A few new year thoughts – 2018 edition

January 3, 2018January 3, 2018 ~ Michelle ~ Leave a comment

First, I’d like to take a moment to give 2017 the credit it deserves. I’ve seen many posting about how terrible it was and I’m a little scared to admit that was not my experience. 2017 was one of the best years of my life. And I don’t say that lightly. But to be fair – I was due.

Here are my intentions for 2018:

No alcohol. I took my last drink on November 10th, 2017 and I haven’t regretted it once. Most people think that when someone quits it must be because they have a “problem”. That is not always the case and was not the case for me. But I can tell you that alcohol was not doing me any favors. I may discuss this further at another time, but for now that’s all I have to say about that.(this awesome shirt came from the Home Podcast store)
Save money. I mentioned that 2017 was a great year, and part of that was investing in myself. So I spent some money. This year I’m going to reel in my spending and replenish my savings.
Read at least 12 books. Last year all my reading was dedicated to YTT. This year I hope to dive into my ever-growing pile of books. Right now I’m about to finish “Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone” by Brené Brown. It’s the perfect book to go along with our current political and social culture. I hope to read more than just 12, but I want to keep everything on this list attainable.
Improve general health – exercise, mindfulness, and diet. I’m purposely keeping this one pretty general. I want to go to the gym more (5am workouts help me stay focused on good health all day). More yoga and meditation. A mostly whole foods and plant rich diet. I’d also eventually like to kick the Diet Mountain Dew habit.

What are your 2018 intentions?

Lunchtime Nature Walks

November 29, 2017November 28, 2017 ~ Michelle ~ Leave a comment

I work a typical 8-5 job and I get the standard lunch hour. But like many others, over the years I got into the habit of eating at my laptop or skipping lunch altogether. I know that taking some time away is best. I know that getting away from my phone and email is good for my mental health. But yet, like so many other things that I know are good for me, I have gone against my better judgement and continued to sit my behind in my desk chair day after day.

Until recently – that is. Here in Alabama our summers are hot and steamy. If you go outside for more than a few minutes you’re covered in sweat and followed by a cloud of mosquitos. But now it’s the end of November and we are finally starting to experience some chillier temperatures. It’s still in the 60s at lunchtime, but it’s perfect for a short walk.

I’m lucky to be able to work from home, and my small community has some beautiful trails to explore. Some parts have cement sidewalks – which is ideal for me to ramp up the speed a little bit and get the heart pumping. But there are also dirt trails that wind around the water and big rocks. Perfect for allowing me to slow down and enjoy the impressive scenery.

My favorite part is a small rock on the edge of the water. Once I’ve done most of my walking I find my rock and sit and meditate for a few minutes. I close my eyes and listen to the water running beside me. There is nothing like a little bit of nature to put you in a good mood and set the tone for the rest of the day.

And of course my phone is set to “do not disturb”.

I allow myself enough time to come back home and eat a nice healthy lunch that is prepped and ready to eat in the fridge.

Self care is something that I need to continue to work at, but little steps like this each day are making a big difference.

Namaste.

Graduation!

November 27, 2017November 27, 2017 ~ Michelle ~ Leave a comment

November 13th was the culmination of 8 months of study, practice, reading, meditation, hugs, tears, a yoga baby shower, and so much more. It’s been almost 2 weeks since graduation and I’m still trying to wrap my head around this amazing period of my life.

We spent the day of graduation at Ruffner Mountain. It was a beautiful day and we shared a walking meditation through the trails, a chilly yoga practice, graduation, and a potluck lunch with friends and family. It’s a day that I will never forget. I kept a yellow leaf that I found on our walk as a reminder of the experience.

I started yoga teacher training with no idea what to expect. I was nervous and excited. I wanted to learn as much about yoga as I possibly could. I wanted to meet new people with similar ideas. I wanted to step out of my box, which I had securely bricked myself into over the years. I didn’t even really have any expectations of teaching.

Fast forward 8 months and I’ve changed so much. I’m still unpacking everything that I learned and experienced. One part of me is sad that this part of my journey is over. Another is relieved that I can get back to my normal schedule. As a mother of a nine year old, it’s hard to be away from my family one weekend every month. Plus, I’m excited to see what happens next on this journey.

I’m still undecided about teaching. I’ve had people approach me at a yoga class that I attend at my local civic center asking me to teach an additional class in the mornings. I explained that I have some stage fright around teaching and they didn’t seem to mind. So that is something that I’m exploring. And the idea that people in my community want more yoga really gets me fired up.

If anyone is interested in a 200 hour YTT program and are located near the Birmingham, AL area, please consider HereNowYoga teach training. They are also offering a 300 hour advanced training in Birmingham next year as well.

Namaste!