As I watched the seagulls, I thought, “that’s the road to take; find the absolute rhythm and follow it with absolute trust”- Niko Kazantzakis

“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.”

Swami Vivekananda

Ask yourself, “what is it time to let go of?” Is it time to let go of the expectations others have of you? Is it your expectations of yourself you need to let go of? Is it past hurts or disappointments? Is it failed relationships?

We can’t move forward when we cling so tightly to the past. The past has passed. The only thing that is real is what is happening right now, and what is happening right now creates your future. Every thought you think, every word you speak and every action you take creates your tomorrow. If you can’t work your negative thoughts out of your mind, dance them out of your body and sing them  out of your heart. Use the positive vibrations created by yoga, dance and mantra to chase negativity away and allow you to finally let go.

“The Universe will bow at your feet and serve your Heart’s desire if you but choose to focus on it and it alone. You were born with a direct connection to the Energy that birth’s and sustains worlds and It has given you a vision of what you must do. Discard everything else and let this vision take over your world and you will not have to chase it – just by showing up, it will come to you!” - Jackson Kiddard

The distance between who you are supposed to be and who you’ve become is the amount of disease, suffering, and depression you manifest in your life to compel you to close this gap-Siri Atma S. Khalsa, M.D.

“As a physician, I’ve found that in the course of treating illness, it often comes down to the core issue of being oneself. We do not have to do anything to be ourselves; all we have to do is stop trying to be someone else. The secret is, don’t discover yourself, don’t transform yourself and don’t recreate yourself. Nurture yourself and see what you become.” Siri Atma S. Khalsa, M.D.

When we think of love, we tend to think of the flow of love from another to ourselves but love is really a vibration that emanates from your own heart out to others. Love for another exits regardless of whether that other person does something for you or not.

There has to be an openness in the heart that allows love to flow between individuals, there has to be an openness and trust to love life.

Love is not about what you get from others rather it is about what you are willing to give.

If you give out your very best in every circumstance, you will love life. If every action is measured based on what you will receive back, that isn’t love, that is a transaction, some sort of deal you make with the universe and with others.

Do you stop loving your child when they’re having a bad day that affects your mood? Likely not, because you know you are forever bound to that innocent being. Yet, when it comes to others, we give our love and we take it away.

If someone is not loving towards you, it might be because of your actions towards them, or it might just be they are in a difficult space currently. When someone is experiencing their own difficulties, they may not be as upbeat or as generous as you would like them to be. That is not the time to withdraw your love. I certainly don’t advocate putting yourself in abusive situations so sometimes loving someone, means sending them loving kindness in your thoughts, from a safe distance.

Continue to send out your loving thoughts and make every action one of grace and kindness.

Love will then flow back to you.

It’s not about what you get; it’s about what you’re willing to give.

“Put your head underwater and keep it there for a while.

You’ll soon realize that you’re 100% committed to breathing.

Notice that you don’t make excuses not to breathe. Notice that you don’t worry about motivating yourself to breathe. Notice that you don’t need to justify your desire to breathe.

You just breathe.

Commitment is action.

No excuses. No debate. No lengthy analysis. No whining about how hard it is. No worrying about what others might think. No cowardly delays.

Just go.”
-Steve Pavlina

Boarding a flight last weekend, a fellow passenger, looked at the mat I was carrying and commented, “I see you’ve brought your essentials.” It made me stop and reflect that my yoga mat, which represents my yoga practice, is a life essential. You’ll often hear me say, “yoga is my life line.” Yoga gives me the deepest appreciation for life and all that it holds, whether the lessons are prickly or joyful. Years ago, if I was having an “off” day, my kids would ask me, “mom did you go to yoga today?” It’s impossible to hide that I react differently to stress after I’ve practiced. If I can’t find the time to do yoga for myself, shouldn’t I at the very least find the time to do it for the people I love.

¹re·treat

noun \ri-ˈtrēt\

Definition of RETREAT

1) : an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable

2): a place of privacy or safety : refuge

3) : a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director

I’ve blended the definition above to come up with this definition:

RETREAT: The act of withdrawing from what is difficult to a place of refuge for self-study.

Traditionally, we have always had periods of work activity followed by periods of rest for reflection and self-renewal. Today, however, it is rare to spend even one full day a week disconnected from all aspects of our work obligations. Be honest, when was the last time you spent a full day logged off the internet.

IT TAKES COURAGE:

Maybe it’s time to stop being busy just being busy.

It takes courage to stop everything, step back and choose to examine how you are moving through the world. Are the choices you make day to day, consistent with a lifestyle that promotes health and well-being on all levels, mind, body, and spirit?

Here is what a yoga retreat can do for you:

• Give you a full week of a twice daily practice of yoga and meditation.
• Daily practice will help you cultivate the desire, willpower, and tools to help you maintain a practice when you return home.
• Nourish your body with healthy meals.
• Encourage rest and relaxation. In between classes, there is time to just be. Do you even remember what that feels like?
• Create lasting friendships. Yoga retreats are a great place to meet like-minded individuals.
• Explore a new culture
• Reconnect with nature

When you’re ready to stop all your “busyness,” we’ll guide you through a transformational journey that will connect you to nature, community, and your true self.

Let the natural detoxification process of yoga practiced in majestic natural settings begin.

See you at the beach, the jungle, the forest, and on the mat.

Costa Rica, Galiano Island, Kithira Island Greece, http://www.semperviva.com/retreats/