You are a baby.

You are a baby.  I am a baby . We all are babies.  We may have jobs, careers, families., homes rent bills taxes ... . We may be ruling our world. But we still are babies.
Somewhere deep inside , we sometimes just want to cry . And sometimes we want to wail ! We love touch. We thrive on a smile and we do thrive with being held. We require nourishment and fluids and we may become cranky if we are hungry for too long . We get gas pains and grimace . We even wet our pants every so often just a little. Cmon yes you do .
So when we are screaming inside , and struggling with grownup stuff, we have the Go Tos for quieting ourselves :
Breathing , meditating, going out into nature, helping others, reading , engaging in movement , exercise, yoga, distracting ourselves with things to do, shopping, drinking ,television  .... Etc .

I remember well the days of having a baby in the house with one , two, and three other children. Invariably,  at some point , the beautiful , joyous being of my life , would become impossibly cranky .
What did we do when this occurred?
Held them. Loved them .  This works , unless it doesn't , and we do not always have the ability /time/ capability to hold our fussy cherubs.
So, we go to something else. The  baby swing . Ohh this was awesome. In fact , I often used this last in the baby stations circuit because they would fall asleep in it ..
Feed them .  Cranky still? Burp . Bottle.nChange diaper.
Hmmm still fussy.
Lay in play pen with many happy, colorful, musical , moving whimsies to delight . This would be a grand thing for awhile as well, but , well, the cranks would return and we may go outside, or a number of other  things, and the, begin all over again.i actually did have stations " set up and we would do rounds of the circuit during the fussies .
Point being.... We are just sometimes fussy. Cranked. Overwhelmed . Pissed off. Sad.  And even though we are indeed babies still, we just can not act it as adults, and we really don't have anyone to set up stations for us or maybe we do and then yay a that's great !
So, set up our own stations.

What do you enjoy ?  Some babies hate the baby swing. Some people can not meditate....we all have different ways to de stress , unwind,  let go, fight the fight, quiet the monkey mind..
What is yours?
How would you pamper yourself. You. Pamper. Yourself.
So, take a walk, workout, cry, sleep, read, write, take a long hot shower, light candles, make a healthy meal, curl up in your fave Jammies or sweats.. Give yourself a facial. Listen to music . Move.

And - GIVE to someone.  A phone call, a prayer, a thought , go to the coffee shop and pay for the next persons coffee, smile.
AND,
DO NOT GIVE UP THE SHIP IF ONE THING DOESNT WORK . TRY ANOTHER .



Today, I woke up not great. Grumbly.  Fussy.  I lit candles, wrote in my journal, had sugar in my coffee. And half and half {organic } . I felt better.  Got up and two seconds later , the grumbles returned.  Okay.  Go outside now. aHh nice.  Lasted a few moments.
Had to teach class and had a client so, the grumbles had to wait .
Later, went outside. Grumbles.  Sadness.  Fears coming up.
Decided that instead of curling up under a rock, I would DO something that I would feel good about .
Anything You can do to get that ooh I feel good I just did that feeling  is a game changer.
So I went for a walk out to Kents Point with the dogs. Didn't really want to, but they insisted { thank you , guys.. ]. And I felt like a good dog mom after , even tho the boo hoo buds came with us, by the time I got home, I felt good.
Oh the grumbles creep back in, just like a fussy baby is only placated for awhile, so I decided to do things I enjoy. Like research and read . And reach out . Called my parents who were happy I called. And give myself a facial. And order some beauty products lol .
Sometimes , depending on the level of the boo hoo grumbles, I get things done like house, bathroom, laundry ... But today was a level 3 of 5 so I was rendered kind of useless . When you are that fussy, you just have to be kind to yourself and be in it while you do things for yourself.
And it helps to remember that the grumbly boo hoo fuss Meisters are not you., and this shall pass.  Just as the screaming ninny that once was your cooing child of light and love is not who your cherub is, but a passing phase, so we too must realize , that we are just babies.  Our need to belong, to be loved and cared for is absolutely powerful and primal , and  actually much more complex than a babes, but still the same , nonetheless .
When it gets past a point of managing , in our adult challenges and straight up tough dark days, be a baby.  Yell for help.  Allow someone to carry you and nurture you , maybe get you the help you need .we are not alone. It just feels like it sometimes. Because we are just babies after all.

Why I teach Yoga .

Yoga was kind of the " last on the list" { although there is not a last on the list in the exploration of mind body spirit...}  
In the years of being an athlete in school, I certainly stretched, but most often it was in response to tightness as a result of sports and workouts. I was raised as a doer, and so although I would frolic in the woods and contemplate on the stars, and spend way too much time, according to my parents, simply sitting and being, or singing and dancing, I was always being pushed to be better. There had to be a goal in what I was doing. If I was dancing, it was for a recital. If I was playing a sport, then I was to be the captain, the MVP, and if not that, then I had better be doing my very very best. Of course, I was captain, and mvp, pleasing my parents and all who expected nothing less, but the balance was that I spent a lot  of my teen years in  quiet rebellion.  Now, as  I am feeling arthritis from a broken toe in soccer and many finger injuries from basketball, and have a wonderful relationship with my parents, I marvel at the webs we weave.
Moving from Athletics to the fitness industry , I took my drive with me, and entered the body building field as well as Pilates and many many other certifications ... All this while though, something else stirred inside. I wrote a book { unpublished to this day.. got close though!}  I delved into Reiki, energy work, studied all religions, Learned from many teachers and masters as they really simply showed up for me- yes even in the fitness world i was in.

I  found myself raising 4 kids on my own, and entered an amazing phase of immersion into all things! Native American wisdoms, magical happenings, Psychic medium, Shamanism, Massage, Reiki, Holistic Health Counseling , etc etc etc . My children were some of my best teachers , as they spoke of other lives, and made songs up about the four directions, looked to the stars and told me thats where they came from... It was a beautiful time indeed.

And somewhere in there, I began to take yoga classes.  Oh Blessed am I that my mother in law used to take me to Canyon Ranch every March! One of my shaman initiations  was at Kripalu, and I began to piece together my yoga teacher training, along with movement therapy, dance, Thai Yoga Massage, and Shamanic studies. So blessed to have many many teachers all around me!
Later travels to Peru and Greece, Mexico and astral travels/channeling and ever researching, always learning and observing, and being a part of a whole ONENESS. SO many amazing experiences and teachings that are too many to write here.

And so, upon being guided and blessed again with the Opening of Masjah Studios, which was less about me at all, and more of a community , { ha isn't that always the way anyway?}  I was asked to teach yoga, by members who didn't like yoga.
And the more I taught, and practiced and tuned in; the more I just allowed and used the skills I had been taught, and knowledge I had acquired along the way,  the more I realized that Yoga is not about teaching it or doing it, it is living it. It is a state of being.  And I had really been living yoga all this time. So, yes,  my body still resists back bends and many advanced postures are still challenging - ahem ok I admit , downright not happening right now!
The students who came at first were the ones who's mantra was  " I hate yoga, but I will try it. "  They were and are the ones with back issues, frozen shoulders, tight hamstrings, chattering minds, stressed out bodies. They aren't wearing the latest trends in Yoga wear.  They do not care about the sanskrit names or being part of the "in crowd " .  They come for peace, for relief , and to feel good. To learn how to open their shoulders and protect their backs. And as they practice, they have some breakthroughs. But many, who come each week, are content with the subtle feelings of ahhhhhh.  They come to practice in a place of acceptance , where they do not have to do anything, or be any certain way.  Not to say we don't have some experienced yogis, but what is experienced anyway? We are all really always just being where we are.
They are the embodiment of what yoga is all about. I bow to them, for they all have been my greatest teachers. I well up with tears at the end of every class and thank each and every one for coming, for as they learn, so do I. We bring each other such gifts of ourselves.
And so it is in personal training, or healing work, or spinning, dance, and, every encounter with every person. It is this Oneness thing that we think we get but if we think at all, then we lose it.
It is what happens on the mat. and  off the mat.  It is what happens whether you can " correctly"  execute a posture { which I do not believe there really is such a thing }  or are just breathing. It is what happens when you are washing dishes or shopping or hugging or crying. It is what " happens" every second of every day, and every breath.
Connection. Oneness.  It happens anyway, but yoga- doing, being, living it- allows us to be AWARE of our breath, our bodies, our mind chatter, our challenges and breakthroughs, and all of our wonderfulness and silliness  and simply be there with it. no judgment. just acceptance. just love.
Way Cool, as one of my nephews would say.

Monday Musings

The sun flicks golden rays at the gray skies of December, dancing in and out of the trees, daring the grayness to capture it. The clouds do not smile, they just surround the little sparks of sunlight and fold over them. " I am still here" laughs the sun, as it darts to another opening in the gray.

The outer landscapes mirror my inner landscapes today. Gray, pudgy clouds of  thanksgiving weekend leftovers. Heavy piles of to dos on my desk, and a sense of sadness over so many things that probably would seem very dumb if I actually wrote them down!

But the little spark of joy darts around  , " Let's Go!  Start today! The sun is coming! So much to do and be!"

The little spark begins to permeate the grayness. I find an old journal from 2003 - one I would write my food and workouts down, and paste motivational quotes and pics in the pages. Wow, a little shot in the arm from my younger self. I haven't changed that much! Always staring anew, then " falling off', then starting again, telling myself to get motivated. Even telling myself to relax. Stay Calm. Enjoy.  I flip the pages to the back and find that there are many empty sheets, just waiting for me to " begin again" !!  So i start: december 2014, right next to a page titled " December 2006. Haha, how time passes and so much changes, and yet, not much changes!

Then I receive emails that lift me up and get me in gear, and I look outside to notice:
Aha! The skies are clearing and the sun, "by george!" , has spread beautiful rays all over the skies! The gray clouds have given up for now, and puffy whites, illuminated by sun's smile,  dance into blue sky spaces. The wind picks up and the trees sway, as if to say,
Lets Go! It is a new day!

Ok!  I am setting doldrums aside, and brushing off the clouds that linger around me, and step right into a brand new day. Perhaps a bit gingerly, but confident nevertheless.  Get on my yoga mat, put the music on . 10min is all I have, and its all  need.  Sit . Breathe. Welcome the day, whatever it brings. Visualize it bringing in wonder and abundance and amazing happenings! Feel the vibe change. Sun comes through the window.
Merry Magical Monday!  

One of the most courageous acts we perform is coming from the womb into the world; traveling from pure spirit into human form. 

We are the embodiment of courage. 

Yet, we think we lose it along the way. We search for it, strive to be more courageous in conquering our demons, look to those we deem courageous and wish we were more. We look to others and wish they could have more courage to heal, to persevere, to live.

We forget, that every single one of us is already being courageous! We already ARE courage. Perhaps we are not tapping into our resources or our birthright, our gift to the earth ; perhaps we feel we could do more, be more, if only.... if only we had the courage. 

We are like the cowardly lion, who was so afraid because his fears told him he needed courage, and yet in  every situation that required courage, he was the one who rose to the challenge. Because he was already courage. He just thought he needed a medal from a wizard , who was really only a man from Kansas, who turned out to actually be quite wizard- like. In his own courageous way. 

So when we are feeling weak and unable to do what it takes, 

let's remember, 

We already are there. Every day. Everyday that we do, or everyday we seem to fail. We already are walking the path of courage. 

If someone stumbles, remind them of this. It doesn't matter what they have done, or what they have not done. If they are here, at this time, on earth, they have courage coded into their cells. 

It has been said, 

                           " Courage is  a journey into the unknown." 

Well, HA,!

 We have already done that, and we will do it again when we depart, and we do it every single day. 

Whew! Now that we can stop worrying and searching, we can get on with our lives. Don't forget to reach into your "black bag" and pull out your courage. It's already there. 

love to you always and all ways.  

Yoga Life : Musings from the mat

There are actions to be taken, for sure.
There are conscious intentions and choices, from which right action is taken.
In yoga today, we were all there, on our mats, because of an intention, a choice and an action.
As we tuned in, by paying attention to our breath, and sensations in our body as we breathed, we were performing an action- the action of breath. The action of listening to the teacher's instructions
{ me} , The actions of rolling back our shoulders and allowing space.  We stretched. we listened to our bodies, and to my voice as I began to move us into a posture. Many postures were quite active, but slowly, slowly, as time passed and yet no time at all passed, there came a shift from actively listening and moving into the action of a posture, to simply following the unfolding of whatever was happening. Inviting the posture in, and allowing it to unfold as our bodies explored it, all in our own beautiful, magnificent way. Not holding on to what should be, but letting go of controlling our participation in the asanas.
I no longer was directing them to the next posture, but flowing with them in  wonderful synergy of One consciousness . Still speaking, of course, still guiding and teaching, but learning from the students, " hearing" feeling their bodies speak and sing and grumble.  We all moved into a trust of the moment,  into the perfection of what was/ is.
Inviting, allowing, observing, following our own cues, our own exploration, like being on a path, unfolding before us, and being present in each step, each breath, so that we became the unfolding path, and it mattered not where it was leading, because we were not going anywhere, but we were everywhere, and everything, and we were grounded in our posture.
Surrendering to the mat in Savasana, and trusting. There was no action of breath, but instead, the breath flowed, effortlessly, in and out, out and in, moving yet still.
And moving gently back into lotus pose, there was a nourishment of gentle movement, a tender blossoming, sharing, awakening. As we bowed to one another, there was no longer action to be taken, just an allowing our movement to express our intention. Gratitude, Peace, Love and light.
And so it is.
Yoga Life.

I write tonight in honor of quiet { and not so quiet} excellence. The kind of greatness that is not seen on you tube, or gone viral in social media. The kind of integrity that never backs down and maintains  a code of honor that seems to be passing now from this world. Indeed, as Doc moves on , an era passes.  For me, his departure , of course, brings reflection, and floods of memories . Doc was my trainer in the days of high school athletics , and also for years past that - always offering advice about my workouts and injuries. Many an injury , and also those of my children, were taped up by Doc the expert.  I am told that I  hold the title of being one of the few students who stood up to Doc- haha no one tells Doc what to do-   the day of the soccer playoffs when he told me I had broken my toe and couldn't get back on the field. I still can smell the training room, hear the water bubbles from the whirlpool, feel his hands on my foot.  I can still feel my fervor - strong enough to tell one of the men I most respected - that I was going to play.  Doc wasn't as tough as he portrayed, and his eyes had sparkled as he shook his head and taped my foot { so tight I think the circulation left my foot}. I felt him watch me as I left the training room to get back on the field. Being Tom Blackburn's daughter helped me win the debate, for sure. Throughout my life since then, he has been there. " Hey Trace" I can hear his voice.  And in the times when I would stumble, somehow he happen to be at my parents' house, or at a function, and would ask how I was. " Hang in there." he would say in his raspy voice. It didn't matter if I hadn't seen him for years. he would always be the same. And even though he came off gruff, you knew he cared. He cared so deeply, about his work, his family, his friends, my dad, my family, and me.  A little man in stature, a large force of energy. A symbol. An Icon. A part of my story. A part of so so many stories.  The athletic world is ever changing, but there will be other trainers, back in the rooms far away from the media, taping and icing the athletes whose names we know.  Maybe now Doc can be whispering in their ears, telling them what to do. That would be  a good thing! For there will not ever be another Doc Samko.  Love you, Doc.  The following is from an email sent by Worcester Academy:    STATEMENT FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ON THE PASSING OF DOC SAMKO  Worcester Academy announces the passing of longtime athletic trainer and special assistant to the athletic director William C. "Doc" Samko at the age of 95.  Our condolences go out to his family and his many, many friends. Doc was an unforgettable character to the thousands of people whose lives were affected positively and even transformed for having known him.  Our memories of Doc, the stories he told about his life experiences and the stories we all tell about him will fill our lives with joy always, even in this time of extraordinary sadness.   Doc, we love you.  You will be deeply missed by all of us - colleagues, alumni, and students - here at WA. Ronald M. Cino 'DOC' REMEMBERED AS 'TREASURE FOR US ALL' Longtime beloved Worcester Academy athletic trainer and special assistant to the athletic director William C. Samko died today at the age of 95. Known as "Bill" to some, though "Doc" to most, he began at the Academy in 1967, eventually serving as special assistant, a post he held starting in 2004.  Remembered as a friend to all, Doc only recently stopped coming into the office. A tireless advocate for Worcester Academy athletics, Doc Samko was a pioneer in his field, helping to establish the first state and national standards for athletic trainers.  He was a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where he worked prior to coming to Worcester Academy, and once served as an associate professor in orthopedics and physical rehabilitation at UMass Medical School. He had a master's degree in education and pioneered the use of molded padding by athletes so that they could return to play with protection. He led the way for the establishment of the National Athletic Trainers Association, of which he is a charter member, in 1970. In the early-70s, Doc collaborated with his close friend, Dr. Paul V. Shannon '31, forming one of the first, if not the first, orthopedic and physical therapy teams in the country. Working together, these two specialists were pioneers in a new specialty, known today as Sports Medicine. While at Holy Cross, Doc helped the likes of Bob Cousy, Tommy Heinsohn, and other greats of that era and was the trainer for the 1947 Holy Cross national basketball championship team. Doc started at Worcester Academy under then-athletic director and boys basketball coach Donald E. "Dee" Rowe '47 and went on to work under succeeding WA athletic directors Thomas Blackburn and Edward Reilly. Altogether, Doc served the Academy for 47 years. Each of the men offered their fondest remembrances of Doc. Dee Rowe, who currently serves as special assistant to the head of school at Worcester Academy, left WA in the 1970s to coach basketball at UConn. He has always maintained the close relationships that he formed at the Academy; perhaps none closer than the friendship he had with Doc.  "It's a very tough loss of a man who was truly a treasure for all of us," said Dee. "He loved wearing the Worcester Academy uniform and he was totally committed to the kids, their games, and to building their lives. He made a difference for all who were privileged to know him. "He loved the Academy," Dee said. "He loved his profession, and he loved Holy Cross, the city of Worcester, his wife, Justine, and their family." Doc's wife, Justine Samko died last year at the age of 87. "There will never be another like him," Dee said, emphasizing his words. "I will forever cherish our special bond." Former AD and baseball coach Tom Blackburn said Doc will be greatly missed, though Tom said he was blessed to have been able to call Doc both a colleague and a friend.  "He will be remembered because he touched the lives of so many people in so many ways in life," Tom said. "I had so much admiration for him because of the type of person he was. He was a very caring person and a lot of people looked up to him and went to him for advice," he added. "I'll miss him as a friend and as a former colleague." Current Director of Athletics Ed Reilly said Doc has positively impacted the lives of a generation of Worcester Academy students and families.  "His passing marks the end of a cherished link between our past and our present," said Ed. "While the memory of Doc will mean different things to different folks, most would agree that there was no finer professional, no one more loyal to cause, and, certainly, no one more unwavering in his devotion as a friend. "Doc was an icon who will be sorely missed, but who will always be celebrated as a pioneer in his profession, a devoted husband and father, and as an individual who fully understood and embraced the concept of being the consummate team player." While Doc left an indelible mark on the Academy and all who knew him, he was equally well regarded by athletic trainers everywhere, by fellow educators, and by industry leaders. Among the accolades he earned over the years were induction into the National Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame (1986), the Worcester Academy Hall of Fame (1991), the St. Peter-Marian High School Hall of Fame (2006), the New England Basketball Hall of Fame (2006), and the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts Hall of Fame (2009). Additional honors include the National Athletic Trainer's Association's first 25-Year Service Award, and the association's Award of Appreciation (1976), the Kerkor Kassabian Award for Athletic Trainer of Massachusetts (1996), and the All American Football Foundation Outstanding Trainer Award (2000). He was the New England Basketball Association's Trainer of the Year in 1966, and, at the same time, headed the committee for the Licensure of Massachusetts athletic trainers. In 2004, the William "Doc" Samko Scholarship was established at WA by Doc's friends and family to honor his 40-plus years of service to the Academy. It is awarded annually to a deserving student-athlete with demonstrated financial need.

Evolution. Its what we do.

A Lot of us have been feeling as if we are racing to complete tasks, and projects in time for a deadline . We have taken classes, and done teacher trainings, immersed ourselves into studies and attunements, etc, learning, doing.  This has been the energy since last December really. a lot has been turned upside down { AGAIN}  and now here we are.
Solstice energy. This solstice marks the beautiful " ending" { haha if there is one thing w shave learned - there is no ENDING... just changing flow.}  to this DEADLINE phase.  Take a breather right here, these days before the 21st- Summer Solstice. Pat yourself on the back or give yourself a HIGH FIVE for being here, being you, doing your thing.
Relax.
" IT" is all happening . " IT" is happening no matter what you do.
We are in a spiritual evolutionary phase that is just amazing- rocky, crazy, wrenching, awesome etc. WE have been chugging along evolving for.. how many years?  millions? As humans, well not so long, but still, this is what we do. Evolve.
It is just that right now,  not only are we aware, we are being made privy to the workings of the universe! and that we ARE the Universe. Ohhhhhhh, no wonder why we feel like we are on a roller coaster.
Relax.   You are not your thoughts. Your thoughts are the ones that are attaching the meanings to what is going on. Watch those thoughts. Be aware of those thoughts. They are powerful now in your manifesting the life you desire. But you are not those thoughts.
You are right where you should be.
Whether you " made the deadline" or not.
It is all part of a wonderful dance of planets and beings and life oh my. Energy and divinity and change. The constants , the center , the balance within the vortex. The swirl, the calm.
Evolution.
Its what we do.
Its how we roll.
Its how we shine.
SHINE ON!
Love,
Tracey

Many people were going on  a trip. Each one was invited to choose a vehicle in which they would travel during their trip. They could pick any vehicle they desired, depending on where they were going, what their goals were, what they planned t do on this trip.
" Ahh, " said the first person. " I will pick this shiny new sports car. I have many places to go, and I need small and fast!
" I need this big van," said the next. " I am going to be helping many along the way, and need a large vehicle.
" Ohh, " said another, " I just do not know. I will just take this worn out jalopy . Noone else will drive this. I will spend my time fixing it up.
Each one chose a vehicle in which to travel. The choices were sometimes similar, but all vehicles were different. Each one was unique to the person's purpose, feelings, lessons, desires and beliefs. No one vehicle was any better or worse than another, no one vehicle was good or bad.

The body we live in is the vehicle we have chosen for this lifetime. Many times we loathe ourselves, we watch our bodies change and grow, and age. Our bodies respond to how we live. Our bodies are the most amazing vehicles, temples, homes.

Remember, when you are struggling with some pain, illness, overweight, underweight, aging, fatigue............ this is the vehicle you chose, before you came on this journey. Trust that your choice was a purposeful one. Trust that this expression of yourself is divine, and beautiful!

Now, you are in the driver's seat. Where will your journey take you?

being in the letting go

it is getting easier
i think.
i didn't feel like i was going to throw up, or faint. i didn't find myself staring at a can of espresso coffee for an eternity while other shoppers maneuvered their carts around me.
i remembered us playing in the aisles of the grocery store, you pushing the cart and jumping on the back and riding it to see how far you could go,
 i remembered without wanting to cry.
not one tear came to my eyes.
i did not remember us stealing kisses in the frozen food section while none was watching,
i didn't remember the way you so enjoyed picking up cheeses, just the right ones.
i didn't remember the lies,
i didnt feel betrayed,
or lost.
i didnt remember our last time in this store, silently walking through like two ghosts, without a word to say to one another.
only once did i begin to crumble, but i didn't feel like i couldn't breathe.
i can breathe.
i can smile, and talk to the cashier, and find another form of payment when my card won't go through.
i can do this.
it is getting easier,
i think.

Wow what a moon phase this has been!

“If I don’t stop and reflect on what’s happened,
But get lost in creating and controlling the action,
I won’t learn the lessons or see the wisdom,
That leads to my healing and soul evolution.” ~ Kaypcha

This is what this whole moon phase has been, Mercury in retrograde and all! We have been re- visiting, re- assessing, re alizing!  

Its Feb 26:

New Moon in Pisces  is coming !  Interesting week! Mercury stays still and then goes DIRECT! Mars, stays still before retrograding and Neptune stays still before retrograding. Three planets in one weekend staying still.... hmmmmm  

New Moon is finishing, completing.  Planets are stopping, others are moving... a lot of Stopping and Starting has created much forward and back, forward and back.... Theres so much going on! 

WE have been MEETING OUR Boundaries. OUr relationships, events, experiences , have been coming up for us to SEE our boundaries. How far can I go, Where do I go now? 

Right now, we are called to " put on the brakes " for a moment.  The revisiting , etc is coming to a stop. Time to go INWARD. There are no answers outside of ourselves. Time to QUIET THE MIND. RECEIVE. GO INWARD.  Exhale, Let go.  

We have been letting go, all from the Full Moon to now- but now we let go of all thinking, let go of all perceptions, let go of getting caught up in the stories we have told ourselves. 

PROBLEMS, which are not problems, but lessons, are now to be resolved through different ways of BEING, different Vibrations.  

We are CALLED TO be aware of this, because , as we take a moment to get out of our heads, BREATHING, EXHALING....... we are preparing . 

Preparing for what direction we choose to go in.

Research, learn, do the work. 

New Moon GO INWARD, and then, in the mists of seeming chaos, be still and trust, and take a step 

right into your amazing exploration of  your life. 

**** This is IMPORTANT>    It is TIME to clear out the subconscious, the belief systems that are guiding you where you go and who you meet and what goes on. There is RIGHT ACTION, 

and it comes from your INNER WORKINGS! 

The Old adage, THINK BEFORE YOU DO, is now,  SUSPEND YOUR THINKING. QUIET THE CHATTERING MIND.   We have done our revisiting . WE have taken the necessary step backward. Before we leap forward, we just need to take a breath, a BIG Inhale, and hold the energy of all that breath. Let the knowing percolate. Let the LETTING GO of your categorizing, analyzing mind processes.  ONLY THEN, will the " problems " be " solved" in new ways, in new vibrations, and they will simply no longer be problems.  

This can be challenging for sure. Patterns of behavior, patterns of thinking and doing can be tough to let go. The only way is to go into those places within, way deep down inside the very crevices in your inner caverns.   Maybe like myself, you have been doing this all month. Oh Man what a month it has been! Thinking, discovering truths, being blasted with info, dreaming wild dreams....  Take a breather, Literally. Take a BREATHER.  BREATHE in SUSPEND the Breath, and the 

EXHALE. it is time for the EXHALE! Feel the Still point at the very bottom of the exhale. The void the stillness the place of zee point before the breath expands again in the Inhale.  

Ahhhhhh  ......... Good stuff. 

Tracey's website:

http://www.physicalwizdom.com

I am giving a workshop on Subliminal Affirmations , April 5 at Masjah Center, East Harwich 

call 508-292-6131 

to reserve your space. 

I am available for private sessions and distant hearings  

Glimmers of Hope.

The following is a selection from an email sent out to those contributing to Project All Love In to help families in need. If you would like to get on that list, please visit my website www.physicalwizdom.com or send me your email. thank you!

We all hear the stories- the disturbing ones about how children are raised, how the world is so cruel, and how difficult it can be to protect our kids; instill values that seem to be fleeting. 

More than one or two people I talk to have shaken their heads in sadness about our present state of affairs. We can turn on our televisions , or listen to radios, or read about bullying and abuse and the lack of compassion. We live in  a society where children are alone, making their own meals, coming home to empty homes because the parent/ parents are at work. This is not our fault, really, I am doing this too, but there is just something about this...

Yet, in the tiny places, the magical moments, and probably happening more than we realize or are led to believe,

there are good old fashioned postcard picture worthy scenes of families caring and loving each other.

As I was driving home the other day, I became aware that I was about to be behind a school bus. Oh No, I thought, I am stuck behind this bus. 

And I was, but I also was about to witness a beautiful scene, and be blessed with a gift.

The bus stopped twice before making its way up a hill and coming to the next stop. I turned to notice at least 10 mothers, some with other children, waiting at the edge of the road. They were laughing and smiling and looking at the bus in happy anticipation.

Wow. Is this a cape cod thing? All these moms able to be here to greet their children off the bus! Perhaps this type of thing is happening in many many places!

The magical scene continued , as the kids got off the bus and ran to their moms. There were hugs and laughter. There were school papers being shown, and smiles of support and compassion between the moms. 

And then, everyone began to disperse, moving toward their cars, or walking down the street, all the while, hugging and waving.

I grabbed my phone for  a picture , being completely immersed in this moment, but the beep of the car behind me brought me back and I realized the bus had moved on, and I was holding up the cars behind me!!!

I took this pic, but it does not come close to capturing the moment.

Hats off to parents who are making the effort, juggling their lives and choosing to make children a priority. 

Even if we do not have children, let us just be grateful for this, as the world's future is riding on those buses.

angel wings

The mystery of life. Powerful, amazing, and oh so tenuous at the same time.  The medical field and science can only go so far in defining, explaining and participating in the birth, and death of physical life, and certainly have a long way to go in exploring the spirituality, meaning, symbolism, and divine reasoning of it.
Through years of research and experiences, I wanted to share some thoughts.  Perhaps they resonate , perhaps not- we all find what best aligns with our beliefs and what we know in our hearts.

It is my understanding that we choose our parents before we are conceived. We make this choice based on lessons we are going to learn, our purpose in this life, and soul contracts we have made. We do not fully " come in " while in the womb- our spirit selves are expansive sparks of divinity and move in and out while preparing for life in a physical body. We are born with such a vast understanding and yet are a bit stunned and confused as our expansive divine selves fully come into physical life and meet the energy of this plane of existence. Many experts believe that our very first reaction of our energy meeting the energy of the world can be an indicator of how we react and process later in life.
We come in with gifts and purpose. The timing of our arrival is perfectly timed, even if it seems that it is not.
Sometimes a soul " decides" that it will not physically come into the world. Perhaps the soul purpose is achieved in the womb. Perhaps the gifts of this beautiful spirit are given while in the womb; perhaps there is a purpose beyond what we can understand. Remembering that these souls are tuned into a vast knowing, we may be able to better grasp the concept that perhaps it just wasn't time yet. Perhaps other things were not in place, or a myriad of other reasons of which we just can not know or comprehend.
But we can know. For as we grapple with the sadness of losing a fetus , a baby, we can find solace in trusting in the journey of our once child to be. We can thank them for coming into our lives and bless them with our love. We can know beyond a doubt, that their arrival into our wombs, and the departure back into spirit before being born,  has brought great gifts and great purpose. We can know that we have been blessed with the presence of an angel, for however short the time.
With clients I have worked with, friends that have had this happen, and my own experience, it seems that often, this angel ,disguised as a brief spark of life inside us, stays with us for a time, or for our lives, or comes to us at a different time.
Everyone's life story and journey is different, and so there is no one right answer, or one right way of how and why and what happens,
but we can find love and forgiveness and hope  in the midst of our despair . We can share our stories and support one another,
and listen to the flutter of angel wings.

Off the mat.

OFF THE MAT

As a founder and owner, and now a co-owner of a wellness/fitness/dance/yoga center, I have had an opportunity to talk with and work with many yoga instructors. I have heard stories, and learned lot , even from the people that come through the door with an off handed interest. I remember one instructor who came in ,when I first opened, looking for  place to teach. I gladly showed her around and welcomed her to share her experience. When she crossed her arms and stated that she required 100 dollars an hour, I gently took her hand, and told her that perhaps this was not a fit for her.

Now years later, I am blessed beyond words to have some of the most beautiful, loving , giving people sharing their time , wisdom, and teachings of yoga at Masjah Center. Their classes are wonderful, and all different, and all nurturing and instructional. They attend workshops, and teacher trainings, and  honor their own practice.

But it is off the mat that I get a sense of their essence - what draws them to teach yoga, how they perceive life, and how yoga has helped them and changed their perspectives. The short conversations, the smiles in the hallway, the love emanating from them, the hugs, the trust. When life is hitting them, I know, because these people are real. Authentic. Human. 

When the stuff hits the fan for yogis,  they will go to their mat. But not always. Sometimes it requires digging in and getting stuff done. Facing the tough stuff that happens off the mat.

The commitment to practice and teach carries them through until the time they are able to peel off the layers and surrender.

And so, the mat becomes a place to go, a place to teach, but really, the teachings and experiences the state of samadhi, the humble allowing and exploration of one's inner landscapes in practice, permeate into everyday living, and everyday living becomes part of one's practice. 

 When I am actually able to take  a class - oh what a treat! My practice right now is in my teaching , and oh boy I am glad to land into the space of Masjah and settle onto the mat to teach a class. Most of  my own personal practice right now is in my yard, on my deck; a spontaneous sequence in the woods while walking my dogs; a few poses before I settle in with a morning coffee, and a lot of " off the mat" Yogi stuff. 

hmm... I will leave you pondering with just what that may be, as I must get ready now to teach. 

            "A mind free from all disturbance is Yoga." - The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Y

Soga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured. 

B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured see

B.K.S. Iyengar

Oh, Mom.

In this time of big shifts and  " Shift Happening", when the earth heaves with storms, and institutions crumble and then re define themselves, and more and more information- truths of our past and present- are being revealed,
I find myself at a crossroads like everyone else. Are we not ALWAYS on some kind of crossroad? Are we not always able to take another path? Does not the path always change? Yes and Yes and Yes!
But the  definition of who we think we are;  certainly who we are and what role we are playing in this lifetime, is partly determined by constants : Jobs, children, family, genetics, belief systems...
And so, a definition I have for myself is Mom. I have been Mom for 28 years, and  me as " Mom" will continue well past my lifetime, as I have four people in the world that define me now, and will carry on that definition. There is a constant for you!
Within the Mom role/ persona/definition ar an infinite , i think, number of supporting characters!!
 There's the Mom at home, the Mom who works, The sports Mom, the nurturing Mom, the tough love Mom, the not- so -great- at the moment mom- the super mom....... and these all go through constant metamorphosis as life changes, as children grow up and move into their own lives.
We teach our children. We give them skills and knowledge and cherish our moments. We create memories. We help prepare them for their lives; we learn from them. Our mission when they are growing up, seems to be, to get them out of the house! Send them on their way! Go, Go! Explore and do! The world is all for you! We say.
And then, when they are all ready and they are waving goodbye, we scream inside " No wait! I didnt mean it! " haha , or sometimes we do that.
Anyway, my last of four is a senior in high school, and my third in line graduates from college this year. Milestones. Passages.  Wow when did I get this old? When did this happen? I have said for many years: " When my last one walks across the stage, I am going to....."
I sit here now, saying,
Ok, what am I going to.....?
Dont get me wrong- I have lots to do! Places to go! Books to write, Teacher trainings to attend, a business to run, a life to lead!
But the " Freedom " I have been gazing at from afar, is not all sparkles and joy. Freedom comes at a cost.
A whole bunch of " mom " personas inside me are waving their protest flags, and yelling to Stop The Progression of Life.
I guess I will gather them together, the sports mom, the helicopter mom, the holding down the fort mom, the mom of babies and teens and birthday parties and school functions... I will gather them and love them, and tell them it is ok.
Times of shifting. Time for new mom personas to enter stage left. Traveling Mom, grandmother mom? oohh ok, not quite yet.... authentic self mom, mom- friend.....
Guess it is time for me to grow up too.. aha, and thats the thing!
Ok I got this!
I think I will now take my laundry to my moms because my washer broke.
Thanks, Mom.

who runs the world? girls.

Each night - sometimes I miss a night or two- I write an email for Project All Love In: helping families in need. For a donation of a monthly 5 dollars, people sign up for the emails and monies go toward helping families. We have a wonderful contact who works in the school system and takes our gifts of love and support to a family in need. 
On this Mother's day, we gifted a local single mom with a gift certificate from Stop & Shop.

I though I would share my Mother's Day email with everyone.

Rhianna's popular song, Who runs the world { Girls} is a catchy tune, but lets face it, if the world was REALLY run by women.. well, i need not say anymore.

Girls have so much power, we do not even know what to do with it.

The beautiful thing about girlpower is, we are usually laughing, talking, and doing 5 other things while we are wielding our magic powers.

We laugh at ourselves when finding ourselves in predicaments that, " Oh a man could do this so much better."

Like cars. Like lifting heavy objects.

When my car needed a jump start recently, I was rescued by two fearless female comrades, ready to take action! That's ok we had to look at the manual to find the hood release on her car. That's even ok we could not find the battery. No problem! Laughter ensued when we realized, well, let's go get the other's truck and see if we can do THAT.

And so, I waited, while they went back to the parking lot, climbed in the truck, and ventured back to my house. 

Ahh, well, we knew where the hood release was, but oh, where's the battery?

Should we enlist the male neighbor? NO!! We can do this!

And, we DID!

An alliance, a gathering of women on a mission. 

There were no lectures, no comparing cars, no worries we were missing a workout { we got the workout in}, no butting heads and no lingering at the site shooting the breeze.. 

we laughed, we did what was necessary, and we moved to the next project.

The next project was a half hour killer workout, from which we left sweaty and exhilarated, hugging each other and, 

moving on to the next project of feeding families, home, etc etc. 

You know, running the world stuff.

Today, Three women ventured up the highway on a road trip mission to pick up a piece of heavy equipment.

Armed with a caring husband's truck equipped with ropes and a caution banner, they barely even questioned if this task were possible. It just had to be done.

Upon lifting the equipment, anticipating great challenge, they discovered:

Oh, Not bad! We can do this! 

And into the pick they hoisted the 8 ft , heavy piece into the back of the pick up.

Laughter arose as they began to tie it down,

and a sense of " I am woman hear me roar" along with feelings of support and friendship; acceptance  and team work moved through them.

The greater task was to get the thing up the stairs to Masjah Center. 

They enlisted the kind husband, who came with a plan and a desire to help.

In the end,

They just simply picked the sucker up and hauled it up the stairs.

“ If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.”
― Margaret Thatcher

Not only do women get it done, they do so with such a feeling of exhilaration. There may be smiles to one another- deep meaningful" I Get It, We did It" smiles. There may be high fives and YES! We did it! 

Or they may be quiet gratitudes. But there is always a feeling of poignant accomplishment,

as we do small things to disprove centuries of " women can't do that " belief systems.

We do small things like bringing children into the world, or nurturing one another. We create the space in which all things happen. We are deeply connected to our own mother earth and to one another, through our rhythms and cycles. We have a  deep knowing, and empathy. WE cry, we laugh, we hold the fort. We scream, we love, we brave through the storms.

We have the capacity, the inner power, and connection to the pulse of all, 

to run the world.

We just don't know it yet.

Have a beautiful Mother's Day. Be your own mother today, and take care of yourself. Have fun. Laugh. Wield your magic power, and weave your magic . 

“Women are a creative force. We are creative beings: our bodies are designed to give birth to creations, ideas, and beliefs — to bring things into fruition.”

—	Shine Blackhawk {And we can jump start a car, and haul big things around. But only when we have to.} Project ALL LOVE IN can be found on Masjah Center Website http://trac14.wix.com/the-masjah-center

Courage

Day 40.

How to be brave.

Sometimes we can be brave, all by ourselves. We pull from something deep inside of us, 

and are able to rise up and move right through anything in our way.

But, most of the time, being brave is not caving in.

 Being brave is just getting up and going at it again.

Sometimes being brave is looking in someone else's eyes and gaining strength from the

 " you are ok" in their eyes. Sometimes being brave means taking the hand that is outstretched to you.

Bentley University played today. It was not an easy game, and the first string was required to play

 more than they are used to. This meant , of course, those on the bench did not get much playing time,

 which, is an anomaly in Coach Stevens' usual approach to the game. So, every time my daughter 

Caleigh was put in, into a wild tough game, with an injured foot, she was called upon for every ounce of 

bravery she could muster.

She looked brave. She looked like a ballplayer. She did as she was required: screen for the starters. 

Give the starters a break. Everyone clapped for her when she came back out of the game to

 take her place on the bench.

But her mother knew that something was up. The way she looked, the way she moved,

 the way she pushed her three pointer and missed -her courage had waned.

And so, with a win, and cheers from the crowds,  I walked back to her room with her and held her. 

I looked into her eyes, and kissed her forehead and held her foot in my hands.

 With teary eyes, she whispered. " Mom." 

I understood how and what she felt, and there were no real words for me to say,

 except that I understood, and to remind her of how hard she is working, and what obstacles she has faced.

  She allowed me all of this, and listened. She allowed me to pull out my  " bag of healing tricks". 

But she could not see that she was brave. She only could see what was wrong.

 Her beliefs about what should be and could be, and her fear and " lack of " thoughts had her

 in a whirlwind of impending despair. So I gave her food, and got her to laugh, and gave a pep talk.,

 but moreover, when we locked eyes, and I took her head against mine, the message was clear:

You can do this. You are Ok.  Be Brave.

In the end, it will be up to her. When the next game comes, it will be herself she will have to rely on for courage.

 She alone will cry her tears, and pull herself up once again, for tomorrow. Even though she is afraid.

 Even though she is doubting and fearful.

As it is for all of us, no matter how insignificant the situation may seem. There really is no insignificant situation. 

 Oh how amazing we all are! Such things we go through! Such challenges and triumphs! Such despair and such Joy! 

 Is this the reason we come here, from our safe haven of light,

 dancing with angels in places such as heaven? To feel? To feel all of it? 

To help one another, to allow the tears to flow, to make it through, over and over again? Perhaps it is.

Let us forgive ourselves, give ourselves a break, for goodness sake.

 Let's be grateful for every day, for every breath. Let's have fun. Let's enjoy. As much as we can.

 And when we go through the tuff stuff, feel it. allow help to come.

 KNow that every relationship is a Holy encounter. 

 Believe in miracles, and abundance. Let's consciously bring love to our days, and in doing so,

 we change the way we see, and we change the world, one miracle moment at a time.

Let's remember, that We Are Brave! Oh How BRAVE we are!!! 

So prepare your healthy foods, set up your workouts, and Show Up, dance more,

 Drink more water. Find community to support you, and know,

 that no matter what you do, no matter how small you feel, you are amazing.

You are always one step closer.

Congrats on 40 days!  I will email all of you tomorrow about continuing these emails. 

You can opt out if you choose. Let me know if you would like to continue. Thank you.

Remember, you ARE love, and are loved.   

Namaste,

Tracey