Have you YAYD today?! Yoga-At-Your Desk featuring Keep-A-Breast.org

[Spiritual SoundBite] Mate of the Same Colors and Feathers

Living at Playa Viva is truly integrating oneself into and with nature. Its physical space is built into nature as opposed to forcing nature to be a part of it. With that said, I’ve been observing nature and find it interesting that most of the living things I’ve seen, often travel in pairs: 2 of the same orange butterflies fluttering…2 of the same birds flocking, and just today, as I was upside down in a yoga pose, I witnessed a pair of dragonflies mating in mid-air—one of them responsible for their “flight of love”. Is mother nature trying to show me something?

Having been divorced once, and just getting out of a 3-year relationship, I struggle with the meaning of marriage and whether or not being with 1 person forever is realistic. People change and there are no guarantees. Is that just pessimism speaking or pragmatism? I am a romantic at heart, so perhaps my latest observations is just a sign that I still do believe in love and that someday I will perhaps meet my partner of the same colors or feathers.

What is your take on marriage and its purpose? You can reply to me or post your thoughts on my blog here.

Spontaneous Divine Chakra Intervention

I went to my first ‘Movement for Actor’s class at EDGE in Hollywood. I remember in college, I took a Movement for Musician’s class and absolutely loved it. We free flowed, expressed ourselves however we were moved to…we were given permission to Be and to express what that was. I’ve been yearning to find a class like this again and who knew it was in my own backyard!

I was scared to go…I’m a chicken when it comes to “first times” with anything. But the instructor was reassuring in saying, “I don’t care what you look like. Get into your body and out of our mind. Love the ugly duckling stage. The first time with anything or anyone is awkward.” The instructor Cindera Che was inspiring in her own way of expressing not only into words but with physical movements what she was feeling and attempting to convey. There was always a story…a purpose behind what we did and how we did it. We warmed up with some yoga moves and then she had us write our names with various body parts. It was fun trying to write my name in cursive with my ass! She said, “Pretend there’s a brush stuck up your ass! Now write your name!” We moved and expressed our bodies and she’d say “FREEZE!” and we all froze, no matter how awkward the postion. She’d ask, “What’s the story behind this?” Then she led us through what I would call mini story routines with red folding chairs as our prop. It was super fun…no right…no wrong. It felt like home.

She started class by saying that our bodies are instruments and we must learn how to use it and express it. I think my years of yoga practice has given me good awareness with my different body parts. So the brain to body connection is pretty good. Although, I would like to move my limbs gracefully like a dancer

I left class feeling absolutely happy and *free*…liberated. I walked passed the Gold’s Gym next door and for some reason, turned back around, went inside and asked if they needed any more yoga instructors. The guy behind the front desk said I could speak to the manager who happened to be in. She came out and said, Oooh…you’re cute!” I felt like I was hired already. I told her I was a yoga instructor and asked if they were looking for any more teachers. She said, “Absolutely! Come back Tuesday or Saturday and speak to so and so.” She gave me her card and told me to email her.

It felt like deja vu…I dreampt about that moment before. I’m glad I listened to my intuition–spontaneous chakra expansion and divine intervention at play! I love it.

[Spirritual SoundBite] Just One Foot In Front of the Other

I took a walk out in my neighborhood today. Taking the familiar path along the lake made me reflect about how it was similar to living life: while you’re on it, people, things, and events come across your path that may make you turn right or left or go in a different direction. Or you come across someone or something on the path that inspires you or offers an opportunity. Something in the distance may catch your curiosity and you decide to momentarily change direction and head towards it…all the while, knowing that the path you were on will always be there.

I once did a night hike in the volcano national park on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s supposed to be the best way to see the red lava spewing and spilling down the side of the volcano as it flows towards the cliff and cascades into the ocean like a waterfall. It was pitch black and with only a flashlight in hand, I could only see what was ahead, one footstep at a time. I remember it vividly thinking how it was a metaphor for life: you never know what’s ahead, all you can do is have faith and take one step at a time.

We are all trying to navigate through this life. I’ve learned that just when I thought things were “figured out”, the Universe senses mental complacency or laziness and shows me it’s not figured out! It presents yet another challenge for me…and gently nudges me towards a new direction. I feel like these challenges not only come my way to show me that I’ll overcome them, but I’m about to have another growth spurt–the journey of overcoming them is where all the good stuff happens. It’s about making conscious choices. Choices seem to be like mental footsteps. Each choice is a step into the future. It’s being open to possibilities and opportunities. It’s trusting your feelings and instincts. Thinking back to my most difficult and challenging situations in life so far, they are the ones that have propelled me forward in life. It’s not letting fear get the best of me even when I am afraid and to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Cheers to a Healthy. Happy. Sexy. You.

“Tuck! Squeeze! Tuck! Squeeze!”

That’s what I kept hearing in class. I’ve been wanting to move my body in a different way and am taking initiative in trying out new classes around town…whether it’s pilates, African dance, or like today…Pop Physique. I walked into the studio on Sunset in Silverlake and expected to see instructors decked out in American Apparel knee high socks and short shorts like Chrissy from Three’s Company…the way they advertised themselves on their site: Pop Physique
I was actually a bit disappointed my instructor wasn’t wearing shorts like that and didn’t have the kind of physique that actually popped. And can you really trust an aerobics instructor whose muscles seem less toned and smaller than yours? Yes, I’m sounding very superficial but these classes ARE superficial. So it’s appropriate to be so.

Don’t get me wrong…I respect exercise instructors of any kind. They work hard. And for most, it’s a labor of love. But for me, it made me feel cheap. Not so much like a dirty whore. But it was as if I wasn’t respecting my body…we were being worked out like machines. It was more about repetitions than form…and forget about how you’re feeling. “Feel the burn” and “no pain, no gain” are perfectly acceptable here.

The studio is beautiful and if you’re looking for just a workout and nothing else, then this is the class for you. We were led through some weight bearing exercises for the biceps, triceps and moved over to the ballet bar for some leg exercises, then abs with a ball between our thighs, and ended with some light stretching. It was a good overall body workout. It was very challenging. I realized how weak my legs were. But my arms and abs (mula bandha!) actually kept up quite nicely. The music was good for some of the mind-numbing repetitions but for the most part, it was so loud I could barely hear the instructor who was on one of those headsets.

The search is still on…

[Spiritual SoundBite] It’s Easy to Keep Moving…

“It’s easy to keep moving…it’s harder to stay still.” That was something Dena Kingsberg said last week when I practiced with her and my fellow Ashtangis every morning for 6 days. That one simple line resonated so much with me. We find things to distract ourselves from matters of the heart that need to be tended to. But because it’s too painful or stressful to come to face-to-face with, we avoid it and find things to do.

Another interpretation of this line is that I used to want more poses in my Ashtanga practice. It was my way of feeding my hungry ego and feeling not only rewarded by my teacher at the time but also feeling like I’ve accomplished something. Nowadays, I don’t want more. In fact, I’ve let go of a few postures and actually want to do less. Never did I think I’d want to do “less”. My motto was always, “Give me more! I can keep going! I need to go further!” This mentality came from needing to prove myself as being “good enough” after years of growing up and feeling like I had to be the best at everything I attempted to do. But these days, I know I’m “good enough.” I’m fine just the way I am. And so every morning, I meet myself on my mat, and instead of wanting to get anything “accomplished”, I find myself meditating upon my breath and going deeper within myself.

I hope you find time to stay still and enjoy it. To not feel guilty when you do it and to know that you deserve it

Cheers to a Healthy. Happy. Sexy. You.

Beyond Yoga: Nadi Sodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

4 Purification Breaths: Kapalabhati (Skull Shining)

How To Breathe!