Day 353 Intention ~ Keep On Moving

Day 353 Intention ~ Keep On Moving

 

 

Today is one of those crazy days. I am teaching 6 classes. Not a normal day...and not necessarily a good idea if looking to keep one's sanity. :)

 

So, today's motto or mantra is to keep on moving. I fear if I sit and rest, I will then lose all energy and not make it back out of the house! With four down & two to go, I am on the flip side of it, but these are also the two classes that I am struggling the most with as far as motivation is concerned.

 

 

When I worked a regular desk job, I always found that if it was a busy day, then I seemed to get more done than if it were a light workday. Same is true now. Even with house work or "to do" lists. If I have nothing to do, then I really do nothing. But, the busier I am, not only do I get more done, but I am much more motivated.

 

So, keep on moving...especially this crazy time of year. It may just help you "do it all"!

 

 

Til tomorrow...

 

Shanti,

 

Marcia

Day 339 Intention ~ Plan Ahead

Day 339 Intention ~ Plan Ahead

I am not one to map everything out in my life or world. I admittedly get a little lazy about it and fly by the seat of my pants at times. 

Tomorrow I am leading a wellness day for a community group that I have been very excited about. Sure, I've known about it for months. Sure, I've had an idea of what I have wanted to do since learning of this event. And, no, not til this afternoon, did I type it all out and get it together. 

What's funny is that the past two nights I have dreamt of this event and me leading it and, well, it all going well. But, the fact that I am dreaming about it lets me know that I am actually concerned about it more than I consciously feel like I am. 

So, even with my vague outline in my head, today, I planned this event. I typed it all out & am ready to roll with it come tomorrow. 

And guess what? I feel more relaxed now. 

A Malian proverb from today's African proverbs calendar reads, "Those who accomplish great things pay attention to little ones."  So, perhaps this outline and plan for me are the "little" things, but to someone who reaps its benefits tomorrow, it could be considered great. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 338 Intention ~ Hang In There

Day 338 Intention ~ Hang In There

Still getting over a cold. Luckily, I had the past two days mostly off...one class Monday evening. Today, I have 3 throughout the day and I have to admit, I feel tired and spacey. I am trying to keep strong and energetic and motivated, but it's not really happening. 

Hanging in there, doing my best. That is all I can do. 

I hope that you all are doing well on this Wednesday afternoon. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 289 Intention ~ Accept Differences

Day 289 Intention ~ Accept Differences

I'm not talking about differences as in black/white, man/woman, gay/straight, Republican/Democrat or any other combo you can think of, I am really speaking from a yoga teacher perspective. I like to go to different classes led by a variety of teachers. It's interesting to learn different ways to get into different poses and here the how & why of it all. There are differences from what I have been taught. Every time. It doesn't mean that that teacher is wrong, it's just different. 

Sometimes I like the different ways, sometimes I don't. I tend to adapt things depending on how it makes my body, mind & spirit feel after practicing them. If someone else's methods don't feel good, I don't adopt them. But, I still accept that their method is good for some people.

As a yoga teacher, I encourage you to go check out all sorts of classes and teachers and find what works best or worst for you! What challenges you, not only physically, but emotionally, or even spiritually. Find that teacher (yes, there may be several & many styles of yoga) and keep practicing. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 276 Intention ~ Plug Away Gracefully

Day 276 Intention ~ Plug Away Gracefully

Today is going to be nuts. Somehow, well I know how, I am teaching 6 classes. I do usually teach 5 on Thursdays, which is already too many. I think that 4 should be any teachers limit, but, of course, I have this one day that I teach 5. Today though, it is 6. Luckily, I have a few hours break in the middle of the day to regroup. 

My goal in these classes is to maintain grace as I teach and not start to get abrupt or lazy when I start getting tired. This will prove more of a challenge today as I have been suffering from horrible allergies all week, so I already don't feel myself. 

But, enough whining! I am just hoping to have the strength to compose all of my classes today with grace.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 273 Intention ~ Get Back On Track

Day 273 Intention ~ Get Back On Track

There are a lot of wonderful things coming up for my husband and I in the next few weeks. We both have a lot of work to do to make these events successful. Sometimes, I think, in a bit of a childish way, we both tend to avoid these obligations by going out and celebrating our lives before we accomplish what we need to. I'm not saying we shouldn't celebrate life, but we also shouldn't avoid our responsibilities. 

Today, it's back to reality, as I have classes and a lot of work to do at home before tomorrow. I am taking a hiatus from socializing to get my head screwed back on straight and until I get some of these "responsibilities" crossed off of my list. Then we can really celebrate...without any guilt!

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 258 Intention ~ Listen & Learn

Day 258 Intention ~ Listen & Learn

I took a yoga class with a "new to me" teacher today. It is someone that I have known on the yoga scene for a few years now, but I have just never made it to her class. She led a beautiful class that kept me on my toes and led me to learn some new techniques. 

Yesterday I went to class with my teacher and I discovered that I seemed more receptive to being still and listening to the instructions instead of rushing into whichever posture she was signaling. It allowed me to think about how I was moving, how I felt transitioning into the pose (which, coincidentally, was the teacher today's theme) and enjoying it once I arrived. I felt more mature in a way with my practice that hasn't always been there. 

Both of these classes helped me discover things about my own practice, which is why I love to check out different teachers and different styles of yoga. There is something to be learned from each teacher and each class. It may not be your favorite all time class, but I assure you, that teacher has something to offer. 

As I came upstairs to the computer to write this, I flipped my African proverbs calendar to September 15 and it reads a Kenyan proverb:

"A listening ear leads to life but a deaf ear leads to death."

Too funny. I'm listening, I'm listening! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 224 Intention ~ Push Through

Day 224 Intention ~ Push Through

Doesn't sound like a very yogic intention, I know, but after my weekend of bliss, I am struggling coming back to "reality". So, although I often tell students not to force a posture, your body will go there when it's ready, today, I am living a "push through" mantra to help me get things done. 

Luckily, Monday's aren't too too crazy for me, but it has still been an effort to get through my classes and "to do" list today. 

Sometimes, you've just gotta push through it. :)

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 201 Intention ~ Chill Out

Day 201 Intention ~ Chill Out

Summer is supposed to be a time of relaxation, hanging out at the pool, laying in a hammock, reading romance novels, being carefree, right? Not really. 

Seems to me, summer is a busier time with activities, trips, and work than other times of year. Maybe not busier, but just as busy. 

This summer has been no different. I have been going on a rapid pace pretty much all summer with full days off few and far between. 

Today, I am going to chill out. Sure, I taught 2 classes today, but once I got home, I took my husband's lead and just relaxed. Luckily, it's kind of a dreary cloudy day here today, so we watched movies and laid around. I even napped. 

So for today, let's chill out. We all deserve that from time to time. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 180 Intention ~ Put Myself In Another's Shoes

Day 180 Intention ~ Put Myself In Another's Shoes

Today marks the 16th class that I have taught since Monday. Exhausting to say the least. When I get to this point, the energy level starts to drop and rarely, but it can happen, I lose patience. 

As I dragged myself to class today, a new student was waiting for me at the door. She had many questions for me as I was trying to get her and myself set up with waivers, sign-in sheets, the pass book, and on and on. I could feel myself tensing up as I just needed about 2 minutes to get it together. And, luckily, realizing what was happening, I caught myself. I pulled the grumpy out of me and visualized myself in her shoes. I became empathetic to her concerns and needs rather than self-absorbed and childishly curt because I didn't get my pre-class "zen" time. It was her fault that I was running a few minutes behind my usual routine or that I had stayed up too late last night. 

The times that I have done this in the past throughout life, I always feel badly about it and beat myself up, feeling like a complete jerk. So, I am glad that I could stop it before I spoke today & saved any hurt feelings and possibly gained a new student from the situation.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 165 Intention ~ Start a Summer Learning Series

Day 165 Intention ~ Start a Summer Learning Series

I have been thinking about my 500 hour training so much lately, but can't afford it. I have this desire and hunger to delve deeper into my yoga knowledge and practice that it feels almost uncontrollable. In lieu of my finances, I have decided to start a summer learning series...with myself! This is the perfect time of year to start this as classes tend to slow down while people are vacationing and/or enjoying other outdoor activities. 

To do this, I am going to go through several of my yoga books with a fine toothed comb & advance my knowledge. Starting with anatomy books, and moving into the more philosophical. If I study for at least one hour a day, I feel as if I will quench some of this thirst. This will also make my own practice and my teaching better.

Meanwhile, I will save my money and perhaps get to start my 500 hour training sometime next year. I hope so! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia