Someone shared something with me, and it got me thinking...A student told me they had to get an MRI recently, something that used to bring up a lot of anxiety. This time, they used their breath to get through it... and it really helped. I might have actually jumped for joy. As much as I love what happens in the classroom, it's stories like this that I really treasure. Don't get me wrong, I genuinely love witnessing the way you honor your bodies, connect with your breath, and light up when something suddenly clicks. Those moments are delightful. But the classroom is just where we practice. Everyday life is where we notice the practice working. It shows up when your breath carries you through an MRI. When you stay grounded during a turbulent flight. When a relaxation practice helps you fall asleep. When you realize you have something meaningful to offer a friend or family member who's having a difficult day. Those aren't hypothetical examples, by the way... those are real moments from this very community.❤️ Every year, one of my favorite readings in Prayers for Healing includes this beautiful line from Ted Loder about finding "...treasures of joy, of friendship, of peace hidden in the fields of the daily." I think that's where yoga really meets us. Not just in the hour we spend together, but in the ordinary moments that follow. In "the difficult ordinariness" of everyday life, we discover we've been steadily building these tools all along. So thank you. Thank you for continuing to practice, for living full lives, and for coming back to share these stories with me. They are some of my favorite conversations because I get to witness the moment when yoga stops being something you come to class for and starts becoming something you carry with you. On that note...We have some fun ways to practice together coming up over the next couple of weeks. I'd love to see you at one (or more!) of them: Happy Hour Yoga (TOMORROW!)
Aqua Yoga There are still a few spots available for next week's class if you've been wanting to give Aqua Yoga a try! Your registration includes:
Winnie's Book Club Next week, we'll be discussing My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney! As it turns out, there is another book with the same title by a different author. If you accidentally read that one, please come anyway. We can compare the plots and twists 🤣 If you'd like to bring a snack to share, please sign up using the button below:
Looking ahead...Just a quick heads up that there will be no classes on Monday, July 20, or Wednesday, July 22. Thank you for your understanding! Whether we see each other this week or not, I hope you notice your practice showing up in an unexpected moment. And if you do... I'd love to hear about it. Have a wonderful week! With love, Monica (reply to me HERE) |
Full disclosure: Until this week, I had never once questioned why pirates wore eye patches (have you?). I just assumed it was part of the job description. Lots of sword fights, probably. Maybe the occasional parrot-related incident. Then a friend introduced me to the theory that pirates may have worn eye patches so that one eye remained adjusted to darkness, allowing them to move more easily below deck. There isn't enough evidence to know for sure, but many historians think it's a reasonable...
"The root of joy is gratefulness. It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful."- Brother David Steindl-Rast I heard this quote last week, and it has really stuck with me. I spend a lot of my mental energy in a state of joy and gratitude as it is, but the quote got me curious: which comes first? The chicken or the egg? (a tale as old as time😆) So I've been using it as a sort of awareness check. Throughout the day, Im noticing the subtle difference between waiting...
Hear me out: Even though I played basketball in high school, I'm not much of a sports fan. I don't follow teams during the regular season. I don't know very many player names, and I certainly don't know any stats. What I do know is how it feels to watch people perform at the highest level of their craft. There is a palpable synergy that happens when preparation meets presence, and I can't help but be drawn to it. There's something inspiring about watching years of practice, discipline, trust,...