My Journey to a Yoga Practice

I was drawn to yoga as a college student 13 years ago.  I was in a transitional time in my life and yoga offered some sort of refuge from the stress of the unknown.   On the floor of my dorm I perched a yoga book against the bed and began exploring yoga poses and what was exactly happening to me as I held each pose.  Sometimes in the simplicity of a pose I would find my mind wondering or bored.  Harder poses where I lacked strength or flexibility I would give up on or hold back on challenging my body.  But somewhere in between the limitations of my body and the chaos of my mind I found myself coming back to the practice especially when I felt “stressed”.  In the beginning just the act of shutting off the TV, turning on relaxing music, lighting a candle and maybe doing a handful of poses until I got bored or tired began to restore my mind and in turn relaxed my body.  Of course I judged this effort in not being enough.  I thought I “should” be doing an hour practice, I should go to more yoga classes, I should be more flexible, stronger, and whatever other “should” I come up with. 

But today I realize that what I did do was nurture the seed that I planted to begin a journey towards a yoga practice that would take me deeper physically, mentally and spiritually.  You have to start somewhere, and where I started didn’t have to look perfect, it didn’t have to be all or nothing.  If I could continue to commit to showing up even in the simplest way everyday, I would invest in myself and I would grow. 

Yoga continues to teach me to surrender my mind and body to be in the moment, to allow myself, with all of my limitations to be present, to hold the space for growth at my own pace. And just maybe today I will push past those limitations, maybe in micro movements or maybe in leaps, but all in the safety of acceptance of myself, of others and with the inner eye of awareness.   Today, that is the intention of my practice and as a teacher I honor and nurture that for my students.

As we enter into the New Year, spending time with family and friends and begin to prepare for all those new beginnings, it becomes ever so important to make the effort and the time for a yoga practice.  To quiet my mind of all my judgments of all the “shoulds"  in life, and connect with awareness, peace, acceptance, compassion, balance, strength, and all of the themes that a yoga practice connects me to on the mat,  so that I continue to carry that out to my life off of the mat. 

What draws you to a Yoga practice today?  What drew you to Yoga initially?  What does your practice give you?  I'd love to hear

Nov 10 Full Moon

We find ourselves at an serious juncture in the great scheme of things. We are all conscious of the dynamic of 11/11/11, and how important this date is, along with the Mayan calendar shifts, we are truly at a place of a new commitment to ourselves, and the life we are meant to live. . Double-digit numbers like, 11, 22, 33, 44, are known as “master” numbers, which relate to dimensions beyond the physical plane. The number 1 is similar to the first sign of Aries in that it symbolizes the beginning of self-consciousness; the number 11 represents its higher octave, the emergence of enlightened or Christ consciousness. Thus, 11/11/11 represents a spiritual initiation and gateway, offering extraordinary support for profoundly transformative meditations, group prayers, and mass awakenings.

In Taurus, we discover what really matters, what is worth our time, energy, and money. In Scorpio, we learn to face and feel everything, and realize that everything changes. Taurus, the earth sign, is concerned with building a balanced relationship to the physical plane: being in touch with our bodies and with Nature, possessing a healthy sense of self-worth, and sustainably supporting ourselves. Scorpio, a water sign, dives into the alchemical cauldron of relationship, discovering the power of emotions, fear, and the unconscious and how to align our feelings with our actions. Full Moons also highlight the shadow side of each sign as well as its spiritual tasks.

As we release ourselves from the ideas of struggle and scarcity, we instead embrace the idea of new and important focus and purpose will take you a quantum leap into what’s now being offered through unity, rather than duality.

Use the Solar and galactic tailwinds of these extraordinary times to take a giant step forward on your path, and remember:

“We don’t come with a dream without the tools to make it manifest.” (NMO)

 Enjoy this wonderful Full Moon, Taurus wants you to know how substantial, valuable and important you are, and how you make a difference!

Nancy O.

www.NancyOgrenMiller.com 

11/11/11 Yoga Celebration

One numerological interpretation of the number 11 is that it marks the beginning of new cycles, increased spiritual leanings and compassion. It is considered as one of the master numbers, those few that are not reduced by the addition of the constituent numbers. Some believe on this date, there will be a shift based on the alignment of energy on our planet. That at this time, even more the importance of being in our hearts light and allowing our higher purpose to manifest. 
It is a wonderful day to gather and set our intentions for a new cycle in our lives.

11:00 - 12:30 All Levels Yoga Class & Manifesting Meditation 
12:30 Group Manifesting Ceremony fruit, snacks and tea provided.
Love Offering $20

11/11/11 Evening Celebration

Lots of energy to kick off the new energies we are bring in for 11/11/11. We will be attempting 108 Sun Salutations! Don’t know what a Sun Salutation is? Don’t think you can do 108 of them? Don’t worry we will be there to get you started and keep you going! And all 108 can be done in smaller sets or just show up and surprise yourself in what you can do! Music, food & fun! To celebrate our lives, our spirits and our earth~
Donation based class $20 Love Offering. Join us! Space is limited so sign up to reserve your spot.

*For more info contact Jennifer at jennifer@bodyspiritwisdom.com
**For more info about Sun Salutations Yoga Journal has some great info http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/813

My Energetic Bank Account

Sometimes making the time for self care can be hard. There is always an excuse to leave it for later.  But I'm realizing that it is a commitment that I must make for myself so I don't loose my mind. It is so true that first we must take care of ourselves so we than can give to others, our family and then community.  Too often we are doing everything for our kids, our kids schools, our work, our neighbors, our spouses.  And we wonder why we are tired.

Today I heard from one of my many favorite clients a great way to make it more of a conscious effort to take care of myself. She suggested to take an empty check book register and start writing down things I do for myself, "deposits" and things that I do for others "withdraws". It is not even important to write down dates or anything too specific just making sure to balance my energetic bank account and even better always have 1 more deposit activity than withdraw activity to ensure the dreaded bankrupt account!  I thought that was a great suggestion and a way to be mindful to make the time for myself.  It doesn't always have to be big deposits that even the smallest effort can yield big rewards.

You are responsible for the energy that you bring into a room.

What an empowering statement.  I take responsibility for my energy.  When my own light feels dim, only I can make it brighter.  When I am feeling heavy, only I can create lightness.  And when I feel less than, only I can create strength.  I am energy. I am a force for which all things can manifest.  I can direct my thoughts and my energy to create only for my most optimum experiences.  I have choices on what I think, feel, exude and live.    I choose a brighter aura.  I choose a lighter energy.  I choose a more present state of mind.  I choose to believe that I am creating life, abundance, joy and I am prosperous.  I am in the flow and connected to the life force that pulses through all living things.  I raise my vibration to match the most universal life force of nature.  

Libra New Moon

New Moon in Libra tonight 9/27/11 

by my friend Nancy Ogren

Well, there’s good news, and there’s bad news, the good news is we’re in Libra!!  Using the lighter energies of an Air sign, we can first and foremost; Breathe.  Slowly and deeply, Breathe.  We have the Sun, Moon and Mercury within 2 degrees of each other in Libra.  So, take advantage of that dynamic and communicate your little hearts out, the Moon moves on quickly, but the Sun and Mercury will stay pretty close for the next couple of weeks, and then meet up with Venus and Saturn, also in Libra, along with the asteroid Juno.  That’s the good, easy-flowing comfortable news.  And normally, this much Libra energy would run the show.  The “other” news is Uranus, situated stubbornly in Aries, squaring Pluto, opposing the Sun, Moon and Mercury, and Pluto, also squaring all of those planets!!  So, you may find yourself being confronted by others who want clarity, but may resist reality!

My advice is: Speak softly, and don’t push any agenda, it’s not worth the struggle right now.  The Sun, Moon and Mercury move quickly and these aspects, except for the ongoing square between Pluto and Uranus will ease, and you can find your own center of comfort and grace.

With this Libra New Moon, use the qualities of: Perspective, Awakening, Equality, Divine Balance, and the Future to guide you as you create your Intentions for this next month.  Be aware, and think about: “What’s going on behind what’s going on!”  I think that question needs to be asked on a continual basis as we interact in all areas of our lives.

Hope this helps, seriously, remember to breathe, and be patient, as you may feel not heard, and feel that what other’s are investing in isn’t aligned with your picture either!

www.NancyMillerOgren.com 

Storytelling

I happen to be flipping through channels the other day and land on OWN (Oprah's network). I love Oprah! I see a commercial for one of her shows she has interviewing interesting people like Sydney Porter, Mya Angelou, and her other favorites where she is saying that "everyone has a story" and how it teaches us about ourselves. Its intriguing because it makes me think how her interviews really do uncover and honor people telling their story. The interest is hearing from others how their life struggles have made them who they are. And how their struggles really remind us how we can make it through our own.  But just like that, I go on not thinking any more about it.

Then today I was reading my book, "The Science of Spiritual Marketing".  The chapter I am on is The Power of Our Story. Which starts with a quote from a storyteller that says,

"What makes this act so powerful--for both the teller and the listener--is that we meet in the moment of the story and emerge acknowledging our kinship with all of Life.  Story reminds us that we are One."

The chapter relates storytelling to creating my business story. Sharing who I am and how I want people to experience what I have to give through my work and how that carries impact and attracts people to me.  Whoa! Totally overwhelmed to think that now my task would be to write out a story that offered some deep and meaningful journey to the mountain top of Yoga teaching (Which I am sure I've not actually made it to the top of yet).  So I put the book down and went to something else. Stories are great,when they are someone else's. "Mine are boring." I think to myself.

Ok so then tonight, scrolling through Facebook, a quote jumps out of no where, "Recognize your own story."  There it is again, "my story." Recognize my own story? My own story? My own story of what exactly?  Growing up, family traumas, spiritual growth, the good, the bad and the really, really ugly?  Is my story what I have done, accomplished, how my views have changed, what hurts me? Is it who I am today and how I thankfully am not who I was yesterday?  I have to think about this.  Who am I in relationship to my story? And what story is it that I would want to tell?

 I know I can go back and start rattling off my childhood, my high school awkwardness to flunking out of college so I could be free to roam the world.  My adventures of the naive 20 year old moving to Colorado by myself with $1,000 to my name and no where to live and the 13 years that passed since then.  Going back to college, car accidents, hurt relationships, hurt egos, and childbirth. Packing up my newborn infant to Texas, teaching Yoga, Reiki and now Pilates? Learning to let go sooner than later (biggie!), creating my own business, friendships and family adventures, learning to be comfortable in my own skin. All the twists and turns, the leaps of faith and the universal kicks off the cliff.  The spiritual adventures of learning (and still learning) how to manifest, how to have relationships, how to be a daughter, a sister, a mother, a wife, a dog owner.  The moments when I walked away from the messy kitchen to go to the park instead and play with my daughter.  The first moments where I was terrified to teach a class, my voice shook when I spoke and I didn't move from my Yoga mat.  The moments when I trusted myself and it paid off.  The moments when I didn't and I learned better. The moments of fear that I faced and the moments of fear when I ran away.  The moments of not being able to get out of bed to the moments of pure laughter.  And the amazing thing is I still am living this story, it still evolves from here.  Those moments grow into new moments that are fertilized from the past.  I create my story with each day that I wake up to this life. And who would give up on their story? It is what made me who I am today and who I will become tomorrow.  So this story thing, I guess I will continue to recognize my story, how it changes and what I am creating it to be.