Out in the Cold

It's not hard to understand why the animals and nature within itself wants to hide away and hibernate during this season. Finding their way out of the cold. Well, we ourselves are not outside this natural process of the season. Do you find yourself wishing you could stay in bed just a little bit longer, get to bed just a little bit sooner and stay inside, no matter what the reason is for you to venture out. Listen to your natural instinct, if your body, mind and soul are telling you it's time to rest, than listen. Not all days are that cold and soon enough you will have regained your energy and will be back at it with new gusto. Look for some comfort food, foods that nourish but don't add that extra lag once eaten. Try homemade soups or chili, warm breads with fresh vegetables and add a little something small and decadent on at the end just to satisfy. Curl up with your favorite movie, book or pull out that hobby that you have not had the time too allow yourself to enjoy or sit down with the kids and play go fish or monopoly, these small yet seemingly unaventful moments do much to nourishing everyone's body, mind and soul. Remember the words nourish, relax, rejuvenate. Keeping up with a fast pace and always having something to attend too does not always mean we are on top of everything. Slowing down to enjoy those moments, especially when the natural state of the season is calling to you, will lend to the enjoyment of the season. Remember, soon enough there will be tons of snowagain and out come the tobogans, sleds, skates and a stronger, rested and rejuvenated YOU!

Keep the internal fire burning!! Slow down, enjoy the embers.

Namaste

The "Big 40"

In the present realm we live in, our age is defined by a birthday we celebrate each year. This year I will celebrate the "Big 40". What does this number represent to me? When I was 6 and I knew someone 40 they were 'old', when I was 20 and I knew someone 40 they were 'middle-aged', now that I am turning 40 I feel as young now as I ever did. Well, in those moments when I'm not being run ragged by the kids, or overburdened by responsibilities, bills or the constant birage of media shaming me into ridding myself of my newly deepening wrinkles, my new gray strand of hair or the new body I now posses, after bearing 3 children and living half a lifetime in. I feel younger and more alive now than ever before. I am definately wiser, stronger and believe in myself more and this to me is what keeps the body, the mind and the spirit alive. What is most important for me is those moments when I am in a pose and I am in breath, my mind, body and spirit are at one when I relax into my meditation release, let go... and become empty, when I truly become undefined by age, gender and/or any other preconcieved notions of who and what I am or should be, I am free. It is after these moments when my mind, body and spirit are at their most creative and are capable of things I wasn't even aware of in my younger days. When I dance in these moments there is no inibition, discomfort, aches or pains, when I practice in these moments there is no resistance, inability to move or lack of flexibility, when I love and let go there is no holding onto or holding back it is truthful, open, honest and 'in the moment'. There is no past, present or future just the 'moment', leaving me free to be....Peaceful, Content, Alive. If we define ourselves by our beliefs from past experiences, if we allow others to define us by preconcieved notions of who, what and how we should be, we stop living, our spirit is dead, we no longer have any reason to learn, grow, move forward, for we are what others and our own limited beliefs have made us to be. If we let it all go, become undefined and become open to the possiblity that there is more to us than meets the eye, that age, gender, the past, others, the present, the future, family, friends, spouses, children do not define who we are but are a blessing of those who are here to share this life with us, we automatically allow ourselves to become more than we believed we could be and we in return allow others the opportunity to do so in their lives. So come Monday January 14th, with this latest milestone upon me, I look at this as a time of renewal. I believe that I have lived through enough, battled enough and have experienced enough, more importantly loved enough to allow myself to be undefined, to not underestimate my desire or ability to love, live and give and to not roll over and die. There is something to be said for the innocence and energy of what is defined as youth, but if you look within you will see that that energy, that spirit is always there, lying dormant at times when we become too afraid or too conditioned, too tired or too defined to let it be free. It is there, waiting, hoping to be rediscovered and allowed the opportunity to shine and reclaim the right to free the body, the mind and the spirit.

Happy "Big 40" to ME.

Namaste

New Year's Resolutions?

Well we've all done it. Taken another great leap into a New Year. Whether you whooped it up or had a more quiet and introspective evening, it's all the same and we are here now. In this new moment, January 2008. I have been asked if I have any New Year's resolutions. I prefer to look at the coming year and the future through focused intention. Instead of giving my self ultimatums and specific issues to define myself and my year by. I instead will try to look at the big picture, the long haul. What are my long term goals, who and where do I truly desire to be? And with that, set in motion the actions required to achieve that goal, whether that be tomorrow, next week, next year or next decade. I have come to learn that even though time feels it is passing us by at the speed of lighting (which it just may be) the journey is long and Rome was not built in a day. If we wish for our life to be a certain way and we are far from it, we must then do the work, take action, conquer like a warrior and build our way to our dream. This is my New Years Plan. What is yours? Remembering that 'being in the moment' is the best way to truly realize how you feel, at any given moment. Take stock, right here, right now? Are you happy with the direction you are headed in? Are you living your own truth? If you are, set your sights on deepening into the fabric of your own being. If you're not, then looking within will help you to define where it is you really want to be. For who knows you more than you know yourself? So if you are not sure whether or not you are at where you want to be, take the time to get to know yourself. Slow down, look within. Bring union to the Body, Mind and Spirit and watch yourself soar into the unknown, what do you say? Is it worth it? Only you know.

Wishing Peace, Joy and Harmony.
HAPPY 2008!!!!!

Thank you to all of you who helped me slow down, look within and find my heart's desire. Here's to looking forward to a New Year filled with Peace, Joy, Harmony and oh ya some challenges. Bring on the New Year.

Namaste

Class schedule : www.yogadivine.wetpaint.com/page/Schedule