Update Spring 2017

Hi Folks,

Just a heads up on what's going on in my world. School is going great! I'm learning a lot of new information including Analysis of movement, Fitness Assessment, Aquatics and Nutrition. So much great stuff that I look forward to sharing with you all here very soon. My education will continue on for the next year for sure, and possibly further though with less intensity. This means that I will spending more time working and implementing my learning, while still taking classes, but my focus will be more on work. Life is full of change and I look forward to where it takes me.

I will be adding more classes back into my schedule this term, so be on the look out for those announcements, as they come. As of right now I am doing a lot more subbing, so you will see me popping in at 24 hour fitness facilities all over the East Side, as well as starting some new classes at the brand new Gresham location coming in May. I've also added back my 10:15am Wednesday yoga class at Premier Sports and Fitness, come on in and say Hi if you are a member there. La Fitness members, there will be changes yet again for my classes there, I will do my best to keep you informed on what's going on.

Have you been looking forward to Yoga in the Park this summer? Its coming back. Last year we had a great quite location but... there was small attendance. So I am not sure if I will use that location again. I'm considering using a different park this year, Bella Vista Park is showing considerable opportunities located just off NW Birdsdale. This park is located in the midst of a quiet subdivision, not to far from Gresham Station. This is also a location where Grimm was filmed, so it can't be too bad, right?

I'm also currently working on planning a potential Wellness Weekend in May. I'm searching out possible locations that can keep the price down, while also offering an opportunity to step away from life and focus on your health and well being. The date is May 19th thru the 21st, 2017, save the date, if this interests you. You can also add your input on the Facebook planning page, check it out here.

Thank you for taking the time to catch up with what's going on in my world, and my offerings in the fitness and yoga world. I look forward to expanding and growing in this industry and it means alot that you have taken the time to join me on this journey.

Peace and Love
Kris Myers

Wellness Weekend (Planning)

A Weekend of Physical Exercise, Yoga, and Meditation everyday! Talks on nutrition, overall wellness, obstacles, and creating habits.

We are still in the planning stages, but looking to see who would be interested in spending a weekend with us focusing on your health and wellness. Over the next few weeks we will be talking about what your needs are, and where you are willing to go! Lets chat. Join the event page on Facebook and lets get this planned and customized for what you want.

A little bit about Kris: A group exercise instructor for 14 years specializing in Yoga, Circuit training, Cycling indoors/outdoors, Hiking, and Backpacking. Kris has taught Yoga retreats around the Pacific Northwest over the last couple of years, and specializes in Workshops.

When people without kids tell me they're exhausted

I've always believed that having kids was one of the greatest gifts I have ever received!
Talk about enlightenment! Everything I ever thought life was, was completely dissolved when my babies came into this world. Humility became my strength.

Learning to let go of control, ended up being my hardest challenge, but one that i have accomplished, and am so grateful that the hardships my kids have shown me, was really only my own.

I am still constantly reminded that their is so much more in this world outside of myself and my own needs, but also that taking care of myself is important, in order to take care of them. Its a fine balance.

But more importantly, I see that these beautiful gifts that were bestowed upon me, are not really mine. They are a part of something much bigger than me. they are the future of our world. They remind me that nothing is permanent, that my job is to love them, care for them, and teach them. But to do so with no expectation, with no return, and the reward is the experience, the love and these moments that I get with them.

I know what the gift of having kids has brought for me, and its the best gift i have ever received. Without kids i dont believe i wouldve ever gotten any of these things, but that is my experience.

For those people that dont have kids, you will never understand my journey. But, you were never meant to. Its not your story. Its mine. i hope that you get the opportunities/hardships/whatever it is for you, that helps you find your own Path to the enlightened you.

 

As for the picture, well, i find it funny. I see the truth in it for me, when i have conversations with others that dont have kids, and they try and make the comparison. The humor is not in that they dont have kids, but rather, that they are on a different path, that doesnt compare. Its like saying "I totally understand what it was like growing up with your parents! " They just dont compare. There's no right/wrong, but there's also no comparison.

Life is not meant to be easy, its meant to be lived. I see the path that I am on, and the truth in it and I am grateful that i get to to continue this life of of blessings, hardships, and opportunities, because that is my path, and I chose to live it! I hope the same for all of you.

The constant journey about your body

The beautiful thing about chronic pain, is that its been hanging around long enough to annoy you, and it annoys you enough to want to do something about it. Many of you may or may not know that I have Fibromyalgia, and that I have suffered from chronic pain for about 5 years now. I choose to continue the practice of yoga, cycling, hiking and many other fun active activities, because i refuse to give up. Sadly, all the things I enjoy doing, aggravate the pain in my hips. and have many times created debilitating pain, that left me in tears. But I still never gave up. Being active is part of life, and I am a strong person that refuses to give up so easily. I wont be taken down that way. So I have consistently researched, studied, met with different physicians in many different modalities, in the constant effort to find the root problem. Why not just give up? Well, I just don't think I know how to. Lol.

Keep up the work,sending you love.

Well the last five years of seeing an Osteopath, natural-path, Chinese medicine Dr, acupuncturist, chiropractor, yoga therapists, massage therapist and physical therapist, i have had my pain kept under control, but it always came back. Sometimes instantly sometimes over time, but it never left for long. Now I have practiced yoga for about 13 years, and I think of myself pretty in tune with my body. But just recently I realized through self study and some yoga therapy that I shear my right hip and twist my lumbar spine in movement....WHAT?!?! How could i have not known that? How did I not understand my own body that well? I can see these kind of things in other people's movement, but how could I not see it in my own??? I was flabbergasted. Ohhhh but it doesnt end there. I also recently discovered that I use my abs incorrectly. I knew something wasnt working properly in my abs, but I didnt know what it was, until one night I was getting out of bed, and realized that I push my abs out when I engage them, rather than pull them in. Sheesh...again, how did I not know this. Suddenly, so many things came into play...many "ah ha" moments were found.

So why am I telling you about this? Well, after 13 years of practicing, I continue to learn more and more about my body. The journey doesnt end. Our bodies are capable of doing many wonderful things, and movement with success is one of them. Dont give up. Keep going the journey. And when things get hard, know that its for a reason. Sometimes the message just isnt clear. But the constant practice of listening, and staying in tune with our bodies, is a practice that will pay off. No matter where you are in it.

A time for NEW beginnings and New beginners.

  January is upon us, and many people are making new resolutions to come back to their practice or to start a brand new one. I like to reflect on this opportunity for new beginnings. Its so beautiful to see all the new people coming to their mats, its so exciting as you see they are getting ready for a brand new adventure that's going to lead them to some new explorations of Self.

 
  I was reminded of what it was like to be a new person in class when I picked up an old classic yoga book that I suddenly felt compelled to read, called Bringing Yoga to Life by Donna Farhi. In my training, it was the first book that really grabbed me and said "Welcome" to your yoga practice. Within the first couple pages of this book, I was quickly reminded of what the practice is like for the New beginner. I mean really felt like, things that teachers and long time students may have forgotten.

Do you remember your first class? It wasnt always coming to your mat and finding tranquility, peace, and relaxation. Do you remember when everything was confusing  from which foot/arm you needed to use, to the name of the poses, to which order they went in, and the language that was used in class?

  You had no idea which foot was your left/right? There was a time when we didn't even know how to breathe properly, and everything was so overwhelming. Do you remember when your teacher mentioned the poses and you thought, what an odd name for that pose, or when they used Sanskrit, and you thought, "oh no, I'm never going to get this, I don't even understand what they are saying!" Do you remember that first Warrior pose you did and you thought to yourself, "seriously, how long are you going to keep me here? My legs are killing me!" How about that first Downward facing Dog, "are you kidding me?? this is not a resting pose!!"

  Do you remember all the emotions that came up in your practice? "How did I let myself get so out of shape?" or those times when you couldnt focus on anything! let alone how many times we did that pose, to what inhalation/exhalation to what pose? There is nothing romantic or pleasant about our practice when we first start or come back after a long break. Those moments when our bodies are screaming unpleasantries, and our minds are going a hundred miles per hour, and we cant focus on anything the teacher is saying, because we keep looking at the clock wondering when all of this is going to be over.

  But the reward of this practice is not the starting, its the practice, the continuation of coming back to our mat over and over. Because one day you are going to leave your mat, and go, "oh that felt amazing!" and you are going to walk away with this ah ha moment of "Hey! Something changed" and that something is going to be you! You will suddenly realize, that you have the breath down, you can find comfort in your Downward facing dog and it IS a resting pose, and you realize that all that movement you just did, came with out having to think about the alignment of each and every pose, because your body remembers. Of course, if you are coming to my classes you realize that some of those moments will be short lived, as you get that one pose you have never heard of, or I change up everything you ever knew. But there is something amazing about what it feels like to be humble, to experience something new, or to feel like a beginner again. Because if you've been practicing yoga, and I mean really practicing some sense of that new is always there.

  What is my point in all of this? Well, as all those new brave souls are making their place in class. Welcome them with compassion, because you remember what it was like in your FIRST YOGA class. Offer heartfelt encouragement while you are practicing, because we all live in a world that needs a little more encouragement and a lot less judgement. Maybe share a story of your first practice, as you leave class, and let them know that you were once a beginner too. This is a time of embracing those moments of new and beautiful things, so take a deep breath and remember that those hard to find parking spots and longer lines are a time to get just a little bit more excercise, and to really put into play those moments on your mat, when your teacher said "there will come a time when these hard poses will teach us patience and we will need that patience off our mat as well as on it." So give yourself a little bit more time to get to class, and welcome those new faces, as you welcome in the New year!

Namaste,
Kris