04/03/08

For the Falkowski family, the past year and a half has been a time of building. Since the fall of 2006, we have added a 2nd yoga studio, 2 new business partners, a baby, a major move of our Manchester Studio to a new location,
and another full-time business for Matthew. In that order, we have made all these changes. All though each of these additions have been positive in their own way, they have also brought about a lot of tasks and responsibilities into our already busy lives. As new tasks and responsibilities come into our life each year, it can get easy to lose track of what really makes you happy.

For me, yoga is a blessing. I take one hour and 15 minutes each day and focus on what makes me happy. In my yoga
practice, I pay attention to the little things that make me smile. I set an intention of focusing on what I need to feel balanced and whole each day. My yoga practice not only protects my emotional well-being but that protects my physical health as well.

On my yoga mat, I continue to grow and develop as a woman, mother, and human being. On my yoga mat, I have learned to be truthful, strong, and courageous, even if it is for only five breaths. On my yoga mat, I have learned that I am far from perfect but that perfection is not as important as being authentic and real. On my yoga mat, I have learned that I am happy. I just have to pay attention to what makes me happy and follow
some simple lessons to rediscover my passion for life when I start to get overwhelmed by tasks and responsibilities
of living a full life.

Here are some essential lessons I have learned from yoga and try to follow in my daily life:

Value what you love to do. There are always items to add to your to-do list, but don't forget the diversions that you love. Do you look forward to reading in bed, going out to breakfast, taking long walks, or listening to music?
Make sure that some of your favorite diversions happen each day. Only you can make this happen. It is important
to identify what you need and then follow through and do it. Even if that means slowing down for an hour or so regardless of the size of your chore list. I usually know that I am not getting enough of my favorite diversions when feelings of resentment crop up towards others for simple things like returning phone calls or I feel overwhelmed to take on a small task in my life such as putting away the groceries or folding laundry. In times like these, I seek refuge by sneaking away to my favorite knitting store to sit and knit even if the dishes are overflowing. The army of dishes will still be there when I get home. After a few hours of knitting and purling row after row, the dishes seem to get done with an ease instead of an underlying rage.

Build your strength and independence. We all have low-energy days and have times when we want to skip our regular
yoga practice but if you can resist your urge to bail out on your yoga (or any other exercise you are dedicated to) you will be rewarded both now and later. Just get yourself to the yoga mat. Once you are stretching and breathing, it is most likely that you will want to complete what you started and you will feel good about doing so. Sticking with your exercise plan will help you feel good about yourself and also strengthen your immune system and enhance your body's production of mood-boosting hormones.
Don't let stress zap you of joy. Diffuse daily hassles by practicing stress-reduction strategies. As a yoga teacher, I recommend taking short deep-breathing breaks throughout the day. A minute of Ujaii breath will relax you, get more oxygen into your blood stream, resulting in a greater feeling of calm. Take a brisk walk outside, hug someone you love, have a good laugh, get a massage, sing in the shower, write in a journal. All of these are effective means for reducing tension, stress, depression and anxiety. Find ways to lift your spirits other than eating the sugary and salty snacks you might crave when you are feeling frantic.

Give back to others. This is Karma Yoga or the yoga of service. Share your skills and talents with a local school, club or organization whom you would like to volunteer or participate. Being engaged in your local community is good for your emotional health and will make our world a better place. We all have unique talents and gifts that we can share. We also learn a tremendous amount about ourselves and others when we mentally and emotionally stretch and meet new people outside of our social comfort zone. For instance, when I volunteer my time with people with disabilities, it helps me to break down barriers between myself and others and to see the world from a different perspective.
Appreciate the people around you. Appreciate your family, loved ones, and friends. The openness and trust you share with these important people can help give you the perspective you need to cope with everyday challenges.

Share a good laugh with others. Don't forget about relationships at work. Colleagues and co-workers can provide valuable support during stressful situations. I could not imagine what my life would be like if Dawn and I did not value each other. As co-workers, we spend many hours together each week and I know that our mutual respect and trust for one another positively impacts my happiness at my workplace.

Feeling satisfied and fulfilled with our lives is essential to our emotional and physical well-being. Through my yoga, I have
learned to appreciate who I am and what I need to feel good. When I take care of myself, ultimately I am taking care of my relationships with others and as a result I am putting positive vibes out in this world. Do a little yoga today, on and off your mat, and you will be amazed at just how good you feel.