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Blessings All,

Happy New Year! Last night, I celebrated New Year's Eve at Shakti Mind Body Studio (http://www.shaktimindbodystudio.com/) with my yoga teacher Faith (co-owner of Shakti) and sistalove friends Mari, Sharon, April, Seema, and Monea. The evening began with meditation, pranayama (breathing exercises), and an invigorating yoga practice led by Ieshia, co-owner of Shakti. Immediately following the yoga practice, Ieshia invited everyone to write our intentions for 2008. I jotted down twelve intentions. My first four intentions were:

-to surrender my ego to Creator's will

-to open my heart

-to be present

-to practice self-care

These intentions are sacred commitments that I am using to guide my personal life and service as a yoga teacher, Reiki practitioner, artist, and writer in 2008. Thus far, they have helped me redefine and expand the way I share yoga. My new way of sharing yoga is called kg yoga life practices, a healing arts service that helps individuals, organizations, businesses, and communities develop and use self-care tools that cultivate awareness, balance, and calm in daily life. See the mission, philosophy, and description of services below.


MISSION

kg yoga life practices’ mission is to share and teach self-care tools in a kind and gentle manner that honors the heart of each individual’s needs. By providing these services in this manner, kg yoga life practices encourages its clients to use their life experiences as opportunities to surrender their egos, open their hearts, and practice mindfulness (sati), loving kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), honesty (satya), empathetic joy (mudita), and equanimity (upekka).


PHILOSOPHY

kg yoga life practices’ philosophy is based on two Yoga Sutra principles: Iswara Pranidhana (surrender) and Abyhasa (devoted practice). When you surrender your ego, your heart opens and allows you to live in the present. Living in the present helps you create space in your spirit, mind, and body for a devoted practice of self-care. A devoted practice begins with yoga and incorporates self-care tools that address your individual needs .

In Sanskrit, yoga means the union of spirit, mind, body, and breath. This union occurs when you open your heart and surrender to the present moment. When you live in the present moment, yoga blesses you with the benefits of:

-Awareness of your concentration, effort, and mindfulness;
-Articulation of truth in your intention and understanding; and
-Authenticity in your speech, actions, and livelihood.

These benefits help yoga to become Your Opportunity to Graciously Accept yourself and life.™


SERVICES

kg yoga life practices offers clients a portfolio of four categories of self-care tools:

1) Centering - meditation, prayer, affirmation, devotional reading, and listening to music

2) Sensory - visualization, aromatherapy, color therapy, gemstone therapy, eye yoga, Reiki healing touch, and self-massage

3) Movement - mindful walking and yoga (kind and gentle, yin, restorative, laughter, chair, and office)

4) Creative Expression - art (collage, painting, wire sculpture, drawing, and coloring), writing (poetry and journaling), mantra chanting (includes mala beads and chakra tuning), ritual, and ceremony


kg yoga life practices will work with clients to determine their intentions, assess their needs, and develop a customized healing arts session(s) that incorporates one or more of these self-care tools. For more information about kg yoga life practices' services and fees, please contact:

Ananda Leeke, RYT
Founder/Director
kg yoga life practices
kiamshaleeke@yahoo.com
http://kgyoga.blogspot.com/



Many blessings to you and your family in 2008. Stay tuned for the Winter 2008 issue of OM on My Mind Newsletter (2008 class themes, Karma Yoga Project events, Reiki healing touch exercises and Yin Yoga to support a Winter home practice, book reviews, and local yoga/meditation events). It will be posted later this month.


The light in me salutes the light in you. Namaste.

Peace, Love, Surrender, and Devoted Practice,

Ananda Leeke