Holding Space

I've learned so much in the past few months . I feel like i've grown in leaps and bounds...my head and heart have opened. I've learned to forgive and to let go, I've learned how to love unconditionally . I've learned how to " HOLD SPACE". I'm learning each and every day how to JUST BE. There is power in strength in holding space versus desperation in waiting for something to happen, they are not one in the same.


Holding Space
What it means to me is:

Letting Go of Judgement
not judging another persons actions and instead allowing them to evolve at their own time and pace without feeling the need to comment,criticize or judge.

Opening Your Heart
Allowing your heart to be open and remain open while holding space. Speaking , Doing and Being from a place of unconditional Love.

Allowing things to JUST BE
Allowing the other person to go through the experience without trying to control the outcome. Not giving input or pushing things in one direction or another, simply being there for them with no expectation. Trusting the process.

Holding space for another person is a beautiful thing, it takes strength, courage, patience , trust and faith.  It is the intention to allow things to unfold just as they may.

Many situations can require holding space for another : birth, death, healing, divorce, end of a job or relationship or many other life changes. The key is to allow yourself and the other person to Just Be and to trust the process. 

In Peace and Love,
-A

Mistakes

We all make mistakes yet how we deal with them is most important . For me , sometimes I want something here and now and loose the concept of patience and faith . I slip up, I make a mistake, I do something that is spur of the moment yet if I'd thought about it, I wouldn't have done it. I AM HUMAN . 

I sit and reflect and learn and know in my heart that things happen when and how they are supposed to. Nothing I do or say will rush things along, at least not with ease . There is power in letting go, in trusting, in having faith and patience .

Thank goodness for mistakes as its how we learn , how we grow and gives us the ability to move forward from a place love. Making time each day to sit quietly allows my thoughts and answers to flow freely. Forgiving , trusting and having faith in all things to come .

There is power in allowing things to Just Be. 

In Love

-A

Just Be

Just Be

(my mantra )

I have "Just Be" tattood on my wrist, as a reminder to allow things to unfold naturally. It is so easy to wish for a specific outcome, to continually push until you get what you want. In doing this, you go against the natural flow of the universe.  "Just Be" were the words my grandmother always used...to remind us as children to let things be as they were meant to.

Yoga is a way of life..more that just asanas (postures) and includes moral codes, called Yamas and Niyamas.  The one that I have been working on lately is called Tapas, which focuses on discipline and endurance . The discipline deals with the body, speech and the mind.  It is about controlling our language and thoughts as well as physical wants.

A million thoughts go thru our minds a day. Have you ever taken notice to how many are positive or negative thoughts? The goal with Tapas, is to think kind and loving thoughts as these thoughts become our words and these words become our actions. 

In focusing on Tapas , you may find that you distance yourself from friends or family that gossip or put others down. There are some that live constantly in this state of negativity and want to drag you in. This is the time to be firm and redirect your attention to something positive. Fasting, meditating and pranayama(breathing techniques) are all ways that you can practice self discipline and focus on positve actions, positiive speech and positive thinking.

Remember to take time for yourself and quiet your mind and to JUST BE.

Here are a couple of things to help you work on Tapas:

What techniques do you use to quiet your mind?

Recall a challenging situation where you were mindfull of the words you spoke

Kids Yoga

I was happy to be asked to help teach some children yoga at The Children's Museum at Navy Pier last Sunday.

My friend and fellow yogi Shalise from Blossfolds Yoga invited me to help some Chicagoland Girl Scouts earn a badge by learning how to be fit and healthy .

We had so much fun with the girls and even had a 22 month old join in on the fun. We incorporated poses such as octopus (partnering with another girl), lizard on a rock, bridge , boat, conch shell, tree and everyone's favorite pose..savasana.

Yoga has so many wonderful benefits for children . It teaches them how to focus, teaches patience and mindfulness as well as teaches them how to calm themselves in a stressful situation .

Thank You Blissfolds for asking me to help out with the girls . Such a wonderful way to spend the day!

(Photos ©Blissfolds and ©city yoga Chicago )