The Shakti Shine - November 18th, 2019
Shakti Love Notes
We are always growing. I love that! And the more I grow, the more I recognize how important it is for us all to share what we're going through-- even (and especially) me.
So these Love Notes are a space for me to share with you each week-- about the studio, my life, how our community is growing.
Gratitude month always comes at exactly the right time.
Like clockwork I feel a sludgy mix of a little tired, a little unmotivated, a little cold, and a little sad as the days get shorter and we near the end of another year. A combination of pining for the long-gone long and sticky summer days and dreading the restless holidays and seemingly never-ending bone-chilling winter months puts me in flux somewhere between apathy and anxiety.
Over the years I've learned ways to cope, though, and it feels a little more manageable each year. (Like last year Celia heard me at the studio complaining about wanting to take a walk but it being to cold. To which she said, "Ruby, there's no such thing as bad weather. Just bad gear." So I put on three sweaters and a jacket, and I went on a lot more cold walks than usual last year. I even enjoyed it.)
This year I've already started taking more baths and putting extra attention on my skin, moisturizing at the slightest sign of dryness and oiling my body after every shower. I also bought a humidifier- for my skin and my plants.
Thankfully I have Shakti's warm smiles, warm community, and warm heat panels to help, too.
Every year I add something a little different or new to try to combat the deficit of warmth, but it's the practice of gratitude that gets me grounded and sets me up for cold weather survival.
What I love about gratitude is that it requires me to look for goodness.
The practice of gratitude reminds me that 1) things aren't so bad and 2) I made it this far so chances are that I'll make it farther. It requires me to see what's present. Right now. I love how Eckhart Tolle writes about this in The Power of Now.
The gist is like this: Pause. Take a moment. Breathe. Notice what's happening right now. Not a moment before or after. Just right now. Notice what's present- sight, sounds, tastes, smells, sensations. What's wrong? Nothing. Nothing is wrong with the present moment. Right here everything is ok. There's nothing right now to worry about. This breath is perfect. You're right here.
That's what gratitude feels like.
If I want to see what I'm grateful for I have to slow down first. I have to see what's present. I have to wake up to what's real right now. And there's always so much.
Gratitude instills in me a sense of hope.
It reminds me that there's nothing wrong with this season; there's still a lot to appreciate. There's a lot that's perfect- just as it needs to be. There's nothing wrong with me for feeling melancholy or going to bed early or doing less. In fact, there's quite a bit of beauty in all of those things. There's nothing wrong with this moment, because look at all there is to be thankful for.
So right now feels like a mix. We're a little over halfway through the month, and the gratitude has kept me grounded. And, though, as the days continue to shorten and the temperature drops, it's a back-and-forth of feelings that I'm learning to ride like a wave.
My practice is to keep coming back to what I'm grateful for- over and over and over and over. Let gratitude get the last word. Because when I'm grateful I tap into the part of my heart that sees clearly, earnestly, and lovingly- the part of my heart that receives fullness and expresses deep appreciation- the part of my heart that is home to an eternal warmness- the part of my heart that sounds like this, no matter what the circumstances:
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.
Right now 1) I am grateful for my work, that it allows me to share myself so openly and candidly both through a screen and face-to-face 2) I am grateful for my home, that it is a place of warmth, space, laughter, and ease and 3) I am grateful for the privileges of time, energy, and resources that have allowed me to lean into practices like gratitude and yoga as an access to clarity, peace, purpose, and connection.
Thank you.
xx
Ruby
Beyond the mat...
We love Athens.
And we love you.
So let's have more of that-- together.
Here's where you can see what we're up to outside of the studio.
Have ideas about where we should be / what we should check out / how we can show up?
Reply to this email to let us know.
Gratitude Month is happening!
~ Here are 3 things we are so grateful for this week ~
Last Monday Angela spent the afternoon with our friends at ESP!
The Highlight: the students! "I really had so much fun being with these extra special people. Such love and openness. I made some new friends and one even drew a picture for me. I am very honored to have been able to share yoga with these humans. I asked them what they were grateful for: teachers, family, friends, and their jobs.
We are grateful for the opportunity to share yoga in the community, especially with these extra special people.
Sunday was Yoga & Coffee at 1000faces!
*& a celebration of 1000faces 2 years at Thomas St*
All proceeds from this event go to the Get Comfortable Fund, and we always feels awake, vibrant, & ready for a new week after this event.
We are grateful that we can join forces with other local businesses to make an impact in the town we love beyond our business walls.
On Wednesday we attended the Get Comfortable wrap up at Creature Comforts and shared in celebration for the 2019 campaign year!
"With our belief that good companies are good citizens, we created Get Comfortable in 2015 with the goal of making serving simple for customers and fellow businesses. The program works to align the business community to resource the agencies meeting the community's most pressing needs. Through a rigorous vetting process as well as the direction of an advisory council of community stakeholders, the campaign selected nine organizations to spotlight and support throughout 2019." - Learn more here!
We are grateful for the way you show up at Shakti to help us contribute to the $351,841 raised by Get Comfortable this year, serving over 2200 families.
~ Inquiry Corner ~
Emily's bringing back yoga philosophy for a
6-part series on the koshas!
Koshas are the energetic layers of being that surround our soul. When we align (or clearly see) all the layers of our being, our truest self is able to shine out.
* Annamaya kosha, or the physical body, is the outermost layer of our existence. This week's IGTV breaks down how our physical bodies offer access to something deeper, like that feeling right after a sweaty yoga class and a long savasana. *
> Check it out on instagram <
Meet the Shakti Team!
Erin Kelling
Why do you teach at Shakti? I teach at Shakti because the community feels like family and never fails to make me feel at home!
How do you honor the roots of a yoga practice in your every day life? By setting an intention for every day. Setting an intention at the beginning of my practice changed the way I move through the poses completely. Bringing that intentionality into school/relationships/work has helped my days/choices feel purposeful and clear.
What kind of teacher do you strive to be? I hope to bring a sense of lightness and ease to my students!