The Shakti Shine - December 3, 2018

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.


"Acceptance is the deepest form of love."

I remember that Love was my intention during my Yoga Teacher Training in 2013.
I remember my teacher clearly stating "Acceptance is the deepest form of love."
I remember how it shook me to my core.
I learned a lot about Love that summer.

Back then I spent a lot of brain power judging. I judged everything. I judged my body, my productivity, my abilities. I judged your lunch, your body, your good time. Internally I was a giant buzzkill and my toughest critic. Externally I was quite pleasant, very disciplined, and exceptionally driven. I sort of noticed that I was judging people, but I also thought I was loving people.

Looking back I see that I equated niceness to love.... (not the same, though. Nice definitely does not equal love. I know this for myself because I can be very nice and not be very loving.)

So this phrase "acceptance is the deepest form of love" really brought me eye-to-eye with my perceptions of love. It threw me headfirst into the deep end, and I loved it. And I didn't fully understand it. And I understood it completely. And I felt how big it was deep down in my heart.

I started to apply it in my interactions and relationships. I started to apply it to myself. I started to really see.

It was like I had been wearing the wrong prescription glasses my whole life-- I had been living in a blur, dizzy and anxious-- and I finally put on the correct lenses-- I felt clear, like I had space to breathe, and my depth perception expanded remarkably.

I still sometimes notice that I've picked up the wrong glasses in the frenzy of my own self-doubt. But because I now know what it's like to see clearly, I can take a deep breath... take off the old glasses... and put on the lenses of acceptance to see with new eyes.

Life's so much fuller (and easier) when I operate from acceptance. I can literally feel my capacity for love broaden when I make the choice to accept. And it's absolutely a choice. I can be nice with my eyes closed, half-asleep and in the dark--- that's not serving anyone, not even myself. For me to be accepting, though, there's a level of awareness that is required, in a good sort of way--- that awareness makes room for connection, grace, and growth... and that's a win for everyone.

I'm grateful for this lesson of Love, because it's so much more simple than the hustle of judging and acting nice. Sure, it requires more awareness, but it also requires less energy in the longrun, so I'm left with the vision to see clearly and plenty of energy for things that matter (like loving people more!)

I accept you.
I love you.


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:
Shakti Team Holiday Party
Yesterday we had our quarterly team meeting & our annual holiday party. The day was full of reflection & celebration! We are so grateful to have a team that feels like family and who considers you family, too.
(<--- peep our team intention to the left)

Embrace
Shakti's first movie night was a big success. After the movie we discussed the frustration with trying to fit into a box that wasn't built for us.... and we all decided that we actually like the way we look just as we are. :)
We are grateful for Sweet, Salty, Sassy for popcorn and Nedza's Waffles for vegan cookie dough.

Coming Up:
UGA de-stress fest
Tuesday, December 4
Stelling Study - A220 Moore-Rooker Hall
1-3pm

Come through for puppies, coloring, mini meditations every 15 minutes, legs up the wall, study break yoga flow guides, & a *free* 30-min yoga class 2:30-3pm.

Athensmade Grow Lab: Personal Growth
Wednesday, December 5
Creature Comforts
2:30-4pm

Join us to support Ruby and hear her on a panel with Krista Jones, Mokah Johnson, & Life LaRoche as they all share about balancing personal growth with everyday life! Get a ticket

Gratitude Month recap

Wow! Gratitude month brought us so much JOY! Thank you for sharing your practice of movement, meditation, & inquiry with us. Listed above is everyone who completed at least 20 days of the challenge.

If your name's on the list-- congrats!
You can pick up your Grateful prize at the studio now-Dec15.


Carolyn (pictured above) practiced on her mat 20x, meditated 28x, and journaled every day! Here's what she says about the challenge:

1. I have been practicing this (as in yoga) for a while, but this past month, I was more vocal. It encouraged me to speak out loud and tell people how grateful I am.

2. Some days being grateful for the small things and not needing it to be huge.

3. I like to still start my day with it. I think it really helps get me moving!

Nineteen Voices: pt 5
Comparison and... Why yoga?
(This is a blog series by Emily that brings to light interviews with 18 women about body image)

read now

December Events @ Shakti

sign up

December's class schedule is slightly revised, so be sure to check MindBody for the most current class times!

Ruby Chandler