Plateaus...

"It's a natural part of life to have periods of activity & growth followed by periods of quiet.  Sometimes we need to rest in order to integrate a new vision of the world, or ourselves, taking time to assimilate realizations & let old patters & habits fall away.  While it may appear that nothing is happening, these can be necessary periods of rest & integration to stabilize our new growth.

At times, we may be afraid to invite more change.  Yet change is the nature of reality.  Just as a plateau is a good location to get our bearings, to see where we have come from & where we might go next, it is also a place we must not be afraid to leave if we are to move to the next level.

There is no time to not be our your path.  This is not to say that you cannot ever rest or stop.  It is not about overachieving or overworking yourself; it is just about challenging yourself to always be awake in your life, to keep showing up in the moment.  If you need to rest, do so for the present. 
But if you are stagnating -numbing out, escaping or being unconscious- it is up to you to acknowledge it.

Often stagnation settles in just before an important breakthrough.  It helps to explore the stagnation in order to move beyond it.  Have compassion for yourself as you work to remove the obstacles to your progress.  With persistence, you will be on your way to the next plateau."  -Bits taken from the Daily OM

I'm learning to love the plateaus as they are short & full of wisdom. 
Taking the time to reflect & rest AND enjoy the view...

AcroYoga

My first experience with AcroYoga was in Portugal.  I was living in the Spanish mountains for yoga teacher training and given the day off to explore my surroundings.  So, what does a yoga teacher in training do on her day off?  Go to Portugal of course! 
Jenny, who is my base in the photos, went with me to Portugal and in a little tiny village she taught me the basic of acroyoga.  The experience is quite exhilarating, requires trust, and is so fun. 
To my advantage, I was a college cheerleader and a college cheer coach where there was a lot of stunting.  It also helped that my base was a former college cheerleader as well, so our fear level was minimal and we went for it. 
AcroYoga is a relatively new term in the yoga field.  It was coined by Jason Nemer and Jenny Sauer-Klein of AcroYoga.  It's the physical combination of yoga, acro-balance, and Thai massage.  The practice cultivates trust, communication, playfulness, and balance for both the flyer and the base.  Check out Jason and Jenny's website above to see some amazing photos and who knows, you might even get hooked yourself or at least attend a workshop... 
Just last week while at a yoga festival I took a basic acro-yoga class with Jason and Jenny.  It was fun, but I found myself wanting more challenging poses and postures.  Who knows, maybe I like living on the edge more than I realize.  :-)

Camping in Lake Tahoe

This weekend my friend Sam and I went camping in Lake Tahoe.  Both yoga teachers in Orange County, we were heading up to what I like to call a little yoga Woodstock known as Wanderlust.  This was to be a fun weekend as we decided to get our camp on... note - neither one of us camp or even know how to set up a tent. 
After driving 9 hours and arriving at the wrong camp site only to find a bear... No lie!  At 11:30pm we roll into the campground, find our spot, and somehow manage to set up a tent in the dark.  Thank you friends for allowing us to borrow those ridiculous looking head-flashlights.
The yoga festival was a great experience.  Sleeping under the beautiful starts was breath-taking.  I truly do love nature and the outdoors... just not showering for 3 nights and 4 days.  Yes, we became one of those hippie, funky smelling organic people.  Gypsy sink showers and swimming in pools to clean off... oh how grateful I am for the little things - Like my shower!!! :)  Yet, I'd do it all over again.  Loved the weekend and the fun experience with my yoga friend Samantha.  Next year we are attending the festival, but flying and getting a hotel...

YOGA WOODSTOCK

Wanderlust 2011.  Lake Tahoe, California...  Here I come!!!
Getting ready to get my fun, funky, yoga hippie on for a weekend.
I call this event the closest thing I can find that's similar to Woodstock...  yoga-style.  :)
Driving up north with another yoga teacher I work with at Cal State Fullerton... Samantha and I are in for a journey.  People come from all over the world.  4 days in the beautiful mountains, with 4 stages of music and more yoga classes/workshops to choose from than one could imagine.  I am so happy to go and be a student not a teacher.  Excited to come back with new ideas for my classes and my private yoga clients. 

I have a feeling this is going to be a fun experience.  Neither Sam or I know how to pitch a tent... and we are camping... and we just found out the camp site does not have a shower... ummmm... this is going to be interesting as there are thousands of us attending this festival!
Check it out at Wanderlust 2011

Turning 32

July 26, 1979... I was born. 
This year I turned 32.
I love getting older.
The older I get - the happier I am.
There is a certainty, a peace, and a "who cares what others think of me" that just naturally comes with age.
I'm still young, yet my life has been full with many life experiences.
Grateful for another year.
Appreciative of the wonderful family and friends in my life both near and far.
Looking forward to my 30's and to what life has ahead...
From a Beach Party on Saturday with 40 of my friends to being celebrated at the Rooftop Bar last night in Laguna Beach with my closest crew... Happy Birthday to Me!  :-)

Still in love with NOLA

Six years of going to New Orleans to help rebuild after the 2005 hurricane and I'm still in love with this city.  The People, the Culture, the French Quarter, the Art, the JAZZ MUSIC... this feels like a home away from home.

This year for my 32nd birthday I told my family I wanted for us to fly to New Orleans and build together.  So that is what we did.  It was a great experience to have my family and friends working with me on something that is so dear to my heart.

I also visited my adopted grandma Mrs Martha.  I have a flower garden that I tend to every year in NOLA... it's Mrs Martha's.  She is so special to me.  Love our porch-sitting chats.

My trip this summer was one I will not forget.  My family and I stayed with my friend Tony at a volunteer headquarters called Operation Helping Hands.  I was able to see families of older homes I've worked on, stop in at my favorite non-profit called St Bernard Project, and even eat at my favorite spot grubbing on a po-boy at "Today's Ketch".  Even ran into my favorite artist (Reggie Bush) randomly in the French Quarter and he gave me one of his new pieces of art for free.  The energy in this place suits me!  This trip was also special in that I was able to meet up with friends who have moved to the city.  One couple announced they are expecting their first baby (Congrats Scott and Morgan).  Another couple (Dan and Amanda) has invited me back to stay with them for Mardi Gras... So, New Orleans - I will see you again soon - February to be exact... My first Mardi Gras awaits...

New Orleans Bound...

NOLA Bound and happy!  I'm going back to my second home - New Orleans.  If I did not live in California and had to pick another location in the US, I'd choose New Orleans, LA.  
It's the closest thing I can find to Europe without leaving America.  The culture, the amazing jazz music, the food, and the people make this one of my favorite cities on earth.

I've been blessed to travel the world and still NOLA is special to me.  It's been 6 years now since I've been going yearly and doing volunteer/rebuilding work and I keep going back for more. 
When I use to work at the university, I took my first group of college students down the year the hurricane hit.  It changed the way I look at volunteering.  So, I continue to go.  I continue to roll up my sleeves and work.  And I will do so until the I no longer can.  I've fallen in love with the families whose houses I worked on and continue to visit them.  This summer as I am getting ready to celebrate my birthday, I can think of nothing better to do than spend it with good friends and family in the city where Jazz began... I'm so excited to go back!

Mrs. Martha - I'll be there in 2 days!  Can't wait to sit on your porch, plant your flowers, and talk about life.  NOLA Bound and happy!!!