The Shakti Shine - January 14, 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.
The magic of yoga is that it's a helluva lot like life.
My dear friend & the Duality Project partner, Kate and I used to always say 'get comfortable being uncomfortable' as part of the intro to our Heartfelt retreats. That is until the start of one particular retreat when we said 'get comfortable being uncomfortable,' immediately looked to one another and at the same time started shaking our heads. No way. Nah. We call bullshit. If we are comfortable being uncomfortable, then we are either 1) No longer uncomfortable or 2) Trying to cover up or ignore the discomfort.
We have to just expect the uncomfortable.
Something I know to be true: At any moment when I feel uncomfortable, I am presented with an opportunity to grow. In that moment, I have a choice. I grow the most when choose to lean in.
Leaning in is so different than trying to be more comfortable with the uncomfortable. Leaning in is not covering up or ignoring. When I lean in, I feel resistance, resistance, stretching, pulling, expanding, resistance, ahhhhhh. Leaning in gets me to the other side.
It's little moments of discomfort on my yoga mat that reveal this most clearly. In less than 60 minutes I can go from icky & sad to annoyed & angry to analyzing & problem-solving to surrender & ease to clarity (which feels a lot like happy.) Icky & sad never feels comfortable. The process isn't comfortable, either. Often the physicalness of my body is uncomfortable enough that I almost don't show up.
But the act of showing up IS leaning in.
So now (after 8 years of being on my mat almost every day) I recognize when I'm uncomfortable off my mat... aka in the real world... and I notice that I like to run away from that. Some days I run to food. Some days I run to isolate myself. Some days I literally put on my tennies and run.
Thanks to my yoga practice, I see myself in those moments and I now know to make a choice. Most days I choose to lean in. And when I choose to lean in I watch myself show up.
I show up in conversations, in presence, in teaching. I show up at work, at the coffee shop, at the grocery store. I show up with hugs, more water, a long meditation. I show up for myself, for the person right in front of me, and for this moment exactly as it is.
I learned how to do all of that on my yoga mat.
And when I choose not to lean in, I show up for myself knowing that I'll probably get another shot tomorrow. There are plenty of uncomfortable moments to come. Not every fear will be conquered overnight. No one ever sticks a handstand on their first try ever without at least warming up.
Most days I expect something at least slightly uncomfortable will happen. And because of that life feels much more full and I get to grow a little every day. That's pretty magical.
So today when you feel your hands get clammy or your belly fills up with butterflies or you get that awkward feeling that makes your chest cave in a little, know now that you have a choice. Choose to lean in. See what happens.
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.
recap:
Team meetings
These smiling faces are half of our team, ready to take on a new year and a new semester at Shakti! At our team meetings this week we talked about our individual 2019 intentions & Core Values. Check out our instagram to see each of our shining Shakti team's word of the year!
Spring Schedule
Spring schedule is in full swing and classes are full, too! Make sure to sign up on the MB app, cancel when you can't make it and make room for your neighbors! We love getting sweaty together with you.
Get Comfy
You may have noticed 4 of these classes on the schedule... and it's not because these classes are comfortable... This is how Shakti chooses to give back! $10 drop-ins for you, and $5 of that goes straight to the Get Comfortable Fund for our Athens community.
*members*: these classes are still included in your membership. Choose 'Member Pass' at checkout. AND feel free to donate any amount at any time.
this week:
Heavily Meditated
@ Creature Comforts Service Industry NightMonday, January 14th - 7-9PM
Enjoy live music, free food - and - guided meditations every 15 min. Crack open our special CCBC fortune cookies for a great new outlook and have fun!
@ Means Classroom, Benson Hall C010
Wednesdays @ 3:30pm this semester
Jen Sincero @ The Foundry
Hosted by Avid Bookshop
Friday, January 18th - 7-8PM
World-renowned author, success coach, and motivational speaker, Jen Sincero, is coming to Athens. Tickets come with a copy of the book.
We'll be there! Hope to see you there, too. You can get your tickets HERE.
March 18, 6-8pm @ Shakti
the Duality Project Presents...
This 101 workshop is an opportunity to come together to have sacred and spiritual conversation about race and racism, acknowledge white privilege, prioritize POC voices and actively contribute to lasting, effective social change.
The evening includes:
curated discussion and education on anti-racism, internalized oppression and addressing whiteness/white supremacy,
brave space to share our hurts/struggles/frustration regarding race and gender,
intentional journalling + groupwork to unpack our blind spots,
transformative breathwork to release and let go, and
guided meditation to ground.
Open to all hue-mans, especially White folks wanting to learn how they can better support POCs, POCs seeking help healing internalized oppression and all those seeking spiritual tools + practices to assist in committing to anti-racism.