Day 127 Intention ~ Take a Quiet Moment

Day 127 Intention ~ Take a Quiet Moment

...for yourself. We all can get so wrapped up in doing the 3000 things on our "to do" list, that we forget to take a few moments to ourselves. Turn off, okay, maybe just step away from, the phone, turn off the radio, computer, television and any other outside distractions and just sit for a few moments. 

It's unbelievable how just this small action can help one feel rejuvenated and a bit fresher. Ready to tackle the next things on the list. 

Sit and listen to the birds or close your eyes and use your sense of smell. Maybe there is coffee brewing or you can smell the lilacs that are in bloom. 

Just breathing is another great refresher. Try to clear the mind and take a small meditation. Focus on your ajna chakra, or third eye, as you breathe in and out. The mind will start to clear and you will actually feel like you got a short rest when you are through. 

If we allow ourselves some moments to ourselves, especially when we spend much of our day taking care of tasks generally for others, we will find that we are calmer, have a clearer mind and even more energy. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 126 Intention ~ Keep Smiling

Day 126 Intention ~ Keep Smiling

Monday blahs. Many of us get them. Back to work after a beautiful weekend. Today, I vow to keep smiling. If we can change our attitude towards something and make it a positive, well, lo and behold, it usually becomes more positive. 

So, although I don't work a regular 9-5 job, it doesn't mean that I am not busy. Today is no different, but smiling and being positive through it all just makes it more pleasant all around. 

Monday Funday! (Okay, maybe that is extreme for some of you, but please try to enjoy every day ~ it's the only one of that day you'll ever get!)

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 125 Intention ~ Live, Laugh, Love

Day 125 Intention ~ Live, Laugh, Love

 

 

Just spent most of this weekend with my in-laws. They live in a wooded area, just a short walk from a private beach on Lake Huron. It was a beautiful escape from reality for the weekend.

 

 

Sandy beach, woods, lying in the hammock, sharing stories, laughing, taking walks, looking at art ...enjoying family. John & his father worked in his dad's woodshop and turned a beautiful piece of wood together. This is what life is about. Spending time with loved ones, whether it be family or friends, being in the moment and appreciating the beauty all around you.

 

 

 

Ahhhh, sweet dreams.

 

 

 

Til tomorrow...

 

 

 

Shanti,

 

Marcia

Day 124 Intention ~ Be Gracious

Day 124 Intention ~ Be Gracious

This will be short and sweet. We are going to my in-laws this weekend. We always have a good time, but there is always the before trip anxiety. This time is no different. Sometimes the communication exchanges I hear upset me because I want everyone to be happy and I especially do not want my husband to be upset or stressed.

Family get-togethers are a wonderful crazy thing that can be great or can put unnecessary pressure on someone. I am just hoping to be a gracious guest and that we can all operate on a level of maturity, acceptance, understanding and love because it can only be people who care about each other that would let themselves get so emotional and crazy over each other and their opinions, thoughts, and actions. 

To family! 

And 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 122 Intention ~ Be True To YOU

Day 122 Intention ~ Be True to YOU

Alright, so I know that the fortune cookie posting has been overdone, BUT this really was in my fortune cookie last night. "A man who trims himself to suit everybody will soon whittle himself away." No doubt. We, although we look similar to each other, are all unique and have wonderful beautiful quirks that make us all different in this vast world. It keeps things interesting and it keeps us happy. 

Who ever feels good when they're faking it? No one. Not really.

But, when you feel the freedom to relax and just be who you are, life is just more enjoyable. You feel more at ease. 

There is a quote in The Bhagavad Gita that says, "It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection." 

So, feel free to be you and you may just find a little more contentment and peace in this world while you are here. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 121 Intention ~ Juice It Up!

Day 121 Intention ~ Juice It Up! 

Yes, it's happened. I resisted for as long as I could, but I have started juicing in the mornings. Sure, there's been a couple times so far (it's been less than a week) that I've had to choke down the green a little bit, but it does feel good. 

Yesterday, as I was energetically telling a friend that I didn't think that I really felt anything, I had to stop and laugh at the fact that I was basically jumping up and down bouncing off the walls. So, now I realize, maybe there's something to it. 

To find the balance in your body, we need to eat more alkaline foods. We tend to be more acidic in our diets as most foods are acidic. Juicing is a great way to bring back the balance! For a list of more alkaline foods to incorporate, here is an alkaline food list. I tip my green drink to you ~ cheers to balance! 

Happy Wednesday & happy juicing! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia