Monthly Archives: June 2015

#lovewins

26 Friday Jun 2015

Posted by in #nothingforgranted, Bad Yogi, Beauty Reports, Dragon, Forrest Yoga, Intention setting, Intentions, Life Lessons

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I taught tonight.  If you follow me, you already know that.  My intention setting for class was going to be about finding and tapping into the happiness around DC right now (gay marriage bans ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court).  But then something else took over.

I’m fiery.  I love bright, spicy, hot.  My spirit animal, the dragon, felt like coming out.  So I let her (or him).  It connected with the class STRONGLY, so I thought I’d share it here…

There is so much hate in the world.  Too much.  Hate on top of hate, only creates more hate.  What happens if we reply with love?  Or compassion?  Why do we continue to play a game that creates anger, hostility, and negative?  Let’s pretend for a moment there is an organization (there is) that takes cardboard signs with hateful messages to funerals (they do).  And let’s say hundreds or thousands of people show up to prevent those messages being seen by those in mourning.  Media reports on these people as “counter protesters.”  But what happens when we change the words – instead, let’s imagine the hundreds of people that showed up to show support to a soldier.  Can you feel the difference?  The heart, this organ that is capable of so much, craves that spark.  And we typically feed it with the opposite of compassion.

What happens when we cross over to the love side?  Instead of inviting anger, hostility, resentment, or <insert negative emotion here>, wouldn’t we show what it’s actually like to be human.  And this goes for everyone – race, orientation, religion, gender, etc…Legitimately, all it takes is love.

As a teacher of Forrest Yoga, I hold strongly the conviction to help Mend the Hoop of the People.  I’m getting started here.  Just as there can be no hate where there is love, there can be no dark where there is light.  Go, shine.  Heal.  Aho!

I’m back….

22 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by in #nothingforgranted, Bad Yogi, Beauty Reports, Dragon, Forrest Yoga, Gratitude

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and my light is just starting to burn.

As my welcome home to everyone else, I thought I’d write up a quick little entry about my last four days.  I finished my Forrest Yoga (FY) mentorship program with FY Guardian Brian Campbell and three amazing yoginis.  Each day we began with FY Ceremony, an intensive and a so SWEATY class led by Brian, and many opportunities for us to work with Brian 1×1 and in the group learning assists, sequencing, seeing others, and allowing ourselves be seen.

While this chapter in my training is complete, the fire within me – the dragon – wants more.  I can’t wait to share with my students in DC what I’ve learned, in both Forrest and Vinyasa classes.  I am excited to step into my future, not with hesitance, but with a proud (yes, I said it), confident energy.

We ended the weekend with a gratitude circle and I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on gratitude with you.  Having a mentor that loves his craft (in this case, yoga and bodywork) and is willing to not only share but lift us up,,,,well, it’s beyond powerful.  To have the support of a tribe with me – these three ladies didn’t know my story but they accepted me for who I am – #perfectlyimperfect.  To the teachers in DC that covered for me while I was away and made my students their own, I’m forever grateful.  For the family and friends that checked up on me, encouraged me, and remind me daily that this is my path, I’m honored.  And to possibly the most amazing pet sitter I could have – who is loved by both the bulldog and the incredibly finicky cat, I can’t even offer words.

And to everyone — near or far, past; present or future; students and teachers; family and friends — I offer my heart to you – gratitude, in light, and in sheer utter excitement for the moments our paths will cross and we can look each other in the eyes and say “Aho!”

Being brave

01 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by in Dragon, Intention setting, Intentions, Life Lessons

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As is my habit, I set my monthly intention this morning as I ate my breakfast.  Sounds sexy, huh?  Intentions for me allow me to project myself out a day/week/month and see who I want to be at the end.  Sometimes I’m successful at becoming that person; sometimes I’m not.  But regardless, it’s a step along my path.

I’m doing a Forrest Yoga mentorship and had a conference call with my mentor, Brian Campbell, and the other yoginis in this program.  Brian spoke at length about connecting into our hearts and to be brave.  So as I woke this morning and began my routine, it only made sense the conversation from last night start my month.  And being brave is a new and scary concept for me.

Often times, we see being brave as the hero in the movies.  Bravery isn’t always about fighting and killing the dragons.  There does not always have to be gusto, loud noises, fights, victories, or even adrenaline in a brave moment.

I’m learning that being brave sometimes is a quiet achievement.  It’s when I take a fucking breath, activate my feet, and allow myself just be in the moment.  I’ve learned how to drop (most) shields around my heart and to actually let others peek in, though at this writing, I don’t let them peek long.  And the hardest struggle with bravery we all may face – looking in the mirror and uttering these words: I am enough.

I’m setting out on being braver this month and I’m going to challenge friends, family, and other yogis to do the same.  Hopefully as we all walk together, lending swords when needed, we can step into the person we see in 30 days.

And realize sometimes it’s braver to make a friend of the dragon than to kill it.