YogaGlamGirl's Weblog

Yogaglamgirl enjoys Eat, Pray, Love

I was travelling yet again this weekend for a wedding. One of the down sides about being a Californian who is originally an east coaster...means that any family or extended family function takes at least 3 days. 2 to get there and one to be present at the event itself.
The good news is that the necklaces I made for the bridesmaids looked terrific.

The other good news is that I was able to read Elizabeth Gilbert's book: Eat, Pray, Love
So much of what she wrote reasonated with me...my love for food, my search for spirituality and truth, and the love that I too celebrate in Bali. She even mentions Ann Barrows, one of my yoga teachers...who has led many yoga retreats in Bali. A fabulous read for any other fellow soul searchers, truth seekers or people who find that there must be more to life than the status quo.

Yogaglamgirl brushes with creativity

It's been a rough 2 days. I think the frenetic travel schedule really wore me out and I've been in bed with the sweats and chills. It seems that the only thing that brings me relief is hot water with honey to ease the searing pain in my throat. Isn't it funny how nature forces us to slow down from time to time. In between sleep I think of all the things I could be doing, but then let them go with a sigh. Time to slow down. Time to be quiet my body says to me.

One of the few times I was out of bed today I went to visit Leah's beautiful blog called Creative Every Day. In her latest post she talks about how delicate creativity can be and how authority figures have so much power to destroy a students creativity. This really resonates with me.
As a young girl I loved to draw and paint spirals and circles and random designs. Art was play and I loved it. However, as I got a little older other children in my classes commented that my creations weren't art. They assumed that to be art my work had to look specifically like something they knew. Since then I've always been afraid to express myself creatively. I know it is in me. But it feels as if that wounded child is still fearful. How delicate I was back then.
My first significant venture back out to the realm of creativity occurred in my early twenties when I read Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way. I highly highly recommend it to everyone (creative souls and struggling folks who aren't aware of their creative sources). I also highly recommend dabbling with as many different forms of Art to find a voice. I discovered a passion for creating jewelry just 3 years ago. What a huge loss it would be if I were to miss out on all the juicy creative ways to live my life. What are your creative passions and where do you go when your soul is free?

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.

Yogaglamgirl finds Juicy Gems and Artists

Thanks to good ol' Glam.com I just discovered Jewelry and Beading which I will have to pay regular visits to along with Pulp Sushi and her cool Etsy Store with paper goods, magnets, and photos (served Raw!).

Yogaglamgirl Wants to Learn Tools for Creativity

I'm going to a community college tonight in hopes of getting in to a multimedia design class.
I'm dying to learn how to use photoshop. I think it will help me a ton with my day job...doing little touch ups to proposals without having to bug someone from the design team...and perhaps for that day...some day...SOON...when I re-do my website and start selling jewelry online.

I'm just a little worried b/c my eyeballs feel hot and my head is spacey..which leads me to believe that my body is currently fighting something. Really hope its not that aweful flu going around.
If you're reading this I hope you're being extra loving and kind to yourself so you don't have to get sick.
I'm off to heat up some chicken noodle soup right now.

Yogaglamgirl's Tribute to Women's Circles & Authenticity, Friendship and Love

Today I want to talk about a special group of women.

About a year and 1/2 ago I was in a lonely place...I was living in a new town, feeling isolated, and down. My critic was so loud in my head that I rarely felt whole and definitely did not love myself. Even if I was constantly active, doing or acheiving it didn't help. I could feel familiar clouds of doubt, fear, grief hovering...I had a strong desire to connect with women and create bonds out of spirit, creativity and love. I knew that being around other women would help me get through this scary time.

So I put a post up on craigslist inviting other women to join me in a supportive, spiritual and creative environment. We would come together as a circle once or twice a month to light a candle, share our life experiences, create together, share dreams, be mirrors for one another, encourage each other, and in many ways just be there.

As the months passed, we all have come together. It hasn't always been easy. But it has been real. I have grown and learned that it is possible to love myself. It is possible to have compassion and a renewed excitement about life. I have made it through really big challenges at work and in my relationships. I have discovered that I have wings.

Last night, I bade farewell to the group of women who have helped me grow stronger. They understood that I needed more time to spread my wings..to finally build my Zentherapy practice, to explore a future jewelry business, fuel my time in technology...and still have room to nurture my spirit on my own.

Each woman in the circle blessed me in their own way and gave me permission to follow my heart.
I cried because not only do I love myself, but they love me too...enough to let me go.

To Anne, Barbara, Leena, Lia and Nyla. I cherish your authentic selves. I wish you lives full of love, spirit and happiness.
Thank you for being part of mine.

Yogaglamgirl on Going Green for the Holidays

I feel like so much of the real spirit of the holidays is lost in mass consumerism these days. I find myself yearning for something different. A new approach to the season.

Mindful Momma has a delightful solution with her ideas for a Green Christmas. She lists websites, stores and events to get you started. If you have a sec, check it out.

Yogaglamgirl Loves Bridal/Wedding Jewelry & Holiday Gifts

My dear friend Jenny got married a week ago. Since making jewelry is a creative outlet for me, I made some necklaces for her beautiful bridesmaids.

If you're getting married and looking for a special gift to give to your bridesmaids, please let me know. :) or, if you're searching for the perfect holiday gift (already) her are some more ideas:

Yogaglamgirl on the Rat Race and Rewarding Your Efforts

Do you ever feel like a mouse on a wheel....running and running as fast as you can to get ahead? I've spent almost 10 years in technology and startups and I have always had the feeling that no matter how fast or hard I work, I can barely stay on top of things. Just when I thought I was on top of the latest software and Wed technologies, Web 2.0 came along with a whole new set of rules (or no rules) and now that I'm finally getting it 3.0 is practically here.
It was the same way in my fitness regime. Hit the gym every day. Run on the treadmill, the stationary bike, the eliptical machines, go to kickboxing class, teach kickboxing class, do triathalons. All with the fervor that I had to just to keep up and stay in shape.
What happened to the fun of it all? Where's the play? What happened to my childlike curiousity and desire to learn? So busy scrambling to keep up that I had been forgetting how to live.

Things changed for me in the fitness department after I started receiving Bodytherapy® work. I started to realize how the same old routine of mine was pulling me down physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Once my body starting changing it's posture and alignment I started being able to change my outlook. Funny, it wasn't til after I stopped going to the gym 6 days a week and started focusing on yoga and a whole-istic approach that 15 pounds of weight dropped off my body.

I also had a life coach who helped me start to step back and take a look at things. At times when I was stuck and couldn't answer a question he posed, he suggested I literally stand on my head or jump up and down for a while to get a new perspective. Every time I "shook things up" like this I immediately had an insightful response. I also learned that it is important to reward yourself. Once you've acheived a goal, take the time to celebrate and acknowledge yourself.
Thanks to Regina, I just discovered Kimberly Wilson's delightful blog: HipTranquilChick.com. and here she talks about Rewarding Oneself:

reward your efforts. as congratulations to myself for the completion of hip tranquil chick, i’m dashing off to spain on halloween to spend a week at a creativity and leadership retreat with one of my favorite authors, lynne franks. she wrote seed: the feminine way to do business that had a huge influence on me in my early business years. it is important to take the time to honor yourself for your efforts or days, even years, may slip by.

So I'm sitting here, slowly savoring a reese's peanut butter cup and drinking a cold glass of soy milk to celebrate this humble new blog of mine.

May we all sparkle and stay young and playful at heart and celebrate our victories. Congratulations to you too Kimberly!

Emotional Vampires vs Positive Peeps in Growth and Healing

Do you ever notice how being around some people you feel more positive after interacting with them and in some cases, interacting with other people leaves you feeling kind of deflated, tired, or unenthusiastic? 
If you were to take inventory of all your personal relationships you'll find that people fall into one of two categories: Nurturers (positive peeps) and Toxic (emotional vampires). 

Jack Canfield  would tell you (and so would I) to sit down and make a list of everyone in your life.  Next go through that list and put down an 'N' or 'T' next to each name.  In order to make positive change, heal, grow or transform yourself it is critical that you eliminate the 'T's from your life.  This may seem really hard, in fact, some of these people might even be members of your own family.  Just remember, your creativity, positivity and growth won't thrive with naysayers around to  inhibit your progress. 
Treat yourself exclusively to the company of supportive, enthusiastic people.  You're worth it!