Month: January 2013

How Do You Walk Through Life?

I teach yoga. And, you would think that most people who walked into the room, would be open. Open to the possibilities of how the class will unfold in whatever way it will. Open to different styles, Open to – whatever – that happens – to be, – ending with – just perfect, in that time and place. Today, a student walked in first unhappy that I wasn’t the teacher that she had wanted, even though she had never taken a class from me before. Then asking if I was going to turn the heat off on a cold morning, with temperature inside the room hovering at low 70‘s, because the artificial heat would bother her asthma, she declared. I thought the cold would be better than a student who couldn’t breathe, so I honored her request.  Then while warming the students up, and easily noticing that she had not been following my warm up, since she was right in front of me in the front row. She screams out. Oh come on. Is this an hour long class, Yes, I said. Then in her sarcastic tone, Well can you speed it up already. Disregarding again, all of the other students, in her wannabe, I guess, private class.  Disregarding all the other students who are regulars to my 6:30 am morning flow, who know my class, who were today practicing in the cold for her, and who were now, being disrupted by the outburst.

I tried to keep my composure and continue the class in a calm, positive, and uplifting place.  But, as she was having to deal with me, which clearly wasn’t what she wanted, I and the other students were having to deal with her, in what clearly wasn’t the experience that we had wanted. We’re not going to be all things to all people. Some will like us, and some will not. Who knows whats going on in her life personally… All I could do is remain clam, grounded, and positive. Teaching the class, as I had intended, for the good of all.  I think we both came around. She looked like she relaxed as I gave her an assist in shavasana, sending love as I did it.  When the class was over, she calmly walked out of the room when she left.

You can’t be all things to all people, but you can decided how you will handle all things. Walking in the path of kindness, happiness, and love, is not about pretending that life is always easy and working the way you have perceived it, but it’s about how we respond to the challenges that life brings us.

Just a thought…

Love, Goldi

Stuck In Your World

I have a friend who’s world is so small. They seem stuck physically and emotionally. They’re literally hardening in place, and speaking of how much they don’t like it there. With their job, home, and the people around them. And to know surprise, but to them, everything stays the same.  Years go by and their world seems to be caving in on them, getting smaller and smaller, since they can’t see anything else, or anyway out.

It doesn’t matter how many positive words are spoken to them, or options given to them. In their world nothing can change, and we watch them physically and emotionally grow weaker. So hardened, but wanting something, and still being unable to see the steps to make it happen.

Most of us have had some aspect of this, feeling stuck or trapped, we may pause for a moment but eventually move forward. Knowing that everyday can be different, bringing new and wonderful opportunities.

My advice is, if you see aspects of yourself in this scenario right now, go to a Yoga class. Consider it phase one on your new transformation. Yoga is about bringing you to stillness, a place of inner listening, bringing you to a place of peace. You’ll be healthier, happy, and you”ll  know what move to make next.

Make the changes, just go, and one day you will breathe in, and you’ll breathe a little deeper,  sink a little farther in your stretch, and balance a little longer in the pose. And, the same will begin to happen with your whole life. Changing one thing, changes the whole. Nothing happens overnight, just lots of little steps. Make the effort – just go to a class, even if you don’t really try when your there. But, by being there and moving just ever so slightly, you’ve made progress, and have opened up your world. The key is just to keep going. Eventually you will get to the place you want to be. Whatever that may be, but just keep going, keep moving forward. Make the change, and everything will begin to become clearer. You won’t be hardened any more… Just loose, loose and open to the changes that are coming.

Just a thought…

Love, Goldi

 

 

Habits

We are what we repeatedly do – Aristotle

What habits do you keep repeating that don’t serve you well? The answer is probably related to your New Years resolution.  We keep repeating the same patterns, sometimes with different people, with different foods, or substances, and then are surprised when the outcome is the same.  Just because were eating a dozen low fat cookies instead of Oreos, we shouldn’t be surprised that the weight doesn’t fall off. And, don’t be surprised if personal or business relationships end in similar ways.  Often we do need to look at ourselves. Look inward to our physical habits as well as our reactions.

We are all perfect, with our distinct and unique gifts that have been given to us, but we can all take a look at our learned behaviors, and reactions.  Know who you are. Really, get to know yourself. Change the patterns that don’t serve you. Dieting, for example again, is only temporary, but making a life style change – can lead to a slim and healthy body for as long as you keep the healthy habit going.

Change your habits, change your life.

 

Just a thought…

Love, Goldi