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Zorayda Yoga & Wellness, Wallingford, CT (2025)

01/03/2023

Before you march on in to another year of ‘everything’, pause to look back, at the work you have created thus far. It is quite something. You are quite something. 💖

"No, 2023 won’t be the best year yet.
Nor will it be the worst.
You see, a year is a mosaic of absolutely everything.
Joy, fear, heartache, loss, beauty, pain, love.
Failure, learning, friendship, misery, exhilaration.
Each day, each moment even, is a tiny shard of glass in this beautiful, confusing creation.
2023 will be another mosaic to add to your wall of art.
A wall that shows the life, you are continuously gifted.
A wall that shows you are human.
A wall of survival.
I wish you many broken pieces of glass this year, my friends.
Because this is living.
And before you march on in to another year of ‘everything’, pause to look back, at the work you have created thus far.
It is quite something.
You are quite something.
Now onwards we go, my friends.
Onwards we go." -Donna Ashworth

12/18/2022

For on-the-spot self-care…
Gently place your hand to your heart and feel your breath move under your hand.
Welcome the breath into your body as you meet it with your hand, and your heart.
While you are there….. say hello to your heart, and pause for the reunion.

This simple gesture can take 1-3 breaths and is like a sweet, loving hug; a kind gesture of love and compassion to yourself 💕

12/12/2022

If you truly enjoy decorating, cooking, gift giving, and/or gathering for the Holidays, do it. But if you are overwhelmed and tired, do less (or not at all).
This year, I have been heavily involved with volunteering to provide food and toys to families in need in my community. I was overwhelmed with the amount of work needed (it takes a village), so my husband (whose workload has increased significantly) and I decided not decorating the house (inside or out), no exchanging of gifts (we have been doing it for years), no sending of Holiday cards. We are focusing on what is a priority at the moment. There is no need to blindly follow traditions that add unnecessary pressure, and that leave you overwhelmed and depleted.
Find your own way to enjoy the Holidays. 😊

11/28/2022

"Patience visited me
And it reminded me
That good things take time to come to fruition
And grow slowly with stability

Peace visited me
And it reminded me
That I may remain calm through the storms of life
Regardless of the chaos surrounding me

Hope visited me
And it reminded me
That better times lay ahead
And it would always be there to guide and uplift me

Humility visited me
And it reminded me
That I may achieve it
Not by trying to shrink myself and make myself less
But by focusing on serving the world and uplifting those around me

Kindness visited me
And it reminded me
To be more gentle, forgiving and compassionate toward myself
And those surrounding me

Confidence visited me
And it reminded me
To not conceal or suppress my gifts and talents
In order to make others feel more comfortable
But to embrace what makes me me

Focus visited me
And it reminded me
That other people’s insecurities and judgements about me
Are not my problem
And I should redirect my attention
From others back to me

Freedom visited me
And it reminded me
That no one has control over my mindset, thoughts and wellbeing
But me

And love visited me
And it reminded me
That I need not search for it in others
As it lies within me."

Words by Tahlia Hunter

Artwork by Jungsuk Lee

11/16/2022

"The longing for things
that you could not have,

the yearning for places
you were not destined to arrive.

Wistful memories of what was
not ever meant to be.

Regret for not being who
you thought you would become.

These hallucinations of the soul
are agonizing prisoners

that must be pardoned
and released.

Clear the room.

Open the door
and let them leave.

And in this space,
you’ll paint

a glorious existence
of being here with presence

and contentment
for what truly is

a relevant
and meaningful
life."

-Susan Frybort

11/14/2022

”Last night, while waiting to board our plane, Carter Jean was being her usual inquisitive self wanting to meet and say “hi” to everyone she could, until she walked up on this man.

He reached out and asked if she wanted to sit with him.
He pulled out his tablet and showed her how to draw with it, they watched cartoons together, and she offered him snacks.

This wasn’t a short little exchange, this was 45 minutes.
Watching them in that moment, I couldn’t help but think, different genders, different races, different generations, and the best of friends.

This is the world I want for her.
In a country that is so deeply divided by beliefs, I want her life to be filled with moments like this... not liberal or conservative republican or democrat, socialist or capitalist, just HUMAN.

Joseph from Samsungus in Oklahoma, if this should happen to find you.

Thank you for showing my daughter what kindness and compassion looks like.

Continue to shine your light in the world.” -Kevin Armentrout

11/13/2022

"What if you get to the end of your life and you suddenly make the connection, that you were supposed to enjoy it.

That you were supposed to let go and live, make stories to pass on, because material possessions don’t bring half as much joy as the memories of love that you leave.

What if you realise, too late, that your cellulite and tummy rolls were adorable actually and should never, ever, have been enough to stop you having fun.

What if your last thoughts were regrets for not enjoying this ride, and giving it all that you had.

What if you stopped that from happening, right here, right now.

What if…?"

Donna Ashworth
LIFE: https://amzn.eu/d/9Y6E6kz

Art by Lisandro Rota

11/10/2022

Life is definitely about balance.
Balance starts with awareness.
Awareness about:
How people treat you (and how you treat them)
How you spend your time ("smart" devices, nature, cultivating connections, reflection, work-rest). What gives you joy.
How much energy you spend on other people's stories (as well as your own limiting stories). What thoughts tend to rumminate. What challenging emotions tend to get stuck.
Cultivate awareness, the act of noticing -sensations, emotions, thoughts, in the present moment...

11/10/2022

"What if you didn’t wake up tomorrow and your soul is watching down thinking of all the things you didn’t get to do yet because you were too scared, or too shy, or too worried about money.
And all the things you told yourself you weren’t good enough for, swam in front of your eyes, fighting for a place in the line, beside the words you didn’t say and the joy you forgot to have.

My friend, there is absolutely no room for anything in your day, other than acceptance.
You will never have enough money, or time, and you will certainly never have that perfect body the world told you you need, to be happy.

And before you say it’s too late to embrace this thing we call life, no it is not.

You can do it right where you are. Right this minute.
Get outside, breathe, look at the trees, put your bare feet on the grass - hand on your heart to feel that pulse - and that’s it.

You’re living.

Keep that up.

Wait up for the moon sometimes or get up early to see a sunrise, just because you can.
Jump in the lake. Run, skip.
The things you need to feel alive are free and all around my friend.
You just have to see them.

Let in opportunity and say yes to the invitations that scare you a little, in a good way.
Say no to some of the things you force yourself to do, knowing they rinse you of your peace.

Life was never supposed to be a waiting room, it was supposed to be a hillside, with paths leading in every direction and mountains as far as the eye can see, hiding adventures and new friends behind them.

Don’t let yourself get to the end of this ride without having stopped to smell those beautiful roses.
That’s the only thing you need to fear in this life.
Everything else is all part of it.
It’s all just a messy, complicated, beautiful and terrifying part of it.

Chin up, throw your arms wide open
and let it be so."

Donna Ashworth

From my new poetry book ‘LIFE’: https://amzn.eu/d/9Y6E6kz

Art by The Ronald West Gallery

10/27/2022

"Sometimes there are no immediate revelations.
sometimes there are no immediate solutions.
sometimes there is no immediate movement.

sometimes we have to sit in the cocoon of ourselves.
sometimes we have to trust the process.
sometimes, even with the help of guides or teachers
we still are where we are
inside of where we do not want to be.

yes, you are outgrowing the container
but sometimes you still have to sit inside of it.
sometimes, that's just how it goes.
and then you grow
and unfold
and emerge
and still, you must wait
to dry off those new wings.
still you must wait patiently
before you fly into your now clear vision.

sometimes...we are cocooning and becoming
for quite sometime...

but from inside the cocoon, the caterpillar
while dissolving whispered, 'trust the process.
trust the process.'

Words: Stasha Ginsburg
The Wild Matryoshka 🪆

Art: Sarah Greenman
“Reconstruction of the Mind

10/20/2022

"Do not waste your time and energy today fighting against where you are.
Invest your time and energy into getting to where you want to go.
Try your best to let go of of everything that no longer serves you and invite gratitude for the past experiences that brought you to where you are now - to this new beginning"

10/16/2022

"There is medicine in heartbreak.

A light at the end of the tunnel…

But before we can get there, we have to surrender the experience at hand.

So often when we’re in pain, our first “goal” is to get back to happy.

Get back to comfort. Get back to normal. Even back to our usual numbness.

Whatever it takes to get rid of the feelings we’re having that seem unbearable.

But when we bring resistance to our reality, we create stagnancy. We move deeper into the mud, a heavy, watery energy that weighs us down and keeps us in a holding pattern.

To move through it, we have to accept, surrender, and then find our fire.

Fire is what will give us the strength, the courage, and the confidence to release ourselves from grasping, fantasizing, dreaming or waiting on the other person to say, be or do anything in order for us to heal."

10/14/2022

Being mindful of what we put/let in our minds (and bodies) is an act of proactive self-care🙏

10/07/2022

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace
there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly
and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself
with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater
and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well
as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery
But let this not blind you to what
virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity
and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him/Her to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life
keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery,
and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy." ~Max Ehrmann

(Book: Desiderata https://amzn.to/3RJC1Dh)

10/04/2022

Give yourself the gift of being in your body with love, compassion and gratitude through breathing practices, guided visualizations, movement explorations and stillness.
Yoga classes via Zoom: join from anywhere in the world.
Your future self will thank you!

10/04/2022

Balance is the key... it is an intentional process...

10/04/2022

"I think midlife is when the universe gently places her hands upon your shoulders, pulls you close, and whispers in your ear:

"I’m not screwing around. It’s time. All of this pretending and performing , these coping mechanisms that you’ve developed to protect yourself from feeling inadequate and getting hurt – has to go.
Your armor is preventing you from growing into your gifts.
I understand that you needed these protections when you were small. I understand that you believed your armor could help you secure all of the things you needed to feel worthy of love and belonging, but you’re still searching and you’re more lost than ever.
Time is growing short. There are unexplored adventures ahead of you. You can’t live the rest of your life worried about what other people think. You were born worthy of love and belonging. Courage and daring are coursing through you. You were made to live and love with your whole heart. It’s time to show up and be seen.”

~ Brené Brown ~

Zorayda Yoga & Wellness

01/03/2023

12/18/2022

12/12/2022

11/28/2022

11/16/2022

11/14/2022

11/13/2022

11/10/2022

11/10/2022

10/27/2022

10/20/2022

10/16/2022

10/14/2022

10/07/2022

10/04/2022

10/04/2022

10/04/2022

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