The Shakti Shine - June 3rd, 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.

"No thank you, I don't have the budget available for that today."

It's so easy for me to see money transactions as an exchange.

I work. I earn money. I spend money. I buy groceries. I eat out. I pay for self-care, clothes, experiences, doctors appointments, insurance, travel. I *hopefully* save some money each month. Maybe I invest some money one day? I pay money to taxes. I pay my employees. I buy gifts. I spend *the perfect amount of* money on coffee, don't @ me.

What's harder for me to see clearly is that energy transactions are exchanges, too.

I live. I gain energy. I give energy. I get energy from sleep, time alone, walks, time with close friends, good food, sitting outside, meditation, movement. I spend energy on teaching yoga, asking questions, listening-to-understand, business planning, learning new things, budgeting, getting to know myself, getting to know others, taking walks, driving to work a retreat, driving to work a training, reading books about how to become a better human, reading instagram to learn about how to become a better human, texting my friends, replying to emails, making to-do lists, doing to-do lists, meetings, writing this newsletter.

Recently I was challenged to treat my energy like I would treat my bank account-- don't over-spend, always have a few $thou$ on hand, balance the checkbook.

Here's what I've woken up to: Most days I overspend. By a lot. The checkbook is not balanced. At the end of the week I'm over-my-head in red, and when 'I have time' I am desperately grasping at anything that could bring my balance back up to zero... which means starting week after week at zero and playing catch-up for a few short minutes at a time. It is not the path to energetic stability & freedom. And the price of over-spending is much more than the $36 over-draft fee at the bank.

The price for over-spending costs me my vitality, motivation, optimism, connection, happiness, hopefulness, ease, & wellbeing.

So something I'm working on is "No thank you, I don't have the budget available for that today."

I'm working to look at my energy like I look at my money-- regularly, consistently, & with willingness to readjust as necessary.

What this requires is a good deal of energetic planning. Each day, how much energy is going out, and what am I doing to bring that same amount (even more?!) back in? It's helped to give value to things, too. Like responding to 1 email = $20 and taking a 5 min walk = $20, so if I answer 5 emails, I need to take a 25 min walk... or something like that.

To be honest, this kind of planning usually just looks like more small breaks, more days off, full nights of sleep, and more time doing nothing.

When I energetically plan successfully I feel renewed & balanced-- there's a sense of contentment & readiness, and I suddenly have the freedom to see the path ahead more clearly, because I trust that I'll have enough energy to get there.

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.

SHAKTI @ HOME
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Inquiry Corner w/ Emily: Svadhyaya

Hi everyone, Emily here! If you’re new to inquiry, this looks like moving through questions, prompts, activities, and conversations that help you learn more about yourself. I’m excited you’re here!
...

Ishvara Pranidhana, or Surrender, is the final niyama! And the toughest, of course. Surrender means trust. In other words, you've done *all of this work*, you've tried to be a good person, lead an ethical life, do the inquiry, do the meditation, the asana... So, what now?

Now, you release. Now, you trust.
Now, you let something bigger take the helm. In other words, you've set yourself up for success, but what does success *actually* look like?

In my life, "success" looked very different than what the Universe wanted for me. When I trusted that I shouldn't have to fight so hard, that life should be *easier and more intuitive,* I felt in the flow. I felt held by something bigger. And I have to keep working to notice what thatsomething bigger looks like and what it wants from me every day.

This week's inquiry: What are some actionable changes I can make to live a more fulfilling and ethical life?

Where am I holding too tightly to what "success" or "what's right" looks like?

How can I release and trust in those places, instead?

*Check out my videos on the yamas + niyamas on Shakti’s IGTV.*

*add your fav summer feel good tunes*
This playlist is collaborative.
Follow the link ~ Follow the playlist ~ Contribute to the Shakti vibe!

LISTEN NOW

1. Go somewhere cool this summer. You may have an international trip planned... you may escape to the beach for a few days... you might go on a day hike with friends... or you may simply retreat to the neighborhood pool all weekend long...

2. Post about it! Take a photo on vacay showcasing the beauty of your location + your yoga practice.

3. Tag @shaktiyogaathens in your photo + #shaktilovetravels in your post.

4. Be entered to win! For each post tagged you will receive one entry into our Travel Challenge raffle. If shown wearing Shakti merch, that post gets you 2 entries! Enter as many times as your traveling yogi heart wishes.

(Bonus entries: 1 for every class you take on Shakti @ Home—
no post necessary; just practice ‼️)

5. Win! On August 15th we will draw for 1 MONTH OF *FREE* YOGA. So the more entries, the better chance you have to win!