We can make our minds
So still like water
That Beings gather
About us,
That they may see
Their own images,
And so live for a moment
With a clearer,
Perhaps even with
A fiercer life
Because of our quiet.
-William Butler Yeats
For more awesome poetry this Thursday, go check out this amazing chick. Love her writing….
Yoginis, this looks like a truly amazing course for those of you who write - I am bookmarking for a future date, but I wanted to share it with you…
Travel takes a toll on the body and budget. I recognize that. So I’ve designed online Yoga As Muse e-courses you can take in your own study, at your own time, and at a reasonable cost.
The online Yoga As Muse e-courses show you - regardless of background in writing or in yoga - how to integrate simple but effective yoga tools to renew your creative purpose, deepen your process, and write what you need to write. These courses draw from my book The Journey from the Center to the Page: Yoga Philosophies and Practices as Muse for Authentic Writing (Monkfish 2008, updated & revised edition).
Each week you will receive an e-lecture on one key facet of Yoga As Muse that includes a creative “TAKE A BREATH” process & writing assignment. You then will have the option to post your writing and reflections on our special message board as well as to offer support and feedback to other participants from North America.
This FOUR PREPARATIONS course - based especially on the first four chapters of The Journey from the Center to the Page - introduces you to the Yoga As Muse process, The Four Preparations, plus a bonus tool. See specific weekly topics by visiting www.centertopage.com.
Only $149.00.
Visit www.centertopage.com to register now as the first e-lecture begins this Monday, October 12.
“Our bodies are brought to our attention usually under disagreeable circumstances.”
-Mabel Todd
Many of us come to Yoga to decrease our stress levels and relax our bodies and our minds. I know that is certainly what inspired me to sign up for Yoga during my sophomore year of college. I was tired and anxious, pretty much all the time.
The research is certainly proving that many illnesses and lots of our common, incurable, aches and pains are directly correlated to high-stress. All illness is negatively impacted by stress - our body’s natural ability to heal is impaired when we are in a state of hyperarousal from tension. And, frustrating as it may be, it is nearly impossible to live a stress-free existence. Having children can be stressful, living in cities can be stressful, recessions can be stressful, hanging out with extended family members can be stressful, and on and on…
The best thing we can do for ourselves and the people we love is incorporate stress-reduction tools into our lives and work at reducing the main cause of stress, which is the way that we think about our circumstances. Mind-body coaching is a powerful, life-altering process for just that reason. When our body starts talking to us, usually in the form of pain, exhaustion, or illness, we tend to resist it and want it to go away, right now! However, if we can be patient and listen closely, we may come to see the pain that comes our way as a gift – the perfect springboard to heal our bodies and heal our lives.
As a yoga and meditation teacher, much of my coaching philosophy stems from my experience working with my own body and the bodies of my students. Now, I apply much of that knowledge to coaching people one on one and incorporate the best coaching tools as well. I use this method every day on myself, and teach it to my clients. People that commit to incorporating the tools into their lives see the following results: less pain and more energy, a sense of relaxed control, connection with innate happiness, and increased peace of mind.
If your interest is piqued, Bob Bessette of a a Totally Unique Life is running an interview today with myself and another coach - YAY! Thanks Bob! You can also go and take a look at (and subscribe to the RSS feed of) the final, final (I promise) home of my newly minted and re-designed coaching blog. As a random aside, that has been one of the hardest aspects of becoming a coach - deciding what to focus on. It seems silly, in retrospect. I went back and looked at journals from up to 3 or 4 years ago, and when I was writing about what I hope to offer to the world, it was TOTALLY describing mind-body coaching.
In any case, as fellow Yoginis, you may know someone who is suffering from stress-based illness or pain. If you do, feel free to refer them. Right now, I have two openings for new clients. Before getting started, I always have a 15 - 20 minute discussion with people to make sure we are a good fit for each other. There is also no risk, as I have a 100% be satisfied guarantee. If someone is unhappy or not getting what they want from coaching, all money is returned, no hassles. That is just this Yogini’s way.
Got any other questions? Let’s hear them!
I will not die an unlived life.
I will not live in fear
of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible;
to loosen my heart
until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.
I choose to risk my significance,
to live so that which came to me as seed
goes to the next as blossom,
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.
-Dawna Markova
I read, and synthesize, a lot of information about stress reduction, healing, pain, and working with the mind into my own life and into my coaching. I was thinking the other day that it would be great to have a way to share this knowledge outside of one-on-one coaching, with a larger group who is interested, but may not have the time or inclination to get coached one-on-one, or read all the books and put everything to practice. I would like you to benefit from my book obsession plus my experience as a coach, Yoga instructor, and someone who has tested the concepts in all of these books through my own dealing with stress-based illness and pain.
Would you like to put the healing concepts in these books (and more) to work in your life - with some support? What about a mind-body mastery group? Sort of a book club - coaching hybrid, in my mind, however, I want to know what would be most beneficial to you. Do you want to read the book, or, do you just want me to distill what I believe the most important concepts are and provide those for you? Do you want a social networking site where you can connect with others who are working with the same ideas and types of issues? Do you want an audio guide to the material for download that you can refer to again and again? Would you like me to try and interview the author?
If you are interested, and this sounds like your kind of thing, please take the survey below. And, if you are<em> really</em> interested, I would love to contact you when I have it ready to go. Will you leave me your contact info in the survey? No spam, ever. Just me, contacting you, when I have more information about putting this together. The poll is really short - less than 3 minutes. I so appreciate your time and willingness to tell me more about what would be best for you!
You can visit the survey here.
I know I’ve mentioned Ode Magazine before. A magazine for intelligent optimists. I definitely consider myself among that group! I get magazines on a bit of an odd schedule due to general mail wonkiness overseas, meaning I just received my August issue of Ode. The entire issue is devoted to laughter: how it evolved, how it helps us, how it heals us. The last one I’m particularly interested in… the benefits of laughter Yoga as part of healing our bodies. It’s a short and sweet article, if you care to read up on the subject.
This week I had an epiphany about my coaching blog and how I want it to look and feel for the readers who come and hang out, I would love your input! After all, it’s about you (if you read it), not about me. I also wrote an entry about the purpose in pain, a topic close to my heart that I believe in passionately. And, as always, some gratitude. I was referring to my weekly gratitude practice as a well-loved life, but thought it would be more appropriately called Gratitude Junkies. Gratitude has figured prominently in my own life as a vehicle to view challenges in a new light, so I often refer to myself as a gratitude junkie. I love company in practicing gratitude - either on your own blog or, in the comments.
May your week be filled with laughter and happiness. See you next week…
I just wanted to share with you some excellent news that arrived in my inbox this morning! Everyday Yogini has been listed on another “Top Yoga Sites” list! What a boost to my day! The folks who compiled the list at Physical Therapy Assistant Schools did a lot of work to summarize what the blogs are all about. And there are some great blogs listed, so please, go check it out!
Also, a while ago, I was listed on the Top Yoga sites list for X-Ray Technicians school and I failed to mention it. Their list is comprehensive and worth exploring as well.
What other blogs do you read and love that are related to mindfulness, Yoga, healing, and closing the gap between who you are and who you want to be? I would love to check out some new stuff.
Have a wonderful Tuesday!!
Yoginis -
This just came across my email today, and I thought I would share. This sounds like an amazing opportunity! I’ve always wanted to go on a volunteer vacation, so someone please go and tell me how it is??
Also, Elaine, the wonderful woman who sent this to me is offering a discount to any readers who mention my blog when they sign up.
PEACE Volunteer Vacation Yoga
Punta de Mita, Mexico
September 14th, 2009 - For Immediate Release - The newest trend in travel includes volunteer vacations. The Punta Mita Yoga Retreat (October 17th – 22nd , 2009)
At a PEACE Volunteer Vacation
This 5 day retreat combines the relaxing practice of yoga with the gratifying joy of helping others in the beautiful backdrop of Punta de Mita, Mexico. In between classes brought to you by highly acclaimed yoga instructors at the Villa Ananda beach resort, you will partake in volunteer activities, thus creating a healthy mind, spirit and body.
Participants will receive top notch yoga
There will be 5 morning
Cost to participate:
Single Room: $1799
Double Room: $1399
Includes 5 night stay in luxury accomodations, 4 PEACE Volunteer Events, all transportation (minus airfare), 8 yoga classes, goodie bag, healthy meals, town tour, gratitude, peacefulness and relaxation!
Contact: Katherine Fisher at katherine @peacemexico.org or 303.250.4319
for more information on PEACE visit, www.peacemexico.org
I decided on a whim to switch my coaching blog from Typepad to Wordpress this weekend. THIS blog is a Wordpress blog and I love it. Typepad wasn’t doing it for me… ANYWAY, I’m happy to have changed it up, however, the links in many of the posts below do not work now. You can poke around my new blog here, if you click a link below and it doesn’t go anywhere. I will be fixing those links in the next few days.
Happy weekend, Yoginis!!
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Seeing how much I love Squidoo, I decided to create another “lens” with links to some of my favorite books and Youtube clips related to healing, health, and happiness. Do you have resources that you rely on or have found really helpful? Tell me in the comments - I will absolutely check them out!
Changing lives, one Yogini at a time.
