Weekly Newsletter

Quick Announcement

The February issue of Financial Balance just mailed. We introduce you to a new market complete with everything you need to get started. The DVD enclosed plays only on computers and you'll need to open the files. The files are quite large and this was the only way to get them to you. We expect March will go out in time. :-)

Happy Spring Friends,

Yes…..spring has arrived. A new energy has been birthed in nature. What new energy is arising in you?

There is a sweet fragrance of flowers in bloom, birds chirping their lovely sounds and it is a time to renew our individual hearts and minds. This is a wonderful time of year to begin to make shifts in your thinking, to make plans for the upcoming summer months and to find innovative ways to bring a freshness to your yoga practice.

Honoring your Intuition…….When your own practice is most fulfilling.

Yesterday I was determined to go to a yoga class with a teacher I enjoy. These days it is not often I am able to sneak off to a class and enjoy being led by another teacher. I usually try to go to a class once a week so I can enjoy practicing in group environment. Lately I haven’t been able to do this and I have been craving this opportunity.

I made an opening in my schedule last night but as I was racing home to change and then go off to class….that little inner voice continued to repeat a very loud message. The entire drive home I had a inner tug-a war with two different voices in my head. One said go to class, it has been a long time and you will be glad you went. You made a promise to yourself you wouldn’t miss tonight. Get challenged by someone else. Here is an opportunity to see some people and feed off the energy of a group.

Then the other voice butted in….. “No Sara. Listen to your body and not your mind. You injured your back today lifting your 86 year old client off the floor. It is hurting and you don’t want to make it worse. What about your commitment to you own practice? It is more important to do your practice then to go to someone else’s class. Surrender to your self. Your body is calling you to tune in.”

Then I began to hear the echoing of teacher’s voices in my head…Shiva Rea “ Making time to do your practice should always come before going to a class. Mark Whitwell says “Practice everyday.”

It was final. My body needed my guidance and no one else’s. I came in the house and then for one more moment thought, No I am going to the class! “Ohhhh no you are not!! Get in your yoga room and be with yourself.”

This is where the real jewels begin to be exposed and you feel you heart’s Rasa. Within minutes, I became settled with my decision and got on my mat alone with my body, my breath and my intention. I ended up getting lost in the bliss of my practice and was in my yoga room for two and a half hours. I had such an amazing practice.

Instead of doing what "I" wanted to do I changed and adapted to what my body needed me to do. I wanted to do more of a strong power flow practice, igniting my fire. Instead I did a Bhakti practice. I moved slow with absolute intention and gave respect to how my back was feeling.

I played and created and drank the deliciousness of my heart's devotion. Every movement became a prayer of self love and gratitude for my life.

Sometimes we don’t want to listen to what that loving sure voice, but almost always that inner voice is the guide to taking us to where we ultimately need to be. My own practice has become the highlight of my day. If I don’t make time to do it , I find myself becoming increasingly burned out and I usually feel like my energy is being drained.

Depending on the day it may be in to the evening before I get in to my yoga room. There are times I make every excuse to myself for not doing my own yoga and may have too many other things that need my attention. Other days I may feel tired and would much rather take a nap.

In those moments I test my commitment to myself and know I will feel better, more grounded, have increased energy and may find new creative things to teach my students.

Our yoga gives us so much, it becomes our most loving companion, all encouraging guide and brings us to our own dimensions in which we are challenged. What has helped me develop a more consistent practice is what I learned from Shiva Rea’s teacher training. She outlined doing a 30 day Sadhana. You can create different themes to your practice. Eg. A fire practice or a Bhakti practice. Even if you only want to do it for a shorter amount of time, try this and it may ignite you to make your feel how powerful a daily practice can be.

How important is your practice? Do you make it a priority? I used to not practice if I did not have and hour and a half to dedicate to yoga. Then I ended up always falling short and not doing it because I didn’t have the amount of time I wanted. But now even if I only have half an hour, then I go for it. Full attention and energy being grateful for the time I can make.

When I have the time, I fully indulge and end when I end. This is a luxury of not having children yet. So while I have the time I take it. But I came to realize doing something every day for a short amount of time is better than not doing anything at all.

Find ways to celebrate and change your practice. Maybe some days you are inclined to sit in meditation, other days you do straight asana, and other times you get out a Hoola Hoop get down with some great tunes.

(I tried the Hoola Hoop with Harlan but after 4 minutes of it falling to the ground he literally ran in the opposite direction, into the office and yelled "I Quit!" I was trying something different to open his hips. I will have to give it another go.)

Some days I dance around my living room. Yoga means so much more that just asana. Be open to allowing your creative body to explore, create and live from an inner flow leading the way to new gardens of delight. Try variations of music, wear different colors, buy a new candle, try an scent of incense you have never smelled, create an altar, put a vase of flowers in front of your mat for your drishti. Whatever moves you…….Act upon that and most of all…HAVE FUN.

“The only way to know a person or anything else in the so-called external world, is through feeling your body. The whole cosmos is experienced as sensations in the body.”;;

-from Living This Moment, Sutras for Instant Enlightenment.

Enjoy the sunshine,

Loving smile

Peace

A Few Spots Are Still Open For Sara's Retreat

I hope you'll join us at the Restoraflow retreat in Costa Rica. People have been calling wanting to join us from all around the world. Sara is already planning a retreat to remember. You'll discover how she gets clients who will never leave - ever.

Imagine never having to worry about attracting new clients. Sounds like a fantasy? Not once you learn the Restoraflow process.

Not only will you become certified in Restoraflow, you will go home with all the marketing materials so you can do what you love and be well paid for it.

You can find out the details here...

More Yoga Mindset Issues

Last weeks issue on making money and teaching yoga brought in dozens of thank you emails. For most yoga teachers, the message that you can teach yoga and make a decent living out of it is a dream. For some yoga teachers, money seems to be an evil. Here is yet another email from a yoga teacher who seems to equate making money with the lack of spirituality.

So here's an email from Morgan:

I don't know what to say. I have only been teaching Yoga for a year, but I've been a student of the sport/art since I was 13, and I have never once met a yoga teacher who bragged about driving around in a convertible BMW...Not that I'm hating on that because they are beautiful, wonderful cars and its awesome that you have one! But it is strange that you would feel that it is important, or even in relation to, the practice of yoga.

Morgan, I don't know what to say either. I've combed the yoga sutras and can't find anywhere it says you need to live a life of poverty. In fact, most of the yoga teachers at the top of the teaching pyramid are doing very well financial and are very comfortable dealing with money.

The BMW was Sara's dream and it became a symbol for her that she could do what she loves (teach yoga) and be well paid for it. Sara has achieved financial balance in her life. She can work if she wants and know her clients will be waiting for her if she decides to do a retreat or study with one of her teachers.

Now, when we are at seminars, people come up to Sara and say discovering you can achieve financial balance while teacher yoga has been their dream as well. And droves thank her for showing them the way.

I see you are trying to give hope to struggling yoga teachers, but you are going about this in an entirely the wrong way! Don't get me wrong, you have been informative and kind. But you allow your ego to speak for you far too much, and THAT is what yoga teaches you to control. Finding the true self, which is patient, harmonious, and never intimidating; and realizing that SELFLESS service to others is the most important "calling" you can have. That is what the practice of Yoga is intended to help you discover; all while strengthening the shell of your soul and keeping it healthy .

Wait a minute. Thumbing through my yoga sutras, I keep stopping at the section about not judging others. Did that fall out of your copy?

I read your outlined retalliation on another teacher who sort of reprimanded you for talking about sending flowers as a way to produce business. I see your point, but I could also see that you were just embarrassed (and a bit mad) about what he/she said. The fact that you reiterated your own P.O.V. throughout his message was ridiculous and only made you feel better; the information did no good for your readers.

Morgan, I'm a teacher. I've been a teacher for nearly thirty years. If someone comes to me with a question or a complaint, I'll answer them. This is the first time I've ever been accused of retaliation.

I understand your website is not truly about the art of yoga, but rather the business side of teaching it to others, but this is NOT "flexiblility training only", this is a mindful practice in which the student is committed to becoming more like God.. I found it humorous that you discussed people thinking that you have to be poor and that "God doesn't want you poor". HOW on Earth did you come to that conclusion? I'm not saying you SHOULD be and if you strive for wealth, it is your dedication and determination that will produce the dollar signs, if you so choose to persue it that way.God is in all things, you know this,

I came to that conclusion based on the fact that God put us in a world where we can either reach the heavens or sink lower than dirt. Money is not the issue. It's what you do with it as I said last week. And if God did not finish his work on earth but left room for us to complete it by feeding the poor, clothing the naked, and renewing the earth, than it is our job to earn the most we can and use that money for a higher goal.

Money is not of much importance and neither is STATUS and that is what you have shown me is important to you through your letters. You even pointed out that the reader couldn't spell before you began the letter, as if to show your readers this guy's an ass and is undeducated. That is embarrassing to me, because you should be at a point in your practice by now where you would not have a desire to intimidate or chastise another human, EVER, even if they disagree with you. Heck, diversity in thought is the SPICE OF LIFE!!!!!! I have disagreed with you since I began reading your letters, but I am HAPPY for that! I would never have wrote to ask you of your motives, until I came across this flower retalliation letter.

Morgan, if you aren't interested in financial balance and want to perfect your asana, why are you reading our emails? Just write "Refused. Return to Sender" whenever you get a bill and sell how long the utility companies let you survive and be poor.

When you said that 'if you don't understand your students then you need to work on yourself'. WHAT?! we are all in this together. there will never come a time when you are 'done' working on yourself. There is certainly no time when you will fully understand ANYBODY!!!!!!!!!!! even your mother, husband, student, child, whatever. we are constantly changing and growing. What do you think?

Peace,

Morgan

Morgan, I didn't say if you don't understand your students. I said if you don't feel a connection to your students you need to work on yourself. We are constantly changing and none of us is the same person we were even moments ago.

If hearing about yoga teachers earning a decent living is causing you spiritual conniptions, perhaps you would be happier reading a site devoted to asana.

But from what we heard in droves last week is that yoga teachers are getting our message. You can read some comments here:

I think you should continue doing what your doing and if you can make money with your skills do it. - John Tanon

Same idea here in the Netherlands you should not make a profit. I totally disagree. I am convinced that you can teach with all the love and passion for yoga and the people you are teaching and get wealthy at the same time. One other thing is that when you get good money for your teaching you can also give back in other ways, give a teaching for free or whatever. I love love yoga and teaching and you are an example and I hope that one day I can send you a me that thanks to you I am a succes as well. - big hug Simone

and finally we got this lovely email from Joy:

By the way I loved your newsletter and I shrieked with laughter. Here I am riddled with debts and heavily marketing so I can move into even a debt free life. That's my goal. Yoga must pay.

Hell, I paid over $1500 dollars for 2 days plumbing work last week! How come plumbers are allowed to earn so much and yet people reluctantly give you another dollar when you have to put your class up.

Yes, please shake all these yoga teachers up. We are professional and we have to pay for our training and insurances. If we don't value our work in terms of leading a decent and financially balanced life, how are our students going to respect us.

They would never work for our wages and I feel really strongly about this.

I love your down to earth articles which put yoga in the real world, where whatever level you live at the bills keep coming.

BKS Igyengar and Pattabi Jois are probably the 2 richest men in India and it was us who made them rich. I don't have a problem with that, and I hope that I will learn how to create abundance around me too - lets face a good yoga teacher is priceless!

Love and Namaste
Joy

Friends, what ever your views are on the subject. Whether you believe in financial balance or in a lift of poverty, we love you all!