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!

Going Green

Well, after a long two weeks of head-to-head deucing it out, my yoga room poll has officially nominated a winner.  It was a fight to the finish for Blue and Green, but I am happy to announce that our nature-inspired Green has made its way to the top of the charts.  But because I am such a good sport and want Blue to be recognized for its amazing efforts, I am thinking of choosing a color that so gracefully marries both my candidates.  Intrigued?  Well, you will have to wait for pictures, once the room is ready in July.  Mouhahaha, to be continued... :)

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

Hump Day Happies: Make Life's Tune An Instrument Of Hope And Love

Before I really begin, I would like to give you all a head's up that today's Hump Day Happy has unfortunately spawn from an unfortunate incident.  But through it, one thing to do is to try and smile to help those touched get through it.

Yesterday I stumbled upon a quote that instantly struck me: "Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music."

Isn't that nice?  It could not have found its way onto my screen at a better time.  Yesterday evening, I was told some saddening news.  Two people passed away.  They were young, slightly older than me.  Their candle burnt out way too early.  Now, one of them I did not know at all, and the other I knew very little.  He was a good friend of two of my own friends.  Yes, I had met him a few times in the past, but I can't say that we really knew each other.  But to know that my two friends have lost someone who was a big chapter in their own book they call their lives, makes my heart break a little for these two, because I do love them.

So of course, this little quote illuminated something inside of me that I continuously remind myself to practice: living your life to its fullest.  Don't be afraid of doing something because you're worried that people will poke fun at you.  Don't stop yourself from doing something because you are lacking the confidence to do so.  Don't stop yourself half-way through something because you don't think you're strong enough to finish.  On this Hump Day, remember how awe-inspiring it is to be here, and to be able to use this gift we call life as gratefully as we can.  And, above all, tell those you love exactly that: that you love them.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus

*To all those who have been affected by this sad loss, my heart sincerely goes out to you.