Here is where you will find our bi-monthly newsletters, workshops and special events. As it is pleasurable to give so it is also pleasurable to receive, we hope! We would like to hear from you, please feel free to share your thoughts, comments, experiences and ideas.
Yoga Teaches Acceptance
When you learn to accept yourself unconditionally, your love of self can be based on who you are as opposed to your achievements. You realize that you are unique and that you contribute to the world simply by being yourself. One more time…. you contribute to the world simply by being yourself! You then begin to recognize that your contributions are about more than your achievements. By loving yourself without conditions, you can show yourself the same respect you demonstrate to others, respect is kindness. By giving yourself unconditional love and acceptance, you affirm that your identity is based on self-worth rather than any external successes. Be kind to yourself. No one can take your worth from you.
Yoga Teaches Clarity
If you are clever, why do you sometimes make mistakes? If you are intuitive, why do you sometimes jump to the wrong conclusions? I ask, not to trick you or to trip you up but to demonstrate a process of which you must be wary. You are clever enough to know that even a genius can have flawed logic once in a while. You are intuitive enough to know that no guess is ever smart if it is colored by passion or prejudice. For all your possible faults, you are wise enough to make the perfect choice. Being human uniquely qualifies you to change direction, change your mind and gently accept what is. It’s time to start getting what you really want out of life. But what do you really want? And what can you get if you try? Start getting clear on what you really want and find out.
Start here…Restful, deep breathing is a wonderful way to combat the tension that can accumulate in both your body and mind. Often, when we are mentally or physically taxed, our breathing tends to become shallow. As a result, our body and mind are deprived of life-giving, healing oxygen, and we become fatigued and anxious. When you breathe deeply you allow rich air to flow into your lungs while naturally stretching the muscles of the body. The infusion of oxygen travels throughout the body and nourishes the mind. Clarity of thought is restored and fatigue is banished, allowing you to attain a state of serenity. What do you really want now?
Yoga Teaches Trust
When one door closes, another open…that’s not just wishful thinking; it is the truth. But, if we are standing in front of a door that has just shut in our face, it is hard to get past the sense of rejection. It takes a while before you can bring yourself to look for the door that must have opened elsewhere. Plus, we always want what we think we can’t have. We are all entitled to stop and wonder how different our lives might have been if only we had made certain other choices or followed different roads. But we must remember that this can only ever be wild conjecture. For every ‘missed opportunity’ there may just as likely be a ‘dreadful fate’ that we have been somehow saved from. When you initially set out upon your current journey, you could not have known what it might lead to. Forgive fate.
Yoga Teaches Confidence
Having a strong sense of confidence can give you the courage to get the most out of life. When you feel self-assured, you expect your efforts to bear fruit and you feel deserving of rich rewards. You don’t question whether your successes and windfalls were caused by an unusual stroke of luck. Instead, you look upon everything good that comes to you as the natural by-products of your desires and efforts. You can delight in the life you’ve created for yourself and take on greater challenges because you believe you are worthy of success and capable of accomplishing your aims. Confidence draws to you what you most desire through like minded friendships and opportunities. Confidence is wildly attractive.
Soul Searching
We can approach nearly every situation confidently when we understand that our value as individuals is an innate element of the soul. Within each of us, there exists a core of worth that is not dependent on the choices we make or the actions we take. Though many people derive great pleasure from the validation given by peers or authority figures, only our own feelings of self-respect and worthiness can embolden us and help us hold our own when interacting with challenging individuals. When we choose to remember always that the contributions we make are important and that our beliefs are as valid as those of others, we can stand tall, regardless of circumstance.
When we harness the full force of our personal power, there is little we cannot accomplish. At the root of personal power lies confidence that allows us to broaden the range of our experiences by taking risks and immersing ourselves in the unknown. As we make use of our inner power, we create the conditions necessary to generate opportunity. We also send a clear signal to the universe that we are ready to take our lives to the next level. The authoritative aura of self-assurance we project aids us as we seek to live in accordance with our values. Your efforts will be met with success because you inspire trust in others.
Go on take it to the next level, create the life you deserve. Honor your practice and remember the joy is in the journey.
Shanti Om
…M
“I am always amazed at the depth of perception and awareness that flows through two separate souls.” ~ Carol Miller
Tomorrow brings the New Moon in Taurus.
That makes today a very good day to get very clear on your intentions for the coming month. If you didn’t already use today to make a list of all that you want to do within the coming 28 days.
There is nothing like a list for getting clear on our intentions. It really is a powerful time to do it. So grab a pen and get down to it!
Enjoy the weekend.
Peace,
…M
“To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Understanding that as we grow we naturally change in many ways can help you cope with the uncertainty that personal evolution can cause. As your outlook is broadened the necessity of letting go of your old preconceptions and revising your value system can be stressful. Accepting change and letting it happen at its own pace gives you an opportunity to gradually integrate it into your lifestyle. Transformation can be a wonderful process when we allow it to move us forward even when that transition is difficult. Insight is what can often turn instinct into intuition.
Process
When we look for inspiration and insight in the world around us, we discover that enlightenment can be found in the lessons we learn from everyday objects and situations. Many people feel that profound knowledge must stem from profound sources and thus inadvertently ignore the wisdom that can be found in the ins and outs of their daily lives. In accepting that such a mundane font of deep learning exists, we empower ourselves to recognize the many valuable messages the universe has hidden in everything from Mother Nature to human nature. The more we open our eyes to these lessons, the better equipped we become to see these revelations in plain sight. If you are willing to look for wisdom in seemingly commonplace sources, your consciousness will be awakened to the insights all around you.
Practice
Why meditate, why focus? The modern world we inhabit is awash with distractions that have the potential to keep us from fulfilling our full potential. Discipline empowers you to retain your focus when diversions, both pleasurable and not, threaten to derail your forward momentum. You’ll have the ability to recover quickly from interruptions and push distractions out of your mind. As you move forward in your quest, you can adapt to changing situations and use your current circumstances to your advantage. Your attention will stay firmly fixed on your aims. The focused discipline will help streamline your progress toward the life of your dreams.
Purpose
Even when we are satisfied with our circumstances, there are always areas where we can create more abundance or success. When we stay conscious, as we strive for more, what we create in life tends to serve not just our personal needs but our life purpose (dharma.) By paying attention to areas of your life that could use improvement, you can use your ambitious drive to manifest what you want. If we can only understand what’s going on inside us, we can be clearer about what we want. This could make it much easier for us to fulfill our true potential. The way we do anything is the way we do everything.
The Inner Sanctum
To remain calm, peaceful, and centered, regardless of the circumstances in which we may find ourselves. By focusing on building a sense of inner security and peacefulness you will find yourself feeling strong and positive in any setting. When emotions arise, when intuitions are questioned, when the difference between peace and purpose and process cannot be told, felt or understood and surrender is your recourse. Begin again. Time is relative. It is as real (or as artificial) as you care to make it. So make it work for you just be grateful for the grace when we get it.
Namaste,
…M
“I am always amazed at the depth of perception and awareness that flows through two separate souls.” ~ Carol Miller
Yogic philosophy teaches us that there is inherent balance between the body, the mind, and the spirit. This unity is our birthright. Unfortunately, as we grow up, our minds gain strength and overwhelm these other aspects of ourselves. The mind thinks it is in charge, and tries to run the show it overpowers the body. And the connection to the spirit often becomes a mere whisper.
Quieting the mind, becoming present in the moment, experiencing what is rather than trying to create what might be or remaining stuck in what was, are the doorways to freedom from the busy mind. Our minds need to be trained to be an effective ally. It is our responsibility to quiet the mind by entering into the moment the power of that pause is profound.
Here are some simple yet effective suggested practices to bring the power of pause into your daily life:
Enjoy your practice of pausing into presence. Let this practice be a mindful experiment, without right or wrong, without effort or struggle.
Relax and simply watch.
By Aruni Nan Futuronsky, Senior Life Coach
Isn’t it better to be experiencing the right kind of doubt than the wrong sort of certainty? Some people try to make everything go their way by employing a simple psychological trick. They just resolve to learn to like whatever is happening, so much so, that they decide it is ‘just what they want’ regardless of what it may be. If nothing else, know what it is that you don’t want. Make that your starting point this spring then burrow a peaceful passage into what would stir the fires of your soul.
Purpose
Understanding your soul’s purpose can help you maintain a strong attitude of dedication that makes fulfilling your obligations a joyful experience. When we drift aimlessly through life, the responsibilities we assume can seem a burdensome expenditure of time. Knowledge of purpose gives activity meaning by enabling you to comprehend the broader repercussion of your choice to devote yourself to a single path. Your resolve is cemented by the connection you feel to your purpose and the pride you feel upon accomplishing tasks that relate directly to the fulfillment of that purpose. In commitment, you’ll find satisfaction unlike any you’ve experienced before. If in doubt, ask “What would love do?”
Process
By focusing our energy with the power of our intention, we create (plant) what we want. It is easy to forget the power of energy combined with focus. If we can think of energy as a substance with shape and weight to it, we notice how it grows the more we focus on a particular situation. Energy has the power to transmit our intention so that we create whatever we are intending. Understanding this process can help us be discerning about how we focus our energy. When you wish to feel good about your life, going inward and focusing your attention on feeling good will make your desire a reality. Know that the stability in your life reflects that stability you have created for yourself and you’ll discover that you have the power to create your reality. In this season everything revives, blooms, opens, renews and is awakened. Begin again by adopting the mind-set of allowing abundance to come to you smoothly and easily, you may find that situations flow effortlessly and more opportunities appear or are “awakened” before you. A good way to keep focused on this mind-set of allowing is by occasionally closing your eyes and repeating an affirmation like, “I am open to receiving the abundance the universe has in store for me,” or “I welcome prosperity in all forms.” Aligning with abundance can be very powerful. See what grows from these small seeds.
Practice
Or you maybe you are discovering that your worldview is changing and that you are more receptive to new information. Immersing yourself in an unfamiliar subject could stimulate your mind. Opening your mind to new wisdom and experiences can help you discover wondrous worlds of knowledge that could add value and exhilaration to your life. Because many of us find that we enjoy the comfort of our routines, we find it difficult to embrace the unfamiliar. Doing so can stimulate the mind and whet your appetite for learning. Questions lead to further questions, and your explorations will serve to remind you of how much you have yet to discover. As your consciousness broadens, so will your desire to understand the world and everything in it. You’ll never be bored, as your whole life will be a journey of discovery. When you embrace wisdom and open yourself to fresh experiences, your life will blossom.
The Bigger Picture
When you act with positive intent, your goodwill shines through and can touch people in a positive way. The gift you offer whether in the form of a word, object, or deed is the vehicle by which your good intentions are transmitted. The actual value of that gift doesn’t matter. The feelings behind your actions transcend the nature of the gift and impart feelings of gladness and peace to those who receive it. When people reflect on what you have given them, what they will remember is the depth of feeling that inspired your gift. Demonstrating your affection with acts of positive intent will leave others feeling blessed and gifted. Respect is kindness, kindness is respect. Cultivate consciousness, cultivate respect.
New Moon Wishes for spring ask yourself “What do I want to leave behind?” “What do I want to start?” Now make your list while the new moon is high!
Happy Spring!
…M
“I forget what I’ve been taught I only remember what I have learned.” ~ Patrick White
Here we are at the edge of winter with a promise of spring on the horizon this in-between time offers an opportunity to become relaxed, confident and clear. The Earth in the northern hemisphere is nearing the end of its long period of inner stillness before the rebirth of spring elicits the perfect invitation for contemplation: What has transpired over the past few months, the past year? Where are we headed? What is left undone?
Process
A life review, take inventory of your life and resolve to change or heal anything that is unbalanced. Imbalances are responsible for nearly all that can go wrong in life, from our personal to our professional lives to our health. Have a think about where you could work to bring things more into balance. Where in your life do you know you try to go too fast? Where in your life could you use with an ease-up in your routines? This is the perfect time to decide that, test-drive proceeding more slowly. Remain calm, peaceful, and centered, regardless of the circumstances in which we may find ourselves. By focusing on building a sense of inner security and peacefulness you will find yourself feeling strong and positive in any setting. Have you got what it takes to forgive the past and allow the future to take the most hopeful possible shape? Then show gratitude for all that is good in your life!
Practice
Yoga develops the skill of self-observation that leads to unification. How are you feeling in your body? Is your mind present? What subject matter draws your mind away? Connect with the truth within yourself. Cultivate the quality of balance, introspection, and connectedness that we long for during the months ahead. Silence – a rare commodity these days, but just as Savasana is essential after asana practice, silence is necessary to absorb, process, and assimilate the constant input and stimulation we receive every day, all day. Witness – practicing detachment and speaking non-judgmentally, instead of letting your reactions take control of you, can help you deal with people calmly and with an eye toward achieving resolutions. The power of a single positive thought, occurring to the human’s mind at a significant moment in time can sometimes be sufficient to create a tidal wave of change. Then show gratitude for all that is good in your life!
Purpose
What’s pure, and what’s artificial in your life now? What’s real and relevant? What’s appealing but ultimately empty? It’s time for you to make a choice based on deep wisdom, not just on what seems sweetest. Do you believe in magic? True spells are cast purely in the mind. They are set silently. A half-muttered wish or a gently formed hope will be all that’s necessary to bring forth transformation magic. You have the ancient gift. All you wish for, you can reach for and get. So relax and be inspired to trust what is in your heart. Your intentions can be the seed from which your dreams take shape and your goals blossom forth. Then show gratitude for all that is good in your life!
The Bigger Picture
How I see it is there are two types of people in this world. The ones who think they have all the answers and the ones who can never stop asking questions. You would think, wouldn’t you, that all you’d have to do is put the two together? And we’d all be happy. Sadly, it’s not so simple. The know-it-alls don’t know as much as they like to think, and the questioners carry on questioning even when they have been given the right answer. Whose opinion can you trust now? You may as well trust your own. You feel what you feel in your heart for a very good reason. Sometimes, things happen for a reason. Sometimes too, they fail to happen for an even better reason! Our so-called disappointments are often blessings in disguise. Delays can often advance our cause far more profitably than supposedly open roads. We are too quick to choose destinations and declare ambitions. Sometimes we don’t think hard enough, feel deeply enough or trust bravely enough. Sometimes we do… show gratitude for all that is good in your life!
Shanti,
…M
“Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny–he has something to fulfill, some message has to be delivered, some work has to be completed. You are not here accidentally–you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you. The whole intends to do something through you.” ~ Osho
If we cannot love and accept ourselves just as we are, we will find it difficult to truly love anyone else in such a limitless, unconditional way. And, perhaps even more unsettling to contemplate, if we are fortunate enough to find someone who accepts and loves us unconditionally, how can we be open to receiving that love from someone else if we haven’t fully accepted ourselves? Being able to extend full unconditional love to others is only possible when we already love ourselves. If we don’t have the same love for ourselves, we are simply projecting our need and desire to love onto the people in our lives and our love then becomes filled with restrictions. Through self discovery in our yoga exploration we begin to cultivate compassion, love, and tolerance for our own imperfections first, which makes it easier to then broaden our range of self-love to encompass others. By learning how to give yourself love first, your love for others will be pure, honest, and unconditional.
Practice
Maybe you can do a loving-kindness meditation to further develop your loving nature. In loving-kindness meditation, you take a few minutes to first focus on yourself by wishing yourself love, peace, and happiness. Picturing your body becoming filled with love each time you inhale may increase your feelings of self-acceptance and well-being. As your love for yourself expands, you can then repeat the same process for the people in your life. Through this form of meditation you may notice that your ability to understand and love others grows.
Process
Aim for non-harming thoughts, deeds and words. It’s a valiant thing to do! It’s hard to be calm unless you’re a monk in a cave. When we interact with people, we tend to get our buttons pushed. What we need to do is accept that and learn to deal with the resulting emotions calmly. If we can do that, we start to achieve self-mastery.
Purpose
Forgiveness frees up space inside of you so that there is room for hope and optimism. In forgiving others, you sever an unhealthy connection that has bonded you together. If you desire, you can create a healthier bond together. Your willingness to forgive others can help you achieve emotional freedom. In forgiving others we heal ourselves
My Love Letter to You
Gently, softly, quietly, carefully. Oh! That sounds almost like a song. Let’s have more? Discreetly, diplomatically, sensitively, subtly. Well, maybe not a song. Maybe not even a poem, because it doesn’t rhyme, but there is something soothing in all those descriptive words. There is a comforting touch. There is a feeling of being put at ease, handled with care, shown some respect, protected from conflict. That’s nice. That’s how we all want to feel. Extend that courtesy and it will be returned. Try a little tenderness!
Happy Valentine’s Day
Om Shanti,
…M
“Even when love isn’t enough…somehow it is.” ~ Stephen King
What you think about you bring about
Because optimism attracts opportunity, maintaining a hopeful outlook can help you draw positive prospects into your life. People tend to focus on worst-case scenarios to prepare themselves for what the future may bring. Thoughts are the seeds from which our lives grow and take shape and optimistic thoughts will lead you to seek out the people and activities that will become the building blocks of the life you desire. When you’re focused on the eventual realization of a bright and fulfilling future, you’ll be more apt to recognize the steps to take to create such a future. A hopeful attitude can serve as an everlasting source of encouragement. The optimism that has taken root in your soul will help you craft the life of your dreams.
Reach
As we ask the universe for help and affirm that a solution is on the way, we lend incredible power to our intentions and shift our circumstances in a more positive direction. We often resist asking for help because we believe that a situation is out of our control, but it may seem out of our control simply because we believe it to be so. By choosing to be proactive in asking for a solution from the universe and affirming with gratitude that the problem is already solved, we put forth the precise frequency of energy needed to shift our circumstances and make our new intention a physical reality. Releasing your perception of being trapped can be as simple as asking for a solution and believing it’s on the way. By continuously reaching for more in life, we affirm to the universe that we welcome more growth, success, and abundance. Understanding that we can create more than what we have at any given moment is the most important aspect of enhancing our life experience. Instead of feeling like we are stuck where we are, we can empower ourselves to understand that we can always reach for what we desire.
Take it Outside
In our daily lives we often find ourselves isolated from other people. This can drain us of the enchantment of the world around us. But by being in nature, we can realize the depth of our interconnectedness with one another. The outside world teems with energy that relieves our stress and revitalizes our spirit. Learning to understand the gifts we have to offer means that we understand our own significance in the lives of others. We might, for example, use helping other people as a way to boost our own self confidence.
Turn Inward
Developing a strong belief in our self-worth strengthens our self-acceptance and allows us to feel more confident. While approval and acceptance from others is always appreciated, it is too unpredictable to rely upon for our sense of self-worth. If we can instead learn to turn inward and develop self-acceptance, we will develop the courage and confidence to believe more deeply in our own abilities. We are then able to interact with others in healthier ways because we no longer need their approval. Surrender to the knowing!
Be Still
You live and breathe amid the miracle of life. But for it to touch your heart, you need to be present. The precious moments of calm and stillness your heart longs for are born of your willingness to live the moment you are in. Life can be filled with countless lost moments. In the haste of juggling the demands of family, work, friends and the needs of your own body and mind, or just living life in these stressful times, your connection with the present is often replaced by preoccupation with the future. Lost in thought and busyness, your attention is prone to simply slide over the surface of life. Settle down, settle in.
Rebound
Occasionally slowing down in order to take care of yourself allows you to maintain a productive pace without becoming overworked and overwhelmed. Our lives are so rich and full that we can easily overlook our own personal needs when managing the intricacies of day-to-day existence. When you slow down and see to your well-being, you are afforded a natural respite in which you can relax and unwind from worldly pressures. Even a short break represents a period in which you can concentrate wholly on your own needs. Any stress or fatigue you feel will soon melt away, leaving you ready to tackle your next round of responsibilities with a refreshed mind and body. It’s possible to be selfish and selfless at the same time it’s just a question of balance.
It’s oh so easy to miss the simple moments that make your heart sing: a child’s laughter, a crisp snowflake resting on the windshield, the beat of your own heart, the sound of your breath. Create space now for tiny miracles.
Blessings,
…M
“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.” ~ Albert Einstein
Joy is a permanent aspect of our inner selves and is not separate from us at any point. We do not have to travel to find it or imagine that it resides only in the body of another. It is something we already possess.
This world makes it easy to forget this great love, which is part of why we are here. We are here to remember and when we forget to remember again and to always choose love.
Wishing you a graceful and joyful 2012!
With love,
…M
“Life is meant to be a celebration! It shouldn’t be necessary to set aside special times to remind us of this fact. Wise is the person who finds a reason to make every day a special one.” ~ Leo Buscaglia
Process
Digging deeper into our issues related to abundance provides us with a picture of how we view our life situation, since it is not only when we feel that we are lacking in something that we tend to be more conservative in our approach to our material life. For many of us carefulness is more deeply related to our fear of trusting completely in the universe, since it is common for us to think that we are taken care of solely because of our actions and not our intentions. As you come to a greater understanding of how your needs and wants manifest themselves in your life you will find that abundance is within reach if you learn to trust in something greater than yourself. Rather than focusing on lack, we focus on plenty, and that is what we experience..
Practice
Sink into the feeling of well-being you may notice that every aspect of your life has a purpose and function. Make a list of all that you are grateful for and hold on to it then watch it expand… as the end of year approaches, also list what changes to your daily life would make 2012 easier.
Purpose
Tomorrow is not just ‘another day’. Tomorrow is something far bigger and broader. Another world, another life, another way of being. When we look to the future we see infinite possibility. We realize we can take nothing for granted. This excites us and unnerves us. It makes us yearn for the adventure, which only change will bring. You stand on the threshold of a bright future. Do you want to run to it or from it? You can do either but you cannot do both choose whether you are going to be led by fear or faith, the rest will take care of itself.
The Bigger Picture
Living is a fine balance of letting go and hanging on. Creating a life of abundance and fulfillment begins by choosing positive thoughts. Because we tend to attract what we focus on the most in life, guarding the quality of our thoughts is a wise choice. If we begin to realize that we are thinking thoughts of lack or inadequacy we can choose to turn these thoughts around and focus on abundance. As we affirm our abundance, we automatically begin to draw more of it to ourselves.
When the lines get too long, the crowds get too loud, you’re just too tired, or the person in front of you won’t put the cell phone down and just drive, remember the reason for the season is about peace and joy …family and friends…and love…breath in, breath out. Or just laugh at the human condition.
Perfect peace, comfort and joy!
…M
“The quality of our lives is about treating each other well in every situation. We are all the trustees of one another’s happiness and well-being in life.” “We never touch people so lightly that we do not leave a trace.” ~ Dr. P.M. Forni – Johns Hopkins University