freedom

July Inspiration

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“The beginning of freedom is the realization that you are not “the thinker.” You realize that all the things that truly matter – beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace – arise from beyond the mind. You begin to awaken.”

— Eckhart Tolle

Summer is in full swing! I hope that you are all enjoying the season of growth! The warm days, lemonade, watermelon and summer activities are happening! My garden is flourishing and I love to see the changes that each day offers! All the rain we have been getting is making my veggies super happy. I had a big lesson last month about the impatience I was showing toward the seeds I had planted–even so much that I was convinced a squirrel stole them when in fact, they grow on their own time, not mine. This year I ventured into growing some other things like Brussel sprouts, edamame, and broccoli along with the usual garden varieties of squash, peppers, tomatoes and lots of green beans.

It may surprise you to learn this about me, but I am a hustler and find joy in hard work. (sarcasm). Despite my hard work schedule, I have come to realize that choosing time to fill up my own cup will only bring more value to my work. I have been focusing on carving out time each day to make sure I get a walk (or two) in, that I enjoy time on my patio with a popsicle, or time on my bike, and that I am pausing each day to take in more of LIFE around me. I believe that personal growth is one of the most empowering things we can do. I hope you’ll consider joining me in some personal growth and balance.

I have a plenty of fun classes scheduled this month and I am excited to continue Monday Evening Yoga in my studio, as well as yoga in the park. I also have a couple sunset Yoga classes to celebrate the warm evenings.

As always, I am here for consultation and questions related to yoga, health, essential oils and living a mindful life.

Celebrate you, your life and enjoy the summer days!

Much love,

Stacie

Read this lovely blog post about a lesson I learned last year about what freedom really is.

Yoga

YOGA IN THE PARK

Join me for Yoga in the park two Saturdays at 9am (7/15, 7/22) at Jackson Elementary Park (1111 Holland Park Blvd) for some sunny yoga in the park. Cost: suggested donation $10-15

Can’t make Saturday mornings? How about Sunset Yoga? Join me in the same park 730pm-830pm July 12th and July 26th. (weather permitting). Cost: suggested donation $15-20

IN STUDIO YOGA

Do you prefer to practice inside and in a more intimate space? My studio classes are Monday evening Slow Flow Yoga at 515pm. Please register below by a simple email to me with the dates you’d like a spot—they will up fast!

Register for July In-Studio Classes

ONLINE YOGA & PILATES

My online access classes are and always will be donation based. I am believer in making my classes accessible to anyone, regardless of ability, or income. However on a much deeper level, this means I trust that those who can pay, will. And those that truly cannot, will still be able to practice. You can learn more about donation yoga by reading my blog post.

Enjoy this sampling of what you’ll receive when you choose to access my videos. You can choose between yoga, chair yoga, pilates and mediation, or choose them all!

Online Yoga and Pilates

Essential Yoga–FREEDOM

If you missed the Essential Yoga in June, I am excited to offer it again in July, but this time it is recorded and ready for you to view at your convenience. Just click on the link below and you’ll have access to the online class. Donations are appreciated.

Essential Yoga–Freedom

Are you a current yoga teacher? I am also offering a yoga teacher mentoring program to help yoga teachers learn how to modify and teach to those with different abilities. Ask me more!

Essential Oils & Wellness

Many of you know that I use and rely on essential oils to maintain the health of my mind, body, and spirit. I use them throughout my home from cleaning, to pain management, energy, sleep, mood and much more. We have been waiting for a long time for the in-depth product developers to perfect their natural, mineral based sunscreen and the wait does not disappoint!

Did you know you can create you own bundle of oils, cleaners, skin care and now sunscreen and the wholesale pricing fee ($35) is waived! How awesome is that? You’ll get wholesale pricing just like me for an entire year and there is never a requirement to keep buying (though I know you’ll find lots of great things!)

Once you get started you will also get an awesome welcome package from me, access to my VIP community group, education and mentoring and much more. It is easy to get started! I am also happy to chat personally with you to create the perfect options for your needs.

Get Started

I offer FREE wellness consultations to talk about your goals and desire for a healthier, mind, body and spirit ANYTIME whether you are an oil user or not. Together we will create a personalized plan. Schedule yours today!

Free Wellness Consult

This month’s special and unique essential oil and gemstone blend features some earthy and mellow aromas to open the space in yourself to find that feeling of FREEDOM from all the stress being human can bring. It is delicious and smells amazing. It’s also rich in color and beauty. You can pick one up here.

DIY

Did you know you can use essential oils to make some awesome summer treats? Not just will the flavor be amazing but you’ll also get the benefit of the essential oils!

A few of my favorite summer recipes are listed below.

Raspberry Limeade

Lemon and Orange Granitas

Raspberry Smoothie Bowl

Tropical Dream Smoothie

Wild Orange Vanilla Popsicle

Lavender Blueberry Shake

French Cucumber Salad

The Benefits of Play

Summer is a great time to make time for play. In our hectic, modern lives, many of us focus so heavily on work and family commitments that we never seem to have time for pure fun. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing. When we carve out some leisure time, we’re more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer than engage in fun, rejuvenating play like we did as children. But play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well.

Playing with your romantic partner, friends, co-workers, pets, and children is a sure (and fun) way to fuel your imagination, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and emotional well-being. Adult play is a time to forget about work and commitments, and to be social in an unstructured, creative way.

Play helps:

  • Relieve stress. Play is fun and can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
  • Improve brain function. Playing chess, completing puzzles, or pursuing other fun activities that challenge the brain can help prevent memory problems and improve brain function. The social interaction of playing with family and friends can also help ward off stress and depression.
  • Stimulate the mind and boost creativity. Young children often learn best when they are playing—a principle that applies to adults, as well. You’ll learn a new task better when it’s fun and you’re in a relaxed and playful mood. Play can also stimulate your imagination, helping you adapt and solve problems.
  • Improve relationships and your connection to others. Sharing laughter and fun can foster empathy, compassion, trust, and intimacy with others. Play doesn’t have to include a specific activity; it can also be a state of mind. Developing a playful nature can help you loosen up in stressful situations, break the ice with strangers, make new friends, and form new business relationships.
  • Keep you feeling young and energetic. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Play can boost your energy and vitality and even improve your resistance to disease, helping you function at your best.

Go find a playground and swing awhile or shoot some hoops with a friend. You’ll be surprised what an afternoon of play can do for you mind, body and spirit.

Thank You

So many of you have been so supportive of me over the years. I am so blessed that I can continue to share my passion and touch your life. It means a lot to me that you know that you are very important to me, and I am incredibly grateful that our paths have crossed. I believe that now more than ever, we need to recognize the people and meaningful connections that we all have.

As always, it is my hope that you stay healthy and happy in your mind, body and spirit.

Much love and light to you!

xo, Stacie

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About Stacie

Stacie believes that it is her life purpose to share the gift of Yoga with anyone who is willing to say yes. In addition to raising a family and being an advocate for those with disabilities, Stacie is founder of Embracing Spirit Yoga which specializes in bringing adaptive Yoga into community centers and rehabilitation clinics. Bringing her depth of compassion to the mat–or the chair–she offers students the opportunity to grow as an individual in all aspects of their life.

With over sixteen years experience, Stacie Wyatt is an E-500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Life Wellness Coach, Senior YogaFit Instructor, Mind/Body Personal trainer, Stress Reduction and Meditation Instructor, Pilates Instructor, and Barre Instructor. Stacie is also certified in Integrative Movement Therapy™and is also a believer in the power and application of essential oils for health and wellness and proudly shares doTERRA essential oils.

Stacie brings her personal life experience of raising a daughter with a disability and over 12 years working in special education to her everyday Yoga classes.

In addition to teaching classes at a variety of local centers and health clubs, Stacie also continues to offer Yoga and Wellness coaching individually to those seeking private sessions.

True Freedom

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What does freedom mean to you?

I often say that I am putting all of the amazing nuggets of wisdom that come from my students with brain injuries into my future book and to share on my future Ted Talk. Wouldn’t that be amazing?

Year after year and class after class, I am humbled at the insights that come from people living with brain injuries and feel so strongly that they can teach the world so many things about truly living. Over the years I have kept a little notebook with some of the teachings that they bring to my life and will often pull inspiration from that notebook in my everyday classes or in my personal life.

This one is a keeper.

I have been teaching from the theme of freedom this month. According to Webster’s dictionary, freedom is defined as having the ability to think, speak and act without hindrance or restraint. Teaching adaptive yoga in an assisted living home for adults with traumatic brain injuries often brings the most insights into the true essence of living Yoga. As we broke down each what it means to think, speak and act without hinderance we shared the challenges in our lives it was easy to see that everyone has certain hinderances or restraints that keep them from living fully free. For some, it is living without the ability to move their legs, or for others it is not being able to drive or work. For me although I can drive and work, I have certain physical limitations and responsibilities that keep me from being fully free in my actions.

We then moved onto our ability to speak without hinderance or restraint and it was evident that while the idea of free speech exists, there is a limitation to what we can all say and not get into a little hot water, whether that it within our own home or in the community.

We finished our discussion with the realization that the only true place we have freedom is in our thoughts. We are all free to think what we think and no matter what our challenges or our struggles are, it is ultimately what we do with it through our mindset.

Here is the moment of ah-ha that has stayed in my heart for weeks. As we were closing up our discussion on living freedom, this was spoken:

“The confinement that I feel is only what I ALLOW myself to feel.”

Read that again.

The woman who said this is a student who lives in assisted living and occasionally comes down for yoga. Her body is riddled with pain so her practice is breathing and sharing. She is brave and wise.

She also lost her independence, her family, her ability to work and drive, and basically do the things that feed her soul. And yet she has the insight to see that despite all of her lack of freedoms, she can escape the cage with her thoughts.  She is one of the most insightful and grateful people I have ever met.

And to think that I am called the teacher.

Truth is, I am a conduit for their wisdom. I get to be the messenger.

Follow me for more goodness!

Freedom Is

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Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

We have all heard of the metaphors of feeling stuck in a cage and not able to be free to fly, or the imprisoning walls that have been built around us. Sadly, it seems that the brick and mortar is often what we place around ourselves that create our own version of prison.  This can include negativity, questions of worthiness, regrets of the past and worries of the future. Similarly the key to the cage that we so often feel trapped in resides in our own hands. It is our choice to stay in the cage or take the key and unlock it.  No matter what circumstance we are in, we ultimately have choice in what we do with it.

There are a million examples of how we can feel stuck, trapped, locked in, or caged.  Whether it is a relationship, a job, a location or a belief you have about yourself, freedom truly means that WE have the power to act, speak and think without restraint and hindrance. 

We are in control of what we do with our circumstances. Certainly opening the cage door or tearing down the walls that give us a false sense of safety takes incredible courage and sometimes can be the scariest thing we ever do, but the payoff is much better than feeling closed in and stuck.

I hope through a practice of mindfulness and yoga, I can help others to see the freedom that is available through the spaciousness of our hearts and minds. This month we are going to chisel away the beliefs and fear that build a wall around ourselves.  We are going to slip the key into the lock and learn to fly. We are going to feel free. Just as the little finch sits on a branch that perhaps has no insects or is not protective enough, she has the freedom to find a branch that is and we too can jump from a negative thought to a positive thought.

Consider what it would be to take a look at some hard questions and then prepare to take flight.

Do you feel imprisoned?  Are you the one laying the bricks down and filling them with mortar?  Do you hold the key in your hand and refuse to unlock the door?

What would freedom feel like for you?

Freedom

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

We have all heard of the metaphors of feeling stuck in a cage and not able to be free to fly, or the imprisoning walls that have been built around us. The brick and mortar is often what we place around ourselves that create our own version of prison.  These can include negativity, questions of worthiness, regrets of the past and worries of the future. Similarly the key to the cage that we so often feel trapped in resides in our own hands. It is our choice to stay in the cage or take the key and unlock it.  No matter what circumstance we are in, we ultimately have choice in what we do with it.

We are not our circumstances, instead we are our possibilities. 

As I was planning this month’s classes around the concept of freedom and being liberated, I received a message from a dear friend whose young daughter was just diagnosed with autism. Heartbreaking as those initial words were, I saw within a few short days a woman take on this experience like that of a true champion.  Sure, she cried her eyes out and felt fear for the unknown.  We all do when we hear those words.  The first thing I did was send her the Welcome to Holland Poem.  Then we talked awhile about what may lie ahead as she leaned on my experience to help her navigate the first few steps on this new and scary journey. Then she got busy.

She certainly could have felt like this news was a giant reason to give up and stay stuck.  Many do.  She however, in her warrior spirit, immediately saw a need to advocate and start asking questions about services and community integration for her sweet little girl.  She took this as a chance to make a difference in the lives of her daughter and others.

That is what freedom is.

Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. My friend refuses to feel imprisoned by this diagnosis and she will use the power of her light to act and speak without restraint.

This is just one of a million examples of how we can feel stuck, trapped, locked in, or caged.  Whether it is a relationship, a job, a location or a belief you have about yourself, WE have the power to act, speak and think without restraint and hindrance.  We are in control of what we do with our circumstances.

Do you feel imprisoned?  Are you the one laying the bricks down and filling them with mortar?  Do you hold the key in your hand and refuse to unlock the door?

What would freedom feel like? This month we are going to chisel away the beliefs and fear that build a wall around ourselves.  We are going to slip the key into the lock and learn to fly. We are going to feel free.

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