As I mentioned in a previous post, I will be moving into my first home I've ever owned. I never really thought I would "settle down" in Dallas and was reluctant, for a long time, to the idea of owning property here. Although, I realize more and more that...

"The great opportunity is where you are. Every place is under the stars. Every place is the center of the universe.” – John Burroughs

And, through growing into this awareness, I'm now thrilled to be owning my first home here. That being said, we were "supposed to" close on the condo yesterday. It turns out, we're still not exactly sure when we will be moving, but hoping it will be sometime within the next week. This transition in my life has been none other than emotional and intensely introspective. Lately, it's felt as though the whole process has come to a stand still, so I can really tune in and feel everything that's going on inside of me. Those of you from Dallas know the weather here for the past two weeks has felt stagnant. The air has felt thick as though nothing is really moving in the atmosphere. Many days, the clouds have hung heavy and the humidity has been high. The meteorologists were predicting rain and thunderstorms for two weeks, and finally, over the past two days the rain fell and brought a thorough cleansing to the city. We woke up this morning to a crystal clear blue, sunny sky and a cool, refreshing temperature in the 60s. What a relief. It feels so good outside...

The effect the weather has had on me and I'm pretty sure all of us "Dallasites" over the past couple of weeks reminds me of an interview I listened to with Beryl Bender Birch on Yogamates. In the interview she says that Yoga is the practice of finding the equipoise in each moment. You can listen to it here.

The power of the Internet as an interconnecting phenomenon amazes me. If you go to Google and type in "yoga blogs" the True Yoga blog pops up on the first page of results. As a result, people from all over the world have visited this site over the past year and a half that I've been blogging on it. Not to mention, this site also shows up on the first page for various other searches. Just today I was checking out this site's statistics and someone from Allahabad, India visited it after they searched Google.co.in typing in "how to sleep well thinking peace and god and get up with all the benefits in life" and the True Yoga Blog appeared on the first page. Isn't that beautiful? I don't think I could have written it or said it any better. That just brings a smile to my face. Maybe the only other way of saying relatively the same thing would be "how to sleep like a baby." Needless to say, that is a good search on the Internet and in life.

Anyhow, I would like to share some very exciting news with you! Just past Friday, I was accepted for a scholarship to study with Shiva Rea this summer in Venice, CA. This is a dream come true. Over the past five years, I have studied with many of the master teachers, searching all this time for the one teacher I would feel guided to deepen my practice and studies with. I am so grateful to say my search has led me to this place and to receive the gift of a scholarship is more than I could have ever dreamt was possible for me in this journey. It is a two week training this July and I am without words to express the peace I feel in my heart to feel the clarity of being guided in this direction.

Some other wonderful news is lululemon will be opening their first store in Dallas in May and they have asked me to be an Ambassador for their stores. I will begin as an ambassador at their preview store which is the one opening in May. What a blessing it is to have this presence in our community. As an ambassador I will be holding Yoga and wellness events at their stores throughout the year. Not only do they sell fabulous Yoga clothes at their stores, they also serve as a Yoga hub for the entire Yoga community. The individuals who work at the stores become familiarized with all of the different Yoga studios and teachers in the community. I've heard that in each store, there is a huge map pinpointing all the different yoga studios throughout the city. When someone comes into a store looking for a place to take Yoga, the staff is able to direct them to the place which will be best suited for them. It is so exciting to be a part of this thriving community of Yoga and to see its benefits being experienced more so all the time by more and more people. Hallelujah!

May we all sleep well thinking about peace and god and get up with all the benefits of life!

Romans 12:2 Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.

I felt the transition of seasons this year to the fullest. The seasons we move through in Nature are really the seasons, transformations and awakenings of our own Soul. The last couple of weeks leading up to Spring were very emotional for me and I struggled a great deal at times. The other day as I was teaching an awareness came to me. The words "the winter of my discontent" passed through me. Why is it that when we go through challenging times, we wish with all our heart to not have to go through it? Yet, in nature, the bitter and cold winter, is necessary for everything to be reborn and to come into full bloom. It is the ultimate cleanser and renewer.

After teaching yesterday, I received an e-mail from someone in class regarding appreciating adversity. As we come into this new season, let's remember to be grateful for all that's come to pass. The winter's of discontent have served their purpose and will continue to serve their purpose in each of our lives. Instead of shaking our fists at the heavens when we feel a sense of struggle within about anything, maybe it's possible to grow to a place where we bow our heads and humbly give thanks. This is from his e-mail.

"There's a bible quote that is often referred to in the Greek Orthodox religion from Paul's letter to Thessalonians "In all things give thanks."

This week has finally slowed down a little. I'm once again having time to myself in between teaching classes. I treasure this time, as it's usually when I practice Yoga, meditate, blog, etc. It seems this may be the calm before the "big move" I am about to go through in a little over a week.

Today, I spent a great deal of time writing down dates in my planner. Five of my friends are getting married this year!!! I can hardly believe it. So, I got clear on the dates of each of these weddings, although I will most likely only be able to make it to three of them. As I jotted down the dates of my friend's weddings, I also began to clarify my vision for goals I have for the year ahead. Over the past 6 years I've been practicing Yoga, I have had the dream of studying more in depthly with one teacher. Although, I haven't been sure of who I would like that to be. As I mentioned in my previous post, I had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with Shiva Rea while I was in L.A. And, because of my experience, I feel deeply drawn to study with her more in-depthly. It feels amazing to begin to have this clarity into deepening my practice and study of Yoga. I am hoping to attend her Summer Immersion Teacher Training this summer in Venice...

One of the other Yogi's I've been strongly drawn to is Dharma Mittra. His 908 Yoga Poses poster hangs beautifully in the space I practice Yoga in at home. Just practicing Yoga in front of the poster and having it in my home, has been the source of so much guidance and inspiration for me, as well as, an incredible learning tool.

Over the years, many people have asked me for books I recommend about Yoga. I do have a recommended reading list on my website, but I would like to make an addition to this list with a book called The Heart of Yoga, by T.K.V. Desikachar. This is an incredible book for anyone at any level of experience, but is also wonderful for someone who is just beginning their Yoga practice. Desikachar's explanation of Yoga is evolved, yet much easier to comprehend, than many of the Yoga books I've read. I will leave you today with an excerpt from his book. Enjoy!

"A further meaning of the word yoga is "to attain what was previously unattainable." The starting point for this thought is that there is something that we are today unable to do; when we find the means for bringing that desire into action, that step is yoga. In fact, every change is yoga. For example when we find a way to bend the body forward and touch our toes, or learn the meaning of the word yoga with the help of a text, or gain more understanding of ourselves or others through a discussion, we have reached a point where we have never been before. Each of these movements and changes is yoga." - The Heart of Yoga, T.K.V. Desikachar

I finally made it here to blog. Wow, it's been busy since I returned from L.A. I'm grateful for all the opportunities, and also, for this day which is allowing me time to rest. Phhewww...

I haven't mentioned my partner and I are in the process of buying a condominium. We are "planning" to move in two weeks. However, today we have a meeting to see if we can change our closing date as it appears the condo will be ready sooner. This will be my first time to own a home. I'm very excited and it's such a beautiful place. It's been a dream of mine to have a space in my home especially intended for Yoga and massage. In our new condo, we will have a studio room on the first floor with it's own private bath and entrance from the rest of the house. It will be an awesome space for my own practice, as well as, for private Yoga instruction and for giving Thai Yoga Massages to my clients. Needless to say, however, this process has definitely been keeping me busy...

Now, about L.A. It was incredible. I'm not sure if my words can give it justice, but I will do my best. The friend I went out there to visit is someone I met in one of my classes I teach at Natural Trends in Frisco. She is such an inspiring woman. She had lived in California for a few years, when, a little over a year ago she quit her job to travel around the world. She began her travels early last year and was in South Africa at the time, when she found out her mother was ill with stage 4 cancer. So she returned to Texas last September to be with her mom and was here until this past January, when her mom passed on. She will be returning to her travels to complete her around the world trip, but beforehand, she was in L.A. to spend some nurturing time with her friends. So, she invited me out there to spend time with her, meet her friends or "the tribe" as she calls it, and to experience Yoga at the Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, where she practiced Yoga when she lived there.

I went with no expectations. The only thing I had planned to attend was Shiva Rea's Yoga Trance Dance on Saturday evening. Shiva Rea teaches at Exhale, although she is often away holding workshops, trainings and retreats, so it is rare when she is actually teaching her classes on the schedule. I arrived Friday and after a quick lunch, we headed out for a Friday afternoon class with a teacher named Jo Tastula. It was a beautiful class, nice and mellow, which was exactly what I needed after my travels. That night we went to a dinner gathering at one of Kate's friend's house. A bunch of her friends were there and it ended up turning into a Friday night dance party. One of the things I noticed in California is everybody is dancing. Maybe it's the whole Dancing with the Stars phenomenon, but I think it has more to due with people celebrating life.

On Saturday we went hiking in Topanga Canyon. It was beautiful. This is one of the aspects which makes living in California so nice. It's possible to live in one of the biggest cities in the world, yet with just a short 15 minute drive, one can be up in the mountains surrounded by nature and feel completely removed and cleansed of the city. Afterward, we went to Exhale Santa Monica to sit in the healing waters and soothe our bodies, and to steam. It felt so good. Then, we got ready for Yoga Trance Dance.

Yoga Trance Dance was awesome. I had so much resistance to going. What I really wanted was to experience one of Shiva Rea's Yoga classes, not get all sweaty and dance with a bunch of people I don't know. But, I got to take a look at my resistance and let it go. Which I did. And, because I did, my experience was amazing. It was one of the most cleansing and freeing experiences I've had in a long time. I felt like I got to "let my hair down" and let go. It was life changing and opened me up to experiencing the Shakti, the flow of the feminine energy within me. I think most women, including myself, are not fully embracing their Shakti, perhaps because of what's been a more masculine world we were raised in, or because of sexual issues in our past, which taught us that feeling the flow of that energy could be painful or harmful to ourselves.

After the Yoga Trance Dance, I attended a small gathering at Micheline Berry's place, a very well-known Yoga instructor in the L.A. area. I was fortunate to get to hang out with these wonderful people, including Craig Kohland, who is the musician and producer of Shaman's Dream, music I've been listening to since I began practicing Yoga six years ago. Here I was at a party and he's giving me a leg and foot massage. (My legs were sore after all the dancing.) What I haven't mentioned yet, is the most incredible part of my trip, was the heart-connectedness I experienced with every person I met. L.A. is often stereotyped as being "superficial", image-conscious", or "pretentious", but my experience there was anything but that. It was the most heart-connected experience I've ever had, other than being at an Anthony Robbins seminar which is designed to be that way. Not once did I feel judgment or superficial analysis toward me from anyone, even the people working in retail stores in Venice. Every person I met connected with me at the heart level, beyond all the superficial nonsense of the mind. This was also one of the most liberating parts of my trip. No one cared what anyone was wearing, how anyone looked, what anyone did, how much money anyone had, etc. It was all about connecting to the Essence of the person, seeing their Being within.

On Sunday morning I attended Saul David Raye's class at Exhale. Again, it was awesome. I had taken a class with him one time when he was here in Dallas. His style is so grounded and spiritual. And, on Sunday afternoon we were blessed with the opportunity to attend Shiva Rea's surprise 40th birthday party. Kate had told me we had been invited, but we weren't exactly sure of the details until that day. That afternoon, we drove to downtown L.A. to Shiva's party which was held poolside on the top of downtown condominiums overlooking the L.A. skyline. Her party happened to be the night of the Oscars, and it just so happened Kate had also been invited by one of her friend's to attend an Oscar party at Leonardo Dicaprio's parent's house. But, we opted to not go and to attend the Yoga surprise party instead. In order to surprise Shiva, they told her she was going to an Oscar party where Al Gore was going to be. She arrived around 6:30 and was completely surprised. (And, also relieved to find out it was her Yoga friends there to greet and celebrate with her.)

The party was incredible. Again, I met amazing people, about 100 of us were there, all of whom connected with me from their heart. The whole party was catered with raw food cuisine. And, Shiva's birthday cake was completely raw...and delicious! It's amazing what can be prepared with raw food. I loved this raw coconut and vanilla pudding I had. Young Coconut is considered to be a super food and it's amazing because you can actually feel uplifted and high when you eat these foods. So there was this energy present at the party unlike anything I've ever experienced before. Again, we all danced and celebrated. I had the opportunity to meet Shiva and at the end of the night, she invited us to attend the morning session of her teacher training she was holding at Exhale.

So, on Monday, Kate and I woke up early and made it to Exhale by 6:30 am for Shiva's morning class. I was able to experience a two hour class with her before we had to head out to the airport to catch my flight. She's a wonderfully gifted teacher. I look forward to experiencing more classes with her in the future.

So, that's my trip to L.A. I don't think it could have been any better and the most incredible part is everything which opened up while I was there, was completely unexpected. I've done my best to describe it, but it still feels as though there is no way to express the immense and indescribable Goodness of Life, no words to give homage to this Creator of the Universe moving everything in life, including this very breath we breathe...