NOVEMBER - THE MONTH OF GRATITUDE

As many know, Facebook has been a constant friend during and since my move from Salt Lake City to Fallbrook, CA.  A conduit, if you will, to the yoga friends I left behind and those I have met on my journey.  It also connects me to family 'friends' and people I enjoyed in high school, etc.

I notice on many Facebook comments expressions of gratitude.  After all, it is November - Thanksgiving month - and it is a good time to express our thankfulness; to be grateful.  Each day, some of my friends will post their daily gratitude; others, I'm sure, are silently doing the same (kind of like those 'selfie' photos we see so many of -- some do, many don't).

I thought I'd take care of expressing my gratitude here.  Using categories, instead of specific things.  First one, the topic for this blog, is my yoga and - to be specific - a few of the teaching(s) I've received and use every day:

• Watch my students; it is not necessary to talk all the time. 
• My hands are my commitment to the pose, they don't move once placed. (That means even my fingers don't lift - commitment.)
• Use expressive language.  (suggestion:  find a thesaurus, keep it handy, use it).
• Leave my mat rolled up (too easy to get on it and stay on it while teaching).
• Without a strong foundation, the pose will not open.
• Everyone has a story, each student a different history. 
• The breath is one of my most powerful tools.
• Tell only MY story. 

I had no specific order when I wrote these; all are valuable.  Some days one will speak out more than the others. 

Lately, while I keep all of these close, the foundation has been primary in my teaching.  Why?  Once set, it makes all else come more easily -- at least that's my take on things (and, obviously, the opinion of the teacher who so wisely shared it with me).  

More to come in future November posts.  And, it's my birthday this month -- in honor of it, I am trying to learn the Beatles' "When I'm 64" on the guitar - a lofty goal.

Hope you have a nice Thursday!