thoughts, ponderings and realizations

2012-01-14T15:09:00.001-05:00

You were born with potential
You were born with goodness and trust
You were born with ideals and dreams
You were born with greatness
You were born with wings
You are not meant for crawling, so don't
You have wings
Learn to use them and fly!

~Rumi

2012-01-13T14:07:00.002-05:00

Everything you want also wants you.

- Jack Canfield

2011-10-20T07:41:00.000-04:00

Doing what you love is the cornerstone
of having abundance in your life.

- Wayne Dyer

doubt

2011-10-04T16:16:00.000-04:00

From the 1st moment I heard someone else speak I went to the dark place. To the place where I doubt myself. Where I am not good enough.

I didn't do my homework right.
I don't remember a question that would elicit that answer.
I don't have anything interesting to write/say.
No one will want to read what I write.
Why am I bothering with this.

Then I stopped. I reminded myself.

I am sufficient onto myself. Everything I need is inside me

I am me, with my own voice, my own unique offering. My simplicity and the clarity in my words are part of what makes my offering mine.

2011-10-04T07:53:00.001-04:00

People rarely disclose their character so clearly
as when they describe someone else's.

- Anon

2011-08-28T09:01:00.001-04:00

The truth is that our finest moments
are most likely to occur when
we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled.

For it is only in such moments,
propelled by our discomfort, that we are
likely to step out of our ruts and start
searching for different ways or truer answers.

- M. Scott Peck

2011-08-24T21:21:00.001-04:00

Pure love is a willingness to give without
a thought of receiving anything in return.

~Peace Pilgrim

2011-08-24T21:17:00.000-04:00

what lies behind and

what lies before are

tiny matters compared to

what lies within

2011-07-20T07:47:00.000-04:00

Just because you were,
doesn’t mean you have to be.

Just because you’re not,
doesn’t mean you won’t ever be.

2011-07-19T07:28:00.002-04:00

When a door closes, another one opens,
but often we stand there so long looking
at the closed door, that we do not see
the one that's opened.

- Alexander Graham Bell

2011-07-03T12:39:00.000-04:00

the amount of happiness that you have
depends on the amount of freedom
you have in your heart

~thich nhat hanh

the space between

2011-06-23T14:28:00.000-04:00

Between stimulus and response there is a space.
In that space lies our freedom and power to
choose our response. In those choices lie
our growth and our happiness

~Steven Covey

One of the fundamental principles of the tantric philosophy of anusara yoga is the idea of Svātantrya - freedom. Svātantrya litterally means self-looming (sva - self tantra - loom). We are free to choose what we will do, what we believe, how we will respond, how we will engage and participate in all aspects of our life.

This can be very easy to forget. When people are hovering over your desk. When the baby is crying and the phone is ringing. When a person cuts in front of you on the checkout line of the grocery store. In every situation it is so easy to just act without thought. To forget that we are free to choose how we are going to respond in those situations and how we are going to let them effect us.

Within every moment there is a space between what is happening and how you respond to it. It is in this space that you have the free-will to choose how you are going to act. You are Svātantrya - perfectly free.

I challenge you over the next week - before you respond to take a deep breath, maybe even close your eyes, and turn in for a moment. Embrace the opportunity of the space to remember that you are free to choose what you are going to do and how and then, from that place - act.

Garlic Scape Pesto

2011-06-15T16:47:00.000-04:00

We are members of the Honey Brook Farm CSA. Each week we pickup our boxed share which is filled with so many delicious goodies. In the previous two boxes we received one of the coolest things - Garlic Scapes. Garlic scapes are the shoots that garlic bulbs send up as they are growing. They have a milder garlic taste.

Our first adventure with this new vegetable was to make a pesto that the CSA had shared with us. We modified it and added lemon to it.

Garlic Scape Pesto
1/3 c walnuts
1 c garlic scapes, top flowery part removed, cut into ¼-inch slices
3/4 c olive oil
1/2 lemon squeezed
1/2 c grated parmigiano
1/2 t salt
black pepper to taste

Place scapes and walnuts in the bowl of a food processor and whiz until well combined and somewhat smooth. Slowly drizzle in oil and lemon juice, process until integrated. With a rubber spatula, scoop pesto out of bowl and into a mixing bowl. Add parmigiano to taste; add salt and pepper. Makes about 6 ounces of pesto. Keeps for up to one week in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

We tossed the pesto with fresh egg linguini, shrimp and served with a side of roasted asparagus paired with a bottle of Seghesio 2008 Sangiovese.

100% Day

2011-06-11T08:32:00.000-04:00

Today way a 100% day!

My morning meditation was grounding and the perfect way to start off the 1st of two wonderful days in Washington, DC. Scott and I had great laughs over coffee and breakfast with Meredith. I had an amazing practice and enjoyed being a student in my dear friend Meredith's class. She taught a solid class that inspired everyone in the room. Our afternoon was filled with so much fun. Dinner at Citronelle was divine! The evening finished up with even more fun connecting with new and old friends hanging out in a cool spot in DC. We came home with with clear heads and full hearts with plenty of time to get great sleep so we will be fully energized tomorrow for another 100% kick-ass day studying with Christina Sell.

This is my pre-pave for today. A pre-pave is my (your) authoring of my day as I am creating it to be. What I want to manifest for myself so that I am happy, proud, connected, engaged in living my life the way I want to instead of leaving it up to chance. A 100% day is when I have put in all of the effort, all of the thoughts and energy and have achieved that pre-pave. I manifested my day fully and completely that I am in integrity (alignment of mind, body and spirit) and feel AWESOME!!!

Working with The Handel Group has taught me that I AM the author my life. I design and create my life in the way I want it to be. Each morning I take the time to look at what I want for myself out of this specific day. What do I want to manifest for myself which will align with my greater vision for my life.

In order to get what you want, you first need to know what it is you want. If we walk around not being clear in our desires, our intentions than of course at the end of the day we are going to be disappointed that we didn't get it - duh, how can you get what you want when you don't know what it is.

I invite you to each morning start your day by creating a pre-pave. What do you want the day to be? How do you want to feel during the day? What do you want to do? Take a few minutes to write down your day from the vantage point that you are climbing into bed and you are looking back at the days events. Includes all the tingly sensations and feelings to make it real. The more tingly the better.

Create your 100% day!

2011-06-10T08:32:00.000-04:00

The most beautiful things in the world
cannot be seen or even touched,
they must be felt with the heart.

-Helen Keller

We choose, not they

2011-06-08T07:38:00.000-04:00

No one else 'makes us angry.'
We make ourselves angry when we
surrender control of our attitude.

What someone else may have done is irrelevant.

We choose, not they.

They merely put our attitude to a test.

- Jim Rohn

What do you see

2011-06-04T08:53:00.000-04:00

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

- Confucius

I was struck with awe and amazement this morning as I took in the most gorgeous sunrise. This sunrise was on my way to work in an industrial park with graffiti, garbage and broken down cars everywhere. The sky was turning purple and reflecting off of the broken windows. For many people they would be stuck on the broken windows, the graffiti and garbage. Instead, I chose to see the beauty that was there - the amazing creation of colored light.

What do you see when you step into a situation? Can you see the sunrise in the broken window and garbage or do you just see the junkyard.

How does one become a butterfly?

2011-05-25T08:10:00.000-04:00

"'How does one become a butterfly?'

she asked pensively.

'You must want to fly so much that you

are willing to give up being a caterpillar.'"

~Trina Paulus

How much do you want your dreams, your desires, the life that you want to create. The life that you know you deserve. That you know will make you happier than your wildest imagination?

Are you willing to give up the comfort of who you are right now. Are you willing to ask the hard questions, do the deep contemplations and to really fully embrace it and make it happen?

The 1st step is deciding what it is you want to be. Then you need to design it. Create the juicy image of that vision of yourself. Make it so juicy you know it with all 5 senses - you can taste it, smell it, here it, feel it and see it. Once you have that juicy vision you can then see that staying as a caterpillar will not nearly be as sweet as transforming into the butterfly.

How much do you want to fly?

feeling bad

2011-05-24T09:44:00.000-04:00

As I looked back on the previous week and how I did with adhering to my promises I had set for myself I commented to my coach that I was "feeling bad" about breaking a promise. She quickly reminded me that "feeling bad" is simply a distraction.

A distraction, really?? No, it not - it is how I feel. I really feel bad.

Really?

Come on now! Stop being such a brat.

What am I creating a distraction from? From the reality of why I didn't keep my promise. I had the choice to keep my promise or not. I chose to not keep it. Yes, I can feel bad that I didn't keep it... where it that going to get me. Feeling bad doesn't change it. Feeling bad doesn't bring me closer to the promise or my ultimate dreams and desires for myself. Feeling bad simply gives me a distraction from dealing with the real question - why didn't I keep it?

Do you have something you avoiding doing or dealing with because "you feel bad"? What distractions are you creating for yourself instead of focusing on what matters to get you closer to your dream?

2011-05-18T07:40:00.001-04:00

Things don't happen to me. I happen to things!

- Winston Churchill

communication is key

2011-05-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

I am reminded over and over how important clear communication is.

From the little things to the important things. Making sure the paint color selection is communicated with the foreman in charge of construction (otherwise you end up with stark white walls - at least they are freshly painted and white. It could have been worse - fuchsia or green). To using the correct words when instructing a class - saying lift your right arm to the sky, not left arm to sky when balancing on left hand in side plank and having the students look at me with the eyes saying "how the f_ _ _ am I suppose to do that - levitate?") To the important things like clearly communicating my intention in a friendship, business relationship, etc..

When we are clear in our communication we are acting within integrity (alignment of mind, body and speech.) When we act within integrity the little voices turn off, we find a calm within and a happiness.

How clear are you in your communication?

Are you clear with yourself as to what your message is, what your intent is?

Are you clear in how you say it?

2011-05-16T07:37:00.003-04:00

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity

- Albert Einstein

Red Snapper & Veggies Foil Packets

2011-04-01T07:34:00.000-04:00

I love to cook and must say, I am very good. Even with this I still find myself making the same meals all the time. One part of the life coaching process is to make dreams and then promises to achieve those dreams. One of my promises to myself is to make 1 new recipe a week. I made this super easy dish this week and it was AWESOME! One of the best things - super easy and fast. Ten minutes of prep time. Placed in oven, hopped on my mat and got a short practice in while it cooked and then dinner was ready.

Red Snapper with Vegetables in Foil Packets

2/3 cup pesto (home made or store bought – I make large batches and freeze)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
4 5- to 6-ounce red snapper fillets
16 -20 asparagus spears, each trimmed to 4-inch length
10 ounces plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped (or cherry tomatoes sliced in half)
2 yellow squash or zhuchini, thinly sliced on diagonal
4 large handfuls baby spinach
Balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Blend pesto, lemon juice and hot pepper sauce in small bowl.

Arrange four 12x12-inch pieces of heavy-duty foil on work surface. Place 1 handful spinach on the foil and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Place 1 fish fillet on top of spinach. Sprinkle fish lightly with salt and pepper. Spread each fillet with 1 tablespoon pesto mixture. Top each fillet with asparagus, tomatoes and squash, then dollop with remaining pesto mixture. Fold sides of foil over fish and vegetables, covering completely; seal packets closed.

Place foil packets on large baking sheet. Bake until fish is just opaque in center and vegetables are crisp-tender, about 25 -30 minutes.

I LOVE vegetables so I doubled them from what the recipe is - you can never have too many veggies.You can substitute whatever veggies are your favorite.

overwhelmed

2011-04-01T07:19:00.000-04:00

I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed in the past weeks. I have a number of things going on between work, teaching, practicing, cultivating relationships, upcoming projects... I can keep going.

I was having my weekly check in with my life coach and was sharing my feelings. She so wisely reminded me that when we are feeling overwhelmed it is often because we have lost site of our true intention. When we can pause and come back to what it is that we truly desire those overwhelming feelings will dissipate. They may not completely go away - they will become less. When we are clear in what we desire we then know what we have to do to align with that. The decisions of what to say yes to and what to say no to become clear in the face of knowing what we want.

What is your intention? Are you clear in what you want to achieve?

and now the work begins

2011-02-17T07:49:00.000-05:00

Many of my teachers/peers have been talking and raving about the work they have been doing with The Handel Group. The Handel Group is an executive and life coaching company. They coach participants to look at their lives, consciously create their dreams, look at what is keeping them from their dreams and then author their life. Make the dreams a reality.

For some time now I have felt that where I am at in my life (professionally and personally) has just happened to me, that I didn't create (or author as the Handel Group would say) it. Through my practice I been questioning and contemplating this more & more.

    How did I get here?
    Is this where I want to be?
    Where am I going?
    I have a great life - is it enough?
    Is there more I can be?

I am stepping into the fire. Instead of leaving it up to the chance of what will happen, I have decided to take charge, I will be the author of my life and design it how I want it to be.

Last night I had my 1st coaching session with my life coach. I have stepped into the crucible and ignited the flame - its going to get hot.

and now yoga begins

2011-01-05T07:26:00.000-05:00

Atha Yoganusasanam

This is the 1st sutra in Patanjali Yoga Sutras. There are many translations to the sutras. One of the translations that speaks to me is

and now yoga begins

At each moment, yoga begins. My yoga is an invitation to connect deeply with myself and the intrinsic goodness within. At every moment this invitation is present.

when? now

where? here

How comforting to know that the option to begin again is always present. Instead of beating myself up because I didn't live up to my own expection, didn't do something I set out to do, etc... I take comfort in knowing that I have the opportunity to begin again.

What a relief.

happiness... your choice

2010-12-22T07:08:00.000-05:00

courtesy of http://poptimist.tumblr.com/

magic

2010-12-21T07:41:00.000-05:00

the magic is not in the word,
the magic is in YOUR relationship to the word

we are in control of our own thoughts, experiences, actions, etc...
it is up to us to choose what we will see as magic

what will you choose to be magical

observation

2010-11-02T22:15:00.000-04:00

Last week my teacher, mentor and friend "officially" observed my class for the 1st time. One of the steps on the path to becoming an Anusara Inspired teacher is having a Certified Anusara teacher observe your class and recommend you for the inspired status.

Anusara yoga focuses on seeing the good first. We are trained to 1st see the good and then see how it can be enhanced/refined. This is part of the process of the observation and feedback of teachers. It is a very different process than what I was used to from the critique process in college ; that was almost always to find what was wrong, scrutinize it, re-hash it over and over - each person adding in why it was wrong. Maybe, just maybe you would get some good feedback if you were lucky. (And we wonder why so many people have negative self images?)

I have been looking forward to my observation for some time. I am hungry for information and feedback. I appreciate hearing what I am doing well and ways that I can enhance my teaching. The observation process is a great way for me to refine my teaching skills. This process also helps me to evaluate myself and find a deeper connection to who I am, where I started and where I am going.

Tonight my mentor and I met and reviewed her feedback. It was great!

She offered very clear positive feedback - reinforcements of the good. Some of what she mentioned were particular things I have been focusing on since receiving feedback from her and others. It was nice to hear that the effort I had been putting in was coming through.

Interestingly, not surprisingly, almost all of the recommendations for things to refine were things I was already aware of. Enhancements that I had been contemplating (some distantly), some of which I had been stuck on how to approach. The discussions that developed brought things to mind that I hadn't noticed myself i.e. don't use the wall as back rest during centering (hum didn't realize I was doing it.) I have so many things to now contemplate. To look at my strengths, to look at how far I have come in a short time and to look forward to where I am going.

I went to teach a class after our meeting and was able to take specific feedback into that class - WOW what a difference. The students rocked, I rocked - it was awesome!

This observation was a re-affirmation of how invaluable a mentor. The insight that our teachers offer will help us to transform.

I am already looking forward to my next observation!

November is Gratitude Month

2010-11-02T11:18:00.000-04:00

November is Gratitude Month. As a remembrance for the month we are all asked to each day think of something that we are grateful for.

Yesterday I had so many things I wanted to start off my list with. Unfortunately it became a day of sad news which changed where my heart and mind were with gratitude.

I received sad news of an acquaintance, 37 years young, passing over the weekend from a brain tumor. On this same day another friend, also 37 years young, was told by the doctors that her 5 year old son was in the final stages of his battle with cancer and it was time to say goodbye.

These are reminders that life is so short and precious. Both of these people thought they had beat their tumors. Both had received 2nd chances - they both went into remission and lived 2-3 more years. They had an opportunity to LIVE, LOVE, BREATH, CRY, LAUGH and BE LOVED for longer than they expected. They were given a gift and made it count. Each day is a gift, a gift that we should honor and celebrate.

I am grateful for each moment I have in this world.

I am also grateful that I have come to a place in my life where I am thinking and recognizing how important this is.

What are you grateful for today?

Limiting language

2010-10-24T07:43:00.000-04:00

We each have our own story. Our own thoughts that we can get stuck on. How we choose to view then, how we choose to approach them effects if they stay or if we can move forward.

For many of us the words we use keep us from moving forward. We choose to use words that limit us. I have a problem. This always happens. I can't. This will never.

By simply changing our words we can change the way we look at our story and empower ourselves to let (make) change happen.

When you find yourself using limiting language turn it around. Start the sentence with a phrase that allows the story to change.

Sometimes this happens.
Up until now.

Let your words empower you instead of limit you.

today

2010-10-13T08:46:00.000-04:00

Today will be a great day
Today I will be great
Today I will fall and get back up to go again
Today I will inspire
Today I will be inspired

Today will be great and I will be great!

randomness... find the good 1st

2010-09-13T22:00:00.000-04:00

become the person you'd love to fall in love with
~ Maya Angelou

an ongoing process...
acknowledge the beauty within
acknowledge the potential inside and outside of myself

I was recently reminded how important the words I choose are. A simple negative statement can effect the rest of the experience and/or day, however if you take that same statement and look at it from the other side - the positive side - the experience can be great.

as we are always reminded in Anusara ... look for the good first

that little voice

2010-09-03T12:03:00.000-04:00

As I have become older I have also become more insecure and doubting of myself.

Logically I know that there is no reason to doubt, to feel insecure. My brain can rationalize and tell me that these are false thoughts... yet there is this voice that keeps popping up. I almost want to give her a name - we often speak many times a day - we really should be on a first name basis. She is not a very supportive and encouraging friend. If I saw her number on my phone I would probably choose not to answer.

Depending on where I am teaching she may choose to come and help me setup for class. Once I take my seat she almost always goes away and I can teach with confidence. Often she returns for savasana. We silently argue - her telling me all of my mistakes, things that I forgot, telling me how someone else would have done it this way and better.

Sometimes she is winning the arguments and I start to scrutinize all aspects of the class and my teaching and start to wonder why am I doing this. On a pretty regular basis students will come to me after class (they actually go out of their way) to tell me they enjoyed the class or ask for advice. At this moment - I win the battle and she goes away. I receive confirmation from outside of myself to help win the battle and make her go away.

I know, in my head, the truth that I am a good teacher ; continuing to refine and improve on a daily basis. I think I am more insecure now then when I was 20 because I care a great deal more now about what I am doing - the stakes are higher. I want more for myself and for those around me.

At this time - I will choose to keep her without a name. I want our conversations to be less frequent so that she doesn't need a name.

managing our expectations and influencing someone else's

2010-03-01T14:38:00.000-05:00

How do you manage expectations of a situation? How does your sharing of an experience alter someone's expectation of a similar situation?

I went to my 1st John Friend workshop the other weekend. When I returned everyone was asking me how it was and my response was "I had fun, it was good, I learned a great deal". Each time their response back to me was - "Just good?"

For years now I have been hearing that his workshops were "amazing, life changing, like nothing else out there". This is a very unfair expectation to put on a situation and a person. How can any one situation possibly live up to that expectation. It is very much like a movie that everyone is raving about for weeks telling you that is the funniest thing they have ever seen. You finally go to the movie expecting to laugh so hard you will pee in your pants. Well, it is funny but your bladder is intact. It has been built up so much that there is no way it could possibly live up to the expectation.

We need to be more aware of how the sharing of our own experience can effect another person's opportunity to create their own expectation from a similar experience.

be mine

2010-02-11T07:19:00.003-05:00

I came across a number of quotes while watching a YouTube video "Message from the Infinite Heart". This one in particular really stuck with me.

You, yourself,
as much as anybody
in the entire universe,
deserve your love
and affection.

It can be so easy to focus our energies outward on other people that we can forget in order to share love with someone else we need to 1st love ourselves.

For this Valentine's day I will BE MINE 1st before I try to ask someone else to be mine or offer myself to be theirs.

pūrṇatā

2010-02-04T07:23:00.001-05:00

pūrṇatā - fullness, completeness, perfection

I love the idea that we are always beginning. Each moment is an opportunity to begin again. We are only as perfect as that very moment. The next time we try the same thing it is an opportunity to begin again and achieve yet a new level of perfection.

doing small things great

2010-01-28T07:13:00.002-05:00

We look around a room and see someone in an amazing pose and think "I want to be like that." We hear of a friend going on an amazing trip and think "I want to do that." We see a colleague at work get honored for their achievement and wonder "how do I do that." It is so easy to get caught up in the idea of doing great things or being the best at something that we can loose site of our priorities and the actual joy in doing.

I have been teaching for a few months now and am loving it. Each week gets better and I become more comfortable. I took a class with one of my favorite teachers the other day and was marveling at "how great" she was and wishing I could be like that. I started to compare myself and think about all the things I wasn't doing that she was doing. I then came across the following quote and it helped me re-align my focus.

We can't always do great things, we can do small things great.

As I pondered this quote I realized I didn't need to be great. I didn't need to be the best teacher. I needed to focus on the small things that I could do great while teaching a class which in the end would make the experience great. As I taught class last night I focused my energy on doing these small things with greatness and love. The energy put into the small things made the entire bigger experience - GREAT.

doing nothing

2009-10-26T09:50:00.004-04:00

It is so easy to get caught up in "doing." I always seem to have a list of things I need to do (laundry, cleaning, work, dishes, etc..) and a list of things I want to do (run, hike, yoga, ready, cook.) At the end of the day I tend to judge the value of the day by what I accomplished - what I got done.

This Sunday was the most perfect autumn day. I was up early and did a number of things - long walk, made breakfast, laundry, assisted a class. I hadn't taken a morning asana class like I normally do and figured I would go to one later in the day and get that done. After that I would maybe clean the house and then make dinner. I would have a productive afternoon.

I came home from the store and it was absolutely beautiful out. We decided to make a fire outside and have lunch. As I sat and enjoyed the warmth of the sun (and the fire) I started thinking about how much I felt like I still had to do that day. I knew I had already had a very productive (even busy) day at that point yet at the same time I still felt like I had not done enough. I felt like there was still so much to do. I was focusing so much on crossing things off my list, crossing off my daily accomplishments so I could say "I did all of this, look how productive I was" that I wasn't truly enjoying the moment. I realized I need to let go of the voices in my head, my lists, my need to accomplish things and needed to just do nothing. Just be. Be present in the glorious day and just enjoy. For the next hour my husband and I just sat in front of the fire on this most perfect autumn day and did nothing. We did "nothing" yet nothing became the most important something. We just enjoyed. We were present within ourselves and with each other.

Take time to do nothing. Take time to silence the voices and the lists and enjoy the moment and just be. Do nothing, it can be the most important something.

appreciate the moment

2009-09-22T06:31:00.002-04:00

I love this time of year. The sunrises are amazing! Each morning I am reminded how important it is to truly be in the moment. I come in to work and open my blinds wide in anticipation of the painting that nature will create for me. It happens and disappears so quickly. The purples that turn into reds and oranges with hints of gold. If I turn away for just for a moment to pick up my tea I can miss the experience. Tomorrow there will be another painting created for me. It may be equally amazing yet it will be different than today and I will be different.

Remember to stop and pause. Be in the moment. Appreciate where you are at this very moment. It all changes so quickly.

softening

2009-09-10T13:40:00.003-04:00

Softening, opening to grace, it is the 1st principle of Anusara Yoga and something that is so easy to skip over in our practice and in our daily life.

Today in my practice we were working on outer spiral in parsvokansana. So many people go into the pose with a negative viewpoint and are hard. They think that it will be easier if they barely square the front leg or they go the opposite root and bend over then try to force the front leg down. One of the keys to the pose is to start by softening. To breath in, to allow the front leg to soften into the hip, to descend towards the ground. There is an immense amount of space that is created by doing this. The pose becomes a real hip opener when this is done (of course with maintaining true muscular energy in the back leg and alignment.) This space allows you to outer spiral the front leg and really open up - open up the hips, open up the torso, open the heart, expand and feel the pose. If we dont soften the experience is no where near as enjoyable, freeing or open.

As I left class I started thinking about how this truly relates to our day to day life and was reflecting on how things have changed for me at work since I began practicing yoga. If we approach what we perceive as a difficult situation with a hardened attitude the experience is usually difficult. If we step back, breath, and then approach the situation we have a very different experience.

Through my yoga I have learned this and have seen what a dramatic difference it has made on how I handle the chaos of the work day. Things that use to get me worked up and crazy now seem so much easier. The constant craze I use to feel is no longer there. When I look at the reports I see that all the numbers are still there. It isn't that I'm doing less (I'm not), its that my approach has changed. There is a softeness. When a problem arises I don't go full force like a bull in the china store, I take time and breath.

How much easier life would be if we all stepped back, took a breath and softened.

the itch

2009-08-19T13:43:00.002-04:00

When I enrolled in the teacher training program I hadn't made a clear decision if teaching yoga was something I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to further my own practice, develop my knowledge of yoga and develop my teaching skills which could be applied to my "day job" and life in general.

This past weekend was our 1st real weekend of teaching. WOW! It was AWESOME! At the end of the day I had a huge grin from ear to ear and all I could think of was when can I do more - when can I start teaching.

That evening I had dinner with friends and was sharing my feelings of the day and found myself getting more and more excited about the idea of teaching. I felt like a little kid waiting for Christmas day to come so I could open the presents. I started planning in my head how I might be able to offer free classes to friends I practice with to get more experience, to start teaching... to scratch the itch.

I have been contemplating since then the idea of teaching and what about the experience creating that itch. One of the things I have come to is something one of my teachers has said on many occasions. She says that she gets as much from watching us practice while she teaches as she gets from her own practice. At the times that she has said that I thought okay, maybe, but it cant really be that good. I have been observing this teacher's classes and I now know that what she said is true. I feel that amazing energy from observing and watching the students have their experience and I am not even doing the teaching. I can't even imagine how awesome it will be when it is actually my class.

I guess that is it, that question of if I want to teach is answered.

stepping in front of the mat

2009-08-01T18:45:00.003-04:00

Over the past month and half, in teacher training, we have been focusing on principles, methodologies, sequencing, anatomy - the fundamentals. Today, for the 1st time, we stepped to the other side - we stepped in front of the mat and took the seat of the teacher.

At first I could feel the butterflies in my stomach - the anticipation of standing in front of my peers. Having to speak, give guidance, give direction. Would I fuddle my words? How would I know what to say? How would I know what to observe? Would I forget the name of the pose? There is so much to observe, to remember, to focus on. How would it all work?

Well, it did. Its just that simple. I have the knowledge within, its all there and it will come out when it is needed.

We all have everything we need already inside of us, we are innately good. This is one of the main principles of the tantric philosophy. When the time comes we will know how to open. We will have the words. We will have the confidence. We will open to grace. Remembering this, gives me the strength and the support to step to the other side of the mat and take this new seat, the seat of a the teacher.

Om Namah Shivaya Gurave
I honor the auspicious light and goodness in myself and all beings that is my true teacher

Namaste

Potluck Wine

2009-07-11T20:04:00.003-04:00

We have a number of parties throughout the year where guests will bring random bottles of wine. Most of the guests that come have good taste in wine - some - not so much. After a party we will take the left over wine and store it in the "potluck area." We tend to choose wine from this section on weeknights (when you don't want to drink $13 or higher bottle) or if it is just one of us alone.

Tonight, I am alone and wanted a glass of wine. I know what I REALLY want to drink - Rosenblum or Seghesio Zin - but it doesn't make sense.

I tried the left over bottle from last night that we vacuum sealed - yuk. Decided to try the potluck section - bottle 1 - yuk, bottle 2 - double yuk.

At this point, screw the potluck wine, I DESERVE a nice glass of wine. Rosenblum here I come!

So many things, so little time

2009-07-11T19:47:00.003-04:00

There are so many things I want to do. So many things I want to learn and be good at. How do you decide what takes priority? How do you decide what to focus on?

When learning something new there is a certain amount of time and energy that needs to be put into it to get past the awkward "I suck at it" stage. I tried skiing a number of years ago and gave up - it was SO much work. I was never able to get past the awkward stage to make it enjoyable. It was always an enormous effort with frustration that left me feeling worse about myself and not better. You need to be able to invest enough time and effort to get past that stage so you can truly enjoy.

I have many interests that I really would like to spend more time on. I would love to resume my photography and drawing, learn how to salsa, learn more about wine, spend more time cooking, learn to make pasta from scratch, make more breads from scratch, develop my yoga practice further, knit more often and more complex projects, learn how to throw clay, learn to be fluent in Spanish, read more books and on and on and on. There is so much and I feel like there is never enough time. In order to concentrate on one and be more proficient I need to give up something else (even if only for a little while.)

I feel like there is never enough time. I always have to compromise - really it feels like sacrifice or giving up something. How do I make it work? How do I find the balance?

Grilled Baby Octopus with Butter Bean Salad

2009-07-07T10:23:00.003-04:00

A good friend and foody came over for dinner Friday night and was so kind to bring me a new cookbook - Italian Grill by Mario Batali.

I spent my Saturday morning reading the book, marking various recipes to try. Saturday was a gorgeous summer day so I selected the Grilled Baby Octopus Salad as my 1st recipe from the new book to make. What a great choice! It was super easy to make, so simple and so tasty.

I made a few modifications to the recipe. I couldn't find gigante beans so I used butter beans. Scott and I are both not fans of thyme so we substituted rosemary in the bean salad. The recipe calls for a vinaigrette of olives, orange zest and other ingredients. I didn't care for the vinaigrette and was VERY happy that I tasted BEFORE I drizzled over the platter. In place I simply drizzled the platter with extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice.

We had plenty left over. I chopped up the octopus and it made a wonderful side dish to bring to a barbecue on Sunday.

Adapted from Italian Grill by Mario Batali.
If you can't find baby octopus, you can use a full-sized octopus. Just simmer it in salted water about an hour, or until tender, and then cut up the tentacles before grilling.

For the bean salad:
2 (14-ounce) cans gigante beans or butter beans, drained and rinsed
1 garlic cloves, thinly sliced - originally called for 3 cloves raw - I cut to 1 clove and would recommend sauteing or roasting to lighten flavor
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary or thyme
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the octopus:
2 pounds baby octopus
extra-virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 small bunch chives, cut into 1-inch lengths

Preheat a gas grill or prepare a fire in a charcoal grill.

Make the bean salad: Roast or saute garlic in oil. Combine the beans, garlic, scallions, rosemary, and olive oil in a medium bowl, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside. (The beans can be prepared a day ahead, covered, and refrigerated; bring to room temperature before serving.)

Grill the octopus: Toss the octopus with enough olive oil to coat lightly, and season well with salt and pepper. Arrange the octopi on the hottest part of the grill, leaving at least 1 inch between them, and grill, turning once, until crispy, about 4 minutes per side. [Only 1-2 minutes if you're using adult octopus that you've already simmered.]

Mound the bean salad on a large platter. Arrange the octopus over and around the beans. Drizzle with olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Sprinkle with chives.

Enjoy!

Vinaigrette option if you choose:
2 shallots, minced
1/4 cup pitted Gaeta olives
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
grated zest of 2 oranges
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Make the vinaigrette: Combine the shallots, olives, vinegar, red pepper flakes, and orange zest in a medium bowl and and mix well. Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Set aside.

letting go of judgements - allow ones own experience

2009-06-24T09:24:00.004-04:00

Last night I had the opportunity to observe an intro class taught by an amazing instructor. This particular class was a great class to observe since for most of the students this was their 1st or 2nd yoga class ever - they truly needed to be "introduced to yoga".

I had many ah ha moments during the class and then contemplating after the class. One that sticks out to me is allowing each person to have their own experience.

In our society we typically look at someones figure and make assumptions about their health, fitness level, etc.. based on their figure. Someone is tall and thin - they must be healthy and fit. Someone is short and round - they are not. Someone is young - they must be flexible. And so on. As I observed this class I could see 9 completely unique bodies with their own special qualities. Each person was unique and in many cases was very different than societal conventions would have said.

A beautiful very tall thin young woman who could barely reach the blocks, let alone the floor and had little, if any body awareness. A mid 40's woman who was shorter and rounder yet her hands could touch the floor completely and eased into down dog and parsvokanasana with grace. As I observed I had to consciously remind myself that each person is their own person, in their own moment and having their own experience. They are not to be judged or compared against each other or a standard that I may have created in my own mind.

Through out conversations about how to teach a intro or basic class there is a re-occurring theme that as the teacher you need to be aware of each person's capabilities/limitations and take the seat with an open mind instead of trying to "fix them". You need to allow them to have THEIR experience. During this class I observed this teacher truly have an open mind and not try to "fix them". She emphasized trying to create a pulsation and allowed them to each have their own unique experience.

My 1st Beginner Class Sequence

2009-06-21T14:12:00.003-04:00

We started teacher training going over sequencing. For the past 2 weeks I have been working on writing a number of different class sequences. I have been struggling most with intro and beginner class sequences. I have an intermediate/advanced practice and typically take those type of classes. It has been very difficult for me to step back and write a beginner sequence. I struggle with making it not too advanced yet at the same time not boring and too easy.

This morning I decided to do one of my beginner sequences as my practice and see how it felt. I found some changes that I wanted to make and feel pretty good about it. Here is the sequence below.

Key to my abbreviations
RBS = repeat both sides 3x - repeat 3x
DD – Down Dog AOH – Arms over head

Hands and knees
Cat cow
Hands and knees, melt heart
RBS Hands & knees, lift right leg back straight and left arm forward
DD, walk forward
3x Uttanasana, flat back
Tadasana, AOH, uttanasana
Right leg back lunge
DD, Plank, DD
Right leg forward- lunge
DD, plank, knees to floor, lower to belly, Baby cobra
DD
RBS Low lunge, walk hands to inside, gecko (emphasis on hip opening)
DD, plank, knees to floor, lower to belly, Baby cobra
DD, walk forward
3x Uttanasana, flat back
Tadasana, AOH
RBS Tadasana, bend & lift right leg, hold knee, work on getting tall, & opening
hips, release
tadasana , wide stance, clasp hands behind back, bend forward
3x Uttanasana, flat back
hands on knees, utkatasana, stand up, AOH, fold forward
Uttanasana, DD, Plank, knees to floor, lower to belly, clasp hands behind
back & rise
Rest on belly
DD
Right leg Parsvakonasana prep
wide leg forward bend, flat back 3x
Parsvakonasana prep side 2
Wide leg forward bend, clasp arms, bend forward, rotate foot forward, lunge
DD, plank, knees to floor, lower to belly, cobra
RBS DD, Parsvakonasana, warrior 2, DD
uttanasana
RBS tadasana, tree
Uttanasana
Malasana
Take seat
Badakonasana
RBS ardha matsyendrasana
RBS janu sirsasana (bend over front leg)
Lay on back
ananda balasana (happy baby)
reclined twist
sivasana

Envy

2009-06-20T17:11:00.002-04:00

Envy: a painful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage

Where does it come from? Why does it pop up from time to time? How do I make it stop?

I am very content in my life. I have a beautiful home, I am surrounded by wonderful friends and family, I have more "things" then I know what to do with. I have never known what it is like to be homeless, hungry, cold or to really know what is like to go without something I want. I am extremely lucky and grateful for that.

So why when I hear a friend or colleague scheduling a trip to Ireland, buying a new boat, renovating their house do I feel that little bit of pain? I am truly happy for them in their success and enjoyment and at the same time I start to wonder why can't I do that? Why can't I have that? What are we doing wrong that we need to make restrictions and hold back? I then of course get frustrated with myself because I know I have no reason to be envious. I wish there was a way to delete the feeling envy from my mind. I know deep down that I have an amazing life.

Life is good!

New Eyes

2009-06-15T13:17:00.000-04:00

The voyage of discovery is not
in seeking new landscapes but
in having new eyes.
–Marcel Proust

Cry (or Meow) for Help

2009-06-09T06:54:00.002-04:00

I have 2 cats, both are extremely vocal. I think Thomas has one of the largest vocabularies of any cat I have every met. He loves to communicate with us and gives us a play by play of what he is doing. Going to jump on bed - meow a. Going to jump off the bed - meow b. Going downstairs - yet another meow, and so on. Besides being very talkative is VERY loud. He does an excellent imitation of a fire truck. If he is in the basement and you are on the 2nd floor and he wants you to hear him, trust me you will.

Last night as I climbed into bed I thought it a little odd that Thomas did not come and announce he was coming to bed and then get in bed with us. I figured he must be snacking downstairs. This morning I woke and while getting dressed I heard these faint cries. I called to Thomas to get him to come in the room and he didn't. A couple minutes later as I started heading downstairs I heard these faint cries again. A light went off in my head and I realized where the cries were coming from - the closed door to the guest room. Last night he snuck into the guest room (which they are not allowed in.) He proceeded to get locked in that room for the duration of the evening.

I am sure in the beginning he thought it was a great thing he accomplished - getting into the room he is not allowed in. At some point I am sure he realized he was stuck but yet did not cry for help. Why would an extremely vocal cat not let us know he is stuck. I started thinking about this and realized this is not far off from what we "smarter" humans do all the time. We get ourselves in a situation. We don't realize that this situation can only lead us to a place of being stuck. Once we realize it, we don't ask for help. We give small signs that we need help and hope someone passing by will notice. We don't cry out and make it know - I'M STUCK - HELP ME! How much quicker could we become unstuck if we spoke out, if we put our pride to the side and asked for help.

A little boy was having difficulty lifting a heavy stone.
His father came along just then.

Noting the boy's failure, he asked, "Are you using all your strength?"

"Yes, I am," the little boy said impatiently.

"No, you are not," the father answered. "I am right here just waiting, and you haven't asked me to help you."

~author unknown

Roasted Grape Tomatoes

2009-06-08T06:54:00.002-04:00

So simple to make and so flavorful.

Simply pre-heat an oven (or toaster oven) to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Place the tomatoes on the cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt (gray salt is my preference) and pepper - mix around so all tomatoes are coated well. Place in oven and roast for 20 -25 minutes.

So many ways in which to use:

In a salad - toss arugula with lemon & oil, place tomatoes on top, shave big pieces of Parmesan on top
Pasta - cook your favorite pasta, toss with olive oil, add roasted tomatoes, ricotta salata and arugula
Bruschetta - toast bread slices, mash the roasted tomatoes and mix with white beans, spread over toast

Consciously Incompetent

2009-06-08T06:32:00.004-04:00

I'm a smart person. I am good at what I do. At work, I am one of the people that someone comes to for the answers and most of the time - I have the answers or know who/where to send them to get the answers. I am comfortable with this and I like it.

I spent this weekend in my 1st weekend of yoga teacher training. To be faced with the challenge of learning something knew is exhilarating and at the same time terrifying. At times, it was a very unsettling experience. To realize that I don't know the answers. I don't know where to begin or where I am trying to go. I don't even know the questions to ask. Can you say FRUSTRATION! This is not me - I have the answers, I know my stuff!

When learning something new there are 4 stages we go through. Each stage generates different emotions and fears.

unconsciously incompetent - you don't know what you don't know
consciously incompetent - you know you don't know
consciously competent - you know you know
unconsciously competent - you don't know you know

I am currently consciously (and unconsciously) incompetent as a yoga teacher in training. The emotions that this stage brings up are ones I don't experience on a regular basis (and prefer to avoid). I am contemplating things I haven't in many years. A truly humbling experience. As I go through this process I am sure that I will progress through the stages. I am looking forward to experiencing these different emotions and stages. It is all part of the journey.

vegetarian, flexatarian, whatever...

2009-06-05T22:16:00.002-04:00

What do I call myself, how do I label myself - vegetarian, flexatarian, pseudo vegetarian? What does this matter? Why do I need a label?

I stopped eating meat, foul and fish over 10 years ago - basically I became a vegetarian. I was always a picky eater. As a teenager meal time was always a bit difficult depending on the latest fad food idea I was going through. I never particularly liked meat. I ate it because it was served to me and I had to. When I went to college I had the ability to decide for myself what I wanted to eat. For years I danced with the idea of being a vegetarian. Much of the dance back towards the meat was due to difficulties in finding good vegetarian food in western New York and convenience.

When I finally stopped the dance it was mainly under the guise that it was healthier not to eat meat. As with many vegetarians once you become vegetarian you start to read & learn more. Your reasons become more ethical than health based. My reasons to date are both ethical and health based. I am an animal lover and truly believe it is healthier not to eat animal products. (I believe eliminating dairy is one of the healthiest things to do - however I LOVE CHEESE and need some vices.)

About 8 years ago I was going out to lunch with clients in Manhattan. In many instances my dietary choices would become a topic of conversation at lunch, much to my disappointment and avoidance techniques. Many NYC restaurants are extremely open and accommodating to vegetarians. Unfortunately, I have found that French style restaurants are typically the least accommodating and many of my clients at that time would choose French restaurants for meals. The menu rarely had a vegetarian entree on the menu. I would need to ask the server if they would make a vegetarian dish. The resulting meal was usually an extremely boring vegetable plate. The frustrating part of this experience was that my food preferences were brought to the attention of my clients and then it was inevitable that a conversation would start - can we say NOT FUN. After a number of these undesirable experiences I caved and decide I would order fish dishes. I could justify the fish in my mind because it wasn't on a farm, in a small cage, being tortured. I would have a couple bites of the fish, eat the sides and no one knew the better. But I did, and my body did (and my body rebelled). I did this for a year or two and decided to stop the fish again.

A couple years ago I decided to occasionally (maybe once a month) eat fish. I am not sure what made me decide to do this. I have struggled with this and struggle with this decision each time I choose to eat fish. I can eat it as long as it doesn't look like fish or look like flesh. I struggle with the fact that I am eating another living creature. It was killed to be eaten by me or some other person. Sometimes I can simply get past this because the King Tuna Roll TASTES SO GOOD! My body still does not like it when I choose to have fish - it rebels the next day.

I struggle with what do I now label myself. I am a vegetarian that occasionally eats fish. So does that make me a hypocrite, how can I say I am a vegetarian when I eat fish. How do I explain to people when they invite us over for dinner that I only occasionally eat fish when "it feels right." it could feel right at 4pm when I buy the tuna but by 7pm when I go to cook it I cant. Does it matter? Why do we need the labels? Why do we have to complicate life and put people into categories. We limit our experiences with people by creating images of who they are and limit our own experiences by trying to fit into this mold that we say we are. If we can just stop and pause, just be who we are without this idea of who we were, who we are suppose to be life could be so much sweeter.

1st Day in a New Adventure

2009-06-05T13:17:00.004-04:00

I completed my Anusara Immersion in April and gained so much from the experience. A new deeper understanding & technique in the physical asana aspect. Deep bonds I made with the people who shared the experience with me. The emotionally and spiritual roller coaster challenging who I am, who I thought I was and who I see myself becoming. A year long experience I wouldn't trade for anything.

Today is my 1st day of the Anusara Teacher Training program. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I love to learn and be challenged. I have been out of college 14 years. Even though I know I have continued to study and learn new things during this time there is nothing that compares to the experience of learning with a group of people. The different experiences, beliefs and ideas each person brings to the learning arena creates a dynamic environment which helps me to challenge & question myself.

This is where the nervous comes in. To challenge myself to question what I think, what I thought was going to happen, what I have been told in the past, who I really am and who I want to be. It is very easy to go through our daily routine without asking these questions. We (I) get caught up in the daily things that need to be done - laundry, groceries, dishes, work, etc... without taking (making) the time to look at the other deeper more important parts of life. In this training program I will have to look at these questions and many more on a daily basis - which is both exciting and scary. I have no doubt that in the end I will be happy with who I have become during the discovery process.

It is all about the journey...

Next Door at Blu

2009-06-05T06:32:00.002-04:00

We had dinner last night at Next Door in Montclair for the 1st time. Next Door is the sister restaurant to Blu which we have enjoyed on many occasions. They share the same kitchen.

Next Door has a more casual atmosphere and service style than Blu. The food style is more homestyle (mashed potatos, meatloaf, burgers) while at the same time has a great mix with specialty and exotic dishes. Their prices are about 20%-25% less than Blue which can make a week night meal out more reasonable. They are also offering a great 3 course pric-fix for $20.

Scott started with an octopus, white bean and roasted red pepper salad that was out of this world. The octopus was carmalized perfectly and cooked just right. The slight hint of rosemary with the beans was just perfect and not overpowering as rosemary can sometimes be. The broth that was left was perfect for dipping some good peasant bread in (and their bread is good, worth dipping and eating.) I had a an arugula salad with goat cheese, roasted beets and walnuts. I thought the menu had said pecans but I must have misread. I am not a big walnut fan, they make my mouth itch. Even with the walnuts the salad was excellent. Just the right amount of dressing - nothing was swimming - and the goat cheese was fresh, creamy and delcious.

For our entrees Scott had penne with duck, white beans and hot peppers. Wow, were those peppers hot. I had linguine with wild mushrooms, garlic and oil which was faboulous. The portions were enormous, as so many restaurants are. By the time we were both finished we each had 1/2 a bowl of pasta left in the bowl. We had eaten all of the "stuff" with some pasta and then left the balance of pasta.

I know many people like the large portions. I personally prefer "right size" portions. I don't need (or want) a heaping bowl of pasta. I would prefer to have a small amount of pasta and heaping amounts of vegetables, beans, etc... I like to be able to eat 2 -3 courses and not feel like I need to be rolled out of a place. I know, I know, I can always stop eating so I can have the next course. The problem is I have very little willpower. If I have a dish in front of me that is delicious I will continue to eat and eat and eat. It takes all my effort to stop - even though I know I should, and know I will regret it if I dont. I have started resorting to other means to prevent myself from eating to much. I will put my fork in Scott's meat dish that way I no longer have utensils to eat with. Other times I have been known to dump tons of salt on top so it no longer is tasty. I would much prefer if restaurants served more "correct" size portions - do we really need 1/2 lb of pasta in one course.

We had a wonderful bottle of Rosenblum Aparicio Zinfandel with the meal. We love zins, and Rosenblum is one of our favorite vinters. This was the 1st time we had this particular Rosenblum zin. It was a nice combination of pepper, blackberry with a bit of chocolate.

All in all a wonderful Thursday evening in Monclair.

What a wonderful meal we had.

Life is short

2009-06-02T11:47:00.002-04:00

Life is short.

This is a saying that we here all the time and wave away without another thought. It takes particular situations that occur to remind us - life is really short and precious. You never know what the next hour or day may bring so you need to make each moment count. Celebrate every aspect of your life from the mundane to the extraordinary. Put your energies into things that count and not waste them on the inconsequential things you can not change.

I was at a funeral for my husband's grandmother over the weekend. She lived a long, good and at times very hard life of 86 years. The last 4 years had been very difficult as she suffered with dimension and was not always present. As I sat through the service and the events of the day that followed I was reminded how short life is and that this was truly a time to celebrate her life.

Through out the day I listened to gripes from one family member to another - this person didn't contribute money for the lunch, how could that person show up dressed like that, this person never calls me back. This went on for hours and hours. It was exhausting and emotionally draining. No one knows when their time or a loved one's time is going to come. To focus energies in a negative way serves no purpose in my world. This day wasn't about the individuals, it was about celebrating her.

Life is short! Make every moment count! Celebrate life fully!

Dropping Back

2009-05-20T15:08:00.002-04:00

Accomplishment: 2 drop backs in a row with no assist!

How empowering!

Fear is a paralyzing emotion. The fear of one thing doesn't just effect you in regards to that particular fearful item. A fear of one item can spread into other areas of your life. The fear can restrict you from being who you are, who you want to be and who you are meant to grow into. As we move through our daily life we need to do things to continually challenge our fears to help us grow as a whole person. Overcoming one fear is like a pebble being thrown into a still pond. That pebble creates a ripple effect across the surface of the water. Those ripples are changes in your life that you now are empowered to explore. If we don't challenge our fears we will never know what we truly our capable of and how far our ripple can go.

Sleep

2009-05-13T09:10:00.002-04:00

Sleep, so forgotten, so put to the bottom of the list so others things can take priority. I forget how important it is. How good it can feel. How it can be just as good as meditation or a wonderful asana practice if your heart is in it and you are in the moment.

This morning I woke at 5:15 with the plans of going to a 6:00 yoga class. My intention was to go to the early class that way I would be home to spend time with Scott. To get up at 5:15 is essentially sleeping in for me since on a normal Wednesday I would be up at 4:30. My alarm went off and I was awake and thought about getting out of bed. I then realized how truly comfortable and relaxed I was. I decided to stay in bed. I re-woke at 7:00 and felt revived, relaxed and peaceful - the same way I feel after an asana practice. It is so easy to put labels on things and rate one thing as being more beneficial than another. It simply comes down to the intention you put into something and being in the moment.

I can gain as much from doing an asana practice, sitting in meditation or on somedays getting an extra hour of sleep as long as my heart is in all of them.

The world is a mountain

2009-04-30T10:15:00.001-04:00

The world is a mountain
Whatever you say, good or bad,
it will echo it back to you.
Don't say I sang nicely
and mountain echoed an ugly voice...
That is not possible.

~ Rumi

2009-04-22T07:31:00.001-04:00

Life is a challenge, meet it!

Life is a dream, realize it!

Life is a game, play it!

Life is Love, enjoy it!

~Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Smell

2009-04-21T06:19:00.003-04:00

Smell, an amazing sense. A brief sniff and the smell you breath in transports you back to a specific moment and feeling. To pause, take in the moment, be in that moment and appreciate the feeling that is generated. If only it could be bottled up so you can relive it at any moment.

New Eyes

2009-04-17T06:34:00.002-04:00

I drive by the same place every day and have for 13 years - an industrial complex surrounded by oil tanks, broken down buildings and garbage. I have always thought of it as just an ugly dirty industrial park. I've never given it much thought other than the days that it has a distinct odor.

Today as I drove past the sun was just starting to rise and there was a beautiful pink and purple hue to the sky. As I looked off to the left I saw a completely different scene. The broken windows were reflecting these gorgeous colors, the lights were reflecting in the water and everything was glistening. It looked as magical as the NY skyline can look.

Sometimes we just need to look at things with new eyes to find the beauty,

kindness from a stranger

2009-04-11T15:54:00.003-04:00

The local market gives each person who purchases $25 a small item as a thank you - a melon, grape tomatoes, flowers. As the woman in front of me was finishing checking out the cashier told her that she could choose a bunch of tulips as her free item since she had spent more than $25. The woman looked at the tulips, looked at her cart filled with lillies she was purchasing and then looked at me with my one item. She spoke to the cashier and said she really didn't need them since she had already purchased flowers, could she give them to me. In a small 30 second exchange she was able to brighten my day and make me feel special. She didn't need to take the time to look around and offer to someone else. She could have done what so many others would have done and just simply said no thank you. Instead she embraced the moment and offered kindness and generosity to a perfect stranger.

As I left the store and continued on with other errands I kept going back to this simple act of kindness by a stranger. She was fully present in the moment and chose to give to someone else. How often are we wrapped up in the past or the future that we miss the present moment and an opportunity to shine out and brighten someone's elses day.

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
~ Maya Angelou

Pause and appreciate each moment

2009-04-10T08:14:00.001-04:00

As I pause and watch the sunrise, the sky turns amazing colors of purple and pink with hints of gold. I am awestruck by this beautiful natural creation. I step away for a moment and when I return the sky as turned to dismal gray. How quickly it changes.

It is so important to pause, be in the present and appreciate what is in front of you. It all can change so quickly.