Friday, January 08, 2010
Staying here at Ginnie and Willie's home in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, Canada, has given us the opportunity to meet with their three children. This family has such big open hearts and their daughter, Leah, is no exception. She is bright, vivacious and a gorgeous smile.

Leah literally jumped at the opportunity to share some yoga with me one night and even enthusiastically got up early the next morning to share some more before they made the big 10 hour drive home to Edmonton.

Watching Leah's enthusiasm and willingness to try something new and enjoying it was infectious. Dru Yoga has been such a great gift in my life bringing physical benefits but also emotional balance and inspirational insights.

I offered to mentor Leah as she hinted at needing support to make yoga a regular practice in her life. She was excited by this.

Mentoring our young people is so uplifting and so needed. I can only encourage you to do the same. To reach out and let a young person know they are loved and cared for. To offer support with a project, to share a walk with them or lunch. To take an interest in their work or hobby.

I have already had an email from Leah this morning, now that she has arrived safely home and our journey together has begun. 

Some tips to get started:

Ask the person wishing to be supported to consider their goals (big and little) that they would like to be supported with. Encourage them to write from their heart. (ensure them that all discussions and emails will be confidential and honour that) and also ask them to let you know how you can best support you. (a regular email contact, offer more direction, set time frames, comment on goals...etc).

Also recommend that they consider doing a vision board... get some old magazines and cut out pictures that reflect their vision/dream or draw or paint pictures if they are really creative, write down key words and put the goals out there on the vision board. Encourage them to be bold, be courageous, be inspired.... and I always suggest that some of the focus is on their inner world of contentment, peace, etc as this will sustain them at a deeper level.

And since we had shared some yoga together I reminded Leah and I am happy to remind you... to put on some good dance music every day and wiggle your hips, shake your body, stretch tall, and do the spinal twist. Give thanks for this moment and for all the joys in your life. You may wish to start a gratitude book - write down everyday five things you are grateful in your life... watch your list grow and your gratitude grow, and the peace that comes... invite peace in often.