Build Strength from the Inside Out

I just love the daily emails I get from Yoga Journal. I just sent this one to my yoga students. I don't always stress that they should practice at home, but deep inside me, I hope they do a little. My intention is to share the knowledge from this article in hopes of inspiring and motivating my students to begin a home practice of their own. I know when I began a yoga practice I didn't do much at first. But then the more I did it, the more I did! I love to teach because it meets my need for connection and community. I hope in some way, me sharing this knowledge and experience meets theirs.

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(From yogajournal.com daily insight)


Many of us come to yoga to build strength. There's no question that when you're physically strong, you're better able to handle the demands of your day with grace and ease. But you can build endurance and power through almost any athletic pursuit. The beauty of practicing yoga is that it builds inner strength—which you need to ride life's emotional currents with faith and equanimity—even as it tones your body.

One way to build inner strength is by practicing regularly, whether you're feeling inspired or not. That simple act develops your capacity for commitment and for not letting the rest of life get between you and what you know to be essential to your well-being. By being true to yourself in your yoga practice, you enhance your ability to be true to yourself in other situations.

Of course, maintaining a consistent home practice is, in itself, an exercise in strength. At home, the notorious obstacles of procrastination, distraction, and skepticism come up all the time. To help dispel these stumbling blocks, choose a regular time and create a sacred space for your practice. It also helps to have several sequences on hand for those days when you're unsure of what to do next.



IN THIS ISSUE
Block Steady
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/1742


Home Practice 101
http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/1582

Creating for 2009

So it's 2009! Wow, how time flies. There are many things that I'm grateful for and would like to celebrate for 2008:
-I completed my Holistic Health Practitioner Program Talk (20min in front of 50 people!)
-Work on my business newsletter and website
-Practice Yoga
-Didn't judge myself after my husband reacted to something I said (Big One for me!)
-Celebrated my 1st wedding anniversary with my awesome husband
-My cold is going away
-I have a job!
-I cooked xmas dinner with my husband for 7 friends

So that's 8 things and I know I could go on. But when I woke up this a.m. I began to reflect upon what I want to create this year. I want to create more abundance in my life of connections with people, income and celebration. After completing the Holistic Health Program, I realized how I don't celebrate or acknowledge things about me. Even the little things such as I got out of bed this a.m. That's big for some people! It helps us really be in the present, especially during those times when we get caught up in that negative self-talk (what if this happens...I should or should not do this or that...there's just not enough...). It's also a great thing to do when practicing yoga. As I was practicing this a.m., I would pause in a pose, be with my breath which connected me to the present moment. Even if it was a pose I was struggling with, I was with it. Not against it. We should celebrate the good with the bad; the positive with the negative; the stress with the calm; the happy with the sad/angry. It's very humbling and healthy.

So I invite everyone to celebrate life and prosperity this year. We deserve it!

oxoxoxo
Liz

The Joy of Teaching

I just taught the first class last night of Restorative Yoga. I love my students on Monday nights. I have at least 3-4 students who have been coming to my classes for 3 years! It's truly an honor. I realized after class what joy I get out of teaching. It's the sharing about me and the practice of yoga that makes it joyful. I had so much fun helping them relax in the postures; to help them be in their bodies. This time of the year we get so into our heads and I really stressed that in class. It was my invitation to them really stop and just be in the body. Be with breath. I know this can be difficult for people who aren't in their bodies which I did mention a bit, but the first step is observing the breath and the way it is in your body.

I gave them a little homework assignment! Ha! I love it! I asked them to practice at least one of the poses we did in class for at least 5 minutes everyday and to see what happens. I can't wait for next week!