Rockin' Savasana

My reaction at my 1st class :)

Many of my friends already know this story, but I will share it again for those of you who might not.
Up until late 2010 I had never seen or taken a Yoga class.
ME take Yoga?  Oh, hell no.  I am high energy, fully caffeinated and didn't see the point in spending an hour standing on one leg or laying on my back "being still."
That is, until I started teaching Zumba fitness :)

I was on the hunt for space to rent to teach classes. I had called karate studios, dance studios, etc. and had the brilliant idea to call a local Yoga studio because it was super close to my house and I thought "why not?".
I called and spoke to the studio owner who invited me to come look at the space, which I did.
Well, then it happened.  She invited me to stay for a class as her guest.
OMG.  What do I do?
I mean, I am potentially going to enter into a business arrangement w/ this person. It would be rude to decline, right?
So, I took a deep breath, kissed goodbye an hour of my life and stayed.

One of the best hours of my life!
I began teaching Zumba at the studio shortly after (well, 2 months after that meeting because I kept getting cold feet and saying I wasn't ready until the studio owner (who has grown to be an amazing friend and one of my biggest supporters) said "Newsflash. You will NEVER be ready.  Just do it.".
Since that time I have been taking Yoga classes regularly (and most recently Pilates, oh my!) at the studio.
It's part of own personal workout.

Yoga is probably one of the most difficult and challenging things I have ever done.
It started with trying to take myself to a calmer, slower place for an hour.  That was the biggest hurdle for me.
Then it was accepting that I might fall over a bit (okay, I always fall over a bit :) when I do my tree pose, but that it's not how well I do it, but that I tried it and did it that counts.
Lastly, it was the discovery that, for me, at least, Yoga is about strengthening my core. Not my midsection, but the core of ME.  Learning to listen to my thoughts and my body and trust in them.
Yoga is about becoming stronger. Again, not just in body, but in spirit.

My practice has exposed me to different instructors with very different styles. I have been pushed beyond my personal comfort zone and I have succeeded in things I never thought I could.  This is because while I "saw" my limitations, they did not.  They saw my capabilities.

Rockin' Savasana (hard)!

I dig tree pose.  I still think I look a bit like a weeping willow, but it's getting better.
I am still light years away from even coming close to crow pose.
However, after a rough start (again, stillness is NOT my forte), I can honestly say I am now rockin' Savasana.

Perceived Beauty

I just watched a video clip from the Dove soap campaign about "real beauty."
It truly touched me.


Dove Real Beauty Sketches

We are always telling each other (females, at least) how beautiful each other is (well, our FRIENDS, at least...cuz let's face it; women are a bit catty and can say some horrible things to those we are not close to or friends with.
However, no matter how many times someone might tell you that you are beautiful, how many of us really believe it?  "Oh, he's my husband. He has to say that."    "She's my best friend. It's her job to tell me I look good."
You get what I mean.

You think  your butt's too big.  The woman behind you in line at the grocery store wishes she filled her jeans out like you do.
You think your breasts are too small.  The lady trying on bathing suits in the dressing room next to you wishes she didn't have to wear a 1 piece because hers fall out of her bikini top.
You think your chin is pointed.  But someone else would be happy to just have one.
And the cycle continues for them.....

I don't just say it, I truly believe it though.
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.
If you usually wear make up, but you are running late so you forget to put it on, that is the day I am almost certain to say "you look really nice today" and you will think I am kidding or something.
But, for me, natural beauty is the ultimate.

I have small boobs.
I am super short.
I have so many freckles on my arms you could play connect the dots.
I am so pasty white that I glow in the dark.

However......
I can wear tops that others cannot (and go without a bra if I really want to! LOL)
I can duck underneath things easily and blend in/hide when necessary.
I like freckles.
I serve as a beacon in the night for those who are lost....

See?
It's all in how you look at it.
The point is - you need to look at yourself with a softer view and less criticism.
It's not easy. I know this.  But it IS possible.
Cuz, you ARE beautiful.