YogaGlamGirl's Weblog

In a word...Patience

I felt like screaming yesterday.
Felt like everywhere I turned I was smacking up against a wall.
Wanting to run full speed ahead.
Frustrated when other people, events, situations
That aren't keeping up with my pace.
AAAAAAHHHHHH.

By evening, I finally talked about my frustations with my beloved.
He said that he was noticing that this seemed to be a recurring pattern for me right now.

Funny.
I am good about creating situations in my life
that teach me lessons
give me an opportunity to grow

(I hate them usually at first)

My lesson for this week is patience.
Letting go
of things I cannot control.

so here I sit
Taking a deep breath
and letting the art of patience
gently seep in.

Begin Again

A good friend of mine is a beautiful dancing goddess. She used to share her delight and learning about dance.
I remember one particular learning that she shared with me. It was the idea of beginning again. It meant that no matter where she was in movement or rhythm…she could be flowing smoothly like water or abruptly throwing herself around the room with reckless abandon….she could always, stop, pause, begin again.
This image of her comes to mind right now as I remind myself of my ability to pause and begin my next moment completely and fully present to my self, others and the universe.
Now I choose to stop, pause a n d begin a*g*a*I*n.

On Feeling Ecstatic...

Nothing can compare
to the joy that I feel
watching clients change
and discover how wonderful
it feels
when their body is free from pain
Un-stuck
for the first time
in a long time

Feeling ecstatic about it. :)
Happy Friday to you!

A Healer Must be One with the Earth

I found this quote while registering for a Tracker School Course:

"First of all, the healer must be one with the Earth. He has had to find the time to understand himself through the eyes of nature, learning who he is and where he fits in. He has had to break down the barriers that keep him separated from the natural world so that there is no inner or outer dimension. His prime source of understanding and knowledge must come to him from the Earth, and he must realize that he is nothing more than a hollow vessel that the Earth uses to heal. He listens with his heart not with his head, and he truly cares for people. He loves his enemies, for he believes that no matter what you send out, so too will you get in return. His care toward the land and his brothers and sisters is a powerful driving force. He is not only a healer of people but a healer of animals, plants, and Earth. His power can be felt in the love he has for his patient and the faith he has in the Creator."

-- Field Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants

Yogaglamgirl on Zen in the Grocery Store Checkout Line

Delightful post about a mother, child, and Finding Center.

And a tip from Lee Wells on transforming your time waiting in line into moments of gratitude:

Amassing gratitude while standing in line can turn your mood around 180 degrees. Pick one thing that you can see that you are thankful for. For example, "Wow! Look at my cart! So full of food, I'm very lucky to never, ever be hungry." Now add another thing. "My shoes are very stylish; I remember how excited I was when I bought them." Add another thing, "It is amazing to have such easy access to fruits and vegetables all year. Our farmers and food chain are doing very well." If you keep the inner conversation to only things you can have gratitude for, I promise you will feel a difference in your body.

Yogaglamgirl Plays in Santa Barbara

Sometimes there's nothing better than a weekend getaway...
Here are pics from the Botanical Gardens in Santa Barbara. I love that they use native California plants in this gorgeous garden:

Cool winter pool from the stream:

And glorious sunset (from the plane going home):

Yogaglamgirl Talks about Loving Oneself

A dear friend and I were talking. We were on the subject of loving oneself. My friend knew that I had gone through depression. She also knew that I took a time out from my relationship so that I could be alone and learn to love myself. My rationale for taking a timeout was...how can I love others (particularly my partner) if I do not first love yourself?
So tonight she asked me the question: "How did you know when you started to love yourself?"

Wow. That's a really interesting question.
It's not something that happened overnight. I just started being very careful about the way that I speak to myself. I taught myself to speak to myself in more loving ways. I paid myself compliments. If I did something nice for someone, I started saying "way to go!" in my head. After completing a difficult task I would acknowledge my growth and learning, even if what I did may not have been absolutely perfect.

I believe that it is the cumulation of positive thoughts that you create over the negative self-doubt or self-criticizing ones that makes all the difference. Once I was able to generate more loving and positive thoughts and more loving, kind words to myself, the balance tipped in my favor and I could actually feel the love that I was giving to myself.
How about you? Who are you better friends with...your loving self? or your critic?
--------------
Quick update...just found more wonderful thoughts on love (giving and receiving) from Everything Yoga

Yogaglamgirl's Giving FREE Bodytherapy® Sessions

Drumroll, please.... ;)

If you are a female who lives in the Bay Area (anywhere near San Francisco, CA) and you have any kind of physical or emotional pain...I welcome you to come see me for a FREE Zen Bodytherapy® Session. I am offering free sessions to those who contact me between now and 2/22.

Here's some more info about Zentherapy® from one of my FAQs:
Zen Bodytherapy® is a system of Bodytherapy® and somatic education whose goals are to align and balance the structure, function and energy of the body. There are ten sessions of Zen Bodytherapy. In the sessions, the body’s segments are systematically realigned, organized and balanced in relation to themselves and the earth’s field of gravity. Gravity acts upon us every moment of the day, and according to how our bodies are aligned it either assists us or weighs us down. A body that is well vertically aligned within its field has to exert far less effort of its postural muscles and reflexes. Not having to fight gravity to stand vertically helps free us to be just what we are.

History of Zentherapy®
Zentherapy® stems from the teachings of Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais, Lauren Berry and Raymond Nimmo. The founder of Zentherapy®, William “Dub” Leigh, was a student of these masters as well as Zen Master Tanouye Roshi. Dub created Zentherapy® as a fusion of Rolfing, Feldenkrais, Berry Work, and Zen.

Who Should Receive Zentherapy® Bodywork?
Zentherapy® is an ideal modality for anyone who has a strong interest in creating positive change and vast improvement in phsysical, emotional and spiritual well-being.* People have used Zentherapy® to: heal from physical injury, eliminate pain, remove emotional trauma, reduce depression, improve flexibility and range of motion, improve posture, feel and look younger, lose weight, improve sex life, improve in yoga, and find solutions to chronic problems that no one else seems to be able to help them with. If you are pregnant, you should not receive the work. However, Zentherapy® bodywork can be especially beneficial to women post-childbirth.
*As a practitioner, Rebecca focuses her work with women. If you are a male who is interested in receiving the work please contact Rebecca for referrals to other practitioners in the Bay Area.

Is Zentherapy® a Type of Massage?
No. Work is received on a massage table, but it is not a massage.

How Many Sessions are There?
There are 10 sessions that address each part of the body.

Do I have to do all Ten Sessions?
It is suggested but not required that clients receive all 10 sessions. However, a person can greatly benefit from between 1 and 3 sessions.

How Much Does it Cost?
$130 per session. FREE first session. Each session lasts 1hour (maybe a few minutes more). 10% discount for pre-payment on all 10 sessions.

To Schedule a Session or Inquire Further
Contact me by email.

More On Zentherapy®
To learn more about Zentherapy® or to find out about upcoming trainings, please visit the Zentherapy® website: www.zentherapy.org

I would be delighted to share my skills and work in the spirit of service and healing. Please take me up on this valuable offer.

Namaste,
Rebecca

Yogaglamgirl on Giving a Little Love

Even though Valentine's Day is a Hallmark Holiday, I like the fact that it makes me think about love. It gives me an opportunity to think about all the special people in my life and make an effort to reach out. Who cares if we have an "SO" (significant other) or not. We are all connected. Life is a web of love. Reach out and touch someone with a hug, or a note, or a flower that picked from your yard (hmmm, assuming you live in a place that it's warm enough for that). You get the idea. Spread the light and the love that you are.
Happy Valentines Day. I love you!

Yogaglamgirl on Pursuit of Passion: Creating Fulfilling Careers

One of Cupcakes and Yoga's posts inspired me to talk a little about career and the passion behind the work that we do.
I think that ever since I graduated from college I've been frustrated with my job and choice of career. I never felt that it fulfilled me or fit my "higher purpose" in life (whatever that may be...more on that in a minute...). I've been constantly seeking, constantly hoping that my next job would be more fulfilling, I would feel more passionate about it.
I've been chided by many of my peers (most of them Gen"X") for being "too GenY" in my thinking...GenX's and my parents (boomers) generation never considered life purpose in their career choices. My mother always told me: "When I grew up, I could be a nurse, a secretary or a teacher. I never considered there were any other options. So I became a teacher."
Sometimes there is a lot of relief that comes with not having a choice. I think that this perspective is similar to how I felt about wearing a school uniform or having strict rules to follow as a child. I didn't have to freak out daily over what to wear in 1st grade. I could wear my navy culottes or pants, but that was it. I didn't waste time on it..I just put them on.
Even though my Mom became an incredible teacher, many other women in my mom's generation swam upstream and fought hard to open doors so that I (a borderline GenX, GenY'er) have full freedom to choose what I want to do to earn a living in my lifetime. They also literally worked their *&#sses off so that women of my generation could have a choice. Many of them did (and still do) work two full time jobs--their "day job" and their 6pm-9am job of raising a family. Many of them gave up having family altogether because their dreams and passion and drive filled their entire world.
So what's the problem?
Well, there isn't a problem really. For me, it's just a matter of being concious of the fact that I have a choice. My choice is a responsibility. I feel like I have to do something of purpose.
The good news, is that I've been developing my vision around this choice. My own growth and healing over the past 5 years has given me time to learn about yoga, bodywork, zen (and zazen), nature as teacher, fellow women as healers and just a deeper awareness about myself. I have begun to tune in to the fact that "my job" is to be a tool of the universe and to serve others on their respective paths of healing.
There is a fear for me of diving in to this unknown. But I must start diving in. The past few days I've been plugged in to Eminem's rhythm and rhyme .."you better lose yourself in the music...you only get one shot...do not miss your chance....this opportunity comes once in a lifetime..." and then I say Screw it. I'm ready.
Here we go....