Don't waste your time!

Most of you that take my yoga classes know that I try to encourage a balance between work and rest, or effort and ease. In my recent posts, I have encouraged rest and finding ways to stay warm and cozy. I'm under my snuggie blanket drinking turmeric tea as I write this, so yes, it does feel good to warm up and rest on a dark and cold January evening.

Given that, it is also important to keep moving and be involved as an active participant in this thing called life. There are plenty of us out there who are struggling with health issues, dealing with grief, worrying about financial struggles, or adjusting to divorce and the loss of a marriage. The bottom line is that we are not promised a life full of happiness and ease. Sometimes things are just hard and we can do nothing but continue to put one foot in front of the other. We all know the truth: that we tend to take our good health, our relationships, our jobs and so much more for granted.

Today, use your time to care for yourself and tend to those around you. Little things DO matter, so find ways to act with love and tenderness and take time to do things well. Don't take the time that you have been given for granted. Cherish it!

Life really is a balancing act. Rest some and restore. But don't sit on the sidelines while life passes you by. Work some, rest some. Seek to find a balance each day of effort and ease.

Joy in the simple things

Hygge is a Danish word (say HUE-gah) for finding ways to be grounded and savoring the joys of simple pleasures.  As I was reading about this concept in the local paper, I thought about the harshness of our Minnesota winters and how easy it can be to fall into a pattern of complaining and grumbling about the cold. Yes, my skin is so dry that my knuckles are cut up and scraped easily and I cannot seem to put on enough lip balm or moisturizer, yet as I wrote in an earlier post, I am trying this January to re-train my brain to focus on beauty, coziness, and warmth. I am drinking and savoring hot tea or enjoying a glass of wine by the fire, I have committed to wearing a warm hat even though it is a pain, because it keeps me warm and comfortable. I am working to be deliberate about enjoying ways that I can find warmth and activities that feel soothing and calming. 

I'd love to hear from you...how are you finding small ways to enjoy the beauty of winter? Stay warm and cozy out there!

Celebrate and Savor

As many of you know, I am not a huge fan of winter and in particular, the month of January. This year,  I am trying to change my mind about winter and find ways to celebrate and enjoy the season we are in. Yup, windchill and all!
My yoga classes all begin for the new year this week. I am hoping to develop some themes for classes around finding ways to celebrate and enjoy what winter brings. Winter should be a time to seek warmth and connection, a time to cozy up with a good book and warm tea, a time to reflect and rest and dig deep. Expect some class time that is restful and restorative, along with class time that fires up our internal heat where we will play with the notion of Tapas (persistence, dedication, heat and discipline).
I can't wait to see all of you again and to welcome some new yogis to our group. May this month of January be full of warm reunions, connections, and a sense of belonging. Til then, drink something warm and soothing, light a candle, wear warm gloves and a hat, and eat good foods with some spice and heat so that you feel nourished, warmed, and satisfied. See you on the mat!

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017!

Happy New Year to All!

Whether you are someone who sets New Year resolutions or not, you are probably finding yourself looking back on the year that has passed, and beginning to plan and look forward to the year ahead. Through it all, try to practice some mindfulness and being truly present in the day to day so that you can soak up all the abundance and beauty around you!

All of my Yoga Moodra classes start fresh next week, beginning January 9th. Class details/times are listed on the sidebar to the left.  I hope that 2017 will be a year full of presence, peace and prosperity for all. I am SO looking forward to getting back on the mat with all of you!!

If you are new to yoga and want to check out my classes or learn a bit more about me, have a look at the website for Yoga Moodra (accessible with a click of the website button at the top left of the screen). Contact me if you have specific questions about whether my classes are a good fit for your circumstances. You can pay a drop in fee of $10 to try any class. When you do, hopefully you will be thrilled and surprised and want to join all of us for a full session!

Peace, love, yoga!

Last classes of the year!

Here it is, December! Yoga Moodra classes are in session this week at all 3 locations. Yoga sessions for 2017 will begin the week of January 9th and all the details can be found on the left side of this blog page. If you're not enrolled in the current session, you can still attend a class this week by paying a $10 drop in fee. Add a bit of time and space for good health and reflection to your busy holiday season. You'll be glad you did!
See you on the mat!

Kindness

The world needs kindness. Think about it, hopefully you can remember little instances when people were gracious, patient with you, or took a moment to ask you how you were doing. Of course, as humans, we also remember times when others hurt us, shamed us or made us feel inadequate. Choosing to focus on positive interaction can be a real challenge at times, but it can do so much to shape our outlook and improve the lives of others.

I talk about "lovingkindness" in yoga classes because it is such a powerful tool for feeling better and more contented with ourselves. When we feel content and confident and loved, we approach all of our interactions in a softer and more generous way. When we fall or feel wobbly in a yoga pose, we can choose to react with irritation and embarrassment, or we can giggle, or simply start over. Recognizing that all of us feel a bit wobbly and uncertain once in awhile helps us relate to ourselves and others with a bit more softness and compassion.

Our world needs love. Our world needs kindness. Use what you experience on the mat to help you be a loving presence for others. It doesn't need to be dramatic; calling someone by name,  helping someone feel comfortable or welcome, waving and smiling at someone as you allow them to merge in front of you in traffic...  all of these are small acts that have a big impact. Spread some kindness. You will feel great and so will those around you.

appreciate the little things

Well, just when I thought I would have a bit more time this summer to commit to this blog and other activities, I got a bit side-lined with some health concerns. (No worries, nothing big and earth shattering or scary health-wise....I will be fine).

What any illness or limitation always does is it highlights just how much we take for granted in terms of our physical health and wellbeing. Now that I have some mobility issues in one shoulder, I am keenly aware of the fact that I cannot fully bring both of my arms up and overhead to feel the expansiveness of upward mountain. Heck, even dressing myself can feel painful! A friend of mine recently had a stroke and will be addressing weakness on one side of the body and issues with balance. For most of us, we really don't appreciate the ability to walk and balance until we suddenly lose these skills. When we pause and consider how glorious it is to walk, talk, breathe, find joy in movement, and move throughout our day with strength and ease, our attitude and awareness shifts to all that we take for granted.

So in the midst of a busy fall season, while it may sound trite and simplistic, take a moment to be grateful for your body. Feed it well, care for it, and be so thankful if you are blessed with good health.  Healthy habits are great, but they are also no guarantee that we will never be ill. Cherish the body you are in today and enjoy the gift of breath and movement in whatever ways your body and health will currently support.

May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you live with ease.
May all people be happy, may all people be healthy, may all people live with ease.