Why is it so hard being a grown-up?

Today I had to do a hard thing. I had to cut the hours of my only employee. She has been the most loyal, devoted, and committed person. It was painful. We both cried. I am hoping adapting to the economic times will allow me to stay open and serving my students. I keep telling myself if it is right for me to stay in business I will. I have done my best. I have tried to make good decisions that are both economically sounds and fair to all concerned. I have tried to create something special, a healing place for people, including me. I think I have succeeded greatly - so many special people are a part of our yoga community. But some simply cannot afford our services anyomore. I am trying to stay the course, keep a positive outlook. I have so much to be grateful for - I have had the privilege of witnessing so much growth and change in the last five years. I hope my cost cutting measures will be enough... I am sad today but also ok.

When Times are Lean be Creative

One of my favorite shows on HGTV is Freestyle. It involves helping people look at what they already own in a new way so they can create a more functional space within their home by using their stuff in a new way. The combination of having new eyes on your stuff, creativity, and a willingness to change are the key elements in a successful transformation.

I know times are tough for many small business owners - and people in general. This has forced me to look at my business in a new way and pursue different avenues of revenue. Some of the avenues I am looking at are trying to sell my CDs and jewelry at some area shops, advertising on my website and newsletter, and beginning a new student referral program. We have also started to create more synergistic relationships with likeminded businesses by doing combinations of seminars and yoga therapy sessions. Right now I feel like I am sowing seeds and tilling the soil. It is hard to know which seeds will germinate, grow, and blossom but I am trying to enjoy the process and the work along the way.

Even though revenues are down, I am very grateful for many things in my life. My home, my husband, my abilities to teach myself a plethora of skills, like website building, marketing, etc., my ability to create artful jewelry. Mostly I am grateful for the shifts I have the privilege of witnessing in the students (and teachers) who grace our classes. So many are kind in sharing how the work we do has positively touched their lives. In lean times - and all the time really - this means the world and helps us to have the strength, stamina, courage, and faith to continue on. A few years ago I had a private yoga session with the owner of a small business. His wife, Robin, had bought him the session, and he really had no interest in yoga. However, the conversation we had that day has stayed with me all this time. He said, "The most important thing is to just keep going; just stay in business." That has become my mantra since then - through buying and rennovating our new space, moving, and now through tough economic times.

The Deeper Meaning of Love

Commercially, February is the month of love. Since many of us are either not in a romantic relationship or our relationship has evolved from the romantic to something deeper, it is a good time to examine and practice the deeper meaning of what love truly is. From the yogic perspective, love is:

• Treating others as equally valuable to ourselves
• Viewing others as part of the same greater whole of which we are a part
• Resisting the urge to judge others' behaviors
• Consciously thinking loving thoughts toward others, even those who push our buttons
• Acting in the best interest of someone else
• Framing any painful truth in as much kindness and compassion as possible
  

What is your idea of love?

Kind regards,

Stacy

Synergy

Lately I have been focussing on creating synergistic relationships with professionals of the same mind. To me this creates an energy that is more powerful than the work of either professional alone. What I need to be careful about is "forcing" a relationship into being. I have such a strong will and drive that it is easier for me to push through than to stop and let things develop naturally. The result is usually not optimal when I do this. Fear, obligation, guilt ... these are the factors that lead to pushing instead of allowing ... what is your experience with synergy?

Not Every Day is Meant to be Productive

Business is slowly increasing since the holidays but I have quite a bit of time to work on the website, make flyers, and get various odds and ends completed before the onslaught (hopefully) of winter customers. So why is it that when I have time to complete projects my energy and focus doesn't cooperate. No matter what I do, things just don't flow. Since my New Years intention is to not struggle but keep my peace, I could have just stopped and gone with the flow of doing absolutely nothing productive. But I just couldn't do it. It became a quest to complete the goal I had for the day, despite having to push through - and you know what? I did. I completed my goal and it felt really good. I felt very satisfied. This must be why I make a habit of pushing instead of stopping and changing course. It feels really good to complete the task. So now I guess I just need to be conscious of whether my peace or the end result is more important to me in each instance ... that is where I stand so far on my New Year intention ...

The Nuts and Bolts of Following Through on My New Years Intentions

Living Room Yoga is launching its 2009 “Heal Yourself, Heal the World” campaign. Its premise is that each aspect of our being that remains unhealed negatively affects not only ourselves but everyone with whom we interact AND everyone with whom they interact, and so on. Conversely (and fortunately), healing our wounded parts reverberates positive change into the world in the same fashion. To illustrate, a few years ago I had an ingrown toenail. Such a small thing, but its affect on my walking and yoga practice led to muscle pain and dysfunction throughout my body. Its interference with my sleep affected my interactions with others, which most assuredly affected their interactions with others as well. If a tiny ingrown toenail can influence the world in such a way, what power does a quick temper have? Or a general lack of kindness? Or an irrational fear? Or anxiety? With a new president in office it is easy to look outside of ourselves for solutions to world problems. I propose instead that each of us accept responsibility for being a catalyst for change by setting an intention on healing one aspect of the self. I say “setting an intention” because it is not about judging, striving, pushing, or desperately seeking. It is simply about keeping our healing at the forefront of our minds as we work, love, play, practice our yoga, get groceries, clean our house … live our lives. Personally, my intention is to heal the part of myself that compels me to strive and push through rather than move more with the flow of life. I would love to hear what you would like to heal this year … I am trying to figure out how to allow postings on my website, but for now, just email me at stacy@livingroomyoga.biz.
So as a business owner with lots and lots of endless tasks to do, how do I stop striving and pushing and let things flow. I am simply not sure. But I think when I begn to get that adrenaline-induced feeling inside that may be a clue to walk away from what I am doing and take a break. I will start there anyway. I will keep you posted!