Letting Go

So the intention I have been setting in my classes for the last couple days have been letting go, especially of any expectations we place on our practice or ourselves. I kinda thought I was the type of person that wasn't perfect at letting go but was pretty alright at letting go, not just in practice but in life as well. I don't have many possessions that I cling to or would be really upset if  I lost, I think I can let go pretty well.

Well life in incredibly humbling.

Today I talked to my lil friend Nikki that bought my horse Norma last summer. Now Norma isn't just a horse she was my baby. I had her for 10 years, almost my whole rodeo career was on Norma. We made many finals in Alberta and in the States, and she was definitely  priceless to me. But then life gets a little unpredictable with school, travel, limited funds to rodeo with, and I had to sell Norma so someone else could enjoy her as much as I did.  So last summer a wonderful family with a young teenage girl bought her.  I would never have let her go if I new she wasn't going to be loved and taken care of just as good or better than I had treated her.

So this weekend they are at the Alberta High School Rodeo finals and she gave me a lil call for advice for her run today. So I was very happy Nikki called and to give advice to try to help her out. The whole time talking to her on the phone and after I was feeling incredibly nervous for her run today and I had no reason to. The situation is out of my control and I can't do anything about it but wish them luck. I was feeling very sad and I missed Norma incredibly. I couldn't let go. I couldn't let go of the fact that Norma is no longer my horse. I couldn't let go of the fact that I was feeling helpless and so out of control of what Norma does and what happens to Norma. I took a step back from the situation I was putting myself in and just thought; wow maybe I should try setting my intention to learn to let go.

So today I let go a little bit more of the fact that Norma is no longer in my possession, I havn't let go completely but it is a practice, just like practicing the asanas in yoga.

So Nikki and Norma I love you to the moon and back, and I wish you all the luck in the world and to have fun with each other. As I practice letting Norma go it doesn't mean I ever forget, and I know I can still visit.

I had read a passage from Meditations from the Mat to my classes this week, I don't have it on me so I'm going to try to get it as accurately as possible....

Live in this world with a mind that lets go. If you let go a little you will find a little peace. If you let go a lot you will find a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will know complete peace and freedom, and all of your struggles with the world will disappear.

wishing you the strength to let go and find peace
xo

Welcome

This is my first blog post ever, so I hope you enjoy. As I sit down to write this I feel nervous and excited writing my thoughts and experiences out for everyone to see. I am a Moksha Yoga instructor and we are in the middle of a 7 week challenge called Living Your Moksha. For 7 weeks we get a different challenge every week based on the 7 pillars of Moksha. This weeks challenge is Live to Learn, looking through a beginners eyes, not just in your yoga practice but in your daily life. So I set that intention for myself today, to teach that way, to look at things that way, to experience things that way.This morning it was raining, and at first rain can be kind of a bummer, but when you look at it and experience it with a beginners mind its very fascinating. Fresh pure water falling from the sky, feels cool to the skin, smells fresh and clean. When you watch how Mother Earth reacts to rain its as if shes re-hydrating after days and weeks without water, likes shes taking a breath of fresh air. Everything becomes lush, green, and bursting with life. A friend of mine said it best this morning:

Dear Rain, thank you for your growth and perpetual cleansing for behind your cold and dreary exterior there is warmth and new life.

 

After my classes this morning I had the pleasure of practicing with a great teacher and friend, to experience yoga from a beginners mind was invigorating. Moving through vinyasa's with breath and really feeling my body and energy move as if it were the first time, brought a smile to my face. I left feeling inspired and light, as if I were walking on top of the rain clouds. 

Set your intention for the rest of your day of looking through a beginners eye's, you might be surprised at what you may learn.  

peace

xo