Bad A** Yoga

 




I was talking with someone the other day who knows I own a yoga studio (www.sanctuarypoweryoga.com) & teach, but who had never been to the studio for class.

He said a bunch of his friends around the country have been getting in shape - doing P90X, beach body workouts, etc.  And now they were talking about wanting to do "bad a**" yoga,   "transformative" yoga.  And he couldn't figure out if they were crazy or actually knew what they were talking about.

I smiled as he shared this & then said...yes.  They know what they're talking about.  That's what I teach.

It's hot.  It's challenging.  It's sweaty.  It can be uncomfortable.  It gets stinky in the room.  I've had people tell me it's the hardest thing they've ever done.   But...It is absolutely transformative.  It'll change your body & before you know it, it'll change your life. 

It's "bad a**" alright.  The funny thing is, it's also amazingly compassionate & healing.  And it's easy to miss that.  Especially if you come in just looking to get your body into shape.  But really, that's the important part.  It's what most of us need - compassion & healing.  You can get the "bad a**" part with any workout.  But the rest - the healing, the compassion, the transformation...well, grab your mat & get your bad a** self into class to find out.

I'm Awesome

 

Torrington, CT is a small town.  Small town America, after industry has moved out.  One of my friends recently returned home to Torrington after being away.  He'd been visiting some folks in big cities.

When I asked him about being away & being back in town he said:

"I'm too awesome for this place."

I didn't say anything right away, but later it came to me.  He's right - he is awesome.  I'm awesome.  There are alot of awesome people around here.  There alot of light, bright people here.  There's alot of awesome stuff happening here. 

It's not ego - it's truth.  We're all awesome, in different ways.  We're all beings of light.  When we let our light shine, when we share our awesomeness, we attract other awesome people to us.  When we let our light shine, we help illuminate the way for others & they can let their light shine.  And wherever you are, things lighten up & it gets brighter.

My studio, Sanctuary Power Yoga, is in Torrington.  It's an awesome place where awesome people come together.  I love it.  I love being in the studio, surrounded by those people.  I love that the energy, my energy & the energy of the people who practice there, attracts people from all over. When we practice together, share time & space together - it's awesome.

Wherever you are, there will always be things that you think can be better or need to be changed. And that's good - it provides contrast & room for growth.  But remember that you're awesome.   That you're a being a light.  Share that & attract more awesome people to you & bring more light to where you are.

It's happening everywhere.  It's happening in Torrington.  It's happening where you are.  If it's not - make it happen.  Be your own best, bright awesome self & see it happen.



 

I never noticed that....

My studio, Sanctuary Power Yoga, is on the top floor of a 3 story building.  The other day, as I walked onto the second floor, I noticed a light out in the hallway.  I grabbed a new bulb & then stopped into the business on the 2nd floor to ask one of the women there for a stool to stand on so I could reach the light.

As we came out into the hall, she said "I never noticed these lights before".  There are 3 light fixtures on the walls in the hall on that floor & they've been there since before I opened the studio.

It happens all the time.  You drive to & from work the same way every day for years.  And then suddenly you notice a tree.  You've never seen it before, but it's always been there.  Walking to & from the bus or the subway - same thing.  A flower, a business, a lamppost...something that has always been there, but you've never seen it.

We're always so busy going somewhere.  We're on our way to work or home.  To the bank, the grocery store, the gym, the yoga studio.  And yes, those are places that you need to go to or want to go to.  But what happens on the way there?  It sounds cliche, but what happens to the journey?

It may be that you're very focused on traffic & driving or biking or walking safely.  But more likely, you're just off in your head somewhere.  Thinking about a meeting that you had earlier in the day, or what you're going to do after you get to work, or after the gym, or after you get home.  And so you spend your whole day someplace that you're not.  Not noticing your surroundings.  Not present for the journey.  Not present.

In yoga, you're asked to be very present.  To pay attention to each breath.  To pay attention to each sensation in your body as it arises & dissipates.  To feel the texture of the mat beneath your feet & hands.  To be present on the journey on which you embark each & every time you get on your mat.  In this way, you don't miss out on anything.  On your mat, or off your mat.  Because it's not just about noticing a light fixture, or a tree, or a beautiful sunset.  It's about noticing all the little details that make up every moment of your life.  And without those little details, what would your life be?

"Be happy for this moment, this moment is your life" - Omar Khayyam