HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Happy New Year Yogis and Yoginis!

Last year, at this time, as I wrote in my New Year’s issue of Yogalicious I was about to embark on a HUGE change – leaving the city after 18 years, for the suburbs of Montclair, New Jersey.

While excited, I was also scared to let go of my comfort zone, my daily life as I knew it and that which I’ve called home for so long. And even though I initiated this change, I wasn’t always crystal clear that I was making the ‘right decision’. After all, who knew how it would really unfold?

Change, self initiated or not, always moves us through a transition zone which creates a sense of groundlessness. The scary in-between state of letting to go of what we’ve always known and/or done to
allow for something new (a new habit, pattern, way of thinking, ect.) to emerge. It’s like being in flight between trapeze bars. It takes skill, dedication, and courage to relax and trust into this groundless state.

To flow through it. So, to help make the shift, I stopped focusing on ‘right or wrong decisions’ and instead pulled myself back into the present moment through my daily yoga and meditation practice. I took lots of deliberate mini-breaks to keep my mind focused on the positive. Each time I spun out into fear I drew myself back to my breath and turned to a yellow sticky I carried from TUT.com “The great thing about change, Jillian, is that it absolutely, positively, always means things are going to get even better. Even when you don’t know how.”

And, this is how I continually relaxed into ‘not knowing’ how it would all turn out, and instead leaned into trusting that I was, in fact, moving in the right direction.

Now, with elation I report that the transition was actually effortless and graceful! I am amazed at the peace I feel with having left behind such a big chapter of my life and something I was so attached to. I am deeply content with my new ‘world’ and inspired daily by a more natural environment, interesting friends, and a juicier pace of life.

As with any transition, once I committed to making the change, really got myself on board, and stayed focused on the positive – it unfolded that way. And, even better, once I actually walked through this new door, many other doors have opened as well!

So this New Year’s issue of Yogalicious #63 is dedicated to supporting your journey through Change! To pausing, and coming back to ourselves in order to refocus and then move forward out into the
world with faith and optimism; to tapping into the inspiring field of fresh energy around us now!

And remember, every time we roll out our yoga mats for practice we embark on a mini New Year – a pause, to look into ourselves, and recommit to a deeper connection between our inner and outer worlds.

Lastly, as we begin 2009, I have a deep gratitude and a special thank you - to YOU! Thank you for meeting me here. I am grateful that you choose to spend your precious time here with me. While I get to meet many of you in person through classes, workshops, and retreats… some of you I only know through your emails. So please continue to send me your emails, as many of you know, I really do read them!

May you, your loved ones and all beings everywhere enjoy this Happy New Year!

With great joy,
Jillian
www.yogajillian.com
jillian_love@yahoo.com
201 377 7010

P.S. Be sure to schedule some time over the next few weeks, a few minutes a day, to retreat, turn inward and connect with yourself as you refresh your vision.

“…From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” Peter F. Drucker

In yoga, it is thought that only through an understanding of our own selves can see how we influence our interactions with the world around us. That self reflection or self study (svadhyaya in sanskrit) is at the root of initiating real change.

However, while a corner stone of yoga, it takes great effort, compassion, and skill to study ourselves with such purpose. So when my 5-year-old dished out a master teaching, I was instantly humbled.

Here’s how it went down: It was day 12 of William’s 16 day winter break from school. I was getting anxious about the long list of things that I wanted to get done but had to put aside and woke up easily irritated. Unfortunately it was the same day William decided to be particularly defiant (and annoying.) He didn’t do any one thing that was super bad, just lots of little things that I’ve asked him not to do before. I didn’t really have the patience to respond in my more ‘artful’ way – so I pretty much barked at him most of the day. Of course, the more I yelled, the more easily I became annoyed.

After a long day, before bed, while brushing teeth, William started acting quite mean to me. Finally, I paused, took a breath, and got present in stead of reacting. (Which in hind sight, I’m sure would have done wonders for me and him had I done it a lot early in the day, but no one is perfect.) And, in stead of yelling at him again, I said to him, “Is there something wrong? Because you’re acting really mean.”

Then, unexpectedly, he actually took a breath and paused and said the most amazing thing. “Well…. I got in a lot of trouble today. I got yelled at a lot. That made me feel sad… And being sad made me mad. Then being mad made me feel mean. And that’s why I was mean. I am sorry mommy.”

His ability to trace his feelings to his actions was unbelievable. And, as a result I too had more clarity about how my actions affected him. We both experienced a sense of relief and ease as we gained insight and connection. And, of course, were then able to come together and share a loving re-connection before closing the day.

Thank you Guru William!  

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Check out this useful New Years “resolution” Meditation. However, I vote for reading it instead of using the audio version. www.beliefnet.com/story/158/story_15864_1.html

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www.beliefnet.com/Holistic-Living/2008/09/Top-5-New-Year.aspx

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Thanks for reading. Please forward this to a friend and expand the
community!

With great joy, Jillian