We Have the Power to Make Choices For Ourselves. Harness it!

The 3rd Law of Yoga: The Law of Karma/ or Cause and Effect

You are an infinite choice maker.  Instead of reacting in the habitual, conditioned ways, you can make conscious choices that bring greater happiness to yourself and those around you.

"Have your attention on what is and see the fullness in every moment.  The presence of the divine is everywhere.  You have only to consiously embrace it with your attention." ~The Vedas

Each of us is an inextricable part of the conscious intelligence field that gives rise to everything in the universe.  Since we are an inseparable part of this underlying field of intelligence, we are also the source of all reality.  In every moment, we are co-creating our world with God, the universe, or spirit.

Both the ancient wisdom traditions and modern science tell us that our bodies, our minds, and the physical world are projections of our consciousness. Only consciousness is real; everything else is its projection.

An ancient Vedic saying states, "You are not in the world; the world is in you."  It is only the veil of illusion - known as MAYA in the ancient yogic tradition - that keeps us from seeing that everything is pure consciousness.

When we pierce the veil, we discover the spirit in everything and have access to unlimited creative potential.

Today explore the conscious intelligence field and begin to see yourself as a co-creator of your own experience.

om UNBOUNDEDNESS,

Lee Ann

[source: The Chopra Center: 21 Days of Inspiration]

Inspiring Article About Finding "Drishti" in Yoga & in Life

I stumbled upon this article today while seeking to learn about "drishti" in yoga practice. What I found what an eye-opening perspective about balancing in your own life and finding your drishti in a metaphorical sense. After reading this article, think about how you can use a drishti in your life to keep your eyes on the prize, heart on the simple things, & to find balance between your body, mind and soul. 

Lee Ann practicing precise balance, set on her "drishti". 

"Last week, before I walked into class, I was feeling a bit off (my mind was swirling with thoughts, doubts & fears) and life just seemed…chaotic. I knew I could resort to my yoga mat to find some answers, some clarity.

During class, the instructor was taking us through a tree pose series and encouraged us to find or drishti for balance. Suddenly, I looked up and saw a beautiful, odd little elephant figure by the window with the sun subtly shining in, and thought That’s it. From that point on, suddenly my worries and fears from the outside world didn’t seem to matter. I was here, I was present, I was living in the now to its truest form.

In yoga or meditation, "finding your drishti” is a technique involving focusing on one point or object for greater concentration or balance, in my case the elephant. But if you take it into everyday life, I like to think of it as simply living in the now, experiencing life to its finest.

It’s finding peace with the past and slowing your mind down when it starts spiraling into a bout of future-tripping.

You see, it’s easy to get caught up in the ups & downs and crazy obstacles the universe sometimes throws at us. But if you pause for a moment and simply focus on where you are right in this moment,things become a little brighter, a little more OK.

These next couple weeks, I’m attempting to focus on finding my drishti beyond yoga practice and meditation, and I’d love for you ladies to join me. It may be as simple as taking a deep breath on the verge of breakdown, finding the joy in watching your children play or observing the first flower bloom for spring. Or it may mean closing your eyes to find peace in the now, or journaling your feelings before bed.

How can you find your drishti in everyday life? In what ways do you practice focusing on the NOW?" 

From Rachel at this URL: http://healthy-chicks.com/2014/03/16/on-finding-your-drishti-in-yoga-in-life/  "The Healthy Chicks" blog

Yoga can help us in so many ways. Get to your mat today & keep yours eyes on your drishti!

The MELT Method Endorsed By Dr. Oz Coming to Our Center

THE MELT METHOD
If you haven't yet heard of the MELT Method, now is a great opportunity to learn about it! Dr Oz endorses this method as a powerful technique and promotes the book, "The MELT Method" written by Sure Hitzmann The book details the breakthrough self-treatment system to eliminate chronic pain, erase some signs of again, and help your feel more energized and revived. This practice is coming to Yoga Center for Healthy Living on Saturday, June 28th. Come see what magazines, celebrities and more have been raving about and do your body some healing good! <3 

Saturday, June 28th at 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
As demonstrated on Dr. Oz, and featured in the May Issue of Prevention Magazine.*
This "Introduction to MELT" 90 min. workshop will allow you to experience the small balls and soft rollers used to gently hydrate connective tissue and re-balance your nervous system.  As a bonus, we will practice the anti-aging "MELT 50 second facelift" recently shown on The Rachel Ray show!
-Must preregister ASAP, $35
-Please bring a thin yoga mat & drink water before class.  Equipment will be provided for use during the class & available for purchase.
-Learn more: www.meltmethodmichigan.com
*All participants should be able to get on & off the floor, lie on their backs for short periods of time + on a soft foam roller.  If any condition prevents your from  this, please book a private sessions with advanced MELT instructor, Virgina Larioza where modifications can be made to suit your needs.

Wise Words about the 2nd Law of Yoga from Lee Ann

The Law of Giving and Receiving

The best gift you can give is to leave someone feeling a little lighter than he or she was before your interaction.  When your intention is to expand happiness, every action of either giving or receiving becomes nurturing and fulfilling.

"Today I will open the door of my calmness and let the footsteps of Silence gently enter all of my activities.  I will perform all duties serenely, saturated with peace." ~ Paramahansa Yogananda

The greatest contribution we can make to the well-being of those in our lives is to have peace in our own hearts.  Our state of being broadcasts expansion or contraction to every sentient creature within our midst.  When our hearts are filled with gratitude and our minds are brimming with enthusiasm, everyone we encounter leaves our space feeling a little bit lighter than when they entered it.

As we expend less energy upholding our self-importance, we gain access to the creative and nurturing flow of our own nature.  Reverence for life and simple appreciation for the gift of living subtly remind others not to take themselves too seriously.  Cultivating an inner attitude of ease and acceptance, we ride the inevitable waves of life with passion and wonder.

Knowing at the core of your being that life moves from the shore of beginnings to endings, and back again, you can relax and enjoy the ride.  When the water is turbulent, remind yourself and the others on your boat to

BREATHE!

om shanti, om love,
Lee  Ann

And the Winner of the Yoga Selfie Raffle Contest is....

My son was the lucky drawer of this raffle contest and the winner is....

  SARAH ATKESON!!!!

Thank you to everyone you participated in this contest! It was great to see your determination in yoga and your participation with us on Facebook and Twitter! :) Sarah, congratulations! It looks like the odds were ever in your favor! You've won 5 FREE Yoga classes to Yoga Center for Healthy Living. See Lee Ann to collect your prize. 

To everyone else, thank you SO MUCH for participating! We will be having many monthly contests to come and hope to see even more great participation next time! Oh and we do have some great prizes lined up, so stay tuned! :)

Here's the tally of every Selfie we collected between May 19 through June 19 on the Facebook page and Twitter:

Thea Hamman had 10 entries- way to go Thea, Zara and her baby bump! :)

Linda Beahm had 1 entry

Sarah Atkeson had 3 entries, and won with her third and final entry! Go figure :)

Greg Hargrave had 1 entry

Mary Kathryn Keith had 1 entry

Susan McKenzie had 1 entry

Thanks again to all who entered and a big congratulations for you Sarah! Happy Friday all! :D

Backtracking to the First Law of Yoga: The Law of Pure Potentiality, Words of Wisdom from LeeAnn

The 1st Law of Yoga: The Law of Pure Potentiality 

If you want to experience expansion, you need to broaden your understanding of who you really are.  Any time you say, "I am____," pause for a moment and ask yourself, "Is that really true?"  In reality, you are much more than you can imagine.  You are pure potentiality, infinite possibilities, and unbounded awareness.

"Every creative act involves a new innocence of perception liberated from the cataract of accepted belief." ~ Arthur Koestler

Perhaps the greatest myth about creativity is the idea that it's a rare gift or genetic endowment possessed by only a few.  We feel moved to our core by a piece of music or read about an incredible scientific discovery and mistakenly conclude that some people are born with creative talent while others are not.

In reality, each of us in infinitely creative.  In every moment we are using our intentions, thoughts, and attention to create the world we experience.

One fo the most powerful ways to tap into your deepest potential and creative reservoirs is meditation.  When you meditate, you access the field of pure potentiality that is the source of all inspiration and everything else in the universe.  You go beyond your mind's repetitive thought traffic into the silence and peace of pure awareness.  This stillness refreshes and cams the mind, allowing new ideas and insights to spontaneously emerge.

Today, instead of relying on sheer effort and the ego's limited resources, quiet your mind and open to the infinite source of all possibilities.

om shanti, om peace, om pure potentiality,

om love,

Lee Ann

5 Reasons Teens/Tweens Should Practice Yoga

We live in a busy, changing world that's difficult for even the most cunning adult to navigate. Yoga is a practice that is beneficial to our bodies, minds and souls and the list of benefits to everyday life goes on and on. Teenagers and those in between (tweens) have to deal with radical changes as they enter adulthood- changes to their bodies, social lives, emotions, hormones and more. These changes and "awkward" stages for teens can leave them feeling stressed, anxious or even depressed, especially when they have no outlet to cope. Teen yoga is extremely effective in helping teenagers not only strengthen and heal their bodies, but also temper emotional, social and mental woes they may face. Here are 5 reasons why teens and tweens should practice yoga:

1) Building confidence and self-esteem. This is the age of awkwardness for most, because the body and mind are rapidly developing and kids are walking the bridge into adulthood. Trying to fit in at school, juggling their increasingly difficult schoolwork, balancing family life and social life can all lead to teens feeling a bit lost and unsettled. These feelings can be conquered by practicing yoga. Self-doubt is set aside on a yoga mat and all that's left is will and effort. Teens may be afraid to look silly doing a pose or fear they are not flexible enough for yoga, but once they see the true strength of their bodies, they overcome the fear. Fear is then replaced with confidence and self-esteem, which can be applied in all aspects of their life. Yoga helps teens to feel more confident and able, who wouldn't want that for their child?

2) Stress and anxiety relief. Yoga helps relieve stress and anxiety for adults, so why wouldn't it for teens? Well, it does and chances are your teen is having more anxiety and stress than you may think. Changing schools, changing bodies, changing everything leaves teens feeling unstable and often times helpless, which can lead to anxiety and stress. Stress has many strange effects on the body and can make it difficult to cope with typical situations. Practicing yoga restores confidence and strength, and helps replace negative feelings with positive ones. Once they get into a yoga routine, your teen will find that he or she is not only eliminating stress while they practice, but that they use the techniques from the mat to apply to everyday life. Things like breathing and mindfulness may be new ideas to them that can be used in any situation that warrants it.

3) Fitness during crucial development. Exercise is good for the body, we all know this to be true. Although yoga has a much deeper mental and emotional connection than other types of fitness, it is still a form of exercise. Keeping the body healthy and fit is important no matter what stage of life you're in but as a teen/tween practicing healthy habits is very important because it's a time of crucial brain and body development. The mindfulness and fitness that comes with yoga is great for growing and changing bodies and minds.

4) Relationship building. Yoga can awaken things in our minds and bodies that we never knew were there. It can help give us the confidence to foster new relationships and see things from a different perspective. Sometimes this is just what kids need to form healthy friendships! Yoga also gives them the mindfulness to see people for what they are, and can help them make friends with people of positive influence. Encourage your teen or tween to bring a friend or a few to teen yoga with them. They will form a support system for each other, which will significantly boost confidence and quality of relationships in the future.

5) Breaking away from technology. During a yoga session, we leave our busy lives outside and focus on our body and mind. These days with technology so available it may be hard to get your teen or tween off their phone, computer or laptop. They start to feel self satisfaction in things like "likes" or "friend requests" and incorporate their virtual life into their emotions. Yoga is a great time for them to disconnect from the world of technology and to bring them into the present. It may not encourage them to stop texting, but it may just give them realization next time they are staring at a computer screen. Even if only for a class, disconnecting from technology is good for growing young adults.

We offer a Teen/Tween yoga series that starts this Thursday, June 19th from 11:30am-12:30pm. This series is 5 classes long for only $50! Enroll your teen now and reap the benefits of yoga for their growing bodies, minds and souls. Thursday, June 19; 26th; July 10; 17th; 24 http://yogacenterbrighton.com/events/