Class Schedule

Love

My grandma turns 82 today. She still teaches yoga. She doesn't do headstands like this lady, but she's a powerhouse. If you are ever spending time in bucolic Rappahannock County, VA (home of the famous 5 star Inn at Little Washington), check her out! Her classes are at the bottom of this page: www.sacredsourceyoga.com/classes.

Happy birthday grandma. You inspire me, you shaped me, you awe me. Love ya.

Fridayness :)

It’s Friday, and thank The Little Kittens that Run the Universe for that.

I’m amazed, surprised (and yet not) that over a month has passed since my last blog post. I’m quite the newbie at this, and what’s more, I give myself full permission to take my sweet time. Life is full, often without trying.

Translating life’s “fullness” to “fulfillment” is another beast entirely.

This fullness has been the catch for me over the last month; it has kept me away from, among other things, the awesome medium of the Blogosphere. Although I had the gift of a week of spring break within that time, the responsibilities I had to self and universe (of DPT school) didn’t stop…they just slowed slightly.

Over spring break, I exercised my procrastination muscles just a wee bit, and I discovered a new source of admiration: Ms. Heidi Klum. To the disappointment of my boyfriend, I am not referring to her external beauty. I think what goes on in her head could be a source of inspiration.

I know what you are thinking: shouldn’t a yogi be blogging about someone more like the Dalai Lama or the King of Bhutan?

Ha! “Should” is such a naughty word!

I admire many many people, including those mentioned above, and I admire someone like Heidi because I see in her (through TV and internet of course, not in person) a genuine optimism. She surprised me with her positivity, HUMOR, curiosity about the world and openness. In a video I watched during that week of partial freedom -- but of course can't seem to find now -- Klum told the story of meeting her husband, Seal, for the first time, and her eyes lit up (this is years later) talking about him. They always do. It contrasted so much with a friend’s common interpretation of their celebrimarriage: “she is too good looking for Seal!” But look for her on YouTube if you wish to exercise your own muscles of procrastination, and you’ll see some sparkly juicy life in her no matter what she talks about. I admire that

Too often celebrities are the recipient of artificial adoration, along the lines of “I want to look like _fill in the blank_”. The thought of fans paying over $100 to see Britney Spears lipsynch on her latest tour comes to (boggle the) mind. Celebrities are equally often the targets of hate/envy/dismissal simply due to their societal status or assumptions, losing sight of how far removed we are from the real information (like playing the game of telephone).

I’m not afraid to say that I like the occasional glimpse inside a celebrity’s world. I see those views as a reminder of something so easy to forget -- even with our next door neighbors: We are all real. We are all a swirling mixture of “good”, “bad”, and lots of in-between or out-of-bounds uniqueness. We all face different issues and get served a different lot in life. We all project our experience onto others. Sometimes it’s good to hear it from their mouths.

The best way to find peace in our crazy mental lot? Drop excessive adoration, envy, and replace it consciously with love and inspiration.

Back to fulfillment: From a very outside perspective, it seems like Ms. Klum has a lot of it! Hopefully she does. I also think that she has worked hard, woken up daily with a positive outlook and a confidence in herself and the universe. You don’t have to “agree” with everything a celebrity like Klum does. Frankly, you'll never agree with everything anyone does -- even yourself, most likely! Just acknowledge that she, like all of us, not only deserves fulfillment but has achieved it .

Go get yours.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY ALIVENESS!!!!!!

Namaste.

I'm so brilliantly lucky

For the hot ginger tea in front of me, for the gift of words and education, for the world at my fingertips, for family (all definitions!), for the delightful dinner Yonas made me Saturday evening (homemade Ethiopian: kik, salata, gugure firfir on injera with shrimp tips for my man)... I am grateful.

What simple, complex, in-between things make your life happier, easier and yummier day to day?

p.s. I've attended 3 (!) capoeira classes now. They are still scary. They still last only an hour but feel like an eternity. When I'm en route to class, I still secretly wish something will happen like the instructor won't show, the bus will break down,, etc... and I won't have to go! This is the work of the Silly (monkey) mind, because actually, I'm loving that class.

Ego Exchange.

Happy February!

I added some reading materials and new blog/weblinks this afternoon (see fancy bars to the right). Byron Katie, Tara Brach, and Swami Kripalu (via their words) have taught me new, less stressful, ways of seeing and being. I hope you get a chance to soak up their goodness also...and, ahem, The Onion is a daily reminder of the delight in Laughing-til-I-Cry, and finding the humor in our crazy world!

I suspect that learning the Art of Letting Go is gonna be a continuous process, and I'll be referencing the above-mentioned authors for years to come when it comes to Living my life. To narrow down this VAST subject, let's discuss letting go of being right: How [the hell] do I let go when I "know" I am "right"? What makes me feel as though I have to defend myself if I'm accused of being wrong (making wrongful actions, decisions, etc.)?

Many religions make the point that only a higher power can "judge" our actions. (Perhaps, even, the balance of our actions more than each one individually?? hmm...) Similarly, Byron Katie asks as one of her 4 questions, "how can you REALLY KNOW [insert whatever belief/statement] is true?".

What would happen if we accept that we don't really ever know? Would the world explode in loving heathen-patchouli-fire? ;)

But for real, what would happen when bickering with your loved one if you acknowledged that you MAY not be RIGHT? Personally, I feel some relief when I am at this point: Relief that I don't have to defend but just be. Then comes the hard part.

Would you be angry that your friend or partner doesn't acknowledge the same? (Chances are good that they won't.) That's exactly what I felt this past weekend, and I realized that letting go of being right doesn't do a lot of good if you are not willing to accept that others are free to maintain their righteousness.

I don't have a neat and tidy wrap-up to this post. Life sends us ego checks like this one on the daily. I'm thinking if we Reflect, Respect, and Rejoice in what's good in life we will improve upon this letting go art/science/business day by day. If I think of more to add, and ways to perhaps resolve the dilemma, I'll post more.

Meanwhile, No more excuses, eh? We've got to do our best.