Prenatal Training & More

This past weekend I took a prenatal yoga teacher certification in Boston at Back Bay Yoga.  This training surpassed any of my expectations!  We not only were taught how to teach prenatal, but also given the sensitivity and knowledge to know how to support that beautiful time in a woman's life as she prepares to bring another life onto this earth.  I have always been fascinated by the body's ability to carry and birth babies.  In the past I have considered becoming a midwife.  Through this class I have come back to that thought and realized that maybe my path is to become a doula.  A doula is a support person for a woman, but is not responsible for the medical side of things.  I'm inspired to explore this option and see if  it may be a fit for me.  I can just see a natural progression for me into it once I get more experience as a prenatal yoga teacher.  There is a world of endless opportunities out there!

As always with spring there comes a renewed sense of life & excitement!  I feel like I am in an especially transformational moment right now in my life.  So many great things are going on, just enjoying each moment!!!

India?!

To go to India or not?!  I am contemplating a trip to India at the end of this year to do my 500 hour teacher training.  My teacher from last year's 200 hour training in Costa Rica is doing an amazing trip at the end of this year to India.  The first 2 weeks in Northern India and the second 2 weeks in Southern India.  There is a strong desire in me to go see this country where yoga all started and also to share in another training while surrounded with like-minded people.  So much to think about!  Will this trip fit into my life?  Where is my life headed?  How will I afford this adventure?  But I feel like this is one of those once in a lifetime moments....

Springing Back to Action

I am in the mood for spring!  Currently on my 14 day spring cleanse, which I started this past Monday.  Cleanses are a great way to come back in tune with my body and pay attention to how I feed it.  I always find that it promotes more time in the kitchen making healthy meals, instead of ordering out or convenience foods.  I have to admit winter has been a slippery slope for me, and not the kind with skis attached to my feet.  I have been indulging and putting on a little extra layer of warmth....so time to get back to reality and healthy eating!  I haven't been on my mat enough lately too.  The salon has been very busy, so I still haven't figured out the best way to balance my life the way I want to.  Crossing my fingers that spring will be different for me.  Spent some time on my mat tonight, stretching-breathing-reflecting.  Definitely felt great!  Hoping that more yoga will find its way into my life soon. 

I have had the pleasure of sharing yoga with 3 wide-eyed 4 year olds.  It's wonderful to see them explore the poses and the laughter that they have with each move.  If only we could all capture that child inside us, see the world with such wonder & enjoyment.  To not be jaded, instead still be open.  It's such a beautiful thing to watch children that age just doing whatever strikes them at the moment, not a care in the world about what others will think.  It's a reminder to let go and just be free to experience life!



 Some exciting things coming up:

March 31st Ana Forest workshop at Back Bay Yoga with my Costa Rica YTT training buddy Aaron!

April 12-14 Prenatal Yoga Teacher certification weekend at Back Bay Yoga


Happy Spring!!!  Hope we are done with the white stuff and that sunny skies are upon us!  Be well!

Happy New Year

Welcome 2013!

Rang in the new year at a concert, what a fun experience!  They released balloons and confetti at the stroke of midnight.  Definitely an energetic way to say good bye to 2012 and hello to 2013.  I also had the opportunity to go back into Marblehead High School  to introduce students to yoga starting January 2nd.  I got to share some knowledge and practice with senior students in their health & wellness class.  This is always a very inspiring time for me.  Being able to share a little slice of yoga with young minds makes me happy!  So I would have to say that 2013 is starting off on the right foot.  I have a good feeling that this year will bring lots of joy to us!

One of my resolutions for this year is not to waste food.  We lead busy lives and sometimes get too wrapped up in things, resulting in ordering out or heading to a restaurant instead of cooking what we have.  So this year I will make an effort to buy what we are going to use and cook even when I feel like being lazy!  Of course always an ongoing resolution is to read more.  I finally started reading "The Accidental Buddhist" yesterday and it is very entertaining so far.  Always good to try and add more yoga to my life too!  Putting my best foot forward this year to be the person I strive to be. 

New Year filled with new Dreams & Hopes....
                                                                           Keep Reaching for it!!!

Nine days and done!

I ended my cleanse early at nine days.  After battling my cold throughout this whole cleanse and having a social event, I decided that I was ready to come off my cleanse.  It didn't go exactly how I had planned, but that is life. Sometimes you have to just roll with it!  I do feel like it has been a reflective time for me.  I am more conscious of what I am feeding myself and feel a bit more calm & content.  It is a step by step journey to being healthy and living the life I want to.  I am reading Deepak Chopra's "Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga" right now.  I feel something swirling around inside me...my passion for yoga always growing...on the brink of something wonderful here!!!  In life we sometimes have to take a step back so that we can then take two steps forward.  Believe in yourself and trust where you are going!

Week One Down

Week one of my cleanse is complete!  I am still not over my cold, which has been a real drag.  So although I have been eating healthy, I still have not managed to do the early morning wake ups yet.  I am trying to be gentle with myself and realize that it is ok to just rest right now.  I have been drinking a lot of tea and enjoying soup quite a bit!  It is nice to reconnect with what you are eating.  The habit of starting my day with a hot bowl of oatmeal & fruit has been very comforting.  I can feel a shift in my thought process about what to eat and it makes me happy.  We are always evolving and growing...it is a beautiful thing! 

End of Day Two

I am wrapping up day two of my cleanse.  Unfortunately I have come down with a cold!  So now I am adding an herbal immunity blend to the mix.  Hopefully that will help, I don't usually get colds but this is now the second cold this fall for me!  I have been great with my food & drink for the cleanse...but the meditation not so much.  I have been trying to sleep in to fight this cold off, so cross my fingers the extra hour of sleep this weekend will do me good too.  I had a headache yesterday, but that may have been because of my cold.  Today I feel good (besides the cold part) and haven't even missed coffee.  Have been drinking a bunch of herbal tea and having one green tea at work during the day.  For breakfast I have been having either oat bran or oatmeal with some fruit, a dash of cinnamon and maybe a splash of coconut milk.  Soups are great! Tonight I made a veggie soup with sweet potato, red bliss potato, celery, onion, garlic, peas and spinach simmered in water with some curry powder and a slice on lemon to finish it off.  Warming and delightful!  Snacking on almonds, organic wild rice cakes, fresh fruit & veggies through out the day.  Went to Whole Foods tonight and splurged on these raw food snack bars that I like.  I also picked up some delicious coconut based "ice cream" for when I am finished on my cleanse and ready for a healthy sweet treat.   It's amazing how much energy you get from nourishing yourself with healthy food!