Surprise!!!! This Moment may be EVEN more MIRACULOUS than you Ever Thought Possible! by Jeanette Pearson

This morn­ing, I was read­ing some tid-bits from one of my favorite blogs  and I came across a deli­cious mantra that has become my theme for the day. Accept What Is as a Miracle.

I can sum up my rela­tion­ship to this quote in one word "whoa". What this sig­ni­fies to me is a con­scious, deep, even rad­i­cal accep­tance of THIS MOMENT, as it is. It is a gen­er­ous act of sur­ren­der and grat­i­tude. So, it got me to thinking. What if this moment is even more mirac­u­lous than I EVER thought pos­si­ble?
What if the mir­a­cle is ever expan­sive and lim­it­less?
What if all I need to do to con­nect to this space of pos­si­bil­ity is BE with it and allow the mir­a­cle itself to expand from within me?
What if I am the mir­a­cle?
What if I am a reflec­tion of the mir­a­cle expand­ing from all things?
What if the impos­si­ble has “all of sud­den” become possible?

Regard­less of whether or not I am “right” about any of these “if’s”, I do know that I am will­ing to live pas­sion­ately in the space of mir­a­cles. I am open and up for the rad­i­cal sur­prise of what is. I am FULLY up to prac­tic­ing Accept­ing What is as a Miracle. How about you? Wanna Play? If so, read on and dive pas­sion­ately into the process. For all of you “Mir­a­cle Enthu­si­asts” out there, here is the prac­tice, an invi­ta­tion to dive into what is with accep­tance and grat­i­tude with­out shift­ing any­thing around, sim­ply notice the posi­tion­ing of your body, feel exactly how it feels.

Close your eyes and see if the feel­ing inten­si­fies.
If you notice any ten­sion, soften it out of the body through your breath
Feel your next exhale fully, allow­ing the mir­a­cle to unleash from within you
Feel your next inhale as it wells up, allow­ing the mir­a­cle of life to flood your body process.
Allow the feel­ing, just as it is, to unfold as a mir­a­cle
Repeat these breaths con­sciously and see how long you can cul­ti­vate your inhales and exhales.
Allow the prac­tice to be sim­ple and fluid, allow­ing for each breath to dive you deeper into the mir­a­cle.
Notice if you can slow down just enough to feel the space deep inside of you where each pulse of your breath rises and falls.
From a deep resonate know­ing, acknowl­edge your­self as a mir­a­cle
From a space of acknowl­edge­ment, open to the pos­si­bil­ity that you are even more mirac­u­lous than you ever thought pos­si­ble.
Repeat to your­self “I accept what is as a mir­a­cle“.
Share the mir­a­cle that you are abun­dantly with this world.
There is no limit to the mirac­u­lous power of your spirit.
As a mir­a­cle enthu­si­ast, inspire oth­ers to access the mir­a­cle in every breath by sim­ply being YOU!

Sound fun? If you end up tak­ing on the prac­tice, lemme know how it goes!
I would love to hear about what shifts. What trans­forms and that enlivens in your mirac­u­lous life process!!!
ROCK ON my friends!!!

Breathe Deeply ~ Live Fully ~ Love Infinitely

Certified Yoga Instructor, RYT-200 |  Solana Beach, CA
Jeanette@DynamicAsanaYoga.com | DynamicAsanaYoga.com 
Click here to learn more about Jeannette.

Nothing Like the Present by Shannon Lyons

"Times are a changing," sang Bob Dylan. I've never been much of a Dylan fan, but I can't get this song out of my head. This summer has started with a bang for me, with my acceptance into graduate school, a move back to the states from the island of Puerto Rico, and now a brand new Jala ambassador program in my life, I am filled with emotion.

Through so much change, an amazing shift of awareness has happened: I am completely present. Quiz me now and I'll recite my whole week back to you with vivid detail. (I'm feeling mighty confident!)

My husband and I decided that although we are sad to leave such an amazing place, we are embracing this new chapter by opening our arms wide to every experience, just for the sake of it. The uncertainty if we'll ever take part in the island life again has us out of our comfort zone and branching out. This seemed daunting and scary at first, but what a huge blessing! We're visiting places we always said we'd go & doing things we've always wanted because there is a time constraint. Why, just this weekend I skinny dipped with all of my best girlfriends here under the super moon, in the Caribbean, off a sail boat. Yes, I would say that is living in the moment.

Now, I understand this is not the ordinary day to day life everyone leads. However, let my story inspire you even in some minute way. Set a deadline for yourself, even if it is fictional or outrageous, and see what you can do. For example, have you always wanted to visit the parks in your town but never make time to do it? Plan a picnic by the end of the month and amaze yourself over the simple fun you can have. Need a huge change? Challenge yourself to kiss a stranger or save as much money as you can in 1 month for a vacation. Watch your life from a vantage point of a ticking clock countdown. Everyone knows the "life is short" mantra, but what can you do with that time frame?

This is yoga. Not just the sweating and breathing for an hour on your mat. Take what you've learned in class in expand it out there, in your own world. This is one of the greatest gifts yoga has shown me, and I'm living in love each and every day because of it.

Yoga Teacher | Rincon, Puerto Rico
shan.pr.yoga@gmail.com | www.ShanSurferYogi.Com
Click here to learn more about Shannon

The Royal Kumari by Chloe Park

Have you heard about the Royal Kumari? She lives in a palace in the center of the capitol city of Nepal, Kathmandu.

Kumari Devi. She is a young pre-pubescent girl, chosen as the incarnation of divine female energy. Otherwise known as the goddess. The people of Nepal worship her, adore her, love her for all that she’s done for them. But what exactly has she done? Nothing really. But what does she represent? Everything, really.

The Kumari Devi is never to leave this palace. Not until she reaches puberty. Her innocence and purity is honored and praised to the highest of reverence. She is just barely seen from the outsider viewing in, through thin sheaths of white chiffon veiling the full silhouette of her majesty.

She represents the Goddess. The Sacred One. The Holy One. Maha Shakti. God. Consciousness. Nature. The Divine. The Highest of all Highs.

The people of Kathmandu have created this young child to not only be a representation of this Holy One, but also to serve as a reminder. Situated prominently in the center of the Durbar Square, she lives in the palace, gracing the people of Nepal as the visual form of this great divine energy-- that is inexplicable and incapable of ever being caught. Her role is to serve as a channel to the Divine.

Life in the Eastern framework feels a lot more natural than Fox 11 News and McDonald’s.

What is your connection to the divine? That’s where spiritual practice comes in. Your yoga practice is your direct link to return back to the Source of all things. Especially in the modern times that we are living in, it is such a challenge to remember why it is we’re all here. There are many forces working against us, especially in the Western world.

Yoga Teacher | Bali, Indonesia
mail@chloeparkhealing.com | www.chloeparkhealing.com


Click here to learn more about Chloe

Yoga For Our Children by Texas Boesch

Hurry….!

This seems to be a mantra echoed in many homes by Moms everywhere.

We live in a fast paced world, we’re over-worked, over-scheduled and very often, over-stressed. And so are our children. Between competition at school, sports, after-school activities and homework, kids often feel a great deal of pressure. Thankfully, there is a way to counteract that stress…without a trip to the doctor or pharmacy. Just as Yoga is beneficial to adults, so it is to children as well.

As both a yoga instructor and a mom, I can tell you first hand, yoga and children are a perfect match. Children’s natural curiosity and flexibility lends perfectly to practicing yoga. While a class/session should be much shorter in duration than a class that an adult would attend, much of the same poses and principles can be applied. A half hour class is perfect for kids. As they get older, their attention span increases and they become more accustomed to the practice, more time can be added.

The key is to make it fun. Kids love animal poses…when children imitate movements and sounds in nature, they get an opportunity to experience a real connection to their world. In cat pose for example, children are familiar with seeing a cat arch its back and are able to imitate it with ease. With my own children, I often make a game out of our yoga practice; playing “Simon Says” with yoga poses. By keeping it fun, not only does it keep their interest, but it also keeps them coming back for more.

Interspersing breathing techniques and relaxation poses throughout the class gives children the chance to wind down and quiet their minds- skills that also help them in their daily life.  Reaping the true rewards of Yoga. Children respond well to guided meditations/visualization and it’s is a perfect way to end the class. Children will walk away from class feeling centered and calm.

Keep in mind, that children learn best by example. If they see you practicing yoga regularly, then chances are they will want to join in. What a wonderful way to spend quality family time together, than participating in something beneficial for body, mind and spirit.

Namaste

Texas Boesch, ERYT-500, Personal Trainer, Playa Del Rey, CA 

info@thefitnessunderground.com | www.thefitnessunderground.com

Click here to learn more about Texas.

What should I do? What should I do? By Amy Bishop

So many times when our lives are in turmoil, we turn toward another person (or many people!) for answers. Who do you call when times are tough? Your mom? Your best friend? Your therapist? And do you disguise your quest for yet another opinion as just wanting to talk, when really you’re hoping for some solutions to be offered? Do you ever find yourself wishing that someone would just tell you what to do?

Recently a friend of mine called me because she was having some guy troubles and wasn’t sure if she wanted to continue or to end the relationship. After a lengthy conversation of pros and cons, “well, but he’s…”, “I know, but…” and “yeah, but on the other hand…,” she said to me, “What should I do?” When I gave that annoying therapist response of answering with the question, “Well, what do you think?,” the answer was “I don’t know.” “Yes, you do,” I replied. “Yes, you do. You’ve just stopped listening to your inner voice.”

We seek answers from others all the time: we go to mechanics to figure out what’s making that noise under the hood; we go to doctors to tell us why we have a headache and sore throat; we ask our yoga teachers why something hurts or why we can’t do a posture. Now, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t seek the advice of professionals when it’s actually warranted, but what ever happened to listening to a gut feeling, following a hunch, or letting an instinct be heard? What ever happened to the question “what do I need to know right now?”

The next time that you find yourself frantically seeking advice as you try to make a personal decision, stop! Put down the phone. Don’t meet at Starbucks. Step away from Facebook. It’s time to look within.

Find a quiet, peaceful place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted. Turn off your phone, your computer, your ipod. Get out of your system all the fidgeting you need to so that you can be still. Then close your eyes and allow your breath to deepen. Notice any tension in your body and allow it to leave with the exhalation. Relax into yourself as you set aside any thoughts, worries or to-do lists. In the simplest way, such as “I’m concerned about ___________”, draw into your mind what is your area in question. If you don’t have a specific question, that’s fine! Then ask, “What do I need to know in this moment?” That’s it. Don’t try to reason through answers. Don’t try to process. Just allow. Allow the Universe, your internal guidance system, God, your Higher Power, your gut feelings- whatever name you want to give it- to respond. The answer may not come in that sitting. It may not come the next day. It may not even come in a week. But if you allow and are open and are receptive to signs, then you can trust that the answer is on its way. Begin to turn inward for answers. Practice. And soon you’ll discover that your intuition will grow stronger and will be more obvious. You’ll begin to trust your Self. And you will be on your way to a more connected, happier life than you ever will be if someone else is calling your shots.

Amy Bishop | Certified Yoga Teacher E-RYT500, Personal Trainer | New York, NY
imayogini@gmail.com

Click here to learn more about Amy.

Happiness & Peace of Mind are a Choice by Linda Baffa

 
“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years” - Abraham Lincoln
I pulled this quote out of the box of meaningful sayings at The Green Yogi where i taught yesterday.   And when you pull a card out of a box of meaningful sayings, you KNOW the first one you pull is the one you need.  Just like when you ask yourself a question in meditation, the first answer that comes up is the one you need.... I’ve been thinking about this quote a lot since yesterday morning at 8am.  Mostly, it’s simply been a strong reminder to me.  As ever since September 11th, 2001, I pledged to live my life to the fullest, knowing that it could be taken from me at any point in time.  Every day, Every year... I refuse to become complacent or unsatisfied in any area of my life.  And that is why I do yoga and meditation.  My daily practice connects me to create a peaceful and open mind, connected to my inner truth and intuition, so that I can live my best, most joyful life each and every day.  I will absolutely not settle for less.  Happiness and peace of mind are a CHOICE and are cultivated through a CHOICE to honor and practice them.   Don’t ever forget that. 
After I taught that 8am class, I had breakfast with two of lovely yoga friends and one of them said, “you know what’s crazy?  I’ve been having deja vu all the time lately.  Why do you think that is?”  I said... I think it’s because you are living the life you manifested.  You are living the life you want to live and the one that you have created for yourself.  Dreams and thoughts are so powerful that when you imagine yourself doing the things you want to do and living the life you want to live, they ACTUALLY happen.  So, dream the life you want to live.  Even if that dream is as simple as to just be happy.  See yourself smiling.  See yourself in situations that bring you joy and fulfillment.  And when you die, there will be no fear and no regret.  You will simply leave this world peacefully knowing you LIVED your life - the one you wanted to live. :)

Linda Baffa

Yoga Nani Owner | Certified Yoga Teacher 500Ryt| El Segundo, CA

lindasyoga@gmail.com |  www.yoganani.com

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Click here to learn more about Linda.

The Dance of the Sacred Sisters By Aiyana Athenian

I love the dance of Yoga and Ayurveda.  After years of teaching yoga classes, training teachers and exploring an array of styles of Yoga, I decided to deepen my practice through the study of Ayurveda.  I had been exposed to Ayurveda for quite some time, but upon diving into the waters of this ancient “sister science” to Yoga, I discovered a deep love in the dynamic union of these two “sisters.”  Ayurveda became so much more than just a “quiz to determine your dosha,” it became a way to make yoga sadhana really personal, really “right” for the individual.

The path of Yoga (and Ayurveda too) is just not a one-size-fits-all model.  Even though students may take a class and all follow the same poses the instructor is leading, that does not mean every single posture is exactly intended for each body in the class that day.  Ayurveda offers a means to assess what we have going on in our bodies and minds day to day.  Then through the application of principles of vikruti (the fluctuations on the original constitution, or dosha) one can adjust his/her practice to meet the needs of his/her mind and body arising in that moment.  We are constantly changing, and our practices need to reflect this.  We are affected by a change in weather, a conversation with a friend, a new job, what we ate for breakfast, etc and our yoga practice will provide the most benefit when we can tailor it to the individual needs of the moment. 

I had a yoga student ask what yoga would be most appropriate for her, as she was feeling a bit tired and sluggish and mostly just wanted to curl up in a ball and go back to sleep, or eat some more “comfort food.”   It was late winter and while her schedule was moderately busy, it wasn’t overly taxing.  Ayurveda teaches us to look to the natural world and apply the opposite elements of what is manifesting.  In this case, we opted to heat up the room, energize her body with some warming flows, and uplift her mind with some refreshing pranayama.  When we were finished, she looked radiant and said she felt better than she ever could have imagined.  However if the same person had asked that question at the beginning of the winter and had been showing any signs up excess activity in her life, the class would have taken an entirely different approach- completely restorative and grounding. 

I am continually inspired by the therapeutic results students experience when understanding how to use Ayurveda to make their yoga sadhana personal and truly healing.  It is this ever-changing approach to Yoga through the application of Ayurvedic wisdom that makes this path so incredible for me and allows me to feel authentic, both in my personal practice and as I teach and train teachers. 

Aiyana Athenian

Co-Founder, ShivaShakti School of Yoga & Healing Arts | Yoga Teacher E-RYT 500 LMT, CAC | Rockland, ME

info@shivashaktiyogaschool.com | www.ShivaShaktiYogaSchool.com

Click here to learn more about Aiyana.