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 92 Intention ~ Lose the Ego

Day 92 Intention ~ Lose the Ego

Yoga. It's so funny. It always knows what I need to hear. Just in the last 15 hours or so, ego keeps getting mentioned in whichever yoga writings I end up reading. 

Whether it's a slow class, a disagreement, a failed handstand attempt or just trying to be heard, I, like everyone else, will let my ego take over at times. 

That's when those yoga lessons sneak their way in...

I am currently reading Richard Freeman's book, The Mirror of Yoga:Awakening the Intelligence of Body and Mind, (highly recommend by the way!) and the parts I was reading last night discussed ego getting in the way of kundalini rising. As soon as we get excited about freeing kundalini, the ego is there to bring it back down. 

Then this morning, I was reading the Jivamukti focus of the month, and one of the suggested mantras to chant was from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras:

PYS III:38

Te samadhav upasarga vyutthane.

By giving up the love of power, you attain the power of love.

Lose the ego. If we can let go of our egos, we can truly open our heart and find pure love in the Self. 

Is it easy? Heck no, it's not easy! But, we can try and try and try again. That is all we can do. That is all we can ask of ourselves to do. If we truly and purely try, it will happen and all that we need will come our way. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 72 Intention ~ Teach From My Heart

Day 72 Intention ~ Teach From My Heart

It happens to us all no matter what type of work we do...some days we are just feeling it more than other days. Teaching yoga is no different. There are days when I don't want to get out of bed or leave the house. This morning was one of those mornings, it may be the slight congestion I was feeling in my chest, or the need for more sleep, but I just didn't want to get up. 

But then I think about my students. I try to teach a class that I would want to attend. The students give me the energy and excitement to just flow from my heart, offering them whatever little knowledge I have, so that they can get a little closer to their inner Self. I am always happy when I see a students smile after class knowing that I gave it my heart and was as pure as I could be for them, for yoga, for me. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia