The Shakti Shine - August 19, 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.
Being present is a discipline.
One of my favorite parts of being at Level One last week was getting to witness Baron lead inquiry. Someone would come up to share. They would start to answer the question at hand, and (very quickly) they would inevitably end up veering off into a story about what really happened or an explanation about what they thought about it or an excuse to defend someone. Almost every single time this happened.
And every single time he would say, "Don't go there right now. What's here?"
I could feel what he meant. In the moment of story or explanation, there was nothing new. Everything there was wrapped up in logic and sorting through and trying to figure something out. The person and their words felt flat.
But what's the alternative? 'What's here?' felt so out of the norm that it was jarring for everyone in the room. The collective response was "What's here? She just said what's happening in her life. That's what."
To which he simply said, "Look."
Look. What's here? Get present. See.
Something would shift, and the moment buzzed with energy.
And if the person sharing was willing to be honest & wanted to get clear, they would pause. They would answer the question. They got present.
The present moment is where magic lives. It's where the possibility of something new exists.
Leaving the present moment happens in an instant, and all of a sudden I am trapped in the past and tangled in the future... my mind races with stories, scenarios, worries... I am anywhere but here.
In an instant, though, I can choose presence.
I know I am present when the moment electrifies, when I am tapped into what's happening and can see, hear, feel more clearly.
Some moments of presence last only a moment. Some, a few minutes. I have to choose to come back again and again.
It's work to get present.
It's a practice to be here now.
It takes discipline to stay.
But when I wake up in the moment and see what's present, I always find what I need.
It's not always what I want to see, but it's always honest. It's always true.
Getting present creates space for awakening.
And that's a practice I'm ready to show up for.
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.
Today...
Down Dog Days of Summer
@ the Graduate
7:30pm // $10 donation for the Get Comfortable Fund
Watch the video ^ and then sign up >
Happening Now...
August is Meditation Month at Shakti!
We practice meditation as an access to getting present and awakening.
As we learn & evolve, we wake up to a new way of being.
Every class starts with a 5 min meditation,
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!
Fall schedule is HERE!
You gave us feedback, and we're giving you new options!
50 min 3:15pms, two chances for PPP, Sunday 8am, evening Revival
Coming Up...
Inquiry Corner w/ Emily:
Meditation Month!
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!
Meditation month is here, yeehaw!
There's a lot to cover about why meditation, how meditation, what's meditation...
So, I'll be spending the month of August offering inquiry themed around meditation month.
If you'd like more info, check out our IGTV for informational videos on meditation.
Getting present is meditation
Getting quiet and noticing your breath is meditation.
Really any time you get present to what is right there in front of you is meditation. Which means that you can meditate dozens, hundreds of times throughout the day. Or none at all.
When I get quiet and notice my breath, there’s a lot there I can learn about. There’s the quality of my breath, the thoughts in my mind, tensions in my body, etc. When I slow down long enough to notice what my body is telling me, I can act responsibly and act in line with my intuition.
When I get present, I can notice what I need.
Inquiry:
— During your regular work day, how often do you stop and take a moment of stillness and silence? Never? Often?
What do you notice when you slow down?
— What blocks and hesitations come up around the idea of slowing down?
— How can you incorporate small bits of ease and presence throughout your day?
Monday jams
Welcome to the studio!
Here's a lil' tour of our space just in case you haven't been in yet. Sometimes it helps to see what you're getting into. So here it it! We hope to see you in soon. <3
Mila Promotional Films
Announcements
Introducing: Shakti Scholarships
We have created flexibility within our pricing structure to support you & your yoga practice at Shakti as we all try to navigate the world we live in. Shakti scholarships come in all shapes & sizes and are available as needed.
We believe you, no questions asked. Thank you for being honest & open to receiving support.
Let us know what you need. We are here to support you however we can.
Capturing the essence of Shakti
Sabrina works the front desk, but she is also a badass entrepreneur and owner of Mila Promotional Films.
She'll be around the studio and in & out of classes capturing our Shakti spirit!
If you'd rather keep your practice private, just let the front desk know and we will make sure to respect your privacy 100%.
Waitlist worries no more!
We are ready for fall semester to be a time to move forward with clarity & simplicity!
So here's the dealio... Starting August 15th, you will accrue a fee for your late cancels & no shows. Thank you for understanding, cooperating, & committing to your practice.
Here to Dig a Little Deeper
* At Shakti we are actively committed to questioning bias, blind spots, and unconscious discrimination through inquiry within and outside of the Shakti team. Shakti teachers commit to acting in allyship for POCs and marginalized communities. We are committed to showing up and stepping into discomfort in order to open the closed doors that house internal bias and discrimination.
^ We're proud for this to be a cornerstone of who we choose to be as a community and business. Read more about what we believe here.
Shakti Love.