Does Everything Happen For A Reason?

I’ve been giving the phrase “everything happens for a reason” a lot of thought recently. I blogged a few months ago about my desire to go to India this year. Since that post, I did more research, found a tour and signed up. I made an appointment with the Department of Infectious Diseases. I purchased my airfare. I had sent in all the materials to get my Visa (what a pain in the ass that was). I’ve been sharing the news with my friends and everyone who asks how I was going to celebrate my upcoming 40th birthday. I was so excited, nervous and happy.

Then, on Mother’s Day, I received an email that broke my heart.

It’s Been One Year

Last May, I blogged about my experience at receiving a darshan, or blessing, from Amma Sri Karunamayi. I’m amazed, that a year later, I am still not eating meat or fish on a regular basis.  I always loved eating meat and fish. I never, ever imagined I would be able to maintain this lifestyle. Over the years I had toyed with the idea of becoming a vegetarian (or, more precisely, a lacto-ovo, as a few have pointed out to me), but I never suspected that I would have been able to actually do it. And, it’s been somewhat easy!

This summer, my town pool will have a new caterer at the snack bar. This caterer is known for it’s fish and their delicious lobster rolls.  I can still remember the taste.  That’s really the only thing I do think I will have a hard time resisting.

I will admit that I have eaten a few bites of fish over the year. My brother buys imported anchovies from Spain. My daughters and I love them and our mouths drool in anticipation. They remind me of my mom and Spain. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, I ate a few. I made sure to say a prayer for the fish before I ate them.  During Easter, my Ecuadorian Mother in law made her well known ceviche with shrimp. Again, I had a few bites. Surprisingly, I didn’t have a taste for the shrimp and put them in my husband’s bowl when his mom wasn’t looking. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

Of course I’ve had a few tumbles along the way.  A few months ago I ate a bowl of french onion soup at a local restaurant.  For some reason, I assumed it was vegetarian since it didn’t have any meat. I don’t know what I was thinking! I soon began to get a huge stomache. I know the owner so I emailed him.  Turns out the soup was made with beef or chicken stock- I don’t remember. I was sick the rest of the day. He also told me that the smoked tomato soup that I occasionally purchased was made with chicken stock!  I had no idea. I haven’t had it since then. I felt awful but kept on reminding myself that I was doing the best that I could. I am sure there have been many other times when I have unknowingly consumed beef, chicken or fish.  And that’s ok.

We’re all doing the best we can.

Is It OK To Mix Yoga & Weights?

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I love yoga. I teach yoga to both children and adults. I also love other forms of exercise, such as The Bar Method. I have blogged about this obsession quite a few times! I enjoy taking classes at the gym, walks outside on sunny days. In fact, I’ve even run in a couple of 5ks.

One of my yoga teachers told me before she discovered yoga, she loved spin and was a spin teacher. Once she found yoga, she stopped. Now, this is just from my own perspective, but she seemed surprised to hear that I loved The Bar Method. In fact, at two different yoga classes, The Bar Method came up during class. One teacher said “Don’t do it!” Another time, a student brought up the fact that one of the asanas was similar to The Bar Method. At this class, the teacher wasn’t familiar with The Bar.

I will admit that at times, I felt bad or maybe guilty about the fact that I love classes like The Bar Method. I guess I feel that as a yoga teacher, it’s all that I should be doing. I’m not sure where that limited belief came into my consciousness, but it’s there.

The June 2012 issue of Yoga Journal has an article titled “Feel The Power.”  It’s a story on 

She Works Hard For Her Money

When I was about 11 or 12, Donna Summer’s song, She Works Hard For Her Money, was released. I loved this album and listened to it often. Little did I know that nearly 30 years later, this song would be my theme song.

OK, not quite but close. Yesterday, I read a piece written by someone who struggled with making a living from teaching yoga. I assume that the writer was being witty and sarcastic but this sentence stood out (among others): “I envied my yoga teachers, who seemed to be these rich, serene deities who lived in pajamas and had legions of followers.” 

One of my favorite yoga blogs, YogaDork, also featured the piece on their blog. I loved the comments.

I’m not going to focus on the tone of the article, if she went into teaching yoga for the right reasons, if she forgot about the spiritual aspect of yoga and teaching. No, I want to focus on the money. Do people really think that teaching yoga is lucrative? I never, ever once thought that. Who are these people who think this way? 

Hardy, Har, Har

On January 1st, I took a Kundalini Prosperity Class.  I learned a Har Meditation; my teacher said if we were to stick with one thing, she recommended Har. I blogged about it a few weeks later. My yoga classes, probably due to the warmer weather, haven’t been as well attended as in the Fall and Winter. I still have not landed a magazine writing assignment. I felt I could use some Har, however it manifests, in my life.

If you read my previous post, you know that I didn’t enjoy this 40 day mediation. I’m not enjoying it this time around either. And, I’m taking the easy route. I am not doing the breath technique, just the mudras and chanting.

My results thus far have been 

The Angels Have Left The Building

In my last post, I wrote about an email I had received about having an “angel visit.” I must admit that nothing happened in my life. Perhaps because I am already very spiritual?  One of my friends said she talks to her angels every day so this didn’t appeal to her.  I could understand that. I wondered if these were “special” angels.  Who knows.  At any rate, if anyone decides to partake in this, please let me know about your experience.

Do You Believe In Angels?

Over the past few years, I have received an email about an angel visit. It’s similar to a chain letter. Have you ever received or heard of it? A friend forwarded me another one last week. I’ve never participated, but, this time, I decided to say yes. I could use some assistance in my life right now.

The funny thing is that there isn’t much you need to do. The email says to have a white candle, a white flower, an apple and wishes written down in an envelope.  I don’t think these are “must haves” but I suspect they just add a feeling of sacredness to the ritual.  The one thing that gave me pause is the fact that I have to open (literally open) my front doors at 10:30 pm tonight and invite the Angels into my home.  I’m usually asleep by then! Plus, tomorrow I have to wake up at the crack of dawn in order to catch a 6 am train into the city for the Yoga Journal Conference.

I’m not sure what to expect from this experience.  My friend said she sensed a lot of peace and calming. I will keep you posted as to my experience.  If you’re interested in the email, here it is: 

Struggling

For the past few weeks, probably even longer than that if I allowed myself to think about it, I have not been meditating. I want to mediate, but I just haven’t felt like it. I have been down this road before. There have been many times when I have fallen off the meditation bandwagon, only to jump right back on it. I have told myself that when I’m ready, I will begin anew.

However, now I’m wondering if this is the right tactic this time.  Perhaps I need to force myself to just do it. I spoke with my husband today with my lack of discipline with my at home asana practice. I love taking yoga classes but I cannot take a class every day.  Yoga teachers should practice at home.  Right? At least that’s what I’ve been taught. Again, I have not committed to that. My husband said I should devote 30 minutes every day and that soon it will become a habit.

I’m trying to show compassion to myself and yet I’m also beating myself up at the same time.  Ouch!

Blog Brag

I wanted to share with you my latest yoga article. I titled this post Blog Brag because I feel like bragging a bit.  The two girls in the photos are my two daughters.  Alessandra turns 7 in June.  She loves yoga.  She takes two of my classes. Sofia turns 9 in May. She has taken different yoga classes, mine included, but prefers activities like soccer and karate.  Alessandra takes karate too but Sofia really loves it. I don’t hold it against Sofia

My girls have shown me a lot.  They have shown me my shadow, aka, dark side. I always thought of myself as an easy going person, until Sofia turned about 2 and started saying no, throwing tantrums and not doing what I asked her to do. I was shocked. I was a very obedient child and assumed my own children would be the same. HA! Laughs on me.

I think that is a huge aspect of parenting. Again, I always considered myself open minded but nevertheless, I had a subconscious expectation of what I expected my children to be. I once read an article that featured parents who had biological children and adopted children. One mother said that with her biological kids, she had high expectations but with her adopted children, it was great because she didn’t know what to expect so she accepted everything.

I never forgot that sentence. I keep it in mind when I start getting annoyed at their messy room or markers left on the table. What can I expect? I’m messy too

Make Your Dreams Come True This Spring

Today is the first day of spring. The new moon is on Thursday. So what does that mean?  According to astrologer Jan Spiller, this new moon is the best new moon all year for new beginnings.

I recently purchased Jan Spiller’s book, New Moon Astrology.  I have been reading Jan Spiller for years and have been writing new moon wishes for years. I have no idea why I haven’t purchased this book sooner! Jan Spiller devotes a section on the Spring/Aries new moon. According to her, creating a vision board or map during this time period is a very powerful thing to do. I created a vision board earlier this year so part of me doesn’t feel like doing another one. But, maybe I will change my mind by the time Thursday comes around.

May all your dreams come true this Spring!