Real Life: What it takes to Follow your Dreams

I took this selfie right before going to get photos for my website - My first step toward following my dream.... I had no idea what I was in for ;)

The Dream – my dream – is to transition from my current career into a full time Yoga teaching gig and  start my own Yoga program. A bit of background on that dream… I have been teaching part time, a couple classes a week, for a few years now after getting my 200 hour certification in 2012, and I love it! Now, that’s not to say that every day that I teach I am feeling the same level of passion or inspiration – this is real life - however, the way that teaching, practising, and taking Yoga off my mat makes me feel has shown me that this is something I want more of. When I look forward 10 years, I see my life as a Yoga teacher, creating classes and workshops, building community and moving my body every day as part of my career. So how do I get there? Some social media, books, articles etc. would have you believe that it is as easy as visualizing the goal, quitting your job, making the leap, and riding off in to the sunset. Well, in my experience, in real life it takes a lot more work. Continue reading to see just some of what it takes to follow your dreams - in real life. 

It takes… Planning, baby steps, and safety nets. 

It takes… Long and longer days of work at your day job so you can bank the time you need to take off to teach, because this is real life and in real life you have real bills. 

It takes… Learning as you go and not having a hot clue what you’re doing for a while. (But then you figure out how to get that pay pal button set up on the webpage and you feel like you could conquer the world!)

It takes… Computer skills.

It takes… Hitting the pavement with the flyers you spent hours formatting so that you can promote your classes.

It takes… Networking skills. 

It takes… Signatures on rental contracts before having enough people signed up for your classes to even cover the cost of rent. 

It takes… Feeling like you are failing, a lot, and not letting that discourage or disappoint you. (Edit: This is real life – in real life we get discouraged and disappointed, so it’s about feeling that and moving forward anyways)

It takes… Amazing support from your loved ones, especially when you want to quit and they won’t let you. 

It takes… Being vulnerable and sharing your deepest wants, passions, fears, and failures with others, because this is real life and in real life we fail some, we want a lot, and we must go after what we are passionate about. 

It takes… Guts. Courage. Cojones. Whatever you call it, it takes a lot of it. 

In the end, (or should I say beginning - because that is where I am), it’s worth it. You can look at what you have done and are doing and feel really accomplished. You can redefine success in your own terms and no matter what the outcome is, you can always look back and say you tried your best, because this is real life, and in real life that’s all anyone can do.

3 things to Expect from an Alignment Focused Beginner Yoga Class

Photo found on http://www.dailyyogareflections.com/

If you have never taken a Yoga class before, it is likely you may feel a bit anxious wondering what is in store for you. Keep reading to learn three things you can expect from the alignment focused beginner yoga class that I teach.

1. Demonstration and Instruction: In the alignment focused beginner classes that I teach, I always demonstrate a pose before the group moves into it. This way, the participant has both visual and verbal cues to work off of when moving into a pose for the first time. It also helps decrease the awful craning of the neck that often happens when you are trying to move into a pose and watch the instructor at the same time.  

2. Props and Modifications: No two people are the same and no two bodies are the same. It is not realistic to think that everyone will be able to access a pose in the same way. Since people vary in their level of flexibility, strength, and activity level – especially in a beginner class – I feel it is important to provide modifications of the poses that will work for everyone. For example, if you can’t touch the toes I would give you a Yoga Block to press your hands in to. Or, when learning triangle pose, it often takes people out of alignment to try and place their hand on the floor, so instead, use a block to support the hand. 

Yoga Block Photo found on http://yogauthority.org/

3. Slower pace: As opposed to a flow style class, where you move from pose to pose without a break in between, the alignment focused beginner class is a slower pace. Each pose is broken down, demonstrated, and practiced. There is time for questions, time to find the correct alignment or modification for the pose, and most importantly, time to feel your body and breath in each pose.

If you or someone you know would benefit from an alignment focused beginner class – there is only one week left to sign up! For more information visit the Your Best Yoga page here. 

If you have any questions or concerns about signing up, please contact me directly at sandrayogawpg@gmail.com

Namaste :) 

When I am Doing my Best... with the creator of Mieroglyphs!

Something you may not know about me? I love quotes. Like, LOVE them. I have them posted on my corkboard in my office at work to inspire me throughout the day. The lock screen on my phone will display one I need to see on a regular basis – it’s currently the “our deepest fear” quote from Marianne Williamson. I have the word “Trust” tattooed on my ankle as a reminder to “trust the journey”. Basically, for me, when I am looking to be inspired/motivated/encouraged/lifted up or validated… I’m turning to words. 

I’m also a fan of bracelets. 

Think those two things don’t go together at all? Think again!

Mieroglyphs (like Hieroglyphs but with an "M") is a company started by Tyson Auer, who also finds inspiration from quotes. His company makes bracelets, which he then engraves by hand (seriously, I double checked and asked him if he REALLY does this himself by hand and he said he does) with the customers favorite and customized quote. The quotes are actually engraved on the INSIDE of the bracelet, so you can walk around completely inspired by something that no one else even needs to know about! Their tagline is “it’s what’s on the inside that counts” which I find quite charming and very fitting for their product. They also refer to the “Miero” as your own hidden tattoo – but you know, way less permanent ;). Check out their company vision here for more details on the bracelets. 

Photos from mieroglyphs.com

Naturally, I wanted to know what it looks like for Tyson when he is doing his best – and engraving bracelets by hand – and this is what he had to share:

“To me doing my best can probably be summed up by my favorite quote – “stay hungry, stay foolish”. As long as I follow these words I am always staying hungry to better myself and my surroundings and by staying foolish I am always following my heart. It’s the quote I wear inside my Miero.” 

I’m currently teaming up with Mieroglyphs to spread the word on their products AND if you want to get your very own Miero, you will get FREE SHIPPING on your orders with the coupon code SANDRAYOGA. That may not seem like a big deal, but when I ordered my bracelet, shipping was $10.00 so that’s a pretty good saving! I ordered the Aztec bracelet and have it engraved with “just do your best”.

Visit their page here: http://www.mieroglyphs.com/

As always, I would love to know what it looks like when you do your best and if you leave a comment before Oct. 31 you will be entered to win passes to the “Go with the Flow” class for you and a friend in November! 

* Disclosure: I am involved with Mieroglyphs Affiliate Program

When I am Doing my Best...

Image found on Google

What does it look like when you are doing your best? How does it feel? What inspires you to do your best? Since the entire purpose of starting Your Best Yoga is to encourage everyone to simply do and be their best, I thought it may be fun to start a conversation about what that actually means and looks like. I asked some amazing women from the Yoga and Wellness community here in Winnipeg, as well as some of my international favourites, to help me start this conversation by sharing with me what it looks like for them when they are doing their best. I think you will find their words inspiring and motivating - I know I did! For me, I am doing my best when I am living in my truth, even if it is scary. I am my best when I am kind and compassionate with myself when I don't have it all figured out or when I fall out of a balancing posture in class. I feel my best when I see the best in others and reflect it back to them. I am inspired to be my best when I am surrounded with other people who are passionate about life and living it fully. I am my best when I try my best - even if that means that I try something that doesn't succeed, because to try at all is always best.  

Here is what some of the amazing women I reached out to had to share...  

"Doing my best means living a way that feels balanced and inspiring. Infusing plenty of play into my practice, whether it's on or off my yoga mat, and taking time to be quiet and marinate. Doing my best feels good in my body and puts my mind at ease."

- Mary Beth LaRue - Yoga teacher, life coach and writer based in California and co-founder of Rock Your Bliss  

http://www.marybethlarue.com/

 
"To me, doing your best is the action of putting your whole self into a project, a conversation, a new opportunity or a relationship. When we show up all in, I am talking our darkness and light, owning all of our sh*t and all of our gifts, we grant ourselves (and others) the permission to truly be ourselves and give our best effort genuinely possible. A reminder: we don't always have all the answers or the skills or the athletic talent, what we do have is heart and willpower to connect, create, ask for help and contribute. If we operate from this space, for ourselves and through the lens which we see others, we can get up to some major magic, together." 

- Jacki Carr - Goal Coach and co-founder of Rock Your Bliss

www.jackicarr.com

Instagram, Twitter: @jackicarr

Facebook: www.facebook.com/goalsontherocks

" I am doing my best when I am being as real as possible. When I realized my voice in the community was growing and starting to have an impact on people’s lives I made a promise to myself… to be real. For me its not about being the strongest, the most flexible, or having a big yoga following. Physical strength and flexibility come and go… same with yoga followers, which is good. I always tell my students if they want to keep growing they have to experience lots of teachers. Being real doesn’t come and go. I am doing my best when I stay true to who I am. It’s not about sharing what I think people want me to share. It’s about being myself. When I made that promise to myself to be real, that’s when I got the strongest response from the community. I don’t think it’s necessarily because of what I am saying, or teaching. I believe people are connecting with what I share because I’m just being myself. Keep Shining!"

- Samantha Squire - Samantha has a passion for many types of yoga, and different meditative practices. Recently Samantha started her own business, Om at me Bro Bootcamp here in Winnipeg. In the future Samantha plans to teach more meditative practices, but for now she wants to shake up the fitness community with Om at me Bro Bootcamp. She approaches fitness with the intention that when you do what you love the body that you want will come!

"Doing your best is giving yourself whole-heartedly to your passions while still knowing when enough is enough. Going beyond your best is a disservice to ourselves. Working hard while maintaining balance in our lives and relationships is what makes us soar."

- Kathryn Budig - International Yoga Teacher and Author

http://kathrynbudig.com/

"Doing my best means showing up, for whatever the task may be, with patience, compassion and curiosity. It means pushing myself to do things before I feel "ready" or "perfect" enough. And at the end of the day, remembering to not take myself or whatever it is I’m doing too seriously…reminding myself to have fun, smile and laugh!"

- Sarah Colatruglio - Winnipeg based nutritionist and blogger

http://tuttalavita.ca/

 Now it's your turn!! What does it look like when you do your best? Share with me in the comments below and you will be entered to win passes for you and a friend to come to a "Go with the Flow" class in November for Free! Also, like us on facebook and leave a comment there for another chance to be entered into the draw. I will be randomly selecting one winner on October 31st - Good Luck! And don't forget to sign up now for the beginner class that starts November 9th - tell your friends, parents, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas if they have never done yoga before this is the class for them! 

I would also like to extend the largest THANK YOU to all the amazing women who shared and contributed to this post. Very sincerely - Thank You. 

Your Best Yoga

When I decided that I wanted to create my own Yoga Program I knew that I wanted it to align with a few core values. I wanted it to be inclusive, meaningful, motivating, inspiring and accessible – not a tall order or anything… :)

I truly believe that just about everyone can benefit from a Yoga practice, however, I know that a lot of people find it intimidating, out of their comfort zone, too difficult, or even too weird. I wanted to create a space where people who thought all of those things about Yoga  could come and experience it without any expectation besides trying your best. I wanted to create a space where people would motivate each other to do their best and celebrate even the smallest victories. I wanted to create a space that people could leave feeling great about themselves because they knew they did their best (whatever that looks like)! And finally, I wanted to create a space where I was inspired to show up as my best self and encourage others to show up as their best selves – both on and off the mat. This is what I hope the Your Best Yoga program will become and I hope you will join me on this journey as we create this space at Winakwa Community Centre this year.

Please visit the Your Best Yoga Page to register now and remember – just show up on your mat and do Your Best – it’s all anyone can do! 

Want a chance to win free passes for you and a friend to attend  the “Go with the Flow” class in November?! Leave a comment below or "Like" the Your Best Yoga Facebook page and leave a comment there this month, telling me what doing your best looks like, and I will randomly draw one winner on October 31st!! Good Luck! And just so you know…. For me, doing my best looks like – staying present during my practice, even when I’m really hungry and want to think about dinner ;)