Luminous Lotus~

This week I aim to be grateful for what is gifted to me and what I can offer back out to the students, to people in an honest, uplifting, encouraging way. Perfect or not. I aim to be grateful for this opportunity to travel this path and learn along the way. I am grateful to all my teachers for what they have taught me and how each of them continues to support me in their own way. Many thanks to all for helping me to help others along the way. Happy Week of Giving Thanks~ With Deep Appreciation, Marcia

I have had a lot on my mind lately so this entry may be a bit random. Everything from teaching and learning to family and babies has been on my mind. I find that when it comes to having a family, well, it changes the pace of things a bit. I look at some of my fellow friends on this yoga path with me who are also working towards Anusara certification and sometimes I feel a little slow. I know that I should not compare where I am at to where someone else is at, but I sometimes wonder when I will get there. It could be that I am closer than I think. I suppose it's a lot like that idea of having the miracle within reach and you stop just short. Of course, I am not stopping or questioning this path. I know that I am headed in the right direction and am exactly where I need to be. I guess I just wonder how close or how far the reality of certification really is. I suppose it comes down to is hanging in there and, for me, simply reminding myself to enjoy the process and trust t...

"Marriage is not a ritual or an end. It is a long, intricate, intimate dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense of balance and your choice of partner." (Amy Bloom) Jason and I attended John and Tabby's wedding on Friday night and had a great time. We had the chance to see some old friends from Flagstaff which really added to the joy of the evening. We danced, enjoyed a glass of wine, took silly pictures in a photo booth and stayed up way past our bed time. On Sunday morning after my class, I shared with PJ what Jason and I had been up to and that we had just returned home from a wedding. PJ then shared with me how much he loved attending weddings because you get to revisit your own love and commitment to each other. You reminisce about your own wedding day and can't help but smile and pass knowing looks across the way. I agreed. We also agreed that showing up for the sacred event is sign of support for the couple who is embarking on this new j...

It's been a full few days, and I feel exhausted. My sister was in town for a visit so have been spending a lot of time with my family. We took my sister, Jenna, to the All Souls Procession and then to the Calexico show on Sunday. It was a strange and magical night. I think my sister was a bit tripped out by the procession and with people dressed up as the dead. It truly is a unique experience. It's almost as if people get to let another side of themselves out to play, to be wild and alive. After the parade, we went over to the Rialto Theater and it was beautifully decorated with colorful streamers, day-of-the-dead flags and a giant skull over the stage. The theater and the show was truly enchanting. It is one of the best shows I have seen. Actually, it was really more of an experience than a show. Calexico marched single-file with their instruments from the street to the stage. The music was awesome and it seemed everyone was feeling and playing at their best. The room was al...

"Finding a balance between technique and creativity is an art. As we evolve our craft, we will all go through awkward and uncomfortable teaching experiences (I went through that last night myself). Better to move through such discomforts then staying in the comfort zone and not really evolving in our teaching." (Darren Rhodes) I had one of these awkward teaching experiences tonight. It's not the first time and am guessing it won't be the last. I will admit that I have been feeling a bit off all day and know that such days come and go. Even still, after a night such as tonight, I leave questioning my approach, questioning my offering, questioning my ability. I get that this is in my mind and suppose this is just a habitual way of thinking on my part. This perspective is not set in stone and as my word of the evening and lesson of the day implies is possible to transform. It's odd because I do have awesome teaching experiences most of the time and yet e...

Breath and Body Light and Soul Refreshed Alive Aligned This morning started out a bit stressful with me unable to find my keys, my son not wanting to leave the house or for me to leave him, and both of us feeling tired. Jason was off to work early this morning and know he was exhausted too. We all managed to make it through the morning.In fact, the day turned nicely despite our rough start. After dropping Liam off with my mom and dad, I broke down and called Rachel to see if she could open the studio for me. She was so willing. And I was so thankful. I could breathe a sigh of relief, and I did. Actually, that's it. I became aware of my breath or, rather, of the shallow, tight, barely-there sort of breathing I was doing in my stressed state. That awareness of the whirlwind emotion I felt wrapped up in and the quality of my breath informed me of the need to pause, to breathe. Since I spent much of the morning in search of my keys, I ran out of time to practice. U...