om monday: law of attraction

sometimes, you have to just move forward, even though all the steps aren't clear.  recently, i was accepted into yogadharma - a yoga teacher training program.  if you've ever looked into teacher training, you know it can be expensive, and this program was no exception.  with our upcoming wedding, it didn't feel like the appropriate time to pursue my certification, though i wanted to so badly.

when weighing the options, craig came to me and said, "you have to do this.  you'll regret it if you don't".  with his support, the choice seemed easy and obvious, and i applied the next day.

the day after i was accepted, i received an email from a former writing client saying that they could use me on a regular basis, 1-2 days a week.  i.e. steady, reliable income.  music to my ears as a freelancer.

it's crazy how things like that happen.  you move closer to your goal/dream/passion, and suddenly your current reality shifts to support it.  the law of attraction at work.

have you ever experienced the law of attraction in your life?

[all images are of my teacher, amy, from yogadharma]

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om monday: wise words

every month, the yoga studio i take classes at picks a living, modern master to study for the month.  in so doing, all the teachers select books to read quotes from, teach from and find inspiration in.  i love that they do this - i've learned so much and been so inspired by the "masters" they've covered.

they've highlighted individuals like mary oliver, the poet, and beryl bender birch, the founder of power yoga in the usa.  i love coming to class, sitting with my eyes closed and absorbing the wise words.

namaste studio @ the solebury club.  credit {here}

last month, they chose pema chodron, a buddhist monk, prolific author and enlightened guru.  her words are awe-inspiring.  and the simple truths she points out make you rethink how you look at the world & life's experiences.

so, without further ado...pema chodron...

"…feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back.  they teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away.  they’re like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck.  this very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are."   

yoga @ the solebury club.  credit {here}

"the most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves."   

"welcome the present moment as if you had invited it.  it is all we ever have so we might as well work with it rather than struggling against it. we might as well make it our friend and teacher rather than our enemy."

so, mavens...what do you think of pema?

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om monday: seeing rightly

"it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."


at the close of yoga on saturday, the teacher ended class with her usual quote.  the lovely little sentence that she often utters is so simple and so true.  i was wondering what wise yogi's words she was repeating.  so, i googled it : )


to my surprise, it was not a yoga guru who first uttered those words.  it's a quote from the little prince (a.k.a. le petit prince).  a novel by antoine de saint exupéry from 1943. 

credit {here}

as a college french major, i must admit, i'm a little surprised (and embarrassed) that i didn't know that this famous quote came from a novel that is widely read and discussed in french classes.  but, in a different setting, in the zen-quiet of a peaceful yoga studio, the words took on a new, clearer and more profound meaning. 


"it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."


namaste : ).

om monday: find your yoga

the other day, when i was talking with my mom, i told her that i think she needs to take the time to "find her yoga".  by that, i meant finding the thing that is (mildly) self-indulgent, grounds you, centers you and leaves you feeling healthier, stronger and overall better.  for me, it's yoga.  for others it's walking, meditating or taking a spin class.  but whatever it is, the most essential element is finding it and allowing yourself the time to enjoy it.

credit {here}

when we take time for ourselves, we replenish our enthusiasm and energy for life.  and we ultimately become better friends, wives, sisters, daughters and mothers.  when we take care of ourselves, we are better able to take care of others and tackle all that life throws our way.

so, i encourage all of you to "find your yoga".  and if you've already found it, gift yourself the time to enjoy it as often as possible.  it's not selfish...it's essential.

what's your "yoga"?.