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                   STEPPING STONES (TM) 

                          Issue 4 

                        June, 2001 

Welcome to "Stepping Stones" (TM), the newsletter of 
Her Mentor Center (TM).  Each month we highlight a 
mid-life women's personal transition story.  We identify the 
specific skills illustrated in her story that you might find 
valuable in your own life.  In addition, we recommend and 
review valuable resources for you.  We are excited to be 
sharing experiences and information as we all journey 
through mid-life. 

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This month at a glance: 

I.    One Woman's Story: Doing What You Love 

II.   Stepping Stones: Integrating Mind and Body 

III.  Recommended Resources: Books and Websites to Explore 

IV.   Our Invitation to You 

V.    About Us 

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    I. One Woman's Story: From Business Writing to Yoga 


Getting certified three years ago as a Kripalu yoga teacher 
marked the happy conclusion of a year long search for my next 
career.  After more than 12 years as a "pen for hire," I had 
been feeling burned out and wanting a change. While still 
engaged in my former business, I began reading about 
complementary health modalities such as yoga, meditation and 
tai chi.  After exploring a number of ideas, it became clear to 
me that I now wanted to work with people by helping them to 
better health and better lives.  I began to envision a complete 
change in my career. 

I had already begun taking a weekly yoga class and it felt like 
a home-coming to me.  Although I had practiced yoga on and off 
over the years, now my body responded to the challenge as my 
spirits lifted.  I felt more focused, centered, whole.  I began 
to notice that yoga was relieving many of my menopausal symptoms. 
I was sleeping better after a yoga class, and my digestion also 
improved.  A daily practice of between 20 and 60 minutes soon 
became as routine to me as brushing my teeth. 

One day, in the middle of a posture series, the light bulb went 
on: why not work at what I already loved doing; why not become a 
professional yoga teacher.  Why not share my own personal 
experience of better physical health, a calmer mind, with others? 

Once I began to think seriously about training as a yoga teacher, 
things just started to fall into place.  The timing of the next 
200 hour training was perfect.  I applied, was accepted into the 
program and had my bag packed.  Then, I got cold feet. 

What if I couldn't manage the physical challenge of 3 hours of 
yoga practice, plus posture clinics every day?  How would I 
adjust to living in a Spartan environment - the center is a 
former Jesuit monastery, the rooms tiny with shared bathrooms. 
Could I handle the discipline of lights out at 9 and "sadhana" 
at dawn, no days off for the first two weeks? 

Ultimately, the experience was the best thing that could have 
happened to me.  Studying yoga with over 60 students in such a 
setting was truly simple living, yet rich in so many unexpected 
ways.  I was communicating in a different way with people.  My 
natural shyness started to abate.  I was finding it easier to 
show my feelings, even my tears.  Performance anxiety from which 
I have suffered most of my life lessened.  I got through my 
practice teaching sessions not perfectly, but with a sense of 
humor. 

As soon as I got home, I put our living and dining room 
furniture into storage, printed business cards and began 
recruiting students for small group classes at home.  At the 
moment, I keep my practice quite small so I can enjoy being a 
grandmother and putting time into a website business I co-founded 
with my husband.  Being a yoga teacher is part of my personal 
yoga practice.  It is who I have become. 

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     II. Stepping Stones: Integrating Mind and Body 


Marika's journey is continuous.  There is an ebb and flow 
from the internal to the external, from thoughtful 
introspection to dealing with the realities of her life. 

As Marika moved toward greater self-awareness, she: 

*Recognized that she felt burnt out in her writing career 

*Realized that she wanted to make a change 

*Understood the need to explore her personal values 

*Focused on what she loved in life 

*Identified her purpose and set her goals 

*Researched and compiled more information about her options 

*Translated her passion into meaningful work by helping 
  others. 


As she continued on her journey toward fulfillment, she: 

*Identified and acknowledged her anxiety 

*Pushed through her fears and persevered 

*Committed time and energy to train as a yoga instructor 

*Completed the practical steps necessary to set up her 
  practice     

*Established a balance within her life between family and 
  work 

*Created a harmony within herself by integrating her mind 
  and body. 


The steps Marika used to move through her transition helped 
her begin a new career.  She discovered her core identity and 
created strength and balance in her life.  Her introspection 
and hard work led her to acknowledge, "It is who I have 
become." 

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       III. Recommended Resources: Websites to Explore 

(1)  "Composing a Life," by Mary Catherine Bateson, is a very 
readable and intimate book.  Through studying five fascinating, 
accomplished women, including herself, the author finds a 
basic core identity that expands and modifies as we experience 
our lives. 

(2) www.yogasite.com can help you locate teachers, training 
programs and schools.  It also offers excellent articles on 
yoga by well-known experts. 

(3) www.2young2retire.com was developed by Marika and her 
husband, Howard.  This website is rich in information for those 
experiencing mid-life transitions.  You can enjoy reading 
stories of women and men who have reinvented their own 
retirement and also explore the many valuable articles and 
resources. 

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                 IV. Our Invitation to You 

Do you have your own transition story?  We invite you to 
share it with our readers for the benefit of women who 
themselves may be dealing with similar changes.  The skills you 
used may be Stepping Stones for others.  If you are interested, 
please e-mail us at . 

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                        V. About Us 

HerMentorCenter.com provides information, support and 
direction for women undergoing mid-life transitions.  Having 
made these transitions ourselves, we are available to mentor 
you and to be your partners in mid-life. 

Her Mentor Center (TM) does not provide psychotherapy, 
consulting, or any other psychological or medical services 
or treatment.  If you feel the need for psychological help, 
you should contact your local mental health professional 
associations. 

To subscribe to "Stepping Stones" (TM), our free monthly 
newsletter, sign up at: 

http://www.HerMentorCenter.com/newsletter.html

To unsubscribe, go to 
http://www.HerMentorCenter.com/ 
newsletter.html and click "unsubscribe." 

To contact us, write to us at our e-mail address, 
Mentors@HerMentorCenter.com, 
or by telephone at (818) 773-7795 

Newsletters are available in our archives at: 

http://www.HerMentorCenter.com/archives.html


(c) HerMentorCenter, 2001     

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