The Power of Silence

Sunday morning we experienced a lengthy power outage.  When the power went out, I can remember the exact moment because my anxiety level dropped significantly.  There weren't even any TVs or radio on, it may just be our house that has a lot of fans running with the furnace, etc. but at that exact moment I found the sound of silence so peaceful and rejuvenating.  This realization is in many ways how yoga can transform your life, the beauty of observation in our everyday lives or on our mats, and what we choose to do with this information.  What I took from this brief solitude was to implement a daily "power outage" and shut off the "noise" for at least 30 minutes a day and really pay attention and get down on the floor and play with my son. 

Have you had a light bulb moment from an everyday obseration?  If not, you may not be looking close enough.  Do with this what you will, perhaps paying a little more attention to what life is telling you today.

Om Shanti (Peace),
~Julie

With Gratitude

I awoke this morning to a winter wonderland.  The wetland and all of the trees surrounding my house were covered in a soft blanket of white.  A welcome color palette change to the brown we've been seeing for the past month or so.  While I found the scenery breathtaking, I am reminded there are those without power who are cold and would welcome some warmth.  I am reminded frequently during this time leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday to be grateful for the little things I tend to take for granted everyday such as warmth.  What are you thankful for? 

A gratitude journal can be a great way to improve your outlook on life.  It is easy to find what is wrong in your life, but taking the time each day to write down even one thing you are thankful can be life changing. 

With warmth & gratitude to you and your family,
~Julie

Fall is in the air

With fall definitely upon us and the chance of snow in the area this week, I find myself becoming less active with less daylight hours available.  This leads to the body becoming less flexible, particularly in the hips as more sitting involves tightening in the hip area of the body.  To combat this, yoga can be an excellent form of exercise that focuses on all aspects of physical fitness: cardio-vascular, strengthening and of course flexibility.  This week, Yoga By Julie is offering a class specifically designed for hip opening; Thursday October 28th at 5:30 PM at the United Methodist Church,  (902 Beltrami Ave NW, Bemidji, MN) 3rd floor.

See http://www.yogabyjulie.com for further details.