Where Have I Been?

I have been creating a new blog (actually 2)...leading my first retreat in Costa Rica...preparing for a new radio show...signing a contract to publish a book...designing a new, dynamic program called "Ignite Your Life"...and continuing to expand my new company musélan.

My apologies for my lack of attention here! I have now combined my blogs to be in ONE place at StudiesWithLaura.com. Please join me there!

Paying Taxes With Grace

This week's monday morning musing is on releasing all obligations, in other words, doing everything with grace, even paying taxes. Here is a part of a post I wrote a year ago on taxes, my view. It has been one of my most popular posts and I have found I have shared this link with students and coaching clients more than any other. I thought it might be poignant again.

I am grateful for paying taxes. I may not have had a lot of money to pay in taxes over the years to experience that side of the angst people feel when they have much more to pay, but there have been times when the taxes I paid made meeting rent/mortgage difficult for me. And even in those months I was grateful to pay taxes. I am self-employed so I pay more taxes than those employed by others. I am also often paid in cash and I always report every penny. I am so incredibly grateful to live in this country. I know this may sound silly, but it is absolutely true. I am grateful to be free, to live where my children can roam the streets without being shot at, where education is free, women have rights, we have religious freedom, we have roads that are taken care of, good medical care, to not have to serve in the armed forces, and to have people who are willing to serve for me to protect my said rights. My list goes on. I have always been willing to pay for my part to be here. I like to think that that gratitude will continue when I am able to pay more and I will be grateful I can pay more so that others who will struggle to pay their taxes and meet their mortgage won’t have to pay as much.

Join Me On Woyopracmo

For another year, I will be participating in an online community called "WoYoPracMo" (World Yoga Practice Month). We are committing to practicing every day during the month of January and blogging about what we do. Please join us! Friend me. I am "Yoga Laura".



View my page on WoYoPracMo

Quintessential Poses for Our Culture: Pose I

I have a few poses I consider to be the “quintessential” poses for our culture. The ones that counter our tendencies to keep us balanced. I will be sharing each of these poses over the next few posts. I like to include these in most of my practices to help keep me balanced.

The first is so simple! And there is power in simplicity...Shoulder Rolls. Yep, so easy and can be done almost anywhere. Sit tall, creating length in the spine. Then bring your shoulders up under your ears. Circle them back to draw your shoulder blades together. Circle them down and forward, rounding your upper back. Do 4 or 5 in one direction then change direction. Do them slowly and make them really big. Use your whole upper torso.

Shoulder rolls help squeeze out the tension in our upper back and chest, opening the breath and releasing the upper trapezius. They also help counter the forward hunch many of us have.

Blogging from Love

I began blogging because I love yoga and truly want to share that love with anyone who wants to read. Then I began to feel obligated, obligated to write regularly. I easily go from joy and love to obligation and duty. So, I decided to stop until I felt moved to write from my heart again. I am back! And looking to sharing some of the ideas that have come up in the interim. I will only write when I feel inspired to do so and intend to do so in more areas of my life...

Creating an Inspired Home Practice

How would you describe your home practice? (or the home practice you want to have...) Is it fun? Exciting? Something you look forward to doing each day? Or is it something you feel you should do? The first step to creating an inspired practice is to make sure your reasons are coming from within, the deeper within the more inspired your practice will be. Whenever you feel a “should” come on, your motivation is coming from without. (I feel there is a subtle, and powerful, difference between motivation and inspiration. You can read more here.)

Yoga is so much more than simply a physical practice. You can use a yoga practice to develop yourself mentally, emotionally, spiritually, as well as physically. The most important step to take when you are considering beginning a home practice or changing the one you have is deciding why you want to practice. Be honest with yourself. If your reason comes from deep within, you will have an inspired practice, and you will be excited to get to your mat. Be sure it is what you want, not want you feel you should be doing! Your reasons can be anything from strengthening the core to getting off your anti-depressant medicine to relaxing your nervous system, to enlightenment. Whatever your reason, if it is truly yours, you will be much more likely to stick with the practice. Your reasons will keep you coming back to the mat.

Once you know why you want a practice, plan the poses around that intention. If you want to create more calm in your life, restorative, forward folds and longer Savasanas are appropriate. If you want to build stamina and core strength, standing poses and strength building poses are what you need. If you aren’t sure what poses will fit your intentions, email me. I am happy to direct you to the poses you want.

Then, to keep your inspiration, be open to changing the focus of your practice. Most likely, your reason will change periodically which will often change the focus of your practice. Flow with it and be flexible. And enjoy your inspired practice!

Top 50 Eastern Medicine logs

Check out this post on NursingDegree.net on the Top 50 Eastern Medicine Blogs. You'll find a list of blogs for Yoga and meditation, massage, Chinese Medicine, Holistic Health, Herbal Medicine, and Accupuncture. Fabulous!