t e n a c i t y

A cute & inspiring little story of a local woman who got out of her own way

e x p e r i e n c e

Wow, 1 year ago today I was let go from my corporate job. Speaking from the heart, and not from a self-help book of quotes, I can say that looking back I realize it was a force that had to happen to get me to where I am today. If I had only known what I was really in for perhaps I wouldn't have been so thrown off at the time.


The meditation retreat I just came back from happened in perfect timing (shocker). Once I got past the phase of Why The Hell Am I Here, It's So Hard Not To Talk And Just Meditate For 15 Hours A Day, I did come to realize a lot.  


Mainly:


Everything, and all the answers to the questions lead back to the same Truth. Anything can open up for us when we really do get out of our own way by easing up on the THINKING and simply start BEING.




NAMASTE & Enjoy Your Day! Thank You for reading my blog.


xoxoxo

w i t n e s s

LOVE, Love, love this meditation technique I found on Osho's website--and how it can be done anytime/anyplace  (www.osho.com)

1. Watching the Breath Breath-watching is a method that can be done anywhere, at any time, even if you have only a few minutes available. You can simply watch the rise and fall of your chest or belly as the breath comes in and goes out, or try this version….

Step 1: Watch the In Breath Close your eyes and start watching your breath. First, the inhalation, from where it enters your nostrils, right down into your lungs.

Step 2: Watch the Gap That Follows At the end of the inhalation there is gap, before the exhalation starts. It is of immense value. Watch that gap.

Step 3: Watch the Out Breath Now watch the exhalation.

Step 4: Watch the Gap That Follows At the end of the exhalation there is a second gap: watch that gap. Do these four steps for two to three times – just watching the breathing cycle, not changing it in anyway, just watching the natural rhythm.

b r e a t h e

CLICK ON THE PIC TO SEE A LARGER SIZE

s m i l e

s p e a k

September has been...
Well, I was sick for almost the entire month with a few different health issues. And while it was difficult to focus on anything but getting healthy and being out of pain, those A-HA moments started creeping in offering some insight. Now that September is gone, I've come to realize that the ability to connect to those A-HA moments and listen to what my body was telling me-----yup, is from yoga.

Long 'story' short, I realized there were a handful of things I wasn't speaking my truth about. In the past it was easy to dismiss these internal nudges since I allowed life to distract me. But, practicing and teaching yoga doesn't allow you (or me in this matter) to easily do that. The whole body awareness thing, the ability to get in touch with thoughts & feelings--all that soft and pulpy stuff--while building body strength & mental focus and connecting my mind/body had brought me too far to go back. AND, I encourage my students to create the same for themselves--making it even harder for me to ignore my internal nudges that ask to be dealt with regardless of how murky and heavy.

The details of these situations are fruitless, and ironically enough the outcomes are not even important to me anymore. The real prize here is that I remembered to listen----Listening within so I know what's really up, to say what's up, and know it's ok to say it all.   To simply speak my truth.   And while we're not always encouraged to speak our truth, we all deserve to do this (doing it with some grace helps).

So, I am now healthy and have addressed the situations that needed attention. And as the universe would have it timed perfectly, I'm off to celebrate life by spending a week connecting to nature in one of the most ethereal American forests, then off to party like a folk-star in Seattle! I don't think the timing could be any better. I really am just sayin'.

p a r t i c i p a t e

Some good stuff is coming up. Saturday, September 3rd, 11:30am-12:30pm I'm offering a FREE yoga & meditation class through Tampa Free Skool. If you haven't checked Tampa Free Skool out already, do so--they offer free classes of all sorts, and if you're interested you can teach classes of all sorts. Find information on what they're about, and click on CALENDAR to see details on the class I'm offering, and how to RSVP:
http://tampafreeskool.wordpress.com/about/

Saturday, September 10th, 1pm-4pm I'm pairing up with the fabulous Nyssa Hanger to offer our workshop,  Embracing the Other. We'll use partner yoga, meditation, writing, and discussion to explore those rewarding connections that open us up to just a little more happiness in our lives. Details and registration is found at   http://upwardspiraltherapy.com/

So come on, do something NEW & create some good old fashioned positive energy for yourself!

*ALL CLASSES ARE BEING HELD AT THE 2111 N. ALBANY AVENUE LOCATION IN WEST TAMPA*

g r o w

r e s i l i e n c e

Ah, aging. It's inevitable & it doesn't discriminate. I recently had a birthday. My arms were wide-open to becoming 37, as I'm feeling pretty good about the space & place I'm in these days. But I am human, and do fall off the happy-bus from time to time. I've learned that through my yoga practice I can shape my mindset to get me to, and remain for awhile, in a higher plane. (Fellow yogis, insert nod here)

I've been teaching some new yoga students in their fifties. It seems that they all have the same motivation--to use yoga to become more connected to their bodies so they can think and feel better about aging.

I can't think of a better time to say, it's all in our heads.

In keeping with the celebration of us all aging, here's a little something to read & consider:

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/11/135216852/want-to-live-to-100-try-to-bounce-back-from-stress

l i s t e n

http://www.stereomood.com/

A friend of mine turned me on to this---music for all sorts of moods!

w i s d o m

"Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck."  —The Dalai Lama 


I saw this posted on Facebook today. It comes at a perfect time as I'm introducing The Sustainable Yogi blog. 


I was let go twice last year from my corporate America jobs, most recently in December. While either were not my "dream jobs" they were good positions with good companies that paid well. A few weeks before my last layoff, during my Sunday morning yoga class, I was in a pose when I allowed a tiny thought to creep in (yeah, it happens! ) I thought, I should be teaching yoga. Besides my personal love for yoga and 10 years plus practice of it, I have and still am experiencing a lot of transformation through yoga. I believe yoga is good for every soul as it allows you to really get to know who you are (yup, it's scary and wonderful all at once). 


Alas came the December layoff, and it was not what I had wanted. I was planning on training to be a yoga teacher during nights and weekends. The word PLAN makes me smirk.


So, here I am six months later, as a newly RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher). And the corporate job market being a bit unfriendly has paved way for me to pursue the unexpected and less predictable path. I am teaching yoga at Jai Dee in Seminole Heights and about to launch my own classes within my little neighborhood of Historic West Tampa. One year ago, I would have NEVER thought that this is where my life would be. And while I do not know what unfolds from here, I am thankful for those who helped and inspired me along the way, including those corporate decision makers who sparked my motivation to pursue that wonderful stroke of luck. 






  

p e r c e p t i o n s

Wild flower beauties picked by my girl. It made me remember some lovely wisdom; The Difference Between a Flower and a Weed is Only a Judgement.