You Tube

I have decided that we are going to add some things to our yoga availability. When we start our next set of classes, I will be featuring a yoga pose of the week. This pose will be worked on in all of the classes that I teach. I will be posting information about the pose and from time to time a you tube link to even more information. In preparation for the next set of classes I would like to offer a video about karma from the founder of the temple at which I studied.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEm8o1Si8tA

I hope that you enjoy it!

Rumi Quote

Recently I was looking through a magazine and I found a wonderful quote by Rumi. In it Rumi says to

"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."

After reflecting upon it some more, I found that it is more wonderful than just first glance. At first read you think, "okay, do what I love." We have all heard this before and many of us have said it to those we were mentoring. If you are helping to guide a child, a friend, or a student this could have graced your lips more than once. One of my high school teacher, when asked what I should do with my life, repeated the ever useful, "If you love what you do for a living, then you will never work a day in your life."

I have had jobs that I loved and jobs that I resented. But even working the best job in the world, you will surely encounter days that you will work. And work your butt off. I have been blessed enough to have the opportunity to train to teach yoga. I love it. Some classes are better than others. And many of you will contest that great classes seem to fall from the skies into our practice space. Some times the energies of those I teach combine to create the most amazing atmosphere. For all of these things I am grateful.

But that is not what Rumi was saying here. Read it again and this time listen. "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do." We are told to do beauty. And not just any beauty, but the beauty of love.

When you love something, just purely love something, that is beauty. You smile. Your heart is light and your mind is focused. Think of the love of a new child or the love written across the face of newlyweds. This is the beauty that we are to do. By doing beauty, you are showing the world the love within yourself.

Happiness

There are many of us who are looking for happiness. Though we may have 'lost' happiness, it is not lost for all time. We just tend to look in the wrong places.

We look for moments of happiness in food, shopping, drinking, and other vices. We look for lifelong happiness in family, spouses, friends, and careers. While some of us can make very valid attempts at forcing happiness from these areas of life, we are still forcing happiness.

Happiness is something that just comes once you have accepted a few things. First you need to be content, pleased, at peace with yourself. If you don't like who you are at your core, you will never find lasting happiness. Second, you need to accept that just like moments, happiness is fleeting. Moments pass. Both good and bad. Anything that you feel, can be felt again. Both good and bad. Third, you must accept that happiness is not the goal. If it is your goal, than you are on the wrong path. The goal is peace and truth. Once you have found these within, they can last. They are the foundation that all wonderful emotions are built upon.

Find contentment within and focus on peace and truth. Then happiness will find you.

The World is Beautiful

When was the last time you looked out your window and really saw what was going on? How recently have you watched the sun set?

I love early fall. The leaves are at their greenest, the air seems crisper, and the sky goes on forever. Fall approaches with all the excitement of upcoming holidays and family gatherings.

Take a moment each day to let the beauty of the world envelope you. Let the goodness of life penetrate into the depths of you soul. My soul is at peace and the world is beautiful.

My Soul is at Peace

How many of us can say that we have peace in our souls? Have you taken any time lately for yourself to find peace?

With lives that have us running in a thousand directions at the same time it can be hard to consider peace. That is exactly why you need a yoga class. By giving yourself a little time to escape from the expectations and requirements of this world, you can increase productivity when walk out of class.

If you don't find yourself in a yoga class, it is still possible to take a few minutes for yourself. Where ever you are, sit comfortably. Allow your shoulders to relax from your ears. Take a few deep breaths. Let your mind release your to-do list and focus on just the rise and fall of your chest. Take a moment to enjoy the peace that comes from letting the world relax away from you.

Try letting go while you are in class, while you are driving, anytime that you can. Only by letting go can you find inner peace.