Well, I'm off in just a little while to Montpellier, France. I'll be there for 10 days visiting my girlfriend's family. I'm really looking forward to the trip...I've never been to France, and, I hear the south of France is particularly beautiful. One of my students dreams of one day having a second home there...he said the light is especially amazing. Many of the most famous artists come from this part of the world and I'm sure the brilliant light was a great source of inspiration for their work.

I'm also grateful to say my father is doing well...he received the pathology reports and the doctor said they were the best they could possibly be. Great news...thank you for your support and prayers during this challenging time.

I may blog a couple of times while I'm in France, to share any awarenesses as they open up for me. Until next time, be well and may we each awaken to our Highest Good with every breath we breathe...

Namaste!

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Just over two weeks ago I found out my dad had a tumor on his kidney. I was shocked and devestated to learn of this. The doctors felt his prognosis was good, although nothing would be for certain until the surgery and pathology reports were complete. He had his surgery on Tuesday and is currently recovering in the hospital. Learning of this news, brought the reality of mortality to my consciousness, and especially, the frightening idea of one day losing my parents, who I've been very close to throughout my life. The fear of this, brought all of my uncertainties and insecurities about everything to the surface. I've spent the last couple of weeks in a very dark and heavy place. I think I initially went into a mild state of shock and denial when I first found out about my dad. The first week, life went on as "normal" or at least I tried to keep living as "normally" a possible.

But last week, the uncertainty and fear surrounding all of this, and the anger and depression began to surface. I felt a great deal of annoyance, annoyance toward other people, toward the experience of life itself, toward my partner and even myself...The worst day was this Tuesday when I was at the hospital with my family. After the surgery was complete, I went home in the afternoon, and felt heavier and depressed than I can remember feeling in a very long time. "I thought I was done feeling these feelings,"..."what's wrong with me", I thought. Even though the surgery went well, I was still sinking to the depths of my experience. There was a feeling of relief, but along with that, absolute emotional fatigue, and all the feelings I normally push aside, or pretend are not there, or just accept as a part of life when life seems to be flowing right along the way I want it to, came rushing to the surface. Negative feelings like..."I want to get out of here", "I'm not happy here", thinking I'm not good enough, I'll never get "there", i.e. succeed, etc. It was a deeply cleansing experience...though extremely challenging and uncomfortable to feel.

The reality is cancer can be a healing experience. So often, we hear the negative effects it has on people. But, an experience with cancer can actually be a "wake-up-call" for the person who has it and for the people connected to that person. It can be one of the most illuminating experiences, because it has everyone involved confront the reality of mortality. And with this confrontation, we ultimately confront our own Self, deeply and honestly. If our intention is for true healing, then it has us see all parts of ourselves, the places we normally avoid looking at or feeling because it's just too uncomfortable to go "there." I believe my father has had an awakening experience throughout all of this, and I also believe my family and I have, as well. It's brought us closer together, and grounded us in a deeper awareness of what really matters and who we really are.

As I was driving in my car today, feeling a renewed appreciation and outlook on life, I thought about myself. You will see as you click through the website, that I've posted new photos on each of the pages. The previous pictures I had up here were from two years ago. As I was talking to my mom today on the phone, I told her about the pics. As she clicked through them I commented about how I didn't like the previous pictures, how they reminded me of the struggle I was experiencing in myself and in my life two years ago. The reality, however, is not that I didn't like the pictures, it's that I didn't like mySelf. After we hung up the phone, a thought came into my mind. I looked around at other people as I was driving and I thought to myself..."I am glad I am who I am." There have been many times in my life where I've looked at other people, aspiring to be like someone else, or focusing on my perceived inadequacies.

Matthew 22: 36-40
36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The reality of really loving myself, accepting myself opened up within me today, and all of this because of the journey I've been on during these past two challenging weeks. Weeks of confronting great uncertainties and insecurities about myself, about life. I open up to the possibility of truly embracing and loving myself for who I am, as I continue to awaken to the Being of Truth, Light and Love I am. And, I open up to the acceptance of each and everyone unconditionally and completely, as I learn to love myself...

Namasté...an ancient sanskrit blessing meaning...

“I honor the place within you where the entire Universe resides.
I honor the place within you of Love and Light, of Truth and peace.
When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.”

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Ahhhh...

The moment is finally here, time to myself to spend however I feel...and right now, that's blogging, it feels so good to write.

Life is no less busy as I settle into my new opportunity with Exhale Spa. What a gift to be a part of such an amazing organization of people...did you know Shiva Rea is their Creative Yoga Advisor for the entire company? Wow, sometimes I find myself wondering how I arrived at this place, to be part of such an amazing and inspiring community of people. Five years of diligent and often very hard work. A lot of effort, but also, a lot of support from many incredible people in my life...

Because I haven't blogged lately, I feel like I have so much to write. A goal of mine over the past year was to work up to teaching 15 classes per week. Beginning this week, I reached this goal. Phhewww...that's a lot of classes. It's not that it's too much, it's just been challenging because some of the times I teach are not the most ideal for a schedule like this. So, my next step is to balance out the different times I teach so I have time to unwind and time to take care of myself each day. When I don't have this, which happened earlier in the week, I have a really hard time. It's amazing what a challenge it is to create and continue to be balanced in my life. It seems no matter how much I practice balance, from time-to-time I take on more than I can handle.

Monday was my 29th birthday. A few weeks ago, I agreed to sub a class for a fellow teacher at Exhale on my birthday. The class was at 7:15 am. Then, after that class, I drove out to Frisco to teach my 9:30 am class at Natural Trends. Then, I taught my Monday 12 pm class at the corporate location where I teach. Then, I managed to squeeze a birthday massage in for myself at 1:30 that afternoon before I drove back to teach at the same corporate location for a 5:15 class that evening. Then, out to my parents house that evening for a birthday dinner in Frisco. And, then a drive back downown to make it into bed by 11:30 pm to have enough time to sleep before getting up at 6 am to teach a 7:15 am class the next morning at Exhale. And, then back out to Frisco for another 9:30 am class at Natural Trends, back to downtown afterward to give a Thai Massage to my friend at 1 pm and then just enough time to squeeze in a little Yoga for myself, in my living room at home, before venturing back out to teach at Exhale again that evening at 6:15 pm.

The day in the life of a Yoga instructor. Sometimes we take on too much and forget the importance of balance, even though this is everything we teach. The interesting thing is I had the goal to teach 15 classes per week about 10 months ago. It may be this amount of classes is not what's right for me at this point in my life. As many of you know, I write a monthly newsletter which I thoroughly enjoy. I've had wonderful opportunities open up from the first ever True Yoga DVD. Next month, the Dallas Morning News will feature a review of the True Yoga DVD. And, D Beauty Magazine will also feature a story on it in it's Fall/Winter Publication. My life is a lot busier than it was before. Not to mention, I love blogging and I miss it terribly. I'd really like to open up to being balanced in a way where I can realistically write three blogs a week.

With all this being said, what's going on? A lot. I'm embracing a busier schedule, but remembering the only way I can really serve others is to be in balance myself. To allow myself to receive, as well as, give. Receiving can look like so many things to me. I receive a lot from writing, when I feel balanced in my life. Exercising or practicing Yoga daily is vital for me to feel balanced. Having time to spend on all the aspects of my work that I enjoy. Taking other teacher's Yoga classes, to continue to grow, getting to go to workshops, etc. Spending time with my family, my significant other and my friends. Having a nice meal and enjoying wonderful conversation. It seems balance is an ever-aligning process, and it's as though once we find it in our life at one level, the Universe inevitably invites us to create it at an even busier or, I'd prefer to use the word, "fuller" level. Making the most out of each day, maximizing our true potential, and still being able to breathe fully throughout it all. No doubt, it's important to be clear what balance looks like to you, so as you open up to more, you still have time to Honor your Self.

Here's to practicing the art of balance as we awaken to our true potential with every breath we breathe.

"If you could once make up your mind never to undertake more work...than you can carry on calmly, quietly, without hurry or flurry...and if the instant you feel yourself growing nervous and...out of breath, you would stop and take breath, you would find this simple common-sense rule doing for you what no prayers or tears could ever accomplish." - Elizabeth Prentiss

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With Headstand, Workshops and The Presence Process...

According to B.K.S. Iyengar (and my own personal experience of practicing Headstand regularly) "widening the horizons of the Spirit" is what we open up to when we develop a regular practice of Headstand, otherwise known as Sirsasana in Sanskrit. Not to mention countless other physical and mental benefits. Headstand is the King of all of the Poses.

It is no wonder then that I'm experiencing my horizons widening in my Yoga practice, my profession and my Self since I developed a regular practice of Sirsasana about a year ago. When I say regular, I mean being in a headstand at least 5 minutes a day, most days of the week. Iyengar actually suggests we eventually develop ourselves to be able to spend 15 minutes in Headstand. Spending more time upside down recently in my life, has inspired me to have the intention of purchasing an inversion table in the very near future. I've experienced the extraordinary benefits of being upside down, i.e. clarity of mind, mental and physical energy, emotional upliftment and a younger looking, uplifted and refreshed face. The more time I spend this way, the more I see and feel the benefits and want to spend even more time inverting.

(Read more for info on TWO GREAT WORKSHOPS coming to Dallas...)

Speaking of widening the horizons of our Spirit, there are several wonderful upcoming events happening here in Dallas. And, definitely great ways to expand your horizons and deepen your journey and practice of Yoga.

1) "Holding the Vision" - An All-Levels Anusara Yoga Weekend
in Dallas with Desiree Rumbaugh October 13-15, 2006(Click the image above to enlarge the flier for details about this event.)

This is going to be a great workshop I'm looking forward to attending. What's wonderful about the way it's being presented, is it's possible to attend a few sessions for those of you who are not able to commit the entire weekend to the workshop. Most of the time, intensives like this require you register for the whole weekend. This way, you can experience a few different sessions with her, to get a feel for her teaching. I can tell you I really enjoy Anusara Yoga. I've studied with John Friend and he's amazing. He pays incredible attention to technique and development of the poses with a incredibly positive spiritual focus. Something that fascinates me is how he is able to guide people into opening up in their poses in ways and places they never thought they would be able to do. I anticipate there will be some miraculous openings for people who attend any of the sessions with Desiree. Looking forward to seeing some of you there. For more information, contact Becky at bklett@charter.net or 940-597-4886. To learn more about Desiree, visit www.DesireeRumbaugh.com.

2) A Journey through the Presence Process with Michael Brown
October 13, 14 and 15 in Dallas, TX

I know it's the same weekend, but I wanted you to have the information about Michael Brown, this amazing speaker and Being who will be giving a workshop here in Dallas. If you are familiar with Eckhart Tolle who wrote the Power of Now, you will find the experience with Michael will give you an experiential process of how to access the Power of the Present Moment to enhance the very experience of being alive.

"I cannot possibly write enough or describe fully this process to you. If there is a book to read, it is this one. It is a guide on how to live consciously and stop reacting from unconscious wounds. It is personal liberation and personal acceptance. “In the end, our validation of ourselves has to be sufficient.” We no longer have to “do”, we can “be”. I asked for a way to “just be”, and I received a step by step guide illuminated with the wisdom to recognize it when I arrive. Thank you Great Spirit and thank you Mr. Brown…my cup is overflowing.” -Angela Hutchinson - Spirit Works

For more informatio or to register for this workshop, visit the Compassion Works website.

Here's to widening the horizons of the Spirit with every breath we breathe!

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