Roxtar Yoga

slo times April 30, 2009

Lately I’ve been noticing how much I really enjoy my life, and how much faster it goes by the more you enjoy it. I have been living and loving, but apparently haven’t had much to say about it. I just finished another MINDBODY University (MBU) at Sycamore Mineral Springs here in San Luis Obispo, CA. I organize these events for clients of MINDBODY, this is my full time job. I also teach about MINDBODY software and business growth strategies at the events, consult with clients, soak in the mineral spring hot tubs, and have a splendid time indeed. I really enjoy the niche I have found with MINDBODY and having the opportunity to work with wellness business owners. They are making the world a better place and their energy, tenacity, and fearlessness is inspiring. A few clients shared their stories with me, the story of how they ended up where they are, and I really enjoyed hearing it. I think they all had a willingness to truly embrace the situations that they found themselves in. I didn’t hear many “I just knew this was my calling” types of stories, although I admit that I still have this tiny preconception that that’s how it works. Like they were all struck by a lightning bolt that gave them with overwhelming passion, or like David Bowie showed up in their dreams and told them what their calling is.

It’s refreshing to spend 3 days with people who are trying to be proactive about their businesses and making things happen, and who are just plain ole good fun. It reminds me of that serenity prayer…Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

On the yoga front, I have been teaching yoga 3 days a week, one day at MINDBODY to the cubicle dwellers and two days Smiling Dog, and have been able to bring some of the Shiva creativity from my most recent training experience into my typical Power Yoga sequence (that I learned from Baron Baptiste a year ago) that I just can’t seem to step away from. I have been wavering with my own practice though, trying to practice and meditate as much as I can, but some weeks work and life just makes me tired and I don’t stick to my personal practices as much as I should. My immune system is down again to add to the difficulties. I am thankful to be teaching as it keeps bringing me back to the mat, reminding me how much I really love it there on my little yoga magic carpet rides. I feel ok though that I’m not doing too much yoga, the last year has been a little exhausting teaching and working so much, I am finding that my body and mind need a lot more down time than I have ever noticed I needed.

PS. I am teaching Yoga for Tight Hips at the SLO Yogafest & Wellness Fair Saturday May 16th at 3:15-3:45pm outside at Mitchell Park. This is a free charity fundraiser for Manzanita School Foundation. There are a ton of free yoga workshops going on all day. Hope to see you there!

a girl from south detroit part ii April 3, 2009

Yes!  Someone responded to my letter to the editor regarding the article Motor City Breakdown which was printed in Rolling Stone magazine recently.  I was a little frustrated by the author’s lack of connection to Detroit and decided to let the world know.  Check out the original letter to the editor here on Rolling Stone’s website in the comments section or I posted about it in my post, A Girl From South Detroit.  The most recent responses are below.  I think it’s great that I got someone interested enough to respond.

From dwswear on 3/25/09

Re: roxstar’s comment: Since when does a lack of connection or apathy about your hometown make you a ’spoiled little brat’? If you don’t feel it, you don’t feel it, you can’t force it. What’s more odd is why you (and all these elders who talk about the Golden Age of Detroit) aren’t actively doing something to ‘revive’ the city centre then? If you’re so concerned about apathy, why don’t you all move back within the boundaries of 8-mile road and be pioneers in a Detroit Renaissance?

From roxtar on 4/3/09

Re: dwswear’s comment: I agree that if the author didn’t feel it for Detroit that it can’t be forced. I just get a little frustrated at how many people I know who just don’t feel it for Detroit, or for anything real for that matter. I know a lot of young people in the area who grew up there, who are loyal and doing what they can, living on nothing. I don’t fault the author for stating his feelings, at least we are here conversing about it. I just want to have more passionate, action based, conversations and I would like to see them happening in a magazine like Rolling Stone.