The Shakti Shine - September 23, 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.
Energy energy energy!
Energy is a fascinating phenomena. I feel like I have it. I feel like I don't. I feel like I need more. I feel like I'll run out. I feel like I have it to give. I feel like it's been taken from me. I feel high energy. I feel low energy. Energy makes me feel a lot of things.
And it can kind of feel like a game.
In / Out / Give / Take / Empty / Refill
Thankfully I know myself well enough by now that *mostly* I can anticipate how much energy something or someone will take from me, and I'm pretty in tune with the things in life that refill my energy levels-- yoga, good food, sunshine, friendship.
Regardless of this self-knowledge nine times out of ten I end up micro-managing my energy on a day-to-day basis. This is different from awareness. This is high-strung, fear-based anticipation. This is what anxiety feels like. What if I have too much energy? What if I don't have enough? What if I don't have time to refuel?
I believe it was Albert Einstein who said “Energy can neither be created or destroyed...”
This quote reminds me that energy isn't something I have to get- It's something I already have.
buzzing, whirring, fluttery, bright
Energy in my body feels alive.
And it's always there, ready to be tapped into, regenerated, or shared.
This morning my energy felt like it was dialed wayyyy up. In my body I felt ready. My mind felt like a gentle whirring. In my emotions I felt excited.
I thought: I'm anxious about the day - I have too much on my plate - I'm not prepared for this.
Then I tapped into my feelings.
When I acknowledged the way I was feeling and labeled it- ready, whirring, excited - I realized that maybe I wasn't anxious at all....
I thought: Those words sound a lot like JOY to me, actually.
And a day that could have been derailed by anxiety suddenly turned into a day brimming with potential & joy.
All from a shift of energy.
The second half of that quote says "...it can only be changed from one form to another."
Energy is malleable, adaptable, here for your service, always present, always enough. Always enough.
Always enough.
When I honor my energy and listen for what I need there is constant flow. A drop, a stream, an ocean wave, energy flows into, through, and out all the time.
And if it's true... that energy cannot be created or destroyed, just changed...
what feels like a need to micro-manage may just be an opportunity for awareness.
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.
JIP POWER SERIES w/ Ruby
10 sessions / $10 per session
10 people max per session
Igniting - Thursday, Oct 3 - 7-8pm
Stability - Sunday, Oct 6 - 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!
Heartfelt: a weekend away with Kate and Ruby / Nov 22-24
This is a weekend of sweat, connection, and growth. Each day you can expect to enjoy breakfast, yoga, discussion, nature, meditation, group workout, and delicious, fresh and local nourishment.
Self-love and self-work is a practice that is never-ending, but continually gratifying. This will be a time for you to connect and rejuvenate with like-hearted humans. Our goal is to provide you with the tools to come back to this work often and to deepen your understanding of and connection to your most authentic self with love and affection.
Learn More / Sign Up - Only 2 spots left!
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:
*Nadi Shodhana pranayama*
Also called alternate-nostril breathing, is a method of purifying the energetic channels inside of our bodies. It's a breath work meant to balance and channel dual energies.
Learn more about how to do this breath work on IGTV!
Meet the Shakti Team!
Ruby Chandler
Why do you teach at Shakti?
Because I can't imagine anywhere else in the world where teaching would feel like such a joy & a contribution!
How do you honor the roots of a yoga practice in your every day life?
*asana - meditation - inquiry // these practices are integral in my lifestyle, and a constant reminder of the work done before me. I pause and pray and say 'thank you' a lot.
What kind of teacher do you strive to be?
One who is real above all, one who puts connection first, one who leaves space for discovery