Namaste_Heather

A few posts back, I wrote about feeling depleted. I needed to find center, and did just that last week, sort of. I “took stock”. I figured a few things out. Two aspects of my life that are absolutely critical to happiness? Yoga and writing. It’s become increasingly clear that I need to create and keep a balance of both. For the last few years, the majority of my work has been teaching yoga. My writing life existed only in freelancing and blogging. Not enough. However, in 2008 I left my old life to escape corporate America, focus on family and to teach yoga. I should be happy, right?

In my old life I wrote a lot professionally. This part was quite fulfilling. However, family life was secondary to professional life because of a lack of time and constantly being stressed and tired.  I barely practiced yoga then. I needed it more than ever. I realized this life, this job was not serving me personally, professionally or spiritually. I left. No, not just like that. It was difficult. I struggled with the decision even after making it . . . was it the right decision? would I make the same kind of money again? who am I now, really?  In the end, it absolutely was the right decision for me. But it’s taken two years to find balance.

Teaching yoga has and continues to be fulfilling, but only if its balanced with other aspects of life. If all of my eggs are in the yoga basket, off-balance I go again. My yoga practice means so much to me and I teach from that place. It’s personal and I care about it and I want others to experience it deeply.  While its not about me, it is still from me. I give of myself through my teaching.

I began a new job about a month ago and its given me more of an intellectual challenge than I’ve had since I left my old life two years ago. The job incorporates customer service, web design and *writing* . . . YAY!  And the best aspect? I can work from home. I can take M to school and pick her up. I can have dinner with my family in the evenings. I can do laundry on my breaks throughout the day. I don’t have to drive or spend money on gas. My new employer is straight-forward about his expectations. Lines of communication are wide open. He is extremely family-oriented and hopes that his employees share this enthusiasm.  Do the job well, get the work done and get-on with enjoying your life! Amazing. Energizing. I am exhilarated that life placed me on this path. Two years later and I’m doing both of the things I love . . . writing and teaching.

This post was partially inspired by Nikki, who left a comment on my blog yesterday. She found her way here from a post by Emma at The Joy of Yoga, who wrote about single kid-less yoga teachers. It got me thinking about my own life, how I define it and what is important. My daughter, M, is not wee little; she’s pre-teen and she needs me as much now as she did during diaper and toddler years. . . maybe more so. She’s into her friends, sports, even boys. But she talks to me. I want to keep it that way. Spending time with her, nourishing our relationship is critical and its exactly what I intend to do as she continues to grow. Being a mom is the number one reason I exist right now.  I can’t imagine it any differently. Being a mom automatically places you in a teaching role, but just like being a yoga teacher, I learn by keeping my heart open. In life we are ALL teachers and we are ALL students. When we begin to define and set strict rules around how we are supposed to be, how our lives are supposed to be, we get stuck. Being a yoga teacher and a mom only gives me different experiences in which to work from.

The key to all of it?  Balance.  For me it includes work, practicing yoga, teaching, writing, creating, spending quality time with friends and family. It is all important.  I worked almost 50 hours last week, but I was home most of the time. I only taught one class as I was on break from OhioU. This week I’ll start back at OhioU and work a bit less at the other job.  Balance.

This weekend was wonderful! I felt justified in only doing what I (we/family) wanted to do! M and I created jewelry, Random Acts of Kindness Cards and Up-cycled Magazine Envelopes for my Etsy shop. J, M and I went to the high school football game. We hung out with friends. We drove to Athens to absorb the eclectic college town vibe. We cooked out. We made homemade pizza. We watched movies. We slept in. We ate ice cream. We talked. We laughed (a lot). We loved.

Enjoy this beautiful day! As for me, I’m going for a walk before working a few hours this afternoon . . .

Peace Love and Light,