Holiday 2007 Newsletter

"If you want something, release the wish
And let it light on it's desire."

Rumi

As December is dwindling and the New Year is about to begin. I reflect back on the past 12 months and I am deeply satisfied& I have lived well.

A year ago, I was in the deepest despair over relationships, both business and personal. It seemed as if my world was falling apart around me. What was being asked of me was to surrender, let go and trust, concepts I have no trouble teaching, yet when it came to applying them to my own life I was confronted. How does the saying go? We teach best what we need to learn. Once I did let go, my smaller concept of the world dissolved and a far greater one emerged. I learned to strengthen the muscle of trust and offer gratitude every time my needs and wants were met. Giving Thanks became a daily practice, and not just for the good stuff, but for everything that helps me grow and expand beyond my self imposed limitations.

As most of you know, I have been traveling extensively this past year both for personal growth and teaching opportunities. I have touched lives and I have been touched. Special thanks to Jim Bennitt and Brenna Geehan in Chicago, Jennifer Walker in New York, Jessica and Philippe Magnin in Geneva, and Andre Hartwich and Katharina Albers in Zurich for hosting me this past year to teach workshops. Big Love to Jennifer Nettles and all of Sugarland for giving me the ride of my life as I toured the country with them offering yoga. A special Thanks to my teacher Yogarupa Rod Stryker for his eternal inspiration and guidance. And, last but not least, Thank you to all of the students locally who have showed up and supported me over the years as I have cultivated and shared my love for practicing and teaching yoga. I would not be where I am today without you! It is said that the conscious act of offering gratitude for what we receive in our life shifts our attention away from what we lack and onto what we have. And where you focus your attention and what you give your energy to is what will grow in your life, so offer gratitude for your blessings and watch them grow. I am truly blessed!

Throughout this year my appreciation and wonder of nature has continued to increase. The other day my neighbor and I paused in the middle of our street to admire the closing of the day as the sun set with colors of rainbow sherbet and shades of blue before our eyes. It was gone in a moment, yet that moment is etched in my mind and I remember the beauty that is all around us when we take time to notice, or someone invites us to notice, to share a moment.

When I was returning to Phoenix after closing the tour with Sugarland on Sunday morning. My flight was at 6:05a.m. What was I thinking! The concert was over late and there were lots of good byes. I got to the hotel at 1:00a.m, to sleep by 2:00 with a wake up call at 4:00 for a 4:45 shuttle to the airport...All I wanted to do was sleep on the plane, yet the man next to me struck up a conversation and as we flew above the clouds, he said,  Wow, look at that! I turned my head to look out my window and the sun was rising, threads of golden pink and sparkling orange just beyond the endless sea of rolling clouds. It was mesmerizing and my heart was touched. He said it looked like the ocean and indeed it did, vast and infinite. This is where I see the Divine, at home in the play of nature. Mahatma Gandhi said, When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator. I am grateful for that shared moment that I would have missed had I been sleeping.

Here's to awakening to all that is in the New Year. May your Holidays be Holy Days and may our hearts be connected through light and love,

Mary

* I'm back in Phoenix for the next few months so let's do some yoga. My current schedule can be found on my website at http://marybruce.com/schedule.htm

* Dec. 25th. Christmas Day Class at Dance Theater West located on the SW corner of 40th St. and Indian School Rd. 10-11:45a.m. I hope to see you there!

* Jan. 7 starts my next 200 hr. Yoga teacher training at SWIHA.http://swiha.com/yogacenter/yogatraining.php

* Fri. Feb. 1, 6:00-8:00 p.m. I will teach a donation class at At One Yoga to benefit a local NGO (non government organization) in Arusha, Tanzania called NELITO (New Life Together). It is a neighborhood organization created by and in support of those affected by HIV. In particular, they have a school for children affected (either positive themselves, or have parents infected, or lost one or both parents to AIDS) who would not otherwise be able to go to school. About 80 kids all w/in walking distance. Tamara Everett, our host for this eventpartnered w/this ngo through the Arusha Project, a non-profit out of CA working towards HIV/AIDS awareness and gender equality.

* Feb. 22-24 Restorative Teacher Training. Location: TBA

* March 8-16 Tronconnes, Mexico Retreat-stunning sunsets, organic meals, relaxing days, twice daily Yoga and more. There is still time to register.http://marybruce.com/retreats.htm

* April 2-6 Tantra the Radiant Soul of Yoga Teacher Training with Yogarupa Rod Stryker. You can register online for this training now. This is the only time Tantra is offered this year and last year it sold out in Maryland. Don't miss your chance to study with one of todays true yoga masters. The training will take place at SWIHA in Tempe, Az. and registration is through Para Yoga http://parayoga.com/events.php?year=2008 - You can also find more information at http://marybruce.com/workshops.htm