A lesson in Non-Attachment by the sale of a big black truck ~Sarah Frick

Today my black Chevy pick up truck was sold by my darling Husband (truly he was quite sweet about it).  You see we are having a baby and I now have a station wagon which I drive my yoga self around in for the most part so the truck is more just an eye soar on our curb and an occasional vehicle to tote my dogs to the beach in.  It no longer holds the sole purpose of transporting me from point A to B safely (or if you saw the dents.. semi-safely :)    This truck for me holds many memories and a way of life I am no longer really living but having a hard time letting go of.  About 4 years I packed up my life and drove it down to Charleston with my little lab friend in the front seat and took up shop in a sweet little rental on Sullivans Island and have not looked back!  It was a time to play and be free and have little responsibility.  So.. fast forward 4 years.. I am a wife, a soon to be Mother, a business owner, a home owner, ex-party girl, and last but not least a station wagon driver.  Last night when I was cleaning out the truck and literally balling my eyes out I had to stop and ask myself.. "what is the attachment to this piece of metal... why am I literally associating my persona to this truck"?  In yoga the concept of 'non-attachment' is called Aparigraha.  'Aparigraha is the Sanksrit word for greedlessness or non-grasping.'  Why.. when I know nothing material is permanent and we are not our things could I just not let go of the 'idea' of this truck defining me.  Why did I feel that I now had to define myself with words like 'wife, mother, business owner, or worst of all responsible adult!' when really all I have to be is "Sarah' and its enough.  I spent a long time thinking about how I use material items and labels to define me as a person when they can all be taken away so quickly anyway.  At the end of the day its just you and God and not the stuff you bought or the money you made or the image you so delicately try to portray.  So the question then became.. is it the truck I am having a hard time letting go of or is the image I have created for myself that only I care about- because the people that really love me don't care what I drive or look like.  Of course after much 3am soul searching I came to see that it was the image.. the free spirit, life of the party, pick up truck driving girl that I was mourning when in reality she is still there.. just with a bigger baby belly, a sweet husband, a killer business, and a safer (more suitable) ride!  Remember folks.. on this journey.. we are not our things.. we are not our jobs.. our money.. we are our spirits and our kindness and most importantly God's love~  If you see the old beater riding around Charleston... give her a honk ;)

New Years Eve Class with Beth

What's your Resolution? Why not kick your New Year totally different than ever before! Join Beth from 10:00pm to Midnight for a Goal Setting Session to create your Personal, Health and Career goals for 2012 and beyond. Then get on your mat for a 76 minute Candlelight Power Vinyasa class to inspire Possibility and take you Ommming into the new year. Toast 2012 with champagne and treats for the perfect finish. Sign up today to reserve your spot! $20 pre sign up, $25 day of.
http://www.charlestonpoweryoga.com/events.php
See you there!

Stuff Your Stocking with Yoga!

Charleston Power Yoga has the perfect gift for that yogi in your life, and we will even wrap it up for you! From Manduka Pro and Pro-lite mats with a lifetime guarantee, to the best athletic tanks and pants on the planet, to must have yogitoes skidless towels and locally made yoga bags from the Rose Knot, we've what they want! Even non yogis will love Rewined candles, locally made soy candles in recycled wine bottles in 7 popular varietals. Or buy with a conscious and support displaced women in Northern Uganda with handmade recycled jewelry from 31 Bits. Can't decide? Charleston Power Yoga gift cards always fit and are easy to buy at www.charlestonpoweryoga.com Our boutique is open before and after scheduled classes, or call 843-513-3400 for other times to shop. We know you have other local King St businesses to support as well, so drop your 4-11 aged kids off this Thursday, December 22 for a Kids Yoga Class from 2-3, and cross those last few things off your list! Kids class is $10, cash/check only, reserve your child's spot by calling 843-224-5900
Have a Merry Christmas! NAMASTE

Adopt an Angel this Holiday

Remember the thrill of waking up on Christmas to see what Santa brought? No child should be deprived that! Join Charleston Power Yoga in our annual Salvation Army Angel Tree and adopt an angel today. Stop in the studio and pick an angel off our tree. Buy your angel something from their wish list. A great guide is an outfit, pair of shoes, one toy, but do what you can afford, less or more. Go in with friends and ditch giving each other obligatory gifts, practice Karma Yoga and give selflessly from your heart. Unwrapped gifts are due back to CPY by Dec 10th. Get your angel before they fly away! NAMASTE
www.charlestonpoweryoga.com
557 King St, Suite A
843-513-3400

Get your Wrap on at Dellz

Charleston Power Yoga's favorite lunch spot is Dellz Deli, right around the corner on Cannon.  Owner Dell Grayson whips her amazing wraps and other healthy options every day except Sunday starting at 11am, and is even open late night on the weekend!  Sarah's favorite is the High on Veggies with sprouts, tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, celery, avocado, red and yellow pepper and fresh fields greens.  And dont' forget to ask for the Goddess sauce, yum!  Beth loves the bean and rice bowl with salsa, avocado and sprouts, but its really hard to choose, everything is so dang good!  Try the Mahi Mahi tacos and the Jazzy pizza if you've got someone to share with.  If you;re looking for an awesome healthy lunch on the go, stop by Dellz and treat yourself to an affordable delicious treat!  Its the perfect lunch spot after a hot sweaty yoga class, or even a hard day of shopping on Upper King.  Tell Dell we said hi!

Dellz Deli
1A Cannon St
843-722-5376
Call ahead if you're short on time

www.charlestonpoweryoga.com

Get Sugared!

No we aren't talking cupcakes and candy, not today anyway, but Body Sugaring! The healthy way to remove unwanted hair using 100% natural, pure ingredients. The room temperature sugar, lemon and water paste leaves you naturally smooth and soft! Sweet 185 is the sweet spot on Upper King offering sugaring, organic facials/skin care and massage. Book an appointment with our fav sugarist Jenn Garrett, she is highly skilled in the art of masterful hair removal without a lot of pain:) Not into the hair removal scene? Jenn also offers amazing organic facials that will leave your skin looking 10 years younger, and add on a foot massage by Lauren while you are getting your facial for the ultimate pampering experience! Support local Upper King business and check out Sweet 185 today! Tell Jenn we said hi!
Sweet 185 476 King St 843-329-3500
http:/www.mysweet185.com

Let Your Inner Bad-Ass Out by: Emily Watson

I taught a class a while back and got feedback that, while it was a good class, I was playing it safe. My friends said, “Emily, you’re a little badass but you didn’t let that shine”. Wow, I was offended. I told myself I did great! I didn’t play it safe! But for some reason, I couldn’t get over this feedback.

I reflected back on my teacher training a year ago and my feedback from a very smart and genuine man was, “Emily, take the lid off”. I instantly put up a wall. He doesn’t know me! What the hell does that mean!?

Now as I think of this feedback I’ve gotten, it hits me… I do play it safe. I put walls up so no one can hurt me. I have cleaning day on Saturday. I balance my checkbook every day. I think of canceling with friends if they invite me to do something outside of my “norm”. Sometimes I just don’t want to take a chance and risk f***ing up. I don’t want to look stupid or imperfect. I took Beth’s class last night and she talked a lot about how we put walls up to protect ourselves and how we’re not perfect. I almost stood up right then and there and said, “Beth YES I AM!” But what is perfection really? The textbook definition describes it as freedom from fault or defect. But aren’t those little imperfections what make us perfect? Because of our life experiences and our attitudes, we’re each unique and perfect in our own way. I digress.

Sometimes we play it safe because we want to appear that we know it all or that we don’t ever screw up. But that’s how we grow. As babies, we didn’t just pop out walking. We stood for a few seconds, wobbled a little bit, fell over, cried, and tried again. Why as adults are we afraid of busting out? Why are we so afraid of falling? The thing is, each person has something amazing to share. If we don’t let out our inner badass, whatever that may be, we’re doing a great disservice to the world. So maybe it’s scary teaching a new sequence or speaking my truth, but if I don’t, how do I know what I’m capable of? Maybe it’s scary trying headstand or handstand, but if you don’t, will you ever know if you can?!

Humans are such organic creatures that it’s simply amazing. We have the ability to change and grow every single moment of every day. We are faced with challenges and experiences that give us opportunities to evolve. If we take chances and put ourselves out there, sure it may be scary, but what might be possible if we do?! What’s so bad about shining our inner badass? Don’t hold back. Bust out of the boundaries you’ve set for yourself (and yes we all set them for ourselves). We are limitless!