Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t do.
It takes courage to try something new. Particularly when you're not sure if you have the skill or the strength to do it.
Sometimes in our lives we find ourselves in situations where we really don't think we have the strength to cope or achieve. It's really easy to give up. But if we look deep within ourselves and find a teaspoon of courage, add a dash of positive attitude, with a measure of self-acceptance for where we are at right now, then we can do amazing things.
True courage is like a muscle. It gets strengthened with use. I encourage you to find the courage to let go of what you cannot change. Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying “I will try again tomorrow".
Yoga isn't a quick fix. Think of it as a lifelong path of development - for your body, for your mind, perhaps even for your soul. We will each find something within the practice of yoga that 'rings our bells'.
You may be coming to your mat each week to lengthen and strengthen your body . You will certainly find that . . . if you practice. Solid changes don't happen overnight, although some students have reported that they are already feeling the benefits (yay!!).
If you have been sedentary for a long time, or have mobility challenges due to health or injury, then you will need to take little baby steps in order to achieve your goals. The thing is though, you are doing it! You are moving your body more than you were before. That, in it's own right, is an improvement in your physical well being and is something to be proud of.
Some of you may be coming to your mat to find some peace and calm, away from the daily grind and stress we may feel in our life outside the yoga room. If you use your breath, focus your mind, and open your heart, you will find that too. You will find that the skills you learn on your mat that enable you to quiet your 'monkey mind' start to follow you outside the yoga room, into your everyday life. The sun shines brighter, your heart beats slower, you inhale deeper. You let it go.
Others will be looking for a spiritual or soulful practice that reminds you to be good to yourself and others. By joining a community of like-minded beautiful people you will likely make new friends and connections, find a level of understanding and kindness within yourself, that opens you up to new opportunities. If your heart is open and gentle, then that too will come to you.
Each of us finds something special about yoga, in our own way, in our own time. Be open to it and it will come.
Together, our community of yogis will grow.
Namaste friends
Jeannie
Yin Yoga
If you feel the need to balance your 'yang' practice - the strong Power Vinyasa Flow style - with something a little gentler, you're more than welcome to join us on Thursday nights at 6.30pm for a one hour Yin Yoga practice. It's a floor based practice where we hold poses for 3-5 minutes.
It's very chilled out and requires no experience. The cost is $14 per class.
I hope you're all enjoying learning Power Vinyasa Flow Yoga in the Absolute Beginners workshops. I'm REALLY enjoying teaching you!
I challenged you all at last week's class. I wanted to see what you're capable of. It enables me to adapt the class to suit you, so now we have a benchmark.
Some of you may have found practice last week to be a little too challenging for you. Please don't feel despondent. Instead, let me know how you're feeling, why it is that you feel challenged, and we can work through it together. That's what these workshops are all about. Finding a way for everybody to practice yoga, in their own way, in their own time.
Please do let me know if you have any queries or concerns. And I like to hear the good stuff too.
Namaste
Jeannie