Living Serene in 2013

New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes.  Whatever it may be, just remember that each day is a new day to make a change....a change for the better.  It is always interesting to me how we seem to wait until the year's end to make changes....to make resolutions.  Throughout this past year, I have been reminded that each moment is a gift and THAT chance. We can transform in each and every moment.  We are in control of our reactions and more importantly our actions and our words. God gives us the ability to transform; to become more like the perfecter of our faith in each moment we exist.  Our job is use yoga for its soul purpose: to prepare the mind and body to meditate with God.  We need to allow our faith to be connoted; think of ourselves as being plugged in to our faith in each moment.  Allow others to see our faith in action, not just in our words.  To allow others to see that we are being the change we want to see in the world, of being an extension of God's love to each other and to this world.

2 Corinthians 3:18 New International Version (NIV)
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.


2 Corinthians 3:16-18 The Message (MSG)
Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are-face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us!  Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.


Personally, 2012 was a year of growth and gratitude for me.  I experienced things I never dreamed were possible; both good and trying.  My trials have dug DEEP trenches, but coming out of them has been all the more sweeter. I have been taught to let go of things that I have deeply clung to, to trust God no matter what, to trust my heart, to listen to my inner voice of God that guides me no matter what the outside world is saying.  It has been a year of reclaiming things.....slowly....that were set aside and needed to be gathered back up.  A year of getting my priorities  back into living sequence. All in all, it has been a GOOD year.  Each year is good though....each teaching what it has to teach if we are a willing and alert student.

We, the staff of Soleil Lune, are all on an amazing journey and each one of you has had something to do with it.  Whether you take our  classes, come to our workshops, or read this newsletter--you have been an inspiration to us!  Without each and every one of you, our jobs as yoga teachers would not be possible! Thank you all so much for making 2012 a landmark year for the studio!  We appreciate all your encouragement and especially your word of mouth-it is what makes and keeps me successful!

Thank you......although thank you just does not seem to do it.......

THANK YOU FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY SOUL AS WELL AS TO THE MOON AND BACK  for allowing this studio to exist, grow and be an amazing community!
 

With Utter Gratitude,

Trish

Yoga for Autumn

Yoga For Autumn: A Time To Surrender

Autumn has arrived in a gust of wind and a flurry of falling leaves. It’s a pretty picture and—looking through the lens of ayurveda, yoga’s sister science—it’s the picture of vata dosha. Autumn, the season of vata, can aggravate this dosha’s attributes: rough, dry, mobile, light, cool. It’s a good time for a bowl of hot soup…and an ideal time to take a look at where vata reveals itself in your yoga practice.

Of the three doshas, vata is the most easily disturbed or dis-arranged. Vata is associated with the elements of air and ether (space), so “vata derangement” is often blamed for restlessness or air-headedness. Excess vata can result from something as simple as a long flight or as complex as prolonged stress. But whatever the cause, you’ll likely recognize its effects.

Have you ever found it difficult to focus during meditation and asana? Do you tend to rush from one pose to the next, without taking time to experience the fruits of each? Do you spend your time in Shavasana (Corpse Pose) ticking over mental lists like errands or groceries? These signs of excessive vata are pretty obvious. But you’ll discover other, subtler clues within your asana. Take Tadasana (Mountain Pose). Are the corners of your feet evenly connected to earth, or has your weight shifted forward, as though you are poised to run? This is a sure sign of vata’s restlessness, as is clenching the toes. Gripping or clenching—the opposite of the yama of aparigraha (often translated as nongrasping)—suggests underlying fear or anxiousness. Anxiety is vata run rampant, and related conditions include insomnia and constipation.

On a deeper level, grasping represents a fear of letting go, like an autumn leaf clinging to a branch. Instead, surrender fully to your practice. The beauty of asana is that it uses the physical body as an entry point for addressing emotions and mental states that may be otherwise elusive. To balance vata’s restlessness, emphasize grounding and stability with standing poses. Let autumn become a metaphor: As your practice matures with time, your awareness ripens. Focus your awareness on savoring the fruits of each pose before moving on to the next.

Because vata is associated with the large intestine, cooler, dryer autumn is the season to focus on practices that strengthen intestinal fire: the pawanmuktasana digestive series, belly twists, bhastrika pranayama, etc. If you perform daily oil massage (excellent for balancing vata dosha), it’s time to switch to a “heating” oil like sesame. If the change in seasons has shifted your daily activities, reestablish a regular routine in order to ground vata. You can also simply move your mat into a sunny spot, and enjoy the delicious juiciness of a deeply centered asana practice.

Enjoy your fall and getting grounded as we all can use it!

Namaste~

Life's Lessons: From Here To There

Stay in tune with your spirit.  Be calm and think.  Listen to your inner voice.  Anticipate and plan.  Take 100% responsibility for your life.  Lean into your struggles.  Act with courage.  Maintain an open mind.  Practice kindness and compassion.  Keep your promises.  Forgive, let go, and move forward.  This is how you get from where you are to where you want to be.

I’ve learned these concepts gradually over the last two decades.  Together they have helped me live a life of purpose.  Had I understood these things 20 years ago, heck even 30 years ago, I could have avoided quite a bit of confusion and grief.  So today I figured I’d share a few more things I wish I had known sooner.  My hope is that they help you hurdle over some of the barriers I stumbled into on the road of life.

1. Loving someone should not mean losing YOU. – True love empowers you, it doesn’t erase you.  True love allows human beings to build amazing things, by working together through passion, kindness, and good will.  So be strong enough to stand alone, be yourself enough to stand apart, but be wise enough to share your love and stand together when the time comes.  Read The Mastery of Love.
2. Getting even doesn’t help you get ahead. – You will never get ahead of anyone as long as you try to get even with them.  Sometimes we don’t forgive people because WE feel they deserve the unforgiven-ness; like it will be some relentless thorn in their side and we smile at it.  We forgive them because they need it, because we need it, and because we cannot move forward without it.  To forgive is to rediscover the inner peace and purpose that at first you thought someone took away when they betrayed you.  In order to move ahead we need to be free of hatred and full of forgiveness and grace.  No One anyone else that does this???  Yep, get yourself connected with God so THAT is possible!!
3. You attract what you show to the world. – So if you want it, reflect it.  Joy, grace, freedom, and peace of mind are always attained by giving them out to others without expectation.  The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are eventually helped.  You have two hands; one to help yourself, the second to help those around you. God gave you two eyes so be sure you use them to SEE OTHERS' needs.
4. Failure is success when you learn from it. – Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.  Obstacles can’t stop you.  Problems can’t stop you.  Other people can’t stop you.  These barriers are temporary – they come and go.  Which is why, over the course of a lifetime, the only barrier that can truly stop you, is YOU.  So don’t give up.  Sometimes you have to journey through hell on Earth to find heaven on Earth.
5. You are not what you have done, but what you have overcome. – All the hardships.  All the mistakes.  All the rejections.  All the pain.  All the times you questioned why.  All of these things have given birth to the wisdom and strength that will help you shine your light on the world, even in the darkest of hours.  Read Emotional Freedom.
6. Your past can only hurt you today if you let it. – Do not pay any attention to what the past whispers if all it’s doing is bad-mouthing what today has to offer.  There are times when you need to release the bitterness and grab a firm hold of happiness, without permission and without reason.  The only way to get over the past is to leave it behind and absorb the lessons that need to be learned from it.  If you spend your time re-living moments that are gone forever, you might miss the special moments that are happening right now.
7. It’s never too late to become the person you are capable of being. – Repeat after me: “I AM FREE.”  You can fulfill your life purpose by starting here, in this moment.  The purpose of life is not to simply be happy, but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to make some kind of difference that you have lived at all.  Put your hand over your heart....you FEEL that?  That is purpose......God's purpose!!! Remember, life is constant change, but growth is optional.  Choose wisely, starting now.
8. Passion is important. – If you are trapped between your dreams and what other people think is right for you, always travel the route that makes you happy – unless you want everybody to be happy, except you.  And whatever you do, don’t chase the money.  Catch up to the ideas and activities that make you come alive.  Go for the things of greater value – the things money can’t buy – and use them to create a relevant profession.  God created you with exceptional gifts, you might as well get aligned and USE them!!  Read Quitter.
9. The pain is worth it. – You can’t really begin to appreciate life until it has knocked you down a few times.  You can’t really begin to appreciate love until your heart has been broken.  You can’t really begin to appreciate happiness until you’ve known sadness.  You have to struggle up the mountainside to appreciate the breathtaking view at the mountaintop.
10. Sometimes what you don’t want is what you need. – Sometimes the things you can’t change end up changing you for the better.  Master your responses to external events; don’t always attempt to control them.    Life offers us unique 'learning opportunities' and we might as well take advantage of them. You will rarely end up exactly where you wanted to go, but you will always end up exactly where you need to be. If you need to learn how neutralize your reactivity I have two simple statements:
• Have Faith.
• Do Yoga.

Namaste!
Trish

Obstacles are Lauchpads

Fall is a time of year where we all seem to see the change of seasons as a new starting point.  School is starting, our wardrobes are changing,  and most of us seem to have a re-birth of the January resolutions....and so let us begin together this transformational journey of ourselves and the world through yoga! AS practitioners of yoga, we are called not only by our faith but also by yoga philosophy to TRANSFORM.  Look inside and change what we can so we can begin to tip the world into being a better place.  Off our mat and into the world we go!

Our life isn't something we should take for granted. Its something we all have to embrace, much like our yoga; the good and bad of it all. We will fail or succeed to our greatest expectations. We should all have great expectations for and of ourselves :)  I plan to thrive and to lead myself to the tiptop of the mountain! Care to join me? I will fall on the way up there, but I will snatch that rope and tow myself back up no matter how much it hurts to do so. Are you willing to do the same?

We will leave things behind. But the one thing we can't leave behind is our dreams and our hopes. Disappointments and failures will happen, but they can't stop us from going forward. We shall FAIL FORWARD!! Our failing forward shall not get us heavy and make us fall. We will get up and make our way through, remembering that obstacles are launchpads!  Our obstacles will make us stronger, wiser,  and more compassionate beings!

We will love with wild abandonment the ones that are in our lives. Let us care about others....all of them! But don't let them pull you behind. We hold our destiny in our hands. We have to find where to put it; A slot where it fits and can stay forever.  Let our faith guide us to the right decisions.

An old saying "I will take the one less traveled by" inspires me to make great things happen for the world. I plan to win and slaughter my goals. As easy as it sounds it won't be. But I will never lose faith in doing what I love. What I am passionate for. And what satisfies me. Even if it is against the grain and many in my sphere of influence won't and can't understand.....well, at least not yet.....

Let's begin to BE the change we want to see in the world...to SEE and be SEEN. Write down the following 5 steps over the next month:

1. Your passion, your dream, your goal
2. The steps we need to take to begin (remember it takes one step to start a journey!)
3. Acknowledge the stumbling blocks/obstacles that daunt us into considering staying as is.  Determine if they are mental, physical, or emotional obstacles.  We can conquer anything!
4. How will your obstacles become your launchpads?
5. Create a deadline for our obtainable goal.  Tell a friend.  Yep, out loud and IN PERSON!!

It's not about what it takes to get there. It's about what the outcome is and the road we have and will travel.  Let's get going!

Namaste,

Trish

Getting Healthy From The Inside Out!

Food is not who you are. It is a way you communicate with the world. You express things through food, through eating, like you do through any art form, but it nevertheless is not who you are at your deepest essence. Your eating habits are merely habits, not your life or your vitality, though they may seriously enhance your life, your energy levels and your overall health.
There is so much attention given to diet and exercise as the solution to every health worry. There are at least a dozen new diets promising to make you forever young, cancer-free, heart healthy, thin,vibrant and   closer to God. Yet what lies at the core of every extreme diet is a fundamental rejection of who you are in the present moment. While you might do well to work with the part of yourself that still hungers for a Supersize Big Mac, thinking that the epicurean in you is bad, evil or unworthy creates unhealthy thought patterns that last for lifetimes. What all crash dieting misses is that when you reject a part of yourself along the way, even when you finally arrive at the goal of skinny body with perfect blood sugar and cholesterol levels, you are not fully happy.

Health and happiness are part and parcel of a total life perspective that includes genuine gratitude for the gift of life. In order to be deeply happy in a lasting way, you will need to develop a high degree of tolerance for the multitude of selves that you are. There is a part of you that loves culinary indulgence and another part that enjoys living a very pure life. In a truly integrated existence, there is no separation between these apparent extremes. You as a being in fact already contain them within you. The work of creating a yogic diet begins with accepting who you, what your basic likes and dislikes are and working with yourself in a patient, persistent and kind-hearted manner.

Solutions to your health problems that have at their basis a fundamental rejection of your basic worthiness do not lead to long term success or sustainability. Extreme crash diets can only last so long before you fall off the wagon. The truth about food is that the only diet that instills lasting change is one that embraces both who you are and who you want to be in the same loving light.

Unless you address some of the basic beliefs you hold about yourself, merely changing what goes into your mouth won't make you happy for the long haul. The inner world of your mind directs the physical world of your body. You hold certain thought patterns about food, life and self-esteem. The thoughts you keep in the hidden realms of your subconscious mind play a crucial role in your overall level of health. All food choices are reflections about your level of self-love, self-acceptance and self-appreciation. If you do not work on loving and appreciating your life, then no diet will make a deep impact in your sense of joyful living. If you want to begin working of your health, then begin to address the silently held judgments you have about yourself.

Health in a word is balance; it is a dynamic equilibrium that holds food, health, emotions, thoughts, your body, work, love, relationships and fun in a teetering sphere. When all these aspects dangle in harmony, you are filled with an effortless happiness and peace of mind that emanates forth from you.  It's a magnetic glow that's unmistakable.
Namaste!


Trish

Soleil Lune Yoga Center
29B South Main Street,
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
262-206-1285
www.yogatrish.com

Trish@yogatrish.com

Changed Forever

I am completely filled with GRATITUDE for my experience this past weekend.  I underwent the first half of the Visual Yoga Certification with the Deaf Yoga Foundation's Lila Lolling.  There are no words to express what it is like to be connected with people who are viewing the world the same way, who love yoga, who love God, and are so willing.....so willing to be seen  for who and what they are; A perfect mess with their own path, their own aspirations, new opportunities, new friendships and having some dreams come into clarity.

Have you ever had an experience where someone sees you?  I mean, really SEES YOU.  Not the physical you, but sees  your SOUL; the energetic you, the authentic you, the You that God made you to be?

Have you ever wondered why sometimes a yoga class FEELS like it was specifically designed for YOU and YOU alone?  It was as if the teacher could see what was going on within you and encouraged you to explore it, resolve it, reconcile, let go of it?

Have you ever stopped to wonder what it would be like to actually SEE someone soul to soul? How would that look?  How would you feel?  How would they feel?  We often see things through our various filters and often times we are so wrong....judging without realizing, formulating opinions in an instant, jumping to conclusions, basing things on past experience rather than the present moment, or hurrying through rather than waiting for God's guidance. 

What does it feel like to be in a situation where you ARE the fish out of water? Where you have to be raw....and just be there and trust that the other person will love you anyway and come around you to help, to lead, to mentor or simply to just BE with you?

This past weekend was all of those things for me. To simply BE the fish out of water and trust that my love for yoga, my love for God, and my love for my students would simply just be seen.  There was nothing I could do to express the gratitude not only for the teachings I received, but also for the presence of fellow teachers, interpreters, and students.  My voice was never heard and my hands were clumsy, my brain was racing and then.....yoga.....Breathe...and simply BE.  Connected with God and trusting that He would unfold in and through me whatever was within His will.

It was amazing to connect with everyone present, to hear everyone's stories, to hear their path which brought them to the studio.....to yoga and drawn to help make yoga accessible to everyone. Since my voice would not be heard, it was simply me being me....soul to soul contact.  Soul to soul communication, intention, love, support, and encouragement.  Each person was a fish out of water: teachers teaching visually and using their hands to communicate in a foreign language, interpreters learning the ebb and low of a yoga class and where they can best be seen to relay meaning, love, and support, students undertaking a modality that is new (for some brand new) and to trust that others would navigate the process for them and not leave them behind.

It brought me back to why I love yoga so much and why being a fish out of water is one our greatest teachers. It brings us back to the basics of being one of God's magnificent children connected to all other beings regardless of background, heritage, language, or culture.  We are to create community, soul to soul community, to see others and let ourselves be seen.  Being raw is so hard, so scary, but also so freeing.  It frees us to let go of boundaries, labels, etc in order to trust that God has a bigger plan, a bigger kind of love that transcends all of our understanding.  We can actually catch a glimpse of this in each person we encounter.

So my challenge is this--can we as a community allow ourselves permission to SEE others and not just look at them? Can we allow ourselves to BE SEEN and not our mask? 

Let's try to be the change we want to see in the world, soul to soul, side by side, sharing in love and community with one another and those we have yet to meet.......Onward.

Namaste (Truly.....NAMASTE)

Trish

Are you SEEING?

So there I was, off to a graduation party and I had to stop by the store to pick up some goodies to eat. As I walk into the store there is an older gentleman sitting on the bench, with grocery bags, a baseball cap, glasses......he was darling.  He smiled a gorgeous smile and said hello to me as I passed by. I returned his hello as I entered the store, did my shopping, returned to my car, and started on my way to the party.  As I was driving on Highway 67 and passing over Interstate 94, I saw a man walking on the opposite side of the road, carrying two heavy grocery bags, walking joyfully in the 98 degree heat during the hottest part of the day. It was the gentleman from the store!

 

Needless to say the Holy Spirit compelled me to turn around and go pick him up.  He accepted my offer of a ride and we began to chat.  He told me his name and all about the stores he went to: Aldi's and Pick-n-Save and commented on the prices of his items and how much he saved by purchasing his produce at Aldi's.  He was also proud that it only took him 90 minutes to walk to the store to get food for his family. 

 

Ok, did you hear me.....NINETY...that is 9-0 minutes to walk ONE WAY to the store.  That means going grocery shopping took this gentleman at least half a day.  Three hours alone in walking (he thought ahead and had lots of water with him for his dessert-like hike) plus another hour or two walking to two stores, shopping at each.  Now stop and think about that....

My mind and my heart were pricked..... 

• When was the last time you looked at the mundane things joyfully?
• When have you ever had your schedule demand three plus hours of walking just to provide your family with some food?  
• Would you do this task joyfully or laboriously?  
• Would you even had noticed him at the grocery store entrance had you been operating in your normal mode?  
• Would you have allowed your schedule to be interrupted to help someone you love WITHOUT begrudging your cost of time?  
• When was the last time or have you ever, had your day interrupted to help a stranger even though you had a schedule ahead of you?
• What if that was me? Would anyone stop? 

I drove him twenty minutes out of my way, saving HIM an hour and half of walking in fire blazing heat.  I sure was convicted and it changed my innermost being.  I need to be a vessel of God's love at all times. (Let's face it, we often are not!) I need to be open not only to helping those in need, but also by BEING AWARE of what and who is around me; who my path collides with. We are always being watched and our actions speak louder than our words....so think of all the interactions we have without even knowing it!  If someone were watching you from afar, what would they see? Would they see love, compassion, and joy? Or would they see someone on a mission without regard for his/her surroundings, self-absorbed with their to-do list of the day? 

 

Are your eyes and hearts open? 

 

Namaste, 

Trish 

 

Peace

Well....as I look forward toward my inward travel through my faith and my yoga, I am reminded of a story that has impacted me greatly.  Some of you have heard this more than once, but I feel it's worth repeating!

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried their luck. The king looked at all the representations, but there were only two that fascinated him. Ultimately, he had to choose between them.

The first depiction was of a calm and quiet lake. The lake was a perfect mirror of placid, pacific mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. It seemed a perfect picture of peace.

The other image had mountains too, but these were rugged and bare. Above was an enraged sky, from which rain fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a furious, foaming waterfall. When the king looked more closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush, growing in a crack in the rock. In that bush a mother bird had built her peewee nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest - in perfect peace!

Any idea, which one turned out to be the award-winning illustration? The king chose the second one. Why? "Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be cool, calm and collected in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

May you move all of your mountains, and disturb the peace by adding to it.

Namaste, 

Trish

The Theory of the Dipper and the Bucket

 

Each of us has an invisible bucket.  It is constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us.  When our bucket is full, we feel great.  When it's empty, we feel awful.

 

Each of us also has in invisible dipper.  When we use that dipper to fill other people's buckets--by saying or doing things to increase their positive emotions--we also fill our own bucket.  But when we use that dipper to dip from others' buckets--by saying or doing things that decrease their positive emotions--we diminish ourselves.

 

Like the cup that runneth over, a full bucket gives us a positive outlook and renewed energy.  Every drop in that bucket makes us stronger and more optimistic.

 

But an empty bucket poisons our outlook, saps our energy, and undermines our will.  That's why every time someone dips from our bucket, it hurts.

 

So we face a choice every moment of every day: We can fill one anothers' buckets, or we can dip from them.  It's an important choice--one that profoundly influences our relationships, productivity, health and happiness.

~taken from 'How Full is Your Bucket?' by Rath

Let's all get to bucket filling!!

Trish

Have Faith Do Yoga. Love Life. Do Good. Live Intentionally.

Ever wonder what your life is all about? I was trying to figure out the purpose of my life, what I wanted to do, be, and how I wanted to contribute. I had a lot of thoughts flowing through my mind about what sort of life I wanted to create and experience and came up with a short phrase to remind me what is truly important to me and that's how, "Have Faith Do Yoga. Love Life. Do Good. Live Intentionally."

Have Faith

Believe in something greater than yourself. Face the barriers that keep you from God. Rather than saying 'the Bible isn't true, what about asking 'what if it IS true?' Find someone you trust and discuss your thoughts, fears, and barriers. If we already have faith, then are we allowing the Holy Spirit to work IN and THROUGH us or are we just giving God some lip service and checkmark action? Seriously, God created ALL and he expects us to do His work here. It is through us that others meet God for the first time....remember that.....it is a halting thought isn't it?

Do Yoga

If you don't know my story, then please ask me! Yoga is a great way to connect you to yourself and allow you to get out of your own way so that God can do His magic: transformation, healing, mercy, grace, peace.....the list never quits. We can stretch, feel good, strengthen, works stuff out, release things too, find community in the studio space, learn to sit down on the inside and the outside......we can sweat, we can relax, we can ramp up, dig deep, back off, chill.....it's all good! What are you waiting for? How come your practice isn't as consistent as you want it to be? Why do we let go of the things that fill our bucket when lie starts to slam us around? Let's reclaim our sanity, stay on your m at, not matter what.....and just breathe....good comes of all things. Remember that.

Love Life

In essence, love everything around you, people, nature, moments, experiences, God, and so on. It's about realizing that life is a gift. It's about cherishing the relationships and bonds that we have with the people in our life. It's about remembering that life would be pretty lame without them. It's about loving ourselves for who we are and seeing enough in ourselves to follow our dreams.

It's often easy to forget these things with all of the challenges and stress that goes on in everyday life. But if you've ever had the experiencing of seeing a loved one going through their final days, you all of the sudden realize that most of the little things people fuss about isn't all that significant in the whole grand scheme of things and even the little moments of happiness can mean the world to you.

Something as simple as flying a kite at the park can suddenly be one of the cherished memories you have that can bring you to tears. It's about remembering that our time here is limited and not to waste too much of it doing pointless things. We only live once so we gotta make this life count.

Do Good

This basically means to give back. Whether it's donating time, money, sharing knowledge, experience, chocolate or anything else, as long as we are making some positive impact. Feel like you're doing something to contribute to the world no matter how small; the small things add up to big things!!

You may be in a position where giving is tough. Whether you don't have much money or much time, giving isn't always an easy thing to do. If you're in this situation, then work hard on improving your life and putting yourself in a better position to help others. Some people just do enough to help themselves and that's fine. However, if you ever have the urge to do so, consider reaching beyond your own needs. The feeling of making a positive impact on someone's life is just amazing.

Doing good doesn't have to be anything big either. It could be anything from creating music that others will enjoy to making videos that put a smile on people's face to running a marathon for some cause to inspiring people to giving some of their time to making a small donation to your favorite charity. It is as simple as buying a cup of coffee for the next person who strolls into the coffee shop next; yep, pay it forward. Try it.

It's also a reminder to just be kind to people. Sure, we all have our differences but who's to say that if you grew up in the other person's shoes that you wouldn't end up being the same way? If you strip away the outer layer, you'll find that most of us want the same things. We want to be loved, be accepted, feel secure, and know that our existence matters to someone.

Live Intentionally

To me, this means to live a healthy as well as live in-the-present-moment life. It is being in a position where you work because you want to instead of working because you have to. This just plain makes life more enjoyable. Taking care of your health shouldn't be something you start doing only after your doctor tells you some bad news. Another piece of junk food isn't going to harm you. Another cigarette isn't going to kill you. Not exercising today won't matter much to your health. However, doing these things each day over a certain amount of time will destroy your health. It takes some discipline, but would you rather be 60 and healthy or living each day in pain, having tubes hooked up to you, and feeling bad for being a burden on your loved ones?

Each moment we have here on earth is a GIFT...do you hear that? We often get too involved with our circumstance and worry about our tomorrow. Why not worry about today, in the moment you are in right now? What would it be like to have someone's undivided attention rather than competing with their cell phone? What would it be like to actually listen to the person you are talking to rather than jumping ahead to what you are going to say? What would it be like to allow your schedule to be interrupted to help someone out? Now think about if YOU were on the opposite end of those things: what would it be like if your friends heard every word you said and wasn't distracted when you spoke to them? What if you had a need a friend or stranger saw your need and met it without asking? Be intentional. Be then change you want to see in the world!! It starts with YOU. 

So you have heard this before....Put your hand on your heart....feel that? That is purpose. You have one...go out and live out loud. Use your passion to fuel your fire. Enjoy and appreciate the people around you. Stop saying I WISH and say I WILL!  Seize opportunities that reveal themselves.  Listen more and Talk less. FORGIVE. Be Fair. Choose to be Positive. Work hard. Spread Good Vibes. Have Faith. Do Yoga. 

  

Onward,

Trish

Lessons to Learn

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there.  To serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be but when you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, will power or heart.

 

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.  Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. 

 

The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. 

 

If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart. 

 

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and to open your heart and eyes to little things. Make every day count. 

 

Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. 

 

Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. 

 

Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Create your own life and then go out and live it. 

 

"If you take your eyes off your goals, all you see are obstacles." 

 

Put your hand on your heart....feel that? That is purpose. You have one...go out and live out loud. Use your passion to fuel your fire. Enjoy and appreciate the people around you. Stop saying I WISH and say I WILL!  Seize opportunities that reveal themselves.  Listen more and Talk less. FORGIVE. Be Fair. Choose to be Positive. Work hard. Spread Good Vibes. Have Faith. Do Yoga.

  

Go get 'em.....Namaste,

Trish

Purpose

A very dear friend of mine is in a place that will take her to a new adventure; a new chapter in her life. She wrote an email that I just have to share with you as it is so profound and reflects much of what we embrace at the studio.....

From the email....

Take it for what it is but below is just a glimpse of what I have learned (just a few of the highlights...I have a long list of lessons) ...and how I am able to use that to push me forward to take the leap to my next adventure.

• Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. Sure- challenges, setbacks and hills are a part of living...but keep your eyes moving forward and focus on all the good that is still all around you.  It's in the valleys that we grow.  Having an attitude of gratitude will always provide a healthy perspective on everything. Always.

• A year from now - you will wish you had started today - if there is something that you see that you want...put a plan in place and go after it.  Strive to be the best you can be. And be okay with that.

•  "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." - If you want something to change- you have to do and think and act differently...you have to believe that life does not get better by chance- but by change and being brave enough to make it happen.

• Its only when we are uncomfortable that we are growing.  Easy.  Sometimes we find ourselves on autopilot and going through the motions...and some people  comfortable within that and that is acceptable for where they are it- I think and dream big because I truly believe that life does begin when you cross the line and step outside your comfort zone. I will go anywhere...as long as its forward.

• Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow." -Mary Anne Radmacher

I think most important thing that I want to share with you is never to give up- If there is something you want to try, to accomplish, to pursue...do what you can to make it happen.  Many times that starts with the simple belief that you not only can...but you will. Life will not wait for you.

Put your hand on your heart...feel that? That is purpose. You have one...go out and live out loud. Use your passion to fuel your fire. Enjoy and appreciate the people are around you. Stop saying I WISH and say I WILL.. Seize opportunities that reveal themselves.  Listen more and Talk less. FORGIVE. Be Fair. Choose to be Positive. Work hard.

Finally...after all of that- remember that you are a human- BEING and not a human-DOING;  Take time to enjoy the simple things in life, be thankful for where you are at and even more thankful for the awesome future that you have waiting for you. Life is meant to me lived if you allow yourself to live it.

I am ready to leap into the unknown...and I know the net will appear. 

 "20 years from now you will be disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the one's you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -Mark Twain

This may be your favorite 2 ½ minutes of the day and sums it up perfectly for me:

Thanks for being. (and thank you friend for sharing this!!)

Namaste

Trish

Becoming Our Best

A yoga posture demonstrated by a master level practitioner is often the epitome of grace and ease. Yet when the novice student attempts to mirror these same movements the degree of difficulty is immediately evident. The real test of a yoga practitioner comes when the path ahead is laid out clearly and the student must  choose whether to commit to each step of the journey regardless of difficulty.
 

While the inner path is sometimes arduous, long and painful, it is also immensely rewarding, filled with timeless joy and  one of the only sources of real, lasting peace once connected with God. Each practitioner of yoga goes through periods of injury, pain and discomfort, but not every practitioner has the dedication, heart and courage to find the light at the end of the tunnel. Those who maintain a relationship with their practice over a number of years begin to understand just how much it takes to make yoga a lifelong practice. There are moments of doubt, intense suffering and emotional turmoil as well as moments of bliss, ecstasy and realization. What commitment to yoga over a lifetime really demands is total devotion.

It is through the practice of dedicating yourself to your yoga practice everyday regardless of pain or pleasure that you learn the meaning of devotion. By traversing the murky jungle of the body and mind through yoga you develop the strength and fortitude of spirit needed to face life with dignity. By devoted yourself totally to the path of yoga you learn what it really means to surrender yourself to something. Before that moment of complete dedication there is always the chance to pull out, draw back or quit. But when you devoted yourself wholly your intention, energy and spirit moves mountains to create the real possibility of transformation. It is through the power of devotion that yoga changes your life.

When I started practicing yoga,  I was deeply inspired by the masterful articulation of handstands and arm balances. For nearly five years I devoted myself entirely to the study of yoga with a special emphasis on the development of strength and steadiness in the body and mind. It is because I lived and died for strength and a quietness within in my yoga practice for a number of years that I now consider myself much stronger. It is because I followed the path of yoga through injury, pain, doubt, discomfort and disillusion all the way through into peace, joy, acceptance and love that I now share what I have learned through teaching. It is yoga that lead me to discover my own inner strength, a quiet voice that was always there though I did not know how to awaken it. Yoga brought my relationship with God to a whole new level.  I was learning the art of surrender of my own ego, my own determination to plow through obstacles no matter what the cost, and most importantly, my own spirit so that God could move in and take up more space within me.

When you begin your practice you will learn how ready you are to be truly devoted to God, yourself, and to yoga. When you commit yourself fully to your chosen goal, be it in your yoga practice or in the world, there is nothing that can stop you. My road to Ironman was just living proof of my faith relationship and my dedication to yoga.  All the lessons I learned on my mat brought to that start line and to the finish......oh that glorious finish!

A lifetime commitment to yoga teaches you the power of the deepest level of devotion. Whether you practice six days a week or only two times a week as long as yoga remains in your life over time you will delve deeper into the inner world and know what it means to fully surrender yourself to God and the path of yoga.

Our mats can become our mirrors and can show us areas that need growth and others than need to be pruned back or completely let go of. All we need to do is be open to the Spirit's voice within that guides us in the right way...every time...every day.  Finding THAT peace within our self, allows us to become the kind of person who can live at peace with others and find goodness in all things.

When you are able to maintain your attention on your deepest dreams with the type of unwavering focus and heartfelt dedication that yoga teaches you, then you will also know the exhilarating feeling of actualizing your dreams in the world.  TRISH WASHBURN YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!  Nothing is sweeter......well....okay, God my husbnad, and my children.  I want them to have the best and that means the best of me.


Namaste,
Trish