a LOVE Like That...

Sometimes, You Just Gotta Fight, With A L'il Faith...

2012-01-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

I woke this morning to a fresh dust of snow, nothing major, just tiny, innocent flakes. Perhaps I was a little too peaceful in my thinking that an hour would give me enough time to get downtown and to my yoga practice, a drive that usually takes 20 minutes, on any other Wednesday morning. But today, what took 20, turned to 30, then 40, then 50 and finally, 75. Yes, I had almost spent the same amount of time sitting in my car that I was about to spend on my yoga mat.

I stopped, I rolled, I hit the brakes over and over. I took shortcuts, I wove in and out of traffic, but more than anything, I sat there, waiting, with sweet thoughts of what would meet me on the other end. As I watched the minutes roll from one to the next, there were countless times when I thought to myself "no way...Would I really get there, or should I just turn back?" Stopped at the last intersection before heading over the bridge that would lead me downtown, I said, "alright, here I am, at the threshold." There before me, in the form of a blasting red traffic light, that would turn green at any second, was one last chance. Should I turn around, or push through? Should I keep going, and just pray to God that something out there would carry me to what I longed for the most in that moment? I hit the bridge, and the gas, probably driving a little too fast given what was underneath me. Within 7 minutes, I rolled up to the studio, with 3 minutes until class, only to find I had absolutely no change for my parking meter. Dashing into a 7-Eleven, I asked the cashier for change, "Sorry, you must buy something first." Seriously? I settled for a pack of gum. I plug the meter, and boot it for the studio, entering hastily as "one of those students" who is late, disheveled and out of breath. And then, the sweetness began....

The girl behind the desk, after overhearing a brief winded version of my story, said "Alli, go ahead, this one's on us today." In that moment, I was showered with gratitude. YYoga Yaletown, I heart you. Throwing my mat to a friend of mine, I drop my things, and rush to class, trying quietly...this is so the opposite of yoga! Finally, I sit down, take a deep breath, and settle to what I know, even before its begun, was so worth the traffic, the stress, the extra time.

So, sometimes, you just gotta fight for what you love, for what you long for...for what fills your soul. Maybe it's through traffic, through snow...with parking meters. But don't give up, or turn around when the chance arrives, for you never know just what might be waiting for you on the other end, beyond the threshold. For me, today, it took the form of a blissful yoga practice. One where the mantra tasted just a little sweeter, and the playful postures parked themselves a little deeper. Oh the things we do for yoga...

oneLOVE

2011-12-25T20:18:00.000-08:00

"May the light that shines within my heart illuminate my mind and guide me through the righteous path".

You Will Find It...

2011-12-04T04:12:00.000-08:00

Beyond the teasing minds - of yesterday's faults

Beyond the purity of tomorrow's reflection

Beyond the rain - that has not yet fallen

Beyond the fluffy clouds, still sleeping in the ocean

Beyond the future dreams - of a distant society

Beyond this mirage of creation

Find the dawn of energy...

waiting patiently for you to awake

Limits are only - for those who believe.

“What we call the beginning is often the end.

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

The end is where we start from.”

~T.S. Eliot~

Ben Harper Said Best...

2011-12-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

"Because I'm Waiting on an Angel..."

We all have one, and I am thankful for mine...

I pulled different definitions for the word, crafting them into one, beautiful verse...

I believe it all, and I know that you are mine...

Forever grateful to the One who sent you...

an·gel/ˈānjəl/

Noun:

1. A typically benevolent, celestial being that acts as an intermediary between heaven and earth...

2. Takes the image of a human figure, dawning a halo and wings...

3. A guardian spirit...

4. A guiding influence...

5. A kind and loveable person.

6. One who manifests goodness, purity and selflessness...

7. Kind. Pure. Beautiful.

8. Angels are pure, contingent spirits...

9. They are God's instruments...

10. And they appear in the form of extraordinarily beautiful and radiant beings...beings of light.

ONE.LOVE.

The Pain of NOT Changing

2011-11-29T05:12:00.000-08:00

The definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over, expecting the same results.
~Albert Einstein.

We can change dress sizes, we can change cities. We can change our friends...our hair colour. We can change how we love, how we receive; how we give. We can change our goals, our dreams; ourselves and until we do, life will just keep on repeating itself over and over again, while we sit there, expecting what we think are the "ideal" results. But sometime, we really need to dig a little deeper to uncover what's really there...

If you change or if you don't, you're going to feel the pain either way, but the greatest pain of all will be the pain of never knowing. Never knowing if you were good enough, never knowing if it was the right decision, never saying the words you should have...Never asking the questions, and seeing what the Universe is ready to throw back at you. If we sit in the past, or deep within our fears, how will we ever know? How will we ever know if the thoughts, the dreams or the wishes will ever come true, and what's on the other side of it all? The pain of never knowing, or of NOT changing, is kind of like living in a net, so break free and live. Sitting in there forever would just be insane anyways.

The Edge

Each time the world
pushes you to the edge
asking of you
more than you can bear,
go ahead anyway
even if - or because -
you're straining against an invisible net.

Let yourself burst at the seams
until the seams themselves stretch,
and the net tears, floats away
into the nothingness
from which you came.
Who holds the net anyway?

Everything it contains
will come rushing back.
Embrace it all, and then some.
You'll grow bigger than you ever imagined.

So much I want to say to you, teacher.
But you say; just live your best life.
It speaks much more eloquently
than words.

When the World Shuts Up...A Day in the Bay

2011-11-27T18:02:00.000-08:00

A day spent in Akumal Bay...

Brunch at the bakery, and beverages atop a palm tree tree-house, chilling with the coconuts. A few raindrops in between, and 2 hours full of sea urchins, blowfish, stingrays, smiles and a few sea turtles....

Today, as I saw the life beneath me, and all that moved and all that didn't, I couldn't help but lose myself in the underwater bliss. Carried back and forth by the waves above, bobbing to the sounds of my own breath deep inside of me, wondering as I looked downwards, just how many little eyes were looking back at me. All that mattered, and all that didn't, just slipped away; the world shut up, and how could it not when you're flirting with a stingray that's within arms reach, complete with a tail that span the length of my legs...liquid beauty.

Chris, thanks for the video. Here's to a day I'll never forget...

A Day in the Life...

2011-11-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

7:23 ~ I wake to beaming rays of sunshine that stream through my window. I feel the warmth of the day already. Not a bad way to start a mid-November day...

7:51 ~ With a yoga mat slung over my shoulder and flip flops atop my feet, I walk cobblestone streets en route to bliss...

8:09 ~ I arrive at the beach, which is just steps away from the place where I'll lay my mat today. I'm purposely early to enjoy some morning sun...

9:00 ~ I embark on 90 minutes of sweaty bliss, feeling grateful for the people around me, my practice and the big blue sea that smiles back at me out the window in front of my mat...

11 something ~ It's time for "coco frio." I fork over a few pesos for a sweet young hombre to crack open a fresh, young coconut for me. It's green on the outside, white on the inside, and I dive into the cold juice. Within minutes she's dry. Now it's home for a rinse. I grab a book, a bite for the road and hit the beach. From here onwards, I tell time by the direction of the sun...

12 something ~ I park myself on the sand, plug my ears with my iPod, and meditate to the sounds of music, thinking of people I love and loving memories. I visualize yoga sequences in my mind...

2 something ~ More coconut, but this time I knaw on the raw flesh, losing myself in its glistening oils with every bite. 20 pesos buys me a bag full...

3 o'clock-ish ~ I slow dance with the sea, wading hip-distance. The sun warms my back like love warms the heart; schools of fish swim through my feet...

4 o'clock-ish ~ Based on the winds and the slow goodbye of the sun, it's time to wander home. I saunter the beach back, and people watch along the way, asking quietly with my eyes, "how was your day?"

6pm ~ I observe a yoga class, making mental corrections in my head. I fill 4 pages in my notebook...

7:30, give or take ~ Time for green goodness! Celery, parsley, cucumber, spinach and a splash of papaya. Hello dinner.

8:52pm ~ I'm about to hit the "publish post" button and hit the shower to wash away my day...

Here's to another blue-sky Friday... LIFE IS BEAUTY.

Shut-up and Blog Already!

2011-11-19T05:01:00.000-08:00

That is what I am telling my mind this morning, and what my father has been telling me for the past few weeks, of course, in a language of love. Thanks Dad.

I do apologize to all of you out there, who were following daily, but don't worry; I'm still alive and haven't succumbed to Montezuma's revenge or Enlightenment just yet. My bout of blog constipation seems to be subsiding this morning, as I woke with blossoming thoughts and bountiful bubbles of gratitude within myself that have amounted from the past 3 weeks, ones that have been met by inspirations, new and old, found through others and my own self. ONE LOVE.

Today's blog isn't solely mine...you'll see below, but I love the metaphor, what it says about life, and how we should live it; in a state of constant un-layering, as a means of staying warm and liberating our inner awesomeness. The juicy, onion-like metaphor speaks to the practice of yoga, and very much what I have uncovered for myself over the past 3 months, as I've been forced to meet myself, dancing with the good and the bad, left to decide what to do with it all. Some of the juices I've uncovered have lead to tears, the kind that sneak up on you, like when you really are peeling onions, self-realizations and some good old self love. And, to all of you who are back home in Canada, or somewhere in the world where it's cold, frigid and down right miserable outside, perhaps these words will offer you a little warmth, and light the fire of inspiration within you...

Inspiration via Shanti-town, a blog about yoga, life and everything else, written by a girl who loves to be upside down, just like me!

"I love the Winter...I love that it gets dark early, that it gets cold (even in LA), and that collectively we just want to snuggle up and spend our days in warm candelit rooms...it's so sweet. But, in addition to the dark-cave-like quality of Winter there is also this...holiday frenticism, that can make a person feel speeded up instead of slowed-ed down.

So, in the face of these cross-winds a blowing (one that is slow and steady and says, hey, just bundle up, drink some tea, fuggid about it, and the other which just kind of whips your hair around in your face), it's more important than ever for us to find the center...and to go there.

The center of what?

Well...in the yoga philosophy, the body is thought of as having these layers, these sheaths, all of which surround a constant center. Right at the center of the body. The sheaths are all the stuff that is NOT that center. The sheaths are the physical body, the energetic body, the mind, the emotions, our wisdom, our bliss--and then, at the center of all of that is...um. Just, uh. Total Awesomeness. What's at the center can be conceptualized in a lot of different ways. The yogis just call it the self, or Atman, but it is sometimes described as light, as pure awareness, as God, as source, as truth--whatever you want to call that big perfect divine A-HA! Which exists at the center of every single one of us. (I like to call it Total Awesomeness.) And the practice of yoga, is really just a practice of diving down through all these layers, through all these sheaths, until we can rest in this sweet center, and then try to live from there. (Try to.)

And I feel like this image, of peeling away the layers, is particularly potent in the Winter. As if, at the center of our body is where the fireplace is, and when we're stuck out in the cold, way out on the fringes of our experience, our job is just to start opening doors and traveling deeper and deeper in, following the trail of warmth, until finally we get to that fire lit parlor, way down deep inside.

What's so beautiful about this is that, yoga practice or no yoga practice, we can all be scavengers for our bliss. We can all use our basic powers of deduction, to find the fire that burns at the center. It goes like this: is this door warm? No? Wrong door. Is this door warm? Yes? Open door. Go deeper in. Look for the next door. Rinse and repeat.

That's it...just like a bunch of blind mice, following the scent of burning wood and charcoal, we can find our own way into the center of ourselves and our lives. Without assistance. Without books or tapes or teachers...we just have to reach our hands out, and look for the warmth.

So, if you're feeling the chill. Or if you're feeling shut out...miles from the hot chocolate and s'mores that are waiting for you deep down in the center of your experience, just take your hands out of their mittens, and start feeling for a hot doorknob. I promise, it's there.

Be a scavenger for your own bliss.

Until we meet again,

Alli

Day Fifty: Radical Love...Daring Clarity

2011-10-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

As you read this, can you sit and consider what you are resisting about yourself? Do you see and think of areas in yourself that just must be perfect? Where do you beat yourself up? What are you are hiding about yourself? What you are ashamed of, and why? When you can sit with these friends, these persistent patterns and look at them, face to face, eye to eye, you've taken the first step in loving YOU, fully and completely. What we resist, will always persist. Believe it people. Nobody is perfect, nobody.

When we fight and draw energy into these nasty cycles of resistance, what comes up is usually a problem, a little more resistance, and more problems, so how do we get past them? Simple: resist less and flow more. Be at ease with what it is you fight and realize that resistance only amounts to hiding, denying and those oh so clever cover ups. Don't forget to bring on the excuses and all the other bullshit that lies in the way too. Here's a perfect example from my day:

I spent over 4 hours on my yoga mat today, amounting to practice, some more practice, a little sweat, a little pain, and oh, more practice! As I embarked on round two of yup, you go it, practice, which lasted a solid 3 hours, I slowly began to resist what I love so much. "What the hell?" I thought, as my mind quickly started to rack up the excuses, taking control of my body. Everything began to hurt. My muscles started to seize...I moved like a slug from pose to pose, with an awareness that was almost out the window and at one point, after my fourth deep, forward fold, I hung there, cursing inside myself and actually flirted with the thought of checking out, rolling up my mat, and taking a seat. What stopped me? I stopped resisting. I embraced the muscle pains, the tiredness and the stomach rumbles...the soreness from a week's work. Once I allowed my body, my mind and my thoughts to simply fight with themselves, I stepped away from the resistance and what persisted was what I love the most; ease-full yoga jams amongst the effort and pure, radical love.

You must believe that where the healing lies is actually buried within our resistance, and when we embrace them with daring clarity, out come the gifts. The nature of this dualistic existence simply means that if you are one, you are the other; the effort, the ease, the pleasure, the pain. We can't have it all each and every day, so why not embrace that which you fight; those mindless monsters that shadow your beautiful, authentic existence. Get excited and turn around to look at what lurks behind you sometime and you'll see that amidst the darkness, there's a whole lot of light to be revealed...

Day Forty Nine: Get Out of your Head and Into your Heart...

2011-10-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Day Forty Eight: Handstands and Suntans

2011-10-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

"Live life fully while you're here. EXPERIENCE everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the PROCESS. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human."

~ Anthony Robbins

Everything from handstands to suntans today. Life is one big process so trust it, embrace it, and don't be afraid to walk away from it now and then. All will come in time, like the perfect handstand. One day, one day...

Day Forty Seven: Leaving it All to Uncover the Truth

2011-10-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

I'm a true believer in the law of attraction; that greatness attracts greatness; that like-minded beings merge for reasons, sometimes left unknown, but once discovered, allow us to see the logic behind the unions. I've taken a step back this week (hence the negative two blog posts) to look at what I've attracted myself to here, and what has attracted itself to me, which have amounted to realizations that just make sense, leaving me grateful for the people I have connected myself with, and the community I have moulded around myself. It's always nice to make yourself at home when you're far away from it, but like anything in life, it takes a little bit of work to get there...

The friendly faces in the streets, the man who I see walking the beach everyday I'm there, who I always say hello to. Next time, I'll be sure to stop and ask of his name. The street side juicers who granted me with a freebie yesterday, proclaiming "this one's for you, because you're one of our regulars." Now that makes you feel at home. Freeing turtles with a mother and son, who make you feel like you're a part of the family, and beach walks with a fellow yogi who I met here back in February, who I just knew I was bound to connect with someday. Turns out we align on levels that reach far deeper than a yoga practice. Funny how the Universe works sometimes isn't it, or is it?

I left home worrying about the community I was about to leave behind, but as I sit here tonight, having experienced the richness of what lies beneath here in Mexico, I know in six weeks time, it will be just as hard to leave this one behind. I knew I was coming here to learn about yoga, but so much more has bubbled to my surface.

These words came my way today, forming syllables and sentences that I manifest with completely at this very moment and,...

Here's to friends, connectors and coming home's...

Day Forty Six: The Whole World in Your Hands

2011-10-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

I released a baby sea turtle in the sea tonight, giving him a chance at life. It was pure magic. I'd been told before hand to hold on tight, for the little buggers will squirm and squeeze with all their might in hopes of breaking free, but when the baby turtle was placed in my hand, I first took his shell between my thumb and forefinger, expecting him to flap like crazy. Instead, he just lay there, floating in my grip. I then cupped him in the palms of my hands, the way you would hold a baby bird, and all that poked out was his little, tiny head. Still, no signs of struggle. I turned to my friend beside me, almost as if to say, "hey, mines broken," and to that she said "no, he's calm, just like you." I'd found my turtle soulmate, and then I set him free...

And then, it was time. I crouched down to the sand to set him free, and looked once more at what lay in my hands: pure life in all its innocence. Almost as if he could taste the water, now the little guy began to fight a little, flapping his fins and as I looked down at him one last time, seeing his dark shell, his white belly and his little black eye, I couldn't help but think that this is how we should all live somedays, squirming with vigour, and oh so ready to take a bite out of life and jump right in there.

I placed him in the sand, and sent him off with a wish. He made it to the water, and off he went...

Race ya!

Day Forty Five: Threads of Union and A Little Red Dress

2011-10-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

From the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Book One, Chapter 14:

Sa Tu Dirgha Kala Nairantarya Satkarasevito Drdhabhumih.

"This practice becomes well-grounded when continued with reverent devotion and without interruption over a long period of time."

Now, here's my translation:

We practice many things in this life. Patience, love, compassion. Our golf swing, our curve ball, our marathon stride, our downward dog, but our practices will never amount to anything without the qualities of patience, faith and devotion...

The first qualification for any practice, is that it should be done for a long time. But, as many of us know, we just want the results, now! Perhaps after a few days, a month or years, we quit because nothing happens. Dumbass, do you think olympic medals were won overnight? Have patience and all will come.

Then, whatever it is you practice should be practiced without breaks. Don't fall to practicing here and there, when you "feel" like it or when it works for you. Give a little and be consistent and continuous in whatever it is you practice. Make it a way of life and do it regularly, even if it's 5 minutes a day. Take and make the time and have a little faith. It will come.

Unconditional love, a notch off the bucket list or a handstand. Place your full attention, the entire application of your mind on your practice and have full faith in your achievements. Live with the fullest passion, pour your heart into it and trust in your success. Be devoted.

Yoga, a simple practice, can take you anywhere if you let it...

"This practice becomes well-grounded when continued with reverent devotion and without interruption over a long period of time."

Day Forty Four: Ten Commandments for a Monday

2011-10-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

Rule #1:

Some say the key to life, is to stop running from your fears...

Follow these...

Live With...

Never forget to...

Act like you are a kid again and remember;

Kick the habit and sweeten this:

Sometimes, you just have to sail away and...

And always remember to believe this:

And that no matter where you go...

Day Forty Three: Teacher Training 101

2011-10-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

I'm almost at the half way point in my teacher training, and thought it would be comical, and perhaps insightful to share with you my experiences so far...

1. Retreat Yourself
If you're dabbling with the idea of a teacher training, getting away from all that's familiar to you will be a training in itself, as you're forced to face yourself that much more each day, adapting to everything unfamiliar, which ultimately creates a whole new perspective on life, yoga and yourself! You'll make some lifelong friends too.

2. Expect Pain
Depending on the route you take, like a one month intensive, a weekend workshop series or a three month excursion like me, don't expect every day on the mat to be a basket of peaches. You're going to sweat, you're going to work. You're going to push to places you've never met before, and your body is going to hurt. Learn to find the balance between the body's fatigue and the minds tricks. Love your muscles.

3. Learn to be OK with your own body odour
You're going to practice, a lot! Once daily for sure, sometimes twice and practices will be followed by lectures, and more practice. So, get OK with your smelly sweetness, and don't be afraid to wear an outfit once or twice before it hits the wash, as long as it's not too bad! I do it all the time.

4. Delight in watching your body transform
Your muscles will tone, a few pounds will disappear. You will shed all that you don't need anymore, inside and out, and a consistent practice will unveil your dream diet, what works and what doesn't. Hint: go vegetarian...it helps!

5. Embrace your doubts
It might happen on the first day, the 30th or the last, but at some point in your training, you will ask "can I really do this?" It's one thing to practice and go deep, but it's another to actually articulate what you feel in your body, and spew those feelings out in a blissful language. But don't run from the little voice. Know that you're there for all the right reasons, and look a little deeper behind your doubts as they'll probably tell you things about yourself that you already know.

6. Listen to your teachers
They've walked the path and are worth millions. Ask questions every chance you get and don't ever tell yourself that they don't have time for you...they do!

7. Oscar the Grouch
Trust me, you'll have days when curse every crescent lunge and won't feel like sharing. Feelings are all a part of the process, just don't run from them; embrace the bad ones too.

8. Endulge
A good movie, a sinful dessert or a massage. Your body, mind and soul will need them all, and don't be afraid to put the books aside for an evening.

9. Set your goals
By the end of this training, I will...

10. It's never over
The more you think you know, the more you realize how much more there is to learn. Yoga never ends, that's why they call it a practice, so look forward to becoming an eternal student.

Now, Vamos!

Day Forty Two: A Friday Funny

2011-10-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are sitting behind a desk right now, or huddled in a cubicle, awaiting the moments of your weekend to arrive, perhaps this will give you a little respite as you count down to quitin' time. I laughed out loud for a few minutes when I saw this, and got a few looks as I sit street side at Starbucks today. But then again, I kind of have a twisted sense of humour and can giggle for hours over things like this:

Dreadlocked Man On Highway Probably Has Longest, Coolest Hair Ever...

and to this I say, HE MUST BE A YOGI!

Here's to you cool guy...happy Friday!

Day Forty One: Made With Love

2011-10-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

Tonight, albeit a stuffed belly, I feel blessed to have experienced a true, Mexican meal with a group of new friends, a few strangers, and one family member to my right. Gathering to celebrate each other, and a classic, culinary staple; Mexico's infamous "Chiles en Nogada," which denotes Mexican Independence Day, because of its colours, and the story the little green pepper shouts. Every year, in late summer and early fall, Chiles en Nogada makes a brief run through Mexico, aligning itself with the day the country broke free from its colonial wrath, becoming its own country. The star ingredients, walnuts and pomegranate seeds, are not available any other time of the year, so it's a festive celebration as restaurant storefronts become festooned with "we have Chiles en Nogada!," aligning perfectly with Mexican Independence Day, which sits right around the corner, while the dish becomes the culinary centre piece to the country's celebrations. As I sat there tonight, salivating over and savouring every bite, I thought wow, how cool, that I'm actually living and tasting a piece of Mexican history!

Puebla nuns invented the dish in 1821, all in the name of a Mexican General who was set to visit the townsite, and the Chiles en Nogada of the 2000s, looks just as it did in 1800s, colourfully depicting the red (pomegranate seeds), white (walnut sauce) and green (poblano chile) of the countries flag. The Mexican flag unveiled itself around the same period, so even to this day, you can imagine its patriotic fervours, and traditional flavours. Sure, the idea of combing over twenty ingredients may sound tedious to some, but no one ever said Chiles en Nogada was an easy dish, and nuns know how to work, don't they? In the real deal, the walnuts must be peeled, yes peeled. Can you imagine, peeling walnuts? Now that's love people. The spices of cardamon, cinnamon, thyme and clove must be assembled, and the raw, dried fruits are peeled and chopped. In the golden olden days, I'd assume blenders and food processors weren't around, so, you guessed it, those little, precious, golden nuts were probably ground into a sauce on a marble slab, which meant days of grinding. Days of grinding walnuts! Oh, and don't forget about your peppers...roast em', seed em', de-vein em' and stuff em'! Chiles en Nogada amounts to no easy feat, but then again, independence never is, and perhaps the dish symbolizes the country's struggles and strife, all in the name of freedom.

A few days ago, Canadian Thanksgiving passed, and I was missing my traditions, my family and all the fix ins', but tonight offered a mighty substitute, Mexican style. A table full of beautiful people, laughter, smiles, and a homemade pumpkin pie, that was seeping love with every bite. Sometimes, it's the new traditions that leave the most precious memories in our mind, so here's to forgetting the old, and embracing all that's new...

Day Forty: Barefoot and Upside Down

2011-10-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Before I left home, I made a goal for myself that I would blog everyday, a discipline that at the time, seemed more than easy. Forty days in, many more to go...sigh.

So, I apologize if my last few posts have been a little lousy and lacking. I think it reflects where I'm sitting in my own self right now, feeling somedays, like I'm barefoot and upside down, trying to keep it all in balance, leaving words to be the last thing to come to mind at the end of a day. Resist less and flow more, I think that's going to be my mantra for the next little while...

I found these words today, and they sang to me:

Yoga as life, love...laughter

Yoga as play, challenge...insight

Yoga as art, music...poetry

Yoga as coming home...

It's never to early, or too late, to play on your hands...

Day Thirty Nine: More than Stretching in Fancy Pants

2011-10-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

Enough said.

Day Thirty Eight: Giving Thanks

2011-10-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

It's Canadian Thanksgiving back home this weekend, and despite the fact that I'm not surrounded by family, the colours of fall and pumpkin pie, I found myself just a little more thankful for everything in my life when I woke this morning, thinking of the ones I love. And, having spent my first Thanksgiving Sunday at the beach, I left giving thanks to the sunshine, the ocean, the forces that allowed me to be here in Mexico, and as I stepped into the shower tonight, my sweet ass tan...

Sad to say, but sometimes it is not until we're removed from the things that we take for granted each day, that we realize just how much we love them, care for them, and miss them. So, tonight I'm sending love to each and everything in my universe that I'm thankful for, for it's those "each and everything's" that make me who I am, and for that I am grateful.

No birds in the oven this year, only birds on the beach...

Day Thirty Seven: Oops...

2011-10-08T17:42:00.000-07:00

I missed a day! Upon crawling into bed last night, tuning out to a few minutes of mindless television, it hit me that I hadn't blogged yet. "Shit," I thought to myself, panicked for an instant, and began to rumble my brain for thoughts of inspiration, as it's the basis for each days post. Clearly, I was tapped out, tuned out, and tired, and decided to just let it be, turning out the lights, going to bed blogless and rested my tired bones. It was a week of 11 yoga classes people, cut a girl some slack!

Now, for those of you who have ever experienced a yoga practice, or not, perhaps you've read about it, heard about the benefits, or write it off as a room full of freakishly flexible goons who chant mantras, bending every which way in their underwear. Regardless of what you project upon it, please know that yoga isn't about self improvement, but instead, self acceptance, a fact that I'm embracing daily here. We work with what's within us, not what's around us, accepting our realities, whether we like them or not. Our entire outside world is based solely on the mental attitudes and thoughts we project upon it, and you can do all you want to run away from what you don't like or fear, but as the saying goes, "wherever you go, there you are." Nothing will ever change until your outlook does and come on people, you know it's true. Your world is your projection, and that's fine, but in yoga, we don't worry so much about changing what surrounds us, instead we look within. So, the next time you're thinking about a therapy session or a self-help book, look up the closest yoga studio, rent a mat and save yourself a wad of cash. I promise you you'll never look back. But why,? that you'll have to uncover on your own, for it's indescribable.

A Sanskrit saying floated to my hands today, and tonight it still sits with me. The translation reads; " as the mind, so the man; bondage or liberation, are in your mind." Over the past two weeks, I've uncovered some luscious ground on this path I am walking, and deep underneath, I can say I've found my true calling; the practice, art and communication of this thing called yoga. It's beautiful, and I love that it scares me and rattles my soul, yet brings me back each day, wanting more and more...

Here's to breaking the bonds of fear, and liberating with love.

Day Thirty Six: A Call to the Table

2011-10-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

Have you ever played that game, where you ask the question "if you could invite five people to a dinner party, who would you pick? Well, if one on one's count, I think I won tonight as I had the pleasure of sharing a meal with my yoga teacher...

She's already taught two classes, practiced herself, probably answered a dozen or so emails, and embraced 40 + students the way she always does each day; with love and light. It ain't no 9 to 5, but a day like that takes a lot of energy and putting it all aside, she still found time to end her day over a casual dinner with two of her students, sweaty yoga clothes and all. Having been around the mat a time or two, and studied with some of yoga's master teachers, it was a treat to hear her stories, of what she pulled herself through to get to where she is today, and why yoga will be in her life, forever. Sure, it offered a foundation, but yoga wasn't all we talked about, as we chatted about what's to come in the years ahead, and why no children, to which I joked, because she has a dozen or so twice a year when she leads her teacher trainings! Soon enough, as I sat there, I realized this: so often in life we glorify "the great ones," and so we should, attaching an aura of insightfullness to their names, projecting them to be untouchable, for how would we ever match up to this? But sometimes, all it takes is a casual conversation over a couple of quasadillas for you to realize that despite it all, the great ones are too, still human, just like us. They sit with their fears, their setbacks, their heartaches, their failures, but where the beauty lies within it all, is to see what they've materialized for themselves, others and the world because of it. That's a beautiful thing.

And so, tonight I bow in gratitude to my teacher. Ellen, thanks for making time, off the mat, to show and share that you're just like the rest of us despite your greatness; humble, kind, and full of love...simply human, just like me. Here's to creating possibilities...

Day Thirty Five: It's Storytime...

2011-10-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

To really set the tone for today's post, I want you to listen to this song first, and watch second. And please watch the time-lapse, for it's a brilliant feat by a beautiful yogi. Just click, scroll, read and listen, then watch. I had the pleasure of being a bystander to a storm this afternoon, beachside, with this song playing on my iPod...

I woke this morning to promising skies and calm winds, foreshadowing what seemed to be a bright day, shy of raindrops and storm clouds. As I gazed out the window from my yoga mat, I couldn't help but catch myself in the beauty, asking myself quietly, how a sky could be so blue? At that moment, I anticipated a day on the beach, and then sat back in my practice.

I arrived at the beach, the sun was hot, the sand was familiar underneath my feet and like always, I said hello to the mango man who sat behind his fruit cart. Unfolding my towel, I sat, and caught what might have been a mere ten minutes of sunshine, before the winds aroused everything around me, and I watched the landscape of the beach change in an instant as towels, umbrellas, palm leaves and a baseball hat were caught in the wind, thrown every which way. I sat there, disappointed, but decided to flirt with the storm that remained in the distance, allowing myself to just be there, in the wind, and watch it all. The holidayers packed up their things, and soon the beach was bare, leaving only a few. I watched calm waters turn into a body of rhythmic waves, and looked around me to see how the sand had weathered itself in the wind, revealing all that was buried beneath it from days past; seashells, driftwood, bottle caps, bits of plastic cups and all things from the sea. As I strolled back and forth, I looked down to see something shining within it all, which turned out to be one, lonely Mexican peso. I picked it up, polished it with my grip and looked upwards, watching the clouds move and fight with the sun, as they drifted at a speed that reminded me of the ones that pass you when you are aboard an airplane in the sky, as they go from big, white, puffy masterpieces, to whisps of white in the air, disappearing in an instant. The sun peeped itself through the clouds one last time, and then enough was enough, the storm said to the sun. The window had closed, thunder rained in the distance, the skies were dark. I sat there...

Today, I sat on a beach, and watched a storm approach while Philip Glass' Metamorphosis Four rang in my ears, allowing the waters, winds, waves and everything that whirled around me to create an atmosphere for conscious meditation. All of it brought me to this thought, one that parallels our pilgrimage in this life; sometimes we need to sit through the storm, watching the past pass by, and the future unfold, while we embrace everything that life reveals to us, good or bad, simply, to one day, find the beauty in it all, like a shiny coin, lying quietly in the sand.

I think I'll keep that peso in my pocket for a while...

Day Thirty Four: Music & Lyrics

2011-10-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

There's no need to believe that in order to be heard in this world, that we need to know it all, say it all or ruffle our feathers to catch a little attention, for haven't you noticed that the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs? Can't get this one out of my head the past few days, and maybe it will stick with you as you listen and sip your morning coffee...

Little birds, fly on!

Day Thirty Three: Puddles and then Some...

2011-10-03T21:09:00.000-07:00

Last night the rains came, and I mean they really came. Thunder, lightening and relentless rain drops woke me in the early hours, soaked me to the skin en route home from yoga this morning, and once again this evening. When the skies are dark, the streets are flooded and no end seems near, you just have to embrace it all, put your head down, and step into the waters, kind of like we do in life, for there's no use in waiting for things to happen; they never will.

Rainy days are rainy days though, whether you're on a coastline or a tropical riviera. They allow you to step back, step inside and assess what's around you...what's going on. We comfort ourselves with cups of tea, quiet time, and if you're me, hours on iTunes, losing myself in all the sounds of music...

This came my way today, and I wanted to share it with you. Words from the one and only Danielle LaPort, and as she calls it, good old white, hot, truth. It's short, but the message is potent, and it got me to thinking and thanking all those in my life who support me, to which I say...

"Thank you. I won't let you down."

Thank you. I won't let you down.

This is the most humble and courageous phrase you can speak when life opens the door wide for you -- which it does everyday.

You're up for it. You're grateful. You see the gift and you realize you can't do it alone.

With this: Thank you. I won't let you down, you rise to the occasion.

There are so many people believing in you. Backing you up, saying prayers, taking your call, saying yes.

Dream realizing is reciprocal. Sometimes, when someone believes in you, you are honor bound to go for it.

Say it. Believe it. Hear it (from my heart to yours:)

Thank you. I won't let you down.

Day Thirty Two: A Simple Sunday

2011-10-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

I love waking up here on Sunday mornings, for life is simple and slow. No rushing to yoga, no to do's, and I don't even study. A true day of rest. I roll out of bed, walk for a green juice and some freshness, which today consisted of 4 apples, 2 red peppers and 1 giant papaya, grab my sunning necessities and rendevouz with the beach, along with everyone else in this town who sets out to enjoy the day. You'll see honeymooner's walking hand in hand, die-hards running barefoot beachside, and full on Mexican families, with all the fix in's included, ready for a fiesta. You never feel lonely here, even if you sit on the beach all day and don't speak a word, for it's easy to have conversations with your eyes, watching the splashes, paddles and footsteps pass you by.

Today, was a simple Sunday...

Gave buddha a nod en route to the beach...

Set up camp here...

Watched the clouds roll by...

Here's to living free...

Om Shanti Shanti

Day Thirty One: A Hot Saturday Night...

2011-10-01T18:20:00.000-07:00

With my anatomy slides and a chai tea. I know, I'm so cool...

Today brought a challenging practice and another good day on the mat. Day by day I'm finding my voice, and hearing the voices of my teachers within it. I am grateful for that and all they have taught me.

I've come to the conclusion that no day is ever the same here, and these words sum up my experiences so far: "every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory." ~ Ghandi

Embracing this path and all the steps it brings...

Day Thirty: Know This...

2011-09-30T18:46:00.000-07:00

A little tantric love...

Tomorrow is the start of a new month, and I've always been a fan of firsts. 3,480 minutes of yoga practice so far...

Day Twenty Nine: Go Coconuts

2011-09-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

At the entrance to my favourite beach access here in town sits a little old Mexican man and his fruit cart. He's got it all; watermelon, pineapple, papaya, jicima, and the sweetest mango you'll ever taste, that actually melts in your mouth. The perfect apres beach snack. Today, I was pleasantly surprised to see fresh coconut spears, my absolute favourite!

For a sweet treat tonight, I mixed cinnamon, raw cacao powder and coconut oil. A heavenly combination when paired with fresh coconut, kind of like my very own raw bounty chocolate bar...

Day Twenty Eight: Friends

2011-09-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

I think we all have "that" friend in our lives. The one we meet, often by chance, in some far away land, who perhaps become the lifelong friend, the pen pal, or if you're real lucky, the love of your life. You know, the way fairytales happen...

I'll never forget my first day of yoga here in Mexico, for it was a bit like the first day of school. Arriving to class half asleep, groggy eyed, jet lagged and a little nerve ridden, not knowing what to expect, I was quickly comforted and befriended, just like we are on our first day at preschool. Remember, how at that moment, all of a sudden, everything was OK? Amidst the shuffling of yogis passing from class to class, she picked me out of the crowd, and now that I sit here and think about it, we're kind of like Bert & Ernie...

Dayna, the urban hippie from NYC. She boisterous and bubbly, and I don't think this girl has one bad bone in her body. She's always smiling, saying hello and seeing the bright side of life, always. We live 4 doors apart from one another, and walk to and home from "school" together each morning and night. She does most of the talking, and I'm ok with that. I listen to her rants, often laughing at her, and remind her when she needs to settle down, step back, and just be. I help her with her Sanskrit and arm balances, while she reminds me to lighten up and live a little...a true yin and yang. She likes the sun just as much as I do and always proclaims following a day at the beach, "why do I end up with so much sand all over me, while you leave without a spec?," to which I respond, "because I'm a princess," each and every time.

I'm thankful to have met this girl and I'm hopeful that we can stay in touch once this journey is over, aging into little old ladies who keep in touch with Christmas cards...

Dayna, thanks for picking me out of the crowd.

Day Twenty Seven: What Did You Learn Today?

2011-09-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of listening to a woman speak today about something I had never heard of in my life, and I'm sure you haven't either. Known as "the biggest act of faith," the Kumbh Mela, which takes place in India over periodic intervals lasting anywhere from 3, to 12 to 75 years, has achieved international popularity for its mystic methodology. By far the worlds largest congregation of devotees, the festival brings together millions of pilgrims who participate with tremendous faith, paired with a persistent truth in something sublime, and the belief that love will prevail atop fear, someday. During the last Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, India, close to 15 million people passed through the sacred site in just 48 hours. 15 million people! The next Kumbh Mela, which literally translates to "celebration of the vessel" will occur from January through March of 2013. Did someone say India?

I can only imagine what a spectacle of sorts would look and sound like. Glowing hindu saints from the Himalayas, sages, seers, sadhus and yogis...all synonymous for holy hindu men. From what I heard today, direct from the mouth of someone who has experienced such magic, and visited India a mere 30 times in her life, to watch the Kumbh Mela processions sounds like the witnessing of the march of the ages, complete with elephants, horses, cars, camels and saints, who march alongside the river Ganges, bathing in its holy waters. I can only imagine the sounds that baffle in all directions; gongs and drums beating, elephant feet, billowing wafts of buffalo chai and burning fires, while each footstep, scent and sound spreads infectious waves of powerful shakti (energy) to the millions who witness this awe-inspiring and auspicious event. Simply put, devotees, hindu or not, can't help but be besieged by the tantric spiritual vibrations that saturate the entire atmosphere. Sounds fun, right?

So, that was my day. Did a little yoga and learnt about something cool. Viva Mexico.

Day Twenty Six: Wise Words

2011-09-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest in that I'm lacking in my inspiration tonight. My brain is full of yoga, so too is my body and I think both are too bombarded to blog. I could go on about my newfound love for coconut oil, but that's kind of boring so instead, let me tame your mind, and excite your eyes, with this beautiful message from a teacher of mine that I adore dearly. I often watch this clip when I want a little reminder as to why we come back to our mat's, and ourselves day after day, month after month through it all. Meghan, thanks for inspiring me...

Day Twenty Five: In the Raw

2011-09-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

Fall is one of my favourite seasons back home in Canada. No, IT IS my favourite season. I love the cool mornings, the warm afternoons. The colours in the trees and the food! All things baked, like squash, yams, root vegetables and pumpkin pies. The oranges, the yellows, the cinnamon, the nutmeg. Food for the soul, especially on the dark and rainy days...

But to the contrast, this year's fall is full of sunshine, and I can't quite wrap my head around the fact that it's almost October, and I'm dawning shorts, tank tops and bikini bottoms daily. I crave anything but food from an oven at the end of the day, and have decided to dedicate the next 5 days, maybe 10, to a raw food detox, where I'll consume nothing but fresh fruits and vegetables, whole and juiced, alongside raw nuts, seeds and dried fruits. Seems boring to most of you I'm sure, or perhaps a little extreme, but sometimes it's nice to give the body a break, especially when we look at all it's forced to break down day after day, both inside and out. Raw food is pure and wholesome. It's alkaline and fresh, equalling an easiness in the body, and ultimately a calm and quiet mind, free from cravings and things we simply don't need. I'm keen to see how it will affect my yoga practice too. Here was day one:

1 litre of fresh, un-pasturized juice. A mix of spinach, orange, strawberry and kiwi

1 Banana

1 Apple

Raw salad...purple cabbage, red onion, red and yellow peppers tossed in coconut oil, fresh lime juice and raw tahini (sesame seed butter). I tossed in some dried figs, pumpkin seeds, pistachio nuts and 1/2 an avocado. A little fresh papaya finished the day, yum.

So here's to rawness, in food and life, and a quote I like from Julia Child. Ironic I know, as she's the queen of French cooking, which is far, far, far from raw!

Day Twenty Four: For the Girls...

2011-09-25T17:25:00.000-07:00

I'm a day late with this post, thanks to a lost internet connection last night, but here she goes...

Yesterday's words, and this poem, are dedicated to the beautiful souls that I see each day, on and off the mat, in front, behind, and most of all, beside me; those being the 11 women that make up our teacher training group. To all of you, know that you're here for the right reasons, and that the world is waiting for each and every one of you. And, don't forget this either...

MY DREAMS WALK BESIDE ME

Not a whisper, lost in the wind.

Or a shadow, forgotten in the day’s sunlight.

Brighter than the light that greets dark eyes,
sharper than any sword,
endless as the space between stars.

MY DREAMS WALK BESIDE ME

Do I see,
the impossible?

Thirst,
for what I cannot taste?

Teach,
what I don’t know?

And give,
what is not mine?

MY DREAMS WALK BESIDE ME

Do I just imagine a great lie?

Or does all possibility,
bright and dark,
flow through me?

Like fire,
that I have lived a thousand times
and will live again a thousand more.

MY DREAMS WALK BESIDE ME

I will walk once more,

with air around me,
sweet as roses,
and strong as stone,

With water that takes every shape,
and lifts up a world to smile at the stars.

With dreams that will burst into life,
moment after moment.

My dreams are not outside me,
alien,
distant,
or thin like paper.

We are one.
We are here.
I am not alone.

MY DREAMS WALK BESIDE ME

Day Twenty Three: Superjuice

2011-09-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

Another day on the mat...

AM Class: While I was in a forward fold, with my arms stretched above my head, I felt the drops of sweat from my writs tickle the backs of my ears. I watched drop after drop hit my mat, and looked deep within to see the murkiness that dripped from inside me, the way a kid looks curiously into a puddle. By the time 75 minutes had passed, I felt as though I had taken a shower in my clothes. Rung and rinsed out, ready for another day.

PM Class: The skies were dark, rain flirted with us in the distance. My face smelled of sunscreen, my shoulders ached, and my purple pants smelled like yoga classes that had already gone and passed. Coming to the end of another week of practice, I was left to resort myself to a pair of crops that had somehow been neglected from the wash. They smelled of aged, rancid sweat, but of the kind that doesn't hurt so bad because it's the kind of smell that's seeps dedication, hard work, and practice. Any athlete knows it.

Within it all, the smells, the sweat, the brief moments of discomfort, I was reminded tonight why I love and worship this practice so much, for it's the moments when you feel like you're flying and that everything's completely effortless that often bring us back time and time again, to whichever activity we choose to worship.

Here the nut really doesn't fall far from the tree: fresh, raw, unpasturized coconut water, cracked and poured into 1 Litre bottles for $2.60. A yogi's super juice!

Day Twenty Two: All Things Red

2011-09-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

Sit and visualize your body for a moment. You're sitting cross-legged, quiet and content. Now, imagine that you have 7 circular discs, whirling round and round, starting at the base of your spine, up through the crown of your head, each representing different feelings, different abilities, health, happiness, and energy. Each disk functions somewhat like a cog in a chain of gears, in that if one slows down, begins to skip or simply stops, the wheels on the bus stop going round and round...

Your Seven Chakras

Ok, this may seem hokey-pokey to some, but if you do some research, you'll see that the methodology, the physical and emotional truths, the correlation between how you communicate, or how you don't, why your back aches, or why you hide your heart, all point to one truth: that these chakras are the real deal. I've recently looked into the whirling rainbow that inhibits my spine, out of curiosity to see where I'm open, where I'm blocked and what areas are simply out of order.

Turns out my root chakra is blocked, at a negative...out to lunch. Interestingly, this chakra correlates with the colour red, one that has never appealed to me. The major endocrine gland it's associated with are the adrenal glands, and in my past, I've had serious pitfalls there, resulting in utter failure. Those with blocked or under-active root chakras often worry about their financial security, their job, their home. They often feel un-rooted to what's around them, constantly questioning the why's, the "what's the points." I'm written all over this one.

In an attempt to clear the passage, I'm grounding myself daily, either on my yoga mat, in the sand, or on my butt in meditation and surrounding myself with all things red, inside and out...

Taking time to smell these...

Tasting these...

And wearing this...

Thanks for reading. xo

Day Twenty One: Salute the Sun, Respect it Too

2011-09-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

Sandwiched in between two yoga classes lay some good quality beach time today. The last two mornings have been stunning here, as I've woke and walked to practice under the bluest of skies. I'm digging this "fall" weather...

So, there I sat, slept and swam under the sun, saluting the fact that it's amazing how the time can pass, or how it can drift away; you arrive mid-morning, and there you have it, it's already 4 o'clock. As I sit here tonight, and reflect on the day, very much with a sun kissed face, I can't help but celebrate the luxury that surrounds sitting with yourself some days, sunshine or not. No (body) knows you like you do and often times, right when you need it most, you're your own best friend.

Tanline post twenty one days. Sunshine, I heart you.

Day Twenty: Thank You

2011-09-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

DEAR READER: Tonight's post goes out to you, in thanks. Some of you I know very well, some a little less, and others not at all. Regardless of who you are, where you live, or why you read, I'm writing this to thank you. Here's why...

I wrote yesterday's post a little over 24 hours ago, and in that time, I've had a whopping 435 hits on my blog. People, I'm flattered. I'm flattered that you check in here and there, once a week, or maybe everyday to see what's up. I'm flattered that you're interested in the stories that stem from a yoga practice and into my life, and yours, and I'm flattered that you choose to open your own minds to my daily ramblings. I'm not doing anything special down here; I'm not campaigning for a cause, or a cure, or doing heroic deeds in some third world country. I'm just a girl, who's following a dream from her yoga mat, sharing it in a unique way amongst the downward dogs, the handstands and all things yoga. I know I don't actually write about yoga that often, but my words really do come from my mat, for yoga is so much more than a practice; it's life. I hope some of you might have the chance to taste that beauty someday. Thank you, for supporting, ME, and please know this:

I came to Playa del Carmen, Mexico this past February for my brother's wedding, and stumbled across the studio, the teacher and the magic that I now meet daily. After a few practices, and hearing that a teacher training was being offered in September of 2011, I was already talking about coming back before I had left! I started planning and scheming back home, and sat with the consideration for a few months. Often I would talk to people, claiming that I was "thinking" of heading to Mexico in September, knowing all the while in my head and my heart that I was already going. So often I would visualize Playa's blue waters and the yellow ferry boats, and I even made "Playa 2011" my sign in code at work. For me, getting here was about creating possibilities for myself, following my own dreams, listening to my own heart, and not the voices of others. I learnt that when the heart speaks it has good reason, and that its language is truth.

So, on day number twenty, I guess I can offer you this: don't get caught or trapped in the idea that you're fine just where you are. Ok, sure, for the most part you probably are, but there's infinite amounts of amazingness that await you. New people, new experiences, new likes, new dislikes, new cultures, new sights, new smells, new sounds. Don't be afraid to face them when the opportunity approaches you, and knocks gently on your soul, for who knows where the possibilities of saying yes will lead...

Thanks for reading everyone. Namaste.

Day Nineteen: Rice Crackers, Black Tea, and Coloured Pens

2011-09-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

I kind of felt like the kid who stayed home from school today. Still fighting a stomach bug, I woke this morning feeling groggy, weak and depleted, and knew it was in my best interest to save my yoga practice for the evening, and stay the heck out of the sunshine. So, as others threw down their mats, and paddle boarded post practice in the sea, I packed up my things, empty stomach and all, and spent the day at a local Starbucks. The hours and minutes trickled by as I sipped on the blackest of black tea...

Removing yourself once in a while from daily doings, plagued by sickness or not, can, however, can awaken us to all that really matters, as so often we're running so fast that we forget what does. As I met my mat tonight, full up on four measly rice crackers, I wondered what would show up for me, or what wouldn't. Surprisingly, my body felt incredibly open and ready to receive it all. Our Monday classes are always focussed on twisting postures, and sitting here now, I think it's fair to say that I've twisted the last of whatever has been inhabiting my system for the past few days right out of me, and no, I'm not writing this from the toilet!

Yes, my day may have been a bit bleak, but it ended in the best way. Besides, beach or not, when was the last time you got to play with coloured pens?

Day Eighteen: As They Say...

2011-09-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

Home is where the heart is...

There is a magic in that little world, home; it is a mystic circle that surrounds comforts and virtues never known until we search beyond it hallowed limits.

Vancouver, I miss you.

Day Seventeen: Take Your Seat

2011-09-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

I'm at a loss for words tonight, I'll be honest about that. It's been a long week, and blogging daily is a struggle, with some days leaving me with more to share, and others not as much. Today was our first, true attempt at practice teaching, and it left me with a greater appreciation for all of my teachers out there. I guided those around me through a simple seated posture, complete with a dialogue that lasted maybe three minutes, and afterwards I thought to myself, "wow, three minutes? I can only imagine what ninety feels like."

So I'd like to dedicate this post to all the teachers out there. To the teachers who have come before us, the one's who guide us now, and those like myself, who represent those to come. It's not an easy seat to take and to all of those who do it seamlessly, I bow to you with immense gratitude...

Day Sixteen: Don't Blame Mexico

2011-09-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have ever travelled, holiday'd or lived down here, how many times have you heard the classic stereotypes that revolve around taking care of yourself. "Don't drink the water!, Keep the ice cubes out of your drinks!, disinfect your vegetables, and heaven forbid, never eat anything from a street cart!" A little somethin' somethin' has made it into my stomach today, and I'm currently curled up in bed, with my tonic water, just a waitin' for the storm to pass. But, I'm not blaming this one on Mexico...

After walking home from the grocery store tonight, one that took ten minutes longer than normal ( I was squeezing my cheeks the whole way if you know what I mean), I decided not to cast a negative light on what I hope is a brief stint of some good old bacteria working its way through me. Scapegoating the red, white and green would surely be any easy out, and straight away, my mind began to work its way back through my day; "Did I accidentally run my toothbrush under the tap, or open my mouth in the shower? Was it the red pepper I ate, the carrot juice, or the mouthful of ocean water?" I guess I'm choosing to embrace whatever is inside of me tonight, for it really could happen anywhere, even back home in Canada. I've eaten fruit served beachside, have once or twice accidentally gulped on some tap water, and have witnessed my father eat $2 hamburgers a'la roadside and we're both still kickin.' It's not Mexico people, we're just not used to it.

Sickness can happen anywhere, to anyone. Yes, it's unfortunate when it hits you in a place like this, but I believe that it's a dis-ease of the mind and body more than anything, and perhaps a subtle to message that I should take it down a notch, so here's to health and happiness!

Lunch this afternoon. "Oh no, maybe it was the carrots?"

Day Fifteen: A little Reminder...

2011-09-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

Of the workings of yoga in the Universe around us...

This came my way from my dear friend Alex Mazerolle today, an ambassador for lululemon athletica, and it brought me back home to all that I love, including her!

It doesn't take much to inspire others in this life. Words, a yoga pose, or the beautiful clothing we wear on our mats...

Alex's message; a blissful one...

y

Day Fourteen: A Little Seed of Doubt

2011-09-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

I've often referred to "truth bombs" in some of my previous posts. A term coined by a friend of mine, in which within the instant of words being said, sometimes ones you don't want to hear, but know you need to, work to create and clear a new path for anything and everything possible, hence why they're called bombs: they show us the way people! A few have been dropped on my head in the last day and a half; one from a fellow yogi of mine, one from the Universe, and one from myself and now it's time to be truthful. Dear anyone who has ever doubted themselves and their abilities...

At the end of our training session yesterday, I offered to lead the class through a closing invocation. Confident in my message and my abilities, it took only mere seconds before my mind blanked, my voice trickled to a tremble, and my dreams were filled with doubt. I left class deflated, wondering how I was ever going to teach a yoga class if I couldn't even get through a 3 minute closing shpeel without wanting to feel whatever it was I felt on my mat. Running rackets on myself, I began to think of all the reasons why I couldn't do this, how I'd never be good enough, or amount to the standard that I see around me. Oh the sprouts that a little seed of doubt can cause...

It's so easy to see other people's light and all that they share in life, but don't you ever wonder why we have such a hard time seeing our own? Doubts, about whatever it is you doubt in life, simply show us that what we dream of is actually alive and real in our minds for if it wasn't, we clearly wouldn't care about the result. It's when we go from dreaming to actually attaining something that things change, and as we step closer and closer to achieving what we want, fear comes in to protect us, simply preparing us for real world rejection. Don't run from the fear for that's exactly why it's there; to convince you that you shouldn't do what you dream to do.

I've come to parallel my doubts with the nerves I used to get before I used to partake in anything competitive, for I always believed that if I didn't feel the nerves, that what I was about to do really didn't matter all that much to me and ironically, these words came to me today from a teacher of mine back home:

"Let your dreams dance wild and free and reality will follow."

Day Thirteen: Sunbeams

2011-09-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

"Even

after

all this time

the sun never says to the earth,

"You owe me."

Look

what happens

with a love like that -

It lights the whole

world."

~ Hafiz

To everyone back home, I hope your days are sunny too...

Day Twelve: All That We Observe...

2011-09-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

I watched a storm roll in today, the kind you don't want to mess with. Thunder-boomers so loud,they feel as if they could crack your bones. Lightning strikes that illuminate dark skies in seconds. Raindrops so hard, so fast, so frequent, that you're soaked just, like that...

Timing couldn't have been better for this mama to roll in, as the heavens opened just as I was heading out to my yoga practice. I'm usually a sucker to the rain, doing anything I can to avoid it, but when it's tropical, there's nothing more fun. I zipped up my rain jacket, slung my yoga mat over my shoulder, and made a break for it. I hit the cobblestone streets walking, which soon turned into a run, and smiled all the way, the way little kids do with rubber boots atop their feet. The puddles were warm, they splashed up the backs of my legs, and by time I reached the studio, only a mere block away, I was soaked, with a smile...

Sitting on my yoga mat waiting for class to begin, I couldn't help but observe it all. The smell of the rain, my moistened skin. The dragonfly that buzzed frantically along the white wall, the drip, drip, drip from the ceiling onto the floor. The relentless rain, the commanding thunder. And so, I sat there, in a quiet meditation, bobbing on my own breath, noticing subtly that just as my mind began to quiet, the skies did too...

In light of this week's study, the "Niyamas" be aware and keen to all that you observe about yourself and what surrounds you in life and remember this: Stay clean, inside and out. Accept that there is a purpose for everything. Yoga calls it "karma," so cultivate a contentment to accept what happens around you, even if it's a rainstorm. Stoke your inner fire with a disciplined use of energy, and come to terms with the fact that you can direct your energies enthusiastically to engage in all that is life. Study yourself in your activities and efforts, and last of all, set time aside to celebrate the spiritual, or to whichever God to whom your pray...

"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."

~ Joseph Campbell

Day Eleven: Creativity is...

2011-09-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

The key to successful living!

On the verge of diving into week number two and for those reading, you must know this: yes, I can live simply, but this girls' still got her quirks. Who doesn't? I like my food, a certain way. I like my clothes, a certain way, especially the ones I sweat it. I like my space, always have. Creativity is the key to successful living, especially when results are waiting and here is what I've created for myself this week:

CLOTHING: A means to washing my yoga clothes just the way I want them. For every mama who's washed clothes riverside, I salute you. This is what my Saturday night entailed; plugging the bathroom sink with a bottle cap...it served as my basin. To my right, the shower ran on cold, helping me to rinse my mess. When all was scrubbed and slopped, I squatted in the shower, rinsing and ringing the previous weeks sweat and smells from my colourful yoga suits, and finally, hung them shower side. Oh the joy's of waking tomorrow morning to fresh, clean digs. Hello asana!

FOOD: I've pretty much mastered the art of slicing, de-seeding and cutting a whole papaya, with only a butter knife and a spoon. RAWvocado mouse has become a weekly treat as well. Mash an avocado with some cocao powder and agave nectar and you've got a sweet treat. We've all got needs. Be nourished!

UP, UP and AWAY: Rearranged my studio furniture, just so my yoga mat could have a permanent home. Hello to mornings filled with sits ups, wall stands, forearm balances and handstands, every single gosh darn day until perfection is near. The prize is in the practice folks, so says Mr. Baptiste.

"Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything."

What can you create for yourself simply out of what you've got?

Day Ten: Numbers so Far...

2011-09-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

All this in 6 days....

10 yoga classes. 2 yoga mats. A mound of sweat ridden yoga clothes. 18 litres of water, downing 3 daily. 60 + downward dogs...just as many chaturanga's. 3 papayas. 5 litres of fresh vegetable juice. Green salads...

Sanskrit, Spanish, English...Smiles, tears, sore muscles, sunshine. 8 mosquito bites to be exact.

I've made it to the end of our first full week with a light heart, a darker tan, an inspired mind and a pair of blue jeans that are beginning to creep off of my hips...

There's a lotta learnin' going on here. 99 days to go...

Dig deep for all the life inside of you and vinyasa like a kite.

Day Nine: It's Really All the Same

2011-09-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

Upon walking to the beach today, observing all that came my way, a thought came to my mind, and I just can't seem to rid it from my brain at the end of a long day. Some may disagree, but I'm not out to make you all happy when I say this: "The scenery may change, but life remains the same."

I know there is an aura around travelling to exotic places, with crystal waters, tropical fruits and guacamole, and around such things, there's encased a belief that when we travel, when we step out of life, that all disappears. Wrong. Until now, I know myself, that all I have shared has been good, great and beyond, but for those of you who are reading back home, let me assure you of this: life in Playa may be blissful, but it sure ain't peachy day after day.

Impurities still follow me, as do my perceived imperfections, the doubts I hold against myself. I still think about things, that await me back home, in "real life," and more than anything, yoga here is yoga, for it's just a practice people. What surrounds me may have changed, but what brews inside of me has remained the same. It's day 9 today, and I have exactly 100 to go until this foreseen journey will come to a close. Perhaps I'll have a different perspective on my "scenery" then...

Day Eight: "Abrir su Corazon"

2011-09-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

In Spanish, "abrir su corazón" means to "open one's heart," a good practice to carry off the mat and into the world don't you think?

Some pictures, some words. Sometimes less is more...

Have to get me one of these...

The "Green Box." A roadside juice bar, where I often stop on my way home from the beach.

Enough said.

Thinking of taking me laundry here...

Not such a hard place to study what I love...

"What if our religion were each other

If our practice was our life

If prayer our words

What if the temple was the Earth

If forests were our place of worship

If ritual objects - the rivers, lakes and oceans

What if meditation were our relationships

If the teacher was life

If wisdom was self-knowledge

If love was at the centre of our being...

~ Ganga White

Day Seven: All things Green

2011-09-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

The rains came today, offering a respite from the heat, the humidity and the sun. Practices were still sweaty, but not as normal as most, and our peak posture in both our morning and evening class was Bhekasana or "Frog Pose," a yummy and delicious inner thigh stretch that makes you want to scream sometimes, kind of like this game we call life. Below is a story that I found online from the Yoga Journal and I love the message, but, before you read, I'll caution you with this: your head may explode, so read with caution...

There is a whimsical tale I first read more than 10 years ago in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, by Sogyal Rinpoche. The story tells of an old frog who had spent his whole life in a tiny well. One day, a frog from the ocean came to visit him.

"Hello there," said the frog from the ocean.

"Hello there, brother," said the frog from the well. "Welcome to my well. And where, may I ask, are you from?"

"From the Great Ocean," answered the ocean frog.

"I've never heard of that place," said the frog from the well. "But I'm sure you must be thrilled to see my magnificent home. Is your ocean even a quarter this big?"

"Oh, it's bigger than that," said the ocean frog.

"Half as big, then?" asked the well frog.

"No, bigger still."

The well frog could barely believe his ears. "Is it," he continued skeptically, "as big as my well?"

"Your well would not even be a drop in the Great Ocean," answered the visiting frog.

"That's impossible!" cried the frog from the well. "I'll just have to go back with you and see how big this ocean really is."

After a long journey, they finally arrived. And when the frog from the well saw the immensity of the ocean, he simply couldn't take it in. He was so shocked that his head exploded.

Most of us tend to think much like the frog from the well. Trapped inside the box of our own belief system, we think we know exactly what's happening. We act as if the view from our well is the only valid one, as if our tribe, our club, our state, our political party—whatever group we happen to be a part of—is the best. As long as something is ours, it's cool, it's legitimate, it's bloody righteous! We're sure that all the other views out there in the world are the ones that are so screwed up, uncool, and evil.

So we blissfully go along in our little world. Meanwhile, the universe nudges us, trying to get us to open our eyes, expand our view, and notice what's really happening. But we keep our eyes tightly shut, not wanting to look past the boundaries of our secure, known world. When we don't take the hint, when we don't consciously choose to open our eyes , the universe nudges a little harder. One day, if we keep ignoring all the hints, something happens that blows our mind. Just like that,whoosh: The bottom drops out. Maybe it's the bottom of our family structure, or of our church or corporate community, or of a treasured relationship, project, or belief. Something we thought was absolutely indestructible suddenly falls to pieces. How could this have happened, we wonder? We were on such solid ground!

Many times, there is nothing really sudden about the catastrophe—or solid about the ground we were standing on. Like a house being eaten by termites, the structure had been degenerating for years, but we didn't notice. When the house finally collapses, it's a huge shock. We stagger. We fall down. We retreat. We grieve. But then, slowly, we begin to recover. And the shock, although painful, moves us forward into a new and broader way of seeing.

Taking on yoga as a discipline is a way of consciously agreeing to open our eyes and ourselves, of knocking down the walls of a tenuous shelter before it collapses in on us. Our practice forces us to acknowledge our restrictions and our limited perspective, and teaches us how to expand the boundaries of our world so that the first time we stick our nose out the door, our mind doesn't explode into a million pieces.

Live like an ocean frog, open your eyes, your mind and your heart to all you meet in life, always.

~ Alli

Day Six: Love Thyself

2011-09-06T13:34:00.000-07:00

I think I align with most when I sit here and state that within all of us, there exist qualities about ourselves that we just can't embrace. Our big nose, our funny toes, the shape of our thighs, or those dreaded last few pounds that never seem to melt away. But what's interesting to note about all of these complaints, which really mean nothing, is that they're all merely physical aspects, having absolutely nothing to do with who we really are...

Approaching our physical issues, or rather, everything and anything we don't like about ourselves, shouldn't be a constant struggle, for all that needs to happen to resolve such distortions, is how we approach our avenues of change. Now, in the realm of yoga, which I am learning daily in my own practice, what becomes clear is that in order to change the physical, or our distorted views of ourselves, we must hinder to our spiritual and emotional needs too. I can say that in the short two years that I've been practicing, many people have proclaimed to me, "wow, you look great" to which I proclaim, "thanks, just been doing my yoga." You see, yoga brings fulfilment to all levels: physical, spiritual and emotional, bringing the body and mind into complete balance and when the body is balance, anything can be healed, even the nasty voice inside our cloudy minds, allowing the need to abuse and punish our bodies to quickly disappear.

According to Patanjali, the Yoda in the world of yoga, "yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind," or in modern day terms, an activity that provides you with tools to tell your mind to shut the hell up! So, the next time you come to your mat, look in the mirror, and let you eyes drift directly to your muffin tops, embrace them and say "I love who I AM today." Become aware that your thought patterns, or what's known as your consciousness, not only reside deep in your mind, but within every cell of your body too. We can read book after book, or look to diet after diet to change what we don't embrace, but really, no body has the power to change what's "wrong" but you.

Do not defame your "I AM's," for your body is always listening, following the mind, so lead it where it needs to go. Your thoughts create YOUR reality and remember this:

"Love yourself first and the rest of your life will fall into place."

~Lucille Ball

Day Five: The Mexican Manifesto

2011-09-05T20:32:00.000-07:00

As I sat oceanside this afternoon, being the lemon that I am, I thought it would be fitting to come up with my own "Mexican Manifesto," one that would offer as a guide as to how to live daily life here in Playa. Here's goes...

Eat papaya everyday, avocado too ~ SMILE at everyone on the street ~ Live in TRUTH ~ Drink green juice ~ Make new friends ~ Keep in touch with old ones ~ Swim in the ocean, AT LEAST once a day ~ LAUGH when the waves pull you under ~SWEAT ~ Embrace all things new ~

Say gracias ~ Open your mind and your HEART ~

PRACTICE YOGA

Today was the first Monday of many: yoga practice, study, beach time, yoga practice, study. Loving this life and grateful to be living it...

Day Four: Sunday's the Way they Should Be...

2011-09-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

Sunday's in Playa are pretty sweet. The streets are quiet, the stores are closed, and the beaches bustle. After a morning mixer of orange, pineapple, cantelope and banana juice, I walked to my favourite spot, where the kite surfers hang out and the waters are clear, yet still emit the most amazing shade of blue. I napped on the sand, sweat under the sun, browsed a book, and played in the waves, the kind that sneak up on you and knock your bottoms off! Those ones always make me laugh.

Tomorrow is the start of our first full week of training and on the eve, I sure enjoyed this clip. Sometimes, the best yogis are self taught, who guide themselves straight from the heart...

\\\\\

Day Three: The Day it All Began

2011-09-03T20:26:00.000-07:00

Yoga practice. Fresh, green, juice. A teacher training introduction. The beach...the ocean...salt water. More juice. A dip in the pool. An anniversary party for the most magical studio in Playa. An aerial silks performance. A man who juggled fire, stepped inside, and out, of a giant balloon, and rode a unicycle. This was day #3 for me in Playa...

Today marked the official beginning of our teacher training, or as I referred to it earlier today as "the United Nations of Yoga." I never imagined that I would sit in a circle with 14 other individuals, far from my own home, who each have come from different countries, who speak a different language, many more than one, and whose skin colour differs from mine. Norway, Holland, Finland, America, Australia, Mexico, England, and even one fellow Canadian, and we've all come together, open to creating what I can envision as the most beautiful mosaic, full of stories, perspective, insight, fear and joy, all finding inspiration amongst one another. Inspired by all who sat around me, I listened to what brought them to this training. Some had quit corporate careers, in search of a life change, while others had simply signed up on a wim, and there were a few, like myself, who just knew they had to make the magic happen at Yoga by the Way...

As I stood back at this evenings' studio anniversary party, surrounded by a community who steeped themselves in 3 years of celebration together, I watched people interact and the love and compassion that was shared between all. I watched a woman hang from silk scarves atop a ceiling beam, and a man who juggled with fire atop a unicycle, and at that moment, the thought came to me, that life simply is just one, big, practice, for how would we live if we did not practice the things we yearn to be good at, only to expect them just to happen? As Bryan Kest puts it, "this lifetime is so short and sacred. We have so little time to be all that we can be, yet so little time is spent developing our true desire. So much time is wasted..."

Practice what it is you yearn to create. What are you waiting for?

Day Two: Embracing the Unknown

2011-09-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

Backbends, hip openers, the classics and a handstand....

Sweat, smiles, sauna air, a new friend, pool time and peppermint oil...

The skies were sunny and bright, I ate papaya and avocado by the moonlight...

Namaste.

Day One: Removing the Obstacles...

2011-09-01T20:59:00.000-07:00

One down, one hundred and eight days to go. I've made it my goal to blog daily while I'm here, so here goes...

I was greeted this morning by the most gracious, loving lady, my teacher Ellen, who after 7 months apart , following only a brief encounter, remembered exactly who I was, receiving me with open arms and her kind heart. Pure love. After discovering Ellen and the gifts she granted me this past February, I knew in my heart that I needed to make it back to her, her studio, and this magical mayan city known as Playa del Carmen. Slowly removing my own obstacles month by month, which recently included 4 wisdom teeth last week, I realized quickly that it wasn't until I committed to this dream in my own language, that it started to come true. The fear, the doubts, the questioning, all constant in my mind, were quietly brushed aside and from then on, each day, I could see myself, here. I would equate it to true love I guess, for when you know, you just know.

My day started with a yoga practice, and ended the same way, a routine that will remain constant for the next 3 months. Asana is a sweat fest here, with the humidity in the 90's, and I've resorted to showering simply to rid my body of all it secretes. We'll see how long that lasts, for the moment you step into the streets, it's all over and the body starts a rainin', yet again...

Life is foreign here, as the comforts of home have been removed, but I'm thankful for the people I've met already, who stand atop their yoga mats too. Tonight was a special class, as the studio celebrated it's 3 year anniversary, and also honoured a permanent resident, Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles. It was his birthday today and we made him a special puja, full of all his favourite things...

So here's to the removing of obstacles in life, whatever they may be. See you tomorrow...

Diana Does Ironman 2011

2011-08-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

Never stop believing that you can do things that seem impossible. Never stop believing you can't do something just because someone tells you so. Never stop believing that by simply creating possibilities and saying yes to them, that dreams can come true. Never stop believing that you can materialize results despite your present limitations. Never stop believing...

Never doubting, never not believing in herself...

She smiled from start to finish, amidst the pain, the hurt, her dark moments and the heat. She picked me out of the crowd, when I was the one who was supposed to be cheering. She smiled. At mile 2 of 26, I ran with her amidst the cramping, the pain, the heat and within it all, she managed to ask "how are you?" A true believer...

We need more people in the world like this. Ones who are filled with infinite optimism, constant smiles, and a mantra that emits greatness, possibility, and positivity, always.

After 13 hours of lake water, desert winds and unforgiving sunshine, it all ended with a smile...

YOU INSPIRE ME.

Align to the New Way...

2011-07-30T19:43:00.000-07:00

I just read the blog post of a loving friend. It hit me straight in the heart. Now I sit, inspired to share, and seep a few secrets...

Sidelined by sickness this week, something I thought would last a day, maybe two, and now this girls goin' on seven... It's something I can't shake, simply because I continue to fight. Each day waking, saying "all better now," when I'm clearly not...

It's around 3 in the morning, I'm lying on my bathroom floor. The floor is cold, but the heat of my body welcomes it. I'm convinced I'll be throwing up again in a minute, maybe two, and amidst it all, my mind is racing, thinking of all the things I'm about to miss. Staff meetings, work commitments, tomorrow's sunshine, and worst of all, my yoga practice. As if ONE missed day is going to kill me...

I guess what I'm trying to share here is that recently, thanks to a divine practice, I've realized that the habits, the obsessions, the striving for successes from a past discipline have subtly followed me, but now it's time to deal...

As an athlete, time off, to me, always meant a loss. A loss of fitness, of speed, of strength and after being plagued with a miserable bodily dis-ease this week, one that seeped into my mind, I foolishly began to believe that following 4 days, all of which were null of any namaste, that all would be lost...

Fearing that I would be weak and wobbling, I was almost hesitant to hit my mat again this week, as my mind told me, having fallen into the trap of sedentary sickness, that maybe I just shouldn't. Surprised and elated, turns out nothing was lost, and if anything, much was gained. Everything I know was still there, especially the thing that carried me through it all...sweet, simple breaths and with only brief hesitation, I even blossomed into a challenging pose, going deeper than ever before...

So where's the message behind all of this? I'll admit that it's OK to infatuate yourself with something, be it sport, love, sunshine or YOGA, but unleash your passion with mindfulness, respect, dignity and truth. Wherever it is you're going, or hope of getting to, on the days when it's tough, a true struggle, ask yourself, "why am I really here and for what?"

Whenever something we love slips away from us, even for four short days, we're soon to want it back, in all its fullness. But just remember, as I did this week, that you will never lose what is divinely yours...

Rainbows in the Dark

2011-07-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

It's raining, again, and it sucks. For the past seven days, boughts of sunshine and summer have been all but brief. Rubber boots, umbrellas, sweaters and scarfs...welcome to July Vancouver! But, as I sit and write this, almost at the end of what's been a long week, for some reason it still feels like summer and I'm about to share with you what made the difference, in just four short days.

Someone once told me that rainbows are people whose lives are bright, shining examples for others, and I believe it. Having connected a friend to one of the most gifted yogis in our city, she was soon to be "bitten by the bug" as I say, which lead to repeated 6am wake up calls this week, all in the name of a yoga practice, wrapped in the colors of love and beautiful people. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, each day the two of us graced a different yoga studio, mostly by car, sometimes by foot, and once by boat, with mats and smiles in tote. These four days were filled with LAUGHTER, SWEAT, scents of patchouli, fresh plums, BLISS, green juice and LOVE. En-route asana-sing-alongs were constant, everything from country to Coldplay, and some good old heart talk was shared. Downward dogs, forwards folds, twists, back bends, forearm stands, L-stands, handstands and CORE. Oh what a week.

So as I sit here, I can't help but feel grateful for the beings around me; my teachers, my friends, strangers, and even those who spot me in a handstand, all who make it feel like summer, even when it's not...rainbows in the dark. Find something to look forward to each day and I guarantee even the darkest days will come with ease and grace. Maybe that's a yoga teacher, a friend who's waiting for your arrival, and the joy it brings you with just the very thought of knowing that. Yoga, you and all your bring with me make me happy.

At the Corner of...

2011-06-19T23:31:00.000-07:00

Yup, this is where I stand. After dabbling with a dichotomy all weekend long, one that I believe exists between deserving and worthiness, such questioning and conscious clean-up has allowed me to quietly remind myself of why I deserve what I want...

Truth bomb #1, dropped around 12:30pm on Friday, June 17th. "Alli, all you want already exists in this universe, and all you have to do is ask for it." KABOOM! Just like that, I was broken down, cracked open, and on my way to breaking through. In two short days, I've realized this...

In order to receive your manifestation in life, you must know you deserve to have what you really want and believe that what you desire is ready and available to you...all you have to do is ask! And what a better way to amp up your worthiness by simply magnifying your sense of it. Children are a perfect example of this, for look at all they ask for in their youth, knowing fully that they are totally worthy of all things good. They ask for them fearlessly, and receive them wholeheartedly, but what clouds this fearlessness as we grow? Unworthiness, or the belief that you're simply not cool enough is created from fear, and learned from others who sit beneath its spell. We're "unworthy" because we don't have what it takes, because we're not smart enough, fast enough, pretty enough. But is this really the case, or simply the result of the stories we've created in our own minds? Believe me, just as unworthiness can be learned, it can be easily unlearned.

Every thought that you drop into the river of your consciousness ripples into the universe of your mind, and often we don't realize the vibrations we emit. So do yourself a favor, soften the rigidness of your being, know that desire is expansive beyond belief, remind yourself of why you deserve what you want, and meet me here...

Grounds for Happiness

2011-06-12T22:57:00.000-07:00

A great yogi once said that "it is through your body that you realize you are a spark of divinity" and to me, the contradiction between his words is brilliant.

Sparks are tiny, yet significant. They last for minutes, sometimes seconds before they're gone, but their results are almost always fleeting. Just think of love...that's where it all starts ain't it? Incandescent particles, resulting simply from friction, that can lead you to infinity, even if they take years to make flames. But where is the correlation in these words, and to that of the divine, stemming slowly from a simple spark? Divinity to most, resembles the state or quality of being divine...perfect as you are. Sure we might think of gods, goddess' and those we can't see when we say the word, but simply put, "divinity" is just an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone else, and it's in each and every one of us. It could be your smile, the way you love, the way others love you and within all of this, we come back to the spark, for that's where it all starts.

Relating quietly to yoga, here we get a sense that it is through our bodies that we realize our inner potential...the divinity. It's where sparks begin to fire, and where fires lead to flames, but what keeps us coming back? The realization that it's never over, that's why they call it a practice. Unlike sport, where outcomes can be achieved, records can be broken and times can be beat, yoga is never over once you can stand on your head and balance on your hands. Practice requires choice, commitment, and aspirations, not to be the best or beat those around you, but to ultimately connect with yourself and that's the beauty of yoga, for it is the remembrance of who we are rather than what we are and what we do.

The power of yoga reveals itself, so don't go looking for answers. As my teacher would say, "just keep asking them questions."

"It is through your body that you realize you are a spark of divinity."

~B.K.S. Iyengar

Gratitude, LOVE and Life's Adventures

2011-05-23T23:04:00.000-07:00

No words today, just pictures. Enjoy. xo

Embody What You Believe...Live What You Dream

2011-05-18T23:42:00.000-07:00

Socrates said it best when he proclaimed: "Know Thyself." Learning to understand what makes you feel alive, what captures your heart and what comes naturally to you. To me, this is knowing thyself.

I've been plagued with decisions lately. Ones filled with "what-ifs, why-not's, how-two's and how comes," and within it all, I've come to realize that through all of this I was subtly asking for permission from others and not myself, for that's often how society rules; over thyself, allowing us to think that that just ain't right. But, isn't it when we choose to step in to our authenticity that we come towards a greater alignment with ourselves and those around us, offering a peace that serves you and yours?

In thanks to my father, who sent me an article via email this week, here's a quote that sums up how we all should live: "[y]our time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life...don't let the noise of others opinions drown out your inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They some how already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." Thanks dad.

I've always been a sucker for penguins and this one gets me everytime. Follow your heart and find happiness beneath your feet. If you feel it in your heart, it must be truth.

Be Beauty ~ Live Beautifully

2011-05-03T23:46:00.000-07:00

If someone were to ask you how you would live beautifully in each and every moment of your life, how would you respond , for what is beauty to you? Is it a color? A smell? Is it a feeling , an embrace? Is it yourself? When we look close enough, there is beauty in almost every moment in our lives...we just have to learn to look for it.

Someone has recently walked into my life and shown me so much, so subtly, all from a yoga mat and beyond. She has taught me that the heart has reasons, that reason does not understand and that to love is a decision, not an emotion. For it is the heart that is the only instrument that works when broken and through this being, I have learned that you can change your life by changing your heart. I could go on and on, but instead, I've chosen to describe, depict and devote my appreciation like this...

A summation of who she is...

She'll teach you how to do this...

And this...

Oh, and...

She'll make you realize...

that in life, we all have a lucky charm...our hearts.

When you take a yoga class with her, this is how you'll feel...

And with every pose, you are...

Alex, thanks for walking into my life the way you did. Oh how...

On Saturday, May 28th, come and play with Alex and learn how to live beautifully in every moment. From the depths of the container, known as self love, she'll be leading a blissfull yoga workshop at lululemon athletica Park Royal. Heart opening backbends...juicy holds...creative sequences and partner work, all set atop a platform that is yoga, as an avenue and an opening for an affirmation of self love, to ultimately create deeper relationships with our own hearts.

Alex views the mat as a life size dream board...an exquisite opportunity to heal, to thrive, to celebrate all that is life. She encourages her students to feel alive, to fall madly in love with life, and ultimately, themselves.

http://www.alexmazerolle.com

Dear Yoga...

2011-04-24T21:38:00.000-07:00

We haven't been friends for very long, but I know you will be with me forever.
Always right there when I need you most, beneath my feet, cupped in my palms and nestled deep in my heart, you never question me for who I am, how I live, how I act,
or how I love, but somehow always lead me to ask and answer my own questions, allowing me to see what is right, what is best, what is love and what is life.
I have cried with you, laughed with you, traveled with you and made new friends with you.
I have sweat with you, slept with you and you have cracked me open so many times over, just
as my shell begins to harden in the atmosphere of life.
If your meaning is to yoke, to unite and join, you have succeeded in allowing me to unite with that which
matters most : my heart, allowing me to live a life of truth.
Iyengar once said that yoga, for some, is a bright light, which once lit shall never dim. And to that end, the better the practice, the brighter the flame.
Thank you for lighting mine.

XO

The Untethered Soul

2011-04-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

If your soul were a rope, what would be its state? Are you worn and ragged, frayed at each end from the rigors of life? Or are you smooth, collected and braided seamlessly? Are you stained and tainted or fresh and polished? Ropes serve to connect things, to hold things together. They bind, they tie, they knot and above all, they contain the energy of working parts into one whole. And that's the key word here: energy. Existing within, throughout and all around us, however we should choose to link, tie or knot together.

Inner energy actually deems to be a great mystery in the Western world, despite its subtle, sidelined nature in the big picture: life. In contrast to the East, little attention is allotted to the laws of our inner energy, for we spend so much time and effort studying the energy outside, placing great value on external resources, often ignoring what's right inside of us. Life is spent thinking, feeling, acting and reacting, while we rarely stop to think of how these very activities actually take place. The Yogis call them chakras or shakti. The Chinese call it Chi and here in the West, most often energy simply refers to ones spirit. Call it what you want, but just know it's there, should you choose to tap into your own source, however you choose to define it.

Creating thoughts, holding onto thoughts, recalling thoughts. Generating emotions and disciplining powerful inner drives all require inordinate amounts of internal energy, and it's often what drains us. How many times have you felt tired, brutally exhausted thanks to the emotional events that take place in your life? Usually something that food or a deep slumber don't fix, but more so, a shift in how we choose to perceive, how we choose to react, and how we choose to shut ourselves in or open ourselves up to the emotional doings around us. Think of the times when you have felt the best and ask yourself, "Why can't I feel like this all the time? If you've ever felt blocked, perhaps it's because you've simply chosen, unconsciously, to close your heart, to close your mind, resorting to a restrictive place deep inside. If it's one thing we know intuitively, it's how to close our hearts. Sure, they're often fed by the desires of our minds, but the heart always leads the way. Always.

I believe, that inner energy is infinite and you too should know and learn this, for ultimately, it's yours and it's unlimited. You can call on it any time and it has nothing to do with how old you are. Energy doesn't get old, it doesn't get tired: you do. It doesn't need food, or rest. Instead, it feeds itself off of openness and receptivity. Just like sunshine, it shines equally on all, for regardless of whether you're good or bad, the sun always shines on you, judgments overlooked. But just like the blinds a front a window, should we choose to shut them, the sunshine and light slowly disappear, just like the energy within us. Openness allows it in, while closing just blocks it out. So, in order to remain open and receptive to the light of life, here's a simple method: stay open! By never closing, you stay open. It's that simple and all you have to do is decide whether or not you want to stay open, or closed. Closing is a habit, and just like any other, it can be broken. Closing your heart leads you nowhere anyways, for it simply cuts you off from your ultimate source, your energy, serving only to lock you deep inside your own darkness.

Choose instead to become a source of light to yourself and those around you. In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die and where you invest your love, you invest your life, so learn to keep your blinds open, for this is when we experience life's essence, the true sunshine. Enthusiasm, joy, love, beauty. It's all there and when we feel these on the inside, who cares what is happening on the outside. Do not let anything happen in life be important enough that you're willing to close your heart over and again, think back to when you've felt your very best. High on life, elated atop love, and free of time. Ask yourself what brought these beauties your way and what can you do to keep them there?

Dear Universe...

2011-04-09T00:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Universe,

Universe, today we ask that you come to us and share with us the communion that is love, for that is your real name, isn't it? After all, to share a communion with you is to share the same vibration, the same frequency that you are, because you are the only thing that exists in the universe...

Today, help us to be like you are. To love life, to be life, to be love. Help us to love the way you love, with no conditions, no expectations, no obligations, without any judgment. Help us to love and accept ourselves without any judgment, because when we judge ourselves, we find ourselves guilty, in need of punishment...

Help us to love everything you create unconditionally, especially other human beings, especially those who live around us - all our relatives and the people whom we try so hard to love, because when we reject them, we reject ourselves, and when we reject ourselves, we reject you: love.

Help us to love others just the way they are with no conditions. Help us to accept them the way they are, without judgment, because if we judge them, we find them guilty, we blame them and we have the need to punish them...

Today, clean our hearts of any emotional poison that we have, free our minds from any judgments so that we can live in complete peace, in complete love. Teach us today to open our hearts to love, so that we can tell each other "I love you," without any fear, and really mean it. Today, Universe, help us to be just like you are, to love like you do...

Thanking you for everything you do. Thanking you for everything we receive from you each day, especially for the freedom to be who we really are. Amen.

~Excerpt from Don Miguel Ruiz' The Four Agreements

Red Light/Green Light

2011-03-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

If I were to analogize it best, I'd say that life, for most, is like driving a car. We're constantly focusing on the details, the roadblocks...the warning signs. Life can be synonymous to how we drive each day, focused on the road ahead: other drivers, animals, children at play, traffic lights and all the other hazards. Spending so much time focused on the unnecessary elements of daily life, often forgetting that when all is said and done, that we are all simply stated to be small, tiny specs, floating around on a vast source of energy. Small components within the experience called life, yet all a part of the same whole.

Like driving, in life we tend to focus on the little elements, rather than enjoying our experiences even for a moment. Like driving, boredom often leads to the blurring and blending of continuous experiences, to where we begin to fail in remembering the very experiences we're having. Can you remember what song played on the radio this morning on your way to work? When was the last time you stopped to marvel at a sunset atop a stoplight? Soon, in life, we're just driving along, simply cruising, eventually failing to remember how we possibly got to the location we're sitting at, right here, right now, route unknown. I believe, that in order to lead and live a successful life, that this requires the driver to "step out" from time to time. Living your life on your terms means stepping out, or checking in on a regular basis, for we all have a song in our heart, yearning to be sung. But the question is, will you step out in front of the crowd and sing that song? Will you risk appearing the fool to live your dreams? John F. Kennedy, eloquently echoing Theodore Roosevelt, stated the idea greatly:

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, if he wins, knows the thrills of high achievement, and, if he fails, at least fails daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."

Frightened and full of fear, the step out front may seem lonely at first, but this shall only last a short time. Comfort and conformity, leading to a new and open road will quickly slow to pale in the comparison, when paired with the power, the passion and the excitement that comes with any bold, new purposeful action. Ultimately, when we "step out" we begin to see and realize that we can no longer accept many of the components of the reality in which we have submersed ourselves in. We begin to see that the structure of our society, our traffic grid or route we have selected in life, is no longer a valid one, allowing us, in the end to create the reality we want, rather than simply accepting the one we have. Releasing the fear and living free from it, rather than under its forceful thumb, begin to create so many questions in our minds...

To really live life, you must simply focus on self. And think not of this as selfishness or self-centeredness, but rather, as a reality centered on self, for it is only when you are self empowered that you will begin to create your own life, rather than allowing life to be created for you. It's your life and you're the driver, so make it great. I plan on "stepping out" for a while soon, changing my route, one full of new scenery, new stoplights, and a new destination, so stay tuned...

"If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find that great things happen FOR you, TO you, and BECAUSE OF YOU."

Impossible is Nothing

2011-03-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

A little something I've been working on lately...

"Nothing is impossible for the word itself says: "I'm possible."

~Audrey Hepburn

Beet the Blues...

2011-03-16T22:54:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post tonight, with inspiration seeping from the depths of the kitchen...Winter is nearly over, and spring is tempting us with smells, sounds and sunset lights that linger just a little bit longer in the evenings. I've been experimenting with a lot of raw foods in my diet lately, and here's a simple salad that I'm hooked on...

Beet the Blues Salad

~ 2 beets, raw and grated

~ A generous head of purple cabbage...raw, shaved rustic style, but not too thin.

~ A few squirts of hemp oil

~ Some splash's of wild, pure blueberry juice

~ Fresh cilantro sprigs
~ Raw blue agave nectar

Method for tasty goodness...

Mix the grated beets and cabbage together in a big bowl and add blueberry juice and hemp oil. Toss in the cilantro sprigs, free of the stems, and drizzle with agave nectar before mixing. I've also added hemp seeds and walnuts to my salad just before eating. Yum and love await you!

The Minds Mirror

2011-03-13T23:19:00.000-07:00

We've all done it. We've seen it, we've felt it and we've shared in the experience of others by the simple means of our own eyes. Seeing someone wallowing in pain, the kind that pierces a heart so deep, allowing you to feel it too. Witnessing someone sprint to a finish line, anticipation building, as your heart begins to beat as high as theirs. Watching a stranger sniff something foreign in the grocery store, with the wrinkling of the nose, while immediately, your stomach turns in sync with the thought of an unfortunate culinary experience. These experiences, whether deep or skimming the surface, are a result of what's known as mirror neurons, ones that reveal a new, freshly squeezed perspective on the dynamics and lessons that we call life.

Simply put, mirror neurons are a type of brain cell that respond equally when we perform an action, and in turn, when we witness someone else performing that same action. Offering an explanation for the becoming of empathy, autism, the evolution of language and the knowledge and infrastructure that we call culture, it appears we use mirror neurons to learn everything from our first smiles and steps, to our most suave expressions and graceful yoga postures. Who knew that a yoga class would ever end up offering a lesson in neuroscience?

Helping us to share in the action of others, as reflected in their own experience, their own expression, provides the simplest, most biological basis for empathy. The contagiousness of yawns, of love, of laughter. The good moods, the bad ones. Headstands, arm balances and all things that our mind deems impossible. Mirroring our our wishes, we use them to experience and appreciate things - to feel the meaning behind a hug...the kind you would give the person you loved the most. The touch of a hand we see laid on someone's back. The look of two lovers, gazing in lust. The gracefulness of a fairy floating into a handstand. Enjoyment and education through experience, but where's the meaning behind it all, the lesson?

In my eyes, to materialize the mirrors of our minds, success comes down to how we celebrate and react to the success of others, for isn't this at the very heart of this scientific definition? When you witness someone performing an action, and more so one you would like to emulate, such success will depend on how you choose to embrace what you witness. By choosing to embrace from a level of kindness, compassion, learning and love, all will succeed. Live what you love. Learn from others, say YES and remember...

"This is my religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness and be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."

~Dalai Lama

She Takes a Bite Out of Life!

2011-03-06T23:11:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, I met a girl. Bright, beautiful...full of smiles, and if I were to paint her outlook on life with one picture, I'd pick this one...

When I first met Diana, I was exactly in a place where she is today: utterly and completely enthralled with the sport of triathlon. Daily life for me existed of very little other than swimming, biking and running, mainly because there wasn't time for much else. Work days were merely fillers, bookended by my workouts, and on a good day, training resumed, despite fatigue, morning, noon and night. Some may call us crazy, but when you're driven by the dream, nothing seems impossible.

I've never competed in an Ironman, but I've trained beside many and worked the front lines of the finish, seeing the gloom and the glory, all in the same day. I've witnessed professionals cruise to the finish, placing medals atop their necks. I've seen the tears of those who are told they cannot continue, and I've cheered the stragglers, who walk in the dark, some seventeen hours into their day, smiles still smeared across their faces, all in the name of a title: Ironman. Regardless of their stature, everyone has a story on race day, and to me, these are the real winners: those who stroke, pedal and stride for a cause. On August 28th, 2011, Diana will compete in Ironman Canada, all in the name of a cure. Choosing to dedicate her training and her race day to a grandmother who suffers from breast cancer, along with all the other countless souls, culprits of cancer, she aims to raise $10,000 come race day. A lofty sum, but as I always say, impossible is nothing. Don't you agree?

If you would like to aid Diana's efforts with a donation, offer some words of motivation, encouragement, or maybe even a personal story, please visit her blog site to donate or dedicate some love, one dedicated solely to her journey towards Ironman Canada 2011: http://www.dianadoesironman.wordpress.com.

Regardless of the outcome, or what race day may bring her way, I guarantee that Diana will start and finish this day with a smile. Decked in pink, she'll probably sing some of her favorite songs along the way, soak up some sun, and dig deep when it matters most, finding strength inside the pain. For this girl, "can't" isn't an option and positives always lead the way, a vision that will take her so far in life, and even faster to an Ironman finish.

D.T.: As Hannah Georgas sings: "My world pauses, pauses, pauses...for YOU!" All the best in what Ironman may bring and here's a little vision to get you fired up.

Friends...

2011-03-04T21:23:00.000-08:00

The Acquaintance. The Bro. The Sis. The Buddy. The comrade. The internet friend, the pen pal. The Foxhole friend...the one you call at three in the morning. The Mate, the BFF. The blood brother, the blood sister. The "casual" friend, you know, the one with benefits. The family friend. The childhood friend. The "we went to school together" friend. The boyfriend. The girlfriend. The coffee shop friend. The frenemy, someone who acts like a friend, but is actually an enemy. The imaginary friend. The science project friend, the Facebook friend. The friends you've lost, and the ones you would never want to live without...

In the garden that is life, sometimes we pick em' and sometimes they pick us. But remembering that it takes a long time to grow an old friend, keep your friends as you would keep your bones: for once they are broken, busted bonds can be hard to fix. A world with out a friend...what kind of world would it be?

Moral of the post: Friends may not be able to pull you up, but they will always think of ways not to let you fall.

The Ingredients of Life

2011-02-19T00:30:00.000-08:00

"Like any recipe, there must be just the right amount of ingredients to produce epic flavour."

~Meghan Currie

I had an intriguing, brief conversation today about the beauty of blogs. Claiming that my own stands subtly as a diary of my life, I've always found respite in the written word, and in this case, ones that simply allow me to recall all things great in life. Each post is filed, pages unturned, but the memories will remain forever fresh and true. The people, the places. The tastes, the adventures. It's all here, thanks to my fingertips in remembrance and reflection, and here's someone I don't want to forget...

Bringing a balance between wisdom and nonsense, anatomy, grace, and shaking it, wiggling till you giggle, when you hit the mat with Meghan, it's always a delight, full of laughter, heat, and magical movement. She'll play everything from classical to reggae. She'll make dirty jokes at just the right moments. She'll make up words that somehow make sense and talk about all things in life, existing in their raw, true form. Everything from mud, to tree frogs, to how much she loves her Vitamix and fresh algae. Such a sweet soul.

Believing that every student is everyone's teacher, by plugging her energy and love into each and every student, learnings result. Handstands, headstands, heart-openers...the how-to's. It's all here. But outside the asana, more than anything, Meghan translates her teachings to the essence of life. The transformation, the love, the fear. Her words and wisdom, like poetry in motion, drunk off love, remind you that despite your fears, your uncertainties, your doubts, that life is looking out for you, no matter how dim the skies might seem, horizon unknown. You'll leave feeling safe and satisfied, nurtured by her words, inspired by her knowledge, and blown away by her abilities within this ancient dance. And just like a good meal, every pose, every class, every word that seeps from her soul will leave you wanting more.

Meghan: thanks for your grace, your guidance, your inspiration and endless love. You're a gift.

Party People

2011-02-18T00:40:00.000-08:00

Yoga is a big business these days. However, a 2008 poll commissioned by The Yoga Journal showed that the number of people practicing had actually declined from 16.5 million to 15.8 million in a span of 4 short years. That said, the same poll estimated that the actual spending on yoga classes and yoga products had almost doubled in that same period, rooted around $2.95 billion, soaring to $5.7 billion. That's omore! (Only a yogi might get my pun!)

Now don't get me wrong here, but isn't it somewhat ironic that yoga, and more so the spiritual ideals for which it stands for, have become the ultimate commodity? It almost seems as though that spirituality is now a style and that the "rock star" teachers are the style gurus. For something that should be accessible to all, sadly, sometimes it's not. But alas, as an alternative to the expense, to the cult of personality and the membership fees, there exists a free form haven, right in the heart of Vancouver's downtown Eastside titled simply, "Yoga for the People."

Standing solo as Vancouver's largest donation based yoga studio, Yoga for the People shows a future full of promise as the foundation looks to establish a fund that will contribute to several creative and compassionate projects running throughout Vancouver's somewhat troubled Eastside. For a district that has been repeatedly shadowed by darkness, the studio emits a shining light with the aim of stimulating social awareness and community development, amongst the development of the self. At Yoga for the People, it's believed that yoga should be for available for everyone who wants to practice. Donations are suggested at a mere $10 and nobody is ever turned away. These dollars pay the rent, they keep the space alive and ensure that the presence of highly qualified and dedicated teachers remains. The hardwood floors creak like an old house, and the brick walls reek of stories and sounds. So go rock out to some reggae with Reno, make new friends with Meghan, and pitch in to a great cause, all in the name of namaste.

"LOVE and kindness are the very basis of society. The more we are motivated by LOVE the more free our action will be."

~Dalai Lama

Just Give, Don't Take

2011-02-15T23:27:00.000-08:00

Tonight my post stems from a personal space, and as always, seeps from inspiration that stems straight from a yoga mat...

Asteya. A sanskrit word implying ethical restraint, translating to the avoidance of stealing, not coveting, hoarding, or obstructing other people's desires in life, let alone our own. Sure, the concept sounds simple: "thou shall not steal," but when we look deeper, like I was asked to this morning from the confines of my yoga mat, asteya means so much more. Asteya implies a concept stating that you should be content with what comes to you by honest means. But where's the source of our behavior, one often led by ego and superiority? This is the deeper question.

Simply defined, stealing comes from a sense of entitlement - a feeling or belief that you deserve something you have not earned, and perhaps that's unknown to you, but the universe knows it's true. Think about it: we steal all the time. We can steal time, love, affection, space, credit, praise, ideas, thoughts, energy and amidst all this, I think the question begs: How does Asteya fit into your life, yogi or not? Ask yourself, instead of taking, what can you give? Sure, you may not literally be stealing, but are you stealing by placing unfair demands on others and their time? Are you stealing from the earth? Do you steal from yourself by robbing yourself of your time, your strengths, or your emotions? Do you think negative thoughts about others or yourself? Perhaps you're unknowingly stealing from others by giving to them, even if it seems like a nice thing to do, and here's the kicker...

You see, in yoga, you cannot steal a pose, unlike the way we steal things in life, however that may manifest itself. In this practice, movements never lie, so why not express a sense of entitlement, not superiority, off the mat and into your world? In yoga, we should never assume we can master advanced postures. We should never simply give up when a pose doesn't come easy and we should never assume we should be as "good" at yoga as others. Comparison kills my friends, and aren't these metaphors we could carry forth into our lives? Within the practice of yoga, we are taught that when we no longer desire something, it will come to us by itself and if the root cause of taking what doesn't belong to us is desire, when you give up your desire for things, all sorts of wealth will flood itself to you, all by itself.

"In life, it is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

~Albus Dumbledore

Movement, Music and the Lyrics of Life

2011-02-12T23:29:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you lost yourself in the beat of harmonious, soul-satisfying music? You know, the type that makes you break out in song, filling your body, head to toe, with an electric, euphoric sense of radical release or as Eminem would preach, just losing it! Country, Jazz, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Hard Rock, Oldies, New Age...we've all done it, whether it's on the dance floor, in the shower, or within the confines of four wheels, dial cranked, my own personal favorite! Music, some say, and furthermore movement through music, is the ultimate expression or celebration of life. To me, this brings up images of expression, of freedom, of sadness and story telling, of joy, of the ups and the downs, all of which we will experience, undoubtedly throughout a lifetime. Titles, lyrics, melodies...every song has a message and today I experienced electric feelings of love, laughter, community and connectedness, all within the confines of a yoga mat. Edged by a friend to come out and play, I had the pleasure of practicing under Patrick Creelman, founder of Pure Yoga. A Hong Kong based yoga studio whose network now spans Singapore, Tapai and recently New York, Pure Yoga's dedicated studios offer over 1,000 classes each week, with a faculty of over 100 teachers, who offer everything from hatha to hot, with a simple mission: one devoted to creating a sanctuary of strength and spirit within the heart of any city.

A lover of music and movement, this ex-DJ's turntable spinnin' spirit allows you to truly bust it out on the mat. A pillar in Asia's yoga community, whose grace and guidance make him one of the most sought after teachers on the continent, Creelman's spirit spews connectedness, community, and playfulness amidst an element of strength. In one hundred and eighty minutes of practice, we flew through vinyasas, twists, folds, flips, and headstands, all to the beat of music and lyrics, and within my own movement and that of those around me, I was reminded of my own connectedness to our amazing community that is yoga and so much more. Friends, teachers and teachers of teachers. Studio directors, students, strangers with silent familiarity surrounded me. To my left and right, in front and behind, all under one roof, jiving, jigging and joined together, creating what Creelman calls the "Electric Feel." Amazing.

"Water, could possibly be the most powerful element in the world. Therefore, in the midst of your strengthening, be like water and flow rather than harden."

~Patrick Creelman

Joyous Universals

2011-02-07T15:32:00.000-08:00

   I've had the pleasure of practicing somewhere foreign for the last 9 days, a shala atop an old 3 story apartment building, with spiraling staircases amidst white walls, blue tile and all of this is just minutes away from sand and surf. As you snake your way up one flight, another and then the third, you're treated to an infinite view...palm trees, rooftops and an ocean breeze that will tame even the most challenging asana. Deep, dark bamboo floors, that creak upon contact. A white conical ceiling with cedar beams, and every yogi, visitor or regular devotee, practices amidst the presence of Ganesh the elephant, the most worshiped God of good fortune and wisdom in Hinduism. Sure, he may be made of wood, but we know he's always watching...

   The first day I arrived to the studio, named simply "Yoga By the Way," I didn't know what to expect. Would class be taught in English? Spanish? Sanskrit? I've been treated to all three, and each day I can say I've learned something new. New approaches, new techniques, new perspectives, new alignments and adjustments. At Yoga By the Way, yogis show up by foot, by moped, and old, one-speed bicycles, all with yoga mats slung on their backs. Not much lulu around as cotton seems to rule, but that doesn't stop anyone from sharing a good sweat. You see, in a world where so much can seem so foreign sometimes, so many things remain the same. A smile is a smile, regardless of language or culture, and asanas are asanas, no matter the country. That said, immersions and headstands are much more fun in the sand!

   I'll miss my morning walks to this sanctuary, yoga mat in toe with flip flops on my feet, but I'm looking forward to my return home. To a studio where most everyone knows your name, and teachers who's styles are familiar, everything from sequence to song. Oh the joys of this blissful practice.

Saturday morning class. A room half the size of what I'm used to, with close to 40 spread mat to mat.

Footwear of choice en route.

Bliss.

A Bhuddaful Place

2011-01-12T23:28:00.000-08:00

There was quite the new year, new yogi buzz amidst one of my favorite havens last night, and who some might say, this girl's second home! Waiting in anticipation all day to get to my mat and practice with a teacher who'd been gone for far too long, I was fortunate to practice with 53 other devoted yogis on a Tuesday evening. Chloe, way to give Mr. Blunderfield a run for his mala beads! From the moment I walked into the studio, I was reminded of every reason why I love this place and why it always feels like home. The girls behind the desk who sign me in for class, before I even have a chance to fumble to find my fob in the my coat pocket. The freshly brewed "Happiness" tea, to which you can sit and steep your soul in for a few blissful moments before and after class. The essential scents of tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender and lemon grass that linger in the air. Bamboo and bare feet. The peaceful calm amidst all the others who have come to end their day in zen, from shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip and head to toe in savasana. The friendly faces, new and old...hugs all around!, and these two beautiful beings, who are the backbone to the beauty...

Come and play at NorthShore Elements...a bhuddaful place to be!

Brain Stickers

2011-01-09T23:06:00.000-08:00

Over dinner this past Friday night, a friend of mine made a statement claiming, "life isn't a dress rehersal, and often times we only get one shot." Her words, still fresh in my mind, have inspired tonight's post. Somewhat of a delayed New Year's theme, I'd like to begin tonight with a few definitions. You can make of them what you wish, as I've always been one to see Webster's view merely as surface definitions, full of jargon. There's so much more to words...

AFFIRM: 1. To say positively: declare firmly; assert to be true. 2. To make valid; confirm; uphold, ratify...

AFFIRMATION: 1. The act of affirming. 2. Something affirmed, positive declaration, assertion.

Now, other than the similarities between the root words in these two definitions (affirm), go back and see which word comes up in both. Ok, I'll help you: POSITIVE. If you were to Google "Affirmation," aside from random definitions, you'll find that this word correlates with positivity, visualization, repetition and a belief in all things good, all of which we're capable of manifesting within ourselves. But what do we do when the flood gates open momentarily, periodically, randomly, and our negative unwanted thoughts and fears come rushing in?

Are our beliefs just learned thought patterns that we have developed since childhood? Do you ever repeat statements in your mind, telling yourself over and over that you cannot do something? Every thought you take, every word you say...what sorts of feelings do they generate? Are they consistent? How can we break this pattern? Eventually, over time, our subconscious mind begins to accept what you say and think as truth, ultimately attracting corresponding events or situations into your life, irrespective of whether they're good or bad for you. So why not choose positive statements, posting them on your brain like sticky notes.

You see, affirmations, and moreso positive ones, program our minds in the same way commands and scripts program a computer, so think of positive affirmations, or the thoughts, the words, the images, simply as creative visualization, or your own human hard drive. Try and start your day with one of these, and know that you can re-boot anytime throughout your day! Remember that by only repeating positive affirmations for a few moments, only to digress to thinking negatively for the rest of the day simply neutralizes the effects of the positive words. So...REFUSE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS IF YOU WISH TO ATTAIN POSITIVE RESULTS! Now for a New Year's affirmation on this 9th of January, 2011:

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done.

Cracks to be filled, patches to be sewn. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to

walk through the rooms of our lives...not looking for flaws, but for potential."

~Ellen Goodman

A New Year, a perfect time to map out the rooms of your life, just as an architect would generate a floor plan. As the architect of your life, think perhaps of the life you want to build. It is you who is the architect of your reality, so how might you go about designing, believing, fulfilling and enriching your own daily experience?

A Commercial Appeal

2011-01-08T00:35:00.000-08:00

            I must admit that there lives a small, whole hearted hippie child within me. I eat organic food, sometimes I'll go a day or two without brushing my hair and like to think that I emit an earthy, authentic appearance, from the clothes I wear to the style of my hair, and the beads that wrap my wrists. By no means did I grow up under a "granola" influence and instead of mala beads and whiffs of burning insence, I grew up playing sports until it was dark.

            Venturing to our very own hippie homeland (Vancouver's Commercial Drive) today with a friend of mine, I participated in my very first Bikram's yoga class. I'd heard of the Bikram style and it's popularity, and for the most part wrote it off as just another hot yoga class thinking really, how different can it be? Fingers to toes, muscle to bone, nothing, and I mean nothing goes untouched in 90 minutes. The room is heated to 40 degrees, which makes for an amazing respite on a brisk winter day, and there are no breaks. No invocations, no om's, no dharma talk, leaving you to think about nothing else but the here, the now. The room is mirrored, three sides out of four, and the door's are marked "no exit", almost emitting the theme of a torture chamber or a mirrored carnival maze that never seems to end.

          So why subject yourself to this torture? Simply, so that you can be happy. In such extreme heat, both outside and from within, we forge bodies and minds of steel. By pushing to your limit, and perhaps beyond, slowly you begin to realize and believe that there are no limits because really, everything is possible in this life if you work hard enough and know what you're doing. Yes, Bikram's is hard and I'll admit that I wanted to quit and check out many times today, heart racing as I lay in a pool of sweat, but as soon as our class concluded, immediately I was thinking about when I could get back for more. As Bikram himself stated, "which would you rather do: suffer for 90 minutes in a Bikram class, or suffer for 90 years as you live your life without a truly healthy body and without realizing your potential?"

           90 minutes later and close to 945 calories burned (so they estimate), Bikram's left a blossoming taste with me, which was quickly nourished with coconut water, a plate full of greens and hemp balls! A true awakening to an ancient practice with endless benefits, once again I was brought to the realization that yoga allows us to go beyond the boundaries that our bodies and minds often create for us. I can't wait to get back to the cedar floors, the dreadlocks, the hand-painted, mosaic walls, and the zebra print shorts and colorful onezies, all statements that scream, "anything goes on the Drive!" Most certainly a first to remember, and I'm grateful to have shared this experience with a great friend, teacher and mentor of mine. Thanks for the invite Shan...can't wait to get back for more!

Contemplation

2010-12-28T22:38:00.000-08:00

            For those of you who frequent, as always and most often, tonight I'm writing from inspiration, sitting in contemplation following an afternoon of bliss, stemming straight from my yoga mat.

            I'm forever feeling fortunate and thankful for the lessons I learn thanks to the spoken words that surround me, within the confines of my own sacred space, all 72" inches of it. I've sweat, I've laughed, I've cried, I've marveled on my mat, everything from what it means to love, to what I'm going to make for dinner, and in this afternoon's invocation, as students, we were asked by our teacher to lead our practice, and furthermore our lives from a place of love. Throughout this holiday season, I've kept one thought in mind, that being that during a time of giving, it's important that we take a step back and fill our own cups too. Perhaps this may seem selfish to some, but when we step back and look at all the love we're spreading to those around us, how much are we really sharing with our own selves?

          Love, is the most ancient traveler in the world. In the realm of yoga, it's not just about chanting and external offerings, instead, it's about having the courage to face ourselves at the deepest level of our beings. It means we offer everything that we our to ourselves and those around us, good or bad, failing to hold anything back. So, in the scope of daily life, whether it's dropping your kids at school, washing the dishes, or working at a stressful job, grease your actions with love, and don't forget to save some for yourself. If your life were like a piece of toast, encompassing all that surrounds you, leave no corner untouched with whatever you choose to spread, however you spread it.

         In contemplation of how we shall spread our love to others and unwillingly, ourselves, I'll leave you with a poem, titled fittingly so, Contemplation.

The flute of interior time is played, whether we hear it or not.

What we mean by "love" is its sound coming in.

When love hits the farthest edges of excess, it reaches wisdom.

And the fragrance of that is Knowledge.

It penetrates our thick bodies,

It goes through walls...

Its network of notes has a structure as if a million suns were arranged inside.

This tune has truth in it...

Where else have you heard a tune like this?

LOVE.

Tis' The Season...

2010-12-17T17:11:00.000-08:00

           As always, I'm writing from inspiration, and have been reflecting on a metaphor that came to me a few days ago as I was driving to work, listening to the witty wonders of CBC Radio 2's Tom Power. I'll elaborate later!


           Immersed in a season of giving, of joy, of greatfulness and all things sweet, it is far to easy to let the holidays get the best of us. Late nights, Christmas treats, and the overall feeling of go, go, go all around, making it somewhat difficult to remain grounded, balanced, and refreshed. I've always been one to ponder of the irony of this, as this time of year, "The Holiday's," is often anything but, unless you've cast yourself away from it all, amidst the respite, immersing yourself with sand and sun. So, how do we do it?

          My answer, with this metaphor in mind, that life this time of year is like a box, is to step out of it! Think about it: it's cold outside, so many of us hole up in our homes, which is the box we live in. Then, we rush to our cars to escape the cold, which are the boxes we drive in, taking us to the shopping malls, or the boxes we shop in, only to buy gifts for loved ones that yes, ultimately end up in boxes! Life, as a result, can become quite cyclical, or in my metaphor's case, 4 sided, reflected the cubic nature of the holiday box!

           With this thought in mind, I ask you, how do you break out of your holiday box? Today I broke out of mine, rolling on two wheels, enjoying the sunshine and the view along the way. Go ahead my friends, break out!

Tubthumping

2010-11-24T23:19:00.000-08:00

Imagine a vision, a goal. Something big, something audacious, perhaps scary amongst the satisfaction. Now, imagine this, whatever it may be, slipped from your grasp. Dreams drifting away, "till next year's" a reality, titles no longer. How would you deal?

Six weeks ago, Chrissie Wellington was meant to race the Hawaii Ironman World Championships, and not only race, but race for her forth consecutive Kona crown. Sadly summoned by a mysterious stomach flu, a sore throat and wicked fever, suddenly another record, another crown, another win, was no longer viable. The queen was no longer...but how would she bounce back? Her story, although outdated as I write, is humbling, human and down right inspiring. We all need some now and again don't we?

             After being diagnosed with pnuemonia, a bacterial infection in her throat, and a mild case of the West Nile virus post Kona, the Dutchess recently went on to win her 8th consecutive WTC event at Ironman Arizona this past weekend. Impressive and upon reflecting on her Kona dissapointment, Chrissie's words reminds us that even the glorified figures we all worship, the so-called invisibles and unstopables, eventually come to dissapointments, set-backs, failures and new beginnings. Here's what Chrissie had to say:

            "I simply get sick. Yes, I am human. I get ill. I fall off my bike, I succumb to glardia, and I attract West Nile derived mosquitos. But I am also a fighter, who is passionate about this sport, and although I no longer hold the title of World Champion, I will use this experience to make me stronger and more determined - and I will continue to champion the sport of triathlon, and the cause I care about, in any way I can.

            In the words of the lesser-known, but decidingly catchy 1990s musical masterpiece "Tubthumping," just remember, when you get knocked down, get back up again, cause really, if you want it bad enough, nothing can keep you down.

CW on her way to an Ironman Arizona win, having "chicked" many men along the way!

Good to Great. Getting and Going There...

2010-11-14T23:49:00.000-08:00

      Simple question, simple answer: What does it take to be great? Great at what you do, great at who you are, great at how you love, great at how you live. Greatness manifests itself within all, but it is how we recognize, share and spread our greatness that matters most. Perhaps you don't know what your greatness is yet, perhaps you do. Whatever your case, here's a take on just what it takes, to be great...

            "The best people in any field are those who devote the most hours to what researchers call "deliberate practice." It's activity that's explicitly intended to improve performance, that reaches objectives just beyond one's level of competence, provides feedback on results and improves high levels of repetition. For example, simply hitting a bucket of balls is not deliberate practice, which is why most golfers don't get better. Hitting an eight-iron 300 times with a goal of leaving the ball 20 feet from the pin and doing that for hours each day, now that's deliberate practice. Consistency is crucial. Elite performers in many diverse domains have been found to practice on average, roughly the same amount every day, weekends included. But why?...

   For most people, work is hard enough without pushing even harder. Those extra steps are so difficult and painful and sometimes those steps are never taken. They never get done, they never leave their mark, but for some, that's the way it must be. If great performance were easy, it wouldn't be rare, which leads to possibly the deepest question about greatness. While "experts" understand an enormous amount about the behavior that produces great performance, they understand very little about where that behavior comes from. It is somewhat unknown as to where certain factors which encourage individuals to engage in deliberate practice plant their roots, although the critical reality is that we are not hostage to some naturally granted level of talent. We can make ourselves what we will, however, strangely this idea isn't so popular sometimes. People hate abandoning the notion that they would coast to fame and riches if they found their talent, but this view is constraining, because when they hit life's inevitable bumps in the road, they conclude that they just aren't gifted and simply give up. Here, the greatness is gone. Maybe we can't expect most people to achieve greatness. Maybe it's just too demanding, but the striking, liberating news is that greatness isn't reserved for a preordained few. It's available to you and to everyone..."

       Whether we share, celebrate or express our own greatness, or whether we don't, just know that it's there. With consistency, practice, belief, some big steps and some small ones, soon the setbacks in your life will become your success'. Just remember that YOUR success depends on how you deal with setbacks and from setbacks to starting points, here's something that hasn't been done in a while...

A wet bathing suit hanging in the shower. Feels good to be back.

A Goal Setting Guru!

2010-11-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

He dropped out of school before graduation, taking a job as a laborer. He traveled around the world for close to 8 years, visiting over 80 countries. He's a Vancouverite and was diagnosed with throat cancer earlier this year. He's Brian Tracy. He's the author of The Psychology of Achievement and I think this man is brilliant! Tracy instills values that we all should, especially when it comes to goal setting. Simply put, goals enable us to direct the change we wish to see in our lives, ultimately allowing us to find our own true excellence in life, and really, we can only become excellent at doing things WE LOVE. That said, goals are easy to write down, often easier to ignore...

You see, the funny thing is, is that for all we hope to achieve in life, all we really need is most times already right beneath our feet. It's as if we're walking through and on top of acres and acres of diamonds, ones that are simply waiting to be dug up, polished, and exchanged for fortunes and riches, in the form of excellence, self-worth, happiness...have you come across any diamonds lately? In Tracy's Psychology of Achievement, he poses valid questions and step-by-step guidelines in relation to how we should go about setting, visualizing and achieving our goals. I thought I'd share a few with you and perhaps they'll inspire you like they did me!

Take a minute to think after each question below:

1. What 5 things do you value most in life right now?

2. What are the 3 most important goals in your life right now?

3. What would you do with $1 million tomorrow?

4. If you only had 6 months to live, what would you change about the way you live now?

5. What have you always wanted to do, but have held back from doing it?

6. What activity gives you the greatest feeling of importance?

7. If you had one wish, what one thing would you wish to achieve, knowing you would not fail?

My top 10 as per BT's The Pschology of Achievement when it comes to goal setting...

1. DESIRE - it's the motivator that employs us to our goals.

2. BELIEF - believe that YOU have the ability to achieve the goals you set for yourself.

3. WRITE THEM DOWN! - writing programs our goals into our subconcious and until they're committed to paper, your goal is not a goal, but simply a wish that is floating around in your head.

4. ANALYZE - where are you right now and what do you have to do to get where you want to be?

5. SET DEADLINES!

6. PEOPLE - clearly identify who can help you achieve your goals. Surround yourself with them and reap them for all their wisdom. Naturally their support and encouragement will flow your way.

7. Believe in THE LAW OF RETURN - the more you put in, the more you'll get out.

8. MAKE A PLAN - what activities will you have to engage in to make your goals reality?

9. VISUALIZE - get a clear mental image of your goal as if it were already in existence right now!

10. NEVER GIVE UP! - your persistence is a direct measure of how much you believe in yourself and all great attainments were never achieved without hard work. The best plan on earth will not work unless YOU DO!

Maybe you're a believer, maybe you're not. I'm a true believer that limitations only exist in our minds and as Tracy states, "life is like a baseball game, as we're both batter and umpire because in the game of life, no one can call you out but yourself." To that I say...let's PLAY BALL!

Walking the Thought, Stepping into a Dream

2010-10-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

How often do we think instead of actually doing? Dreams, goals, aspirations, errands, to-do's, should do's. Regardless of what it is, were always thinking of things we should do, want to do, or dream of doing. We constantly craft thoughts in our minds, "master plans," and maybe's, but how often to we actually walk them? I just finished walking my thought for 9 days and already I'm thinking about how I'm going to continue onwards, feet rooted firmly, shoes tied tight!

9 days in 42 degree heat. Stop and picture this for a moment...close your eyes and imagine what this might look like. I bet you're thinking beach, sunshine, ocean air, frosty drinks and dainty tan lines...I wish! Instead, held in the confines of a beautiful space, surrounded by sweat, students, silence and solitude, this was my beach...

The Sun Room.

I started practicing yoga just over a year ago, and never would I have imagined that in that time, I would be working towards taking a different placement on my mat, one of the teacher. Having always been one who's inspired by others, having experienced the effects of of my devotion to this ancient practice, both on and off my mat, slowly my thoughts stopped from walking to my mat from the eyes of a student, but instead, that of a teacher, leading me to a 9 day, 80 hour immersion into the world of hot yoga. YYoga...I heart you!

10 women, 1 master mentor, and a handful of amazing, unique, powerful teachers who lead us through our daily practices, which bookended each day. 18 classes, over 21 hours on the mat. Coconut water, bananas, superfood smoothies and cold showers. Jojoba oil, tea tree, blue malva and lavender salts. Iyengar, Bikram, Friend. So many things that crafted this experience, and as the days went on, I was amazed at the efficiency of my own vessel. Despite the elements, the heat, the repeated postures, the repetitive practice, somehow, I just kept sweating. If I were to describe it best, I felt like my soul was raining as the drops of sweat fell slow, yet erratically to my mat, allowing room for growth, for knowledge, for expansion, laying beneath me in pools of sweat, blotches on the beach beneath me. I learned about philosophy, history, anatomy, lineage and language, all in the lens of hot yoga and as intense as it may seem, being able to practice twice each day, really allowed me to imprint this practice into my body, into my brain.

Over time, our mat becomes a mirror of ourselves. Some days we see what we want to, others we don't. Regardless of our view, it's our teachers who can ease, celebrate and signify the beauty within us, simply through a dialogue of movement. Feet, hands, shins and thighs. Elbows, ears, abdominals and arms...we all have them and when they're crafted artfully through yoga, whatever the style may be, beauty unfolds, like the pedals of a blooming flower. So to those that have come before me, those that have guided me, and to that which I yearn to become, let's give thanks to our teachers.

Alex: thanks for allowing me to see what lies within and what I have to share. Shine on brother.

A Book of Brilliance

2010-08-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

           Neil Pasricha, you are awesome! For those of you that have yet to read Pasricha's The Book of Awesome, wait no longer and go get it! Pasricha contemplates all in this fun, joyous, lighthearted read and the awesome part about The Book of Awesome is the realization that if you enjoy these simple, awesome moments in your life, you too will be happier! This book came my way, thanks to a gracious girlfriend, at just the right time: I was down on love, a touch low on life, and in need of a pick-me-up...BAM!

         What I would call a big fat push-back against a world that seems to be far too full of bad news, Pasricha contemplates all in 390 witty, uniquely insightful pages, including the remarkable nature of the human colon, which he deems basically "invented recycling." Dealing with loneliness, loss, both in love and life in his own realm, Pasricha's awesomeness first came to the online forefront in 2008, when he launched his blog titled www.1000awesomethings.com, which later led to the publication of his The Book of Awesome. Page to page, you're allowed to remember and recollect on the simplest things in life that can bring us the utmost of happiness like snow days, the smell of bakery air, finding money in your pocket and the joy of day-long bed head. Pasricha's 1000 totes of "awesome" force us to celebrate those little moments we often overlook, the ones that can bring happiness and bliss to brighten our days. He points out the universal signposts that help us stay afloat in troubling times and I guarantee it will bring you laugh out loud fun! After all, as Pasricha claims in his last chapter of awesomeness, "we are the only species on the only life-giving rock capable of love and magic, architecture and agriculture, jewelry and democracy, airplanes and highway lanes. We're the only ones with interior design and horoscope signs, fashion magazines and house party scenes, horror flicks with monsters, guitar jams at concerts. We got books, buffets, and radio waves, wedding brides and roller coaster rides, clean sheets and good movie seats, bakery air and rain hair, Bubble Wrap and illegal naps." Now if that isn't enough awesome for you to read this book, YOU SUCK!

        Pick it up, have a read, have a laugh, have a cry. Reminisce, recollect and be ready to romp through 1000 awesome reminders of why life really is AWESOME and how we can enjoy it fully by focusing on the littlest things that fill us with joy and what Pasricha would term "awesomeness." I'll leave you with a few of my favorites amongst the 1000...

1. High-fiving babies, because they don't usually leave you hanging.
2. Popping Bubble Wrap...enough said and one of my personal favorites.
3. Finding a mix tape given to you by an old boyfriend or girlfriend, because everything mix tapes do, they do it for you!
4. Fixing electronics by smacking them. Come on, we've all done it and it makes us feel "handy."
5. That friendly nod between strangers out doing the same thing, allowing you to experience a moment of "hey, we're doing the same thing...let's be friends!"
6. A long hug when you really need it, because sometimes we all get rattled.
7. Dangling your feet in water. Peel off those socks, roll up them jeans and flash those ankles because all feet need to breath!
8. Laughing so hard you make no sound at all...AWESOME!
9. Wordless apologies. We've all had them, passing waves of regret with silent smiles, hugs and tears.
10. Returning to your warm and comfy bed after getting up to pee in the middle of the night....mmm.
11. Absolute perfect silence.
12. Getting something with actual handwriting on it in the mail...feel that ink!
13. Smiling and thinking of good friends who are gone...we all have one.
14. The final seconds of untangling a really big knot...oh the anticipation!
15. Remembering how lucky we are to be here right now...the best of em' all!

The G-Force

2010-08-08T12:12:00.000-07:00

           For those who follow my blog somewhat regularly, perhaps you've noticed that I share and elaborate on the greatness and inspiration I find in those around me, much more than I celebrate my own greatness and daily doings. But blogs are blogs, and we do what we choose with them, making them unique and individual in their own way. So, in true Alli fashion, let me share a little story about someone who has truly inspired me over the past year...

        I've found over the past year, that no matter how removed you may be from triathlon, you can still stay incredibly involved, regardless of your own participation. Magazines, websites, blog posts, Facebook, tweets, your job, volunteering and good old spectating, all of which have helped me stay within the realms of this sport, despite being on the sidelines. August 2009 is when my story begins...

       I was working for PowerBar and had traveled to Calgary to work the inaugural Ironman 70.3 triathlon, and this is where I met Grant. Having exchanged glances at the race expo, I was trying to recall where I knew this guy from as he looked far too familiar to be a stranger. Turns out we were both students at the University of Calgary a few years back, where he ran track, cross-country and trained with the universities triathlon club, while I played field hockey for the Dinos. Oddly enough, our paths never crossed during my four years at school, which blows my mind seeing how varsity athletes are usually a tightly knit group where everyone knows everyone, regardless of your sport. Thinking back, I can only imagine how many times we probably passed each other on campus or sat close by in the physio clinic...crazy! Grant and I got to chatting over the weekend, and realized that we were both dealing with some mysterious health issues as a result of our current sport (triathlon) and it was unreal how similar our symptoms were. I remember thinking to myself after that weekend, "wow, I'm not the only one who has ever experienced such craziness as a result of passion, hard work and devotion." Since meeting each other last summer, we've since kept in touch, updating one another on our progress, sharing inspiration, and always continuing to prevent either of us from giving up on our hope to eventually get back to what we love. Although our approaches to recovery have been close to complete opposites, we're both coming around in our own ways and Grant sure did last weekend at Ironman Calgary 70.3

         As I've alluded to already, Grant's been down a rough road in the past two years, which has kept him from racing and training at the level he's used to: Elite. Just as things were starting to come around for him in the new year, he suffered a stress fracture to his right tibia, which landed him in a cast, only to bring heaps of rehab, rest and pool running! I always got a kick out of his emails to me, where he professed immense excitement for simple things like walking around the track or running for a couple of mere minutes. Slowly, things came around as they always do, and Grant, I would say, is close to 100% right now. Calgary was his first ever half ironman, and only his 2nd race after a two year hiatus. He finished top 10 amongst the pro men, finishing 8th, was the 2nd Canadian to cross the line in 4 hours 8 minutes, and set a new run course record, running a 1:15 half marathon. AWEmazing!

         Whatever we're dealing with in our lives, good or bad, forever we will need people in our lives to inspire and support us. To remind us that no matter how bad things may seem, that they can always get better, allowing us to realize that when things are down, the only place you can go is up. So, G-Force, this is for you: thanks for inspiring me. For giving me hope and for reminding me that "life is not about surviving the storm, but learning how to dance in the rain."

Grant will race at the Canadian National Championships in two weeks time in and I'll be there to cheer him on!

Up Up and Away!

2010-07-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

            Having lived on the North Shore for close to 4 years now, I'm a little hesitant to admit that until this morning, I had never done the Grouse Grind. I'd be up the gondola once or twice, but in my eyes, that doesn't really count. For those who want to experience the breathtaking beauty of what lies atop, sweat your way up! It's much more satisfying to step your way to the top!

The Grind was first conquered in 1894, after a party of hunters shot a blue grouse bird, named the mountain in its honor, and made their way to the top. By the 1920s and 30s, hikers caught on, using the climb as solid prep for lengthy ones in exotic ranges, like the Alps, Pyrenees and Everest, and since then, the trail has become a part of the fabric that is Vancouver. Each year more than 100, 000 hikers conquer the Grind, ranging in age, from 7 to 90, rising 2,800 ft. and climbing 2,830 stairs, all in a very short 2.9km's! The record was actually broken by a friend of mine last year, set at 25:24. Kudos to you Mr. Salas...AMAZING!

            What I loved about it this morning is that within a few minutes, you're reminded you're alive. The fresh, untouched mountain air, the lushness and bliss of nature that surround you, the rich soil beneath your feet as you seek the peak, the dots of sweat that briefly stain the stairs, coming from your own face and those above you, disappearing in minutes, only to be replaced again, again and again. No traffic lights, no stop signs, or crazy commuters. I loved the smell of the rich cedar steps, the smoothness of the wooden rails, having been touched by thousands of hands, the constant rhythm of my own heart beating sounds of health, and the hello's, good mornings and smiles that were traded along the way, up and down.

            Mother nature's stair master, right in our own backyard...much better than the gym!

Up, up, up and away!

Must.Love.Dogs.

2010-07-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not writing myself a personal add, or referring to the movie staring Diane Lane and John Cusak, although it was a good one. I was asked by a friend of mine to dog sit last week, and jumped on the chance. This girl is very much an animal lover and enjoys the peaceful interaction between human and animal. Often times, dog by my side or not, each time I stroll through a dog park, seeing all sorts of furry, four legged freestylers running this way and that, I quietly tell myself that people really should live, act and love more like dogs. Last week's "rent a pup" sure nailed this thought of mine, and here are a few reasons why we really should start living, loving and embracing life like our boxers, terriers, shepards, poodles, and especially the bulldogs...such little Angels!

THE TOP 17 REASONS WHY PEOPLE SHOULD LIVE MORE LIKE DOGS:

1. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

2. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

3. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

4. Take naps.

5. Stretch before rising.

6. Run, romp and play daily.

7. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

8. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do (my personal favorite).

9. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

10. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a tree.

11. When you're happy, dance around and wag your ENTIRE BODY!!!

12. Delight in the simple joy of a long, silent walk.

13. Be loyal to those you love and love you.

14. Never pretend to be something you're not...it only leads to trouble.

15. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

16. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

17. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Picture this...

2010-06-20T23:23:00.000-07:00

They've existed historically, from age old centuries to present day. Some good, some bad, some lengthy, some short. They've stood in the form of politics, art, technology, all with the same premise in mind, no matter the language, to act as a public declaration of principles and intentions. Yes, I'm referring to what's known as a manifesto, in all its forms. Written to explain what you're all about, and why you believe in what you do, if you were to develop a purpose and direct statement in an attempt to reflect your life, you'd be left with a manifesto. Perhaps you're familiar with this one....

I've come to realize, especially as of late, that often times we're able to learn so much about ourselves through the actions, reactions, overreactions, or perhaps inaction of those around us, which for some odd reason, has sparked my mind and allowed me to wonder what my manifesto would read. I've come up with 25 declarations of myself, one for each year of my life. Here goes...

1. LIVE. Don't save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion.

2. When you allow the mind to heal, the body will follow.

3. Dream, Believe, Become.

4. Stand up for the stupid and the crazy.

5. Be true to YOU.

6. Shortcuts only put your further behind.

7. Worry less for what's done is done. Tomorrow the sun will rise once again.

8. Eat chocolate.

9. Indulge.

10. Breathe

11. Train like a pro.

12. Make memories, not money.

13. If it ain't bliss, quit!

14. Live what you love.

15. Win or lose, you will never regret working hard, making sacrifices, or focusing too much.

16. Practice discipline.

17. Treat others the way you wish to be treated.

18. Love others the way you love yourself and wish to be loved.

19. Be kind to those you meet, for everyone is fighting their own battle.

20. Continue to learn.

21. Practice kindness.

22. Inspire others in any way you can.

23. Smile.

24. Do yoga.

25. Dismiss whatever insults your soul.

I challenge you to picture, envision, sketch or create YOUR own manifesto and remember, "nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared to believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance." ~Bruce Barton.

Sharing the Glory, Embracing the LOVE!

2010-06-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

Today, little has changed. The sky still turns, the stars still shine, and minds still need to be healed. Regardless, there is something to be said about honoring our authentic truths, despite what others around us are doing. Sometimes we need to get right down to the bottom of the barrel before we can rise right back up top.

This weekend I had the privilege to share in the glory of two beautiful souls, one from the sidelines, one from afar in distant spirit. For one it was her first, for the other just another of many, but a "kick the bucket" race indeed. Each with different outcomes, but similar beginnings, both with countless hours of plain hard work. Each played host to different settings, tropical vs. desert, but both worked their way through the same swim, bike, run, a sequence that remains constant despite the city, continent or country. Each finished with a smile, a few tears, and two very happy hearts, feelings I feel blessed to have witnessed, embraced and admired along the way. Being an outsider, just another who speckled the sideline, was an experience for me, one that I had only took part in a few times prior, having always been a competitor, rarely a spectator. My urge to race grew that much deeper on the day allowing a new found appreciation to arise amidst something I so long took for granted, allowing me to realize that it takes courage to choose outside the box sometimes, as so much awaits us on the other side, including all the support we need. After all, it is simply the way we perceive things that will determine how we will experience them throughout our lives. Just like spring turns to summer, summer to fall and so on, cyclical, seasonal transformations act as a natural force, rock-solid proof that nothing ever truly dies, it simply transforms into something new, naturally before our eyes. So tonight's post is for my girls...

S.C.I., I so wish I could have shared in your Lava Java Kona bliss, but like you told me, maybe next year. Please know you inspire me with all you do, and like you pronounced yourself, some days races bode us "well", while others are simply about finishing what you started. Regardless, you crossed that line, and I admire you for it.

D.T., you my friend, continue to amaze me. Sharing in your race day glory renewed my desire for the sport through different eyes and I can't wait to share and witness the heights you are going to reach so very soon. It's only going to be a matter of time before I'm peering over my shoulder to see you creeping up on me! For a girl who smiles from start to finish and is reluctant to makes things hurt, you sure know how to get the job done right! Bright horizons for you my love, and I'll be there every step of the way, whether it's behind, in front or beside you.

Huge love and huge congrats to you both.

XO

What Have You Done for Yourself Lately?

2010-05-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This weekend I awoke Saturday morning, only to realize that this marked my first full weekend off from work since the middle of March. Now that is just plain ridiculous! Being the A type that I am, immediately my mind began to race with thoughts of "Where do I need to be?, What time is it? Who do I have to see?" After quickly shutting those doors, I dedicated that day, and more so this long weekend to myself. Sure it sounds selfish, but much needed. Walking away from a few commitments, claiming "me time," it's now Sunday afternoon and I'm already feeling refreshed, renewed and revved up for the week ahead, with one more day of weekend to enjoy!

Too often, too many of us (myself included) become tangled in to do's and to be's, which for the most part, only leave us feeling exhausted and run ragged. So, next time you're feeling torn and tattered, take a sick day, take a weekend, heck take a week for YOU! I can attest that it feels great, offering perhaps a new perspective on what serves you in your present state. Stay in bed a little later than you should, do something nice for yourself or another, because spreading love always feels good, and for goodness sake, turn your Blackberry/iPhone off! All the emails, texts' and BBM's will be right there waiting come morning!

I can say I shopped, I slept, and shared this weekend, including these, my own rendition of a hearty muffin recipe, and made them gluten free! Here's the recipe:

Banana Blueberry Boost Muffins...or Muffinettes in my case!

1 1/2 cup buckwheat flour

2 cups brown rice flour

1 cup ground pecans (any nut will do)

1 cup hemp seeds

A few pinches of cinnamon as goes for the baking powder and nutmeg

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened

Dash of vanilla

4 egg whites

1 cup ripe banana mashed ( about 2 medium bananas)

A few loving handfuls of dark chocolate, chopped

3/4 cup frozen fruit of your choice. I used blueberry's, blackberry's and rasperry's

*I love to cook authentically and add a bit of my own flare to the recipes I find, so in true style I added a few handfuls of millet, pumpkin seeds and a scoop of crunchy almond butter.

1. Mix together dry ingredients (flour through brown sugar) in a large bowl.

2. In a smaller bowl, mix the applesauce, egg whites and banana mash.

3. Mix dry with wet and make sure you find all the pockets of dry flour.

4. Fold in berries and chocolate and bake for 20-25 mins. at 350 or until cooked through. My batch made 18 muffins.

The finished product. Magazine worthy?

Believe in Bliss

2010-05-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

Inspiration is all around us, always. I heard this song in yoga this afternoon, making me think of sunshine and someone I love. In the words of SCI, a beautiful soul herself, I was told to follow my heart as it knows full well where to go and to stop creating reasons for myself NOT to experience bliss. Thank you girlfriend. Huge love.

If You Come To A Fork in the Road, Pick it Up!

2010-05-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

"Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom."

~Albert Einstein

Life is very surprising sometimes. I've always been a fairly goal oriented, driven individual, especially when it comes to work, but I'm truly amazed at how our "plans" can so suddenly take twists and turns on us. Dreams of "I want to be this when I grow up!" often change unexpectedly, whereas others follow straight on through with those dreams, allowing them to unfold into reality. I guess that's just what makes life interesting sometimes.

Today was a first for me. I chose to walk away from a job that showed nothing but potential. Great company, great brand, great people, yet amongst all the greatness and possibility, it was a huge limiter to something that I strive to experience each and everyday: happiness. Upon weeks and months of humming and hawing over what to do, a statement expressed to me by a dear friend continued to stain my thoughts: "If it ain't bliss, quit!" So, today I took this to heart and made happiness a reality.

Do what makes YOU happy. Strive for it, live it, embrace it, even if it's scary or full of doubt. I've just experienced it and look forward to waking up every morning, full of excitement towards what stands before me, including feelings of happiness and inner bliss.