The Shakti Shine - November 23rd, 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.
Whatever your week looks like, I hope you create space for your own needs, whatever that looks like.
I hope you take time to connect, rest, generate gratitude, go outside, share appreciation, drink water, laugh, and notice how you feel.
Show up with yourself so that you know how you need to show up in context.
Create an inner listening.
I hope you can slow down, soak up, clear out, let be, and receive.
Hold generous space for 'yes, and.'
Take 3 deep breaths.
Trust that you plant seeds everywhere you travel, even if it's just down the street.
See what's present.
Open up to discovery.
Shake off the bullshit.
Begin again.
_____________________________
Grateful for you and our lil community.
Here for you. Rooting for you. On your team.
xx
Ruby
The Weekly Work
This is where we bring yoga off the mat together
1. Support the Coronavirus Fund for Black and Indigenous Women
2. Reflect on the year in review - Have a conversation about the things you've learned, what you discovered, what you're grateful for, and something you're proud of - Make a list
Have suggestions for The Weekly Work? Send them our way!
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Thank you for being here. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for making Shakti so special.
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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
Last week's Note was from Caroline BARFIELD, so I'm posting it again so you can really soak it up.
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?