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Sunday Night Santosha

26 Jun

My apologies for not posting these past two weeks but I literally couldn’t walk, much less find a comfortable position to sit and type, because I threw out my back after teaching yoga two weeks ago.  (I have a history of back problems so I know to be careful, but I wasn’t and BAM – instant sacro-lumbar chaos.) I’ve been playing work and life catch-up ever since.

(Note: not actually me; I wasn’t ambitious enough to put on an apron)

Back injuries are no fun and it’s not until you can’t use them that you realize just how involved your spine and back muscles are in virtually every aspect of life. I almost passed out from pain after trying to move around, so I spent many hours laying on the bed on my belly, a pillow propping up my hips to relieve pressure from my back. My amazing boyfriend made sure I was as comfortable as I could be and well taken care of (cooking, fetching ice, carrying me to the bathroom, driving me to appointments, feeding and walking the dogs – I did say he’s amazing, right?), but it was a rough few days with very limited mobility and another achey 10 days slowly building strength and starting to regain my flexibility. My pain drained brain had the sense to connect with two super talented healers, Dr. Beau from Chiropractique and Jaclyn from Elite Bodyworkers, and I am practically new again, just two weeks later.  As happy as I am to be feeling so well, it was a humbling and scary experience.

Like any good bump in the road called life, there’s a lesson in all of this. I don’t consider myself a perfectionist but I do try to “do it all,” cramming as much into life as possible.  Maybe too much.  Rather than find happiness by doing more, I’ve been working hardcore on practicing contentment and non-attachment. I’m learning to be happy with the present: where I am and what I have right here, right now. Just because I could do a super awesome scorpion a month ago doesn’t mean that I will ever be able to do it again, and that’s totally okay. That won’t make me any less me.  What I have or don’t have, or can or can’t do doesn’t define me.   These practices are just as much yoga as any physical asana practices.  So while I don’t want a repeat of Backpocalypse 2011, it was part of my journey and I’m grateful for that.

Have a lovely week :)

4 steps to sustain peak performance

18 Jan

I’m borrowing these from Keith Ferrazzi’s blog and because they’re so right on, they don’t need much commentary.  These tips come from Scott Peltin, author of Sink, Float, or Swim.  They’re great for both personal and organizational wellness programs.

 

1.    Mindset: You have over 60,000 thoughts a day. Reframe thoughts that drag you down. Instead of thinking “I’m overwhelmed, “ think “I am present.”

  

2.    Nutrition: FORTY PERCENT of how you feel right now is due to your last meal. Did you eat a meal that set you up for success? Make sure that every meal you eat fuels you properly for your activities of the next three to four hours.

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something to remember

17 Jan

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. – Martin Luther King Jr.

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

warrior of change

9 Jan

Sambazon, in partnership with Off The Mat, Into The World®, is launching the Warrior of Change Contest as part of its Warrior Up Campaign – a celebration of individuals and organizations that strive to make the world a better place and inspire others to do the same.

My friend Ruthi is a finalist in the Warrior of Change Contest.  She could win $10,000 for her organization, SuperFood Drive, so please VOTE!

Ruthi Solari, Nutritionist and Corporate Wellness Professional, founded SuperFood Drive in January 2009 in San Diego.  Fueled by a passion for healthy eating and seeing an opportunity in food drives, Ruthi began working with food banks around the city to get nutritious food to the less fortunate.  She helped the San Diego Food Bank develop healthier versions of their 10 most needed food lists and soon found herself as an incorporated non-profit with volunteer staff.

Here’s what Ruthi has to say:

My purpose in life is to help as many people as possible to lead vibrant, healthy lives. I am incredibly passionate about healthy eating. I believe that my food is my medicine and with this knowledge, I want to ensure that all people to have access to healthy foods.

Mission of SuperFood Drive:
Giving the Gift of Health by providing nutrient dense non-perishable food items to populations in need.

Vision
SuperFood Drive seeks to transform local food drives, national food banks and global humanitarian aid into providers of nutrient-dense non-perishable SuperFoods. By educating both the givers and receivers of non-perishable SuperFood items, we promote health and wellbeing to individuals and their communities.

Ruthi is an amazing and inspirational young woman. I am constantly in awe of her achievements, abilities, intelligence, beauty and grace and she definitely deserves this award. Please VOTE!  For more, check out SuperFood Drive and Sambazon Warrior of Change.

New Year’s detox?

6 Jan

We can all use a good detox every once in awhile (whether that be physicial, emotional, spiritual, etc) and the start of the new year is a very popular time to do it!  Just a few days ago the new year felt so fresh, but my body, brain and work inbox are already in serious need of some detoxing (I get so many emails that even if I’m constantly responding, I can’t get below 40 unread messages…booo…but that’s another story for another day).

My man and I are going to Puerto Rico in February for a friend’s wedding and while I’m usually not much of a diet-for-the-event kinda gal, I think I may use the trip as an excuse to treat myself to the below detox program that Prana Yoga and Linea Chiropractic are organizing.  I could certainly do one on my own, but I usually can’t last more than a week on my own willpower (admitting it is the first step, right?).  I think the structure of a group setting will really help me.  There’s an info session next week, so more to come!

21-Day NEW YEAR’S PURIFICATION PROGRAM, in cooperation with Linea Chiropractic Center, Patricia Lotufo, D.C.

Pre-detox & info meeting: January 11 at 7:00 – 8:00pm

Location: Community Health Loung, 7730 Herschel Avenue, #K

Kick off the new year with a 21-day group detoxification program through nutrition & Yoga!

  • Boost your metabolism
  • detox your body
  • clear your mind 

while making a commitment to lasting health, balance, inner calm and well being. 

This 21-day group detox includes unlimited Yoga. Exercising during body detoxification is safe and highly recommended. Exercise accelerates the detoxification process and increases your cardiovascular capacity. Let alone increasing muscle strength and flexibility.

Fee: $365 for early sign up discount, or $439. 

Includes all whole foods nutritional supplements, physical and nutritional exam by Linea, unlimited Yoga, weekly group meetings, daily emails with healthy recipes and updates.

RSVP to info@prana-yoga.com for early bird discount (20%).

Also available is pre- and post lab work.  You can utilize your health insurance, or get a cash price discount through Linea’s lab co-op network.

Happy New Year!

4 Jan

We’re just a few days into the new year but it already feels like 2011 is going to be a good one!

My parents got me an awesome book for Christmas – Teaching Yoga by Mark Stephens – and I started reading it during our New Year’s trip.  I’m only about a 1/3 of the way done, but so far I recommend it for anyone who teaches (or wants to teach) yoga.  Stephens does an amazing job of making the core philosophy of yoga so accessible, and I wanted to share one of my favorite quotes I’ve come across so far.

There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond us all, beyond the heavens, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens.  This is the light that shines in our heart.

- Chandogya Upanishad

Let your light shine in 2011!

under construction

13 Dec

You may have noticed some changes in the look of the site… 

I’m working on a new look and heading, and thinking something clean, crisp and green.  :)   Thoughts?

Stayed tuned. It should be up by the weekend.

20 Worst Drinks in America 2010

14 Nov

I got the below list from a colleague at work and thought you guys might like it.  Pretty disturbing how much bad stuff is out there, huh?!  Some of these are very scary! 

20. Worst Water

Snapple Agave Melon Antioxidant Water (1 bottle, 20 fl oz)

150 calories

0 g fat

33 g sugars

Sugar Equivalent: 2 Good Humor Chocolate Éclair Bars

While “Worst Water” may sound like an oxymoron, the devious minds in the bottled beverage industry have even found a way to besmirch the sterling reputation of the world’s most essential compound. Sure, you may get a few extra vitamins, but ultimately, you’re paying a premium price for gussied-up sugar water. Next time you buy a bottle of water, check the recipe: You want two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen, and very little else.

 

19. Worst Bottled Tea

SoBe Green Tea (1 bottle, 20 fl oz)

240 calories

0 g fat

61 g sugars

Sugar Equivalent: 4 slices Sara Lee Cherry Pie

Leave it to SoBe to take an otherwise healthy bottle of tea and inject it with enough sugar to turn it into dessert. The Pepsi-owned company’s flagship line, composed of 11 flavors with names like “Nirvana” and “Cranberry Grapefruit Elixir,” is marketed to give consumers the impression that it can cleanse the body, mind, and spirit. Don’t be fooled. Just like this bottle of green tea, all of these beverages are made with two primary ingredients: water and sugar.

 

18. Worst Energy Drink

Rockstar Energy Drink (1 can, 16 fl oz)

280 calories

0 g fat

62 g sugars

Sugar Equivalent: 6 Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnuts

None of the energy provided by these full-sugar drinks could ever justify the caloric load, but Rockstar’s take is especially frightening. One can provides nearly as much sugar as half a box of Nilla Wafers. In fact, it has 60 more calories than the same amount of Red Bull and 80 more than a can of Monster. If you’re going to guzzle, better choose one of the low-cal options. We like Monster; it offers all the caffeine and B vitamins with just enough sugar to cut through the funky extracts.

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LA Yoga Retreat

6 Aug

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend an amazing two-day yoga retreat in Los Angeles organized by the lovely Carolina Vivas.  Filled with yoga, good food and relaxation, it was the perfect post-birthday getaway with three fellow yoginis.  Our schedule:

Bright and early Saturday morning we made the two-hour drive to LA and met up at Urth Caffe, one of the yummiest (but busiest) places in LA.  (Urth Caffe is a celebrity hotspot, and the girls managed to spot Stephen Baldwin, the first of our weekend’s sightings!)  After a light breakfast, we were off again.

Our first class was Steven Earth’s 10:30am Power Yoga class at Earth’s Power Yoga.  Steven managed to work every part of the body, flowing through vinyasas and incorporating exercises and sequences specifically targeted to the abs, legs, arms, etc (you name it, we worked it).  His verbal cues and adjustments were right on and despite being a highly physical class, Steven’s laid-back and encouraging presence really brought out the spiritual side of our practice too. Ninety minutes later, super sweaty and feeling both exhausted and rejuvenated, we headed for lunch at California Vegan.

After lunch we checked into our hotel and spent some time at the pool before making the trek to Pasadena for Vivas Yoga at the house of a yogini friend, Jade. Her backyard has a perfect patio situated under a canopy of trees where we practiced – it was made for yoga! It’s always nice to practice outside, and the combo of Carolina’s class and Jade’s hospitality and humor made for the perfect afternoon.

That night we went to Flavor of India for dinner and The Bazaar at SLS for dessert.  Both were sooo yummy and much enjoyed after our long and active day.  The dessert bar the The Bazaar is pretty amazing – it’s like a fancy Willy Wonka’s Factory and they gave us our sweets in the cutest pink boxes! With happy tummies, we called it a night pretty early so we’d be well-rested for the next day.

At 7am on Sunday we headed to Runyon Canyon for a hike.  The sky started out a bit hazy, but cleared up enough when we reached the top to see all of LA. There were tons of people and dogs walking and it was a great way to start the day.  I’ve always wanted to hike Runyon, and I know I’ll be back with my honey and our doggies!

After our hike, we went to Kings Road Cafe for a light breakfast, where we spotted Sophie Monk.  We were sitting at the table just inside the window from her so we had to be careful not to be too obvious when we stared at her :)

Our final class of the weekend was Andrea Marcum’s 10:30am Vinyasa Flow class at U Studio Yoga.  My back was pretty sore from the weekend and our hike, and while her class wasn’t super advanced asana-wise, we alternated between holding poses and flowing and within 20 minutes I was literally drenched in sweat. We were packed mat to mat in her cool, retro feeling studio, but I still felt like she was teaching the class just for me. Her emphasis on alignment was exactly what I needed and it was the perfect last practice for our little SD yoga crew.  I loved Andrea’s energy and wish I lived closer because I could definitely see myself becoming a regular follower!

After showering and checking out of the hotel, we grabbed lunch at Real Food Daily in Santa Monica before hitting the road.  Places like RFD make me wish we had better vegan options in SD – the food was deeeelish, especially the chocolate chip cookies! I’m glad we live only two hours from LA so we can do it again – hopefully very soon!

my first yoga class (as the teacher)

15 May

I taught my first yoga class on Thursday!  Even though I’m only 1/3 of the way done with my teacher training, I wanted to start teaching as soon as possible.  I knew I’d get a lot more out of the rest of the training with a little bit more experience, plus I was super excited to share all the cool things I’ve learned so far.

My boss and coworkers have been extremely supportive of my teacher training, allowing me extra time off this year and getting excited about my progress. And in return, they get their own private yoga teacher! (Kind of fitting for a department of wellness consultants, no?!) Five of them joined me Thursday afternoon in a park downtown by our office for my first class. I was a little bit nervous the night before and the morning of, but after a long and crazy day, all I wanted to do was get out and get practicing.

It was an amazing feeling to be sharing my yoga world with these people I spend so much time with and have come to love as family.  And it definitely proved to me what my guru told us: that teaching beginners can be more difficult than teaching an advanced class.  I was ready to share with them my newfound favorite tips on going deeper, binding, balancing and maybe trying some inversions, but with two yoga virgins and several stiff-from-sitting-at-a-computer-everyday bodies, I had to explain each movement carefully and find modifications that worked for them.  I had forgotten how tiring some of the basics (such as adho mukha svanasana, downward dog) can be on the upper body, and I suppose it’s a testament to how strong I’ve become since really dedicating to my practice.

Yesterday at work I got some great feedback on what they liked, what was difficult, and what parts were sore, so I have a better idea of how to structure next week’s class.  They all had really positive things to say and I think they genuinely enjoyed the class and saw yoga in a whole new light – which totally boosted my confidence and passion to share more with them.  I can see how this can get addicting!

I want to try and put together some sequences and stretches specifically targeted to office workers like us, so I’ll be sure to share that when it’s ready. More updates to come!

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