Monthly Archives: December 2015

New Year’s Eve

31 Thursday Dec 2015

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

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It’s December 31, 2015.  As the year comes racing to a close and the New Year looms ahead, this is a time of reflection, of thought, and gratitude.  2015 was a REALLY amazing year for me.  While there are countless people I will inadvertently overlook, here are just some that over this past year have had an astonishing impact on me and my path.

To my Forrest Yoga mentor, Brian Campbell.  You saw me.  And you didn’t turn away.  Thank you so much for encouraging me and supporting me through the year.  When I asked the universe to send me someone to fit my needs (greedy, yes I know), you are the perfect match.  I can’t wait to see what our next few years hold brother.

To my dragon mentor, Jambo Truong.  You are one of the best people I’ve ever met.  And a fucking dragon.  Play time with you is one of those things that I look forward to like nothing else.  You get me on a level most don’t and I love how I just want to laugh with you when we’re together.  Thank you for helping me to step into my skin and be the dragon (man) I’m intended to be.

To my Chicago assisting teammates – Allision, Jerusha, and Guan – thank you all for inspiring me.  You each are so incredibly strong and I saw and learned something from you every day.  Thank you for teaching me, allowing me to ask my crazy ass questions, and for lunch every day.  I’ve been lucky the universe has sent strong women into my life; luckier still I can call you each friend.

Cindee – yep, unicorns are normally lunch.  Thank you for being so amazing.  You inspire me every day, even when we don’t talk.  Your wisdom is crazy appropriate and I am so grateful our hearts are so interconnected we feel each other all the time.  You were my secret buddy but became one of the most powerful voices in my life.  You + me = we got this.

Abby – wow.  Speechless.  You are the reason I discovered Forrest Yoga.  You are a force – do not forget that.  I am beyond honored/humbled you have taken me under your protective wing and am so excited that you know already – my dragon wing protects you wolf.  2016 holds big things.  And as sister/brother, ain’t nothing gonna hold us back.

To the students that have allowed me to guide them for one snippet of time during classes….Wow.  It’s been an incredible year filled with crows, scissors, handstands, and other.  More to come in the next year so let’s hop on this path, grab a mat, and breathe.

#Aho.

Beauty Report – Crow

21 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by in #nothingforgranted, Bad Yogi, Beauty Reports, Dragon, Forrest Yoga, Life Lessons, Truth

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I had one of those moments tonight that shook me in an amazing way.  But first, three back stories to catch you up…

I assisted Ana Forrest during a Foundation training in Chicago this year.  To do so, I had to complete a book review list with 18 books, a binder of information, and a few other “homework” items.  In a span of less than two months.  I had days that I was less than motivated.  On those days, I used the song “Shut up and dance (with me)” to remind me why I was doing all of the work.

Earlier today, I had a conversation with another teacher about spirit animals and how magical the crow is and when it makes an appearance, it’s telling us to pay attention.

Today is the winter solstice.  There is much power to tap.

Cut to tonight and a Forrest Yoga class at a gym.  I taught crow (bakasana) and we really broke the pose down.  Students made some incredible progress.  As they were in savasana, that motivating song came on the sound system in the gym outside the studio door.  I have NEVER heard music from the gym in the studio before.  And then it hit me – I had been in a room full of crows.  And it was my time to pay attention.

I’ve told many people that I connected with Forrest Yoga in my first class taking it; I felt it to my core.  The universe aligned entirely to get me into my Foundation training and since then, has acknowledged that with some incredible opportunities.

I’m coming up to a rough time line in my life – the anniversary of the death of my ex is in January; the holidays are this week and next.  While each occasion becomes slightly easier, his presence will be missed tremendously and he’ll be on my mind and in my heart.  I still miss him daily.

But in this moment, tonight, here, now, I know – my path that I’m on is quite frankly beyond amazing.  That’s an understatement.  My light and my dragon are only going to become brighter and stronger.  Connecting with students and helping even just one make a breakthrough is affirmation of my path.  I LOVE what I do.  I love learning about yoga.  I love sharing yoga.  My beauty report is that this is my journey and it’s only getting better.  #thisismytime #thisismyplace.

Small steps…

13 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by in #nothingforgranted, Beauty Reports, Dragon, Life Lessons

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I had a breakthrough this past week that I’m still feeling through what it means.  I tossed out my favorite sweatshirt, one I’ve had for over 10 years. I know, it seems so weird to think that throwing away a piece of clothing would be a breakthrough.  It was.

My ex, “M,” went to UCLA Law and it was a sweatshirt that he gave me on our second Christmas together in 2003.  That sweatshirt was with me on some of our happiest vacations – San Fran, Paris, Hawaii, LA.  I wasn’t sure I’d ever part ways with it but a student of mine pointed something out, even if she didn’t mean to.

Every time I wore that shirt, I carried him.  That sweatshirt wasn’t just my memories of the man but after his death, that sweatshirt had become a symbol of sorts.  And in the way that she pursed her lips to the side last week, it hit me – each time I put the shirt on, I forget that I’m still living.  And more importantly, I’m still living MY LIFE.  Not his.  Yeah, he shaped who I was in so many ways.  But that was the past.  As I work through my current issues and learn to trust myself and others again, I’m shaping my own future.  And while there will be parts of him always present, this is my path.  It’s time for me to step out of his shadow and let my own light shine.

Truth speak, 1

10 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by in Forrest Yoga, Life Lessons, Truth

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Interesting title, eh?  I’ve decided to start taking a page out of Forrest Yoga and begin to honor my truths as they arise and share them.  I see it as part of my healing and as part of my journey.  At the end of it, all I can ask is that you feel your way into what I share – sharing truth is scary.  It’s putting this part of me out there that I haven’t let be seen by many.  Without too much further ado, here we go….

There was another mass shooting in the U.S. last week.  And as is often the case, gun rights advocates march onto the airwaves and vocalize one of their primary arguments repeatedly – guns don’t kill.  This phrase is repeated so often, it becomes a sort of running punchline; I’ve heard people say “I left my gun unattended all night and it killed no one.”  Yeah, really not funny.  I’ve heard friends/family say it and have seen it posted on social media.  But there’s a flaw in the argument most people don’t recognize.

Imagine telling a parent, whose child will not be getting off the school bus today, that guns don’t kill.  Picture the face of the child you tell, just after they’ve been told their mother or father won’t return home from the office party.  Feel the horror on the face of the teen whose date didn’t leave the movie alive.

Don’t know any of those people?  Then tell me.  But tell me to my face.  Tell me that a gun didn’t kill my best friend.  My situation is different than those above and I call him an asshole every day.  However, say the words guns don’t kill (like they have been numerous times already) and my response isn’t whole hearted agreement.  I bite my lips.  I take a breath.  I’ll lower my head and turn away, so you won’t see me cry.

Because guns kill friendship.  They kill hope.  Futures.  Love.  Guns kill intangibles that are measured beyond human life.  A gun killed a part of me that I’m still trying to recover.  So can we begin to retire that phrase now and understand – guns kill.