A message from yoga studio owner, Helena McKinney.
It is so important that we honour our past achievements; sometimes reflecting on this is just what we need to gather up motivation and momentum for the year ahead. This annual reflection asks me to look at 10 things I achieved both personally and professionally last year. Some of my accomplishments are small personal shifts that have created a healthy impact on my life. Others are huge, impactful and memorable. The second part of the reflection invites me to explore 5 things I hope to achieve in the next year. Join me as I guide you through a glimpse of 2019!
1. Being on Time
This is huge for me. Being late is something I am known for and for a number of reasons, I really made an effort this year to change this pattern. Being late stresses me out big time. I panic trying to fit too much in, I leave no time to get ready, I drive like I am in Nascar to get where I need to go, and I show up to a meeting or to teach a class with a racing heart. Who am I serving by doing this? How prepared am I showing up when I do this? Am I honouring the other individual's time when I do this? I began to ask myself these questions and I started to reshape my morning routines and how I managed my time. I became more realistic with my scheduling. I now feel like I show up with breath and clarity, more prepared to do the work I love and this feels good. I also feel like it shows a respect to the people who have also carved out time to be with me. I am not the only person with stuff to do.... I admit this hasn’t been successful 100% of the time but it takes awhile to work through patterns and I can see an improvement.
2. Waking Up Early...(ier)
I am also known for being a night hawk. There is something about the late night that feels auspicious to me. Convinced I would get my best work done in the middle of the night, while everyone was sleeping, I would tap into my most creative self. When my life schedule changed, I started going to bed a little earlier to wake up earlier. Turns out, the daylight brings a lightness to my work; I get just as much, if not more, done during the day. I rest with ease in the evening rather than with the pressure I used to feel, knowing I accomplished a full day's work in the morning. I can now spend my evenings in the tub relaxing, going for a walk, catching an extra yoga class or watching a film I have been wanting to check out. It has created more time for personal development and rest.
3. Meal Prepping
In 2016, I admittedly didn’t pick up a frying pan or cook a single thing for the entire year. I was a new entrepreneur and lot of my time was focused on the business. This means, I spent far too much money eating out and relying heavily on the generosity of my mother's home cooked meals. I had to find a strategy to support me in the kitchen. Here it is! Book a day and time to buy groceries and do it every week. Also, my shopping method: purchase 2 fruits, 3 vegetables, 1 carb, 1 snack, 1 spice and 2 staple items. This is so I don’t waste and I am efficient with what I get for 1 person. It helps me a lot if grocery shopping day is also the same as my cooking day. I now have a regular rotation of meals I enjoy cooking, a stocked spice rack and more Tupperware to pack food on the go. I forget to eat when I book my days too full, so it is super convenient when I can quickly heat something up before class. My energy is up, I am saving money and I have developed a new skill for cooking. (Never as good as my mama though).
4. Launching Online Yoga Classes with IFF
This year we launched our first ever online yoga series! It was such a learning experience and I am looking forward to expanding it. It was a challenge figuring out the method for launching it and I can see us tweaking it in the future but right now, it has given me the opportunity to connect with a whole new community of students. The platform has also reconnected me with students I haven’t seen in a long time. Lives change, people move, or circumstances limit them from being able to come to the studio. I am so happy this option is available to them! This also challenged my teaching style because being on camera didn’t feel natural at first. I want to continue to be an authentic teacher and I hope I can translate this in my online platform.
5. Expanding the Namaste Niagara Summer Program
If you haven’t had the chance to experience yoga at Journey Behind the Falls, it is truly an unbelievable opportunity. This summer we extended the program for all of July and August on both Saturdays and Sundays. It took a lot of planning and organizing but gave the whole In Fine Feather Yoga team the chance to connect with yogis from all over North America. It is one of the most challenging classes you will ever host as an instructor, but the most breathtaking experience. Also, who doesn’t love yoga paired with a delicious, locally sourced brunch! It is pretty exciting building this series with awesome partners like Niagara Parks!
6. Becoming a Community Parter with the Neighbour 2 Neighbour Centre in Hamilton
This year the studio wanted to focus on giving back to community. We wanted to explore supporting communities outside of the yoga studio. A part of this was understanding our own privilege and our ability to make some basic necessities more accessible. It brought to light how many people in Hamilton are going without vital resources. We ran a number of charitable donation drives at the studio for personal hygiene products, toiletries, infant items and more. Our students gave back willingly and openly. This is something we plan to continue to do with the support of our new Community Coordinator, Carol D’Alves.
7. Relocating the Yoga Studio and Setting up a New Home
In September we closed the doors to a space we called home for five years and opened the doors to another. This came with so many mixed emotions, fear, anxiety, stress, concern, upset, loss, curiosity, new beginnings, excitement, opportunity, brand new sparkle (yes that’s a feeling) and so much support. The transition was unexpected and took a lot of coordinating. We had classes running at the one studio, while renovating the second. The transition was fairly seamless and I couldn’t have done any of it without the support of my staff, community members and especially, Meagan Santa. She was by my side every second of every day figuring out the logistics, taking all my calls on design ideas and executing the marketing plan. I feel really grateful that people have followed us to the new space and embraced it fully. We have already made some pretty awesome memories in our new home.
8. Hosting our 1st Yoga Retreat Om in India with Jackee Desimone
This past November we embarked on a spiritual and cultural journey to incredible India. This would have never been possible without the passion, desire and meticulous planning by Jackee. This is her baby and she truly put her whole heart into crafting this experience for all of us. Eighteen souls travelled through India for 16 days feeling safe and supported because of the energy Jackee put into this. It wasn’t just the most memorable part of 2019. It is possibly one of the most memorable, impactful, life change experiences I have ever been a part of. India has a little piece of all of us now. I will be going back to explore more of this sensational country.
9. Let’s go to Morocco. Launched our 2nd Retreat
With momentum high, 1 day after opening the studio, I met with Jackee and Meagan to launch a 2nd yoga retreat to Morocco. Why not? Right! - like I didn’t have enough going on and rest wasn’t needed! lol! When you are surrounded and supported by motivated people it is incredible what can be produced. Like generators, our energy feels electric and it lights me up. I look forward to seeing a different part of the world this August and it makes me proud to say this retreat is sold out. Again, a huge thank you to Jackee for turning your love of travel into an experience for our community.
10. Opening my 2nd Business, Emerge Mentoring, with Meagan Santa
I have always known I would own a second business but this one took a few years of soul searching and looking inward to come to life. I have really matured as a female entrepreneur in the last couple years and know that I have stepped into my calling. The more I grow my business and the more I put into it, the more confident I feel with my decision to open a business. I started to look at the strengths I have acquired over the years and combined with my teaching skill set, an amazing partnership with Meagan, a business mentoring company was born. I have a desire for all individuals to step into their life purpose, to bravely embark into the world of being an entrepreneur. The intention is that Emerge Mentoring will provide people with the tools and resources to take this leap.
What will 2020 bring?
1. Exploring more diverse fitness classes. I want to check out new movement studios that have opened recently in Hamilton. This will require me to schedule the time, be open to new experiences and sensations in my body!
2. Register myself for a leadership course or program in community development. I have to do research on this; online classes do not work for me. I am much more attentive in a classroom setting.
3. Read more books, even if they are audible. I want to engage my mind in a different way. I am often given so many suggestions on great books. I could work on my evening routine to include 15 minutes a day.
4. Do more guest speaking and build different mentorship programs; develop an online platform for content as well. Meagan and I are already strategizing plans and events for the year. We have momentum after launching the business in October and we want to get out there as much as we can. 5. Be healthier in body and mind, which means consuming less alcohol. Drinking is something that is so normalized in our culture but I think the effects should be addressed more. This is also a personal choice to see if I feel more clarity and save more money. (More to come on this topic).
Thanks so much for walking with me on this wild year! My heart can not even handle the growth created at the studio every year. It is a beautiful combination of our collective energies and desire to build each other up. Thank you for supporting my dream, my passion, for believing in me and for always raising each other up.
Much love, Helena