Ask Ms. Mindfulness

Every once in a while, you think of that yoga mat in the back of your closet that your well-intentioned woo-woo sister bought you for Christmas, and you feel a pang of guilt. Work has been stressful – maybe one class wouldn’t hurt? And then the memory comes flooding back of that god-forsaken Zumba class you took a year ago. The instructor was shouting instructions like a crazed banshee. Your feet turned into the proverbial two left ones. At one point the overzealous woman next to you tripped you and you did a faceplant on the floor. Well, don’t worry, you’re not alone. If you’ve ever felt this way, this next blog on hatha yoga (the yoga of twisting yourself into a pretzel-like formation while trying to maintain a peaceful zen-like feeling) is for you. And while there are many different types of yoga, such as: Dhyana (what most folks would describe as sitting meditation . . . can you say ommmmmmm?), Karma yoga (the yoga of action and unselfishly doing good for others), Jnana yoga (the yoga of wisdom, e.g. is that chair real? – am I really here? – will the Texans ever make it to the Super Bowl?) and many more yogas, for the purposes of this blog we’re going to focus on hatha yoga for three reasons. Why?  First of all, it’s more common than Starbucks, seeing as how you can’t go more than ten feet before tripping over another new studio these days. Second, it’s what most Westerners associate the word yoga with. And, finally, it’s quite often misunderstood. So with all that said, here are my 5 tips for yoga beginners guaranteed to make you dust off that ratty mat that’s lurking in the depths of your musty closet. Tips for Yoga Beginners Yoga Beginner Tip #1:  Try a Few Different Yoga Styles Which of the following are types of hatha yoga? Vinyasa                                                                                                                                             Kundalini Ashtanga                                                                                                                                           Bikram Hot yoga                                                                                                                                            Restorative Iyengar                                                                                                                                               Yin Yes, it was a little bit of a trick. (Sorry!) These are all forms of hatha yoga. Be aware, some studios nowadays even have another type specifically called hatha yoga (just to make things really complicated), but at the end of the day it’s all just hatha yoga. Which leads me to the first tip for starting your yoga practice. Maybe you try a class, and it’s too fast. Try another. Maybe you try one, and it’s too slow. Try another. All of these different styles have their unique advantages. No style is better than another, despite what some studios will tell you. Most studios have introductory offers that are dirt cheap that last for a week or so where you have the opportunity to try a number of different classes. Make the most of it. Yoga Beginner Tip #2:  Go at Least Twice a Week In order for the yoga to really be effective, you need to find a rhythm with it. If you’re going sporadically, it’s hard

I debated it back and forth in my mind before I sent the text. “Should I or shouldn’t I?” “What if she didn’t mean it?” “Then it’s going to be awkward from this point forward.” “People say things all the time about getting together but they never do.” I quickly wrote the text and hit send before I could give it another thought. Hey Kristin, it’s Shelley from boot camp.  Would you and Vince be up for meeting for drinks/dinner the weekend of the 21st? No response that evening, which didn’t surprise me.  I know she works late at an urgent care clinic. No response the next day either, and I must admit at this point I started to feel a bit foolish. Or the day after that. And just in case you’re wondering, she never did respond. And yes it was terribly awkward, especially the day I saw her again at boot camp. I saw her out of the corner of my eye approaching, looked up and flashed a nervous smile in her direction and then felt that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.  You know the one.  It’s the feeling that makes you want to run and hide when you realize you’re the last classmate standing and neither side has picked you for their team in gym class.  (I was the smart one, not the sporty one.) I tried not to make eye contact and busied myself with my weights.  She dropped her mat down next to mine and the workout began.  A few minutes in she leaned over and said, “I’m so sorry I haven’t responded to your text, things have been really crazy busy the last few days.” Her profuse apologies made me feel worse, the sinking feeling was back, and I did my best to reassure her while doing jumping jacks that it was no problem at all.  “It will work out whenever the time is right,” I heard myself saying. The next time I saw her at boot camp it was the same story.  And the same the time after that.  She kept apologizing.  And I kept reassuring her that it was no big deal, I wasn’t offended, I understand how life goes. After the 3rd or 4th crazy busy the shame and embarrassment turned to anger. Wtf!  Who the hell does this woman think she is! Does she think I’m just sitting around waiting for the opportunity when she and her husband grace us with their presence at dinner? What a bitch. And then the righteous indignation set in. Why me?  Here I am trying to do something nice like I always do and no one appreciates it. Why am I the one who always has to coordinate everything?  Why am I the one who always has to be the heavy? Why am I the one who always puts myself out there and gets humiliated?  If she ever does come up with a date for dinner, I’ll tell her we’re busy. 

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Life is Hard. Finding Your Passion Doesn’t Have to Be. Think about it. When you were young and immature you were handed one of the biggest decisions you can make. You were supposed to decide what you wanted to do for the rest of your life. At 18, it’s often a struggle to even decide where you want to eat your next meal, let alone decide how to spend the next 40+ years. The reason that so many people are often left unsatisfied with their life is because they are tasked with making a career decision before they are ready. People change. Things change. If you feel stuck or stagnant in life maybe it is time to look introspectively at what it is you truly want or desire out of life. If it’s your career that is draining your happiness, maybe career coaching is for you. Take it from me, I understand what it feels like to stare at the clock blankly waiting for the time to pass until you can escape. Many years and dollars later I have discovered my passion and want to help you do the same.   You Don’t Have to Be on the Verge of Career Crisis Career coaching is not reserved for those who who are at the point of storming out of the office yelling “I QUIT”. Everyone goes through phases of general dissatisfaction with their careers. Hey, life isn’t perfect. The beauty of my career coaching services is that no matter how trivial or tremendous your career troubles, I can help you refocus or redirect your passion and talent. Find Your Why With Career Coaching My career coaching includes a process that is proven to work. Here’s why: most career consultants often focus too much on the what. You take several tests that cost hundreds of dollars to end with a career suggestion such as “teacher” or “software engineer”. This may be a starting place, but not the right one. What you truly need to discover is the why. Why you do what you do. To find the source of your drive, I will guide you through a series of questions such as: What is that one thing that gets you excited every morning? Why do you do what you do? Why are you unhappy in your career? Why is one career path more appealing to you than another? Once you answer these essential questions, you are ready to learn how. Ready to Learn How?   Once we have figured out the essential “why”, the next step is learning how. We’ll build an actionable plan so that you can seamlessly integrate your newfound passion into your life. Not only will I help you create this actionable plan, but I will give continuous support to ensure that your passion is being followed. My career coaching is here to help propel you towards your goals. Don’t Wait for Your Life to Pass You By. Reach Out to Me Today If you feel that you

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