Where you are now...

Where you are now...is exactly where you are meant to be. 

About 6 years ago in San Diego, when I began practicing yoga, a teacher of mine once said during class, 'where you are now is exactly where you are meant to be.' And boy did that stick with me. That phrase rings through my ears and mind every single day. Every day when I wake up, even when I am feeling down...I know this is where I am meant to be. I am at a certain place in my journey of life that is just simply right for me. And my practice teaches me that.

Yoga teaches us a way of seeing that creates beautiful opportunies for us to recognize ourselves better. It ties the strands of the mind together - uniting our mental state with our physical being. Enabling us to attain what was previously unattainable. Yoga lets us know that this moment is our moment, every moment is one to take full grasp of. 

Every moment is a moment of love, creation, beauty, and growth. 

All of our attention is directed toward the activity in which we are currently engaged. Being this attentive lets us perform each task better - we become conscious of our actions - we are pulled into the here and now. 

I may be struggling in some poses during my practice, waiting for the next instruction, the next asana, but I stay, I stay with it....I stay in the pose and stay with my breath. I am in the here and now, and can find some peace in what may be a challenging pose by focusing on my breath and letting go of fear or discomfort. Know that this moment will pass, so why not stick with it? See what it can do for you? This pose is where I am meant to be. It is challenging for a reason. It is teaching me how to be in challenging situations off of the mat. How can I handle those? 

Am I present even in the most uncomfortable of postures? Of situations? Yes. Just do it. Let it be easy. Be here, right now. For right here is the safest place to be. This moment is the perfect moment - it's as if it was created just for you, it's your moment - take it, breath it in, live in it, and learn. 

Where you are now...is exactly where you are meant to be. Enjoy the moment lovelies. 

(be) open hearted

(Personal photo taken at Torrey Pines, La Jolla CA in 2009)

Mantra: I am a being of light & love. My heart is open - I experience life freely, playfully, and fully. I experience life with no hesitation. I celebrate love by giving it all I have. I let it manifest in all ways possible. I let it from through me as the loving being that I am. Love is not yours, love is not mine, love just is. In love & with my open heart - I am free. 

Instead of visioning what love is, let's envision what love feels like - all day long. In yoga - it's in every asana, in the meditation, in savasana. Our hearts often become so closed and guarded due to a variety of things such as a break up, a fight with a friend, losing someone close. It happens, shit happens. But we must work to keep our hearts balanced. 

Our deepest wounds are opportunities for growth and transformation. 

Keeping the heart balanced requires a deep ongoing commitment - seek freedom in the heart and remain open by connecting with those around you. In yoga - it's the asana, breath work, and healthy living that will support the functioning of the physical heart. Stretch it, balance it. Open the heart chakra. Elevate your conciousness to heal imbalances in the system. Help heal yourself. 

The worst prison would be a closed heart. Surrender, and love where you are at right this moment. Open your heart and experience more love and joy.