the life-changing magic of manifestation ✨
aka how I finagled my way into a sold-out Peloton class
#WednesdayWisdom
“my job isn’t to figure out how it’s going to happen, it’s to show up & watch God make it happen.” ~
Morning Musings
While we were in NYC for my book launch, I knew I wanted to take a class at Peloton Studios. For those of y’all who’ve started reading the book (or remember the original essay from Well + Good), I have somewhat of a complicated relationship with the popular fitness app. But I looove their yoga instructor, Chelsea Jackson Roberts.
I had the pleasure of first meeting Chelsea at a yoga retreat for women of color in the mountains of Georgia back in 2018 (and I also interviewed her for another Well + Good story in 2020). Simply put, I believe she is the Beyoncé of yoga, which is to say she’s a star, yes, and she has a superhuman gift for making everyone who is in her presence feel loved, safe and powerful. And that yoga retreat was no different.
In the Sister Circle on our final night of the retreat, we both publicly shared our desires to become moms (and ended up both sharing our difficult journeys to getting there in the years since), which makes it even more special to see both of us living out our dreams now with our little ones.
Now you see why I just had to be in her gospel flow class that Sunday. Unbeknownst to me, however, registration for classes at the studio open up six weeks ahead of time and you could say I had a lot on my plate about six weeks ago. So you can imagine my disappointment when I saw her class was full. But nevertheless, I persisted!
I signed for the waitlist a few days before the scheduled class and packed my yoga set (Peloton and purple, of course) in the event I made it off the waitlist and into class. Upon realizing I was four classes away from my 350th yoga class milestone, I also did some five-minute savasana in our hotel room. Again, in the event I made it off the waitlist.
Come Sunday morning I woke up at 6:30 (the website recommends arriving an hour before class if you’re on the waitlist as spots go to those who are in the studio first); ordered an Uber and checked in at 7:30. I would find out at 8 a.m. (a half hour before class) if I made it in!
All the while I was DM’ing Chelsea and telling her how I was going to manifest my way into class. I was partially joking, but I also believed it…and I achieved it (with some help from Chelsea along the way).
And let me tell you, her class was EVERYTHING! The studio was a bit smaller than I expected. There were only seven people taking class, including me. But I liked the intimate setting. We each had a front-row seat to Yoga Beyoncé. I was especially excited that it was a gospel slow flow as our frenzy to get to NYC from Chicago had been a bit hectic and I could use all the R&R I could get. And Chelsea did not disappoint, plus she gave me a really nice shoutout, which is like every Pelotoners dream!
When we got to child’s pose (a hip-opening pose that has a reputation for making people cry, all bets were off and the tears came running down my face. I forget what song was playing, but it was definitely appropriate for the moment. But what really set me over the edge (in a good way!) was what Chelsea was saying about leaving the previous day behind and focusing on the now.
I was beating myself up pretty badly on our way to NYC (TL;DR: I overslept, we nearly missed our flight, our bags were delayed, the Uber took forever) and my inner critic, Negative Nancy, was being super loud.
But there, in that studio, Chelsea gave me and six other people permission to pause, to feel and, in my case, cry. And I felt SO much better afterward. Manifestation FTW!
Manifestation has been oversimplified as of late, if you ask me. Some people talk about it as if all it requires is rubbing a magic lamp and making a wish like in Aladdin (RIP, Robin Williams 🙏🏾), but that’s not how it works.
Manifestation is about doing the work and meeting the moment. If I hadn’t packed my clothes with the expectation of going to class and setting my alarm to make it the studio on time (unlike with the airport the day before), then I wouldn’t have gotten into the class. Manifestation is about rising to the occasion and believing things will work out in your favor (instead of always assuming the worst).
Lately I’ve adopted the lyric “Everything's working for my good for always” from Kirk Franklin’s “Love Theory” as a personal affirmation of sorts. That’s not to say if you simply believe it, you will achieve it. But if you do the work, prepare for the moment and then trust God, the Universe or whatever you believe in to do it’s thing, then the thing is much more likely to happen for you.
Our words hold power, as do our thoughts and our beliefs. So what will you believe about yourself?
Stop Waiting for Perfect is Out Now!
See You on (Book) Tour!
Tuesday, Sept. 5: Harford County Library in Abingdon, MD
Wednesday, Sept. 6: Red Emma’s in Baltimore, MD
Sept. 15: Barbara’s Bookstore in Lombard, IL
ICYMI
Mama, I made it! I was recently featured in Essence, where I talk about helping Black women everywhere divorce themselves from perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and fear. P.s. shoutout to my friend Traci for the screenshot!
What I’m Reading/Watching/Listening To
📖 Real Self-Care by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin
🎧 Jaguar II by Victoria Monét
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Thank You
A special thank-you to April, Cait, Amanda, Harleen, Megan, Najja, Jessica, Priti, Cat, Jenna, Mallory, Rachel, Angel, Sarah, Camesha, Vix, Anna, Stephanie, Dominique, Tiffany, Emily, Mabinty, Lindsey, Casey, Lynnae and Dani for becoming paid subscribers and helping to fuel this newsletter. I truly appreciate your support!
I love the reminder of "meeting the moment." I completely agree with you that the core idea of manifestation has been butchered lately; you still have to put in the work! I'm so glad you got into that class!
YES YES YES!!!! "Manifestation is about rising to the occasion and believing things will work out in your favor (instead of always assuming the worst)...That’s not to say if you simply believe it, you will achieve it. But if you do the work, prepare for the moment and then trust God, the Universe or whatever you believe in to do it’s thing, then the thing is much more likely to happen for you."