The photo here says it all. 
ENJOY TODAY.
Let me be first to tell you that the month of December wasn’t all that merry. Without going into too much detail, a few weeks before Christmas one of my brother’s passed away and then another brother of mine passed away on Dec. 31. To say that life in general has been a struggle would be an understatement. Never in my years did I think I would be saying good-bye to two of my siblings within nearly one month of each other. Life has a crazy way of making us stop and think about well, life.
And that is where today’s mantra comes in — ENJOY TODAY!
It’s true — you never know what may happen within the next 24 hours. Take a look around you – have you taken a moment to look at nature? Have you taken a moment to look at the sky? (The other morning, the sunrise was spectacular!) Have you taken a moment to tell someone who much they mean to you? Have you taken a moment to give pause and just focus on your life?
One of the greatest aspects of practicing yoga is knowing it is there for YOU.
If you can’t make it to a class, or if it’s 10 p.m. at night and you need to forget the day’s stress, there is nothing stopping you from doing a few poses to regain your center. By grabbing a mat/towel, dimming the light, and playing tranquil music (or no music at all), you have all the tools you need to use yoga to help overcome grief and sadness.
Here’s an article that you may all find interesting if you yourself have been overcome by grief and sadness. Click here for the article.
Peace and Love,
Jeannette
P.S. I know I promised you all to talk about resolutions, but this was tugging at my heart-strings. And, I felt like many friends could benefit from today’s insight.
Blog
Blogs to start in 2020
To all of our faithful followers and students:
Seasons Greetings!
Our blogs will start in 2020 … so look for one on Jan. 2 where we will share with everyone our common struggles and ways to overcome them in 2020!
Much love – LaGrange Yoga
Why meditate?
Some folks need a practice that is more physical in order to calm the body and mind. Vinyasa style is often said to be a form of meditation wherein rather than repeating a mantra in one’s head, and maintaining stillness, one repeats a series of physical movements over and over, connected to the breath. During my yoga trainings we often practiced a walking meditation, where each step was purposefully made: “planting my heel, rolling toward the toes, lifting the other foot, planting heel, rolling to toes” repeating this with each step. For me it brings complete awareness to the mechanisms of the body, allowing the mind to not stray in 27 directions … did someone say squirrel!?
Many of us struggle with monkey mind and it may seem impossible to stay focused on a mantra or to even sit still. Recently in a restorative class a student indicated that she was concerned she would not be able find stillness during our 10 restorative poses or our guided 15 minute svasana. After class she said she was able to follow my voice and stay focused. She didn’t experience the monkey mind and physical fidgeting that she anticipated. Reeling in all those random thoughts and not fidgeting can be incredibly soothing for mind and body. So many people say, “I just can’t turn off my mind.” What if with some guidance, you could? What if you could turn down the volume on the incessent chatter and dialogue that goes on in your head? Could you find some peace? Could you experience stillness?
For me, meditation has been a healing, transforming gift. It has helped me in times of grief, times of great stress and worry. It has helped me to leave situations that were no longer in my best interest. How? How can sitting in stillness, focusing on one thing do all that? For me, when I free up all that chatter and dialogue, I believe it creates space in my head and allows room for solutions, answers, heck even epiphanies. It is a work in progress. It is not by any means instant or even consistent. I struggle to find that head space. But when it happens, when my mind is clear, a solution or realization will fall right into my lap and it is indeed magical.
~Jeannette~
Fall Open House enjoyed by many
Thank you to everyone who made our Fall Open House possible. It was a wonderful event for so many in our community! The classes all ran very smoothly thanks to Annette, Lisa and Heather! And, there were fabulous treats from all of our instructors as well as from some good friends – you all rock!
A shout out to Tara from Check Please (located in Grafton across the street from Our Lady Queen of Peace on Main Street) for the best coffee in the land.
It was so nice to see so many familiar faces as well as so many new faces.
Thank you one and all!
Love, Jeannette
Reiki & Restore your way into December
We invite you to join Lisa Morrison and Jeannette Benjamin for a beautiful evening of love and peace starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 1.The amazing healing energy shared in this class is something from which all of us can greatly benefit.
Restorative Yoga is a gift and allows one to completely let go as there is no muscle engagement. Through the use of props and support one can surrender into the pose, allowing for deeper relaxation and guided meditation.
Reiki is a healing technique based on the principle where one channels energy into the recipient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the body and restore physical and emotional well-being.
This class will feature poses done on your bottom, back or belly.
Please bring a blanket!
The last time we offered this class it quickly sold out. Since only 10 spots are available we require prepayment to reserve your place on the mat.
Investment is $20 via PayPal:
LaGrangeYoga@gmail.com or Zelle @ 440-213-8933.
(Event will take place at 6 p.m. on Dec. 1)