Eat Pray Love Celebration:
Yoga Class & Discussion
Saturday, July 20th
2:00 - 4:30pm
at Devotion Yoga
Practice, Presence and Possibility: On the Yoga Mat and Beyond October 25 - 27th at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
Sunday, June 23rd
2:00 – 5:00pm
at Devotion Yoga
So I have been doing a lot of research on happiness for an upcoming program I’m developing. I’ve been asking “how can one be happy even during times of challenge and/or sorrow?” Our underlying desire in life is to be happy. So just in the midst of a time when I am wishing I had the answer, I received an email with a link to this video. Not from a friend but from my bank. Step into the inquiry and the universe will answer…
Tweet
“Winnie the Pooh. There’s a scene in which he, Piglet, and Rabbit get lost. Rabbit, the frantic intellectual, keeps steering them in circles. Then he leaves, and Pooh tells Piglet: ‘Let’s go home.’ ‘But Pooh’, cries Piglet, ‘do you know the way?’ ‘No’, says Pooh. ‘But there are 12 pots of honey in my cupboard, and they’ve been calling to me for hours. I couldn’t hear them properly before, because Rabbit would talk, but if nobody says anything…I shall know where they’re calling from.’ All I ever do is help people quiet their Rabbit Minds until they hear the posts of honey speaking to their tummies. That’s the way to our destinies: Follow what’s sweet, delicious, and calling.” – Martha Beck
Tweet
When I turned 40 everything changed. Besides the fact that I realized I couldn’t read a menu at dinner (literally on the night of my 40th birthday!) and my next purchase was going to have to be reading glasses, I decided that I really don’t care what people think of me. Oh my God, this should be the definition of FREEDOM! I decided that I am going to live my life the way I want to. Be who I really am. Follow my dreams. Let go of the guilt. Go for it!
When I read this, I couldn’t believe how true it is…and funny!
Dr. Daniel Amen’s 18/40/60 Rule:
At 18 you worry about what everybody is thinking of you; when your 40, you don’t give a darn what anybody thinks of you; and at 60 you realize nobody’s been thinking about you at all.
Enjoy,
Liza
“There are two pains in life: the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. We each choose which of the two we will suffer.” – anonymous
Are you stuck in a daily routine with life responsibilities and being in a job that doesn’t get you excited and jumping out of bed in the morning? Did you forget that you CAN CHOOSE what you do with the 168 hours a week that are available to you. Why settle for ordinary? Why stay unhappy just because you feel stuck or anxious about doing something new, different or challenging? Isn’t it time for you to figure out what truly makes you happy, gets you excited and gives life purpose?
In life it is amazing how much time has passes while we are not paying attention. And one day it will run out completely. We won’t live forever. Rod Styker reminds us to keep in mind that the pain of not doing, not honoring your soul’s call may well exceed all other pain we experience in life. The point is, don’t postpone your happiness!
The question you need to ask yourself is how bad does it have to feel before you are motivated to act differently and effect real change in your life?
Really, the time is NOW. Today. Start listening to your inner voice (first get quiet enough to hear it….meditate, do yoga, journal…) and then ACT. I know that when making big life changes, NOT KNOWING what can happen is scary, but don’t choose unhappiness over uncertainty. The truth is that everyday we are facing the future, which is unknown. Anthony Hopkins said “today is the tomorrow I was so worried about yesterday”. How true.
I feel as if my soul’s purpose is to help others dig deep, to find their soul’s purpose, to get the courage to make BIG JUMPS in life. When I am doing this work I feel alive.
I try to practice what I preach. I am always seeking. Taking opportunities to “dust off the mirror of my heart” as Krishna Das calls it. I am frequently asking my true Self “who am I really?” I am actually currently enrolled in a Personal Leadership Program at Columbia University that has built the whole curriculum around this very question! “WHO AM I REALLY?” When I hear the call I act. I quit my corporate job of 12 years to open a business with nothing more than a little savings and a lot of motivation. That business has been a lot of work…but the most fulfilling work I have ever done. And yes, for the last 9 years I have gotten out of bed each morning and wanted to go to work. Really. Recently, I followed my dream of becoming a mother. I became a single mother by choice. Not a small step. I would say the biggest jump I have ever taken which got much bigger when I was blessed with two babies! And now I get up in the middle of the night too, often!
If you are ready to align your life with your true Self and are done postponing your happiness, join me for my upcoming programs at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in the beautiful Berkshires this November. You owe it to yourself to take this time to retreat and do the work. Not to be too dramatic but your soul is at stake.
Through self-discovery, discussion, journaling, vision boarding, intention setting, yoga, meditation, and sharing collective wisdom, you will leave with inspiration, empowerment, a plan and tools to keep moving toward what you want in this life! Plus the serenity and food at Kripalu is amazing! Register for both programs and get a discount on tuition!
The Dharma Discovery: Realizing Your Soul’s Purpose
November 2 -4th
Find out more here!
Big Jumps: Manifesting Your Ideal Life
November 4 – 7th
Find out more here!
Tweet
“It is not so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s the place in between that we fear. It’s like being between trapezes. It’s Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There’s nothing to hold on to”. – Marilyn Ferguson
This is one of my favorite quotes. I was once like Linus and had this worn-out old pillow that I slept with while growing up, I just wouldn’t let me mom get rid of it. I think it was at this young age when my distinct characteristics of sentimentality and being somewhat melancholy started. But why is it so hard to let go? Parting with an old pair of your favorite jeans, a former love, your expectations for what you thought life would be like; all have varying degrees of difficulty but all bring up similar feelings. Letting go is sometimes surrounded by fear of the unknown…like being between those trapezes. Sometimes it has more to do with attachment or aversion. Either way it sometimes takes a lot of tears, guts and willpower to move on, to just let go…and to live in that space between.
As a new mother (of 5 month old twins) I learned rather quickly that in order to navigate the enormous changes in my life and survive, I needed to let go of what I thought having two babies was going to be like. Each day is full of surprises – both amazing and challenging. During the past few years, it was only when I started to let go of attachment, fears, and expectations (mine and others) that I started to make room in my life for great things. Sometimes a new path is just the thing one needs to enrich their life in ways they never thought possible.
Yoga is an amazing practice that has given me the tools to learn how to “let go”, have compassion for myself and others, and cultivate courage and faith to live in the space between, which is really just one step on the journey.
Join me this November at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in the Berkshires for two programs that will help you let go of what is holding you back from doing all the things you want to do in this lifetime! The Dharma Discovery: Realizing Your Soul’s Purpose AND a new program called Big Jumps: Manifesting Your Ideal Life!
Click Here to learn more!
Namaste!
Each year I love the turning of the New Year because I always have newfound energy and motivation to get important things accomplished. I usually take it up a notch, pouring my energy into too many things, which sometimes results in not achieving as much as I originally planned. This year as I prepare for the arrival of my twins (who should bless this world any day now), I have to physically slow down and focus on what is most important on my “want to do” list. My condition is forcing me to strategically prioritize which is a new thing for me, especially at this time of year when I usually feel like taking on the world. But what I am finding is that this is helping me be extremely successful in my endeavors of getting the most important things accomplished!
You can do it t0o…
1) Make a list of the most important things that you would like to accomplish this year. Just pick 2 or 3 big things. Don’t call them your resolutions, call them goals or your “2012 List” and write them down in detail.
2) Create a detailed vision of how things will be once you accomplish each goal. How would accomplishing these things make you feel? How will your life change?
3) Identify what needs to happen for you to achieve these goals? Break it down into smaller parts – let’s call these “micro-movements” and put a deadline to each one. These are the things you should focus on each day / week.
4) Every time you make a decision about spending time on something, ask yourself “Is this moving me toward or away from what I want to accomplish?” You know what the answer should be!
Just remember that when you are focused and committed, you can accomplish anything you want! And if you get off track, wake up the next day with a fresh start and don’t get discouraged!
I am looking forward to starting a new journey this year and I hope that you embrace yours with vigor and enthusiasm!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE DHARMA DISCOVERY! Only 2 weeks left!
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was not only an amazing visionary, he was the perfect example of someone who lived his Dharma. What an incredible role model for all of us. It doesn’t matter what he did professionally, it is all about the fact that he lived a full life DOING WHAT HE LOVED. He lived true to his heart, he followed his intuition and in turn lived a life of authenticity. His life was way too short but was lived fully and with passion. This is what I want for myself and hope for all those I know.
98% of Americans are unhappy with their jobs and most are not making a change because they don’t know what else to do. Considering that we all spend so much time working, it is even more important that we enjoy our work in order to fully be happy and fulfilled. The problem is that in this fast-paced, materialistic and ego driven world, it is easy for one to lose sense of self; ultimately living a life that is not in line with their true nature, neglecting their desires, well-being, needs and values at the expense of others. No wonder why so many people begin to question their identity, feel unfulfilled, unhappy and yearn for something more in this lifetime!
Does this resonate with you? Have you forgotten what you really want in life and what makes you feel most alive? Or do you know what you want to do each day but are too overwhelmed or full of fear to follow your heart?
My advice is to take the time away from your hectic daily life to look within because the answers are already inside of you. As Steve Jobs said your soul knows what it loves, values and wants to do in this lifetime. Most of the time, we are just not inquisitive or quiet enough to hear what our inner voice is telling us to do. And then, of course there are our fears and doubts and concern about what others will think of us.
Yogis believe that every human being is born with a special gift. This gift is the doorway to a fulfilled life. All of life is seen as an opportunity to realize and manifest this unique calling. This is referred to as Dharma. Dharma has been defined to as “one’s righteous way” or “one’s sacred duty”. It is the doorway to our own particular path, our vocation, our calling. In Sanskrit Dharma literally means path, truth, law, teaching or vocation. Finding one’s Dharma is the first step in living a life that is fulfilling and passionate. It’s not just what you are good at (even though you might be good at it) but it is what you LOVE to do. Why do you get out of bed in the morning. Life is short, there is no reason not to follow your heart NOW!
My Dharma is to help other people find their Dharma and I want to help you do exactly that. Join me for a weekend of introspection and inquiry at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health on November 4 – 6th for my annual program called the Dharma Discovery: Realizing Your Soul’s Purpose. During this weekend you will:
Through group discussions, journaling, reflection, self-assessment activities, introspective and restorative yoga, and meditation, you will explore possibilities that are in harmony with your deepest dreams, talents, and passions.
Don’t wait another day to figure out how you can live a life doing what you love. When one lives their Dharma, great things can happen. Just look at Steve Jobs.
“The practice of Yoga brings us face-to-face with the extraordinary complexity of our own being, the stimulating but also embarrassing multiplicity of our personality, the rich endless confusion of Nature.” – Sri Aurobindo
Roll out your yoga mat, step into your breath and watch. Isn’t it funny that a 68 inch long sticky piece of rubber has the potential to become such a sacred space? It is true that yoga is really a way of living and is deeply practiced on and off the yoga mat but think about it…something magical happens when you show up on your mat, show up not just physically but COMPLETELY. This space can become a place of discovery where one can be liberated, inspired, grounded, and true. When we step onto our mats we immediately feel more alive, calm and present.
Yoga asks us to wake up and invites us to explore the complexity within, changing our focus from looking outwardly for happiness and satisfaction to realizing that peace and balance comes from a place within. As yoga takes us on an exploration of the subtle body, the multi-faceted layers of our spirit, it reveals new things and other stuff we have been holding on to for years. An inspiring yoga teacher and author, Jaime Shane, makes a great analogy about this, saying that these things have all tucked themselves away “in the nooks and crannies of the English muffin that is the spiritual soul.” I just love this! And as you move your body, become connected to the breath, and start to be with sensations and feelings you never know what you may find or what may find you. Notice moments of clarity, emotional release or utter joy.
Yoga, on and off the mat, is the real teacher as it reveals those parts of us that have been hidden below the surface. Let yoga introduce you to the real you, all you have to do is show up and enjoy your English muffin.
I just read a really depressing statistic. 98% of Americans are unhappy with their jobs and most are not making a change because they don’t know what else to do. Considering that we all spend so much time working, it is even more important that we enjoy our work in order to fully be happy and fulfilled. The problem is that in this fast-paced, materialistic and ego driven world, it is easy for one to lose sense of self; ultimately living a life that is not in line with their true nature, neglecting their desires, well-being, needs and values at the expense of others. No wonder why so many people begin to question their identity, feel unfulfilled, unhappy and yearn for something more in this lifetime!
Does this resonate with you? Have you forgotten what you really want in life and what makes you feel most alive? Do you feel like life is too overwhelming to make a change?
My advice is to take the time away from your hectic daily life to look within because the answers are already inside of you. Your soul knows what it loves, values and wants to do in this lifetime. Most of the time, we are just not inquisitive or quiet enough to hear what our inner voice is telling us to do. And then, of course there are our fears and doubts and concern about what others will think of us.
Yogis believe that every human being is born with a special gift. This gift is the doorway to a fulfilled life. All of life is seen as an opportunity to realize and manifest this unique calling. This is referred to as Dharma. Dharma has been defined to as “one’s righteous way” or “one’s sacred duty”. It is the doorway to our own particular path, our vocation, our calling. In Sanskrit Dharma literally means path, truth, law, teaching or vocation. Finding one’s Dharma is the first step in living a life that is fulfilling and passionate.
Don’t confuse excellence with purpose. Being good at something doesn’t necessarily mean that it is your soul’s purpose or something you love. Your Dharma might not be something that you are an expert at but it makes your heart sing. For example, one might love painting but won’t ever become a successful artist. The real joy comes in the process of painting not in the product.
As The Bhagavad-Gita illustrates, only when you figure out what you are uniquely able to do and carry it out as well as possible, can you truly feel fulfilled in this life. Finding your Dharma empowers you to new levels of personal effectiveness and fulfillment. It is the process of uncovering the true Self, growing into the understanding of who you are. However, action is needed! One must start asking deep questions when exploring the Self.
I started my process of “searching” at 16 years old when I ordered my first subscription to Entrepreneur Magazine. I knew I wanted something more in my life, something unique and fulfilling. I tried out several jobs and went to grad school. However, I was still uneasy and even though my career was going well, I couldn’t imagine myself doing it for much longer. I didn’t feel as if there was much purpose to what I was doing every day. It was only when I began practicing yoga that my real desires started presenting themselves to me. Then I began a certification program at NYU to become a Career Coach and I started the process of self-assessment or what we call in yoga, self-study. That is when my inner wisdom truly revealed itself to me…and Devotion Yoga was born. I am blessed to wake up every morning (for the past 8 years) with the desire to work and to be immersed in what I do. I found my soul’s purpose!! I am truly happy and fulfilled living my Dharma, I guess I’m part of the 2%.
Now I am inspired to assist other people on their personal journey to happiness and fulfillment. My Dharma Discovery program bloomed out of my own experience and I love offering ways to help one move forward in uncovering their purpose, moving past fears and obstacles and living a life they dream of! It takes work but the process will be the best investment you have ever made, one that will change your life forever!
Join me on June 2 – 5th in Vermont for my Dharma Discovery Retreat! Give yourself a weekend of focusing on what you want and how to make it happen!
Don’t wait another day to give this gift to yourself. The deadline to register is this Sunday, May 15th. Leave with greater insight on what you want, how to start living it, an inspiring vision board, and clear goals. Oh, and did I mention that the food on the retreat is amazing?!?
Get $50 off just for going for it! And take another $50 off if you bring a friend…and we all have a friend who complains about their job and who still doesn’t know what they would like to do, right?
Visit here for more information. And email me at liza@lizabertini.com if you are interested in joining me!
yogaliza - "You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." - C.S. Lewis 14 days ago
