Welcome to the other side of Thanksgiving! As you know, the rest of the year tends to fly by. It is classically a time to reflect on the year behind us and adjust our goals and plans for the New Year. Joining the gym, improving our diet, spending less, reading more... you know this story.
Because we are human, we tend to drop these goals shortly after the New Year starts (we all know that story too:)). It is a nice idea, but we all know there is no magical fresh start in January. We are still us and our lives are as busy and challenging as they were a month ago. Plus, the winter days are short and dark, and instinctively we want to curl up against the cold.
Dedicating ourselves to wellness does not happen overnight and sometimes is not very exciting or fun. Work, consistent action, allowing ourselves to fail and keep trying, requires new tools and new ways of approaching ourselves.
Yoga teaches us to be patient, to manage boredom, and to tune in to the beauty and joy in the mundane maintenance of being human. Yoga teaches us to enjoy simple self care: sleeping well, eating foods that nourish us, moving our bodies and making quiet time for our minds. It teaches us to notice our constantly shifting emotions, wants and needs and decide what actions to take and what thoughts to dismiss.
In our yoga teacher training program, you will find a supportive community that celebrates your decision to take time out for you, and supports your desire to focus your energy towards creating your goals. Whether you go on to change your career, or take the training as an investment in yourself, your time spent learning and growing in your yoga community, will be time well spent.
We have two intensive trainings in January 2020. One over the weekends and one during the week. Click here for more information and here to apply.
We strive to keep our trainings intimate, inclusive and affordable. TSY is dedicated to keeping our tuition reasonable and will continue to do so. Historically we have offered deep discounts for students who get their tuition in early. These “early birds” allow us to make budget projections. We now have three tuition prices: the early bird discount, the pay-in-full tuition price and payment plans. Click here for more information.
Join us on Wednesday 12/4 at 4:30pm OR 6:00pm for a free Sample Class & FAQ sessions. Come to see our studio, learn more about the training and practice together. To reserve your spot, email Kate. (Also counts as makeup hours for our alumni!)
We hope you have a successful, joy-filled end to 2019 and we hope to see you soon in the New Year!
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Love, TSY
A Jen & Kate Collaboration
Thanksgiving Thoughts
Despite my best efforts, there are days when it all goes downhill. The coffee spills, the bag rips, I hurt myself, there is a need I cannot fulfill, complaints, disappointments… no matter what I do, the day cannot be turned around.
Yet I still try and remember I am fine.
I currently live in a city where one fifth of the population falls below the poverty line. 2nd Harvest, a food charity, serves 55,000 meals a week. They serve more meals in one week than runners running the NYC marathon. To put that in perspective; think of five people you know. Now imagine that one of them feels food insecure every day.
That is why, no matter how upset I am at the day, I try and remember that my fellow man, literally that fourth person over, is suffering too. It is a cold, but necessary comfort. A way to keep from wallowing in my own petty self-pity.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because, at the heart of it, it is just a meal. It is a chance to practice gratitude and break bread with friends and family. Such a simple idea.
But, for some of us, it is a reminder of what we lack, of what we cannot provide. For me, Thanksgiving is bittersweet this year. It marks one year from my mother’s diagnosis. In a week, it will be one year from “Five Days and Everything Changed.”
Holidays like this are fraught because they are simple, yet complicated. We get a chance to reflect and practice grace, yet we also don’t stop being ourselves. We show up as we are. And if we are struggling, if we are suffering, that will not change because we made a big meal.
And that is the point; there is so little that separates our suffering. We are all suffering. So, rather than isolate, we really need to reach out; try and help each other out.
As the holiday season ramps up, my hope for you is this:
May you feel loved,
May you be blessed with good food and care,
May you know joy,
and may your burdens be lightened.
With love,
Jen
Social Media: Stay in the Light
I know the dangers and pitfalls of social media. I know I will go into the vortex of “sosh meed” and it will most likely leave me feeling… meh. Yet, I also know that each day, at some point or another, I will end up on social media. I have accepted that at some point in every working day, I will feel the "meh" impact of social media.
Which is why I was so surprised today when I actually felt uplifted after being online. My feed was filled with graduations, and babies, and birthdays, and people who have survived surgeries, and people who are cheering themselves on as they battle with their demons. Today, I needed a break from my worries and the most unlikely of sources - social media - jumped in and gave me a little taste of sweetness.
Miraculous!
Now, I am not going to say we should all go and indulge until our eyeballs fall out, but I do want give credit where credit’s due, so to all of you who:
Are meeting with family and friends, getting to go on that once in a lifetime vacation, or adopting a pet - that is so wonderful.
Graduated, retired, or newly promoted - you did it! I am so proud of you.
Gave birth. I can smell you from here baby, and you make my heart sing!
Had a Birthday! You made it another trip around the sun! I celebrate you.
To those of you who survived your surgeries, who are working on managing your mental illness, and sticking with recovery, looking for a new job - thank you for sharing your story and your vulnerability. You give me hope. You make me want to be a better person.
Summer is classically the season of fruitfulness. It is the time to allow life to sweeten and flourish. We go to the beach, we stay up late, we check out for awhile and it is wonderful. But, today I was reminded that no matter the season, we need lift each other up, celebrate our successes, share in our grief and support each other. We need each other.
So thank you for being you! You deserve all the good things. And I wish you all the best in the days ahead.