Sunday, November 29, 2015

Self Work

I have been dog sitting over the holiday weekend which forces me to do things differently. Discover new neighborhoods, run on new paths, and take a bath in the middle of the day. I always love these life disruptions because they bring about new insights.

Over this holiday weekend I have been sitting in a seat of tension with some of those close to me. And as I was running this afternoon it came to me the only way to ride out these moments of tension is you must do the self work. Yes, we need support from friends, but when your alone and sitting with yourself it matters that you know the depths of your self. You know what releases negative energy. You know what feeds your soul. You know what comforts. By diving deep into self discovery you become a woman that can ride out the tension and give yourself a little more love.

As Brene Brown says to stay curious as opposed to disengaged because when we deny our stories and disengage from the tough shit that rises up we are allowing that to define us. (also not an exact quote)

So we are worth the work!

Always love to hear from you.
Take care

Friday, November 6, 2015

Wholeness

I had to share this quote. It came from Rising Strong by Brene Brown

"We attempt to disown our difficult stories to appear more whole or more acceptable, but our wholeness-even our wholeheartedness-actually depends on the integration of all of our experiences, including the falls." 


                                                                                                 -Brene Brown

These words flew off the page and into my soul. I have been disowning my story to appear whole to the outside world. Why? As I read these words and share them I commit to owning my whole story!

Please share your thoughts on this quote.


Monday, November 2, 2015

Emotional Freedom

We live in a world of polarity. If we're not happy we're sad, if we're not happy we're mad. I use to reside in a world of suppressing the inappropriate polarity in the moment, until I realized that I am the one that is being inappropriate to myself. In order to allow an emotion to pass you must feel it and identify the reason for its rise. Don't shame yourself allow yourself emotional freedom. Once I started allowing myself, I broke free and this allowed me to grow.

The more aware we are of our triggers the more we can understand ourselves and others. As we etch out clarity, freedom and self acceptance. Our mind won't allow others to make us feel anything we don't already feel.

So, next yoga practice be on your mat with all that you come with and move through the poses as you feel the need. Honor yourself and the warrior you are growing into.







Thursday, October 15, 2015

Seeker

I opened my yoga journal today and was reading through some of my entries during teacher training. I came across this one that really spoke to me at that time and now.

Yoga Sutra

The seeker is to preform asanas, so they become familiar with their body, senses and intelligence. You develop alertness, sensitivity and power of concentration.

Familiar = means to be in close friendship

I feel that yoga helps us become familiar to ourselves in everyway. It slows us down and helps us get to know the deeper parts of our being.

There is no one way to be a seeker in yoga or life. As I am  seeker of both. I have stopped judging myself because there are many paths that a seeker can take and different speeds. The important part is that you are enjoying the seeking and building a familiar relationship with the deepest part of you. No matter where you are at, know that the seeking never stops and should be the thing that keeps you seeking more from yourself.



Saturday, September 5, 2015

Anger

Today was a day of explosive anger at other peoples behavior. Wow, I always amaze myself that I can get so angry. I hold onto it as though my life depends on it. It fuels me into a space of turbulence and speed. And what I mean by that is my body becomes tight, I walk faster, I snap, I have shallow breathing. I haven't felt this way in sometime so it always angers me to think I am going back to that place. Yet, I have to work through these feelings.

My mind says calm down which doesn't work. This anger takes over my entire self. So, when I arrive home I blog to get it out of my body. Then I do a basic yoga sequence at a quick pace which releases those negative feelings.

So the sequence I do is Sun Salutations I or I go running.



 And I must say there is no special number of times, I stop when I feel the anger has left my body and I become Melissa again.

If you deal with anger and have a way to shift that feeling I would love to hear about it.

Cheers to yoga for helping me cope with life!

Friday, August 21, 2015

Traveling unleashes the knowing that there is no one great place. When you start to explore the vastness of the world you see that beauty is all around. It may even become apparent that there are many great places to settle, that there is no one perfect place. This may start to shape the way in which you view yourself and the life you choose to live.

This thought was unleashed to me after my job ended and I was able to travel to some amazing places. I must say I am grateful for the life moments that shake me from the mundane and challenge me to look deeper. Also, to appreciate the now moments and know that the world has dealt me this for a reason. But, I also allow myself to feel the anger, sadness, anxiety that comes when change suddenly happens.

So, sink into those poses that make you uncomfortable, or the sequences that require you to break a sweat.
Grand Tetons in Wyoming, amazing!

Maine!

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Transitions

In life and yoga transitions are all apart of the journey. They can be enjoyable because they pose a challenge, yet it can bring stuff up that prevents us from experiencing it fully. As Pema Chodron says the only thing in life that is for sure is impermanence. So not holding on to things so tight gives us freedom and eases our mental grip. Shifting our view of transitions as an exciting opportunity to experience something  new is EXCITING and SCARY, but why else are we here!

This week my boss told me the business is shifting and we no longer need the services you preform. My apartment lease is up also. WOW! I am being told to embrace transitions and see the joy in this challenge. I have been through so many of these and this time I can finally see the JOY, FREEDOM and UNKNOWN. I can say with all my being I am open to what comes!



Ganesh the Remover of Obstacles

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Yoga the Energy Buster

My work weeks have been pushing 50 hours and it is so exhausting. It also makes me very grouchy person when I feel I have no time to myself. So, last Thursday I had 15 min to change and ride my bike to a hatha yoga class. My energy was all over the place, but after yoga it settled. I was a new person with a positive view on things. I have been doing yoga for several years and I am always amazed at the affects yoga has on ones emotions. I always leave feeling better and stronger. So regardless of my work schedule I need to take time to do ME!


Wednesday, January 14, 2015

A Woman's Worth

I am reading this great book by Marianne Williamson called A Woman's Worth. It brings to light so many cultural norms that society puts on woman.


When a woman is not empowered by her inner light she can't be her best self. That is when society has control, so it is our job to ignite that light.

That is my 2015 commitment to myself and I want to invite you to find ways that ignite your inner female light.