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You can decide

Hi friends- how was your weekend? I had nothing work related going on and I spent time with Brad Pitt. April is going to be a crazy month for me work wise so it was nice to take it easy this weekend. What about you? Did you do anything fun? I was originally going to see the Cherry Blossoms in DC but the weather put a damper on those plans. ____________________________________________________________

A few weeks ago Lululemon sent me to the Landmark Forum. The forum is a intense weekend long seminar where you basically learn certain skills to help you create the life you want. It has a lot to do the language that you use to help you have your own personal tool kit for living your life to the fullest. This may seem confusing to some, eye opening to others, and really resonating to others.

Life is what you make of it. You can have, be, and do anything you want. When we get upset, frustrated and angry- we are deciding to be those things. Our decisions are based on our own reasoning.

I’ve thought a lot about what I think I’m meant to do in life or my destiny if you want call it that as I’ve written about before and that I had thought there is something essentially that we are all meant to do in life- we just have to figure that out. Figure out what our dharma is. I guess something I realized that with that- the idea of duty and destiny- is that we are the ones who give meaning to what we do in life.

I used to complain all the time about not having enough “Camille time.” If you talk to me often enough, I’m sure you’ve heard me talking about this. But one thing I specifically took away from the forum is that we are each responsible for our actions. So- me trying to blame everyone and everything on not having enough Camille time really means that I am the one in charge of how I spend my time.

Life is what you make it.

Our lives are waves that come up out of the ocean of eternity, break upon the beach of earth, lapse back to the ocean of eternity. Some are sunlit, some run in storm and rain; one is a quiet ripple, another is a thunderous breaker; and once in many centuries comes a great tidal wave that sweeps over a continent; but all go back to the sea and lie equally there. ~Austin O’Malley

So I had a weekend away and it was blissful. I feel relaxed and recharged for the week ahead!

This girl kept my feet warm.

I did lots of this:

Note- I am now obsessed with the Keurig coffee makers! I really want one- but I’d be for sure a caffeine addict if I had one. I also ate food that was not gluten and dairy free! Gahhhh! But it was good. I didn’t take any pics though. Next time!

Present moment living, getting in touch with your now, is at the heart of effective living. When you think about it, there really is no other moment you can live. Now is all there is, and the future is just another present moment to live when it arrives. ~Wayne Dyer

And ended with this:

I hope you’re having a great start to the week!

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**Don’t forget THIS FRIDAY is Yoga After Dark with me at Charm City Yoga Midtown. $20 in advance and $25 at the door for 2 hours of yoga flow, yin yoga, and yoga nidra with me. Click here for more info and to register. It’s all levels so PLEASE invite your friends!

Tags: events, lululemon, quotes, sanskrit, something to think about

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Yoga love

20 Jan

Hi my favorite people- TGIF!! I don’t know about you, but I am more than pleased that it’s the weekend. And I have zero plans. Happy as a clam. What about you? I hope you had a fabulous week and have an even better weekend waiting for you.

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Here’s a guest post from my girl Thais!

Sometimes I wonder why I love yoga so much. It’s anything but easy, the progress is slow, some poses are borderline crazy, and everyday my body’s needs are different. The catch is, despite all of that, yoga isn’t really about the asanas but about connecting with the breath. Who would’ve thought. But fact of the matter is, yoga saved my life.

I am one of those people who lived the majority of my life completely disconnected from my body. Only after I started therapy did I realize how much I believed that the body was simply a slave of the mind rather than a tool for happiness. So I went to yoga to seek reconnection. After each class I left the studio with such a state of happiness, which I dubbed as a “yoga high”, that I just had to go back time and time again. Initially I only practiced yoga on my mat. I learned to enjoy the breath. I learned patience and persistence. I learned the joys of a good sweaty detox class. I learned that just because I can touch my toes does not mean I am in any way shape or form “better”. Eventually I noticed these lessons started following me around off the mat. I became more observant of how inflexible my mind was to change. I realized I carried tension with me for no reason. I started to become more compassionate with myself.

Above all, the most important thing I’ve learned with my yoga practice is the power of the intention. If we do not set an intention before our practice, we tend to bring the same neurosis we have off the mat, on the matt. We must make it a point to let go, to breathe, to be ok with where we are, etc, when we practice. It’s my sincerest belief that without mindful intention, yoga is no different than gymnastics. This component of the practice is what creates change in the way we lead our lives. It’s what helped me express myself in a different way. Slowly but surely I am more positive, more open to life. All because I chose to approach yoga consciously and with great care. So of course, with such a love for the practice I had to go through teacher training. I wanted to learn everything I could about this world that I was just dipping my toes in. 200 hours later, I still feel like I am just skimming the surface of a beautiful ancient practice. There is so much more to yoga than just postures!!

The more I learn, the more I want to share my knowledge. Eventually I want to teach yoga full time, just like our dear Camille does. We shall see what life has in store for me. After all that, what I am trying to say is – DO MORE YOGA! Whether it’s off the mat, or on the mat, I cannot encourage you enough to honor your practice. Maybe you practice to perfect your natarajasana (one of my favorite poses), or maybe you practice to get away from the craziness of life. Regardless of the reason, regardless of the actual practice, regardless of how successful you are, the point is just do it. Set an intention and go after your dreams. You’d be surprised at how nurturing the world is for those who find happiness in being.

Thais is a 20s something yogadork with a passion for living life to the fullest. You can catch her taking naps in the park with her black lab, Caviar, reading ten books at a time, or tweeting away about some quote or another. Check out her corner of the blogging world here.

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Happy Friday! Don’t forget next Saturday January 28th is my HIP HOP YOGA class at Charm City Yoga Midtown. Click here for more info!

Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Tags: blogs, events, friends, quotes, sanskrit, twitter, yoga

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Keep it safe with your brain in check

9 Jan

Hi my favorite people- how was your weekend? I have nothing too exciting to report to you. Throats killing me and well- I’m under the weather. Bleh. No one likes being sick. It’s probably because of the weather. 15 degrees one day and 67 the next. Crazy I tell you. And my granny would probably say it’s because I wasn’t wearing enough clothes! Winking smile Did you all have a nice weekend?

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I wanted to address briefly the NY times article about yoga wrecking your body.

As always as a disclaimer I am not a doctor or healthcare professional. These are solely my own opinions and beliefs as an experienced yoga teacher.

There are several things to take away from this article. Like all physical activity, there are chances that you can become injured. The more yoga becomes popular (meaning the more students there are) means that there are higher percentages of injuries. It’s simple really. But just like with all athletic activity- if you push yourself past your edge you risk injury.

I have written about yoga etiquette before and discussed that all parties must take responsibility- meaning that the student should research the class that’s appropriate for them and the teacher should be instructing and teacher the poses at a level that’s appropriate for the students attending the class.You have to be aware of your own body and your own limitations (whatever they may be).

In yoga we talk about Yamas and the Niyamas which are basically like the do’s and don’ts of how to’s of living an ethical and skillful life. Number one on the list is ahimsa which means non-harming- non causing harm to ourselves or others.

If your hamstring is hurting you- you’re going too far. If you have a previous injury- i.e. your shoulder has come out of the socket- it’s not safe for you to do a headstand or shoulderstand if you have no strength in that arm and shoulder. So if you are keeping ahimsa in mind, you would hopefully be less likely to stress or strain the muscles in your body. However, your teacher should also have the knowledge and experience of the appropriate assists and be capable of guiding you into the pose at multiple levels, starting at the most basic level. Modifications should always be offered for those that cannot reach the furthest expression of the pose.

Yoga is about mind body awareness. Being aware of how your body moves and feels and linking/synching it with your breath. If you are fighting to get into a pose because you want to impress someone (including yourself) you’re letting your own ego get in the way. As someone who has been blessed with flexibility their entire life, I have learned the hard way to not always push myself just because I can. I am still now currently recovering from a foot injury from the summer as well as a knee injury. And even though I want to physically practice something intense every day, I simply can’t. And that took a lot of time for me to be OK with that. That’s just the way it is. And if you want to impress yourself, your friends, the teacher, whoever; you have the wrong idea about what yoga is really about. It’s not about being competitive. It’s about how you can get into the pose and what the steps you need to take to get there.

Yoga is about opening to mind to how things feel. Living and breathing and being aware of every single moment. Not about bending backwards with your leg behind your head. It’s also not about conforming to the stereotypical ideal of what we think someone who does yoga looks like (if you’ve seen the youtube video of the girl in her underwear doing handstands when she first wakes up!) but I’m not going there right now. It’s not about what your practice looks like compared to someone else’s.

A really fantastic response can be found here by Michael Taylor, wife of Tara Stiles. Taylor says:

So if we’d like to trade struggle and injury for ease and calm capability, a good place to begin is moving away from the idea of advanced. Yoga isn’t competitive posing. The "how" is far more important here than the "what." If a guru tells you to push harder to match what someone else looks like or does, find another guru. Better yet, find your self. A copy can never be so good as the original.

I’m not trying to open up a can of worms- but I want everyone to love yoga as much as I do while being smart about it. So I encourage you to find your own balance in your yoga practice feeling please and pain and doing it safely- they way that’s right for you. Make it expressive, creative, strong, powerful, and soft all at the same time.

So the next time you go to a class- be safe and listen to what your body’s telling you. Listen to the instructor and follow the directions. Modify if you need to. And don’t let your ego get in the way ok?

Happy yogaing <3

Tags: articles, sanskrit, something to think about, yoga

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Bliss and Lucky

7 Jul

Look what I got today? Aren’t they lovely!!?! Hand picked from a friends garden. Gorgeous!

So I was thinking about what to blog about because I’ve just been doing the usual- working, planning, getting ready for teacher training, icing my foot, drinking iced DECAF coffee- and I thought I should write about BLISS. How do you find it? I’d like to share some insight. Have I find it you may ask…well, kind of. Smile

The word bliss has several meanings. According to Wikipedia:

Bliss can be a state of profound satisfaction, happiness and joy, a constant stat of mind, undisturbed by gain or loss.

I don’t really get too personal on here about my every waking moment, but a few years ago, I had a break up. I was 26, thought we were going to get married, had lived together. It was sad, I was hurt, and frankly I didn’t want to be alone because I didn’t know how to be. So what did I do? I went and got a tattoo. BLISS on my wrist.

I thought by having those words permanently inked on the inside of my arm would remind me to be blissful. That clearly didn’t work! lol I just remember the dreaded ex (we won’t name him) came to drop off my mail one day and saw the tattoo and knew about my sister having a tattoo as well and said “Bliss and lucky (shakes his head and laughs). Your parents must be so proud.” And then my sister proceeded to tell him if he didn’t have anything nice to say to get out. Then she sang Single Ladies by Beyonce. Lol

I blurred out his face to protect his image. Smile

When I think about that time in my life- I really didn’t know what I wanted and I didn’t know who I really was deep down inside. Now that was only a few years ago, but in the time since then, I have learned how to do what I really want to do instead of what everyone else is doing and I learned how to be alone and be OK with it. While the literal definition of bliss means pure happiness I think it also means going with the flow and I definitely had my troubles with that! One minor thing would happened and things would just keep going south! It’s hard to do that all the time- not getting upset when there’s bad traffic and you’re running late, your car gets broken into, you get injured, don’t get the promotion etc.

Patanjali says in the Yoga Sutras “Sthira sukham asanam” which means finding easiness and steadiness throughout the yoga poses, specifically the seated poses. This means that when you’re in a pose that you may find particularly challenging, you have to ask yourself- Am I holding my breath? Is my face wrinkled up? This applies to your life off your yoga mat- when you’re in that bad traffic or having it out with your significant other.

I’ve talked about this before but finding your own blissful state of mind requires practice. It takes work sometimes to strive to find ease and balance in our lives amidst all of the chaos of our day to day dramas. So ask yourself- is there ease, comfort, steadiness, and BLISS in your life right now?

If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time [and] it’s very important to be aware of them every time they come up. ~Deepak Chopra

Just an FYI- a tattoo won’t help!

See you tomorrow!

xoxo, C

Tags: quotes, sanskrit, something to think about

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It happens

29 Jun

Well before this excitement happened:

(I know this is my signature photo-I’m very good at taking pictures of myself)

This happened:

There were worse pictures but I will spare you from the goiter looking pictures of my swollen foot. I wasn’t sure what happened but I woke up with it really swollen on Sunday am and I could barely walk. I still went to the O’s game and sat in the sweltering sun.

That looks like some supta padangustasana to me!

I’m definitely a home team fan. And we won!

Let’s go O’s!!!!

Anyway- back to the foot. My mom and I went to Patient First where both my mother and doctor reprimanded me for wearing flip flops. Ugh. As some of you know, I’ve been having foot problems for a while and that has really affected my yoga/running/cardio/zumba life. I have plantar fasciitis in the right foot and my good foot- the left one- is the one that I hurt. I had x-rays and it’s not broken but for the past 2 days I’ve had this:

Presley was afraid of the crutches. Lol

I have to say- crutches are NOT fun. When I was younger- I wanted to have some ankle brace so I could play with the crutches. Stephanie (my physical therapist- HI!!!) had to literally teach me the proper way to use them. I couldn’t help but have these hilarious flashbacks of my sister and I playing on crutches at a childhood friends house. We would swing from couch to couch on the cructhes and not touch the floor because they were way too big for us. We were kind of silly in the 2nd grade

I’m not too upset about my foot/ankle because I’m hoping it’s really not that bad as far as the tissue or ligament damage and the swelling has gone down a lot. But I am still planning on taking it easy over the weekend. Using the crutches, ace bandage, ankle brace, ice, etc. It’s kind of difficult for me to be still sometimes. However, one of my dear friends told me that it was time to be still and embrace the stillness! While I agree- a big part of me was like- ugh ok. Womp womp.

Life is about challenges. One of the most important things that yoga and life has taught me is that life is hard. Things don’t always turn out the way you’ve planned. Stuff happens. But- it’s more about how you handle those challenges. So for the past 2 days I’ve pretty much been inside laying around and trying to heal. As much as I want to work, take yoga, or go to the gym, I know that right now I have to relax, be still, and take care of myself.

Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and indifference toward the wicked. ~Patanjali

Sometimes we have to have compassion towards ourselves and just let ourselves BE.

As Judith Lasater says:

With our willingness to have perspective, not only to do increase our ability to distinguish the important from the unimportant, we also increase our capacity for compassion toward ourselves and others…We will be more likely to understand what is actually permanent and lasting and what is not.

I will most likely teach tomorrow but have to sit there and rest my foot because I want to be better asap! No point in dwelling in what already happened right?

Those flowers are from my friend Brian! Now my living room smells like lilies. I LOVE those flowers.

He also brought me this!

Look how cute he is!!!!

I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone for all their kind words about my injury and well wishes. It really means a lot that I am in your thoughts!

How do YOU stay positive?

How do you deal with injury or setbacks?

I’d love to know!!!

I hope you’re staying cool!

Much love, Camille

Tags: Baltimore, friends, presley, quotes, sanskrit, something to think about

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Holy Inspiration

25 Jun

Hi friends! I am sorry that there was no post for a few days! I have been busssyyyyy! But, it’s Friday and I am happy!!! Any fun plans for the weekend?

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Have you every had an experience that just leaves you blissful and inspired? I have. And it was on Wednesday night. I had the pleasure of seeing Florence and The Machine and U2 along with 80,000 other people in Baltimore at the Ravens M and T Stadium. My mom would blast U2 along with Sting, Enya, and classical music during my upbringing so of course it was appropriate that I went to the concert with my parents! We are also huge Beatles fans too but I will post about that some other time.

These are pre-drenched in sweat like we’ve never sweat before pics.

If you don’t know Florence’s music, you should totally check them out!!! I love her. I sang every song at the top of my lungs Smile

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It was a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
Beautiful day…

What you don’t have you don’t need it now
What you don’t know you can feel it somehow
What you don’t have you don’t need it now
Don’t need it now
Was a beautiful day ~U2

It was a gorgeous summer night. And HOT!

While I thought I was more excited about seeing Florence and The Machine, U2 was really amazing. The last time I saw them was almost 15 years ago.

What I found to be more inspiring was really the message that the band wants to give to all of their fans. The want each and every one of us to remember that we have a voice and choice in life. There were messages on the large screen that said ”What do you want? How will you ask for it?” Of course I thought this was great and it always makes me think. What do I want out of my life and what are the steps I am going to take to make it all happen. And what you sometimes think you want isn’t really what you really want. Life’s tricky like that Smile

U2 is also known for their philanthropic work with Amnesty International, The One Campaign, Product Red, Live Nation as well as several other non-profit organizations who support social justice, equality, liberation, and well being for people all over the world.

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu~

May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all. (source)

Sorry mom and dad if you don’t approve of these pictures.

I think a large part of their message is LOVE AND KINDNESS and to LIVE being kind and loving for the benefit of other people. Images of Desmond Tutu (Archbishop of South Africa, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Price Winner), Mark Kelly (Sen. Gabrielle Gifford’s astronaut husband), Aung San Suu Kyi (Burmese opposition politician and Nobel Peace Prize Winner) and Nelson Mandela (former South African President) flooded the screens on the stage as they sang songs such as Sunday Bloody Sunday, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, and Pride(In the name of love). Even though I know tons of U2 lyrics, I really felt like this time I understood more of their message. As The Beatles say “All you need is love” and Bono repeated those very words on Wednesday night.

So as those messages popped up on the screen asking “What time is it? What do you want? How will you ask for it?” again it makes me think- it’s time to be a kind, loving, caring, helpful and accepting person. As there are thousands of people struggling to simply stay alive on the other side of the world, there is no reason why we can’t aim to help them. Or simply just smile at the person walking next to you on the street.

One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we’re not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One…life ~U2

We danced a lot- this is when the heat was getting to me. lol

So this weekend I ask you:

What time is it for you? What do you want? How will you ask for it?

Life can be amazing and wonderful all at the same time. You just have to put it out there.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend!!!

Much love, Camille

Tags: Baltimore, family, music, quotes, sanskrit, something to think about

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Not so successful

9 Jun

Hi Friends! How are you? Are you plowing through the week full speed ahead?

I feel like I have been busy busy and it’s finally the middle of the week!! I’m sorry there was no post yesterday- but this video stuff is taking me into the hours of the night! I had a moment today and someone special got me flowers (in the pic above), gave me a pep talk, and now we’re moving on! Smile

This is a pic I captured from the video that was not. Today I tried to re-do the video again. I mean who knew YouTube had a 10 minute limit?? Not me! Geez, I had to wear my watch! lol

Butttttt the video- is unfortunately not happening! I hate complaining but I can’t get it to work! My computer is too slow, and well- I’m putting it out there now- if you are a graphic designer, good with videos and uploading, cutting, merging together etc. on computers- TELL ME! We can trade for some yoga! So I just decided to do the sequence with pictures instead.

HIP OPENING

Now, what I am writing is my opinion and my words are based on my teaching, training, and experience as a yoga student. **Do not do this sequence if you are a beginner or have NO yoga experience.**

Hip opening is intense. For almost everyone, your hips are tight so when you stretch them it hurts. I don’t mean bad pain hurt, I mean hurts so goooooood. But because of this- holding these poses for an extended period of time can bring up emotions and feelings that can trigger feelings of anger, sadness, and just general overwhelm. This is ok- it’s just important to remember to find pleasure and pain and not go into pain and that if it really does hurt, don’t do it.

The sequence is kind of quick but everyone can benefit from hip opening, just use caution if you have some pre-existing knee issues.

Lastly- this sequence should be done once your muscles are warm as I didn’t teach any vinyasas or warm up. And of course, feel free to add your own poses to create your own personalized sequence. These are poses I’m sure you’ve all done before but I think a lot of people are hesitant to practice on their own because they’re unsure of that to do. So I’m here to help!

Enjoy and let me know if you have questions!!!

Here we go!

Make sure you do both sides! I didn’t take a zillion pictures of everything because I know you guys can figure it out.

Start with the right side- step your foot in between your hands and drop down to your back knee so your in a low lunge. HOLD for 5-10 breaths.

Then find a twist. Roll to the outside of your right foot and FLEX it. This keeps your knee safe. Lift your right arm up- inhale and then exhale twist. Take your right arm behind your back. HOLD for 5-10 breaths.

Make your way to down dog however you want- vinyasa- chaturanga, updog, down dog- REPEAT on the left side.

Step your right foot in between your hands into a lunge again. Make sure your knee and ankle are in one line and then toe heel your right foot towards your left hand and drop the outside of your knee down and thigh down. Bring your heel in close to your groin if it’s too intense. Your right knee should be slightly towards the right side of your mat. Make sure your back leg is straight and in a straight line.

Inhale lift your chest and exhale lower your forearms. Either stay here OR to find the twist, bring your left arm under the right and inhale lift your right arm up and around trying to grab your right big toe. HOLD 10-15 breaths. BREATHE

Before switching to the other side- unwind from the twist and inhale lift your chest up. Exhale roll to the outside of your right hip and bring your right shin PARALLEL to the top of your mat. Bring your left leg forwards and stack it directly on top. Double pigeon.

Twist again! Bring your left elbow to the inside of your left foot, make a fist, put your right palm on top- inhale lengthen and exhale twist. HOLD 10-15 BREATHE because you’re getting into the thick of it. Smile

Unwind- give your legs a shake if you want- vinyasa- make your way to down dog and REPEAT on the other side!

Then- find a lunge again and make your way to ardha hanumanasana or half splits. Right side first. Inhale step your right foot in between your hands, knee and ankle in one line, and then exhale sit back until your left knee bends and your right leg straightens. Don’t lock out your front knee. Inhale lengthen and exhale, belly down, chest down, and then head down. HOLD 5 breaths.

FIND YOUR SPLIT! HANUMANASANA! Inhale lift your chest and exhale slide your right leg forward. Don’t think about your hamstring just being tight, think about the energy coming from your front heel- flex your foot! It doesn’t matter how close you are to the floor. Pull your right hip back and left hip forwards. Lift your chest and breathe. HOLD- 5-10 breaths.

Make your way to down dog. This sequence isn’t really focusing on the transitions and if you are worrying about that- create your own sequence!

REPEAT on the left.

Finally- lay in supta baddha konasana (bottoms of your feet together in a diamond shape) for FIVE minutes and then you can lay in savasana or relaxation.

Now this is short like I said so feel free to add in some balancing or warrior poses- or my favorites utkatasana and bhakasana.

If you feel knee pain when you kneel down, put a towel or blanket underneath your knee. You can also put a blanket or block underneath your hip/butt when it feels tight or too intense. Don’t force anything.

Count your nights by stars, not shadows; count your life with smiles, not tears. ~Italian Proverb

I will see you guys tomorrow!!!

xoxo, C

Tags: hip opening, presley, quotes, sanskrit, sequence, yoga

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Ready for the work week

6 Jun

Hi Friends~ did you have a good weekend? I did.

I started out on Saturday getting a nice manicure with my mom and sis at Zina’s Spa and Salon in Canton. LOVE that place. They are a tad pricey but wonderful quality service. Very loving and friendly people. We got the shellac manicure and it lasts for 2 weeks.

The family didn’t feel like posing for a picture. Sigh. M and I went on a little shopping trip afterwards and I found this ring! LOVE it! And to make it better- it was from Forever 21. Smile

I went to dinner on Saturday night at Annabel Lee Tavern (also in Canton) and it was amazing. I had only been there once but it was as good as I remembered. It can be crowded, I wanted the a/c to be a bit colder and you can’t make reservations. But the food is really tasty and they have all kinds of drinks and local beers.

I was never really insane except upon occasions when my heart was touched. ~ Edgar Allan Poe

This quote was on the bathroom wall and I memorized it immediately! You might have already seen it on my Facebook page. Smile

**Be Kind and Unwind**

I thought I would post a sequence for you guys that’s easy, stress relieving, and that you could pretty much do anywhere. You can do this sequence as a restorative or yin yoga practice. Just really let gravity do the work. Use blankets or blocks if you need to. Feel free to a few vinyasa’s before hand, but they’re not super necessary.

Roll out your island!

Look at little precious! Smile

Here’s the order I picked- but there aren’t any rules!

Start in bound angle/baddha konasana and let your body round over. Feel free to use blocks underneath the outside of your thighs.

Move into paschimottanasana or seated forward bend. Prop your booty up on a blanket if you need to, don’t strain through the backs of your knees and let yourself round over.

Next move into janusirsasana/ head to knee pose. Start w/whatever side you want, fold your foot in towards your groin and let your knee fall to the side. Again, just let yourself round over- sit on a blanket if you need to or stuff one or even a rolled up towel underneath the outer thigh of your bent leg.

Double pigeon. Stack your knees and shins on top of each other. See that space between my top knee and bottom ankle- most likely you will have a space too! So you can put your block or rolled up blanket/towel in between that space. This pose is intense! Remember to breathe! Feel free to sit upright or round over as well.

Supported bridge/setu bandhasana. You don’t have to use a block if you don’t have one- you can just lay on your back. If you have a block, it should be underneath your sacrum or the bony part of your pelvis- NOT underneath your lower or middle back.

Supta baddha konasana /reclined bound angle. Same as before- but lay on your back. Feel free to prop your head up or use blocks underneath your outer thighs.

Viparita Karani/legs up the wall pose. Move your but up so it’s touching the wall and lay there. Feels soooo good.

Or this variation instead. Smile

Jathara Parivartanasana/reclined spinal twist. Stack knees on top of each other and make sure hips are directly on top of each other. If both shoulder blades don’t rest on the floor- put a towel or blanket underneath the shoulder that isn’t on the ground.

Savasana/corpse pose Rest!!!!

After 5 minutes, get up and feel the effects of your practice. This is good after a long day or before bed. Just my opinion!

Playlist

All These Things The at I’ve Done- The Killers

Sweet Disposition- The Temper Trap

Nausea- Beck

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots- The Flaming Lips

Crystal Village- Pete Yorn

Manhattan- Kings of Leon

There Goes The Fear- Doves

The Great Defector- Bell X1

Do You Realize- The Flaming Lips

Vagabond- Wolfmother

Close to Me- The Cure

Revelry- Kings of Leon

Here We Go- Mat Kearney

In My Place- Coldplay

Crack The Shutters- Snow Patrol

Omaha- Counting Crows

I Spy- Guster

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want- The Smiths

Pink Moon- Nick Drake

If I Fell- Evan Rachel Wood

Hero- Regina Spektor

I hope you guys had a great weekend and enjoyed the gorgeous weather!!!

Let go of the need to prove yourself to others- to parents, people from the past, people in your life today. Could it be the one you’ve really been trying to prove something to is yourself? The answer is simple: learn to approve yourself. Love and accept yourself the way you are today. Then step right up and take your place in the universe. ~Melody Beattie

LOVE IT!!!!

Xoxo, C

Tags: Baltimore, family, playlist, quotes, sanskrit, sequence, something to think about, yoga

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What to talk about

2 Jun

Hi there- did you manage to stay cool today? I laid around in the air conditioning until I had to teach except for my lunch date with the lovely lady above. Hi Kate!! I like warm weather but I am not a fan of 90 degree temperatures in May. What happened to spring?

Look who else stayed cool?

If you’re not a cat person- sorry- but I love him!! Even though he’s full of fur and he bites my hand a lot. lol

I wasn’t really sure what to blog about today as my day was just the norm- stuff around my apartment, did some yoga, and taught some yoga. The usual. Smile

I was watching a movie tonight on my couch, icing my foot, and there was some sort of quote that said something like- “Extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people.” I loved that! But it made me think about the Sanskrit word Dharma. Dharma means duty, right, or life- path. How do you know what that is? What’s your duty in life?

I thought about this a lot when I was hooked on life on the island.

source

If you don’t create the life you want, who will?

Now again, I’m not talking about Jack and Kate, but Lost really did make me think when they would talk about their duty in life, how to figure out what is was and then how they were going to follow though. Especially when this guy would talk about destiny all the time.

source

He actually lives in Baltimore! Ok but ANYWAYS- all kidding aside and for you non Lost watchers, all I’m really saying here is that I think it’s important to reflect on your own dharma. What is it that you’re destined to do? If there’s something you want, YOU are the one who has to make it happen.

I did some research on the word dharma and it comes from the Latin word firmus meaning to firm. I can see how those words are linked together. A lot of the definitions I found described the word dharma as being related to the cosmic law, one’s duty, nature, and really just their true essence of being in life.

"Dharma" derives from the verbal root dhri, which simply means "manner of being." The term must therefore be understood in its original (i.e. metaphysical) context, that of a "conformity" to a Divine or Creative Principle at work in an individual. It represents the individual’s internal "law," to which an obedience must be given if that individual life is to live in accordance with a Divine Will. This, we should note, is what Hindus or, for that matter, all metaphysical traditions, consider the sole or primary "purpose" of life. In "dharma," therefore, we find the founding principle of the caste system — one in which individuals owe their allegiance to an "internal decree" from which they cannot stray.

~http://www.thaiexotictreasures.com/dharma_in_buddhism_and_hinduism.html

So I know it’s all a lot to think about it if you’ve never heard about all of this before but I think it’s important. I’m not saying you need to watch all of Lost on netflix and stay up till 2am like I did having nightmares about Ben Linus. Lol BUT- what I am saying is that in order to live your best and happy life, you have to make it happen. And I don’t mean quitting your job or moving across the country on a whim. I mean make choices and decisions. Take action to have what you want and be who you want to be! Be in the moment, breathe, do yoga, journal, meditate.

You have to do the work to figure out what your destiny is.

And how are you going to do that? I’d really love to know because I don’t know the answer. Geez I’m really turning into a philosophical person over here, but I was a philosophy major after all. Mom, be proud I’m using my degree.

xoxo, C

Tags: friends, Lost, sanskrit, something to think about

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It’s almost here

6 May

The weekend that is! Any fun plans????

Samskara

The Sanskrit term samskara translates as activator. Samskara is like a groove on a record turning around and around in which the needle gets stuck or like and old tape that plays in our mind turning over the same thoughts, impressions, and memories. Samskara is a cycle of action and thought that becomes our habits. These habits often feel like fated repetitions. When we feel stuck, it is often due to samskara. Obsessions and compulsions have their root in the samskara of past conditions, but they can also produce positive tendencies like our life’s work, the ability to sustain relationships, and the soul’s longing for the divine.

Yoga, in the broadest sense of both practice and theory, concerns itself with the molding of samskara. Refining samskara to such a degree that it becomes a positive force that guides life and energy is yoga. This requires self-inquiry. If approached with this kind of awareness, the practice of asana takes on new meaning and new life.

~JR

I think something to talk about it is what yoga does for us. A lot of us first get into yoga because it’s physically stimulating. Depending on what type of class you take, you can sweat, build tons of fire or tapas in the body, become more flexible, bend upside down, and relax all within an hour to 90 minutes. But I think it’s important to really talk about what yoga does for us down at the root. Why does it made us more calm and relaxed and easier to find our focus?

As I’ve stated before, I got into yoga because I used to dance and take gymnastics- so when I first started taking classes I was on of the youngest practitioners and probably the most flexible. Of course my ego was going through the roof when I felt like I was the best one in the class! Of course my practice grew over time and I took a 200 hr yoga teacher training at Charm City Yoga. But what I started to find was that on the mat- I could clear my head and focus on just being in the space and breathing- not worrying about what I screwed up at work or my boyfriend or the dinner that I was going to make. However, as the above states, it requires self inquiry and PRACTICE. That’s the whole point of yoga. It’s a MENTAL and PHYSICAL practice.

Since I’ve done yoga as well as become a teacher, I’ve realized how easy it is to become wrapped up in outside things and what we think we should and shouldn’t do. But I have learned is that it’s ok to really put your dreams out there on the table, no matter what they are, and make them happen- all the while breathing and feeling every single moment. Because we all know that life is short and you only have this one to live so you better live it right!!

Enough rambling So practice refining your samskara this weekend ok? Let me know how it goes.

EASY MEDITATION TIPS

I know a lot of you don’t necessarily practice meditation but there are just some simple tips you can do to get into a regular practice.

Set your cell phone on silent- but set the alarm for 5 or 10 minutes. At first 10 minutes will seem like a lot but it will feel really good once you’ve accomplished it with eyes closed!

Sit in a comfortable seated position- this can be in a chair or against the wall, on a blanket, pillow, or meditation cushion.

Close your eyes and just start to take a few breaths- deep inhales as much as you can without holding it in and exhale completely. Just notice how you feel- you should feel more relaxed. Just try to empty you mind- thoughts are going to come into your head- but try not to focus on any of them. Let them come and let them go.

Think of two words- something you want to get rid of and something you want. For example- Peace and Stress. Inhale what you want- exhale what you don’t. This is similar to reciting a mantra or saying. You don’t have to say it out loud, but on your inhale- you’d breathe in peace and exhale stress and you’d say this over and over in your mind with each breath.

Try this for 10 minutes and if you wanted or had time, you could lay in savasana or corpse pose for a minute or two in relaxation.

This is a great way to start or end your day.

Try it and let me know!!