Practice hard. Live more.

Bikram yoga has made my life so much better. It's pretty simple...before Bikram and after Bikram are two very different lives and hands down, this one's so much better. When I found the yoga, my life wasn't awful, it just wasn't...full of life. It wasn't joyful, it wasn't everything I hoped for, everything I dreamed about. I'm not saying that my life is perfect now by any means, it's not that...it's just that I'm doing something I truly love and sharing it with others...which in turn makes me feel so good. Every day. And it's considered my job! I'm surrounded by beautiful people who love this yoga and am lucky to share this passion with my partner, Craig.

But, being an all or nothing sort of gal, I've had to work hard at finding the balance. Yup, the balance of this yoga life. Being a full time teacher, I am in the room at least two to three times a day...teaching and practicing. I love to practice as much as I can, but sometimes I have to back off when I'm teaching alot of classes or if I want to spend time doing something else. This has not always been easy for me. I think alot of yogis go through this, especially those that have made Bikram Yoga a staple of their every day lives. The thing that we forget is that this yoga is here to help us live healthier, fuller, richer lives! It's not meant to stifle us or stop us from doing what we love. The other day I heard a student who had just finished a 30 day challenge say something to the effect that now he was going to take a break and go surfing the next day. And the way he said it sounded like..."now I'm going to go out and live my life and do stuff that I like." Since then, I've been thinking about it alot, this idea of balance and life and yoga. Bikram himself talks about doing what you love, eating what you like...he doesn't sit around quietly locked inside a yoga room. He's quite the opposite! So why can't we live that way?

I know that some people think that you should practice every single day, no matter what...and some weeks that's what I do. But then there are the days that I want to get up late and have a big breakfast with Craig...or go out for a coffee at one of our favorite cafes. Maybe there's a good movie on or I want to Skype with my Mom and Dad. Or sometimes, I just need a break, because I already taught a couple of classes and my body is tired. Or maybe there's no reason at all. The yoga is here to make what you love doing even better..surfing, running or biking. Maybe you're a dancer or swimmer...whatever it is, it's not meant to keep you from what you love. It's meant to give more life to your life, to give you more energy and focus and overall vitality. I think sometimes, we forget. We work so hard to get to class that we don't stop and think about anything else.

Now, that being said, there are days that I'm just making excuses for myself and simply need to get my butt into the room. We all have those days, but this is more about the overall practice and how it fits into your life. Finding the balance. Yoga is life, it's everything. It's not just the 90 minutes in the hot room, it's what happens after you walk out the door as well. You practice hard so you can live more. So do it. Start living. The yoga, this life...it's all there waiting for you.

Love from Oz.

and maybe some coffee

If you were to look at the pictures below, you'd think that all we've done is drink coffee. (or more likely you'd think, wow, those people have an addiction!) That has definitely not been the case, but of course some of our cafe adventures have been captured by my iPhone. I seem to be unable to drink my coffee without at least taking one picture...because it's just too pretty. I haven't been on here in a while, and even today, I feel like I don't have much to offer by way of words. Lately we've been so busy, barely at home...we spent a week down the Gold Coast at Bikram's Advanced Seminar and directly after had some of Craig's family staying with us for a couple of weeks while teaching heaps of classes. It's been good, all of it, but has also left us a bit worn out. This week is already so lovely, a bit of quiet, lots of yoga and time with my love, just the two of us. Okay, and maybe some coffee.

 

Love from Oz.

our little family

One of the best things about being back in Brisbane is Craig's daughter, Isabella. When we first met, Craig told me about his daughter and we knew that this was one of those things that could and would be a big challenge for us. He had never met someone that he wanted to introduce to Bella and so this was a huge deal and of course I was nervous. (okay, terrified!) But I fell in love with this man and to love him is to love his daughter. And I fell pretty quick for Bella. I know that this could have gone a very different way for us. She could have been a terror child and I could have fought the new instant family we made once I stepped off the plane. But Bella is a delight...I mean this, in all sincerity, she is easy-going, fun, she likes doing girl stuff with me and we have a blast together. She adjusted so quickly to my being a part of the family that even Craig was stunned at times. We'd cross the street and Bella would grab for my hand instead of his and he would joke about it but I could tell that he was happy. That made two of us.

Now, there were times at the beginning when I had to stop, just stop and breathe.  One day I had fallen in love with a man from Australia and the next thing I know the three of us were living here as a family. I know that other people have been in this situation before but it was all new to me and sometimes very overwhelming. Bella lives with her mom most of the time but we get to see her every other weekend and during school holidays we share the time with her mom. Since coming back from India and America, this time with Bella has been so lovely. That's not really the right word but I'm stumped for it right now. Our relationship feels like it's changed a bit, she is now 12 years old and becoming a young woman, yikes! But coming back to Bella was so special this time, because I think she truly is my family. Maybe it's not on paper anywhere but it's there, stronger than it has been and I'm so grateful for her.

This Christmas was extra special for me. The three of us decorated our tree, put up stockings and hung some lights. On Christmas Eve, Bella and I baked a ton of sugar cookies and then we all decorated them. It was fun to share this with her as it's something my mom and I would always do during the holidays. She loved making the cookies and we put on a Christmas channel and sang along to Christmas carols. Of course Craig came home and teased us but it was a blast. Maybe it's a little cheesy but I love this part of the holidays and Bella was my partner in crime this year. She made it even more special.

I am not Bella's mom, nor am I trying to be and I'm not sure if there is a name for my role in her life. But whatever it is, I feel pretty blessed to be here with her and Craig and to help her grow up, get through the tough stuff, the good stuff and the in between. First I fell in love with Craig...and then I quickly grew to love Bella. I love our little family. Just like any other family, we take it one day at a time...sometimes we get it right, sometimes we don't. But either way it's pretty great to have them here in my life.

Happy Holidays and love from Oz.

home

It's good to be home. And funny to say that I truly have more than one home at this point in my life. But I think that this is a good thing, it means I have more love, more friends and family in different parts of the world. How could that ever be a bad thing? Getting settled in, doing heaps of yoga and teaching again, which feels so wonderful! Coming back from India and teaching in Brisbane has lit some sort of fire underneath me...and I hope it's here to stay. The yoga community here is so beautiful, so fun and makes me want to push myself further in my practice and in my teaching. And being back here with Craig is pretty darned great. I missed him. Alot.

My Dad took this photo of me doing Standing Bow on La Jolla Beach. It was a beautiful day and I couldn't resist the strike a yoga pose moment.

Love from Oz.

to treasure

Sometimes all you need is to get back to the people that know you in the way only old friends can...all of your mistakes, your past loves, your dreams, your heartache, your tears, your crazy nights, your victories, the things that you can't even remember. (and sometimes don't want to) That kind of stuff. That kind of friend. The rare kind you treasure. Treasure forever. I was lucky to see more than one on my short trip to Michigan. It was so lovely. And lovely in that 'this is something I want to remember forever' way. I miss them already. Oh, and Michigan was beautiful. I forgot how much beauty there was in the mitten state. Especially after the first snow, sparkly, and the trees bare as the sun sets. Pretty Michigan.

No honking horns or elephants...

Back home now. It's quieter here, no honking horns or elephants walking past. Everything is so clean, no one is living on the streets...and, of course, there's Starbucks. Coming back during Thanksgiving has been a bit of a culture shock, America at it's buying best...Black Friday, sales, sales, more sales, people fighting each other for the best deal. Not the prettiest part of this country, in my opinion. But my family is here, and that's really all that matters. Even though I miss the elephants, the colors and all things India, it's good to be back. Sometimes the quiet is exactly what you need. Sometimes you just need to be near family, to soak up the familiar stuff that only they can give you. The weird, crazy, fun stuff that always happens when you're with your family. I'm happy to be soaking it all up. Happy to be home.

Love from CA.

Dear India, I will miss you

As this is my last day in India, I wanted to post something in my blog before I leave for the airport. I feel like it should be profound and deep but, to be honest...it just feels a bit surreal. I mean, six months goes really fast and I feel a little bit shocked that I am actually packing my last few things into my suitcase. I have known this is coming, so I shouldn't really be surprised, but it's still there a little bit...

I am so excited to head back to my family in CA, and then back to Brisbane after a few weeks. I need the comfort of home and to hold my nephew again and to have coffee with my mom...I have no idea what it will be like to be back in America after this time in India. I think there is a part of me that will miss this place more than I can understand right now. This place has made a home inside my heart and is there to stay.

We may find ourselves here again someday. But until then, dear India, I will miss you. You are beautiful, sad, strange, silly, crazy, amazing...you are unlike anything I have ever experienced. And for that I am grateful.

Love from India.