Singing with my Nieces

I love music.  I can't sing, no lie my vocals are pretty bad.
When I'm with my two little nieces, I like to be goofy and often find myself singing and dancing.  I grew up with parents who always liked to sing and dance.  Memories of music were always in the house.  To this day, when I visit family we still act silly and sing. 
So on my last trip back to Ohio to visit family and friends - here are the songs that filled the air.  Hope they bring a smile to your face.  Picture me and my 4 and 6 year old nieces jumping around to these familiar melodies:  (Click on links to see music videos)
 - "Yummy yummy yummy I've got love in my tummy and it feels like loving you..."  This is our go-to silly song.  My niees and I sing this and laugh.  Then we repeat again.  It never gets old.  Watch this video, so funny. 
 - A favorite is the song by Peter, Paul and Mary called "We're Going to the Zoo."  The best video can be seen by clicking here. "We're going to the zoo zoo zoo, going to the zoo zoo zoo, going to the zoo zoo zoo.  How about YOU?! (scream emphasis on the word YOU).
 - Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros  "Home, let me come home, home is whenever I'm with you."  This is my niece Ryan's favorite.  We sing we dance until we no longer can.
I love music.  It has the power to lift one's mood.  It can bring laughter, especially if you're like me and you sing out loud.

Katie's 2012 Yoga Bio

Katie is passionate about bringing yoga to the average person while taking those who are seasoned in their yoga practice to the next level.  She creates a safe place for people to relax and connect the union of the body and breath.  Katie holds the space for a peaceful flow, yet her classes are challenging.  She is committed to offering yoga to the masses as she teaches a variety of classes to all age levels both domestic and internationally.  Katie has the ability to connect with others while taking them on a journey of deeper awareness through the practice of yoga. 

As a student of many forms of yoga, Katie is dedicated to promoting peace and the yoga lifestyle.  Katie brings a compassionate sense of healing and authentic simplicity to her classes.  Yoga series have been designed to create strength and flexibility, as well as deepen student's connection to the body. 

Katie is registered through the Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher.   Her trainings are in Vinyasa Flow, Hatha Interdisciplinary, and Power Yoga. 
Katie is also certified through the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America
as a Personal Trainer and In-door Cycling Instructor with Schwinn. 

After graduating with her Master's Degree from college, Katie began her yoga-teaching journey.  She has been studying yoga for over 12 years. 

Currently Ms. Bond is teaching fitness classes and hosting a variety of yoga workshops around the globe. 

After living in Europe working in yoga and fitness, Katie currently resides in Laguna Beach, California where she works in health and fitness along with physical therapy.  Katie also teaches at California State University Fullerton where she was recently named Fit Female. 
In her spare time, she is an avid supporter of fair trade and international human rights efforts.  Through the practice of karma yoga, Katie believes in helping others by volunteering on the domestic and international level. 

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Check out Katie’s website to learn more about Yoga for Athletes, Private Yoga, Yoga Workshops, In-door Cycling, Personal Training and other Fitness needs:

Website: www.travelandyoga.com
Email: katie@travelandyoga.com

The Grass Is Always Greener...

While picking up some new private yoga clients this week, one of them said to me they decided in their next life they wanted to have my life.  It made me stop and think.  It made me grateful.  It also made me realize that 'the grass is always greener on the other side' thinking is still alive...  The next morning I opened up my mediation book and read this...  Just had to share it with you.  Enjoy :)

I love my Daily OM.  Here is a little blurb from a meditation on 'Finding The Joy You Have'.

"Not one life goes by in which the quest for joy and happiness is absent.  It is unfortunate, however, that people so often believe that the search will be entirely fulfilled by finding the perfect job, acquiring some new gadget, losing weight, or maintaining an image.  The problem inherent in looking outward for sources of happiness is that focusing on what you do not have or what you are not inevitably leads to unhappiness.
It is easy to get caught up in your desires and to ignore the sources of joy and growth already present in your life.  It's said that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.  When you have stopped comparing yourself and your assets to others, you will be able to recognize that, to others, you are on the "greener side."  Learning to live in the moment and enjoy your personal lot can be a source of profound contentment."

So while I often strive to do more in life - I realize to others my life seems pretty green. 
I'm sitting in contentment...

Another new Tattoo

Yes, another tattoo.  My friend Tommy was visiting me and his last night in town we both went and got tattoos.  Random!  FUN!

Live Simply was tattooed on his forearm.  I love it.  It's powerful and sends a great message, yet it's simple.

I on the other hand I had James (my new favorite tattoo artist at Laguna Tattoo) sketch out a design for me.  For a while now I've been wanting a lotus flower, a butterfly, and an OM symbol.  Was not sure how to put the combo together.  That's were a good tattoo artist comes in.  I told James, he drew it up and I now have this combo on the back of my right shoulder.  I'm so happy with it.  It's symbolic to me on so many levels...

Perception and Reality...

I was asked to make a CD with music for sex...
I was asked to make a CD for music to smoke out to...
Let me explain...  I love music.  Find it can lift one's soul.  Good music is all around... it just takes some work to find the right tune for the right setting.  So, it does not surprise me that I get a lot of compliments on the music I use in the various fitness classes I teach.  I put a lot of time in researching music, meeting with DJ's, and finding the latest mixes for yoga, spin, etc.  My music selection is vast.  I love all kinds.  My parents often tell me I was born in the wrong decade due to my love of Cat Steven's and CCR.  Yet I also love good house music and anything with a base beat.  And, I can rock out to yoga grooves with deep roots... Like I said, I love music.

People have asked me to make them CD's of some of my mixes they hear in a class.  I always say sure.  However, I was caught off guard last week as a woman asked me after yoga class to make her a CD for sex.  I laughed.  She was serious.  I said huh?  Then I agreed.  The following day after my spin class another lady asked me if I would consider making a CD with music that would be good for smoking pot to.  Again, I laughed.  She was serious.  I said HUH?  Then I agreed. 

So on Saturday night, while most of the world was going out and having fun, I sat in my sweats, had a glass of wine and made the CD's.  I was laughing.  I am single.  I do not smoke pot. 
Perception versus reality sometimes can be way off! 
Yet, I love music and if I do say so myself I made two killer CD's.

Letting Go

I was fired.  Breaks my heart to even write it...
I was let go from a job I absolutely love.  Really found it a joy.
No warning - totally shocked.  

Rewind to one week earlier where I was in LA attending a Buddhist lecture.  I did not want to go but my friend begged me (not kidding).
Why do I even question life?
The lecture was on Letting Go...  The Lama shared with us that in the Western world we view a loss as a negative.  When we let go of something we view the loss as if our life can't do without whatever 'It' was.  The Lama said that we should change our perspective to view a loss as a gain.  When we let go of something it's actually a new beginning.  A chance to open up our life to a new season...  Who knew the Lama would be sharing a message that was going to hit so close to home.

After being so unkindly let go from something I loved doing, I was surrounded by true community.  I had not felt that much support and love in a long time.  2 days later I was offered 2 jobs.  Both better paying and better environments.  I am blessed.  A loss can, in fact, can be a gain :)

World AIDS Day 2011

Today my heart goes out to an innocent child suffering with HIV.  As I sit comfortably in my flat in Southern California, my mind and heart are in Kenya...
Three years ago I was in Africa doing non-profit work with AIDS orphans on December 1... I remember thinking, "today is World AIDS Days and I'm in a country that is so infected by the disease." I was overwhelmed with emotions. Seeing little kids, so innocent, being given a death sentence.  Sometimes life is not fair.  To this day I'm still burdened over what I experienced.  So, I decided to do something, to support a child with HIV.
Three years ago I was able to meet him. There are few things in life where you just know... once I saw him there was a connection and love. He is my African son. On this day, where recognition is given to the AIDS crisis - I want to honor my living boy who is sick with HIV - Anthony Mwendwa Muange... I have nothing but love for this little man.  It makes me sad to think that an innocent child is having to suffer with this terrible disease...  Today my heart is in Kenya...

To learn more about World AIDS Day, please read the following:
"Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. The World AIDS Day theme for 2011 is 'Getting To Zero'. World AIDS Day is important for reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.  The official website is 2011 World AIDS Day.