Reflect

Liberation

“Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.” -Thomas Jefferson

This past weekend, I had the unique opportunity to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. It was an amazing experience all around. During the run, I relied heavily on my yogic practices: methodical breathing, mantra, karma and trusting wholeheartedly in the Universe. During the first half of the race, I repeated one mantra over and over again until there were moments during the run that I didn’t even think about running…my body was just moving. During the third quarter of the race, I began to send out a little karma to fellow runners. I told people that I liked their shorts or their shirt and if I saw a struggling runner, I sent them some shakti love. Finally, in the last quarter of the race, I had to pull out the most magical, sure-fire, get-it-done ritual: any and all Madonna on my IPod. Works every time!

This race was particularly meaningful and moving, especially during this historical Presidential election. Erika, my good friend said: “What an exciting time to be in our Nation’s capital!” And she was right. We started at the Arlington National cemetery and ran across the Francis Scott Key Bridge into Georgetown. We traveled along the Potomac River and around the Thomas Jefferson Memorial down Constitution Avenue to the Washington Monument. The course took us along the front of the Capital building where a marching band played patriotic tunes to motivate the pack. One last time over the Potomac, we finally crossed the finish line at the Iwo Jima Memorial and I was grateful to live in a country where I am free to run (in a running skirt, no less), and I was reminded of the goodness of humanity… the hundreds of spectators who spent their Sunday morning handing out tissues, Twizzlers and Tylenol at their own free will…just to help us finish.

Our country is not perfect and we are certainly facing uncertain times, but we are free. Free to choose our vocation, free to choose our religion, free to protest and free to run. Celebrate your freedom and take advantage of the opportunity to vote…to make a statement for what you believe in. My teacher’s teachers, Sharon Gannon and David Life say: “You can’t help but be political. Every action, every choice you make affects us all. To say that you are political is to say that you care about the world we live in.” My little rituals helped me along the way: mantra, Madonna…oh…and did I mention those Marines? But it was liberation that I celebrated as I crossed the finish line.

Celebrate your freedom this Saturday, November 1st with an invigorating asana practice.

We did it thanks to all that mantra & shakti!

Invest

Class will be cancelled this Saturday, October 25th resuming on Saturday, November 1st. Please contact me with any questions.

In the meantime, practice sending shakti (meaning force, power, energy) love out into the world around you. It is the most solid investment you can make today and is guaranteed to pay dividends.

Shanti...shanti...shanti...

Pasta Shakti Bliss

Going Away to Come Home

Coming Home

“In traveling, a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge.” -Samuel Johnson

There was a time in my life when I did not want to go home. Whether it was coming back from vacation, returning from work travel or just heading south on I-71 from a regular old Wednesday in the office, I dreaded going home. I lived in a beautiful large house with everything I could have possibly wanted: a big indulgent bathtub, a chef’s dream kitchen and a lovely fireplace. Such a sad thing…not to want to go home. But now, coming home from Italy to my tiny apartment in the city, I couldn’t have been more eager.

Back then I didn’t recognize that my home was always right inside of me despite what else was going on in life. Rama Jyoti Vernon says: “With yoga…you will hold to the peaceful center that always is and always has been.” For sometime, it had been difficult for me to define my core, my truth. People always say: “Just do what makes you happy.” I often wanted to say, “Duh...I know that.” But how do we determine what makes us happy or more importantly, what taps into that peaceful center?

While in Italy, my teacher Amy Ippoliti shared some practical exercises that may help give you some insight into your core being or your truth or the gauge or barometer by which you measure your actions, plan your goals and realize your dreams. Even if you already know your truth, these simple contemplations are healthy reminders and can serve as simple tune-ups to make sure that we are staying true to our core:

• Surround yourself with good company. Make a list of the names of the people who you spend most of your time with and ask yourself: do they enhance my life?
• Do the things you love to do. Write down the things that bring joy into your life and commit to doing those things more often.
• Make a list of the things that are you good at doing. Look at this list often to give yourself a little esteem boost!
• Give and get hugs. Be touched. And if you don’t have anyone to hug, schedule a massage.
• Remember your breathing. Like one of my yogis once said: “If we’re not breathing, what are we doing?”
• And finally, remember: what you consistently do everyday, you become.

My journey to Italy was so valuable. In the hills of the countryside, I left behind the things that were no longer serving me and I am inspired. Inspired by my teacher. Inspired by the interesting yogis and yoginis that I met from around the world. And inspired by my trusted travel companions, Denise and Erika who remind me to adorn my inner goddess. Mostly, I am inspired by my truth and I am reminded that “There’s no place like home.” -Dorothy Gale, from The Wizard of Oz (my favorite movie)

Hope to see you this Saturday, October 18th for a powerful core practice!

Our teacher, Amy Ippoliti

Always bright.

Happy & Free

A fellow Jivamukti yogini from Singapore. Miss you Lynn and Su Mei, too. Lokah samasta sukhino bhavantu.

We all seek peace

This peaceful warrior showed up in my photo at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome.

Ahhh...

The countryside is good.