YES! You're Taking the First Steps Towards Transformation! I've got something for you!
I am so grateful you have arrived here today.
I’m here for you, and since you came here for support in transforming your life, whether thru yoga, Thai massage, or coaching, I want to thank you with a gift of my ‘Top 10 Ways to Stay More Aligned in Life’. Tape it to your mirror to see everyday. You will receive it once you have subscribed, so watch for it in an email.
AND, I am VERY honored and excited to be offering my FIRST EVER online journey in collaboration with Liz Moyer, owner of We Heal for All! Click the link in the upper right hand corner called “Steadiness Within the Change” for all the details and to register before June 7th!
Start YOUR transformation TODAY and SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Offerings
Schedule
Due to COVID-19 and the state of New York City, I am live streaming the following classes*. Also note that I am available for private online yoga, meditation, and life coach sessions, as well as private group classes and corporate group classes using zoom or skype.
*How to live stream instructions below.
Wednesdays 5:15-6pm Restorative thru Mind Body Soul Yoga
Thursdays 6:15-7:45pm Vinyasa All Levels thru Bread and Yoga
Fridays 7-8:30pm Gentle/Restorative thru Bread and Yoga
Saturdays 10:30am-12pm Vinyasa All Levels thru Bread and Yoga
Saturdays 2-3:15pm Vinyasa Level 1 thru Mind Body Soul Yoga
Saturdays 3:30-4:30pm Restorative Yoga thru Mind Body Soul Yoga
*Register for the respective class you wish to take by going to that studios website.
www.breadandyoga.com
www.mindbodysoulyoga.com
Once you register, you will receive an email from that studio that holds the zoom link to your class in it about fifteen minutes before the class start time. Simply click on that link and you’re in! In that same email, you will receive my Spotify music link to use if you like.
- Corporate and private yoga instruction available upon request.
- Thai Massage available by appointment in-home or at Mind Body Soul Yoga Studio.
Dedicate and Dedication
Dedicate means devote to a particular task or purpose. Dedicate also means to use space, time, or money for a particular thing. I would like to extend that last definition by saying dedication is to use our breath, our energy, our consciousness, and our hearts for a particular thing. I often feel in my own …
Sacred Space
This past week I drew a lot from Vanessa Zuisei Goddard’s article in Tricycle magazine entitled, ‘The Places We Go To Be Here’. Read the article in full here.Note: I have quoted Vanessa and others when necessary. I have placed curly brackets around quoted pieces that I did not end up speaking to in my …
Shattered
“Allow beauty to shatter your regularly. The loveliest people are the ones who have been burnt and broken and torn at the seams, yet still send their Open Hearts into the world to mend with love again, and again, and again. You must allow yourself to feel your life while you are in it.”-Victoria Erickson …
Purity/Saucha
In a world and time full of uncertainty, I hope for you to become curious if the yogic practice of saucha could be able to offer you a sense of stability, grounding, clarity, or even just the ability to more steadily navigate the uncertainty. Saucha translates as purity and cleanliness. It is one of the …
Resilience
The term resilience had been coming up a lot in my circles in the past couple of months. I had a desire to take a deeper look into what it means to be resilient, to what it means to have resiliency, and who is resilient? I’m going to answer that last question first… WE ARE …
On Faith
Faith by definition is “complete trust or confidence in someone or something”. Over the course of this past week a lot has come to Light on different aspects of faith for me. Before I dove into my curiosity, this is how I defined faith from Within myself; and, looking back, I would keep these definitions: …
Uplifting Compilation
As per my last email, some of you probably know that I have just launched and started the “Steadiness Within the Change” three month journey! We had our first Healing Circle last night and it was absolutely heart opening and magical. In lieu of this extensive online program that I am running with Liz Moyer, …
Intuition
I used to think that intuition was an aspect of my earthly self, and that it was always just trying to connect me to my Higher Self. It always felt more out of reach than present; even when it “hit” I wasn’t always sure with my intuition. What did it even mean to follow my …
Refuge
Refuge: Definitions:-“a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble”-“something providing shelter” In this past week’s intention much more developed over the course of the week then I could imagine. It was a wonderful journey! And it led to some beautiful realizations. I started each class with these words that originally came …
Two in One: Playing Ketchup!
Ketchup, lol! Just a little levity for your day. “Catch-up” for two weeks of intentions; so, yes, it’s a little long, feel free to read in the span of two days! Two Weeks Ago: Michael J. Fox describes his approach to living with Parkinson’s disease in this way, “If I let it affect everything, it’s going …
Grief, Sorrow, and Earth Day with Heart…
Rumi writes:“My heart is so small it’s almost invisible. How can you place such big sorrows in it? “Look,” he answered, “your eyes are even smaller, yet they behold the world.” Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes …
Protection/Peace/Abundance/Lakshmi
This week we began class thru mantra to evoke and call in protection, peace, and abundance. We used the Lashmiyei Swaha mantra, listen to it HERE!We were seated and simultaneously used the Abhaya Mudra, the gesture of ‘no fear’, click HERE!Here is some more on Lakshmi’s four arms, it is so beautiful! I often feel …
Interrupt/Erupt/Inter/Rupture/Interconnected
Interrupt: Definition…1. Stop the continuous progress of (an activity or process) 2. Break the continuity of (a line or surface) From an experience with this word hitting me in a deep energetic way, my mind then erupted with these words: Inter, erupt.Interrelated, interconnected.Erupt, rupture, eruption. Our lives …
7th Chakra/Crown/Sahasrara Chakra
“Some say sahasrara is the seat of the Soul, an eternal and dimensionless witness that stays with us throughout lifetimes. Others say it is the point through which the Divine spark of Shiva enters the body and brings intelligence. It is the master processor of all awareness— the gateway to worlds beyond and worlds within, …
6th Chakra/Third Eye/Ajna Chakra
“Opening the third eye allows us to see the big picture, transcend our egocentricity, and find the deeper meaning inherent in all things. As inner-sight develops, illusions are shattered, dreams are integrated, clarity begins, and consciousness extends yet another step beyond what was available through the lower 5 chakras alone. we now access the broad …
Throat Chakra/Vissudha
First, Thank you! WOW! What a wonderful response in volunteers for my free offering of Intuition Readings. I am now closing the doors to that offering for the time being. Those of you who have responded as of the release of this email, I will be in touch soon to set up a day and …
4th Chakra/Heart Center/Anahata
I am DEEPLY GRATEFUL WE WERE ON THE HEART CHAKRA WHEN ALL OF THE STUDIOS MOVED TO LIVE STREAM CLASSES! The Universe is GREAT! I put those letters in green because emerald green is the emanating color for the heart chakra; Happy St. Patrick’s Day too(I’m a little Irish)! The intention I hoped that everyone would …
3rd Chakra/Manipura Chakra
I think all these chakra blogs might be long! There is just SO much information on each one! Entire books have been written on them, so I am going to keep doing my best to give you a strong overview. May this information serve you in healing and empowering your life, as well as the …
Second Chakra/Svadisthana
We are climbing the rainbow now! If you want to review the first chakra, go HERE! Svadisthana chakra is the second chakra. Picture a warm orange glowing orb of light within your pelvis. Your sacrum and lower abdomen, about two finger widths below your belly button is the abode of the second chakra. And, it means …
First Chakra, Muladhara
Muladhara Chakra, as seen above with its Bij Mantra(Seed sound), emanating vibration color, specified number of petals to its Lotus flower, is the first of the seven main wheels of life force spinning within all of us. Chakra, pronounced with a hard “ch”, like ‘chalk’, means wheel or disk. These are energetic centers of organization …
True Love/Understanding/Buddha
I could tell you all about that moment along the Hudson River. The room I was renting out at the time in Washington Heights, NYC. The number of sunsets I watched and didn’t watch because I was out dancing and performing, rehearsing, or working. I could tell you all about my coffee shop job(shout out …
Hafiz: Poetry and Yoga
First of all, if you have never seen the photography of Jim Crotty, PLEASE go see it HERE! He is absolutely amazing in his work and also has a deep, spiritual heart. So, I also recommend following his writings in LinkedIn or Facebook. He is an award-winning, published photographer whom I have the honor of calling my friend! Let’s …
Allow, Patience, and Leafless Trees
Do you have a favorite word? Words? One of my favorite words is ‘allow’. Definition of allow: 1. To give (someone) permission to do something. 2. To give the necessary time or opportunity for. As I continued to consider this term again in my life, another word kept popping up. That word was ‘patience’. Definition …
Trust: I had NO idea!
We can never imagine how the practice of trust will show up in our lives. And, yet, we can practice it daily. Towards our Self, the Divine, and to others. It can certainly feel difficult at times, but, as in yoga, with practice, it becomes easier. And, it is said that when we trust ourselves …
OM: the unrepeated and divine grace
There has been a thread of connection within my intentions for the past two weeks. This week is no different, it continues on. This is also a great example of how divine grace continues in a never ending flow of work within each of us, and within the greater community of humanity. We began weeks …
A Divine Story On Strength and Workshop Dates
*See ALL Workshops Below* A divine story on strength: One evening, as I sit on the floor playing with the kids, anxiety was starting to get the better of me. It was getting close to ‘leave time’ and go teach, and I still needed to look for an inspirational quote around the intention that I …
Commitment
Commitment is defined as “a willingness to give your time and energy to something you believe in, or a promise or firm decision to do something.” This first week of classes inside 2020 held this intention. It did not come from the idea of resolutions. It did not come from goal setting or dreams. It …
Winter’s Cloak
Winter’s Cloakby: Joyce Rupp This year I do not wantthe dark to leave me.I need its wrapof silent stillness,its cloakof long lasting embrace.Too much lighthas pulled me awayfrom the chamberof gestation. Let the dawnscome late,let the sunsetsarrive early,let the eveningsextend themselveswhile I lean intothe abyss of my being. Let me lie in the caveof my …
Spirit Bathing: A Form of Soul Care.
Look at that face! How happy! Look again! What joy! I loved seeing this little Being everyday while on a weekend holiday in Koh Lanta, Thailand, back in 2009. I was volunteering in Trang, Thailand, during the week with little kids. I was teaching preschoolers numbers and letters from the English language, and they would …
In My Own Words
I hadn’t yet found the weeks intention for my yoga classes at the end of last week, so I let my mind wander. I watched things around me, and allowed Source to guide me in discovering and feeling the intention. And, wow…here’s what happened! In my own words, this was the message I received: “Incredible …
Giving Thanks
From my family to you, we send you blessings. Happy day of giving thanks. May you be surrounded with love, joy, and supportive company today and always. Native American History is American History, may we always remember all people and cultures. Happy Indigenous People’s Day, and happy day of Giving Thanks. May we always give …
On Good Relating…
That picture above was taken on my train ride from Madras up to Chennai, India; the term ‘selfie’ hadn’t come about yet. I just wanted to capture the experience, but truly we can’t, we must allow ourself to live the experience. And this train ride would push me to get comfortable in uncomfortable situations as …
Time and the Timeless
A book literally jumped out at me this week. I went to pull one book out, but another one leap out before I could catch it! These are the words I turned to when I opened the leaping book: “And an astronomer said, Master, what of time?And he answered:You would measure time the measureless and …
Your Spiritual Heart: Hearing and Trusting
Anahata Chakra: The “unstruck”. The heart center wheel of life emanates the sound that two things make when they do not strike each other. I’ve always loved this idea. For me, the resonance between two things not striking each other is love and peace. A vibration of unconditional love and unconditional acceptance. These are all …
Tapas: Spiritual Effort and Self-Discipline
Last week we explored drishti, focus, and where we wish to keep our focus towards within the scope of our life. We were reminded by Ralph Marston to “choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting, and joyful.” Read the blog HERE. As we attempt to hold our focus towards the …
Focus.
If you’re not looking fear in the eye, then what are you focusing on? Last week was all about looking fear in the eye, and getting familiar with it. Click HERE to read. “Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which …
I’m Afraid: let’s talk about FEAR!
“What we’re talking about is getting to know fear, becoming familiar with fear, looking it right in the eye – not as a way to solve problems, but as a complete undoing of old ways of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and thinking. The truth is that when we really begin to do this, we’re going …
Making it Simple: Gratitude and Spirituality
If you haven’t read ‘Rabbits in Your Garden?’, go back, and read it here: http://shawnashakti.com/rabbits-in-your-garden/ This way you will understand the start of this blog. Did you consider what your “Rabbit, or Rabbits” are? I did. I have a couple of theme nibbling at my roots to the garden of my heart. As I …
Rabbits in Your Garden?
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”-Marcel Proust Mark Nepo expands on this in his book “The Book of Awakening,” by writing about John Travolta’s character in the movie Phenomenon. John’s character has been trying to keep a rabbit out of his garden because everything seems …
The Common Denominator for Decision Making
Above is the picture depicting the Manipura Chakra, which is the energetic vortex, or wheel(chakra), for actions, courage, will power, and autonomy. It lives physically at the area of our solar plexus, above the navel. Its name means ‘lustrous gem’. Its all about our vitality. Courage to take action can come from here. It’s why …
Can’t Catch Your Breath?
Have you ever had a time in your life when you couldn’t catch your breath? You felt like your ‘head was under water’, or at best, you were ‘treading’? That’s how I felt recently. I did a minute of journaling and began to feel that my intention was to just “try to stay open”. Open …
I Want You To Breathe This In!
“Do you already know that your existence-who and how you are- is in and of itself a contribution to the people and place around you? Not after or because you do some particular thing, but simply the miracle of your life?” Breathe that in for a few minutes. Let in marinade your bones, your flesh. …
This One Word Changed Everything!
Recently I took what my mind was seeing as a pretty substantial “risk”. The risk I took held a lot of fear inside. It was that fear of not having enough, for the risk I took was one where I was moving away from something that was bringing financial abundance. However, I knew I was …
It’s All in Your Head, or Is It?
“We can change our Mindset as ease-fully as we change our pose.”-Me, in some yoga class last week, haha! “Reset Your Mindset.”-Me, but I’m 100% sure someone else has said this before! 😉 Lately I had been told, and I had been noticing, that a lot, if not ALL of what we do, …
New Body/New Me Manifesto
“You look so beautiful!”-MaxwellMax said this the first time I a wore a nursing dress after Quinn was born(that’s me pregnant with her/above picture).”I love your jiggly tummy, mommy.” Then Max would make me fake laugh so it would shake! I loved this! Post-partum bodies, and really EVERY BODY, should be honored and looked at with …
Faith! A maternity leave love letter.
Recently I was asked what faith meant to me. After only a minute or two if thought, it came from the heart: Surrender. Over the years my definition of surrender has changed completely. It used to be that I equated surrender with an act closer to giving up, and a negative connotation. Now, Surrender is …
Deep Gratitude. Workshops Jan./Feb.!
From My Heart… Words cannot express the overwhelming feelings that I had from all of the responses I received from my last post, “My Miscarriage”. I could not respond to everyone because there were SO many loving and supportive personal emails. My apologies for not responding separately, but please know I read them, took them …
NEW Classes, Workshop, Retreats, and Website, oh my!
Welcome, and Namaste! Here is a full update on all my new classes*, workshop, and fall retreats! See you soon! Schedule: Tuesdays: 11am-12pm Pre-natal Yoga at The Graf Institute, Englewood, NJ 12:15-1:15pm Mind Body Core Yoga at The Graf Institute, Englewood, NJ 7:30-8:45pm Vinyasa Level 2 at Mind Body Soul Yoga Studio, Washington Heights, NYC …
NEW Classes, Workshop, Retreats, and Website, oh my!Read More »
‘My Miscarriage’/A Very Important Update
My Story It has been exactly one year, to the day, that my world was changed forever, September 11, 2017. And, its finally time to share. I also want to honor the fact that this is a hard day for many, as it is the anniversary of 9/11. I am sensitive to …