The Shakti Shine - December 16, 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.

I give myself permission to get a little messy, go with the flow, and do less.

Last week I saw an image that said something like 'If you started today, you'd have 23 days under your belt by 2020.' I'm paraphrasing all of this, but it went on to say something like, 'you'll be so happy you did.'

I've learned to skim right by anything like that as a way to save my energy and preserve myself, but this one got me. It's crossed my mind a few times since then. And what crosses my mind immediately after I remember that image is always something like, What a load of bullshit.

Maybe you've heard people, fitness studios, or the internet telling you to 'start now,' 'maintain your routine no matter what,' 'prioritize yourself- don't skip a day.' And maybe that's motivating for you.

But for me all those things say I'm not enough as I am right now.

Between the time change (yes, I'm still not over it, and I won't get over it until the days are longer again) and the holidays, it's all I can do to get where I need to be, and I would prefer the option to be well-rested and happy when I get there.

I'd prefer to feel like I'm worthy of being there and enjoying myself whether or not I've eaten a stick of celery or gotten sweaty or sent an email that day.

Last week, five minutes after you received the Shine and ten minutes before our Shakti spring planning, I spilled a glass of water on my computer.

On Friday evening in Birmingham with family, Molly and I tried to go to a workout. We were there but by the time we got to the front of the desk line it was full, and we couldn't get in.

This morning I woke up with my alarm clock still on central time.

This time of year is a lot as it is-- It's a lot of energy, a lot of people, a lot of travel. It's a lot of time spent out of routine. It's a lot to fit into less hours in a day. It's a lot of parties. It's a lot of layers. It's a lot of stress.

It has potential, though. It can be a lot of love and joy and enjoyment. It can be fun. It can be precious time spent with people we love. It can be presence.

I can be present.

But first I've gotta lighten up a little-- and stop giving diet culture images any of my attention.

There's an exercise I learned from Brené Brown that often helps. Just like you would give a child permission to do something, you give yourself permission to do something.

I give myself permission to get messy and honest today.
I give myself permission to not be right and just be myself.
I give myself permission to go with the flow and enjoy what's right here.
I give myself permission to make the long to-do lists AND to do less.

It feels really challenging for me to try to keep all of my preferred routines when my environment, schedule, and company is out of routine, and when I do try to keep all of my preferences, I often end up dissatisfied and disconnected.

So for me I choose to try to just keep a few--
- I try to journal every morning for at least five minutes
- I try to move a little, even if it's a short walk outside or a twenty minute flow with Maggie on Shakti @ Home (which is what we did on Friday)
- I try to set a clear thirty minutes to check on important work things or organize my future to-dos
- I try to remember to share gratitude with someone before bed
- I try to write my permission slips before I go into an event or new situation or day

These things are like saying to myself, Where you are and what you're feeling isn't forever. It's ok to enjoy what's right in front of you. You're doing great.

If I try and do just two things off this list, I usually feel much more grounded. These things help me still feel like myself when I'm out of my element. 

What's it for you this week?

What can you give yourself permission for?

What simple thing can you put on your 'try to do today' list for when your preferred routine is out of sorts?

What can you choose to believe about yourself and your efforts?

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.

Be mindful that our schedule looks a little different now until January 6th.

Check mindbody for the daily schedule, and don't forget ourcancellation policy.

sign up for class

Shakti @ Home
In and out of town? Home for the holidays?Missing Shakti?!
No worries- you can take a class with Ruby, Maggie, Emily or Angela- anytime, anywhere- 
with Shakti @ Home downloadable audio classes

practice now!

BODY IMAGE & THE HOLIDAYS:
A SURVIVAL GUIDE
By: Emily Unwin

Howdy all! I recently finished leading 26 fabulous people through the intuitive eating workshop series. At the end of the series, I asked each person to write down one question they still had about intuitive eating. I sent it out in an email to the group, and Ruby replied, “This should be a holiday survival guide.” So, voila! I’ve left it in the Q+A format and added some additional content so that there’s more explicit “holiday help.” 

For context, holidays are hard for me. I feel overwhelmed, cornered, exhausted, and triggered like... 75% of the time from Dec 15-Jan 15. Each February feels like, “Welp, gotta go back to therapy for that thing again.” And, in the past, I’ve always seen it as a failure. 

A feeling of, Damn… Really, I’m still dealing with this disordered eating and body image stuff? But I like to think that winter is built for introspection: Cold, dreary, stay in the house and ruminate on your life purpose kinda weather. SO, HERE’S TO THAT!

LET’S HUNKER DOWN, UNPACK SOME TOUGH LESSONS ABOUT OUR BODIES, AND GO INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON MORE EQUIPPED. 

Read More

~ 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. 

Anandamaya Kosha, or the bliss body. It’s the state of being removed from fear, doubt, shame, and guilt. It’s the Source, soul, awareness, God, whatever you’d like to call it, in all of us. 

Check it out!

Meet the Shakti Team!

Jaclyn Nolan
 Why do you teach at Shakti?

I teach yoga at Shakti because I love the practice, the community, and being in the work. Yoga is such a great opportunity to really be with oneself and up to something bigger. To be in service of those things ... wow it’s amazing. Plus I love getting sweaty with everyone!

How do you honor the roots of a yoga practice in your every day life?

Breath, presence, and inquiry. Yoga practice is fundamental to moving through the world.

It’s an anchor I come back to day to day and even moment to moment. The beautiful thing to me is that it’s always available and I can begin again any time.

What kind of teacher do you strive to be?

I strive to be nonjudgmental and accepting. I strive to be a conduit for students to return to themselves and have a whole bunch of fun in the process.

*Check out Jaclyn's blog post!

SHAKTI YOGA UNIVERSITY 

LEAD WITH LOVE -200 HR RYT Spring Program with Ruby
Only 4 spots remaining!

Learn More & Apply!

Last minute holiday gifts that inspire!
 - Gratitude Journal, $15          
- Rachel Ricketts workshop bundle, $95
- Ayurveda-inspired year-long yoga subscription w/ Ruby's teacher, Katie Silcox, $198
- Shakti tee (30% goes to the Get Comfortable Fund!), $20
- Donate to the Loveland foundation (therapy for black women & girls), $any amount
- Bombas socks gift box (buy a pair, automatically give a pair), $65