Day 364 Intention ~ Explore New Ground

Day 364 Intention ~ Explore New Ground

Road trip! Not really the words expected in winter...from Cleveland, but that's how it is this year. Off for a new years adventure in Chicago. I have only driven through Chicago,  and never gotten the chance to explore and experience this city.

Seems like a great way to finish & start a new year. I hope that it is a foreshadowing to the upcoming year~ lots of adventure, exploring of new places, physically & on my inner journey.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 359 Intention ~ Enjoy Time With Family

Day 359 Intention ~ Enjoy Time With My Family

It's the holidays. I know it sounds cliche, but the thing that makes me happiest is to see my family and get some time with them. We are all spread out these days and rarely are we all in the same place at the same time (this year included), so it's nice to catch up with whoever I can.

My nieces & nephews are changing and growing up so fast that it's hard to keep up. My father will be 85 in 2014, so I know it really means a lot to him when we are all (or some) there.

So, as we drive back to Ohio to work tomorrow, I am so glad to have been able to live, share, laugh & love with my original satsang!

I wish you all the merriest and hope that you got to spend the holidays with your loved ones.

Namaste til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 323 Intention ~ Create A Daily Schedule

Day 323 Intention ~ Create A Daily Schedule

As usual, there are several items on the "to do" list. Not just for today, but that are constantly lingering. Many times, in my planner, I will write down which things need to get done that day, but without any other organization to it. 

With the holidays and so many additional events coming up, tightening up the schedule with time schedules, etc. will help. It also keeps me working rather than slacking off and doing other chores or surfing the internet. 

Another tip to getting the daily schedule together is to do the most daunting task first. Get it done. It will feel good and then the others will feel like a breeze (hopefully). 

If you find yourself losing steam, take a moment to breathe. Whether at a desk job in an office setting or if you are working at home, like I will be today. Another helpful thing to do when this happens is to do some yoga asana. Even at your desk. Reach your arms up, twist, fold forward, but move around a little bit. It will help to calm yet re-energize you. If you have a little more luxury of being at home, get on your mat. It can be only 20 minutes or it can be 90 minutes, but get on it. Even a shorter practice everyday is better than one 2 hour session every once in awhile. 

Have a great day! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 318 Intention ~ Keep Moving Forward

Day 318 Intention ~ Keep Moving Forward

"If you keep your head and heart going in the right direction, you won't have to worry about your feet." ~Nigerian proverb

Thanks for the reminder African proverbs calendar! 

We are all working towards something in this life. Sometimes things seem like they are working out great, sometimes we doubt what we are doing. Over the past year, many of you have read some of my issues on paying bills and teaching yoga for a living...they don't always go hand in hand. Those are the days (and they are the only days) that I question my decision to do this full-time. But, as I look back, I am so much happier than ever before. I feel more fulfilled in my "career" than ever before & new opportunities and growth keep happening as time has passed. 

So, when those moments of doubt arise, remember that Nigerian proverb and keep plugging away. If it is something you truly believe in and are willing to work hard, it will flourish one day. Hang in there. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 250 Intention ~ Drink More Water

Day 250 Intention ~ Drink More Water

Hydrate or die. That is what my old friend, Nate, told me 20 years ago in college. I have kept that mantra with me to this day. Especially out here in the beating sun. 

That's all from the road today.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 237 Intention ~ Continue...

Day 237 Intention ~ Continue...

Tru to continue what I need to get done without attachment. Although it is Sunday,  a day that many take as a day of rest, there are things that need to get done. In the past,  I would feel discontented if I had to teach or work on a Sunday.  Lately, I just continue to do what needs done.

That's it for today ;)

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 162 Intention ~ Get Back Into the Routine

Day 162 Intention ~ Get Back Into The Routine

Ahhh summertime, it seems that every weekend there is somewhere to go or someone coming to town. This past weekend was a little combo of that. My mother in-law came to town, then we went out of town for a family wedding and then all came back and then visited for another couple of days. 

Now, I am ready to get back to my usual routine. As much as it is fun to see family and loved ones and relax or explore new cities and places, it's exhausting. 

Suddenly, I am ready to just work and chill out! Who knew?!?!

So, 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 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 144 Intention ~ Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Day 144 Intention ~ Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

There are times when I get worked up over something that, really, in the whole scheme of things, is just not a big deal. 

There are many factors that can lead to this reaction: lack of sleep, if I ate junk food, if I have pms or an argument with someone I love, and many many more. 

Last night, I had one of these moments. I got myself worked up over a little thing because I was overtired and didn't want to be inconvenienced. 

In the light of day, all is fine and everything has worked out. But, I still really don't like when I react that way to things. When it does happen, it means it's time for me to take a step back and really think about what's going on around me. It's usually something else bothering me or causing me to feel frustrated. 

So, think before you react. And really, don't sweat the small stuff! It's never worth it. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 141 Intention ~ Go With The Cycle

Day 141 Intention ~ Go With the Cycle

If you were on this blog last week, you may recall the discussion over the gunas & how they move in cycles.

Yep, today is just a reminder of that for myself. 

As I sluggishly moved from class to work, pretty apathetic towards the world around me...just trying to get through it, I remembered that whole blog I wrote about the cycles of the gunas and how we need each one. Well, I'm trying to go with the cycle, but am really hoping that rajas guna kicks in pretty quick over here! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 138 Intention ~ Try Something New

Day 138 Intention ~ Try Something New

A couple days ago, my husband's horoscope said to go on an adventure. Try something new or go someplace you've never been. There are many ways to interpret this, but he wants to try a restaurant that he's never been to before. 

We were set to go on this adventure Thursday evening after my class. He dropped me off, he would pick me up afterwards and off we would go. 

By the time my class was over, he had lost his steam. So, being the 40 somethings that we are, we decided to reschedule for tonight. 

Although, the horoscope is really for him, we both are going someplace new. It's exciting to find some new and different stimulus and to check out places around town. Get a feel for other local places, meet new people and have some fun where we live...together. 

People get so bogged down in their daily lives that they sometimes need to reconnect. 

I am looking forward to trying something new & maybe even after all these years, discovering something new about my husband. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 123 Intention ~ Love What I Do

Day 123 Intention ~ Love What I Do (again!)

I get to teach yoga, almost everyday. It is a really rewarding job emotionally for me. I am lucky. In my life, I have had jobs that I have enjoyed, but not felt fulfilled or jobs that I haven't enjoyed so much and was definitely not fulfilled, but now, I love my job. Yes, it's a hustle. Yes, it's hard work (whether you believe that or not.) Yes, I struggle financially sometimes to do it...okay, more than sometimes. :) But, I feel "richer" than I ever have in my life and that is worth it.

I have a student that usually goes to yin classes or to my yin + slow flow and restoratives class. This morning, she ventured into my Ashtanga class! Now, I am not a strict strict Ashtanga teacher and we aren't doing a full primary series in that class. It is a shorter hour long class that I pretty much follow the shorter versions that David Swenson offers up in his Ashtanga book. I think that it is a great base for learning vinyasa flow and the basic poses in a way that is accessible in order to build your practice. 

She came in and took the challenge! It was her first full vinyasa class and she did great. I am never sure how people will transition, but as she described afterwards, "It seemed to flow like water." Perfect. She loved it and I am excited to have been the one to start her on her vinyasa journey. 

These are the days that I am particularly reminded how much I love what I do. 

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 104 Intention ~ Slow Down

Day 104 Intention ~ Slow Down

I remember the first class I ever took with my teacher, Marni Task. At the time, I was pretty new to hot power vinyasa. Sure, I had done vinyasa in a room temperature setting, I had also practiced hot yoga, but Bikram, not in a flowing vinyasa. I found that I would often struggle to find ujjayi breath in these hot classes and would stumble and bumble my way through the poses as fast as I could. 

She came up to me and told me to slow down. And, guess what, it changed my practice. To this day I think of that when I am moving a little bit slower in class than the 20 year olds around me or when I am teaching and I see a student rushing through chatturanga, and upward facing dog. 

When you slow it down, you can feel your breath, heck, you can feel the pose. I have heard comments from different people who think moving more slowly is easier or more "beginner". Holding the poses longer is not easier in my book...I feel that it builds more strength and allows you to go deeper. 

It is beginner friendly because that newer student has a chance to get into the pose with more time, they also get to feel it in their bodies and make adjustments in alignment if needed. They get to find union between their breath and their body...connection...yoga. 

Today, 4 years after that first class, Marni reminded me (and the whole class) to slow it down again. This time coming out of savasana pose. As we all started to wiggle our fingers and toes ready to roll up and om...ready to move on to the rest of our day, she reminded us to slow it down, to move as if you are just learning how to use those muscles again. It was a nice reminder for that moment and for the rest of my day.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 94 Intention ~ Keep Plugging Away...

Day 94 Intention ~ Keep plugging away...and breathing.

From about 3 a.m. on this morning I kept waking up just about every 5 to 10 minutes. I had gotten to bed a little later than normal and had to get up at 6 a.m. 

With 4 classes and an article due tomorrow that I won't have any time to finish tomorrow, I knew today was going to be a busy day. I guess that's why I kept waking up...I guess. 

But, rather than allow stress to take over, I just kept plugging away with my less than stellar sleep and with my breath. So far so good. Three classes down and the article shaping up, I am feeling pretty good about things. Usually when I stress and freak out about things, they only get worse. Breathing and letting it happen as it will, and just continuing to work has let it all fall into place. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 93 Intention ~ Be Supportive

Day 93 Intention ~ Be Supportive

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own heads and world and needs, that we forget about the ones we love and care about. Not on purpose, of course, but just because we have other things on our minds. 

Today, I am making a conscious effort to be aware and supportive of my family & friends that may need an ear to vent or a shoulder to cry on and show my care and love for them. It's important to support those in your life. How can we open our own hearts unless it is towards another?

Take a moment today, and just check on someone you love or maybe someone you just like, or heck, maybe someone you don't even know and make sure that they are doing okay. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 89 Intention ~ Spring Clean

Day 89 Intention ~ Spring Clean

Perhaps a cleanse is in order...at the very least, a buckle down on my eating habits needs to happen. A spring cleaning of sorts. Ever since going vegan (and discovering delicious vegan baked treats) my diet has fallen into a no man's land of sugary "good"ness. Ugh. Sluggishness, laziness and just a general gross feeling have joined in the fun. 

So, today, my intention is to get back on the healthy food track...so really, this intention will spread much longer than today. It's been good so far with kale and other fruits, veggies and whole grains in my meals today. Crossing fingers, I can stick to it and break my newly formed habits. 

Spring is a great time to reassess your habits, food and exercise related. With the weather breaking, people come out of the wood work and get more active. There is a "lighter" energy about town and our diets should follow. Moving away from the heavy chilis, soups, stews, potatoes, fatty foods and meals that comforted us in the cold winter months and allowing fruits and fresh salads to move in to keep us light and energized. 

Our yoga practices even can take on a lighter tone. While in winter, we tend to find grounding and comfort through many seated forward folds, more yin and restorative poses and perhaps a slower pace in class, spring and summer is a time to float and move a little bit faster. Jumping, flipping, twisting, balancing and back bends are great poses to help us spring clean the body and allow us to greet the world with a great big smile. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 54 Intention ~ Don't Over Think It

Day 54 Intention ~ Don't Over Think It

Just do it. Sometimes when I get a little anxious about something, I completely psych myself out and then 1. I completely blow it because I'm nervous or 2. it all goes fine and I was upset over nothing. 

So, this morning, when going to sub for my amazing teacher, I started to psych myself out, thinking that people will be disappointed she wasn't there. I put myself through this every time I sub for her and it's exhausting. So, when that anxiety started to hit me this morning, I stopped, took a breath and had a little chat with myself. Stop thinking about it and go do it. It's 75 minutes of this long life and not worth the stress. I already had a class ready to teach and the reality is, I know what I am doing! 

So, I got to the studio and people were all friendly and everything went great. Once again, stressing for nothing. So, from here on out (hopefully!), don't over think it and just go for it! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia