You Belong, He Belongs, She Belongs, We Belong...

Have you ever felt that you did not belong?  It promotes loneliness and isolation.  
There are times in all of our lives where we feel like the puzzle piece that does not fit.  But God has a perfect plan for our imperfect lives, and I believe that right now you belong exactly where you are.  You may not be there forever, but there is a purpose in every part of our lives, a lesson to learn, a greater trust to develop, a faith to adopt, a solitude to embrace.  
Here is the secret (I read it today in Brave Girls Club):

An easy way to shift our belief of not belonging is to step back and make room in the circle for others who do not feel as if they belong.....somehow when we remind others, and treat everyone in our life (even if they are only in our life for a few minutes) as if they absolutely belong.....it reminds us that we belong too.

So look around at those whose hands and heads are hanging down.....and bring them into the circle of belonging.....smile at them, SEE them for who they are, SEARCH fiercely to find the most beautiful and unique things in them that they have forgotten and point those things out to them.....and most of all, seek for things that are the same as you, and draw those things deeply into your heart and never forget them.

It’s kind of a little magic trick. When you treat her, and him, as if they belong..........somehow you will forget that you got tricked into believing that you don’t belong. You remember what you already knew.

We all belong...                         www.bravegirlsclub.com

So, go today and when you feel that you do not belong, make someone else feel that he or she does belong.  You will be amazed at how much better you feel when you give the gift to others of what you are longing for yourself.  When I started Tranquility Yoga, my goal was to make it a place where everyone felt as if they belonged - rich, poor, no matter how much you weighed or what you looked like, no distinction between nationalities or the color of our skin,  you are right where you belong at Tranquility Yoga in Owasso.

Why Hot Yoga? You Asked. We Serve.

Tranquility Yoga is a service minded, mission oriented type of studio.  Many of our yoga people asked for a hot yoga class.  Since our floor is heated with hot water circulating underneath, I said that we would begin it once the weather began to cool.  We enjoy hearing from our people and are willing to try new things to serve our yoga friends.
Last Friday evening, I heated the floor to 79-80 degrees.  Our first hot yoga class was so lovely.  It was very important to concentrate on the breath and mindfulness.  As a Vinyasa style class, we move; therefore, we kept the pace going throughout the 58 minutes.  Our final relaxation time was long (about 8 minutes) and very peaceful.  This week we will heat it up again.  Then, add a few more degrees.  It is so worth a try!  Come and see the difference consistent yoga practice will make in your life.  Some like it HOT!

God Restores

Sometimes life is complicated.  Other times your mind feels overloaded and disconnected.  Take some time today to restore and revitalize your body.  God is in the moment.  He is waiting.  No condemnation, no judging, no "be good" list.  Just rest.  Be still and know.  God restores.

Cultivating Abundance and Courage with Confidence

I am reading and enjoying this Scripture today.

 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, 

His Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Ephesians 3:20 Msg

Sometimes when life changes for us, we feel the shift and sense the fear.  However, I believe that we need to hold on tight to the dream that God has placed in our hearts and cultivate an abundance mentality.  Tuning in to His Frequency like a radio dial.  When we see what God has instead of a scarcity idea of fearfulness, we begin to feel courageous and confident!  Find some quiet time today to sit in His Presence and tune into what He is speaking--words of peace, love, and abundant life.

I Love, Absolutely Enjoy, Power Yoga!

Power Yoga inspires me.  It is so hard at times, and yet I appreciate knowing that the Vinyasa Flow Yoga poses are appreciated by you.  Thank you, dear Friend, for texting me that you enjoyed our Weight Loss class this morning at 10:00 a.m.  You just made my day!  It truly doesn't get easier, but you get better and stronger.  Some times, we all need to just tell someone how much gratitude we truly feel.  When I teach, I offer it like a gift.  When you receive it as a gift, it makes me happy!

Yoga - the Ability to Approve of Oneself

One of the many things I appreciate about yoga is learning to APPROVE of yourself.  It is the journey of self-discovery.  So often in life, we seek people's approval, all the while ignoring or simply forgetting that God is the Source for our identity.  

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?"  Galatians 1:10a

When I find the balance between steadiness and ease, strength and flexibility, too much and too little on the yoga mat, I discover a new way to accept and approve of how my body is working.  As I bring my breath into a smooth cadence, my constant gaze forward, and my attention within, I feel approved.  It builds a feeling of worth and self-confidence into my being.

"The crazy life is oh so tempting....oh so tempting. It is tempting to go, go, go and prove, prove, prove and seek, seek, seek for apPROVE-al; isn't it?

It is tempting to do what everyone else is doing...and to make it shiny and sparkly and perfect and wonderful and to sacrifice anything and everything to make it so. It is oh-so-easy to get caught up in the competition...in the comparing...in the craziness of what it *seems* like everyone else is doing."  Brave Girls Club

When I come to my yoga mat, I know I am once again opening myself to the journey of self-acceptance, discovery of who I am with my meditation time and quieting my mind, and learning the curve of letting go.  

Won't you come, too? 

Contentment - Letting Go of Envy

Letting go of envy and embracing contentment, I deactivated my Facebook account.  I found that it secretly encouraged me to feel envy and enhanced comparison at times when I read other people's posts.  It was my struggle, and I felt that I should let it go.  Today I am thinking of contentment and embracing gratitude with every breath.