The theme this week in my yoga classes has been “Each Day Is A Gift.” This is a theme that holds such a great significance for us now, and always. Although with what has been happening globally it is such an uplifting and refreshing reminder that the very miracle of being alive, right now, is an absolute gift to be treasured and appreciated.
At some point in the class I have been placing an intentional pause, with which we have been filling with a wonderful depositing of appreciation and recognition for all that our body does for us. Without us even having to think about it our heart beats, our blood flows, our liver cleans our blood, our intestines digest food and absorbs nutrients so we can thrive, our lungs our kidneys and our lymph systems also work to keep us healthy as they are designed to remove toxins from our bodies in one way or another. We have an amazing world of support within us, right now. Our bodies are truly miraculous gifts and when we take the time to appreciate them, there is a palpable feeling inside that reminds us to that honoring this gift that we have been given is good!
We all know the feeling that is contradictory to honoring this gift. That weighted down feeling that arises from thoughts that pick ourselves apart (for incredibly silly things such as dimples on our behinds, wrinkles on our faces, fill in the blank…) The list of ways that we deposit negative memories in our bank of life can also include fear of that which has yet to happen, and sadness that arises from leaping into an unforeseen future, and again you can simply fill in the blank. When we deposit these types of “memories” inside, if you really feel the response with sensitivity, you will see that they do not serve us. They are not healthy.
A Meditation On Honoring The Gift Of Life
I have recorded a short video that gives an introduction to the meditation that I lead students through this week. This meditation is designed around the theme of this week’s classes and honors our body as a divine gift. I hope you enjoy!
A Testimony That Came To Me This Week
I am always honored to share the sweet words that come from my students. This one came this week:
“Kauai Yoga and Fitness & Samantha Fox’s yoga class today….A-MAZ-ING!! Thank you Sam for making yoga so much more then moving our bodies into twists and arm balances. You truly are so amazing by incorporating soul searching and spiritual upliftment into every single class. If only everyone on this planet could benefit from your classes…. NAMASTE’ SISTER!” -Rebecca
Thanks Rebecca! It is always such an honor to have you in class!
The Choice To Be Joyful Is Ours
This inspirational story that I have been sharing with my class this week has brought tears to more than just a couple of students. The story is moving and uplifting, encouraging us to honor the truth that Each Day Is A Gift. Here is the story, be inspired!
Each Day Is A Gift by Author Unknown
The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. “I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
“Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room …. just wait.” “That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” she replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged, it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away, just for this time in my life.”
She went on to explain, “Old age is like a bank account, you withdraw from what you’ve put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing.”
And with a smile, she said, “Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.”