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Setting an intention for joy!                                       By: Leslie Wright-Riley

11/2/2016

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I roll down my car window and turn the radio up loud. I sing as loudly as I can, and some days, when the mood really strikes, I don’t care who sees. I don’t care if I’m speeding along the highway or sitting at a light. Well . . . maybe at a light I’ll look to see if anybody’s watching, or I’ll roll up the window or turn the volume down. Maybe I’ll stop singing. Sometimes I do let my reluctance for other people to see my exuberance bring my energy down. Fear of my joy intruding on others or, let’s face it, of their judgment that I’m annoying or weird.

Recently my church hosted a performance by a group of Sufi musicians. They played the songs they use to worship in a temple where they serve in Northern India. Not only was the music amazing, vibrant, moving, and the rhythms irresistible. But the devotion and joy of the music was clear. In the smiles they wore, in their bodies, their gestures, and the way they let the music enrapture them, you could see joy. It seemed to come so easily, was part of the music and part of them…the reason they played and sang. It was great! Joy created! And even better than that it was permission for all of us to feel joyful.

And it really made me think about how we tend to tamp down our joy. It’s fine for kids, but as adults we learn to rein it in. Being happy is fine. And being really motivated and energetic too. But joy kind of makes us uncomfortable, especially any kind of devotional ecstasy, makes us nervous or suspicious that you might be trying to preach to me.

My yoga practice teaches me to reframe my thinking about emotional ups and downs as energy cycles. High & low, up & down. Sometimes my highs and lows are responses to physical conditions and sometimes about people and situations. But I try to see whatever my mood—high energy, like being stirred up by anger or happiness, or low energy, like sadness and anxiety or evenness in between—as part of a natural cycle. But it is easy, addictive sometimes, to fixate on the angry, and I don’t want my only “Up” energy to be something negative. I want joy.
And I don’t want it accidentally. You know how you might turn on the music because you feel good. I do that. But how about turning on the music to create joy…to do it by intention. (Maybe it’s something else for you!)

Think of the imbalanced place we can leave ourselves in when on that cycle of up or down energy the only “Up” we allow ourselves is some form of anger. So many of us struggle with stress and feeling busy and overwhelmed….negative forms of energy themselves.

Yet we have within us our own ability to heal some of the draining impact of that with our joy. Joy fills and heals. We know when we see the face of a joyful child. I felt it taking in the joy of our guest musicians. After all, there are plenty of voices giving us permission to vent the energy of our anger and stress, but few that tell us it’s okay to be fully joyful.. …ecstatically joyful. Intentionally and purposefully joyful!


So The next time you crank up the radio in the car and then pull up to a light, don’t turn it down, roll down your window, keep singing, turn to your neighbor and smile.

How do you find joy in your life?  Does it come easy or do you have to make an intention to bring it into your life?

Please share in the comments below so we all can learn from each other.



Joyfully yours,
Leslie


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Ever feel lost?  Learn from a Labyrinth.                     By: Denise Orsulak

10/3/2016

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During my last retreat. I spent some time at this Labyrinth to be quiet and think.  Creativity and wisdom come to us in moments of silence and pause.  We feel lost sometime, we feel overwhelmed and out of control, we feel like there is just too much to do...but when we pause, just pause, something magical happens.  I encourage you to pause to fins the wisdom inside of you!


You can’t get lost in a Labyrinth.
There is a way out. 
You need to stay the course
and walk YOUR path.
The twists and turns happen,
but do not despair. 
You are strong on your two feet. 
You may see others on the way.
Breathe deep and trust.  
There is a beginning, middle, and end.
No matter where you are
keep putting one foot in front of the other. 
Thoughts will come and go.
Breathe and feel into your body.
You are connected with earth and sky,
and flesh and blood. 
You are powerful and strong beyond your imagination.
Just put one foot in front of the other.
Breathe. 
Be light and you will find your way.


Just reading the writing above.  How did it make you feel?  Anything resonate with you? Please share below so we can all learn from each other.

Warmly,

Denise


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Can Restorative Yoga Change Your Life?                    By: Jen Greer

9/13/2016

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The research says YES! Our students and teachers wholeheartedly agree.
  
Restorative yoga—a gentle, passive style of yoga—invites you to drop into your vast, wise, peaceful, creative self. Scientifically speaking, it gives your nervous system a chance to shift into the parasympathetic state—also known as the healing state.
 
When you take time to rest in your self, in this state, it feels rejuvenating AND the benefits are often surprising, powerful, and consistent. We hear people say things like:
   
 Everything just seems easier for a few days after class.
 
I hadn't felt that relaxed since I can remember. It was like I'd spent a day at the spa!
 
After class, I slept peacefully through the night for the first time in weeks.
 
I noticed I was much less anxious and more confident at work.
 
My back feels so much better!
 
How does it work?
 
Your body experiences soft support from props—blankets, blocks and bolsters—while your mind receives support through the graceful guidance of the teacher. Together this creates the perfect recipe for relaxation and rejuvenation.
 
What if you have a hard time relaxing?
 
Having taught hundreds of students, I find that with skilled teaching like we have at Balanced for Life most people drop into relaxation relatively quickly. Some, like me, are exceptions. While it's getting easier with practice, really relaxing has long been a challenge for me.
 
If I can remember to make space for what is, even when it’s uncomfortable and far from what I think “should” be happening, I soften a bit. The breath starts to open up of it’s own accord.

Yet Restorative Yoga is life changing for me too. I attended Narayani's beautiful class this past Saturday. My mind had a hard time settling. I heard the steady breathing—snoring at times—of the lovely student to my right. My own breath felt shallow, uneven.
 
Of course my first reaction is to judge—I should be breathing more fully, I’m a yoga teacher for crying out loud! So then the next instinct is to try to change my breathing, to make it more like what I think it “should” be.
 
If I can remember to make space for what is, even when it’s uncomfortable and far from what I think “should” be happening, I soften a bit. The breath starts to open up of it’s own accord.
 
I find myself glimpsing peace in moments. And even though I didn’t drift away to dimensions unknown in our lovely extended Savasana, I felt slower, more grounded when I got up at the end of class. My body, tight from cycling, felt looser and more graceful.
 
The cloud of funk and gunk that seemed to be hanging over me all morning had mysteriously disappeared, and I drove away from the studio feeling uplifted and grateful.

Whatever you’re looking for, it’s closer than you think. And chances are, restorative yoga can remind you of this truth as it invites you home to your self.
 
You are brilliant.
 
I believe, and yoga teaches, that you are brilliant in all of your human ways of seeing and being and experiencing this life. And always lying just beneath the surface of your experience waits an infinitely wise, peaceful, magnificent self.
 
Restorative yoga is a powerful, delicious way to learn to hold the space for yourself exactly where and as you are, while also opening doorways into other dimensions that life within.
We are blessed to have a number of skilled and gifted Restorative Yoga teachers at Balanced for Life, each bringing her own unique skills and gifts.
 
Whatever you’re looking for, it’s closer than you think. And chances are, restorative yoga can remind you of this truth as it invites you home to your self.
 
Hope to see you soon.

-Jen

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If it's not a hell yes, than it's a no!                             By: Denise Orsulak

7/12/2016

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If it’s not a Hell Yes, then it’s a no.

For about the last year this theme has been coming back to me.  Do you guys ever get the same message over and over?  My guess is yes.  And maybe finally I am ready to listen.   I am posting this phrase everywhere.  In my journal, by my desk, on post-it’s around the house.  Why?  Because it’s time to receive this message and start to live it.

I have made the same mistakes over and over this past year.

Not listening to my intuition when it was whispering
“excuse me um, sorry to disturb you but I don’t think this for you”.

We shut that voice down.  It gets smaller and meeker.    We rationalize, we try to be the good person, we look outside ourselves for answers, but we know that the answers are not there.  How do you get to the point to really listen to that inner voice?

You may have pushed that voice away so many times that now you can barely hear it.  Now my voice is starting to scream in my face/head.

“I told you so, just listen to me!!!!” 

We all know deep down inside what is and isn’t for us.
How do you get to the point to really listen to that inner voice?  The one true voice that we all can trust and believe in completely!

It all comes back to practice.  Yes I know I am a broken record here, but it’s true.  The more we practice listening to that voice, the stronger and louder it will become.  There will be lots of mistakes along the way.  We will get distracted and look outside of ourselves.  For some it might take lots and lots of mistakes, maybe even the same ones that happen over and over and over again (you know who you are).  For others, they might get that a-ha a lot sooner.  

But to get to the practicing part, we first have to notice.  It’s hard to get to that point at all, especially with the busyness of the world and our lives.  If we don’t take the time to notice, you’ll never get to the practice.  This is hard stuff.  I struggle with this all the time.   So that stopping, either through yoga, meditation, or other mindfulness practices helps us to make and take the time to listen and feel and be present which in turn fosters awareness.

So here I am telling you I am far from perfect to listening to my inner voice, but I recognize and realize that this is something I want and need to change, so I will practice and post notes all around the house to remind myself of how important I am and that I can trust myself!

How will you practice listening to your voice? Let us know in the comments below, so we can all learn from each other.

Warmly,

Denise

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Flow                                                                             By: Josette Cicacci

7/2/2016

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The photo above is of a tree which I stumbled upon while on a walk in San Diego. There was no way of knowing that I would find myself in the presence of such a picturesque landmark. And yet, there was undoubtedly something which led me to her. Something which I believe to be bigger than anything worldly. Call that something what you will - God, Source, Universe … the name with which you align is not what’s important to me. What was important in that moment was noticing the message which I was to receive upon divinely landing in its presence.
​
Having left PA on June 15th, my journey thus far has had no shortages of ups and downs. As many of you know, I have been actively calling more travel into my life. I consciously created space from the normalcy of my day-to-day existence in which to manifest a month of learning, exploration, and growth.

The plan was loosely defined. I would spend one week in Sedona, then one week in San Diego, followed by about a week of wiggle room to roam as guided by my heart before ultimately landing in Big Sur prior to my return home mid-July. What I forgot to plan for was the fact that actually surrendering to the concept of flowing with the unfolding of said series of events would prove to stretch me hugely outside of my innately Type A (FYI: west coasters seem to believe this to be a deep seeded neuroses instilled among us east coasters) comfort zone.

Intellectually, I acknowledge and accept the fact that it is only through stretching one’s comfort zone that growth can be experienced. In fact, I believe this to be why I have taken to traveling more of late. And yet, to date, this has not proven to make it any easier. So yes, it’s true, even the yogi/meditation instructor struggles with the concept of fully releasing control and going with the flow.

Use your imagination, if you would, now to consider how it might prove to be interesting for a planner such as myself to share space with an individual whose daily mantra is committed to the word flow. Enter into the equation my dear friend and fellow healer, Heather Fleming of consciousnutrition.com It is thanks to Heather that I have a safe place to call home-base during my stay in San Diego. Heather seemed to catch on pretty quickly to the fact that I was struggling a bit with the concept of truly surrendering to the concept of flowing. One morning as she observed me moving through my Ayurvedic AM practices, Heather casually commented “Wow! You have quite the morning routine. Does that help to (brief pause) ground you?” Whether she realized it or not, Heather was totally calling my bluff. I was simply moving through the motions of my morning practice.

I allowed this to go on for maybe a day or two more before I found myself lacing up my sneaks to set out for some me time. To check out to check in. To move some energy. To simply get lost – which I actually did at first – in nature. To trust physically stepping well outside of my comfort zone. To notice what that brought up. And, to surrender to feeling that experience.

Stumbling upon this tree provided me with a wonderful reality check. What beauty and wisdom she had to offer! Tucked – seemingly –  in the middle of nowhere. But, no more than a few blocks from Heather’s home. As I sat in silence in the presence of this tree, I surrendered to that something which is bigger than anything worldly. I asked for support in navigating through the next few weeks. To trusting the unfolding of my journey. As if my prayer had been instantaneously answered, I was granted the gift of an incredibly supportive phone conversation with a dear friend whom I’d been missing from home. 

After hanging up, I sat for a few moments longer continuing to enjoy this sacred space. I drew in a very deep breath - the deepest breath I believe that I’d taken throughout my entire trip thus far. Breath, or prana, literally translates to life force. In that moment, I visualized myself breathing in life and all that it had to offer. I knew whole-heartedly that I was ready to embark upon the remainder of my journey from a different perspective. With the agenda of dropping the plan. With the agenda of surrendering to flow …

As you now gaze at the image of this beautifully wise tree, I challenge you to ask yourself how/what supports you in surrendering to flowing from one moment to the next amidst the chaos of this life? Maybe it’s a walk outdoors. Maybe it’s time spent on your yoga mat. Maybe it’s prayer/meditation to whatever higher presence aligns with your belief system. Maybe it’s a cup of tea and a heartfelt talk with a loved one. Whatever the approach, my hope is that you may be inspired by my faltering to commit, or perhaps to re-commit, to embrace your practice(s) of choice! I implore you to try stepping outside of your comfort zone - to take the time to slow down, to notice, to feel, and to surrender to the flow of life.
​
Humbly,
Josette
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What kind of teacher am I?                                     By: Leslie Wright-Riley

4/18/2016

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Recently I found myself wondering . . . what kind of teacher am I? And despite being prone to just this type of self-analysis I couldn’t find an answer. I began reflecting on the teachers I have had who have had the biggest impact on me. Who have been the best teachers for me?

Of course, my Yoga Teacher has been my most recent Best Teacher. But further back, three people come to mind. It’s amazing that from years of schooling, just a few really stand out.
One was an undergrad teacher, a true old-fashioned English professor, down to the tweed jacket. And he was hard; most students avoided him. I didn’t even really like his specialty area that much, 18th century English poets. But he was good. He stands out because he had high expectations and didn’t “suffer fools gladly,” which is probably why most students didn’t like him. He sent us on tedious jaunts into the (pre Internet!) library to hone our research skills and gave long reading and writing assignments, expecting accuracy and wit. If you got a good grade from him, you felt like you had accomplished something. I remember feeling weary from his classes, but I’ve always looked back and been proud of the work I did for him. He believed we were capable of top-notch work, and he showed us how to do it.

The second person that came to mind was also a literature professor, but a very different one. This woman was a passionate feminist and brought her mindset into her classes by introducing writers outside the canon. She was much more than a teacher to me; she was a mentor and guide. She was unassuming—but passionate—about her philosophical views, but also about education. She was one of the few professors experimenting with how she taught and how students interacted to deepen the learning process. It was in her blood to be enriching her own learning, and she was passionate about creating similar experiences for her students. She was a role model for challenge, but also risk.

The final “teacher” who came into my mind is my maternal Grandmother. With the simple act of holding me and saying “I love you.” My grandmother made sure I knew I was loved, that she loved me, no matter what. The fact of her love has remained powerful and continues to nourish my heart; I can still feel the impact of her “I love you’s.”

What good touchstones. So for me, “good teacher” means someone who believes in my potential, shares her passion in creative ways, and loves.

They were imperfect; so am I. But that’s not what I remember. What has lasted is the way each of these 3 people put themselves forward, made sure that their voice was not just heard, but felt.

Really the question isn’t what am I, but what am I trying to be? Not simply as a teacher, but as me. Who has shaped your path? Who helps you see the kind of person you want to be?

Namaste!
Leslie



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Fool Me, Not ... April is for Awareness                        By: Josette Cicacci

4/1/2016

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3:39AM … that is when I awoke – wide awake – on this blessed April 1st … April Fool’s Day … despite having nodded off only a few hours prior! The phrase which greeted me at this opportune hour was “Take responsibility, Josette.” In my restlessness, I began to consider how I might embody that statement, placing my trust wholeheartedly in the fact that it must have intuitively found me at this obscene hour for some reason. And so I was led to ponder… Responsibility for my thoughts; responsibility for my actions; and responsibility for my words.

In choosing to embrace this as an opportunity to reflect in a manner which tends to serve me best, I’ve turned to writing. Writing with the intention of sharing. For, I am striving to embrace the fact that I have valuable knowledge and insight to share.

I am aware of the fact that sharing in such a manner is an admittedly vulnerable endeavor.  I am also aware of the fact that this is simply an opportunity for growth; an opportunity to establish and nurture new neural pathways. Furthermore, in choosing to use such “I statements” through my thoughts, my words, and my actions, I am aware of the fact that I am embracing a Gestalt based approach of existence.

This is something which I embodied throughout my time spent at The Esalen Institute. I’d brainstormed that the reflective blog which I might draft to share publicly of my time away could be entitled checking out to check in. And yet, throwing my plan out the window in an effort to trust what feels right in this moment is precisely in accordance with that which I’ve learned to embrace during my time away. And so, in the wee hours of this AM … on this joyous April 1st … I feel this to be a ridiculously fortuitous time to reflect. So, here goes nothing …

I’ve been home one week now to date and re-integration has been nothing short of a whirlwind. It seems my body still has NO idea upon what coast I am currently residing. Each night as I lay my head upon my pillow with the intention of a full night’s rest, unfortunately I wake after a few short hours. Some nights 5 – 6 hours of shut eye, though last night only 3 – 4, having obtained what one might consider a respectable nap, but certainly NOT a full night’s rest. And yet, somehow, someway, I have been incredibly productive. I have sincerely enjoyed re-connecting with many of my family, friends, and clients. I feel abundantly grateful for these connections, and even more grateful for the resilience of my body.

I’ve come to learn, in short, that the body is miraculous. And, with regards to my body in particular, I have come to acknowledge and accept the fact that it has been through a heck of a lot! I would be remiss in neglecting to admit that some of that which I’ve been challenged to overcome has been admittedly self-induced.

In removing myself from “normal life,” as I’ve seemingly known it, to reside in the remoteness of community based living at the fairy-tale existence of reality which I grew to know and love at The Esalen Institute- shout out to the gods/goddess which I’ve left behind – I was provided with what proved to be a fabulous opportunity to learn that which truly enables me to function well. And what I learned is that absolutely no one is control of  me but me.

What enables me to function optimally is likely quite different than what enables you to function optimally. The beauty, and opportunity for application, of this realization is that each one of us has been given our own unique body, our vessel, through which to navigate this life. While this seems to be common sense, I found it to be a profound realization. I’ve learned that I can choose to embrace this by taking responsibility for myself fully, by consciously choosing to conduct my thoughts, my actions, and my words, in a manner which will truly honor that which serves me best … or not. At the end of the day, no one but is in control of this but ME!

And so I challenge you now to take a look at your life. How have you been showing up (or not) for you? How might you optimally honor that which serves your greater good? I challenge you to consider the following … have you been taking responsibility for your thoughts, for your actions, and for your words in a manner which can and will optimally serve your greater good?

Perhaps you too might look to this April 1st … this April Fool’s Day … as not a day for foolery, but rather, as a day of opportunity. As the saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Through an embracing of a Gestalt based existence, I vow publicly to truly take responsibility! In the month ahead, I elect to embody this phrase. I choose to take responsibility ... for my thoughts … for my actions … and for my words. I choose April as a month of Awareness; to honor that which will serve me optimally. I offer you the opportunity to join me!!!!

With A Wide Open Heart,
Josette

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I have no voice!                                                      By: Denise Orsulak

2/11/2016

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Literally I have no voice.  I have been fighting some weird head cold sore throat thing all week.  And now I cannot talk.  I’m sitting at home alone and am quiet.  Now normally I don’t talk to myself when I am home alone and you would think that this would be no big deal, but the fact that I have no voice whatsoever make it feel even more quite in my mind because  I know I can’t speak even if I wanted to.

Trust me I usually have plenty to say.  And this year was my time to listen more and talk less.  Now I am maybe regretting that I said that all to you in an early post (feel free to go back and read that one from 10/28/15). 

This week I have had to put into place everything that I was working on and thinking about doing this year: asking for help more, accepting help when it is offered to me, speaking less,  listening more, speaking my truth, holding a space for others to do the same, and the big one for me-working on boundaries. 

It’s one thing to think about or talk about all the things you want to work on in your life.  It’s a completely other thing to actually do it!   This week alone I have had to do all those things and let me tell you even though I cannot speak, it has been so difficult to surrender to the reality and actually just accept those facts.

I am realizing how lucky I am that I can normally speak freely.  Not everyone can.  I am so grateful for my voice and have been neglecting what that means for me.  To speak your truth is the only way to live.  Speaking truth can be scary.  It’s all about showing your true self to the world and who knows how the world will react to you.  Maybe it’s even scarier for us to deny ourselves the ability to be true to who we really are. 

This has been an uncomfortable week for me.  Both physically and emotionally, but it’s ok. I say that all the time in yoga class.  It’s Ok to be uncomfortable.  In the moments when we hang in with the discomfort on our yoga mats or in our life, we are giving ourselves the opportunity to expand our minds, reach new heights, and learn something new. 

I have a new appreciation for my voice and plan to use it wisely when it returns.

What have you been talking about but need to take action on?  What has been making you uncomfortable lately? How will you grow?

Be well and feel free to share your thought below!

Namaste,
Denise

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Doing It Differently                                                     By: Josette Cicacci

1/28/2016

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As we face the new-ness of the start of a calendar year, I’ve been finding myself feeling rather disenchanted by the rah rah rah which enters into the vocabulary of so many in January. I am not typically someone who makes New Year’s Resolutions. In fact, I find the conventional approach to grandiose celebration around NYE to be somewhat confusing. And, to each his own.

At some point about mid-December, I was asked directly “Have you placed any thought towards your 2016 New Year’s Resolution yet?” I find many of the common suspects – a renewed commitment to eat healthfully, to exercise with regularity, to get enough rest etc – to be aspects of self-care which I strive to maintain throughout the calendar year. This is not to say that I honor that notion optimally 365 days/year. As humans we all falter; therein lies the phrase human nature.

And yet, I am aware of the fact that being asked to consider a New Year’s Resolution provided me with a lovely opportunity to reflect upon how I might consider shifting my day-to-day such that it would be conducive to my overall well-being. Doing so lent itself nicely to a practice which I have exercised on NYE for the past three years. After being gifted a Gratitude Jar for Christmas, I began the practice of jotting down simple things for which I am grateful. I document not only positive experiences, but also challenging lessons learned. On December 31st, I read each and every slip of paper which has made its way into my jar for the year.  Reflecting in this manner affords me the opportunity to notice trends having occurred throughout the past calendar year. People, places, and things by which I was moved – good, bad, or indifferently. I take it for what it’s worth. And, I make note of these trends. People, places, or things which consistently show up are good information.

Through this practice I gain an awareness of concepts which I may have lost sight of that feel beneficial to revisit. Additionally, I am provided with an opportunity to consider how might I do things differently! I recently attended a master’s yoga class with my teacher, Sherry Sidoti, in which she approached the entire class from this perspective. “Raise your leg, but maybe not quite as high as you usually would; step forward, but maybe a little bit to the right/left of your typical foot placement; sweep your arms to the sky, but if you always do so rigidly perhaps notice this time how/where you might soften.” Sherry taught that the yoga mat is safe place in which to practice doing things differently. To rise above our samskaras (Sanskrit), or habitual patterns. This is so very true, and yet, this does not make it any easier.

Reflection and introspection have led me to the following truth: Human nature is a pesky little concept which consistently tempts me to move through life conducting my decisions based upon how things should be done, rather than always honoring what feels innately right. Even if it’s different than how I normally would. Maybe even a little uncomfortable. In choosing to step outside of the comfort zone, one consciously enters into the realm of endless potential. I challenge you to consider how you might do so for yourself in 2016 – both on and off of your yoga mat! Then trust, breathe, and revel at the growth as it unfolds. 

Humbly,
​Josette
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There is nothing better than a New Year                   By: Denise Orsulak

12/31/2015

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I love looking back and reflecting on what happened in the past year and where I want to focus on the next. Granted you don't need the New Year to do this.  You can reflect and change things up just about any day.  Maybe your birthday could be the trigger or maybe some other event.
 
It's best to pick the time of year that speaks to you.  
 
"If you don't know where you are going, you will go where the wind takes you." is one of my favorite quotes.
 
To me, this means you have to plan the life you want to live.  Granted planning and getting exactly what you want are 2 different things.  By having a plan, you decide what is important to you.  I think that is the key.  First of all, we have to know what is important to us and then how do you design your life to include that. Always remember what is important to us is constantly changing.  This is why it is best to reevaluate and do so often.
 
If relationships are important to you, then you need to plan and schedule time with those people you love.  If you don’t, you’ll be “too busy” with all the other “stuff” that gets in the way and you might find yourself feeling disconnected.
 
If having fun is important, figure out what it is that makes you happy and go do it without guilt!
 
If your work is important, make the goals, do what you can to put things in motion. Don't worry about the tedious stuff, do the things that matter and will move you forward, then be patient and open to the things that come your way.
 
Only you can make your life the way you want it to be.  So if there is something you were not happy with last year.  Make a change, go out on a limb, be ready to fail and get off course, try a different path to explore.  Maybe you will find another destination to explore that you didn’t expect to want to before you went on the journey and maybe that will change the goals you had in the first place.
 
What are your goals this year?  What path do you want to start your journey on?  Please share in the comments below!

Warmly,

Denise


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Say Less, Listen More...                                            By:  Denise Orsulak

10/28/2015

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I need to say less and listen more....Most times it really doesn't matter what I think.  Thinking is over rated.  Saying less and listening more is a skill that is tough to master.  Everyone is trying to figure out what is going on inside of them and how to relate to this world.  By saying less and listening more, you might provide the space that someone needs to feel and understand what they themselves need without another's interpretation. 

My interpretation of an event or experience in someone else's life could be dead wrong.  So just listening without thinking of a response could do wonders for another.  Or asking thoughtful questions instead of giving advise.  We can't change someone else's perceptions or expectations.  They can only do that for themselves.

We can say less and listen more for ourselves as well by just sitting, and letting thoughts come, and releasing the judgements that often come with the thoughts.  YOU DON'T HAVE TO MEDIATE, just find quiet and give yourself time to sit, especially if you WANT to meditate.  If you go, go, go all the time...This is a good place to start. 

Without judgements, we can become more accepting of what is and be OK with that. 

Good luck with the above practice.  I know I need to think about this often.

If you have any thoughts or insights to share, please comment below!  I would love to hear from you. 

Warmly,

Denise

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What does frustration feel like?

9/26/2015

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To me it feels like my throat is closing, my heart is being compressed, and I can’t quite take a deep breath.  My head gets a little fuzzy and I get an ache in my neck on both sides. It really feels bad in my body.  It hurts my body.

That is a good thing to recognize.  What physical things does your body help you to identify when emotions are running high?

Frustration can come about when my expectations and perceptions are not in alignment with other’s expectations and perceptions.  Does it mean I am right and the other person is wrong or vice versa?  Not necessarily.  It just means that our points of view are very different. 

Noticing the tightness in my body and forcing myself to take a deep breath and move seems to help me deal with those feelings in my body.  Writing this blurb is helping me to deal with the fuzzy thoughts in my brain. 

How do you deal with those physical feelings that come up in your body?  Do you breathe?  Do you move?  Do you write?  Do you ignore them?  Just curious.  We all get signals from our bodies from time to time.  Do you listen to them?

For now I will breathe, and move, and write and be OK with my own thoughts and expectations of myself.  I will release my thoughts and expectations of others too, especially when it affects my body and mind.    

What feelings come to you, when your thoughts and expectations about a situation differs from others? And how do you handle it?  Please share in comments below!

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Balance ... By: Josette Cicacci

8/10/2015

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I’ve been drawn to the concept of balance quite a bit of late. I know that when I feel I am in balance there’s something simply unstoppable about it. It’s as if nothing can get in the way of me and that which I hope to manifest. I have my eyes on the prize and I’m cruising mindfully along at full speed ahead. And then, there are the times when I seem to fall out of balance.

I’m not really sure what that means, per say, though the feeling is one which I hope to not consciously expose myself to with any great frequency. It’s almost like a hangover. When we wake up in that out of balance place and go “UGH! How did I let myself get here?!?”

And, I’ve been challenging myself to see this as a gift. Displayed on my refrigerator are images, quotes, and memorabilia which nourish me through daily reminders and support to “stay the course.” Among them is the Mary Oliver quote, “Someone I once loved gave me a box of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.”

I find the funny thing with balance is that sometimes we have no idea how in or out of sync we may be until something shakes our world such that we are forced to stop and reflect. Denise, Leslie, and I were chatting the other day about placing the visualization of a swinging pendulum to this concept of balance. A pendulum is always moving. Though it appears to be in balance when hanging in the center, the pendulum will always be in a position of swaying, even if it’s just ever so slightly, to the right or to the left.

This past week marked the annual Cicacci Family Jersey Shore trip. Ahhh, the joys of family time! I love my family from the depths of my being with everything that I have. We are a very close bunch … And, they can push my buttons in a big way. I embarked upon this trip having set the intention to remain in a grounded, conscious state of presence with each passing breath. Overall, that served me quite well. However, no family vacation would be complete without the gift of a good challenge or two.

A series of triggering events provided me with the perfect opportunity to watch myself swing farther than I might have chosen away from my center. As I began to swing off center, although I was aware as it was happening, it became clear to me that I was not fully certain how to intervene in the most effective and efficient manner. My response in striving to swing back towards my center has been one worth noting. For, through reflection, I’ve been able to identify how I can and will proceed in facing similar challenge(s) next time. As you and I know both know, there very well may be a next time.

I’ve taken to the challenge of seeking clarity on what is most serving to my greater good, and ultimately the greater good for all those with whom I have contact. I am finding that this means exposing myself to the people, places, and things which prevent my pendulum from wavering too far off to the right or to the left.  
For me this includes a number of things. Above all else, I've identified that it means remaining with my breath at all times. It means staying pure and authentic in my relationships with both myself and those with whom I interact on a day-to-day basis. It means physically fueling myself with nourishment in the form of foods and drink which enable me to thrive, as well as providing myself with an adequate balance of rest and mindful movement and meditation daily.

For you, this will undoubtedly look very different. Alas, we are all humans moving through this life in our own ways. I hope that you may choose to acknowledge, and perhaps even soften to the fact that, sometimes the greatest gift of all is in experiencing those moments in which we feel off center, as they provide us with insight for which to return, with gratitude, back towards balance.

Here's to finding your balance within,
Josette

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It's me, not you...

7/9/2015

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At retreat in the beginning of May, we opened with poem about a man who was drowning, not waving. 

I've been thinking about that poem a lot today.  Am I drowning and don't even know it?  I can see the shore, so I must be Ok, right? The light is at the end of the tunnel!  I've been crossing off days off the calendar, just trudging along.  Is that the way I want to live?

I'm thinking NO!  This is yet another learning opportunity that has been put in my path.  But what am I supposed to learn?  I'm not so sure at this moment.

I had 2 people who are close to me in the last week ask me if there was something they did or didn't do to me that has made me distant or not approachable to them.  I find this fascinating.  Of course, I should know better than anyone that energy travels.  And my energy has been really off lately.  There is a long laundry list of things I could list, but that really doesn't matter much.  But it does affect others.  I am happy that these 2 individuals had the courage to say something to me because I had no idea they felt what the felt.

Sometimes it's better to say nothing to take a little space especially if you can't verbalize what is wrong.  I need to sit with what's happening in my body and mind, and learn and try to figure things out on my own.  Both had offered me help, but sometimes there is no way to help.  Sometime time and space is what a person needs.  And those closet to them might get the wrong idea.  It's me not you.

Asking if something is up when you are unsure of a person's intention is like a breath of fresh air.  Wires get crossed, energy gets depleted, silence is golden.  It's a complicated process being in real relationships.  But the ups and downs that come are what relationships are all about. 

You might not know it, but the person you are getting those vibes from might be drowning in their own stuff.  When we get to that place of stuff coming up and threatening to drown us, sometime we  do need to reach out for that lifeline that someone else is offering, sometimes we need to go with the flow of the current and not fight against it to stop drowning, sometimes we need to learn a new skill or technique to swim safely to shore.
I'd bet that 99% of the time it has nothing to do with you...asking and clarifying is an excellent way for you not to get swept away by the current too!

Namaste,

Denise
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Longing to be seen                                                 By: Josette Cicacci                                     

6/9/2015

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As I strive to integrate the teachings of the immersion that I just completed with my teacher from Martha’s Vineyard, Sherry Sidoti, I can’t help but reflect back to two years ago when I last attended a teacher’s immersion on island. It feels empowering to acknowledge the growth – physically, emotionally, and spiritually - which has evolved, and it is incredibly humbling to realize how much of my “stuff” is still so very present in my life. “Longing to be seen,” as Sherry rather matter of factly explained it. I am learning to accept the fact that when we create the space in our lives for ourselves to fully drop into the teachings, our “stuff” undeniably rears its head.

Through her teachings, Sherry shared of the subtle bodies of yogic philosophy - the different layers of the body which exist beyond one’s physical form. These bodies encompass the mental, emotional, spiritual, and ultimately, the soul bodies. It is only through addressing EACH layer that we may have the potential to truly find inner peace, contentment, and joy. Devoted practice to the asana (yoga poses) can be the catalyst in through the physical body to see what lies beneath this on a deeper level, that which is longing to be seen.

I am grateful to have provided myself with a few days on the island to decompress following this immersion to receive the fruitful riches of Martha’s land. I feel fully here, and fully open. Simple blessings have been finding me and from them I am sourcing strength for continued growth.

I’ve taken a few walks along one of my favorites beaches on the island, Lucy Vincent’s Beach. As I was drawn to particular rocks, I began to notice a trend. Each of the rocks which were catching my eye was some blending of white, black, and/or gray. Some of the rocks appeared to be white with black speckles and spots throughout, some black with white speckles and spots throughout, and some a complete marriage of the two, thus yielding a rock which appeared to be gray. (See photo)

As I walked further, I started to consider the fact that there was opportunity for learning from these rocks. Right before my eyes, Martha was delivering me with a message. In life there is darkness, and there is light … Always!!! Even when we are devout in our practice, there will be challenging days. Not one of us is exempt from this. Life is NOT always about happiness and sunshine. Acknowledging and accepting this can be pivotal in releasing our conditioned human response to achieve a sense of perfection which is never actually attainable, nor is it sustainable. What we DO have control over is how we choose to perceive that which life throws our way.

Some days life may feel generally light – like a white rock – with dark spots interspersed here and there, while some days life may feel generally dark – like a black rock – with only glimpses of light here and there. Other days may feel like a true mix of darkness and light – gray. As a human being who’s been granted embodiment in this physical form on our planet, I challenge you to decide how you will greet the gift of each passing day.

Our “stuff” may never fully go away. Gray moments, days, and sometimes even longer stretches of time are all a part of our journey. It is impossible to appreciate and fully experience pleasure, if you’ve not also faced trying times. Afterall, the tough moments show up only because they are longing to be seen. By choosing to face rather than to ignore and/or to distract ourselves from them, we can make conscious strides towards freedom from the control of that which they may have over us.

The practice of yoga seems to find us in the most pristine of times. Ancient yogic philosophy supports that which I feel blessed to be learning as my practice continues to evolve. Remaining dedicated to the practice and striving to commit to BE with the lows and the highs – both the darkness and the light – becomes more manageable. This awareness, has and continues to yield an increased ability to hear my true essence, the voice of the intuitive self, which speaks the loudest and the clearest when I remain steadfast in honoring alignment of the mind, body, and spirit. Some days through the asana, the physical body practice, and other days through stillness and breath. And that it is ok, too.  

With eyes wide open,
Josette

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