December Yoga Challenge

For the month of December, I commit myself to 30 minutes of yoga everyday. I would set up a consequence for not completing this challenge, but I am setting the intention that I will, without doubt, commit myself to this challenge.

I have been struggling with discipline within my yoga practice. Though I practice frequently, I often take several days off in a row, create excuses about being too tired, and find myself moving through similar sequences without a larger goal when I do practice.  This month, I am going to break this habit and replace it.

I hope that with this first run, I will be able to hold a yoga challenge in my community, helping inspire those to commit to a practice as well.

December Week One Goals:

Opening my heart, letting compassion flow through me.

Building core and arm strength for arm balance poses.

Building confidence in inversion poses.

Happy Thanksgiving

Our Deepest Fear

As I read this to my 10 (yay!) yoga attendees, I breathed deeply into the honesty that I fear all that I can do. I am only beginning this journey and already I am making a difference for some. I've had students who have never tried yoga before coming to my classes and fully feeling the benefits. I have others who are working themselves deeper into each pose, finding stillness and truth with every breathe. And myself, I am growing exponentially by facing my fear of success and going after it.  As much as I have dreamed about becoming a yoga teacher and being that person that others find peace and acceptance in, I don't know that I truly believed I could be that person. I sit here today, basking in the sunlight peaking through an old window, realizing that I am more than I have believed myself to be. 

All the doubts I hold in myself, all the negative thoughts preventing me from truly letting my light shine, are slowly being put out. With others confidence in me, I'm finding more confidence in myself. We feed off one another. We are all one; our belief in others creates acceptance and belief in ourselves. 

It's not that I have never realized this before. Today, I just feel it more profoundly. Today, with this quote, I've found more truth within the words and within myself. Today, I begin to go deeper into my being. Today, I let my true light shine through; flaws and all.

With this, I say thank you to those who support and believe in me. Thank you to those who attend my classes. Thank you to those accepting me and letting me shine. To you, I hope to give the same.

<3 Namaste <3

Singing Bowl Fun

Making It Happen

Jewelry, Tea, and Knits

I've been making jewelry to help fund my way to India for my 200 hour training. November 16th, I'll be doing a craft show in Brattleboro, VT to help benefit the Women's Freedom Center. Here are a few new pieces I've made for the show.

I am also making and packaging my own tea blends. My current blends are;

Lemon, Lavender, Thyme

Jasmine, Ginger, Green

More will be coming soon!

As for my knits, I'm working on a pair of fingerless gloves and hope to make 3-4 pairs before the show.I'll have pictures soon!

Thankful

This morning, post my first yoga class, I want to express my immense gratitude for the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center/Studio Momentum in Springfield. They have given me an opportunity to bring my dreams to fruitation.  I knew yoga is what I wanted to do with my life, but to actually have the opportunity to do what I love and have boundless passion for, is simply amazing.
Though I know there are many ways I can improve as a yoga teacher, I feel great after my first class. With more practice and India on the radar, I know I'm on the right path to becoming a great yoga teacher.

Below I've posted the class schedule for studio momentum. My classes: Zumba and yoga (Sunday only).
Everyone from all walks of life are welcome to join; experience something new, experience something different, experienece now.

First Yoga Class!

5:30am, I stand here waiting to see if anyone will show for the 6am yoga class. I am substituting today which will make for a great introduction to my coming classes starting next weekend. I'm quite nervous but more so excited.

Here's to making dreams a reality! Off I go :-*

Quote of the Day

"Forever is composed of now's."

Emily Dickinson

As I see myself move into the coming year, I find this quote to be one I shall live by; to find myself in the present, to move fluidly through this journey of life, to let go of expectations of the future. Already, I have no plans or ideas about what may come after India. The possibilities are endless. With this uncertainly, I feel comfortable. 

I am surrendering with confidence in myself, Mother, and my fellow beings that I will be well, no matter where the road takes me. 

Good Morning Sun

Sunrise Sun Salutations: New Commitment

Beginning tomorrow morning, I will wake with the sun and complete 7 sun salutations as it's rising. I want to feel the rhythms of Earth within me. I want my heart to beat to the drum of the natural world. I want to be one with the Divine, Mother, Goddess of all.

Let my journey begin.

Quote of the Day

"Whether you think you can or think you can't either way your right." -Henry Ford

Yoga Classes Coming Soon

Restore Your Body and Mind

Starting November 17th, I'll be teaching a Hatha yoga class, focusing on bringing the mind to the present, connecting with the body, and working deep into poses. Join me every Sunday to find complete wellness after the long week and adventurous weekend. 

Classes are scheduled to begin at 10 am at Studio Momentum. 

Contact Charlotte McIntyre for more information: charlottemcintyre64@gmail.com

Primary Group Fitness Certification Results

I'm Certified!

After waiting nearly 6 weeks, I am relieved to have finally received my results from my AFAA group fitness certification exam, and it was all good news. I now just have to send in a copy of my CPR certification and they'll send me the certification. I'm quite happy! Though I had high confidence I'd pass, the anticipation was killing me. Now I can rest easy and start working towards building my fitness career. 

Watch out health centers, here I come!

India is Real

It's official, I'm going to India!

I have completed my registration at Arhanta Yoga Ashram in Khajuraho, India for my 200 hour Yoga Teacher training from February through March. I am beyond words excited. I have been dreaming of this for a few years now. All that is left is to buy a ticket and I'm off to my biggest life-changing adventure. I can't even grasp my mind around how amazing my life is and is going to be; how wonderful and blessed I am to be able to make these decisions; how thankful I am to be granted these opportunities to create a beautiful life. Thank you Mother Earth, for I am forever grateful for your love and gracious gifts. 

I'm reading through two great books to help prepare myself. Autobiography of a Yogi and Yoga Anatomy. Both are great reads so far, and they are a nice pair to shuffle between as one is more textbook-like while the other is more story-like. A perfect blend to create a deeper study. 

To build my practice, I'm dedicating more time to yoga and meditation. It is my intention to have a short practice each morning with a longer practice in the evening. I also will begin teaching an hour long yoga class come mid-November. I am going to dedicate 15 minutes each day to meditation. I feel I need to start slow as to avoid disappointment due to my past lack of commitment. 

From here forth, I'm going to create more goals within my practice. Currently, I have been practicing for the stretch, the relaxation, and the self-discovery. I will practice for the growth, the self-discovery, and acceptance. I am going to go deeper into myself and walk the spiral of life. I am going to see the universe that resides within me. I am going to see it in others. I am going to be strong and flexible.  I am going to be. 

The Mala Prayer Bead Necklace I made. 66 Bead Style. Nontraditional. One of  Kind. 

I have been wanting a Mala bead necklace to assist in my meditation. What better one to have than one created with my own hands, my own intentions, and one with a blessing. 

Dancer with guitar. Perfect day, imperfect pose. Acceptance. Growth.

Check out Arhanta Yoga at http://www.anandayogashram.org/

First Class Fear

I have officially started teaching Zumba classes!

Check it out on Tuesday at Thursday's at 6:30 pm at Studio Momentum. Click the link below for more information. :) 

www.myreccenter.org

My playlist:

Que Te Mueve
Come and Get it
C'mon and Dance

Shawty Got Moves
El Amor, El Amor
Don't Let Me Down (Swing)
Waka Waka

Loco

La Vida es un Carnaval
Pause
Zumba Lluvia

"Everything you want is on the other side of fear." 

I certainly was terrified of my first class. I practiced for hours, stressing over every little move, how it looked, how easy it would be to follow, and coming up with backup moves in case I forgot my planned choreography. It paid off in the end, though I did make a few mistakes. It was from my mistakes that I relearned why Zumba classes are perfect for me. Everyone is enjoying themselves so much that they just laugh with you when you mess up a move. Silliness is welcome. Awkwardness is expected (we can't all shake it like a Polaroid picture). Zumba classes are no place for judgement, only fun, laughter, and love. 

After teaching my second class, and again missing a few moves, I feel much more at ease and welcomed. People from my first class returned for seconds and hopefully they'll return next week too. I know many are planning too, and this makes me feel a special kind of happy. This makes me feel instant success.

I'm looking forward to expanding my abilities in Zumba and in other areas of fitness. I'm already grateful for the confidence I'm sure to gain from my experience through Zumba. 

Today is a wonderful day, and those to follow may only be more beautiful. 

Welcome to the New Life of Zumba

Yesterday I attended the Zumba B1 training and am now a licensed Zumba instructor! 

I'm working hard to get some routines set up. Tonight, in less than an hour I already have the first song almost memorized to a T. I have my playlist all set up; warm-up, workout, and cool-down. I have a ton of ideas, I just need to put them in line and remember to do what I know best.

The training was pretty wonderful though an incredibly long day. I left my house at 5:30 am and did not get home until 7:30 pm. 

We started with an introduction then went in to a full Zumba class. Everyone was soaked in sweat by 10 am. Ann, our ZES (Zumba Education Specialist), was absolutely hilarious. My favorite part of her teaching was her personality. She taught us how to describe a body roll as "Rocky Road" ice cream. It was marvelous, and seems like it will work. I will probably be using this expression when someone asks me how to perform this move. 

 We moved through the day with zeal, breaking down the steps to merengue, salsa, reggaeton, and cumbia. At the end, we choreographed a song as a group, breaking up into four groups and choreographing different sections. It was fun watching everyone get into it. 

Tomorrow I am to meet with a lady about a potential Zumba job. I am beyond excitement and quite honestly scared. I am afraid I may not be prepared for that first class but, I am going to make sure I have my routine memorized better than the back of my hand before I walk in to teach my first class. I'm confident I'll make a good Zumba instructor. 

Now that I have the basics under my belt, it's practice, practice, practice. It is my hope to eventually get B2 licensed and Zumba Kids licensed. It would be a wonderful job to visit different schools and provide Zumba classes during their gym period or even after school. I'm going to make a difference in the obesity percentage. Through education, fitness, and especially fun, I'm going to make a change in this world. 

Zumba B1 is just my first step into a big, bright future. 

Yoga Fundraising Saturday, Zumba License Sunday

Today was Market Madness. It was my first time selling my jewelry at a farmers market, and how I now wish I had participated all summer. The profits weren't astonishing but as expected, which was still equally wonderful. I'm one step closer to funding my way to India.

Thank you to all those who have helped support me.

Tomorrow, I venture to Lowell, MA for my day filled with Zumba! My excitement is through the roof. I am so looking forward to all the wonderful people I am going to meet there, all the dancing, learning, and to walking out feeling more confident and ready to teach Zumba. I must try to rest as I am planning to wake around 5am.

 All packed and ready to go!

A Day Filled With Small Successes

Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw again still.

-Henry David Thoreau

This morning I gnawed. 

I began with a short yoga session, as promised. Though only 15 minutes long, it was difficult to push through when my comfortable bed was still calling my name and just in arms reach. It started my day off with an accomplishment. Though small it was, it snowballed into more accomplishments throughout the day. At work, I had clearer thoughts and found more confidence in my abilities and worth. I made wiser food choices, snacking less throughout the day than usual and having only one small haystack for my chocolate fix (you'll come to understand how large an accomplishment that is for me!). I read many pages of my Fitness and Theory book, leaving me with only 24 pages and 19 days left before my examination. To end my evening, besides my writing this blog post, I practiced another short yoga session. 

I gnaw again still.

It is in your bones; you cannot escape it. If you attempt, in time you will come back to gnaw at its delicious enjoyment once more. This is much like my love with yoga, with the spiritual world, the magic Mother Earth, and all the connections between mind, body, and soul. I gnaw, wholeheartedly, ready to dedicate my life to the pursuit of "my own bone", of the truth, of the real world. This bone must be protected though and presented at precisely the right time.

It is my time. 

I am ready.

(written 09.02.2013)

Put A Ring On It

Speaking metaphorically and literally, I'm putting a ring on my yoga practice. I am going to commit to a daily yoga practice, putting a ring on my dedication to be a profound yoga teacher. I also have been making wire rings to help fund my journey to become my future Yogi self. Check it out....

I call this one Ocean Looking Glass because the bead is blue and clear. It's more beautiful than what the picture can portray. 

My newly developed jewelry talent expands beyond wire rings from chain headpieces to hemp bracelets. Though this will not fund my entire trip as I aim to attend an ashram in India come February, it certainly will lighten the financial worry that comes along with the expensive, yet rewarding experience I will have.

So here I sit, in the middle of the woods in Vermont, dreaming of the many poses I want to accomplish. My yoga mat is already laid out beside my bed for my newly scheduled morning yoga session with myself. Tomorrow is a new day, a bright day, a day filled with creating new habits and bringing my dreams to reality.

<3 Namaste <3

P.S. If you would like to check out more of my jewelry, please visit

 https://www.facebook.com/MapleLeafJewelry

The Countdown Begins

7  Days to Zumba Basic 1 License

Yes, that is a yoga cat. 

Warrior Love

Be a warrior of love and inner peace.