It's Tiki, your yoga mascot, here wishing you a very happy Sunday!

As you probably know, my mommy has taken a couple weeks off to relax and recharge, and I've been joining her in this hiatus. Although this time has been wonderful, I realized that my usual routine of coming to the studio, running around greeting my yoga friends, and doing some yoga has been replaced by a lot more time sitting on the sofa watching Animal Planet, and my little Chihuahua body was starting to show the effects!

So this week my mommy suggested that I start taking longer walks with her, and even running a bit, because I was starting to get a fat little Tiki-belly. She explained to me that if I continued to not put in the effort, my Tiki-belly would continue to grow, and I could become unhealthy. But this exercising sounded like so much work, and not nearly as fun as kicking back in my house.

But I decided to be open to this new experience. Who knows - maybe I would enjoy getting out in the beautiful weather and stretching my legs some more. It was really tough the first day, but I stuck with it, and the second day we went out, it seemed to be a little easier. Now I started to become motivated because I was feeling even better than I had imagined I would. Here I thought I was just going to endure this new exercise program to appease my mommy, but the better I felt, the more I wanted to stick with it. And then I really became motivated when I started noticing some surprising benefits - I felt more energized throughout the day, and the soreness that I sometimes felt in my hips was disappearing! I guess my mommy was right - it does take some effort to get the results. But the amazing thing is that often the results are even greater than what you had hoped for. I know I am already experiencing benefits that I never even imagined. Now I have more energy for wrestling with my kitty-cat brothers and for resuming my watch-dog position at the studio.

Because I've observed so many yoga classes, I know some people come to yoga for the sole purpose of stretching out their tight legs and hips. But after a few classes you realize how many other benefits you're getting; you're less stressed out at work and feel more energized and alive throughout the day. Being open to that new experience of yoga and putting in the effort yielded results you couldn't have predicted, and now you feel so much better because of that effort. So remember to be open to those new experiences, whether it's a yoga class or a new workout routine like mine. Put in the effort - really give it your all. Whether it's with your yoga practice, your job, or your family, when you put in the time and give it your best effort, the rewards can be greater than you ever imagined!

I know I'm enjoying the results and am feeling more relaxed and energized than ever. After a wonderful hiatus, my mommy and I are both excited to be coming back to teach and share with you, starting next Saturday, April 3rd!

Namaste,
Tiki