Hello to all my yogi and yogini friends! I hope you are all having a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

Independence Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate independence of all kinds: the independence we enjoy in this country, as well as the individual independence we each have that allows us to choose any path that we like in life. Each of us enjoys a freedom that allows us to live in a way that rings true to us, no matter what anyone else has to say about it.

Even I got a chance to enjoy my independence last week! You see, my mommy took me to the dog park so that I could play with the other doggies. But they were wrestling with each other and generally being way too rough - not jumping around and running happy laps the way I like to play. So I asserted my independence and went off on my own to play in my own way, doing a couple downward dogs and leaping around in the grass. Now some of the other doggies barked at me because I chose to be different; I was acting in a way that was unusual and weird to them, and this made them feel uncomfortable. But I knew that I had the freedom to follow my heart and run around in the grass, no matter what those other dogs said, and I found this to be much more enjoyable than if I had rough-housed with them just to fit in.

Now I know you have experienced the same thing from time to time - maybe people even think you're weird for practicing yoga. But you know how great it makes you feel to do yoga because you've chosen to let that healing experience into your life. There is an incredible freedom that comes when you choose to live in a way that's right for you. You realize that your yoga practice makes you feel great, and when those other people catch up to speed, maybe they can enjoy it, too. But in the meantime, the fact that they are making other choices doesn't keep you from enjoying the benefits.

So over this Independence Weekend, remember that being true to yourself, without concern about what others may have to say about it, is true independence. When we follow our hearts, we feel truly empowered and free in any situation, and this is something that no one can ever take away!

Namaste,
Tiki

Hello, yogi and yogini friends! I hope this Tiki-gram finds you happy, healthy, and not too sore from all those chaturangas I’ve been watching you work on!

Myself, I’ve been working on my Upward-Facing Dog lately. The Downward Dog I’ve got down pat, but I definitely feel more awkward and tense in the backbends, like Upward Dog. So last week when I was practicing my Upward Dog, breathing, and gaining more awareness of my body and my emotions in the pose, I realized that the Upward Dog is scary for me because it feels so risky. I feel vulnerable in that position, and it really takes some courage for me just to stay in the pose and remain calm. But after a little while of sticking with it and practicing my backbend, I began to get it: backbends teach us how to open up to what lies ahead in life with courage and an open heart. Even though Upward Dog at first felt risky and scary because I felt so vulnerable, I knew that I was safe in this pose. The posture started to reinforce the fact that it’s okay to approach life with an open heart, even when you feel vulnerable doing so, because being open-hearted and real with our feelings is how we stay true to ourselves.

For all of us, there are all different sorts of risks we can take in life, whether it’s in trying a new brand of doggie-treats, buying a house, or sharing our feelings with those we care about. Sometimes opening up and living authentically feels scary because we’re unsure of the outcome; after all, that new doggie-treat might taste yucky. But as we practice yoga, and in particular the backbends, we can develop the courage to open our hearts and live fully, to follow our dreams, take those risks, and try the new treats. It takes courage to put yourself out there, without worrying about what people will think about it. But with all my doggie wisdom I’m finding that the risk is worth it, no matter the outcome, because there is an amazing freedom and liberation that comes when you’re totally honest about your feelings, hopes, and dreams. And most of the time, if we let go of the fear, we find that those treats are actually quite tasty!

Just like practicing a backbend, sometimes following our hearts feels risky and scary. We feel vulnerable, but we can begin to feel secure with that and know that it's safe to open our hearts, in the pose and in life. By practicing these backbends, we’re teaching ourselves that when we approach life with an open heart, we’re always safe and protected. Even though it feels scary to go after your dreams, maybe people tell you you’re crazy for taking those risks, but you know in your heart that it’s what is right for you in order to live in a way that’s true to yourself.

Yoga helps us cultivate the courage to live authentically and honestly. Whether it’s in taking risks in your career, or in telling the people you care about how you feel, you know you’re living true to your heart, whatever the outcome. So this week, have the courage to open to what the future holds with an open heart, and every time you stretch into that Upward Dog, let it reinforce how great it feels to be a beacon of love, compassion, and courage!

Namaste,
Tiki

Vote early and vote often!
Help spread the joy by voting for Joy Yoga Center for Houston's Best Yoga Studio!

Hello all! It's Tiki here with a few words of wisdom and a little fun for your morning.

So, this week I was hard at work playing guard dog at home. Usually things are pretty quiet, but this week I really had to earn my keep - there were tons of people walking by my window, and a lot of them were walking their puppies. Now most of these puppies were not nearly as well-behaved as I and were barking their little heads off at me. Not only was their barking loud and annoying, it was cutting into my nap time; all I could think about was how much I wanted them to go away and leave me alone. Then I remembered a meditation I've heard in yoga class: every person (or puppy) that comes into your life is really just teacher, placed exactly where they need to be to teach you the lessons you need to learn. Every person and every doggie we encounter, whether they are nice or rude, barking or calm, are really just Buddhas for us. So as much as I hated to admit it, I realized that these barking puppies had a lot to teach me about compassion and acceptance. Rather than just being annoyed with them, I made a choice to change my attitude and appreciate them and the lessons they were teaching me.

This concept of every person being a teacher for each of us is a concept we can really apply to our daily life because we all run into people that we wish we didn't have to deal with. And then it seems like the more you focus on wanting them out of your life, the more they stay in your face. Instead, we should remember that those people are placed there especially for us so that we can learn and grow. When we think about these situations from this standpoint, it makes our lives so much happier because we live with an attitude of appreciation and love, and we find that we remain happy and content, no matter how many little puppies are barking at us.

So this week if you find yourself becoming annoyed with someone and just wishing they would go away, try a different approach: instead of reacting to the situation, be thankful to them for the lesson they have to teach you. Notice how this attitude of gratitude changes your whole perspective on life and makes every day happier!

Namaste,
Tiki

Partner Yoga Workshop!
led by Nicole Haagenson,
on Saturday, July 17th; 2:00-4:00pm

Yoga means union. This workshop is ideal for couples, family, and friends interested in exploring deeper levels of connection and intimacy through yoga.

Most importantly, it is FUN! We laugh together as we strengthen and stretch the body. Using gentle pressure, body weight, and skillful touch, we will work one-on-one to maximize our stretching and perfect our alignment in classical yoga postures. Working with a partner helps you to open your body more deeply than you could alone, for optimal benefits. Stretch not only your body, but also your communication skills.

In this invigorating workshop, you'll:
· Practice a series of doubles' yoga poses where you balance, counter-balance and co-create the posture
· Learn partner-assisted stretches, enabling you to stretch farther than you could on your own
· Create a wellness practice of poses to alleviate minor back, neck, shoulder and hip pain
· Develop strength and flexibility while deepening trust, communication and fun.

APPROPRIATE FOR ALL LEVELS.
NO YOGA EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY.
NO PARTNER NECESSARY.

When: Saturday, July 17th; 2:00-4:00pm
Where: Joy Yoga Center
4500 Washington Avenue, Suite 900
Houston, TX 77007
Earlybird registration is $25/person (must register by July 16th). Day-of registration is $35/person.

Register now by visiting www.JoyYogaCenter.com or by calling 713-868-YOGA (9642)!

About Nicole:

Nicole has studied yoga for 17 years, taught for 8 years. Nicole's style of teaching is primarily hatha yoga but is influenced by all of the respective schools of yoga. A typical yoga class with Nicole could be expressed as a "gentle, persuasive challenge to the mind and body." She currently teaches students of all levels of practice privately and at a beginner-intermediate level for public classes. Her roster of students ranges from busy professionals to children. In addition to private and public lessons Nicole also offers partner yoga lessons and facilitates retreats in the Mexican Riviera annually. She supports an environment of respect and compassion in her classes, encouraging diversity and openness to perpetuate the dynamic flow between the mind, spirit and body. Nicole holds a B.A. in Public Relations from the University of Houston and was yoga teacher certified through the Living Yoga Program at the Barsana Dham Ashram in Austin, TX.