We've made it through the first part of a popular holiday trifecta (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day). I ended up opting out of Thanksgiving activities (and really anything else for about 10 days) as I battled my first winter sickness in many years. I'm so grateful to my husband, friends, family, and yoga peeps (especially those who covered my classes!) for their support during this time. I'm feeling much better now, and ready to continue on!

My So-Called "Stillness"

It's ironic that this is "supposed to be" a time of rest and reflection, but we pile on more and more obligations. Some of that can't be avoided (can it?), so please take care to find those peaceful moments of stillness whenever you can. There is this idea of "Purposeful Rest" that I try to guide myself and my clients to: Resting becomes On-Purpose when you devote your time, your mind space, and your physical being to Rest and nothing else. This takes practice. And preparation.

I've returned to creating a habit of Purposeful Rest each day. In the mornings, it looks like meditation and Morning Pages. In the late afternoon, it's a nap (just a quick one). This makes all the difference for me, especially as I add more to my plate.

New Adventures

In the last few months, I started to shift my yoga business to make space for a full-time job--canceling some day classes and offering more weekend and evening offerings.

And then I continued with my Job Hunt.

It's been over 15 years since I have had to go the resume, cover letter, and interview route. And, like the winter cold, the journey has been full of unwelcome surprises. I don't want to dwell on the over 50 applications and multiple interviews that have taken place in the past months. Instead, I'm taking a hint from my mindfulness training. I'm acknowledging, and then moving on. (Do the next best thing...)

During the hunt, I stumbled into an opportunity. For the past month, I've been in training to be a travel agent. Tina Club Travel is Dedicated to Creating Peaceful & Powerful Travel Experiences. While I'll focus on wellness travel (whatever that means to you), I'm available to book all kinds of travel: cruises, excursions, tours, retreats, and more.

I believe you learn so much about yourself when you travel. Getting in touch and personal with the rest of humanity is so important in these days of epidemic loneliness. I'll continue to touch on these ideas here in my yoga newsletter, but if you are interested in my travel tips and current discounts, feel free to follow my Tina Club Travel Facebook Page or join me for my Tuesday Travel Tips on Zoom.

But for now, I'll keep us focused on the YOGA:

December Yoga

Mondays (Dec. 4, 11, 18) 6 PM Restorative Yoga at Great Scott $10

Tuesdays (Dec. 5, 12, 19) 6 PM Flow Yoga for Beginners + at Great Scott $10

Sunday, Dec. 10: 1:30-4 PM Sunday Afternoon Yoga with Tina at Balance $18/class

Saturday, Dec. 16: 9 AM Salute the Sun Yoga at Great Scott $10

Wednesday, Dec. 20: 9 AM Yoga at MSU $5

Fridays (Dec. 8, 15, 22) 9-10:30 AM CST Flow + Restore on Insight Timer $Donation Based

Friday, Dec. 22: 6-7:30 PM Celebrate Winter: 90-minute Restorative + Meditation at Great Scott $20 (HINT: Register here with the code SUPER for $5 off!)

Saturday, Dec. 23: 9:30 AM Yoga with Tina at Balance $18