Tag Archives: be bold

Waiting for a Personal Invitation

Every August, I head up to the Catskills for a weekend-long yoga retreat. This isn’t just any retreat, it’s the Goddess Retreat–all ladies, all ages, some newer to yoga, and some practicing for lifetimes. Despite our differences, we have one thing in common–we all want fill up our energetic tank, so to speak, so we can return to the city more refreshed, and better than when we left.

On these retreats, all the ladies are encouraged to bring their specific talents to the mix. Some sing, some cook, some whip up all-natural facial masks, while some run workshops on storytelling and writing. I’ve always enjoyed these eclectic offerings, but never contributed.

That is, until I got a personal invitation.

I got the gentle nudge from the Goddess Supreme to share my good stuff with the group. And from the moment she proposed it, I knew it was right. Of course–I would offer dating coaching sessions!! How perfect! How appropriate! HOW FUN!

But more importantly, how in the world had I not seen this before?!

Well, if you’re anything like I am, you might be waiting for a personal invitation for more things than you realize. And if you’re as lucky as I was in this example, you’ll get your invitation and you’ll run with it.

But why wait for an invitation? If you have something you’re thrilled about, the invitation is always there.

It’s the same with dating. Are you waiting to be noticed? Are you waiting for the guy across the room to approach you? Or are you waiting for your current boyfriend to tell you how awesome you are before you can really believe it?

WHY?! You already know you’re awesome. Instead, why not go out knowing that men want to meet you, get to know you, and date you.

No invitation necessary!

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Filed under Inside the Yoga Studio, Inside Your Love Life

No Apology Necessary

Last week I taught at my home studio, Kula Yoga Project. It’s the site of my serious entrance to yoga. I found it and quickly afterwards, it became the only place I wanted to practice. It was my happy place, and it was where my friends gathered. During the practice years, it was my very definition of yoga. To this day, I make a point of schlepping up the Kula stairs at least 3 times a week. Which got me thinking: What’s the big deal about Kula? What’s the allure?

Through the years I’d gone to other studios, with more convenient locations and schedules. I’d been around. And each time I went elsewhere I was hit hard with the best kept secret, kept only from me. I was darned good at yoga. I’d become really advanced, adept, flexible, floaty, natural in this movement.

Yoga classes served up exactly what I was so hungry for: the permission to be huge. In so many places in my life I’d recognized how capable I was, and how horribly uncomfortable that made other people. And at the time, other people’s discomfort became my own. In the office, and in romantic relationships and friendships alike, I’d become accustomed to holding back just a little. I got into the habit of making myself small. But never, NEVER in the yoga studio. Never at Kula. I never apologized for being capable. I’d found a space that allowed me to be as strong and as soft as I am. With no apology necessary.

In yoga, we’re taught to be kind to ourselves. And that can look differently to different people. Kind to yourself isn’t always about doing less. It can also mean being disciplined, energetic, and unapologetically awesome. Shrinking would be unkind. Expanding is sometimes the kindest gesture.

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Filed under Inside the Yoga Studio, Inside Your Career

Love Letter to the Yoga Students

Dearest Yoga Students,

Please don’t take this the wrong way, but we need to talk. I’ve been evaluating our relationship and I want you to know that I’m ready to ratchet it up a notch. We started out innocently. It was all very informal, like we were just going through the moves. But as we continue with this, I find that you lift me energetically, help me to press reset. I love hearing my own voice with you, and your attention makes me feel bold. When you’re listening, I feel wise. When confusion or fear is weighing me down, I remember your confidence in me. And I feel better. I want to give you everything you want, dear students. I want to make you feel good.

What a pleasure to be able to know you. So thank you, you shiny wonderful people you, thank you students. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Yours Truly,

Daniella

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Filed under Inside the Yoga Studio, Inside Your Friendships

Are you overprotective of your heart?

Love is in the air! It’s the season of exposed shoulders, outdoor cocktails, shiny pedicures and sweaty yoga classes. It’s a sultry time. Does that mean we can just sit back and relax?

I think not. Now is the time to be brave with your heart.

I often talk about being “kind to your own sweet heart”. It’s a good idea to be kind to your heart, take care of it like a little child, to acknowledge the hard work, stretching, and contorting of your emotional center every day. Yes, we must be kind to our own sweet hearts.

However, there’s no need to be overprotective of your own heart. What would happen if you allowed your heart to be risky, gutsy, BOLD?? I dare you to give your heart the space to expand to find new levels of love. Go on, JUMP! You can risk it, you can trust your own sweet heart to be more powerful and capable than you’ve ever imagined.

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Filed under Inside Your Friendships, Inside Your Love Life