As we walk our daily journey, we can be easily influenced by social media, advertisements, and the voices in the back our mind from long ago. Those voices that denigrate, criticize, belittle us as well as compare us to others. I know I certainly heard those voices both outwardly and inwardly. Yet, there is our Pure Essence that tells us that we are a Divine being having a human experience.
When I look back on my own life, I can see the times and situations I thought less than what I was called to be. less than who I was meant to be. My person practices of mind-body-spirit modalities told me otherwise as I embraced my own radiance.
Recently, I have been working part-time for My Vinyasa Practice, a yoga teacher training in-person and online studio based in Austin, Texas. I have completed several teacher training programs with them and came back as a peer support person (formerly called mentor) for students in their programs. By working part-time, this is helping me to retain my office until COVID-19 is at a point when we can return to a more normal way of life and I can re-open my doors to the public for in-person sessions.
I have been using this COVID time wisely as I have been actively enrolled in additional training prgrams as I want to be able to offer you the best possible support. These multiple experiences involve trauma-sensitive and PTSD care, emotional and physical therapeutic yoga and breathwork assistance, stress and anxiety reduction, sound healing with additional instruments besides the singing bowls, and continued Level 2 studies in aromatherapy.
All to provide you with the most relaxing, restorative, and peaceful experience imaginable. Your peaceful wellness is important to me. When you use practices such as meditation, yoga, sound and energy healing, aromatherapy and spirituality, your well-being is enhanced and uplifted.
This is what peaceful wellness is all about. It’s not about losing X amount of pounds, or being perfectly in shape. It is asking the question within, “Am I happy and at peace in my life?” And if the answer is “No,” I am ready to assist you in determining what will bring you that happiness and serenity. I am able to work with you by phone or via video currently.
May your journey be peaceful!
P.S. My Vinyasa Practice is doing a 21 day challenge for August with 21 various yoga poses. This is what I have posted and written so far. You can find more an my Instagram account. I hope you find some inspiration. I’ll keep adding the days to this post.
If someone would have told me back in 2016 I would return to yoga after a few years absence, I would have said “No way.” After my mold illness, I didn’t think I could return to “normal” because of the havoc it created in my body systems. Most people didn’t even know how ill I was. Back in 2018, I returned slowly to yoga. And here I am now, feeling healthier and stronger in mind, body & spirit. Not where I want to be as yet, but the progress is amazing. It takes one step at a time while listening to your body and taking variations that work for you. Practice self-compassion and meditate and the rest will unfold.
Size and shape doesn’t matter in yoga. Do what you can do with what you have. Variations are ALWAYS possible.
There are ALWAYS variations of poses you can take. Yoga is not about being perfect. It’s the union of mind, body & spirit and listening to your own body. What’s most important is bringing movement into your day. Even a little more than what you currently do will make a difference. Each day add to it. Even though I’ve done yoga since 1996, my body is not the same as it was then and that’s okay. Yoga has helped me to continue healing from illness and loving who I am, and it can help you too.
Healing the body is one aspect, but healing the mind about the body is another. It takes self-compassion work to love ourselves as we are. I know it has for me. I never thought I would photograph myself doing yoga poses as I shied away from it. But with the internal work I have done I know I can love myself no matter what size I am. I have lost 20 lbs during COVID so far, but losing the blockages to my Inner Light is more precious to me. My mind is lighter and I am liberated. And, by the way, I love restorative and mindful yoga but I love teaching chair yoga especially to those who will benefit from movement but can’t do mat yoga. A shout-out to my teacher Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga. Thank you for Who you are and helping me to shine! Meddy Teddy sends you a big hug!
As we stretch our body, can we stretch our mind? Can we reach out to what seems beyond us? That which is out of our comfort zone? That which seems to tense and tighten our mind? Can we have a new perspective and a shift in perception? Can we love who we are right now no matter what? I know I practice this daily, can you?
I open my heart and place kindness on those areas of my mind that are still in need of tender care. I am cradled in love and acceptance. I can tilt my perspective to see from a different angle, to see the best that I can be. I am not the body, I am Divine Essence. The body only contains this Essence. Ultimately, nothing can contain the Radiant Essence as there is only liberation.
Every since I was young, I walked to the beat of a different drum. I didn’t do what was popular or cool. I did me, whatever that was at the time, meditation, Sci-Fi, metaphysics and Eastern Philosophy. Maybe I’m not upside down but the world is. Maybe during all these 56+ years I was cool all along. Who defines you, the world or your Inner Self? Just do you!
I listen to my body and what it needs. When we do so we are honoring it. For example, I have to be mindful of my left shoulder and arm due to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I also have to pay attention to overexertion as I still can have Fibromyaligia flareups sometimes. Yes, we may have conditions of one sort or another, but we don’t have to allow those to define who we are. We do what we need to do when we need to do it. We don’t have to make excuses to others or feel shame. We have to live in our body, no one else does so how could they know what is there. Sometimes people look well but they are in excruciating pain, I’ve been there. Do what is right for you, rest, restore and relax. You deserve it.
I can only do the best that I can as I know I am not perfect. I know all too well about pushing myself and allowing the world to define me. All it brought was pain and suffering. Over the years I have learned to let go of the world’s ideas about what I should be or can do and love my True Nature. I deserve time to rest. I deserve to know my self-worth comes from the internal Eternal within. I offer myself self-compassion. I look for ways I can grow spiritually so I am replenished within. Folks, rest, relax and restore yourself in the wellspring of the Divine!
The Hero/Heroine’s Journey starts with the Call to Awaken and then we depart on the path. I know this all too well. Along the way, I know I have found my Guides and Mentors as I faced challenges that both tested and transformed me. I take the gift of the Divne with me as I return to the Jewel of the Lotus. My compassion arises when my mind rests on the heart. Om Mani Padme Hum….. And you may find a furry wise one along the way. This is Miko, his name means “One who is like God.” We have two other cats, Misha (whose name means the same as Miko’s) and Namaste.
Instead of saying “I can’t” I’ve learned to say “I can!” Sometimes I may just need to find a more creative avenue whether it’s doing a certain yoga pose, formulating an essential oil product when out of a certain oil, or cooking without one needed ingredient, or you could say, living life in general. When we have limiting beliefs we rob ourselves of the joy and peace that we can have instead. Think creatively and believe in the Radiant Light that you are and shine!
When you put your mind to it, you can truly do anything. And, you can do it in your own time-frame. What is that you want to do? Do it! Find a way that works for you and you will be so happy that you did. When we accomplish that which is outside of our comfort zone, we tear the bricks down one by one of our self-limiting beliefs. The sky is the limit!
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