Yogalicious You
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Grace Theresa’s Birth Story as told by her mother, Megan Ridge Morris:
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Turn Grief into Loving Action.
It's been two weeks since the presidential election. Over the past two weeks I've been feeling an overwhelming sense of loss and depression much like the way I felt when my mom died. But this time, it doesn't feel personal to me because I see it in the eyes of so many people that I come in contact with every day. People are genuinely hurting, and not just the people that voted for Hillary— Everyone. If you are still grieving, give yourself time to move through that. I feel I gave myself a lot of time and then my grief started to take on a shape that I wasn't proud of and that wasn't productive for anyone. It wasn't helpful for me, it wasn't helpful for the people grieving beside me and it certainly wasn't helpful for the people I now intend to reach. An immediate, good thing that as come out of this election is that we can no longer ignore the fact that this country needs some attention and we all need to discover a new way of being. We are all waking up. If Hillary were our president elect, I don't know that we would be so fired up to make things better. Her win would've allowed us to keep focusing on ourselves. For those that voted for her, it would've confirmed our egos were right and it likely would have created further separation. Now, we have no choice but to be the people we were meant to be. I can talk a lot about loving others, especially when it's hard, but now I have to do that. It's time to practice what I preach. Practicing love, compassion and empathy is not the same thing as dissociation and complacency. We can still love, not agree and do our best to contribute to a better world. So this is not the time to settle down and let things sink in. This is not the time to be quiet about what is happening. But trying to find the balance of being truthful about what we're feeling and still being kind and loving is necessary. And I know that will not be easy for everyone right now. Because the ego wants to feel right, which means someone else has to be wrong. But this need to feed the ego creates more of the separation that we are seeing all over the world. If I am so easily willing to write off 59 million Americans as "deplorables," then I am part of the problem. People that voted for Donald Trump are going through something that I don't understand. I've been so focused on my own pain that I haven't acknowledged that ALL people are hurting. For us to say that all Trump supporters are racist (or xenophobic or homophobic, etc) is the same as Trump saying that Mexicans are rapists and Muslims are terrorists. There is something more going on here. I have a hunch that we need some collective, deep healing to occur. If we are truly one, then Trump is a version of all of us. Regardless of who you voted for, I hope we can all agree that we have heard Trump say some terrible and disgusting things. I too have thought, said and done some terrible and disgusting things in my life. It's not excusable, but I do know that the more we spread hate, the more we become hate. If all we throw at Donald Trump is hate, we're going to get hate back. That's simple and inevitable. Love is a choice. In this case, it may be the harder choice. Choosing to love the bully on the playground is a choice. Choosing to love a bully in the White House is a choice. We can raise the vibration of love or we can raise the vibration of hate. We can come together or we can separate. It would be much easier to separate. So I challenge all of us to consider, what if we all cared more about loving each over being right? I encourage you to go out and find someone that doesn't agree with you on most things (maybe this Thursday over dinner?) and have a conversation with that person. Most importantly, I dare you to not judge them. Ask questions based on your own curiosity so that you can see from someone else's perspective. Allow your desire to understand someone else be stronger than your desire to be right. Isn't this the respect we seek from others? If so, we need to positively engage first. Listen, without formulating an opinion while the other person is talking. Truly listen to and understand another person and then they may want to understand you back. This is the time to rise up and live as an example of what yoga can do. We have been presented with an opportunity to grow and become even better versions of ourselves. I am excited for the opportunity to have uncomfortable conversations, to express my gratitude for my privilege in every moment of every day and to be a voice for the voiceless. The last piece of this is action. We have serious work to do. No one's going to do it for us. If you are ready to start participating, here are some simple and effective things you can do today and every day, regardless of who you voted for:
We are not denying or ignoring the injustices that we are seeing, we are navigating a different way of approaching these injustices so that positive change can take place. And it's going to take a lot of time and patience. We didn't create this mess quickly. We can't clean it up quickly. You're not going to change anyone's politics over Thanksgiving dinner. But you can get to know your loved one a little bit better, learn something and then translate that knowledge into loving action.
"Love with no boundaries. Your future depends on your capacity to love." ~ Paulo Coehlo
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Friday, April 1, 2016
September Retreat, Mommy & Baby Classes!
Monday, February 1, 2016
Get Back On The Mat! ~ February Newsletter
Monday, November 30, 2015
December ~ Big Changes!
Monday, October 5, 2015
October Newsletter
Dear Friends in Yoga,
My son is five months old today. If you can't believe it, trust me, neither can I. However, one thing I am now sure of and quite clear on are my priorities. I've often said in class that we must take care of ourselves first to better serve the people that we love. That has entirely new meaning to me. Now, it's absolutely necessary that I make time for yoga, walks in nature, massages, healthy eating and meditation so that in a challenging moment at home, I'm not reactive or resentful. My #1 priority is making sure I give Ridge my best, which also means I need to give myself the best.
My job is awesome because everyone I'm seeing "at work" has made the conscious choice to engage in self-care. Carving out time for ourselves isn't always easy, but it's always worth it. And thankfully, it's not about being perfect. It's about practicing without an attachment to the outcome and knowing in our gut that we're doing our best for our soul and for every soul we have the honor of intertwining with in this life.
Hope to see you on the mat this month!
With gratitude,
Megan
Weekly Schedule:
Monday...6p...Loft
Tuesday...9:45a...Loft
Wednesday...9:15a...Loft
Wednesday...4:30p...Inspired By You
Wednesday...6p...Loft
Thursday...9:45a...Loft
Friday...9:15a...Loft
I am teaching an "Art of Teaching Beginners" workshop for teachers on November 1st from 9-5pm! If you attended last year, there will be plenty of new information this time around.
I am back to teaching Pre/Post-Natal yoga on October 25th! 11:30-12:45pm. Pre-crawlers welcome!
I teach a Breathing and Meditation classon the 2nd Sunday of every month from 4-6pm at the Yoga Loft. This is a great thing to try at least once! You will learn techniques to practice at home and things you can apply to your regular yoga practice in class.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Arbonne Launch!
Megan Ridge Morris
Independent Consultant ID#22367179
Cell: 484-350-1180
Sunday, June 7, 2015
June Newsletter: Return to Teaching, Meet the Baby, Childcare Needed!
I'll be back to teaching on the evening of June 17th! I've missed you all so much!!
If you'd like to meet baby Ridge, you have three opportunities to do so. My husband Chris will be bringing Ridge to the Yoga Loft after my classes on June 17, 18 & 19!
For those of you that practice with me at Inspired By You, please note that my Wednesday class will now begin at 4:30pm.
Chris and I are looking for reliable people to take care of our baby while we're teaching. I would like to exchange childcare for yoga. We'll need sitters to come to our home in Bethlehem starting August 24th.
Here's how it works:
1 childcare shift = 1 free yoga class
If only one shift a week works for you, that's fine! You'll get one free class per week. If 2 shifts work, you'll get 2 free classes per week. Our only request is that you commit to the same childcare shift and the same yoga class each week to make scheduling easy.
Childcare Shifts Available:
Tuesdays 9:15-11:15am
Wednesdays 8:45-10:45am
Thursdays 9:15-11:15am
Fridays 8:45-10:45am
Yoga Classes Available:
Mondays 6-7:15pm (G/L1)
Tuesdays 9:45-11am (L1)
Wednesdays 9:15-10:30am (G)
Wednesdays 4:30-5:30pm (G)
Wednesdays 6-7:15pm (G/L1)
Thursdays 9:45-11am (L1)
Fridays 9:15-10:30am (G)
G = Gentle
G/L1 = Gentle/Level 1
L1 = Level 1
If you or anyone you know might be interested, please contact me at your earliest convenience.
See you on the mat,
Megan, Chris, Baby Ridge & Horatio (our big, friendly dog!)
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Ridge's Birth Story.
Monday, May 4, 2015
May Newsletter!
Tue: 9:45-11:00am Level 1 at Yoga Loft
Wed: 9:15-10:30am Gentle at Yoga Loft
Wed: 4:00-5:00pm Gentle at IBY
Wed: 6:00-7:15pm G/L1 at Yoga Loft
Thu: 9:45-11:00am Level 1 at Yoga Loft
Fri: 9:15-10:30am Gentle at Yoga Loft
1 Private Yoga session: $75
3 Private Yoga sessions: $210
5 Private Yoga sessions: $325
Phone/FaceTime/Skype session: $50
Sunday, May 17th from 4-6pm
Cost: $20
At the Yoga Loft of Bethlehem
In this 2-hour class we will explore breathing techniques that can be applied to your physical yoga practice, as well as exercises to calm, balance or energize the nervous system at anytime, day or night. Meditation with a focus on breath and/or mantra with also be included. Expect some brief, light movement.
Pre / Post-Natal Yoga Series
April 5 - May 24, 2015
Sundays, 11:30am-12:45pm
At the Yoga Loft of Bethlehem
The Art of Teaching Beginners
November 1, 2015, 9:00-5:00pm
At the Yoga Loft of Bethlehem
During this day long workshop, we will explore how to continually be creative with beginner sequencing, dissect great beginner poses that can be taught in stages, learn essential modifications and intelligent uses of props and breakdown the basic guidelines and differences between teaching intro to yoga, level 1 and progressing beginner classes. We will refine our instructions so that we are speaking clearly, concisely, and specifically to the beginners’ mind. Megan will also spend plenty of time answering specific questions you may about teaching beginners.
Monday, April 6, 2015
April Newsletter
April 19th, 2015, 4-6pm
Cost: $20
At the Yoga Loft of Bethlehem
In this 2-hour class we will explore breathing techniques that can be applied to your physical yoga practice, as well as exercises to calm, balance or energize the nervous system at anytime, day or night. Meditation with a focus on breath and/or mantra with also be included. Expect some brief, light movement.
To register and learn more, click here.
Pre / Post-Natal Yoga Series
April 19 - May 24, 2015
Sundays, 11:30am-12:45pm
At the Yoga Loft of Bethlehem
No pre-registration necessary!