serve the world while serving your soul

Source: aldiebe.tumblr.com via Sharon on Pinterest

"You can find a way that serves the world, serves your customers, and serves your soul. The job you are meant to have has not yet been named. It has not yet been imagined. It is waiting in the confines of your own heart to take shape in the world of form." ~Martha Beck

I'm leaving tomorrow to travel to Mexico to teach yoga to a fantastic group of people scattered from all across the US and Canada.

20 years ago I hadn't even heard the word yoga and Mexico seemed like such a far away place that I'd never visit there.

10 years ago I started a love affair with yoga and embarked on a journey of discovering just who the heck I was and what I wanted to do with my life.

8 years ago I devoted myself to doing something that I loved, something that served my soul and served others. I taught yoga. A lot of yoga.

And here I am, getting ready to leave for my sixth annual yoga retreat to Maya Tulum.

My happy place, my happy people, my happy work.

I could never have written this job description that I get to call my life. Yet somehow I did and here I find myself with a heart filled with thanks and a belly filled with anticipation for all that is and all that will be.  Feeling deeply grateful.

So. Very. Grateful.

And pretty freakin' ecstatic.

If you're like me, a fairly optimistic person with a pocket full of dreams and the mindset that the universe actually wants you to be happy and doing what you love then please consider joining me for The Right Brain Business Workshop on Saturday August 11th.  Get all the details here.

Serve the world while serving your soul. I'm on board.

right brainers in business video summit

Beginning next week Jenn will be hosting The Right Brainers in Business Video Summit. She'll be interviewing wonderfully creative entrepreneurs experts in their field. I'm so excited to be featured in a show and tell spotlight next Tuesday on Feb. 28

Check out all the details for the Video Summit here: http://rightbrainersinbusiness.com/

Jenn was gracious enough to answer a few questions I asked her. I hope you enjoy!

Jenn, I know you're in the yoga world. You've completed a yoga teacher training, have led the Dream Box workshop at yoga trainings, and you're a yoga practitioner. How does your yoga practice help you with the creative process?
Yoga connects back to my inner wisdom. It helps me slow down and become more present. Lately due to a back injury, I've had to forgo my love of rigorous Ashtanga and opt for a more gentle home practice. It's been teaching me to be compassionate with myself, to listen to what my body needs, and to find more ease. That's certainly helped me when it comes to my creativity, too, by reminding me to hold the creative process lightly. I can't force inspiration to come. I have to slow down and pay attention to what my inner muse is telling me.


How did you feel when you left your very secure job to pursue your dreams?

It took me three years to build up the courage to finally leave my 10-year corporate career. When I was ready to leave I had reached my wits end trying to force myself to do work that didn't speak to my heart. Just even being in the office I could feel the soul being sucked out of me. While it was scary to jump into the unknown, I did know it was time! One of the things that helped during that transition was building a support network of other creative entrepreneurs who were also pursuing their passions. It made me feel like I wasn't alone and it helped me to stay inspired even when things were challenging.



You're clearly a girl on the go! What do you do for your own self care?

I practice what I call self-care Fridays. I like having a free day to totally focus on my own creativity, creative projects, or focus on nourishing things like naps or reading in my hammock when it's nice outside. I clear my calendar of any meetings (except with my hairstylist, massage therapist, the local nail shop, my inner muse and/or friends). I've learned that it's okay to say no sometimes. My latest self-care practice has been whipping up green smoothies. I love them!


What's the best piece of advice you've been given?
In high school, my speech coach encouraged me to "Be BIG!" To trust in myself, project my naturally quiet voice, and even take a more powerful physical stance when I was doing my speeches. It's one of those lessons that continues to translate into so many other areas of my life all these years later. Certainly being a creative entrepreneur requires me to trust myself and to allow myself to take up space and be seen. It's still a growing edge and I'm always reminded of how he championed me to own my gifts.


What makes you feel most alive?
Being in touch with my creativity definitely makes me feel most alive. So does being surrounded by nature and beauty.


Thanks Jenn! If you're feeling inspired then join Jenn on the Video Summit. Really and truly the speakers are just phenomenal. That link is: http://rightbrainersinbusiness.com/

If you're interested in joining me for the day and doing The Right Brain Business Workshop and doing more of what you love then click here: http://barefootworks.com/rightbrain_business_plan.html


I'm feeling excited about so much greatness coming up.

here i go again.....

Last night I threw some clothes and books into a weekend bag. Printed off directions and went to bed feeling a wee excited about my spontaneous road trip.

This morning I taught my 9:15 class, met with someone interested in joining the studio for yoga, had a quick lunch, then filled the tank with gas and hit the open road.

Could there be a more perfect day for a road trip? I think not. I've felt light and happy driving on the big road. The sun so bright, the sky so blue, with perfect white fluffy clouds. I'm diggin' on bright and blue. Can go for some light and happy.

Thoughts on my mind, music on the radio. And the most perfect music is coming on the radio. If I had better planned I'd have made a playlist with fabulous driving tunes, but......well I didn't plan that well.

Instead I'm getting to hear Madonna, sing "Vogue."
And the big hair band with the hot girl that dances on the hood of the car singing,
Here I go again on my own. Going down the only road I've ever known."
Perfect.

On I-64 I see a sigh that says Lewsiburg was one of the "coolest small towns in America in 2011". How many times are you passing through one of the coolest small towns in America? Not that often I figure.

So I made a stop. Oh, it's cute here. I mean, cool. We've got two bookstores, wine shops, cafes, health food store, and a coffee shop in which I'm writing from now. All nuzzled into the mountains.

I have no hotel booked so I'll see where I land tonite. I do however have a destination....

The Outer Banks.
Yep doing a lil prepping and planning for the intensive yoga teacher training coming up. Yip!

Have I mentioned that I love my job?

when our worst fears come true

Anytime I'm dipping my toes into new terrain, pondering a change, and/or pursuing a new dream, I always ask this question:

"What's the worst case scenario?"

This simple question has led to great change in my life. It's given me the first bit of courage to create and live out new dreams. It's also told me at times, "No, this is not the right time." Yes, the worst case scenario felt pretty big and real in my mind! I wasn't ready or willing to risk it.

There's something I've wanted to write about for a while now. I received the inspiration I needed this morning while listening to Babaji online as he spoke of trust and challenges.

He said, "When the worst of our fears comes true and we manage it, we live through it, that trust gives us freedom. Saying, "No matter what happens, I'll make the best of it."

Last fall one of my worst case scenarios came true and it turned out to be one of the best things to happen to me in a long time.

I usually travel to Tulum, Mexico two times per year to teach yoga. Just so happens that both times are during hurricane season. Experiencing a hurricane has always been my "worst case scenario", especially when I'm there leading yoga teacher training.

If you've been reading this blog, if you practice at Barefoot Works, if you were Sarah, or a student then you know my worst case scenario was a very big reality last fall in Tulum. The photo above was taken as we were leaving Tulum for Valladolid, a town almost two hours inland.

Writing that now still makes my heart beat heavier. I can't tell you how thankful I am for the way this all worked out. It could have been such a disaster. I can recall walking down the beach with Sarah to Maya Tulum to learn how they were handling the hurricane (they were all evacuating and yogis were flying home, including the teacher training group that was there).

While there I ran into Fabian, my dear shaman friend. This was the only time I ever rushed a conversation with when he told me, "When things like this happen and mother nature is in charge we cannot argue with it. All we can do is respect it and get out of harm's way." I nodded my head agreeing but mentally I was making a plan.

Of course I agree that safety was (and is) the most important thing. In my heart I knew we couldn't quit, fly home, and continue on our way. I had a feeling it would all be alright. I knew we had to stay and complete the training. These became my priorities and my goals:

1. Keep the group safe by moving inland.
2. Make the transition quickly and with ease in order to resume.
3. Create conditions at our new place to witness 12 students become teachers.

It was a success. I'm still in awe by the way in which this worked, the trust the group had in me and the trust I had in them. And the trust we all had in the Universe.

A beautiful, unspeakable bond was created among this group. I can't say how much of that was due to a crazy hurricane, but it was certainly a force, a factor, a challenge that we all navigated with trust.

And that's only the beginning.

It was this training and a particularly amazing student that led me to Sonoma to a beautiful Ashram and more importantly the monk that lives there. A place I can't wait to get back to. The five days I spent there closed out my year in the sweetest of ways. This was also the time I was so scared about Mama Alice and the Ashram brought me so much peace and comfort.

Last weekend 10 of 12 students gathered together in three lil pods. Sarah and I joined with four yoginis in Lexington, four gathered at Sonoma Ashram, and two in Banff, Canada. None of that was planned. It was all one big delicious cosmic coincidence.

When I think of what happened when my worst case scenario came true I can't help but grin and feel such appreciation for the wild ways of the Universe.

Sometimes it's hard to see that during the midst of challenge and crisis, but time and time again I see that if we go with the flow, do the best we can, and keep trusting, not only will we be free from suffering but we'll live a life of deep peace and inner joy.

I'm reminded that we never really know how things will play out in life. What appears to be great one moment can result in a disaster. What appears to be a disaster can result in a blessing.

I'm reminded that few things are certain in life and that leaning into trust and love is the way to go. I'm reminded that having people and practices in place to support you during tough times is so important.

When I forget this because I'm stuck in the land of challenge and crisis, I hope you'll remind me. :)

Thanks for reading. Much love to all of you....

a look back + so much thanks

As I'm running around today picking up flowers, candles, food, and other random items it finally struck me....I'm celebrating five whole years of yoga. Five years of a yoga studio. Five years of Barefoot Works.

I stopped midstream of putting the flowers in water and allowed myself a few moments to sit with the awe I was feeling.

Five years of any business is reason to celebrate.
Five years of a yoga studio in lil ol' Lexington, KY is reason to celebrate.
Five years of a yoga studio ran by a gal with no formal business training + no money to start said studio with is even more reason to celebrate.

Even in typing that I feel a sense of being careful. In moments like these I nearly pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. I love what I do. I truly, 100%, without a doubt love how I get to spend my time, doing work that I feel fierce about.

And I know without a doubt that if you are reading this, if you've ever been to a class at the studio, if you've even been on retreat with me then you are the reason I get to do what I love.

As I was going through old photos it hit me just how sweet my life really is. It's certainly not perfect, yet there are few things I would change. And the people I get to spend my days with....words can't even describe. The kindest, most thoughtful, interesting, compassionate people walk through the doors at Barefoot Works. It is truly an amazing community.

With a humble, grateful, and full heart I salute you. Enjoy a look back through the years.

Grand opening of Barefoot Works! These are my friends I went through training with. All lovelies!



This sweet yogini was just a teen here and was one of the first students I ever taught.



My very first group for yoga teacher training. Awww...I learned so much from them!


Me + Leigh Ann and her fine new mama self.




A par-tee, partner yoga style. Love this pic!



New studio....work in progress



Roadtrip to Nashville with BW's teachers to get our yoga on.



First class ever at the new location. It's early here. Not so sure the yogis are awake yet, photo taken before sun salutations.



Celebrating the birth of a treehouse....BW's new hOMe!



Yoga teacher training. This pic and this group of people make my heart sing + do flips.



Tulum....I got love for ya! And you too Becky.



Me + Appalachia + Yoga teacher training = dream come true. Fun times in Hazard



Fall yoga retreat to NC + crafty yoginis!



Mr. Works putting up lights at the studio. :)



Thanksgiving Day! A donation based class on my fave holiday. This just might be my fave class to teach all year. Love it.



Working on vision boards and welcoming the new year yogi style!



Yoga sutra study. Good times. For real!



Yoga teacher training!



Kundalini Yoga workshop with my bud Shelli Carpenter