Find Freedom in the Fat-Fear Frenzy

There's something about fruitcake and frosty weather that sends us into a Fat-Fear Frenzy. We tend to eat too much fruitcake, and we stay figuratively frozen inside our homes and bodies because it's too darn cold outside to play. Because we're inside and snuggled up, we decide to eat even more fruitcake (a little here, a little there) because we disconnect from the neck down and don't know what our bodies, or legs, or arms, or hips, or hearts really want.

Then, we hear the radio ads and watch the tv commercials about the inevitable holiday weight gain, and the fat-fear frenzy nearly eats us alive. Swallow this pill, sip that herbal tea, gulp this shake! Buy the latest "toning" contraption, use it for two days, then let it collect dust in your garage for the next five years until you move. Those fat-fear messages can make us hold our breath and lock up our bodies in angst, and it can nearly trick us into thinking that just looking at fruitcake can kill.

But, I refuse to buy into the fat fear, and so should you. That's old stuff. Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean you should put your body and breath on a shelf and come back to it January 1, 2011. Don't wait -- Listen to your body now.

Love Yourself
(and your tastebuds.) I know what you were thinking above, "Well, I don't eat fruitcake." Okay, I don't either, but some do, so fill in the blank with whatever salty or sweet treat you love. Then, enjoy it in moderation. On a plate in front of people -- not secretly sneaking it in the kitchen when no one's looking. And, if you don't dig it, don't eat it! Aunt Myrtle might serve up a colorful spread, but listen to your body to see what texture/taste and portion your body really wants and needs. Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean you should feel stuffed. But, you know what? It is the holiday season, so if you overindulge once or twice, forgive yourself and let it go. Lastly, when your belly and tastebuds are satisfied, fill yourself up in other ways -- take a nap, get crafty with wrapping gifts, write in your journal, call an old friend, or tune into how your body might want to MOVE:


Move Your Body
Commit to carve out time in your busy holiday schedule for regular physical activity -- not to burn calories -- but to make yourself feel alive and energetic and joyful. You don't have to kill yourself. Move for the right reasons. You'll sleep better and respect what your body's saying when you stay connected. If you're not a regular exerciser, that's okay. Start now -- tune into your breath, and practice letting your body tell you what it needs: flow in yoga, shake it in a dance class, walk and discover your neighborhood, push-pull your muscles via weight training, play fetch with your pup. And, to get ahead of those who wait until January 1, go ahead and try a new class (and get your spot!) before the January crowds get too thick!

Live Free
Promise yourself that instead of strict new year's resolutions, you'll stay true to you. Instead of all-or-nothing, black/white thinking, seek the middle of the road. Eat when you are hungry, rest when you are tired. Make exercise less competitive -- let your body lead you in movement. Write in your journal what you really, really, really want every single day (an Elizabeth Gilbert life/love writing exercise). Be with your feelings knowing that feelings don't kill you. Give trust and truth a chance. Treat yourself with kindness. Breathe.

And, finally, to quote Geneen Roth in Women, Food and God ~
‘Trust the process, trust your longing for freedom…Every time a woman aligns her eating with relaxation, every time she takes off her damn boots, the laces fly open for the rest of us.”

2 NEW yoga classes! ATL Ballet at Powers Ferry/Windy Hill

New yoga classes at the Atlanta Ballet (at the corner of Powers Ferry & Windy Hill)! Join me for lunch on Mondays to start off your work week with a sense of balance and calm. Or - Get grounded on Thursday afternoons before the weekend begins. $12 yoga class - You can't beat it!



When:
Mondays 12:15-1:15 PM
Thursdays 4:00-5:00 PM (cancelled Thanksgiving, Dec. 23, 27, 30 & Jan. 3 for school holidays)

Where:
Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, the Cobb Centre: 2000 Powers Ferry Road, Suite G4, Marietta, GA 30067, Phone: 678-213-5000

Who:
Anyone who wants to connect his/her breath and body. All levels welcome. Ages 16 and up, please. -- Caroline Gebhardt, registered yoga teacher, will be leading the class providing an opportunity for you to listen to your body and discover the joy of connecting the body and breath!

How:
Through a combination of gentle and heat-building poses and movement, centering breath work, and a non-competitive atmosphere, students of any level are welcome to connect their body, breath and spirit. Join on a drop-in basis, or purchase a class card.

Cost:
$12 drop-in regular rate; $8 for students with I.D.
Or, see http://www.atlantaballet.com/centre/adult_rates.php for class card rates

Contact:
Questions? Let me know - caroline@mybodyflow.com or 404.210.6752





~ Namaste

2 NEW yoga classes! ATL Ballet at Powers Ferry/Windy Hill

New yoga classes at the Atlanta Ballet (at the corner of Powers Ferry & Windy Hill)! Join me for lunch on Mondays to start off your work week with a sense of balance and calm. Or - Get grounded on Thursday afternoons before the weekend begins. $12 yoga class - You can't beat it!

When:
Mondays 12:15-1:15 PM
Thursdays 4:00-5:00 PM

Where:
Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, the Cobb Centre: 2000 Powers Ferry Road, Suite G4, Marietta, GA 30067, Phone: 678-213-5000

Who:
Anyone who wants to connect his/her breath and body. All levels welcome. Ages 16 and up, please. -- Caroline Gebhardt, registered yoga teacher, will be leading the class providing an opportunity for you to listen to your body and discover the joy of connecting the body and breath!

How:
Through a combination of gentle and heat-building movement and poses, centering breath work, and a non-competitive atmosphere, students of any level are welcome to connect their body, breath and spirit. Join on a drop-in basis, or purchase a class card.

Cost:
$12 drop-in regular rate; $8 for students with I.D.
Or, see http://www.atlantaballet.com/centre/adult_rates.php for class card rates

Contact:
Questions? Let me know - caroline@mybodyflow.com or 404.210.6752

~ Namaste

On Meditating...(and changing/fixing/transcending or finding plain peace)

In the book Women Food and God by Geneen Roth, her phrase on presence that I believe applies to us all -- yoginis or not -- appears on page 112 and 113:
"Usually, when people hear the word meditation, they think of transcending this clunky earthly plane. The kind of meditation I refer to has nothing to do with transcending or leaving or changing yourself in any way -- and everything to do with its opposite: showing up where you already are."

How beautiful. Stop fixing and/or changing yourself, and show up as you already are. At work in a boring meeting. In your car behind a slowpoke. In line at the post office. During a dance class or exhilarating run. Or in the middle of an addiction or struggle. Show up. Be present. Take it all in. Yes, just being where you are, clearing your mind, absorbing what you're doing, and not wishing time (or your thighs) away all count as meditation. You will benefit in ways you can't really control or imagine.

I used to get so irritated at the thought of sitting on a pillow before an altar and meditating. It made me want to scream and run and roll my eyes -- I had no intention of transcending. Life is short enough, I needed some holy EARTHINESS in my body with my loved ones, not to float in the clouds. I'd escaped my body too many times before. I needed earthly presence with peace.

So, before I read Geneen's new book, and while I was immersed in a yoga training, I decided to make peace with this thing called meditation. Sometimes I'd have a movement meditation while taking a great class or doing my own asana practice. Sometimes (okay, occasionally) I'd have a cooking meditation. Sometimes, I'd have a driving meditation. Many times a walking meditation, a bathtub meditation, and a mat meditation. The idea was to clear my head of the running thoughts that go something like this:

I should have checked the stove before I left the house; did the door shut completely?; am I going to hit the deadline?; what if I ask for an extra day -- will they think I'm slacking?; who cares what they think?; if the kitty gets out, I will never forgive myself; if the house burns with Nick still sleeping, I'll just die; God, we need to paint the shutters...

See what I mean? Those are the thoughts we can let go. Sometimes it just takes a little tweaking perspective. While India's a lovely place, and having a spiritual awakening during your committed pillow/floor/quiet time is nothing short of holy, we don't have to be so hard on ourselves. We can start now. All we really have to do is show up.

~ Namaste

If you've ever dieted one time too many, or if tell yourself ugly thoughts when looking in a mirror, you might just eat up this book. For more information about Women Food and God, visit: http://www.womenfoodandgod.com/

If you're interested in private yoga or personal training sessions, write me: caroline@mybodyflow.com

Move to Feel Good

Finally -- Leaves are covering the sidewalk! I snapped this yesterday on my afternoon walk. Gone are the blistering hot days, sunscreen ALL over the body and air conditioner. Here are the hoodies, scarves and warm lattes. Fall has finally arrived, an opportunity to feel renewed and excited about the holiday season! And, in the body sense: the change of a season provides a sense of renewal and possibility and presence in your body.

On Sunday, I met with a dear mentor of mine who reminded me, once again, of the importance of exercise as a mood-lifter and life enricher. She endured a horrific tragedy three years ago when her daughter was senselessly murdered in New Orleans. She said daily walking and yoga carried her out of a deep depression and back into a fulfilling life. The familiar light in her eyes and her excitement for learning, teaching and sharing showed me she meant it.

Whether you're a lifelong exerciser or just contemplating everyday whether to move or not, I believe movement, or physical activity, or whatever-you-wanna-call-it, can bring you back in your body and back into a richly present life. Just for now, or just for your next bout of movement, forget the attachments of weight loss or calories, and move to feel good.

Now, try this: Stand up with feet hip-width apart, and take some deep belly breaths, relax your shoulders, soften your knees, take your arms up over your head and wide down the sides of your body several times....Stand still for three deep breaths, soften your gaze....Now, reach high and wide again, fold forward from the hips and hold feeling the rush of blood warming your head and calming your mind....Slowly roll up, stand wide and reach your arms wide. Hinge forward from your hips again, fold all the way down with your fingertips touching the floor, and begin a gentle lunge side to side to open up the legs....Stay on one side and come down to all fours (hands and knees). Do cat cow, inhaling as your head and tail move toward the sky, exhale as you arch your back like a cat. Then, rest in child's pose by letting your hips rest on your heels. Relax your shoulders and be conscious of your breath for a minute.

Note how you feel after just those few short movements and breaths. Wherever you are in your body journey, what if you committed to letting your body have at least this gentle movement everyday? How might it make you feel? How can you be in your body more, everyday?

I believe there's a difference between force and commitment. If we force ourselves to move (aka: exercise), we race through the routine of choice counting down the minutes, trying to see how hard we can go, how intense we can make it for the sake of getting it done or burning the calories. It becomes black and white. All or nothing. If we commit ourselves to move, we allow wiggle room to choose what to do -- but we do it, even if it's for 5 or 10 or 15 minutes instead of the standard hour. If we commit, we can tune into our bodies and say, "hmm, what am I feeling like today?" Perhaps an exhilarating walk followed by stretching, a ballet or kickbox class, or a swim or gentle yoga, or an afternoon at the park with the kids and dog.

As you enter the busy holiday season going to parties, shopping nonstop, cooking for others, traveling to see family and friends, practice committing a few minutes everyday to get in your body. See where it takes you. See how moving the body makes you feel. Explore, tune in, be, and connect.

(And, hey, napping is a good thing too. Take it from my baby kitty Kali - it's all about balance. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....)

Come back to your breath....

(okay, so that's me in Scotland, not Seattle, but I think it captures the essence of this post!)






Two weeks ago, I went to see a girlfriend of mine in Seattle, and I just happened to arrive on the same evening that Geneen Roth was giving a book reading/discussion/signing at a local Seattle bookstore. I was soooo excited to hear her in person -- I've been a fan of Geneen for the past eight years (eight might not seem long to you, but it feels like ages to me in the sense of when I STOPPED dieting and abusing my body) -- therefore, I felt like a starstruck teenager! Geneen - this wise, brave woman - in person!

Geneen mentioned a few key phrases that evening which I've highlighted in quotation marks below -- then I've followed up with my own comments:

"Treat yourself with kindness & curiosity" -- Everytime I remind myself to be kind and curious with myself, whether it's relating to why I'm super irritable or anxious, or feeling like I could eat a whole damn cake, the edge softens. I breathe, I relax, I can forgive myself for feeling overwhelmed or fearful or anxious or whatever. I question what happened, I see what happened and why I feel xyz, then I can move on without negativity winning (or that whole damn cake - a slice will do, thank you!).

"We change the channel" or "Take the edge off" by stuffing, starving, binging, picking, purging, drinking, shopping, or fill-in-the-blank however one might run away from xyz. Why do we leave ourselves? Because we think it's too painful to sit, to breathe through it, to brainstorm how to change it, or even scarier, if we can't control it, we think we can't handle the unknown or how to "be" with it. Heavy stuff, I know. But, from my own journey, I truly believe there's a loveliness waiting to be discovered, waiting to be "tapped into", waiting to be brought to life. Just breathe and try being with it.

"Feelings don't kill us." -- You can say that again, and again, and again. And again. I'm not saying I have the answer, the magic key to ultimate bliss, to transcending and levitating. But, I do believe that the breath, staying with the breath, which helps you to stay with your sacred essence, helps you to get through the pain, the shit, the unknown. Come back to your breath, come back to your breath.

You might notice a consistent theme here. Breathe. Whether you struggle with anxiety or depression, are battling disordered eating or bad body thoughts, or simply have a to-do list that never seems to lighten, get in touch with your breath. I promise it's a major player in healing and thriving.

Lastly, to delve deeper into Geneen's latest bestseller, Women Food and God, I look forward to launching this fall's 4-week book club + yoga series starting this Saturday, October 30. While we'll discuss WFG, the bulk of our time will be spent breathing, moving, stretching, being and connecting. We have a couple spaces remaining -- don't miss out! If you're interested in connecting with your body and breath and spirit to help create a better relationship with food/body image, check out the following info! http://listentoyourbodyflow.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-club-yoga-read-talk-move-breathe.html

Facebook, Computers, Gadgets & Connecting

Someone (from Facebook) wrote to me insinuating that my blogs tend to be body-and-women-focused. Really? Good job noticing! While, I'm not really sure what he meant by it -- as if to say I should be writing about my personal Friday night plans or my favorite eye candy (mystery novels) -- he's on the mark.

I'm fascinated with how we live (or don't live) in our bodies, and being in your body isn't just for women! Men, you can use a dose of listening to your body too! And, I tend to write for women because, hellew, I've got experience in that area. That's why I decided to create my business to help others find peace and energy in their bodies, and therein, their lives. Lo and behold, I created a blog that happens to be connected to Facebook where we all tend to connect in random and sometimes energy-sucking ways.

Like many of you probably, I have a love-and-hate relationship with computers and gadgets like Blackberries, iPhones, etc. They allow us to dive into a world of knowledge, videos, games, news and the all-consuming social networking. I think it's magnificent to have the world at our fingertips, but I think it's a shame sometimes our fingers are the only ones dancing.

If you read this by chance, take a moment to turn away from the computer (or iPad or B-berry), shut down the Twitter window, and forget browsing for the latest-and-greatest coupons. Take a deep breath that goes all the way down into your belly. Now, see if you can exhale. Let go. Let go of the drama. Take a few more deep breaths and notice how your body feels --

*How are your shoulders?
*Your jaw?
*Is your face relaxed or are your brows in a furrow?
*What about your spine - are you tall and awake or slumped?
*Now take note of your legs. Could they stretch? Walk, Kick, Run, Dance?

*What happens when you follow your body?
*How do you feel when you stay stuck?

Come back to your breath. That's all you really have to do. It will lead you to stay and continue browsing (which I'm not knocking, I'm just saying!). It will lead you to get up and get moving. It will lead you to your truth, your energy, your gut, your hunch. Take time to tune in, to check in, to connect with yourself. There's nothing Greater.

Disease is inertia. Healing is movement. If you put the body in motion, you will change. You are meant to move: from flowing to staccato, through chaos into lyrical and back into the stillness from which all movement comes. ~ Gabrielle Roth

12-week Women's Group

Here's another *nourishing* opportunity for anyone who wants to steer clear of the diet lifestyle and yet find a new relationship with feeding and sustaining herself (hey guys, there are groups for you too!). Atlanta therapist Allyn St. Lifer will be leading the following group:

Shape Your Mind

Transform Your Body
With Slimworks

If you are tired of dieting and the negative feelings about yourself and your body that result, this Slimworks group can help. In a safe, encouraging, and supportive environment you will:

o Explore the underlying reasons for your overeating
o Develop strategies for changing your eating habits while eating all the foods you enjoy
o Improve your self image and body image
o Transform your relationship with food and your body
o Empower yourself and learn effective ways of dealing with the stress without using food AND MUCH MORE!

A new 12 week women’s group is forming:

Contact: Allyn St. Lifer, LCSW at 678-925-3516 email me at allyn@slimworks.com to schedule an assessment/interview
Date & Time: Starting on Wednesday, October 13, 2010,
6:30-8:00 PM
Cost: $60/session, some insurances accepted
Location: POWERS FERRY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES,
1827 Powers Ferry Road, Bldg 22, Atlanta, GA 30339

Book Club + Yoga -- read talk move breathe heal

Book Club + Yoga
4-week series – Fall 2010

What: Read and discuss Geneen Roth’s latest bestseller Women Food and God, then connect with yourself through a yoga/body awareness practice.

Who: Anyone who wants to explore her connection to her self, body and spirit. Anyone who wants to deepen or begin her journey of finding relief from the food/body wars. Caroline Gebhardt, Registered Yoga Teacher, will lead the group.

When: 4 consecutive Saturdays from 10a-12p – October 30 & November 6, 13, & 20

Where: Anxiety and Stress Management Institute
(1640 Powers Ferry Road, Building 9, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30067 - http://www.stressmgt.net/)

How: Through a series of reading, talking, meditating, moving and breathing, we’ll gently touch upon and nourish our true appetites and deep feelings found in our bodies, hearts and breath. No yoga experience necessary. This is not a therapy group but a safe group to explore your relationship with food, your self, body and spirit.

Why: In addition to embracing Geneen Roth’s famous non-dieting approach and her touching phrase "the world is on your plate", the practice of tuning into your body and breath through a luxurious dose of gentle movement and body awareness exercises builds a deep relationship with your sense of self, your essence, your life and your spirit. For book information, visit http://www.womenfoodandgod.com/

Cost: Limited space – Reserve your spot! Option 1) $100 total prepaid by 10/23/10; Option 2) $30/Saturday if space permits; Cash or check; Checks made payable to FLOW Training; Sorry, no refunds after 10/23; Please mail payment to:
FLOW Training LLC, 2266 Ithica Drive, Marietta, Georgia 30067

FYI: Please wear comfortable clothing. Bring your copy of WFG, a journal to take notes, a yoga mat, cushion for sitting, and a bottle of water!

Contact: If you want to reserve your space or have questions, please contact Caroline at caroline@mybodyflow.com or (404) 210-6752


FLOW Training, LLC
www.mybodyflow.com
Love Yourself, Move Your Body, Live Free

EDIN's Celebrity Dance Challenge - October 21, 2010

EDIN's annual Celebrity Dance Challenge is coming in less than a month! You can visit http://www.danceforselfesteem.org/index.php#about to purchase tix, and read specific info about the celeb dancers as well as a video and photos from last year. Think Dancing with the Stars in Atlanta (http://www.dance101.org) + a fundraiser honoring EDIN (http://www.myedin.org) to help prevent eating disorders and promote healthy body images throughout Atlanta and the nation! Great cause, exciting entertainment -- Hope to see you there!

Thursday, October 21st 2010
7:00 - 10:00 pm

*Doors open at 6:30 please come early for a meet and greet with drinks and a silent auction

173 14th Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30309

Your Definition of Beauty?

A favorite coach/fitness expert of mine -- who I've followed for several years, who's uber creative with choreography, and whose energy and spirit exude optimism, light and confidence -- has made some changes to her appearance that make me stop, pause and think. She's beautiful now and she was beautiful then, but it makes me question: How much is too much? Where does one cross the line from loving movement and strength and energy and some soft makeup, to living off plain grilled chicken breasts and drowning themselves in beauty products and procedures?

I still adore this woman -- she's gotten thousands of women (and men) off the couch and into their bodies in a loving, enthusiastic way. She's one of those who taught me how not only movement or physical activity tunes us into our bodies (therein our lives) but also more specifically how resistance training teaches the invaluable lesson of body awareness. (And, no, not sculpting-perfect-body-awareness, just the good old-fashioned knowledge of becoming familiar with one's own structure, frame, muscles, strength and flexibility.)

Since I, like you, am bombarded with beauty messages and get-happy-quick tips on a daily basis, I think we have to define what truly works for ourselves on an individual basis. Through my personal training, I teach that we can find peace, joy and freedom through listening to our bodies, but that's not a quick fix to put you on a Milan runway overnight -- nor does it promise the "perfect" weight, Mr. Right around-the-corner, job security, 2.5 children, and a sense of peace for daily levitating. I believe we all have to define our sense of beauty -- from how far we'll go using beauty products, etc., to letting our inner light be Enough.

*Where do you draw a line in having pride in your appearance v. letting your beauty shine from the inside-out?

*How do you listen to your body, your energy, on a daily basis -- and sometimes a moment-to-moment basis -- to guide your sense of truth and peace?

*And, if you have a hard time listening to your body -- or if it's a foreign concept, why not give it a shot?

You might have seen this before, but someone sent this to me today, and it's a good reminder for us all to exhale -- and thank Dove for keeping it real!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh7jsxi79pc

**********************

Breath Made Visible - a film

I just happened upon such a beautiful message that I thought I'd share with whomever might be out there tonight....(in case you're wondering about how dance can teach, heal, inspire and transform...or any connected movement for that matter...)

Check out the trailer for this dance documentary featuring dance pioneer Anna Halprin -- I love how she says "Dance is the breath made visible. Anyone can do it -- I don't care whether they've had any training at all."

This website is too beautiful for me to try to summarize, so please see for yourself. Read the synopsis, then watch the trailer. The music is breathtaking as well as the message:

http://www.breathmadevisible.com/?lang=en

**********************************************

Measure Your Energy - Not Your Thighs

I recently had someone write asking about my services, and I wrote her such an in-depth response that I decided this specific portion might serve my blog readers too. This will give you an idea of how I'm trying to help steer the world of fitness in a new direction. ;)

"I’ll honestly say I’m not a fan of measuring or weighing - pounds, body parts, calories, carbs, etc. I tell clients – let’s measure your energy not your thighs. The first time I told a client that she was a little surprised and probably disappointed, but she said, “okay, let’s give it a shot.” She’d just been to Canyon Ranch – weighed, measured and poked – before we started together which prompted her to seek a trainer. A year later she returned to Canyon Ranch. She met with the head trainer again who was blown away by her progress in a year. She was already a regular runner, but we added the weight training and yoga component twice a week for added muscle strength, bone support as she was aging, and flexibility training. This cross training gave her a boost in strength, a graceful and calming sense flexibility, newfound body awareness, and a much-needed break in her busy day as a CEO. Yes, she got compliments over and over on how she "looked", but we both knew the stress relief benefits and the strength she discovered she had were the biggest things to smile about."

So, throw away your scales, forget the tape measure, and stop driving yourself crazy with Points. I believe this intuitive approach to fitness -- listening to your body, finding your internal/external edge -- is a more loving and sustainable approach to fitness from the inside-out.

What is Your Word?

I'm not giving anything away by saying that in the movie Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert shares an inside "joke" of sorts with her Italian friends that goes like this: "What is your word?" Then, you have to think of a word that describes yourself or an object besides the person/object's real name. For example, for California, you might say its word is "wine". Or, for Vince Vaughn, I'd say his word would be "adorable" (this is all subjective, ok?). Or, Mother Theresa, "generous". Make sense?

What would your word be? Think about it. And, just one word that makes sense in all or most areas of your life. I won't spoil it by telling EG's word -- you've gotta see the movie all the way to the end. :)

My word -- Connected. And, I don't mean I'm connected in the name-dropping sense. I just mean I try to stay connected to myself, my heart, my breath, my body, and special loved ones on a daily basis. It takes reminding and practice, and I'm completely human -- I slip up and forget sometimes. And, while I have tended to navel gaze quite a few times in my life, I don't believe connected always means to be so deep and serious. Simply present, hopeful, mindful and living with good intentions.

So, how are you connected? To your breath, your self, your body, your heart, your loved ones?

FLOW - forum and free video!

Hey, weekend warriors, FLOW's got two updates - See below!

#1) FLOW Training's website - http://www.mybodyflow.com/ - just blossomed a bit, which includes a new FORUM for discussion - http://flowforum.mybodyflow.com/user/Discussions.aspx?id=250807 - I'm the moderator for this community and would love to discuss fitness, healing through movement, yoga, or whatever you want re: listening to your body. You can post anonymously too if you're more comfortable that way.

#2) FLOW's got a FLIP cam and some fitness clips that will be uploaded soon...stay tuned. In the meantime:

* feel free to make a request for a short "video" (ex: stretch, yoga, breathwork, power step, etc.), and it will be added to the "shoot" list.

* the first person who requests a video tailored to her
preferences receives it free!

* personal fitness videos are available especially for you for a fee depending on the length and type of workout.

* Write FLOW for a chance to win a free personal video, to make a request for a short video posted on this site, or to inquire about cost!

Thanks for reading - I'm off to catch up with a new-mom friend and take a fun step class to start off my weekend just right! ;)

Love What You Do

My new hairstylist reminded me of one of life's most simple yet great lessons on Saturday. It rings true in one of my favorite Rumi quotes: "Let the beauty we love be what we do."

Another way of saying it, do what interests you, what you love, and you'll thrive. This lesson could apply to your work, your hobbies, your cooking, your organization (or lack thereof) and, naturally, your exercise/movement/physical activity. Call me an idealist, but I believe this theory. Of course, we've gotta pay our taxes (I do not consider numbers as something that interests me), and we've gotta find a way to stay reasonably balanced in our health, occupation and relationships. Speaking of health, and more specifically, fitness:

Say you loathe lifting weights at the gym, but you love to dance. Do you what you love (dance), and then seek out a great Pilates class/instructor to help you maintain all-over strength so you can boogy, or leap, or twirl, or tap to your heart's content with strength and body awareness.

Say you're bored to tears on a treadmill, but you love fresh air and flowers. Get outside, and pound the pavement! Invest in some quality workout gear depending on the season, and make the earth your home, your haven.

Say you love to snow ski, but you live in Atlanta. Get a Wii. Yes, if it makes you feel joy while you move and feel alive in your body, it's worth the price even if you're not into Guitar Hero.

Speaking of, say you love to sing or play music, but you have a hard time "getting-the-potato-off-the-couch", I guarantee you that if you get creative with a unique playlist for yourself, you'll learn to love how your body re-energizes with movement and music.

It's not rocket science. And, even the pro athletes and Broadway stars have to give themselves pep talks here and there to get themselves to move -- to wake up their bodies, to find strength in their muscles, to relish a deep stretch, and to find freedom in their days.

See, this goes to show why finding a great stylist is so important -- as they're beautifying, shaping and grooming (might I add: around your seventh chakra), it's a bonus to have someone do it who has a sense of beauty from the inside-out. Thank you, Shawn Black, http://www.mirarsalon.com/

Yoga's Gift of Body Awareness

Two months since I've blogged! Well, yoga graduation was yesterday -- a beautiful ceremony and celebration of six intense months of learning, opening, feeling, reaching, and, yes, transforming -- hence, my blog cooling off on the backburner.

While wrapping the six months, I was asked "If you could only teach students one thing about yoga, what would it be?

Body awareness. From the wonderful feeling of the large muscles of the hamstrings opening during downward dog to the subtlest cues of “that’s enough” during another pose or stretch, yoga teaches body awareness like no other. I believe that if we truly listened to the body’s need for rest, play, movement, food, work, prayer, breath, etc., we’d all lead less stressful and more joyful lives. While it’s initially fun to learn where the major muscles are located and fire them up through intense heat-building poses, it’s even more delightful to notice the subtle-yet-powerful presence of breathwork, restful poses or prayer and meditation. Like the saying “off the mat, into the world”, the body awareness one gains from yoga truly applies to all areas of life.

I'm forever grateful for all my teachers.

Namaste

You are Your First Teacher

You are your first teacher. One often hears that mantra while practicing yoga. Listen and you'll hear. Really, one could apply that theory to any sacred path of loving self inquiry and healing, not only yoga. I tend to find that when universal lessons cross paths, that sense of self-love/trust spells truth. Perhaps the answer lies not in a specific religion or practice or teacher or guru. Perhaps the answer always has and always does lie within.



And, while I'm always a staunch advocate of seeking mentors, therapists, religious leaders or gurus for support and guidance -- I also encourage to seek with caution and continue to listen to your own voice. Extremes tend to be, well, a little extreme. The middle of the road tends to feel less threatening, less toxic, a whole lot more grounded, and that's why I am writing.



Last summer, I hurt my wrist and am now unable to freely do some yoga postures. Around the same time, I greatly became aware of the power of my belly to hold my emotions -- some emotions I didn't really acknowledge, but oh yeah, they existed and slyly settled in my belly. Some people say the belly is the seat of the soul. So, when one experiences life, as we all do and are handed unique challenges, sometimes our bodies let us know quite loudly. Okay, so that translates to nervous bowel tendencies. I need not share anymore details with you, dear readers.



Then, about six months ago, my knees. Oh, the discomfort behind my patellas, after running downhills or after a weight workout, or frankly, maybe after too many Warriors. My knees just told me to stop. I couldn't pound away, or even get too excited, in a step class anymore. And, Cathe videos? Forget it.



Okay, so after a few life changing events and getting settled into some new (and lovely) changes, to define my own sense of FLOW Training, I cut back on teaching step classes, I forbid myself to run downhill when I chose to run here and there, and I basically stuck to walking and yoga. I've felt fine joint-wise and okay/average belly-bowel-wise, and backed off exercise that irritated my body, but I still wondered if the inflammation of my joints and belly were connected. Deep down I knew.



When the opportunity arose to a meet with a certain "body expert" visiting Atlanta, I signed up. He told me what I already knew in the inflammation department -- that my inflammation in my belly was related to my joints. And, listen, a medical doctor might disagree, but from an energy standpoint and knowing myself and how I can push, or better yet how I used to push, East meets West. Residual effects of "fire" (or just fiery or excitable or compulsive inner energy) can settle in our bones. And our blood. And our bowels. And our selves. For a long time...



Are you still with me? It's all connected. If you disagree, that's totally fine, but I'm convinced. Yet, I wasn't convinced when he told me to stop all forms of heat-building exercise or pranayama (breathwork). No fire breath, no step classes, no dance classes, no twists. Not even alternate nostril breathing breath.



Long story short (as my husband would say, "too late"), this man "read" my energy and told me I didn't need to sweat, I didn't need to condition my heart and lungs for health, that I needed to stop all exercise or else I would "end up like my brother" (who has ulcerative colitis, as if it's HIS fault). Oh, and strictly eat organic foods. In the 30 minutes, this expert never asked me any questions about my background or how I felt in that moment (um, really nervous by his holy, holy, holy energy, which translates to intimidated and not quite convinced about my decision or his opinions, hence my sweating and shallow breathing).



I gave him a few pieces of information, and frankly, I think he reverted to a chart in his head on how to deal with inflammation. Cool it off, swing from one extreme to another, skip the middle of the ground. Skip touching down to earth in finding a sense of balance.



In an ayurvedic world, I understand his reasoning to cool off my body, and I can honor the idea that "dis-ease" can be caused from stress or other emotional trauma (in my opinion, not always 100%). But, in a self-care, listen-to-my-gut world, which I believe take precedence over ayurveda (with all due respect), something felt too restrictive, too black/white. And, for someone who for years tried to change herself for the sake of pleasing others, the idea of changing my lifestyle in an extreme way felt really yucky.



I gave his suggestions some thought, but I let my gut, yes, my screaming belly tell me the truth. I will continue to exercise moderately, I will not do poses that hurt. I will aim to eat mindfully, but every head of broccoli or fudgy dessert might not be 100% organic. And, I might sweat. Kiss it!



Question the extremes. Question those who flock to extremes. Question the voice inside that screams with the desire for love instead of thrashing through another DIET OF FALSE HOPE. Listen to your body, listen to your heart. Listen to your questions, honor your voice. Listen to the wise part of you that knows what brings a smile to your face and peace to your heart.







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Move, Breathe, Be Free

I'm taking a yoga teacher training that's, well, much more demanding and intense than I'd imagined. I'm truly enjoying it, and when I say demanding and intense, I don't mean to conjure up the idea of a dry teacher forcing us into pretzel poses. We've got reading/writing homework, a service project, long training weekends, weekly classes, daily meditations and movement series to create, etc. And, mostly, there's breathwork. Breathwork that slows you down, that takes you into yourself. It helps to guide you to your wholeness, your sense of strength or God or whatever you wanna call it.

While I'm just now taking this yoga training, I've been teaching movement for 10+ years and taking/teaching yoga for about four years. More and more so, when beginning with a new client, I suggest working on a little breathwork at first. Sometimes clients jump aboard, and tears flow or inspiration hits. Sometimes folks are too antsy, or sometimes it just feels weird and unnatural to practice breathing. And, sometimes breathing makes us feel. A lot. Sometimes too much. Or so we think.

That's why my yoga training can be so much work! It slows me down and the feelings can overflow! Breathing makes you feel - ecstatic, light, joyful, grateful. It can also bring up the typical so-called yuck - fear, sadness, anger, guilt, worry. Basically, breathing brings up your truth, so it's an ongoing process. One that takes work for me Every Single Day.

I'm not a personal trainer to "kick someone's ass" or take away the jiggle. I'm motivated by a) my ongoing personal experience of finding truth within my body, and b) the little bits and huge leaps of transformation that happen when someone connects with her body, her breath and her spirit - and essentially something Greater than herself.

So, despite what the breathwork and the connection that follows might bring up for someone (though I can guarantee you it can be juicy, sometimes scary, and mostly lovely in a life-changing way), my wish is for people to find movement they enjoy; then sure, complement and support that favorite movement with other types of physical training.

Move to feel good. Don't exercise to "get it over with" or to "mark it off your list". Practice joy within movement. Practice staying present. Practice slowing down. Practice stillness. Practice making movement (or stillness) as a way to connect with your innermost sense of being alive and free.

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It's Never About Food - It's an Inside Job

If you're the least bit interested in transforming your relationship to food, your body and your self, check out the following clip of Geneen and Annie Lamott. It's not about food, it's never been about food. It's an inside job. Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HUl5eyljR0