The Shakti Shine - September 16, 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.
Get better at what you're good at.
This weekend I was at the Leadership Retreat with the Duality Project. tDP is a partnership project with my dear friend Kate Moore. Kate owns a gym in Nashville (GetFit615)... and maybe you know that I'm the owner here at Shakti Athens. We started tDP from a shared vision for a better fitness community- one that is committed to a whole-human lifestyle approach for growth and shaping who 'wellness' is for.
One of our speakers, Krystal Clark, spoke about Clifton's StrengthsFinder as a tool for accessing where you belong on a team and how to manage a team based on member's strengths. Sounds like common sense, but I can think of multiple jobs where my boss was not thinking about team structure in this way.
What I took from this piece of our weekend was this:
Stop trying so hard.
I don't know about you, but I realllllyyyyy like to be good at stuff. I try hard to prove to myself and everyone else that I can do anything. Give me a challenge, and I'll figure it out.
But why?
Why do I try so hard to force the things that take me twice as long to do because I'm half as good at them? What am I trying to prove? And to whom?
Krystal put it this way:
Take out a piece of paper, and with your dominant hand write your name 5 times.
Now write your name five times with your not-dominant hand.
That's what it's like working with your talents vs. trying to prove your weak-spots.
You can do it. You're capable, no doubt. And... it probably took at least twice as long and probably yielded less-desirable results.
Imagine what's possible when you stop focusing on getting better at something you're just not that great at (especially at work) and instead really flex your strengths....
I imagine that you'd really SHINE!
I think about all the times I've tried to Activate, Woo, Develop, or Command, and I think about how much energy I spent trying to be 'okay' at those things when I could have called Kate, Molly, or my mom to help me out and spent my energy Relating, Strategizing, & Maximizing...
When I think about my role at Shakti, I see especially clearly all the ways my strengths have made Shakti what she it! Relator, Responsibility, Maximizer, Strategic, Individualization... I work really hard, but (now that I have Maggie and a whole team with diverse talents & strengths) it doesn't feel like I have to personally prove that I can do things I'm not good at. That's so refreshing!
It's because I've found work where I can use my strengths & hone my power that I feel like I really get to SHINE!
What's one thing you know you're good at?
How can you strengthen that muscle this week?
If you stopped trying so hard to prove you can 'fix' your weaknesses, what would that feel like?
What's possible?
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.
Put a pep in your step with us on Saturday mornings @ the Athens Farmer's Market!
This *FREE* event is once per month. Let us know you're coming! Sign up online. Extra mats will be avail for use.
JIP POWER SERIES w/ Ruby
10 sessions / $10 per session
10 people max per session
Grounding - Thursday, Sept 19 - 7-8pm
Igniting - Thursday, Sept 26 - 7-8pm
This is for you if...
+ you're curious about Baptiste yoga (the yoga @ Shakti)
+ you want to get the most out of your practice!
+ you're curious about fundamentals
Shakti Beach Retreat
Gulf Shores, Alabama
November 1-4, 2019
Join Shakti Athens & Nashville for a weekend to rest, relax, and renew your mind, body, and spirit. We will have daily morning meditation, yoga, and plenty of time to play and rest. This weekend is a time to disconnect with all of the external distractions (even our phones for a bit) and to soak up and connect with the ever present beauty around you.
ONLY 25 SPOTS AVAILABLE!
Inquiry Corner w/ Emily
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!
We're moving IC to IGTV and the blog, but we'll always give you a teaser here.
This week: Ujjayi—
This week's IGTV shows you how to practice ujjayi breath! Ujjayi is the oceanic, whisper-sounding breath you hear in class.
Hop over to Instagram to learn more about why pranayama is so important in today's (Monday's) video and come back for some related inquiry on Wednesday.
Meet the Shakti Team!
Bethany Sacks
Why do you teach at Shakti?To help share yoga with a community that has shared so much with me. I wanted to give back to this space that I love so much.
How do you honor the roots of a yoga practice in your every day life? I journal for just a couple minutes first thing every morning. I also try and focus on my breath when things get dicey to slow myself down and come back to what’s really happening.
What kind of teacher do you strive to be?Empathetic, knowledgeable, fun