Life is as AMAZING as you make it

Since I returned home from London, I have been going non-stop, without stopping to realize it.

Yoga has it's own unique way of telling me to slow the FUCK down. Please excuse my language :)

The days before I left for my trip where busy squeezing last minute things in as well as taking time off to give my shoulder a rest. And the days after my trip where spent similarly, spending most of my time at work, oh and then there was Halloween on Saturday night(thanks for sharing Krista)...then there was Yoga Teacher Training on Sunday. Even with the clocks turned back it was a struggle to drag myself out of bed on Sunday morning, all I wanted to do was sleep.

As soon as I entered the studio I KNEW that this was going to be a challenging day. The studio is beautiful and warm and filled with people possessing these exact qualities. I had fought myself so hard to get there on time and was definitely not in a "warm" mood. As usual we began the morning with Hanuman Chaleesa. Tears began streaming down my face before we had even finished the opening invocation.
Hang on a minute. I know a lot of you reading this will think that chanting and the like are weird and perhaps even scary, just as I did just a year or two ago. Give it a chance, don't pass judgement until you have experienced it, for it is exactly the opposite.

Our morning practice's theme was forward folding. I strongly believe that there is an emotional and mental connection that goes along with specifically sequenced classes. Depending upon whether it is a backbending, hip opening, side bending, twisting, or forward folding class, you are going to react differently.

At the start of my practice several years ago, it was always hip opening classes (it is believed that many emotions are housed deep in the external rotators) that would get me. As a grew into my practice, back bending (opening up the heart, exposing what many people attempt to hide) would get to me, and this past Sunday forward folding (looking within) got to me. When I say "got to me" I mean that I could no longer hold up my emotional guard that I so often put up.

I learned a huge lesson yesterday morning. Yoga is a huge part of my life, in fact it is the one thing I need that makes the rest of my life better and easier. With out it I truly struggle to find balance in my life.

Find something in your life that makes the rest of your life more meaningful. Whether it is your children, your love for animals, music, drawing, dancing, cooking....stick with it.

Needless to say I didn't stay for our second class which is optional, I took a walk, cooked some food and took and nap before returning to afternoon session.

I cannot say enough amazing things about this adventure I have embarked on. It truly is a life changing experience. I recommend anyone even remotely interested in the practice of Yoga to look into a Teacher Training.



In the afternoon we discussed 3 of the 7 Chakras. A chakra is believed to be a center of activity that receives, assimilates, and expresses life force energy.

As part of the exploration we were given water colors and asked to paint our interpretation of the Root, Sacral and Solar Plexus Chakras.
The first Chakra: Base or Root Chakra is located at the base of the spine. It grounds us in the physical world. It is represented by the color red.
The second Chakra: Spleen: Located just beneath the navel, and related to our sexual and reproductive capacity. It is represented by the color orange.
The third Chakra: Solar Plexis: Seat of Emotions. Gives us a sense of personal power in the world. It is represented by the color yellow

We then created a mural in the studio :0 It was so interesting to see everyones different interpretations of the chakras and to admire everyones artwork. Despite the fact that I don't ever think of myself as an artist this was a very rewarding and eye opening experience for me.

Thanks David for another beautiful weekend :)