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 337 Intention ~ Root Down

Day 337 Intention ~ Root Down

Holiday season is upon us. Many of us not only feel rushed in shopping, travel plans, work parties, friends parties, making cookies, decorating and overall holiday plans, but can also feel money stress, emotional distress and as if you could slide out from under your feet at any moment. 

What happened to all is calm, all is bright???

It happens to most of us...me too. 

So, this week for my yoga classes and my own practice, I am focusing on the root chakra, the muladhara chakra, and the sacral, svadhisthana, chakra,  in an effort to stay grounded and emotionally stable this holiday season. 

The root chakra is at the base of the spine and covers our basic survival needs. Makes sense that it is called the root chakra, since when it is open and balanced, it protects us from feeling flighty and insecure. It's color is red, so wearing that color or focusing on that color is one simple way to start calming the uneasiness. Another way is to chant it's bija (seed) mantra, LAM. Exercises that can help are poses that root you down to the Earth. Really focusing on the feet and on your steady base. Mountain pose, tree pose, warrior poses with nice strong legs and bridge pose, where you not only root through the feet, but also in the shoulders, the backs of the arms and really feel the strength of the legs work in this pose. 

The sacral chakra is located from the lower abs to the navel and is not only related to sexual behavior, but also emotional connections, the ability to "let go" and how to keep balance in our relationships, emotions and life. You've probably heard a yoga teacher say that the emotions are stored in the hips. Well, at the end of the year, it's natural to start reassessing one's life and the year that has just passed. It can make us sentimental. It can make us long for past years or for something we don't quite have yet. Either way, hip opening poses are great for finding balance in the sacral chakra. Cow face pose, standing warriors, lunges, fire log pose, happy baby, bound angle...there are a lot. You may feel an emotional release if you are new to these poses that is unexpected. I have seen and have myself cried in classes focusing on hip openers. It's really quite amazing. If doing poses isn't your thing, focus on the color orange or chant the mantra VAM and see if that makes you feel balanced. 

The reality is, we function best when all of our chakras are clear, so doing poses and practices that help keep all of the energy channels flowing is the best idea. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia 

Day 220 Intention ~ Get Hometown Proud

Day 220 Intention ~ Get Hometown Proud

It's one of my favorite times of year...football season! I do love my Cleveland Browns. As much as they lose and disappoint year after year, I still love them. And so do many people all over. With the largest group of backers in the country (don't quote me, but that used to be true I know!), I am not alone. 

Yoga is about creating connection and community & in it's own way, football, and other sports teams, create a bond and a community between people also. 

Especially in Cleveland. There have been many rough years in this rust belt city, not only with football, baseball & basketball. There have been years of population and job loss, run down buildings, business loss...c'mon we all have heard Cleveland jokes. 

But, these days, things are looking up here in Cleveland. Lots of new energy and businesses. Young people moving back into downtown. Many foodie chefs have come to sink their heels, or their forks, into this food city & have created a lot of buzz. 

There is a new excitement around this town and I am excited for it. 

And with the Browns pre-season starting tonight, it makes my Cleveland loving heart well up a little bit more. 

Til tomorrow...Go Browns! 

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 191 Intention ~ Step Away From the Computer

Day 191 Intention ~ Step Away From the Computer

Okay, and the phone. I recently got a brand new fancy smartphone and I admit, I am addicted to it! My last phone constantly had battery issues and just didn't have the capabilities like this fancy new one. So, besides constantly being "in touch" through email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and text, I also have been spending a lot of time staring at the big screen of the desktop computer writing and working on marketing, etc. this week. 

My eyes hurt and with all of this "connection" going on, I feel...well...disconnected. So, getting all of this business online done early today, the plan is to step away from the computer and the phone and reconnect with the outdoors, with my dog, with the Earth in it's most basic format. Just like I did pre-internet. Step outside. Breathe it in. 

Disconnect to reconnect. 

Practice yoga. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 187 Intention ~ Be Thankful For The Time Together

Day 187 Intention ~ Be Thankful For The Time Together

As my family parted ways this morning,  I am thankful for what time we do get to spend together. We are spread out in Georgia, Virginia, New York & Ohio and just don't get to spend that much time all together. Sure we don't always agree, but we still always love each other. We laugh a lot & there is an unbreakable connection between us. These are the people who helped shape my life and who I am today.

Thank you to my family ~ I miss you already ♡

Til Tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 159 Intention ~ Think About Union

Day 159 Intention ~ Think About Union

Yoga means union, connection. Being at a wedding last night made me think that all of these people here, whether they realize it or not, are practicing yoga. 

Sure, the couple is forming their own little union, but the family is also welcoming new members into their family and gathering as "one" to celebrate this marriage. 

I have only met a few of the members of this family and some of them only once, at my own wedding, but yet, they consider me part of their family. I am connected to them no matter whether I have seen them or even spoke to them over the years. 

We are all connected. It's like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, if you took each person in every family and kept spanning outward, there would somehow be a connection to every single person on the planet. It's crazy to think about. Connection. 

I am connected to you, you are connected to me. We are one. Yoga is happening. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 153 Intention ~ Rock the Park

Day 153 Intention ~ Rock the Park

In a yoga sort of way! Happy Sunday folks. This morning kicked off Cleveland's summer of Yoga Rocks the Park in Lincoln Park in my old neighborhood Tremont. 

Sometimes it's hard to get me motivated to leave the house, especially on a Sunday morning, but my fabulous teacher, Marni Task, was teaching this kick-off class & I really wanted to go. So, I motivated. 

So glad I did! Nothing compares to sunshine, birds singing, like-minded yogis practicing together with my amazing teacher and her kirtan band, The Enchanted Hearts, playing in the background. 

The connection to nature and Earth with the practice is just so much more potent when we can practice outside. It allows the awareness to expand to the bigger picture and feel so much more than when in a controlled studio environment (which, don't get me wrong, I love too.)

Ahhh, so much fun! Look for outdoor classes in your neighborhood, or just go to your backyard and experience this connection to the Earth for yourself.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 149 Intention ~ One Thing At A Time

Day 149 Intention ~ One Thing At A Time

Just like everybody else, I try to do too many things at once sometimes...okay, a lot of the time. The reality is, that just doesn't work well for me. Sure, doing the laundry while sitting up here on the computer works, but trying to write a blog, load pictures, plan classes, and update my resume doesn't work quite so well no matter how hard I try! 

Ever have one of those days when everything you touch stops working properly? That is what is happening with me today, which again, leads me to think that I should listen to my intention for today even more. 

If my pictures won't load and I find myself getting frustrated in the process...let it go for now. Once this "to do" list is smaller, my ability to figure out what is going wrong will be more clear...hopefully.

When I quit my day job, I figured I would stop trying to multi-task so much. I would be able to give my full attention to whatever task was at hand. At first, I am sure that I did that, but now as time has gone on, I am sure that I don't do that.

So, take a step back. Try to only do one thing at a time and really give it your full attention. It will probably turn out better. You may feel more involved and connected to it and find that you get more out of it. 

Til tomorrow...

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 109 Intention ~ Dance to the Music

Day 109 Intention ~ Dance to the Music

Dancing...another way of expressing oneself. 

Have you ever just gotten lost in the music. Total freedom occurs. Your body just shakes and sways and glides with the music. Your mind is free and you make that connection to the beat. It's a great feeling. 

I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul. 
I let my music take me where my heart wants to go.
                                                  ~Cat Stevens

Just as when you give in to the breath and let the poses happen in yoga asana, when you just feel the rhythm and the beat and let your body move how it will and let your mind let loose, not worrying about what the people around you think...you can find freedom. You can find a form of truth. 

You can be present in that moment. You can find you. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 107 Intention ~ Enjoy the Ride

Day 107 Intention ~ Enjoy the Ride

Today my hubby and I venture out onto the rode. Driving 14 hours to Live Oak, Florida to go to a music festival. The festival will be great fun I am sure, but I love the drive. I love to check out new places and seeing the sights. Although this drive is going to go late into the night, our plan is to breakfast in Savannah, Georgia, so I am super excited. 

I went there over a decade ago for a night with my friends, Carol and Fez, and I just loved it. So, that is the goal. I love that mystical swampy Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil feeling.

It's good to get out of one's normal everyday environment and take a look around. See what's going on with other people, in other areas. Expand your horizons. It helps us to understand differences in others and perhaps find an openness to their situations and ideas. It can help us find the connection between us, which to me, is practicing yoga. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

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

Day 10 Intention ~ To Awe at the Vastness of the Ocean...

Day 10 Intention ~ To Awe at the Vastness of the Ocean & Allow Each Wave to be a Part of Me.

So Ham! I am that! We are all part of this huge pulsing universe. One vibration. Even though I am in awe of the vastness of the ocean, it is a part of me. 

Even though I awe at the amazing talents of the musicians on this cruise, they are part of me. 

Even though I awe at the beauty of love, I know that it is part of me. 

Even though I awe at the anger of hate, I know that it is part of me. 

Even though I awe at the sound of laughter and joy, I know that it is a part of me. 

Even though I awe at the sadness of tears, I know that it is a part of me.

Even though I awe at the entire universe, all of its creatures, mammals and plants, energy, the planets, the stars, ideas, emotions, all of it, I know that it is all a part of me & I am part of it all. 

So Ham~ I am that! 

Shanti, 

Marcia