lovey chilled-out yoga mix-tape

A bit of a slower mix.  Each song makes my heart flutter just a little bit.

1.  Birds and Ships ~ Billy Bragg and Wilco

2.  Land Rights ~ Xavier Rudd

3.  By & by ~ Brett Dennen

4.  Hard Sun ~ Eddie Veder

5.  A Song About California ~ Hey Ocean

6.  Never Going Back Again ~ Fleetwood Mac

7.  Sugar Magnolia ~ Grateful Dead

8.  One Step Closer to You ~ Michael Franti

9.  Date with Destiny ~ Nightmare on Wax

10. Under African Skies ~ Paul Simon

11.  Joy ~ Phish

12.  You and Me ~ Dave Matthews

13.  Songbird ~ Fleetwood Mac

14.  Your Long Journey ~ Robert Plant and Alison Kraus

15.  Pocahontas ~ Neil Young

my top ten albums to play all the way through

I love the energy that goes into creating the perfect playlist.  Thinking about the flow, thinking about the people who will be in the class and surfing through my songs to find just the right list to stoke the fire. 

But sometimes, an album is just meant to be played, just as the artist intended, from track one all the way through.

Here are a few amazing albums that I love to toss on, flip upside down, and just hit play. 

(In no particular order)

1. Florence and the Machine ~ Lungs

2. Robert Plant and Alison Kraus ~ Raising Sand

3. Paul Simon ~ Graceland

4. Mumford and Sons ~ Sigh no More

5. Jai Uttal ~ Bhakti Bazaar

6. Massive Attack ~Protection

7. Kings of Leon ~ Because of the Times

8. Billy Bragg and Wilco ~ Mermaid Avenue

9. Grateful Dead ~ American Beauty

10. Led Zepellin ~ III

I want some more!!!  What albums do you find are best played right on through?

I am a willow tree

me and my mom :)

“When I am a willow tree, I can be with another and can still stand my ground — I don’t change and become a different kind of tree just to please the other. I stand as myself even when the other pushes up against me. But I can bend when I want to, and I can grow when I need to." ~ Janet Luhrs

My Momma taught me this.

But sometimes I forget this and I go through the day trying to be a magnolia tree because they are beautiful; or an apple tree because people need apple trees; or an evergreen because they are constant and don't seem to change with the seasons.

This is dangerous because in trying to be all of these things I miss the whole point.  And the point is that being a willow tree is pretty fucking great!  I'm strong with gnarly bark. I have these huge branches that create amazing shade for people to take solace under.  And my leaves make the most beautiful sound as the wind rustles through them.

I am a willow tree, and "I can bend when I want to and I can grow when I need to."

Last year for Christmas, Mike gave me an angel.  A Willow Tree angel named happiness.  She sits in my yoga room and her purpose is to encourage the freedom to sing, laugh, dance and create.  I love her.  She is my reminder to be who I am, quirks and all.  And to not get caught up in the humdrum of life but to keep on dancing and flowing and creating.

This month is all about mindfulness.  I have flirted with meditation on and off since Bali and now I am ready to give it a serious go. There was a moment during my yoga teacher training when I felt it, or I guess in feeling it I didn't really feel anything at all.  I don't really know.  But the point is I've been longing for it ever since.

This whole experiment started out of a burning feeling that there is more to it than this.  It being life and this being the daily going on of eat, sleep, work, gossip, play, repeat.  Meditation, says, Bhante Gunaratana, is an "investigation and an experiment, an adventure every time".  Well I'm up for some adventure.  Especially an adventure where "the goal is liberation".  

This month isn't so much about the search for happiness but about that burning desire for greater awareness.  For a deeper connection to everything and the comfort in knowing that there is really nothing. And a true acceptance to be who I am as I am, standing tall as a willow tree in the middle of the forrest. 

Me and the unicorns.


Resolutions:

~ Meditate every day.  Start at 15 mins and go up 5 mins each week finishing the month at a full 30 minutes.
~ Every week try a different meditation technique
~ Read Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana
~ Keep a meditation journal
~ Don't expect anything, don't over analyze anything, except everything that comes up and just notice.

Bhante Gunartana says that the mind is like a cup of muddy water. Mix it all up and it gets cloudy and you can’t make out any of the parts. But let it sit, and the mud will settle to the bottom and what you have left is clear water. Meditation stills the mind, settling the mud and allowing us to see more clearly.

I want to see more clearly

"I want to unfold, let no place in me hold itself closed, for where I am closed I am false." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Yoga Playlist #3

I've been teaching a Pilates Barre class for the past couple of months.  A super fun, up-tempo class that moves to a different beat.  Here's the playlist.  Each song is around 120bpm, perfect for a super fun and sweaty vinyasa flow class!!!

1. You are the Best Thing ~ Ray LaMontagne

2. Our Song ~ Taylor Swift

3. Soulshine ~ Michael Franti

4. Short Skirt/Long Jacket ~ Cake

5. Dreams ~ Fleetwood Mac

6. Don't Stop til You Get Enough ~ Michael Jackson

7. Hung Up ~ Madonna

8. Gatekeeper ~ Feist

9. Don't Stop ~ Fleetwood Mac

10. Shake it ~ Michael Franti (feat. Lady Saw)

11. My Moon My Man ~ Feist

12. True Love Way ~ Kings of Leon

13. Give me one Reason ~ Tracey Chapman

14. Opera Singer ~ Cake

15. Let it be Me ~ Phish

...yes, I know Taylor Swift is there on the list, she's my dirty little secret...don't judge.

What do you think about during warrior pose?

During yoga class I search for calm.  That peace and quiet that comes and goes as I flow from one pose to the next focusing on my breath.

It's a struggle to quiet the monkeys and enjoy a couple of moments free from thought.  If I get one moment of quiet during a class I consider myself lucky.

Here are a couple of funny videos of what some others are thinking about while down doggin'.  Thanks to MindBodyGreen for sharing!

*warning* a couple of swears here and there...And they pretty much cover every stereotype, but good for a laugh!

Enjoy!

Yoga Playlist # 2

In an attempt to get into the flow of posting on a more regular basis, it's a toss-up between 'Meatless (recipe) Mondays' and 'Music Mondays'.  So far the playlists have won out! 

Last week Happiness for All gave me a great music recommendation in comments...please share if you have any too!!!

1. Karma ~ Soulfood

2. Fig Tree ~ Brett Dennen

3. It's a Fire ~ Portishead

4. Choices ~ Xavier Rudd

5. Waste ~ Phish

6. Fake Empire ~ The National

7. 40 Day Dream ~ Edward Sharpe and the Manetic Zeros

8. Soulshine ~ Michael Franti

9.  You are the Best Thing ~ Ray LaMontagne

10.  Restless ~ Alison Krauss

11. Groovin' Slowly ~ John Butler Trio

12. Let me Lie ~ Phish

13. Honey Honey ~ Feist

14. Darlin' ~ Bambi Lee Savage

15.  Enchanted Dream ~ Soulfood

ps...yes, I do realise today is Tuesday...

Yoga Playlist #1

There's this whole debate out there in the yoga world as to whether or not music should be played during yoga.  I'm not going to get in to all the details here because a) I don't care.   b) I understand both sides of the debate. and c) it's really a personal preference.

I play music during my class when I teach.  I love how a certain beat, rhythm or lyric can speak to you or help you to centre in. 

When I practice at home, it's a 50/50 split between practicing to music and practicing in silence.  While practicing to music I often allow my body to move to the beat, sing out loud and engage in a total dance party for one.  In silence, I love the way I can hear and feel my breath in my body.  My breath becomes my rhythm and that too can speak to me and help me to centre in.

Because I do play music while I teach, at the end of class I'm often asked about this song or that.  So I thought I'd start to post my playlists for all to enjoy.

Here's what I've been rocking out to during class this week!

1. Birds and Ships ~ Billy Bragg & Wilco
2. Boy With a Coin ~ Iron & Wine
3. Ain't No Reason ~ Brett Dennen
4. True Love Way ~ Kings of Leon
5. Closer ~ Kings of Leon
6. My Moon My Man ~ Feist
7. Peaches & Cream ~ John Butler Trio
8. Give me One Reason ~ Tracey Chapman
9. Hasn't Hit me Yet ~ Blue Rodeo
10. Please Read the Letter ~ Robert Plant & Alison Kraus
11. Dreams of 18 ~ Lal Meri
12. Let it Be Me ~ Ray LaMontagne
13. By Your Grace ~ Krishna Das

Bon Weekend!!!

back to the charting board




After a long day of travel in Indonesia.  ...this is how I feel today.

 
I'm tired.  Like dog ass tired.  At first I thought it might be the weather.  Than I thought it could be 'that' time of my cycle.  Than I thought maybe it could be because my schedule is getting busier.  I'm sure it's a combo of all three.  But also the fact that I've been eating like shit, going to bed late and getting up later and have been missing my morning yoga practice.

During my Energy month I was feeling great!  I was following my intentions, loving ticking things off and truly had more energy.  I thought that I could just keep it up without the daily reminder.  But the only thing that has stuck is improved dental hygiene.  I am now a regular flosser...my dentist would be so proud.

So, back to charting.

So far this month of relationships hasn't been the most successful.  Probably because I've been so tired and lazy.  Which, I should tell you are not the best ingredients when you're living with someone who is also tired and you're both trying to work on your relationship.  But, we're trying.  And have agreed that our relationship deserves two months.  So this will carry over.

I came across this great article on Elephant Journal about relationships and will add some of this in too.

The Whole Point of Every Relationship (is probably not what you think it is).

Anyways, did a big grocery shop with lots of veggies so this should help the three servings.  Also, changed my schedule around a bit so that my early mornings are free next week so I can get my yoga on!!!  It's amazing how being tired can affect everything.  Need to remember to always watch my energy levels!

~peace :)

marriage is like a team of horses

me and my parents at Bugolksa S. Korea

Yesterday was my parents 40th anniversary.  That's right, 4-0.  It's a big red ruby anniversary that was celebrated with family, food and one too many drinks.  For their present I put together a scrap book.  A lovely idea, and one that they really appreciated.  A lovely idea that ended up taking me hours and hours to put together.  I had no idea scrapbooking would be this hard.  *note to self ~ next time you think it's a good idea to make a scrap book for someone, remember - it's not.

Anyways, as I went through the photos for the book, it was like watching my parents grow up together.  Literally grow up together, they were 19 when they were married.  The love that they share for eachother is so clear in every picture.  My parents have been amazing role models for me and my brothers.  And at dinner the other night as my dad handed my mom a ring shaped box, the look of surprise and awe and absolute adoration that flashed under batted eyelashes from my mom to her husband made all of our hearts flutter.

For this scrap book I asked their family and friends to write in stories and memories for my parents.  The emails that came in were amazing and showed how much they're loved.  They were likened to Romeo and Juliet by friends and a good team of horses by family.  As the story goes, my great grandmother used to say that a good marriage was like a team of horses, you could only move forward if you pulled in the same direction.

With all this love and committment on my mind, it seems fitting that this month - in my no shit experiment - will be all about 'relationships'.  Not relationships in general, just one relationship really.  The one that consists of me and my homeboy.
side note~ yes, I am still doing this experient...last months theme of finances just didn't leave me with much to write about... not a topic I've really taken an interest in, but one that I did need to focus on and learn some basic principles...which I did...so now on to the fun stuff.

Relationships!!!

Here are some ideas I think might help to strengthen our relationship:

1)  Just do it ~ if there's something that I want to do, I can't always wait for the man to want to do it too...and then feel resentful when we miss out.  If I want to do it, I should just do it.
2)  15 mins of quiet together ~ I know this doesn't seem like much, but as I was writing it down I thought "how are we going to manage this?"  This means 15 mins a day just the two of us, no t.v., no books, no ipad...just a chance for us to sit, lay or whatever together in quiet and enjoy eachother.
3)  Proofs of love  (idea from the Happiness Project)~ leave notes, texts, hugs, kisses, anything as reminders of our love for eachother.
4)  Follow through ~ no matter how big or small, if I say I'm going to do it, then I'm going to do it.  If I say I'm going to wash the dishes, I'm going to wash the dishes.  If I say I'm going to clean our pad from top to bottom, cook dinner and give him a fully body massage all while reciting Shakespear from memory, than that's what I'm going to do.  No more putting our relationship and things around our relationship on hold for other 'important' things.  We are the important things.
5)  1x per week activity together; yoga, hiking, rock climbing, whatever.  Something active and out of the house.
6)  Read If the Buddha Married.  Give the homeboy the coles notes version
7)  Honesty ~ speak and act from a place of truth.  Sometimes we sacrafice our own truth as a means to avoid hurting the other.  And in the end, we both get hurt.  Honesty first!!

Just like a good horse, I ran these by the man and he is 'on board'!  Now let's see just how fast we can run together!!

Any ideas to help build a stronger/healthier relationship?  Please leave in comments.

hotdoggin'

Sometimes a girls just gotta do a little hotdoggin'.

Here are some things I've been working on over the last year.  The shadow pics are from last summer up at my cottage at Rice Lake.  The instagram pics are from yesterday, on a long drive home from an amazing day with my homeboy. 

*All photos taken by my homeboy

crow ~ bakasana

dancer ~ natarajasana

forearm balance ~ pincha mayurasana

tree ~ vrksana

hand to foot ~ hasta padangustasana

handstand ~ adho mukha vrksasana

eight angle pose ~ astavakrasana

wheel ~ urdhva dhanurasana

rockstar ~ rockstar



single leg crow ~ eka pada bakasana





Stopping to smell the flowers



~Peace :)

when fingers don't wanna fing

Life seems to go a little something like this:

It's the times when I need yoga the most that I feel the laziest.  The restlessness builds up through my spine and what I need is to flip upside down, draw circles with my body and engage in some light head-banging.  But what I end up doing is sitting at the computer reading stories about other people doing yoga.

It's the times when I need to write the most that I feel the least creative.  My mind races with stories untold - which are dying to be told - and I catch myself speaking aloud, writing it all into thin air.  These are the times that my hands crave the catharsis of writing.  These are the times when I sit, with idle hands, still reading stories about other peoples stories.

So in an attempt to get this out of me, to unleash whatever it is that is building up inside me, I fly through a couple of sun salutations.  I sit down to write.  Only to discover that my body really does just want some rest.  My fingers really don't feel like finging at all.

It's best not to force it. 

Here's a poem instead.  A lovely little poem by Clay Harrison.

One to remind me to take solace in, and give thanks to, the simple things in life. 

One to remind me that sometimes it's okay to be a bit lazy and uncreative.

A poem that could just as easily be called "Stop fucking worrying about what your'e not doing and pay attention to all the wonder that's happening around you!  See those trees changing colour?  They don't care whether or not you did yoga today.  Enjoy the beauty of the moment...then go write about it."

Precious Moments by Clay Harrison

Rainbows and roses after the rain,

The splendor of twilight embracing the plain...

Strolls by the seaside beneath a full moon,

A butterfly's flight from an empty cocoon.

A carpet of leaves of pure autumn gold,

Reflections of love in the young and the old...

Blossoms of apple and cherry and plum,

The joy of a child when Christmas has come.

The beauty of sunset setting the hillside aglow,

The wonder and peace of new fallen snow...

Bee's making honey, the glory of spring,

A mockingbird learning a new song to sing.

The stillness of dawn's pale lavender skies,

The leaping of hearts when a baby first cries...

The splendor and grace of an eagle in flight,

The silence of stars guarding the night.

A baby's first step, a daughter's first prayer,

Our flag proudly waving in cool mountain air...

A lover's first kiss, a hug from a friend,

It's these precious moments we pray never end.

money money money mo-nay

This month is all about finances.  And although watching every dollar come in and out most likely will not make me happier, at the end of the day actually dealing with my finances might.

For years, my parents would sit me down to have 'the talk'.  No this talk was not about the birds and the bees, I knew about that.  This talk was about money.  My eyes would glaze over, Salt 'n Peppa's Shoop would play on repeat in my head and 'the talk' would end with me just walking out the door.

Student debt, a maxed out credit card and a struggling yoga teacher's salary does not a happy budget make.  But for the first time ever I'm excited to tackle my bank account.

If last month is any indication, writing out a chart of my resolutions will help me to make better decisions throughout the day.  Through writing down the things I thought would give me more energy and then tracking them at the end of each day, I've become a conscious choice maker. 

With the intention of being out of bed by 7:30am, I set my alarm in the morning to get me up and get my day going even if my first class isn't til noon.

If I know I don't have time to get for a long walk during the day, I leave a little bit earlier so that I can walk to and from work. 

Every time I go to make a meal, my chart flashes to mind, and that box beside '3 servings of veggies' is just screaming to be checked.

On the other hand, saying yes to that fifth glass of wine at the end of the night probably not the best idea, but at least I'm aware of the fact that I'm making a decision to drink that fifth glass of wine.  And when I feel  like shit the next day, I can clearly track it back to decisions made.

Already this week with each purchase I make, I'm running up the tally in my head to see if I'm within my budget; and then analyzing what's in my hand based on what I want vs what I  need.  Do I need new shampoo?  Yes.  Do I need a new sable coloured hand towel for the washroom becuase it's fall?  Probably not. Did I get it anyways?  Yes.  Again, just because I'm aware and making choices more consciously doesn't always mean that I'll make the right choice, just that I'm aware.

I'm going to keep up with my resolutions from last month, because I do feel like I have more energy and I think that those are resolutions I'd like to keep going for a long while.

This months resolutions with regards to finance are a bit different.  Some are daily and some are just things that I'd like to do within the month. 

Daily:
~ write down every dollar spent and what it's spent on
~ follow a daily/weekly budget
~ read one article about basic finance

Within the Month:
~ visit with a financial planner
~ read The Wealthy Barber (which I've already started and am actually enjoying.  An old Christmas present from my parents one year that was promplty tossed in a box.  I've had to borrow my parents copy)

So, will having more energy and a better handle on my finances actually make me happier??  I have no idea.  But so far having resolutions and making choices consciously is definitely making me feel good.

15 quotes on waking up

One of my favourite things in a yoga class is when the instructor reads a poem or shares a quote either at the beginning or the end of the class.  Something to get you thinking, something to take home with you.  I try to do this in most of my classes and through doing the reading and the research to find little drops of inspiration, I've come across some real gems.

Here are my favourites.

On opening your heart

Stop the words now. 
Open the window in the centre of your chest,
and let the spirits fly in and out.
~Rumi

On opening your mind

I want to unfold. 
Let no place in me hold itself closed, for where I am closed,
I am false.
~ Ranier Maria Rilke

Full circle

We are here to do. 
And through doing to learn.
And through learning to know.
And through knowing to experience wonder.
And through wonder to attain wisdom.
And through wisdom to find simplicity.
And through simplicity to give attention.
And through attention to see what needs to be done.
~ Ben Hei Hei

On Feelings

Feel your emotions, live true your passions, keep still your mind.
~Geoffrey M. Gluckman

On Stillness

Be still.
Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity.
~Lao Tzu

On Yoga

Yoga is the study of balance, and balance is the aim of all living creatures:
It is our home.
~Rolf Gates

On Gratitude

The best things in life are nearest.
Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet,
duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.
Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain work as it comes,
certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

On acceptance

Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing, there is a field.
I'll meet you there.
~Rumi

On angels

Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers "Grow, Grow".
~The Talmud

On Peace

Peace is every step.
The shining red sun is my heart.
Each flower smiles at me.
How green, how fresh all that grows.
How cool the wind blows.
Peace is every step.
It turns the endless path to joy.
~Thich Nhat Hanh

On Waking Up

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.
~Rumi

Because Rumi said so

Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
~Rumi

Because Patanjali said so

The mind becomes clear and serene when these qualities of the heart are cultivated.

Friendliness toward the joyful
Compassion toward the suffering
Happiness toward the pure
and understanding toward the impure

Peacefulness towards all beings.
I am blessed with peace.
I am peace itself

Joyfullness towards all beings.
I am blessed with joy.
I am joy itself.

Kindness towards all beings.
I am blessed with loving kindness.
I am loving kindness itself.

Compassion towards all beings.
I am blessed with compassion.
I am compassion itself in action.
~Yoga Sutra of Patanjali 1:33

Because St. Theresa said so

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you
are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite
possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
~St. Theresa's Prayer

Because Gandhi said so

Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.
~Mahatma Gandhi

What are your favourite droppings?  Please share in comments.

be quiet

I just caught the tail end of Eat, Pray, Love on t.v.  Just as I tuned in, Julia Roberts was cycling through the rice paddies of Bali.  It brought me back to my time in Ubud during my yoga teacher training.  Mike and I rented a house in the paddies.  There was no t.v, no internet, no music, just us and the symphony of birds that shared our space.  It was peaceful, and quiet.  Every morning at 5:30am, Mike would get up with me and scoot me to the training.  The sun would just be coming up and the birds would just be starting their song and we would be sleepy and all seemed just as it should. 

In this quiet, I had moments of clarity.  Through stillness I started to get the teeniest glimpse of my true self.

On the last day of training, while in savasana our instructor Vidya placed a card next to each of our mats.  Mine was 'Be Quiet'.  Here's what it says.

Be Quiet

The mind's engagement with activity is noise.
Which prevents us from being at peace and knowing the truth.
The easiest and most direct way to know truth is simply to be quiet, not engage the mind and remain in present awareness.
When the mind wanders to the past or future, gently refocus back to the present moment.
This card is a call to change your focus beyond this noise of mind.
It is a quest to simply be in consciousness.
In peace, finding truth and beauty, the answer to your questions lies in Being Quiet.

I'm going through a slight period of transition right now, and a serious period of frustration as I'm pretty much back to the drawing board as far as building up my teaching hours again.  I'm feeling lost.  I have so many questions.  "Am I on the right path?" And, "should I get a new job?", seem to be at the top of the list.  As I go through the day trying to figure it all out, there is a lot of noise that is filling my space.  And I can't hear the answers. 

I need to remind myself to slow down, to be still and be quiet.

are you happy?

Are you happy?  This is the question posed by Gretchen Rubin in her book The Happiness Project.  Or more specifically: could you be happier?

I devoured this book in a couple of days, not becuase the writing was so good (it was okay), but because I've become obssessed with the idea of being happier.

A couple of months ago during yoga, as the class winded down into savasana the instructor said to bring someone to mind that could use a little extra love.  And you know who came to mind: me.  Like a five year old version of me.  I started crying.  Luckily the class was online through www.myyogaonline.com and I was in the comfort of my own home enjoying a very nice pants off morning.  Nothing like a good cry in your undies.

This got me thinking: a) I need more friends, b) I need to start taking better care of myself, c) I love what yoga can do

This book came to me - recommended by a student of mine- at exactly the right time.  I was breaking down.

"When the student is ready the teacher will come".  This is a buddhist proverb that Rubin talks about in her book.  This book, this idea of a happiness project has become my teacher.

This is how my happiness project is going to work.  Or as I like to call it "the no shit experiment"  As in; eating healthy will make you happier.  Uh, no shit.  Or, taking better care of your finances will make you happier.  Uh, no shit.  Or, cherrishing and having more sex with your partner will make you happier.  Uh,  not shit.  Etc, etc...

Each month will have a theme, and then within that theme there will be resolutions to help me to stay on track.

This month is all about Energy.

My resolutions, and these are daily, are to:
Eat three servings of veg/day
Have a green smoothie
Listen to music while getting ready
Do yoga
Get outside for a walk
In bed by 10pm (M-F)
Out of bed by 7:30am (M-F)
Floss

She suggests making a resoluting chart to help to keep you on track and to have a constant reminder of what your resolutions are for the month.

Mine looks like this:

But for those of you who are artsy or have any sort of computer skills it may look a little different.

So, who's up for this 'no shit experiment'?  In the words of Jerry Maguire..."who's comin' with me"?  repeatedly.

Happiness project or not here's a great way to have some fun.

Put on your favourite album, leave your yoga mat in the corner and just start to move.  See what comes up.  The freedom that comes from moving outside the confines of your mat brings up some exciting new sequences/dance moves. 

In my mind I look something like this:

I probably look something like this:

Hopefully it's somewhere in between.  Album of choice for me:  Ceremonials by Florence and the Machine!

Amazing!!!!!

Cheers to happiness!

ps.... my homeboy is doing it too!!

pps...pass it on to anyone you think could use a little extra happiness  http://happiness-project.com/

namaste yo

The other day, one of the girls in class asked me what 'namaste' means and why we say it.  I gave her a very coles notes version of my understanding behind the word and the gesture:

"namaste, I bow to the divine light within you and you bow to the divine light within me." 

She seemed satisfied with this, and so did I.

Later in the day while searchin' the 'net I came across something by someone, somewhere out there which takes my half-assed explanation a little further.

I love this. 

Then, just now, while searching for a pic for this post, I came across this interpretation.

And according to wikipedia.... my source for everything.
namah = bow
te = to you
Namaste ~ I bow to you

Namaste as a gesture is used to greet one another.  It is a gesture of respect that can be used globally between people of all age, race and gender.  Totally encompassing the belief that 'we are one'.  Hands together at heart centre "represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra" (wiki).

Namaste.  What does it mean to you????

side note: what did we do before the internet????

shake the dust

I cannot get enough of this poem.  It was posted on Elephant Journal a while back and I loved it but then forgot about it.  I was lucky enough to stumble upon it again last week.

Enjoy :)

if you aren't already drinking nettles you should be

Two weeks ago I went to 'ritual' at my holistic healers house.  As she poured our tea - an herbal concoction of her own - she said "If you aren't already drinking nettles you should be." 

We went through a guided meditation, lighting up our chakras along the way.  We spoke to our great mother of intuitions.  She spoke back.  At times it was powerful, at times unnerving, but I learned that if I asked, and had the patience to listen, she would answer.  I hadn't spoke to her in a while and I think she was glad that I called.  We were all assured that even when we're not in constant communion with her, she is always there. 

After this magical night, the thing that has sat with me the most is "If you're not already drinking nettles, you should be." 

Four days later my homeboy fell ill.  Tylenol, halls, sleep, bitch, repeat.  One week later and he's still sick, and now a little miserable at having missed two summer weekends.  I take action.  Off I go, a superhero of sorts, to the bulk food store to save the day.

me: "Excuse me, my homeboy has fallen ill.  Can you recommend some herbs I can brew up to help him feel better.  I hear nettles are a good place to start".

crotchety cashier:  Blank stare.  "There's a whole section of teas over there, grab one that says 'good for colds'".

me:  Ignore answer. Off to the herb section.

I start racking my brain trying to remember all I've read in the past about herbal immunity boosters.  I start with the nettles, a couple of scoops.  I saw someone write about bee pollen the other day, in the bag it goes.  Raspberry Leaf, yup that sounds good.  Hibiscus, I always see hibiscus in tea, bag it up.  Peppermint, my gramma loves peppermint tea and she's old and wise, in goes the peppermint.

I'm walking to the cashier, when a lovely maiden/eavesdropper says " I overheard you asking about some healing herbs for you homeboy.  May I suggest fenugreek.  It's a blood cleaner and great for phlegm and mucus.  It's not in the herb section it's over there by the spices.  God Speed, super healer".

On my way up to the register I grab some fenugreek.  I now have the perfect concoction.

Here's how it goes:

~ put on a pot of water and bring it to a boil
~ add in the herbs, about half a teaspoon of each into 3 cups of water
~ simmer concoction for 10 minutes, then strain into cups.  Toss leftovers in the fridge for some super healing on ice.

Drink, if you make a funny face, add some honey.

Healing Herbs for Happy Hommies

Nettles: anti-inflammatory (helping symptoms of arthritis), anti-asthmatic (helping clear bronchial and nasal passages), contains natural anti-histamines (great for helping with hay fever and allergies), assists body in detoxification of chemicals and heavy metals

Bee Pollen:  helps to: lower blood pressure, treat chronic fatigue, even out hormonal imbalances, reduce inflammation from arthritis, lower stress levels, improve immune function, fight allergies, aid in weight control

Raspberry Leaf:  can be ued to treat: sore throat, oral cavity irritation and gum disease, skin irritation and acne, diarrhea and inflammtion of the intestine, flu, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, fever and rubella

Hibiscus: good for: fevers and hotflashes, vitamin C and antioxidants, dandruff, acne, high blood pressure, weight loss, high cholesterol and heart disease

Peppermint:  heals: colds and flu, skin irritation, bad breath, headaches, digestion

Fenugreek:  used to: balance cholesterol, treat diabetes and lower blood sugar levels, ease skin infammation, ease heartburn and acid reflux, help with fever, cleanse blood

Cheers!!!

hey you.

Talk about timing.  This showed up in my facebook feed the other day.  Ummm yup!

confessions of an imperfect yogi

"Every moment waited is a moment wasted, and each wasted moment degrades your clarity of purpose."  ~David Deida

What's in a name?  Apparently to me, a lot.

I want to be perfect.  I want to write the perfect post, pose for the perfect picture and shoot the perfect video.  I keep waiting for the moment to be right, only to discover that there is no right moment and then the moment passes, and I don't do anything at all.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

I wish I could do

                                                                                this

this

and this

                                            
But I can't.  At least not yet.  But I can do

                                                                              this

this

and this

                                                                     
I wish I could use words like blossom and radiate and shine from your heart.

But I can't.  My dialogue is riddled with naughty words and mis-understood jokes.

I wish I could say that I do yoga every day and that my diet is kind and clean.

But I can't.  Sometimes I go a whole week without my own practice.  Sometimes I drink, sometimes I drink alot, and sometimes when I drink alot, I smoke, and then sometimes at the end of those nights of drinking and smoking,  I eat a chicken burger from mcdonalds.  I know, I know what you're thinking: sounds like a great night.  And it is.  And it's okay.

It's all okay. Slowly I'm starting to accept my imperfections and just be me.

I'm not naturally flexible, but believe strongly in the concept of 'faking it til you make it'.  My hips and legs will open with time.  I'll get stronger and be able walk around on my hands for longer.  But certain things just won't fly.  My back, my slightly spinabific back, will never let me bridge up with ease.  My shoulders, which refuse to open, keep certain poses at a distance from me. King pigeon - my absolute favourite pose - is just out of the question.  Again, this is okay.

But I need to constantly remind myself that this is all okay.  That it's okay to be where I am. I teach this, I write about this, but now I really need to "feel" it.  And so as a constant reminder to rock out and just go with it, I'm renaming this blog.  a side of yoga will be put aside, to make room for the imperfect yogi.

A place where I can come as I am and just write from my heart.  Post imperfect pictures and less than perfect videos.  A place where imperfections prevail and all self-judgement is checked at the door.  This will be my world to let it all hang out, right from my crooked teeth to my crooked toes.

I hope that this will help me to do more.  Stop reading so much, and start writing.  Stop browsing facebook pages and start posting.  Stop watching so many videos and actually do a little hot-doggin' myself.

I don't want to wait any more.

We'll see.  I am imperfect afterall and tend to change my mind more often than I change my underwear.  My homeboy would say that that's only because I don't change my underwear all that often.  Whatever, inside out is clean right?

Stay posted for new look and web address

~peace :)

a sweet song to celebrate solstice

I was doing a little creepin' on facebook this morning and saw one of the girls from my YTT had mentioned this song, 'Long Time Sun'. This was a song that was played during savasana from time to time during my Yoga Teacher Training in Bali. So, I googled it and now have it on repeat. There are times in life and people who come along with it, that though brief, leave a profound mark. This, was one of those times. It's just over a year ago that I got to experience this and there is seriously not a day that goes where I don't think about it or my time in Indonesia in some way. There are days when my heart yearns to be back in the rice paddies surrounded by the greenest of greens and the sweet foreign sounds that filled our space. If I close my eyes and am just still enough, sometimes I can actually feel and smell the pulse in the air. This song helped to bring me back.


Enjoy :)

May the Long Time Sun

Shine upon you

All love surround you

And the pure light

within you

Guide your way on

Guide your way on

a quote or two from me to you

My Kindle, which was my best friend on my travels - allowing me to dive into the world of Barbara Kingsolver, the mind of Ayn Rand and the depths of the Yoga Sutras - has been sitting on my bookshelf now for many months passed.  Not receiving a lot of love.  In fact, when I went to turn her on this morning she was dead, so I gave her mouth to mouth.  Resuscitated, she brought me to 'my clippings' - a folder that Kindle has set aside just for me with all the words I thought were wise and wanted to tuck away - and it filled me up with joy. It brought me back, if just for a moment, to the many wonders of words and travel.

Here are more than a few.  Enjoy!

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be". ~ Douglas Adams

"We are here to do.  And through doing to learn; and through learning to know; and through knowing to experience wonder; and through wonder to attain wisdom; and through wisdom to find simplicity; and through simplicity to give attention; and through attention to see what needs to be done." ~ Pirke Avot

Writing Away by Lavinia Spalding
"I have no special talents.  I am only passionately curious."

"wanderer, there is no road, the road is made by walking."

The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar
"When we are attentive to our actions we are not prisoners to our habits."

Autobiography of a yogi by Yogananda
"When your conviction of a truth is not merely in your brain but in your being, you may diffidently vouch for its meaning."

Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
"Eaters must understand, how we eat determines how the world is used."

State of Wonder by Ann Patchet
"Never be so focused on what you're looking for that you overlook the thing you actually find."

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
"Mostly, he said, I've been thinking about what I'm not going to do.  When I think of the last few years, I've been hounded by regrets for what's already happened and fears for what might.  By nostalgia for what I've lost and desire for what I don't have.  All this wanting and not wanting.  It's worn me out.  For once, I'm going to try the present on for size."

Structural Yoga Therapy by Mukunda Stiles
"Tension is a sign of the betrayal of the Self."

"Yoga is the process by which you lose all identity of yourself as a separate being and become united with your nature as both Shakti and Siva - expansive, creative energy, as well as stillness, eternal bliss.  Both these qualitites are within you."

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
"If you get around to deciding you're Cherokee, Alice, then that's just what you are."

Bon Weekend!

desire

I have a couple new books on the go.  The first is The Four Desires by Rod Stryker.  I was in the library looking for a book -any book - when this one came out at me.  I've picked it up and put it down a number of times before and have always walked away.  But for some reason, on this sunny day, it jumped into my bag and begged me to take it down to the water for a read.  So I did.

Within the first couple of pages, I knew the timing was finally right.  This was the book for me, now.

My mind is jumbled and I need some help unjumbling it.

I have about eight books on the go.  A hundred different ideas for blog posts and videos.  When I'm not actually teaching yoga, all I'm thinking about is teaching yoga.  And between my dozen different journals for my dozen different emotions, I'm never really sure which to go to for what.

I know this - I want to create!  But my workspace is all cluttered.  Each time I sit down to write or work and find myself a half hour later in the kitchen in triangle pose, I realise that this jumbled workspace of a mind isn't working.  I need to free up some space in order to create.  I don't know how to do this.  I need to sort out my thoughts and ideas to get this all into action.  I don't know how to do this.  This is where The Four Desires came in.

Then yesterday, in the bookstore, I came across a book called Desire to Inspire.  I picked it up, flipped through it for a moment and walked out with it. 

Sitting there last night admiring my two newest reads I saw it - Desire.  This is not a word I use often, but there it is in both of their titles.  Desire.  Coincidence?  I think not!

Desire.  What do I desire?  Happiness.  More handstands.  I desire to think and speak and act freely from my heart.  I desire to know how to do this.

I desire to be a 'Force of Good'.

"To guide and encourage people to discover their true, authentic voice so they can live their best life is to be a Force of Good". ~ Christen Olivarez

These books also offer assignments throughout the pages for the reader to better come to terms with their desires.  The first assignment in each of these books is to find your life's purpose.  (Like seriously, coincidence)?  In The Four Desires, this is referred to as your Dharma Code.  In Desire to Inspire, this is called your Battle Cry.

Battle Cry - I love it.  A word or phrase that "inspires you to action".   

My assignment for this week is to discover my souls Battle Cry.  I can hear it, it's a bit jumbled now, but it sounds something like

" aye aye aye aye aye aye yaow"!!!!!

Desire - the action that sets fire aflame.   What's yours?

what's our part in all this?

Earth Day got me thinking.

Spring is here—the birds are chirping, the buds are blooming, the layers are coming off and you can actually feel the pulse in the air. It’s got me thinking about The Law of Giving and Receiving by Deepak Chopra.

When the world’s in bloom, there’s an extra little bounce in my step. I breathe in a bit deeper and tilt my head back while the sun lights up my face. Mama Nature sure is dishing it out, and I relish in the spring and all of its gifts. Sitting under the cherry tree, sippin’ my iced cap the yogi in me asks “what’s my part in it all?”

According to Chopra, “the universe operates through dynamic exchange.” And we’re all a part of it. It’s this exchange of energy that keeps the life force flowing. With every breath taken, each individual body exchanges energy with the body of the universe. This is what keeps the prana, the life force, flowing.

“Stopping the circulation of energy is like stopping the flow of blood.” ~ Deepak Chopra

Click here to read the rest of the article over at Elephant Journal

Maybe you're already familiar with the Law of Giving and Receiving or have read my previous post on this from a while back.  In which case I will just leave you with a little gift from me to you. 

A poem by Thich Nhat Hanh

Peace is every step.

The shining red sun is my heart.
Each flower smiles with me.
How green, how fresh all that grows.
How cool the wind blows.
Peace is every step
It turns the endless path to joy.

~Peace :)

words to live by

I came across this beautiful, magical, inspirational poem by Jeanette Leblanc, and just had to share.  Read this, and then Go now, and live.  Enjoy!

There's this woman I know.  You may know her too, or a version of her.  For some of you, she, may be a he.  For me she stands in the middle of a field - surrounded by daisies.  Arms open wide like she's ready to fly.  But she doesn't.  She knows that her place is here, now, grounded, present.  Her two feet - barefooted feet - buried in the grass.  So instead she twirls.  She twirls and sings, laughs, dances, jumps up and falls down.  She gets back up.  She is happy.  I don't know what she does, or where she lives, or how she came to be so free.  But I do know this: this woman is me.  The me that I want to be.  And I've long been searching for just the right words to give her a face and bring her to life.  And now I don't have to.  Through the magic of poetry by Jeanette Leblanc, I see this woman more clearly.  She now has a name.  Her name is Life, and she choses to live it.  Isn't that nice!?!

To check out more by Jeanette Leblanc visit her site at {Peace. Love. Free}