Disneyland - here we come!

So in just over a week it's off to Disneyland we go! I am such a huge dork that the other day I was at home watching videos of Disneyland on youtube and getting all excited about the adventure to come. I have been to Disneyland before - but I was 12 I believe, so it's been awhile and when I was there the California Adventure park didn't even exist yet so I am sure we will have plenty to explore. :) From what I remember there was really nothing about Disneyland I didn't enjoy....ha ha I guess I am their target then. But between the sun, the good company, the rides and photos to be taken I think it's going to be a well-deserved rest from "real life" in Vancouver.

I have been extremely busy as of late, teaching my regular schedule of classes on top of subbing some extras as well. Both Yesterday & Wednesday of this week were 3 class days whereas Tuesday was a 4 class day! I am a little glad I only have one to do tonight in Burnaby and one tomorrow in Richmond. :) I need to make sure I am getting enough rest for myself in there too! I do find it a little difficult sometimes trying to make a living as a yoga teacher. I don't mean to complain, it's just alot of running around firstly, secondly it pretty much always keeps you on your toes because especially with a drop in class you never know who might show up to class, and lastly it's that whole dilemma of "can I make a living of doing something that I love?" I find that money has been tight lately, well more than lately I should say and even though I seem to be teaching up a storm I still seem to run out of money before I run out of month. So I need to get it together and either teach more or supplement with something else (again). It just very simply sucks to be poor.

I completed a fantastic Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training last weekend!! I absolutely loved it. I don't think I will be rushing into teaching pre-natal yoga anytime in the absolute near future, but I do see myself pursuing it in the future at some point. It was such an amazing time to spend with a bunch of fab gals in a group setting and honour & validate women and the whole pregnancy/birthing experience. It did overwhelm me a little in the sense that it feels like the amount of information as a new mother you need to keep in the forefront of your mind is so immense that is the part that felt overwhelming. Lots to explore and play with. It helped me to re-connect with my feminine energy too, realigning some values and goals. It made me feel special and proud to be a woman! I feel like I had started to lose some of that confidence and strength that each woman does hold and it felt so very good to find my way back to all of these. I feel like these words aren't even doing my experience justice :) So in one word - fanfrickingtastic!

Be careful what you wish for....you may just get it!

So hello there, I have been slacking on the blogging front as you can see here from the lack of postings. I have made a new goal when it comes to my blog here, seeing as it's a new thing for me still and I have never written a blog before, my goal is to write once a week. If I feel like writing more then awesome - if not once a week seems reasonable. :)

So you know the saying be careful what you wish for....

Ha ha it's just that I have been really focusing on building my teaching schedule as a yoga instructor for the spring and now it seems like another saying, 'when it rains, it pours.' I just firmed up three more classes this week - right on! Don't get me wrong I am not complaining one bit, just noticing that the intention you send out there can come back to you in a very positive and fruitful way!

Here's a rough sketch of my teaching schedule for the next while:

Mondays : Teachers yoga in Burnaby @ Elementary school

Tuesdays: (as of May) 9:30am Yin Class @ Kerrisdale Yoga

(as of May) 4:00pm Hatha Class @ Yogacara

(April 13 - June 29) 7:00pm Candlelight Yogaflex @ Mt. Pleasant Community Ctr

Wednesdays: (as of May) 9:30am Yoga for Cancer Survivors @ Yogacara

(May 12 - July 28) 2:00pm Survivor Yoga @ Kerrisdale Yoga

4:00pm Gentle Hatha @ Canadian Mental Health Association

(April 14 - June 2) 6:30pm Healthy Backs @ New West School Location

(April 14 - June 2) 7:30pm Yoga Plus @ New West School Location

Thursdays: (April 15 - ?) 8:00pm Private class in West Vancouver

Fridays: 9:30am Hatha Class @ Yogacara

8:00pm Candlelight Hatha @ Heart Centre Yoga in Burnaby

So that is where I am with my teaching - not too shabby if I do say so myself :) I am very happy that I am focusing on myself as a teacher and growing and learning as much as possible in this realm to continue to expand and develop as a teacher. It really is an on-going process in which you are never really done (but between me and you that is perfectly ok with me).

In other yoga news - I am embarking on a Pre-natal teacher training course this week. It runs Thursday - Sunday and I am very excited to be completing this one. I love kids and I love working with women for women so I really feel that learning more in this specific area of yoga will only lead to greater things. Plus I believe this will also help me on my journey towards becoming a doula. I plan on working on the doula steps to certification beginning this year. It looks like with all of the steps required it will take me about a year to complete as long as I stick with it and keep on track!

I had been spending the last couple of weeks working a little less and taking the time to evaluate where I am as a teacher and where I want to be and go with my career. I came to the conclusion that it means getting back on board with the Yoga Therapy training program I had started with Mount Royal University in Calgary. I had been looking around at other trainings and programs, etc and it just became too much I felt. I am already apart of this program and have done a couple of their modules already so why not just back into the groove of things and re-committ myself to this program on my journey to becoming a certified yoga therapist. :) It makes me feel very good to have a clearer plan here now and I have dates for the upcoming sessions this year and will be committing myself to making it work. Enough said.

My long term goals still include working privately as a yoga therapist one on one with clients either out of a shared space or out of my home (when we upgrade to a larger living area in the future). So in order to get there I have got to focus on my training and make the necessary sacrifices when it comes to timing & $$$.

And completely nothing to do with yoga - we leave for our big kid Disneyland trip in 17 days!! I am getting very excited to spend time with my partner and our good friends roaming through the theme parks in southern california being big kids, laughing, being in the sun, eating and chilling together having fun!! I am a such a sucker when it comes to California as I absolutely love it there. :) I will be sure to share some photos of this on here when we return.

Peace & love,

Sara