Our experiences, thoughts, ideas tend to narrow as we get older…..Let me explain…..

Our thoughts:

• you know, I can’t hang upside down, I get vertigo very easily.  (I healed my vertigo with aerial, and you can too)
• that hot yoga is only for young people, I can’t stand to sweat.  (sweating is very good for the body, so is yoga, it’s a win-win!)
• Last time I went running, I had knee pain for a week…..(a regular yoga practice HEALS & PREVENTS pain from coming in)
• since COVID I’m scared to leave the house.  (we can’t hole up forever….we can and will stop this spread, by safe practices, it’s all starts with you)
• I can’t possibly give a speech, I don’t like the way I sound  (yoga helps kill these thoughts that LIMIT us, and unites our body with our mind)
• I can’t do all this technical stuff, it’s too complicated.  (I’m here to help you ……it’s wonderful to practice when, where you can with video on demand)

Someone asked me soon after becoming a yoga teacher why I practiced yoga.  Without thinking much, I answered to be free of death.  I have always been scared of my loved one’s dying.  Recently, I’ve changed my answer.  I practice yoga because I want to LIVE.  I want to ride that roll a coaster, and not worry about breaking something….I want to run, and not worry about what might happen afterwards.  In short, I want to LIVE.  I want to Love my family while they are still here.  I want nothing left on the table when my time comes.

We are here on this earth to LIVE, to LOVE, and to GIVE back all that we an.  I practice yoga so I can give back all that was given to me.

See you on the mat,

Paula

The other day I dropped into a hot class with our newest teacher trainee graduate.  The class was full, and as I went about my practice, I silently marveled at the teacher’s ability to read the room, guide the students into a beautiful yoga practice, offering modifications, and oozing confidence.  Believe me, this is no small feat for a brand new yoga teacher.  Most trainee’s I have seen from other programs have not been prepared to teach, and wait for months or years to get up the nerve to stand before strangers and lead them into a well thought out yoga practice.

I hate to toot my horn, but Anahata has developed a top notch program, that unfolds every aspect of yoga that a student needs to know.  Some students have said they expected the philosophy to bore them to death, but report it was their favorite part of the training.  Yet, others witness a profound deep experience that begin’s to change their lives for the better.  Most of the trainee’s love the support and friendship not only from the lead teachers, but their fellow yoga teacher trainees, and have developed long lasting friendships.  In the past, they have gotten together for drinks and meals outside of trainings, went to coffee shops to study for quizzes, and met to practice teaching at the studio, and bringing in food and pot lucks on day’s of training….(after all, you get mighty hungry moving that much!!).   If anyone has a struggle with any part of training, we all rally around, teachers and trainee’s alike, to help that person overcome the challenge, and get back on track.

Most are nervous to start this newest chapter in their lives, but I tell everyone, “it’s my goal to help you succeed in this”.  I prepare them well, and make sure everyone knows their anatomy, the postures, and the philosophy behind yoga.  I tell them how to retain students, how to be a successful yoga teacher and how to promote themselves.   They get a blue print that they follow to be successful.

The most common concern I get asked, is this, “am I ready to do this?, or “what if I can’t do some yoga poses?”.    The people that are ready for yoga to unfold in their lives have some of these common traits….

• They have been practicing yoga, consistently, over a period of time.
• They love yoga, and love to practice it, and the way it makes them feel.
• They are intrigued by practice and want to know more about the postures.
• They tell their friends and family how wonderful yoga is.
• They are willing to set aside time when they are training to work and study about yoga
• They are not currently in a big change, ie:  health concern, or family matter.

Notice what is NOT on the list……They can do ALL of the postures, perfectly.  That is why it is called “yoga practice”, instead of Yoga perfect.  In teacher training you will learn how to make modest long term goals towards the posture that is most difficult for them.

I love to do this.  I love to take yogi’s deeper into the practice, and help them find the hidden joy in yoga.  I love to see the moment they realize it’s all up to them, and they can DO this, not only today, but in the future.  They are the DIRECTORS of their own life, and they can create what every they wish.

Come and join us for a free informational meeting on teacher training, and address your concerns…..

• Saturday, November 7 at 10:30 am click here to book
• Wednesday, November 18th at 9 am. click here to book
• Monday, January 4th at 5:45 pm. click here to book

If one of those times do not work, please contact the studio to set up a time of your choosing, at 513-204-5657.  Make 2021 for you! and make it your best year yet!

see you on the mat,

Paula

Many people are still under the presences that a yoga practice will only yield flexibility results, this is not true, and I can tell you a story that happened to me on Friday to prove that yoga practice builds internal core strength…..

I ride around in a scooter, ie:  electric motorcycle, weighing close to 600 pounds.  It’s a monster, and goes fast as well.  It hauls me around, plus often my husband and Ollie, our dog….The other day, close to home, it decided to die.  After many failed attempts to restart it, we (my husband was with me) decided just to walk it home.  We were only about a mile from home, a very doable distance.    But within that mile, was a pretty big hill up into the neighborhood.  Pushing, swearing, praying, cursing, grunting was just a few of the things coming out of me.  I managed about 10 feet of gains, before collapsing on the bike, out of breath, sweat running down my helmet, on this cool day.  We thought at the bottom of the hill, we could take turns, as it was difficult for both of us to find holds to push with.  My husband is pretty strong, and I consider him an athlete, with many marathons behind his belt, but he couldn’t push that bike up an inch.  He pushed, faced grunting, but didn’t get anywhere.  Yoga practice builds internal resilience, and deep core strength.

Upon reflection, the yoga I do hauls my own body around in space, and usually, once a week I focus on core strength.  Planking, reverse back lifts, leg lifts, oblique work etc.  Other than regular yoga I do not lift any weights, but I think the real benefit of yoga truly lies in the resilience it yields.  I’m talking about the can of whop as?! that sometimes you have to pull out to get something done.  Opening a business, training for an event, the birth of a child, going back to school, or caring for an elderly parent all require energy or yogi’s like to say, “prana”.  This practice builds energy, so whatever task is at hand, you can accomplish it.  Yoga also allows grace to flow, and your negative thoughts to become positive, so you BELIEVE you can, and therefore you do.

Next time you have to climb that mountain in your life, either physically, or mentally, yoga practice will help you overcome the challenges that are surely going to be put in your path, and most of the time, with a SMILE on your face.  It took me over 3 hours to push that bike up the hill, and probably the last ½ mile was flat, maybe 10-15 minutes.  I’m positive that I couldn’t have done it before being a yogi.

See you on the mat this week!

Paula