How You Show Up

People ask me all the time, “How can you have such a positive outlook on life? You’re always so happy!” I usually am laughing inside because they haven’t seen me in every moment of every day, that’s for sure!

What I can say is, it’s NOT about putting on rose colored glasses and looking at life as a Polyanna Princess story. And it’s not about turning the other cheek when times get tough. It’s definitely not about saying “I’m FINE!" (frickin’ incapable of normal emotion) when you’re NOT fine! And for sure, it’s not about being so tough that you “suck it up” every time things get hard.

Nope, my belief is that it’s about facing your life … dead on … with a knowingness that it’s all FOR you.

It’s about embracing your strength when life seemingly kicks you in the ass. It’s about how you react in tough situations. It's about falling deep, deep down into your fears and examining them for what they are… illusions.

It’s about loving those people and situations that hurt you so badly instead of SCREAMING at the top of your lungs and lashing out at someone or something just to make you feel better. It’s about falling to your knees in complete surrender … asking for help in your deepest, darkest hours … knowing it will come; even if it comes in a form that you don’t expect or understand. It’s about following that call with a blind faith that is solid.

With all of that though … it’s about letting go with compassion, gratitude and true love for what is showing up… KNOWING it’s for you.

I first heard this concept from Michael Beckwith and I thought it was ridiculous to be honest.

However, in the past two years I have closed a business, filed bankruptcy, gave up my home that I loved and cherished, got a divorce, went from being a stay at home to working full time, moved my business twice (only to end up next door to my very first yoga studio which by the way they tore down..wall by wall!), moved to the other side of town with my two young daughters and finally changed my name….to something brand new that means the world to me.

It hasn’t been easy. But I also don’t think that life is hard.

This is what I know:

• Connection to others, to Self and to Source is the key to flowing with your life.
• Movement with breath actually moves stuck energy helping you to heal on all levels.
• Knowing that YOU created every single event in your life will give you the space you need to fall into those challenging times and understand WHY you created them and WHAT you are meant to birth from that situation.
• Being vulnerable and humble to what shows up for you REGARDLESS of how hurt you were in the past, heals the heart.
• Feeling every single emotion as it’s happening and then allowing it to move through you with breath gives the body freedom from those emotions so you don’t carry them around.
• Letting go with love, compassion and SINCERE gratitude allows those magical moments to show up for you after the hurt, after the pain and after the challenges. Holding onto them only brings more of the same…

When I talk to people sometimes, especially in our Teacher Training program, I get asked, what does inner peace feel like? I can only share what I know … which is always evolving by the way! But this has been ringing in my ears so loudly I can’t help but share….

Inner peace for me means being able to look at my ex-husband and feel pure gratitude and grace for every minute we spent together. Even the ones when I saw red and wanted to kick and scream like a little kid.

Inner peace means knowing that the “other side” brings truth and joy but truly… equanimity in all situations will allow truth and joy to shine on BOTH sides.

In order to move forward, we must understand how to let go with love and grace …TRULY feeling that love and grace on ALL LEVELS of our being… it can’t be fake … not even one bit. Otherwise it will kick you again and again. After that true release happens you are able to bear witness to complete equanimity without attachment.

What a gift...what a ride.

Whoosh….

I don’t know about you, but so far, 2012 is proving to be quite an INCREDIBLE year! It’s like the dust has settled and the mission for us all is so very clear. It’s time to wake up to our purpose and finally, USE our gifts! It’s time to share what we came here to do…without fear or doubt.

For me personally, I feel like I just woke up from a very deep and intoxicating sleep. I kept pressing the snooze button, hoping to get more sleep, more guidance, more understanding. But that understanding and direction didn’t come completely until last year. 2011 was a year of shedding all that did not serve my higher purpose. Job change, relocation, divorce….all shook my world to it’s core. At times that shedding was very traumatic and scary. But the other side, the next “phase”, already is like waking up in Oz. My life is full of vibrant color and some seriously quick manifestation of joy and abundance.

We have the power to create that which we truly desire. And we do that through our thoughts first, then our speech and then our actions. But how do we know what we want? How do we make an authentic, soul-based decision about what we desire if we are in constant motion, trying to “keep up” with the world?

The answer is we don’t.

However, my firm and steadfast belief is that we CAN make soul-based decisions. IF we breathe, move and awaken to our power and really begin listening to that internal guidance. Our answers come from within…you all know that…I KNOW you do! For me, it starts with the power, art and science of yoga. YOGA mean to yoke, to unite, to marry together. So to marry our thoughts, words and deeds …that come from a place of love, authenticity and spiritual guidance is the ONLY way to transform and heal ourselves and then our world.

It’s all starts with YOGA… moving on your mat. Sure, the postures are fun. It’s great to “master” something you couldn’t even consider doing yesterday. However, it’s truly about quieting the mind so you can hear what to do next; whether it’s in a posture or in an uncomfortable, stressful situation. I’m telling you, it starts with yoga.

And to be able to not only DO yoga, but SHARE yoga is the way this world will shift. But it HAS to start with you.

The Zen Flow Yoga Teacher Training program, takes you on a journey to the center of yourSelf. It’s the gentlest way I know how to get to the root of your purpose so you can truly share that which you came here to do. At the end of the training, not only are you spiritually alive and connected, but you have a certificate to teach yoga! Which is a powerful gift in and of itself.

The training begins February 6, 2012 and goes for three months. It’s going to be AmAzIng and I would love for you to join us. We have 5 spots left as of today. If you are interested …. call or email me if you need more information or want to register. I am capping this one out at 10 people.

My email is dana@danadamara.com or you can also email info@zenflowyoga.com

The site, for all the information is www.danalayon.com/tt.aspx

Time to wake up and play...full out!

A New Year, A New You

Personally for me, no truer words have ever been spoken. For those of you who know me, you know that this past year has been quite a spiritual ride. And I know it's not over. It's never over until you're dead from what I can gather.

This year has offered me lessons in courage, grief, compassion, love, joy, fear, anger, friendship, family, commitment, letting go, God, Buddha, Krishna, laughter, choice, patience, truth and any other virtue that comes to mind. Those were just the ones that flew from my finger tips.

Choosing to get divorced is not an easy process as some of you know. And once the choice is made, you can't really go back. People are going to get hurt, you are going to experience doubt and shame, you are going to feel alone. It becomes especially challenging when your ex-spouse is really a kind human being. And it becomes very complicated when you have little children who love the hell out of both of you.

There are a multitude of things that got me through this year, and I want to express gratitude for them right now...publicly.

First is my yoga practice. Had it not been for my dedication to the practice, this year could have gone terribly wrong.

Second, is my belief and faith in a Higher Power. You can call it God, guidance, Spirit, Source...it's a Higher Power. It's Faith.

Third are my kids. Without the innocent honesty of our children we are lost.

And fourth are my friends. Want to find out who your real friends are? Dismantle your life, create chaos and change it up a bit...they will still be left standing there....in many shapes and forms. They will show up EXACTLY as you need them to be.

This is life people. It doesn't come wrapped in some shiny paper with ribbons and goregous tags. It sometimes kicks your ass and leaves a mess. But guess what? The gift is IN the mess! It IS the mess!! And it's how you clean up and handle the mess. I have cleaned up many messes this past year. But they needed cleaning. The space under my rug was getting very cramped, if you know what I mean.

And now, new year, new me, new life.

Scary, yes. But living in in-authenticity and lies was sure scarier.

So now I ask YOU....

How can you clean up your life so you can move forward?
What can you leave behind in 2011?
What do you want to birth in 2012?

Be honest...be real...be full of life!

This experience has inspired me to do and be so many things! It has brought so many new, AMAZING people to me! It has brought back the lust for life I always knew I had!

Join me in the New Year...leave your mess behind.

ps...be on the lookout for a new blog...."Taking the High Road: One Woman's Spiritual Journey Through Divorce".... It's time.

Honor Your Inner Soldier

As we celebrate and honor our Veterans today, we come together collectively with the same intention. Powerful thoughts of admiration, appreciation, love and respect resonate and vibrate across our nation. The power of coming together in prayer, meditation, and affirmation is extremely powerful and can make changes on a level we ourselves are not even aware of.

Gathering in groups is powerful, but the pure notion that across our nation, we are all thinking similar thoughts is amazing to me.

So then today, this November 11, 2011 I invite you to think even beyond our nation's definition of "Veteran's Day". I looked up the word veteran and it is defined as "One who has served in a war - most likely a soldier". Without disrespecting our veteran's in any way, aren't we all veteran's?

Ask yourself...what war have YOU been battling for years prior today? Are there inner struggles that you can honor with love, respect, forgiveness and compassion? Are there conflicts that you can surrender to today and wave your white flag this last time, so you can move forward in peace and joy?

What tightly wound contractions of spirit and inner turmoil can you unravel today so you can blossom into who you truly are? Beyond judgment, fear, guilt and shame. What solider like qualities can you relinquish so you can feel the energy of love and peace run through you like a wave of breath and inspiration?

Those feelings that feed your inner-soldier keep you bound but they need to be embraced and honored in order to fully release them. They are a part of who you are but they need not direct your life. How DO you want to lead your life? What feelings DO you want guiding you as you move through this world?

Today I invite you to let go, open your tightly wound bud and allow your faith in God and your own Divine Guidance lead you to the new you. The one that is full of purpose, service, love and joy. It is time... it is time to rise and shine to your most high Self.

Let today, 11.11.11 be that day.

In peace and powerful blessings.

Hari Om, Hari Om, Hari Om

Dana Layon-Damara