Love is Enough

"Sometimes love can save your life more than food...like water" -Dave Matthews

The smile from a stranger, a hug from a friend, a call from a long distance family or friend, and a hand squeeze from a loved one...

The power of a loving gesture can make the sun shine on a cloudy day and make a sunny day brighter.

Share LoVE you just don't know when someone around you needs it :)

Thank you to my husband, family and ALL my girlfriends who have stood by me as I made a career change listened to me hem and ha over the future :)

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!)