Cheap Date

I have started to see that another great gift of yoga is freedom from rampant consumerism...
Last week, my husband and I went on a spontaneous date. A cheap one at that. We decided to go to Oliver's, a local pay by the hour pool hall off Dutchman's Lane in the Ville. With two cokes, and hour of pool for the 2 of us ended up being around $8. They have nice, tournament tables and varying prices throughout the week. Before we played pool, we went to a local Mexican restaurant, Bazo's Mexican Grill. The tab there was under $14 for dinner for the both of us. So, after dinner and a hour of pool, we spent around $25. Also, these places are both locally owned and operated businesses, which are very worthy and important to support. My husband and I have made the decision to support our local economy and try to purchase local products as much as possible.
I shop at local Farmer's Markets, locally owned Paul's fruit market, local restaurants, go to a local mechanic instead of a big corporate dealership, and purchase other local products when available. It's about choices. If I don't agree with big business philosophies, then the best thing for me to do is to put my money where my mouth is and to stop supporting things I don't agree with and support the things I do agree with.
I was talking to a friend last week about Yoga being a grass roots effort. It requires people to take small steps to improve their own lives. When we feel helpless, like what we have to offer doesn't make a difference, we can take action. Start by recycling, walking more and driving less, shopping locally, buying products which have traveled a shorter distance to get to you. These are all small ideas which help the earth in a great big way. Think globally, start locally!

So Many Changes

My life has been changing. Of course, change is always occurring, I shed old things that I don't need and room appears for what I need at the time. When the universe pushes me, yanks me, pulls me kicking and screaming (well, at least not as much or as long as I used to) in another direction, there is sometimes confusion, pain, an overwhelming sensation of fear. It's important for me to recognize my own true progress in this area. I am resilient now. I am strong and I don't let things keep me down. I bounce back. I have learned how to do this from Yoga. It's not something I was just born with; patience and other virtues have been hard to come by. With the awareness of Yoga, I have been gifted with more of the tendencies that bring me to my authentic, loving self. The self that doesn't want things to be different. The self that is accepting. Loving Kindness. It's important for me to see where I have been in my Yoga practice.
I began about 6 years ago and I was overweight, I smoked, I worked at a very high stress job. I hated life and myself. I had no energy. I was mean and hateful, most of all I was unhappy with myself.
My whole life and outlook upon it has changed. I attribute it to the awareness I have received from my Yoga practice. I have gained a sense of self acceptance and joy. I am enjoying the small things that I took for granted for a long time. I am excited about continuing to learn and watching my path unfold.
Awareness is the key. I am looking forward to the new gifts coming in to my life and not regretting the things that are no longer there. My practice has truly shown me that "Your Pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy. And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons of that pass over your fields. And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief." - Kahlil Gibran
I have been able to step back, assess and see things as they are, being right in the moment. It is the only moment- a wonderful moment!