Happy 26th

Well, my birthday has come and gone! Yes, on the 14th of December I celebrated my 26th birthday.


I don’t like to make a big fuss out of my birthday. Everyone asked me “What will you be doing? Going out? A bar? A club?” For the last three years, I have enjoyed celebrating my birthday with friends in a quiet and intimate way. Whether it’s a small dinner at a cozy restaurant, or even at home, or going out to a movie. This year, I celebrated in a few ways:

1. I spent the day with my best blonde friend K, going to Bulk Barn (my new obsession, really), cooking, baking (improvised coconut macaroons, yum!) and watching Christmas movies.
2. I enjoyed a tasty pizza party with the family at mom and dad’s!
3. Vinny prepared me a tasty Indian-style dinner. He is quite the chef, I may add.
4. I indulged in the glory of a wonderful yoga class. Nothing better to offer yourself on your birthday than that!

I am always left so dumfounded at how wonderful the people in my life are. Yes, there was about eleventy zillion facebooks messages on my wall, and I loved reading every one of them. And there were also the phone calls from friends, some whom I hadn’t heard from in a little while, which made it even more special. And I received hugs and gifts from so many people, I felt ridiculously spoiled. I especially loved all those hugs- those are my favourite!  And the cards...those wonderful cards.  I have kept every card that has ever been given to me since I was 18 years old.  They are so lovely to go through every now and then.  My grandpa's cards always make me teary, and this year was so exception.  Vinny's card was bigger than I am.  And my Big Bro and Sista in Law got me a great yoga themed card actually- how à propos!

I guess what I’m really getting do is that when my birthday rolls around every year, it acts as a constant reminder of how fortunate I am so have so many people in my life who love me, and that I love back. In the end, there really is no better gift. Oh, and when it’s your birthday, treat yourself to a little yoga class, it really is a lovely way to celebrate.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

A Sweet Yoga Treat

For those of you who don't know this about me, beneath the tattoos is actually a little Suzy Homemaker just eager to pop out.  And as a result, here is what happened.

Yes, delicious shortbread cookies in the shape of Warrior II, one of my favourite yoga poses.  This past weekend was my last Yoga Teacher Training until after the holidays, and I decided to make a little something for the wonderful ladies in my class.  With the three simple ingredients at hand (cane sugar, whole wheat flour and soy based maragarine) the grandma in me spent the night baking these bad boys and individually wrapping them for each person.  I owe the shape to cookie cutters I found called Ninja-Bread Men.  By slightly adjusting one of the ninja shaped cookie cutters, I was able to deliciously recreate this asana and turn it into a tasty treat.  Oh if only my bloga was edible. 

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Happy Mornings

I feel great. I have countless people around me that are sick with some sort of viral bug, but I still manage to feel great. *Knock on wood* And do you know why I feel so great? Vinny and I have been waking up an hour earlier lately, and have devoted that extra hour to sipping tea and stretching. Yes, we sip tea- in the manliest of ways, in Vinny’s defense. We then lay out our mats and partake in some gentle morning stretches that leave our bodies feeling awake and ready to start the day. We alternate the kind of stretching that we do. Some days we practice yoga poses that stretch out various parts of the body. The next day Vinny will show me some stretches he used to do way back when, as a football player. Funny though how some of the tough guy football player kind of stretches resemble many of the yoga poses, notably the ones that stretch the legs. While Vinny demonstrates these stretches, he is actually showing me Staff Pose, Great Seal Pose, Posterior Stretch…yoga is all around!


This decision to start stretching in the morning has come at quite the perfect time as one of my last reading assignments for YTT concentrated on the importance of stretching. How à propos!  Now, we have decided that not only will we begin our morning with tea and stretching (oh, and of course we enjoy a healthy breakfast, too) but we will also add in some cardio work. It’s incredible how letting your body feel alive first thing in the morning, before the sun comes up and before even anyone on your street is awake (the houses are still dark at that time) leaves you feeling completely and utterly wonderful for the rest of the day.  You should all try it sometime if you don't already, you won't regret it!

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

101!!!

You know what movie I love?  101 Dalmatians.  Pongo!

Speaking of 101...this is officially post number 101!  Wowzers.  Have I really already logged in and blogged more than 100 times? 
So, what is something special to write about for this grounbreaking 101st post?  That's easy- I put up my Christmas tree last week.  Yes, I tried to wait until December 1st, but the excitement of the holiday season ate me all up and I had to do it!  Plus my new ornaments were calling out to be exposed.  But what does putting up a Christmas tree have to do with yoga?  Well, yoga makes me happy.  My Christmas tree makes me happy.  I have been doing my YTT readings, comfortably on my couch, with my tree gloriously displaying all its beauty.  It allows me to enjoy my homework even more than I already do!  Does that sound dorky?  Well when you love your schooling as much as I do, homework doesn't seem like a chore, but more of a wonderful experience and oppurtunity to grow.

I'll make sure to upload some pictures of my tree, and of course all the other pretty decorations.  Oh, and my stockings are literally hung from the fireplace- love it!

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Confessions of a Dilligence-Deficient Lady

1. It has been almost two weeks since my last bloga entry. Though I have promised numerous times before to blog more often, I inexorably continue to fall back on my word.

2. Today, I went to yoga class, after an uneccesary week and a half hiatus from practice.

3. Since my last November 12th YTT weekend, not once have I practice taught- a substantial train wreck when you consider that practice teaching is one of the most integral components to the teacher training process.

4. Every second week for the last month and a half I have stayed home on the couch rather than attending my Monday night Jazzercise class. Yes Jazzercise, the activity all our mothers relished in, clad in body suits and sweat bands.

5. Almost everyday I have besmirched my dinner habits to quick fixes, not taking the proper time or means to ensure that my vegetarian eating habits are met with the appropriate nutrients.

If it is not yet evident through these last five personal disclosures, it has become quite obvious that I have done something awful: I have let myself fall out of love with my body.

There were times where I would delight in the thought of updating my blog, that I would make it the very first priority of my day.
I used to sacrifice sleeping in and come in to work earlier just so I could take a longer lunch break and enjoy a blissful afternoon yoga class. With my new position at work I don’t even need to sacrifice anything as my Nu-boss is very considerate of the importance of yoga in my life that he lets me go whenever I please because he trusts that I am doing a swell job.
I used to prompt Vinny in to letting me use him as my yoga student guinea pig so that I can practice my teaching language and my posture adjustments.
I would come home from work after an à la Garfield kind of Monday and change into my work-out clothes, pumped for Jazzercise- a change from my usual yoga, something requiring quick and smooth coordination was a challenge I took on full-heartedly.
I would fill my cupboards with mason jars full of delicious food items bought in bulk at the local organic food store, excited to test new healthy recipes.

Then, as though something came crashing down on me, these actions quickly disappeared. And for the last month or so, I have succumbed to being comfortable with simply doing nothing. But not the good kind of nothing where you take time for yourself and enjoy reading a good book. The kind of nothing where you simply stop caring, and prefer a sedentary lifestyle rather than fueling your body with all the wonders it is capable of. The good news, however? I have finally woken up and realized that I have been lacking the zest for life, and am now doing something about it.
Here is how it happened. Last night, I found myself yet again looking for an excuse not to go to Jazzercise. Actually, let me take a step back and explain to you my newfound love for Jazzercise- see, had I been kind to my beloved bloga, you would have already known by now that I have graduated to official Jazzerciser status.  Having moved back to the burbs, I discovered the large range of community activities one can get involved in.  These activities are restricted solely to residents of our town- ooh how exclusive!  I woke up one day and decided that I would take part in one of these ventures.  My initial goal was to sign up for a yoga class, but all three classes filled up in the blink of an eye so I missed my chance.  That's when I thought to myself`why not try something completely new?  And as my eyes scrolled down what appeared to be a never ending list of cultural and physical activities, one in particular tickled my fancy- Jazzercise.  I suddenly fell into a lucid daydream where I remembered following my mom to her Jazzercise class every Sunday and watched as dozens of women (and the occasional man) would tone their buns, chassé across the floor, stomp on their steps and sweat to the sweet, sweet sounds of early 90s pop.  Then, to my utter surprise and enjoyment, they introduced a JuniorJazz course.  The observer became the partaker, and I got together with a bunch of girls and a handful of boys my age every Saturday and learned fun choreographies whilst remaning physically active.  Yes, it was actually a very fond childhood memory.  Once I stumbled back to reality, without hesitation I clicked the register button, and 67$ later committed myself to Monday night Jazzercise classes from September to December.  Now that you're up to speed...last night I putzed around with the idea of not going to class.  I didn't care that I hadn't gone the previous week either.  But Vinny looked at me and said "Babe, just go to your class...you love it."  And he was right.  I do love it, so why am I struggling with the notion of whether or not to go.  Well, I put on my stretchy pants, changed into a tank-top, laced up my running shoes, took a puff of my asthma pump (the workout is surprisingly extremely intense, a puff is a must before leaving), filled up my water bottle and made my way to class.  The class, by the way, is literally at the corner of my street, I'm not even joking.  As I grabbed my step and strategically placed myself not too far back but not too up close where people can see my sometimes humiliating lack of dance coordination, something dawned upon me.  "Geez, I really do love coming here." And as the class started I thought to myself "Geez, this feels wonderful!"  And when the class ended i thought to myself "Geez, I feel like I can conquer the world right now.  I feel strong, I feel grounded, I feel...like I've just done a yoga class- except I'm way sweatier and my heart is pumping a lot faster."  I had ignored the great similarity between something calm like yoga and something energetic like Jazzercise.  Both leave me feeling so happy and so empowered.  After class I stayed back and chatted with my Fab Jazzercise Teacher (who is actually the mama of one of my childhood friends) and told her how wonderful I felt when I took her class.  As I left I promised myself never to miss another session.  If ever Monday evening arrived and I found myself doubting my decision to go, just remember exactly how I feel in this moment. 

And that, my dear readers and friends, is how the lightning bolt hit me.  I realized that I had slowly started giving up on so many things that I love, and as a result my body and my mind were suffering.  I didn't love my body anymore.  I was blatanly malnourishing it by placing so many beatutiful things on my life's backburner- writing, movement, food...But now, I have awoken from this awkward and unpleasant place that I let myself get lost in, and am taking hold of myself.  I am going to update and share on my bloga way more often.  I am going to embrace my on-the-mat/off-the-mat yoga practice.  I am going to Jazzercise the heck out of myself.  I am going to indulge my tastebuds with food that is worth while to take the time to prepare.  I have fallen back in love with my body, and will continue to fuel every part of it physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  This since-yesterday unveiling has already left me feeling more comfortable in my skin and more confident with my work.  I went to yoga class today and left there feeling so happy that I wanted to cry.  I just finished a delicious home-made dinner chock full and oozing of tasty vegetable goodness.  Now, if you excuse me, I need to go practice teach with Vinny...

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Can I Wear my Poppy All Year Round? It's So Pretty on my Jacket.

On this 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, I did a solid minute of sun salutations. Funny how a minute felt much longer as I lost myself in the moment and dedicated my minute of sun breaths to so many men and women, present and past. I’m not going to pretend that I know a whole lot about war and politics and what not, but what I do know is that Vinny’s great grandpa, both his grandpas, and my grandpa are amongst the men who went to war. So those sun salutations were for them, and everyone else who went to war, and their families and friends that were affected.

Namaste,

Lady Lotus

Tweetasana

Well, I've succumb to the masses.  I opened up my very first Twitter account- it wasn't by choice, but for work purposes.  I've been dabbling in the world of tweeting a little bit and I suppose it is very slowly rubbing off on me.  But something fun did come out of this adventure in Tweetland- I've created a Downward Facing Blog twitter account!  The name however was too long, so it can be found under Lady Lotus Yoga.  I have created a link at the right hand side of this page so, if you are a Twitter fanatic, please do add us (and by us I mean me and good ol' bloga here) to your list of followers.  It will also give you the oppurtunity to see who we're following, and there are some pretty interesting yoga-esque people and groups out there!  So please, do me the favor and become a total Twitter Nit Weet (see what I did there? Ha!)  Like I said, I'm still learning, so it's taking me some time to be extremely active on the site, but I'm doing my best to catch up to the flow.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Class Observation

Today I'm scheduled to go in and take part in what is called a class observation.  Once a month, every student from my YTT has to sit in and watch our FabTeach conduct a yoga class. 

This will be my second class observation.  Last month, I couldn't believe how many notes I took.  Five pages if I remember correctly.  There is something so remarkable about really being on the other side, like a fly on the wall.  One of my challenges was reminding myself not to watch the students, but to in fact watch my teacher.  I saw so many things that I hadn't ever noticed before while upside down, twisted, or closed-eyed.  For example, when in realaxation at the end, I naturally figured my teacher would be sitting in Easy Pose, her eyes closed, meditating.  But the fact is, while she is sitting in Easy Pose, her eyes open unti the last couple of minutes, taking the time to watch over us.  I had asked her about this in our discussion afterwards and she said that of course, she watches over us.  It's her way of keeping us safe, keeping us secure.  That way she knows we are okay, and we know that we are in a safe place.

I'm excited to see what I will discover today during the observation.  Last month I was told to play close attention to how she instructs the students to place and move their leg muscles.  Lets see what today has in store!

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Happy Halloween!

Your Hip Bone's Connected to Your...Gluteus Medius and Iliotibial Tract?

Good news: I won't be the youngest person I know to get hip replacement- yippee!

My wonderful physiotherapist J (who has known me since I was a teenager and also works on every member of my family- group rate, anyone?) worked her magic last week and told me what's going on with my naughty hips.  So boys and girls, time for an anatomy lesson!

The reason my hips are sore is far more complex than just doing too many balancing poses in yoga.  Since I am of a somewhat slender physique and have been doing so much yoga, my body is starting to let me in on a little secret: I still need to work on all those nasty little muscles that I've been ignoring!  So here is the breakdown:

1. My gluteus medius is weak.  Not the maximus, not the minimus.  The cozy one that rests right in between like the cream filling of an oreo (or a Fudgeeo, which ever one you prefer to imagine tasting right now).  Like the center of a butterscotch candy, tee hee.  As a result...

2. My fascia lata is weakened as well.  That's the deep tissue fiber surrounding the muscles found in the upper part of my thighs, near my hips.  And because of that...

3. My iliotibial tract is strained and tight.  That's the long fibrous reinforcement that's connected to my fascia lata.  It basically lunges from my hip down to my knee.

Oh, and another thing just for kicks.  J asked me to walk in front of her in a straight line.  After about 3 steps she said "Ok ok come back here...".  When I walk, my hips sway.  Not like sexy super-moel swaying, but like they naturally sway left and right in an unsual way, which also adds to the pain I've been feeling- and the awkward crunchy rubbing I've been feeling when I press my hands against my hips when walking.

So all these players here are a tag-teaming trio out to hurt my hips- boo hoo!  But it's not their fault.  They didn't know that they were weak.  It still amazes me how so may little things can play such an integral role in the human body.  I've said it once and I'll say it again- the human body is a wonder.  So J gave me some gentle exercises to do at home to strengthen them.  Pretty easy stuff- it takes about 15 minutes and I can already feel the muscles being worked in the right way.  In the meantime, I've had to be gentle with my yoga practice.  Nothing that will strain this area even more.

I go back for a second session this Wednesday- lets see if I made these bad boys stronger.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

It's Hip to be a Square

I love the title of this post for two reasons.

1. Huey Lewis and the News...need I say more?
2. When practicing certain asanas, it's very important that your hips be squared.

I just love plays on words, don't you?

But let's get to the dealy-o of this post.  It's all about my hips.  And my hips are a-killin' me.  For the last few days I have been feeling a great deal of tenderness in both my hips.  It's quite the uncomfortable sensation.  But my hips have been unruly for quite some time- for as long as I can remember, my hips have "clicked".  When I get out of bed, when I get up from a chair, when I move my legs from crossed to straight to extended to bent...my hips "click", "crack", "snapple", "pop"...they're noisy little (and I use the term little quite loosely as I do find my hips quite curvy and hey, I'm not complaining) buggers.  But today, oh my, today my hips were on my mind.  I couldn't sit in any way that felt right.  My hips were just so sore no matter what.  I guess Sunday's YTT class of balancing poses didn't quite help either.  I was having so much trouble balancing on one leg without having pressure shoot down into my hips.  I grounded my legs, engaged my femurs, lifted my patellae...bu the pressure just wouldn't free itself.  I noticed today that when I walk I feel bones rubbing up against each other in my hips- ouch.  And now the pain has also started teasing my lower back- my poor sacroiliac joints perhaps.

I'm off to see my physiotherapist on Wednesday to see what she thinks.  And of course I will ask my FabTeach what she thinks I could do to help my poor tender hips.  I will keep you all posted!  In the meantime, enjoy this video:

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

I'm Here and Ready to Share!!

I wish I could tell you that I was off traveling the world and had limited to zero access to a computer because I was living on top of a mountain surrounded by an overwhelming amount of beauty...but I can't lie to my favorite friends and readers!

My month-long hiatus was due to an incredibly over-whelming month.  I've started a new job position at work to which I devoted much of my time to- being somewhat of a perfectionist (or perhaps just incredibly hard on myself) I wanted to assure that I proved worthy to fill the shoes of this exciting new position.  I would tell myself every night when I got home to update my precious bloga, but the fatigue overpowered me and I couldn't quite find the right words to type and share.  But now, here I am baaaaby, come and take meeee (my apologies, I'm listening to Al Green).  I feel like I have so much to say now!  Let's break it all down.

My Yoga Room
It's beautiful.  I mean, really beautiful.  You all know the walls have been painted, but I also started decorating.  I have a book shelf that adorns what appears to be a neverending array of books, both yoga and non-yoga related.  There are 3 cute little white ceramic brids perched on one of the shelves, as well as a silver elephant.  Elephants hold a strong symbolism as representing warriors filled with inner strength and nobility- what a perfect animal for my room!  And apart from being incredibly adorable, my little birds have a nice meaning as well.  Birds used to be thought as the supernatural link between Heaven and Earth.  How nice to think of this as I'm grounding my feet to the earth and lifting the crown of my head to the sky.  I have a lovely lamp in the corner illuminating my room, as well as a scroll on the wall which displays the following quote from Yagananda : "Those who live passionately teach us how to love, Those who love passionately teach us how to live".  Yeap, the yoga room is definitely a shield of serenity.  Oh, and of course the neurotic neat freak in me played a roll in its creation: my yoga props are all neatly tucked away in a basket.  How organized!  I know I promised photos, but I still want to wait for all the finishing touches- namely the curtains and the new molding that Vinny will so kindly install for me soon *ahem nudge nudge wink wink* 

My Very First YTT Weekend
It seems funny writing to you about this only now, since my next YTT weekend is the one coming up!  But the vigorous emotions that went through my being are just as present today as they were those few weeks ago.  Let me tell you: the YTT experience is intense.  It is also, however, unbelievably remarkable.  I hand't done so much yoga in one weekend- I could hardly walk the following Monday.  Let me break down the weekend for you:

Friday
We all sat around in a circle, cushions and blocks comforting our buns, and introduced each other.  Now when I say we, I mean the group of about 20 of us.  To think that the YTT had been postponed a few months because there was about 7 people who applied last year.  Now, we are close to 20.  It was well worth the wait!  We all spoke a little about each other, about why we were here, how we discovered yoga, what we do for a living- basically anything and everything we wanted to share.  To my surprise, I was actually one of, if not the, youngest person there.  It is such a diverse group- older ladies, mothers old and new, yoga teachers who want to deepend their study or learn a new tradition, some who have traveled far to be there...it was so nice to see a grouping of strong women opening their hearts.  We then took a quick break and came back to end the class with a yoga practice.

Saturday
More yoga practice!  Yahoo!  It was the perfect way to start an early 8am morning.  We then moved into what are called Posture Clinics.  This part was extremely absorbing.  We learned how to properly align our bodies in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Ardha Chandrasana (Half-Moon Pose) and Virabhadrasana Eka (Warrior 1). But it was more than being taught proper alignment.  We discovered common misalignments and how to adjust other students.  It's boggling when you realize how important the human touch is when adjusting someone.  Our hands were shown how to touch people in order to help them attain the most from each pose.  To see how every detail in the body is at play within individual poses really blew my mind.  The human body is such a wonder, seriously.
We also discussed theoretical aspects of teaching, such as how to set a certain mood in your class, appropriate teacher behavior, and how a yoga teacher can be viewed in a student's mind.  You really get an up-close account at how powerful a yoga teacher really is.  They are teachers and healers.  They are people we at times confide in because we feel safe with them.  A yoga teacher can play a very integral role in the lives of their students.  I found a lot of myself throughout this discussion.  I think I tend to put my teacher on a pedastal, which is not necessarily a bad thing at all times, but its's important to remember that we are both human, and I am just as capable of fiding answers to my questions if I simply let myself dive deep inside.  A yoga teacher can guide you to those answers, but inevitably we as students are the ones who find them.  We then ended the day with another yoga practice- a perfect ending to a perfect Saturday.

Sunday
Of course, more yoga, yay!  Aftewards, our next posture clinic was Virabhadrasana Dwi (Warrior 2), Utthita Parsvakonasana (Side Angle Stretch) and finally Trikonasana (Triangle Pose).  Again, similarly to the previous clinic, we broke down the poses and practiced explaining them to other students and aligning their bodies appropriately. I realy loved all the hands-on work.  It made me realize how diffitul it actually is.  It appears so easy when I see my own teacher adjusting me as well as others, but to actually muster up the courage inside to place your hands on someone and guide their bodies into the poses can be very intidimating.  But once you've done it and done it right, it's accomplishing.  We then learned how to center the beginning of a class.  How we can create a serene environment to ready it for an actual practice.  We learned and also discovered our own language for setting the right mood to allow students to feel present.  I felt like a real teacher, it was phenomenal.  We then furthered our discussion about yoga teacher ethics before breaking up into groups.  Now, the groups are wonderful.  Four to five people from completely different backgrounds, sitting together and sharing their weekend experience.  We then taught an actual yoga class amongst ourselves.  One person would start with centering, a couple others would go into teaching asanas, and the final person would end the class with relaxation- I did that part and it was completely stunning.  I got to watch as I guided my small group into a state of relaxation, calm and bliss.  It felt good, really good.

The entire weekend seemed to fly by.  The weekend was jam packed with information, but not the kind that necessarily leaves you feeling overrun.  It leaves you excited to keep learning and further the training.  Leaving the studio almost felt sad.  I wouldn't see these girls for another month, with the exception of my group because we meet once a month in beteween trainings to chat, practice and go through our homework assignments- yes, there is written homework, and it really makes you use your brain to its fullest capacity!  But now, as though it was just yesterday, I'll be spending more time at the studio this weekend and filling my body and mind with all the knowledge my teacher has to share.  And I can't wait!

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

The Mile High Happenstance

How rude (à la Stephanie Tanner).  Here I am, back from a mini vacation, and I didn't even tell my most favourite bloga readers that I was leaving.  Well, I left...but now I'm back!  I just returned from a lovely getaway to Nova Scotia.  My dad is orignally from there, so I try and visit as often as possible.  It's so nice to see family members who I unfortunately don't get to see as often as I'd like- Aunties, Uncles, Cousins and yes, of course, Nanny (who I blogged about previously).  I also caught up with an old friend, and perused the local gift shops.  It was so nice to spend some time on the beach by the ocean- I had a torried love affair with that salty water, I swear to you. 

Interesting story- you know those little serendipity moments that make you tilt your head to the side and think "Gee, wasn't that such a warm occurence that just happened."  Well, I had one of those.  On the plane back, I sat beside a lovely middle-aged woman.  We exchanged a friendly hello as I scootched by her to get my seat by the window.  I then started reading my new book on Shambhala Meditation entitled The Path of the Warrior (which I also blogged about previously- fact.) As I put the book down to enjoy my complimentary glass fo red wine (yes, it was early in the afternoon, but a small glass of red wine is always acceptable in my books)  this lady turned to me and said "You know, I completed my first session of Shambhala training back home..." Now tell me, what the heck are the odds of sitting beside someone on a plane who just happens to have an interest and devotion to Shambhala Meditation!?  A shy smile plastered across my face and we started bits of conversation about Shambhala.  It was so refreshing to hear what she had to say about her experience, and it inevitably reved up my excitement within to continue deepening my understanding of it.

Oh, and on another unrelated note: I start my Yoga Teacher Training this weekend!  You can bet your buns that I'll be updating you on my first weekend experience!

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Painting my Prana

Ladies and gentlemen...the Yoga Room is painted.  I am in love!  After one coat of primer and two coats of color, Vinny and I dressed the walls with an angelic blue that just screams (or I guess I should say whsipers) peace, quiet, serenity, yoga, happy, smile- all those words that gush out positivity.  The next step: decorating.  Ooh the most exciting part.  I have already picked out a few things to dawn the now bare area.  I hope to have it set-up very shortly, so I can share my pictures and my happiness with you all.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

I Was Hungry. I Wanted to Pray. I Was in Love.

Last weekend my best blonde buddy K and I went on a date.  How romantic!  We treated ourselves to a tantalizing array of Lebanese delicacies (thank you, stretchy pants) and then spent the next 2 hours with our eyes glued to the ginormous theatre screen in front of us.  After finishing the book only days before, I saw Eat Pray Love.  My initial concern was that I would be dissapointed.  The story was so freshly-squeezed in my mind, I was worried about comparing every fraction of it and be upset if it wasn't an exact duplicate of the phenomenal pages that filled my eyes with glistening hope and my heart with inrrefutable passion.  But despite my fears, the film encompassed my soul with that very feeling of wonder that shot through me after having read the book.  K and I walked out of there with an ooey gooey feeling, like we were drowning in warm syrup.

The Eat made me hungry, despite the gluttonous feast we had indulged in only a few hours prior to the movie.  Though we didn't let our stomachs get the best of us, we did break down our guards and splurge on a delicious bottle of Quebec-disguised-as-Australian red wine.  We bought it at a gas station convenience store- accompanied with a 1 litre bottle of RC Cola for K's beau.  The attendant must have obviously thought we were classy ladies.  It may not have been as rich as the Italian red wine in the film, but it was good for us. 

The Pray made me even more excited to start my YTT and get into meditation.  It was portrayed as spiritually and as beautifully as it was written in the pages of the book.  It also made me want to go to India- I know, I know, one thing at a time!  It was my favourite part of the book, and it remains my favourite part in the film as well.  It also motivated me to get started on my yoga room at the house, so last night Vinny and I primed the walls to get them ready for the blue paint.  I say that by this time next week, it should all be set-up.  And yes, pictures will follow!

The Love...well, I can't very well say that it made me want to fall in love since I already have my love lobster Vinny.  So it made me thankful to have such a presence in my own life.  It also, however, made me daydream about Javier Bardem!  Funny how my initial excitement was about James Franco, and it quickly veered to Javier once he emerged in full handsomeness on the screen.  What an enchanting and brawny man.  Oh, and it also helped me discover a Brazilian guitarist/singer named Joao Gilberto.  I have been told that he is extremely popular, but this is my first encounter with his music.  I've proccured two of his albums already.  His voice and strings carry me away.

I lent my mom the book this week so she could read it and see the movie afterwards.  She read it within a day, and said she wants to re-read it.  And only then, she says, will she be prepared to watch it on the big screen.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

The handsome Javier.

Joao in his younger days.

Grandpapa Guru

Another fantastic perk of having moved back to the Burbs is that I am now a hop and a skip away from my Grandpa (or as I have always called him, Papa).  Papa literally lives about an 8 minute walk away from my new home.  Having lived here now for officially one month and 8 days, I'm ashamed to admit that I had not yet visited him.  My mom told me he has been asking about me regularly- "How does she like her new home?  Is she all settled in yet?  Is she happy?"  Well, today after having met a friend for brunch and giving mom a quick visit (did I mention that my parents live about an 8 minute walk away as well?) I did what any good granddaughter should do and went to see Papa.  Now in my defense, I have had one heck of a busy Summer thus far- work has been quite hectic, and I am also Maid of Honor to my best blonde buddy K, so an awesome Bachelorette was in the midst of being planned as well.  But now, with work quieting down (for now) and the super duper most amazing fun filled Bachelorette weekend behind us, I found the time to pay Papa a visit.

It was a short stopover as he was going to go watch a tennis match (what a busy body) but in that brief time that we sat on his back porch, I was just so happy to be there with him, in the company of his ever so wise and resounding voice.  What I love so much about Papa (well, one of the many things anyways) is that he is always up to date on what I am up to.  After being welcomed with a big, bold hug, he placed his hand on my shoulder and said "I hear you're embarking in another direction come September?"  Ah yes, my Yoga Teacher Training.  He was so authentically pleased to hear that I have found something that I feel so passionate about with every ounce of my being.  I sat down and told him a little bit about what it is I'll be learning, and what I am most excited to learn.  He sat there quietly as I spoke, with a smile on his face and that old sage regard staring right back at me.  For years, Papa and I have spoken about my future.  Every time we were together, it went back to that.  "How are you liking school?  What do you think you want to do afterwards?  Now that you're done school do you still want to do the same thing?  Now that you have found something, is it what you want to do?"  And every answer to those questions was similar: "I'm not sure."  But now, for the first time in all the 25 years that he has known me, Papa heard me speak with my heart pouring out with excitement, about my YTT.  I could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking "Ah ha, I told you so.  I knew you would find something that made you smile this way."

Papa has always been someone who consistently made it a point to tell me that I am going to accomplish great things.  Now great things didn't necessarily mean making lots of money and becoming famous.  Great things meant doing something that will make me happy, and that I will love with all my heart.  After my grandmother (my Mama to my Papa) passed away almost 6 years ago (miss you, Mama), Papa was passed down a very important torch: the writing of our birthday cards.  I have kept every card I have ever received since my 18th birthday.  As much as I love them all, Papa's cards still remain my most cherished and favorites.  Any time I am feeling down, I go through his cards and read through his words.  He calls me a star, writing that I shine more and more each day.  He writes that Mama is definitely proud, watching over me and witnessing the woman I am becoming.  He writes that I never cease to amaze him, with everything I do.  He writes that I am oozing with the zest of life, and that it is a gift I should never take for granted.  He writes that when I feel the soft, subtle wind blowing through my hair on my birthday, if I listen closely, it's actually Mama whispering Happy Birthday.  Papa is a man of such resounding stature- the type of man that you really listen to when he speaks.  His voice is so deep, it feels like you're listening to an old wise man who has seen it all.  I wish he could cut a record so I could listen to him speak over and over again, sharing stories from the past.  And when he writes in those birthday cards, those inked spots just flow right through your head, all the way down to your heart.  He is such a wonderful man, and I feel so blessed to have him in my life, and now so closeby.  He may move slower, but his heart is as strong as ever.  Sometimes in Yoga class we chant a Guru Mantra.  My FabTeach asks us to envision someone in our lives who has, in one way or another, inspired us.  On one occasion, Papa took the cake.

So with all this being said, I am so happy to finally be able to visit Papa more often.  I look forward to sharing my YTT experiences with him- and I know he will ask me every time I see him, with eager anticipation, how I am enjoying my new passionate experience.  I also look forward to hearing how he is doing, to having him ask me how Vinny is doing, to get my hands on some of those tasty vegetables he grows in his garden (again, busy body!) and simply just sitting there, in his presence, and sharing with him.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Papa and Mama.  Love love love.

Enlighten Me With E-mails

I have officially set up an e-mail account for my precious little bloga.  If any of you have thoughts, comments, questions, ideas and stories that you would like to share with me, I would just love to hear about it.  Please feel free to contact me about anything and everything yoga!

thedownwardfacingblog@gmail.com

You can also find this e-mail address under Contact Me at the right hand side of this page.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

The Yoga Book Worm

There is something very exciting about purchasing a new book, or borrowing one from a friend.  Holding a bound clump of paper in my hands sends quite the hullabaloo of a feeling through me.  I mentioned it in a previous post but I was not always such an avid reader.  As a child my parents practically had to force me to get through a book.  Now, it's as though I can't get enough.  I have the habit of buying new books when I am not even half way through the current one I am enjoying, just so I don't have to have a day without one.  Now I don't read every single day, but just knowing that a new story is waiting for me is incredibly nourishing.  Yesterday I took a gander at Amazon- the power of my purse has met its match!  My Yoga Teacher Training starts in just over a month (yippe!) and I have already started compiling a small collection of required and suggested readings for the training.  I am happy to report that I was able to find 3 books that are far more affordable when ordered on-line than going into the store. 

The first is a required reading entitled The Anatomy of Movement by Blandine C. Germain.  I can't quite describe intensely enough how enthusiastic I am to dive into those pages.  The human body is such a marvel.  To gain an understanding on each twist, turn and bend of every limb and joint is something my mind is just screaming to eat up.  I may very well never look at a human body the same way- I intend on being flabbergasted!  I remember going to a physiotherapist a few years back for a sore neck.  She asked me to lie down on my back so she could feel around my neck.  My hands were resting on my belly, with my fingers intertwined into each other.  She told me to leave my hands flat because the tangling of my fingers may affect what she feels in my neck.  What!?  I was instantly amazed.

The second is a book that was not required, but suggested.  My FabTeach actually proposed this book to me before I even realized it was on the list.  It's entitled Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa.  I have tried dabbling in mediation a little bit, but to be quite honest, I don't really know how to meditate.  Now is there really a way to lean how to meditate, or does it just appear from your heart and your breathing once you are in a state of calm?  There is the Shambhala Meditation Centre across the street from my original studio.  My FabTeach, again, suggested this place to me.  I went to visit during an open house a few months back and really felt comfortable there.  Everything was so pretty and so peaceful.  The people were friendly (everyone there is a volunteer), the rooms were welcoming, and the story behind it all was wonderful.  Once a month they organize Introduction Classes (free of charge, a simple donation is asked) to give interested individuals insight on how to begin their mediation process.  That way, you can meditate at home, at the Centre, or pretty much anywhere you can, and really know how to dive down into yourself to get the most out of the experience.  Unfortunately for myself, I have been unable to attend these classes.  My work schedule was always a factor.  I was offered a private class, but it seems that the schedules would again coincide with each other, and it became difficult to find a time to go.  Thankfully this little pocket book will help me get my feet (or should I say mind, body and soul) onto that path of meditation.

Finally, the 3rd book I splurged on (although it was not a splurge at all- very cheap actually!) is Yoga Body Buddha Mind by Cyndi Lee.  Wouldn't you know, another suggested reading that FabTeach mentioned I should pick up before I noticed it on the list.  Since I cannot go to my original studio as often as I'd like as a result of work and the big move to the Burbs, FabTeach offered a book I should read to help me with my home practice (by the way, the yoga room is slowly coming together- almost ready to paint!)  The book seems great.  There are different sequences you can try, depending what it is you are looking for and feeling on that particular day.  I am slowly learning which positions flow appropriately with others (another thing I am just so giddy about expanding with the YTT) so this book will support me in deepening this understanding.  I will now officially get the most of an at-home experience.

There are other books associated with the training that I am very excited to get my hands on.  It seems like this book worm will definitely have a sufficient amount of reading to get lost in- and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Dante vs Yoga : The Official Showdown

Oh my goodness- life is testing me yet again!  For those of you who have followed my blog quite closely, or for those of you who know me all too well, you know that I am a huge fan of General Hospital.  Yes, it's true, I am completely and utterly hooked on that 3:00pm soap opera that ties together love, hate, revenge, the mob, doctors, nurses, patients, weddings, divorces, and all those other tasty, guilty pleasures that far too many women (and even some men) drool all over.  Let me paint a clearer picture for you: I have been watching GH for about 20 years.  I kid you not.  When I would stay at home with my mom after pre-school, I would sit with her in the den and watch GH at the age of 5.  I didn't always pay close attention, nor did I understand what was happening, but I loved the poofy curly locks of one of the characters, Luke.  From that point on, I kept watching as I grew, and followed the storylines more closely as I entered teenagehood.  Here I am now, at 25 years old, still remaining loyal to my favourite daytime families and friends.  Now my love for this show has grown significantly in the last year, as the stories have become more seductive, intense, suspenseful and hilarious.

The GH love of my life is Dante.  Okay, the actor's name is Dominic Zamprogna (proud Canadian, woot woot!), but to me he is just Dante.  I know I'm sounding like a bag of nuts but I am crazy for this guy.  Coco bananas, really.  Awkward, I know, but I can't deny it.  So you can only imagine my sheer and utter thrill when I discovered that he is coming to Toronto to host a fundraising event for The Ontario Children's Wish Foundation (Not only is he yummy and talented but he has a big heart!  Awww.)  I nearly jumped out of my chair and started mapping my roap trip to Toronto in my head.  I feel like at this point I need to clear something up- I have never felt this awe-struck by a performer before (not since I've been a teenager at least) but I can proudly admit that yes, I am a hopeless Dante groupie.  Okay, now that I got that out of the way...he is coming to Toronto, and I want to go see him!

Fast forward to a few minuets after hearing this exciting news...I check the date of the event.  It's a weekend- fabulous, I'm not working.  But what is this reserved block on my calendar?  On September 11th, the day of the fundraiser, I will be starting my very first Yoga Teacher Training Class.  For a moment, my heart sank to the ground.  Noooo, my chance to meet Dante (and undeniably have him fall in love with me but have to tell him my heart happily belongs to Vinny but I am flattered nonetheless...ahem...) is but a mere dream because I start school.  But you know what?  Once this dissapointment had a chance to wiggle around in my brain a bit more, I immediately started thinking more of my YTT, and how excited I am to start it!  Yes, if I was slightly less devoted I could skip class that day and be back in time for the Sunday class, but there is no question that I could ever let anything get in the way of my very first Saturday YTT.  Dante or no Dante, my heart and fidelity holds a tighter spot for my passion of reaching my ultimate Yogic goal.  The chance I have been given to dedicate myself more to Yoga is an oppurtunity that I am incredibly fortunate to venture in.  Dante, well, he will come back to Canada sometime.  And I will be there, with a heart full of Yoga bliss.  By then I'll likely be certified, so you know what that means-a private Yoga class with Dante, free of charge.  Yeah, it will be worth the wait.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Hey dreamboat- your first class is on me.

The Downward Facing Blog Gets All Dolled Up...Again!

I've done it again!  I gave my precious Bloga a much deserved make-over.  I hope you like it.  It isn't too flashy-showy is it?  I have stayed with the same color schemes- serene blues.  And you know why?  Drum roll please *drrrrr drrrrr drrrrrrrrrr* Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the color of my new yoga room.  No no, it isn't painted or set-up just yet, but I have chosen a similar blueish tone to dawn the walls of my mini sanctuary.  It's not exactly the same color, but it leaves you open to imagination.  Why did I lean towards blue more than green, yellow and purple?  Well, my super AuntMimi wrote me a short message, explaining what her Feng Shui book said about color schemes.

Blue: a calming and peaceful color, often linked to spirituality, contemplation, patience and mystery.  An ideal color for meditation.
Green: a color often linked to fertility and calm.  Very relaxing.
Purple: a color that encourages vitality.  Linked to faith and religion.
Yellow: a color linked to clarity and intelligence.  It stimulates the brain and digestion.  To avoid for meditation.

So naturally, blue seemed like the perfect fit for my walls.  And just a little hint of green to add an extra dose of calm (please keep in mind that depending on your computer screen the page may look greener or darker than it actually is...)  I do hope you enjoy the make-over.  I'll try not to make an annoying habit out of it.  But right now, at this present moment (Ah ha!  See, I'm practicing being more present, just like I promised in my last post) I am loving this style.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Time After Time

I didn't wear my watch today.  I didn't forget to put it on- I deliberately left it on my nightstand this morning.  I have a confession to make- I am a compulsive time checker.  I never take off my watch, except when I'm sleeping, in the shower, or going for a swim.  I even keep it on when I'm out in the sun so that I can prove to people that my pasty white skin does, in fact, get some color.  Sometimes I feel like I give my left arm a workout everyday by compulsively and endlessly looking at the time.  But this morning I asked myself "What's the hurry?  Why do you always need to know what time it is?" 

Of all the wonderful things Yoga has brought to me, feeling more present is near the top of my list.  I am slowly starting to learn how to live in the present.  I no longer want to constantly contemplate on the past- a habit I do much too often, like a redundant broken record.  I no longer want to look too far ahead, guessing and creating a vision that I cannot control- and quite frankly why should I try to control so much?  I am practicing living in the moment.  My goal is to introduce that feeling of stillness and moment to moment existence which I receive when in meditation and asanas into my everyday life.  So what is the first test?  Not wearing my time constraint on my wrist.  I admit, I keep checking to see what time it is- and I really have no clue why.  I put a bracelet on in lieu of my time trap to feel slightly less naked, but thus far it is just teasing me into looking.  But you know what?  I already feel less trapped and present.  It is as though a weight has been lifted off my shoudlers (or should I say wrist?) and I am slowly being able to appreciate my day, minute by minute, hour by hour- without counting them! 

I hope you are all able to have a timeless experience today.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Polishing My Pranayama

Last Friday I went to my regular studio and practiced with my FabTeach.  Having been so busy I had unfortunately not found the time to go to the studio as often as my body and mind would have needed.  As a result, this class was a real treat.  I am always so amazed that no matter how long I may regrettably out of no control of my own stray from the studio, the strength I bring into my asanas never slackens.  I sometimes find myself wondering how my Plank Pose might look, or whether my Headstand will be straight.  I at times go weeks without being able to practice as regularly as I'd like to, but once I get right back into it, the vitality inside of me never lets me down.  I suppose it's kind of like riding a bike- they say you never forget.  Going back into various asanas, my body is my bicycle and is able to ride me into every pose without feeling out of shape.  I used to play volleyball and after having stopped for a while, my volleys and bumps are not as graceful as they used to be.  I am so thankful that yoga has proved to officially mold me and has, yet again, never let me down.

What really tickles me, however, is my breathing.  Everyone can breathe, but not everyone really knows how to breathe.  Since I have been practicing yoga I have completely changed the way I breathe, both on and off the mat.  My lungs thank me everyday for the calm, full breaths I give them.  So after Friday's class it became apparent to me that it is not the asanas I should be worried about being rickety- it's my breath.  As I sat in Easy Pose at the beginning of class, my respiration was all over the place.  It was quick and choppy, and as a result made it difficult for me to focus on the inside.  It was as though I had forgotten how to really breathe- has this ever happened to any of you?  The mind and the breath are so incredibly connected that without one being unruffled the other will follow closely in the same pattern.  Even when in some of the poses I found myself holding my breath.  I was endlessly reminding myself to breathe through each pose, in order to have my entire being build from it.  Finally, I centered my thoughts around my breath, and moved into Ujjayi Pranayama (Ocean Sounding Breath).  Feeling the contraction in my throat and listening to the sounds of waves I was able to create aided me in regaining my composure.  From that point on, once class was done and I lied in Supported Child's Pose, I had finally felt as though a window inside of me was wide open, letting the soothing air seep in.

The pranayama is so essential to engaging in a strong and positive yoga experience.  Though I may not be able to practice yoga asanas everyday, I am taking it upon myself to never forget how to breathe again.  Wherever I am, and in whichever situation I may be put in, I know that I can always count on my breath to carry me through anything.  I hope you all learn to do the same.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

New Studio Take 2!

As it turns out I did not in fact go check out the new yoga studio next to my house as I said I would a couple posts ago.  No no, I wasn't lazing around in bed or on my super couch- that would be inexcusable, right?  Instead, I drove right by the studio and made a left turn a few streets down...to visit my friend who just had a baby!  She is only a week old and one of the most adorable little cuties I have ever seen.  And you know what?  The feeling I got after leaving and having held her in my arms was equivalent to a whole afternoon's worth of asanas and pranayama.  I could not wipe the smile off my face, and no one could have even smacked it off if they tried.  Something about holding a just barely 8-pound bundle of pure joy uplifts even the most tired and drained of spirits.  So while I did not cleanse myself with yoga, my mind and my body were cleansed in a different fashion.

Next step for my friend- mommy and baby yoga!  Oh, and I do still intend on visiting the studio near my house- to be continued!

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Atti Prayaa Rati

Alright, so I may be a little late in picking up the book, but I have finally started reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.  Prehaps I was exhausted by people telling me "What??  You haven't read it yet!?" with a similar tone of voice as though they were saying "What?  You've never tasted chocolate before!?"  The fact that I hadn't once perused the pages of this book seemed beyond belief to so many.  They would all say "Oh you are going to love it, you have to read it.  It's right up your alley."  I played around with the idea of getting myself a copy, but never got around to it.  Truth be told, I have only recently become an avid bookworm.  But now the movie is coming out, and I want to go see it.  If there is one thing I try to do as little as possible it's going to see a film that is based on a book, before having read the book itself.  I love going to the theatre and sitting in front of that giant screen, already feeling a connection to the characters who I feel I have met before.  Chances are I will be seeing Eat Pray Love opening weekend.  Besides, I can't deprive myself too long of seeing James Franco on the big screen- he's so yummy.  But let me get back on track here- as much as I would love to write about how much I love James Franco (he is also guest starring on GH lately- double whammy!) my pionnering inspiration for this post goes beyond him and how excited I am to see him in this adaptation.

So yes, I have started reading Eat Pray Love and though I'm only about 60 pages into it, I am loving it.  Her writing is so easy to get engulfed in.  I speak for myself but am confident enough to assume that others may agree, but in her words I see a little piece of myself present.  Maybe it's because I am slowly becoming more in touch with the little voice inside me everyday, but so far this book has inspired me to want to connect with myself even more- to devote myself bountifully to embracing life.  It's funny but since this book has become so popular and full of hype, I asked myself am I possibly just too easily giving in to the words on the pages and becoming enveloped in what may be just a load of mumbo jumbo turned into a Julia Roberts Hollywood flick?  Well, nope.  I think that whatever I take from this book, whether it be inspiration or no, I have found a closeness, and it feels great.  There is one passage in particular that I would like to share with you here.  She writes about how she met a guru who, in essence, is the underlying awakening responsible for her remarkable journey.  After handing her a drawing of a person with four legs, a tree growing from their head and a face on their heart, he told her-
"To find the balance you want, you must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth that it's like you have four legs, instead of two.  That way, you can stay in the world.  But you must stop looking at the world with your head.  You must look through your heart instead."
Reading this part only 15 pages into the book, I was hooked.  I pictured myself in Tree Pose, visualizing the roots coming from down by my feet, making their way to the top of my head, with a smile on my lips, resonating all the way down to my heart.  Yeap, this is going to be a good read.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Ok, just one more James Franco moment...ahhh.

Walls and Beams, Love and Dreams

I have always loved logging into my bloga and sharing my thoughts with you, but now I can enjoy it even more as I find myself nestled and typing on my brand new couch.  Vinny and I have finally found that perfect pile of cushiony bliss to find its way into our hearts, home and living room.  If there was an award for Best Couch, ours would be displayed in bright lights on that red carpet and win, hands down, no questions asked.  It's huge, it's comfortable, it's lovely, and it was extremely affordable!  I know, this isn't a blog about furniture, but I just wanted to help you all in creating a visual to have you understand how absolutely happy I am as I type this.  My level of comfort is as pleased as punch.

The house is treating us extremely well, and we are doing the same in return.  We have organized and re-organized.  We have bought new furniture and kept the old that has followed us through every move.  We have swept, dusted and mopped.  We have painted...okay, that's a lie.  My wonderful folks came in and painted the bedroom while we were both at work.  But the painting is not done, and Vinny and I shall attack the other walls once our colors have been picked.  I told you all I would show you pictures of my yoga room once it is complete, but the truth is I have not gotten to it just yet.  I am still in the midst of cleaning it out and as of now, the room is being used as a storage space for our remainding boxes.  I anticipate, however, to have it fully beautified and yogafied within the next two weeks.  The perfect yoga room takes a lot of time to make it just that- perfect.  But I have already started visualizing myself in various asanas, feeling the sun dip down through the window, embracing my face with its warmth.

If I have not yet make it abundantly clear- the new house = me very happy.  I was even pulling out weeds from our front garden this afternoon and was overcome with joy.  Even vaccuming has become fun.  Have I become a total suburban dork?  Perhaps.  But I am smiling all the way through!  Now, something else exciting and new to share with you all.  Having moved back to the burbs means that the yoga studio I practice at seems to be at the other end of the rainbow.  It is quite sad- I cannot practice there as much as I used to.  Only when I have a day off from work can I make it to bask in the glory and wonder of my fabulous teacher's teaching.  I went to see her the other day to announce that she may not see me as often, but the good news is that I have officially signed back on to do my Yoga Teacher Training with her come this September!  Knowing that I will at the very least be going back for one weekend a month is enough to ease me.  This is when something popped into my mind: do I find another studio?  Yes, I will have my own home practice (my fabulous teacher has even reccomended me some great books for doing yoga at home) but there is something so special about going to a studio, meeting students and teachers, and treating yourself to a new ambiance and atmosphere.  This is when my super duper MatanteMimi told me about a yoga studio she practices at located about 10 minutes away from my new home.  She had nothing but great things to say about it.  At first, a wicked feeling dawned upon me.  Going to another studio and practicing with another teacher made me feel guilty, as though I was cheating on my initial studio.  I have fallen so in love with the studio and my fabulous teacher that the thought of straying away to another left a bad taste in my mouth.  Though after careful thought I realized that this move has opened up so many different options for me.  I have been given the chance to explore my yoga training on an even deeper level.  I may learn different styles and techniques.  I may meet other wonderful teachers.  This does not mean that my utter love and devotion to my fabulous teacher anbd studio is being tested.  It is simply opening up the gates of discovery.  I can share everything else I learn with my fabulous teacher, and I know that she will be happy to know that I have continued exploring my love for yoga at another studio, and have not given up due to the fact that distance and travel is at play.  If I were still living on the Island I would, without a doubt, continue to practice at the studio very often but now, I must spread my little blonde wings and taste the waters of the studio next door.  I am just so thankful to be able to continue to practice regularly, and especially to still be able to do my Teacher Training with my fabulous teacher who I owe so much gratitude towards for helping me recognize such a wonderful art, tradition, therapy and gift.  So I guess when I really start thinking about it, it's a win win situation.  Yoga has taught me to open up my heart and my mind.  What better way to continue to do so by challenging my inner restraints and dipping my toes into something new.  My first class at this new studio will be on Monday.  You know you will be hearing all the details.  Lets hope that I love it!

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

The Return of Lady Lotus!

Oh my...now please, before any of you start hating me, let me explain the reasons for my lack of posting.  Since my return from Heaven, errr, I mean Peru, I have been one busy little blonde!  Vinny and I slowly started moving into our new home in June and now, we are officially moved in.  The move took a lot of time, effort, lifting, packing, re-packing, taping, exacto knifing, but we made it.  As though the big demenagement wasn't time consuming enough, I was right smack in the middle of a huge event at work, and spent all my days stuffing envelopes, answering phone calls, organizing papers, counting inventory, doing presentations, uploading equipment, downloading equipment, getting caught in what appeared to be a hurricane while setting up materials outdoors- but the result, of course, was just fabulous.  Our event raised close to $7 million dollars to fight cancer- what an achievement!  And now, the event is over, and we have finally started settling into our cozy little nest more and more with each passing day.  Ladies and gentleman, Lady Lotus is now back in the blogging business!  Everyday for the last 3 weeks I have been telling myself to get to my laptop and start posting, but my utter exhaustion has left me to hopelessly abandon my precious bloga for the last few weeks.

So let's have a reunion!  So much has happened that I cannot wait to share with you all.  From the move to the yoga training to the Prana y Peru that I promised you (and I assure you I am a girl of her word).  Keep your eyes peeled for some serious blogging action!  I am officially on vacation for the next 5 days where I can forget about events and forget about boxes and concentrate on whatever I want- especially my darling little bloga.  I hope you have not forgotten about me, and that you will continue to read and hopefully remain inspired to give yoga a small place in your hearts.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post.  There's going to be some exciting news about my new home and the yoga studio practically next door.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Prana y Peru: Una Introducción

Hello my lovely readers and friends!  Oh how I have missed tapping noisily on my keyboard, writing to you all about my aspirations, my blunders, my hopes, my asanas, my everything.  I am officially back from Peru, and let me tell you- it was one of the most beautiful, emotional and spiritual experiences of this little lady's life.  Words cannot describe what was rushing through my body while I was there.  I was completely and utterly floored by the wonderful ambience that seemed to find its way through every inch of me.  I went to bed smiling, and woke up with the same goofy grin.  I was so sad to leave (although, I must admit, I was very excited to see my kitty Roxanne).

So this is what leads me to introduce you all to yet another section of my blog.  I would love to continually write about my Peruvian adventure, but this would mean paragraphs upon paragraphs of babbling and I would be afraid to lose you half way through it.  Therefore, say hello to Prana y Peru- a selection of postings dedicated to my love affair with Peru.  Anything and everything on how this trip inspired me and molded me into a person that is even more in touch with myself wil be spread over this screen.  The entire 10 days felt like one giant yoga class.  It was truly awe-inspiring, and I cannot wait to share all my stories with you.  So keep reading, there will be lots to say!

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Perdone, ¿dónde está el estudio de yoga?

Now, please don't cry but...I am very sorry to inform you all that I will be unable to blog for the next two weeks.  Why, you may ask?  This little blonde yoga-loving muchacha is off to Peru!  Yes, I am packing my bags, leaving my computer behind, and am off to discover a part of the world that is completely new to me.  I will be exploring temples and ruins, perusing local markets, tasting new food (keeping my fingers crossed that it's veg friendly!) and *drum roll please* making my way to the top of Machu Picchu.  Just the thought of planting my two feet on that infamous mountain sends shivers of excitement up and down my spine.  I will have the oppurtunity to breathe in the air of one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  Of course, I will breathe in that air quite carefully, as it is very thin once you get to the top!  I know that my yoga training will come in handy at that point, allowing me to pay attention to my breathing, and having it calm my mind, my body and my soul.  I have been told by a friend of mine that once you get to the top of that glorious mountain, I will feel that I have found Heaven.  She said the view is enough to bring you to tears.  So needless to say, I am head over heels in love with the notion that I am given the chance to take such a trip and experience such a world.

Our trip will begin in Lima, where my red-headed bro is getting married. Yes yes, our trip's foundation is based on the fact that my broskee is marrying his long-term Latina love in her home-town.  There is no doubt in my mind that this happy occasion is going to be quite the memorable one.  After a few days of wedding prep and the wedding day, we are making our way to Cuzco, where we will spend the remainder of our trip exploring different areas and experiencing different things.  My one personal goal for this entire trip: find a place where I can do yoga.  Whether it be in a studio, in a hotel room, or on top of that towering heap of a mountain, I want to feel what it is like to do yoga in such an environment.  I am sure that this trip will enlighten me from start to finish, and I can only fathom what it will add to my own yogic experience.

So though it saddens me to be unable to blog with you for the next couple of weeks, rest assured that upon my return, I will have a lot to blog about- with pictures, of course!  I'm convinced that I will have plenty of stories to share with you about the scenery, the culture, the people and, of course, some blonde blunders due to my lack of Spanish speaking skills.  At least I know I'll be able to find a bathroom: ¿dónde está el baño?

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

I'll be seeing you soon, Machu Picchu...

Hump Day Happies: Giving The Best Of Yourself

On Saturday, I went for a walk- a very long walk.  I participated in the Canadian Cancer Society's Annual Relay for Life.  This is the second year in a row where I have dedicated myself to walking from 7pm until 7am and raising significant funds for the fight against cancer.  Thanks to all my friends and family who donated, I was able to raise $2100.  It is an accomplishment of which I am very proud, and could not have done it without the help of my loved ones.  It was a long walk, but definitely a fun one.  What was most touching was seeing the survivors, wearing their yellow T-Shirts, opening up the event with a victory lap.  Two of them were young girls, probably no more than 8 years old.  One was a guy around my age.  It really hit me to see such young people who had the unfortunate experience of having to go through something as scary as cancer.  But they did, and they overcame it.  I was filled with hope.  Our route was lit by luminaries which we personalized with dedications- such a beautiful and inspiring path to light our way.  Throughout the night my yoga training came in handy, too.  I would stop every few laps and stretch, followed by a tree pose or goddess pose- these asanas left me feeling alive and able to continue on with my journey!  At times I would sit, stand and squat with my eyes closed, and breathe in the air that felt as though the spirits of those I have loved and lost to cancer were being carried on it, ready to push me back up onto my feet.

It feels so good to be able to give back to the community in one form or another.  It may be by volunteering, it may be by fundraising, it may be by dedicating one's self to aiding someone or something.  Whatever it is that you do that adds a pinch of hope to someone's life, know that you are doing something remarkable.

So on this Hump Day, I would like for all of you to think of something you can do that can help our community in some way, in a completely unselfish manner.  You can give a few hours of your time to a charitable organization, participate in a chartiable event, or you can help someone carry their heavy groceries to their car if it appears that they're struggling.  There is no size to the amount of help you can give- it's the size of your heart that will do the giving.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Position of the Week: Parighasana (Gate Pose)

Benefits: This asana stretches the sides of your torso, spine and hamstrings.  It opens up your shoulders, and also stimulates the abdominal organs and lungs.

There are three reasons I have chosen Gate Pose as this week's worthy asana.  The first is because last week during yoga class, my fabulous teacher had us dabble in variations of side bends.  In both seated and standing poses, we explored really opening up the right and left sides of our bodies.  The deepening of the stretches made my ribs feel as though they were expanding to twice their level.  It was such an awakening to tap into these left and right extremeties of my torso.  With every unwind I noticed my breath feeling more connected and my mind feeling more relaxed.  I really felt a type of elastic pressure in my sides, which made me recognize the malleability of my whole body's potential.  I felt springy- sort of like a Slinky!

The second reason I have chosen Gate Pose is because once I stepped outside this morning, the air smelt of camping.  Now, I thought to myself "Ok, you're obviously going through camping withdrawal and wish you were back already!"  But sadly, it wasn't just my beserk imagination playing tricks on me.  There have been 52 forest fires in Quebec this past week, due to the heat we have had and the lack of rain.  As a result, the smoke has been blown through Montreal, Ottawa and even parts of Vermont.  It saddens me to think of all the homes that have been evacuated, and all the animals that have lost their dwellings.  With this smoky air drifting above us, it makes it difficult for asthmatics (such as myself) to breathe comfortably.  So I find myself turning to Gate Pose for support in the stimulation of my lungs.  On a side note, I will dedicate my practice this week to all living creatures who have been affected by this unfortunate natural disaster.

Now, what is the third reason?  Well, that's simple: because the Monkey can do this one, too!

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Happy Campers

I promised you all some photos of my camping trip to Grand Isle, Vermont.  First, I would like to list five things I love about camping.

1. Spending time with wonderful friends without any distractions.
2. Being able to look up at the sky and actually seeing the stars.
3. Not showering, and not caring!
4. S'mores.
5. Campfires.

It was so lovely being surrounded by nature for the whole weekend.  I woke up bright and early and would fill my lungs with fresh air- often difficult when you live in the city.  The entire weekend was like one long yoga class, where my mind, body and breath all became one with themselves.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Better than a five-star hotel.

The view from our lot.

Walking by Lake Champlain.

The constant presence of green beauty.

Our lot- with Smoky's protection!