On feeling awkward…

When I try something new, I usually feel very awkward.  I’m sure kids feel this too, but they get over it, and focus on the task at hand, and just keep at it.

It occurred to me today, it’s totally cool to feel awkward or weird, doing something new, but instead of judging the experience or quitting, why not keep going, and look for the fun in it?

And, as we’ve all learned over and over again, the more we practice, the better we get.  Accept and welcome the awkwardness.  It’s all good.  Know that with every attempt, you get better.

And, for the parents out there, your children are watching you.  How you handle adversity, or a difficult task – skiing, snowboarding, yoga, cold weather, smiling through a challenge, they will inevidebly mirror.

Do your best, smile inwardly (and outwardly, if possible), and have a good time. Awkwardness is cool.  Just keep going, and watch yourself evolve.

I remember a yoga teacher saying this in class once.  After a difficult pose, she said, “Okay.  How quickly can you let that go?”.

I have been noticing this in my life lately. When someone says something hurtful to me, or when I feel an ego high from a tough pose, or when I feel icky from eating something for fast energy,  I ask myself, “How quickly can I let that go, and return to calm, to my breath, and carry on?”

Next time you see yourself reacting, or getting swept along down a tributary that you don’t remember choosing, see how quickly you can return to center.

Notice. It’s a fun thing to practice.

So much space!  So many busy people going fast! So much frustration!  And, of course, the stale air, greasy food, and dehydration.

Makes me want to install the trees, open some windows, turn on some music, sing, dance, handstand, cartwheel, vinyasa, install a juice bar and a Farmer’s Market.

Really anything that would make myself and the people around me, happier, more energized, calmer, and mindful.

I loved flying to San Francisco this past weekend, with my son Luca and Baby Skye, because of the fun they were having with the plane, and seeing all the new people.  Skye especially, because she has just learned to walk.  She has an amazing effect on people – making them smile and laugh with her.

I think she changed many moods that day for the better, with her smiles.  Maybe we can with ours?  It’s worth a try.  And some yoga.  Go for it.  It’s sure to inspire someone.

This week we’re headed back to the airport, to travel to NYC for Christmas.  Rest assured more handstands will be practiced in the aeroporto.

I’m also planning on a few other things:

1.) Bringing my 32oz water bottle and filling it right after security.

2.) Bring green tea and yerba mate to enjoy, rather than the dehydrating, mind bending, heart-burning coffee.  (I had 3 cups last time! Ouch.)

3.) More veggie snacks like raw bell peppers, apples, baby carrots, almonds, celery with almond butter, and green juice for the car ride to the airport.

4.) Stretching when I need to, and wearing looser fitting clothing.  My jeggings were a bit too snug after a while.

I’d love to hear your holiday travel tips!  Leave a comment below.

Safe travels, and have a lovely, peaceful holiday.

“Do no harm.  No harm in what I’m eating, what I’m drinking, what I’m thinking”. Kris Carr

Jake over at Wanderlust, sent me this video from Kris Carr’s talk at the Wanderlust Speaker Series.

Wanderlust is releasing speakeasy videos from their Vermont and California festivals. The speakers include (but are not limited to) Kris Carr, Majora Carter, Maty Ezraty, Jonas Elrod, Robert “Skip” Backus, Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, John Friend, Vikram Gandhi, Elena Brower, Chris Sacca, and more!

Their first video from Kris Carr’s inspirational speakeasy session in Bondville, Vermont on “Crazy Sexy Life”. As you may or may not know, Kris is a New York Times best-selling author, motivational speaker, and wellness coach. Kris has also appeared on Oprah, The Early Show, The Evening News with Katie Couric, Good Morning America, and many more top-tier network news shows.

Kris is a cancer survivor who is has healed  herself by eating a plant based diet. After watching this video, and reading Kris’ book, Crazy Sexy Diet, I started juicing, and released animal products from my diet.

I feel so much more energetic, calm, lighter, and yes, kinder.  I was at the cusp of making these choices, to a kinder diet, and making kinder more ALIVE choices in my life.  The idea of eating dead flesh, started to feel wrong to me.  I asked, “What would help me vibrate higher, longer?”.

A couple of days later this video came into my email box, and the idea of no harm, and the tongue as our internal yoga mat, makes absolute sense.  It’s like I’ve known this all along, but didn’t have the courage to finally embody.  I am ready.  I am so very grateful for Kris’ book, and her telling her story and sharing so much healthy knowledge with the peeps.

I am so stoked!  And, so excited to have more energy, feel lighter, and be doing less harm.

“Make juice, not war.”  ”Change your plate, and you will change your fate”. – Kris Carr

The more ease in life, the better our bodies work.  Stress causes a whole lot of illness in our bodies and in our relationships.  This neck stretch is one of the easiest ways to release tension we tend to hold in our neck and shoulders.

Be light with the top hand, and send the bottom hand away.  Allow any uneasinesss to move down your arm, out your fingertips and into the earth.  Slowly allow your neck to lengthen, guiding your shoulder away from your ear.  Repeat on the other side.

Maintain deep, fluid, relaxing breaths to ease away tightness and stress.  Usually things are a lot easier than we make them.  Roll both shoulders at the end, and relax them down.  Affirm that your life is much easier than it now seems, and everything will be even better than you can imagine.  Easy now.

As many of you may know, I am from Santa Barbara, California, but am currently living in Seattle, Washington.  I miss California a lot.  So when this cool yoga mat from Yogamatic came into my inbox today, I was thrilled!

I am going to do a review of it here when they send me one, and over at www.yogapeeps.com.  And, a giveaway coming soon.  Yogamatic is a cool company where you can put any picture on your yoga mat.  An awesome idea!!  Can’t wait to see one!!

Lunges are amazing for posture, for opening and lengthening your hip flexors and psoas.  These are the muscles that give you a strong core, but can also pull you forward, downward, and if not lengthened daily, can lead to low back pain, and a painful, shortened running/walking stride.

Since I run everyday, I am very aware of my hip flexors, and if they’re feeling shortened or restricted.  This is the lunge sequence I do after a run, and/or a workout, when my body is warm.  After these lunges, my low back eases, and I walk more upright, with better posture and more freedom in my stride.

Do this series on both sides daily. Hold each pose for 5 breaths, or untill you feel the muscles lengthening.  Breath into it.

My husband Erik, and my son Luca took these pictures of the lunge sequence right after my morning run the other day. Please excuse the sweat and the little Luca Bear in his jammies.

Standing Lunge. Be on your back toes. Place one hand on your sacrum, and one hand on your pubic bone, gentle tuck of your tail. Sink down. Breathe.

Low Lunge. Come down to a low lunge, and gently push your torso upright, away from your knee. Breathe.

Lunge Twist. Bring your elbow to the outside of your knee, or hand to the ground, and twist. This goes deep, and is very effective for releasing my low back, by deeply lengthening the psoas.

Lunge Twist, Back leg off the ground. Requires some strength, and flexibility. Over time you will get it. It feels amazing. If your arm doesn't get to the outside of your knee, just place your hand on the mat. You're still getting a deep opening.

Warrior 1 on the ball of your foot. Arms up, relax your shoulders, tuck your tail.

Warrior 1 with hands clasped behind your back. Open your chest, back foot down. Deep inhale.

Chest to inside of knee. Exhale. Repeat this movement up and down 3x, building strength and opening.

Well done!  After this sequence you can finish with a downward dog, or move into any other poses/stretches your body is calling for.  Listen to your body.  It will tell you what it needs.  You are your best teacher.

Fantastic is all I can say.  I put a gift basket together from The Body Shop recently, and I was in heaven picking out, and trying out all the lotions and body butters.  My friend travels a lot, so this Deep Sleep Pulse Point Balm, I thought would be especially useful for her.  It’s made from camomile, hops and milk protein.

I pumped some onto the insides of my wrists, and I was immediately transported to a calm sleepiness.  Really.  It was amazing how calm that scent made me feel.  I would recommend this to anyone having a tough time settling down at night.

My friends and I were talking today about having a tough time going to sleep. I hit the sheets and I’m out.  But, if I’m traveling, or am stressed about something, a little yoga and some of this would do the trick.

The Body Shop also has a spray, Deep Sleep Pillow and Body Mist, you can spray right onto your pillow.

May you sleep deep.

This occurred to me the other day, as a very simple recipe to have a great day, and an amazing life.

1.) Smile a lot.

2.) Listen more than you talk.

3.) Do what you love

4.) Help others.

5.) Love yourself.

6.) Receive and return.

7.) Repeat.

***Only take actions, where you can smile (at least inwardly), all the way through.