SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE: A wonderful self employed lawyer sharing her experience

If you had only one word to describe what yoga is to you, what would it be?

“One word to describe yoga is Compassion. I am 51 and a self employed lawyer. Since I have started this more regular yoga practice I feel much more confident about growing older. ”

“I can feel my body able to do things better now than when I was in my 30s and 40s.“

When did you start doing yoga and what makes you want to continue?

” I started practicing yoga with Carmen in April this year. Whilst I have been dabbling in yoga for many years I feel that I have only just started really learn yoga since finding Carmen’s classes. I have so much more to learn and every class takes me a tiny bit further on the journey.”

How often do you attend yoga classes?

“I like to attend classes at least three or four times a week when I am not out of town for work. I know that there are women in their 70s and even 80s who still practice yoga. I admire that tremendously and I want to be able to still practice yoga into my 80s if I am fortunate enough to still be here. I have been a very busy professional with all the usual stresses and pressures that come with that and with having a busy family. That kind of life ages us and makes us short tempered and too tired to enjoy all that we work for. Yoga has given me back my own sense of self and a feeling of wellness and peace.  I have learned that just one hour of yoga can cut through all the craziness of life and that 10 minutes of savasana is the best thing any woman can do for her self and her wellbeing.”

What is you next goal or challenge?

“I am not yet ready to claim that I can actually do a tripod headstand, but I know that I will be able to do it in the future. I have been in the pose near the wall and this was a milestone. It felt great. Carmen’s classes take us further than we think we can go. Her passion for inversion poses and her enthusiasm has changed my expectations of myself. My current goal is to master Bakasana. (I want to stand up on my surfboard – so bakasana will help with that too.)”

“Carmen is the strongest person I know. She has an amazing ability and it is inspiring to have her as a teacher.”

“Carmen is very encouraging. I feel I will never stop learning in her classes and I never want to stop learning.”

Would you like to share something with those who might be thinking about doing yoga in the near future?

“Classes from Love Life. Live Yoga offer something for each one of us, no one is under pressure yet there is always the invitation to go further.”
Susan O’Sullivan
Moore Park, QLD

The symphony of life: 5 ways to living in harmony

“The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.”
~ B.K.S Iyengar

I always thought a beautiful life meant having the power to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. In reality it is so much more than that. It is a feeling that you need to create, and one that only you can create. It isn’t until our mind, body and soul are in perfect harmony, that we can experience true happiness.

I used to get upset and disappointed when things went wrong. I started blaming my outer world and finding excuses to make myself feel better. This blame however, is the exact opposite of harmony. Don’t look for the faults around you. Start looking inside you, for unhappiness is not created by events, but by the way you respond to them.

Here are few things that I have learned over the course of my life that I use daily as I work on improving myself to become the best version of myself that I can be.

1) Pause before you act

It is hard when anger and fear suddenly appear inside us. I have learned to pause and stop myself in any situation before I respond. I step out of the danger zone and do one thing that I know will make me feel better in that given moment. When I discovered yoga 8 years ago, it had a huge impact on my ability to control my emotions. It started brightening my mind and I felt less tense in my body. Practicing yoga was one of the things that taught me to pause and let go. When the positive side of me returns, I can rethink the situation and make a conscious choice of how to react. So, find one thing that helps you deflate anger and fear that makes you happier again before you react. The beauty of life is that we have the ability to choose. We are like stars in the universe and can decide in which direction we shine our light, and where we cast our shadows.

“Carmen Lee-Schneider – Koh Samui Yoga Retreat 2015”

carmen-lee-schneider-yoga2) Life is not all about me

live in the moment with the people who are here before you right now. We need to let go     of the idea that we are the sole protagonist and give others a chance to be the main character in our lives sometimes. Listen. Let them feel that you are there for them. I am still finding this very hard at times. We tend to purely focus on our own needs and the things that make us happy. But the moment we start focusing on the needs of others, miracles start to appear, because we are now creating precious moments together that make us feel whole again.

3) Disconnect to reconnect

I truly miss catching up with real people, face to face, and with eye-contact. I slowly realize that we are doing this less and less. But it takes time to nourish a friendship. When we get too busy, we rather send our friends emails, text messages or have a shallow chat on Facebook. We need to learn to step away from technology every now and then to look into peoples’ eyes and have a real conversation. A conversation where we use all our senses, our body language. When you have real conversations with your closest friends again, you will feel revitalized and more connected. If you are looking for more purpose in your life, start with creating more purposeful friendships.

4) Be open to change and question everything you do

Just because we believe it’s right, it doesn’t mean that it’s our best option. Think about the different outcomes you get when reacting to a certain situation in different ways. Expand your vision, look for new angles and greater opportunities. I find surprises and wisdom all around me. Don’t be afraid to try new things. New ways of thinking. Don’t expect new results, if you keep doing things the same way. Be bold and invite change. You can only grow. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

5) Never stop challenging yourself

Every day we have the opportunity to make small changes that allow us to become a better version of ourselves. Look at everything you do and consider eliminating one bad habit at a time that doesn’t benefit you. Replace these habits with new ones to fill the void and to avoid reacting in a subconscious way. Do something new every now and then, that will make you feel proud. Something that excites you.

After putting it off for a long time and a big push from my loving husband, I have finally decided to open my laptop and start writing this first blog post. English isn’t my first language, and I never considered explaining myself to others as a strength of mine. So why should I even bother to write? I used to say ‘no’ to anything that I had never done before. Until I started feeling a sense of disappointment inside me because of the lack of excitement in my life. I also felt I wasn’t only holding back myself, but also the people around me that I loved the most. So, here I am writing my first blog post from my heart.

We are solely responsible for creating the excitement in our lives that we all crave. It’s only through excitement that we find fulfillment and joy in life. Let’s push each other and keep rolling together to create the life that we have always been dreaming of.

It really is in our hands.

Namaste,

Carmen Lee-Schneider

People sharing their experience with Love Life Live Yoga

A short while ago we asked a few of the amazing people, whom I had the joy of practicing yoga with, about their experience and how yoga has benefited them. There is nothing more rewarding than being able to help people become the best versions of themselves and witness the benefits that come with a regular yoga practice.

The way I like to describe yoga is this:

“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.”

Yoga is a deeply personal journey. It doesn’t matter where others are at in their practice. What matters is that you make time to reconnect with yourself. Do what you can in each given moment. Most people have no idea how good their body is designed to feel. Surely, yoga can be challenging, especially when first getting started. Just remember that if it doesn’t challenge you it doesn’t change you. When was the last time you challenged yourself?

What you are looking for is not out there, it is within you. If you are thinking of giving yoga a try, but don’t know where to start, make sure to check out our 30-day Intro Offer for a full 30 days of UNLIMITED yoga classes. Enough time to find out if yoga is right for you, to make some new friends, and you might already see some progress. If you try it and don’t enjoy it, at least you tried. But chances are, it might very well change your life.

See you on the mat!

Namaste,

Carmen

5 Things Every Yoga Teacher Wants To Share With You.

We are not there to judge you, we are there to guide you through practice. It is not about how you look, it is about how you feel. However, there are some things that may not be communicated during class.

yoga class 5

1) You are a beginner. And that is OK.

We were beginners just like every one of you before. Enjoy this journey, because you won’t be a beginner forever, but while you’re there… enjoy it! Soak up everything you can from each practice.

yoga class

2) We don’t judge your flexibility.

Yoga isn’t about touching your toes, it’s about what you learn on the way down. Focus on making small progress and enjoy it at each given moment.

yoga class3

3) There is no such thing as a typical yoga body.

You can be curvy, slight, young, or old—yoga is for everyone! There are so many different types of Yoga, go with the one you enjoy the most.

yoga class 4

4) We don’t think you are weak if you start shaking in a certain pose.

Shaking is a sign of hard work and persistence. You are putting in effort and your body is going through change in a good way if you practice mindfully.

yoga_class

5) Ask us for assistance when you plan to try a new pose.

Don’t be shy to ask, nothing is more exciting than when a student comes to us and wants to find out more! We are here to help you.

yoga class2

In the end all that matters is: Does the practice help you to improve your mood, calm your mind and improve your energy?

If so, you’re on the right path. Keep going!

Happy practicing!

 

Namaste,

Carmen Lee-Schneider

The Connection Between Our Mind and Body.

I have never been to any gymnastics or dance school. I have always been very sporty though because I wanted to keep my body fit (I could easily gain weight if I didn’t move enough). Until I discovered yoga. Besides getting my workout, I started feeling a sense of calm and peace. Lots of small miracles started showing up in my daily life and I gained so much focus in everything I do.
But I truly fell in love with yoga when I saw a beautiful yogi practicing at the park one day. It looked like magic to me when she was standing on her hands in the middle of the park, moving so gracefully.

It didn’t look like sport or a show for me. I could feel the connection between my mind and my body and the trust in myself.
The human body will keep exploring new possibilities and slowly erase all limitations if you just believe and trust in yourself.
Love your life.

Live yoga.

Are you an absolute beginner, thinking about trying yoga?

 

Are you thinking about trying yoga? … so what’s next? Just show up, head into your first class with an open mind and have fun. ;-)

First timers are absolutely welcome to any of our classes, especially the “Yin & Yang” and “Rise & Shine” classes. All classes are for all levels, they are different types of practice. No matter how much you do, try your best and listen to your body you will always receive the benefits from the class!

Here are 7 tips so you can have a positive first time:

1) Arrive at least 10 minutes earlier to the start time of your first session. Introduce yourself to the coach and ask if you have any questions.

2) Avoid eating a big meal about 2 hours before class and drink plenty of water before.

3) Try to wear something light, fitted and comfortable to the class.

4) Bring your own yoga mat(we have some spare mats if not), a large bottle of water and a towel.

5) Remember, you can always find a comfortable pose to rest during the class. However commit yourself to stay for the entire class, focus on what you can do and take it at your own pace. Remember, you are always welcome to rest in any comfortable position and skip the advance poses if you need to.

6) New to yoga or not, there will always be things you can’t do yet, but there is always something you can do now.

7) It is normal to dislike and uncomfortable in your first class. It can take a couple of sessions to get used to the coach and the yoga practice.

We look forward to seeing you on the mat soon!

 

Namaste,

Love Life. Live Yoga.

Being called mom is my greatest blessing

Being a mother of two is the greatest accomplishment I could have ever dreamed of achieving. It is a very overwhelming work that has made me tired and, at the same time, so happy. I know how lucky I am to have my own children who are healthy and happy.

After becoming a mother, I have been learning about certain strengths I didn’t even know I had, and suddenly had to deal with fears I didn’t know existed. I want to be a strong mother for my children. I want to be the first person they think of when they need someone. But in order to really be there for them I need to stay healthy and happy. I will continue to love myself and keep doing what makes me happy. I am still learning and always will be. Our children learn more from what we are than what we teach them.

Yoga Mom Carmen Lee-Schneider

Doing what I love, it makes me a better mother and a better person. I have dreams and goals in life that I want to share with the people I love.

I have tried and failed at many things in life, but I will never stop giving 100% at being the best, strongest and most beautiful woman I can be.

Namaste,

Carmen

BLOG: The True Meaning of “Namaste”

There is a deeper meaning to the gesture “Namaste” in Indian culture. Namaste is done by bringing the hands together with palms and open fingers touching at the vicinity of the heart chakra. With the hands positioned as such, the greeter bows the head with closed eyes. This action represents the soul of one person acknowledging the soul of another. It is in recognition of the Divine spark that lies in the heart chakra of every individual.

The literal translation of Namaste is “I bow to you” where “Nama” means “bow,” while “as” denotes “I” and “te” means “you”. In Indian culture this gesture is a form of respect, and it may even be done by putting the hands together near the third eye (on the forehead) and bowing while the hands are brought down to where the heart is situated. Westerners usually speak the word, “Namaste” while they perform this gesture. In India, the gesture is a full representation of the word and is therefore performed without speaking it.

Namaste may be done by an individual when he/she is alone as a form of meditation. It is a means of going deeper into the heart chakra. As the hands are brought together near the heart, the flow of Divine Love is increased. The bowing part and the eye closure both represent an individual’s full surrender to the Divine.

When Namaste is performed between a teacher and his student, it allows for a deeper connection, and facilitates the strengthening of the bond between them.

There is no ego to impede the free flow of timeless energy. When both teacher and student surrender with their hearts and minds, they experience spiritual union. When a teacher greets his student with this gesture, it is not just an expression of respect. It is also an invitation to the student to connect with his lineage, since Namaste also signifies eternal respect to a teacher’s own masters.

Namaste is ideally done when the class starts and then again when it ends. For some, doing it at the end is more fulfilling since the mind is more at peace and less active at that time. Namaste allows truth to flow between hearts and minds.

Namaste,
Carmen