Ever Changing with a License to Dream and Create

The best thing about starting this new business adventure is that I can mold it into what I desire it to be.  I can start small and grow with and through the journey to experience it fully.  My imagination is allowed to run at high speeds creating and dreaming up new ideas and directions for how OTP Yoga will eventually look to and connect with its friends and audience.  Like the breath, the picture of what is to come is constantly in motion, fluid and changing. 

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night. ~Edgar Allan Poe

In moments of meditation, I find that my mind wanders to this dream and circles around it then runs with it.  When noticed, I call the attention back to the breath but the mind continually drifts back to OTP Yoga.  At night I lay in bed thinking about it and wake up dreaming about it.  The classes and private practices I will hold, sequences designed, friends and connections made, the studio – oh the beautiful studio my mind creates.  The dream grows to the kids lying on mats that are three times bigger than them finding peace, self-awareness and acceptance.  I can see the bolsters, blankets, blocks and straps all ready for the yin and restorative practices that will be held as the sun is drifting down through the windows, lowering the lighting.  If I look really close, I can see OTP Café, a charming little café attached to the studio, with a handsome barista selling coffees, lattes and teas, offering a cute little tasty treats.  And this is where I will sit and connect with friends and family before and after classes or alone planning for the next week or month or daydreaming about what OTP Yoga will be next.  This adventure truly is a license to dream. 

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

While spending all my time dreaming is really very appealing, I also love that this adventure gives me license to create in other ways too.  When faced with challenges, I can become creative in my solutions and the ways I problem solve.  I can choose to be brave.  I can choose resourceful and innovative, using all opportunities as ways to grow both personally and professionally.  I can use my eyes to see the beauty in all that God sets before me. 

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. ~Walt Disney

Everything starts with a thought, a little dream.  If I chase it and work hard for it, it will grow.  Like grass needs water, I need support.  I am blessed to have made connections with special people that have much more knowledge than I when it comes to running a small business.  Special people who are truly beautiful inside and out that believe in me.  Exceptional people that what to help and see me succeed because in my success is their success.  Unique people who also believe that success in its true form looks like happiness and agree that they can succeed best and quickest by helping and guiding others to find little pieces of happiness too.  It is really all just about the LOVE and I just really like that!

Namaste,

Lindsey

Success: Standing Strong in the Breath and Radiating Love

“Follow your intuition. Be smart, be brave, tell the truth & don't take any shit.” ~Kelly Cutrone

Intuition and God are what is driving me on this path, this adventure of One True Pair Yoga.  Many decisions will have to be made, opportunities will come and go, and rejection will happen.  What it is today, a dream, and what it will be tomorrow will not resemble each other.  One True Pair Yoga will grow into whatever it is supposed to be by His grace as long as I listen and trust. 

“If prayer is you talking to God, then intuition is God talking to you.” ~Dr. Wayne Dyer

As this path progresses, I will need to learn how to stand stronger in my voice and how to get out of my own way.  My head likes to trip me up sometimes.  It likes to make me think I am still the lanky, big eared 4^th grader that I once was.  When my inner 4^th grader shows up, my voice shakes as does my confidence and when I close my eyes, she is who I see.  I could have the greatest idea in the world, but I couldn’t tell you about it.  Still today, sometimes the mirror surprises me.  I have grown into myself in my own beautiful way.  I can no longer fly by flapping my ears and I don’t trip over my own feet anymore, and my movements aren’t as unsure and neither is my head.  Learning to stand strong in the breath and the voice will help me encourage my future customers, inspire possible employees and reassure partners that I know my trade, that I love it and that I love them.  This will be challenging for me but I love meeting new people and I love helping others. 

“It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” ~Napoleon Hill

Dear God, let it begin with me.  I have gotten sucked into consumerism, needing brand named purses, shoes and MORE.  It never satisfied me long.  I have gotten sucked into myself.  Being selfish, self-centered and self-serving.  These have never made me feel needed, loved or appreciated.  Being consumed with myself and my things never truly made me feel beautiful.  In fact, all it did was shed light on all the other areas of my life and myself that were “inadequate”.  While it is okay to want nice things, I believe that I need to make sure that whatever it is that I am buy, I am buying it and that it is not buying me.  I believe that success in its true form looks like happiness, acceptance and peace.  Therefore, according to the quote above, I can succeed best and quickest by helping and guiding others to find little pieces of happiness, acceptance and peace.  And I just really like that!

Namaste,

Lindsey

A dream: One True Pair Yoga. Do I have what it takes?

“The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

As humans do, we either move out of fear or love.  All of our actions and decisions are made based on one or the other.  I recently found out that thus far, I have been moving out of fear.  Fear of loss (time, self, independence, death), fear of rejection or of not being “enough”, fear of failure (Or is it a fear of success?  Why all this self-sabotage?) and a fear of the undiscovered.  This is what has held me back and I mourn the time and opportunities these fears have cost me to become the person I was meant to be. 

Now here is the silly thing. . . God has ALWAYS provided.  I have always had enough (food, love, shelter).  Really, what is there to fear?  Now, I am not saying that from this moment on I won’t ever be afraid because fears will definitely creep up from time to time.  What I am saying is that from this moment on, I will walk through these fears with faith that God will provide.  That He will lead me to exactly where He wants me to go and that it will be incredible. 

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” ~Mark Zuckerberg

Starting something new is scary.  It’s risky!  What if it doesn't work out?  What if it’s not what I expect?  What if, what if, what if…?  When I first started my yoga teacher training journey, I was scared.  What if the others were better than me?  What if they don’t like me?  What if I don’t have the skills necessary?  What if I can’t afford all the training?  What if, what if, what if…?  Well, here I sit a few day away from graduating from the program and realize that I walked through all of those fears and it was an amazing journey.  A journey I would walk a thousand times over.  I was able to connect with some very inspiring people who pushed me in ways I had not been pushed before.  Was some of it uncomfortable?  Sure it was but I walked through the fear and left the results up to God and here I stand, better than I was yesterday and not as great as I will be tomorrow.  Starting One True Pair Yoga is risky.  Am I willing to take a risk?  There will be some uncomfortable moments but you can believe I am willing.  I know who has my back! 

“Growth and comfort do not coexist.” ~Ginni Rometty

Yoga is something I am very passionate about.  It has brought so much to my life:  peace, a deeper relationship with my higher power, friends, self-confidence and self-acceptance and a place to go when I need to renew, restore and reconnect.  Now moving solely from a place of love, I wholeheartedly cannot wait to share this with you. 

Namaste,

Lindsey