The Shakti Shine - July 22nd, 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.
Every time I get on my mat I'm learning how to make an impact.
I remember when I first started setting intentions in my yoga practice. Usually it was a word like 'Love' or 'Joy,' and I would repeat it to myself with every breath. I could feel the energy of my intention swell up from my heart and prickle the inner lining of my skin. It was magical, but that was it. Those 60 minutes of sweat allowed me to feel the energy of my intention, but nothing more ever came of it. I was present in the moment, but I wasn't bringing my intention to life.
In my life on and off the mat I've learned that intention isn't actually enough.
Intentions are excellent tools. Setting an intention generates energy, and it inspires me to give purpose & meaning to the task at hand. But if I set an intention, and I do nothing more than think about that word, that word will never fully come to life.
The only way to move from intention to impact is through action.
Of course. That makes a lot of sense, so why did it take me so long to figure it out?
Because moving intentions into action towards impact requires that I get out of my head and drop into my body.
It means that I must be in constant listening for what my intention really looks like in the moment.
On the mat, that could mean that 'Love' looks like child's pose or 'Joy' looks like dancing chair.
Off the mat, it might mean that 'Love' looks like setting a clear boundary with a friend or 'Joy' looks like an afternoon alone reading a book.
And on a different day, it means being ok with what my body knows 'Love' or 'Joy' looks like in the moment, even if it's not what my mind says should be so.
When I choose to truly listen and take action, I choose to embody my intention.
I choose to make an impact.
This practice starts with my relationship with me, and then it spreads into how I connect with other.
Intention -> Choice -> Action -> Impact
Making an impact feels like being in tune with what's necessary in the moment. It requires that I check in with what my intention is, and that I respond with what the right now, right action is to move things around and move things forward.
I feel the energy of my intention swell up from my heart and prickle the inner lining of my skin. But now it has direction. Now it has purpose & connection & true shifts can occur.
Now that my intention requires action, I see the energy of my intentions alive in my practice and in my life.
I see possibility. I see purpose. I see connection. I see a bigger picture.
I see impact.
xx
Ruby
As Shakti continues to grow and evolve it’s important that you, our community, have the opportunity to see what we’re up to.
This document is about who Shakti is, where Shakti is headed, and choices at Shakti that impact you.
keep reading
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.
Congrats to our newest SYU graduates:
Erin Kelling, Bethany Sacks, & Sonja Robinson-Moore!
We are so excited to add these powerful women to the fall schedule. They are fired up and ready for action! If you see their name on the schedule, come support, congratulate, and love on them!!
What's happening now...
Tonight is Down Dog Days of Summer at The Graduate!
Come flow w/ us, and your $10 donation goes to the
Get Comfortable Fund.
7:30-8:30pm
Next week is Little Lights Yoga Camp!
LLYC is a 5 day exploration into yoga, creativity, connection, and self.
Your child will experience meditation, yoga practice, creativity,
journaling, fun connection games and space to ask tough questions.
July 29 - Aug 2 // 1:30-3:30pm
sign up
In the studio
+ The Fall Schedule starts August 12th. Keep an eye on MBO for the expanded schedule.
+ Sabrina will be in and out of classes taking photos so we can update our website. Thanks for being part of our community!
(If you prefer not to be photographed just let us know at the front desk, and we will honor & respect your choice 100%.)
+ Meditation Month is coming...
August is Meditation Month at Shakti!
Every class will start with a 5 min meditation, we will have challenge cards & prizes for everyone who meditates 20+ times, instalive meditations every day...
AND we want to come to you to lead a meditation.
Reply to this email to set up a 10 min meditation for your work, team, friends, or organization. This is our gift to you during the month of August!
New BloG*
How it Feels: Coming Back to Center
By: Lucy Stelmack
"Coming back to center is like a child’s pose in a vinyasa class. It’s always available, a moment
to regroup, catch your breath, rest and just be with yourself.
What an amazing gift to give yourself when you’re overwhelmed at work, trying to meet a deadline or when life is flying by and you feel pulled in every direction."
keep reading
Inquiry Corner w/ Emily: The ChakraS
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!
For the next eight weeks, we will focus on the chakra system, or the subtle/energetic bodies. This week is an overview.
The chakras are seven energy centers that sit along the spine of your physical body. The chakras start at your tailbone and move to the tip of your head: Root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown. Each chakra has a specific location, energy, theme, action, color, texture, sound, and *quality*.
~ The Third-eye Chakra ~
(Ajna)
The third-eye chakra, or ajna chakra, is the seat of intuition. Your third eye is your perception, deeper understanding, wisdom, and connection to a greater awareness.
A blockage at the ajna chakra might feel like you're cut off from your intuition, or that you can't trust your intuition to be correct. It looks like looking outside of yourself for answers.
Here's an example: For a long time, I used calorie counting apps to tell me how much I needed to be eating, instead of listening to my hunger/fullness cues. Using that outside source of knowledge made me believe that it was a better gauge of what I needed, when in reality, my body's internal signals knew what to do all along.
Balance at the ajna chakra feels like connection. It feels like a deep knowing that you are held by something bigger, that your intuition knows the way, and you are right where you need to be.
Inquiry time:
When do you trust your intuition?
When don't you?
What lessons have you learned that made you feel like you couldn't trust your intuition?
Unlearning those lessons takes time and effort:
How can you support yourself as you seek to find deeper connection to your intuitive knowing?
(If you'd like more information on the chakras, check out Shakti's IGTV.)