"When you feel a peaceful joy, that is when you are near truth" -Rumi
PEACEFUL JOY is my mantra for the week. It was given to me by my friend (and family 🙂 ) in Washington at Grobelny Chiropractic. (PLEASE CHECK HIM OUT IF YOU ARE NEAR OLYMPIA, WA.) I will be there at the end of August and I cannot wait.
For the past 5 weeks I have been suffering from a hoarseness, a loss of voice and a pain in my chest has has turned me in every direction. I am now at peace and (very) ready to heal. But it appears that healing is indeed a process that must be respected. Just like our Yoga.
Acid Reflux or GERD is something I would have never pin pointed - but the reminder to LISTEN and LISTEN to my BODY, LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN- has been noted and is currently being digested. No pun intended. I am not in the punning mood.
Transformation is tough.
Transformation is tough and comes sometimes when we least expect it. I have changed my diet (I miss you coffee) and my eating is more mindful than ever. I miss margaritas like a crazy person and I was an unhappy mute at one of my best friends 40th birthday celebrations. But now, I think before I speak and I must ask myself is it worth the effort or strain on my box? Is there anything more worthy than investing in yourself? Also who could not benefit from a little more thought before we gawk?
I'm not going to lie. Sometimes I slip into that fear mind. Its scary to lose your voice when all you do is talk all day. Its mind boggling to not be able to eat salsa or put Ms. Cholula on your tacos. It is crazy to not sing in the car or go a week without teaching at SVT. Life is empty without forward folds or downward dogs. I sound like a robot girl and I feel left out of summertime social hours. I am missing out on work. But! But each time I go to the dark side I come out so much lighter- and with help. I am learning to accept help as nourishment. I am so grateful to have such a darling family and kula of friends. I cannot wait to work, to teach, to laugh, to share, to sing and to LISTEN after this is all said and done. I am humbled and blessed to have two amazing jobs where I speak to people, in front of people. I get to make movies, commercials and plays. I get to do voiceovers for super heros and villains.  I get to share Yoga with humanity, people of all ages, from tots to Nannies and Papis. I get to teach and share and be a student of life. For a living. WHAT!? How did I get so lucky? I'm not complaining. I know this is just a small hurdle. I should be grateful, and so I choose that. I remember to (yep I am going to say it) trust the universe, the bigger picture. I welcome the gifts, I trust and I choose listen. I won't give up!
This week I let go of frustrations and fear. F those two F's! I encourage you to do the same! I encourage us all to connect to that quiet joy. Humility. Surrender. Calm down. Seriously, take time to slow your roll. Accept help as nourishment so you can do the same for someone else.  I encourage you to listen to your body, feel safe and be happy. Choose it and the healing will come even sooner. I will be back on the mat soon and I hope you will join me - in person or on the web. In the mean time I work on standing poses and my waterfall breath here at home and practice my mantra. Here is a picture of me after my ride at the foothills of the Andes in Mendoza Argentina with my best friends Sydney, Kris and Rodrigo. Talk about PEACEFUL JOY.
I welcome your comments on slowing down, acid reflux, GERD, gratitude, movies, plays, books, yoga, Washington, acupuncture and anything in between!
I'm all ears.
With Love,
A
PS- I would also like to give a world wide web shout out to Tony at The Neighborhood Acupuncture Project who took me in and has already shifted my mindset for healing and listening in just one week. I cannot tell you how fantastic he is and I cannot recommend the clinic in Austin, TX enough. Try acupuncture! Just do it.
Dear Adriane,
You have been such a great inspiration to me on my own personal yoga journey. I wanted to drop you a few encouraging words (hopefully:-))
I'm a singer and for years, almost through my whole teenage years, I suffered severe problems with my voice. I was the most frustrating time of my life..all I wanted to do was sing but a lot of times i couldnt. I know what it feels like to have no voice. I hurt my hand five weeks ago and it's not healed jet... Frustrating.. Can't do what I want... Can't practice every day....
Reading your blogg about how you don't have a voice I just realized you DO... You just spoke out to me... And reached ME... A few words came as I was reading... Sometimes stillness is necessary ... Sometimes you need to be quiet to hear the voice within. Sometimes you get a challenge to overcome it.
I'm gonna follow my own advice and get back to the river. Stay still in the boat and let the challenge of stillness show me in what direction I should go next
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
And once again thank you for all your inspiration
Warm wishes
Karin
Wow, thank you for writing Karin! You did encourage me and make me take a deep breath. I know these may be small potatoes compared to most but I love that all we have a challenge that we get to overcome. It is necessary - although not always seeming convenient 😉 This mindset is sure to aide in healing. Affirmations are healing, so thank you.
I will take your words to heart. I thank you for your words and YOUR inspiration! I will go back to stillness. I am so grateful to have this voice and to connect to beauties like you. Thank you again!
Onward...to the boat!
With Love,
Adriene
I loved your blog and appreciate the focus of learning and listening to our own bodies, as our own libraries of sorts and the reverence that you afforded yourself to change your thoughts or the way that you generally perceived things, as an essential ingredient to true healing and transformation, and thus, true kindness.
Dear Adriene, first of all, thank u for sharing your yoga experience. Your videos are THE BEST!! I really appreciate your mindset, I wish I could be more like you for you seem so calm and controlled. There's this thing I've been thinking about, that I would suggest you to do. I really find your voice very relaxing and joyful. Couldn't you make a video where you just sit and talk about, I donät know, anything? Maybe the purpose of life or simply just anything calming? As I said, I love your mindset and listening to your voice while practicing yoga is like the best thing in my day. Pretty please make a video where you just sit and talk, I would really enjoy it! Much love Jennifer xx
Hello Adriene, I am so happy to hear you are now healing and forward in your journey. The mind, body, and spirit connection is real. I finally get it. After my dad passed away(3yrs ago), my body started to act very strangely. Chest pains, dizziness, breathing issues, digestive issues, GERD! thyroid issues, and major fatigue to name a few..seriously, I think I was dying!! I couldn't understand what was happening to me as I lead a pretty healthy lifestyle. I was passed around to every doctor ending in "gist", all of my results came out normal on paper. Then my life saving co-worker suggested I make an appt to see her acupuncturist. so I did. and that was it.Healing process begins. I sat in her office talking to her about stuff that was happening in my life and before I knew it I was balling my eyes out! I literally had an epiphany! My body was literally crying out for help! Let's open up that heart chakra!!!! Through yoga and acupuncture I am learning to embrace, accept and be happy with the thoughts inside of me, and to love myself for better or worse. I am doing my best to let go of the negative, draining, and fearful energy making room for unconditional love, and forgiveness. When one door closes another will open. The energy channels are now open and flowin', and my heart is ready to take on the beautiful things that otherwise would of been missed in the darkness of it all:) Adriene, thank you for being an inspiration in my journey and thank you for letting me share my story:)
Cheers,
Grace
PS... email me anytime with dietary ?'s you may have:) I'm a certified health coach:)
[…] for acid reflux, I found Adriene Mishler and her site, Yoga with Adriene. Her blog post entitled Listen Up: Peaceful Joy inspired me to focus on the positive in my life, despite my […]
HI Adrienne,
I"ve been loving your youtube videos since I discovered them a few months ago. I found this post after I found your yoga for acid reflux video. I'm struggling with acid reflux too.. going on 6 weeks now. I understand completely what you mean about listening closely to your body. I was wondering what else you found that helped you. I am trying to avoid PPI's because the one time I tried taking them I felt worse. Any suggestions about how you healed yourself?
HI! i know this is a very old blog post. But as someone currently dealing with reflux and mourning my coffee and beer and tomatoes and la croix. I am wondering how you are doing and if you are ever able to have those small joys in your life again? lol
Adrienne,
Thank you for this video. I have suffered from GERD quite badly for the past five years due to some very serious health issues. Do you have a speaking version of this video? It’s hard for me to learn when I have to read and look in the wrong directions while I am attempting to learn.