yoga

The Sacred Journey of You

October 28, 2019 by Teresa Phelps Martin Leave a Comment

Chances are you are here because you identify with the energy of transformation. That despite all the challenges of life, the trials and tribulations, you have found a way to be triumphant! You are here because of your courageous nature and the sacrifices you make for the greater good. Even when the problems seem overwhelming, you find your way, your path, your strength.

Your bravery is admired and you are on a quest of great honor. A journey to overcome and move through the moments in life that hold great difficulty. You work incredibly hard to respect your enemy and realize being true to you is a path you remain highly committed to even with the chaos that entails. You are here as you are not satisfied with a surface level experience and are curious about the spiritual expression of life as a whole. I admire and respect you for being exactly who you are and appreciate you for being a great student of life, the body, mind and soul.

These are all qualities of the yoga student as well. You arrive on your mat hungry to move and connect to the deeper layers of yourself. To breathe into areas that feel restricted and contracted. You engage in moments that challenge you, stress you and perhaps even expose perceptions, thoughts, and feelings that then offer information regarding the atmosphere of your experience. Yet you remain steady with the practice as you know you return, revive and restore your true essence.

The time you spend on the mat allows for acceptance of what is and appreciation for your capacity to transform and realign with your values and beliefs. You gain powerful insight regarding your own experience and can then adapt to the situations of the life around you. The practice informs your behaviors, the way you show up and the feedback offered supports you. This support is welcomed when stepping forward as it provides a strong, sacred sense of connection to your whole self. How amazing is it to feel inspired and know you will be guided in your ability to show back up for the greater good!?!

For me, Yoga provides the indisputable connection between our mind, our body, our spirit and our environment. We gain an awareness of how the one impacts the other. We connect back to the commonality that we are being supported by something greater and yet also support that something greater individually. Each time we practice evidence accumulates in the ways the internal world impacts the external and the external word impacts the internal.

When we make patterns with the body we reveal the patterns that are present in the mind. This discovery reconnects us to a part of ourselves that seems to be present and deserves some attention. This presence holds great wisdom and insight in the ways we can be exactly who we are while feeling united with the bigger picture of life and consciousness. This sense of belonging is a major source to draw inspiration, to bring meaning into our life and navigate the terrain of being human. When we are in touch with this presence she calls at us to make a change, to positively improve and be of service to the greater good.

Another aspect of yoga for me is that it asks us to surrender. We let go. We realize that there are patterns not serving us. Patterns in the body, the mind, and buried within the heart that are negating our experience of our truth and our life.

We pause to engage with our whole self and these subtle impressions of our past come to the surface. It is not always comfortable and can feel rather humbling. However when we work with our level of awareness and our intentions, we begin to cleanse and nourish which creates transformation.

Our awareness grows and we discover the contents of our innermost self informing our perception. We realize we can take responsibility to and create a level of change. We align with a willpower and experience subtle shift that transforms our experience radically. When this happens we find a deeper connection to our sense of purpose and find ourselves wanting to be more generous with our personal fortune.

When we know this it is easier to move inward and do the inner work. We make shapes with the body and give direction to the mind. We step into the crevices of our essential self with honor and respect. We allow our awareness to align from a higher vantage point and evolve. Yoga provides a practice that integrates will, alignment and inspired action.

The will power that moves us forward resides in the depth of the heart. Being able to go inner ward and do the work is the real truth of the yoga student. The recognition that your will power is united or connected with the divine will of the universe gives you ground to surrender into.

When you surrender you learn to lean into the source that is greater than you. Bringing your actions into alignment with this divine source, you are able to overcome the obstacle of you, the monster of darkness, make friends with the unknown, live in the mystery and be motivated in the search for identity and wholeness. We become a conduit to aid in life calling forward the good in humanity.

When you have found that the journey inward reveals your ability to be a hero to your own light, then you find you are ready to share this wisdom with others. You find your commitment to the path of remaining true, bringing forward the good in humanity, and want to share this self-transformation and bring this vision into the world. To bring your light to life.

The quest shifts and you realize a deeper call to inspire, uplift and help evolve communities, cultures and consciousness as a whole. You find your faith in a deeper alignment with the intelligent flow of life and you want to share, impart your wisdom to help people live life connected to their own potential and truth.

To me this is the sacred journey from student to teacher. The practice of yoga allows you to remain an eternal student of life, your wisdom, body and essence. When you discover that you want to share, uplift, inspire and be a positive influence that has a valuable impact on the world around you, then you get curious about teaching yoga.

You get involved in a wisdom tradition that has historically helped humanity evolve and expand consciousness. You begin a new practice of connecting with the patterns of your body, mind and heart finding yourself ready, with compassionate guidance, to share this inspired perspective. It is a path, a practice and a sacred art that helps support individuals in their path of self-transformation and contribute to the innovation of the collective evolution. Simply put, you step into a role that helps people move and be moved.

As we deepen our connection to our truth, there comes a time where we transition to sharing this wisdom with the world. If you are wanting to learn the art of teaching yoga, then join me in this next adventure!

Doing Your Light Justice: Being of Service

September 26, 2019 by Teresa Phelps Martin Leave a Comment

There’s this thing that happens when you do yoga, you know, you want to be of service. You want to make an impact on the world or community or life you are living. When you are on your mat and move your body mind and spirt, you connect to a deeper sense of hope for humanity and well you want to bring it to life and make it real. You want to share it with the world around you.

Yoga reminds us of our own potential and we want to share that potential with those we love, those that are in pain, those that are lost, those that want to share in the triumphant energy of life as well.

Tell me, have you ever talked about how much yoga has impacted your life and told someone about it? (Regardless if they choose to come or not – you were inspired to share). That inspiration came from within and when you show up for yourself, you’re doing your light justice.

When we show up for our light, when we choose to live in a more intimate relationship with the truth of who we are we begin a sacred relationship with our essential self in a way that allows us to be of service and have a beautiful impact on the world around us. We are capable of leaning into a layer of courageous willingness and open our heart to the beauty, peace and potential in the world around us because we decided to step into a deeper alignment with our sacred essence. Choosing to live from our center and doing our light justice we realize what we hold within inspires the world world around us and our relationship with life is profound and inspiring.

Perhaps you just go to yoga to help you and your low back, to hang around like minded people, to get a good work out. All those are valid and each of those put you into a healthier relationship with yourself. Whatever reason you decide to step into a yoga pose and breathe you wake up to the transformative practice of renewing the connection to feeling good, connected and supported.

Sometimes though our ability to connect to our innermost self gets hidden from us and it can seem like the practice and experience of life is deceiving us, causing more harm than good. It happens when we don’t step inward and rather bypass what the unflattering, limiting aspects of ourselves that simply want to also be seen, healed and supported. It happened to me, and I know it has happened to others, it happens to all of us.

We get comfortable and want to stay in the energy of peace and harmony. We forget that we are here to evolve, to gain awareness, do the inquiry and discover the path of transformation (physically, mentally and emotionally) so that we grow more fully into who we truly are meant to be. There are many reasons why it happens, but not being ready to make a shift, or because our intellect inhibits our ability to feel, or because the individual guiding us is also in the same pattern of denial making it easier to deny the pain, wound and scar that simply wants to be set free. When we show up knowing that we have imperfections and this makes us perfectly human, than it is easier to tend to the wounds of the heart and do our light justice.

Just to clarify, our light that I am talking about is that tiny sacred spark within that calls to us, that gets us out of bed, that wants to live and experience life. You might call it your soul, your spirit, your heart, your essence, call it what you like, but it is you, it is bigger than you, and for me it is in all of us – yes every single one of us. It just seems that over time it has been asked to not shine so brightly, to shrink, it’s been abused and neglected. No one’s fault, we are highly sophisticated and a soul-centered life is not for everyone.

When we choose to live a soul centered life we are hungry to put ourselves in a position to see our light and embrace our whole self. We are reminded that there is something pulsating within us calling us forward. There is a sensation that all is well and when we breathe a little more deeply and move with greater intention, we feel so much more alive, capable and connected.

To me this is yoga, it does our individual self justice so that we are inspired to share our beautiful light with the world. The practice of yoga reminds us that we are all sharing in the sacred breath together and we are here to support one another. Yet learning how to support one another without sacrificing our own integrity and essence is a little more complicated. We have to learn how to do our light justice, remain anchored in our truth, and attune to the ways we can truly be of service. When you choose to do your light justice here are 3 concepts to consider.

You Are a Work in Progress. At your core you’ve always been the same, your essential self is here to live, explore, and evolve. What that looks and feels like is up to you. You always hold authority over how you want to be in the world. That being said, who you were ten years ago and who you will be 10 years from now is shifting. The light within you is consistently present, the way you value your light will shift. Your needs do, as do your desires. So give yourself permission to grow, evolve and experience more of your own authentic light.

Live From Your Center. Being able to know your light and that you are a work in progress will help as you adapt and live with more harmony. The deal is that life ebbs and flows, waxes and wains, so knowing our center and staying anchored in this authentic and genuine experience of our inner self will keep us steady as we navigate the challenges and cycles of life. Bonus is it keeps you inspired and helps you be clear in your purpose or the impact you want to make with your life.

Our Inner Relationship Informs Our Outer Relationship with Life. This is a big one, choosing to orient our experience based on our inner condition, our inner awareness, our divine spark the experience of our life shifts radically. It shifts to one that leaves a us feeling more satisfaction, contentment and fulfillment as we choose to engage with confidence. Confidence that comes from our core. It requires intentional pauses to get to know our innermost self at a whole new level. The pause gives us room to listen more deeply, feel more fully, to heal what needs healing, to become slightly vulnerable, remain accountable, and allow our intuition to reveal the wisdom she holds deeply.

All of this is a lifestyle choice and when we choose to live this way, we become more clear and connected to the inner ways of our heart and we discover so much more peace and connection to the way to live our life. Not because everything is fair and we are free from any kind of pain, but rather that we show up for the truth of who we are. We become a disciple of our light as we discover that we are one magnificent expression of the great light that shines for us all. When these practices are a part of our life then sharing our light becomes essential, necessary and we bring more natural beauty into the world

How do you do your light justice? How do you show up for yourself so you can show up for the world you live in? How are you honoring the sacred relationship with your truth and allowing others the opportunity to show up for their own light? The next time you are out in the world, whether you are out of your comfort zone or feeling deeply supported and held, remind yourself to connect internally, find your center, know that you are a work in progress, and you in the process of doing your light justice so you can bring more integrity and inspiration to the world around you.

Living From Your Center

April 16, 2018 by Teresa Phelps Martin Leave a Comment

Chances are you do yoga. Perhaps it’s been awhile and maybe you even find it hard to get your mat. Maybe you are just mad that you show up and the teacher you were wanting took the day off for some reason. But more than likely, if you are reading this, there is a 90% chance you have a relationship with yoga cause you have a relationship with me! (Thank you too by the way – it is such an honor really),

What I have realized in the past few months with all the transition we have experienced as a family – both joyous, hand selected and well heart breaking – it can be so hard to remain true to myself, communicate my needs, emotionally restore and just straight up stay centered. SO I find myself in a constant state of gratitude and appreciation for the tools I have gathered and chosen to implement. But then it hit me – most of us don’t even know where our center is and how to align with it, live from it and truly embrace it – true story. But when you know your center you know when you have drifted and you are able to return much more quickly. This gives you a powerful tool in managing the challenges and adversity that surfaces in life depleting us and devouring our heart’s intention. (Just in case – intention is living with a vision, holding space for your own self, and engaging in behaviors that supports this vision).

Our center is our own inner horizon that allows you to navigate life with a commitment to your true state (joy, love and peace) versus your false state (fear, anger and shame), It is a point of measurement that helps us take responsibility for our own life while still having fun, create healthy boundaries and live with healthy relationships as we have an understanding of the harmony between our internal and external experience of life.

Understanding your center is one piece and finding your Center may come easily. The beautiful thing is that it is available to everyone and allows you to live with deep authentic intention. Living this way brings more meaning, purpose and fulfillment to life. You know where you are happy, enjoying the ebb and flow but still showing up with integrity for yourself and the world in which you live. Since life requires you to be the pilot of your own journey you want to contain instruments that can guide you when the world looks fuzzy when you are not able to see the external horizon. You know when you are lost, confused, depleted or just plain stuck. Being able to come back to your Center provides the tools you need in order to always know what to do in your life. Being centered is an invitation to release the regret and be at peace with life. It allows you to be excited for where you are heading while also be in the present moment. Once you find your center you discover a safe space within that will reassure you, offers a wellspring for your own inner guidance, faith and will support the beliefs you live by that create the biography of your life.

What defines you and differentiates you from everyone else out there boils down to the choices you make. Sure our external environment influences us however honoring our own light, worth and life is entirely up to us. Side note, it is very helpful to keep good company. Being centered allows each of us to be more aware which improves our ability to choose consciously and intentionally. We recognize how to focus our attention and allow that to turn into aligned action. One of the greatest benefits is that it helps you to pay attention, see what is swirling around you and how you choose to contribute or redirect. Your center is the space where you can connect with spirit and dwell with the wholeness and goodness of who you are. It offers the highest version of yourself and you discover that everything you are looking for is contained right within yourself. Pretty freaking amazing if you ask me. It’s so amazing I’ve been inspired to share a beautiful process with you. If you are interested head over HERE to learn more.

If you already live from your center. I would be honored if you shared bellow in the comments how it has served you. One piece I know without a doubt is that it really is the only way to live where you can access inner peace, joy and love no matter what is going on around you. If you are interested in Finding your Center and Living with Intention, head over HERE. Sign up before April 28 and receive a bonus valued more than the training itself!

Action – Manifest – Episode 49

November 27, 2017 by Teresa Phelps Martin Leave a Comment

Everything is Energy and everything is sacred. Yes, powerful statements brought up this month. Now let’s layer in the idea that by slowing your action down we actually gain momentum. What have you discovered so far?

By taking time to tune in we then bring forward awareness and an opportunity to align in a way that will bring forward our best offering. This is what we call INSPIRED ACTION. Being inspired 100% of the time is not the idea. Being able to tune into the progress and level in which you are participating is.

This weeks offering includes tools to check in with the momentum or lack there of in your life. If you are stuck or reluctant in your life right now this will be powerful. For those of you on the fast track to HAPPINESS, well, this will only encourage the speed in which you are moving.

I am going to tie this episode back to elements of yoga as well as a pattern of cultivating optimal thoughts or at least restoring your thoughts to be more uplifting and helpful in finding answers to the best steps forward. It is a practice that will help you take inventory of where you are and where you are heading and redirect you into the flow of fun…that is if you are interested in moving through life with a smile on your face and joy in your heart.[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5984150/height/90/width/450/theme/standard-mini/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”bottom” theme=”mini”]

Click Here to Download

Action – Meditation – Episode 48

November 20, 2017 by Teresa Phelps Martin Leave a Comment

One might believe that stopping or pausing to meditate is the opposite idea of taking action in life. But this is where we get tricked. When we slow down we connect to so much more energy. Think for a moment of a time when you have not slept well how productive are you? It can be so hard to take clear and conscious action that supports the greater vision you hold for your life when you are depleted, stressed or just plain exhausted.

This meditation guides you inward to reconnect, renew and remind you of the power of slowing down. It’s like plugging in to a universal outlet that recharges you so that you can take aware, aligned and inspired action![podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5963589/height/90/width/450/theme/standard-mini/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”bottom” theme=”mini”]
Click Here to Download

Action – Movement – Episode 47

November 13, 2017 by Teresa Phelps Martin Leave a Comment

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5939952/height/90/width/450/theme/standard-mini/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”top” theme=”mini”]

Click here to download
As we take action in our life it helps to have awareness and alignment in the process. When we bring all of this together we create direction in our life. Sure it is not entirely up to just our individual action there is an entire collective energy at work as well. Hence why Awareness truly is everything. Our intention is so powerful but if we just wait around we are going to be disappointed. The other piece is that action is not a place of control but rather discipline. This is where yoga holds so much as the practice in of itself is discipline. You have to decide to show up for yourself, slow down, breathe, connect to your whole self and allow for the union of the body, mind and spirit.

This week’s episode is all about movement which of course is action in of itself. Poses that will surface in the flow included standing forward fold, lunges, triangle, down dog, cobra, bridge pose, reclined twist and legs up the wall. What!?! So when you practice you will want to practice in a way where you can have wall space to put your legs up. Please note you are responsible for the actions you take! If you need guidance on what the pose looks like you can visit the Sacred Essence Facebook page for a little tip on how to get into the pose.

Next episode will guide you inward which wildly holds so much action even though it appears we are doing nothing more than closing our eyes. But for now, grab your mat and connect your breath with your movement!

Alignment – Manifest – Episode 45

October 23, 2017 by Teresa Phelps Martin Leave a Comment

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5867384/height/90/width/450/theme/standard-mini/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”top”]

Click here to download
In the conversation of alignment there is so much that can be said. From the angle of bringing the body, mind and spirit into a whole optimal package it is a little complex even. But this universe that we live in is also complex so my hope is to allow this practice to be as easy as possible. You see so much is already in alignment for you to be here, reading this, listening, and honestly living your life. The universe is not conspiring against you but rather is in working in your favor to provide you an amazing opportunity…but we, well, we get in the way. Our incarnation as a human being creates a lot of challenges except we are so miraculous and hold so much potential there is an opportunity to take action and engage with life aligned with the highest version of ourselves.

This requires then for you to believe that you hold this potential. That you are here living life with a devotion or at least curiosity to be the best version of you. Alignment in the practice of manifestation comes back to what your beliefs are as this informs how you are engaging with life. Believing the universe is mean, hostile and dangerous will create the conditioning to be constantly under threat, surviving. Now I realize this is the reality for some people. Let’s face it, there is an enormous population that is living in an environment that is threatened, repressed and hostile. If you are like me, compassionate, you care about helping and supporting the whole so that more people can live in freedom, and that requires you to come back to yourself and live with congruence. How can you possibly support anyone else if you are living with inner turmoil but share that you can be of service to others.

When we want to manifest more alignment we can begin to notice evidence of how life is supporting us and our endeavors. Take the sun rising everyday. The sun is ever present and constantly exploding to illuminate our daily process of life. Our entire life revolves around the sun – literally, but if we have a week of clouds we can forget that this ball of light is the center of our existence. We forget that the light sits behind the clouds until the weather pattern changes and we are back in the grove with what we love most – a beautiful day. As soon as we can start to notice all that is working out for us, the faster we can see and believe that our life is in alignment with the highest expression of ourself.

If manifesting on the theme of alignment is resonating with you, then listen for the practice on the podcast and share what evidence you see appearing or revealing itself to you in the comments below or over on the Sacred Essence Facebook page.

Alignment – Movement – Episode 43

October 9, 2017 by Teresa Phelps Martin Leave a Comment

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5822154/height/90/width/450/theme/standard-mini/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”top”]

Click here to download
What are you moving with or connecting to as you take action faith or fear? Trust or doubt? Peace or pain? It sounds lofty and perhaps irrelevant however it informs everything and communicates to the world around you without you fully realizing how much you are creating in your life. Sure we can spend too much time aligning and not acting, or just observing and not feeling. Everything requires you to engage and be centered, live with moderation or allow a fluid dance.

In yoga alignment usually gets translated as where to place your feet, how to hold your hand, and what the body is supposed to look like to create a more optimal flow. This is all incredibly powerful especially when you put intention and deliberate engagement behind it. What ever motivates you is the goal, but the outcome will not bring satisfaction if it is empty or still confused internally. Let’s say you want your heals to touch the ground in downward facing dog, so you shorten your stance and your heals get to the ground. Amazing and powerful right. But if it throws off your shoulders, causes strain in your neck or agitates your wrist are you really aligned with the goal? I could unpack this, but I am really just planting seeds. Does having your heals on the ground allow you to have a more solid connection to your inner reality and trust in your essence that is sacred. That is what matters to me. If we continue with the idea of downward facing dog and getting your heals to the ground while maintaining integrity in the hands, shoulders, spine and legs, then we create a container to experience a greater sense of peace, support and freedom, then in my opinion, we are in alignment with our truth even if the heals do not touch the floor.

When things are placed in a way and the inner reflects the outer then we are in alignment, congruence or harmony. When we can breathe deeply, comfortably and smoothly, then we are aligned. This is the approach with this movement piece this month. How is the breath showing up with the poses being shared. The practice is simple and not technical. The movement is from the warrior 2 family. I encourage you to listen to this practice a few times to see how the practice reveals alignment to you. Let me know how it goes by commenting below or in the Sacred Essence Facebook Group.

Alignment – Marvel – Episode 42

October 2, 2017 by Teresa Phelps Martin Leave a Comment

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5799095/height/90/width/450/theme/standard-mini/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”top”]

Click here to download
What does your heart really call for? You know, your deepest desire? When we know these answers then we can take action that is in alignment with what matters most. This episode explores exactly what alignment is in relationship to living your best life. Being true to you and honoring your innermost self. Living in harmony, congruence and positioning yourself in a way to live optimally.

Tell me, what is alignment to you?

Awareness – Manifest – Episode 41

September 25, 2017 by Teresa Phelps Martin Leave a Comment

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5774250/height/90/width/450/theme/standard-mini/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”top”]

Click here to download
This month has been a simple exploration of the power of awareness through the practice of yoga. This episode includes a step by step process to engage from a more clear and calm state that supports our inner condition and eases up the commotion of the outer world. Yoga is one of the more successful tools of cultivating self awareness physically, mentally and emotionally in my opinion. Research is beginning to support this long standing perspective as I know I am not the only one that feels this way. The practice of Mindfulness also holds great success in increasing awareness and providing tools to practice without having to fold over and touch your toes.

I share a simple but essential tool in this episode that can keep you grounded yet inspired to engage from a more refreshed space rather than a charged or disconnected space. A hint, one of the major anchors of this practice is the breath. The way to make it work it to practice it daily. It only takes about 5 minutes max and the more you begin this process the more you start to live from a place of freedom or in a place of feeling refreshed, centered and focused.

Please note the sound is not perfect – I am aware of that – but it is still pretty good. I also share one of the amazing leaders of meditation and his perspective of all of this when I was able to sit with his Holiness a few years ago.