 "I am releasing resistance, impatience, stress, worry and fear."
This is what I wrote during our leaf "release" ceremony for our Mother's Day retreat held at Sweet Harmony Yoga. I didn't know at the time how much I would TRULY need to live and breathe by those words in the coming months. When I received my "cease and desist letter from the HOA board, it felt like I had been punched in the gut. Moments after, it felt as though my spirit had literally been pulled out of my skin and cradled with love. In order to move forward with grace, all I could do was keep breathing and completely surrender. I truly believed that I was being led and guided to something bigger, something that would better serve me and the greater good of all. My lovely friend had reminded me that when Sweet Harmony began, everything was flowing, like a river, so perfectly. And now, there was merely an obstacle in the path; I had to shift directions to move back into the flow. I looked at her with despair and said, "but where is it telling me to go?!" I wanted to control it. I don't like being in the unknown. But I couldn't. I had no choice but to close my eyes, lean back and be carried by that flow. I chose to not make any fast decisions; just notice, observe and witness what felt right. I entertained many different options, many potential spaces to transition to; partnering up, renting space as an independent contractor again, etc. Then, I reached out to a lovely, amazing woman I met with a year ago, who is the operations manager for a new wellness center that was going to be opening some time this fall. Before Sweet Harmony, I was really hoping to teach there when it opened and wanted to be involved in any way I could. When we met up the second time, we hit it off just as well as the first time, but it was even more exciting because I was talking with her about not only teaching, but taking the roll of "Yoga Coordinator." The blessing here is that although I had managed several optical businesses in the past, I had only taught in yoga studios and wasn't sure I had been qualified to do such a job. But now, I had run a yoga studio and built a great community in a very short time. I felt very qualified and our visions for what we were hoping to contribute to the yoga community aligned seamlessly. I taught a class for the owner and staff the following week and it was during the auspicious day of 8/8. I felt so in the flow as if I were exactly where I was supposed to be. A few days later I got the invitation to join the team as their Yoga Coordinator! I am so THRILLED and excited. This is an incredible and supportive team of people and a facility that will be fostering wellness and community, being the amazing HUB for all holistic goodness that it will be. It's called Alive + Well. They are located in Bee Cave and the opening date has been pushed back to spring. I want to pinch myself just to make sure I'm not dreaming! The owner and staff are so authentic and awesome. I am over the moon! This wellness center will have a healthy cafe with food, coffee and tinctures, massage, chiropractic, a Integrative medicine Dr, compounding pharmacy, IV Vitamin drip bar and soooooo much more! You can see their website and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates. I will be transitioning back to "Hannah Williams Yoga" and posting this and future correspondence through my blog there as well. Sweet Harmony was an incredible journey and huge learning experience. I thank each of you who came and gave a little part of yourself to our community. I hope you will continue to grow with me at Alive + Well! The coolest part for me is that now, celebrating my 10 years of teaching this month (!) Bee Cave is a good central location for all of the students I've had the pleasure to teach over the past ten years; South Austin, Dripping Springs and now Lakeway. As always, I'm here for you to answer any questions or help guide you along your yoga or mama journey in any way I can!!! Sending you all so much love and gratitude! ~Hannah
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Wow, I see I haven't posted on this blog in a very long time. So much has happened that I'm just going to start fresh today. I had abandoned this webpage for awhile while I built up the brand and business, "Sweet Harmony Yoga" a lovely and huge learning experience. Back to me, my roots, as Hannah Williams....there are some very exciting things happening and I am so excited to continue to serve in all the best ways I can. My kiddos are now in school full time, both of them!! So, now I have time to do things like, edit websites, post blogs, fold the laundry and actually get it put away......it's a whole new world!
If you're interested in backing up a bit to learn more about Sweet Harmony Yoga and the story behind it, please visit the webpage. My blog with NEWS updates will have all the info needed for a good proper "catch up." I am forever grateful for your continued support! Warmly, Hannah I was so excited, humbled and honored to be featured in a very cool new parenting blog. They asked some really wonderful questions and I'd love for you to check it out here! http://babyproofedparents.com/2014/01/28/pre-postnatal-yoga-guru-wednesday-wisdom/
For new parents this is a great blog to sign up for! It's funny as well as really helpful. Off to go do a modified workout (taking care of my diastisis recti) while Paisley naps! May you dream big and celebrate the love and joy in your life! Happy New Year! I get so excited this time of year for so many reasons; setting intentions, making new goals, self reflecting... It's a time rich with transformation and I feel the buzzing excitement all around me. As my husband, Damon, and I closed out 2013 and welcomed 2014, we reflected, like almost everyone, on ways we could make our lives even better. We remembered the power of intention and positive thinking and made a commitment to ourselves and each other to stay on the path together. When we set daily intentions, we are so much more able and ready to serve the world, to let our brightest selves shine. So far it's been amazing! Either I catch myself when I start to slip, or I get to have a back up to remind me when I need an extra set of ears. I also love this time because at the beginning of every year, in yoga class, I go over the yamas and niyamas (the basic ways of being in mind and body) from the yoga sutras. It's so inspiring to figure out weekly how each one pertains to our current life situation, especially in pregnant and postpartum moms. This week we are talking about Ahimsa (practicing compassion, acceptance love and understanding to ourselves and all beings.) As new moms we can tend to scrutinize our every move. We are exhausted and going through major life changes and yet we try to push on through and are disappointed when we realize being a 'super mom" isn't as realistic as we'd hoped. We may be irritable and judgmental towards others around us as well. This week we'll practice loving kindness toward ourselves and others and feel the difference that makes. What are your new years rituals? Have you noticed anything different yet? New class begins this week!I am so happy to be renting space at Head to Toe Dance in downtown Dripping Springs for a Mommy and Me class! (crawlers - toddlers) Class will being this Wednesday, January 8th from 11am - noon. It's a great way to practice yoga with your little one and have fun with your fellow moms!
*I will also be teaching another prenatal class in addition to my current 11:00am Saturday class. It will be 2 6-week sessions on Tuesday nights at 7:00 at the DSISD Administrative building, starting in February. Sign-up info to come! *A new postnatal series will also begin through DSISD in Feb! It will be on Mondays at 10:30. Sign-up info to come! I hope to see you soon! With love and gratitude, ~Hannah It's no wonder that I won "Most Unpredictable" my senior year of high school.....Although opening a yoga studio wouldn't be TOTALLY unpredictable.... releasing a record, getting pregnant, moving, having a baby, getting a puppy, joining the PTA, making plans to get back to gigging AND opening a yoga studio seems like a little much!
I told myself earlier today, after losing hours of sleep dreaming about this studio idea...."right now I should just focus on the family....I can open a business in the future..." then I proceeded to buy the domain and get this thing rolling! (yep, unpredictable me! As soon as I make a game plan, I seem to go with Life's too short you know? You need to make things happen!! This EXCITES me!! I HAVE to do it! And of coarse it must have a stage, foster community building and have a place for kiddos.....anyone want to invest?! : ) So here it is friends....only a few thing up, but it's a START! I recently saw a post somewhere that said..... "If you had two words to tell your younger self, what would they be?" |
AuthorI am a yoga teachin', guitar slingin', singer-song-craftin' mamsita and wife to my high school sweetie. Archives
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