Gratitude - Happy Thanksgiving

On this Thanksgiving morning I sit alone.  Kind of weird.  It's my first holiday where I have not been with family. I've been traveling a lot (pictures taken from trip to Ohio).  I've recently seen family, and with the crazy airfare I decided to stay in Laguna Beach.  But instead of missing family and feeling disconnected I've decided to change the way I look at the situation.  I have a lot to be grateful for. 
In yoga this week my focus was on gratitude.  As I taught classes we dedicated our practice to a gratitude flow.  So in listening to my own advise, I have decided to cultivate a spirit of gratitude.  Here is what I'm grateful for:
- Grateful that I get to have a peaceful cup of coffee and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. My annual tradition :)

 - Grateful for my clients who saved me a bike in spin this morning so I could pre-sweat out the craziness I will inhale this afternoon. 

 - Grateful that I do not have to cook a big dinner today, this is the first year I have not hosted in 10 years and it feels nice.

 - Grateful that I get to attend a Thanksgiving feast in So Cal, show up, eat, drink, be merry, and leave.  No crazy clean-up this year!

- Grateful that my friend Karin from Vienna is here visiting me and after our Thanksgiving feast last year in Austria I now have her hooked on this holiday.

 - Grateful for a new found love for my family... really truly love them.  Good, bad and all in between - I'm grateful for my family.

 - Love love love my 2 little nieces!

 - Grateful for my cat Mother Teressa.  She rocks!

 - Grateful for my friends near and far.  Way beyond blessed in this department.

 - Grateful for my private yoga clients-they add so much value to my life,  honored to work with them.

 - Grateful that I get to teach yoga for a living.  Had to make some major changes to get here but it was worth it.

 - Grateful that I get to travel this upcoming year... it's a real passion and I'm lucky I get to.

  If you're ever feeling in a funk - express some gratitude.  It has the power to shift you.
Happy Thanksgiving... wherever you are :)

Thanksgiving in Vienna

It's the eve before Thanksgiving and I reflect upon life as I knew it one year ago.  Last year at this time I was living in Vienna where I was teaching yoga and working on translating a website from German to English.  My mom flew over to visit me and after returning from our weekend trip to Italy we cooked a Thanksgiving Dinner for my new Austrian friends. 
Looking back, I am so grateful for that time.  It was priceless.  Also, finding a turkey and pumpkin anything in a land that does not celebrate Thanksgiving was super challenging (not to mention the language barrier.) 
For the rest of my life I will remember my European Thanksgiving.  I am still in touch with the women who I shared dinner with that evening.  One of them has flown to the US and is spending Thanksgiving with me this year in California.  I am truly grateful and look forward to future European Thanksgivings!

Laughter is Good Medicine...

This week in yoga I decided to emphasize laughter.  I often find that funny things happen to me.  Humor has been my long time friend.  So, as the holiday season is approaching I decided to highlight how laughter can help  through the seasons.  Be on the look out for funny things, they are all around you...
For example - two weeks ago, I was invited to a house wedding reception in Los Angeles.  Wanting to look as cute as I could, I wore a sleek black dress with high black boots and a trendy scarf (I'm single).  I get to the house and they have a no shoes policy.  WHAT?  No shoes... this is not good!  I also have a fetish for fun socks and had on the most ridiculous pair under those hot black boots.  Sometimes ya just gotta roll with life.  Take a deep breath, laugh, and go with it.  I took off the boots (picture insert of socks worn at wedding).  Needless to say, I received many stares and left the party single and laughing.  I'm still laughing. 
Sometimes Laughter is Good Medicine...

Fit Female-CSUF

I'm learning not to take myself so seriously.  Really. 
Last week I was nominated Fit Female for the month of November at CSUF.  Went to work and was showered with some craziness.
I entered to teach my yoga class with the max of 42 yoga mats and 42 faces staring at me when my boss comes in and gives me this lovely award.  It's sponsored by Nike, Schwinn, and Playtex Tampons.  Playtex is the biggest supporter and so what do I get... Yep, a bright pink yoga mat that says 'Playtex Tampons - Be Unstoppable'  Their marketing director should be fired!  I was given a nice supply of tampons and some lovely clothes to wear.  I thought I was being PUNKED.
The guys in my class were laughing so hard.  Photo shoot is next Monday in class where I have to wear all the lovely sponsor clothes and use the Tampons Yoga Mat.  This was the first time in yoga class that I passed out tampons.  I'm learning to laugh a lot and just go with the flow. 
I would advise the same to you... when life throws you the unexpected (or a lifetime supply of tampons) - just roll with it and don't take things so seriously.  Really...

Following the Current

With the month of October rocking my world, I'm going to just go with the flow.

I'm stepping into the riverbed of my life and swaying in the deep blue...
PEACE!

'The expression "Go with the flow" is a metaphor that applies to navigating a river. When we go with the flow, we follow the current of the water rather than pushing against it. People who go with the flow may be interpreted as lazy or passive; but to truly do so requires awareness, presence, and the ability to blend one's own energy with the prevailing energy. Going with the flow does not mean that we toss our oars into the water and kick back in the boat, hoping for the best; rather, it means that we let go of our individual agenda and notice the play of energy all around us. We tap into that force and yield to it, which gets us where we need to go a whole lot faster than resistance will.
Going with the flow does not imply that we don't know where we are headed, but simply that we are open to multiple ways of getting there. We are also willing to change our destination, clinging more to the essence of our goal than to particulars. We acknowledge that letting go and modifying our plans is part of the process. Going with the flow means that we are aware of an energy that is larger than our small selves and are open to working with it, not against it.
Many of us are afraid of going with the flow because we do not trust that we will get where we want to be if we do so. This causes us to cling to plans that are not working, stick to routes that are obstructed, and obsess over relationships that are not fulfilling.
When you find yourself stuck in these kinds of patterns, do yourself a favor and open to the flow of what is rather than resisting it. Trust that the big river of your life has a plan for you, and let it carry you onward. Throw overboard those things that are weighing you down. Be open to revising your maps. Take a deep breath and move into the current.' - The Daily OM.