The Shakti Shine - November 4, 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.
"What, if gained from this day / hour / week, would make your time worthwhile?"
In other words:
What are you really here for?
What do you want?
What expectation are you hiding?
I've been asking this question to the people in my hour-long workshops, weekend-long Gulf Shores retreaters, and I've started asking it to myself at the start of the day.
The answers have been mixed, and something like this:
If I knew how to do Warrior 1 right.
If I didn't check Slack.
If I felt a sense of peace.
What I love about this question is that it asks me to unearth what I'm looking for.
At the beginning of my class at the Shakti Gulf Shores retreat this weekend I asked everyone, "What, if gained from this weekend, would make your time worthwhile?" That's when I got answers like "If I didn't check Slack." "If I read a whole book." "If I made a new friend."
As we practiced, I invited them to take it one step further. How could the answer to that question be made clear through an intention? Like Space or Joy or Abundance or Gratitude or Love or Vitality or Freedom or Power or Trust or Clarity or Purpose or Peace.
Taking it here gives that first answer space to breathe.
What was once an expectation for something concrete to occur now becomes a desired way of being. It becomes an attitude through which all of my choices are informed. It becomes the lens through which I see.
Now anything is possible.
Now there's room for the possibility of more concrete things to take shape right in front of me. Now there's surprise and delight. Now all of a sudden I see more clearly.
I just have to go looking for it.
So around every bend, in every pose, during a challenge-- Is my intention here?Maybe if I go here, do this, is it here? Maybe if I lift a leg for birds of paradise or strike up a conversation with a stranger or accept that the light turned red on my way to work when I'm running late. Is this where Joy lies? Is this where I can find Grounding Trust? Is this where I discover Space?
And more often than not do you know what I find?
It's been here all along.
It's right here, and I just had to notice.
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 here! ~
Gratitude Month is an in-studio challenge that extends far beyond our Shakti walls. This year we're joined by grateful hearts in Georgia, New York, California, Florida, Colorado, Tennessee, North Carolina,Texas, Illinois, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and London. Be sure to tag @shaktiyogaathens and #shaktigratitude on your social media posts this month to share in the Shakti Love.
The journal, In the Practice of Gratitude, is a 30 day guide to practicing gratitude every day.
Journals are $15. >>> Order your copy here <<<