hi all! i'm teaching another free class this friday at 11.30 east coast time if anyone would like to join in :) you'll have to register to get the zoom link prior to class if you're interested. xo https://www.salt-yoga.bm/book-online

atha. now, the yoga begins. i am being continuously called to do more, and it's now clear that it's not more for myself but more for my people. i got here with a lot of hard work AND a lot of privilege. it's time for me to acknowledge my privilege and my place in my community and use this for good and for the betterment of my people and the community as a whole. the yoga begins by being more than me, and the teachings of the history and deep philosophy of yoga makes that clear for me. AND all of this is so scary! i am comfortable where i am. but that's not good enough anymore. now, the depth begins.

i took a leaf from kelley's book and went back to review my i am statements. i am at peace. i am listening. i am inactive. i am kind. i am amped. i am building. i am transforming. what a beautiful self study, simply those statements alone! the i am's from the beginning of the week are so content, so an emily sitting in her zone of comfort and fear. but once we got to the upper realms, holy shit, let's gooooo. my heart knows it's time to put myself out there, time to trust that the way has prepared me for where i am going. that when i continue to be true to myself and what sings to my heart, i can do anything, and i am determined to grow. on day 8: i am limitless.

my mantra for today: i am transforming and i am limitless. today i really allowed myself to witness. to see how i've been transformed by the inquiry and action of this week. to see how i respond vs how i want to respond. to see what i say yes to vs what i want to say yes to. i will continue working on the language to say no to things that don't speak true to my heart. to claim what i love wholeheartedly, and not just do the things i feel i "should" be doing. i am here now. claiming myself as i am, and who i want to be. accepting and evolving, one day at a time.

"let's be mindful that when we envision ourselves in one specific way we limit what might be possible and are met with disappointment..." this line struck a chord in me. after working for almost 7 years tied to a work permit (working for other people) i am finally free to be my own boss and am trying to navigate what that looks like for me and for my community. i've noticed this week though that i am still stuck in old patterns and old ways of working that serve others and not what sings true to my heart. my intuition has been calling me, but i haven't been listening. that ends now--i'm listening. today's mantra was i am building (which feels similar to architect, but i'll take it). building myself, building my vision, building my business. building the vision of who i want to be. the vision doesn't necessarily look far from where i am...but its starting to feel more authentic.

i am amped. today i feel inspired and amplified after yesterday's practice and reflections, and am working today to articulate what i want and how to get it! i am asking the question "how do i share my authenticity with the world in a true and honest way?" i've noticed i've been trying to advance my career by saying yes to every opportunity that comes my way, even if it doesn't align to my values. i've allowed myself to be fit into molds that serve other people rather than myself, and i'm over it! working to amplify and articulate what sings true to me. i am enough. i am open + strong. i am listening. i am trusting. i am not rushing. i am moving one step at a time. i am clearing.

i am kind. i didn't sleep well last night, so today's mantra was reminding myself to be kind and compassionate with myself and my thoughts today. "how would love respond?" became a constant question! and i made it through, as we always do, but a little more gently than i would have without this reminder. today's theme also helped me put into words the question that's been on my heart the last few weeks: how do i want to amplify what is true to my heart and my being? i feel encouraged to move forward and find out! i wrote a short love letter to my best friends. i am grateful for my people. grateful for movement. grateful for safety. grateful for love.

first of all, that danielle doby poem is one of my absolute faves! ugh i cannot tell you how much i love it, how much it ALWAYS speaks to me. i know it by heart, so it was cool to remind myself of it and our mantra to activate throughout the day. my mantra for today is I AM INACTIVE, because inaction is action too! I ended up having a few cancellations in my schedule, and used the time to putz around the house, put things back together post christmas, and feel at home in my space. so productive through being relaxed and not busy...it was so nourishing.

day two: my mantra is i am listening. listening to my body and to my inner-most desires. noticing how they come to rise in the physical, and then doing further inquiry to WHY these sensations might be happening. i feel like i tend to skip the WHY and just acknowledge the feelings and move on. after claiming this mantra this morning, i ended up listening to a podcast and the speaker said "the quality of your day isn't what you THINK about the day, but about how you FEEL about the day" and i loved that! really taking the time to think about how certain things may seem like good in thought or at face value, but aren't making me feel good in my body and heart.

anchor was such a welcomed theme for today! i woke up feeling unwell and had a busy day ahead--reminding myself to ground in and focus on presence was how i got through my morning, and it was so beautiful to find this reading and theme later in the day when i logged on for the challenge. i spent a lot of time this afternoon getting grounded for my week ahead by tidying the house and meal prepping. my mantra for the day was I AM AT PEACE--no stress can touch me.