Gratitude………

When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.
Anthony Robbins

As the holidays arrive, and we enter into the season of giving thanks, and presents and spending time with family and friends, can we use our practice to remind us of what we are grateful for; to help us let go so we can give more, with no attachments to what we give; and to encourage us to really sink into the spirit of gratitude and abundance?

And as we loosen and open to our generosity of heart, spirit and time I want to share with you ways in which our amazing community at Mala, has this last year, done just that: been incredibly open of heart, spirit and time…….

Wow what a lot to be grateful for.

The community classes, taught by our talented and committed assistants have so far raised over $1,600. This year we will be distributing over $1000 to Right Rides, Kiva, Lineage Project and City Harvest.

Many teachers contribute their time, expertise and love of yoga to volunteer organizations: Britt, Jennifer and Jyl (before she went back to Austin) work with Bent on Learning bringing yoga to the most underserved school populations in New York City; Jennifer and Ann (one of our new assistants) are setting up a program with the Gay & Lesbian Center of NYC to bring yoga to homeless, gay, young men; Julie Dohrman volunteers with Karma Krew, and I have taught 9 yr old girl scouts uptown!

The classes held in honor of Global Mala Project raised over $850 for the DOVE organization at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital (if you haven’t had a chance to, please read the lovely letter of thanks they sent us, posted in the hall bathroom).

Every year as we head into the holiday season, Angela teaches a “Food Drive” class where students can “pay for class” with  canned, non-perishable food items, or by donating cash to local food banks that are struggling at this time of year, to feed the many underfed families in our neighborhoods. This year will be our third!

And lastly, so many of our students are involved in wonderful local schools and charities. We support their commitment by donating class cards to their auctions and events, including this year: Plymouth Day School, The NY Choral Society, The Cobble Hill Playgroup, Starting Artists, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The International School of Brooklyn, Right Rides, Red Hook Health Initiative, Project Exalt, Brooklyn Public Library, Small Planet to name a few!

Reflecting on all these efforts I am humbled by the generosity of our community. I realize how lucky I am to be surrounded and supported by such open hearts, and I am reminded that so much of the sense of connectedness and love that I feel is because we are in service to each other……….