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 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 282 Intention ~ Bend Don't Break

Day 282 Intention ~ Bend Don't Break

I read an article last night about what some super successful people do before 8 a.m. that puts them ahead of the game. Some were obvious like workout and eat breakfast, and then one that would seem obvious, yet now that I work for myself (sort of), I forget to do: make a schedule/to do list for that day. Seems like common sense to do that, but if something isn't completely pressing, I tend to let it wait until the last minute, so that I can just completely freak out to get it done. 

So, last night before I went to bed, I compiled a schedule for myself today. It helps to keep me focused and challenges me not to slack off. I used to make these schedules for myself all of the time to be sure I remained organized and didn't forget things that I needed to do, but have let that go the last few months for whatever reason. 

So, although I am trying to keep my "to do" list on track today, of course, things come up. Learning to find some flexibility in the schedule is important too. Otherwise, I would go crazy and life would be too regimented for me to enjoy it. 

The goal is to try to keep on track, but be willing to bend a little bit if needed, not break if something changes. 

We can apply this to many things, a detour on our commute, a different yoga teacher in class that day, if a plan simply falls through. It happens all the time, but if we can find some santosa or contentment and peace with what is going on around us, planned or not planned, we will be able to find a little more joy and ease in our day. 

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 260 Intention ~ Say No With No Guilt

Day 260 Intention ~ Say No With No Guilt

I am a "yes" person, that is for sure. So much so that I tend to overtax myself physically, mentally, emotionally to say yes to people when they need me. 

This creates a couple of problems: 

1. this taxes me physically, mentally & emotionally

2. People take for granted that I will say yes all of the time

I sub for teachers all of the time. I hate canceling a class because there's no sub available. I think it builds inconsistency for the class and eventually people start to go elsewhere. Besides, it introduces me to some students who may not have taken my class before. 

I have subbed 2 classes this week already and with 3 new classes in addition to my regular classes, that is enough. So today, when asked to sub later in the week, I said no. I felt a little guilty for a moment & then realized that people say no to me all of the time. This person has never once subbed for me when I have asked and I have always done it for her, except maybe 1 other time in all these years. 

Anyhow, that's all besides the point. The point is, I thought about it, I decided it was not something that I wanted to do because I have a busy day that day & am already feeling stressed about it and I said no. I said no and I feel good about it. Woo hoo!!

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia