Darlings,

I always love looking at what happened back in history. It allows me to sit with it in the present, let it resonate with me so that I can use it as fuel for what's next...future!

People often ask me, what the heck is this history yoga? Well, come to class and find out, that's what I say. If you can't do that, here's the deal, the collection of people in a room that come together to practice will never be the same more than once...not unless you intentionally plan it that way. So, in a way, we are creating history. Everyone has their reasons to come to a class - surround themselves with people of different backgrounds with the collective intention to clear space for themselves, be inspired, work out the mind and the body. It's important to have an intention, otherwise, what's the point of anything.

Today, our collective intention is to shine. How did I get that from this, August 21st, 1959 being the anniversary of Hawaii becoming the 50th state? Well, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the proclamation admitting Hawaii into the US, but he also issued an order for the American flag. It's the one we know and love today featuring 50 stars arranged in staggered rows of five six-star and four five-star rows. The new flag became official on July 4th, 1960.

The flag and country were complete with a star spangled shiny flag.

So, shine.

It's a great way to start the practice on this inspiration. Allow the postures to open up naturally in the body and let your true light shine with brilliance.

There are two ways to spread light. Be a candle or the mirror that reflects it. Edith Wharton

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson

There isn't a person anywhere who isn't capable of doing more than he (she) can. Henry Ford

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present. Francis Bacon

With every opening of the body and mind while practicing, there is a push or pull through areas of roughness and holding. Ease your way into these spaces with deep breath and a gentle mind and the balance of dark and light won't be so extreme.

Energy and persistence conquer all things. Benjamin Franklin

You are responsible for the energy you create for yourself and you’re responsible for the energy that you bring to others. All life is energy and we are transmitting it at every moment. We are all beaming little signals like radio frequencies and the world is responding in kind. - Oprah Winfrey from her last show May 25th, 2011

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. Oprah Winfrey

Without contraries is no progression. Attraction and repulsion, reason and energy, love and hate, are necessary to human existence. William Blake

The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have. Norman Vincent Peale

With out passion you dont have energy, with out energy you have nothing. Donald Trump (and a little money doesn't hurt either...Lady)

Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance. Brian Tracy

Balance your thoughts with action. If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done. -Bruce Lee

Accept challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory. George S. Patton

Take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space. Dr. Jill Taylor

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. Nelson Mandela

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins. Benjamin Franklin

The peace I am thinking of is the dance of an open mind when it engages another equally open one. Toni Morrison

What life have you if you have not life together? There is no life that is not in community. T. S. Eliot

Our strength is a contented and intelligent community. Rutherford Hayes

The body is a community made up of its innumerable cells or inhabitants. Thomas A. Edison

But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Khalil Gibran

Glimmering,

Lady