Courage

The stories of courage fresh in my mind are all the service people who risked their lives on 9/11, the women and men who protect our country, all the Heroes of our society. Although these stories are truly inspiring, the fact is courage is woven into the fabric of everyone’s life each and everyday. We can all be the hero of our own story. Simply put, courage is inspired action in the face of difficulty. We walk through the door of pain or fear because something more important moves us beyond that point.

I was terrified when I finally decided to quit my full time corporate job to enter the health and wellness industry. I remember teaching my first yoga class. I was scared that I wouldn’t “get it right”, that I “wasn’t good enough.” In the middle of teaching the class, my worst fears were realized, and I completely froze. I announced the next pose, pigeon pose, and immediately my mind went blank. At that point, I wanted to run out the door! Never to show my face at that studio or teach yoga ever again! However, I took a deep breath and remembered that one thing I was certain about was my passion for yoga. Something inside me was so eager to share the magic that I had grown to love. Realizing this truth gave me the courage to finish teaching that class and I still love teaching today.

How can we all become aware of the smallest acts of courage we experience everyday? For some of us, it’s the courage to just get out of bed and face the day. The courage to be a new mother alone with her baby for the first time, to start a new job, or walking into your first yoga class. No matter how, when, or where your next challenge presents itself, be inspired to walk through a door you have yet to open. For on the other side you will find the brilliance of your own strength. When you pass through the difficulties of your life and are able to share your experiences with others you are lighting the way for someone else to find their courage.

Namaste,
Christi

Have a question for Christi? Email her at christi.j@sbcglobal.net. You can find Christi subbing classes at The Mat often, so check the schedule and join her for class!

Upcoming Workshops and Events!

Karma Yoga Happy Hour with Tracy Carruth
Friday, September 30th, 6:30pm

Karma Yoga Happy Hour is back, and this time it will be led by Tracy Carruth, the owner of Yoga Balance in McKinney! This event offers a great opportunity to introduce friends to yoga and just hang out and get to know our community a little better. You won't want to miss this opportunity for a terrific outdoor practice with Tracy, followed by delicious snacks from Vitality House, wine from Checkered Past, music courtesy of DJ Mike Mahnich, and chair massages from Aveda! Sign up now!

Pre-registration is greatly appreciated either online by clicking here or in the studio.

Congratulations Advanced Yoga Studies Students!

A huge congratulations to the first graduating class of Advanced Yoga Studies Level 1!

Each of you taught me something special and I will always treasure our time together and carry a piece of you in my heart. Now on to Level 2 and our yoga retreat to Playa del Carmen! -Trina

The spring session of Advanced Yoga Studies will be starting early in 2012! Watch our website for details!

Going, going... almost gone!

Yes, the overflowing Lost and Found bin in the bathroom has reached it’s maximum again. Please check one last time for items that you may have lost. We have many yoga mats, water bottles and articles of clothing. Anything remaining at the end of October will be donated.

My Yoga Story - Jessica Killen

Jessica has been practicing at The Mat since October, 2010. We are so grateful that she is sharing her Yoga story with us this month!

Why do you practice Yoga?
It started for physical well being and turned into so much more! I do HR for a living, which means I deal with some very stressful and difficult situations. Learning to breathe on my mat has helped me breathe through some of those things. I can help the person standing in front of me with no judgment or criticism; I can be the person that they rely on me to be. On the physical side, I used to weigh 250 pounds. Through yoga, belly dance and healthy eating, I have released (Julie reference) 90 or so pounds with no pills and no surgeries. I feel better than I ever have.

How were you first introduced to Yoga? And, when did you begin your practice?
I began my practice a little more than a year ago. I was belly dancing on a regular basis, taking classes from Miss Rita (amazing woman). I noticed some lower back pain and no amount of stretching my back would help. A friend told me that it could be my hamstrings and they asked if I stretched, which I didn’t. She suggested yoga. I managed to talk my Store Team Leader into having an instructor come to the store to teach us yoga once or twice a week. Nicole Payseur was our instructor. She was so charming, encouraging us to laugh at ourselves, play. I thought yoga was uptight and snooty, she showed me that I was completely wrong. The original yoga program didn’t last for too long, but my curiosity about yoga was just beginning so... I found The Mat and fell in love with the studio and instructors immediately and I have been coming ever since.

How often do you practice?
I shoot for anywhere from 4-6 classes a week, it depends on what I have going on. I feel better when I make the 6, no denying it!

What are a few of the benefits that you have experienced? How does your practice help you in your daily life?
My balance is better (physical, emotional, mental). I am more flexible (again-physical, emotionally, mentally). I used to struggle with change, fight it. I always knew in my head that change was good, it was natural. I just couldn’t get my heart to accept it, the urge to fight change was always there. Sometimes I still have to make myself breathe when I feel that internal struggle start, but it is different. I know it will be okay. The other thing that really struck me was one night during Trina’s meditation class. She had us stare at ourselves in a mirror for a few minutes, SUPER close. It was so disconcerting. After class, she asked us what we saw, if we saw the lines and imperfections, or if we saw the beautiful person there, the one that surely deserves the same kindness we would show anyone we loved. I heard the same type of thing from other instructors. We have to be kind to ourselves in order to be truly kind to others. I am not sure why being nice to myself was such a difficult thing. It shouldn’t have been, and now it isn’t. Yoga gave me that.

What is one tip you would give to a new practitioner of Yoga?
Be kind and patient with yourself. When our instructors tell us it is okay to modify, it is okay to take child’s pose, they mean it. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s pose; it doesn’t have to be perfect. If it isn’t fun, you aren’t doing it right. That was more than one tip but...

Why do you practice with us, at The Mat?
I love my yoga studio, I don’t go anywhere else. The best way that I can describe it is to call it “the culture”. The instructors are amazing, super flexible class schedule, ambience in the studio. The young ladies at the desk know my name, the students facebook each other so we can keep in touch and we know each other. I am also a big fan of the workshops, restorative was fantastic!!!

What others are saying about Christi's classes...

"Christi is a wonderful teacher who cares deeply for every individual student in her class. She is so sweet and loving, but that doesn’t mean you won’t work hard! Her level of knowledge and her compassion for and understanding of her students makes her classes truly beautiful for all levels. I recommend everyone get into any class she is teaching as soon as you can!" -Lisa

"Christi is a sweet soul... you can just feel it in her classes! Her encouraging words and loving guidance always make me feel taken care of in my practice. She genuinely loves all her students and calls them by name. It is a gift to take a class lead by Christi!" -Trina

"I really enjoy Christi’s class! Her visual and descriptive instructions make yoga easily accessible to all levels. She is attentive to each students needs while offering gentle adjustments and modifications. Christi’s class has a nice combination of the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of yoga to engage mind, body and spirit!" -Samantha

Do you have feedback about Christi or any other teacher at The Mat? Email Becky at becky@thematyogastudio.com.

Visit us at www.thematyogastudio.com for studio information. We look forward to seeing you on The Mat!

The Mat Yoga Studio
670 N. Coit Road, Suite 2381
Richardson, Texas 75080