to me.

This week had been a beat down. A let down not only of friends but of their ability to just let me be. I was surrounded by people who told me that there are worse problems in the world, in fact I told myself that. The fact was, everything that could go wrong was going wrong and as my defense I just could not speak. I had nothing to say and when I did it was filled with rage and anger. I had no time to get on my mat, to move my body and clear out the negative outlook I was experiencing. I relied on my yoga practice to heal me, to help me but I had no time to get on my mat.

I was granted this day to tackle these problems. They are mine. I own them. But that gives me the ability to change my circumstances. To let my problems rule me or to rule my problems.

I need time to feel furious in order to feel thankful. 

This is my way of telling the world that I am human. I can feel every emotion. I need to feel betrayed in order to feel loved. I need to be down in order to experience the richness that life has to offer. We have to FEEL, we have to experience all these range of emotions and life experiences. I am still becoming me, I am still a student and I am still trying to find my way. When we surrender the outcome and enjoy the journey, this week of a beat down will be forgotten. Staying true to myself, speaking from my heart I write this week.

soak up the green!

One of the most interesting aspects of chlorophyll is how closely it resembles our red blood cells. The hemoglobin of the red blood cell and the chlorophyll of the plant are virtually identical in molecular structure, with the only difference being the center atom. Chlorophyll is even often referred to as ‘the green blood of plants.’ Which is why I find it so important to write about increasing the intake of chlorophyll in our diet.

The extreme similarity in the molecular structure is what makes chlorophyll so beneficial to our health because it’s such a powerful blood cleanser and blood builder. Chlorophyll delivers a continuous energy transfusion into our bloodstream, replenishing and increasing red blood cell count. And since hemoglobin carries oxygen to our cells, increasing hemoglobin thereby increases the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen and delivers us increased levels of oxygen – and this is a very good thing.

Disease-promoting anaerobic bacteria cannot live and thrive in the presence of oxygen. It’s also known that disease can’t thrive in an alkaline environment either. Chlorophyll is both a potent oxygenator and helps alkalize our blood, it thus helps our bodies fight off disease. All these benefits direct effects on strengthening our immune system and enhancing overall energy levels and wellbeing.

Healthy blood flow and an abundance of oxygen also help the body to cleanse itself of toxic impurities, lending to chlorophylls detoxification properties. Chlorophyll has also been shown to improve the detrimental effects of radiation, and has also been linked to cancer prevention. Chlorophyll binds with toxins like heavy metals and helps remove them from the body. Chlorophyll can also stimulate bowel movements and is a great aid in colon cleansing.

The numerous health benefits of chlorophyll:

• Cleanses and oxygenates and builds the blood
• A powerful detoxification effect on the body
• Rich in enzymes that promote quick rejuvenation of our cells
• High in Amino acids
• Extracts toxins form the liver and improves liver function
• Regulator of calcium
• Helps break addiction
• Alkalizes the body
• Anti-inflammatory
• Wound-healing properties
• Fight infection
• Anti-oxidant – neutralize free radicals
• Promotes healthy intestinal flora
• Helps reverse protein-deficient anemia
• Protection from cancer
• Helps skin disorders

Essentially, any green plant that you consume contains some level of chlorophyll as this is what gives it its green color. But some foods are higher in chlorophyll than others. Generally speaking, the darker the green color, the more chlorophyll, so dark leafy greens are a great source, especially dino kale and other kale varieties, swiss chard and darker greens like arugula. Adding herbs like parsley and cilantro are also great ways to spruce up your salads and increase chlorophyll content in your diet. Blue-green algae such as spirulina and chlorella are also especially high in chlorophyll, as are all sprouts. Wheatgrass has one of the highest sources of chlorophyll available. Juicing it on a regular basis can have powerful detoxification effects.

So eat, drink and soak up all the green you can get! 

Blood Battle

I am a firm believer in listening to your body. I was sitting outside people watching, listening to children as they walked by, some complained, some cried. One refused to eat. I had just picked up this article about eating for your blood type and so I went home and re-read the article. I thought about when I was a child, all the times my parents would make me eat certain foods because they are good for you. I, of course, thought that candy was a food group and sour patch kids was a great appetizer for all meals. I would eat those, then eat oh about two bites of food and then leave to go outside and play. 

So I looked at the article at my blood type. I am O positive, fairly common blood type. Here is what it said:

Character Traits: Focused, leader, energetic 

Diet: Animal Protein 

What to eat: Lean beef, lamb, turkey, chicken or fish (bass, cod, halibut, sole or rainbow trout are good examples), kelp, seafood, and salt (in small doses).

What to avoid: dairy, eggs, gluten, wheat germ, beans, legumes, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and mustard greens.

Workout: Running, swimming, cycling and weight training. You thrive on intense workouts and sweating, it also helps to regulate any stomach problems or ulcers.

Personality: Known for leadership skills, extroversion, energy and focus. If you skip on your diet, stop exercising or slip into a negative mindset, watch out! You become angry, hyperactive and even manic.

After reading this, I went back to my childhood. Growing up in Michigan with uncles that hunted regularly, I was priviledged to a generous amount of meat. I never saw anything wrong with eating meat until I moved out to Los Angeles in the land of Raw, Vegan, Paleo and Vegetarian. I was looked at strange because I ate meat and taught at a yoga studio. And even today when I tell people I am eating meat again I get looks and glares of all sorts. 

I will tell you that eating meat (all organic is a must!) has made me feel content. I feel satisfied and I feel ready to tackle my workouts. I am careful as to how much meat I eat but I will tell you that I am back to eating meat (sorry to disappoint) and that there is truth to eating true to what your body craves, and how your body was designed to function at its highest capacity.

**More to come about other blood types. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, pick up the book "Eat Right 4 Your Type: 4 Blood Types, 4 Diets" By Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo

BiG

 I always imagined that I would do something BIG. I would be important. I would change the lives of others. But what defines BIG? Why was it so important to me? Why did people tell me to dream big? And, if we all do something BIG, is it still BIG?

I started writing this in my journal last week. I was reflecting on goals that I had even as far back as childhood. When I was 9, I wanted to be an Olympian. When I was 13, I wanted to be a federal agent. In college I was studying to be an accountant. In this current moment, I am teaching yoga, writing a blog and enjoy living by the beach with amazing friends. 

Big goals are great to set and even more when they are achieved. But what am I doing today that will impact that goal tomorrow? I think we all want to make a big impact in the world, there is nothing wrong with that. Yet, each day I need to set out and let the little steps take me towards the larger goals. If I cannot inspire one person today how will I ever inspire millions of people in the future.

Your ultimate purpose is to be. To be present, to be aware, to be loved. And to show that to others in return. That is why my blog exists. To share. To inspire. To grow. To one person, and then to hundreds, thousands, millions, billions and then to infinity. And it started with one simple mission.

Give.
Live.
Love.
The End.

popeye wins!

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." --Hippocrates

I was asked the other day what the difference was between spinach and kale. Never really paid much attention to the difference but would alternate eating them in my diet. So I looked it up.

Kale

36 Calories

2.6g Fiber

2.5g Protein

93.6g Calcium

296.4mg Potassium

6% DV of Iron

Spinach

41 Calories

4.3g Fiber

5.3g Protein

244.8g Calcium

838.8mg Potassium

36% DV of Iron

While they are both GOOD for you. I am all about getting the most from what I eat. I think kale is a little harder for my body to digest and thus expending more energy to process it. I think of nutrition the same way I look at life. You have to mix up your diet all the time. You need to eat a variety of foods, complete your diet with a balance of veggies and fruit, protein, carbohydrates and fats. You can eat your piece of cake and spinach too! 

Please hold....

The ebb and flow of life. We live for the highs. Love when things go our way. When the universe seems to hear our every thought and answers it better than we even asked for. It is the valleys, the moments of stagnation and holds. It tests our patience, it refines who we are and what we stand for if we are willing. It is hard to be in that space. We get tired, restless and wonder when things will change. It is in those times that we learn the most, we set goals, say things will change. What happens when you are put on hold, stuck with no escape?

There is no way to remain the way you are now: you either become more rigid and crystallize, or you break out of patterns and transform. In yoga, you never achieve a pose, you start to find out how a posture works, you work at that and then continue to break out of old habits and discover better ones. Our bodies change, mind changes; we change. The pose never changes, we change in the pose. We change in this world. We develop to the pose and find ourselves awakened to the body, mind and spirit of each asana and to each situation in our life. 

I firmly embrace this philosophy that we are always changing. With that said there is a space that we must hold, embrace the stagnant movement, feel secure in that space and then move forward. Holding in the asana practice builds strength, challenges the mind and breath. You must develop attention, focus, edge-playing, levers and lines of energy in order to fully grasp a pose. Even then, you must continue to practice, to grow on the mat, to live a life that embodies growth and change even in a stagnant place. If I am not willing to change in the times of holding, why would I change when things are flowing?

We all have a "limp" that keeps us from our full potential. Find what your limp is in the hold. What hurts, why are we irritated and miserable. Fix it! Then embrace that all good things are coming when you live with arms open, heart open and eyes fixed upon your goals!

everyday be.

"Your duty is to act, not to seek a reward for what you do." --Bhagavad Gita

I am going to make this short because it deserves no explanation. Wherever we place our attention, we naturally overlook other things. Set you sights on what you want. Set your attention to the goal. No complacent energy. Withdraw from ordinary distractions and focus on the goal(s).

Everyday Yoga.

Everyday right living.

Everyday smile.

Everyday forgive.

Everyday eat clean food.

Everyday live fully.

Everyday sweat.

Everyday love.

Everyday be you.

Feet.

Keep the earth below my feet.

For all my sweat, my blood runs weak.

Let me learn from where I have been.

Keep my eyes to serve, and my hands to learn.

Our little piggies that go to the market. They go to work. They go shopping and eat roast beef. They cry wee wee wee all  the way home. We never give much attention to all the work our feet do, until they hurt. 

I challenge you to take an honest look at your feet. I look at them all day long. I see clean and dirty feet. Beautiful and ugly. Painted and yellowing at the edges....YUCK!  But for real, look at them! Check out why your feet look the way they do. Check out your shoes. Why are they worn down in the back, the front, the sides? I challenge you to question your feet, how you stand and hold the weight of your body. What do you do with your feet? 

I want to speak not only from the viewpoint of a teacher but from someone who has done tremendous damage to my ankles, toes and arches over the years. I had to stand on my feet, on one foot at a time until they were sore. I would crunch my toes in a towel, the sand and grass until they could not move any more then I would rub and ice them at night. Our bodies remember trauma, stress, and disease. They start to change, form new shapes. We walk differently, stand up less and hunch more. We get down on life and our feet take the pressure of the slouching in our walk. When you stood up straight there was less pressure on the joint causing us to walk with a little pep in our step.  Foot problems are huge and the only way to help prevent further damage is to be aware of how you walk, how you stand and how you place weight in your body. Yoga is the only form of exercise that helps to correct this over time.

Our feet not only want to be taken care of they want to breathe. They love being naked. They loved being touched just like you do. They want to stretch wide and long. They want to point and flex and move in all directions. Next time you get on the mat, look down at your feet. Pay attention to your feet in every pose, with every breath. Just become aware of your feet. Make them sore the next day! Then do it again,
and again,
and again.

Trust

Trust.

There are many forms of trust, some call it faith.
In life, who can you trust? Will you ever trust again once it has been broken?

As a yogi it is easy for me to stand on my hands, my head and contort my body in all ways. I know that I can trust my body. I rely on that trust to get me through each day. I have trained myself to trust no one, to not rely on anyone, to let go of people and any expectations that I will have of them. 

What is your story with trust? Maybe you trust friends and others more than you trust yourself. Is it time for you to challenge that. I know it is time for me to learn to trust again. It is time to let go of my independence a little and start to let people in again.

I would love to say that life is better on your hands but it's not. You can be a firmly planted tree with roots so deep you will never move, or you can be a leaf blowing in the wind, no roots and no plan of where you are going. No matter where you are in life trust that you are in the right place, you are growing as a human being and when it is time to move on, trust that you will go in the right direction.

Movement

Movement comes from intention. Each action that you take, each opportunity is all part of a grand plan but it lies within that intention. I always tell students to set an intention before they begin practice. Why do we intend to practice yoga? There was a time in each of our lives where yoga was nonexistant. Why did we start yoga? Why did we come back? There was some action behind each visit to the studio. That action starts to change as time passes. Sometimes you stop practicing yoga. Maybe you have never stopped. Either way, you have changed. Your intention, needs to change with you. It needs to guide your practice, your life and each moment.

What prevents us from accomplishing our goals? Do we intend to succeed or fail? I see people come take class to lose weight, but it goes beyond one hour of work. As you leave the studio your mind goes back to old habits of eating, old habits of sitting around and staying inactive. You drink too much, snack until the box is empty and maintain habits that are covering up the truth that your unhappy with more than just your weight. Intention is not about what you say, it is about what you think. When no one else is looking, when your in the deepest, darkest place where your mind goes. 

Setting an intention relies on us settling in to who we are, where we want to go and how we get there. Our intention supports that and keeps us on track for our goals, dreams and ambitions. I strive to be on the top of my game at all times, I know there are times I need to retreat and back off, giving myself time alone to recharge. That drive is what fuels me to be who I am today. I want to be an example of what a true yogi is. I want to teach a class that would develop even the most advanced yogi. I want to be part of an elite group of teachers that can teach anyone, anywhere and with any. I strive to not be the best teacher at a studio, to have the most people in class, I strive to be better than that. It is not about who follows you, how many people think your awesome. It is about the imprint that I leave on your life when you walk out of my class. It is the imprint that I share with you through my life experiences. I want to constantly move toward those goals. I want students that support that goal, friends that inspire me and challenge that greater good in me.

I have set this blog up so that I can support that goal. As it is here for you, it is about me sitting down each week and putting something down. I have to support my practice, my learning and this is my way of staying on track. I challenge you to do the same. Find your intention, find your goals and then stay on track. Each day needs to support that goal, that dream and form who you are.