adventure is out there

"Adventure is Out There" - Spreadshirt design

When I sat down to create this newest Spreadshirt design, I wanted the theme to feel uplifting. As always, I have a lot going on and coming up at my little yoga studio, so staying creative and on-my-toes is always on my mind. I recently watched Disney Pixar's movie, "UP" and it remains one of my all-time favorites. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it and if you have, you'll know that this quote is a big part of the movie. 

I'm loving my newest font, Lavendaria, as shown in "adventure." It comes in 3 weights with beautiful flow and the best part? It's free!

I hope you like this design! You can check it out and use it as well as others out at my Spreadshirt shop here and if you have any suggestions, I'm always looking for new inspiring quotes to design. Thanks for looking!

people pleasing

It's time for another cathartic post about dealing with chronic illness, so either bear with me or wait for the next good recipe or yoga post. :)

I've recently been getting a lot of great support and inspiration from other bloggers, caretakers and fighters out there dealing with chronic disease and I love reading their posts and relating to what their going through. I don't judge them, I don't pity them, I just understand them and it feels good. I hope to spread that solace through our experience as well.

Between the two of us, my husband and I both deal with our fair share of stress, just like everyone else. It's always something. This month, it's been major house repairs, a hit-and-run car accident (resulting in some rushed lessons on driving a stick!), a broken tractor, storm damage, termites, a new job with long hours...etc. But on top of a daily struggle with health, regular life is enough to cause a nervous breakdown sometimes. Normal challenges seem overwhelming when we're already maxed out. Along with actively reducing and confronting stress, the support of friends and family is imperative for anyone in our position. Even if loved ones don't understand, even if we don't want to talk about it all the time, it's nice to know that they're there for us...that they have our backs.

A lot of times, the hardest part is dealing with the loved ones that don't really have our backs and probably never will. It's hard to not have a concrete diagnosis, a cure-all pill or a progress report. How do we circumvent the subject of Dave's health? Is it appropriate to distance ourselves from these people? And how do we differentiate between the "how-are-you-because-I-feel-like-I-should-ask" and the "I-want-to-know-how-you-are-because-I-care?" There's a fine line between just trying to appear normal vs. walking on eggshells. Only in relationships where there is mutual release of expectations and judgement are we truly free. 

We don't expect unwavering unconditional love and support from everyone, but we do deserve a little leniency when it comes to social etiquette.  Holidays and large family gatherings are the worst. We practically dread them because we are expected to both be there, act a certain way, eat certain foods and at least appear happy so as not to offend anyone. 'Why didn't Dave come to the family dinner?' 'Why was Dave acting reclusive at a family dinner?' 'What's wrong with Dave?' 'Why is he on that restrictive diet?' Assumptions are made and feelings are hurt, over and over again in relation to Dave's condition. 

We don't get mad or upset when events don't go as planned or people don't understand, we just get tired. We are tired of trying so hard, tired of failing in their eyes or making the wrong decisions and we just don't have the energy to keep explaining ourselves. As we pull closer together trying to shield ourselves from the onslaught of extra unnecessary stress, we end up pulling further away from certain situations and certain people and we've decided that for now, that's okay. Though little has changed in the past 5 years, it's easy for people to forget that the constant struggle hasn't gone away yet. For us, we're just trying to survive and do what's best for us each day. If that means pissing certain people off and saving some of our sanity for each other and our obligations, then so be it. 

We now choose to spend time with people who lift us up, make us feel happy and safe or relieve our stress. Avoiding the opposite is a necessary part of the healing process right now. Years ago, dodging any loved ones would not have been an option to me, but for the sake of Dave's health and our marriage, we just can't please everyone. We know that some people cannot offer the kind of love and support that we need, and in the same way, we might upset them by not playing the part of the vibrant, happy couple they want. But we are only human and we can't help but build a few walls to protect ourselves right now. My biggest and most passionate hope is that these walls and Dave's illness are both only temporary. Someday soon, it will feel great to conquer them.

intention intervention

Ever wonder what the heck your yoga instructor really means when he or she says to, "set an intention for your yoga practice?" We all know that an intention is just a plan, but what does that mean for a yoga class? Does it mean to remind yourself that you intend to get through the class without any major guffaws? (Most of us do.) Obviously, your intention in a yoga class is to move through yoga asanas and practice...well, yoga. But if that's as far as your intention usually goes, you might want to consider pushing the boundaries.

What is an intention for yoga?
Ultimately, an intention really is just a goal for your life or your yoga. It doesn't have to be any more complicated than that. It is something to aspire to, to focus on or to provide inspiration. But a simple one-word intention can mean very different things for different people. For instance: a "balance" intention for one person might mean challenging the body through physical balance postures, but another yogi might meditate on striking a balance between work and play...etc. Your intention could be physical, emotional or spiritual, but it's always personal.

How to keep an intention?
When I first started setting concrete objectives for my practice, I would often leave it behind as I moved along in my practice. Unless my instructor consistently reminded us to focus on our intention, I was just focusing in general. There is obviously nothing wrong with "forgetting" about your intention, surrendering yourself in your practice or focusing on your breath, but gentle cues from your instructor can help. If you're practicing on your own or want more reminders, try to create a habit of finding intention each time you enter a particular pose. For instance, you could make a point to remember your intention every time you enter Downward Facing Dog.

What to choose?
In my experience, I usually choose 1 word or short phrases, just for simplicity. Sometimes, it helps to think about it before you even come to your mat. What is stressing you out lately? What do you need more of in your life or in your practice? Focus on whatever that may be.

Intention signage I created for my yoga studio.

When to set an intention?
The beginning of practice is a logical time to set an intention, remembering it throughout class. But if you notice yourself feeling distracted, the middle of your practice is a great time is well. Or, at the end, set an intention for your Savasana or meditation time.

Having a solid intention is a great way to stay grounded, focusing on what's most important for you. Whether it's throughout your day or your yoga practice, choose something to focus on that is meaningful to you. You'll soon discover how powerful that can be! Namaste!

Rosslyn Kemerer Designer, Yoga Instructorp. 724.575.2235  l  runningroz1@yahoo.com http://wholehearter.blogspot.com/

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