The Shakti Shine - March 25, 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.
This weekend I learned to turn the 'M' in 'Me' upside down.
I was in Philly with the Baptiste Institute (and some fellow Shakti babes) diving deeper into the Art of Assisting. One of my favorite things about this yoga practice we lead at Shakti is the opportunity to connect through assisting. Hands-on assists offer support & stability, and are provided as an act of service to empower your practice.
The weekend was filled with intentional exercises to cultivate community, build trust, and teach assisting in a way that meets the student where she/he is, providing space for discovery and full expression.
To wrap up the weekend we did and exercise that put us in an assisting circle-- half the participants on the mat as students, half offering hands-on assists. The assistants would move to the next student in the circle every time our teacher said 'switch.' He taught JIP and we practiced / assisted the JIP sequence. I was an assistant in the first round of this practice.
I love assisting, and this kind of work puts me into flow, connection, presence, and service.
I feel in tune when I am assisting, and I feel like I can sense the student and see the whole pose as a bigger picture. There was something interesting about today though... as I moved from student to student, pose to pose, I recognized when there was a break in flow.
I noticed when I was making it all about Me.
"Move quicker, get out of my way"-- to the assistant in front of me at the 'switch' points.
"Why won't you just do what I'm asking you to"-- to the student who wouldn't bend her knees in down dog, no matter how many times I tapped the back of her knees to bend.
"I was looking at that and going to assist there"-- to the teacher when he approached the student in front of me to offer guidance.
These thoughts popped up, and in the moment, I was pulled out of the flow & presented with a choice:
Get stuck in making it all about Me
or
Turn Me into We
The heart of assisting is all about turning 'Me' into 'We.'
While I learned a lot about hands-on assists this weekend, I was mostly reminded of this truth-- that 'We' are better together, and life is more meaningful when I brush off the need for it to be all about 'Me.' In the moment of connection when I show up in service to others and lean into interaction I have access to freedom and the possibility to discover something new.
I get the opportunity to uncover a more authentic version of Me through You.
Thank you for that-- for showing up and trusting me. I can't wait to share what I've learned with you.
Let's remember this week, at every chance we get, to turn 'Me' into 'We' as a way to be up to something bigger than ourselves.
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 Strength Pop Up
@ Athens Farmer's Market
S/O to Emily for teaching a high-energy class on Saturday. Thank you for joining us! We are so excited to move with you outside this spring. Tell your friends and join us next time!
Come play every other Saturday at the Athens Farmer's Market for a *free* Shakti Strength class from 9-10am.
Up next: April 6th
Yoga + Coffee
@ 1000faces
Thanks, Maggie, for teaching this donation-based class for the Get Comfortable Fund on Sunday morning. Keep an eye out for future dates for this perfect weekend vibe.
SA 101
w/ Rachel Ricketts
This was a 'you had to be there' kind of experience. The work Rachel is doing is critical & relevant and you can check her out here.
this week:
We bring Yoga to you
Spring has sprung and the Shakti team is all around town offering classes to workplaces, clubs, groups, & outreach services. Want us to come to you? Reply to this email. <3
April Pose Challenge
Kinda like bingo, but not... fill up as many spaces as you can in the month of April to be entered to win Shakti merch & classes.
You fill a space by working on a pose in a class (the teacher who's fav pose it is is listed below the pose, but any teacher can teach you the pose in class).
Each completed column gets you an entry into the drawing. Get an extra entry if you tag us on social media with a photo of you in your fav pose of the moment!
Spring Yoga Series @ Creature Comforts
April 7th, 11:30am-12:30pm
$15 & all proceeds go to the Get Comfortable Fund
(and $5 Athenamosassss)
Need a spring awakening?
Here's a playlist to move to! Got 35 minutes? Roll out your mat in the sunshine and do the moves listed in the description.