Living Yoga
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Living Yoga
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"Friendly reminder that 'doing your best' does not mean working yourself to the point of a nervous breakdown." Unknown
I woke up this morning feeling fragile. You know - the kind of fragile that says I have nothing to give today and my energy storage is empty? That kind of fragile. So, I lay in bed and instead of thinking "I am exhausted and sore and grumpy" - I asked these questions... What is it I "feel" today and why do I "feel" this way? What is the root of my fragility right now? What can I do or add into my life starting today that will help feed my soul, care for my body, and nourish my heart? And guess what? I came up with some pretty deep stuff. : ) I gave away too much of my energy over the last few weeks. I have a hard time saying no or setting/maintaining boundaries and I have let them slip. I was tired with a very sick kitty and lots of stress and I just didn't hold my boundary up. I allowed people to settle their negative energy on me and I let it hang out for awhile. I am not blaming anyone here. I am being honest - I allowed this to happen and it is on me. Now, what to do? "To protect your energy...It's okay to cancel a commitment. It's okay to not answer a call. It's okay to change your mind. It's okay to want to be alone. It's okay to take a day off. It's okay to do nothing. It's okay to speak up. It's okay to let go." Unknown I often refer to my yoga and meditation practice as a toolbox. A toolbox filled with tools to help me live a better life every single day. I rummaged through there today as I lay in bed and I decided this is my plan right now (it will probably expand as the day goes by). I will practice Yoga Nidra every afternoon for the next 30 days. Yoga Nidra is healing, restorative and balancing and I need that right now. I will practice Restorative Yoga today and 3x a week until I feel the shift in my energy back to center. Can I say that as I shuffled around gathering a mountain of props for this morning's Restorative practice that I felt such a relief that I was choosing to love myself today with this practice? It felt BLISSFUL. I will practice Metta meditation for the next 7 days to reconnect me to the power and energy of loving kindness - including and especially for myself right now. Metta or loving kindness meditation is a beautiful way to remind yourself that you wish only the best for yourself, for those you love, for those in your community and YES, for those who frustrate you as well! Along with all of this - I will nightly practice energy healing - allowing others energy to flow back to them and gathering my energy back in where I need it. This could include meditation, Reiki, journaling or whatever allows me to release what is not mine and gather up what is mine! Will you join me? I know there are many of you out there feeling weighed down, heavy, fragile, tired, emotionally drained. You are not alone. I am here with you. Let's step back, use our tools to show ourselves some loving kindness and recharge our batteries. Take some time for you right now, today and set a plan in motion for the future to keep you at your best. What will you do to take care of yourself today? See you on the mat my friends! Aprille "Intuition is the whisper of the soul." Krishnamurti
This week I did something I felt I "should" do rather than wanted to. I should not have been surprised when the universe tried it's best to make it fail miserably and not at all surprised that I felt strangely afterwards. I felt off. I struggled over the next few days to figure out what exactly was wrong and instead of recognizing what I had done, I just became frustrated and fussy and short tempered. Have you had this happen? You are just feeling not right and in turn you are easily frustrated and annoyed, but you CANNOT put your finger on what's wrong!? "Intuition doesn't tell you what you want to hear; it tells you what you need to hear." Sonia Choquette Finally - a light went on and I got it. While I had done something well and it wasn't a horrible mess, it wasn't what I wanted, dreamed or aspired to. It was what I thought other people expected of me. Let me say here and now - I deal with this a lot. Expectations. Many of these are clearly stated by others and some are, honestly - what I think others want from me. None of these are good for the soul and they often chafe and itch. They are bonds that tie us up and weigh us down - holding us back from expressing our true selves. And when you aren't doing what you truly want, need and believe in - it feels WRONG. "You know the truth by the way it feels." Unknown You see, I cannot be what others expect. I cannot be what I think others expect. I can only be me and I am okay with that. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am good enough as I am. Do you struggle with this sometimes? With expectations and the weight of them? Know this - YOU ARE WONDERFUL, AMAZING, PERFECT AND HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER! Just as you are, right now, today, in this moment. Trust this. Trust your intuition. Let it guide you on your journey and support you in living your most beautiful life. See you on the mat! Aprille "Step into the light. Unseen forces are cheering you on." Cheryl Richardson
This month we are talking about TRUE - being true, living true, exploring our truth. Last week we talked about how truth asks us to be brave, free, and non-judgmental. Satya or truth asks us to, mindfully in the present, ask ourselves "what is true right now" so that we can let go of the old ideas that restrict us from living our truest lives. Releasing what doesn't support us, opening our eyes to new ideas and reevaluating our values and truths constantly, defining and redefining our TRUTH. It can be hard. It can be really hard to look at what you once believed to be wholly true for you and in the new light of information, and life changes, realize things no longer align with your inner value system and life dreams. No one said truth is easy. "I heard a voice that told me I'm essential. How all my fears are limiting my potential. Said it's time to step into the light and use every bit of power I have inside." India Arie Light has a way of shining in every corner, lighting up the good, the bad and the crazy. It lights up the things we often wish would stay hidden but in dragging those out, shining a light there, we become more free. The weight of shadow, guilt and fear begins to dissipate. Truth is hard because often we think it might be easier to just go along with something, agree for the sake of peace or make choices because they seem easier. But, eventually, as many of you probably have already experienced, the truth comes out and then everyone is angry and frustrated. What would have happened had the boundary of truth and respect been already in place? Yes, truth can be a boundary. It's a place where you say this is where I am at right now and you are there and we are both okay so let's be respectful. When you hold back in the shadows you limit your potential. You can be doing so much more as a free, nonjudgmental, brave soul. You can change the world, share YOUR light, BE all that you can but you have to live your truth and that means stepping into the light and letting it shine brightly on every little aspect of your life. "A pure heart open to the light, will be filled with the very essence of Truth." Rumi Be open, be brave and open up to the light. Fill yourself with the TRUTH. See you on the mat! Aprille "For every person who might reject you if you live your truth, there are ten others who will embrace you and welcome you home." Marianne Williamson
We are in the fourth quarter of the year and as I look back over the year - I see a few things that stand out for me. Lots and lots of TRUTH. From my health to my business to my life and so much more. Truth, living my truth, exploring my truth has been center stage all year long. For me, it's been about defining what my core values are and what are ever-changing aspects of truth based on life whirling around me. It's been shocking, fulfilling, terrifying and also really amazing to have lived a year where my concept of truth has been challenged and really redefined itself. "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." Arthur Schopenhauer In the yoga tradition there is a concept called Satya (the second Yama or basic tenet of yoga lifestyle). Satya translates roughly as honesty and truthfulness in words, thoughts and actions. Sat = as it is. This basic tenet asks us to be authentic and true so that our actions align with our values. But, Satya can change. What one person told you that at one point WAS true may no longer be so. Life is not always one way or another - it constantly evolves - so we need to ask ourselves mindfully and constantly, "What is true now?" What you may have believed or even was true at some point in your life may have changed, your view of the world changed, your experiences changed, and so have you. Truth itself tends to shift as we learn, grow, and expand our perspective. "Owning your mind and living your truth can be a solitary path sometimes, but it is absolutely worth it." John Mark Green Living mindfully in the present can help us define and redefine our truths and help us live our lives in harmony with our deep core values. I value integrity, honesty, authenticity VERY much in both myself and others and this is a deep set value of mine. However, how do I work with that day to day on a case by case basis? These are the things Satya asks us to look at mindfully in the present moment as we seek to apply this to our lives. Satya/truth asks us to be brave - allowing us to challenge our beliefs from day to day and release what no longer serves us or is valid. Satya/truth asks us to be honest in what we do each day, how we live our lives, who we are in relationships with. It asks us to stop lying to ourselves and others and walk fearlessly through our day. Satya/truth asks us to be free from judgment - allowing us to welcome new ideas, explore our beliefs and limitations and be open to change. BRAVE. FREE. HONEST. This month I ask you to look back over your year and see where Satya fits into your life. What will you do in these last few months of the year to include more TRUTH in your life? Are you ready to be brave? Are you ready to be free? Are you ready to be honest? See you on the mat! Aprille |
Aprille WalkerI have been "playing" and experimenting with yoga, aromatherapy and healthy living since my late teens - researching, testing, reading, investigating, and learning anything that would make my life - and the lives around me - better naturally. Subscribe for inspiration, discounts & MORE!
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All rights reserved by Aprille Walker and The Yoga Ranger Studio 2014-2019 (copyrighted material)
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