Words of Wisdom:
“It’s impossible,” said Pride.
“It’s risky,” said Experience.
“It’s pointless,” said Reason.
“Give it a try,” whispered the HEART.”
~Unknown
Thoughts for December:
This year has gone by in a flash, it seems! I can’t believe we’re already at the last month of 2014 and that this is the last newsletter of the year.
As we draw closer to the end of another year, I am reminded of what a difference a day, month, and year can make in our lives, and my heart is filled with so much thanks, gratitude, and appreciation for each and every one of you.
I always reminisce around this time of the year, as it was around this time in 2011, that Mind Body Flow Yoga started coming to life. I can remember signing the lease and receiving the keys to the space just before Thanksgiving in 2011. As the months drew on, I watched my vision come to life and the space turn into a yoga studio. I held high hopes within my heart of creating a space where people could come and get away from the everyday stresses of life and grow more intimately with themselves in the process.
Today, Mind Body Flow Yoga, is just three months shy of celebrating its three year anniversary, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the beautiful community that has formed in this short amount of time. What once was a dream of mine (that I for the longest time didn’t believe was attainable and was terrified of pursuing), has become a reality, simply because I finally got out of my own way and let go of fear. I have each and every one of you to thank for making Mind Body Flow Yoga what it is today.
I want to encourage you to take chances in life and to hold tight to faith. When you sit quietly with yourself, what speaks to you? Are you happy? Are you living your dream? Are you living the life that you always imagined for yourself? In what areas are you stuck or holding yourself back?
These questions remind me of one of my favorite songs (that I often play in class in savasana); “Follow the Sun,” by Xavier Rudd. My favorite verses of this song are, “Tomorrow is a new day for everyone, brand new moon, brand new sun. When you feel life coming down on you, like a heavy weight. When you feel this crazy society, adding to the strain. Take a stroll to the nearest waters edge; remember your place. Many moons have risen and fallen long, long before you came. So, which way is the wind blowin’, and what does your heart say?”
Our mat practice teaches us how to explore our body’s potential and the fact that we are often far more capable than we give ourselves credit for. We learn on the mat that achieving our fullest potential comes in even those split moments where we let go of fear and just go for it!
What if we applied our mat practice to our daily lives even more? What if we showed up just as determined in our life, as we do on our mat?
I’d imagine that we would take more chances, hold tighter to faith, release fear, be happy, live our dream, and not hold our own self back.
As we prepare to conclude another year, sit quietly with yourself. Breathe in all that you want to create for yourself in 2015 and breathe out what you need to leave behind in 2014. Make it a great year ahead. The ability to do so lies within you!
Love and light,
Marina
About the Image:
Marina Mukandala, is featured in this newsletter issue in Upward Facing Dog Pose (Urdvha Mukha Svanasana). The benefits of upward facing dog are as follows:
- Stretches the chest, lungs, shoulders, and abdomen.
- Strengthens the spine, arms, and wrists.
- Improves posture.
- Firms the buttocks and thighs, helping to relieve sciatica.
- Stimulates abdominal organs.
- Helps relieve mild depression, fatigue, and sciatica.
- Therapeutic for asthma.
