morning meditation

random acts of kindness

 

 

I got stuck in a snow bank on my way home from work tonight.  It was the perfect ending to one of those days when I really start wonder if I am, in fact on the right path.  Should I be doing something different?  Something more lucrative?  Something more stable?

 

Every now and again I experience a day of doubt.  I wonder if I'm actually making a difference, if I'm really connecting with people in a real way.  These doubts never last long and are often overcome by random acts of kindness.  I'll witness a young man open the door for someone, an old woman let someone in line ahead of them at the grocery store.  Little things to remind me that we are all ONE.  And that there is a lot of good in everyone.

 

Today, that random little act happened to me.  Stuck in the snow, I threw on my 4-ways and decided to just wait until Mike came home to help me out.  (Yoga has taught me: be patient, and breathe).  Cars drove by and many stopped to see if I was okay.  A couple walked by and stopped for a little chat making sure I was alright and had a plan.  A woman, not much bigger than myself actually tried to push me out on her own.  Amazing.  And then a young man hopped out of his car to try.  One person was not enough.  He came to my window and said "Sit tight, I'm going for re-enforcements".  He recruited two other guys and together they heaved me out of that snow bank and then just all went on with their day.  I hollered my thanks with my faith restored.

 

This had nothing to do with yoga, or with my work, but damn did it make me feel connected and grateful and somehow assure me that I am, in fact on the right path.

 

Dear random strangers performing random acts of kindness

 

"THANK YOU"

 

Love,

Shawna



90's yoga mix-tape

I've been nostalgic for the 90's lately.  Ever since I went to a party back in the fall with a 90's theme and danced my ass off to some bad ass 90's tunes.

So I put together a gooey - mostly ladies - 90's mixtape.  Brings me back to sitting on my single bed in my teenage room doodling boys names all over...well, everything.  Enjoy :)


Mary Jane ~ Alanis Morissette
Good Mother ~ Jann Arden
You Learn ~ Alanis Morissette
Ode to my Family ~ The Cranberries
No Woman, No Cry ~ Fugees
Can't Take my Eyes off of You ~ Lauryn Hill (radio edit)
Could I Be You Girl ~ Jann Arden
Linger ~ The Cranberries
Silence ~ Sarah McLachlan
Insensitive ~ Jann Arden
Hand in my Pocket ~ Alanis Morissette
Zombie ~ The Cranberries

Bonus: Erykah Badu ~ Baduzium.  Played right on through.

Peace, love and music :)

poems of the heart

My Beloved Child

 

My beloved child, break your heart no longer.

 

Each time you judge yourself, you break your own heart;

 

you stop feeding on the love which is the wellspring of your vitality.

 

The time has come. Your time to live, to celebrate.

 

And to see the goodness that you are.

 

Do not fight the dark, just turn on the light.

 

Let go and Breathe in to Goodness that you are.

 

~Swami Kripalu

 

 

Leap of Faith

 

Standing before a fork
in the road
there is not a right answer

or truth cast in stone, there are
choices and plans and desire,

there is the heart of fire and
twist of fate,
there is the unveiling

of who you are and who you
are becoming.

This I have found after
bargaining with my hopes

and my destiny. There is only
a still quiet voice within

that tells me trust what you
know and then surrender,

leap if you must, let your wings
unfurl, let your angels play catch.

We drink dreams from a
sliver of moon.

 

~Wendy Brown

 

 

 

 

sweet and easy neck and shoulders

Hey hey hey! 

I posted a youtube video! 
A sweet, gentle flow for neck and shoulders. 
Check it out. 
You don't even have to put pants on :) 
Let me know what you think. 
Also, I'm going to be posting these more often so let me know if you have any requests.
Love.

the name game

Hey all!

I'm changing the url of the site.  a-side-of-yoga.blogspot.ca will now be shawnaturner.blogspost.ca.  See you there!

Peace and much love :)