The End of the Journey.....or is it???

Level 5. I finally did it. In Arizona... in July! What was I thinking? It sounded like a good idea at the time. I'm actually kidding. I love the desert in the summer. Well, by that I mean I love touristy desert cities in the summer, but not the real desert like Death Valley or the Mojave. I love them for a couple of reasons. The hotel rates are really cheap. Probably because it's a bazillion degrees outside and no one wants to be here. And there's hardly any tourists. Because it's a bazillion degrees outside and no one wants to be here. But this desert trip is even more special to me. It's the one I have been working towards for about 15 months. I did my final training to complete my 200 hours for what's called my RYT certification. I think that stands for Registered Yoga Teacher, but I'm not totally sure. But I'll find out. I promise.

Anyway, throughout the entire past 15 months I imagined that completing this training would signify the end of this personal journey that I have set out on. But I'm starting to realize that it's really just the beginning. Of what? I'll explain in a minute.
But first let me tell you about the training. It was at another Mind, Body, Fitness Conference that YogaFit has in the desert every summer. Last year it was in Palm Springs and I did my transformational training taking Level 4. Remember, four days of yoga, yoga, yoga, and more yoga? Three hour long masters level classes everyday? My hips still feel it! But this year I find myself in Scottsdale, Arizona. It's a beautiful city outside of Phoenix. And the conference was held at a beautiful resort that I swear knew 200 yogis were coming because they had "new age" music playing everywhere. Even in the bathrooms.
Our trainers were Sandi, Jen, and Katie. And they were amazing. They opened the training by telling us that this session was for us as spiritual beings, not as teachers. All of the other trainings have been about how to teach. This one was FOR and ABOUT us.
We started with a lengthy discussion about Eckart Tolle's "The Power of Now." And if you haven't read it; I highly recommend it. By the end of the first day the message was crystal clear: I am okay just the way I am. Period. What an amazingly profound idea. Those of you that know me well, know how I have struggled with this very simple concept. We ended Day One with a activity where we had to make lists of things that made us angry, fears that we have, beliefs that we have about the world, and things that are keeping us from having what we want. Then we drew what was called a "Body Map" of ourselves and colored areas of our body that are painful for us to accept. I drew mine to resemble a gingerbread man (must be the Kindergarten teacher in me) and decorated it with frosting in all the areas that I do not like. Needless to say, It had a lot of frosting on it. And then, just before we left we had to tear up both of these pieces of paper, drop them into the trash can, and then pick out a gift of a new journal. In it we were instructed to make a list of all of the things in our life that we are grateful for and told to continue to write in this journal everyday. For the rest of our lives. Simple. But so powerful.
Day Two started with an amazing Masters Class that included a sequence called a Mandala, which simply means "circle." It was a series of poses that had us facing each of the four walls of the room in an meditative flow. Very cool. And something I hope to incorporate into my private lessons eventually.
After lunch we had a very informative discussion about the business of yoga. And I learned that I really can and should be charging much, much more for my private lessons. I also got some great ideas on ways to expand my client base. Something I am looking forward to doing this fall when schools resumes.
We ended the last day of my "under grad" training watching one of my favorite videos, The Secret. Again, if you haven't seen it. You should. Today if you can. The message is simply this: You become what you think about. Energy flows where attention goes.
So is my journey over? Not at all. It has only just begun. Where will it take me? I'm not completely sure. But this I do know for sure: it will include me actively pursuing my dream of bringing yoga to those who might not otherwise have it. Teenage girls in our juvenile detention system, battered women in our shelters, and maybe even stressed out teachers in our public schools.

And as I finish up this post I can't help but reveal the person that was on the top of my gratitude list in my new journal and say thank you to him for inspiring me to tap into my gifts and to follow my dreams. Thank you to my soulmate, the love of my life, my dear sweet Kevin. I wouldn't be here today without your love and support. I am truly blessed to have you in my life.
Nameste.