As a yoga/meditation teacher, author, writer, homeschool educator, teen ministry leader, business owner and — more importantly — wife and mother, it’s easy to lose focus and forget the reason why I do what I do. I start each day by thanking God for giving me another day here on earth, and I ask Him to help me to live each moment for Him and to remind me of why I do what I do. I had one of those great reminders through one of my clients last week.
I showed up to teach a private yoga session that morning with a yoga practice that I had planned for her. I customize each practice for my private clients according to what their needs are so I always come knowing what I’m going to be teaching; however, I felt led to do something different with her that morning. When I asked her how she was feeling, she said that she was having some low back pain and that she would prefer to do something more relaxing that day. I sensed that there was something deeper, so I agreed that she does need something more restorative.
One of the methods that I teach is a myofascial-release technique, so I incorporated using a foam roller into her yoga practice. We worked on releasing tension in the upper body first which she absolutely loved. But then the minute we started working on the hips, she took a quick, guarded inhale and proceeded to hold it. I asked her to slowly allow herself to exhale. As she released her breath, tears started to well up in her eyes and an apprehensive sigh came out. I explained to her that when we hold on to unresolved emotions that do not serve us, they get trapped in the hips (which I learned during my yoga teacher training). I told her that it is completely normal and okay for her to cry, that she was in a safe place to let her guard down. I felt honored that she trusted me and allowed herself to release what she had been holding on to for years as she allowed her tears to flow. At the end of our session, she gave me a big, unguarded hug that reminded me of why I became a yoga teacher.
It’s easy to forget why we do what we do day in and day out. In the middle of running errands, responding to e-mails and text messages, checking our social media, going to work, meeting up with friends for coffee, driving kids to and from school/friend’s houses/activities, etc. etc. etc., we miss so many opportunities to see the blessings in all these things. We miss opportunities to experience moments that remind us why we do what we do and the reason for our calling. We get so busy planning for the next thing on our schedules that we miss the quick smiles of thanks and the moments that make us laugh, proud, grateful, and at peace. I believe that anytime something touches our hearts, we need to pause and allow ourselves to experience that moment so that we can plant it deep into our souls. When these seeds of reminders are planted, they will be embedded so deep that when distractions and discouragements come (as they always do), you will quickly be reminded to persevere… because your authentic self is counting on you to hear the WHY to what you do.
I’m grateful for moments when God uses the universe and the people in it to remind me of why I do what I do. That one morning last week, God used my client to help remind me of my authenticity as a yoga teacher. There are reminders everywhere; you just have to silence your mind and be still in your spirit to notice them.
With Gratitude,
Jheni Solis Wellness 
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