Community Light: Let's Illuminate Another's Day

You make a difference to all you meet even if the encounter is brief. Our collective efforts unite to shine a brighter light into our world. [Tweet This] This week has reminded me of that and the importance of community.

A couple new students shared their gratitude for creating a non-intimidating environment to explore movement in their body. My classes tend to be filled with young, old, men, women, all sizes, tight and flexible bodies. ALL of which are able to practice with each other AND make it appropriate for their bodies. (The affirmations from students that this is occurring is deeply appreciated.) I may lead, but this class atmosphere is truly created by the community of students that gather.

My inspiration fueled by this moment caught on camera from my sold out retreat Sunday. We went around the candlelit circle and shared how we were nourished by the day's activities and how we saw light in each other. The good words flowed across ages and friendships. The day led to new relationships and a renewed commitment to being good to self and others.

All of this builds my excitement to be facilitating another Books & Yoga series. I will have 8 people meet in my home this Sunday to kick it off with a lil mingling and snacking. [You know how important food is to me ] These individuals are looking forward to being in conversations with others about being our best selves and meeting life's challenges with grace. [I have two spots open. If you'd like to join this mini retreat I'd love to have you. More info here: www.illuminateyoga.com/booksnyoga ]

To my final thought... people do experience a low in the winter. The cold and reduced sunshine don't help, but COMMUNITY does. We've seen the videos and posts on social media that a smile, good words, a random act of kindness and a listening ear help our neighbors. Let's be the light and illuminate another's day. [Tweet This]

May we find ways to build our communities, to take care of each other, and encourage the gifts we have to be cultivated and shared.

Always a Yogi,

Lynn Marie

Free Yourself from Tension & Find Peace in Your Body

"Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be." Wayne Dyer's thoughts remind me that by setting down our attachments to expectations and interpretations, we find peace. What if we approached today with the mindset that everyone is doing their best? We may meet ignorance, stupidity, complacency or disrespect... Then we may choose to look at the situation assuming each individual is doing their best with what they have & know. Can you imagine the reduction of internal frustration that can come from giving others the benefit of the doubt?

Drama and big deals are often created with our interpretation of events or conversations. We cannot change the actions or opinions of others, but we can change our internal processing which frees us from suffering (drama) and empowers us to be compassionate & authentic in our response.

Our meditation, mindfulness & yoga practices help retrain our mind so that we meet our day as our best selves... At peace. Through Lifestyle Coaching and Mindful & Intentional Thought Transformation, I further support you (near & far via FaceTime) in living well and comfortable in your skin. I am honored to walk with you on your journey and hope to see you again soon.

May we be free from limiting thoughts.
May we be open to new perspectives.
May our eyes see the good in all situations.
May we be free.

Always a Yogi,
Lynn Marie

Befriend the Monsters of Self Doubt

Have you heard them? They creep in when you least expect it and take residence in your head. At first they whisper, telling you that other people are smarter and more accomplished than you. They grow louder as you look at social media reminding you that you're not unique. They like to tell you stories about how everyone has it figured out and your life is a mess.

You can't see them, but you can feel their presence. They feast on fear and insecurity. They influence your mind and lead you to believe the people around you are your competition. They convince you that the only way to survive is to flee (give up) or fight (defend or put-down). These are the Monsters of Self-Doubt.

A couple of nights ago, I caught a couple. They found a guest room within me. I was feeding them with screen-fulls of posts, videos, pictures… and they were loving life. I, however, was exhausted from their visit.

It dawned on me that I let them in and catered to their every beck and call. I chose what was in my feed and inbox. I chose the frequency I viewed updates and I chose how I processed the information I saw and heard. So I decided that's it. THAT'S IT. The monsters had to go. I told them their stay was over. Their room is being demolished and I'm renovating from the inside out.

My first notice of eviction was to starve those SOBs. Groom my feed to be more enjoyable, inspirational and less self-defeating. Create a list of those to check in on, but not follow consistently. Then adjust my behavior to use my downtime for more productive, relaxing or life giving activities such as deep breathing, reading, gentle movements… you get the idea.

I knew that starving them wouldn't be enough. Tending to the needs of my mind, body and spirit creates an undesirable home for those pesky monsters. With attention to what grounds me and asserts my innate goodness, I have found a little goes a long way. An intentional morning ritual creates a mindset that is supportive of me and my interaction with the world. The activities and length of time may vary, but the attention to balancing my whole being is consistent.

I’m convinced these monsters don't have control. Our strength lies in our whole being self-care practices. [Tweet This] By incorporating conscious attention to the present moment, without judgement or attachment, we catch them before they drive our actions, narratives, and relationships. Befriending the Monsters of Self-Doubt leads us to empathy, compassion, and forgiveness. [Tweet This]

What feeds your Monsters of Self-Doubt?
Do you need to make some changes to starve them?
What do you do to balance your being?
Having played with your own monsters of self-doubt, how can you express compassion for others?

Here's an intention to support... I am balanced in mind, body, and spirit.

Magical Quality of Belief

Times of transition… weekends, new job, new year, new moon, new day… are great catalysts for reflection and sparks ideas for intentional living. As popular media floods my feed with the demand to review my goals and set resolutions, I find myself looking through the window to my beliefs instead.

My wood carving of the word BELIEVE comes out with each holiday season. There's a sweetness to the word BELIEVE and a sort of innocence to the idea. As kids we believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and other mystical creatures. Does the magical quality of belief get lost as we age?

As adults believing seems to be attributed mostly to religion and spirituality, but there's more to it. Beliefs form our mindset… the foundation of thoughts and our inclination in how we interpret and interact with our world. To believe is to trust in more than meets the eye. It's an unconditional faith that when tested overcomes the challenge of doubt and pebbles of evidence to the contrary.

With a cup of tea and the rising sun, I pondered my beliefs and challenged myself to dive into those that hold me back. I believe in…
     -The Power of our Minds
     -Choices
     -My Voice
     -Love, Healing and Forgiveness
     -Humanity
     -Opportunities
     -Reconciliation
     -Pursuing Ideas, Dreams and Adventures
     -Letting Go
     -Our Ability to Change
     -Our Innate Ability to Heal, Love, and Serve
     -Me and You
     -The Beauty of Life's Ups and Downs

Examining my limiting beliefs, I find the thoughts that cloud my vision…
     -I am not enough. I don't do ___ right. I will never be as good as ____. 
     -I am not valued. No one appreciates what I do. 

Do you recognize these in yourself? Are they true? I looked for proof and of course I found material for both sides… *sigh*

Well you know the adage, "You're your own worst critic." So I stepped farther back from the belief and stories, I saw that I was being hard on myself and not allowing the good to be seen.

Here lies the magic in our beliefs as adults. We can change our thoughts to shift our mindset and emotions. We replace limiting beliefs with intentions…

• I am not enough. Becomes I am gifted. I share my charisms regardless of others' actions and inaction. 
• I am not valued. Becomes I am abundantly blessed with life giving relationships. I value and appreciate my being and my doing. 

By practicing these new thoughts, we retrain our brains to support and positively influence our perceptions. This work helps my clients and I find stability in chaotic situations and illuminates paths for change and growth. Intentional Thought Transformation is one step to changing behavior, but a pivotal one for sustainable change to your wellness.

What do you BELIEVE? Is there something holding you back? How will your mindset influence the pursuit of your goals?

Over the years, I have personally used and taught several holistic techniques to transform mindsets. It would be an honor to support you in your journey to Whole Being Wellness.

Peace Begins with Us

Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.

Our world's challenges are greatly complimented by the heroism and kindness of our neighbors. We know as individuals we cannot fix the world. Have we figured out that we cannot "fix" those around us?  Peace on Earth begins with me.  Our desire for peace begins with attention to our actions of mind and body. We can only change how we interact with ourselves and our world. Innate peace is nurtured by a steady breath and a well taken care of body via how we move and what we put on and in our bodies. We maintain peace with attention and redirection of our thoughts. The song continues... With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow. Mindful Presence anchors us to the peace within as we're no longer swept back by the past or blown away with the worries of the future. Our yoga and self care activities are a PRACTICE of techniques to help us meet our daily activities feeling comfortable in our skin and empowered to serve. This is how we bring Peace on Earth. I pray that as we enjoy holiday festivities, family, and friends that we not be saddened, angered or distracted by our external needs, but nurtured by the peace and joy within.  May we share words from our hearts and act with love. We are in this together.

For Better Health & Wellness: Mindfully Choose Your Thoughts & Focus

I continue to be amazed by the power of our minds and our ability to tap into our inner dialogue to change our perspective, find motivation, connect with our innate strength and peace.

Mindfully choosing our thoughts & focus enables us to meet the world as our best selves. [tweet this] No longer looking to the people or media around us to fill the void or validate us, we recognize our innate value, worth, gifts & goodness. This takes the pressure & expectations off our loved ones, friends, and colleagues.

Studies continue to show our mindset (thoughts & emotions) strongly influences our health & behavior. Furthermore, we can directly relate thoughts patterns to behavioral habits & health issues. Good news... We're not stuck. We can shift our thoughts & actions to improve our health & well being.

In fact, we compliment our healthcare with self care. [tweet this] There are many tools & techniques to train our minds to better serve us & meet our world with compassion & fullness. I offer this intention idea as a busy week may tempt you to care for everyone else only to leave your needs unmet & your health/emotions challenged.

Join me in saying, I honor my needs. 

Say it again this time with a deep breath, I honor my needs.

Let it soak into your being & guide your choices to maintain balance & wellness in the midst of outside influences.

I work with individuals to make mindful shifts in thought & behavior. I would love to learn more about you & your path to wellness and provide you with tools to shift your mind & body to meet your unique lifestyle & needs. Are you interested? This conversation can be virtual or in person. Check out your options & opportunity to be well in mind, body & spirit.

Oh... and an extra treat to enjoy... more intentions & ideas.

Always a Yogi,

Lynn Marie

All or Nothing?

Is a healthy lifestyle all or nothing? It's neither.  Consider the spectrum of unhealthy to healthy. With each choice, you can evaluate where your current options fall and make the better choice. 

Let go of the notion "it would be better if" and resign the need for a perfect solution  as that will likely bring guilt, shame, and prevent you from seeing the potential of your options.  Instead step back, see what's actually available, and pick the better option . Then move on. Another set of choices is on their way. 

Have you or someone you know said, "It's too expensive to eat healthy." Or "I don't have time for yoga or cooking." Those are comments from the all or nothing mindset . By brainstorming on the challenge, you're sure to find there are options to meet your needs and wellness goals.

If you're ready to explore what a healthy lifestyle is for you, I'm ready to be your Holistic Wellness Guide. This blog is filled with tips as are my social media feeds. I am also available for private sessions and workshops. Did you know a 4 person private wellness session with me is $15 per person and can include Yoga, Healthy Eating, Breath Exercises, Lifestyle Coaching and other services?

It's easy to get lost in the details of what it means to be healthy and how to do it. Good news... you don't have to do it alone. Let me know how I can be of service to you and yours.  Wellness comes one better choice at a time. 

Always a Yogi,

Lynn Marie