellow existence day to day. At first, being surrounded by so many amped up people, is a bit overwhelming and my flight instinct has set in past years where I just want to run for the hills (or to my cabin in this case) until I feel more settled. 

This year, I am going to embrace the madness! Meet more people and just accept the situation from the get go. I love people, so this shouldn't be too difficult. We are all one energy out there in the universe anyhow, so finding santosha, also known as contentment, in any and all situations is the best idea. And, leading with an open heart and mind has always worked better in life than the other way around, so bring it on! 

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 3 Intention ~ To Go with the Flow

Day 3 Intention: To go with the flow (and take child's pose if necessary)

Didn't sleep well last night. I went to bed a little later than normal & when I arrived on my pillow, the mind started racing. Eventually, the breath work I used to calm my mind worked, but this morning I am tired. 

Today is my busiest day for classes, so I am just going to remain calm and do my best. Go with the flow. I thought to myself last night, that for my own yoga practice today, I would attempt the primary series again. Right now, that seems overwhelming, so I am going to go with the flow and accept however my practice is today and take child's pose when I need. This has immediately relieved some of the pressure I put on myself, which, of course, isn't a very yogic way of living anyhow. 

Everything in life happens for a reason. Not sleeping very well, even though it doesn't make me feel my best for today, helps me to realize that the world isn't going to collapse if I don't get every little thing checked off of my list today.

Just go with the flow & let life unfold as it will. 

Til a more rested tomorrow....

Shanti, 

Marcia

There is no sin in self-love

Sometimes, life feels like a box and we're trapped inside. Circumstances build upon circumstances and one day we wake up not sure where we are at or even how we got there, but the one thing we do know is we feel trapped.

Maybe it's a job that we don't like, but the pay seems "too good" to pass up, or a relationship with someone you've known for a long time that has become toxic over the ages that you can't leave because you've been "friends forever". In the end our voice has shrunk and we sit by waiting for divine intervention unsure it it will ever come, scared and seemingly alone.

But we are never really alone.

People say that it's the little things that matter, because it's true, the good just like the bad. The small bad moments grown and build until we can no longer wait for divine intervention, we have to speak up about what is right for us.

We must stand up for ourselves.

Divine intervention comes to you in the from of loved ones that offer you support during these times, or maybe a surge of strength when you can't take any more, but it does come, it is around you so know that the darkest hour truly is just before the dawn and that most people give up five minutes before success would be theirs.

Some may feel guilty for standing their own ground, like they aren't as important as the rest of the world, but you are - we are all important. Protecting who we are from the damages of negativity is worth the time.

Today realize the box you feel locked in is actually unlock. Lift the lid, stand up for yourself and spread your wings.

Everything will be okay.

~promise~