Ahhhh...

The moment is finally here, time to myself to spend however I feel...and right now, that's blogging, it feels so good to write.

Life is no less busy as I settle into my new opportunity with Exhale Spa. What a gift to be a part of such an amazing organization of people...did you know Shiva Rea is their Creative Yoga Advisor for the entire company? Wow, sometimes I find myself wondering how I arrived at this place, to be part of such an amazing and inspiring community of people. Five years of diligent and often very hard work. A lot of effort, but also, a lot of support from many incredible people in my life...

Because I haven't blogged lately, I feel like I have so much to write. A goal of mine over the past year was to work up to teaching 15 classes per week. Beginning this week, I reached this goal. Phhewww...that's a lot of classes. It's not that it's too much, it's just been challenging because some of the times I teach are not the most ideal for a schedule like this. So, my next step is to balance out the different times I teach so I have time to unwind and time to take care of myself each day. When I don't have this, which happened earlier in the week, I have a really hard time. It's amazing what a challenge it is to create and continue to be balanced in my life. It seems no matter how much I practice balance, from time-to-time I take on more than I can handle.

Monday was my 29th birthday. A few weeks ago, I agreed to sub a class for a fellow teacher at Exhale on my birthday. The class was at 7:15 am. Then, after that class, I drove out to Frisco to teach my 9:30 am class at Natural Trends. Then, I taught my Monday 12 pm class at the corporate location where I teach. Then, I managed to squeeze a birthday massage in for myself at 1:30 that afternoon before I drove back to teach at the same corporate location for a 5:15 class that evening. Then, out to my parents house that evening for a birthday dinner in Frisco. And, then a drive back downown to make it into bed by 11:30 pm to have enough time to sleep before getting up at 6 am to teach a 7:15 am class the next morning at Exhale. And, then back out to Frisco for another 9:30 am class at Natural Trends, back to downtown afterward to give a Thai Massage to my friend at 1 pm and then just enough time to squeeze in a little Yoga for myself, in my living room at home, before venturing back out to teach at Exhale again that evening at 6:15 pm.

The day in the life of a Yoga instructor. Sometimes we take on too much and forget the importance of balance, even though this is everything we teach. The interesting thing is I had the goal to teach 15 classes per week about 10 months ago. It may be this amount of classes is not what's right for me at this point in my life. As many of you know, I write a monthly newsletter which I thoroughly enjoy. I've had wonderful opportunities open up from the first ever True Yoga DVD. Next month, the Dallas Morning News will feature a review of the True Yoga DVD. And, D Beauty Magazine will also feature a story on it in it's Fall/Winter Publication. My life is a lot busier than it was before. Not to mention, I love blogging and I miss it terribly. I'd really like to open up to being balanced in a way where I can realistically write three blogs a week.

With all this being said, what's going on? A lot. I'm embracing a busier schedule, but remembering the only way I can really serve others is to be in balance myself. To allow myself to receive, as well as, give. Receiving can look like so many things to me. I receive a lot from writing, when I feel balanced in my life. Exercising or practicing Yoga daily is vital for me to feel balanced. Having time to spend on all the aspects of my work that I enjoy. Taking other teacher's Yoga classes, to continue to grow, getting to go to workshops, etc. Spending time with my family, my significant other and my friends. Having a nice meal and enjoying wonderful conversation. It seems balance is an ever-aligning process, and it's as though once we find it in our life at one level, the Universe inevitably invites us to create it at an even busier or, I'd prefer to use the word, "fuller" level. Making the most out of each day, maximizing our true potential, and still being able to breathe fully throughout it all. No doubt, it's important to be clear what balance looks like to you, so as you open up to more, you still have time to Honor your Self.

Here's to practicing the art of balance as we awaken to our true potential with every breath we breathe.

"If you could once make up your mind never to undertake more work...than you can carry on calmly, quietly, without hurry or flurry...and if the instant you feel yourself growing nervous and...out of breath, you would stop and take breath, you would find this simple common-sense rule doing for you what no prayers or tears could ever accomplish." - Elizabeth Prentiss

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