Every morning is the birth of a new day and an opportunity to do something incredible.  I am only human and know that there are some days when my alarm clock goes off and the absolute last thing I want to do is get out of bed.  But I do, I rise up to greet the day with a grateful mind and thankful heart.  It is not my body that makes me get up, it is the discipline needed to be the person I want to be.

My disciple makes mornings roll like a movie, it is a well memorized routine that I can do without thinking.  The moment I step on my mat to begin my morning practice, my discipline heightens and I am able to give all my energy to each vinyasas.  It is easy to get lazy in the mornings but I tell myself not to waste any moment on the mat and to give everything I have.


Along with my disciple it is crucial to have a strong will power.  The will to make a change for the better, the will to be the best person you can be, and the will to commit and follow through with passion.

It takes the combination of will power and discipline to make a lifestyle change.  I remember way back when I first started taking yoga and wanted to recreate my life and make it something I would be proud of.  It was one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys in my entire life.  To anyone who is beginning a change for the better and is expending their will power and discipline, here are some aspects of them I learned along my way.

1. Will power has limited energy and can be easily expended.  It is difficult learning to say no, make the right decision, or turning back when things get difficult.  The easy way out will always be present, but it is your decision to continue progressing.  Know your will power and avoid tempting situations that may push you over the edge.

2. Focus on one or two goals so you are not wearing yourself thin.  I still have the tendency to throw myself into too many projects making them take longer than they should.  I try making it a point to only make one or two realistic goals with measurable success every step of the way.

3. And when I finally reach a goal or a milestone, I make sure to acknowledge my accomplishment.  I have learned to write down what I did each day to become closer to my goal.  With my will power and discipline I know I will reach the goal, it is just a matter of getting that far.
 
To anyone out there just beginning a journey, know that there will be challenges and obstacles in your way.  But remember that with the power of your mind through your will and discipline anything is possible.

Namaste

Every day we are bombarded with people telling us how to live our lives, what is good for us, and what to believe.  But how often do we listen to these people and does it really change the way we thing?  I was having tea with an acquaintance a few days ago and after our tea and conversation she told me that I was an inspirational person.  I felt honored she felt that way towards me and a little stunned.

I got to thinking, everyone in our life is put there for a reason; whether it is to inspire you or to help guide you in a certain way.  I have been blessed to have met some truly inspirational people and have read the works of some of the world’s most influential and inspiring people.  I want to share some of the people who have inspired me to be the person I am today.

•    Mahatma Gandhi- His profound spirituality and belief in justice has arguably inspired all of mankind.  By believing in his cause, he showed us that persistence and working for a cause you believe in can change the world.  He inspired me to be persistent in my beliefs and never give up. 
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” –Mahatma Gandhi



•    Buddha- Many people are unaware of the story behind Buddha.  He was a young prince who gave up the comforts of being prince to seek the meaning of life in meditation in forests.  After finding the meaning of life, he traveled India teaching meditation and inner peace as a spiritual teacher.  The simplistic and spiritual life he lived has inspired me to live the way I do, and to strive for constant growth of knowledge.
“The mind is everything.  What you think you become.” –Buddha



•    Nelson Mandela- His campaign for justice and freedom in South Africa personifying struggle was inspiration for the people of his country and those of the world.  He became the first democratic president of South Africa after he spent 20 years in jail because of his opposition to apartheid.  He inspired me to believe in a cause and not to back down when the majority is against it.  His character and leadership is second to none.


“There is no passion to be found playing small- in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” –Nelson Mandela

You probably were aware of the good works of all these inspiring people, but how often do you think about them and really feel appreciative for their inspiration.  I hope this list helps you find inspiration, help you pursue goals, and works towards becoming a better person.  It is never too late to become an inspirational person, but it requires extraordinary will power and strength. 

Be inspiring.

Namaste.

“Faith means belief in something concerning which doubt is theoretically possible.” –William James
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary faith is a “strong belief or trust in someone or something.”  I believe that having faith in something is essential in a healthy human existence.  Faith is an expression of hope that there is something better.  I believe faith is engrained in our minds from the first day on this earth.  It is more than just a wish for something, it is a firm believing and spiritual connection to something greater.



Faith is an expression that goes beyond the conscious mind.  I believe faith is one of the original expressions of the human heart.  Our hearts provide faith in things that are uncertain.  The uncertainty in the future of humanity is indisputable, but people are still having kids because they have faith in humanity and what is to come.
Is faith the key to eternal happiness?  The easier it becomes to live in this world, the easier it is to lose faith.  With technology a pivotal part in the way the world turns, I believe we are losing faith and happiness.  Because of technology, things are becoming more convenient and the need to believe in a greater good is becoming less necessary.  There is no need to put faith in the earth that it will yield food because we have supermarkets and grocery stores.  Without faith we lose the little aspects of life that bring happiness.




Faith is what enables positive growth and movement in everyday life.  It is what keeps the mind and emotions balanced.  It provides peace, support, comfort, security, and awareness that there is something better to come.

People who lack faith are those who are trapped in bad situations, jobs they hate, and relationships that are going nowhere.  They stay in circumstances that don’t make them happy because they don’t have faith that something better will come along.

Whether you are a religious person or not, we can agree that faith is one of the most important things in life.  I believe it is a quality that we are born with and as we grow older we define it in our own unique way. 
“Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into.” –Mahatma Gandhi

Faith is a doorway to the greater good of the world, recognizing that we need faith in humanity is the first step to opening the door.

Namaste,




Anita

Growing up I celebrated Christmas, the religious holiday, with my family, but as I grew up and decided I would form my own spirituality I began celebrating December (winter) Solstice.  I honor the cycles and the seasons that remind us of the ever changing flow of life that we are part of.  Obviously, you cannot get rid of Christmas in today’s society but, I put my effort in celebrating and having a Solstice party.





Sunday, December 21st was the Winter Solstice.  And just like the past 7 years, we hosted a Winter Solstice dinner party at our house for our good friends that celebrate it as well.  It is great to have friends that have similar beliefs and enjoy celebrating aspects of the earth….we also have a summer solstice party too! :D

At our party we celebrate the “light” coming back to the world.  After the solstice the days begin to get longer and nights get shorter, meaning the sun will be out longer.  At our celebration we make a big dinner, similar to the one I used to make when celebrating Christmas, give gifts, usually have a campfire and engage in conversation all night. 

Even though we have good friends that understand what the Winter Solstice is about, I often get questions from students in my yoga class or other acquaintances what it is.  Here are a few common questions I get-
What is the December (winter) Solstice?  The winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon where the sun in in the furthest part of the southern sky.   It is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. After the winter solstice the days begin to get longer and the nights get shorter.  It is the first (unofficial) day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer in the Southern.  Below is a map of the world during the time of the solstice.




Is it related to Christmas?  Some believe it is because there is no date in the bible that specifically says December 25 was the birth of Christ.  The December solstice is tied to many cultures and events including the Mayan apocalypse scare that marked the end of their calendar.

Do you decorate for the solstice? Yes we do.  We decorate the house with evergreens and wreaths representing the rebirth of the circle of life.  We decorate the house with candles, lights, mirrors, prisms, and everything that creates light to welcome back the light.



The winter solstice is a magical time when we acknowledge our incredible earth and the change in seasons.  Even though the winter solstice has past, make your calendars to celebrate the summer solstice on June 21, 2015.

Happy Solstice!

Namaste

Anita

Being a spiritual person has made me who I am today.  Looking back at old pictures reminiscing and reliving my childhood make me so happy I was raised the way I was.  Growing up my parents were very religious.  I went to services with them until I was about 13 then they let me make the decision if I wanted to go or what spirituality I wanted believe.  I continued to go with my parents until I got to high school, then I only went with them on holidays.  When I went to college and found yoga, I quickly adopted a holistic approach to spirituality.  I was so grateful my parents let me choose what I wanted to believe in from my own experiences.  …on a side note, after I saw the movie, Life of Pi, I felt such a connection to Pi while he was experiencing different religions and forms of spirituality.  It was truly an incredible film. Check out the clip here.

I often pose the question to myself, what is a human life without the attention to the aspects of life beyond our physical, emotional, and mental concerns?  Through the ways of the world and my love for humanity I defined my own meaning of spirituality.  Although I have no tangible believes system, I have my ideas and a unique belief’s that work for me.   When I began practicing yoga, it awoke my spirit even more that I would have imagined.  Being able to be one with my mind, body, and spirit and open my heart is such a way, made me realize how much more the world has to offer.  I embrace all the natural world and work to contribute my part to it. 

I focus on the natural abilities of the human anatomy and how I can maintain my spirituality as one with my physical body.  I do what I believe is good for my body; what is healthy and what I feel is emotionally right.  Devoting time each day to reflect on who I am, how I can service society and help take care of the world is very important to my spirituality. 



I believe in positive energy and negative energy.  Each human being has their own energy they contribute to the world.  I believe that through actions you can make your energy stronger or even change your type of energy.  Going along with changing energies, I believe in karma.  The sum of a person’s actions decides the fate of their future.  I believe that karma is not a punishment for actions, but a result in those action.

As a spiritual person, I focus on enjoying every day, embracing who I am, and appreciating the world around me.  To maintain my spiritual health I spend time meditating, doing yoga, reflecting on each day, and spending time trying to make the world a better place.




Although others may not understand my spirituality, I know how I view it and help make the world a better place because of it.

Namaste.