yogathought for the day

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." --Denis Waitley

Namaste'
Leslie

yummy yoga

I am feeling completely and totally yoga yummy right now. I took a class this afternoon, and it was fabulous. The instructor blended the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga beautifully! I am so very excited to find someone in town who I can begin practicing with regularly!!! Just had to share my excitement. It feels so good to find an instructor who I feel I will really connect with and who will challenge me physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Hope you've had some yummy yoga practice recently, too!

Namaste'
Leslie

rainy day and random thoughts

While I most definitely consider myself a sunshine girl, I am actually somewhat enjoying the rainy weather today. Somehow the rain makes me feel like I have permission to really just relax and slow down. So, I'm listening to some Nick Drake and just chilling with my feet up while surfing on the internet. I also spent some time earlier today at B & N reading the book, Women, Food, & God. I just read the first 3 chapters and found it quite interesting. It has now been added to my "wanna read" list.

On another note, I often listen to a Tara Brach's (LOVE her) podcast, and she read something recently on the podcast titled "Thinkers Anonymous." This really resonated with me, as I know that I, myself, am somewhat addicted to thinking. I spend WAY too much time in my head. I think it's good that I at least recognize this, and I know one of the reasons I love yoga so much is because it gets me out of my head and more grounded in my body and therefore, the present moment. As an educator, I really believe that there needs to be a shift in education where we are not only teaching our kids to be thinkers but to also be present and mindful because constantly thinking one's way through life is really no way to live.

Just breathe.

Namaste'
Leslie

favorite things right now

*homemade pizza night (love me some pizza w/ pineapple on it!)
*20 minute afternoon naps
*walks
*researching tile for a glass backsplash
*birds chirping
*scent of orange blossom

What's on your favorite things list right now?

Namaste'
Leslie

good news

After over 8 months of being on the market, our home is finally under contract! This is a HUGE relief! These past 8 months have definitely been a challenge, to say the least. We had quite a few couples come back to look at our home a second time and then choose other houses. We had an agent say she was writing up a contract, and then that couple actually chose another home. We have also watched 2 homes we were very interested in purchasing sell. This entire process has been somewhat of a roller-coaster, and I will be the first to admit, I have not been very successful at staying present and keeping my head clear.

Now we are in the process of negotiations on a house we would like to purchase. We have a bottom line (or top price we can pay), and I'm just hoping the seller will meet us at that point...

Please send more good vibes our way. I'd really appreciate it!

Namaste'
Leslie

the "M" word

As a child, my family didn't have a lot of money. Don't get me wrong: we had a small, but nice home, and clothing, and there was always food on the table, but there wasn't a lot of money left after the bills were paid. My father was an educator and my mother had a few different jobs including working in a flower shop & secretarial/clerical work. They both had a strong work ethic and worked incredibly hard. I know they did their best to provide for me and my younger brother. However, I remember more than one time as a child feeling sick and dreading telling my parents because I knew we didn't have money for doctor bills and medication. I also remember visiting my aunts and uncles, who lived out of town, and seeing them with their Honda and Toyota cars, and thinking how it would be so nice if one day my dad drove a car like that rather than his old, beat up Omni. I am now starting to realize how much of my outlook on money today goes back to my childhood experiences, & how many of my beliefs about money are completely false.

This afternoon, I started reading a new book, Harmonic Wealth by James Author Ray, and I had a very big "ah ha" moment: Probably the most detrimental & faulty fundamental belief I realize I carry about money is the idea that one cannot be financially wealthy and a spiritual person. Money was bad, and I wanted to be good, so I shouldn't desire it. These ideas were somehow ingrained in me growing up. My parents didn't say this to me, but this is most definitely the message I received. I'm sure Bible verses such as "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24) did not help. I decided at a very young age that spirituality was much more important to me than financial wealth, and I didn't realize that perhaps you could have both.

I am not exaclty sure how I will be able to build financial wealth (especially because my husband and I are both educators); however, I do know I am going to start working very hard at getting the idea that money is bad and truly spiritual and good people can't have it out of my head--otherwise I am destined to never have an abundance of money. Even as I write this, I feel a bit bad that I would want an abundance of money--once again going back to that belief that desiring money is an "unspiritual" endeavor.

So, this will be my new mantra: I can be financially wealthy and spiritually connected. I can be financially wealthy and spritually connected. I can be financially wealthy and spiritually connected. (I'm going to have to repeat this one a lot, as I know I have many years of wrong thinking deeply ingrained!)

Wish me luck on this endeavor & any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

Namaste'
Leslie

morning ritual

Part of the 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse includes a morning ritual, so for the past two days I've gotten up 30 minutes early (5:10 a.m.), lit some candles, said a prayer for the day, answered the morning ritual questions, done some light yoga (I typically don't practice in the morning and could not believe how tight and stiff I am when I first wake up), and then read the daily focus in the book. I've also avoided getting on the computer before heading off for work (which has been a challenge, but overall, it makes me feel like I have much more time and space in the mornings.) As part of this cleanse, I have also been focused on eating clean and minimizing extra noise in my life including the television. In only 2 days, I feel a little lighter and energized.

I really like having a sacred and relaxing morning ritual. It sets such a positive tone for the day. The extra 30 minutes comes early, especially because I have to be at work by 7:15 a.m., but overall, it's worth it. I just had to commit to it and do it.

Do you have a morning ritual? If so, I'd love for you to share!

Namaste'
Leslie

21 day consciousness cleanse

I've been reading the introduction to this book throughout this week (and highlighting almost every sentence as it is so greatly resonating with me). I will be officially starting the 21 day consciousness cleanse on Monday, April 5, and I am very excited to begin! In addition to the consciousness cleanse, I am also going to add my own physical and financial cleanse by practicing yoga daily, eating at least 75% clean, and not spending $ except for necessities for the 21 days. I highly, highly recommend you check this book out. And, when you do, if you feel called to join me on this journey, I'd love to have you along!

Namaste'

Leslie

girls' day

Tuesday I took a day trip to St. Louis with my good friend Hayley to visit and spend the day with another good friend of ours who lives there. It was a wonderful day! I highly recommend planning a girls day (or guys day) of your own. Nothing is as replenishing as connecting with friends!

Namaste'
Leslie

wonderful weekend

This weekend has flown by, but since I'm actually on spring break, I still have 7 days left to savor! Friday night started off a little rocky: when I showed up for my much needed massage, the owner had double booked my wonderful massage therapist, so I went home and I must admit, pouted for a good half an hour. It all ended up ok, however, because the owner called me and said I could have a complimentary masssage due to the mix-up. It was an hour and a half later than I had planned, but I got my massage and as always, it was fabulous, and free!

Yesterday I spent the day cleaning up the house, shopping at Sam's, reading at Starbucks (I bought the newest Jodi Picoult book, and I CANNOT put it down!), and then dinner at friends' house.

Today I slept in (didn't get up until 8:30 am!), went out for bagels for breakfast, & browsed at Michael's and Barnes & Noble. In just a bit I'm headed out to take a yoga class & then will come back home for some card making & stamping.

All in all, it's been a great weekend! I hope yours was, too!

Namaste'
Leslie

self-care spring break

This time tomorrow night I will be getting a much needed 90 minute swedish massage. This is the kick-off to my spring break & I. can. not. wait! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE getting massages. After a massage, my body feels a lot like it does after practicing yoga, but I don't have to do as much work. :)

I won't be traveling over spring break, as my husband isn't off work on the same days. I actually find staying home for the week is incredibily rejuvenating and relaxing. Other items on my agenda? Mani, pedi, hair appointment, dinner at friend's house, and a day trip with a girlfriend to St. Louis! The weather is supposed to be fabulous, too!

Even if you don't have a spring break coming up, how can you practice a little self-care? You deserve it!

Namaste'
Leslie

gratitude list

Feeling a little blue? I've found making a gratitude list can help me get that positive energy and mind-set flowing again!

Today I am grateful for:

*sunshine
*spring-like weather
*my husband having me come outside to see a hot air balloon taking off right by our house
*my pup making me smile by growling at the hot air balloon (we can now add this to our list of
things he's afraid of)
*my blog and blogging friends

What are your thankful for today?

Namste'
Leslie

wherever you go,

there you are...

"Guess what? When it comes right down to it, wherever you go, there you are. Whatever you wind up doing, that's what you've wound up doing. Whatever you wind up doing, that's what you've wound up doing. Whatever you are thinking right now, that's what's on your mind. Whatever has happened to you, it has already happened. The important question is, how are you going to handle it? In other words, 'Now what?'

Like it or not, this moment is all we really have to work with. Yet we all too easily conduct our lives as if forgetting momentarily that we are here, where we already are, and that we are in what we are already in. In every moment, we find ourselves at the crossroad of here and now. But when the cloud of forgetfulness over where we are now sets in, in that very moment we get lost. 'Now what?' becomes a real problem.

By lost, I mean that we momentarily lose touch with ourselves with the full extent of our possibilities. Instead, we fall into a robotlike way of seeing and thinking and doing. In those moments, we break contact with what is deepest in ourselves and affords us perhaps our greatest opportunities for creativity, learning, and growing. If we are not careful, those clouded moments can stretch out and become most of our lives.

To allow ourselves to be truly in touch with where we already are, no matter where that is, we have got to pause in our experience long enough to let the present moment sink in..." --Jon Kabat-Zinn

Definitely needing this book right at this very moment.

Namaste'
Leslie

random acts of kindness

Today I attended a conference and one of the main points I took away from the keynote speaker is that kindess matters. This is something I think we definitely need to be reminded of regularly. Sometimes in our very fast-paced, somewhat egocentric society, it can be hard to remember that small acts of kindness can truly make a huge difference in a person's life. These kind acts can shift a person's energy (both the giver of kindess as well as the receiver) and change the entire dynamic of the day. The rippling effects can also go on and on...

How can you commit random acts of kindness?

Namaste'
Leslie

yoga teaching sabbatical

This week I was notified that I would no longer be able to rent the space I was using to teach yoga. Interestingly, that very same day I had this moment when my inner voice was thinking of the possibility of taking a yoga teaching sabbatical. Then, I was actually given the opportunity to take one. Gotta love synchronicity.

I have been teaching yoga classes non-stop for over 10 years and group exercise classes for another 3 prior to that. I don't really know what it's like to come home directly from my day job and have the entire evening free to do with as I want. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE teaching yoga, but I also want to know what it's like to be completely done with responsibility after a days work. On Mondays, I leave for work by by 7:00 a.m. and don't get home until 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays I leave at 7:00 and don't get home until 7:00 p.m. It can make for some long days, and I am looking forward to having more evenings free. I am also looking forward to being able to attend more yoga classes. As an instructor, it can be difficult, although incredibly important to go to classes.

I know that this yoga teaching sabbatical will most likely not last long, as instructing yoga is a passion of mine. But in the meantime, I'm going to just enjoy the adventure of change!

Namaste'
Leslie