SACRED WEEKENDS is for deep seekers who want to keep it real. Light and sometimes lite, only available here, two Fridays a month. xo D
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💓 My next class, Healing Fear + Anxiety with Better Beliefs is going to be a mind bender! Thursday, March 7, 12pm PT | 3pm ET. Click here to drop in. (Always free for Heart Centered Members.)
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I recently wrote/reel’d about leaving a yoga class for the first time ever.
So many people jumped on to share their stories. I was amazed how unified women were (61,000 of us) in our earnest struggle to stay or go, to restrain or to liberate ourselves. But this was extra heartening: it seemed that in every case when we chose to bail, we did it with the love. Grace in frustration is pure power.
So many life (jobs, relationships, places…) metaphors in these yoga class experiences. Can you see yourself in here?
“The number of places I’ve stayed just because I thought it was the more mature thing to do have taught me self-trust so I can actually just bounce when it’s appropriate. Seeing it through taught me that sometimes it’s *not* worth it to see it through.” – IG @karis.cains
“Occasionally I’ll feel the need to leave a class. I used to hesitate not wanting to offend the instructor (I am a yoga instructor too so I have empathy) but if I think something about a class is compromising my physical or mental health, I’m out. It’s empowering to leave a situation that doesn’t feel right. #metaphor” – IG @omy.yogagirl
“Years ago I left a yoga class taught by my—at the time—favourite teacher when I realized I was in there trying to gain her approval and hurting my body in the process. Never went to an in person yoga class again and I feel so happy about that.” – IG @nancyvanrijn
“Felt out of sync. Not enough. And I said to myself, ‘Just get up and go. You’re not feeling it. You’re in your head. That’s ok.’ But I stayed. So as not to offend. And I fumbled and I left grumpy, which is the opposite of why we go.” – IG @erinhawaii
“I’m a yoga teacher and left. It felt powerful to trust.” – IG @denizstrenski
I walked out of a yoga class this week. 30 years of classes and there have been times when I was sooo tempted to bounce, but never have.
In the past, when I pushed through my agitation with an instructor, I was mostly glad for it. Moved my bod’ and loved everyone by savasana time.
Not this time. That month [I was travelling for 4 weeks] had been a cathartic pendulum of torture and beauty for me.
So I’m layin’ on my mat as instructor tells us to like, “feel the energetic energy and lean into the energy of the energies…” kind of thing, and I guess I did not need that particular assignment. Because I was starting to bubble with rage. This was not the eye-roll kind of stuff. It was rage.
And I thought, “Gahhh, this torture theme again!” And then I thought, “I don’t need to push through this. No. More. Pushing.” And then I asked, “What would Love do, Danielle?”
And so my butt n’ love tip toe’d right outta there.
Most people were supine with their eyes closed. Some latecomers were glad to take my mat over. I thought, if she asks why I’m leaving I’ll tell a karma-free lie and rub my belly as if to say, “tummy trouble.”
And in that moment, it wasn’t about the instructor at all. In fact when I got out of the shala I felt utter gratitude for her. She helped me NOT PUSH THROUGH. Thank you!
I went and meditated by the water. I ate some pineapple. I chose love.
Maybe on the next trigger-asana, I’ll choose to stay for the class.
Wisdom works on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes we bend, sometimes we bounce.
Listen to your heart,
Danielle
ORIGIN is one of the most impactful, brutal, beautiful films I’ve ever seen. It will shift the way you see history, it will uplevel your awareness of our interconnectedness. It’s the anatomy of human cruelty and ignorance. It’s a love story intermingled with racial issues, intelligentsia bypassing, and grief. The woman sitting next to me in the theater sobbed with me. At times, it made me feel the shame of being human. I left feeling better equipped for navigating these. This movie requires a psychological investment. Go with a friend.
The movie revolves around the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson. Her thesis is that it’s not racism that divides humanity, but caste systems that show up everywhere. “Origin” aims to link the violent repercussions of American slavery to the horrific crimes of the Holocaust to India’s degrading caste system in a narrative that combines gnawing grief with a cyclical sense of history.” (RogerEbert.com) It’s brilliant.
Ava DuVernay (the writer-director, and my girl crush… so intelligent and persevering… and I really want her stylist), could not initially get funding for this film from the big houses. So she raised it herself through foundations and donors. Distribution of the film remains limited so just to go see ORIGIN in a theater is a small act for healing. If you see it, please spread the word. If you want it to come to a theater near you, please spread the word.
Here’s a Sunday listen for you. LATEST PODCAST: 4 Things to Know BEFORE You Say Affirmations
When you subscribe to the WITH LOVE, DANIELLE, it helps to infuse the algorithm with REAL intelligence. Please subscribe. xo D
NEW MOONS symbolize new beginnings. New projects, creative launches, engagements, weddings, good deeds, and acts of generosity on New Moons are auspicious because they are imbued with that fresh energy. Clarify your intentions for the coming cycle, make your requests of the Universe, and let your Faith flow.
FULL MOONS symbolize resolution, fulfillment, shedding, and letting go of whatever is arising in the mind-body continuum. Whatever you experience as arising in your emotions, perceptions, beliefs, stories or thought forms four days before the full moon up to the culmination of the cycle is appearing so that it can be consciously offered up and released. Meet it with courage and entrust it upward to be transformed.
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If you want to honour your calling and make 2024 the year you step up with Heart Centered business’ing… Then I’ll match that with ALL of my core Heart Centered tools and mentoring. 😎
Get a whopping 25% off the Spiritual Business Mastery Bundle:
Come on in, babe. You leap, we’ll catch you!
Offer valid until midnight on Thursday, February 29.
❤️ Next HEART CENTERED CLASS with Danielle is on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 12pm PT | 3pm ET. Free for Members or Drop in for $20!
💡 Heart Centered Mastermind: 2 monthly calls with D + Team to support your conscious business or career-ing.
🔥 The Write + Burn Practice: for releasing stagnant emotions, to be done on The Full Moon + The Dark of the Moon. One of our most popular practices.
🎥 ORIGIN official website
📖 Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
🌿 THE NOURISH SYSTEM: A customizable program to restore your nervous system.
“Oh my gosh… I nearly cried when I opened Danielle’s latest offering [Nourish System].. Everything she offers is soul food and offered with such love and intention…” – Danielle
“Beautiful beginning! Thank you for this thorough and gorgeous offering Danielle and Team D. I took the time this morning to indulge and am thrilled to be here with you on this Nourishing journey.” – Skye
“I have just begun the program and am in love with the materials. May we ALL feel your love in each word and message on these pages. May they land in each of our hearts.” – Sandy
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