The Shakti Shine - November 16th, 2020
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.
Grateful.
There's something about the practice of gratitude that continually expands my experience of life. Exponentially.
What I mean is that every time I think I've got something about life figured out, the Universe comes in with a reminder that I am *not in control* and that there's something bigger at play. And at the end of the day I just feel like, Damn, I'm grateful for that.
Lately I've noticed a tendency to cock my head at the sky and say 'What the fuck, Universe?' It's the kinds of things happening that make me think: How in the world is this possibly happening? HOW?
Because while this year still proves to be a challenge, I have had numerous of these happy serendipitous circumstances as of late that have reminded me that, well,
1 - I'm gonna be ok
2 - The Universe has a fine sense of humor
3 - Things will always work out, even more so if I keep showing up (no matter how small)
So I noticed my disbelief... and after a few weeks of this, I caught myself... and I thought, where's my gratitude?... so then it became:
WTF, Universe? AND ALSO THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
Like WHAT? I still cannot believe.
But after a while I realize all over again that I should probably just believe, ya know? And it's like the little voice in my head says-- Yeah. You better believe, Ruby, because this is life and this is what it's like when you pay attention.
So now I've been looking up at the sky and it just sounds like
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
thank you thank you thank you
thank you thank you thank you
That feels better.
Fuller.
Connected.
At ease.
Feels like trust.
Like acceptance.
Like a big, deep breath.
-----
I spent the weekend in the woods and I just kept thinking, Thank you for letting us be here. Thank you for sharing your beauty. Thank you for showing me what trust looks like.
thank you thank you thank you
thank you thank you thank you
-----
So yeah, gratitude.
It's the practice that keeps bringing me home to myself all while showing me that it's so much bigger than that, too.
xx
Ruby
The Weekly Work
This is where we bring yoga off the mat together
1. Support our friends at @bodhimovement yoga studio & @su9nahas they transition to BIPOC LGBTQIA Leadership -- Donate here
2. Do the Work: "A not so gentle reminder. Action comes in different forms: educating oneself, joining orgs, committing to and doing mutual aid work, doorknocking, giving supplies,giving reparations, etc etc." (@cinema.chico)
3. Get Embrace Yoga's Roots by Susanna Barkataki! And learn from one of our teachers about how to honor the practice of yoga in your life :)
Have suggestions for The Weekly Work? Send them our way!
GRATITUDE MONTH IS HERE
November is Gratitude Month at Shakti!
- Join us for 30 days of THANK YOU -
follow along on instagram, order a journal, & practice gratefulness every day
ORDER NOW
use code FREESHIP at checkout for in-studio pickup!
ORDER NOW - IN THE PRACTICE OF GRATITUDE/ HARDCOPY
Gratitude Journals are BACK!
We’ll send you the revamped, full color & UPDATED 2020 journal written and designed by Ruby.
Join us daily for November in discovering and sharing our gratitudes.
You can use this journal for any 30 day period- no excuse to not dive in!
use code FREESHIP at checkout for in-studio pickup!
PRE-ORDER GRATITUDE MERCH NOW!
Tees, Tanks & Sweatshirts to spread gratitude and share the Shakti Love -
Thank you for supporting this small business <3
Inquiry Corner w Emily on IGTV!
Emily takes a dive into the Yoga Sutras and how to live yoga off the mat!
Stay tuned!!!
SHAKTI TEAM LOVE NOTE <3
I give up feeling like I am not enough, and I commit to not letting diet culture cost me my joy,
by Caroline Barfield
It was the first semester of 6th grade. On an ordinary Monday morning, I strutted into school with my plaid bermuda shorts, and matching pink shirt. The only thing that could possibly overshadow the joy I got from getting my locker open on the first try, and the fact that it was nacho day in the cafeteria, was PE class. We had to take our first Presidential Fitness Test. In 5th period, I walked into the gym locker room and changed into my grey and forest green school-issued PE uniform, and took my place in line in the gym. Alphabetically, I was the very first person to take their turn at each station. After each exercise, I grew closer and closer to tears because I actually did not measure up. I got my score at each step and saw that it was nowhere close to making the cutoff for the coveted Presidential Fitness Award, where kids would get a t-shirt to proudly wear around the school. I felt so much shame because the value ofmy body was literally quantified and I had failed. I felt like my body had failed me, and that is where I can pinpoint the creation of the lies that I’ve told myself throughout my life about my body.
“You aren’t athletic.”
“You’ll embarrass yourself if you try that.”
“Exercise isn’t for you.”
“You are weak.”
“You are not enough.”
These lies more than stuck with me throughout my teenage and college years. They became part of my identity. I was creative, not athletic. I was artistic, not strong. I either avoided movement spaces all together or I moved in excess to try to change things about myself to be worthy.
When I began my yoga practice, I honestly started it in what I thought would be a more fun attempt to participate in the cycle of diet culture that I was stuck in. Feel bad about myself, try to change my body, give up, and then start the cycle over.
Thankfully, what I found was the opposite of that. In my practice, I found a space that is always for me, no matter what. I found a space where movement is joyful and fun. I found a space where I can give up my lies and commit to a new way of being. I learned that my practice is a space that doesn’t ask me to change anything about myself. I found a space that holds me, safely teaches me accountability, and tells me, “You are already whole, you do not need fixing.”
I am already whole, my body does not need fixing.
I am already whole, I do not need fixing.
This idea that nothing about me needs changing creates the space for me to listen to my body. In this listening, I see clearly that what needs fixing is not my body, but rather the system that tells me I am not enough as I am. Every time I listen to my body, give myself what I need, and
take the steps to heal my relationship with it, I am challenging the system that tells me to ignore it. I am challenging the system that requires my shame about my body to function.
This year especially, movement feels even more essential to my self-care, and I’ve also found it more challenging to appreciate my body and all of it’s new changes. With these two things being at odds, I’ve been more intentional about checking in with myself to make sure that I am moving for me.
Some questions that I’ve been asking myself lately:
What are my intentions for moving my body today?
Am I moving because it feels like what I need?
Does this movement feel joyful?
Am I allowing myself enough space for rest?
PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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