Taozi Tree Yoga is so proud to present another amazing “Adventures Abroad” article by the legendary, Nicole Schirm…
I used to work for the biggest yoga chain in the world. One of the many visions of the company is to bring “yoga to the masses”, which, therefore broadens the translation of many facets of yoga. For example, we say NAMASTE’ which can be translated to “the divine in me saultes/honors the divine in you” or “I see God in you” or, more accessibly; “the best part of me honors the best part in you” or perhaps “the teacher in me honors the teacher in you.” I am not saying that any of these is the “correct” or “best” translation of Namaste’, but I greatly appreciate having options. I am an American, after all.
I digress. Let me also preface this blog post by sharing the good news that I am 4 months pregnant and therefore, my brain has shrunk and I am, as my assistant calls me “an absent minded pregnant woman.”
I have been teaching yoga for over 6 years and practicing for over ten. One of the most rewarding gifts I have learned from the practice of yoga is that God is our greatest teacher and He/She is everywhere (I did work for the aforementioned company for 4+ years and my yoga explanations are still a bit vague to apply to all my friends and future friends). Therefore, this message of the teacher has been really with me today, and I need to share it with you:
I have been avoiding this post. I have been avoiding my own blog:deliciousdiplomacy.blogspot.com, as the past three months have included no delicious food or fun trips due to the miracle of the first trimester of my first child. I have been tired. I have been sick. I have lost weight. I have not been practicing much yoga. I have been sad and incredibly emotional. I have been homesick. I have been a hermit crab. I have been a person I do not recognize.
….and THEN…..as I came home from a work meeting today, which we had to have outside in this blazing humid heat, I was getting ready to write a snarky post on Facebook when I caught sight of my bedroom window….and WOW.
LOOK at what I was missing. It was so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes(which granted, is easy these days). *However*, it made me stop and think. I knew what I could write about. I sat on my balcony and said a small prayer to the Teacher in all things. I thanked the Teacher for giving me the opportunity to experience something so beautiful and tranquil on a day in a city that is overrun with heat and horns honking and humidity. It made me stop to reflect on what else I may be missing.
I am hard on myself because I may not meditate the same as my guru taught me or I may not get onto my yoga mat as regularly as I used to. Yet, I feel lighter and happier than I have in a very long time. Why? Because I stopped and enjoyed the sunset that was laid before me today. I stopped and listened to my body to not go to yoga last night and to stay home and rest. I am more mindful than I have been in a long time because my body is forcing me to do so. I am growing a baby inside of me and I have needed to make a lot of changes. I have had to slow down lately, to cut my hours at work, to sleep more, to stay in, to say no to commitments….and I see now. I am finally learning to take better care of myself, how to truly practice ahimsa, how to slow down and ENJOY my life rather than trying to run so fast I don’t miss anything. I realized I was missing a lot.
We are our own greatest teachers, however, we sometimes move too fast to listen. As I reflect on my life, I see how the teacher has tried to teach me; like when I broke my foot at a time when I was working too many jobs….or when I sprained my sacrum in a time where I had just come into a new job and was running myself ragged trying to prove I was worthy…and many more similar stories. It was challenging and it was a struggle, but THAT’s when we know transformation is right before us and we have to keep going.
The only way out is THROUGH. The Teacher is there. God is with you.
We just have to TRUST. We have to look around, and then we will see.
NAMASTE to YOU! I bow to the Teacher in YOU and in all things everywhere.
This has been a guest post by Nicole Schirm. She is a delightful and truly magnetic young lady who I am honored to know. Thank you so much for contributing Nicole! I hope to see you some where on this wide planet soon…
*** Please visit Taozi Tree Yoga on Facebook for more on Taozi’s travels, inspiration, and yoga pictures!***
Taozi Tree Yoga 
June 25, 2013 at 12:52 am
Reblogged this on natural (re)born yogi and commented:
Very inspiring blog post indeed, I started reading it with sunrise at my window… Good day to come!!
June 25, 2013 at 1:09 am
That is awesome… Enjoy the day and thank you for reading her post… It is inspiring indeed.
June 25, 2013 at 11:36 am
It seems to me that pregnancy is in its own way a unique type of yoga practice, understanding yoga means union – union with a growing life within one’s own body and the definite demands to pay attention to both bodies.