“Nothing on earth can hold me. I am free. I am free. . . .” Lifting her arms above her head in a graceful sun salutation, Kathy felt a deep sense of peace. She had come to Ananda Yoga in the small mountain town of Scotts Valley while facing some major challenges in her life, hoping to find a way to deal with the stress. But she discovered a whole lot more
The small yoga studio was filled with kindred spirits, other people facing major challenges—job loss, illness, divorce. But instead of surrendering to despair, they were a spiritual community, filled with the joy of friendship (“Ananda” means “joy”), supporting each other in seeking the light.
In October, 2013, the group gathered at a beach retreat in Santa Cruz. As they walked on the sand, sunlight sparkling on the waves, someone said, “We need a bigger center.”
“Then let’s make it happen,” said Kathy. Using her business expertise, she began writing down their thoughts as together they created a vision: a center for yoga, meditation, spiritual talks, and books—a healing space for the community around them. They didn’t have the money to finance this, but made up a business plan and a budget. Inspired by their vision, they began looking around. They found a blue building in town, a former restaurant called “The Heavenly Café.” Excited, they approached the owner, but he would only lease the space to another restaurant. They looked some more, but other sites were too expensive.
Two months later, they inherited a piece of real estate from a former member of the community. The house was dilapidated, in need of major repairs. They decided to sell it to finance their center. But after a few potential offers, the house stood for months, unwanted and unsold. In July, Kathy drove over to the house, took a series of photographs, focusing on its best features, then lovingly released it to someone who would care for it enough to fix it up.
A short time later, the house sold. The next day, Kathy and her friends found a site for rent at a price they could afford. After months of loving remodeling it became a space filled with light, glowing hardwood floors, oriental rugs, meditation cushions, and inspirational art. Ananda Yoga opened on February 14th, 2015, Valentine’s Day–the realization of their dreams and a gift of heart to their community.
Now it’s your turn.
- If you have a dream you’ve been waiting to realize, you, too, can create new possibilities.
- To begin, close your eyes
- Take a deep breath and release it, feeling yourself become more calm and centered.
- Now visualize your dream, your intention, and see yourself realizing it.
- Ask yourself what you will need to accomplish this, what you will do and who can help.
- What’s the first step you’ll need to take to get started?
- See yourself taking that step. Take a deep breath. See and feel yourself actually taking it.
- If the shadows of doubt or anxiety cross your mind, say to yourself: “Nothing on earth can hold me. I am free. I am free.”
- Now open your eyes. Write down your vision and that first step.
- Then arrange to take that step this week.
Moving forward, you’ll begin a new positive momentum on the pathway to possibility. As the Tao Te Ching reminds us, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Namaste,
Diane
For more information about Ananda Yoga of Scott’s Valley, see
Ananda Scotts Valley
831-338-9642 (YOGA)
yoga@anandascottsvalley.org
221-A Mt. Hermon Road
Scotts Valley, CA 95066