Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year, welcoming the year of the snake, 2013, the age of aquarius.  I cannot enter this new year without gratitude for 2012.  The previous year brought me so many adventures all over India, Canada, USA (LA, NYC) to share Yoga Teacher Training as a guest teacher or a host, to inspire & be inspired.  I have so much gratitude to the students, and co-teachers who shared in these amazing experiences.  The previous year also brought me challenges for which I am grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn.

We made it passed the Maayan Apocolypse and have entered a new chapter.  While most gyms and yoga studios are busy promoting packages for a healthy start to the new year, individuals are setting goals to trim the waistline, and people all over and hopeful for a better year, commitment to the plan is key.  Whether your goal is better health, better relationships, better job, better travel, better spiritual evolution, all goals require a purpose, a plan, and a positive outlook.  While I would recommend daily asana, pranayama, and a healthy diet which includes more vegetables & fruits and less sugar and processed or GMO products, no adjustments should ever be approached with the mental process of deprivation, but instead JOY.  In fact we should enjoy the process and focus on the benefits.  Regardless of your resolution this new year, enjoy the process and have an attitude of gratitude.

TOP 10 Ways to Begin an AMAZING 2013:

1. With a heart of Gratitude: Be thankful as often as possible, to people, to your faith, to your blessings and lessons/challenges.
2. With a Dream Board: Creating a Picture Board with dreams and aspirations to help motivate you to maintain focus on making dreams come true.
3. Clean your space: Make your space sacred and recognize the direct impact our surroundings have on our mental and emotional body, so get rid of the clutter.
4. Clean your Heart: Sometimes you cannot get rid of the clutter of people that surround you, but you can adjust the amount of attention you give to negative people/situations, focus on the roses in your life rather than thorns.  Ignore the haters and wish them well.
5. With Healthy Dietary Intake: While some may view dieting as a means of deprivation, instead commit to increasing water intake to maintain hydration, and increasing healthy items at meal times.  Eventually the glowing skin, healthy energy and weight loss will inspire a lifestyle change that is commited to healthy dietary habits.
6. With a Quiet Mind: Quiet the Noise, commit to at least 10 minutes a day away from noise, either in prayer or meditation.  No gadgets, no requirements, except stillness and deep breaths.
7. With Affirmation: Our word/mantra have a direct effect on our lives, so consciously choose your words.
8. Give: Spend some time in Karma Yoga, or Volunteering.  Give back to the community, to an individual, donate clothes, donate time.....give and only then does the Universe give back.
9. With movement:  While stillness is wonderful, our body is meant to move.  Choose to walk, ride a bike, dance, run, or challenge yourself in your asana practice, take a group fitness class, pole dance class, zumba class....whatever inspires you to move and get your heart rate up.  Also move your mind by enjoying music, reading, and taking courses/classes like Yoga Teacher Training, Reiki, Meditation etc., to evolve your being.
10. LOVE: Love yourself, celebrate yourself, and Love the world around you.  The grumpy people might be annoyed by your zest for life, but soon enough your LOVE may soften their heart.

Wishing everyone an amazing 2013 with love, peace, joy, adventure, prosperity, health, and many opportunities to give thanks.  Thank you all for sharing in the journey. Namaste

Happy New Year!

Reflecting with tremendous gratitude for the incredible blessings in year 2011, for family, friends, students, teachers, experiences, lessons, and so much more!!! Wishing Love & Light to everyone in this new year, 2012. May the rivers of love & peace flow abundantly in every home & heart. ~ Namaste

Happy New Year Yoga Party!!!

Happy New Year!!! Wishing everyone an amazing new year with better health, wealth and happiness! Last night a small portion of the Bamboomoves family joined me for some yoga and braved the semi cleaned streets of the Bronx.

We had the honor of live music from fellow Yoga Instructor and his friend Patrick. Some of us began with a slice or two of the Vegan Pizza that one student had made for us at the most awesome Pizzeria! Then we progressed our night with meditation where we celebrated our victories and the moments/people we are grateful for in our 2010 journey, then progressed into sharing our goals, eased into light sweaty yoga, which helped us all see how the holidays storm/break/dietary indulgences have affected our yoga practice in a celebratory way, and approached balance postures with the joy of a fearless/limitless/joyful child where we picked the tree we wanted to be for the new year (I of course was a cherry tree), we sang and found balance, finally the long 10 count to savasana where our legs were the iconic NYC ball, and BLISS!!

We awoke from our dreamless sleep just in time to watch the ball drop in the lobby on the live feed online, share in some more yummy vegan pizza, Chips and salsa from Sandi, Chocolate covered fruits from Denise and Armondo, Wine/Juices from Doris and I, Yummy "babycakes" Brownies from Latesha, and Robert's "Bourbon Balls", exchanges of Laughter, Joy, Hugs, Kisses, and One Student and Patrick jammed out to the wee hours of 2011!!!! What an awesome New Years Party!!! Yoga, Meditation, Joy, Fun, Laughter, Jokes, Vegan Yummies, Live Music and much more....only at Bamboomoves!

Thank you to all who participated, YOU ROCK!!! Denise, you can totally give Godiva a run for the money with your chocolate covered fruits, and you are right "chocolate covered apples ROCK"!!! Those of you who walked by and wanted to join, and even texted me about it, but felt bad cuz you thought you were late.....you were more than welcome, and you are never late except when you just don't show up (that goes for life and my yoga classes) love you and missed you guys, I am so grateful to have you all in my lives, to share in your journey to health and wellness, to celebrate in your progress, and make you laugh!!! Love you all! You all inspired me to beat my recent bout with the flu. just so I could host this ROCKIN Party, so thank you!!!! I would say my cool phrase "see you next year" but....it is next year NOW! All the best of the best of the best in 2011!!! Set goals and go after them, have faith and let go of fear, Laugh, Love, and live life to the fullest!!!!

Happy New Year - 6th day of my 30 day fast

January 9th and I am still wishing Happy New Year! At the same time, I am still wishing it was the Holidays, as I had tons of fun with my family! I also enjoyed EATING everything!!!! I knew I was coming back to NYC, and committing to a 30 day fast, so like every animal, I decided to use the holidays to store up food for the winter. The first 5 days of my fast was ridiculously challenging, and yesterday I truly could have hurt someone for a cookie, but I am on day 6, and I feel GREAT! This day was my biggest challenge because I teach 5 yoga classes at Bamboomoves, so I was concerned about my energy. Well, thankfully the energy of my students inspired me to push through! This fast is more of a challenge to my mind more than anything, I am not naturally a big eater, I just love the process of eating, and I enjoy tasting good food, which is why I have been known to be the girl who is able to "throw down" or "put it away" as many of said about my eating skills. Regardless, I am thrilled that my energy sustained for the entire day, and look forward to the remainder of my fast. Happy New Year again!