Day 328 Intention ~ Honor How My Body Feels Today

Day 328 Intention ~ Honor How My Body Feels Today

I say that in class all the time to students. One of the wonderful lessons of the physical yoga practice is that you learn to hear what your body is trying to tell you each time. 

You also become more aware off the mat. 

Today, I feel run down. Exhausted, physically and mentally. So, although yesterday's intention was to follow through with plans, we didn't go to the Browns game as planned. I rested by the fire, under a down blanket & dozed on and off all day long. Just what I needed. (And the game was horrific anyhow!)

So, learn to pay attention to what you physically need. We tend to push ourselves to do everything...too much...all of the time and this can not only wear us out, but can make us sick. 

Save yourself! Listen and do what your body says to do. Honor that vessel while you are here on Earth. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 321 Intention ~ Continue My Studies

Day 321 Intention ~ Continue My Studies

Yesterday I went to an anatomy workshop. Whenever I go to anatomy lessons of any sort, even just in a regular class, I always leave feeling inadequate. Sure, I had some anatomy in my 200 hour teacher training, but the whole course was so much information, and frankly, I was interested more in the "cosmic consciousness" of it all that I left the training with a basic knowledge of yoga anatomy. 

This has always haunted me some in my head and the desire to study it more is always on my list of the 1000 things that I need to do, so, not surprisingly, it gets lost in the shuffle. 

After the workshop yesterday, my fire to learn is reignited. At this point in my teaching career, it is ridiculous that I should be feeling any doubt on the instructions that I am giving students. Now, I may never be a complete anatomy obsessed teacher as some are, and yes, I am jealous of their vast knowledge (and retention of that knowledge), but I will keep trying. Sometimes the information sticks, sometimes it doesn't, but if I don't continue to study it, then of course I won't remember/learn any of it. 

So, lesson today for all of us is, keep studying. Keep learning. Whatever it is that interests you. The moment you think you know it all is the moment you lose it.

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 247 Intention ~ Hit The Road

Day 247 Intention ~ Hit the Road

Off on another adventure today! I am so lucky. Today we are headed to Virginia for Lock'n Music Festival where we are sure to meet some interesting folks and hear some great music; I am particularly excited for The Black Crowes & Jimmy Cliff! I may even try SUP yoga on the pond there...we will see, I will at least get to the Ashtanga tent (thank goodness!)

Just as I encourage in my yoga classes, I always enjoy the drive/ride to the adventure. That's part of it, right?! So, sure, just like getting into that pose that has eluded you is fun, it's also fun to learn the ways to open & work the body to get to that pose. That is how I look at these adventures my husband and I go on. I always have fun when I am there, but it's also nice to drive down the rode, see the sights and just enjoy the whole trip. 

They claim that they put up cell towers at the site where the festival is happening, so I am hoping to keep up my daily intentions with you while I am there. If not, I apologize, but I will be writing them on paper & sending them out once I return next week. 

Til tomorrow (I hope!)...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 227 Intention ~ Turn Negative Thoughts Around

Day 227 Intention ~ Turn Negative Thoughts Around

It's a general attitude for life and how you accept its ups and downs. I really try to make this a daily mantra for myself to keep from getting caught up in the whole domino effect that is negativity. 

Something is bound to happen each and every day that isn't exactly what you thought or wanted to have happen...right? If this is not your life, then kudos to you, it must be nice! 

But wait! It can be you, all by your attitude.

Take the swaha, so it is or so it goes, attitude and things won't seem so bad and you may just have that perfect (for you) day. 

Part of this is turning what could be perceived as a negative into a positive. 

For instance, twice today, things did not happen as I thought they would. I have a class in Little Italy on Thursdays at noon. This weekend is the Feast of the Assumption in that neighborhood. Tons of people, blocked off roads, and definitely nowhere close to park. In the past this hasn't affected that class...but this year, the parade was going right through it. I parked a mile away and started the trudge down the hill knowing that I was going to be late if anyone actually made it through there. 

Now, the fact that yoga classes slow down in the summer, I rely especially on my regulars and teaching my classes. So, of course, with my class not happening this afternoon. (I arrived about 10 minutes late and no one was there anyhow.) I walked back down the road and actually got to witness the parade which I have never seen before. So, that was pretty cool. 

Again this evening, one of my more popular classes only had one student. Of course, I get paid per head for this class, so it was not my biggest moneymaker, but as we went through class, I got to talk with my student and get to know what asanas work for her and what adjustments and modifications she could use in future classes too. Now, I do do this in a class with more people, but when it's one on one, it's nice for the student to get more of an explanation and more personal attention. So, although it wasn't my busiest class, I feel like I will be able to teach with a better understanding of this student in the future = positive thing!

So, when you feel like something bad or negative is happening to you, turn it around. Figure out what you are learning from the experience and make it a positive. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 75 Intention ~ Realize How Far I Have Come.

Day 75 Intention ~ Realize How Far I've Come...

Today I did what I've been wanting to do for a loooong time. I reorganized and cleaned my yoga room. Heck, I may even be able to practice in there again! 

As I was cleaning out all of the random sheets of paper and old lesson plans and notebooks, I started skimming through some of them. And boy, I have come a long way since I started teaching. Now, I'm not saying this to be arrogant. I am saying this because, even these days, there are many times that I think that I just don't know anything. I'll take an amazing yoga class & think that there is no way my classes are possibly that inspiring or I'll read an article or yoga book, whatever it is and think, man, I am never gonna learn all this stuff! And no, it's not some sort of yoga teacher trying to be modest and ego-less banter in my head. I actually will think these things. 

But, looking back on the past few years through notes and old books, I realize that I have come a long way. I may not know everything, but I do know stuff. I have stuff to offer my students and that feels good. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 50 Intention ~ Take a Sentimental Journey

Day 50 Intention ~ Take a Sentimental Journey

Well, here's the truth, in yoga we are often talking about being present, live in the now, don't hang on to the past, etc, etc, etc. BUT, let's be honest, we're human and we reflect and that's okay. So long as we don't dwell and we continue to grow. 

I've been thinking a lot about the past lately. I have been working part-time for some of my friends and I remember sitting in a room with them discussing the name of the company...I think it was 15 years ago?!?! To see how far they've come, it amazes me. I even think to last February, I had only been teaching full-time for 6 months, and even now, a year later, it is so much different...I can't even imagine what is to come. It's very exciting! 

Time flies and it's nice to think back on things and remember wonderful things and not so wonderful events, but see how you've come out of it. What you learned, how you grew, and how you (hopefully) didn't make the same mistakes over and over. 

I am getting sentimental, which always happens this time of year for me, because my birthday is nearby, so it's always a time for reflection. I reflect with love and gratitude for everyone in my life, past, present, and future. This person was at every P-Funk show I was ever at...until last Friday, and wondering where she was, my friends let me know today, it's because she passed away last spring. I must have been living under a rock, but I thank you, Belita Woods for touching my life too. 

Here she is doing one of my favorites from her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzKJGZ55P_Y

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia