Tag: grounded

Is YOGA right for me?

When people find out I’m a yoga teacher, the questions start flying. Is yoga right for me? Will yoga help me? Where should I start?  Yoga meets you wherever you are, with forgiveness and kindness, to who you are in the present moment.  Some days you will be strong and centered. Some days you may just want to sit there and breathe.  Whatever is best that day is fine – no judgements.  It’s your practice, and it can help you in every area of your life. Yoga is a continual reminder to live in the present. To focus on our breath and our bodies – right here – right now, as we are.  Continuously redirecting ourselves back to the present moment, where 99% of the time we are fine. We have breath, we have life. Most likely our stomachs are full and we have shelter at night – so in this moment, we are more than fine. We cannot change the past or predict the future, but we can take care of ourselves in the present. Nurturing ourselves, or doing whatever it takes to bring us to a place of peace.

When doing our asana practice of physical movement, it becomes a sort of meditation in motion. Focusing again on our breath, movement and alignment, in the present moment. Noticing the rhythm of our breath, noticing the movement in our bodies, and the placement of our hands as we press them into the mat. Then finding it easier to be in stillness at the end of the physical practice. Leaving with a sense of being grounded, and centered, and at peace. Being able to see things more clearly from this place, without judgements, with what is happening around you.

At least this is what I like to think my class that I teach is like. That being said, saying you want to go to a yoga class is a lot like saying you want to go out to eat. There are so many types of foods and yoga, and then there are so many different ways to cook that food. So many different recipes, and then even with the same recipe, two chefs will cook it differently.  Just as eating an ice cream cone is so different from a gourmet meal at the finest restaurant in town. So is just as large of difference from Yin yoga to Power yoga. Because yoga does meet you with where you are right now, you can take any style, and just do the best you can do that day. Just remember if that style of yoga doesn’t resonate with you, try something else. Just as you like one Italian restaurant over another, or loving sushi more than Italian food, so will it be with yoga. You need to find the right teacher and right style of yoga that suits you just right – right now. As your yoga practice progresses so may your choice of yoga style change.

My advise is to try a few different yoga styles. Find the style that suits you best with where you are right now, then always remember that it’s your practice. It’s you and your mat, always doing what feels right – you are in charge of you.

Just a thought…

Love, Goldi

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

A Mini Vacation From Stress – Yoga on the Mat!

I first came into Yoga as a way to bring myself, a few moments of peace. Becoming centered, grounded, and present, focusing on my breath, focusing on my body. Then breathing some more, moving, linking my breath with movement, bringing my mind and body totally into the present. Then with the awareness of the moment I was in, and lack of the awareness of everything else,  I was able to bring myself to a place of stillness in my mind and body.  I was able to sit with peace, and then focus my thoughts on all that I had to be grateful for.  Mini Vacations is what it felt like. A retreat just for myself. Filling my day with positive thoughts all day long.  With yoga practice we find these moments.

Live with Peace.

Just a thought,

Love, Goldi