LIVING YOGICALLY: Hoppy Fathers Day
This week I decided to do a video post.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSStQn88Q8A
This week I decided to do a video post.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSStQn88Q8A
Mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest of them all? -The Evil Queen from Snow White
I knew this guy that had a habit of checking himself out in mirrors. Well correction- in any shiny surface. Any reflective object was an opportunity to admire his studliness. Any time the TV screen turned black, at the end of a movie, he would say, “Hey Nat look we are on TV!†I would catch him checking out his hair in the reflection made by my sunglasses. He would even check out his car anytime we passed a reflective building. I don’t blame him- he was handsome and he did have a nice car.
Don’t laugh we all do it. I do it every day at work when I pass the pop machine and check myself out. Yeah and I like what I see!!! But this was not always the case. I never use to like what I saw until I met my first true mirror- Katie McClelland.
Katie was my first yoga teacher who held a big, fat, figurative mirror in front of my face and encouraged me to take a closer look. Her mirror revealed my clear reflection. It wasn’t one of those fun house mirrors that are at carnivals that distort your image by making you short and fat. Her mirror made me stand a little taller and prouder every time I looked into it. Her mirror made me fall deeply in love with what I saw for the first time in all my life. Who is this powerful person I was looking at? Who is this girl with a clear, loud voice? Who is this girl capable of so much more than she could have ever imagined? Holy crap that girl is me!
Katie held the mirror and encouraged me to take a closer look at my true self. Well she actually did more than just hold the mirror- she also supplied me with the cloth and windex I needed to polish the surface. She fired up my curiosity and made me search through my closet of inadequacy. She supplied the attic and boxes I needed to dump the crap that was weighing me down. She adjusted the light in my gallery to showcase my greatest masterpieces.
Your teacher can open the door, but you must enter by yourself. –Chinese Proverb
Living Yogically has really been a mirror to many of you reading. I get amazing feedback from people every week. Jessie you come to mind first. You tell me how you can relate to my posts and how you too are experiencing similar things in your life. I cannot take any credit for you recognizing your own greatness and own beauty.
One post that comes to mind that clearly illustrates this point is the little love fest I had about my best friends titled, Baby You’re a Firework. As Anna so intelligently pointed out in her comment, “You are all of the things you named in all our friends wrapped up in one little Natty package.†Anna was able to see that all the amazing parts we recognize in others are just a reflection of who we are.
It really is true. You cannot recognize qualities in others if you don’t have them in yourself. How do you know if a friend is funny if you don’t have a sense of humor yourself to understand their jokes? How do you know if a friend is intelligent if you don’t have the brains to understand their conversations? How did I realize my friend was checking himself out in my sunglasses if I wasn’t trying to do the same thing?
So in my quest to live yogically I will continue to act as a mirror to reveal all the wonderful qualities in those I meet or those that read. I will continue to look into mirrors that don’t distort my reflection. I will continue to even check myself out in pop machines and sunglasses and be proud of what I see. I vow to fall in love with myself each and every day. Whenever I ask my mirror, who is the fairest of them all? I won’t hesitate to yell out my own name. Please do the same.
Let go of your worries and completely clear-hearted, like the face of a mirror that contains no images. If you want a clear, mirror, behold yourself and see the truth. –RUMI
You cannot see your reflection in running water, only still water. –Eat, Pray, Love
Peace, peace, peace
NAT
NEXT WEEK Truth or dare?
Baby you’re a firework -Katy Perry
Fireworks are what I saw, goose bumps are what I felt, tears are what I tasted and sparks are what were created when I read Marie Woodford’s poem to my yoga class last week. Thank you Mrs. Woodford for your inspiration and for making sparks fly all the way from your grave. I can’t wait to share your beautiful words about love very soon with readers, but before I do, I want to investigate and understand “the sparks.â€
I began my search like I would begin any search- I googled it. Yes I typed in the phrase “How do sparks form?†in the trusty search engine and this is what I found:
The light emitted by a spark does not come from the current of electrons itself, but from the material medium fluorescing in response to collisions from the electrons…When they fall back to their original energy levels, they emit the energy as light…blah, blah, blah
Physics always confused me. I knew I learned all about sparks and energy in high school so I thought back to science class. Mmmmm yes, I remember Mr. Hottie Cherottie my science teacher. How could I forget those dimples, fluffy hair and the tight polo shirt that showed off his big muscles? If I knew where the hottie was today I sure would like to make some sparks with him now. Something I do remember from science class is that everything is energy- the sun, batteries, food, metal objects and people. We are energy. If you don’t believe me just get a balloon, rub it on your head and see what happens. Anything made of energy has the ability to create sparks.
The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of 2 chemical substances; if there is any reaction, both are transformed.
-Carl Jung
Here is my own two-part scientific equation on how to create sparks in your life:
x= (all things positive)² – (all things negative)
1) Breakdown of (all things positive)²
Fill your life up with positive friends. I have the most amazing friends- Jess, Alice, Michelle, Holly, Lena, Anna and Mon. They all give off the most amazing energy. When Jess is around you can’t help but smile. The girl is always smiling. I used to think that it is because she is an orthodontist and her teeth were kinda like her business card, but now I know she is just a positive, breathtaking ray of light. Then I have the triple threat- Michelle, Alice & Holly, and when one or all of them are around, all you want to do is let loose, laugh and have a good time. I used to think that it was the wine that did it to me, but now I understand that it is their energy that is intoxicating. Lena is the whimsical, flower child of the group. Luckily I get to live with this beautiful thing and any time I am upset Lena picks me up and tells me that everything is going to be okay. Anna (aka Go Fork Yourselves Anna) has such an appetite for life you can’t help but be inspired to get off your ass and seize the day. Then there is Mon (aka Toe Jams Monica) – the powerhouse. I always joke, when she is in my yoga class, that she is freakishly strong for a little thing but I am not joking, she has such strong energy. Mon shares her powerful energy with everyone she meets. She actually has the ability to magnify you with her presence. When my batteries are low Mon acts as the jumper cables to reignite my passion for life. When Jay welcomed me to the MvM team he said I approached him, well it wasn’t out of my own doing, it was Monica who saw my abilities before I did and gave me the light I needed to shine. Thanks Mon for being the most amazing friend ever!
Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames. –Rumi
Marinate in positivity. When you are surrounded by positivity you have no other choice but to feel inspired to sparkle. It was my yoga practice that allowed me to come to this realization. Every time I enter my yoga studio my whole attitude is elevated. I see it so clearly when I teach. I can actually feel the positive heat from my students. All my classes are wonderful but there is something about my Sunday hot class at De La Sol that is so special. I think it is the wonderful group that attends that class (Renee, Judy, Jane, Jody, Christine, my dad …actually everyone). All the students are so passionate about their yoga practice they actually make 90 minutes of pure magic in that room.
Share your positivity with others. Sometimes we fear that by sharing positivity we will lose our power. Like if we compliment someone and tell them how great they are we will elevate them to a higher level and we will get left behind. This is false. I have my own scientific analogy to explain this one. Many of you who are well versed in the language of love will understand my analogy. It is like making love to your lover. When you say, “Oh baby, oh baby you are amazing!†your partner doesn’t stop what they are doing do they? NOPE they just get empowered and become an even better lover. It feels good to share your positivity.
The law of attraction says like attracts like. Positivity draws in more things that are positive. Negativity draws in more things that are negative.
2) Breakdown of – (all things negative)
Don’t get attached to other people’s negativity. Don’t let energy vampires suck the positivity out of your life.
Don’t get consumed by negative thoughts. Energy vampires don’t only come in the form of people they also come in the form of thoughts. Thoughts are energy too. When we think something our bodies manifest it. When we are negative we frown and have the “I just smelled something bad stink face,†and when we are positive we smile.
When we create something, we always create it first in a thought form. If we are basically positive in attitude, expecting and envisioning pleasure, satisfaction and happiness, we will attract and create people, situations, and events which conform to our positive expectations. -Shakti Gawain
So I embraced my quest to live yogically all week long. Luckily, it was a holiday here in Canada called “Family Day” and I got to see my wonderful family for 3 dinners. I went out with my beautiful lady friends all weekend long! I got to have a one-on-one yoga session with a passionate, aspiring yoga teacher Christine. All 6 of my yoga classes did not disappoint and I was met with enthusiasm in all of them- including the one for a group of big Hamilton footie players (I heard a couple F bombs in the class but they were followed by smiles). I also ran into situations that weren’t positive but I was aware when negativity entered the room. As soon as I noticed, I reminded myself not to allow it to feed off my positive spirit and not attach or respond to my friend’s constant negativity. I hope one day he will be able to realize- if he loves life, life will love him back!
I will never stop investigating and creating sparks in my life. Whether the sparks come in the form of a crush on a teacher, beautiful poetry, uplifting articles, friends or positive thinking- I vow to set off fireworks in my life each and every day.
Peace, peace, peace
NAT
NEXT WEEK! I am officially addicted to LIVING YOGICALLY. My behavior has become mildly obsessive. Next week I wrap my head around this new obsession.
Benjamin Franklin said it best, “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning”
It’s amazing to think that about two years ago, Monsters vs Me was my sole blog to showcase my photography and has now expanded to numerous contributors who are passionate about what they do.
It gets me super excited every time MvM grows, and today is one of those days. I would like to introduce Natalie Jakymyshyn to the MvM team. Natalie is not only a high school friend, but a very accomplished yoga instructor. A few weeks ago, Nat approached me with the idea of writing for MvM and before I even knew what she wanted to write about, I was already sold. I can always go after creative people to write for the site, but when someone approaches me, I know right away that they are passionate about something and looking for a platform to get it out there.
Every week, Nat will be taking her yoga teachings outside of the studio, living them in her personal life and writing about how the week went. The entire series will be titled “Living Yogically”. I can’t wait to read these posts. After talking with Nat about the whole Yoga lifestyle, this was something I definitely had to try. Myself and Monica (Toe Jam Mondays), went out to a class that Nat was teaching and I got to experience first hand what this ‘Hot Yoga’ thing was all about. Nat was such an amazing teacher and I didn’t know humans could bend the way she does. I sweat more than I ever have in my life and couldn’t believe how good I felt afterwards. I was absolutely stress free. I would recommend to everyone that you try yoga and join Nat’s classes at De La Sol if possible.
So, I’ll stop talking and take this time to welcome Nat to the MvM team and thank her for sharing her passion with everyone.
Enjoy. -jay perry
“When you pray, move your feet†– African proverb
This week, one of my friends was upset because he is in love with this girl who he is currently not talking to. He asked me for advice and I told him what he needed to do- start talking to her! Pretty simple advice you would think. How often do we want something so bad but are not willing to do what it takes to get it? We spend all of our energy wishing it was in our lives, relying on fate to deliver it to our doorstep, but are hesitant to go directly after what we want. We pray for it but are paralyzed when it comes time to move our feet.
I began to think, why doesn’t this guy just go after what he wants? What is paralyzing him? He is extremely jacked and good looking. The ladies love him. What could it be? Then it hit me, the big guy is scared.
“Fear likes to dress itself up and parade around like rational hesitation†– Anne Morriss
I witnessed the act of how we rationalize avoiding fearful situations when a co worker said to me, “I plan on joining the gym but before I do I need to get into shape so I am not the fatty at the gym.†Come on seriously? That is ridiculous. That is why you go to the gym, to get in shape. Yes, entering a gym for the first time is intimidating. I remember my first time, I was greeted by a HUGE, tanned, oily man who wore ripped jean cutoff shorts, leather gloves and who actually licked his lips when making eye contact with me- yes extremely scary! I didn’t avoid going back I just avoided the 6:30 pm time slot that this man faithfully occupied and when another man tried that same technique (the licking of the lips)I would pretend I forgot to wear my contacts, squint and stare slightly to the left of where he stood in a confused manner. It probably wasn’t the most direct approach, but the point is that I didn’t let Hans the gym stud keep me away.
Sometimes we meet our fear only half way and avoid being direct. Like the above mentioned male friend of mine seeking relationship advice who, when I asked why he just doesn’t tell the girl how he feels, he very seriously made a counter offer – “Well how about you pretend to be my girlfriend, we can make out for a bit, she will see us, get extremely jealous and want me.†NO! As tempting as the offer was, you can’t just dance around what you want and you definitely can’t only go half way to get it. We spend so much time just flirting with the idea of facing our fears and are stuck in the comfortable spot between intention and action. Allow yourself to flirt with the idea only for a bit, buy it a drink or two, but ultimately you need to take it home and do it! You will feel so good when you do.
So in honoring my intention of LIVING YOGICALLY I took my yoga practice and teachings outside of the four corners of my mat. This week I took action and didn’t allow my fear of being judged by monstersvsme fans rule my desire to share yoga philosophy and empowering quotes with readers. As a result I sent Jay Perry my first entry and this post was born.
I would like to end with the most empowering piece of literature I have read about facing fear. It was actually used by Nelson Mandela in his Inauguration Speech in 1994.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
-Marianne Williamson
Peace, peace, peace
NAT
NEXT WEEK!
My Dad The Modern Day Buddha
My dad inspires me next week. He is a man that lives a simple life which can be summed up in an acronym – GYG: gym, yoga and gardening. I plan to simplify my life and tread a little lighter on this beautiful earth of ours.