Want live a little longer and happier?

7.68245837.....  I bet you think that's just a bunch of numbers right? Nope! According to Jane Mcgonigal, a video game designer and survivor of a debilitating brain injury, that's the amount of extra minutes a day you can gain from developing the four type of resilience in your brain. The four types being Physical Resilience, Mental Resilience, Emotional Resilience, and Social Resilience. Over a typical life span (average being around 78.1 yo) this number per day adds up to 10 extra years of for your life. In Jane's Ted talk she discussed the what constitutes developing these four types, here's the short version:

Physical Resilience is activated by movement, anytime we are in active movement, going for a walk, raising your arms you are increasing the health of your heart, lungs, and brain.

Mental Resilience is anything that requires focus, Jane's example is was the willpower or mental discipline it took to count backwards from 100 by 7's or to snap your fingers 50 times.

Emotional Resilience was defined as evoking curiosity or love her example was looking outside or looking a baby animals, essentially anything that provoked an emotional response.

Social Resilience  is depicted as being social with your peers or strangers, to connect socially or engage physically.

 So what does this have to do with yoga?

As I watched and listened to this Ted Talk I was intrigued by the thought that all of these simple concepts to better ones life overall, leaving this Earth with no regrets. What could I do to perhaps implement some of theses things into my life? The thought began to dawn on me that I already practice all 4 types everytime I practice my BikYasa yoga or any yoga ( BikYasa is super rad so if you haven't heard of it there is a link at the bottom of the page)! Physical Resilience is apart of my vinyasa, my movement and my flow flushes my system physically. Mental Resilience I practiced in my standing postures, especially in my half-moon pose. Let me tell you I still mentally remind myself it's only 60 seconds and to not give up, and my spine thanks me everytime. Emotional Resilience- when I stare at myself all class in the mirror I have a range of emotions that vary from day to day. Sometimes I feel flexible and fit, I feel gratitude or sometimes I have to remind myself that I deserve to be in the room, that even though I feel gross or inflexible. Social Resilience happens to be my favorite and I find this in so many ways. I have made countless friends, contacts, and inspirations by coming to classes that have lots of people in them. When I first started yoga I hated the thought of coming to a full class for fear that someone would see me or judge me or worse they would invade my bubble! In my teacher training in 2010 I was in a workshop class with Tamal Dodge who now runs Yoga Salt in California. The room had 63 people... 3 people passed the room capacity, all the mats crammed together, some overlapping, as Tamal tried to make his way around the room he stepped carefully on everyones mat, because there was literally no way around them. At first we all seemed a little nervous at the amount of people in the room, and to be so close to strangers! After the first 20 minutes though the fear started to melt as we moved as one breath, one movement, one silent connection; we were all one. This amazing thread we had all created by this social connection, our mental and physical struggle and the love that came from that class probably earned me more than a few extra minutes that day.


What is BikYasa
Jane's Ted Talk

Truth be told....

The magic of social media is that you can control your image. You can post things to Instagram and Facebook all manipulated by the individuals choice. The image that you have an amazing adventurous, glamourous life. We only give and share what we think or deem appropriate. There isn't a person alive using social media who doesn't censor themselves to a certain degree, myself included. I didn't even disclose all the many things that happened in Alaska, my reason for leaving early and the whirlwind spiral my life was after that shit storm was over.... there's a lot that happened but I wasn't ready to share it (that's a post for another day though longer and with more detail).

I have finally settled here in New Mexico with my amazing boyfriend. Trying to settle back into a mirror image of what my life was in Arizona, a multitude of jobs I don't love, yoga which I do love and keeps me sane from my inability to adventure and see the world......and currently I'm eavesdropping at a coffee shop. 

I'm entering data for a job I'm good at but don't love, it's interesting and makes me seem intelligent, but it doesn't fulfill me. After years of bartending I'm a master at following other peoples conversations from across the room. A man I've never met is talking to a Frenchman he's never met and they begin talking about the Frenchman's amazing story and life. The Frenchman is a sturdy earth toned adventurer, with a salt and pepper curled ponytail with scruff around his face and a mischievous spark to his eye, as he speaks about his dream to explore the terrains of America. Hearing them talk makes me feel at home, the stirr of butterflies begins to flutter in my stomach and I'm involuntarily smiling at the thought of adventure, on the edge of a cliff so high you are swallowed up whole in a cloud. 

 I'm not meant for a normal life. I should stop trying to shove myself back into a cookie cutter world when things go bad. Truth be told no one is meant to be put in a box. 

Sometimes there is too much stuff

Recently I started going to a warm studio in New Mexico, mostly because it's the only one in town and I'm going to be here for another couple years (and let's be real I can't survive happily without it). I've been noticing the "need" for blocks, blankets and straps. I know that blocks are useful, and help aid when there's an asana you're trying to work into or if you're not flexible enough yet. But I can't help but be a little irritated when a teacher demands everyone in the room needs them (I've seen this in multiple states and studios I'm not picking on the one I went to). It implies to me that we all need assistance and can't listen to our bodies without more stuff.

Now don't get me wrong some inflexibilities will be immediately helped with this aid, but as each body is different so is each practice. I don't really like getting the stink eye in class for not getting more things that will go unused by my mat. I'm here for yoga, not aerobics. I want to connect with myself and not spend 3 minutes listening the proper hand placement on a block, where I can place my blanket and how to adjust a strap. Trust me if I'm not ready I will back off into an alternate posture. It just seems (for me) like an interruption. I'm settling into a sweet conversation with my breath flow, movement, my thoughts are going to useful and peaceful places, and suddenly I have to stop so we can all gather things to place around us. I want to unclutter not gather.

Maybe it's the minimalist in me but I don't think everyone needs blocks and blankets all the time for every pose. For me I know that if my body isn't ready or not feeling super flexible in supposed to back off and go when I'm supposed to. I have my whole life to become a human pretzel and I want to savor every moment ego breaking moment of 'I thought I could do this, welp there's always next time' or 'I hope my face doesn't bruise from my make out sesh with gravity' sans stuff.

Things Your Hot Yoga Teacher Wants To Tell You

I have been teaching hot yoga for a few years not incredibly long, but long enough to notice that sometimes no matter what we say some people just don't pay attention. Which is understandable given that being half naked in a hot room with a bunch of strangers can be a lot of stimulus. But in case you didn't catch some subtle hints here is what you teacher is trying to say to you. 

1. Take A Break:

I know every workout you were ever taught was followed up with "finish strong" or statements like "pain is just weakness leaving the body". Well yoga is taught for life, not wreck your body which can easily be done if you are trying to force flexibility on a person who hasn't stretched a day in their life. Your number one goal is to breath! Passing out is not breathing. It takes time and believe me your teacher will not judge you for taking a little savasana to catch your breath. If we are standing right next to you and repeatedly suggesting a break.... we are subtly trying to get you to lay down. We want you to feel good when you leave!

2. Quit Talking To Your Friends

"OMG IT'S HOT IN HERE!!!" No shit it's a HOT yoga class. We know. The thing is, myself as a teacher I don't mind people talking. But everyone else in the room does. Have you ever tried to relax while someone is just chatting away next to you? Or study in a library and someone is on their cell phone? Better yet someone on the phone while in a movie theater...... you want to punch them in the throat for ruining your happy place? That's what it feels like to the other people in the room. Respect your fellow students space.

3. Gum and Phones

Most hot yoga studios have waivers.... please read your waiver. Nearly every one I have seen says something along the lines of "I will not bring my phone in the room" and "I will not chew gum in the classroom". Here is the reason for no gum besides choking. Try doing deep breathing exercises

with a mouth full of gum. It's one more thing to distract you. Cell phones are a distraction from you, to everyone in the room and the heat in the room can damage them. You are in yoga to relax not anticipate the next Facebook update or worry about a text convo. Leave that stress outside.

4. Quit Trying to Compete 

That bendy chick/dude who literally looks like a pretzel in space is not in competition with you. Trying to do what they are doing is silly. I can damn near guarantee they have been practicing for YEARS and have had to endure falling on their faces hundreds of times before attempting that headstand with effortless grace. You will get there, but trying to do what someone else is doing won't help you. What will help you get there is paying attention to your body. It will let you know when to advance. I pinky promise. Also as an addition..... doing other workouts while is yoga is kind of rude. Shadow boxing in tree pose just seems a little douchey.

5. Stop Giving a Shit

Your make-up is going to sweat off your face, your clothes are going to move around in weird places, your hair is going to look like a tornado. There is a chance you're going to come out of class looking like a drowned rat. No one goes to hot yoga with out coming out sweaty and soggy. It's just the name of the game. So fixing the way you look or looking around to see who is looking just takes time away from what really matters. Time with yourself. Your wonderful sweaty truly amazing self.

In the end we are all searching for a little miracle. Something to make us thinner, less stressed, happier, more organized, the list never ends. Yoga may not cure all but it can cure most. Remember all good things take time and patience.... and water. Remember your water.

Selling My Life

Lately in the past week or so I've been getting admiring comments from my friends about my up coming adventure to Alaska. "You're so brave!" "I could never do what you're doing!"....Yes it all sounds cool, and I wish I could leave right now. I am getting so antsy. There is so much to do I almost don't want to do it. donate it all and bounce.  

But here's the truth as of right now... I am getting kind of scared. I did my best to find a home for my dog Watson and received help from the Arizona Animal Welfare League. I cried for two days, my fluffy, angry puppy has been my family for the past 6 years. I sold my couch and some clothes so far. I know what I'm doing is for the best but it seems over whelming at the moment. I have that feeling in my chest it gets stronger everyday. You know the feeling.... That deep breath you take before you jump off a mountain, before you start a race. That moment you know you're about to do something so big it will change you forever. 

I just have to keep telling myself that I will be brave.

I will.

Defining the self.

I hear that when beginning a journey it is pretty natural to start questioning the self. Where do I fit in? Where do I come from? Do I have the strength to make this path work? The journey I'm about to start in on is going to be a long process.I have a 5 yearish plan; and yes "don't die"is on the list. I'm about to head up to Alaska in a month or so and it's in the hopes I can pay off some debt and start savings for a yoga studio or festival. I haven't really decided on which but I think that my main goals are to spread the love of yoga, healthy lifestyle and the knowledge that people can be in control of their own happiness. 

I know this sounds like a bunch of hippie bullshit. I'm aware. This is what has been leading me to this whole defining the self business. Yoga is a community of light, love, nonjudgmental space, yada yada yada. The majority of yoga studio owners are completely the opposite of all of this and put up a lovely shield to mask the general public. Well most I've run into in Arizona anyway. There are handfuls of amazing people, my good friend Ashley has the biggest heart of nearly anyone I've met and her studio screams love and positive vibes to its core. I'm not saying that owner are all bad the ones that really mean what they say have a solid following. But let's take birkam for example; guy is a big old bag of sweaty yoga dicks when it comes to spreading the message and wealth; he's like Tillikum. While he is the most well known whale and puts on a good show his dark and crazy undertone has seeped into the rest of the sea. 

Naturally with a personality like mine I should be censored. While I would never harm a child (I think lol) I laugh at dead baby jokes, I curse, and I have this habit of saying whatever I feel like. Which can be misinterpreted as not being yoga like. But part of being a yogi is accepting of yourself. I accept that I have an old drunk mans sense of humor and that sometimes I can be a little judgey. It's human nature to occasionally judge I fight the battle everyday to be less like that but sometimes I have to let my humor ride. It just seems like the image of the "yoga woman" is earthy and kind and full of sweetness. It's hard to shove myself into that mold. I'm mess and all over the place, I love caffeine and hate kombucha, and a sailers mouth. Perhaps there will be a place for me among the men like the great Brian Kest whole makes me feel completely alright with just letting the fuck go, damn it. 

Graduating

Well graduating was not as exciting as I would have thought a couple of years ago. Michael Crow's big speech to us the graduating class was " Never complain. Just solve." I'm going to take that as don't complain that we raise our rates, lower our standards, and pay less to our teachers every year..... Never complain. I'm pretty sure everyone hates that guy. He sounded like a douche mostly because it seems like he is completely disconnected from the student body. Everyone who was presenting could pick out which students were getting awards from the crowd. Mr.Crow knew exactly no one and his jokes were not funny.

 I think all the stress of planning this whole ordeal has gotten to me. It's a long turn to serious town to explain all of it but it mostly revolves around my family and how crazy they are. I know most people think "oh my life is crazy lalala". But I mean it in the way that my mother didn't show up because my father would be somewhere in the area of thousands of people. My brother had a dentist appointment that simply couldn't be changed, even though there would be 2 full hours of him to get back to his place.

Anyways I had a great time with my friends and my lost family. All I wanted was a low-key non-drama day. I didn't really advertise because honestly I didn't want to keep track of people. As social as I can be when I want time to have fun I hate being in charge. I just wanna go with the flow. Anyways, off to Hawaii next week for Danielle's wedding. Tim and I are going to adventure around and I can't wait to run around with him.