Day 97 Intention ~ Have a little family time

Day 97 Intention ~ Have a Little Family Time

It's another gorgeous day here in Cleveland...sunny, 60 degrees...just lovely. So, John, George & I are headed out on a little adventure outside. Getting these moments together are so important to reconnect and enjoy each other (and George is happy to be adventuring outdoors anytime!)

It's not as if John & I don't spend time together, but during the week, lots of times I get home later in the evening after class, so we just kind of settle in and watch t.v. and don't really connect. And, especially after being cooped up all winter inside, it's nice to get out into nature, together and get energized from the excitement of a new season starting! 

So, on that note, til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 96 Intention ~ Get Some Fresh Air

Day 96 Intention ~ Get Some Fresh Air

Spring has finally sprung here in Cleveland...somewhat. The snow has melted (hopefully that is it for this year) and the temperatures are now in the 50's during the day, which after winter here, it feels warmer than that. It's time for folks to leave their stuffy cramped up cabins and breathe in the fresh air of the season. 

Ride your bike, take the dog for a walk, venture around town or just plain sit on the front porch. Getting some fresh air can clear our heads, a new season can give us new hope and we can get a fresh perspective on things after they may have gotten stale over the long cold winter. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 95 Intention ~ Embrace the Day

Day 95 Intention ~ Embrace the Day

This is gonna be short and sweet today, because it's gonna be another busy one for me...but the plan is to embrace the day! Whatever it brings! 

Enjoy what comes your way. Smile at people, laugh, appreciate this great big world while you're here! Why waste time being negative about things, it only makes it worse, never better. Try to see the light in all things and you just may find that your heart and your mind open more and more. 

Happy Friday you all! 

Til tomorrow...(told ya it was gonna be a short one today!)

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 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 91 Intention ~ Laugh Out Loud

Day 90 Intention ~ Laugh Out Loud

Granted, this happens daily in my life, for which I am very grateful. I was going to try to write some witty joke and say "April Fool's" at the end, but, alas, I am just not feeling that witty this morning. 

But, I will laugh at your silly April Fool's Day jokes, and enjoy  it! 

Laughter is a wonderful tool. It makes us happy, it gives us energy and it just plain feels good. 

Just last week, I was writing about Laughter Yoga and its benefits. Why not try it out?! Worse case scenario, you get to laugh. So, crack some jokes with a friend or co-worker, or perhaps with someone in the grocery line...you may make their day (or yours).

I wish all of you a happy Monday, a happy April 1st, and a happy week ahead. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia