Seated Spine Twist Bind!!!

Last night in yoga I finally was able to do the seated spine twist bind!!! Here is the pose:

This is one of those poses I thought I would never achieve. I always enjoyed this pose but honestly I thought I was a ways off from getting there. Toward the end of class we started the pose.  We first did the left side but I didn't quite make it. But when we went to the right side I noticed how the girl next to me positioned her hands to start the bind....  I did the same thing a VOILA I DID IT!!!! 

Isn't it funny how we think we are so far OFF from something. We aren't that flexible, capable or strong enough, YET. The limits we place on ourselves are the worst! We are our own biggest enemy. All it takes is one flash of light, one flash of hope, and YOU trying a littler harder. You will be surprised at how far you can go!!! 

I am so happy my yoga practice is on another level. And I cant wait to see how much further I can go!!!!!  Namaste!

Are You Living The Life You WANT?

This June will mark 10 years that I've worked in Corporate America. I lucked out and landed a great job two weeks after graduating college, and I've been working ever since. Now, 10 years later, I've decided to look at my life and ask myself if this is really what I was meant to do?! 

When you're young you're taught to study, work hard, get good grades so you can get a good job. Continue working hard, fall in love, get married, have kids and get a house with a white picked fence and golden retriever. That's the American way, right? The American Dream so they call it. But how many people actually enjoy that package deal? How many people are only in this whirlwind because that's what they're supposed to do?! Think about it. Most of us have a job that we tolerate so we can enjoy life outside of work, right? That doesn't sound too bad. Some of us may actually love our jobs - and I envy those people! But what about the large percentage of folks that are lost in the day to day pattern of their life - living a life they think they should be living versus one they WANT to live?

Last year I experienced the second layoff of my career but was lucky enough to get a nice severance package. Thankfully I had money coming in to pay for my bills - not having that worry was amazing! But I had a weird realization. I felt like I was finally LIVING. I could hear birds chirping. I could see the changes taking place in the city around me. I could SEE and FEEL more, all the little things. I was finally able to slow down the repetition and actually see and feel what was going on around me. You would think having a great paying job would give you the necessary tools and means to be "happy." But no - not the case with me. My whole career I've been somewhat unfulfilled, and here I had been laid off - my future uncertain - and I finally felt like I was REALLY LIVING. 

Fast forward a year, I've landed almost the exact same job at another company. OK - I'm happy to be employed! Wahooo! But for some reason each day was getting harder for me to accept. I was becoming more and more frustrated with the typical jobs duties I would blast through in no time. On top of that I was going through a "breakup" with someone I felt I knew from a past life - the deepest connection I had ever experienced with anyone ever before. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME? The life I was living didn't make sense anymore. I never felt so lost, broken, but yet so passionate and eager to make my life purposeful. But HOW could I do this? This was my moment of awakening. I was broken down to the bone, and that was when I felt my greatest strength and purpose. I couldn't hide it anymore. I couldn't fake it anymore either. I was forced to be real with myself. To look at myself inside and out and truly force myself to make a choice - to choose to live right by my heart. 

A lot of the struggles and pain we go through actually help direct us to our purpose, to what's REAL in our hearts, to what makes us happy. Blessings in disguise some like to call it. As heartbroken and confused as I was, I am SO thankful for going through that. Those combination of events erupted a passion and love inside of me that I could not deny. As I started making decisions to redirect my future I felt as if I was chipping away at the clay mold of excess I had gradually built up over time. It's such an emotional experience to completely change the way you've always done things. But with that comes equal bliss and freedom. I've never been so happy to get ride of all my junk! I feel so much more free and aware of how I had been piling on "things" this whole time that really weren't meaningful to me. But I had to go through those hardships to really see and understand ME - to learn what's really important to me.

It's never too late to live happily ever after. It's never too late to start over. It's never to late to do what you love. Live passionately. Live fearlessly. Be courageous. You just have to do it! Otherwise - how much time will you allow to pass before you are finally ready to take charge of your life - the life YOU want? If you wait for the perfect time it will never arrive. 

Fear paralyses so many things, so many opportunities. 

Think about the life you want to live, and go out and live it! 

That is what I am finally doing, now.  :)

 

Drizzy Part II

More beautiful lyrics from Drake.  I know he hates it when people say they're feeling him - but.....I AM.  :)


Isn't it amazing
how you talk all this shit
and we still lack communication
How beautiful our kids will be
girl I don't need convincing
How every conversation starts with
this time will be different now
Oh the idea is fun
Oh the idea is fun
Oh the idea is so fun every time
At least we try for home run every time


Somewhere between psychotic and iconic
Somewhere between I want it and I got it
Somewhere between I'm sober and I'm lifted
Somewhere between a mistress and commitment


I'm the only one that's putting up shots and like a pot luck you need to come with it


I just gave the city life
It ain't about who did it first
It's about who did it right


Same city same friends if you're looking for me
same city same friends if you're looking


Don't talk to me like I'm famous
Don't assume because I don't respect assumptions babe
I'm just trying to connect with something babe


I like when money makes a difference but don't make you different


You're a flower child beautiful child I'm in your zone


I piece letters together and get to talking reckless
I don't change the credentials you know you see the necklace
My life is a completed checklist
I'm tired of hearing about who you checking for now
Just give it time
We'll see who's still around a decade from now



 

Trending In Japan....

Zentai!  Ever heard of it?  “Zentai” — an abbreviation of “zenshintaitsu,” means “full body suit.”  These people meet online or in chat rooms.  They'll show up at BBQ's or parties in these outfits, or simply gather together to walk around town.  They feel they can be liberated through the complete sublimation of the physical self.  How interesting is this!!  Makes sense right?

How often are we judged by the color of our skin, what we are wearing, WHO we are wearing, how tall we are, or how your hair looks?  It sucks being judged, doesn't it?!  I love this idea.  Scrape away all the "identifiers" and create a completely NEW YOU.  What a strong message and statement.  This is brilliant!

“I have led my life always worrying about what other people think of me. They say I look cute, gentle, childish or naive. I have always felt suffocated by that. But wearing this, I am just a person in a full body suit.”

What a way to give them something to talk about.  The same ones that make remarks about these outfits are the exact ones that would have commented or judged you in your "everyday clothes."  What a great way to stick it to em and prove your point! 

Now where can I buy one of these things?!  :)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/04/17/heres-japans-latest-trend-zentai/?hpid=z4
 

The Power of Kindness

What a beautiful Saturday it was. 82° and barely a cloud in the sky. A local food truck competition was right down the street. What a perfect day! I prepared myself for the weather, and the experience, and we were on our way. 

As much as I hate to admit it, I've never tried the food trucks here before. This experience was new and interesting, but honestly I was a little nervous to eat the food as I passed the foggy exhaust pumping from behind the trucks.  Ummmmmmmmmm. Turns out this was a huge event. You pay $35 and get to sample something from each of the 10+ food trucks! Damn at least 10 tacos? That's too much food and I had a Katt Williams concert to attend in a few hours. I attempted to go by an individual taco from one of the food trucks and they said, "SORRY, you have to have the band, the complete food truck package." Again, I wasn't up for a feast so we decided to go grab some food down the street. We decided on world famous Price's Chicken Coop! 

 

If you know anything about this place, it's always packed and crazy with a multitude of lines happening at the same time! We slithered to the far left and waited patiently. This place is famous for fried chicken, but I was craving chicken tenders I couldn't wait to ask the attendant if they had any. We encountered an older white lady, with such a sweet face. I curiously asked if they had chicken tenders, and she gave me this look and said, "No honey we only have chicken on the BONE." She said this was such a sweet sincere tone, but gave me this look like GIRL DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, you should have known better than to ask that question!! :) We were hungry and weren't sure what to order so we asked her advice. Over and over again she recommended the hush puppies - and dark meat chicken package. I told her I loved the "Bo-rounds" that I had one time before. (They are similar to small round fried hash browns.)  Oh no, she gave me ANOTHER look, like GIRLFRIEND NO YOU DIDN'T CALL OUR FRIED POTATOES BO-ROUNDS!!! Oh sweet lady "I'm so sorry" I said! She knew I was asking ridiculous questions, and we were both recognizing and enjoying the banter we were exchanging. It was such a sweet little thing we had going back-and-forth with each other, over hush puppies, fried potatoes and chicken. :) We ended up with a great rapport and took the recommendation on the dark meat package with hush puppies - and POTATO ROUNDS.

 

There were probably 10 active lines in this place with over 20 people in the building.  But we were talking like we were sipping sweet lemonade on a sunny country day.  No worries in the world, no pressure, and no where to be. I was impressed with her calm.

I couldn't help but I have a connection with the sweet older woman, her kindness was so heavenly, open, and free, you couldn't miss it. She was so engaging and I was captured by her sincerity. She then turned and looked to me and said, "Do you know why I love my job? Because I get to talk to people, like you. I love being around people and making conversation. Make sure you do what you love, because if you do what you love you will always be happy. I sat behind a desk for 30 years, and I quit my job to do this. I make a third of what I used to make, and I'm so happy." My heart was over flowing with emotion, , shock, joy, happiness, and amazement as I felt like this lady was placed into my life, at this moment, for a reason. If she only knew the exact situation I'm currently in. I turned to her and I said, "Guess what? I've been sitting behind a desk for 10 years and me and a couple of my friends on the verge of making a life changing decision, very similar to yours!" And she gave me that look again and said "YOU GO GIRL" and we gave each other a high-five! Our food was suddenly ready and we were on our way.  We were both blown away by this woman.  I wish I would've asked what her name was. But that sweet moment that her and I exchanged will never be forgotten. 

Sometimes in life the most random things happen. The timing is so bizarre you can't help but think it happened for a reason. We yearn for these type moments. It's in these moments that you are truly living in the present. Time stops and you are fully and completely engaged in the now.  It strikes you to the core, to the bone, and your heart is touched. 

Never under estimate the power of a smile, a sincere heart, and a genuine person. Kindness can change the world. I truly believe that, and that is now my mission. To prove how the power of love, the power of being kind, can make a bigger impact on the world than anyone realizes.  

Be the change you want to see in the world.  -Gandhi
 

Most Expensive Restaurant, Please!

When you go out to dinner with friends do any of them say "Let’s go to the most expensive restaurant?" If so - you are in luck - I have some great suggestions! Here is a list of the most expensive restaurants in Europe! Surprise your successful friends with these recommendations next time they are in Europe! I'm sure they will be forever grateful! ;)



1. Le Meurice (Paris)

2. Sketch Lecture Room & Library (London)

3. Restaurant Paul Bocuse (Lyon, France)

4. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)

5. Restaurant Pic (Valence, France)

6. Solo Per Due (Vacone, Umbria, Italy)

7. La Marmite (St. Moritz, Switzerland)

8. Le Louis XV Alain Ducasse (Monte Carlo, Monaco)

9. Les Airelles (Courchevel, France)

10. La Pergola (Rome)


http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/07/travel/europe-most-expensive-restaurants/index.html?hpt=travel_hp_herobox