Step Back

So today I finally heard from the publisher. They said no to my Sibling's Yoga story. I have to admit I am sad, and youthfully thought they would simply love my poem and maybe need me to change a few things to make it just for them. But I was a little too starry eyed.

So now with my first rejection I will buck up and carry on, work on my text- make it better and start to learn how to submit queries to editors. That is where I will most likely find my success. This poem may never see publishing, but I know I can continue on to unearth the perfect story for children.

                                                                                                                                

At least I have these cute kids to keep me going and giving me new ideas.   

School days

I'm trying to expand the perspective of my poems. This one is a personal poem to my 6th grade year. I had just moved to a new town, and was unsure how to make new friends, the friends I thought I had found decided they didn't want to be friends with me anymore. This left me quite confused and unsure of what to do at school.

This is my poem to that little girl who is left to defend herself from the world, and how with a challenge your world can change in amazing ways.

Starting her day in an upbeat way

Sarah took her nose to the floor

I will never be right, but that's alright

I will learn to do more. 

Sarah went to school where kids were cruel

They mocked her hair and dress

That's alright I’ll be bright

And find those I can bless. 

In her class Todd gave her some sass

And wondered how she could get along

She was contrite and will be alright

And sang a joyful song.

Out by her own at recess she roams

To find a friendly hand

It was not right alone she would fight

The evil horned band. 

Come what may, and I will say

Hello to this discouraging horde. 

Would it be right to extend a slight

Gift of kindness towards?

Stopped in their tracks they taken aback

What could this offer mean

Could they just might be kind to her plight

 And abort their planned scene?

Seeing their pause there she was

Surrounded by dozens more now

They looked to their left quite bereft

And she said this I will allow

I want you to be my friend where we can mend

Like threads joined together

Let my bite become your light

As we join as birds of a feather. 

All who saw were now in awe

At her boldness to this crowd

The leader stood slight not just sure quite

How to answer this out loud. 

Sucking some air he did fare

To answer her sentence to them

“You are despite our tries to  blight

The brightest and rarest gem. 

Out for a walk

Joe went for a walk to go to the tip top,

when he saw a lizard standing on a rock. 

The lizard just lay basking in the sun 

slowed Joe down, no longer in a run. 

As he passed the trees, he saw their limbs move

dancing in the breeze where an eagle was too. 

The eagle sat and looked clear far ahead

Joe stopped and turned to see the meadows spread. 

Joe continued on his walk and found a dog asleep

As Joe walked by the dog leaped to its feet.

Stretching down the dog bowed to the earth

Then extending up like  a new rebirth. 

Amazed he continued walking to the top

actively looking for something more

then on a flower, a butterfly lay

drinking some nectar in the sun's rays

Now carefully moving not to miss a thing

Crouching down he saw a slithery snake

moving ever so slowly so not to shake

he sat there until his back did ache. 

Up near the top there was a mountain lake

Full of fresh and clear water

As he looked down he saw a sunfish

Moving its tail in a little swish-swish

Laying down on the ground he looked at the sky
he let his mind try to find whats common
in the nature where he saw
wonder and beauty that left him in awe.

Tender Mercies and miracles

Today was an amazing day to be a mom. Seriously, I felt like I had a glimpse of what I want my family to be.

It started with a brief explanation of tithing, followed by my son's desire to set aside the tithing money now.

While he could not find his wallet he searched... and I mean searched (not typical) I asked him what we could do to help in our search, and he answered "pray" we knelt down and he offered a simple, humble prayer of hope.

We then discussed for a minute how to feel inspirations of the Holy Ghost. I told him to follow those promptings.

After a while of continually searching the house I was ready to give it a break, but he told me, "I keep thinking about the kitchen" so we both went into the kitchen again. Maybe the 3rd or 4th time. I lifted some cupcakes that I placed earlier, and I had uncovered his wallet.

I asked him what we should do next, and told him we need to pray to Heavenly Father to thank him for this blessing. He stopped what he was doing and offered a simple prayer of thanksgiving. My heart was so full of joy. I can teach my son about the power of prayer.

He then set aside his money for tithing, and asked if we could go to Target. I did not think he had all the money he wanted so I invited him to do a few chores around the house to earn the rest. He agreed and very amiably went about doing the easiest chores he could think of.

We got to target, and he wanted more than he had money for, so I told him if he did more chores then he could have it. He promised and agreed to the chore list. Emma then piped in and asked if she did chores could she get a toy too. I told him yes and explained what chores I wanted them to do.

They each had 3 chores, 1 easy and 2 harder. Daniel went to work very well and had minimal complaining. Emma too, there were no fights as Michael happily played with his birthday gifts, and Daniel completed all of his chores before dinner time- yes I helped them. Emma has one more to do till she gets her toy, but she worked hard and will continue to work to receive her reward.

This is not how I had anticipated giving money for chores, but I see how I have the opportunity to teach good work skills and the benefits of labor that is not enjoyed by all.

Happy 3rd birthday to this guy! These are the next set of glasses he wants!

Injured during yoga?

Yoga has amazing health benefits that have been documented over the years. To see some of the researched benefits head to https://www.ashleysiyengaryoga.com/research,

But as with any activity there is a chance of injury. What I love about Iyengar yoga is that risk of injury is reduced due to the teaching of the body what movements need to be made, and the high level of training from certified teachers (IYCT). The higher up they are certified there is a lot more knowledge and practice to guide you through learning yoga.

But what happens if that injury happens? This last 2 months I have been healing from a back pain that I received from attempting my standing back bend. I did them, but there were a few times I fell (like 20) and other times I contorted my body to "get out of the pose easier". It was completely wrong and most likely where I injured my back.

So now I am injured what do I do? I do not do back bends, I give my body a chance to heal. I have been doing a restorative sequence that does not include strenuous poses, and allows for the healing time which could a bit longer. I told you I was working on patience.

If you were injured during a home practice, stop doing that class of poses (standing, forward bend, back bend, inversion, twist), give your body space, and look for an experienced yoga instructor that has knowledge in therapeutic yoga. Slowly build your practice back up with their assistance and be patient. This may mean not going to a favorite class, or going to the class and doing a modified pose. We must respect our body as part of our yoga.

How do I prevent future injuries? First and foremost take my ego out of my practice, I went into a pose that I did not have enough instruction on how to accomplish it. I was caught up in the "wow look I am going to do this". While this excitement is good and needed to help progress don't let it take over your natural warning symptoms. I kept practicing the pose even when there was pain.

There is a difference between discomfort and pain. Learn your body and feel the difference. If you experience pain come to a modified pose.

Just yesterday I had a student who has back pain. We were doing Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, with no brick under the feet.

 I asked her to add a brick under her feet to take the pain our of her low back.

This modification was not enough to ease the pain so in her knowledge of her body she bent her legs.

There is such healing available in yoga, but we must not let our ego take over, and we must listen to our teachers. As we do that we will be able to practice injury free. 

Can you yoga in a store?

So I saw this meme today...

It reminded me of a few months ago a trip to Target with my husband.

We were looking for a new board/ card game and ended up striking up a conversation with a female next to us. As we were talking yoga got brought up, and I mentioned I am a teacher. My husband, so ready to support me suggested I show her a few poses right then and there. I looked at him, and he was completely serious. So I did downward dog in the middle of Target.

We chatted some more, yes I got lots of stares, we exchanged numbers, and I have yet to hear from this person. HAHA.

So yes you can yoga in a store.

Patience is a virtue

Patience, a Christlike attribute that is a talent for some, and not present in others. I am in the  former category. One of my OCD's is "need to know" which means I get anxious when I do not know the answer to something.

• Think I broke my toe? At the Dr's in about 3- minutes. 
• Oh a kid's fever is really high? Urgent care stat. 
• New blog post went up, did anyone read it? Check it a few times a day. 
• Maybe a vacation? Look up destinations, dates, and prices that day. 
• Alarm system may reduce cost of insurance? Look up cost to set one up stat. 

It may not seem like that big of a problem, and really compared to my other OCD symptoms it is not too bad. More entertaining than anything. But I know my poor husband has had to learn to deal with it. 

These past few months I have been forced to work on my patience. 

• I am trying to prepare to go to PhD school. I had to wait till August to take some pre- requisite courses, and then learned I need to wait about a year so I can get some needed Research experience.... great. 

• I submitted my Siblings Yoga poem to be published, it takes about 4 months to get a response. I have been checking my email religiously multiple times a day, and just sent them an email checking what email address they will be sending the response from.

• My dog may have cancer or valley fever. I have called the vet everyday (3 days now) asking if they have received results. 

I do not think I have learned my lesson, yoga and meditation are helpful, but I have not fully utilized them. I should probably add a relaxation sequence to my daily sequences, to help calm my brain.