Time to Pretend
Posted: March 29, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Bike Riding, blogging, Children, cycling, development, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, playing, running, Spring, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga, youth 8 CommentsIt is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them-
In some ways learning how to be happy daily is a lot like learning how to ride a bike; there is a learning curve, and you are going to crash.
There is infinite wisdom, innocence of a child learning how to ride a bike, if we can pay attention long enough (stop taking videos – updating status …) and watch?!? Kids have the keen ability to show us what the true ‘secret’ to happiness is. By kindly placing our adult baggage aside, witness ‘happiness’ as the little ones roll on … Believe in yourself (everyday) and Practice (everyday). A child learning how to ride a bike doesn’t know and quite frankly doesn’t care that there are a plethora of different pathways to achieve happiness: kissing a loved one in the morning, holding hands, meditation, mindfulness, spiritual awakening, whatever. A child simply wants you to experience what they are feeling in this moment; “I believe I can do this bike riding thing, I’m smiling and I am true to myself.”
Notes:
Believe in yourself this morning and Practice, everyday. Be well and have a great weekend.
Sweep
Posted: March 27, 2013 Filed under: Yoga | Tags: blogging, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, gardening, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, nature, paleo, passion, pilates, running, trail running, walking, Weeds, whole foods, WOD, yoga 5 CommentsCan words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring-
For many, it’s rather easy to spot the clutter that surrounds them: “Oh look! A Runners World magazine from April 2004!” Too many gadgets, stacks of tired magazines, shot glasses from travels far and wide; some may be treasure, most of it is trash.
In our personal gardens, our yoga practice, even if we have little or no practical knowledge, we are able to differentiate the “weeds” from the “turnips“. Over the years, through gentle and attentive practice we can spot in the tiniest sprout of green breaking the earth whether it is a tasty zucchini or another annoying weed (dandelion wine anyone?!?). We plant our gardens to suit our unique individual tastes, why not in our yoga practice or whatever else you are going to enjoy today?
Our inner spirit as well as the way in which we present ourselves to the (insert something that resonates with you this lovely Wednesday morning here ______) world needs to be picked and tossed away every so often. Only You can plant the garden of your heart and only You can choose the way in which you weed the garden of your life.
Notes:
This is a really broad conversation to have with yourself and one that I have often. All of us are exposed to new ideas, new poses, new movements all of the time. Ask yourself this question today before you pick a new workout from Shape magazine or a trendy yoga pose from some random blog-o-post: Will this make me happy?!?
Be well today!
Red Light
Posted: March 26, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, Kiss, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, minimalist, motivation, musings, natural, passion, perspective, philosophy, purpose, simplicity, trail running, whole foods, WOD, yoga 8 CommentsA kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous-
The little things in life. The sound of your cleats clicking purposely into your pedals, the wash of riding through a freshly formed puddle, the sound of tree branches playing briskly in the wind, are music to my ears.
The little things in life. The sound of silence during an early morning run, the gentle flight of seeing the first blue jay of spring, an optimistic robin persuades me to perform an aria with her during the final miles.
The little things in life. The sound of your wife blow drying her hair early on a Saturday morning, the snap of an eyeliner case, the sound of shaking an empty bottle of hand lotion, truly music to my ears. The continuo: the little one’s bedroom door opening sneakily and shutting with a giggle, a gust of wind across the siding, the last drop of coffee pouring into a porcelain cup. The little things are what we remember of this Life.
The large events in our personal lives have their place as well. Finishing and running a personal best 10k, belonging in the lead group before the start of a marathon, finishing your first century ride of the year. However, even the large events are assembled craftily from many little “things“. The rush to the local emergency room and the stillness of the air in such a sterile environment, the brave face you try to present to the caring staff, the small choked cry and the sound of tears dropping with purpose on a medical tray, the snap of a joint being dutifully put back into place, the sound of thread being pulled through the wound, the way your loved one holds your hand tight. The little things.
Notes:
These little things we neglect, are Everything.
Kindly Let Go
Posted: March 25, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, whole foods, WOD, yoga 21 CommentsSick of it whatever it’s called sick of the names. I dedicate every pore to what’s here-
Beginning again is difficult work.
There is another way to approach the idea of “beginning again“. One that very well may be just as difficult, risky, tedious and rich … We can begin anew by “being kind” not only to ourselves but to those close by.
In our ordinary day-to-day encounters, at work, the gym or with our friends and family, we have countless opportunities to practice being kind, beginning again, building new relationships with ourselves and with those around us. Every morning we rise for the long day ahead, we can start fresh, letting go, beginning again.
When we embrace kindness, (beginning again) we encounter opportunities for deeper connections we very well may have missed in the past.
Notes:
To begin again is to let go of the belief that we can change what has already happened. To be willing to begin again this morning is to accept the harsh truth of our intentions and to do our best to stop berating ourselves endlessly. To begin again, takes kindness.
Life is Better
Posted: March 22, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, books, Buddha, Buddhism, culture, exercise, fitness, freshly pressed, Freshly Pressed is Overrated, Goal setting, goals, happiness, health, hipster, hope, inspiration, Knowledge, life, love, lululemon, marathon, Media, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 16 CommentsBut he who has not first turned away from his wickedness, who is not tranquil and subdued, or who’s mind is not at rest, he can never obtain the Self by knowledge-
You belong here, Right now.
We all want to change in major ways. We want to be as thin as a sibling, a co-worker. As beautiful as the latest celebrities and as creative as the producers who make their inspiring films. We want to blaze trails as Kathrine Switzer once did and be still as Buddha.
Ambition in life is beautiful although it does have a Dark Side … All of us harbor the feelings of wanting to be like “somebody“. No outside goal, however noble, can ever make us feel complete in life. I want you to know that today, you are Somebody.
A small “thing” can and will go a long way in your adventurers this weekend. It doesn’t take an ambitious, grandiose goal to create a ripple effect in the stream of Life. Take your socks off and feel free to simply dip your big toe in. Everything is interconnected in life, be brave enough today to take the first small step. This may be ten minutes of yoga this morning or even going for a walk this evening. Immerse yourself in the wonderful effect of simple actions. Ten minutes too long? Maybe we can start by being in stillness, connected to our breath for one minute each and every morning?
Notes:
Today, you are creating a ripple effect in your life, initiating change not only in yourself, but in the stream of life we all swim in. Be well this weekend.
CultFit 