Content to be back

Monday finds the Fall session beginning.  Although I enjoy being on holiday I equally enjoy being back to teaching.  I just got this wonderful message from a student:
"You have been missed, though!  I am all signed up for the new session.  You have made such a huge difference in my life.  Thank you"
I'm so very grateful for those who come to the mat to practice with me every week.  It's amazing to see those who are open to their own vulnerabilities, investigation and exploration.
"Santosha" which is a sanskrit word which can be defined as acceptance, satisfaction or contentment.   And it's not always something that occurs effortlessly.
This summer found me in a situation with a woman who said to me, "You're far too happy."
I had to laugh at that statement.  It hasn't always been that way.  I explained a portion of my journey to her and it surprised her to hear it.
It has taken years and a ton of work to find Santosha.  And the fact remains that I still struggle with it at times.  For the most part it has been Yoga, Reiki, Pranayama & Meditation practices which helped me to get there.  You know how challenging life can be.  I don't have to tell anyone that...yet what I can say is contentments can and will be found if you're willing to do a little work.
Here's a yoga sequence that may be of interest:  https://www.yogajournal.com/videos/niyamas-santosha-sequence
Om Shanti
Tammy
PS.  To view my schedule check out my site
PPS. Do you like to colour?  Check out my colouring books

Changing lives

I overheard some students talking after class yesterday.  One of them said, "This is the best thing I've ever done for myself.  Now i can get through another week"

I'm so grateful for those who show up each week, with mats in hand, to practice yoga with me.  They sometimes come stressed and worried, other times joy-filled; depending on the week.  And they take the hour to breath, to relax, to work hard. 

Yoga definitely changes lives.  Even those who practice only one day a week, like the student I mentioned above.  It's amazing just how much one class can change things for most.

I heard another say, "I'm far more flexible than the others my age.  And I know it's from this class.  I'm never giving it up!"

I really should be asking for testimonials.  LOL

But seriously, do yourself the favour - if you don't already do so.  Find a class and a teacher you enjoy and come to the mat....

Namaste,

Tammy

PS.  You can check out my schedule on my site:  www.reikiandyoga.com/schedule

Love The Mat

PS.  View my schedule here:  http://www.reikiandyoga.com/schedule

Life is Precious

 Sadly one of the students who has attended my Yoga classes for the Cancer journey lost her battle.  It's so saddening.  This woman gave it a good fight and her gentle energies will definitely be  missed by myself and the other participants.

 Another reminder of just how precious life is.  

 This week I saw a short clip on  Tao Porchon-Lynch worlds oldest yoga teacher.  http://www.taoporchon-lynch.com  She's amazing at 98 years young; teaching yoga for 45 years!  That is something to look forward to.  And makes my 16 years of teaching seem like nothing LOL.  

Anyhow... In the interview she said something along the lines of each morning when she wakes ups she says to herself, "This is going to be the best day of my life!"

Don't you love that? It's fun to try as it brings us back to those moments when we were young and said "this is the best day" so many times.  Life has a funny way of showing us what is "best" doesn't it?  Whatever the day brings and I'll quote another Yoga favourite of mine Lilas Folan:

"Welcome all that comes to you this day and be welcomed by it."

Feel welcomed.

Enjoy this precious moment.

For it could be the best day of your life!

Love

Tam

x

PS.  From my Instagram page:

Yoga Real Estate

I had a teacher once that moved his yoga mat to a different location for every class.  It always kept the students on their toes and made them explore their attachments to their yoga space.

I find it interesting how much we are creatures of habit.  How we move into our classes and place our mats in the exact same spot each week.  And the looks on students faces when someone is in 'their spot' as if it's going to change their experience.  I have even experienced some students tell others, "You can't go there that's so-and-so's place".

For awhile I encouraged people to come into the room and find a different spot to practice.  And found it equally interesting to watch my own reaction when the students weren't in 'their spot'.

Recently one mentioned how another always comes in and has to be in one particular place in the room.  I hadn't paid much attention to it; normally before classes I'm still deciding what I will teach or how to approach the asanas in a way that I haven't yet explored or presented.  But this week I saw it... the student put her mat down into 'her' place.  Students from the prior class hadn't even left yet.  I watched as she pushed her way into her space where two others were still talking.  I witnessed "she's not doing it right rudeness".  The two who were still talking didn't say anything, they didn't have to their faces said it all.  Apparently she thought the yoga real estate was ripe for harvest.

Isn't it odd how much in our heads we can be, how caught up in our own experiences that we are absent to what is going on around us?  And isn't this a portion of why we practice to become more present?  I encourage you to show up more fully and notice not only what is happening with self, but also others.  You may just find your connection to your space isn't as valuable as you had previously imagined specifically if your find your space has a sold sign on it.

Namaste,

Tammy

x

PS.  Have you seen My Mantra Colouring Book yet?  It offers 28 mantras and whimsical girls for you to colour. Use this colouring book to journal in, enchance your practice of mantra, chant and set clear intentions to help you along your journey.

   

My Secret Amazing Delightful Life Colouring Book

This is seriously adorable!

Colour while you heal the body, clear the chakras and use the law of attraction to create the life you wish to live! This adult colouring book has journal spaces (with prompts), 23 affirmation colouring pages, 7 Chakra colouring pages (with suggested essential oils, gemstones and yoga poses) along with a few meditations created just for you! Go grab your markers, pens, pencil crayons or paints and your creative juices! Easy and fun healing designs were created for you to colour. Enjoy rediscovering your inner child while you create, heal the body and free the mind. Colouring is a proven stress reliever, can help you connect with a meditative mind set and boost your overall creativity.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1535121564/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_X2mJxb9E9B35T

Yoga etiquette and healing tears

Wow what a week it's been.  I cried twice.


Both times it was from students or clients sharing how much they love my classes. 


Sometimes as a teacher you wonder if you have it all together and question if you are even close to getting through to the students. 


Both times I said to them, "Don't make me cry!"  Didn't work though... those healing tears were there on the surface and needing to come out.


I was challenged this week also - I too had teachers.


For example for the first time ever I had three people leave one of my classes.... The first probably shouldn't have come in the first place she had an injury.  The second left because she didn't want to be late for lunch and in hindsight realized it was unnecessary to leave.  The third is new to yoga and simply followed the others.


It brought to mind some things to revisit as far as yoga etiquette goes....


1)  If you have to leave early tell the teacher before the class begins or at the very least wait for a good opportunity to do so.


2) If you are leaving because you feel uncomfortable - know this is the best time to STAY in the class. Why?  It's an opportunity for you to observe yourself in a setting you wish to flee from.  Instead of leaving observe your reactions... watch your mind.  With this laser-point of focus you may learn something about yourself .... maybe you'll even have a mental breakthrough on how you act when you are challenged off of the mat.


2)  When arriving to class (particularly if you are late) undo any Velcro outside before coming into the yoga space or leave it until the class starts.... do not let it rip during savasana.  People complain a lot about that one!


3)  Chatting before class for me is fine - some teachers wish silence.  I realize yoga is a social event for some... just keep it quiet.  Some students don't really care to hear about what you ate before class, idle gossip or how your bathroom reno is going.  Remember.... Whisper's work wonders.


4)  If you came to a class and the teacher is guiding you in one direction don't do your own thing.  It is distracting for the others.  I personally don't have an issue if you need to stretch or move in a way the rest of us are for a moment.  However there are many others in the room that are concentrating and find your in-attentive "I'm doing my own thing because I want to" way to be distruptive.  Especially if you do this for the entire class... makes us wonder why you came to class in the first place?


5)  Drinking water... ah those crinkley, snappy water bottles.  Essentially if you are dehydrated fine ....drink.  But overall you won't see water in most gentle yoga classes.  Best to drink it before or afterwards to keep the heat in the body - aiding you to burn off those nasty toxins.


Just some food for thought.


I adore my job and am so grateful to be able to help people achieve their goals - be that mentally or physically.


Namaste
Tam
x


PS.  I also realize no one can "make you cry" you do that to yourself.  Only you are in charge of you - let's emo-on (insert high five) shall we? 

Human afterall

One of my students said to me in meditation last night that I am her spiritual teacher, I should have it right by now!


Well, I used to feel like I had it all together and didn't struggle with certain things.  Now this is keeping in understanding I have had times of depression of extreme struggle of times when I wasn't sure if I had the strengths to pull through.


Then I did a ton of work on me.  And that work (meditation, yoga, mantra, breathing etc.,) paid off in a big way.  But it is an ongoing process of life.  You can't fall back asleep, but that is so easy to do.


I've said it for years if you want peace, happiness & harmony you have to do the work for it. 

It's a larger challenge when you watch others around you, those you love & care for not be able to be whom you wish they were. You want better for them, but they aren't willing or ready to change nor do they want for themselves what you wish for them.  They too are human.  They too can fall asleep. 


That's just it.


The best we can do is lead by example.  Live our lives the way we believe we should.  And on the days when we are beating ourselves up for whatever reason, we can leave it by the side and move forward towards awakening.


To us waking together.
Tam
x

Attachment to my Peeps

I work with a lot of seniors.  One of them last week came to class up in arms about the fact that her Niece had come to her house and had taken her car keys.


The woman I'm talking about is probably 77 I'd guess.


She was so upset so I asked her what had happened?


She told me her car keys are kept by her purse beside her front door.  Her Niece walked in the door, took the keys and said, "You won't be needing these anymore!"


She was so upset.  And she told me only her Doctor can tell her she can no longer drive.  I explained to her that if she is interested in still driving all she needs to do is to take the test with the Ministry and they will decide.  I also believe the test is only written and as far as I know they don't have to do a driving test unless they ask &/or pay more to do so.


She picked up a few fliers from the front desk which said pretty much what I had told her.

One week later.....

She showed up in class so of course I was curious if she got her keys back? I asked her. 
Her response was, "Why?  Where are they?"


It through me for a second before I explained I thought her relative had taken the keys from her.  It took her a minute too before she said, "Yes I just have to write some test."


So now it all makes more sense.  I was so caught up in the women's story that I forgot to look at it from the opposite perspective.  Maybe there's a reason the Niece had the keys after all?


Sometimes being a Yoga teacher is really challenging; especially for those of us that love what we do and who we do it with. 


Another student passed away last week.  I didn't hear about the Internment arrangements until after everything was over; would have been nice to say goodbye with the rest of the community.  I did light a candle here for her though. 


What can I say?
I am attached to my peeps.
Plus I just want them all to remain safe & sound...
Namaste,
Tam
x




PS.  The 77-ish year old also told me how much she loves coming to the classes and how healthy she feels they are for her.  I hope she is still able to come for as long as she can.


PPS.  Hang tight over the next 48 hours - it's an eclipse time.  It's time to clear things away.  Release whatever you want to get rid of. 

Soothing

This art journal entry came about while I was journaling thoughts that I found soothing.

It doesn't matter who we are we all have 'one of those days' when we need things to help us feel better.

I was surprised to see the cat jump out of this painting. I was about to Gesso over it when my husband's eyes begged me not to harm the kitty! Thanks to him, the kitten lived on and I'm happy I left it in there - so cute!

Anyhow as you can see I find cats, tea and yoga all things that make me feel better on days when I'm not 100% - there were other things too but this is the full expression.

Enjoy Soothing:

Right side

Left side

 Full page

PS. It's a shame the lightening in this picture is so poor - its actually quite vibrant in real life.

PPS. What do you find soothing?

Feeling lethargic?

Here's a technique for those days when you are feeling lethargic that you may or may not have heard of.  It's beginning to incorporate the Bhandhas throughout your day.

 

These are the internal locks applied similar to valves to direct the prana upward through the subtle energy system (nadis, chakras, meridians).

 

The bhandhas are mulabhandha (root lock), uddiyana bhandha (belly button lock) and jalandhara bhandha (neck or throat lock).

 

Like the breath they can be illusive as our focus slips away from them. Give it a try to see what I mean.  Begin to breathe deeply and evenly and allow the breath to be your sole focus for a least a minute.  If this practice is new to you it will be challenging as every 30 seconds or so we have a new thought to take our focus away. 

 

Traditionally they are used in a yoga practice which can deepen if the bhandhas are utilized. Apply them as you move through the asanas (physical postures).  However you need not be on the mat to apply them to your life.

 

Here’s how to apply the lower two:

At the end of the exhalation apply mulabhandha by drawing up on the muscles between the perineum and the anus. These are the same muscles that stop the flow of urination. Keep holding it.

Take a full breath at the end of the exhalation come to the belly button lock by drawing the abdomen in and up thereby applying uddiyana bhandha. It’s not a hard holding or crunch of the core, but rather a lifting … concentrated holding the abdomen up and in.

Here we’ll skip Jalandhara, but know it is mostly used for pranayama (loosely described breathing) practice. The bhandhas can significantly shift and change your yoga practice taking you to entirely new levels of concentration, focus and present moment awareness.

Give it a go even off the mat and see, sense and feel how your energy can & will change!

Let’ s begin to use them today. Here is link to a video I did awhile ago explaining locks further:
http://tinyurl.com/energylocks

Thanks for watching & reading!
Namaste,
Tammy






PS.  Joining in the energy today to honour our soldiers and give thanks for our freedom.  Lest we forget.

PPS.  Please subscribe to the youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ganesharocks
 & follow on twitter @tllc

The Sound of now

Do you ever stop and pay attention to the sounds of life within your home?

This week I've been practicing much present moment awareness. 
I practice what I preach mostly because I know it works. 

Sometimes it's not as evident and has an effortless flow.  Sometimes I really have to work toward listening to myself.  This has been one of those weeks.  A week where I need to practice to be present.  A challenge with my inner self.  I've chanted....

I am, here now.
I am here.
Here I am in this present moment.
There is only this moment.
And I breathe.

It's been a process of forgetting in one moment.  A wave of anxiety.  A moment of remembering.  A soothing state of rest of relaxation.

Another tool I've worked with this week is listening to the sounds around me.

Here are some sounds which have brought me into the now....

-Fish tank water cycling.
-Sophie screeching for someone, anyone to throw her ball for her (yes she is one strange cat).
-Bella meowing beside her window (this is one Russian Blue that adores her window time).
-Rodney Yee's Yoga Burn playing in the living room.
-The Oracle's struggle with downward dog (he secretly hates down dog).
-Vishen Lakhiani's Envisoning Method Meditation playing.

I adore the sounds I live with.  Who knew how wonderful and blissful these sounds are?
It's been working albeit slowly.  Give it a go.  Listen then repeat after me:  "Every sound I hear draws me more into the presence of this moment."

And so it will be.

Wishing you much peace,
Tammy
x

PS.  A few changes over on my Etsy page - from its name to some new additions:

Mini journal covers....

 

 

And a book to journal in....

 

 

This is so adorable!  And a great reminder of what is needed this week.

 

Rise.  That's right....rise above it all.

 

Om Shanti Love

 

 

Earth Angels

I was just over at Leonie Dawson's facebook page and she posted a picture today which reads, "Earth Angels are everywhere."

I do believe this to be true.

We had a few issues this week with our front door, so 10 trips to the Home Depot finally solved it.  Funny enough though as we were there one man came up to me.  He says, "Can I help you?"

I replied, "I didn't realize you work here."

"I don't," he said, "but you look like you could use some help"

Cool, dontcha think?

I do believe angels are everywhere, sometimes obvious other times not so much.

 
Love,
Tam
xo


PS.  Have you seen some of Leonie's work?  She is so awesome.  Check it one of her amazing programs here:  http://tinyurl.com/tlangels

Melt away the tension (*Chair Yoga*) 2012 Healthy Heart Presentation

Yoga Show

Here's a picture of me with Rodney Yee & Colleen Saidman Yee

How to increase your energy. Use the Bhandhas

The Ujjayi Breath

....Yes Luke I am your fatha! LOL
Enjoy!
TL-C

The complete yoga breath

Jamacian Yoga

Ah....beach yoga! Today is almost as hot as it was on our holidays. We arrived back last week from 40 degree, 75% humidity (in the shade) from Negril. It was an absolutely amazing way to celebrate 10 years of marriage.

PS. I will not be sending out a hard copy of the summer newsletter, if you are interested in receiving it send me an email! Until next time enjoy the beginning of the season.

Yoga Lag

Far too many of us suffer from it. But how many...exactly...give in?

I guarantee its happened to you before...you know you'll feel better if you go to class, so what is with the fight?

Sometimes its the weather (especially now when its so cold), sometimes its our personal lives (let's face it there is something else we can always find to do); the "Yeah but I could be _________ (fill in the blank)" type of thinking.

I know what's it all about. I used to suffer from yoga lag too. Far too often during my first year of teaching did I not want to go to class. I didn't want to deal with slowing down, breathing or even moving off the couch. But I always made myself and you know what I always felt better off for it.

The same thing happens with my personal practice, even now. Yoga will have an ebb and flow in your life; some years will be better than others.

Sometimes the best yoga I can do is to stop and be happy now.

So if you are having one of those days when going to class is the last thing you want to do, don't be hard on yourself. It happens to all of us. Make a decision and stand behind it (preferably in Tadasana).

PS. When you feel the yoga lag oncoming use it as a chance to delve deeper inside of yourself....what is the real issue? What is really stopping you from going? Why do you not want to go to class? You see where I'm going with this. It's another chance to check in and see where you are at today. Just like each posture, you'll find different reasons behind it & different layers will always come up