Positivity, Vibrancy, Grace, and LoVE

This week has been a wonderful one. From work to friends to gym to yoga. However, it has not been without the thought of loss.

My dear friend who lost her father years ago told me that loss creeps up on you when you are least expecting it...I now realize it more like hits you like a freight train.

Between the anniversary of my Grandpa's passing, a friend losing her granddad, a friend losing her sister, and my sister losing an old friend it has been a week of constant reflection, remembrance, and change.

Tuesday was the anniversary of my Grandpa's passing. What wise man he was. His eyes always smiling almost laughing. He had the most wonderful stories and his love was abundant. I can't help but smiling and laughing when I think of him. He was a positive man to the end. This loss was prepared for. I was able to say goodbye
Remembering him on this anniversary, made me change my entire outlook of the week...positivity and laughter are a fabulous combination for the soul and those around you!

This remembrance opened a loss that was never prepared for.

A loss of a friend who changed my life as I know it. If it weren't for him who knows where I would be living and the woman I would have become. He was the fork in the road that defined my life after college, my adult life, the life I now know. Eleven years of friendship: college, 2 jobs in California, a little over a year as roommates. Not a day that goes by he is not missed. Yesterday his name was mentioned in conversation. I will not lie that my heart skipped a beat. But as I spoke about him and his life which was lived full of love, gentle loving kindness, and compassion. He gave love and he loved every aspect of his life. His life was cut short but what an abundant life it was.

As February approaches the month of love, I vow to spend all 29 days loving every aspect and living as those who are close to me have passed on full of positive and laughter (my Grandpa), full of LoVE (my dear friend), full of vibrancy (my Nana) and full of grace and forgiveness (my Grandma).

Love and Light,
Stephanie

Dancing in the Rain

I love the rain. It is the one time I slow down mentally and physically. Living in California we don't get these days often. So when they come, I cherish every moment even if it stops mid day.

I love the rain :) it washes away all the old and brings in newness.

Email Diet

Email is overused. Email is to those of us in the busy world what a lazy boy is to a couch potato and what candy is to a kid...a deathly combination of laziness and addiction.

What happened to the phone? And for that matter what happened to face to face meetings?

It's not even in the work world but transfer into our personal lives. When did we become so busy the only time I find to talk to anyone is on my commute from studio to office, office to home, home to studio.


In an effort of my housewife campaign I am dedicated to being wife of the year and first stop...trying to disconnect from work when I am not at work (I am bit addicted).

Steps to Email Weight Less and Liberation...
1. Removed work account from iPhone and iPad...wow I can breathe now!
2. Immediate delete an email that asks a question which can be answered with a pop into the office or over the phone (and has no CYA need)
3. Rather than responding to 13 different emails from the person ... condense ... that way when they respond to me I don't get 13 back :) just one.

Day 10 into the email diet and I am already feeling lighter and can see my inbox getting thinner daily :)

And I am so much happier when I come to work as I have no clue what has happened in Australia and Europe while I was sleeping (uninterrupted)

I dare you to try it...even if it is for a day. Disconnect from work for a night, weekend...you too feel the lightness I do.

Love and Light,
Stephanie

Turn Your Life Upside Down

Why do we go upside down in yoga and why do we fear at times the action of being upside down?

Why do you see students (oh way me) go straight to child's pose and feel the energy in the room shift a bit when the teacher mentions headstand or handstand?

Where is the child like enthusiasm we all once had for trying new things for taking a risk for being resilient and trusting ourselves?

Being upside or "inverted" in a posture (asana) reverses the gravity in our body, instead of everything pulling down to our toes it is now being pulled to our head. A fresh supply of blood to our brain, a relief for our feet. It sheds new light in the way we see things literally and figuratively. Inverted postures improve our health and self confidence and reduce anxiety...so why wouldn't you want to go upside down?!

I've been practicing yoga for 9.5 years now. I started at Yoga Fit in Hermosa, next it was Bikram in Manhattan Beach. 2 years later moved to Newport and practiced at Yoga Works. Then joined Equinox and  fell in love with the teachers. Three years ago I  was introduced to Core Power Yoga by a dear friend.

With every studio change, style change, teacher change I fall in love with my practice all over again. I've learned new postures, conquered arm balances, and have fallen in love with the philosophy of yoga. But in the 9.5 years I am still afraid to go upside down away from the wall! What if I topple into the mirror, the person in front of me, break something, hurt my neck? When am I going to learn to trust myself...

This year I am going to conquer the fear of being upside down ... so if you see my leg flirting with the ceiling ...you know it's coming ... it's got to ... this will be it ... my leap of faith for the year!

This Cat can do it ... why can't I?!

I mean how amazing does all of this sound, free in the middle of the room within the confines of my teal mat?!

Step One - Conquer on my mat

Step Two - Conquer on my SUP board

Love and Light,
Stephanie

Winds of Change

One of my dearest friends and I were having the conversation last week about change.

Why are we so afraid of change?

We are creatures of habit.

We hate it when our routine changes; someone takes our spin bike; someone takes your spot where you always put your mat in yoga class and now you are forced to be in the front or the back; a family member suggested doing something different for a holiday than has been done for years past; a move; a new job; a new boss; etc.

I have a love/hate relationship with change. I crave change and fear it at the same time. I enjoy leaping but am afraid of where the leap of faith will take me.

Change makes us stronger. It makes us more well-rounded. It makes us fall in love with "normal" all over again. We find new things we love.

And in the end we end up falling in love with the new norm.

Now leap...(you know it looks like fun!)

Love and Light,
Stephanie

What's SUP Y'all

Last week we decided to make a large purchase ... we got SUP boards (at wholesale, this girl does not buy retail :)). Some of you know, I have never been on a SUP board so this was a risky purchase but figured we could sell them on craigslist if all failed.

Saturday the sun trying to come out, a little cooler, but the water was mostly calm. I hopped on the board and we made our way out of China Cove and around the little island. I loved it. (For the record Derek fell, I stayed dry).

Today we decided to go out ... the morning started off sunny and then as we (Derek) carry the boards down to the water the clouds and wind roll in. At this point we are still going to go. 2 hours later, choppy seas, a few boats who dislike paddle boards speeding up to create a large wake .... we make it back into China Cove, both dry, white frozen feet. My arms feel like my legs normally do after a half marathon. WORTH IT.

These past two days on the water have been quiet and peaceful. The nature is fabulous. And the views better (I am a peeping Tom ... love to see how those on the water live :))

Can't wait for Saturday and to get my yoga on while on the board :)  (that is not me below in the photo as we have not taken out our camera yet so stay tuned!)

Monday Monday

"Every other day, every other day,
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin' all of the time

Monday Monday, ..." ~The Mamas and The Papas


I love the weekend. I don't even mind Tuesday. Wednesday is hump-day I am halfway there. Thursdays is little Friday. And Friday well it's Friday...the start of a 2 day break and over-seeing an International business Fridays are lovely for me...no one calls. I get caught up. But...MONDAY, I strongly dislike. (For example, this morning my lactaid went bad on the sell by date! I left my phone and wedding rings in the house, upon running back in to get them I then left my coffee. Third time is a charm...by the time I got to the gym I was sweating and ready to call it a day)

Sunday evenings are perfect. I teach an amazing class. My husband and I make the most delicious dinner and hang out listening to music. 


I get into bed and immediately angst sets in. Butterflies start fluttering. I can't fall asleep and it gets worse as I tell myself the alarm will go off at 6 am for my legs workout with the trainer. I love my early Monday mornings...if it could stop there I'd be happy. I have coffee, head to the trainer, and I sing out loud as I drive to work.  


I'm still smiling as I get into my office pour some more coffee or tea and turn on the computer. Then Monday sets in...emails load up  (this is when it is bad to oversee International as they are 12 to 24 hrs ahead so by 9 am my inbox has 200 NEW emails). And every Monday morning there is a fire. How does something always go wrong Sunday/Sunday night? 


So here we are again Monday. I can't wait to teach Barre and go home to my hubby and cook dinner and say hello to Tuesday! I love Tuesday, I even like Tuesday when Monday is a national holiday. I just do not like Monday (even when it is a national holiday because it means you have to go to work the next day).


Sorry Monday...

Anyone out there love Monday? If so please shed some light on this gal with the Monday blues! 

Vitamix Envy

I am envious of all Vitamix (http://vitamix.com/) owners juicing away. I launched my third wife campaign (1. To be a stay at home housewife and 2. Join the CSA delivery again ). The vitamix campaign is by far a losing one on my end. So I thought by making constant visits to Nektar (http://www.nekterjuicebar.com/) and even one day before tennis dragging him along with me would give me a lead in this campaign. Clearly not.

So this past week I have polled friends especially after seeing my friend Katie Osumi's blog (http://goodniteirene.com/) and her new favorite juice recipe she used in her new vitamix!

After polling it was final ... I would try to juice in my new KitchenAid blender using Katie's recipe.

Outcome: Derek turned his nose up but he did with the juice too. I loved it. It has more fiber than juice and looks like I will be cutting up veggies and fruit each Sunday and preparing my juicy smoothie each evening to grab and go before the early morning work out. (and if you let the ice melts it becomes more juice than smoothie)

What you need:
-Ice Cubes
-Water
-1 to 2 leaves of Kale
-1 TB ginger (freshly grated)
-Half an apple
-10 cubes of pineapple
(Katie also added bananas but mine were not ripe yet)

Blend and pour! Enjoy friends! 

Fitness Resolutions are Ageless

I speak to my Granny about every other week. She is amazing. She is up to date on college football (mainly Clemson), watches DWTS, and knows the most random gossip.

Tonight she asks me what I do these days to work out and what classes I am teaching because she wants to get into shape. I couldn't help but giggle to think of her in Barre tucking and lifting or running a half marathon. But it made me smile ear to ear that at her age she is thinking about getting back into shape.

She wants to start walking (mind you she uses a walker). It is freezing right now in the mountains of NC so she decided she should walk the halls of the nursing home; although she said that the halls are quite boring and the other gals who do that walk are very slow. More power to Granny if she starts power walking down the hall and passing her slow girlfriends.

If Granny can find a way to get back into shape this late in life...there is no excuse why you can't start now!

Ahhh how she makes me smile!!!

San Telmo Market & Graffiti Buenos Aires Argentina

"Known for its bohemian charm, and slightly run down historic appeal, San Telmo is the neighborhood of Arts and Antiques, Tango and timelessness. San Telmo is energy-filled, quaint and funky on any day of the week, but on Sundays it truly comes to life. Centered around the Antiques Fair in Plaza Dorrego, and stretching down the cobblestone Calle Defensa, a Sunday visit to San Telmo is a highlight for visitors to Buenos Aires."


After reading a few travelers books and some not all recommended we walk through we decided to take the tourist bait. We arrived after 13+hours of flying around 11am to BA. Had lunch and while we waited for our room decided to walk down to the San Telmo market. (We were staying at Intercontinental but the neighborhood is not the safest. We recommend to stay at the Park Hyatt-splurge it's worth it and we wish we had). 


The market was like any other flee market in a foreign country. Did it have charm ... in its own way yes. I would recommend this one over the leather market on Florida street (gross). Different parts of the market had more charm than others. And somehow we missed the tango dancing... I blame that on the fact we had just arrived. This was the one thing I wanted to see! 

If you are in BA on a Sunday, I would recommend a quick walk-through you may not buy anything but there are some good views. And if you can sit down for coffee and watch the tango dancers...my one regret as we did not.

Even in Argentina the like the Chik-Fil-A slogan

A piece of art in San Telmo

The other interesting thing we learned upon arriving is that the graffiti is EVERYWHERE some is bad but the majority is amazing. You can take a graffiti walking tour or just keep your eyes open it's basically on every other building!