Dedication & Commitment

I have always felt like I run out of fuel to stay committed to anything for long periods of time. Maybe I get bored or just don't stop "feelin' it" after a while. Whatever the reasons, I am pleasantly surprised at staying fully committed to my yoga practice. Yoga is an evolving practice so it is always interesting, I never get bored doing it. When I was younger I couldn't do the splits or handstands or anything like that but after even a year or two of yoga, I could! Or at least I was closer. Yoga takes a dedication and a commitment in order to see the amazing benefits in all areas of your life. So stick with it, let the fuel to stay committed come from a place in your heart, to be part of something bigger.
Peace on the path,
Mindy

Moment of Gratitude

I can't begin to explain how I feel about being asked to assist my teachers Todd Norian & his Goddess wife Ann Greene! It is such a privilege to work along side 2 of the most amazing teachers in the world. Every single time I get to see them or study with them I expand my mind ten-fold. I was introduced to them back in 2004 at the Toronto Yoga Conference. I was totally drawn in by their little write up about the workshop they were offering and it was everything they said it would be. I had so many moments of awakening that I had not EVER experienced in yoga before that. Something I have always hung onto was they taught me to spread my toes, my pinky toe in particular and something huge lined up inside me, it was an AH-HA moment. I came back to London telling all my students to spread their pinky toes!!!! I didn't quite get it back then but I got the feeling of Anusara and now I wish so much to teach that to my students. Hope to see you at yoga very soon!

Spring Cleaning

This Spring I have the urge to rid more than just weeds from the garden. How many habits, friendships, jobs do you feel zap your of energy? What would you do to gain that energy back? The last few weeks I have had to make some hard decisions, decisions that will hurt and upset people around me. I quit two jobs last month and I already feel that the energy that was stagnant is churning again. Without our careful attention we may end up with a garden full of energy-draining weeds.
Even more difficult than leaving a job is cutting out friends. If our friendships or relationships are more work than what we feel we receive are they worth it? Again difficult questions with no easy solutions. Just because it is difficult we still have to honour and recognize our place in this world, in our lives, we are in the captain's seat, we are steering the ship, we are ultimately responsible.
Sometimes I feel just like Arjuna in the middle of the battlefield as described in the most popular yoga text, The Bhagavad Gita. In this story, Arujuna faces difficult decisions on right and wrong and asks for God's help. In the end he is told to do his Dharma, his righteous duty and do it well, that inaction is action. I am choosing to act on behalf of my heart. I hope you also find peace in the difficult decisions we all must make on this journey.

Crazy Birds!

Maybe your someone like me, I see birds everywhere, all the time, all different ones. So I finally went to purchase a well known book called Animal Speak to find some answers about the ever present energy of birds in my life. I told my fiance all about the book and he has witnessed my bird thing many times in our relationship. As we sat and chatted about the book I went to turkey vultures, since they are always around me. They represent Purification-Death and Rebirth-New Vision. More details on the vulture to follow but first check this out!

Yesterday I was on my way to a massage, early morning and as I was stopped at a long light I saw a vulture off to my far left soaring around effortlessly as they usually do. Once I got to the massage I was speaking to my friends in their living room, I looked out the window and I couldn't believe my eyes. I asked my friends, "do you SEE that?" as I point out the window. That same vulture had landed on the chimney of the house across the street. He sat there majestic with presence and formidable size, for quite a while as I told them the story about the book and my "bird things."

So here is some of the significance I have come to understand about that experience since I certainly believe well beyond a shadow of a doubt that , the experience has a deep message for me. This is from the book "For those with this totem, it speaks of a coming time when you will be noticed more for what you do than for how you appear," "If turkey vulture has come into your life, you will probably soon start to see auras and colours around people and things, if not a vulture can teach you." On levitation, the book says "It is a symbol of the disintegration of physical holds. It is a symbol of distributing one's energy so that gravity does not weight and hold one down-be it the actual gravity of the earth or the gravity of mundane situations and experiences."

Many things in my life have been shifting lately, friendships, jobs, opportunities and in the next few weeks I can see that continuing. I found this interesting as well, given my circumstances, "The turkey vulture has a highly developed sense of smell. They can find food simply by smelling if it is necessary. The sense of smell has been long associated with higher forms discrimination in metaphysical traditions. They can assist you in developing your own sense of smell that you can use effectively in all areas of your life. It will help you to decide whether or not something doesn't quiet smell right in your life." Whoa! This speaks so true to me and my current situations I have found so much wisdom, direction, and power to do what I need to right now in my life, for that I am so grateful.

Moving Onward & Outward

Well, I just gave notice that I am leaving another teaching job, that is 2 in the last few weeks. It became very clear to me with my busy lifestyle that in order take on new ventures I have to leave old ones behind. There is only so many hours in a day that someone can teach yoga. As a teacher if you don't practice yoga yourself you are undoubtedly going to experience some form of burn out. As the winds of change blow I set my sails and fly with grace onward and outward.

May all beings be happy, peace, peace, peace

What is MJ Yoga

Some people have been asking me what's all this "MJ yoga about?" And I say ask my mom!!!! She named me Melinda Jane. My understanding is the one grandma was Linda and the other Amelia, hence Melinda. I am honoured to be named after to amazing women.
As for MJ Yoga, my dream is to travel the world and teach yoga workshops, conferences and events so I am marketing myself as a Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher through this website/blog/facebook.

To Make a Difference is the Difference

I have a teaching job that began with a lot of uncertainty but has now turned into one of the most positive experiences I have had with teaching yoga. I knew I was going to teach teens, and not that I regularly follow psychics or anything but the one time I ever spoke to one, she told me I would be teaching teens. I tried for years at one place and it was great but it was not nearly as powerful as the opportunity I have at the moment. These girls are in trouble, weren't we all, but they are so young and now after 6 weeks way more open and trusting of me, I think that yoga can help them so much. Grace lead me there, literally her name is Grace, and I am happy to part of an effort to help our youth in trouble.

Super Green!

Have you noticed that everything blooming outside right now is so vibrant!!! The shoots poking out of the earth are the most vivid green I have ever seen. In the Spring, prana is concentrated in these new seedlings, growing taller and producing some of the most beautiful colourful blooms we will see all year. What is growing in the garden of your soul this Spring? Make time to remove old debris and self limiting behaviours so that new life may spring forward out of you....

Memories

I woke up this morning remembering how my mom used to hide easter eggs around the house for my sister and I to find and then some presents at the kitchen table. One of those gifts was always a dress to wear to Easter mass. I enjoyed the ritual of getting together all dressed up with family. It is so beautiful outside this morning the air is warm, the sun is clear, I feel like it is a good time to resurrect something new. I will make new rituals that are life affirming.

light and life,
Mindy

Long weekends

Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming outside. I was outside this morning with my fiance and puppy walking in the woods in the warm sun. Life is good! Long weekends help me to recharge, rest, clean and spend time with friends and family. This weekend we are getting together with friends since we both have no family around to eat and celebrate together. We have decided to have a raw vegan diner potluck, which is really challenging if your not used to making raw food. I am going to enjoy my food so much this week since next week I will be starting a cleanse.