Happy Friday lovely,
How do you deal with the space-between moments in life? Between day-to-day moments or experiences, travel destinations, jobs, relationships…?
In this present moment, I am settling back home after my big little trip to India, and am really cherishing these present moments of the in-between zone,
reflecting with gratitude overflowing for the experience I just had being a student this past week in India. and preparing for the upcoming Yoga Training that starts on Sunday. 🙂
I left the retreat in India feeling fully juiced up, inspired, and more connected than ever to the path of Yoga, and my dharma, or purpose, as a teacher.
And now the space between.
These are the moments that really test us humans,
How quickly will we fall back into routine patterns of being, into being busy and thinking about what comes next?
Can we keep up the practices outside the retreat setting? How?!
These in-between moments, challenge our ability and willingness to stay consistent with our resolutions to keep showing up to the practices we cultivate on retreat.
I feel myself already slipping back into old patterns: checking my phone more often, and having less time for meditation and asana practice.
So, what’s the best way to integrate all of the beautiful feelings, lessons and learnings that we have on retreat?
# 1 – Self-Compassion:
Less guilt, more love. For me, there is an important element of self-compassion. Without the disciplined structure of a conducive environment and retreat container, teachers, a schedule, space from our devices and work, of course it’s going to be more challenging to keep it up. Better to love ourselves, and celebrate all that we are doing, giving, sharing… than to find yet another reason to feel guilt or shame about something we are not.
#2 – Keep Showing Up – 5 minutes a day
Showing up. This is the hardest part. There is really no short cut to doing the work of taming the mind. It’s takes A LOT of practie over time. Our commitment to the practice, can be as simple as 5 minutes a day. Add it to your morning routine. Put on a timer and just close your eyes for 5 minutes, or journal for 5 minutes, or whatever you want to practice. We all have 5 minutes. And the rewards are just so flipping worth it.
#3 – Celebrate all Wins
Every time you do show up to the mat, the meditation cushion, the practice – celebrate! Compliment yourself. Make yourself feel good. As I just mentioned, showing up is really the hardest part. Some would say that 80% of “success” in life is just about showing up. The more we can associate good habits with with good vibes, the easier it will be for us to flow and exist along those deepening neural pathways.
How are you going to show up today?
Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead!
—
Quote:
“There is a place in the heart where everything meets.
Go there if you want to find me.
Mind, senses, soul, eternity, all are there.
Are you there?
Enter the bowl of vastness that is the heart.
Give yourself to it with total abandon . . .
Once you know the way
the nature of attention will call you
to return, again and again,
and be saturated with knowing,
‘I belong here, I am at home here.”
― The Radiance Sutras
Poetry for your Soul:
The Radiance Sutras: 112 Gateways to the Yoga of Wonder and Delight by Lorin Roche
This modern classic, will keep coming back again and again. For Yoga and meditation students everywhere, the Radiance Sutras is an invitation to experience directly the ecstatic depths of yoga as revealed by the divine partners Shiva and Shakti, and their breadth of human experience. In it, we explore:
The divinity that is permeating your body at this very moment
The alchemical power of Sanskrit
Yoga meditation—harmonising all the elements and levels of your being
The depths of your connection to the energies of life
Book:
War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Do you have a project, idea, or dream that you’ve been thinking about, feeling into and procrastinating from for a long time?
This Week, as our first ever 200 Hour Teacher Training approaches on Sunday, I come back to this classic, War of Art. The biggest challenge and teacher along this journey has definitely been RESISTANCE, in all of its infinite myriads of forms; fear, self-doubt, procrastination, perfectionism. No book that I’ve come across, does this topic better justice than “the War of Art: Break through the Blocks and Win your inner Creative Battles. (Pssst. It’s not the art of war)
Song:
Shiva Nataraj – Desert Dwellers, Remixed by Drumspyder
Classic for the dance floor + your Yoga mat.
Video Practice
Flow for Transformation
What are you transforming in your life? – Join me for 9 minutes of building heat and fire in the body for the purposes of purification and transformation.
—
Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this Pure Flow Yoga Tribe.
See you next week when I reveal our all-star cast of guest retreat teachers for April, May & June!
We LOVE you!
With Love & Blessings
XOXO
Francie
P.S. The Bali Spirit Festival is just a few weeks away – March 24 – 31st. Did you know that you get 10% discount on your ticket when you enter promocode “Francie”. See you there!
P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it. We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit from joining us in paradise.
Instagram Post of the Week
One the amazing benefits of living in our little paradise is being able to walk barefoot👣Connecting our feet to Mother Earth everyday 🌎 as we walk through jungles 🌴and on sandy beaches🌊 not only feels amazing but also brings grounding to the body and calms the mind💚