O morro não tem vez
Posted: February 25, 2014 Filed under: Meditation, Yoga | Tags: blogging, compassion, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, freshly pressed, happiness, health, karma, Karma yoga, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, Mindfulness, motivation, musings, natural, nature, New Age, Omaha, paleo, passion, pilates, running, Seva, whole foods, yoga 5 CommentsI know you’re tired but come, this is the way-
Moment of unfettered honesty: Writing and discussing the concepts of Seva, Karma Yoga, Mindfulness and Meditation are seemingly tedious and self-serving. I acknowledged and respect, that I have ‘turned off’ and alienated many of you taking the time to read today, talking about “New Age” voodoo bullsh!t.
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It occurred to me recently, standing in line at Whole Foods, scanning the trendy magazines, as I placed a pound and a half of ground buffalo on the conveyor … How I noticeably cringe at the idea of sounding –New Age- Spiritual – Holistic – Whatever. I noticed how hard I work not to be seen as “Whatever” in any way.
The “thing” is, I know what I dislike about the “Whatever” stereotype(s) – it’s not the practice or the flavor of the month yoga asanas that are being taught – but how they are being presented to us. Take a look around you at the natural foods store.
Why is our culture obsessed with outward actions instead of using “Whatever” as a framework of inward exploration? I recall a conversation before yoga class and hearing a fellow class member saying, “I always wanted to learn how to meditate and now that “society” thinks it’s okay – I’m going to do it.”
These twenty words made me pause and think, how the setting within which we are exposed to “something” can be both deterring and supportive, and the way in which we are exposed plays an important role.
Daily Meditation:
There is “Whatever” for everyone.
Seva, Karma Yoga, Mindfulness and Meditation provide a means for myself to investigate my mind, maybe “Whatever” then, is perhaps, something each one of us can benefit from in this “vanity clad” oriented culture we marinate ourselves in.
Logged (On)
Posted: February 19, 2014 Filed under: Meditation, Yoga | Tags: blogging, compassion, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, happiness, health, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, passion, perspective, recovery, running, trail running, walking, whole foods, yoga 15 CommentsI believe that truth has only one face: that of a violent contradiction-
Social Experiment: Arrive 5-10 minutes early to your next yoga class and simply look around the parking lot, take a moment to observe how many people are on their phones – doing whatever – instead of walking inside, setting up their mats and chatting with their fellow students. People can’t even use the restroom anymore without feeling the need to stay connected. A symphony of sounds, beeps and buzzes coming from the people around you … Who does #2 really work for?!?
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Last summer I asked myself, aloud, midway through a series of asanas at home one afternoon: Do you need to have your gadget on to feel connected? Can you truly practice mindfulness if you are constantly accessible to the rest of the world?
My intention during this time was to make “exercise” <– whatever that may be … A time to connect with myself, leaving the distractions and stress of my day behind. This so-called “tech curfew” quite literally took my breath away during a long, flowing summer ride and while practicing at home. Less time looking up poses to contort and twist myself into and more time being, me. Riding down hills now, head up, smiling, feeling the cool breeze racing past. I don’t need a computer cluttering up the bars to let me know how fast I am going.
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At first you may be uncomfortable with how naked you feel as you go about your everyday activities. Although, after the initial shock withers away, you will be pleasantly surprised as to how liberating it is … Not being connected.
Daily Meditation:
Make today a day worth remembering. Without having to chronicle your adventures on Vine …
The Shinning Path
Posted: February 12, 2014 Filed under: Meditation, Yoga | Tags: blogging, compassion, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, trail running, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 6 CommentsYou can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club-
It has taken me 30+ years to discover that there are many paths to happiness available to each and every one of us.
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Discovering my path began by asking myself what true happiness means to me, and allowing my answer to lead the way moving forward. Initially, many paths appeared to be a dead-end, until I looked in a different direction, taking notice of the new openings awaiting just around the bend. I started to notice that the “options” available to me came from thinking outside the box, doing “something” different, or simply letting go of past habits and conditions that had clearly outlived their usefulness.
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I found that by consciously choosing to think, feel, and act differently in relation to life’s challenges? Made the difference between hope and despair – optimism and frustration. Each “dead-end” I encountered introduced new lessons to be learned and new experiences to be shared.
Daily Meditation:
Empty your heart and soul and simply let the path, come to you.
Asteroid B-612
Posted: February 11, 2014 Filed under: Meditation, Yoga | Tags: Artsy Wheels, Asia, Asteroid B-612, blogging, compassion, cycling, Europe, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, Help, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, strength, Support, trail running, Travel, whole foods, yoga 7 CommentsIt is thanks to the odd word, here and there, that everything was revealed to me-
There’s power in good will reverberated openly to the world, which is why I would like to introduce you to Artsy Wheels.
Life, is not very easy at times and rather uncomfortable at best. Walking down our path in life, we may feel like we’re walking alone, struggling with each step we take. Although we don’t have to struggle as long as we are honest with ourselves and asking for help when needed.
We can find strength and support through asking for help. Asking for help is not the same as complaining or surrendering in a shameful moment of weakness. Successful, motivated, caring and passionate individuals take control – take responsibility for finding the help they need in this “thing” called life.
Daily Meditation:
All to often we lament, dwell on our uncomfortable lives. Its amazing what happens when we pause to find comfort in our hearts during these moments of distress … Whether it be riding your bike from Romania to Indonesia or seeking help during yoga class.
Buckle (Down)
Posted: February 10, 2014 Filed under: Meditation, Yoga | Tags: Ability, blogging, compassion, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, Midwest, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, pilates, running, self, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 11 CommentsPerhaps the less we have, the more we are required to brag-
Do you equate being active with being important? Ever write or say, “I matter” or “I ran a marathon in the morning, attended a fashionable yoga class at noon, and worked on my memories over a nice soy chai tea latte at Dumb Starbucks.”
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Constantly being busy had always been a good “thing” in my life. I used to define myself, boast and brag in a pecksniffian manner, in regards to being able to plow through the most strenuous workouts, cycling for hours on end and running marathons on a whim … My issue with the term busy – was that I took it too far. I didn’t know when or how to stop, take a break from grinding myself into the dirt, telling my friends “no” when it came to registering for an event.
For the longest time, I simply failed at finding balance in my life or I flat-out choose to ignore it – Who wants to talk about balance anyways?!?
Daily Meditation-
Recently, the cold Midwest weather called me to go for a brisk walk, instead of appearing busy – Yoga class, cycling, running around and writing. Going for a walk simply felt right. I didn’t have to show up somewhere to prove anything, to anyone.
CultFit 