"This is the Place for Abundance"

If you attend my yoga classes regularly, you know that I always have a theme or focus for the week for all the classes that I teach. Often the focus is on a part of the body (for example, Hips, Core, or Neck and Shoulders). Sometimes the focus is a type or “family” of yoga poses (for example, Warrior Poses). And, more rarely, the theme is a concept or an idea that I hope might help us navigate more successfully through life (for example, Letting Go).

A few weeks ago, and for the first time, I chose “Abundance” as the theme for all my classes. Before class started, I asked everyone to choose a card from a deck I had purchased called “Notes from the Universe on Abundance” by Mike Dooley. Students chose based on the picture on the back of the card, in the hopes that the quote on the reverse side might also speak to them.

At the beginning of class, I also shared the “Abundance” essential oil blend with my students. Abundance is a blend of orange, clove, cinnamon, frankincense, ginger, black spruce, patchouli and myrrh. According to the Young Living Product Guide, many of these oils “were used by ancient cultures to attract prosperity” and to “magnify joy and peace.”

We then came into Adhara Mudra, “a gesture of support for receiving abundantly” – and as my students held the mudra and connected with their breath, I shared the following quotes:

“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune in to.” (Wayne Dyer)

“The fastest way to bring more wonderful examples of abundance into your personal experience is to take constant notice of the wonderful things that are already there.” (Esther Hicks)

“Giving thanks for abundance is greater than abundance itself.” (Rumi)

Our practice included “an abundance” of heart openers, as well as other relaxing yoga poses – and during our final Savasana, I read part of “An Appreciation Poem for Living an Abundant Life” (www.aimhappy.com/appreciation-poem-abundance)

The most healing journey

Is the journey into life;

Knowing I’m not

Running out of time,

But really running in,

Outside of time and

Into the reality of life

That’s timeless, changeless.

Abundance is not out there,

But right here,

In here.

I hope not for more things

In another time and place,

But look and listen more deeply

To the place.

No destination but this one

Requires my attendance.

Though appreciation and presence,

Peace becomes my nature.

There is here, and now,

And this is the place for abundance:

How deeply I Am Here and Now

Is how it’s measured.

My hope is that we all came away from our yoga practice that day, knowing that “this is the place for abundance” – acknowledging and feeling the abundance that is part of our lives and our world every day. Namaste!