While this famous question can be asked in many different scenarios, in my recent experience, asking myself this prompted me to re-evaluate the career path I was on and inspired me to make some changes in my life...changes for the better.
For the past few years, I've been working in the health and fitness industry, mainly as a manager for several of Boston's most well known Yoga and Pilates Studios. From the moment I started working in this industry, I knew it was where I wanted to be. However, in the fall of 2010, I decided to embark on a new journey - Radiant Yoga Teacher Training!
I had always played with the idea of becoming a yoga instructor, but it wasn't until I met Chanel Luck (a well know Boston area Yogini and inspiring teacher) that I decided I was going to go for it. Almost a year later, I have to say it is the best decision I've ever made. I absolutely LOVE teaching yoga - there is just a rush you get from it that can't be described. And when one of my clients tells me how much they love my class, or how afterwards they are feeling the best they have felt all day, it really makes me feel like what I'm doing is seriously important, life changing work. :)
I started off teaching just one class a week at Endurance Pilates & Yoga in Arlington (thank you Julie!). But as much as I loved teaching yoga, I was still working 6 days and 40 plus hours a week as a manager for another yoga studio. I found myself feeling SO very happy after I taught my one class a week at Endurance - so happy that it didn't even feel like work - but not getting that same feeling of enjoyment and personal satisfaction when I was managing.
It was at this point that I asked myself the question, "If not now, then when?" Why am I not teaching yoga more when that is what I love and what inspires me on a daily basis? We all know that life is short. Anything can happen to each and every one of us at any moment in time. That is why I chose to live my life in the moment and live every moment to its fullest - like it is my last one. What is the point of working a job if you don't truly love it? For me, my life is my work, and vice versa. I am living my yoga in all waking moments of my day, even when I'm not on my mat. I feel truly sorry for those who work just for the money - slaving away and not enjoying what they do one tiny bit. I may not ever be a millionaire, but at least I can say that I am happy doing what I love for a living.
I made the decision almost a month ago to leave my stable job as the manager of one of Boston's best yoga studios and I have to say I have never once regretted my decision. I followed my heart knowing that if I'm passionate about what I'm meant to do in this world, the pieces will eventually fall into place.
So that is what I'm doing right now...I took the leap and now I'm putting the pieces into place. Slowly, like putting together a 500 piece puzzle, my new business adventures are coming together. I'm picking up more yoga classes to teach, building a fabulous private clientele, working on my website, and am finally pursuing and growing my freelance marketing business - Om Shanti Marketing Services.
The universe is truly amazing. If you ask for something and are positive and open, you will undoubtedly receive it. I hope this inspires YOU to go for your dreams...remember, if not now, then when??