Dance like the photo's not tagged, love like you've never been unfriended, tweet like nobody's following.

 -Adrian Clark

'tis the season

krampus is from austrian folklore- a long tongued demon that is said to snatch up naughty children and stuff them in his sack around christmas time!

"The reciprocal flow of abundance"

Giving Without Expectations

(taken from the "daily om")

Since giving and receiving are so intimately intertwined in our lives, we often expect that we can attract abundance by simply conducting ourselves in an openhanded fashion. Yet we find ourselves wallowing in disappointment when our ample generosity is not met with the expected results. The answer to this quandary lies in the expectations that, in part, initially prompted us to give. Though our intention is likely pure, we can unintentionally mar the beautiful experience of giving by focusing on what we will eventually receive in return. When we let go of the notion that we deserve to receive gifts based on giving gifts, bounty can once again flow freely into and out of our lives.

When the gifts you give are laden down with expectations, they cease to be gifts and become units of exchange that you are, in effect, trading for some reward. Thus, the reciprocal laws of the universe err on the side of the giver who shares for the sake of sharing. You may have seen this simple truth at work in your own experience, perhaps when life's busyness prevented you from spending too much time contemplating the results your charitable actions would ultimately have on the lives of others. It was likely then that you received the greatest gifts in return for your kindness. If you have trouble divesting yourself of your expectations, you may need to reflect upon the root of your inability to act in the true spirit of giving. Each time you make a gift, whether spiritual or tangible, ask yourself if there is something that you hope to receive in return. You may be surprised to discover that you expect to be repaid with an easy life, financial windfalls, or opportunities.

To integrate this most selfless form of generosity into your life, you will have to let go of your need to be in control. Accepting that while like inevitably attracts like, it typically does so on an unobservable timetable. This can help you stop weighting the gifts you give against those you have received. Giving eventually becomes a profound joy that stands alone, separate from any and all conditions, and you will learn to appreciate the flow of reciprocal abundance as a gift in and of itself.

so much to say, so little time...........

visit to las vegas was amazing. here's me with anthony (future PV teacher), misha, and nicole, my inspirations! it was so amazing to be there again and to sit in posture clinics and listen to the future teachers practice teaching and get to help them out a little bit! so rewarding, fun, and challenging. this yoga continues to challenge me in new ways every day! i can't wait to go to the next TT!!!

while in vegas, i stopped by the "little chapel of the flowers" where greg and i got married- 5 YEARS AGO!! can you believe it?! it was so emotional and beautiful- this is the little chapel where we tied the knot :)

the annual arizona regional yoga asana championships were on saturday, nov. 14th, and i took second place! i was so shocked, i can't even tell you. i don't have photos from the actual routine yet, but i'll post as i get them. here's me with first place women's champion, alicia, and her daughter, cayman who did an amazing job in the kids demonstration of yoga at the event!

this is smiegel. 9 month old baby girl cat. we have been taking care of her from afar for a few days, but yesterday she made the transition into the family. temporarily- until we can find her a good home. our apartment is just too small for her and our boy doodle. she is SO sweet. really one of the sweetest animals i've ever met. we took her to the vet yesterday and tested her for all the cat stuff, and turns out she's already spayed, and very healthy. so now we just have to find someone to love her! i wish so badly we could keep her, the two cats get along swimmingly, but not enough room :(

i'm off to sin city! i'll be spending the next week visiting teacher training in las vegas. soooo excited! for one i need a break from the studio- as much as i love it the past week has been quite hectic, and i'm ready for a break. for two, i can't wait to be immeresed in yoga! i love to be surrounded by 300 people passionate about yoga and to be able to visit tommy and anthony (our two guys from our studio in training) i can't wait. i hate to leave greg EVER which sucks but absence makes the heart grow fonder :)

i am most upset that i will miss "so you think you can dance" my favorite show that greg and i religiously watch together, and the suns games. i know, tv is my life, eh? yoga and my couch pretty much do it for me. i have a snuggly little cat that fits in there somewhere. well, i'll be sure to post photos of my getaway, have a lovely november beginning!

today i took it easy. i taught the 5:30 am class, got some work done at the studio, came home around 9 am and took a bath, then crawled back into bed. i slept until 1 pm, ate a salad, saw greg off to work, went to blockbuster to rent movies and whole foods for groceries. when i came home, i popped in "sunshine cleaning" made a plate of grapes, drunken goat cheese, figs, and olives and settled in for an afternoon of plegggia. (spelling like an italian, now, eh?) after this i shaved my kneecaps (side note: i haven't shaved my legs in 5 years save the once after teacher training- and my leg hair is all blonde and barely noticeable- accept on my kneecaps where it is BLACK. wtf.), took a nice walk with my girl nicole, cleaned the house, and am now doing laundry while watching jeopardy (daily ritual) and pontificating about my meaningless day that i don't know why anyone would want to read about. i guess today i am celebrating the little moments. the insignificant bits that all add up to a lifetime. it is interesting. i am looking forward to lots going on soon: kids class this saturday, karma class next friday (costume contest included!), then heading off to sin city for a week at teacher training. i love my life. it often goes unappreciated by myself but today i love it. cheers.

(left) mi yoga familia

(right) my recent standing bow

it kills me to see this how close to locking that damn knee i am!

sunday funday. though it is normally my day off, i happily accepted to teach one class today for my lovely friend terri, as she owns several AMAZING restaurants in the area and offered me to have dinner at one if i teach for her today! so, i gladly said yes! we are going to eat at wildfish tonite, a very classy place in scottsdale where i will be sure to order my fill of champagne and oysters :) yesterday was a big day for me. i couldn't hardly sleep friday nite because my mind was a-reeling about saturday. first off, it was my first time leading the advanced class on my own- and with the group getting bigger by the week it was frightening! what if so-and-so falls over, what if i can't help so-and-so, you know just things, but it went smooth and FAST! i got them outta there in 90 minutes flat. and we didn't skip any postures! after that, i led my first kids class at the yoga studio- and 13 kids showed up ages 6-12! it was so much fun. we did each posture in the bikram series once, followed by some fun and games, all together the class lasted 45 minutes and i'd say it was a success. i definately want to keep doing this! i am celebrating my one year as a bikram yoga instructor coming up soon, and with teacher training under way in vegas right now i have been quite nostalgic. i miss it at TT. i miss sasha, my roommate, and my girlfriends and all the yoga, and especially BIKRAM. right now my good friends tommy and anthony are there surviving the end of their first week, and i just want to be there so badly! i am hoping to go visit in november a couple of times. i definately want to go when they're in the thick of it, around week 5-6, and then again for graduation. well, i'm off to go for a hike, the weather here is jealousy-worthy. it is like 73 degrees and sunny and fabulous. THIS is why i love sunizona. peace out.

the champs are here

the yoga champions courtney and joseph were here for one glorious week and i got to spend time with them which i could not get enough of. they taught me so much, helped me, inspired me, made me laugh and ponder and all great things. i really fell in love with them! i wanted to selfishly trap them in arizona forever. we took a day trip to sedona that was magical and of course we did the sedona experience: ufo store, psychic readings, yoga on the vortex, nature walking in the red rocks- serious. it was beautiful and awe-some.














since they've been gone, i've been really reminiscing about teacher training. it has officially been one year since i entered teacher training in acapulco. ever since mexican independence day, i have been very nostalgic about TT. i miss acapulco and my buddies from around the world- and most of all my roomate sasha. we have been in touch a lot more lately and i think it is the fall weather and everything reminding us of one year ago. the next training starts in less than 2 weeks, and my darlings tommy and anthony are headed to vegas for 9 weeks of bikram. i am not envious, though part of me wishes i could just go away and spend time there and help out for a while. i loved it being back in palm desert, and i am anxious to see how vegas goes. i am planning on visiting TT twice since my boys are there, and it's pretty close drive for us- i'll be sure to post about my visits.




yesterday my precious grandmother passed away, at almost 91 years old! she is such an amazing woman- delightful in every way. I am so greatful for all the memories i have with her and for my family who took perfect care of her until the end. she will be missed by the many lives she touched.
love you grammy.