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21 Days of Loving Kindness Challenge

2/20/2017

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May I practice loving kindness towards myself today and always::
Connecting with Kristen

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Where has fighting with myself ever gotten me? For years I was angry with myself for being myself. I was too loud, too pushy, too smart, too tall, too fat, and not loud enough, not pushy enough, not smart enough. A war that I’ve been waging on myself for years without victory.

What turned me onto yoga was this fight. I felt like if I could become a yoga warrior then I would always win, right? A yoga warrior would have everything I lacked and be strong enough to overcome everything I didn’t want to be. I started looking for teachers to help me become this yoga warrior. I was always trying to be more, without ever feeling like I was enough.

I met many teachers who could show me the right practice for defeating the self. I did lots and lots of asana that made me feel like I was gaining traction and getting somewhere on my journey to becoming a warrior. I felt like if I could conquer the poses, then I could conquer myself. But I was never good enough; there was always more asana, always a greater challenge, a better student, a better teacher. How would I finally find victory?

Eventually I met my teacher who inspired me to slow down and breathe. I asked myself how would I become a yoga warrior by just breathing, how could breathing make me powerful enough? I was struggling so hard with the constant effort to be a victorious warrior, I was exhausted and the list of imperfections I saw in myself kept growing longer and longer. With guidance and help I slowed way down in my asana practice and started meditating more.

After years of just breathing, only now have I started to get a glimmer of my softer side. A world within where there is no competition, nothing known, a constant newness, a beginning, a free space. Where I am not held to any standards or judged. Finally a space where I feel like “I am enough.” I can stop running, stop fighting with myself, and instead be myself; loving life again.

I ask myself: How do I stay here forever? I hear LOVE. All the fight in me transforms into love. I practice love. We’re all alone on the inside, just fighting with ourselves. Make it a peaceful place and love yourself. I still get angry with all my imperfections and the imperfections others reflect back to me. Now, when that happens I remember my intention:


“May I practice loving kindness towards myself today and always.”

When I do the exact opposite of being angry with myself I feel more love and there is no loss, no victory, just hope.



Happy BIG 7 Birthday Party
& Kindness Celebration

RSVP ONLINE
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Please join us for a celebration of 7 years of Maya in Renton and of one of the foundational values of Maya Whole Health Studio- KINDNESS.

There will be treats, of course...snacks and beverages and birthday cupcakes galore...and plenty of opportunity for hamming it up at the photo station. In addition, we will be honoring all who participated in our 21-Day Kindness Challenge, and be drawing raffle tickets for a bevy of excellent prizes.


3-Day Specials this year include a returning client only discount of 20% off any single purchase between Friday, 2/24 and Sunday, 2/26. Plus, introductory specials on classes, massage, and acupuncture.

Don't miss out on the deals, fun and festivities! Yummy treats, funny hats, joyous celebration! See you there.

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21 Days of Kindness

2/3/2017

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Connecting with Heather
Customer Service | Karma Love Fund

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So much has happened at Maya since I started my employment here back in August -  it's hard to believe it has only been 5 months since that first day on the job.  I recall clearly though, one of my first interactions was with a client who was so kind and encouraging. The first day at a new job is always nerve-racking, but this client's warmth and understanding gave me reassurance that Maya Whole Health Studio was a community I wanted to be a part of.  As I've lived and learned, navigating difficult situations and encountering people from all walks of life, I've come to realize the importance of kindness as a guiding value in my life, so I'm pleased to have found a workplace that aligns with my values and incorporates kindness as a foundation for each interaction. 

That's why it seems fitting to me to celebrate the 7th Anniversary of Maya Whole Health with a 21-Day Kindness Challenge: a challenge for each of us to intentionally expand on our personal practice of kindness, and strengthen our habit of both acting in kindness and acknowledging kindness each day. 

There has been so much emphasis on the darkness in our world lately. While it is important to stay aware and informed, too much focus on that darkness can make it hard to find the light we each have to share. To alleviate the fear and anxiety so many are feeling, we crafted this Kindness Challenge as a way to draw our focus to the good happening around us everyday. As we come together and make an impact on the larger community, we can be rejuvenated in our power to create and expand kindness and it's impact... And win prizes, too!  :-)

I'm excited to see the kindness through the eyes of each and every one of you!

Heather



21-Day Kindness Challenge: How it Works

Each day, Maya staff will post a specific challenge in kindness on our Facebook page; on our online community page; and in the studio. 

If you meet the challenge (on your honor), you can let us know one of two ways- either posting online or posting a heart on the Kindness Challenge Board in the studio with your name and as many details as you are willing to share about your experience on that particular challenge. 

Each challenge heart will have a raffle ticket attached, that you will fill out and drop in the raffle jar. You can enter up to 21 times, one time for each challenge.  For everyone who posts online, Maya staff will fill out a heart on your behalf and enter the raffle ticket.

On February 25th, we will host a celebration gathering of kindness, at which we will be drawing lucky winners for various prizes.  The grand prize will be the choice of a $100 gift certificate for anything at Maya OR free entry into all workshops for a year.  Everyone who completes all 21 challenges (even if out of order) will also receive a certificate for a Maya branded t-shirt or tank top of your choice.  

Here we go...for DAY 1...we start off with a BIGGIE.

Day 1: Perform an extraordinary kindness for yourself

The challenge for the first day,  Sunday February 5th , is to perform an extraordinary  kindness for yourself . Being kind to ourselves is sometimes the hardest and most easily dismissed form that kindness can take. It may also be
the most important  form of kindness. Only by taking care of ourselves will we have the energy and the ability to give others the attention, love, and kindness they need to thrive in this world. 
"
Self-love is an ocean
and your heart is a vessel. Make it full,
and any excess will spill over 
into the lives of the people
you hold dear. But you must come first.
"
Beau Taplin - Self Love

So... make an intentional effort today to be  extraordinarily kind to yourself:  take yourself for a long walk (or to a yoga class that you didn't think you'd find time for?); spend extra time doing something you enjoy; let yourself splurge on that coffee or cupcake or book you've been craving; look in the mirror and acknowledge the beauty in your own eyes; forgive yourself for that silly mistake you made five years ago.  And if you're willing, tell us about it.  Share how that kindness felt to you?  Was it easy to accept?  Or did you resist it?  As much or as little as you are willing to share...the most important thing is for you to know, you met your challenge for the day.

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Maya Whole Health Studio
1322 Lake Washington Blvd N, Suite 3
Renton, WA 98056 

425. 271. 0200
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