Be your own cheerleader

The mindfulness is the miracle.

Often people come to yoga and crave immediate change. Through regular practice you will start to notice how quickly yoga can impact daily life- but we get frustrated when we do not see it in the body right away or at all.

Stick with it.

Give it time.

(Cue: Beatles tune.)

The mind and the body want to work together. They want to team up with your heart and they want respond to your daily efforts. But you have to allow them. And you gotta stick with it. My mom taught me to say this affirmation, "Allow, Release, Let go." As a teenager I would roll my eyes at this - but then each time I got frustrated or challenged I would repeat to myself, "Allow, Release, Let go." I made fun of it and yet it was my anchor. I still say this- and I am saying it today because it works. It empowers me and it frees me, all at once. (Also, it does not cost a penny.)

From my momma to me, I now pass it along to you. Allow the mind the body and the heart to work together, for you, rather than against. Be your own cheerleader. Yoga practice reminds us that ultimately we are responsible for our own happiness, so forgive and release anything that is no longer serving you. Let it go so that we can spend a little time on the mat allowing our cheerleaders to practice their cheer. They are cheering your name.

(Cue: Rudy clap now.)

And they look good. Damn goood.

If you fall, try this affirmation. If you miss yoga class- or binge drink or eat pizza for 3 days straight - don't make a huge fuss out of it. It happens. More seriously, if you say something you wish you had not said or perhaps are holding a grudge or guilt. Stop the fuss. Just pick up from where you left off. Your cheerleaders WANT to party together in your honor. Their memory is powerful, so allow them to work together. Yoga is an awesome place to practice this balance. The mind is allowed to release anxiety while the body memory (that is super strong by the way) eases back in and the heart pumps with joy.

“Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance, and respect all the creatures from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.” -Mufasa (I love you, please don't die!)

 Remember, Yoga is a journey. No expectation and no competition. It is not a miracle drug and you will not change overnight. But stick with it. The mindfulness is the miracle. Be your own cheerleader.  Let's choose to never (ever ever) give up on ourselves. Dream big - roll your eyes - and then dream even bigger. Why not? You are magnificent.

I leave you now with one of my all time favorites- also given to me by Mom. I pass this along to my high school students and have it framed at home. Its a solid gold reminder...

 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us: it’s in everyone. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

- Marianne Williamson