Welcome to 2020, a new year as well as an entire new decade. This past year has been a wondrous year, with many changes, transitions, comings and goings at our lovely home-away-from-home, Hemma. One of those “comings” was me stepping into the role of Yoga Manager, as well as the journey to bring a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2020.
I don’t set New Year’s resolutions, as I inevitably break them within the first 20 minutes – but I do like to look back over the year, reflect on everything that has happened, and marvel at where life takes me.
I had no idea what 2019 had in store for me . . . Manager, what?! Egypt, what?! Teacher training, what?! But I couldn’t be more grateful for where I am now. It also knocked me down a few times, as life tends to do, but each time I got up, dusted myself off, and carried on, hopefully learning a thing or two on the way.
One of the things that makes getting up easier is all of you!
My students who show up, bright-eyed and eager to learn . . .
The teachers who show up, both to teach and to support each other . . .
The huge support and dedication from all of the volunteers at Hemma, who keep it clean and bright . . .
The acupuncturists who do their magic in recliners, with a smile . . .
Connie at the front desk, running the place with warmth and an unflappable humor . . .
And of course Michael, whose gentle good humor and dedication to his work as service, helps to remind me what’s important and to have a little more patience with life.
As mentioned, I don’t set New Year’s intentions, but one of the new traditions I have adopted is to choose a word for the year. The word that showed up for 2020 was “listen”. I’m not sure what it means yet, but I guess I will spend the year finding out!
We have many wonderful workshops coming up, our first Yoga Teacher Training, and a few new teachers coming to Hemma. All of these have come through listening to requests from all of you, so perhaps I am already on my way.
I hope to see you all in the New Year. In the end, as a wise man once said, we are all just walking each other home.
Love from,
Jonni-Lyn Friel (Yoga Manager)