Forrest Yoga Comes to Wichita!

Ana Forrest has developed an awesome healing style of yoga, which you can read more about at www.forrestyoga.com.  
I am the only Forrest Yoga teacher in Kansas, and you can start practicing Forrest Yoga with me on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.  Here's the ongoing info:

       Days/Times: Tuesday evenings (6:45 pm)

                           Saturday mornings (10 am)

                These are 75-90-minute classes.

       Location: My home in northwest Wichita, Kansas

       Cost: $12 per class—the “drop-in” rate

    $60 for a 6-class package—no expiration and no refunds

    $60 for a private session or 2-person session (call or email to schedule)

Gift certificates available.

No previous yoga experience is necessary! Contact me at miller.leta@gmail.com.  

Here's a quote from Ana Forrest describing her excellent work:

As a beginner to FY, you learn to breathe deeply and connect in feeling with your body. As you progress, you get proficient at safely tailoring each pose to work best for you, particularly with physical and emotional injuries. Learning to work honestly at your edges, you develop effective tools to deal with fear, struggle, and breakthroughs. This makes it possible for integrity, self-awareness and playful curiosity to become part of your daily life.

Please join us!  Your body, mind and spirit will celebrate!

Love and blessings,

Leta

A Poem from Joan Borysenko

This comes from her daily reader, Pocketful of Miracles:

In the secret recesses of the heart

beyond the teachings of this world

calls a still, small voice

singing a song unchanged 

from the foundation of the world.

Speak to me in sunsets and in starlight

Speak to me in the eyes of a child

You Who call me from a smile

My cosmic beloved

Tell me who I am

And who I always will be.

Help me to remember.

With overflowing gratitude for a spectacular 2011, and a certain knowing of huge blessings to come in 2012!
Love,
Leta

Notes from the Universe--Mike Dooley--highly recommended!

Glorious winter solstice to all!
I LOVE the Notes from the Universe by Mike Dooley.  I especially appreciate the one from Dec. 20, so I offer it here for your consideration and enjoyment:
The top 10 things dead people want to tell living people are:

1. They're not dead.
2. They're sorry for any pain they caused.
3. There's no such thing as a devil or hell.
4. They were ready to go when they went.
5. You're not ready.
6. They finally understand what they were missing.
7. Nothing can prepare you for the beauty of the moment you arrive.
8. Don't try to understand this now, but life is exceedingly fair.
9. Your pets are as crazy, brilliant and loving, here, as they were there.
10. Life really is all about love, but not just loving those who love you...

In their own words,
    The Universe

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Mike Dooley's website is www.tut.com.
Joy and peace,
Leta 

Answered Prayer

A quote from Eugene Holden: "Your desires and God's will for your life are the same thing. God desires to express fully and abundantly as you."
Desires tend to get a bad rap.  We've even heard that desire is the root of suffering.  Not so!  It is the God-given essence, the desires of our hearts, that lead us to live to our potential, to be the fully-vibrant expressions of God that we came here to be.  When we follow our hearts' desires, we are happy and free, and we are blessings to our world.  When we don't, we are stressed and unhappy and spiritually imprisoned, and not much good to anyone. 
Our lives ARE answered prayer--we are continually and perfectly supported in love, offered in every moment our hearts' desires. Let's accept this overflowing love and be all we can be!
Love and joy,
Leta

Less is more! More peace, more joy, more pleasure...

Life can get crazy around the holidays, with a mountain of extra busy-ness we pull down upon ourselves.  Let's give ourselves the gift of taking a few moments to consider all we do relative to the holidays--does it really need to be done, or done in the way "it has always been done"?  Here are some suggestions: 
1) Clean AFTER a party or a visit by guests, and not so much before. Those folks who would fuss about your cleaning efforts should maybe be dropped from the guest list?  Most folks don't notice or care about such things.
2) Start an investment account for beloved children in your life, rather than giving them meaningless toys or clothes they'll soon grow out of or dislike. Regular contributions build up to an amazing gift in the future, and greatly simplify your gift-giving efforts.
3) Ask for help.  This is an excellent practical and spiritual practice. We are here to be blessings for each other--give someone the opportunity to help you and you both benefit.
4) At least once a week, enjoy a "get to" activity (as opposed to "have to"), such as attending a concert, reading a good book by the fire, or relaxing in a warm, scented bath.  A well-cared-for and relaxed you is much more pleasant to be around.
5) Invite those you celebrate with to consider new ways of doing things. More thinkers mean more creative ideas, such as a new theme for a Christmas feast.  We had "Christmas pizza" for several years, because that was the one food everyone in the family loved. 
We can change, and we can simplify, and we can live a graceful, peaceful December.  Give it some thought!  Merry Christmas!
Love and joy,
Leta

Living on Purpose

A quote from Eugene Holden:
"In order for you to be a beneficial presence in the world, you must be disciplined enough to live your purpose and shine your light in the world."
"Living your purpose" is a loaded phrase that seems to cause lots of frustration.  There is a tendency to think that one's purpose has to be some lofty save-the-world thing.  Not so.  It can be a daily thing, for example, "to smile no matter what comes my way today." It can also be broad and open. I consider my purpose to be "bringing people together." That has happened through me in all sorts of joyful ways.  The latest means in this process is the yoga teacher training. Discipline was definitely involved--on many days, it was all I could do just to show up for another 12-hour day. But it was SO worth it, and the 45 lights that have gone out from that training are shining brightly, literally, around the world.
We all have something unique to contribute as "a beneficial presence in the world."  Otherwise we would not be here. You are not doing yourself or anyone else any favors by hiding your light. Be disciplined, be courageous, be open-hearted, shine brightly!
Love and Blessings,
Leta

Stop apologizing for your existence!

This is the first in a series of "Lessons Learned in Forrest Yoga Teacher Training."
I spent the month of October in an intensive (to put it mildly!) yoga teacher training in Houston, Texas, with the wonderful yogi, Ana Forrest. The first learning directive I received was "stop apologizing for your existence!" How quickly Ana and her assistants saw through my exterior.   "Apologizing" is a pattern I've operated under since I was a young child. 
The most noticeable way this shows up is automatically saying "Sorry" even when it's not applicable or I don't mean it.  Other examples are saying "Sorry" about something over which I have no control, and for minor mistakes that are common to all and no big deal. Another is apologizing when I feel the need to ask for help. There's nothing wrong with asking for help!
I've found that a good way to become more aware of this tendency in myself is to notice when others say "Sorry," and note whether it's meaningful or simply automatic and unnecessary.  This helps me pay more attention to "Sorry" coming out of my mouth. 
It's an ongoing learning process, to be sure.  And I'm NOT sorry about that :)
Love and joy,
Leta