We all have a story, aka biography. In fact we write it every moment by the actions we take. Our current actions define our current story as well as how future stories will be shaped. Some parts of our stories are creative and inspiring. Others are unpleasant and maybe a bit painful in parts. Don't like your current story? Change your story starting now by scribing with a different tool. Why use the same pen day after day? It's usually out of habit that we do. Habit is also the main … [Read more...]
Lip Balm Panic
Life is all about change, right? And yoga teaches us how to be agile (and oh so graceful) as we surf the flow of change -whether we are in an asana class, literally surfing the Pacific (go Michelle!) or just trying to get through life. In other words, yoga shows us how to be with change and ride it verses resist it and run. I believe this concept so much that I talked about riding change and its challenges on Monday morning during the yoga class I taught to the City of Alexandria Fire … [Read more...]
Malas for Haiti
The beauty of Fall is finally arriving here in Washington, DC. Though I prefer sunny days and outdoor yoga over cold temps and snow, the reality is the chill and thrill of the holidays will be here before we know it. Heck, the December date & hosts for my Arlington, VA neighborhood holiday progressive dinner party (that's a mouthful!) has been set for weeks already. So really, the "season of giving" will be here shortly. With that in mind, I've decided I'm scaling back on holiday gifts … [Read more...]
Spring Clean Your Life
Part of the fun of being a small business owner is every single day is different. Of course, I primarily teach yoga Mon-Fri but I also do things like writing documents (i.e. contracts, proposals, handouts), attending networking events in the Arlington area and running to the bank to make deposits. I love the variety each day offers including what's on tomorrow's agenda: abellaYoga is exhibiting at the City of Alexandria Health Fair. One of my booth giveaways is a handout I created on with … [Read more...]
Vision Board Comes to Life
As some of you know I spent a few days last week at a meditation/writing retreat at Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, CO. It was a serene three days of meditating and writing, without cell/internet/tv/radio service and 600 acres of land to explore at my leisure. One of the unexpected highlights of my trip was spending time outside, in and around The Great Stupa. I had read about it online prior to my trip but the online pics paled in comparison to seeing it live with my own … [Read more...]
Have Mat, Will Travel
Over the last few years I've shared info on my fav yoga mat by Manduka. See Spoiled by Manduka and Can You Recommend a Yoga Mat? The words I wrote back then still hold true today. Even so much that when I went to Vail, CO last week (to do more spa-ing than skiing), I had my trusty (very thin) prana mat in tow. For me, it's a multipurpose mat. Of course, I use it to practice yoga & meditate when on the road but I have another key use for it. Have you ever noticed that the seat backs on … [Read more...]