Everyone has days when they question themselves and misplace the drive and determination they once had. 

There are days when I need something to lift my spirits and give me reassurance that what I am doing is right. 

Today, one of my students said she wasn’t going to be back.  Of course I asked why?  She was feeling discouraged about her growth from yoga and questioning if it was really doing her any good.

It is always difficult hearing my student’s struggles but it is human nature to feel disheartened when things are not the way imagined.  I listened to her concern and just asked her to take some time to reflect on her journey thus far and be grateful for how far she had come from beginning a few months ago.  She said she would and left with a smile. 

I have a feeling after reflecting she will be back.

Everyone gets down sometimes, I even question things once in a while.  I have put together some of my inspiration to keep my disciple and will power strong in questioning times.

If you are feeling like what you are doing isn’t benefiting you or feeling like you can’t get better, you can.  Please just take time to reflect and read what inspires me, maybe it will inspire you as well.

• There are no competition or judgment in Yoga.
• The past has no power over the present moment.
• The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.
• Yoga is not about self-improvement. It’s about self-acceptance.
• When you make a choice, you change the future.
• The quieter you become, the more you can hear.
• The attitude of gratitude is the highest Yoga.
• The mind is above time and space. If you decide not to complain it will immediately compensate you with intuition. 

Tis the season for thankfulness and gratitude.  

With thanksgiving behind us and the solstice and warmth ahead there is so much to be thankful for.

We had a wonderful thanksgiving at home.  It was very relaxing just my partner and me.  Even though we are together all the time, when we prepare dinner for a holiday together it makes it so much more special. He gives me so much to be thankful for.

After Thanksgiving pasted, I felt a shift in the energy from everyone around me.  The feelings of thankfulness and gratitude left and stress and fast paced days quickly engulfed the world around.  I understand that for many people the holidays are a stressful time because of all the societal pressures, but that is not the meaning of the holidays.  This is supposed to be a time of rejoice, gratefulness and happiness.

In my quiet moments of the day, I like to reflect on my life and how I have grown into the woman I am today.  By paying attention to my thoughts and directing them to positives and happy thoughts, I can focus my mind on what I chose to.  I am only human and sometimes I need to help direct my mind to the thankfulness and happy thoughts.  I have a list of some quotes that help reset my thoughts and get back on the right track!

If you are feeling the pressures of the holidays and society, try reading some of my thought provoking quotes to help you redirect the way of your mind.

• Making one person smile can change the world, maybe not the whole world but, their world.
• Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.
• If you really want to do something, you will find a way.  If you don’t you will find an excuse.
• Be happy. Be yourself.  If others don’t like it, then let them be.  Happiness is a choice. Life isn’t about pleasing everybody.
• No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day with a thankful heart.  Someone somewhere is wish for a life like yours.
• The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.
• When you choose to see the good in others, you end up finding the good in yourself.
• No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow your progress is, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.
• Smile, be happy, be who you want to be, you only have one life to live.  Live it!

If you are feeling down, just read some of these and maybe you can change the way you are thinking.

Namaste.

Anita

Every so often I like to channel some new inspiration into my life.  Whether I find it in a beautiful flower outside, a new book, or a quote that really resonates with me the inspiration brings a new aspect into my life.  I love when something short or small can ignite such thought or feeling from within.  When I find my inspiration I incorporate it into my practice and reach another level of sensitivity.

There are times when I feel discouraged or find myself questioning everything.  In times like those I turn to a few of my favorite quotes about yoga.  The moment I read them I immediately remember the depth and power of my practice. Here are some quotes and photos that I find extremely inspirational.

“What your thoughts; they become words.  Watch your words; they become actions.  What your actions; they become habits.  Watch your habits; they become character.  Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny.” – Upanishads


“Don’t move the way fear makes you move.  Move the way love makes you move.  Move the way joy makes you move.” –Osho
“Yoga teaches us not to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.” –B.K.S. Iyengar

“He who conquers others is strong.  He who conquers himself is mighty. –Lao Tzu


“There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and the life of the candle will not be shortened.  Happiness never decreases from being shared. –Buddha
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you.” –Walt Whitman

I hope I helped you find some new inspiration as well.  Where do you find your inspiration and how do you channel it into your practice?

Namaste.

Anita

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

Being free from the restraints of societal expectations and truly expressing yourself is something adults in today’s society rarely experience.  As we grow up the expectations about how you should act, what you should wear, what you should do, and how to live your live become so overwhelming it is easy to forget who we really are.



I envy childhood innocence.  Children don’t care what others think about them or what consequences something might cause.  Children do what they feel is right, and live and learn.  They are the most creative, curious, and intriguing human beings on this earth.

I find a study done by UCLA very interesting and sad at the same time.  It showed that a 5 year old acts creatively 98 times per day, laughs 113 times, and keeps curious by asking 65 questions.  In opposition, a 44 year old had 2 creative acts a day, 11 laughs, and 6 questions.  It is shocking how much society changes us and how we lose our inner child.

I think that dropping inhibitions and reconnecting with your inner child is the best thing anyone can do.  I try living free from the expectations of society but it is very difficult to do so.

To bring more joy, wonder, and creativity into my life I try focusing on these things.

• Letting my guard down is the best way to focus on living in the present.  I was brought up learning to have your guard up at all times to protect yourself from potential disappointments.  I have realized that this is no way to live.  I was muffling my innocence and removing my inner child from everyday life.  I now, try to remain open to everyone and every experience that comes my way.  I believe that everything happens for a reason, so why try changing what the universe already has planned.

• Being goofy and having fun can be difficult after years of suppressing our inner child.  There are nights my partner and I dance around the living room, laugh, and goof off until our stomachs hurt from all the laughing.  It feels good to let go of everything and just be silly every once and a while.

• Finding ways to be creative and innovative is one of my favorite ways to channel my inner child.  I channel my spirituality with my inner child and create expressive projects.  When I am feeling the pressures form society and stress, I sit down and start doodling.  It usually doesn’t turn into a beautiful piece of art but it releases tension and reconnects me with my soul and inner child.



By working to drown out all the noise that society floods us with to silence our inner child, it forces us to dig deeper to find ways to reconnect.  Embracing life in a playful and childlike state of mind makes for a much happier life.  Finding my inner child was one of the greatest things I have learned to do.  Try finding yours.

Namaste.

After my yoga classes, I often with a few of my students that have taken my class for a while.  Today we went to grab some coffee at a local coffee shop and catch up.  One topic we discussed was feeling tired during the day and before and after a workout.  It is common for people to get fatigued after an exhausting day at work, but if it happens often there could be a problem or a lifestyle change that can help.



In today’s society we are constantly running around and expending our energy.  It is unfortunate that feeling tired has become a normal, everyday feeling to many people.  But getting energy back to normal levels can be easier that it may seem.

Once I pin point the source of my exhaustion it is easy to change it and feel great.  Here are a few reason’s that might be causing fatigue.

1. You are what you eat.  I can vouch for this one.  When I have a cheat day and eat my favorite, not so healthy foods, I can feel an enormous change in my energy as well as in my emotions.  Caffeine and sugar can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate, in turn causing fatigue and tiredness.  When I am craving sugars and caffeine I reach for fruits and vegetable, they have fiber and good sugars to keep me alert and awake.



2. Get a good night’s sleep?  Obviously if you’re not getting a full night’s sleep, you are going to feel tired.  I don’t watch TV, but I suggest turning your TV off before getting into bed and avoiding eating a couple hours before.  Not getting enough sleep can also cause overeating the next day.  Getting a full 8 hours of sleep is necessary for living a healthy life.




3. Getting active can nix fatigue.  When I wake and am not feeling 100%, I head straight to the park or the gym to engage in vigorous exercise.  I can feel the adrenaline flow through my body during a good workout or run.  That adrenaline wakes me up and keeps me attentive and alert throughout the day.  I noticed when I incorporate 40 minutes of vigorous activity 3 or 4 days a week, I rarely become fatigued and I make better food choices and am generally happier.


Feeling tired or fatigued doesn't have to ruin your day.  Just take some time to evaluate what causes may be and focus on making better choices.  When I pin point what is the source of it is, it’s easy for me to change my habits and become re-energized.  My advice is to eat healthy, get a good night’s sleep, and get active.  It isn't hard to kick fatigue out of your daily life, just make some small changes and you will be amazed.

Namaste.

Today marks another healthy and happy year of my existence.

Every year when my birthday passes, I realize how much I am thankful for.  I am content and challenged every day, I am happy with where I am, I am always striving to learn and grow, and I have spent another year with the love of my life.

This year for my birthday, I want to share my favorite quotes about happiness.  I can honestly say I am the happiest I have even been and feel that sharing these will share my happiness with you.

Be happy.



“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” –Mahatma Gandhi

“There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.” – Gautama Buddha

“Happiness is not something ready-made.  It comes from your own actions.” –Dalai Lama

“Be so happy, that when others look at you they become happy too.”



“When someone else’s happiness is your happiness that is love.” –Lana Del Rey

“Whatever you decide to do, make sure it makes you happy.”

“Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are.  It solely relies on what you think.” - Gautama Buddha



“Start each day with a grateful heart.”

“I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health.” –Voltaire

 “Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling.” – Margaret Lee Runbeck

 “You can chase happiness or you can choose happiness…it all depends on how much time you want to save.” – Robert Holden

“Take time to do what makes your soul happy.”

“People are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” –Abraham Lincoln

“Happiness is a habit- Cultivate it.” –Elbert Hubbard



Namaste.