Never Ask Yourself This Question

I have to be honest. I’ve never asked myself this question. And in fact, I’m pretty sure the only reason it’s even a thing is because pop psychology made it one.

So, have you ever asked yourself:

“Am I Enough?”

I guess my biggest problem with this question is its utterly vague nature. Enough of what? Enough of a parent? Enough of an athlete? A philanthropist? A student? A professional?

Ultimately, leaving that little detail out leaves only one option: everything.

And, spoiler alert: the answer is always yes!

God, the Universe, whatever you want to call it, doesn’t make mistakes. Everyone is perfect exactly the way you are.

And everyone is completely worthy of the very best life has to offer.

No matter what it is that you are working on in your life, no matter what it is that makes you feel small, you are doing the best you can with what you’ve got and therefore, you are enough.

No one can be more than what they are.

So, who are you?

And who do you want to be?

That differential is your potential and you already have every single thing you need to own your greatest dreams. You may have to dig inside–and you may have to dig down deep–but it’s there.

You are enough to earn a million dollars this year. You are enough to deserve the love of your dreams. You are enough to be healthy and happy and strong and….content. (Oh…and, yes, you are enough to nail your handstands. That, too.)

Whoever ever put the idea in your head that you are any less is not worthy of you, your time, or your energy.

If you want a question to ponder, ponder this instead:

Who am I?

And then bask in the glory of the answer.

mental. physical. spiritual. power.

You’re Going To Hate This Post! 🫣

    Break Through Your Ego! 

Perhaps you’ve heard (and if you’ve ever been to a yoga class, I assume you have): success in yoga depends on releasing your ego.

EGO!

That word can be so triggering.

No one wants to admit they have one. Everyone has one.

Yes, even you. And, yes, even me.

The question is, can you acknowledge it where it shows up in your life and can you move beyond it? (I guess that’s two questions.)

Here are three tell-tale signs of an overinflated ego, both on and off the mat, and simple techniques to conquer them all.

WARNING!

You may not like this…

🪞 PRIDE

Most people’s concept of ego is to only think of the deadly sin of pride. Yes, pride is a manifestation of ego, but it is not the only one. Not by a mile. But while we’re at it, if you think your skills, knowledge, looks, or status make you in any way better than anyone else, it’s a good idea to step back and remember that we all have our own strengths and challenges in life. You may excel at one thing but you will totally bomb at another. It all equals out and we are all equal.

🫣 FEAR OF FAILURE

Believe it or not, if you have an extreme fear of failure, it is actually an indication of an over-inflated ego. When fear of failure dictates your actions, it means you are being controlled by the need to be perfect and to always be right. Good news: failure teaches us our best lessons.

Failure is something that should actually be celebrated because it takes us closer to success.

Similarly, if your tendency is to give up when things get rough, that can be the deadly sin of sloth. Or ego. Giving up on a challenging task protects your ego because you can’t fail at what you don’t try. Remember this: when the going gets tough, the ego-free get going! So, take those risks! Explore those opportunities! Go for those dreams! The worst that will happen is you learn a lesson. The best that will happen…well, the possibilities are endless!

    Master Your Physical & Mental Game. On Demand.

😳 FEAR OF SUCCESS

Yes, you read that right. This one is crazy, but have you ever bet against yourself? Insisted to the world that you could not do something? Guess what? When you fail at that thing, you prove yourself correct. And THAT is a win for your fragile ego.

The antidote for this one is quite simple. Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself fully, completely and even against all odds. Remember: success is a good thing!

Oh! And one more thing…

Don’t compare yourself harshly to others. This may seem like humility, but any time you compare yourself to others (positively or negatively), you are doubling down on your ego. In fact, the very meaning of ego is that which separates you from others. Even when you judge yourself as being less than someone else, that’s actually your ego talking.

Okay…that’s a lot of harsh reality!

Here’s something beautiful to level the playing field: you’re perfect imperfect. So is everyone else.

Want to do some honest work on your ego?

My Handstand Breakthrough Revolution course was specifically designed to challenge you and teach you all the mindset skills you need to transcend your ego and perceived limitations.

YOGAthletica on YouTube teaches you, step-by-step, how to work on difficult poses in a calm, easy and accessible way.

And my online yoga studio is guaranteed to take you out of your comfort zone and push you to new edges and heights.

The success formula is simple. Believe in you and the Universe in equal parts. All is coming.

This Biblical Mantra For Manifestation Really Works

If you read my recent blog post about the Law of Attraction, you know how the magic of the Hebrew word בואי (pronounced Bow-ie) transformed my life in a magnificent and mystical way.

Since then, the Universe has continued to swirl around me like a funnel pouring its great and precious blessings directly into my life.

I have, this past year, been quite fascinated (read: obsessed) with the concept of manifestation and how we can call in our dreams and wishes to create a new reality.

And I use the term “call in,” quite specifically.

To be honest, I never was one for chanting mantras in the past, as so many of the Hindu invocations entreat deities that, as a Jew, conflict with my perception of a monotheistic God. But when things hit rock-bottom for me, I turned to a non-theistic chant and realized what a deeply calming effect it had on me.

What I discovered was that–purely unintentionally–the process of chanting was bringing me closer to God. To my God. After all, Bhakti Yoga (the Yoga of Devotion) is not just about chanting for chanting’s sake (although I actually will argue that that is effective, too!) but about connecting to a Higher Power through the channel of song.

I think we have all been to that place where a kirtan, a chant, a prayer, or even just a song transcends us to a higher place. That is a feeling that I wanted to incorporate into my daily life by creating a new mantra that was both personal and powerful to me.

Here’s how it goes. First in basic translation and transliteration (you can hear the pronunciation by clicking here):

אנכי (Anochi: God)
הנני (Hineni: I Am Here)
בואי (Bowie: Come To Me)

Now, anyone who knows biblical Hebrew, knows that there are many different names for God. The one I chose, Anochi, is one that is seen (among other places) in the holiest of Jewish prayers, the Shema/V’Ahavata, as well as in the First Commandment where Anochi (an actual word for God) is used in conjunction with another name for God in its alternate meaning, “I am.” In other words, the word for “I am” also happens to be a name for God.

When you study the Law of Attraction or Manifestation, you learn that in order to beckon a new reality into your life, you can’t just wish it, you must be it. You can’t just say, “I hope to be.” You have to say “I am.” This is an abbreviated assertion of God Conscience itself.

That second word, Hineni, is found eight times in the Torah, including when Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God, and when Moses beheld the burning bush (oh…and in an amazing song by Leonard Cohen…that, too!). Hineni means “I am here.” And there is that “I am” again. Its use at only the most pivotal of spiritual moments indicates even more than just being in a particular place in body. It really indicates being present in soul, as well.

And finally, Bowie. No, not David Bowie. But a welcoming. An opening of the heart and soul to invite God in. “Come to me.” A statement of Isvara Pranidahana, Submission to a Higher Power. A knowing that man (or woman) can’t do this life thing alone. We need God’s presence to live a full and fulfilled life.

Putting these three words together, I see it as first, calling outward to God as Spirit around us. Then, calling Him to us in physical body. And finally, calling inwards to actually convene body and soul. With my hands in Anjali Mudra (Prayer Position), I first bring them to my mind, Anochi, to represent my highest thoughts. To my mouth, Hineni, to represent the integrity of my words. And to my heart, Bowie, to represent the purity of my deeds and intentions.

In terms of manifestation: Ask. Believe. Receive.

Let the magic begin.

The Yoga of Money

Happy New Year!

Got resolutions?

If you’re a focused and committed go-getter, goal-setter, there’s a good chance you have a prosperity goal right near the top.

Am I right?

💰 Let’s talk money for a moment.

And maybe that makes you go “ick.”

Money and Yoga?!?

Yeah. Today, I want to talk about the Yoga of Money. It’s okay. It’s not a bad word.

You know, there’s a reason why people call money “currency.” What is a current? It’s a flow of energy. And what is money? Money is shared energy. I give you money, you give me something in return. We both win. The “current” vibes back and forth between us.

That’s a good thing.

💰 Here are a few mindset techniques I use to make peace with money. Not just the good “coming in” parts, but the not-as-pleasant “going out” parts, too.

If you adapt these mindset shifts, your relationship with money will totally change!

1. When you have a large tax bills to pay, remember this: the higher your taxes, the better your year was. Write those checks with a smile! You earned it! 🏆
2. When you have huge credit card bills to pay, remember this: all that money you spent got you some pretty incredible things! Those gifts that made people so happy. Your clothes and computer and car. Your food and clean water. How awesome! How blessed you are! 🙌
3. And most importantly…if you don’t have it, you can’t give it away! You’re right that greed does not jibe with yoga (aparigraha!). But charity is a huge part of yoga (and of YOGAthletica) and the more money you have, the more money you have to heal the world! ❤️‍🩹

You know what all three of these concepts have in common? Gratitude.

Once you internalize an attitude of complete and utter gratitude, your energy will open to the currency of money. You will be on the wavelength of prosperity and you will realize that the things you spend money on in life are not costs, they are investments. Investments in yourself, in the world, and in the Universal vibration. 🕉️

And what comes around goes around. 🔁

Whatever your goals are for 2024, both spiritual and material, all it takes is a breakthrough and they will be yours. My Handstand Breakthrough Revolution was specifically created to help anyone who is seriously serious about reaching all their goals and dreams get personally empowered to be unstoppable, invincible, and totally awesome.

Ready to own your awesome?

Click here to learn about HBR and set up your free one-on-one Breakthrough call. There is no cost and no commitment. No money. Just shared “currency” between you and me.

How To Get Your Perfect Body…GUARANTEED!

Hi, You!

So…you want a perfect body…

Don’t we all!

Well, you’re in luck, because I am about to make you a promise that holds a 100% guarantee.

YOGAthletica will get you that perfect body. Period.

In fact, if you practice yoga correctly (even with some other teacher 🤨 ), you will get a perfect body.

How can I make such a bold promise?

Because the practice of yoga is far, far more about your mental state than your physical state. In fact, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (the yoga “bible”) revolves completely around one basic concept. And it has nothing to do with the asanas.

The entire practice of yoga has one goal: to quiet the mind.

It is said that if you can master just the second sutra, “Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodha,” you don’t even need the rest of the book. I say “just” pretty lightly. This sutra says you need to quiet the modifications/fluctuations of the mind. But the mind can truly be an unruly beast!

As they say in the Old Country, “what does this have to do with the price of rice in China?” In other words, what is the possible connection between quieting your mind and getting your perfect body?

I bet you think I am going to say that when you discipline your mind, you will eat better, exercise harder, sleep more, drink less, and generally develop healthier habits.

That, too.

But that’s not what I’m going to say.

The actual reason that quieting your mind creates a perfect body is that a quiet mind realizes that your body is already perfect.

You may have been convinced sometime, somehow, somewhere along the way that a perfect body means your stomach has to be flatter, your legs longer, your skin firmer, your chest bigger, or any number of other traits that seem to define a certain ideal.

Yoga says otherwise.

When you honestly and truly commit yourself to your practice, in mind, body, and spirit, you learn to accept that everything is not only exactly as it should be, but that everything is a blessing.

You think your arms are too flabby? Try living without arms.

You think your legs are too weak? Try living without legs.

You think your body is to incapable? Try paralysis.

I don’t mean to sound flip. But think about it. You have more miracles going on in your body this very second than you could possibly begin to count in an entire lifetime.

Your heart beats! Incredible!

Your lungs breathe! Amazing!

Your mind thinks! Phenomenal!

Try acknowledging all your organs and systems and parts. I mean, you can’t. How can you give gratitude to every cell of your body that mindbogglingly coordinates with every other cell to create that unbelievably perfect body that is already yours, that carries you through your life mission, and makes all things in this earthly existence possible?

You want a perfect body? First, you need to develop a perfect mindset.

Aparigraha, appreciation for what is yours.

Santosa, contentment with things exactly as they are.

And Ishvara Pranidhana, submission to a Higher Power and accepting that everything–yes, even your body–is exactly as it should be.

www.YOGAthletica.com

Not That Person

Last month, my BFF Nicla and I went to Costa Rica for my 52nd birthday and there was one particularly interesting legof the journey. 

We went on an amazing horseback ride through the rainforest and across the black sandy beach (side note: if you haven’t been to Costa Rica, go.). It was pouring rain–as it tends to do in the rainy season of a rainforest–and my horse was feeling a bit ornery. She was pregnant and hormonal, kept wanting to stop and eat, she was soaking wet, losing footing on slippery slopes, and probably not so happy about lugging my extra weight on her back.

Her solution to all this discomfort was to kick Nicla in the shin. It made a deep and nasty gash but, thankfully, did not break her bone. For the rest of the trip, Nicla had to make sure her wound was clean, properly dressed, and safe from infection.

And, ironically (or not ironically) enough, my leg started hurting very badly that night. So much so, in fact, that I did not sleep for three nights in a row, completely unable to find any comfortable position.

As a Super Empath, perhaps these were just sympathy pains. I tend to get them any time someone tells me about their physical ailments.

Or…maybe it was just my sciatic nerve. 

I hadn’t been on a horse since my 20s and more than likely, the ride jolted my nerve. 

I have never had sciatic pain before, but as a yoga instructor, I am well aware of the anatomy and physiology behind it. The constant shooting pain relentlessly running up and down my entire leg was my first sign. The fact that forward bending hurt, but backbending helped, was my second. 

(Side note: new injuries excite me just a little bit, because I get to nerd out on the anatomy, move past the theoretical and experience what others are experiencing, and play with alleviating it).

For the eight days that I was on travel, I did not practice my yoga and deep down inside I knew that if I could just get back to my mat, I could fix this issue. 

I lay in bed at night, flipping myself over and over like a fish out of water, trying to get comfortable. Doing a lot of Cobra  and Sphinx Poses, but take my word for it: it’s really hard to sleep in those positions. 

But more than anything, I meditated on the fact that “I am not someone who gets sciatica. My back is flexible and strong. I am not someone who gets pain from simply riding a horse. I am fine. I am healthy. There is nothing wrong with me.”

When, after three nights of concentrated self-healing and no sleep, it was time to jump on a plane for six hours, the prospects of feeling better looked bleak. But I knew that once I was home, there was Matty (my yoga mat) waiting for me. And that he would heal me.

Sure enough, I got home at 7am and went straight to my practice. 

I figured it would take no more than a week to get back to 100%.

I was right.

It took one minute. 

The minute I started practicing, I was 100% again. Zero pain. Good as new.

A miracle? Maybe. 

More than likely, though, it was simply because my mind is stronger than my body. And my body, for that matter, is pretty darn strong.

We are not soul and minds trapped in bodies. We are soul and minds gifted with bodies. The body is ephemeral. The soul eternal. Think about it. Which one do you think holds the magical powers?

You are what you believe you are. 

If you knew that you could do anything and be anything (including healthy!), would it be worth it to you to change your mindset and change your reality?

Because you can. And I can help. Just ask. 

You Will Never Achieve Your Potential

We all need goals in life. We all need purpose.

Without them, we are corks in an ocean, letting life happen instead of living life on purpose.

You can have any kind of goals: relationship goals, financial goals, health goals, yoga goals…

But if you set goals to achieve your potential in one or more areas of your life, your goals are all wrong.

Sorry if you take offense to that statement or think I have no right to judge your goals. Truth is, I have no right to judge your goals. I have no right to judge anything or anyone.

And I’m not.

Here are the two things you need to understand about goals:

1. Goals need to be minimum standards, not max. This was an invaluable lesson I learned at an early age.
   
2. Your potential as a human is infinite and can never be achieved.

When pursued with an abundance mindset, you will realize that the pursuit of excellence is a pursuit that never ends.

And let me be clear, this isn’t a matter of pride or insolence, that nothing is ever good enough for you. But rather of complete humility to the awe and wonder of the infinite possibilities of the universe and the unlimited potential we have–each and every one of us–as humans.

Any enlightened person–or, let’s say, person on the path–knows that life is a journey and that we never “arrive” until we breathe our last breath. And even then, we have many more lives to live, many more lessons to learn, many more karmas and dharmas before we truly reach samadhi, before we reach bliss.

In the meantime, anyone who thinks that they have arrived has most clearly proven that they haven’t. Rather, they have proven that they cannot conceive of the Divine or of the limitless potential of the soul.

What are you calling into your life?

The Law of Attraction says that we draw into our lives whatever we think and feel. Are you willing and able to accept your limitless potential? Can you strive ever higher, ever farther, ever deeper? Do you have excellence in your DNA? (Hint: yes, you do. Now access it.)

My friend, your potential has no limit. You will never achieve your potential. And that is one of life’s greatest blessings.

This Shirt Will Change Your Life

I had a tough year.

Without going into gory details, let’s just say I lost myself, my hope, and my faith. I hit a wall. Really hard. And it knocked me down and knocked me out.

I knew that wasn’t me. I am not the kind of person who gets knocked down without getting back up again. And fast. It wasn’t me. And  yet…it was.

It was only after I went to dinner with a friend who I hadn’t seen in that whole year, that I finally woke up. We had what I thought was a very nice dinner. I put on my high heels and happy face and thought that was enough. I was shocked when my friend asked me, “Where’s Shana? I don’t even know who this person is in front of me.”

Mind you, this guy didn’t know anything about the year that had just transpired. He had no context other than what was directly in front of him. Or, I should say, what wasn’t.

I woke up the next day and, well, I woke up.

I decided that day that I was going to shift my life back into high gear where it belonged. I didn’t know how, but I was going to get my life back. I was going to get me back. And better. Period.

Though it’s been years since I played with The Law of Attraction, I figured it was a good place to start. I spent a day listening to “The Secret” on loop, and played it while I slept.

Literally the next morning, I got a call from a bona fide billionaire saying he would like me to work with his daughter. Oh…did I mention that not only did I disintegrate last year, but my business did, too? Well, it did.

This new mini yogis client seemed like a Godsend. And he wanted privates 4 – 5 times a week.

Surreal.

I get to their house and they have a dog named Bowie. As in, David Bowie. Stay tuned…this becomes important.

The little girl, as it turns out, has some pronounced special needs. Honestly, that is my favorite population to work with, because it gives me a chance to really make an impact.

And these kids make a real impact on me.

You see, this beautiful little girl may not be neurotypical, but she is superhuman in one incredible way: she has a direct connection to God. Her focus is inconsistent and challenged, but every few minutes, she pulls herself back into her body and touches her heart and says, “Jesus is in my heart,” or looks to heaven and says, “God loves me.”

I’m Jewish, but it is impossible not to be moved on a soul level to see how she connects with her faith.

And then I realized:

I thought this student was sent to me to help me with my income. I was wrong. She was sent to me to help me with my faith.

This girl has all the money in the world, anything she can dream of can be hers, sky’s the limit. But when she looks to the sky, all she sees is God. She doesn’t know or care about money. And she holds all the wisdom of the universe.

It was our third class together that I realized that though Bowie was named after a rockstar, the word “Bowie” means “Come To Me” in Hebrew.

בואי means come to me.

I had instituted the Law of Attraction and this girl came to me as a gift. Instantly.

To take it one step further: one of the things I have really been struggling with this past year has been validation. Feeling unappreciated and unvalued in this world. I kid you not, the next day–literally, the next day! that is how quickly my life is shifting!–I was running the Santa Monica Stairs and a woman in a David Bowie tee shirt stopped me in the middle of a set just to tell me how much I inspire her. I had never met this woman in my life. She just delivered a message I needed to hear.

And when I finished my sets, a man started talking to me. He flattered me a lot with his words and then I noticed he had a tattoo on his wrist that said “Psalm 23.” Anyone who followed me on Facebook during the pandemic knows that I did 365 consecutive days of Psalm 23 reflections and it was the cornerstone of my sanity. I also say it every night before bed. When we were done talking, I pulled out my phone to text him my Psalm 23 archive and the first thing to pop on my screen was a story about a songwriter who had just passed with a link to his most famous song, “My Cup Runneth Over.” An allusion to Psalm 23. And a pretty important reminder about my life, as well.

All is coming to me. Bowie. All is coming.

And this is just one cascading example. Truth be told, my entire life has shifted gears in just two weeks. And in too many ways to recount without putting you to sleep.

All this is to say: this shirt can change your life. (You can also get it on mugs, hats, and 128 different items)

How? Have you ever read about the water crystal experiment? In it, Japanese researcher, Masaru Emoto, put different words on the outside of a glass of water to see if they affected the crystals that formed when the water was frozen. What he found was astounding. The positive words like “love” or “happiness” created beautiful, magnificent crystals. And the negative words like “hate” or “anger” created dark and misshapen ones.

So, what do you think will happen when you wear this powerful word upon your heart?

In Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), it is said that merely scanning a word, focusing on the letters, or meditating on it can create a direct connection to the Divine.

For so many reasons, Bowie has now become my mantra, and wearing this powerful symbol across my heart reminds me every day that, like God Himself, I am a creator, and I create my life with my thoughts. Every minute of every day.

Anxiety Relief

It shouldn’t come as news to you that asana practice is a fabulous tool for quelling anxiety. Deep breathing and meditation, movement and mindfulness all work together to calm your nervous system and tame your brain.

But sometimes even the best of us succumb to stress and anxiety. Whether it comes in the form of panic attacks, insomnia, nausea or any other of a million manifestations, there are some thoughts and emotions that even yoga can’t seem to overcome.

When you get to that state–the one where you feel like you have lost all control–it may not be asana that saves you, but it might still be yoga.

As you may know, within the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, there is a code of conduct laid out–the Yamas (abstentions) and Niyamas (observances)–that guides us in how to live the life of a yogi.

Briefly, I would like to mention the Niyama Santosa, contentment. When you are content, your happiness exists completely independent of your circumstance. When you master Santosa, nothing that occurs in your life can rock your serenity.

However, the Niyama I would really like to focus on is the tenth and most important one: Ishvara Pranidhana, submission to a Higher Power. Keep in mind that “submission to” is different than “belief in.” You can believe in a Higher Power (call Him God, Jesus, Allah, Buddha, Shiva, or any other name that resonates with you), without actually having faith in Him.

Faith, you see, is the unwavering belief that your Higher Power will always do what is best for you. That doesn’t always mean you will be happy. It doesn’t always mean that life will be easy or go the way you want it to. It means that you will have the experiences and the relationships, the victories and the challenges, that your soul needs to receive the lessons that you were sent to this earth to learn and grow from.

So what, you may ask, does faith have to do with anxiety?

Well, faith and anxiety cannot coexist in the same space. 

If you suffer from anxiety, it means that you don’t trust that your Higher Power has your best interests at heart.

It is the opposite of faith, where you hand your life over to your Higher Power, and you accept it as it comes. You don’t regret the past or fear the future. You treat the present as a gift.

Faith means that even in the darkest of days, you know everything will be okay. Because it will.

Have faith, my friend.

www.YOGAthletica.com

Making an Exit

So, you know how to make a grand entrance, but do you know how to make an exit?

One of the big “missing pieces” of so many people’s yoga practice is the lack of follow through. The not waiting until the fat lady sings. The premature evacuation of a pose.

Keep in mind that a truly mindful practice goes from beginning to end. From the first ujjayi breath to the namaste. Think about the exit as the mirror image of the entry. Seems like a pretty straightforward concept, I know, but it is amazing how very, very few people adhere to it.

What is the culprit?

An overemphasis on the poses and an underemphasis on the practice. Thinking of the practice as a series of asanas instead of a vinyasa, a flow, a coherent whole. Looking for the dots instead of connecting them.

Way too often, people try so hard to accomplish a pose and then…they just plop out of it. Landing wherever, however, “whatever”…..

Keep in mind, when you plop out, you check out. If you are not applying the same mindfulness to your exit as you are to your entry and your execution, you are not completing the pose or respecting the practice.

One caveat: if you try your best but literally cannot come out of a pose in control, that is still mindful practice. Just keep working as you are. You are on the path.

But if it is your habit to do a pose and then “done!“, it may mean you need to reevaluate your commitment to your yoga. Is this just a workout? Is it just a series of really cool Instagram photos? Or is it the union of mind, body and spirit? In other words, “yoga”?