Too Busy to Pause?

I interact with many people on a daily basis.  Whether I am a student in a yoga class among 25 fellow students, teaching a corporate yoga class or talking with someone about my health coaching practice, a common thread I hear is the word “busy” which is often paired with the word “stressed.”

Modern day living dictates many people feeling overwhelmed with busyness.  Some literally don’t know when/how to take a breath – a key factor in stress.  Busy leads to boredom – people get stuck in a rut following the same routine day-in & day-out.  Busy leaves no space for creativity – which often can put limits on our highest potential.  Busy is not necessarily productive, particularly when some people are busy for the sake of being busy – as if it’s the socially accepted catchphrase of the decade.  To top it off, those who are overwhelmed with being busy often lack inspiration in their lives.  Does any of this sound healthy?

Yet why do so many think it’s a crazy idea to stop and take a break?  If we don’t take control and break for pause, eventually the busy pace will break us.  If you relate to any of the above just mentioned, pause is required in your life.  There is power in pause.  If you make the time to drop your “to do list” for just 30 minutes a day, you might start to discover that your life is full of inspiration, freshness and peace vs. boredom, busyness and stress.

Need a push for creating change.  Here are some ideas:

• Adopt a dog – if you live in DC area, consider Lucky Dog Rescue
• Block out 30 minutes at night to read a new book (non-work related)
• Try a new venue – visit a new yoga studio, church, restaurant, bookstore, whatever
• Drive a different route to work
• Experiment with a recipe that looks super complicated
• Call a friend you haven’t spoken with in a while
• Get outside – nature is medicine for the soul

Growing Pains

Aparigraha, the fifith yama, means nonattachment or nongreed.  It is also often translated as letting go.

For the most part I’m pretty good about following aparigraha, this key ethical principle in yoga.  I’m fairly chill when someone cuts me off in traffic.  I let it go.  I don’t get overworked about being overcharged $1.  I let it go.  I’m even a huge believer of feng shui and it’s principles centered around letting go of old stuff (clothes, books, photos, etc.) to make room for new things.

So as I expand my Arlington, VA-based yoga business (abellaYoga) to include Health Coaching services (abellaWellness) I’m noticing I’m not practicing aparigraha so well.  Since inception of abellaYoga, I’ve run the books, managed my website, lived in the land of business development (networking, writing proposals, contracts, etc) and taught all the classes.  The reality is as I move into Health Coaching I can’t keep doing it all.  I need to let go.  I need to delegate some of these tasks that have been dear to my heart.

Don’t get me wrong.  This is an awesome problem to have as a small business owner.  “Without continuous change it would be impossible to grow” Charlotte Bell states in mindful YOGA, mindful LIFE.

Well, I’m heading out shortly to stare at the ocean for a few days, clear my head and come back ready to let go.  I am open to suggestions if anyone knows a great bookkeeper, website designer (who can merge abellaYoga and abellaWellness) and possibly business manager.

Happy long weekend!

Good News for My New Mission

I admit I use to think there was a possibility I might bag the full-time yoga teacher gig and go back to the corporate world.  Now the thought doesn’t even cross my mind.

And as I read “More are Turning to Yoga to Lower Stress Levels” article this morning, my decision to follow my passion (and not the money) has been reaffirmed.  Quoting the article word for word…”In 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that by 2018, the fitness instructor industry, which includes yoga teachers, should grow 29.4 percent — a number that’s higher than the average for most other industries. It’s comparable to the nursing care industry, which was projected to grow 27 percent as the baby boomer generation ages.”

So a few things I’m realizing as I write this blog entry.  1) I really do need to ditch the last few pieces of corporate work gear sitting in my closet.  For the most part, I’ve done a good job purging the suits, dress shirts and heels but there has always been the “what if” thought that has held me back from 100% corporate clothes detox.  2) My recent decision to commit to a year-long professional Health Coach training with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition is definitely going to enhance my client offerings in ways I can’t even imagine at this moment.

In case you’re not aware, abellaYoga will expand to become abellaWellness all in a matter of time.  My new mission is to wake people up to life and help them discover a healthier way of moving, thinking and being!

If you’re interested in a free health consultation, please contact me.  I will be looking for guinea pigs over the next couple of months as I start my Health Coaching education and create abellaWellenss.  I would love to practice with you!