International Women’s Day + Some IG Love

Happy International Women’s Day!

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

The theme of this global celebration for 2019 is “Balance for Better” and no, they don’t mean in dandayamana janu sirsasana (BOOM! Sanskrit knowledge mic drop!)

The inspiration for today is this:

A balanced world is a better world. How can you help forge a more gender-balanced world?
Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

International Women’s Day (IWD) has occurred for well over a century, with the first​ ​IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.​ Make IWD your day – everyday. #IWD2019 #BalanceforBetter

We are celebrating with some deeply inspiring shares from IG that tap into the heart and soul of NJ yoga and the VibeWell Festivals, which highlight exactly how amazing the women teaching and practicing yoga in NJ truly are.

And thank you to Satsang Yoga in Westfield for our main image of some incredible women!

Here they are…

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Happy international women’s day to all of the beautiful women in the world. But especially my black sisters, my black queer sisters, my black masc. identifying sisters, my black trans sisters, black sex workers, my sisters on welfare, black sexual and domestic abuse victims, black mothers and anyone else society likes to overlook. Anyone else society doesn’t deem worthy. You are all my sisters. And although today, we celebrate all women, I especially celebrate you! #problackisntantiwhite #problackwomenisproallwomen

A post shared by Patricia | Yoga Teacher (@blk.bodhi) on Mar 8, 2019 at 9:44am PST

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when I was 19 I started dating someone at school, he was sweet and tall and I was new to the college. he told me I was cute and loved my edginess. a month or so in I got the tattoos you see on my chest one night with a friend, I excitedly texted him a photo of my new art.. he broke up with me on the spot through text, saying I was disgusting and slutty, why else would I get “tit tattoos,” he was even mad I let someone touch me there to get them in the first place. he told me it was stupid and ugly and unprofessional and unless I was planning to be a Suicide Girl (ya know those super hot alt models from back when) and “we both know I couldn’t do that,” that it was sickening to him that I wouldn’t even tell him first and that now I’ve ruined myself . I was lost. I already had a few but I guess they were coverable. I was defeated and demeaned and embarrassed. it was right before an event he was having and he uninvited me, saying he couldn’t even consider letting his family see how gross I was . I cried. I was hurt and I wanted my diamonds gone in that moment. I questioned myself and my body and my self worth. was I seeking attention? would I really never get a job? . then I remembered who the fuck I was. I vividly remember laying on my floor laughing hysterically at this tiny child baby man that tried to knock me down with his patriarchal standards of beauty and sexuality. I texted him one final time to tell him to enjoy his sad, abusive existence and laughed my way through the rest of the day . . on #internationalwomensday I wish for all the women in my life self-love, fearless, fierce, unrelenting self-love. you are beautiful. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #love #selflove #internationalwomensday #women #woman #femme #girlpower #ladies #girlpower #female #tattoos #beauty #happiness #worth #power #strength #gratitude #yoga #njyogacollective #vsco

A post shared by Jordan Marciano • RYT 200 (@jordanfmarciano) on Mar 8, 2019 at 10:45am PST

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I really treasure creating. I like dreaming up ideas in my mind and making them come true. Transforming and shaping the world around me- building unique ideas that I’ve never seen before. I don’t take that something is impossible as an answer- if it’s in my mind-I need to see it to fruition, no matter the road blocks or challenges in the way. Ask John, once I set my mind on it, it’s pretty hard to shake me from that path. 🙊 I love to see others explore their unique ideas, to explore their passions. It’s so inspiring to see the interesting visions and dreams people have in their minds. Dichotomy is the fire of life, it’s what makes us all special and unique- what pushes us to innovate, explore, make something the world has never seen before. Sometimes social media feels like an echo chamber, people think they have to copy what someone else is doing because that’s trendy, popular, or successful. Innovation and creativity dies when everything is confined to one particular view or aesthetic. Be you, explore the magic in your mind- not the stuff you see everyone else doing. #bythebeatofyourowndrum #liveyourtruth

A post shared by natalia difolco (@nataliadifolco) on Feb 16, 2019 at 2:20pm PST

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“You are a child of God, and always will be, even when you don’t believe it.” ~ Richard Rohr • • There comes a time when we have read the books that promise the secrets to happiness, taken the supplements that help detoxification, created a routine of self-care and self- love, and taken time to nourish our inner child through meditation, yoga, exercise, therapy, nature etc; but… the emotions still move inside us in a motion that spin us back into our wounds. • • I truly know it too well. There were times when I couldn’t get out of bed because my hormones were so out of balance and my skin literally burned. Sometimes in those moments, I would feel such intuitive hits, and realize that people I thought I trusted were actually not truly supportive the way they claimed to be. Ouch. Intuition can be super tricky. Hormones can become the thief of our inner joy by putting us into a high alert. And if we are empaths our auric fields become sensitive and we feel things that are not even ours to feel! How do we differentiate? • • So many are healing these days. • • In a few months there will be a brand new online class for all of you interested. A friend of mine is producing it, and I am going to be your host sharing everything I know on how to overcome the intensity of this time. • • If you aren’t signed up for my newsletter, you can subscribe on my website which is in my bio. • • Until then… remember… you are a child of the divine. You are loved. And you are healing for generations.

A post shared by Karena Virginia (@karenavirginia) on Feb 15, 2019 at 5:40am PST

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I’m a high school drop out. I never really speak to it because I’m always fearful that others will make assumptions about my intelligence, but my intelligence quotient had absolutely nothing to do with my desire to leave a system of conditioning that was so clearly set up to filter me right into our modern day rat race. The truth was, I never felt like I belonged. Everything from my peers to the subject matter to even the daily routine – it was all just so depthless. In my last months before I left, I was lucky enough to take an American Literature class, and was finally lead through my first deep dive below the surface. We studied the Transcendentalism movement, mostly Thoreau and Emerson. I remember being completely enthralled by their work and the way they pondered and wrote about our existence, nature, self-reflection, and the idea of God or a higher power. Now, 10 years later, as I teach the history of yoga, I get to speak about both Thoreau and Emerson and the ways in which they were instrumental in bringing the teachings yoga, particularly The Bhagavad Gita, to the West. Life has really interesting way of coming full circle and reminding us that we are on the right path. My yoga journey began long before I was ever aware. I urge you to pay close attention to the things that excite you, never stop questioning, and don’t ever lose your sense of wonder. There’s always something to discover. ✨

A post shared by Megan Bailey (@megfromwithin) on Mar 6, 2019 at 3:00pm PST

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“We are visitors on this planet. We are here for 90-100 years at the very most. During that period we must try to do something good, something useful with our lives. If you contribute to other people’s happiness, you will discover the true goal, the true meaning of life.” The Dalai Lama Peace and happiness in our lives is important, as we radiate out what we feel within.. however maybe instead of seeking happiness, we should seek to find ourselves and wake up to our purpose in this world. Not just going through the motions or doing what we think we should but be of benefit to our community by sharing our gifts, love and compassion with one another. 📸 @suzanne.kulperger Lovely yogi lifting me up @jrenaywright • • • #dalailama #lifteachotherup #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #njyoga #njyogacollective #yoganj #capemay

A post shared by Cape May Yoga (@capemayyoga) on Mar 7, 2019 at 10:59am PST

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With Gratitude for ALL your Birthday Wishes and Blessings. . . Entering 50 this weekend has been a celebration that has helped me feel most grateful and authentic. And ready to Begin Again – . . What I have learned in my 50 years – from my wisest teachers and friends – is that there is magical moment when we "have it all together". ——- When I was young, I thought this whole "living" thing – aging thing – was about becoming better or right, or… perfect… But I have learned that the point is not to become perfected – but rather to become authentic… Learning to experience and partake in the wonder of being alive – fully. Learning to Love and receive Love. . . .pc: @sfreneenyc thank you for capturing this sweet moment . #Thisis50 #ItsNotAboutBecomingPerfectItsAboutBecomingAuthentic #Gratitude #Celebrating #BeginAgain #Grateful #Joy #LoveMore 💕🧘🏻‍♀️🙏🎸🐾🧚‍♀️🤗💃

A post shared by Jillian Pransky (@jillianpransky) on Jun 9, 2018 at 11:17am PDT

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See something, Say something I was at trader Joe's earlier in the week to grab a few things for dinner. I have a bit of a routine; I do my shopping, get myself some flowers then grab a sample of coffee…I actually don't drink coffee but its just this weird routine I have when I go to Trader Joe’s. lol. As I was getting my sample, an older woman behind the counter (Amelia) motioned towards me to tell me, "seeing you with your hair like this is so refreshing, I'm so tired of seeing these young ladies trying to manipulate their hair to be something that it isn't. We need to appreciate our own style of hair, I love seeing your hair free, just as it is…" Ill tell you, these words were so simple, so short, but they made me smile and warmed me from the inside. My hair wasn't really that done and looked a bit messy in my opinion, but to hear somebody speak words that wiped away all of my doubt made me feel amazing. you never know how you are touching somebody, what words reach who. But if you see something, just speak of it, let that person know that you see them. . . Just me basking in my fro

A post shared by ☽ P H Y L L I C I A ☾ (@yogi_goddess) on Mar 7, 2019 at 6:26pm PST

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My thoughts can easily drift into planning or imagining; you know, mentally leaning into the next moment in time. How often do I unconsciously ‘steal’ away to the next moment and scatter my attention from the present. Contemplating the third Yama, (Asteya) non-stealing, during this past week I noted the frequency with which my mind gets distracted by ‘what’s next’. At the core of a solid practice is the cultivation of a quiet mind, not a mind that is forced to be still. Rather, a mind that is increasingly aware of drifting off and is agile enough to shift back into a mindful state. 📷: @featherandroot ♥️ —————————————— #wellness #mindfulness #turninward #presentmoment #yogateacher #meditation #yogaphilosophy #yamas

A post shared by ellenmosko (@ellenmoskoyoga) on Feb 1, 2019 at 2:27pm PST