I had the realization this morning as I was meditating that I have brought a lot of the discomfort, pain, stress, and no-fun feelings in my life on myself. I have been beating myself up!
Take my yoga teaching for example. Many students have commented lately that my teaching is radically different than when I started a little over two years ago (and thanks goodness because I have invested a lot of time and money in trainings, feedback, learning, and practice teaching!) But I think one of the main reasons my teaching feels different is because I am no longer judging myself, being critical, and concerned for what others think of me. Rather, I am putting myself out there, being me, and not worrying about if everyone likes me or not. I have turned the focus off of ME and onto MY STUDENTS and what they need. Of course, this is a practice and I am not perfect at it, but I will not beat myself up when I realize I am slipping. Instead I will acknowledge, learn, and move on.
Let's look at my full-time job as a conference producer too. I left the job a few years ago because I wanted to explore teaching yoga full time, and also because I was burnt out. I had put so much pressure on myself to perform. I felt that how my events did and how many goals I reached was a direct reflection of who I was as a human being. I barely asked for help or requested what I needed to make my work smoother, and I was constantly having dialogue with myself about not being good enough. Man, that's a lot of pressure! Yes, my job (which I have come back to recently and am enjoying) is stressful and demanding at times, but I am allowed to have fun and enjoy doing it, and it feels much lighter without the added pressures that I put on myself. I thought that work and play had to be separate, but why should they be? And when I find myself slipping into freak out and pressure mode, I acknowledge it while being kind to myself, laugh at it, and move on, one step at a time.
I am over making things so difficult and committed to adding more play into all areas of my life!
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
A Wise Woman's Life Lessons... And My Humble Comments :)
I saw this on Facebook yesterday and can't stop reading or thinking about this. I've definitely seen it before. There are so many nuggets in here - I'm highlighting some of my faves that strike deep into my heart right now in yellow, and have added my own thoughts next to them [[in parenthesis]].
I promise to live this way to the best of my ability!
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio:
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. [[I really am a control freak. So when trying to make decisions in my life, I want to see the final outcome; I want to know what to do right NOW. But the truth is, life isn't lived in 5-year, 5-month, or even 5-day bits. Life is lived one minute, one breath, one day at a time. Who knows if the next day will even come. So I am trying to live my life just one day at a time, in presence/awareness, and taking just the one step (no matter how big or small) that feels right to me. I have to trust (though its very hard sometimes) that God is leading me exactly where I am meant to go.]]
3. Life is too short – enjoy it.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. [[To me this is all about judging. As much as I want to say I don't judge others, I do. We all do. I try to remember that everyone has different loves, passions, goals, and life lessons to experience. I try to look for the beauty in others as opposed to something I can judge them on. I find that when I accept and look for the beauty in myself (like in relation to acceptance of my body for example), I am better able to accept and see the beauty in others.]]
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways. [[We live in an abundant world. Holding on to things for fear of not having enough is something I struggled with when I was younger. But I find more peace in my home (and consequently in my heart and mind), when I only see things that are beautiful/make me happy or are being used. If it's not, I let it go and create space for bigger and better things to come into my life.]]
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19.. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. [[I read this years ago and did exactly this. We burn candles every night and choose to celebrate today!]]
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life. [[It's so easy for me to get caught up in the busyness of life. The end of the day comes and I am tired. It would be easy to ball up on the couch in front of the TV. And while that is necessary rejuvenation sometimes, I find that when I make myself get out of the house to see friends, start a craft project, or roll out my yoga mat, I always feel better and happier. I choose life.]]
28. Forgive
29. What other people think of you is none of your business. [[Someone else said, "People are going to talk about you anyway, so give them something to talk about!"]]
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. [[This is positive but kind of depressing too. One of my friends talked to me about the Buddhist religion and there take on this that nothing is permanent. Therefore we can't attach to anything, good or bad. The Buddhist and Hindu philosophy as I understand it is that attachment (to desires, circumstances, people or concepts) is the main obstacle to a serene and fulfilled life. When we can find calm and peace in any circumstance, and understand that it will change, our perspective on life will change.]]
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. [[Think about it, the best experiences of our lives are with other people and the best feelings revolve around loving them and being grateful for them!!]]
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. [[Albert Einstein says you can look at life in two ways: As if nothing is a miracle, or as if EVERYTHING is a miracle. Life itself is truly a miracle and I choose the latter!]]
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. [[It's really hard to believe this sometimes, but the truth is we have no idea what the person rolling out their yoga mat next to our is going through. We can live life in "poor me" like the victim, or we can live life in gratitude for what we do have and the life lessons we are given.]]
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
I promise to live this way to the best of my ability!
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio:
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. [[I really am a control freak. So when trying to make decisions in my life, I want to see the final outcome; I want to know what to do right NOW. But the truth is, life isn't lived in 5-year, 5-month, or even 5-day bits. Life is lived one minute, one breath, one day at a time. Who knows if the next day will even come. So I am trying to live my life just one day at a time, in presence/awareness, and taking just the one step (no matter how big or small) that feels right to me. I have to trust (though its very hard sometimes) that God is leading me exactly where I am meant to go.]]
3. Life is too short – enjoy it.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. [[To me this is all about judging. As much as I want to say I don't judge others, I do. We all do. I try to remember that everyone has different loves, passions, goals, and life lessons to experience. I try to look for the beauty in others as opposed to something I can judge them on. I find that when I accept and look for the beauty in myself (like in relation to acceptance of my body for example), I am better able to accept and see the beauty in others.]]
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways. [[We live in an abundant world. Holding on to things for fear of not having enough is something I struggled with when I was younger. But I find more peace in my home (and consequently in my heart and mind), when I only see things that are beautiful/make me happy or are being used. If it's not, I let it go and create space for bigger and better things to come into my life.]]
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19.. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. [[I read this years ago and did exactly this. We burn candles every night and choose to celebrate today!]]
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life. [[It's so easy for me to get caught up in the busyness of life. The end of the day comes and I am tired. It would be easy to ball up on the couch in front of the TV. And while that is necessary rejuvenation sometimes, I find that when I make myself get out of the house to see friends, start a craft project, or roll out my yoga mat, I always feel better and happier. I choose life.]]
28. Forgive
29. What other people think of you is none of your business. [[Someone else said, "People are going to talk about you anyway, so give them something to talk about!"]]
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. [[This is positive but kind of depressing too. One of my friends talked to me about the Buddhist religion and there take on this that nothing is permanent. Therefore we can't attach to anything, good or bad. The Buddhist and Hindu philosophy as I understand it is that attachment (to desires, circumstances, people or concepts) is the main obstacle to a serene and fulfilled life. When we can find calm and peace in any circumstance, and understand that it will change, our perspective on life will change.]]
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. [[Think about it, the best experiences of our lives are with other people and the best feelings revolve around loving them and being grateful for them!!]]
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. [[Albert Einstein says you can look at life in two ways: As if nothing is a miracle, or as if EVERYTHING is a miracle. Life itself is truly a miracle and I choose the latter!]]
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. [[It's really hard to believe this sometimes, but the truth is we have no idea what the person rolling out their yoga mat next to our is going through. We can live life in "poor me" like the victim, or we can live life in gratitude for what we do have and the life lessons we are given.]]
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Saturday, August 17, 2013
We Never Know Where This Journey Will Take Us!
It's funny how things in life turn out. Through my practice I have learned that every day is different - every day my body feels tighter or looser, stronger or weak, I have lots of energy or just a little. But I get on my mat, flow, breathe and move with whatever is, making adjustments to make things right for me at that moment.
The same happens in my life, and as I adjusted to my reality, I find myself with another career change - back to my old job! I never would have imagined that my path would lead me here, but I have learned that I have to go with the flow, and create my life to be in line with what is important to me (and that what is important to me may change week to week, year to year!).
The journey of my last two years has been amazing and I am so grateful for the experience. I would do it again if I had the opportunity to live my life over. I took a big risk and quit my corporate job so I could focus on teaching yoga, a passion that was at the center of my heart and loudly calling my name at the time. With that time I was able to take many yoga trainings and teach many different types of yoga classes - definitely challenging myself and forcing me to learn A LOT quickly.
I worked my butt off for the first season teaching over 20 classes a week all over Naples. It was exciting to meet and impact so many different people who were looking to get in shape, de-stress, or calm down. But it was hard for me to be inspiring and truly show up 100% for so many classes. I got burnt out quickly.
And, because the universe always has a plan, a part-time job was offered to me at BV Yoga, the studio I love, practice, and teach at. So I accepted and did marketing and promotional work part time while teaching part time. It was fun to use that part of my brain again and have such a cool balance and variety of daily activities. BV is up to big things and my responsibilities and working time grew... enough to warrant working at BV full time (which also made more sense financially, plus I got some vacation days -- those little things I never realized were so important when I was working in the corporate world!).
My role at BV grew. I managed both Naples' and Miami's marketing and all our events, including BV's first ever Teacher Training Retreat in Tulum, Mexico. It was an amazing experience and I got to know BV's owner Kiersten and all the other incredible staff and teachers better. I was working 40 hours a week, teaching 7 times a week and working loooooong weeks, but for the most part enjoying it.
Then I had a shift, I realized that I was working really hard and long hours, and while I was enjoying what I did and who I was working with, I couldn't make ends meet financially. Plus I realized that what was important to me was being able to get on a plane to see my family and friends whenever I wanted, to travel and see the world (I'm thinking Paris and Amsterdam next!) and to be able to live without worry about how I can pay for something if my car breaks down. Unfortunately a small business like a yoga studio couldn't offer me what I needed to live the life that was important to me.
I journaled long and hard on what I enjoyed doing for work, what skills I have, and what makes me feel challenged. This process brought me to the "aha!" moment that what I enjoyed and was really good at was my old corporate job! I needed to step away from it for awhile, and of course follow my heart, to realize that it was something I wanted. I think at first I had, in a way, felt the "victim" of my job, like since I had moved to Naples there really wasn't a lot of job opportunities, so I had to stay with the one I had. But now I can say that I truly CHOOSE my job because I love it and want it, and that's a great feeling to have. I approached my old employer, and shortly I was back working for them again and excited for the new, but familiar, opportunity.
I also realized that the two years I immersed myself in teaching yoga and working in Naples allowed me to strengthen friendships, meet new people, and gain a sense of community within Naples. I finally (after 6 years!!!) felt like Naples was home. Now, even though I am working from home, I don't feel isolated and like the only thing I have is my job and yoga. Right now I have a good balance.
I cut down on the classes I teach so that I have time for my own practice and running and working out, but I still teach 3 - 4 times a week with my class at BV and the private couple I work with in their home. It's a great balance, and it's fun. I never would have imagined I'd be here two years ago, but here I am... going with the flow, responding to what's real and present in my, and following my heart. Cheers to you doing the same.
The same happens in my life, and as I adjusted to my reality, I find myself with another career change - back to my old job! I never would have imagined that my path would lead me here, but I have learned that I have to go with the flow, and create my life to be in line with what is important to me (and that what is important to me may change week to week, year to year!).
The journey of my last two years has been amazing and I am so grateful for the experience. I would do it again if I had the opportunity to live my life over. I took a big risk and quit my corporate job so I could focus on teaching yoga, a passion that was at the center of my heart and loudly calling my name at the time. With that time I was able to take many yoga trainings and teach many different types of yoga classes - definitely challenging myself and forcing me to learn A LOT quickly.
I worked my butt off for the first season teaching over 20 classes a week all over Naples. It was exciting to meet and impact so many different people who were looking to get in shape, de-stress, or calm down. But it was hard for me to be inspiring and truly show up 100% for so many classes. I got burnt out quickly.
And, because the universe always has a plan, a part-time job was offered to me at BV Yoga, the studio I love, practice, and teach at. So I accepted and did marketing and promotional work part time while teaching part time. It was fun to use that part of my brain again and have such a cool balance and variety of daily activities. BV is up to big things and my responsibilities and working time grew... enough to warrant working at BV full time (which also made more sense financially, plus I got some vacation days -- those little things I never realized were so important when I was working in the corporate world!).
My role at BV grew. I managed both Naples' and Miami's marketing and all our events, including BV's first ever Teacher Training Retreat in Tulum, Mexico. It was an amazing experience and I got to know BV's owner Kiersten and all the other incredible staff and teachers better. I was working 40 hours a week, teaching 7 times a week and working loooooong weeks, but for the most part enjoying it.
Then I had a shift, I realized that I was working really hard and long hours, and while I was enjoying what I did and who I was working with, I couldn't make ends meet financially. Plus I realized that what was important to me was being able to get on a plane to see my family and friends whenever I wanted, to travel and see the world (I'm thinking Paris and Amsterdam next!) and to be able to live without worry about how I can pay for something if my car breaks down. Unfortunately a small business like a yoga studio couldn't offer me what I needed to live the life that was important to me.
I journaled long and hard on what I enjoyed doing for work, what skills I have, and what makes me feel challenged. This process brought me to the "aha!" moment that what I enjoyed and was really good at was my old corporate job! I needed to step away from it for awhile, and of course follow my heart, to realize that it was something I wanted. I think at first I had, in a way, felt the "victim" of my job, like since I had moved to Naples there really wasn't a lot of job opportunities, so I had to stay with the one I had. But now I can say that I truly CHOOSE my job because I love it and want it, and that's a great feeling to have. I approached my old employer, and shortly I was back working for them again and excited for the new, but familiar, opportunity.
I also realized that the two years I immersed myself in teaching yoga and working in Naples allowed me to strengthen friendships, meet new people, and gain a sense of community within Naples. I finally (after 6 years!!!) felt like Naples was home. Now, even though I am working from home, I don't feel isolated and like the only thing I have is my job and yoga. Right now I have a good balance.
I cut down on the classes I teach so that I have time for my own practice and running and working out, but I still teach 3 - 4 times a week with my class at BV and the private couple I work with in their home. It's a great balance, and it's fun. I never would have imagined I'd be here two years ago, but here I am... going with the flow, responding to what's real and present in my, and following my heart. Cheers to you doing the same.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Be at Cause and In Action!
This is the message I posted to BV Yoga's Make 2013 Your Best Year EVER Facebook campaign:
Week 3: Be At Cause and In Action! … by Sara Mueller
WHOA!! We are almost 2 months through 2013, a year we all committed to making our best year ever. Although I declared my intention when joining this group, I realize there are two areas of my intention that I haven’t yet done anything to turn into reality: 1) making space for my own writing, and 2) my meditation practice.
This is a common occurrence in my life. I get caught up in the busyness of every day and all of a sudden days, weeks, months have passed and I have missed what is important to me. I find myself living as a result of my life rather than being at cause to make it the best ever.
So I choose to be “at cause” for my life and my yoga practice, and to take action!
***JOURNAL and SHARE (You can post in the comment section right underneath!):***
1) Where are you being at cause in your life and where are you living at effect?
2) What is holding you back from being in action and in creation of your best year ever? Now, give it up!
For me I need to give priority to my meditation practice and my writing. When my alarm goes off in the morning I will get up and meditate instead of sleeping an extra ten minutes. I give up the story that I need those extra ten minutes of sleep!! I commit to creative writing in my blog or journal for 30 minutes a week. I give up wasting time on Facebook/the Internet and the belief that to write I need a 3-hour chunk of time to do so.
***IN YOUR YOGA PRACTICE THIS WEEK:***
1) What is a pose that you have always wanted to do? This week, take one step each day towards learning that pose. You don’t have to learn the full pose this week – or even this year!! – but at least begin the steps that will take you where you want to go!
For me the pose is handstand. I will watch one YouTube video on how to build the foundation for handstand. And each day I will do 3 handstand hops in class or against a wall to make my body more familiar to this pose.
Go now, be at cause and in action!
xo
Sara Mueller
Week 3: Be At Cause and In Action! … by Sara Mueller
WHOA!! We are almost 2 months through 2013, a year we all committed to making our best year ever. Although I declared my intention when joining this group, I realize there are two areas of my intention that I haven’t yet done anything to turn into reality: 1) making space for my own writing, and 2) my meditation practice.
This is a common occurrence in my life. I get caught up in the busyness of every day and all of a sudden days, weeks, months have passed and I have missed what is important to me. I find myself living as a result of my life rather than being at cause to make it the best ever.
So I choose to be “at cause” for my life and my yoga practice, and to take action!
***JOURNAL and SHARE (You can post in the comment section right underneath!):***
1) Where are you being at cause in your life and where are you living at effect?
2) What is holding you back from being in action and in creation of your best year ever? Now, give it up!
For me I need to give priority to my meditation practice and my writing. When my alarm goes off in the morning I will get up and meditate instead of sleeping an extra ten minutes. I give up the story that I need those extra ten minutes of sleep!! I commit to creative writing in my blog or journal for 30 minutes a week. I give up wasting time on Facebook/the Internet and the belief that to write I need a 3-hour chunk of time to do so.
***IN YOUR YOGA PRACTICE THIS WEEK:***
1) What is a pose that you have always wanted to do? This week, take one step each day towards learning that pose. You don’t have to learn the full pose this week – or even this year!! – but at least begin the steps that will take you where you want to go!
For me the pose is handstand. I will watch one YouTube video on how to build the foundation for handstand. And each day I will do 3 handstand hops in class or against a wall to make my body more familiar to this pose.
Go now, be at cause and in action!
xo
Sara Mueller
Monday, January 21, 2013
My Baptiste Certification Essay: Why I Teach Baptiste Yoga
A 3-5 page essay on Baptiste Power
Vinyasa Yoga philosophy and why you have chosen to teach this style.
By Sara
Mueller, November 2012
I found Baptiste
Power Vinyasa Yoga when I moved to Naples, Florida, from New York City. I had
told my husband that I would be ok with the move as long as I found a yoga
studio that I liked. Little did I know that the yoga studio I found, Bala
Vinyasa Yoga, a Baptiste Affiliate, would change my life completely.
I was first
drawn to Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga because of the physical challenging
workout. I loved that it kicked my butt, made me sweat like a pig, and
complemented my running. After each class I felt great and that I had gotten a
total body workout. But I also got so much more out of the practice than just
the physical aspect.
I credit
Baptiste yoga to keeping me sane. The first few years that I was practicing it
I had a very stressful, demanding career. No matter how bad my day was, I could
come to class, do something cool/fun/challenging/simple (whatever I needed that
day), and always feel good at the end of class. When I say “feel good” I mean
that I felt capable, worthy, and strong. It gave me strength to keep facing my
job and life with confidence in my abilities and myself. I loved when I saw my
practice improve, held that first crow pose, and started to understand the
flow.
Through the
practice of Baptiste yoga I started to develop a spiritual side of me as well.
I was raised Catholic and pretty much forced to get confirmed Catholic, even
though that religion didn’t make sense to me. As I became an adult I
disregarded all thoughts of God and a higher power and went on living my life.
But through Baptiste yoga, the messages my great teachers shared in class, even
the “God is Real” song by Krishna Das that was sometimes played in savasana, I
started to feel something come alive inside of me and started to feel a
connection to God. The world started making sense.
Baptiste yoga
taught me to live passionately. It made me realize that my life is gift, that
each day is a gift, and that I should spend my precious days on this earth
doing things I loved and following my heart. I started writing and reading
more, things I loved as a child but did not devote a lot of time to in my
adulthood. I started baking and crafting. I started telling my friends and
family how much I loved them and what they mean to me.
The more I
practiced Baptiste Yoga the more I loved it. I told my close friends that it
was a dream of mine to become a yoga teacher, but never really thought it would
happen. I really loved Bala Vinyasa Yoga studio and kept checking their web
site to see if they would offer a teacher training. Finally, they did and I
signed up!
The Bala Vinyasa
Yoga Teacher Training was taught with Baptiste Methodology. It was the most
impactful experience of my life. It was also the most challenging and downright
frightening experience of my life. I went into the Teacher Training not saying
a word in the group sessions. Halfway through I shared to the entire group and
talked so fast it was like someone had a gun to my head. Funny, because for my
conference director job I got up in front of hundreds of Head Traders and CEOs
of major capital markets firms and spoke calmly and clearly telling them what
to do at the events I ran; but when it came to talking about matters of the
heart and my personal life, I could barely get a sentence out – and if I did it
was 90 miles an hour! I was coached into sharing more effectively and it has
become one of my greatest strengths as a yoga teacher.
Through this
teacher training I evaluated all the relationships in my life and found that I
had some major repairing to do. I needed to drop my need to be right and take
responsibility for how I was contributing to the quality of the relationship. I
had a conversation with both of my brothers, my dad, and my mom on things that
had needed to be addressed for years and on my commitment to our relationship
moving forward. Because of these conversations and a shift in my perspective
about the relationships, I now actually HAVE a relationship (a great one,
actually!) with my brothers and a much more open, honest, and loving
relationship with my parents.
During the
6-month Bala Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training, I also did the 40 Days to Personal
Revolution program. The biggest tool I took away from that program was a
meditation practice. I had been trying to meditate for many years, but it never
stuck. With the consistent daily practice required of the program and the slow
build up from 5 to 30 minutes of meditating both day and night, meditation
became a habit of mine. My practice to this day sometimes goes in and out, but
generally I sit for about ten minutes each morning and night before bed. The days I meditate, challenges are simpler
to work through, the clouds look whiter and the sky bluer, and I have a calm
contentment within me at all times. My meditation connects me to my inner self,
my intuition. I make decisions easier and follow my heart.
After the BV
Yoga Teacher Training I started teaching yoga!! It was (and still sometimes is)
the hardest, but most rewarding thing I did. I knew I was hooked and wanted to
get my Baptiste Certification because I wanted to share with as many people as
possible the practice that was changing my life in so many positive ways. In
one year I went to Foundations in Action, Level 1, Level 2, and Art of
Assisting. I even assisted a Foundations in Action at BV Yoga’s brand new Miami
studio! Each of these programs shed more light on who I am (and who I am not),
where I am not showing up fully in my life, and how I can be in more authentic
FUN self-expression.
And because I
found the BV Yoga 200-Hour Teacher Training the most impactful program of my
life, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it in the future. I want to facilitate
or lead teacher trainings like it. When I approached BV about this, the
director and owner told me that to move into a place to be part of the Teacher
Training teaching team, I had to get Baptiste Certified. It was just another
reason to make this commitment!
I have chosen to
teach Baptiste yoga because the methodology makes sense to me. I embrace the
themes of Baptiste methodology in my teaching, practice, and life. Number 1:
“Be a YES,” is how I have lived most of my life. I say yes to new experiences
and challenges, and accept the gifts from the universe that come my way. It
also makes me realize when and where I am being a “no” person. When I first
moved to Naples I was a “no.” I did not put myself out there to meet people and
make friends. I became a workaholic so I had work as an excuse to stay the way
I was. When I tapped into Baptiste yoga I realized I was being this way. Even
my facial expression and lack of eye contact with others in public was like I
had a big, fat NO tattooed across my face. I started saying “yes” more in my
yoga practice (to flip dog-to-wheel, tripod headstand, bigger backbends/heart
openers), and thus starting being a “yes” more in my life. I did not let my
excuses lead me; instead, I let my heart lead me to do things I loved, make
friends, and be a more open person.
Number 2: “You
are ready now” has also had a huge impact in my life. When I saw that BV was
finally offering a teacher training, I knew I was ready now. When it came time
to practice teach (like an audition) to be a teacher at BV, I didn’t wait until
my teaching was perfect. Instead I did the practice teach right when the
opportunity arose, and found myself teaching right after that! But most
importantly, perhaps, is that I know I am ready now to be happy. Happiness
doesn’t come once the weekend arrives, once vacation is here, once my house if
fixed up, or once all the bills are paid. Happiness can be found in each and
every moment – even in the midst of crises, stress, and pain. I believe we all
deserve to live peaceful, fulfilled lives. We don’t have to wait until the time
is right – because the time is always right to be happy and live fully, it’s
right NOW.
Number 3: “Give
up what you must…” Whoa. This is a big one for me. I find myself living this
theme each and every day in all aspects of my life. When I get into my head
while teaching and start thinking “I am not good enough,” or “I am not wanted,”
I recognize it, drop it, and move on. When I make a mistake at work, I own it,
learn from it, and move on (instead of dwelling on it and letting it keep me
down). When I find myself acting childish with my husband or in other
relationships, I acknowledge it, then drop it. Through yoga I have gained a
sense of awareness, and by living this methodology I can continue to drop
things that arise that do not serve me any more.
Another major
reason I teach Baptiste Yoga is because of people and connection. I don’t find
connection in a lot of other yoga classes I take that aren’t Baptiste. Through
Baptiste yoga programs, trainings, and workshops I have gotten to know so many
amazing people. I have seen these people become clearer and brighter and it
inspires me. I am so grateful to lead programs like 40 Days to Personal
Revolution and apprentice BV Yoga’s 200-Hour Teacher Training. I truly see the
beauty in each and every person that I get to know a little bit – without these
programs I would probably never get deeper than a surface-level
talk-about-the-weather conversation with them. Even teaching my regular classes
week upon week I get to see my students improve, try things on, drop baggage,
and open up. It reminds me why I love yoga and why I love to teach it.
Through
connection with others we build community. Community was something that was
always lacking in my life. My family moved around a lot when I was in grade
school. After graduating from high school I lived in 5 different cities before
settling down in Naples. Finally, through yoga, the BV Yoga community and the
Baptiste Yoga community, I feel community all around me – even when I travel to
another city and visit the closest Baptiste Affiliate studio. It is amazing how
we are all connected in so many ways. And through this connection we can build
each other up, step into our greatness, and experience miracles on our planet.
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