The Magnificent Dance
Posted: April 1, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: April Fool's Day, Bikram Yoga, blogging, Breaking Bad, crossfit, elite yoga, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, intensity, jogging, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, simplicity, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 2 CommentsIf they substituted the word ‘Lust’ for ‘Love’ in the popular songs it would come nearer the truth-
:::BEEP BEEP BOOP:::
You are now connected to the CultFit Extreme Fitness conference call. Please state your name and title for those of us in attendance.
“Chaz, reporting from Omaha”
“Molly here! The best bodega/spa manager this side of the Hudson”
“Caleb, Cage Free/Paleo animal relations director from Red Hook”
“:::heavy frantic breathing::: Zoey …”
“OK, well thanks for calling in everyone. I wanted to start by saying all of you are doing such …”
“:::heavy breathing::: ahhhh – yeahhhh”
“Zoey … is that you? Are you OK?”
“Yeah, Chaz. :::heavy breathing::: I’m calling during my lunch hour. Just getting in my scheduled afternoon bikram yoga session in. AHHHHHH.”
“Zoey, you really didn’t need to call us from the yoga studio!?!”
“Oh I’m not at the yoga studio. :::heavy breathing::: I’m actually just … ahhhhhh the burn! Feel it! Damn! … I’m just sitting in my office with a space heater on full blast! Between the sweet pouring off my body and the humidifier …”
“Hey, I don’t mean to be difficult, but I gotta go do things and see people in an hour, so can we just get on with this meeting already?”
“Yes, sorry Molly. Anyway, like I was saying. I just want to go over the Q4 projections of our Elite – Sustainable – Renewable Energy – Health Spa to make sure we’re all on the same …”
“Ahhh, yeah that’s it. Yeah right there, deeper, feel the stretch :::heavy breathing::: AHHHHHHHH!”
“Zoey … are you sure you’re OK?”
“Yeah, I just took off my clothes and upped the intensity a touch. I’m almost done lovelies. Keep going.”
“Caleb, did you want to go over your thoughts for the planned sustainable – rooftop – farmers market … ”
“:::heavy breathing::: 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … FIRE BREATHING!!! Bring it on home, Zoey! You got this you bad ass …! AHHHHHHHH!”
“This is really distracting. Maybe we can just brief Zoey later over a babyccino?!?”
“It’s OK Molly. I’m done now.”
“Finally.”
“Just need to switch the space heater off and … there. I’m listening. Go on folks.”
“I really think it might be better if we just reschedule for …”
“:::heavy breathing::: heeee heeee hoooo hoooo heeeeeeeeeee huuurts soooo gooooood.”
“This is ridiculous. I’m signing off now.”
:::BEEP BEEP BOOP:::
“Yeah, me too.”
:::BEEP BEEP BOOP:::
“Just one … more … second. Annnnd done. Ahhhh. Alright, good work everybody. Hello? Anyone still here, hello?!?”
Notes:
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!
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 