Practice makes Peaceful

Last night at yoga I was the student while Ann was the teacher.  This is the absolute best thing about having a partner.  The snow was softly falling, when we laid down in relaxation we could see it through the tops of the big windows.  It felt like it was gently shimmering right down on us. It was hard to close my eyes and go within with such beauty all around.

We are on our second week of this new adventure.  In many ways, it feels as if it has always been.  A Reiki/Yogi friend of mine told me yesterday that she is so thrilled that we have accomplished our dreams without making our students uncomfortable with the thought of change. Change is scary.  Necessary, but scary.  Finding solutions to accommodate the need for change while minimizing fear is a great goal.  It's hard to accomplish great things while you are terrified. Not impossible, but it's easier when you can take a deep breath or two now and then. And speaking of breath...

As much as I love teaching yoga, I have to admit that doing yoga is better.  Or perhaps a better statement would be that finding a balance between teaching and doing is sublime.  I get to feed my need to share... and my need to breathe.  Ahhh, the breathing! When you teach, you sort of have to talk through the breath so the class understands, "Inhale.... Exhale".  When you are quietly holding a pose, focusing on the breath, riding the wave between expansion and relaxing... ahhh.  I love watching a student experiencing the beauty of a pose combined with a deep breath, seeing their shoulders suddenly melt and their feet spreading out on the ground as they sink deeper and deeper into the comfort of the pose.  There is nothing like total focus on the task at hand.

We are thrilled with the turnout for the classes.  I am so happy to see so many of my "old" yogis returning and reaffirming their commitment to their practice, and by doing so, their health.  I am delighted to meet so many new folk-- it's astonishing how many live right around the church, and hence, right in my neighborhood.  I've lived in my home for 27 years and rarely have met the people on my block... and yet here they are, enjoying Yoga... trying out Reiki... what an unexpected gift.  We are blessed with the opportunity to form a community.  A community based on seeking wellness, seeking kindness and laughter, what a joy!

See you soon :)

Reiki Healing

The last 2 weeks have been very busy with Reiki appointments.  Reiki is great for stress reduction and try as we may, we do get caught up in holiday frenzy; my regular clients know that Reiki will chill them out, help them relax and remind them of what is really important.  Spending an hour resting on a massage table, with soothing music playing, an aromatherapy pillow over your eyes, having someone hold your hand, can make all the difference in how you approach the nuttiness of the season.  Sometimes it can even make the difference between life and death, sadly. It doesn't matter whether you believe in the Reiki or not, whether you meditate or sleep, or whether you talk and laugh or even cry through the whole hour.  It seems to work no matter how much we try and get in the way!

The blessing of Reiki is that it works for both the Healer and the client.  I've been REALLY stressed lately, Ann & I have had some big decisions to make with our new partnership, I really think the Reiki has saved us!  When we pray for our client, we pray to be a conduit or a channel, allowing the energy to flow through us into wherever the client needs it.  Since it's not our energy, we can't help but be healed in the process as well.  Many times I will come into an appointment feeling depleted... and come out rejuvenated and energized, what a gift!  The prayer is for the highest intention of the highest good, that we may both be blessed and blessed we are.

While I LOVE getting a massage, sometimes it feels like work, especially if I am drained or feeling fragile.  Let's face it, when you are already feeling pounded by the world sometimes it's hard to take one more thing.. even a beautiful massage.  Reiki feels more gentle, you are hardly touched, and when you are, it is soothing, loving and kind, which is what most of us hunger for.  Many people are stunned that they are brought to tears, they ask why, they can't figure it out, "what am I crying about?".  It's that deep need to be touched, to be held, to be comforted, unconditionally, without reciprocation, to just receive.  It's my deepest pleasure to see a client finally let go, take a deep breath, and allow themselves to relax and be comforted, it never ceases to bring a smile to my face when I see them release all those years of tension into Reiki bliss.

You really should try it yourself sometime :)

Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not be angry.
I will be kind to all living creatures.
I will do my work honestly and diligently.
And I will show gratitude for everything.

Reiki Creed~Dr. Usui Sensei

Welcome To Imagine!

What a whirlwind!  Ann & I started with an occasional "hmm, wouldn't it be fun if we combined talents?" and suddenly here we are... combining talents!  And combining friends.. and combining a blog-- yikes!  It's sort of scary combining a blog with a very talented writer. Feels like I might have to watch my p's & q's... and exclamation points and dot dot dots...

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Linda Miller.  I have been teaching yoga for 9 years, have been practicing yoga for many more.  I've studied Tai Chi extensively and am a learning geek.  I love to read and will voraciously consume any book that will help me better understand the inner world, our inner spirit and our connection to Divine Spirit, God, The Universe, call it what you will. Because of this, I have a long line of certifications and initials that I could use to follow my name but paradoxically, because of this, I don't really care much about those things. 

I LOVE yoga.  When I first started teaching to adults, it was mainly because MY yoga teachers/mentors were leaving and moving on to other places.  They encouraged me to take their spots, teach their classes and take care of their long time students.  I was petrified.  I am very shy by nature, although most folks would beg to differ... but that's another blog.  With their encouragement and guidance, and the support of those students, I found the courage to teach.  Before I knew it, I was teaching many classes a week and when I turned around and looked I had built a small business, Yolinna Spirit, with a website, newsletter and many other offerings besides yoga.

John Lennon said life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.  Wise Sage, John Lennon. I can't say I'm very good at making plans.  I tend to spring in and live. Sometimes with great results, sometimes... not so much.  That's the reason why I'm excited about Imagine.  Life is all about balance.  One of the primary focuses of Yoga-Tai Chi-Reiki, is to learn to create balance.  Ann & I are a great example of this principle.  We are quite yin and yang.  Ann is a great planner, an English teacher and writer, she will keep us on the straight and narrow, making our message clear.  I am the opposite, I leap first and ask questions later.  I get things done.  When we get bogged down with the endless details of starting a new business,  I plow through like the Ox that I am, according to Chinese Astrology. Together we will make this dream come alive.

Today is the anniversary of John Lennon's death. I remember the day 30 years ago vividly, like it was yesterday.  I am so proud to be here, honoring his legacy of dreamers and having the opportunity to share that dream with you, our Imagine followers.

"Imagine all the people, living life in peace.  You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.  I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one." ~John Lennon 1940-1980