Greetings from my back yard office!
I have been delighting in the summer time "schedule" of a teacher. I still make five salads a week and love them so much for my lunch, but have recently discovered that Cumin is a cooling spice in Ayurveda, and my dosha imbalance suggests that I need more of a warming spice. So I have switched up my usual dressing to include turmeric. Oh, the things that can be learned when you have time. I am pondering whether the less than desirable conditions of being a French teacher who pushes a cart around from room to room are worth surviving when you get to have July and August. Today I feel like yes, but ask me in late August, or November, or late May and I'm sure I'll be singing a very different tune. In the meantime, for you non-teachers, don't hate us for having this time off. People like me savor every day, make nice meals for their husband, and love up their projects.
I have been enjoying writing my first novel. It's been in the works in my dreams for a long time, and pressing in my mind more recently. My fingers can't type fast enough, and I am playing fun games to trick myself in to writing with commitment, such as letting my favourite writers write "through" me, racing against a timer, pressing "Shuffle songs" on my iPod to find a hidden message in whatever song comes up, and treating myself to rewards like Soy Chai lattes or a new sparkly jelly roll pen when I reach my goals.
Will you read my book one day? It's light and cute and maybe even a bit inspiring.
Here are my thoughts on the negative side of being a writer:
1. Everything that happens to you gets catalogued, either in writing or in your mind, as a possible event, place or person for your book.
2. There is a constant feeling of “I should be writing…” when you are doing anything—even sleeping.
3. Everything around you becomes incredibly interesting—books, old letters, googling how to make soy yogurt, checking the weather.
4. You know what they say about the best laid plans…… you can plan and plan to write, but your commitment to your plans will be tested unbelievably every time you open your laptop. Your friend who you haven’t talked to in ages calls, a neighbor stops in and talks for half an hour with you, the car “check engine” light comes on, there’s a leak in the kitchen and you need to meet the plumber, Biography is doing a show on someone that fascinates you, etc etc.
5. Your secrets about the way you've always felt about people and their decisions cannot be kept secret any longer—the truth comes out in your words that you write. Will your family and friends forgive you?
6. You are constantly scared that what you are writing has been said already, or is unbelievable or naive.
Salad Girl's tip of the post: Try my new salad dressing concoction, which I have called
"Love Potion Number Nine"
Blend some strawberries (SO deliciously in season and sweet for another week where I live) and frozen orange juice concentrate, and add a bit of ginger root. To this puree, add some balsamic vinegar, some olive oil, and the bizarre combination of black pepper, half a teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper. We ate this over romaine lettuce, and sliced red, orange and yellow peppers... it was so peculiar yet so very yummy. xo
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Yoga At the Beach
Dear reader,
Just wanted to share with you something that I am really excited about!
As my title indicates, I have a new project underway: Yoga at the Beach. I decided to put my Yoga teaching career back on track this summer since I have the time and energy, and at the urging of my good friend, Loulou, I am teaching once a week at Centennial Beach in Barrie! She encouraged me to get started and I am so glad. Special shout out to you, Loulou, for kicking my behind and getting my 7am class started.
Basically, I made up a flier and a cost for four sessions, and handed them out where it made sense-- at work, to my ultimate Frisbee teammates, to some neighbours. And I posted them at my chiropractor's office, at the osteopath's, the grocery store and some coffee shops. It's been so much fun getting people's phone calls, and even more fun was going down to the beach yesterday at 6:30 am to meet my students.
I want you to know how beautiful the waterfront is at 6:30 am. It had been a long time since I pulled myself out of bed to go somewhere immediately-- so I started practicing these past few weeks, to prepare for yesterday's Yoga teaching appointment. I never would have known how amazing the beach is at that time if I hadn't been down-- and you won't either if you don't go. The sky is amazing, and the water is so calm. The world feels so quiet and untapped. You have no idea until you get yourself there-- and even if you have already done this, it is different every single time! Trust me.
The people that you see are enough to get you there! In Barrie, and I would imagine anywhere else, the eclectic group of individuals out is the stuff of a great movie or novel: Dedicated dog owners, giving their dogs such joy by the water as they (the human, although maybe also the dog????) mentally prepare for the day ahead. The serene meditators. The Mom and Daughter combos pumping their arms into power walk. The type A business man getting ready for his fall marathon. The deadlocked rock star on his Rollerblades stopping at the lake for a workout and some sunlight before going to bed and then waking up in time for the next night's (or is it day's?) gig. Pairs of friends who are out running, likely having success here at this hour because they promised each other to meet up and who could bail on a friend expecting you at 6:30 in the morning? The widow who can't sleep in anymore because the bed feels strange without him, and coming to the lake has been her new thing.
Anyhow, Yoga at the Beach is underway and it was the BEST thing to be able to say: "As you inhale, bend the knees and step the right foot away from the water". I had grown so used to saying "away from the mirror", which inevitably makes students check themselves out in the mirror for bodily imperfections. As my small class of students lay back in savasana (final relaxation), I felt such glee at what we had done.
Looking forward to next Wednesday. Local folks, hope you will join us! Wednesdays in July and August, 7am-8am, on Centennial Beach-- next to the Lifeguard chair closest to downtown Barrie. Bring your own mat and wear layers.
Namaste!
Salad Girl's tip of the post: You guessed it: Get out of bed and get outside! Next to the water is so powerful, but anywhere-- a forest, a cheerful neighbourhood, even meandering your downtown office building's blocks at an early morning hour can be amazing. You won't regret it.
Just wanted to share with you something that I am really excited about!
As my title indicates, I have a new project underway: Yoga at the Beach. I decided to put my Yoga teaching career back on track this summer since I have the time and energy, and at the urging of my good friend, Loulou, I am teaching once a week at Centennial Beach in Barrie! She encouraged me to get started and I am so glad. Special shout out to you, Loulou, for kicking my behind and getting my 7am class started.
Basically, I made up a flier and a cost for four sessions, and handed them out where it made sense-- at work, to my ultimate Frisbee teammates, to some neighbours. And I posted them at my chiropractor's office, at the osteopath's, the grocery store and some coffee shops. It's been so much fun getting people's phone calls, and even more fun was going down to the beach yesterday at 6:30 am to meet my students.
I want you to know how beautiful the waterfront is at 6:30 am. It had been a long time since I pulled myself out of bed to go somewhere immediately-- so I started practicing these past few weeks, to prepare for yesterday's Yoga teaching appointment. I never would have known how amazing the beach is at that time if I hadn't been down-- and you won't either if you don't go. The sky is amazing, and the water is so calm. The world feels so quiet and untapped. You have no idea until you get yourself there-- and even if you have already done this, it is different every single time! Trust me.
The people that you see are enough to get you there! In Barrie, and I would imagine anywhere else, the eclectic group of individuals out is the stuff of a great movie or novel: Dedicated dog owners, giving their dogs such joy by the water as they (the human, although maybe also the dog????) mentally prepare for the day ahead. The serene meditators. The Mom and Daughter combos pumping their arms into power walk. The type A business man getting ready for his fall marathon. The deadlocked rock star on his Rollerblades stopping at the lake for a workout and some sunlight before going to bed and then waking up in time for the next night's (or is it day's?) gig. Pairs of friends who are out running, likely having success here at this hour because they promised each other to meet up and who could bail on a friend expecting you at 6:30 in the morning? The widow who can't sleep in anymore because the bed feels strange without him, and coming to the lake has been her new thing.
Anyhow, Yoga at the Beach is underway and it was the BEST thing to be able to say: "As you inhale, bend the knees and step the right foot away from the water". I had grown so used to saying "away from the mirror", which inevitably makes students check themselves out in the mirror for bodily imperfections. As my small class of students lay back in savasana (final relaxation), I felt such glee at what we had done.
Looking forward to next Wednesday. Local folks, hope you will join us! Wednesdays in July and August, 7am-8am, on Centennial Beach-- next to the Lifeguard chair closest to downtown Barrie. Bring your own mat and wear layers.
Namaste!
Salad Girl's tip of the post: You guessed it: Get out of bed and get outside! Next to the water is so powerful, but anywhere-- a forest, a cheerful neighbourhood, even meandering your downtown office building's blocks at an early morning hour can be amazing. You won't regret it.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Lessons from saying goodbye
Hello again!
It has been a while since I blogged, and it's good to be back at the page again. I do write today a bit sadly, however, because in one week, I said goodbye to two good friends.
I didn't really understand what "Larger than Life" was until we moved to Barrie and met my neighbour and good friend, Bingo-- who was truly larger than life! A tall and boisterous man from Florida, who forever was inviting anyone around to have a chat and a beer, died in his sleep at the age of 62 after a cancer surgery while recovering at home.
And anyone who has had a pet knows how much of a role they play in your life-- as loyal friends, family members-- in fact, I could argue, perfect siblings. In the same week that Bingo died, I was with my sister, Loulou, as she put her beloved dog of twelve years down.
It is with much sadness that I was a part of saying goodbye to both of them. As a Yoga teacher, I have come to accept the notion that all things in life are meant to be a teacher to us. As a reader of my blog, it is likely clear to you that I am quite a list maker. So today's post is a list of lessons that both Bingo and Loulou have taught me in my time of knowing them.
Top lessons from Bingo
1. Get to know your neighbours. They have ended up on your street because the universe works in mysterious ways to bring us together-- so get to know them. That's why you're neighbours!
2. Be generous. There is no need to keep everything to yourself. We're here to share.
3. Make others feel beautiful. You make their day when you do so.
4. Politics matter. Take interest, and have an opinion for yourself.
5. No matter how busy you think you are, you always have time to talk to others. So stop and chat a while-- there is so much to be learned from our small chats.
6. Do everything with music that you love on in the background.
7. If you love to eat it, screw whether it is good for you or not-- just enjoy. There must be health in the joy that a certain food brings you that surpasses the nutrional value in it!
Top lessons from Loulou the dog:
1. Wake up each day, excited for what is about to happen.
2. Go with the flow—the details of where you end up don’t matter too much if you have the bare necessities with you.
3. Have all of the daily essentials for self care: lots of sleep, a good walk, just enough to eat, plenty of water, companionship and a good poop.
4. When you see someone you love, let them know it in your body language and on your face.
5. Life is all about the simple things that have cannot be bought—friendships, love, a yummy snack, a long walk in nature, being curious of what is out there around you, a back rub from someone you love.
6. When something gets under your skin, just shake it off.
7. Loyalty is an exemplary character trait. Be loyal to those you love.
8. Just be yourself—and allow yourself to be vulnerable. In taking the risk of being vulnerable, we can truly achieve intimacy, trust and closeness.
9. Don’t follow instructions if they do not align with your truest wishes.
10. Nothing is so awful in the world that it cannot be made much better by taking a nap.
Salad girl's tip of the post: When you have to say goodbye to someone, write them a letter to thank them for all they have taught you. This activity can be done much later than at the time if their death, and can be a repeat activity.
It has been a while since I blogged, and it's good to be back at the page again. I do write today a bit sadly, however, because in one week, I said goodbye to two good friends.
I didn't really understand what "Larger than Life" was until we moved to Barrie and met my neighbour and good friend, Bingo-- who was truly larger than life! A tall and boisterous man from Florida, who forever was inviting anyone around to have a chat and a beer, died in his sleep at the age of 62 after a cancer surgery while recovering at home.
And anyone who has had a pet knows how much of a role they play in your life-- as loyal friends, family members-- in fact, I could argue, perfect siblings. In the same week that Bingo died, I was with my sister, Loulou, as she put her beloved dog of twelve years down.
It is with much sadness that I was a part of saying goodbye to both of them. As a Yoga teacher, I have come to accept the notion that all things in life are meant to be a teacher to us. As a reader of my blog, it is likely clear to you that I am quite a list maker. So today's post is a list of lessons that both Bingo and Loulou have taught me in my time of knowing them.
Top lessons from Bingo
1. Get to know your neighbours. They have ended up on your street because the universe works in mysterious ways to bring us together-- so get to know them. That's why you're neighbours!
2. Be generous. There is no need to keep everything to yourself. We're here to share.
3. Make others feel beautiful. You make their day when you do so.
4. Politics matter. Take interest, and have an opinion for yourself.
5. No matter how busy you think you are, you always have time to talk to others. So stop and chat a while-- there is so much to be learned from our small chats.
6. Do everything with music that you love on in the background.
7. If you love to eat it, screw whether it is good for you or not-- just enjoy. There must be health in the joy that a certain food brings you that surpasses the nutrional value in it!
Top lessons from Loulou the dog:
1. Wake up each day, excited for what is about to happen.
2. Go with the flow—the details of where you end up don’t matter too much if you have the bare necessities with you.
3. Have all of the daily essentials for self care: lots of sleep, a good walk, just enough to eat, plenty of water, companionship and a good poop.
4. When you see someone you love, let them know it in your body language and on your face.
5. Life is all about the simple things that have cannot be bought—friendships, love, a yummy snack, a long walk in nature, being curious of what is out there around you, a back rub from someone you love.
6. When something gets under your skin, just shake it off.
7. Loyalty is an exemplary character trait. Be loyal to those you love.
8. Just be yourself—and allow yourself to be vulnerable. In taking the risk of being vulnerable, we can truly achieve intimacy, trust and closeness.
9. Don’t follow instructions if they do not align with your truest wishes.
10. Nothing is so awful in the world that it cannot be made much better by taking a nap.
Salad girl's tip of the post: When you have to say goodbye to someone, write them a letter to thank them for all they have taught you. This activity can be done much later than at the time if their death, and can be a repeat activity.
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