This week’s theme is simply the word ALLOW — very open-ended, very individual. What am I allowing in? Who am I allowing into my life? What am I allowing for? Am I allowing myself to be inspired? To embrace change and grow? What do you want to show up in your life? Allow for that. What you allow is what will continue. Pick something today, make it positive and encouraging. Today I’m allowing myself to be fully present. Today I am allowing myself to create and explore. Today I am allowing for a healthy change. Today I am allowing myself to just be and relax. Today I allow love in, and let fear go. Whatever it is, ALLOW it in. As Oprah Winfrey states, “Even the wildest dreams have to start somewhere. Allow yourself the time and space to let your mind wander, and your imagination fly.” So what will it be? What are you allowing for? Allow for what seems impossible. Allow for miracles. BE OPEN TO WHATEVER COMES NEXT! ❦

Oftentimes, to allow something new in, we need to let something go. What do you need to let go of? Inhale, inviting something new in…exhale, letting something go, creating space.

“Behind every fear, there is a miracle waiting to happen.” ~ Marianne Williamson

I let go in order to move forward.

“So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace with strengthen you.” ~ Psalm 55:22 TPT

“You’re free now, free to take the journey of a lifetime. Free to experience life, in its newness, its freshness, its magic — in a way you never have before. The only limitations on you are the ones you’ve placed on yourself.” ~ Melody Beattie

When I let go of all control and expectation, the experience becomes ALIVE!

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A Life Map (Vision Board) helps you discover what you want for yourself and your life. Follow the steps below to create your own Life Map.

Step One:
Gather magazines and catalogues.
Step Two:
Go through the magazines and catalogues and pull out images, words and phrases that speak to you or evoke feelings.
Step Three:
Cut out these images and words.
Step Four:
Place your words and images on a large board in an way that feels right to you.
Step Five:
Paste the images on the board.
Step Six:
Review your Life Map and ask yourself the following questions:
What have I learned about myself from looking at my Life Map?
Do I see any patterns?
Does anything on my Life Map surprise me?
If I knew that all of the images and this Life Map would come in to my life, would I be OK with that?
Who do I need to become in order to fulfill the intentions on my Life Map?
Based on my Life Map, what quality will I commit to developing this year?
Step Seven:
Find support for changing your life. Share your findings with a friend. You can even create Life Maps together.

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One Embrace by Danna Faulds

I breathe in blessings,
bird song, the light of
stars dimming in the
dawn. I breathe in
mystery and mountain
streams, equanimity
and the audacity to live
boldly, freely, willingly
in service to the whole.
My open hands rest lightly on my knees.
They vibrate with energy,
fill with possibility and
grace. I breathe out
judgment, expectations,
doubt, and everything
that handcuffs me
and holds me back.
Breath completes the
circle of ebb and flow,
highs and lows, form
and formless joined
in one embrace.

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I am open to whatever comes next. ❦

 

SANTOSHA, the Sanskrit word for contentment, requires our willingness to enjoy exactly what each day brings and to be happy with whatever we have. We can easily practice santosha in the beautiful moments and joyous experiences of our lives. But true contentment means being equally willing to embrace difficult moments. Only when we can be content in the midst of difficulty can we be truly free. Only when we can remain open in the midst of pain do we understand what true openness is. In our relationships, when we accept those around us as they truly are, not as we want them to be, we are practicing santosha. ~ Adapted from Cultivate Your Connections by Judith Lasater

Enjoy a portion of a poem written for me by my husband.

She has santosha with the One True God
In full body worship
In constant course correction
All the way to shava

I love her for exactly who she is
For who she was and who she’s gonna be
Every new thing I come to learn about her
Is further proof she’s the only girl for me

Contentment is a mental decision, a moral choice, a practiced observance. Are you truly content today my friend? Let’s draw inward, explore, and seek true SANTOSHA. 💜

One of the most difficult aspects of SANTOSHA is being content in this present moment. Oftentimes when we experience boredom or loneliness we seek distractions from the emotional discomfort instead of exploring root causes. We crave something to occupy the mind or somebody to engage our personalities. As we grow in our yoga and spiritual practices, we are able to draw inward sooner, see our true self in the moment, connect to our spirit and Divine Source, and through acceptance and love we gently smooth out the rough edges and become our best self.

“Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable; to open up our heart and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are.” ~ Rolf Gates

“Change is not only inevitable, but is always happening. When you truly embrace this concept of change being constant, the only thing left to do is grow, detach, venture inwards, touch the spirit and find your Source — the one responsible for keeping you grounded through the ever-changing seasons of life.” ~ Julie Weiland

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Soft Belly Breath Exercise

Breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth a few times. Place one hand on your heart, and one hand on your belly. Then as you begin to breathe slowly and steadily through the nose, visualize inhaling into your belly receiving acceptance, contentment, love — and exhaling out through your heart giving it all away. Continue for a few minutes. The breath is the most important tool in yoga — it is the bridge between the body and the mind — it draws us inward and into the present moment.

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The Soul of Yoga by Danna Faulds

What is the soul of yoga?
Follow your heart into the
center of the pose and find
in the midst of detail and
precision, in breath, alignment,
balance, bliss, fear and sadness —
at the very core of all of this
is love. Touch upon your
truest nature even once and
the experience of what you
really are sears the psyche
like the surface of the sun.
The soul of yoga, the gift
within the pose is the
moment of communion,
resting in pure essence,
the awakening as if from
sleep to the face of
unmistakable divinity;
the ineffable wonder and
living reality of spirit — oh,
yes — the soul of yoga is love.

---

May you experience SANTOSHA, true contentment, no matter your circumstance or season of life. Rest and trust in the Divinity deep within.

OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti-hi — Peace, Peace, Peace 💜

 

Be still and know that I AM God. ~ Psalm 46:10
Be still and know I AM.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Our intention this week is to explore MEDITATION. In the classical yoga tradition, asana yoga is practiced as a preparation for seated meditation. Yoga Nidra, Restorative, and Yin Yoga are also wonderful meditative practices. What exactly is meditation? The definition is “to think deeply or focus for a time for spiritual purposes or to relax. To think deeply or carefully about something.” Whatever we think deeply or carefully about becomes what we meditate on. What fills your mind, my friend? The Hebrew word for meditate is DOMAH, and is literally translated as “to liken, compare, to make oneself like.” Whatever we meditate on, think deeply about, is what we become like. The more we sit with our thoughts, the more likely we are to act on them. Are we carefully and deliberately choosing what we meditate on? I choose to meditate on pure, positive, present thoughts, connecting with the Peace within me. What’s the best that can, and will happen? ❤️

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Meditation 101
By: Claudia Cummins

To give meditation a try, sit comfortably, set a timer for 10 minutes, and explore one of the following strategies. And consider yourself forewarned: Meditation is a delightfully simple practice, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy!

Just Sit: Commit to doing nothing more than sitting quietly and watching what happens. Don’t pick up the phone, don’t answer the doorbell, don’t add another item to your to-do list. Just sit and observe the thoughts that arise and pass through your mind. You will likely be surprised by how difficult it is to sit quietly for 10 minutes. In the process, though, you may learn something important about the qualities of the restless mind and the ever-changing nature of life.

Listen to the Sounds of Life: Close your eyes and tune in to the sounds percolating both within and around you. Open your ears and adopt a receptive attitude. At first, you’ll likely hear only the most obvious noises, but over time, you’ll discover new layers of sounds that you had previously tuned out. Challenge yourself to observe what you hear without clinging to it or resisting it. Notice how the world feels more alive as your awareness of the present deepens.

Practice Bare Attention: Notice the raw sensations of the present moment—feelings of warmth and coolness, hardness and softness, pressure and ease. Which parts of your body are in contact with the earth? How does the shape of the body shift with each inhalation and exhalation? How does your experience change over time? Cultivating an awareness of the present moment will foster a more serene and attentive mind, one that is able to settle into the here and now.

Follow the Breath: Attach your mind to the breath. While you’re breathing in, note that you’re breathing in, and while you’re breathing out, focus on the exhalation. Don’t manipulate the breath in any way; simply watch it with your mind’s eye, just as you would follow a tennis ball bouncing from one side of the court to the other during a particularly engrossing match. When you find that your mind has strayed, as it inevitably will, gently refocus it on the breath and begin again.

Use a Mantra: Choose a favorite word, phrase, prayer, or fragment of a poem, and repeat it slowly and softly. Let its rhythm and meaning lull you into a quiet, contemplative state of ease. When you notice that your mind has wandered off to other thoughts, simply redirect it back toward the words you’ve chosen as your touchstone and rededicate your awareness to them.

Practice Kindness: As you sit quietly, focus your inner attention on someone you know who might benefit from an extra dose of kindness and care. In your mind’s eye, send this person love, happiness, and well-being. Soften your skin, open the floodgates of your heart, and let gentle goodwill pour forth.

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The Weaver and the Loom, by Danna Faulds

Sit here for a bit. Place yourself
outside the frenzied pace of life.
Slow down long enough to
appreciate birds in flight, water
drops like prisms in the grass and
countless shades of green. Step
off the fast track and listen to the
sound of breath and birdsong. Take
a moment to just be, and in the being,
know the whole of this creation,
mystery and madness, passion and
profanity, know it all as one, stunning
tapestry. Sit still and the thin line
between sacred and profane simply
fades away. There is nothing then
to reconcile. All the disparate threads
are woven on the loom of life. Sit here
for a bit and your unique place in the
pattern becomes clear. Take the still
point with you when it’s time to walk
away. Make the choice to see affinity,
to watch the picture taking shape as
thread joins thread. Dare to be the
weaver and the loom, creator and
creation, the sower and the sown.
In a moment of stillness, all that
came before is seen as one.

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“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” ~ Philippians 4:8-9, The Message

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May you incorporate some new meditative practices into your busy life this week. Begin to crave the calm connection — just be. “Show up for what’s up, so it won’t keep showing up! When you think you’ve surrendered, surrender some more. Be the humble witness of what will unfold.” ~ Gabby Bernstein

What’s the best that can, and will happen? ❤️

“May my meditation be sweet to Him.” ~ Pslam 104:34 NKJV

 

Inner Smile Meditation — Adapted from Jennifer Reis Yoga.

Your inner smile is glowing golden inside of you all the time! All you have to do is become AWARE of it, and a beautiful thing happens — you begin to sense how it fills you with joy, awakens positive qualities, and radiates your shining light. 

You may like to hold Hansi Mudra while you practice this meditation. Find a comfortable way to sit with your spine lengthened for five or more minutes. 

• Begin to sense your breath without needing to change it in any way.
• Feel a few natural breaths in your belly. Notice a few breaths in your chest and heart-space.
• Become aware of your breath already moving and flowing through your whole body.
• Now imagine an inner smile in your belly. With each breath feel your inner belly smile expanding and alive within you.
• Become aware of the inner smile in your heart-space. Notice your breath expanding the smile in your heart, awakening compassionate love.
• Feel the inner smile within every cell of your whole being. Trillions of inner smiles glowing golden in synchrony with each other. Like you are a tuning fork harmonized with the Divine – joy, shining light, and every positive quality – fills and radiates through you.
• With a few quiet breaths, send your inner smile out to someone you love. Send your inner smile out to someone you are having a difficult time with. Send your inner smile to all beings.
• Stay here for as long as you like. Keep this feeling of joy as long as you can, even when you gently begin to deepen your breath, softly open your eyes, and move into what comes next.

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What makes you smile, brings you joy and laughter, ignites your spirit, and gives you the goosebumps? I love an article written by Rebecca Lammersen, entitled, 101 Ways To Get The Goosebumps. She states, “I gage a good day by the number of times I get the goosebumps. Why? Because it is a sign I am listening to my spirit, being guided by her. Goosebumps are the smile of our spirits — we can never smile enough.” So, throughout classes this week I will share with you her 101 ways to get the ✨ goosies! ✨

Listen to a song you love and sing along.
Watch a movie that moves you.
Pay attention to the animals, to the trees, to the birds. Talk to them.
Hug someone you know and love.
Hug someone you don’t know and feel the love.
Go to a park and watch children play.
Listen to what children have to say.
Play with a child.
Play like a child.
Roll down the windows of your car, stick your hand out and waltz with the wind.
Turn up the music in your car and sing as loud as you can.
Sing in the shower.
Make eye contact with everyone you pass. You never know when your eyes will meet a connection.
Sit still and observe. You will see an interaction that makes you break out in the bumps.
Recall your favorite memory and tell someone about it.
Dance.
Have someone you trust tickle your back or your arm.
Hold hands.
Slide down a slide.
Hang upside down on the monkey bars.
Swing on a swing.
Lay in a hammock.
Drink lemonade with a straw.
Have a lollipop.
Eat food that reminds you of your childhood.
Watch Lady and the Tramp.
Watch The Wizard of Oz.
Listen to John Lennon’s Imagine.
Listen to Somewhere Over The Rainbow (any version).
Listen to Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World.
Kiss.
Give away something you love to a stranger.
Buy a meal for a person who is homeless.
Give your time and attention to someone who needs to be heard.
Scream.
Cry.
Pick flowers and smell them.
Buy someone flowers and surprise them.
Buy yourself flowers.
Say I love you at least three times a day.
Look yourself in the mirror and say, I love you.
Call you mother, your father, your siblings, your friends to tell them: I love you.
Smile at someone, smile at everyone.
Go to the beach.
Get your feet wet, at least.
Read the obituaries.
Listen to music from around the world, especially the songs with children singing.
Say the Pledge of Allegiance or any pledge or song of loyalty.
Have a conversation with God.
If you don’t believe in God, talk with the sun.
If you can’t see the sun, talk with yourself.
Take the trip you have always wanted to take.
Take a sick day from work or school and go to the pool, to the movies or to the zoo.
Go to a cemetery and read the headstones.
Go to a maternity ward and sit in the waiting room.
Have a conversation with a senior citizen.
Have a conversation with someone who is sick.
Have a conversation with someone who is no longer sick.
Go to Toys R’ Us and walk the aisles and play with the toys.
If you’ve wanted to ask someone to marry you, ask them.
Say yes.
Say no when you really want to say no.
Stay up all night just to stare at the stars and watch the sun rise.
Do a cartwheel.
Go to a race and stand at the finish line.
Cheer for someone.
Clap your hands and go anywhere there will be a standing ovation.
Go to Disneyland.
Read.
Read poetry.
Read The Diary of Anne Frank.
Read any book about bravery, injustice, courage and resilience.
Keep a journal and read it back to yourself.
Look at pictures of your family and your life.
Go for a walk and take each step like it is your last.
Suck on a lemon–it will remind you of your taste buds.
Go for a drive, just to drive.
Pet a dog or a cat (if you aren’t allergic and don’t hate them).
Go to Sea World and watch the Shamu show.
Skinny dip.
Go to a major league baseball game.
Visit the Grand Canyon.
Water ski.
Surf, even if it’s body surfing–catch a wave.
Story-tell.
Watch someone give birth.
Give birth.
Hold a baby.
Go to funerals.
Go to weddings.
Go to any function that celebrates a beginning and an end.
Have an orgasm.
Hold the door for someone.
Read the inspirational emails your mother sends you (sometimes they really are inspirational).
Stand in the rain and don’t move until you begin to shake.
Go to concerts–any type of music. Listen and watch.
Take a hike and sit at the top of the mountain.
Ask people to share their love stories.
Fall in love.
Write a letter to someone you love and read it to them even if they are no longer alive, especially if they are no longer alive.
Speak the truth. The goosebumps will always follow.

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Ecstasy Lives by Danna Faulds

Ecstasy exists. It lives in
random acts of love, bird
seed scattered on cold days,
back rubs, words of praise
or admiration. It lives within
the spontaneous admission
of defeat when things don’t
go as planned. Ecstasy lies
dormant, ready to burst forth
when a whitetail deer leaps
across the road, or a slice of
waning moon hangs jewel-like
in the night. It’s easy to miss,
simpler to point toward
suffering and shrug, choose
not to hear that first ecstatic
call of a mourning dove
welcoming the sunrise.

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What makes you smile, brings you joy and laughter, ignites your spirit, and gives you the goosies? Make these a priority and create a personal intention around these ideas.

❦ An inner smile radiates throughout my being, awakening all my positive qualities.

❦ Today I choose to live with gratitude for the LOVE that fills my heart, the PEACE that rests within my spirit, and the voice of HOPE that says all things are possible.

❦ Look through the lens of LOVE & POSSIBILITY! ❤️ What’s the best that can and will happen? 🙏🏻 “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.” – Luke‬ ‭1:37‬ ‭AMPC

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Quest by Susan Frybort

Take me past
the guarded place
in you
where confusion
covers itself
in unrelenting confidence
then marches on
In lively steps
Take off the facade
let it fall away
into nowhere
Turn around and face me
I search the infinite depth
where beyond all entrenchments
I find your thirst
to be met
and understood
the sadness in your bones,
the want of your silent cries
to be heard
and be known—
abiding within those
unseen landscapes
is a world of precious
dreams
Let me touch where
the battle wounds
lie quietly healing—
Buried beneath
an armored sheath
rests a lifetime of love
and loneliness,
blame and triumph,
honor and defeat
Within this blended web
of scars and treasures,
glistening with honesty,
there you are—
I FOUND YOU,
beneath the soldier’s plated heart
So loosen the knots around my own
see all its agony bared and mending
and in between each open space
we’ll breathe upon the frailty
All the wishful longings to be had
bring to me yours
as I meet you there with mine.

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This week we focus on TRUTH and INTEGRITY — aligning our thoughts, words and actions. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, SATYA, or truthfulness, is identified as the second yama (observance, social behavior) on the path of yoga. The guiding principle in adhering to satya is removing what the yogis refer to as the “veil of self deception.” When body, mind, and spirit are in sync, truth rises to the top. Be motivated by the truth in your innermost being. Create the space and time to listen for inner truth, heeding any wisdom received. “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” ~ Psalm 51:6

❤︎  I connect to the truth deep within.
❤︎  I listen with an open heart.
❤︎  I am safe to make changes and move forward.

“Value your connection to truth…We often know the truth long before we let ourselves see and believe it, long before we’re ready to acknowledge it. For many reasons — fear, timing, and a myriad of issues too long to list — we ignore and discount what we know in our heart. But the truth doesn’t go away. And even if we try to run from that truth, our experiences will ultimately lead us back to it.” ~ Melody Beattie, Journey to the Heart

Remember a time when you listened to the voice of your own conscience and experienced the power of embracing your truth. What did it feel like in your body and inner being?

Now be open to any ways you are not acting with integrity at this time in your life — not living your truth. When is your behavior clouded by desire or aversion, or influenced by someone else’s expectations? How does this feel in your body and mental self? Experience without judgement, observe and just be aware.

Observation and awareness are the first steps toward change.

Quest to find the true you. You are safe to make changes and move forward.

“No more running, no more hiding, no more hurting, no more crying,
no more trouble, no more sighing, no more falling, no more striving,
no more heartache, no more fighting, no more fears, only FLYING!”
~ Lifehouse, lyrics from Flight

What truth do you need to hear or speak this week? 💞