I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

I had a really nice weekend with family. I spent Sunday really relaxing and do nothing, something I rarely allow myself to do. As I went through the weekend, though, I felt just how much the food we eat affects our Being on every level, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually...

You would not believe what I ate on Christmas. Most of the time, I maintain a really healthy and clean diet consisting of salads, raw nuts, soy milk, natural energy bars, steamed vegetables, some fish, baked potatoes, soup, etc.

I've eaten this way mostly since beginning Yoga, which I attribute to transforming my diet. Yoga puts us in touch with how we feel, and we begin to notice how we feel when we eat certain foods, i.e. heavy foods with lots of oil, fat, etc. versus light foods such as vegetables and grains. I used to enjoy "over-eating" when I was hungry and stuffing my belly full of food. But not anymore. Now, I feel bloated, fat and out of integrity with my body when I do that.

On Christmas day I did not "over-eat", but I did eat all the wrong foods and it took a tole on my body. After a day of eating, I had a mixture of Brie, Spinach dip, Cheese, twice-baked potatoes, steamed veggies and stuff, and to top it all off, peanut brittle and warm-bread pudding in my tummy.

I do think it's good to have indulgences once and a while, but because I've been eating so healthily, and even more so, recently, this food really affected me.

I laid down to sleep that night and before long I felt nauseous. I was up 'til about 2 am in the morning nursing an upset stomach and moaning and groaning over what I had done to myself. I felt my whole body wanting to purge everything out (though luckily I didn't) to get rid of everything I had put in it.

At that moment, I realized, to another degree, how harmful unhealthy foods can be. My body was rejecting what I had put in it and trying to cleanse itself of it. I decided in that moment, I would begin cleansing out from the Holidays now, and not wait until the New Year. No more, "it's the holidays" or "I'll start after the first of the year." I decided, in that moment, I would get committed to a new level of health for my body, mind and spirit. The next day when I practiced Yoga and my body felt stiffer and tighter than I can remember because of the foods I'd eaten over the weekend, I knew I must get back to eating healthy. That is why Yoga suggests eating a vegetarian and clean foods diet, because it helps our bodies to be lighter and more flexible.

So, I'm not sure how all of you are feeling after the Holiday weekend. But perhaps the road to heightened health and this healthier version of you could begin this week. Not after the New Year. Why wait to honor yourself?

May our health be ever-improving!

“When our health improves, every other aspect of our life improves simultaneously.”-David Wolfe

“Let food be your medicine. Let medicine be your food.” - HippocratesRead more

This will be one of my last posts before the Holiday weekend, so I would like to wish each person who comes across this post, a Merry Christmas. I will be posting some next week so be sure to check back if you're around during the Holidays.

From December 31 through January 5th I will be up in chilly Ohio visiting family and friends. While I'm there I'm going to have a chance to teach a special class at a studio in Cleveland called Evolution Yoga..

After the first week of the New Year, I will be featuring a variety of posts including daily inspirations plus all kinds of information on health and wellness to make 2006 an even healthier year.

Take a moment to allow yourself to give thanks for all that was over this past year, the times of struggle and the times of triumph. Envision this New Year being one of well-being on every level, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and yes, even, financially. Let's open ourselves up to letting our hearts be cleansed of the old and allow ourselves to embrace a New Year full of goodness and growth as we Awaken to our True Potential one breath at a time...

"Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost." - Helen Keller

Peace to you,

LeanneRead more

Check out the new section just added to True Yoga Life, called Yoga Products and Essentials. Here I will feature my favorite products for Yoga and Well-Being and give you guidance to support you in making the best choice for you. So often I have had students purchase Yoga Mats only to be disappointed because they find that it's too slippery, etc. I will also be featuring a clip from my new DVD in the next few days on this section.

If you're looking for a last minute gift, a Yoga Mat or Bag is an excellent idea for Yogi friends or family.

Merrry Christmas!Read more

Since the time I was a child, I can remember praying at night and saying, "God, please give me a voice, please give me the opportunity to make a positive difference." I would pray this relentlessly. Then, one day five years ago, I took a Yoga class. It was like I came alive again, my inner child reawakened and I felt full of life. Not long afterwards, I took my first job in an Advertising Agency in Corporate America, at the age of 23. It seemed the natural path, my dad had owned his own advertising agency for over 30 years in Cleveland, OH. However, I found myself at work, feeling unfulfilled, and spending a great deal of my time surfing the web and reading about Yoga, my true passion.

Then, September 11th happened, and I began to realize I was spending my time and energy in a career I was not passionate about. And, that my life was precious and too short to be spent that way...

So, in February of 2002, I decided to follow my heart, regardless of the price, and quit my job to teach Yoga. After moving back in with my parents for a while to lessen the blow from the loss of my corporate income, I eventually relocated to downtown Dallas (without their financial support) where I moved into a pretty crappy, old apartment. I worked at a restaurant, initially, to give myself "enough" income so I could afford to live and teach Yoga. It was a life of struggle, living in efficiency apartments and crying many tears over the pain of not really being able to afford anything, except the bare necessities, and barely even that.

At one point, when a check had bounced in my bank account, I sat with the few dollars I had in my hand at my desk, and crumpled them up, threw them and said, "I hate this stuff, I hate you God, why do you have to make the world like this, this materialistic place where all that matters is money, why does it have to be like this."

Even through the struggle, I managed to open up my own studio, under the guidance of a "friend." This person told me he'd pay the first few months rent, though he never did. For a year, I struggled to keep it alive. But, after a year and without any capital left, I hit rock bottom this past September.

Overcome with financial struggle, I was talking to my friend on the phone and told her, "I'm going to slit my wrists." Not knowing what to do, she called the cops and at about 1 am in the morning, the police knocked on my door. Though I had absolutely no intention of hurting myself, and of course realize the detrimental effect of saying these words carelessly, it was a cry for help. It felt like I was going down and no one was there to save me, not even my parents. Actually, that was the first time in my life I had called my parents, and they did not return my phone call the same day. It felt like I had no one.

When the cops arrived, I began to cry. I told them I was going through a hard time, letting go of a relationship, my business was suffering, and I was financially devestated. They told me I must call a family member or friend to stay with that night. So, when I finally got a hold of my brother, the police drove me to his house about 15 minutes away from downtown. It wasn't easy showing up at my brother and his fiance's house at 1:30 in the morning with the police. In fact, it was one of the must humbling moments in my life, where I felt completely revealed and naked. Like I could hide nothing.

But, from that point forward, I let go of the wheel. I decided to stop steering and to truly let God lead my life. I decided to let go of my wants and needs and thinking I know what is best for me, and chose to let the Divine Force of Life move me in the direction of my highest good. The intersting part is I thought I'd been doing this all along, but realize now, I hadn't. I'd been trying to run the show my way.

In Yoga, this letting go of control is called Isvara pranidhana, or Surrender to God's will. It can be a difficult process to get to this place...we can fight it and struggle with it-for some people that may mean months and years, for others maybe even a lifetime. But ultimately, at some point in our journey, all that remains for us is to surrender our Ego and let go of our own interests to be lead by our Highest Good.

"After one has exhausted one's own resources and still not succeeded, one turns to the Lord for help for He is the source of all power. The student prays: 'I do not know what is good for me. Thy will be done.' Others pray to have their own desires gratified or accomplished." -Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar

As long as we are consumed by our own "needs" we can not see there is something Greater intended for us. We have our pride so wrapped up in itself, we will often take ourselves to a place of desolation before we will let go of the steering wheel. Most of the time, we just keep thinking things are going to get better, we can turn the car around, and we keep hoping this is so. But, at some point, Authority/God steps in and says, "If you want to get this life turned around, you're gonna have to let me drive." When the cops came to my house, I could feel it was really God working through them.

I share this with you today, because of the radical transformation I've experienced in the few short months since I let go and let God. Letting go of having a studio was one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made. My entire identity/ego was wrapped up in being a Studio Owner and a business owner in Dallas, TX.

Once I allowed myself to surrender my identity, my ego, my life began to open up in ways I'd only dreamed were possible. In two weeks, I'm going to be traveling up to Ohio for the New Year to see my grandmother, sister, nieces and nephews, who I haven't seen in over 2.5 years, as well as, dear friends. When I was doing things my way, I never felt like I could afford the trip up there. Now, I have the resources and the time, thanks to God.

I'm getting to realize my dream of doing what I love and earning a living at it. Maybe one day I'll have a studio again, but for now, I'm listening to the voice within me and allowing myself to be guided by that, rather than listening to other people tell me I need to do certain things (like own a studio) in order to be successful.

And, most of all, I'm getting a second chance, an opportunity to start over, wiser and stronger than before, and share my love of Yoga to even more people with an abundance of opportunties before me. Above all, I feel grateful. Grateful for the fresh start, grateful to be able to make a difference more and more all the time, and grateful to have struggled, only to awaken to a new apprecation and joy for living that's sweeter and deeper than ever before. This year really will be a Happy New Year.

Click here to listen to a song about letting go and letting God:
Carrie%20Underwood%20-%20Jesus%20Take%20The%20Wheel.mp3

Namaste! Read more

Though I practice Yoga regularly (which is a form of meditation in motion), I've recently gotten away from incorporating a daily meditation practice. Since beginning Yoga over four years ago, I've had some form of meditation practice off and on in my life. To me, meditation means clarity, direction and listening. When our mind becomes quiet, either through meditation or Yoga, we begin to be able to hear the clearly distinct voice of Truth within us. Some may call this voice our Higher Self, others may refer to it as God.

How is it that we can get away from things we know are not just good for us, but exceptional for our body, mind and spirit? If you were handed a box, and on it, it said "Clarity, Health, Well-Being", and there was just one simple direction..."Sit for 10 minutes each day and be still" or "Eat healthy foods", would you open the box and follow the directions?

As I was driving to teach a Yoga class last night, my Service Engine Soon light came on in my car...

I immediately thought, "I've got to get this looked at and figure out what's going on." Then, I realized the Service Engine light inside of me is on everyday of my life. Everyday, it is important for me to take a look at myself and get clear about what's going on with me. When we take time to take care of our own "engine", it helps us to move in the direction that's best for us. See, I've experienced the profound benefits of meditation. I've tasted the treasure, and yet, I still feel challenged to keep a regular practice.

Everything I am currently doing in my life is because of guidance I received through meditation. A couple of years ago, after completing a Yoga practice and lying in Savasana, I heard the guidance of "hands-on-healing" (meaning massage) very distinctly and loudly from within my Being. Two short months later I was enrolled in a class to learn Thai Yoga Massage and have now been practicing it for over 2 years. Before I heard this guidance, I would never have decided to learn massage. The fact is I love giving massage and this gift has allowed me to give it to and connect to so many people.

I write this blog today as an opportunity to let go of what's in my way of having the treasure, which is really my own self. Maybe for you, your box is choosing to put healthy foods in your body, or exercising. Sometimes we just need to talk about it, why we neglect the treasure, even though it's always there waiting for us to receive it. So, I am committing to somehow, someway, getting back into my practice, by just beginning...today. I'll keep you updated on how it goes...and what the treasure reveals...as I take time to take care of the engine within me.Read more

As I was driving to Yoga class this morning, I noticed I began to feel down for no apparent reason. Perhaps it was because it seemed like just another ordinary day, off to teach a Yoga class, again.

I felt myself go into a sort of daze as I was stuck in traffic on the Tollway...cars everywhere, "big surprise, another traffic jam in Dallas," I thought.

Then, I remembered the words of Pandi Tijunait, Ph.D...

"Happiness is the natural state of everyone; it requires no effort to experience and no effort to maintain. Any state of mind other than happiness requires the mind to put forth an effort...I am happy because I am not unhappy."

I began to realize how often I focus on problems in my life. How often I'm engaged in thinking about what's not right in this moment. The truth is, though I may have thought I had problems in the past few years, especially with owning my own Yoga studio and having a significant amount of financial considerations, I really had no problems. What I thought were problems were really incredible opportunities to learn and grow, though at the time, all I wanted to do was avoid having another problem and to figure out some way of getting rid of all of them.

The truth is, there is nothing to avoid. Anything we perceive as a problem is just an opportuntity from which we can become wiser and stronger.

Main Entry: 1prob·lem
Pronunciation: 'prä-bl&m, -b&m, -"blem
1 a : a question raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution

So, instead of thinking..."it shouldn't be like this"...meaning...
My finances "shouldn't be" like this, or my job "shouldn't be" like this, or my relationship "shouldn't be", etc., etc. you get what I'm saying. Or even, I "shouldn't feel" this way, i.e. depressed, down, upset...

We might ask..."How do I solve this?"
What if we always looked at everything as though in this moment it is exactly how it "should be." Then, perhaps we would see that there is no problem with what is, just an opportunity to create a new solution in that moment. And, to ask a very powerful question to ourselves and our Creator/Universe..."How do I solve this?"

As we go through the day, allow yourself to ask this question in any part of your life where you feel you have a problem. Then, trust that once you've asked this question, you can bring your awareness back and allow your natural state of Happiness to be present once again in your heart and mind...

Namaste!Read more

This is a passage from a book I've added to the True Yoga Recommended Reading List called Happiness: The Real Medicine and How It Works, by Blair Lewis, PA. I've also featured a post about the seminar I attended last weekend with him called, Diet, Nutrition and Consciousness, which is in the new section of True Yoga Life called Healthy Guidance.


In this passage, Blair Lewis is recalling a conversation he had with his teacher and mentor, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Ph.D...

"Happiness is the natural state of everyone; it requires no effort to experience and no effort to maintain. Any state of mind other than happiness requires the mind to put forth an effort. To be happy, you do not have to recall a memory, judge your efforts, slip into the past, or fantasize about the future-doing these things will wear you down. Engaging the mind will use up your energy, and eventually you will become tired. Working at a desk-job can be more draining than physical labor for some people. But happiness is never tiring..."

His teacher, Pandit Tigunait, asks...

"Have you ever had any of your patients complain to you about how draining it was for them to have a pleasant day? How many of your patients get worn out because feeling happy was so exhausting for them? My point is this: the reason I am happy is because I am not unhappy. To be happy requires no effort."

To read more about Blair Lewis, PA check out the sections I mentioned above, or go to his website at: Alive and Healthy Institute

Have a great day!Read more

Often when I'm teaching a Yoga class I will remind students (especially when they are attempting to be in the splits), that the tightness they're experiencing in their bodies is not an obstacle to flexibility, but an opening. The awareness of tightness/tension being present, is the beginning of flexibility being created. When we feel this tightness in our bodies, our first instinct is usually to back away from it or avoid it. It is not comfortable and the mind almost immediately begins to feel distressed.

At this point the teacher usually reminds us to breathe into the tigthness of the uncomfortable stretch we feel screaming back at us in our bodies. As we begin to breathe and allow the tightness to be there, something amazing begins to happen. The breath we're breathing begins to relax our mind and our instinctive reactiveness, and we begin to feel the body start to open up and let go of the tightness. As we allow ourselves to stay in the splits, we begin to discover that if we just allow ourselves to breathe, then the stretch we're in actually starts to feel good. Before we know it, we come into the splits again and again seeking relief from the tightness and tension within our bodies...

Life can often feel like being in the splits. There are times when we feel emotionally split apart, insecure, doubtful, and faithless toward our own self and Creator. We find ourselves wrestling with what is and struggling to comprehend how it can be so bad, painful, unhappy and miserable. We resist feeling whatever is going on inside of us and feel like it's never going to get better.

"We must look for the opportunity in every difficulty instead of being paralyzed at the thought of the difficulty in every opportunity." - Walter E. Cole

These feelings are the awakening, not the obstacle. Each time we find ourselves feeling pulled apart, uncertain of all that is and how to get out of what we're in, this is actually the moment we're being put back together. It is the transformation of ourself into a new way of thinking and Being.

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." - Romans 12: 1-2

The truth is we were split apart long before we became aware of the tension or distress being within us. Inflexibility is when we have no feeling and are not even attempting to stretch ourselves. The moment we come into a stretch and become aware of tightness, that's flexibility, that's the opening up. So, next time you find yourself in the splits, whether it's in Yoga class or in an emotional, mental or spiritual challenge in your life, remember to allow yourself to breathe into it, the breath is the Life Force which heals and opens up the obstacles to the body, mind and spirit. Remember that no matter how bad it feels, if you can remember to breathe into yourself with the intention of healing whatever you're feeling, it can only get better...

"I can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. It's all how you look at it." - J. Kenfield Morley Read more

If we allow ourselves to see God in everyone and everything, everyday has the potential of being Divine. So as we journey into this weekend, let's allow ourselves to open up our hearts, let go of our judgments and preconceived notions about ourselves and others, and allow the Divine to express itself within us and all around us. When we stop making up things about other people, how we think they are, or what we think we know about them, we create a space between one another, allowing for the full expression of our Being and theirs to manifest.

We might call this space the unknown. A space free of judgment and analysis, and in the absence of judgment exists love. A lot of times, we think of judgment as having negative feelings toward another person. But judgment can also exist when we have preconstructed opinions about people. Even opinions we might think are harmless, like, he/she is wealthy, or successful, or any other label we might put upon someone. It is our preconceived notions and judgments which keep us from knowing and experiencing the full expression of one another. So I invite you to practice living in the unknown this weekend with each person you encounter, including yourself...because you never know who you might meet on the street, at the store or in the mirror staring back at you.

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."-Mother TeresaRead more

It sounds so cliche..."let go of the old, release the past"...we hear it a lot these days, though it's a theme that's present in every great and age-old religion. But, in order to release the past, we must first be aware of the places we are holding onto it and storing it.

"Recognizing what we have done in the past is a recognition of ourselves. By conducting a dialogue with our past, we are searching how to go forward." -Kiyoko Takeda

There are so many places where we store the past...

-In our bodies, especially the hips, shoulders, stomach and heart center...
-In our minds with memories, the ones we're fond of and not so fond of...
-In our homes, attics, closets and other "toss it or leave it" in their places...
-In our offices and even our cars
-And yes, on our computers...
(I'm sure there are more...I'd love to know where you hold onto the past.)

"Living in the past is a dull and lonely business; looking back strains the neck muscles, causes you to bump into people not going your way." - Edna Ferber

Last night, I decided to begin cleaning out the hard drive of my computer, it was acting a little slow and I've been "meaning" to do this for quite some time. As I was going through it...

I couldn't believe the articles and documents I found...words I had written down and meant to communicate to someone...but never did, stuff I never should've kept in the first place-but saved, thinking I would one day "need" it, memories of events in my life I had written about and tucked deeply away-nearly forgetting, and many others...

It really felt liberating to clean out the old and make room for the new. As the New Year approaches, are there places in your life that could use a cleaning out? Maybe even those places you wouldn't normally think about because it seems to work fine the way it is...but, in actuality, may be congesting the flow of energy and information into your life? Cleaning out our memory, by going through the past, whether it's in our bodies, closet, or computer's hard drive, can create a tremendous amount of freedom in our heart and mind.

And, as you let go of the old, honor it for its place in your life, and then release it and give thanks for it, even for those memories you might wish you didn't have. They too, have served you.

"The more I give myself permission to live in the moment and enjoy it without feeling guilty or judgmental about any other time, the better I feel about the quality of my work." - Wayne Dyer

Perhaps if we spent less time storing information, and more time releasing it, we'd have lighter, more energized bodies, minds, spirits and more space in our hearts to allow good to flow into our lives...

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn the past, not to worry about the future, nor to anticipate troubles, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly." - Buddha

"The good old days were never that good, believe me. The good new days are today, and better days are coming tomorrow. Our greatest songs are still unsung." - Hubert H. HumphreyRead more

I'm getting here a little bit later today as I taught a couple of Yoga classes this morning. You can look for posts to True Yoga Life about 5 days a week. As we go into the New Year I will be providing you with all types of information regarding Health and Wellness and how to make 2006 an even healthier, vibrant year. My intention as we journey through the Holidays is to support each of us in connecting with the full expression of joy that is present within our spirits. I loved the quote by Seneca from Monday's blog: "Learn how to feel joy."

The inspiration and information I would like to share with you today is actually from one of the advertisements that I clicked here on True Yoga Life. It directed me to a website called Prayer Power and from there I signed up to receive the free e-mail on The 7 Great Prayers. I encourage you to sign up for this as these prayers are truly amazing. Because I was raised Christian, I learned The Lord's Prayer as a child growing up. As I'm writing this, though, I realize I've actually never really learned how to pray. Sure, I understand that prayer is praising our Creator and requesting support and guidance in our life, but, as I'm beginning to receive these 7 Great Prayers I am astounded at their simplicity. It's almost as though these prayers, that Paul McManus(the author) is suggesting we pray in our daily life, are more like mantras. Ah...I just found this in "Light on Yoga" by B.K.S. Iyengar. (One of the books listed in the True Yoga Recommended Reading section.)...

"The word mantra is derived from the root 'man', meaning to think. Mantra thus means a sacred thought or prayer to be repeated with full understanding of its meaning." - Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar

Precisely. Mantra or prayer can only truly resonate within us when we are connected to and have "full understanding" or feeling of its meaning. So, the First Prayer Paul suggests we pray is:

"I love you God."

That's it?! Yesterday, as I was relaxing into Savasana, I began reciting this prayer. It helped me relax almost immediately and I could feel the positive vibrations from it as I was floating away. Similarly, the mantra of "Om" is used in Yoga to express adoration to the Divine, but, if we're not connected to our intention when we say it, then we're not really feeling or connecting to anything, including our own self.

Wow, I'm beginning to understand and feel it. It's amazing, too, that I accessed this website through this blog. How encouraging that the information being created here is also opening up other channels of support. I feel blessed.

So, as you journey throughout the rest of your day I encourage you to take time to feel, feel your breath, feel your body grounding down on the chair you are sitting on right now, feel your prayers as you pray them, feel joy moving through you and all around you...

Just feel.

Namaste!Read more

Last week, one of my students brought me this to read to the class at the end during Savasana (Relaxation Pose.) My invitation to you is to take a moment out of your busy day, and to truly read through these words allowing them to resonate in your soul...

"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story...
Be yourself...

(Click this link to listen to What a Wonderful World, sung by Eva Cassidy:)
Eva%20Cassidy%20-%20What%20A%20Wonderful%20World%20%281%29.mp3

Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and discenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labours and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world."-Max Ehrmann

And remember...just breathe. Have a great day!Read more

It's been just about a week since I began True Yoga Life. It has been a truly enriching experience because everyday there is something more to learn. And, I'm even getting a chance to make friends along the way. What could be better than that?! For instance, be sure to check out this great blog called:

Everything Yoga

Doing a search for Yoga blogs, I came across this one and was really impressed with it. Diane, who I've just "blog-connected" with, (there must be a new term/buzz word for meeting through blogs) is the author of it out of Boston and is very insightful. I think you will enjoy it.

As True Yoga Life evolves I will be adding other valuable online resources and links. Also, be sure to check out the new True Yoga Recommended Reading Link and Posts I added about these books over the last few days. These are some of my all-time favorite books that have had the greatest impact on my life in a positive and powerful way. I hope you will enjoy reading through these posts and the excerpts I've included from these books.

As we journey onward today, I'd like to remind us to be at peace with where we are on this day, this moment and this very breath...

"Learn how to feel joy." - Seneca

Take a moment to breathe in peace, joy or love.

Then, exhale and send this peace and love back out to the earth, to your home, your family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, or whoever comes into your awareness. And, remember, though there is sometimes darkness here on earth, there is always light in the sky, even on the cloudiest of days or darkest of nights.

"Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of unhappiness." - Lao Tzu

Each of us right now is being illuminated by an infinite number of rays of light shining down upon us. Take a moment and allow yourself to receive this light into each cell of your Being. We've all seen the infamous Tree Pose, otherwise known in Sanskrit as Vrksasana. 'Vrksa' means a tree and 'asana' means pose. Trees are the nourishment of life, but to be so, they must take in a tremendous amount of positive light and energy from the sun.

"It is an aspect of all happiness to suppose that we deserve it." - Joseph Joubert

So, today, remember to receive joy, peace and love, first, and then allow yourself to send these positive intentions back out into the world.

"Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."-Nathaniel Hawthorne Read more

With the 1st of December here, the New Year is fast approaching and a new cycle of our life is beginning as we close the chapter upon another year of our lives. Perhaps you will find comfort in these words from the Circle of Life, written by Elton John, from the movie, The Lion King.

"It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life"

If you're familiar with the Sun Salutation Series in Yoga, then you've probably learned these movements were originally practiced by Yogi's in the direction of the sun as a reminder of the Great Light that is within each of us. Often in class, I will remind students to flow through these postures, saluting the sun that is both rising and setting in our life in each moment. This reminds me of a famous quote from Hellen Keller...

"When one door of happiness closes, another one opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."

(Click the link below to listen to the Circle of Life by Elton John:)

Disney%20-%20Lion%20King%20-%20Circle%20of%20Life%28Elton%20John%29.mp3

I often struggle with the circle we call life. Feeling like I've grown so much and am moving down a path, only to find the path was bringing me back to the beginning all along, and the uncomfortable awareness of having so much yet to learn. This morning I was talking to a friend who is going through the difficulty of calling off her engagement with her fiance and having to move out and back out into her own place...again. She said to me, "It's not new, I've done this before when I got divorced."

It can be painful to come to terms with this awareness...feeling like we've journeyed so far only to find ourselves in an all to familiar place once again. However, it can also be a tremendous opportunity to see how much we have grown. I believe the Circle/Flow of Life has been ingeniously created to serve us in becoming conscious and aware, and awakening to our highest good. Though my friend, as I mentioned, feels she is in a familiar place, she had the awareness this time to not move forward with a relationship she knew was not meant to be. That is a success...not a failure.

When I reflect on my own life, it is no coincidence I am now living and teaching Yoga in Frisco, TX. Never in a million years would I have ever conceived I would possibly be living here, again. I actually began True Yoga in Frisco over three years ago in a clubhouse in my parent's neighborhood. Though I am no longer teaching at the clubhouse (that might be a little too much), I am teaching at a studio at the Shops at Legacy called Natural Trends. Some of the students who belong there are people who first began practicing Yoga with me over 3 years ago. Initially the idea of moving "back here" was uncomfortable because it seemed like it was not a progression, but a regression in my life moving "forward". The gift I have now is the awareness of how much I have grown in the past 3 years. I am reminded continuously of the person I was when I left and the person I am now. The circle of life is our mirror, our reflecting pool. Without it we would have no sense of ourselves. With it, we see our transformation and awakenings as well as the sometimes painful realization of how much we have yet to grow and learn.

I often say, there is no hurry to get where you are going. So many of us have it "made up in our heads" that we're getting/moving somewhere, and that we better hurry up and get there. The only place there is to get to, ultimately, is right here, right now, in this very moment, and ultimately, this very breath. The journey is to learn, to grow, to become aware and to heal the cycles of our life which are not serving us, so we can become and awaken to all we can be, illuminating the Great Light that is withinin each of us.


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