Inspiration | St. Louis Corporate Yoga

Follow Your Bliss in the Workplace

Follow Your Bliss in the Workplace Today

When it comes to following your bliss, do you have difficulty to find out what you want? Did you know that when you focus on what you don’t want, you bring more of what you don’t want! Let’s stop and take a minute to do a bit of guided imagery or even journaling. If you have a few minutes, take out your notebook and write down some of your thoughts. I assure you, you will find this very relaxing and enlightening way to spend some free time.

Is it impossible to find a deep and honest answer to the question: “what do you want”? You are not alone! Many of us struggle to find out what we really want in life.

The time comes when it is easier to come up with a long list of what you DONT want than creating a list of what you are really looking for. That’s where creative writing comes into play. Take a deep breath and let’s begin this visualization!
Imagine you have a huge bag full of ideas, situations, things, characteristics, images, etc. The bag has a never ending supply of every imaginable thing and thought. Now visualize yourself taking pieces out of the bag. Take one thought, idea, image, opportunity…. Have a look at it and decide if you want it or not. Make the decision as intuitive as you can. Decide quickly, you need to move fast to sort through all those possibilities in the bag.

Take one, look at it, decide, done. Then repeat. Take notes of the things that went to the “don’t want” list. To help you I have come up with different ideas, images, situations and characteristics to help you with this exercise. Below is a random list of possibilities around teaching yoga.

Here is the list:
Ashram , Making money , Comfortable living ,  Coaching others,  Practicing yoga every day,  Practicing yoga as you wish, no set times, Flexibility, Doing what is good for your family/community , Self-appreciation,  Taking care of yourself , Calming environment,  Excitement, Working for yourself,  Passion, great health,   Working for a non-profit, Creating value
Creating new ideas, doctors Alternative medicine, Nutrition, Ayurveda , Acupuncture , Quantum healing .

Now, you can write up the above 30 possibilities on small pieces of paper then put them into a bag, jar or box. Or write them down simply on a piece of paper! Feel free to add to the list above! Now take one piece of paper out of the container, decide if you want that or not. Separate the “want” and “don’t want” items. Keep on going until you worked through the whole list.

When you look at the “don’t want” items, you will have a pretty good idea what it is that you don’t want. And this will be a tremendous help in figuring out what you really really want out of your everyday life and attracting more of the same!

Clayton Yoga has been teaching over 13 weekly corporate yoga classes for more than ten years in the greater metro St. Louis area. We follow our bliss everyday and love what we do. Interested in having more of that energy in your company? Get started with corporate yoga wellness and onsite classes today, contact Michelle at 314-630-1677!

A Breather Of Inspiration

Feeling stressed as the year approaches it‘s end? Tired and desperately needing a breather before the new year begins? You are not alone!

What if you gave yourself permission to take just 10 minutes to breathe slowly and deeply? Instead of entertaining the constant worrying you feel, just take your attention to something else. Maybe read a chapter of a favorite book or watch a funny cat video on YouTube. You need to get out of your stressed state!

Of course watching a funny video will not solve any of your issues causing the stress in the first place. But it will get you to feel more positive. A healthy laugh can work wonders!

We gathered a few motivational quotes for your reading pleasure. Why don’t you pick one that speaks to you, print it out and keep it on your desk? This way you have the inspiration you need right in front of you!

Which quote will be your favorite?

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

“You will never win if you never begin.” – Robert H. Schuller

“Change before you have to.” – Jack Welch

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein

“Whatever you do or dream you can do – begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it”. –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.” ― T.S. Eliot

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison

“There is always room at the top.” – Daniel Webster

“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John R. Wooden

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins

“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.“ – Helen Keller

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.“ – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair

“Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I’m possible!'” – Audrey Hepburn

“There is little success where there is little laughter.” – Andrew Carnegie

“The beginning is the most important part of the work” – Plato

“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” – Henry Ford

Here is our favorite:

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

The Secret To Success?

Persistence! We all instinctively know this: a big part of success is simply not giving up. Perseverance is continuing to walk down to the path of our dreams no matter what. Even if it feels hard or uncomfortable. Even if everybody questions your sanity on the way.

Sometime not giving up the hardest thing to do. We know days when staying is bed seems the only option. When you would rather curse your dream than risk another failure. When your comfort zone is singing its siren song to keep you in your assigned box: safe but unfulfilled.

Enjoy the inspiring selection of poems below if you feel your perseverance is wavering. Copy and print out these poems and keep them in your notebook or purse. Remember to keep on keeping on!

Don’t Quit!
by Anonymous

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Keep on Keeping on
by Michael Sage

We’ve all had times, when the going gets tough
The smooth ride suddenly, feels bumpy and rough
The good times are gone, it’s all rather gruff
You let out a sigh and exclaim – “I’ve had enough”

We are all entitled at times, to gripe and to moan
What’s happened to my life, you say with a groan?
My backpack seems weighed down, by a very big stone
How do I move away, from this miserable zone?

When a curved ball hits you, through a trick or a con
Remember the good days, when the sun always shone
Go forward with the belief, that you already have won
The best advice I can give, is to keep on – keeping on

Did you know that persistence is also the basis of your yoga practice success? Our most successful corporate yoga students keep practicing consistently and not missing classes. We all need at least 12 weeks of consistent practice to reap the benefits yoga offers.

The best news is that you can start today! Call Michelle at 314-630-1677 to design the perfect corporate wellness program for your employees. Or just come to Clayton Yoga Studio and take a class. Till the end of this month we have an unlimited yoga class deal – 3 months of unlimited classes for $150 plus you get the month of December for free. Get the details at our studio site here.

Inspiration Station – Summer 2015 Edition

Do you feel inspired today to deliver your best work? Or do you feel a bit like a losing steam and sinking into a bad mood? Are you fearful or worried? Or feeling as a victim of your circumstances?

We all have less than inspired days! But don’t forget you have a choice: you can elevate your inspiration level or you can sink in deeper into negativity? Which one will you choose?

We have gathered the most uplifting inspirational quotes and put it into an image for you to enjoy. Feel free to print out the images and put them up where you see them.

There is a list of quotes separately at the end of this blogpost, too. Enjoy!

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. –Amelia Earhart

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. –Napoleon Hill

Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. –W. Clement Stone

We become what we think about. –Earl Nightingale

The mind is everything. What you think you become. –Buddha

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. –Stephen Covey

Either you run the day, or the day runs you. –Jim Rohn

Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success. -Swami Sivananda

Be faithful to that which exists within yourself. -Andre Gide

Inspiration Station

Did you know that images will inspire you more than just reading quotes or inspiring stories? Why? Because images add emotion to the words. And we connect and remember through emotions.

We have selected 7 images with success quotes to help you feel motivated and inspired today! Feel free to download and print the image that has the biggest impact on you. Then put it on your desk or in your wallet so you can have a look at it often.

Here are the quotes from the images:

“Disciple is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn

“There are many talented people who haven’t fulfilled their dreams because they over thought it, or they were too cautious, and were unwilling to make a leap of faith.” – James Cameron

“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” – Newt Gingrich

“Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable.” – Theodore N. Vail

“If you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

“To Be successful you must accept all challenges that come your way. You can’t just accept the ones you like.” – Mike Gafka

“Every time you stay out late; every time you sleep in; every time you miss a workout; every time you don’t give 100% – You make it that much easier for me to beat you.” – Unknown

What is your all time favorite motivational quote? Please share it in the comment section and we might create a nice quote image out of it just for you!

Self-Care Reminders

You know self-care is essential to be a healthy, happy and successful individual. Only if it wasn’t so easy to forget about practicing self-care every day!

How many times do you wake up and ask yourself when was the last time you did something just for yourself? Just to take care of your most precious asset aka you?

Let’s make it easier for you to remember! We have added 2 infographics below about self-care:

10 reasons self-care is important and
10 ways to improve your self-care practice.

Feel free to print these graphics and put in into a place where you can see it every day (your desk, by the bathroom mirror, on the fridge, etc) so you never forget to add an activity just for your own joy every day of the year.

Take care of yourself today and every day using these reminders below! Enjoy!

6 Ways To Take Care Of Yourself Every Day

You know how important it is to take care of yourself. The question that always comes up is this: how to get it done during your busy workweek with so many other obligations filling up life?

There are 6 ways to practice self-care we suggest you try to integrate in your everyday life. Just pick one to start with as you don’t want self-care getting on your major stressors’ list!

Exercise

Have you found the form of exercise that you are actually willing to do regularly? If working out in the gym or at home does not excite you, then it is time to try other forms of exercising until you find something that you look forward to doing.
There are so many ways you can get active! Have you tried yoga, pilates, walking, swimming or bicycling? Even if you tried an activity years ago and didn’t really like it – give it a try again. We change so much during the years, maybe those activities are more fitting to your needs now.
Don’t forget about fun activities! Dancing can be a strenuous form of exercise!

Eat Healthy

Before you get on the next diet, start listening to your body as far as knowing what to eat. Over time, you will figure out what makes you feel good, what keeps you full between meals and what kinds of food gives you the energy you need to make it through busy days.

You can take the first step today towards making healthier choices! Please read our recent article on our Clayton Yoga site about how to move from junk to healthy food through substitution.

Make Your Health The Priority

If you want to practice good self-care, you will need to put your diet and exercising ahead of everything else. If might mean getting up 30 minutes earlier to get in a yoga workout before going to work. Or eating the healthy lunch you brought from home while your colleagues eat cafeteria food. You are worth it!

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is one of the most underrated parts of taking care of ourselves. Getting enough sleep is paramount to your wellbeing!

While you are sleeping, your body is busy repairing itself. By getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night, you’ll be healthier, happier and fitter.

Be In The Company Of Likeminded People

It is just easier to keep your focus on taking care of you if you associate with others who have the same goals. Do your friends are constantly getting fast food, eating donuts and sitting on their couch watching TV? Invite them to yoga class or plan the next get together at a spa. Look for activities for healthy cooking or take organized bike rides.

Always Look For New Ways To Pamper Yourself!

Finding new ways to practice taking care of your self is very important because you can get into a self-care rut, too. A spa day, a wellness massage or simply walking in the part can be exciting additions to your routine.

Practice these six things and enjoy the perks of practicing extreme self-care! You will be happy you did!

Top Quotes About Jobs And The Workplace

We gathered a few great quotes about the workplace and jobs. Some of the quotes are inspirational, some of them will make you nod in agreement and hopefully there are some that make you laugh.

Enjoy! And feel free to share it with your favorite co-workers.

“Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they’re looking for ideas.” – Paula Poundstone

“An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field.” – Niels Bohr

“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” C. N. Parkinson

“Diligence is the mother of good luck.” – Ben Franklin

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas A. Edison

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs

“An unfulfilled vocation drains the color from a man’s entire existence.” – Honoré de Balzac

“What is it that you like doing? If you don’t like it, get out of it, because you’ll be lousy at it.” – Lee Iacocca

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Confucius
“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” – Sam Ewing

“Nothing will work unless you do.” – Maya Angelou

“A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer.” – Dean Acheson

“Eventually the person who tries to fix the problem will be blamed for causing it.” – Robert Brault

“Your Business clothes are naturally attracted to staining liquids. This attraction is strongest just before an important meeting.” – Scott Adams

“I’ve used up all my sick days so I’m calling in dead.” – Author Unknown

“Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so.” – Douglas Adams

“Law of the Alibi: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.” – Author Unknown

“Researchers at Harvard say that taking a power nap for an hour in the afternoon can totally refresh you. They say that by the time you wake up you’ll feel so good, you’ll be able to start looking for a new job.” – Jay Leno

“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?” – Edgar Bergen

“Actual meanings of various terms: TEAM WORK: Having somebody else you can blame it on. HARDWARE: The part of a computer you can kick when there are software problems. IMPATIENT: Somebody who is waiting in a hurry. INFLATION: Paying today’s prices with last year’s salary.” – Author Unknown

Small Acts Of Kindness At The Office

You spend one third of your life at your workplace… bring a smile to the office to celebrate World Smile Day (October 3rd) every day during the month of October.

We gathered a list of small acts of kindness to brighten the workday. Just a pick an easy activity and watch the office atmosphere get better and cooperation begin amongst colleagues!

Bring a bunch of flowers to the office. Budgets for decorating are usually the first to go to save money at the office but that doesn’t mean you cannot create a nice environment around you. A few plants will not only brighten your work day, they also clean and freshen the air inside. Golden Pothos, peace lilies, philodendrons and spider plants are great for office space.

Offer help. Many people find it difficult to ask for help at the workplace. They might feel that they are seen less competent and fear the consequences. So if you see one of your co-workers looking overwhelmed, overworked or just frustrated, offer to help them. I am sure they will appreciate this gesture! Who couldn’t use a creative idea, a new way to implement or a pep talk? Never be afraid to offer your help!

Give your attention! Really pay attention – take a few minutes of your busy day to attentively listen to what your colleague has to say. Many misunderstandings can be avoided this way. Plus we all want to know that our ideas, challenges or experiences count.

Bring fresh fruits and veggies to the office! If you have a garden with a surplus of produce, share the bounty with your co-workers. Most of them don’t get the necessary amount of veggies and fruit. You will not only make improve the health of your office colleagues but brighten their days, too! Please pay attention to your own intake of fruits and veggies, too.

Have a stash of high quality dark chocolate on hand in the office. If there is any conflict, bad news or shocking discoveries… a piece of good chocolate can put many things into perspective.

Offer encouraging words to your co-workers – can we ever have enough of those? Stressful moments are plenty at the workplace. One of the easiest small act of kindness is to give a nudge, say a few inspiring words to a colleague. Just say that you understand what she/he is going through. You might not be able to offer a solution but you can definitely show your encouragement!

Say thank you! These two words are guaranteed to light up the eyes of your colleagues. When was the last time you thanked your boss?

Are you a student at our Clayton Yoga Studio in Clayton? If you purchase any of our yoga class cards this month you can bring your best friend or co-worker to participate in free yoga class at the studio. (The guest invitation is valid till the purchased yoga class card expires.) This can be a small act of kindness to a person who needs all the benefits yoga can offer.

You can buy your own yoga class card at https://squareup.com/market/clayton-yoga and then come to class with your colleague! Our current yoga class schedule is available on our Clayton Yoga site!

Don’t Quit! by Anonymous

Keep on Keeping on by Michael Sage

Don’t Quit!
by Anonymous

Keep on Keeping on
by Michael Sage