A Pep Talk for You!

May 20, 2013

Posted by Sharon

A Little Pep Talk Just for YOU

How many flexible people do you know? Let’s be honest here—you don’t actually KNOW anyone who is flexible. If yoga required flexibility, then 15 million people in America wouldn’t have been practicing last year. But, they did.

How many thin people do you know? If yoga required you to look fabulous in stretch pants, then 15 million people in America wouldn’t have been practicing last year. But, despite the fact that two-thirds of Americans are overweight, they did. And, by the way, I bet you look awesome just as you are.

Don’t think you have enough money for yoga? Yes, studying yoga and meditation is an investment. But, in 2010 the cost of heart disease in the United States was $444 BILLION DOLLARS (source). This is a no brainer. Invest now in practices that immediately improve the quality of your life at a fraction of the cost that chronic illness and disease imposes on your life later.

Stop making excuses. Making an investment in yoga and meditation will bring you greater returns through your lifetime than almost any other class, exercise or weight loss program or activity. The benefits of yoga are 100% proven and have stood the test of time. You aren’t going to get any more flexible sitting here at your computer. Maybe you aren’t flexible and you have a few extra pounds you carry around with you. You and everyone else. Buy a mat, put on your stretch pants and show up for class.

If you are breathing, you can do it. No matter your age, physical fitness, education, size, weight, flexibility, health status—-you can do this. Yoga and meditation are just words for a variety of simple techniques for using what you arrived here on earth with–your body and your breath—to bring you relief from tension, stress and fear. The tools of yoga are free, but you must use them to receive the benefit.

Yes, you need your own mat. Yes, you need your own meditation cushion. No, you don’t need to buy $140 yoga pants. A quality mat that is made out of non-toxic materials is going to cost you about half of what a new pair of sneakers cost. If you care for it well, then it might last you 10-years. Your meditation cushion is a lifetime investment. Mostly, you just need your body and your breath—free. Don’t get tripped up by all the commercialism around yoga and the advertisements that would lead you to believe that all yoga practitioners are 16-year old former acrobats. Real people, with real bodies and real budgets do yoga all over the world every single day. And, if you happen to be a 16-year old former acrobat, great—yoga is for you too!

Yoga for Meditators

February 14, 2013

Posted by Sharon

Spring Preparation #6: Make a Commitment

March 11, 2011

Posted by Sharon

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The kind of commitment that I’m talking about is also sometimes referred to as “put your money where your mouth is.” You know that you want to make a commitment to developing your yoga practice, your meditation practice or both. Maybe you’ve been meaning to try yoga for a while. Perhaps, after the 15th article you’ve read this month about the benefits of meditation you feel almost obligated to give it a try. Maybe you’ve let your mat get dusty this winter or it might even be frozen in your trunk?

Whether you’ve never done yoga or meditated before or you’ve been a yogi at heart for forever, this season of renewal reminds us of the value of commitment. Registering for an 8-week small group series with Sharon for this spring is an excellent way to ease yourself back on your mat or cushion or find out what all the buzz is about for yourself for the very first time.

Here are just some of the benefits to committing to a private small-group class over dropping-in on large studio classes:

You have the opportunity to develop a relationship with your teacher and your fellow students. You know that this small group will notice your absence and you will miss seeing them too and these relationships help you get to class when you aren’t quite feeling up to it.

You write the dates and times on your calendar and then you make it happen. If you have to arrange a babysitter, then you do it. If you have to figure out what bus you are going to take, you find that schedule. When it is on your calendar, then you do it. Making a class a habit is an excellent way to make sure that you actually attend.
In a small group you get the attention and support you need to learn new skills. With an 8-week series, the material can be presented in a consecutive way. The instructor can get to know you and your special abilities and is prepared to modify your practice just for you. No more hiding in the back of the room just hoping you don’t hurt yourself!
Let’s be honest. You spent the money and now you are going to show up.
When you make a commitment, a whole new realm of opportunities will open up for you. Whenever you make a commitment, it means saying “no” to other things or people. But, it also means that a completely new set of possibilities will be revealed to you.

Stop talking about doing yoga or learning how to meditate and SIGN-UP. See you in April!

This post was written by Sharon Rudyk, an independent yoga and meditation instructor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Read more about Sharon on her website.