Why we chant

I often begin the classes I teach with the Anusara Invocation.  I've found in the past that if I try to use my brain to lead the chant I get lost and can't find the words.  Yesterday, while chanting, I let my mind wander and I was trying to remember a new student's name.  When I brought myself back to the present I found myself consciously thinking to remember the words that came next.  I stalled.  As I hesitated several others followed and stopped chanting. . . but one student continued the chant and, a moment later, the rest of us joined back in.  

This wasn't the first time this has happened in class.  Coming together to chant at the beginning of class whether it is the sound "OM," the Anusara Invocation, or another chant brings the group together as one.  

I learned in my teacher training that sound is rhythm or entrainment sped up.  When things come into line (or rhythm) with another.  The same thing happens with a grandfather clock, women's cycles, lovers, a mother & her baby.

As we tune into the breath, our self, the teacher and the kula a boundary is created.  A boundary between our practice and the rest of our day.  The cells of our body align with the sound, the vibration, and receive psychological benefit.

THE ANUSARA INVOCATION

OM

Namah Shivaya Gurave

I offer myself to the Light, the Auspicious One,

Who is the True Teacher within and without,

Saccidananda Murtaye

Who assumes the forms of Reality, Consciousness and Bliss,

Nisprapancaya Shantaya

Who is never absent and is full of peace,

Niralambaya Tejase

Independent in existence, the vital essence of illumination.

OM

Growth

I have been curious and a little confused over the resignation of two of Anusara's senior teachers: Christina Sell  http://christinasell.blogspot.com/2011/10/context-is-everything.html and Elena Brower  http://www.artofattention.com/announcement-of-gratitude/.

I've been juggling my feelings over this and the affect on my own path.  What I have found is that it is affecting me emotionally and not effecting my actions.  I just signed up for an Anusara Weekend Workshop in December.

What I see is two teachers that have grown in their practice to a place where the Anusara jumpsuit no longer fits.  I'm still sewing my jumpsuit and really enjoying the colors and stitches involved in the process.

Here is a reaction from another Anusara teacher that speaks well on the heart of Anusara:  http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/11/anusara--to-follow-your-heart/.


Last, Amy Ippoliti shares her raw-get real-perspective in Elephant Journal:  http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/11/a-letter-to-the-yoga-community-about-the-anusara-situation--amy-ippoliti/

To be your best self

I have a personal manifesto posted on the bulletin board in my office.  I got the idea from my sister and she got it from one of her college professors.  Included in my personal manifesto is:   

Do your best.  Keep making your best better.

A student came up to me after class yesterday and said, "You're a great teacher, Angela.  Stop apologizing."  Stop apologizing.  It hurt a little.  Not the feedback but the reflection that I was a person that was essentially apologizing for my offering.  Was I not offering my best?  I was.  So why the need to apologize?   

I attempted to bring the light of awareness to understand my habit of apologizing for an awkward transition or including abs or not including abs or being detailed enough in the alignment or not practicing enough myself.  The truth is. . . if I am offering my best there is nothing to apologize for.  

Stop apologizing.  Do your best.  It is enough.

Cowboy Up, Arjuna!

Cowboy Up, Arjuna!

I enjoyed this article by Abby Tucker, a San Francisco Bay Area Anusara Teacher.  What a wonderful reminder to step into our own magnificence and refrain from lusting after what someone else has!

Pray - Beg - Please?

A few years ago I used to sit in the classroom feeling eager & anxious for students to arrive.  I would beg (pray), "Please let someone show up today!"  I wanted to teach but I was also terrified to teach so there is a good chance I was energetically repelling the very students I was praying would show up.

This past week was one of the busiest, for me, in the past year.  I found myself praying, "Please let no one show up!  Please let no one show up!"  I caught myself and laughed out loud.  Seriously Angela?  Someone is going to be there.  Here we go!  You can do it!

Sure enough, I taught one of my largest classes ever.  Now I was really laughing.  The reason I'm sharing this is because I've noticed something.  Even though I didn't move in the practice with the students I felt similar benefits of the practice after class.  The energy - the prana - of the students fueled me for my next challenge just like it does when I show up on the mat for my own practice.  For me this is proof that the practice is so much more than physical (even if I love the physical benefits, as well). 

So what is this really about?  Showing up.  Showing up for life.  The life you've signed up for and the life you choose to live.

Flax

Why would you want to consume Flax?

Flax seeds & flax seed oil are rich sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids.  Omega 3 Fatty Acids are strong antioxidants - they protect us from the sun, build beautiful skin, lubricate the joints & intestines, and stengthen cell membranes.

A few ideas on how to feed your body flax. . .

Sprinkle ground flax on top of oatmeal, cereal, granola, or yogurt.
Blend ground flaxseeds with water as a substitute for egg whites in baking.
Add flaxseed oil to smoothies.
Add ground flaxseed to homemade bread.
Drizzle flaxseed oil on your salad.
Eat a Handle Bar by Kate's Real Food.

Note:  It is best to keep flax chilled & away from the sun.  I transfer mine to a brown jar & keep it in the fridge after bringing it home.

The following resources were used for some of the above information:

Super Natural Cooking, Heidi Swanson
Healing with Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford.

Another reason to go easy on yourself

Heart disease remains the #1 killer of women in the United States. 

Listen up because this is important:  Being hard on yourself isn't good for the health of your heart!

Dean Ornish, M.D., is a doctor that has focused his practice on the prevention of heart disease opposed to the treatment of heart disease.  He has found that important factors in preventing heart disease are: a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, managing stress and focusing on relationships.

It turns out that positive emotions can actually change what is going on inside of you physically - not just emotionally.  Your emotions effect your physical health. 

I don't know about you but I can be pretty hard on myself when it comes to food & exercise.  I'm trying to lighten up on myself and focus on the big picture.  I want to eat well.  I want to eat what makes me feel good.  If I come back to that after I indulge I can make a different choice tomorrow or even later that day. 

Try this:  if you aren't able to practice yoga, exercise or meditate for an hour see if you can squeeze 10 minutes into your day.  The consistency will be better than choosing not to do it because you aren't able to do it at the level you would like to. 

Embrace Joy.  Focus on what you're doing well!!  Let yourself & your loved ones be human. 

Hanuman Philosophy ~ Bite 2

The following reflection is based on the teachings shared by Douglas Brooks.

Hanuman is a shape shifter.  You go inside and become what you need to for the given circumstances or situation.  This isn't fake - it comes from a place of authenticity.  I am this and I am also that.

Do you ever feel like a dichotomy?  Do you feel like parts of yourself contradict one another?   It is all you.  Beautiful YOU.

For a moment lets apply this to the physical nature of our yoga practice.  The alignment in the different asanas allows us to express ourselves in different ways - the different versions of ourselves.  We make beauty in all asanas- not just one.

Meditation Inspiration

I just started reading Sally Kempton's book, Meditation for the Love of It:  Enjoying Your Own Deepest Experience.  I really liked what she said at the end of the introduction:

"We would feel a lot better if we realized that meditation is like any other intimate relationship:  it requires patience, commitment, and deep tolerance.  Just as our encounters with others can be wondrous but also baffling, scary and even irritating, our encounters with the self have their own moods and flavors.  Like any other relationship, this one changes over time.  And it is best undertaken with love."

The moon shines because it does not escape the night ~ Rumi

Anusara embraces Tantric philosopy which accepts both the good and the bad ~ the beautiful with the ugly.  A couple of days ago I was in a rotten mood with no real explanation and I came across this poem by Rumi.

Painting by Chloe Hedden:  http://www.chloehedden.com/

If you befriend the Beloved

you will never be lonely.

If you learn to be flexible

you will never be helpless.

The moon shines because it

does not escape the night.

The rose is scented because

it has embraced the thorn.

Join me in the 30 Day Meditation Challenge

One of my teachers, Amy Ippoliti, does a great 30 Day Yoga Challenge on Facebook.  The June Challenge is:  10 minutes of meditation practice EVERY day for 30 days.  I'm very excited about this challenge.  A week or two ago I included 10 minutes of meditation in two of my classes.  This is an area of resistance for me (practicing meditation) so I imagine there is quite a lot for me to learn here.  Can anyone relate? 

Yoga Funny

My friend Chloe shared this with me.  I found myself both humored & horrified.  Enjoy!

Beauty Reflected

We were blessed to have Jim Campbell enter our community last week with such grace that I think we all started to believe that he was part of our community:  always had been and always will be.  Jim has a giant spirit and it is really impossible to sum up his personality in a few words.  Although I said it isn't possible, I can't help but try to give you the feeling of his personality with a few adjectives.   Jim is funny, creative, energetic, passionate, fun, and honest.

He invited our kula to participate in his creativity as yoga & spiritual models.  The result, as reflected in his photos, showcases his talent and the beauty that we are so grateful to be immersed in. 

Jim Campbell's photography website:  http://www.omlightphotography.com/

Which style of yoga is best?

All and none.  It seems there are endless options these days to the style or kind of yoga available to practice.  Hatha, Kundalini, Ashtanga, Yin, Bikram, Anusara, Iyengar, Flow -- we're just getting started.  I like this quote taken from the manifesto of the Asmi Yoga studio in Bend, Oregon:  "the best kind of yoga is the one you do."

Read the rest of the Asmi Yoga Manifesto:  http://asmiyoga.com/ourintention/manifesto.html

Forearm Balance - Pinchamayurasana

Our April asana, Pinchamayurasana (Forearm Balance), artfully taught by Adam Ballenger:  http://www.yogavibes.com/videos/watch/instructional-v.ignette-forearm-balance-pincha-mayurasana/.

If you're in Salt Lake City check out one of Adam's classes.  His schedule is online @  http://adamballengeryoga.com/.

The Male Experience & Downdog be Damned

I found myself giggling while reading this blog and I wanted to share. Three cheers for men that find the courage & humble spirit to enter a yoga practice! I love the frustration with downdog. My Bikram practicing friend, Sarah, commented after my class: "I wasn't expecting so many downdogs." Oh, downdog, how easy it is to forget that you were not so easy at first visit!

Thank God For Pregnant Women

Thank you, Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday.  He is no longer alive and for most of my life we lived many miles apart.  We would often talk on the phone on Sundays and I remember, as I got older, the beginning of our conversation would go something like this:

"How is it going, Dad?"  "It's gotta go, there is no other way!"  He said this with such enthusiasm that I would usually giggle and now remembering it makes me feel like I can deal with whatever life is going to deliver.

Happy Birthday, Dad.  I'm so grateful for all that you shared with me.

Calendar Quote

There is a quote on our calendar for April that reminds me of Hanuman -

"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart.  Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."  Carl Jung

Hanuman Philosophy ~ Bite 1

The more I dive into Hanuman the more there is.  It feels too difficult to summarize the philosophy of Hanuman in one blog post so I've decided to deliver tastes to make it easier to digest.

What I'm sharing today, and a lot of what I'll share, is based on my understanding of the stories shared by Douglas Brooks - http://www.rajanaka.com/.

Hanuman is the form of desire.  He is always willing to change but has a reputation for holding fast.  There is an image of Hanuman ripping open his heart - opening to courage.  It is a gentle heart that is filled with ferocity!

The best you can do is become yourself!  What is it that you want to make your own?  What is it that you value?  Receiving the gift of who you are is the beginning of yoga.  

You are the seed and what you plant in your field becomes the fruit that you will ultimately taste. 

Oh Hanuman!

This month we have been exploring Hanumanasana and the philosophy behind Hanuman, the Monkey God.  I resisted Hanumanasana when it showed up as the pose this month.  I confessed  to the class that I wasn't sure I could teach Hanuman for more than a week.  Now the month is almost over and I am more interested in and fascinated by Hanuman than ever before.

The only downside of spending a month exploring a particular asana is that class, or our practice, ends up feeling quite similar for the month.  The upside of this is that our familiarity and consistency can lead to new questions or a greater understanding.

Some of the poses we have used this month to prepare for Hanumanasana are:

Pyramid (Parsvottanasana)
Revolved Triangle (Parivrtta Trikonasana)
Pigeon Prep
Pigeon Prep with a Thigh Stretch
Extended Hand to Big Toe Stretch (Utthitahasta Padangusthasana)
Hero (Virasana)
Hero with 1 leg extended forward fold (Triangmukhaipada Paschimottanasana)
Reclined Hero (Supta Virasana)
Bow (Dhanurasana)


Open hips, hamstrings, and thighs make Hanumanasana more fun!!

Facials are Wonderful

Yesterday I had a facial at the new spa in Moab, Spa Moab.  It had been 4 years since my last facial and  I won't be waiting that long again.  My estetician, Aomi, was kind and had very calm energy. I felt well cared for and I thought ~~~ this is almost better than a full body massage.  Thankfully, the spa offers many varieties of massage in addition to facials. 



Faye Hutchins, owner of Spa Moab, has done a beautiful job creating an inviting space to get a massage or facial.  The feel is similar to an art gallery as the walls are covered with pastels by her grandmother, and bright acrylics by a local Moab artist.  Faye also sells, Be Present, yoga clothing, some delicious smelling candles and cute baby clothes. The spa carries Eminence, an organic skincare line that feels rich and decadent on your skin.  Faye has been working with Eminence for years and she can tell you, in detail, which Eminence product is right for your skin type. 

I recommend treating yourself to a facial as soon as possible.  YUM!

The walls are covered with brilliant art

Faye, on the left, during the Open House last Friday - two guests enjoying the art.

The Art of Feedback

I had a really nice surprise today. A fellow instructor observed my class this morning.  I learned a lot from the feedback she gave me and it reminded me of an article John Friend wrote a couple of years ago that outlines the sometimes challenging act of both giving & receiving feedback:  The Art of Feedback.

Spring Cleaning

I've tried a few different "cleansing" tactics over the years.  My most recent attempt was last summer.  It involved losing dairy, wheat, meat, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.  The idea was to take a break from common food irritants and introduce them back one at a time to feel their effect on the body.  My goal was to give my liver, and other organs, a break.  I was curious if dairy was causing some skin irritations and I knew I was eating too much sugar.

The main result of this cleanse involved me overeating nuts.  I managed to consume an entire jar of almond butter in a couple of days.  My gut was bloated.  I looked pregnant and I wasn't.  This wasn't what I was aiming for.

Will I ever figure this cleansing thing out?  I want clean organs. . .and - I love food.  I especially love butter, wine, bread, and pasta.  One led me to the other over the past week or so. 

I ordered, The Art of Simple Food, by Alice Waters last week.  This is a beautiful book that celebrates good food.  Bread.  Meat.  Butter. Garlic.  Pasta.  Just thinking about it makes my soul happy.  Alice offers the following philosophy to her readers:

• Eat locally & sustainably
• Eat seasonally
• Shop at farmers' markets
• Plant a garden
• Conserve, compost & recycle
• Cook simply
• Cook together
• Eat together
• Remember food is precious

When I went to Arches Book Company to pick it up I found this book called, Crazy Sexy Diet.  I was a little hesitant to pick it up because of the word Diet in the title but the words Crazy and Sexy won and I found the book in my hands.  I liked the vibrance of the pages and the sassy, yet supportive, attitude of the author.  I decided not to buy it that day though, because a couple of messages stood out to me as I turned the pages:  no dairy, no alcohol, no caffeine, raw.  Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

A couple of days later I realized I was still thinking about the book, Crazy Sexy Diet.  I had already devoured a large portion of, The Art of Simple Food.  I thought, maybe there is a place for both in my life and my diet.

http://www.crazysexylife.com/

Today is Day 1 of the 21 Day Adventure Cleanse outlined in, Crazy Sexy Diet.  I've already messed up (a little).  The thing is she gives you some cool affirmations & space to make mistakes and I think it is why this cleanse just might work for me. 

Awkward Arms

My friend Louis said, "It is OK Angela, most women don't pay a lot of attention to their arms."  This was to encourage me to keep going in a workout we were doing from Body Rock (http://www.bodyrock.tv/).  I think we were doing 50 push-ups. . . or maybe it was walking push-ups.  Ugh!

He may have been generalizing when it comes to women but he was right when it comes to me.  With backbends being our focus for February I couldn't ignore the alignment of the arms any longer.   

On Saturday I introduced the Inner and Outer Spirals of the arms.  There was a full class with a variety of newer students and folks that have been practicing for years.  I was bubbling inside with all the information from my studies and the instruction seemed to be boiling over and causing the burner to steam and the contents that spilled out to burn.

The best, or worst, was when I found myself confused with which direction the upper arms were actually supposed to be rotating in Urdhva Dhanurasana(Full Wheel).  The good thing about making mistakes or questioning things is it often deepens the learning.

I had the students draw arrows on their arms so we wouldn't be confused once we were upside down.  This visual arrow that was supposed to ease confusion ended up confusing me.  Oops!  Lara and Elizabeth assured me my arrow was pointing the right direction.  I think some students left with more clarity and others with more confusion.  I promised two things.  I promised we would keep working on the spirals of the arms and that I would blog about it.

Today I attempted to simplify my instruction and keep the contents at a simmer so the instruction would be easier to digest.  The action of inner and outer spiral starts in the hands and moves all the way up into the shoulders.  Just to break it down a little though

• FOREARMS (Hug Into the Midline - emphasize inner rotation)
• UPPER ARMS (Focus on the outer rotation)

First we are going to acknowledge that there are five different planes of the arms.  We will dive more into that later.  For now, we are staying simple.  So we will say that in most poses you hug the forearms in first and then rotate the upper arms out.  This isn't true in poses where the arms are in an overhead plane.

A few poses where the arms are in an overhead plane are:  downward facing dog, handstand, forearm balance, and full wheel.  In this case, the upper arms spin out first in order to make space for the forearms to spin in.

If this is too much or you are still confused - fear not.  We will continue to work with the arms and as questions come up don't be afraid to ask.  It will facilitate learning for everyone involved!

Sol Kula

I thought it would be nice to honor the space where we practice with a couple of photos.   If anyone knows who did the awesome artwork on the walls I would love to know.  If you are ever curious what the current schedule is at Sol Kula you can find it on-line at http://www.solkula.com/ or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=377037621519

Just before I took the photos Mel lovingly organized the altar.  The reason this is so beautiful to me is that she had no idea I was about to take photos.  The first time I taught at Sol Kula was on August 16th, 2010.  I wrote in my yoga notebook, "Wow!  It feels so good in this studio - the energy is filling me up."  As I've continued to practice and teach in the space I've noticed the impact of the student's energy on the space.  I can only imagine it is each of us - each student, each teacher, breathing love into the space and into each other that makes this space so special.  To take it to another level ~ you can do the same thing at your house and in your body.

The Altar

Backbends ~ Going back to go forward

This week we emphasized the alignment of the pelvis which is fresh in our minds after working on Visvamitrasana.  In backbends, the outer spiral occurs more naturally and we know that we want to create the inner spiral first to create space for the outer spiral.  So - for most of us this means that we need to revisit the inner spiral in our backbend.

Bridge Pose - Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

A few key things to think about in the lower body as we initiate backbends:

• press thru both feet (mound of the big toe, inner edge of the heel, mound of the pinky toe, and outer edge of the heel - in that order)
• engage the shins (shins in)  - you can also think about holding something between your knees - a block or a juicy melon that you don't want to drop
• release the groins (soften the groins to create more inner spiral) - then engage your tailbone towards your knees

Next week we will be focusing on the upper body in Urdhva Dhanurasana.

Inner & Outer Spirals in Visvamitrasana

We learned a lot this past month in Visvamitrasana. Open hips, hamstrings, and side body can make it easier to come into the full expression of this challenging asana. One of my biggest 'aha' moments was in regards to the Inner & Outer Spirals of the legs.  For those of you that would like to incorporate Visvamitrasana into your home practice - read on.


Detailed instructions on creating Visvamitrasana with your body:

Bring your feet to Side Angle Pose, Parsvakonasana, (heel of the front foot intersects the arch on the back foot - front knee bent). Pause. Hug both shins into the midline and draw energy from the earth up thru your legs and into your pelvis and back down again.

Exhale & bring your front arm underneath your front thigh (as if you were going for the bind) and place your hand on the outside of your front foot - pinky toe side. Press into your finger pads & the mounds of your fingers. Breathe into your back body. Fill the space between your shoulders and your back waistline. Lift your front foot a couple of inches off of your mat and place it in your front hand.

Now - Inner & Outer Spiral!  Push your inner thighs towards the wall behind you - open your groins and extend the foot that your front hand is holding.  Go big!!   Open your pelvic floor to the space behind you - this will enable you to extend your front leg (the foot that is in your hand).  Next - create a boundry by strongly outer spiraling your front sitbone. This will bring the front of your body forward and allow your chest to open and your heart to shine forward.  Beautiful!!!

If you didn't reach the full expression today - keep practicing & exploring the inner & outer spirals in your legs.  Most importantly - Have Fun and remember that this is a challenging asana.

Story of Visvamitrasana

This asana, or pose, is dedicated to the Sage - Visvamitra.  Visvamitra is said to have been a friend of everyone.  He spent his life achieving Brahmarsi: a Brahmanical Sage after losing a battle over a female to Vasistha.

Visvamitra is one of the Seven Wise Ones, sons born-of-the-mind of Brahma.  He is part of the seven stars of the Great Bear and a major contributor to the Vedic hymns.  The hymns as they were passed down became stories later.  When they were being communicated to the Seven Wise Ones it is unclear whether they gave birth to the gods or were born of the gods - or both.  What was clear is that they were hidden in the non-existent before existence existed.  "And what was there in the nonexistent?  Before the object there was an image.  A breath before there was flesh to animate.  Desire before there was a body."

"The secret of existence was implicit in just a few actions common to all:  waking, breathing, sleeping, coitus.  They saw the metaphyscial in the physiological."

Taken from Ka by Roberto Calasso & Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar.

Live Imperfectly

About a week ago I pulled a card out from one of my favorite creativity authors, SARK, it said, "Love Imperfectly."  This advice arrived at a time when I was quite frustrated with my significant other.  I'm sure most of you can relate to being frustrated with your significant other at one time or another.  This time it had to do with us having different perceptions on heating the house with wood (only wood).  I don't need to elaborate for you to understand that we both felt like we were giving it our all and we each struggled to understand the other's perspective.

The advice on the back of the card is - "Make Lots of Mistakes."  "Be Willing to Live Between Right & Wrong."

Fast Forward a week.  I'm teaching yoga.  The only way I can teach is Imperfectly.  So that is what I do.  I Make Lots of Mistakes.  The challenge is being okay with the mistakes, moving forward anyway, and learning from myself and others as we move forward together.

My challenge to each of you is to Live Imperfectly.  Make Lots of Mistakes.  This is how we learn.  We try things.  We try other things.  We try again.  We stumble.  We say the wrong thing.  We fall.  Somewhere along the way we learn that living imperfectly is the perfectly imperfect way to live. 

Visvamitrasana

Visvamitrasana

In class, on January 1st, I set an intention for the year that I would introduce a new asana each week in 2011.  In my next class, later that week, I introduced Visvamitrasana.  The class quickly reeled me in with the suggestion that perhaps we should allow a month for each new asana. I agreed with this spectacular idea.  This will give us more time to really explore some of the more advanced asanas and experiment with different ways to build up to them.

I've offered the pose to 3 classes this month and hadn't been able to complete the full expression of the asana myself, until yesterday.  I took a 90 minute hip opener class and realized towards the end that there was a good chance my hips & thighs were open enough for the pose.  They were, on one side.  What fun!

I also had a major 'aha' with regard to the role of the Inner & Outer Sprirals, which I will address in an upcoming blog.  For now, here are a couple prep asanas to get you moving towards Visvamitrasana:

Utthita Parsvakonasana ~ Extended Side Angle Pose

Vasisthasana ~ Side Plank Pose  ~  http://whatsthatpose.blogspot.com/2008/11/vasisthasana.html

Wide Leg Forward Bend

Fire Log

Janu Sirsasana ~ Head to Knee Forward Bend ~ http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/476

More on Visvamitrasana soon!

Hello 2011!

The New Year brings the opportunity for New Year's Resolutions.  Some people love them, others hate them.  If the New Year inspires you with the idea of a fresh start, tweaking old habits, or creating new ones read on. 

The definition according to Webster for Resolution:  the quality of being resolute (firmly determined in purpose).

I like Webster's definition for Intention:  a determination to act in a certain way. 

One of the many reasons I love yoga is that the act of practicing yoga teaches me how to live my life with intention.  It causes me to ask, "why?"  To find the good in sometimes ugly situations.  To remember to breathe.  To not take myself to seriously.  To be courageous and steadfast in living the life I desire.  To love myself.  To try to offer my most authentic self to the world.

Only you know what you want.  You have the power, your own power to chooose what you want.  Once you know what you want you can resolve to act with intention to create what you want or desire.    Your skeptical side may wonder, "how?" 

If there is a big enough "why" you will remain steady in your discipline or intention as you move towards what you want or desire.   

"Act and unforseen forces will come to your aid." - Brian Tracy 

The following is taken from the book Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain. 

1.  Set Your Goal.

2.  Create a Clear Idea or Picture.  "Think of it in the present tense as already existing the way you want it to be.  Imagine yourself in the situation as you desire it, now."
For example,

• I own a 2007 Red Ford Taurus.
• I run 3 miles (30 minutes) 3 times/week.
• I am free from pain in my right hip.
• I bake bread once a week.
• I jump on a trampoline for 15 minutes once a week.
• My business generates $x amount/month or year.
• I took a two week vacation to Slovenia with my partner.
• I drink two 32 oz bottles of water a day.

3.  Focus On it Often.  "Focus on it clearly, yet in a light, relaxed way." By connecting to your intention/goal often you will give it energy to manifest and you will also be aware of when you achieve the goal or no longer desire to do so.

4.  Give it Positive Energy.  "Make strong positive statements to yourself that it exists."  Write it down.  Tell someone you trust your intention.  Tell everyone if you want.  Draw it.  Cut out images that support your intention/desire and put them on your fridge.  Meditate on your desire.


Above all know that you have the power to create what you want in your life.  Believe in yourself.  Trust yourself.  Here is to our best year yet - Happy 2011.