Hi Dr. Rosie,

I am doing great! The number of students attending my yoga classes is slowly increasing. I have two classes now. One is completely filled and when we chant OM in unison it’s just a beautiful feeling! Everyone is enjoying it.

I think the biggest thing I have achieved is that I got my professors to join my classes and reap the benefits. They are realizing that they have been neglecting their health after getting caught in their daily routines. As they are becoming more aware they are becoming more committed to getting fit and staying fit.

I have one thing to ask you, Dr. Rosie: How do I keep my students motivated to be regular attendees in my classes; one for the reason to obtain the benefits (which of course comes only when one is regular) and secondly to have a regular flow of income for myself? Will you throw some light on this issue please?

Thanks once again!
Usha

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Dear Usha,

I’ve so enjoyed our correspondence and hearing how you are progressing from just a dream of having a successful practice as a yoga teacher to having your classes full! I want to acknowledge you for stepping forward, courageously in order to make this happen for yourself. You are empowering and inspiring to many people by you example.

Speaking of being empowering and inspiring. . . . To me, these are two of the ways of being that will support you in having your students return regularly to you and your classes. But before I go there directly I have a few questions to ask you.

How did you get so many students in your classes so quickly? What did you do to make that happen? How have you been being in your life that has created such an invitation that people, even your professors are attending?

You see, you are being an invitation and it’s important to get clear how you are being that invitation! What is it about you, Usha that is drawing people to you and your classes? These are important question to answer, because this will be what you want to continue to be and to do.

There isn’t just one thing that’s going to work for everyone, because everyone is looking for what is going to be fun, or challenging, or spiritual, or easy, or playful, or . . . . Seeing what you offer as Usha and the type of classes you’ve created will give you a heads up on what’s working. You can ask your students “Hey, what’s having you come back, and what will have you come more regularly?” This lets them know that you are committed to giving them what works for them. This is actually another key to success in keeping clients; when you actively engage with them, letting them know that you are glad they are in your life and you want to keep them in your life, people will keep coming back. Cultivating personal relationships with every one of your students will support long and sustained connection.

I’ll be going to a yoga classes later this morning. The reason I go to this particular class is that I love the teacher, I trust her, I feel safe with her, and the class is only an hour long, which is perfect for that part of me that doesn’t want to go at all! Yoga is so good for me, and, at the same time, I whine and complain about how hard it is. So, that Zahra offers a one hour class at noon on Tuesday is perfect for me! She offers longer and more challenging classes but I’m not yet motivated or inspired enough to get to these. Maybe some day!

Another thing that is so important is that you feel passionate about what you do. People love to be around passionate people who love what they do. It’s contagious! It’s inspiring! It’s so much more fun being around passionate people who are doing what they love then being around people who just go through the motions and are in it for something other than the pure joy that comes with doing what they love to do.

Something I mentioned earlier is that you are empowering your students to generate the benefits that come with attending yoga classes regularly. Empowering people is an important skill to develop. Yoga, like coaching requires people to stretch themselves, to reach into challenging places that can be uncomfortable. Learning to relax into poses is not fun but it is necessary and rewarding when we reap the benefits of our efforts.

Empowering people to empower themselves is a mixture of cheerleading and of fierce compassion; making things fun and remaining intentional and committed to having them get the results they’ve come for. Your students will feel supported and challenged. This is a very good thing.

Along with empowering your students is recognizing and acknowledging them for their courage, their efforts and their successes. None of us get enough recognition and acknowledgement in our lives. They are like great big hugs that mean so much! Tell your students as often as you can that you see them doing the best they can and that you also see the difference its making.

All of these ways of being, Usha are so simple yet rarely considered essential in any business practice, but they are. They are essential not only in our business life but also in our family life, in our friendships and communities. Living a passionate, inspiring and engaging life is a wonderful invitation for people to join you in all aspects of life.

Congratulations for bringing about success in your practice so quickly. Again, I want to acknowledge you for the commitments and steadfastness that you’ve demonstrated in just the past few months. You are an inspiration and a role model for all of us. Thank you!

Blessings,
Dr. Rosie

I would love to hear from others of you who are reading this column. You can email me privately if you’d like at: rosie@dr-rosie.com

www.drrosie.com                                                                                                                         
rosie@dr-rosie.com                                                                                                                   
Book: Self-Empowerment 101

Do you feel happier in a bigger house? Do you find it difficult to interact with people who have more luxurious things than you have?

Dan Ariely, author of Predictability Irrational shares the science behind how we see ourselves in relation to others has an impact on us…Check it out…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Do you finish with excellence?

Start of strong but what makes a champion is how you end the game. I was in a restaurant recently, they had recently opened. Our initial server was very attentive and caring BUT somewhere in the middle they changed the server. The new server was very aloof and when he presented us the check, it had some errors.

At that moment I gathered that it is not only important to have a strong start BUT also a strong end for lasting impression and excellence.

This can be applied in your personal and professional lives. In any relationship, it is not only important to check in and be attentive at the beginning BUT also important to see that details are taken care of till the end. Many of us lose sight of the end. This is equally important as the beginning. Infact when the initial enthusiasm of the project dies it becomes important that we constantly keep track of the ongoing changes and situations.

If you are trying to get into a personal relationship, we all try to look and act at our best and when we are in it, we stop paying attention to detail – this only shows lack of interest and concern for the other person. Try to impress them by looking and acting at your best because this will have an impact on how the relationship will transform – either it will evolve with attention to excellence or end with lack of attention to detail.

So, ending is important for leaders in relationships and business. They are in it to make sure that the value is delivered and a lasting relationship is developed.

Here is a list of foods that might put you get in a good mood and make you feel really bad really soon.

* Alcohol
* Caffeine (large doses)
* Fried foods
* Fatty meats
* Fatty snack foods
* Refined sugars and starches (most often in packaged foods)

Feeling moody, avoid the following:

Large order of fries: America’s favorite fast food is a mood-buster when you eat, oh, more than two handfuls. If you insist, get a small order and eat one fry at a time. You will be surprised at how satisfied you will be.

Supersized sodas: This is no bargain when applied to your emotional ballast. Drinking more than 12 ounces will take a big gulp out of your mood in the ensuing hours.

Pork rinds: Forget the Atkins unofficial stamp of approval. This snack is fried skin, no way around it.

Bacon cheeseburgers: The best burger for mood is a hamburger without the cheese or bacon or secret sauce on a whole grain bun. If you insist, go for the occasional slice of cheese or strip or two of bacon (but why not save the bacon for its solo performance as a breakfast treat?). And skip the double and triple patties.

White flour pasta with cream sauce: Alfredo, alschmedo. Even worse if you don’t at least order it with shrimp or chicken for some protein.

Salami/cold cuts: If it is prepackaged, forget it. Too many nitrates and other preservatives to yank down your mood. Opt for fresh-roasted turkey or fresh, lean ham at the deli counter.

Some Indian Foods to stay away from.

Deep Fried Samosas/Pakoras/Puris: If they have been fried and left out for a long time, it will add no nutrient value.

Heavy curries: Making food with cream and butter makes it tasty but can leave you adding pounds.

Sweets/Desserts: Moderation is must, don’t eat a ton of sweets.

From Usha,

Hello Dr. Kuhn,

Here I am to ask you something again.

How do I put ideas into action? You know, I find so many ideas great and even practical, but many a times I get carried away and do not act on them. Why does this happen? I want to start acting on my ideas, how………help? I feel I am sounding like my 7 year old kid asking for help but seriously, I find this a huge problem. Is it that I feel the need to be guided always to act upon something?

Looking forward to your wonderful and very insightful thoughts,
Usha

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From Dr. Rosie

Thanks Usha for your questions. It’s great to hear what’s coming up for you as weeks go by. Your questions reflect what many other people are confounded with – Choice-making!

You’ve heard me talk about this already and you will hear me talk about this again, because every dilemma we face is based on having to make a choice between at least two desires, wants or commitments.

How do I choose?                                                                                                                 As a coach, I find that one of the most challenging moments my clients face is having to make a choice between many great ideas – how do they know which one to choose, which one will be most rewarding and fulfilling and which one’s they’ll have to let go of, for the moment.

Think about it this way: Each idea that comes through you supports the unfolding of you, Usha, or does it? Here are some questions: What is it you are wanting, Usha? What is the vision for your life and your work? Which ideas support this vision and the work you want to bring into this world? You see, it’s time to get strategic about which ideas you want to follow in service to what you want.

Traveling as a great analogy for this choice-making process. Let’s say I want to go somewhere. I can say “I’d like to go somewhere,” and just leave my house and go. I have an idea to turn left, so I turn left. I have an idea to turn right, so I turn right. This is a wonderful way to travel if I’m not attached to where I want to go.

So, this time, I say “I want to go to Los Angeles, California. Now, I have to assess my ideas and choose which ones are going to get me closer to my destination. An idea to get on a cruise ship that’s going to Alaska pops up. “Boy, that would be fun!” I say to myself. At this moment, I have to choose to either go to Alaska, because it would be fun, or to stay with my original destination to go to LA, and create ideas that will take me in that direction. I have to ask myself what I’m committed to in order to choose to choose what I’m going to choose.

A couple of months ago, when you first wrote me, you wanted to create a thriving business teaching yoga. Is this still true, or is there something else that’s emerging? This is a choice-point. Too often, though we confuse ourselves by following too many masters – having too many wants and not enough time and energy to invest. Sometimes we create ideas to actually sabotage ourselves. If I’m trying to follow lots of ideas I can avoid being successful at the one I say I really want, for you it was a yoga practice.

Perhaps, Usha, all of these ideas are in alignment with your goal to teach yoga. Then, it’s a matter of sitting with all of these ideas and discern which one or ones are most valuable to generate now, and which ones will be more valuable later on. This is where the seven-year old matures into a grown up, making grown up choices.

Putting these ideas into actions
So, the first step was assessing which ideas serve your vision or your destination. Now, to take action is the scary part for many people. Stepping into action means moving towards success. What happens in that moment of stepping into your idea? Notice what shows up when you go to take that first step. Do you get excited or anxious? Do you distract yourself from taking that step by coming up with another idea? What other thoughts and ideas show up. Sometime, self-criticism arises: “Oh, you can’t do that – you can’t make anything happen. You’re too scattered, confused and flakey.” Fear of failure also is a great distracter. In my book, there is no failing; there is just the choosing to succeed at not fulfilling your dreams or goals.

The bottom line, Usha, is this: are your committed enough to take that step? If not, what are you committed to that has you not take that step? Sit with this question and the answers that arise. Write them down, then decide again what it is you are wanting and which steps would take you in that direction. Do you want what you want enough to take action? If not, I encourage you to be patient and compassionate with yourself. You’ll be ready when you are ready and not a moment sooner. As a practice, notice where you do step into action – getting out of bed, taking care of your seven year old child, practicing yoga daily; these are all steps you take in service to your commitments. Just notice that you are already in action. What are you committed to enough that has you take these actions? Keep noticing and acknowledge yourself for accomplishing what you set out to accomplish!

And remember: Choosing no action is as empowering as choosing action. It’s just a matter of what you are committed to.

Blessings,
Rosie

www.drrosie.com                                                                                                                         
rosie@dr-rosie.com                                                                                                                   
Book: Self-Empowerment 101