Practice Happiness

"Happiness is a Practice." -Kelli Prieur 



Until yoga became a part of my life, the path I was taking to "happy" was often rocky, unhealthy and exhausting. Before developing a regular practice I typically looked outside of myself for happiness. In the pursuit of happiness, I worked in several industries, lived in a bunch of places and kissed a couple of frogs. The more I practiced yoga, the more I began to realize peace from within. Having inner-peace has shown me that without the most desired job, real estate or husband I am still worthy, grateful and HAPPY!


Although yoga is not one of Kelli's suggestions for practicing happiness, it is the way that has led me to fearlessly take the 6 steps to Honing Happiness:

1. First off, stop comparing yourself to others!
2. Allow yourself to be imperfect and still be enough
3. Cultivate real connections
4. Stop waiting to be happy
5. Nurture yourself
6. Remind yourself that happiness is a practice

Check out the full article: 6 steps to Honing Happiness, for more context and understanding. The article was inspiring and the catalyst for deep introspection this evening. I'll leave you with my favorite line from the article:

"You find happiness by cultivating gratitude for what is"

~Kerrie

T.G.I.F. Morning Yoga

T.G.I.F. is a commonly used American acronym happily stated at the end of the typical work week, meaning "Thank God it's Friday". Since, I do not have a typical work week as a Yoga Instructor I'd be more likely to say something like "T.G.I.A.N.D." meaning: Thank God it's a new day:)

I'll most likely never use that acronym ;p However, tomorrow morning I will encourage my students to be thankful for each and everyday. For everyday is a fresh start, a chance to start over, reset... To realize this, is to let go of yesterday (our past) and embrace the present moment.

Be present tomorrow at Lifetime Fitness Canton Club, 1700 N. Haggerty Canton, MI
Rise with the sun and begin your beautiful new day practicing yoga at 5:30 am in Studio B ~ Kerrie

Rising sun in Hydra, Greece Summer 2012

Love

I recently met someone and we knew that we loved each other right away.  Of course there were moments of fear and uncertainty from the past that muddled the purity of the feeling.  Which got me thinking about holding on to the past and how it can really hold us back from allowing ourselves to enjoy the healing power that love has.  In all of it's purity and beauty to propel us deeper in allowing ourselves to be healed.  We don't have to hold on to the pain we can let it go and understand that love is in all of us.
Before we met I had been making a more consious effort to love and see love in everyone around me.  I really think this helped me to recognize it more fully instead of retreating back into my past pain.

This has really opened my eyes to making a more conscious effort to love everyone around me. 
Love is trusting and feeling safe.  Finding that support you never knew existed before. 
You can find it in all situations but our hearts are locked. 
Let yourself be open to love in all situations so when that person comes along it's not so hard to open yourself up and allow the beauty of love wash over and heal.

Open yourself up to Love!!

Practice of a Lifetime

“Yoga not only adds years to my life, it adds life to my years!” 

is what an energetic senior student admitted to his yoga instructor. 

93 year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch

As I flowed in Vinyasa class, I absorbed the quote shared by one of my yoga-teacher-training instructors. After class, I thought about the quote and realized how yoga has also added life to my years too. I've practiced more yoga this year than any prior year and I feel more enlivened, happy and healthy than ever before. I'm grateful to have learned this ageless practice, that has effected a 20-something and an 80-something year old in the same way. When it comes to being a yogi, I guess “age ain't nothing but a number.” So, I'm inspired to continue learning and practicing yoga for the rest of my life. ~ Kerrie

http://www.taoporchon-lynch.com/