inspirations from the bathroom stall

I was in the bookstore the other day and after gulping down my extra large tea, ventured into the bathroom.  This is what I found. A nice change from all the mags at checkout telling me I need to lose weight and wear more makeup.  Having my camera on me, I felt it necessary to snag up these little gems.  (Yes, I was the creep in the bathroom stall with a camera…)

It's amazing what you can learn when sitting down to pee.

Here I present you with Ins-pee-rations from the bathroom stall.  Enjoy 

super foods for super powers!

In an attempt to eat less meat, (being kinder to my body), and more local produce, (being kinder to the planet), I'm finding myself with lower energy and really not being kind to anyone.

It's not that there aren't enough great food options available, it's just that I don't know what they are.  So I did a little googlin' looking into foods to boost my energy.  They're not local.  (It's February in Ontario, so not much is).  But they are veggie, and they are Super!

Here are my top 5 super foods for super powers!!

img: quinoa-nutrition.blogspot.com/ 

1. Quinoa ~ Once referred to as the "gold of the Incas", this super food is high in complete proteins, which means it  contains all nine essential amino acids which make up a protein molecule.  Quinoa is also a great source of manganese, magnesium, folate and phosphorus making it a great option for those suffering from migraine headaches and those looking to boost their heart health.  Other benefits include: brain function, bone builder and internal cleanser.  This ancient grain can be substituted for most hot cereals and rice dishes.  Also great added into salads and stews.

img: tesco real food

2. Leeks ~ Loaded with vitamin C, manganese, folate, iron and vitamin B6 this super food helps prevent heart disease and reduce the risk of certain cancers.  Leeks are also known to lower blood pressure and stabilize blood sugar levels.  As an immunity booster, warm leek soup is a great meal on a chilly February day.

img: istock

3. Soy ~ Soybeans (edamame) come from the legume family.  I got turned on to edamame while living in S. Korea.  My favourite way to take in the benefits of soy is right out of the pod.  However, soy is available in a ton of different varieties: tofu, tempeh, soy milk, soy flour, soy burgers, miso...  And the benefits are as diverse as the methods: decreased risk of heart disease, helps to prevent bone loss, reduced menopausal symptoms in women, and lowered rates in certain types of cancer.  Oh, the power of soy!

img: blisstree.com

4. Spinach ~ Packed with vitamins and minerals, spinach is one of the most nutrient dense foods in existence today.  No wonder Popeye popped the spinach on the daily.  Vitamin A, K, folate, magnesium, manganese and a dozen different flavonoid compounds work together to give this superfood it's super punch.  Helping to kick cancer to the curb, while improving cardiovascular health and brain function.

img: health-local.com

5. Hemp hearts ~ Not just for birkenstock wearing, dread-headed hippies, this super seed is a super food for all and can be added everywhere!  Smoothies, sandwiches, soups and salads, cereals and savoury dishes.  High in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, protein, vitamin E, phosphorus, magnesium and manganese.  Toss in some hemp hearts and reap the benefits.  *Knitted poncho and pipe not included.

but my yoga doesn't look like your yoga

The yoga I practice is a lot different than the yoga I teach.  And I don't mean the yoga I practice off the mat or anything.  I mean the actual physical asana that I practice on the daily really doesn't look anything like the yoga I teach.

The yoga I practice has names like, 'power vinyasa flow' 'twist, twist, twist!' and 'OPEN YO HIPS'.  The yoga I teach falls under names like, 'gentle hatha flow', 'therapeutic' and 'truly beginners yoga'.  The yoga I practice teaches me strength, courage and persistence.  The yoga I teach teaches me patience, compassion and acceptance.

Since becoming a yoga teacher,  the classes that I've taken on and the majority of clients that have come my way have been true beginners.  Not people who have been in and out of studios and are looking to re-connect to their practice, but people who are meeting this practice for the very first time.

They're young, old, curvy, straight, funny, shy, happy and sad.  They're all different in where they're coming from, but have all come together with a genuine desire to learn yoga.  I love my classes, and where I've ended up.  It just wasn't what I expected coming home from Bali, having been immersed in the practice for weeks, learning how to safely build a student up to headstand.

Right from my very first class I had get rid my ideas of what I thought yoga should look like

The first class that I planned was tossed out the window pretty quickly.  I had spent that morning planning out the flow.  Working out creative ways to weave the standing series into the sun salutations, seamlessly flowing down to the mat and wrapping classic Pilates exercises around the seated postures,  twisting, turning and winding the class down to savasana.

About six minutes into this class I realized that I had invited the wrong postures to this party.  There would be no dogs of any sort.  I had to send a text to The Warriors, all three of them, telling them not to bother.  I did want to see them, but it would have to be another time.  The party just wasn't ready yet.

I had been so excited to show off this kick ass class I had planned.  "Oh she's so creative" would be heard throughout the class as they danced in and out of warrior.  They would all leave eager to come back for more.

I had to kick my ego to the curb, take a deep breath and just start to move.

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

I let go of what I wanted to teach and tapped in to what this class needed  and I realized that not all yoga looks the same.

"Why", became the question of the day.  Why am I teaching yoga?  Why are these people coming to yoga?   And "What"?  What do I have to offer?

I'm happy with the set up that I've created for myself as an instructor.  Teaching out of physio therapy clinics and renting a small space at a small church allows for a really comfortable yoga environment.  A place that's free of intimidation, lulus and ego.  It reminds me of the classes that I took in Korea.   Just a group of people moving from the heart.

This is why I became a teacher.  To share the yoga love.  Not to show off how creative I could be or how easily I can remember a challenging sequence.  I want people to breathe and move and feel.  So if sukhasana (easy pose) is the pose of the day, so be it.  If our standing postures are rooted in mountain pose, great, we'll be stronger for it.  If standing on our shoulders seems like a circus act, than forget it, we'll lay with our legs up the wall and embrace the extra support.  This is all okay.  There is no judgement.  Just movement.

And maybe there aren't words of praise floating through the class about my creative flow, but there are smiles about the gentle nature of the class and about just how good it feels to "wake up" the body.   These are people who have shied away from yoga in the past because of the way it looked.  They didn't think they could 'do' it.  By leaving some of the more difficult postures at home, they've found a comfortable place to roll out their mats and give it a try.  And now here they are, setting their intentions with the rest of 'em.   And you know what, a party will still be a party even without The Dogs and The Warriors, and these party people attest to that each and every time they come back for more.  I may not be offering my support while upside down, but what I can offer is a safe, supportive place to practice.

I still plan out my classes, but I leave a lot more room for improv.  I keep my eyes open and listen to the people in my class.  I listen to what their bodies tell me.  And when they're ready, they'll let me know, and slowly I'll start to invite the rest of the gang.

Except for eka pada sirsana.  That poser can stay at home.

spring cleaning for the soul

I noticed earlier this week that my orchid had five new buds. That's right five new little baby buds just waiting to spring forth and take on the new year. This orchid is my baby. I love her. I check her water every day, change her when she needs it and make sure she gets just the right amount of sunlight to keep her happy. So you can imagine my delight when I saw that my little princess was growing.

Today, I noticed that one of her little buds was budding. Thrilled, I went in for a closer look. The purple little swirls on white canvas were starting to shine through. I went to turn to walk away and noticed something unfamiliar on my dresser top. Pedals. Wilted pedals. My heart sank - for a moment - but then I thought "well maybe these pedals need to shed to make room for this new little addition", immediately followed by "I need to fix this". And fix this, I did not. I played with her a little too aggressively, trying to re-position her in her pot for better success. She snapped, right in half. Out loud: "I can't believe I just f*$#ing did that!". I swear I almost cried. Thank Buddha, my orchid came as twins and I still have another beautiful stem left to pamper.

Last year was the year of change.  And from writing and reflecting on the past year I learned that in order for these new changes to happen, some old had to be let go of.  In order to move on to a new place, the current one needs to be left.  In order to take on new habits, some old ones need to be lost.

Change is the process of becoming different.  And it's work.  At least it was for me.  For a long time I would think of this woman that I wanted to be and I would force myself into that idea.  It wouldn't work.  I would snap.

In nature, change happens naturally.  Trees sprout, the sun shines, the rain falls and the trees grow.  The fall comes and the leaves change and with the winter wind the leaves are scattered throughout the streets.  With the spring comes new buds and the cycle continues.

Change, I'm learning, involves both the process of letting go and the process of letting in.  There is a natural rhythm in change that needs to be respected.  I have changed the most over this past year.  Not only in my thoughts and ideals, but in my actions and reactions.  A change has happened in the way that I view the world and the way that I've come to respect myself in finding my place in this world.  This was a change that I didn't even know that I wanted.  A change that just happened over time, organically, through reading, through yoga, through traveling and the people I met along the way.

This change, led me to view change - and it's process - differently.  Rather than fight for it and end up running from it,  I just opened up to see what would happen.  Sometimes, by letting go of the idea of change and just opening up to the world and it's possibilities something really beautiful can take place.  And that's what happened.

Now, if only I could keep this throughout the day, every day, my little orchid wouldn't have had to pay the price

"Change is the essence of life.  Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become."
~ Reinhold Niebuhr