Got Resolutions?

If you're anything like me, it's about this time of year you vow to do a whole list of things for the upcoming year. And also if you're anything like me, what inevitably ends up on your list are the same things that were on your list last year.  And the year before. And before. Eat healthier. Get out of debt. Stop drinking (as much). Save money. Lose weight. Spend time more wisely. Volunteer. Essentially, become a better person. You tell yourself that you can do it. This year is going to be different.

Despite good intentions, things often don't work out as expected. Maybe you stick to your goals for a couple days, even weeks, but they soon fizzle out. Before you know it, the year has passed and you (I) haven't crossed one damned thing off the list.

Well, for me, this year is going to be different. No, really. I swear. Not only do I have good intentions, I have something that I've never had before: a plan. Say whaaaaaaat??

Yes, a plan. Not that I haven't had a plan in the past; or at least I thought I did. My 'plan' was to do all the things I said I was going to do. Plain and simple. I was going to turn my life around once and for all. But my 'plan' just consisted of my intentions to do so, and while intentions mean well, I can't recall ever accomplishing one of my resolutions according to my so-called plan.   

This year my plan comes equipped with a program, a book, instructions, and a support group. And there's only one thing on my new years resolution list. What am I talking about? Don't you know, I'm talkin' bout a revolution.

Beginning January 8th, I will participate in 40 Days to Personal Revolution, a program designed by world renowned yogi extraordinaire Baron Baptiste. The program includes the advice, wisdom and tools to inspire a transformation of body, mind and spirit in a relevant and practical format. The outline entails practicing yoga 6 days a week, twice daily meditation, logical dietary changes, attendance at weekly meetings, and learning to find and listen to the authentic self. Each week builds on the previous one, beginning with small changes working towards more substantial ones as the program gets closer to the 40 days.
  
I do not claim or believe that this will be an easy undertaking by any means. It's a significant commitment and I definitely had/have my reservations about participating. My initial concern was the time commitment. By week 6, the yoga practices extend to 90 minutes, and the meditation lasts 30 minutes in the morning and another 30 in the evening. And there's still the weekly meeting. WHERE WILL I FIND THE TIME?!?  I'm also concerned about the dietary changes. Although I know giving up certain things would do me good, old habits die hard and I haven't had much luck in previous 'attempts'. My final concern was the cost. I'm already struggling to make ends meet as is; should I really be taking on another financial obligation?

After some questioning, I learned that the yoga practices don't have to be done at a certain time or place; I can do them anywhere, even at home.  The dietary changes are chosen by me, not according to a master one-size-fits-all formula. And even though money is tight, the cost of the program is less than I anticipated; a very reasonable price with some extra incentives* thrown in.

Even though my concerns are still very relevant to me, I signed up for the program anyway. There's no doubt I will experience moments of weakness, faltering motivation, sacrifice, even suffering. There's a chance I could even fail. I could quit, give up, drop out, realize I was in over my head (which is a legitimate concern). But I'm not letting that stop me from trying, and I'm convinced that I can make it through the 40 days. This is my new years resolution.

Why do I want to do this? What do I expect to get? Essentially, to become a better person. As cheesy as it sounds and no matter the stigma attached, I've always been a fan of self-help. I'm an avid believer that our minds hold the power to heal ourselves with enough determination, mindfulness, and perseverance. I remember listening to Tony Robbins years ago talking about his philosophy of CANI : Constant And Never-ending Improvement.  The theory is to improve one tiny aspect of your life every single day, and over time....voila!!   I love that philosophy; it has stuck with me over the years, creeping into my mind at times when I've needed it most. Besides, if we don't help ourselves, who will? Better yet, who would we allow, even if someone tried? It's been said that we're our own worst critics, but what about being our own biggest proponents? That's where YOU come in. You have the power to change yourself.  Here's to 2012.

"The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it." - John Ruskin 

 *For more information or to enroll, contact Inner Peace Yoga. 40 day personal transformation will be facilitated by local Tulsa instructor, Chelsea Paxton.

Morning's Here

I've never been an early riser. Not on purpose anyway. There have been a couple periods in my life that I've been required to get up early, but I've never done it on my own accord. Most of my adult life I've been a night owl, partially due to years spent bartending. I've seen the clock strike 2am, 3am, 4am more times that I can count. While I've spent the better part of the last two decades drooling on my pillow snoozing my days away, tons of other people have been up and at'em at the crack of dawn doing god-knows-what.

I guess I wanted to know what. 

I figured I've been a 'night' person for so many years, why not give being a 'morning' person a shot? So when an opportunity to teach early morning yoga classes arose, I volunteered.  For 5:30AM. Talk about shock and awe.

In order to welcome the morning, I like to think of this song/clip from an old Friends episode:

It makes me smile every time, without fail.

With this song in my head (and coffee in my bloodstream), I've found the mornings to be quite enjoyable.

The quiet and peaceful atmosphere of dawn provides the perfect ambiance for practicing yoga, which makes getting up early worth it.

If you're an early riser or aspiring to be, get into gear and join me every Tuesday and Wednesday morning at Inner Peace Yoga, 5:30AM.  I'll see you tomorrow morning.