Category Archives: #ThoughtfulThursday
#ThoughtfulThursday: FB Book Cover Challenge, Part 2
Last week I shared something that’s been going around on Facebook. A little disclaimer here: I don’t usually participate in this modern-day equivalent of chain letters, but I like this because it involves reading.
The challenge is to post the covers of seven books I love, one each day. No explanations, no reviews, just the covers. I posted the first two last week and here are the rest.
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
Day Six
Day Seven
In peace and light,
Debra
#ThoughtfulThursday: FB Book Cover Challenge
Just for fun, I thought I would share something that’s been going around on Facebook. A little disclaimer here: I don’t usually participate in this modern-day equivalent of chain letters, but I like this because it involves reading.
The challenge is to post the covers of seven books I love, one each day. No explanations, no reviews, just the covers.
I’ll do the same here with a twist: I’ll post two today that have been posted on my personal page and the rest next week.
Day One
Day Two
In peace and light,
Debra
#ThoughtfulThursday: Favorite Quotes, Part II
Just expanding a bit on last week’s post. Hope you enjoy and find a little inspiration.
- “Sometimes you’re in the right place looking at things in the wrong way.” – Abraham Hicks
- “You’re never too old for anything.” – Betty White
- “In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.” – Buddha
- “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha
- “My religion is kindness.” – The Dalai Lama
- “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” – Henry David Thoreau
- “In every walk with nature one receives more than he seeks. – John Muir
- “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” – Lao Tzu
- “The old law about an ‘eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
- “Do not let yesterday use up too much of today.” – Will Rogers
In peace & light,
Debra
#ThoughtfulThursday: Favorite Quotes
I don’t always use quotes in my classes but sometimes my sequences and class themes are informed by different inspirational quotes. Here are a few of my favorites.
- “Upon waking, let you first thought be, ‘Thank you’.” – Abraham Hicks
- “If you seek peace, be still. If you seek wisdom, be silent. If you seek love, be yourself.” – Becca Lee
- “Yoga allows you to find an inner peace that is not ruffled and riled by the endless stresses and struggles of life.” B.K.S. Iyengar
- “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” – Buddha
- “Live with a peaceful heart; cultivate a warrior’s spirit.” – Dan Millman
- “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
- “A long deep breath is the equivalent of a full stop and the key to centering.” – Eric Maisel
- “Life is a gift, not to possess, but to share.” – Henri Nouwen
- “I am grateful for all that I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” – Henry David Thoreau
- “At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” – Lao Tzu
- “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
- “Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward happiness, compassion toward suffering, delight toward virtue, and equanimity toward vice, thoughts become purified, and the obstacles to self-knowledge are lessened.” – Patanjali
Namaste,
Debra
#ThoughtulThursday: What’s Going On Update
I’m long overdue to give an update from my post way back in January. I obviously did not find my groove regarding posting regularly but hope to get back on track going forward.
So here are the update on the big changes that have happened or are still going on.
Original Post: I’m trying to get the house I’ve lived in for 20 years ready to sell. My ex and I didn’t do a lot of updating and I’ve had to make some pretty major updates so that I won’t take a loss on it. It’s taking A LOT more time than I thought it would.
Update: The house is SOLD! I am no longer a homeowner and I am totally okay with that. Side note for anyone who wants to pick on Millennials for not being quick to buy homes: Maybe you should let everyone define their own success. Homeownership can be great but it can also be a pain in the butt.
Original Post: I’ve got a new guy. He’s awesome and helping me with my house and providing me amazing emotional support.
Update: I’ve still got him. Things are going very well.
Original Post: I’ve got a part-time job. It took me my entire adult life to figure out that I wanted to teach yoga but it’s a hard way to make a living, so I’ve had to take an office job to pay the bills. One of my goals this year is to improve my hustle and/or find a part-time job in the wellness industry that doesn’t suck my soul out.
Update: I no longer have the part-time job. I’ve not found something else but the proceeds from the house have given me a little breathing room so I can focus on how I want to build on my yoga career.
Original Post: I’m taking more yoga teacher training. It’s like being in grad school all over again but I love it!
Update: My 300-hour training is beginning to wind down. Graduation is September 30th. We’ll see what happens after that.
Thanks for tuning in,
Debra
#ThrowBackThursday: Getting Outside Your Comfort Zone
Think yoga can only be done in a studio setting? Yoga can be done anywhere, including in the middle of a fashion mall concourse (pictured here).
I tend to be a very introverted person and at first was hesitant to practice where non-yoga practitioners could see me. This picture was taken not too very long after my ex and I first split, and I was both feeling lost and re-discovering my independence. It helped to be surrounded by supportive friends. Learning to push past my comfort zone helped me re-claim my strength.
I encourage you to look for places to practice that are outside the normal studio setting (like the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, where I just happen to teach on Mondays and Thursdays). It can give you a new perspective on your practice and yourself.
Peace and love,
Debra
#ThoughtfulThursday: A Yin Yoga Resource List
Clampett, Cheri, and Biff Mithoefer. The therapeutic yoga kit: sixteen postures for self-Healing through quiet yin awareness. Healing Arts Press, 2009.
I love Biff Mithoefer’s yoga kits. You get a book with discussion of the poses and more, a CD to use for practice or listen to cuing tips, and flashcards that are helpful to use when teaching. I admittedly haven’t used this kit as much as the one listed below, but this is a great resource for yin/restorative classes.
Clark, Bernie. The complete guide to yin yoga: the philosophy & practice of yin yoga. White Cloud Press, 2012.
This is by far the book I used the most. It has lots of detail about the poses and counterposes, the meridians, and a lot more. It’s fabulous.
Grilley, Paul. Yin yoga: outline of a quiet practice. White Cloud Press, 2002.
This is a great quick read from the person who helped make yin yoga what it is today. This is the book that made me want to dive deeper into yin.
Mithoefer, Biff. The yin yoga kit: the practice of quiet power. Healing Arts Press, 2006.
Like the kit referenced above, this is very user-friendly. I use the flashcards the most as quick reference points during classes. It’s also great to use the CD when I want to practice yin at home without keeping a constant eye on the clock.
Powers, Sarah. Insight yoga. Shambhala, 2009.
I use this resource the least but it’s good nonetheless. I did a great weekend intensive workshop with Sarah Powers several years ago and her perspective on yin has definitely influenced the way I teach. This is a great resource for those who want to mix more yang elements into their practice or teaching.
Feel free to share any resources you use or questions you have in the comments below.
Peace and love,
Debra
#ThoughtfulThursday: What’s Going On
In Monday’s post, I mentioned that I would share an update explaining why I’ve not been posting regularly for a while. Basically it’s because my life has been full of changes and, while I know that’s always true, these have been some fairly big ones.
- I’m trying to get the house I’ve lived in for 20 years ready to sell. My ex and I didn’t do a lot of updating and I’ve had to make some pretty major updates so that I won’t take a loss on it. It’s taking A LOT more time than I thought it would.
- I’ve got a new guy. He’s awesome and helping me with my house and providing me amazing emotional support.
- I’ve got a part time job. It took me my entire adult life to figure out that I wanted to teach yoga but it’s a hard way to make a living, so I’ve had to take an office job to pay the bills. One of my goals this year is to improve my hustle and/or find a part time job in the wellness industry that doesn’t suck my soul out.
- I’m taking more yoga teacher training. It’s like being in grad school all over again but I love it!
I think I’ve finally found my groove again and plan to post more regularly this year. Thank you for tuning in!
Peace,
Debra
