home about us class schedules personal services upcoming events Australia upcoming events Canada yoga teacher training trinity certified instructors Christopher corporate wellness programs featured articles great links meditation room newsletter archive reviews & testimonials righteous recipes site map stories & inspirations what is fitness what is pilates what is thai yoga massage what is yoga workshops yoga moves

Featured Articles

The Ideal Realm
The steps to getting there are the qualities of being there.

With the growing trend towards personal growth, spirituality and self-actualization there are tremendous opportunities for education, support, and achievement in all areas of self-help. However, personal growth is not just a matter of reading an inspiring book, attending a motivating seminar, or even committing to a regular meditation class. The quest for the Ideal State in all realms; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, all depends on one thing…the daily practice of living what you seek to become.

When it comes to any kind of personal growth, be it fitness, relaxation, self-understanding, or spirituality, we spend much of our time discussing, researching, and uncovering the steps to achieving our goals, but then we fail to commit the time and the resources to actually move towards them. Imagine that you spend all your disposable income on tour books, travel seminars, clothes to wear on your holiday, and equipment to record your trip. You talk to your friends about what it will be like to go on your holiday. You read magazines to get tips on your desired destination. But, you never book the trip. Your money has been spent on preparation. Your time has been so heavily invested in the conception of your trip, that you have none left to actually take the journey. Your energy dissipated, you get back to your daily routine, and start fantasizing about the trip you will take next year.

This pattern, like much of our behavior, can be traced back to some form of fear of the unknown. Ask any mother why a baby will sit contented in a full, stinky nappie, and they’ll tell you it’s because it’s warm and soft. Sometimes, no matter how much we want to achieve our goals, the safety of what we have is easier to live with than taking a risk to find greater happiness. So, we get stuck in a rut of reading the next self-help book without trying the exercises. We examine the pros and cons of a new diet, sometimes we even get as far as to fill the fridge with fresh new ingredients, but we never really commit. We buy yoga pants, crystal bracelets and we have our cards read, but we don’t put the elbow grease into effecting change by grabbing hold of our destiny and taking action. Don’t get me wrong, preparation is extremely important. Knowing where you are at, where you want to go, and how you want to get there is essential. But then, as the old Italian proverb says, “between saying and doing a lot of shoes are worn out”. What is the answer? The answer lies in reading this whole article, and then doing something about it! No one can determine your goals for you, and no one can put the effort into achieving them for you.

You should know now that a man of knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting, nor by thinking about what he will think when he has finished acting. A man of knowledge chooses a path with heart and follows it.
Don Juan in Carlos Castaneda's "A Separate Reality".

The key lesson is that instead of wanting more peace in your life and waiting for some relaxation time to appear in your schedule, you have to practice the steps to attain peace. Make a chart like the one below, and map out what your Ideal Realm would be for your Mental, Physical, Spiritual, and Emotional well-being. Take some time to brainstorm, and listen to your heart rather than imposing what you think you should want.

Step One: What is your Ideal State in Each Realm?

Ideal State for the Physical Realm Toned Lean Supple Vibrant Energetic Muscular In-Shape” Pain Free Flexible Healthy Immune System	Ideal State for Emotional Realm Aware of Emotions Able to Acknowledge and move through emotions without stress Generally Calm Low Stress Level Able to express emotions Able to turn emotions into desire
Ideal State for Mental Realm Mentally energetic Alert Focussed Goal-oriented Good concentration Being Challenged Learning	Ideal State for Spiritual Realm A sense of community A sense of faith in a higher power Inner Peace A feeling of oneness with all beings Purpose or direction in life Mutual respect for others

Methods to Reach the Ideal States

Once you have completed your chart of your Ideal Realm and you know what you want, create a new chart of action. Brainstorm some ideas of activities that you can add into your life today to enhance your lifestyle and achieve your ideal state in all four realms. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Action without vision just passes the time

Step Two: How to Achieve Your Ideal State in Each Realm

Physical All movement; yoga, exercise, dance Good nutrition and hydration Rest Recreational activities Meditation/relaxation activities Attend to illness through traditional or alternative therapies	Emotional Honest communication with others Counselling to deal with unresolved issues Practice gratitude and forgiveness Develop intimacy in relationships Release negative emotions Journaling Tell someone you love them
Mental Meditation Goal setting Take courses/study Lean something new, a craft, a sport, a language. Mental discipline exercises Positive self-talk Journaling Learn to think clearly Solve lateral thinking problems Read books that expand your knowledge of your world Play Chess	Spiritual Spend time outdoors, in nature Enjoy music Be true to your values Practice a faith Listen to inner voice/not your ego Connect with others Find a purpose/path Practice being open-minded Join a group to provide a sense of community/belonging Follow your dreams If you don’t have any, create one!

Step Three: Taking Action In Achieving Your Ideal Realm

And finally, the most important step of all. Make a commitment to yourself to actually do one of each of these things EVERY DAY for the next week. Some of the activities will overlap. Consider it a bonus! For example:

Day One:

Emotional: Before bed, write down 5 things I am grateful for.
Mental: Spend 5 minutes in the bath meditating.
Physical: Go for a walk at lunch in the park
Spiritual: covered in Mental and Physical.

Now, it’s time for action. Plot out your next 7 days of activities. Schedule it into your day. Make YOU a priority. And, at the end of the 7 days, you can re-assess, reflect on how you are feeling, and then plan another 7 days of success in action!

Success is sweet, but it usually has the scent of sweat about it.

Written by yoga instructor and lifestyle consultant Heather Agnew