As a yoga teacher, martial arts instructor, fitness director- you name it, we have all seen a student come in with an injury and continue to go way beyond the limit they should. 

This is why instructors ask at the beginning of class how everyone is feeling, if there are any injuries, etc. We want to make sure that our students are healing and not hurting themselves more.

Being a yoga teacher is a beautiful gift. Every day I am entrusted to hold space for wonderful souls and lead them through an energetic journey and releasing tension, etc that has been stored in their body. It's a dream I am living! But it can also be frustrating when you see people going too far into a pose because their ego takes over. Yoga can be somewhat of a dance- a flow of beauty. And sometimes as yogis- we may push ourselves past our edge in that flow. We may go so far that we overstretch our muscles. 
When you stretch, you take your muscle to the point where you can feel a slight pull, your edge, and hold this position for a few seconds without pain or discomfort. However, if you stretch your muscles beyond their normal range of motion, past your edge, you may experience a pulled muscle -- or muscle strain. 

It is my number one mission as a yoga teacher, is to allow healing for my students. Whether that be physical, mental, or spiritual. This is why I check in every class with how everyone is feeling and if there are any injuries. When someone makes mention of an injury, I will offer them options for their practice to help heal that area and not overwork the already pulled, or strained, muscle. 

Yoga is not a race. It is not about perfection. It is a practice. There are some days where you can touch your toes and there are others where you are reaching with every bit of your energy to barely get there! That's why it's a practice. Every day life can cause us to hold tension in places that were open yesterday. 

Be gentle with yourself. When you have an injury, or maybe you can't go as far into the pose as the person beside you (no looking- stay on your mat, this is your practice, your mind- your body), don't beat yourself up. Every body is made different. Structurally. Injuries. You name it. Refrain from saying that you are horrible at yoga. That you can't do this. Honor your body! Listen to it. Nurture it! Love it! I promise the flexibility will come. The pose will become easier! Just give yourself some grace! 

Acknowledge your injuries, let you teacher know, and take these as little lessons to slow down and allow the healing to take place! 

~Hannah Hutcheson

I know I am blessed to be doing the healing work I do. And because of that- I get to reap the benefits as well. Yoga, Massage, Reiki, Meditation, etc are all such healing processes that we all need to reach a state of homeostasis. In this chaotic world we are all over taxing our nervous systems and living each day without filling our cups back up. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. 

We wake up just early enough to grab some caffeine and head out the door. Only to work long hours to then come home and work on all the things our jobs have been paying for, as in housework, food, etc. We miss out on time with our families and friends because we are depleted. Exhausted. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. So we turn to more caffeine to wake us up. We turn to TV to turn our minds off. We turn to alcohol, or drugs, to escape this world. It's a vicious cycle.

WHAT money can I spend to find this bliss, or ananda, that yoga/massage/and reiki gift me?
I know money is hard to come by. When you feel like you have nothing left in the bank the last thing you can think of is "treating yourself to a luxury". Trust me- I know this. If you know me- you know that money has always been my hang up. I was raised as an only child in a single mother household. I have had a job from the time I was 14. Out of the almost 32 years of my life- only 3 of those I can honestly say I did not live paycheck to paycheck. But these healing sessions will really transform your life. From calming the body, being less reactive, releasing the tension and blocked energy in the body- you can find you again. You can find a healthier version of yourself! I have let go of many of my fears, doubts, and worries about money just from doing yoga and tapping (EFT).

At Horizon Training Center we make it a point to offer packages and deals so you do not feel like you are breaking the bank for our services. A great tip that I follow in times of pinching pennies- If I am gifted money- I use it to treat myself to a massage or a class, so I feel refreshed to take on life and dominate my finances! It's a way to recharge my mind, body, and spirit! And doing something much better for myself than buying an expensive handbag (which years ago I would have done- not going to lie about that one!).

So WHEN do we have time to find balance? 
I know I know- Time and Money- two dirty words for the overworked and barely making it by folks (me included!), but when we make time for ourselves, we make ourselves even stronger! We can come back refreshed and energized to keep finding more time for healing! We all want more hours in the day to get more things done. We all want more time with our families and friends. We all want more sleep, more relaxation, more calm times. You CAN have all of that.

At Horizon Training Center we will work with your schedule for setting healing appointments (massage, life coaching, and energy work/reiki/tapping/etc) and we offer yoga in the morning, afternoon, and evenings! There is something for everyone!

There is power in thinking positive. It's hard to do some days, but when we carve out that time to fill our cup up- the Universe will pour in a little more love and light. The Universe delights in knowing that we are actively working to better ourselves- physically, mentally, and spiritually. So believing that you have the time, that you have the money, you can create the belief that these services are necessary! 

~Hannah Hutcheson