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A blog post by Mary Moscarello. To read all of Mary’s posts, click here

I heard something this week and it STUCK. 

It wasn’t something I would have predicted I’d remember. But you know how things pop in your head and stick? Whether sparked by your own thoughts or the thing someone else says, these sticky things?

I have one.

A student of yoga told a group of teachers and me when we gathered online at the invitation of the lovely Nic Watson, that she was so grateful that the teachers keep showing up for virtual classes.

This knocked me down as if someone pushed me. (but in a good way)

I literally gasped in spite of having myself muted at the idea that somehow I (as a teacher) deserved this expression of gratitude. I mean I took her seriously and was moved, but all this time I’ve been really impressed by the yogis that keep to their practice in spite of everything. I know how hard it can be, whether you’re a teacher or not, to be disciplined to something. Anything!

Yet she was so profound.

We keep showing up.

DO NOT see the above as another round of applause request. REALLY. 

Showing up can mean different things from person to person. Maybe you meditated today and have a spotless sink, you’re ahead of deadline and your dryer’s not broken. 

Or you’re like me with a half-completed meditation 21-day podcast (never got past day 13), the sink is full, you have 15 unanswered emails and your entire legging wardrobe is drip-drying in the basement. Not to mention the migraine I woke up with and a general sense of worry about family I love that is so far away. You know that feeling?

Sure you do, because this is the 145th day of Marpril in the year of 2020.

Still, I managed to show up. Which means I did gather a group of friends via this miraculous technology that rhymes with broom for no other reason than to move and breathe in harmony as if our energy (all female/feminine) could somehow offer healing with the power of its collective force. . 

I did show up to my family, making breakfast through the post migraine cloud. Pain in the temple, but you can still see and feel.  

And I did the best I could all day. I showed up. I showed up in the way I could and sometimes that’s enough.

As long as you show up for yourself.

How are you showing up for yourself this May. It will be May 1 when I publish this – so we have a new month. What will you do that shows up for you? If you’re still looking for something, I have a suggestion. Focus on what matters. Just the act of figuring out what that is for you accomplishes something amazing for your well being. 

Whatever you choose, as long as you show up, you’ll succeed.  

One Response

  1. Your Post really Answered some hankering inside me I couldn’t put into words. When I’m feeling exhausted mentally & emotionally – I take a nap or try to read something inspiring in Ancient Writings; I’ll make a cup of tea or coffee (sometimes it requires a little zap too;-) And I was thinking – Today was a good day! I did what I could. I contributed in two Internet meetings – usually I just listen – I called two friends – Shared what I learned on those mtgs. Because sharing is caring! I’m learning to unlock my potential & help others unlock theirs too – and that means something to me;-)

Jennifer Miranda

Jenn took her very first yoga class in 2012 while searching for a fitness
routine that would improve her strength and flexibility. After that first class,
she got hooked. Yoga changed her life not only because of the physical
benefits of doing yoga but she also discovered that yoga has greatly improved
her mental focus and self-awareness. Because of this, she decided to share
her practice with others. Jenn completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training
in April 2017 and is a registered yoga instructor (RYT-200) with the Yoga
Alliance.

Jenn’s ultimate goal as a yoga teacher is to lead students towards a deeper
level of physical fitness and healthy lifestyle along with mental peace. She
loves to help beginners feel comfortable in their practice and learn essential
postures while motivating and challenging the more experienced yogis and
ensuring a safe practice for everyone. Maintaining her own personal practice
while learning and gaining inspiration from other yogis enables her to design
innovative, energetic, and fun sequences that are fit for all levels.

Jenn is also a professional portrait photographer and her love of both yoga
and photography paved the way for Yoga Photography. The skills she has
acquired over the years allow her to best capture yogis demonstrating beauty,
strength, and grace through movement.

Carrie Del Purgatorio

Carrie has had a consistent, daily, at-home yoga and meditation practice for many years and was finally inspired to take her love of yoga to the next level and embark on teacher training in 2022. She enjoys teaching a more powerful yoga flow with a strong focus on breathing. Carrie firmly believes that a little self-love goes a long way, and she feels extremely grateful to be able to share her practice with people.

Camille Alonso

Camille is a Holistic Health Coach, 235RYT (235 hour Registered Yoga Teacher),
Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, and former Pastry Chef. She received her 200RYT at Indigo Yoga in 2018 and studied meditation at Kripalu in 2019. She then earned her Integrate Nutrition Health Coach Certification at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

She is also a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America with a Bachelors in Baking Pastry Arts and Business Administration. Camille began her yoga and meditation practice in 2009 when she was dealing with chronic panic attacks. She found that through mindfulness practices she could feel like herself again. She is now inspired to guide clients through a relaxing and peaceful practice and leave them with tools to help manage stress and anxiety.

Theresa Conlon

Theresa is a Yoga Alliance certified instructor (200-hour RYT) who has been teaching since 2013. She is skilled in various yoga styles including Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Restorative, and Meditation. Theresa also brings an extensive dance background to her yoga practice, which includes teaching both modern dance and ballet. She has over 40 years of dance/theater performing experience and currently showcases her choreography as part of Bergen Dance Makers, a dance collective in northern New Jersey. Theresa’s yoga classes offer a calming mix of traditional asana postures and creative movement flows, supported by energy-moving breath. Students of all skill levels are invited to find ease and peace in their bodies/minds/spirits through the joyful bliss of yoga movement.

Carrie Parker Gastelu

Carrie Parker Gastelu, E-500 RYT, has been teaching yoga since 1993. Carrie began her journey when Yogi Raj Mani Finger initiated Carrie into the ISHTA Yoga lineage after training with Mani’s son, Yogi Raj Alan Finger. In addition, she has studied many other yoga traditions as well as anatomy, physiology, movement, and awareness practices to create an eclectic style all her own. She is known for her honest, non-dogmatic yet passionate approach.

Carrie is a regular speaker and contributor at conferences, websites, and print publications and has been featured in Fit Magazine, the Yoga Zone Book, and in the Yoga Zone Video, “Flexibility and Stress Release.”

Lisa Podesta-Coombs

When Lisa found yoga in 2008, she started to find herself again and it set her on a path of health and healing. She received her 200HR RYT certification from Raji Thron of Yoga Synthesis, and her 30HR Chakra Yoga Teacher Training certificate with Anodea Judith and holds a Y12SR (Yoga of 12 Step Recovery) certification. She is also a Holistic Health Coach (certified through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition). Lisa believes we’re all on a journey of learning how to trust ourselves; she helps her clients build that trust by supporting them in creating better habits for a better life through various functional movement modalities like yoga, barre, Pilates & strength training, mindset, and whole food nutrition.

Forever a student with a passion for people, holistic health, and self-actualization, Lisa is always embracing opportunities to advance her education to better serve; Ayurveda workshops & immersions have been of particular interest as she continues to deepen her knowledge of and experience with food as medicine and she recently completed Unleash Her Power Within, a transformational program of rediscovering our truest selves, powered by Tony Robbins.  

As she continues to give herself space and grace to nourish her natural self and actualize her potential, Lisa continues to share the gift of movement as medicine to inspire authenticity & health in body, mind, and spirit. You can expect mindful, accessible, dynamic, playful, and uplifting classes from Lisa.

Roberto Reynoso

Roberto Reynoso completed basic training in 2017 at Jaipure Yoga in Montclair. The training was Hatha Vinyasa based. Roberto has created his own style from the various styles of yoga he has loved practicing. He is well-versed in Iyengar, Vinyasa, and Restorative Yoga. He hopes to teach poses and themes in each class that inform, challenge, and guide students toward a better understanding of how to make the shapes and the anatomy behind the poses. He hopes to help students find more space when they leave and also hopes to help people grow in awareness through breath, alignment, and movement.