While we were having breakfast before he head to work, he told me how proud he was that I really take care of my body.  This came as a little shock to me because it is such a routine I really don’t think it is anything special.

Being a positive person and having a positive attitude has always been very important to me.  I strive to live a life a happiness and positivity.  Everyone has a choice to be positive when they wake up and start each day.  When we allow negativity to take up the smallest amount of time, a minute, we lose 60 seconds of happiness.
I believe we have the power to consciously develop the habit of thinking positively and spreading it to those around us.  Through positive actions and thought processes, we can subconsciously teach other people how to be positive and treat others with positivity.


Here are my tips and suggestions to being a positive person and spreading the wealth to all those around.

1. Reduce the stress in your life. Being stressed allows negative energy to contaminate your mind and change the way you think.  When I am beginning to feel stressed I take a moment and give thanks for everything I have.  It is my way of reducing the source of stress and being able to see how small that source is compared to the good things.

2. Having positive friends means more positive energy.  When you are surrounded by positive people it is easy to remain positive.  I have many friends that have the same views and am so thankful every time I get together with them they bring even more positivity into my life.

3. My partner is anotheer source of my positivity.  Love has a funny way of making people do irrational things, he completes me and makes me so happy.  Finding love, whether from a significant other, family, friends, is an additive supplement to living a positive life.

4. Positive people are able to maintain a broader perspective of the world.  Being able to see the big picture helps identify solutions to negative situations.  Negative people only see the world through a pin hole that focuses on the problems.  Being positive and open to new experiences aids in personal growth and knowledge.

5. Positive thoughts make better, more productive work habits.  When I am in a good mood I am able to get a lot done compared to it I am in a bad mood.  Productivity has been proven to increase with a positive attitude and a happy life.

There is no reason not to be positive and see the world with an open heart.  Take time out of every day to be thankful and focus on bringing positivity into the world.

Namaste.

It is easy to make goals but when it comes down to it, getting motivated is the hardest part. It is really easy to procrastinate and avoid situations that will take a long time or be challenging.  Motivation, the emotion, technically doesn't exist.  It is just a combination of emotions like desire, fear, and hope.

When beginning a journey to reach a new goal or dream, motivation is key to success.



Here are 10 steps I use to get motivated-

1. Get positive.  I can’t remember a time I got anything done when I was in a bad mood.  Positivism is the ingredient to a happy, healthy, and productive life.

2. Have a plan of attack.  I find it very useful to define each step along the way to get to the ultimate goal.  When I know where I am going and have to do, it is easy to plan ahead knowing I am one step closer.

3. Kick start your day.  I think that planning is so important.  When you know what to expect the next day it is easy to build momentum to carry through the days to come.  Feel motivated the moment you open your eyes in the morning.

4. Find a mantra that fits the goal.  Find a few words or statements that drive you in life and towards your goal.  It can be anything.  I like, “do everything you can today, tomorrow isn’t a guarantee.”


5. Make working towards your goal fun.  Doing something that you think is “fun” has so much more of a positive stigma that doing something just to do it.  The second I decide to make something fun, I automatically am more positive and motivated.

6. Find something or someone who inspires you.  I like using quotes to motivate me to do better and work harder.  I write my favorite quotes in my journal so that every time I open it to write, I see them.  I also look for inspiration in people.

7. Reward yourself when making progress.  I always make sure when I accomplish a milestone along the way I reward myself with something that will continue to motivate me.  Treating myself is one of my favorite ways to stay motivated. :)

8. Positive peer pressure makes me stay on track to reach my goals.  My partner is my best peer pressure.  When we commit to doing something, he always makes sure that I follow through and stay motivated.  I do the same for him.  I suggest finding friends that want the similar thing and motivate each other.

9. Don’t let one setback be the end of it.  It is easy to get discouraged when on a long path to a goal.  It is so important not to let one step back dampen your motivation.  I look at steps back as a chance to get better and have more confidence.



10. Take personal pride in what you are doing.  When I really commit to something, it is so much easier to stay motivated.  When I know of what the end result is going to be I focus on that, and all the negativity and procrastination get overruled by the positivism.

Believing you can is the best motivation.  “I think I can, I think I can” is not just something the little train said, it has meaning and can help stay motivated.  Developing a desire, confidence, staying focused, and maintaining motivation are all the key components to successfully reach your goal.

Namaste.

A few weeks ago I went to a yoga training course and the topic of theming classes came up in conversation.  Theming classes has never been my main emphasis is classes but I do theme them subconsciously.



To me theming classes consists of the way I speak, the words I choose to use, the pose sequences, and adjustments all make each one of my classes unique to my style.  Compassion, grace, perseverance, and courage are all themes I consider when I am teaching a traditional class as my authentic self.

Although, I often let my subconscious guide the way the theme of the class goes, I sometimes intentionally set a theme for class.  I do this by creating a playlist by choosing a word or a holiday and searching for songs to base it off of.  Sometimes I chose a value or word and focus on that intention through the entire class.  I also sometimes pick an experience that will benefit my students.

Here is a list of some idea’s I have come up with to create a class theme-

• Holiday playlists

• Experiences-
o Exploring the feeling of being still- even while moving
o Seeing the body from every angle and every muscle
o Every action has an equal and opposite reaction- Newton’s Third law of Motion

• Focus on each part of the body and how it feels in a single pose
• Keeping drishti on the third eye throughout class

• Inspiring quotes
o “Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature.” –Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk
o “Life is beautiful because of you.”
o “The highest spiritual practice is self-observation without judgment.” –Swami Kripalu


It is not important that my students realize that there is a theme to the class; but that the intention and energy are subconsciously expressed through movement and emotion.  I don’t put a huge emphasis on theming but it will always happen regardless if I do it intentionally or not.

Yoga is about the subconscious benefits.

Namaste.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and be thankful for everything around you.  I make sure to take time out of every day to appreciate the world and those in my life.  Thanksgiving is more than just a cultural tradition, celebrating it and practicing gratitude can truly elevate your happiness.




Giving thanks for the good things in life like family and friends have really make you a happier person.  Gratitude increases spirituality, centers the mind, increases self-esteem, and energy levels. 

Although this time of the year we focus on things we are thankful for, it can also be very stressful and hectic.

The holiday season is full of dinners, parties, gift exchanges, and everything in between.  Trying to keep a clear mind and stay thankful for those people that cause grief, will help in the long run because without them, life would be different and thankfulness would have a different meaning.  A little bit a gratitude and thankfulness can change perspectives on just about every situation.



To keep my positive and thankful energy flowing I focus on something different each day.  It seems like a little much, but when you think about it, we have so much to give thanks for.  These are ways I express gratitude everyday

•    Keep a gratitude journal
•    Think about five things every morning that I am grateful for
•    Send thank you notes to those that help me and that I am thankful for
•    Utilize meditation to take time and reflect on the celebrations of the day
•    Vocalize my gratitude and tell those people how thankful I am for them in my life


I believe gratitude is one of the shortest paths to happiness.  I hope to inspire you to express gratitude for all that you have.  In the words of Lynne Twist, “what you appreciate—appreciates.”  Expressing gratitude for something or someone, attracts more of that aspect in life.  This thanksgiving, celebrate everything you have and be thankful, it is the quickest path to continued happiness.


I am thankful for so much, there is no problem spending time thinking about how each part makes my life so wonderful.  I challenge you to make time to be grateful every day and not just around thanksgiving.  What are you grateful for?

Namaste