Category: Yoga Omwork, Living Your Yoga Off of Your Mat

Emerge Renewed and Refreshed

by micheleschmidtyoga, posted in Uncategorized, Yoga Omwork, Living Your Yoga Off of Your Mat

Weekly Challenge (Omwork) – There is an old story from the East that I would like to share with you.

It seems God had just created human beings. Realizing that He had made a terrible mistake, God called a council of the elders to get some help. When the elders were gathered, God reported, “I have just created humans and now I don’t know what I am going to do. They will always be talking to me and wanting things from me and I won’t ever get any rest.” Upon hearing God’s dilemma, the elders made several suggestions telling God he could hide on Mount Everest, or the moon, or deep in the earth. God responded hopelessly to all of these suggestions saying, “No, humans are resourceful; eventually they will find me there.” Finally, one elder walked up to God and whispered something in his ear. Then God shouted in delight, “That’s it! I’ll hide inside of each human; they will never find me there!” According to the yogis, we suffer because we forget who we really are…the Divine “hiding” inside.

Throughout the month, spend time in reflection, meditation and self-study to gain new insights into your life, to shed your foliage like a plant or shrub getting ready to emerge from under the frost refreshed and renewed when Spring arrives!

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unsplash-logoAnnie Spratt

New Day

by micheleschmidtyoga, posted in Uncategorized, Yoga Omwork, Living Your Yoga Off of Your Mat

“Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.” – Thich Nhat Hanh, Renowned Zen master and poet
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How do you begin your day? What do you do to set the tone or direction you would like the day to unfold in? Maybe you set an intention before your feet hit the ground running, or perhaps you pause to practice gratitude, or sit quietly and pray.

Can you shift your mindset to gratitude for the gift you have been given of a new day? The above quote would make an amazing intention…

I will live fully in each moment and look at all beings with eyes of compassion.

When you wake up tomorrow, smile at the twenty-four brand new hours before you that are waiting to be filled!

Calm Steady Center

by micheleschmidtyoga, posted in Uncategorized, Yoga Omwork, Living Your Yoga Off of Your Mat

Weekly Challenge (Omwork) – I’ve taught in a variety of settings over the last 13+ years…gyms, rec centers, corporate offices, dance studios, clubhouses, churches, and outdoor events. They all have their challenges whether it be the size of the space, temperature, noise level, type of flooring/grass/sand, and even the elements (wind, rain, thunder, and lightening). I do my best to “go with the flow”, to stay calm and undisturbed…most days successfully but some days unsuccessfully.

When everything is exactly the way we like it, it’s easy to remain calm, but what about when we are in an uncomfortable situation? We can not control most people, situations, and our environment. The only thing we can control is how we react, or maybe we choose not to react. This is when our personal spiritual growth occurs, honing our skills of patience, tolerance, and acceptance. The next time a person or situation annoys you (there is a loud sound during a yoga class, or someone comes in very late and noisily unrolls their mat right next to yours), use this as an opportunity to practice these qualities and traits.

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Be A Forklift in Someone’s Life

by micheleschmidtyoga, posted in Uncategorized, Yoga Omwork, Living Your Yoga Off of Your Mat

Weekly Challenge (Omwork) – We all know that stealing is bad, taking something from others, an object or possession. But what about stealing someone’s time by being late or not present, stealing attention away from someone else, taking someone’s power or confidence, and not being able to celebrate another’s success.

Notice if you are “guilty” of this type of stealing in your daily encounters with others (family, friends, co-workers). Instead, practice being a “forklift”, so that everyone in your presence feels lighter and brighter. This is the jewel of Asteya , non-stealing, one of the 10 steps for living your Yoga off of your mat.

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Let Good Experiences Soak In

by micheleschmidtyoga, posted in Uncategorized, Yoga Omwork, Living Your Yoga Off of Your Mat

Weekly Challenge (Omwork) – I started reading a new book, “Hardwiring Happiness” by Dr. Rick Hanson. He explains that our “brain takes its shape from what the mind rests upon.” We tend to take in, hold on to, and replay bad or negative experiences easier than we do the good ones. He says that are brains hold onto the bad like Velcro, and repel the good like Teflon. We need to work to rewire the way the brain works, by slowing down, pausing and letting the good experiences soak in.

The next time you have a good experience (perfect cup of coffee, watching your children/grandchildren play peaceful together, you finish a project you have been putting off, you receive a smile or a thank you), stay with it for a few breaths, use your senses to build a better “mental picture” of how you feel, let the experience fill you before you rush off to something else. We are using so busy thinking and doing we don’t allow time for the experience to integrate into our minds and hearts.

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