My Dark Day Became Clear the Moment This Child Appeared March 4, 2012

This post is coming in late and I want to apologize for my absence.  Hope you all are having a peaceful and happy weekend!

The time is Thursday at 9:00 a.m. and Yoga class is about to begin.  The students are gradually coming into their sacred space and laying down mats with conversation filling the air.  As we are all having our little talks, the doors slowly open and I first see little Yogi feet.  I was kind of having a gloomy day, but when I saw that it was a beautiful ray of sunshine, I instantly knew my day would be different.

One of the Yogis that has come for a while had brought her little one to experience Yoga.  (Out of respect for my student, I will be using a fictitious name).  Her name was Chloe and I cannot begin to describe how cute and bubbly she looked.

She walked over to me and I asked her if she was ready to do some Yoga, she just shook her head yes, being shy like any three-year old.

As we began the class with meditation, I would open my eyes every few minutes just to see her little face.  She had her eyes closed and was in her own little moment.

I told the group  that today’s sequence would be a restorative one.  All of the postures are relaxing, restoring and regenerative.  During this time there is not much movement and requires one  be still and silent.

The first posture was Savasana (which is also called corpse pose), I prefer to call it complete relaxation.  Just something about the word “corpse” gives me an uneasy feeling.  So everyone laid down on their mats and were still for five minutes.  Chloe did well in the beginning, but you know the three-year old button soon started going.  I do have to say that even though she got restless, she was still silent.

Now it was time for legs up the wall pose.  It consists of laying on your back and extending your legs with your heels touching the wall.  Closing your eyes and resting for five minutes. (This posture is really good for your nervous system).  Chloe was not too keen about this one, so she sat on her mom and was facing me, still being quiet.  We were making eye contact with each other and smiling.  To keep her mind busy, I started to do some poses of my own and she was doing them too.

After five minutes, everyone slowly came out of legs up the wall and sat in easy pose for a minute.  So, I decided to ask Chloe if she would do a Yoga pose.  She was being shy still.  I said: “can you do downward facing dog?”  She shook her head no, but her mom said she knew how.  I got into downward facing dog to see if she would do it too, but she didn’t want to play that game.  It was okay, I was having fun just having her join class.

We came back to our sacred spaces and did a few more postures, which Chloe made it all the way until we were ready for the last relaxation, then her silent button was ready to go outside to turn the voice button back on.

Before they left, she came over to me and gave me a hug!  No words can describe how happy that made me feel.  Then she hugged me again, and I shook her hand and told her it was nice to have met you!  She smiled and they were on their way!

I can’t begin to tell you how blessed I was to have Chloe there that day!  It was as if Spirit knew what I was feeling.

You never know who is watching over you and who may bless your life!

May you be peaceful and happy!

Tammy

Yoga: Union of Mind, Body and Spirit Whether Your Eight or Eighty February 18, 2012

September 2011: The turning point on this journey of life.  Yoga was a part of my daily routine, but I was not really engaging the entire spectrum of the Yoga lifestyle.

Even though I was not fully quenched with the benefits, I had a wish to bring Yoga to others for some time.  Some may call it a dream, and there were days when I believed that it was just a dream, maybe more of a fantasy.

The passion to help others when possible has always been a part of my human development.  I have to give credit to my parents for teaching me to be kind always and do your best to keep smiling in any situation, good or bad.

The first part of this post  reads: “September 2011: The turning point on this journey of life.”  The chance to share Yoga with others was not a fantasy anymore, it had become a reality.  I had talked about teaching Yoga with Janice, the Reverend of Unity Spiritual Center and she told me I could use the center to teach Yoga.

So, Yoga began with class on Monday at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  I was so grateful to be able to share Yoga that the first class was FREE and the turnout was great!  On that day there were several students who signed up to receive more.  Again I felt blessed and so joyful!

As the months have come and gone, there have been many beautiful and loving people who I have met as well as developed a friendship.  Classes are not just joining into a room and doing postures together, it is a family who communicates with each other and shares life experiences.

Until recently Monday was the only day that Yoga was available.  A couple of weeks ago an opportunity had opened up to add extra days so more students could join in the Yoga family.  My heart filled with excitement!  Now there was Yoga on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  Students were happy as well because they could come more than one day.

So, this past Thursday I had the pleasure to have two of my Yoga sisters which were my mom and Denise.  My mom had brought a woman who I had not seen in twenty years!!!!  ( I am still shocked at that number).  Her name is Ginny and has been a friend of the family since my childhood.  It was her first time in a Yoga class and she had looked the same as when I first met her.

We hugged and asked how each other had been.  Now I just have to tell you that she a sweet and petite woman from Kentucky with blue eyes and a bubbly personality.  A few minutes had passed and out from her mouth came that she was 80!!!!  The whole time I was thinking that she was only in her sixties.  As we were going through the Yoga flow, I kept looking at her and for the little time we had spent together I was seeing my grandmother who had passed on when she was in her sixties.   I felt like I was able to connect with her in a spiritual sense.  (Now I know that might seem a little weird to some, but I believe that everything comes back to you in some way).

Each moment in life is a connection to another.  We are all blessed with the opportunity to love everyone we meet.

Life is a precious gift, treasure the times you are given, whether good or bad, all of them have a purpose for your journey.

May everyone have peace in their thoughts, peace in their words and peace and love in their hearts.

Peace and love to you all,

Tammy

The 26th Day: Sharing the Benefits of Yoga has Grown Into a Universal Friendship February 1, 2012

I started teaching Yoga in September of 2011 and I am so blessed and thankful that I can help others with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.   The style that I offer is Hatha, which is gentle and designed for all who are either a beginner or have been practicing for some time.

As the months have passed, I have had the pleasure of meeting and developing a friendship with all who have entered the doors leading into our sacred space where we gather  for an hour to calm our mind, release stress and rejuvinate our body.

There is only one class that I instruct which is on Mondays, and this day is difficult for some, but there are ones who it is just what they need to start their week.  There is a class at 11:00 a.m. and then one in the evening at 7:00.  Depending on everyone’s schedule, most of the time the evening class is more convenient.

A couple of Mondays ago, there were three new Yogis that just came to class.  This was so exciting and brought warmth to my heart that they had come to join  the Yoga family.   There were two ladies and one gentleman.  Now I was glad to see a man interested because there has only been one class that was co-ed.

There was Loranda, Vicki and Bob.  Loranda had told me that she was looking for a Yoga class for three weeks because she was trying to start a healthy way of living.  There has been a sign for Yoga classes at the Community Center, but she said everytime she went, there was no teacher.  So, I told her that I am here every week and if I wasn’t I would let her know.  Then we have Vicki, a free spirit and such a loving individual who is living life as a happy soul.

Now there is Bob, a young man from New York who was only visiting for a few weeks and then had to return to the cold weather.  ( I was born in New York, so I was not envious).  He had explained a few of his limitations and I informed him that this class would not involve anything that would bring pain or restriction.  Also let him see that there were props available to him  any time that he needed assistance.    His face lit up with a smile, which I saw as a relief that he could relax, without feeling any pressure.

As we had finished the second class that Bob had attended, ( which was Loranda, Bob and myself), we sat and shared some thoughts.  Loranda was telling us how she moved here to be with her brother and had found her biological parents.  Bob’s thoughts were of how he has studied Hinduism for ten years and has grown spiritually.

I was really enjoying this time of discussion and glad that I had the opportunity to get a little preview of what Hinduism can offer.  As well as the joy I felt when Loranda shared her story about family, which is  a gift to always be treasured.

Around 9:00 p.m. we started to clean up and get ready to head home.  Bob went to his car for a moment and came back with CD’s for me and Loranda.  These were not just regular music CD’s, they were a CD of Bob’s musical talent.  I felt so special at that moment, ( almost too happy, like a little groupie!)

Not only did I give a gift of Yoga that night, I received more than words could ever express.

Healing the Pain September 6, 2011

Having joint pain everyday limits your ability to enjoy life to the fullest.  There are some of us who have pain caused by past injuries which create inflammation and then ones who are born with limitations.  Whatever the situation may be-pain is not in the fun schedule.

There are many ways of healing this particular pain.  The majority of us may chose the easy way, which is medication (by the way most doctors would smile at this decision), but that is not the only cure.

I am one who suffers with pain in my foot everyday.  Being born with club feet, or also known as “pigeon toed”, has not been an easy road to travel.  One of the disadvantages as I age is the onset of arthritis.  For me, the medication line is not one that I want to participate in.  So, I researched an alternate method.

Believe it or not,  I practice Yoga on a daily basis.  Doing this has not only transformed my body, but also my mind and spirit.  I start with ten to twenty minutes of meditation. (Note: If you are new to mediation, you may want to start with five minutes and increase your time as your body allows).  When you have done meditation for a long period of time, you will begin to focus within and let the outside world disappear from your mind.  (Note:  This experience will not happen overnight, it took me a while to relax and focus on the moment.  Give it time and allow it to cover your being.)  Whatever you do, don’t force anything you do, in time it will come.  Your body knows it’s limits.

After your meditation time, you can move on to starting with a basic Yoga class and then add on as you become stronger and more flexible.  This is one of the many that I do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C639ArXu1iw&feature=colike

If you practice on a regular basis you will see the benefits and it may surprise you how well you and your body feel.  One of the benefits I have reaped is the ability to be able to walk in the morning when I first get up.  Now, you may be saying: “what do you mean walk?”  Every morning  my foot is so cramped up and painful that I cannot even step on the floor.  It’s like my whole leg is locked.  That’s the way it used to be.

I have been practicing for about two years and now I am able to get out of bed and walk!  For me, that has lifted my spirit and encouraged me to keep a daily routine of Yoga because I know it is a healer! 

Yoga is union.  Union of one’s mind, body and spirit.  Together they cultivate the divine inner strength and reveal the light in you!

So, if your frustrated and tired of dealing with pain, try Yoga-believe me you will be glad you did, I know I am and never will look back.

Hope this will help and if you do try Yoga, please leave a comment to let me know how you are doing.  I would love to hear from you!

May the long time sun shine upon you, all light surrond you, and the pure light within you guide your way on.

Namaste