yoga + unemployment

I'm not the only one.

Look at this pretty picture while I talk deep thoughts

I had a cup of coffee with a friend from the yoga studio today (new friends! wheee!). After delving into some pretty deep, almost excessively yogic conversations, I was left pretty enlightened by her outlook on life, her seemingly wise yet humble demeanor, and dammit she's two years younger than I am! I started to wonder how she was able to, even in the most frustrating of situations, set all the negative bullshit aside. I mean, if I were able to do that, I think I'd live a life that was exponentially more peaceful, not to mention a helluva lot simpler.

Call me a skeptic, but I usually think people who are so easygoing, so tantric and so meditative are pretty spacey, loopey, and frankly just not in-tune with the real world. I also usually feel like it can be an act, and whatever evil a person is trying to suppress with this falsely blissful way of living will come out eventually. It's all a bunch of Patchouli. (Get it? Like Baloney, but Patchouli? Haaaaaharawrrrrr)

What, me, skeptical? Judgemental? nahhhhhhhh...okay, so maybe a little. But back to my original point- talking to this friend today, and working at the studio in general, has made me rethink a lot of things, has suddenly made me realize that some people really do live by certain codes and really don't care what you say or think. Some people really do just want to hold hands and sing, some people really do want to sit in silence for ten days straight. And you know, more power to them, because they have this crazy peace of mind that I don't think I will ever have, a greater sense of what their life means and how it affects others, a more evident peacefulness surrounding themselves. Rather than being concerned ALL THE TIME with their thoughts, their jobs, their bosses, their bank accounts, they are able to LET GO (so important!), and my biggest revelation today- take everything with perspective. This. is. genius.

So what, does this all stem from daily yoga practice and meditation? Uhh, probably, but I'd like to think it can be achieved just by opening one's mind to this world. It's hard for someone has cynical as I can be to let go and flow with the wind. But I think I've got it in me. I mean, I'm a nice enough person, right? And I surround myself with only good people, right? So here's my newest resolution to myself, that I'm hoping will help me deal with my super scattered way of life right now: I'm going to meditate daily.

Yeah, you heard me. I'm going to be "ohm"-ing with the best of them. Whatever, to meditate doesn't mean you have to chant and sit cross legged on a 10-foot stick. I've just realized (literally, this morning) that meditating simply means clearing about ten minutes from your day to breathe, to think singular thoughts at a time, to make resolutions or identify problems. When you set aside ten minutes to be still, no matter if you call it pranayama, meditation, time out, chill out session, recess, whatever, ESPECIALLY in New York, I'm sure that only good things can come from it.

I'll probably end up thinking a lot about my CSA. But whatever, at least it's quality time.

Also, finally graduated to arm balances.  Successfully.  I did this in class today:

Indian Ashram

Time to wind down from a busy, too-much-stimulation week(end).

Click here for a great article from National Geographic about Ashrams, or yoga retreats. I promise it's not a super hippie cultish article. If you liked Eat Pray Love, you'll enjoy this.

Off to yoga!

Karma Payment Plan

Life is giving it to me straight today, for reals. I think it's karma putting me in check, saying to me "Hey, you had a super great excellent time this weekend, but remember, you are unemployed and can't live like you are retired and have been working your whole life".

After a great weekend in Maine, I am back to real life. Today I woke up late and missed opening the yoga studio on time...BIG no-no. Then our internet in the apartment, which has been down all weekend, still hasn't been fixed (I am sitting in a cafe down the street, doing "work" on the computer, college style). I opened a letter from the IRS telling me that my 2007 taxes were filed incorrectly and that according to calculations, I OWE $500. You'd think they'd let that go, huh? While at the cafe this afternoon I discovered that my battery charger for my Powerbook stopped working. Had to go into the city and spend a superfluous $85 at the Apple store to buy a new one...

yuck. It's just been one of those days...

Karma Payment Plan is a really great song I used to listen to all the time by Modest Mouse....

Namaste

I've recently started working a couple mornings a week at a yoga studio in the neighborhood. I love the studio, there are great teachers and great classes and it's quite a beautiful studio. It's brand new, so tell all your friends about it and come visit me!! Sign up for a 'newbie' special which gives you 2 weeks of unlimited classes for $30 (gasp!). Get your downward dog on!

Sangha Yoga Shala

107 N. 3rd Street, #2H

between Berry & Wythe

http://www.sanghayoganyc.com/

also check out our cute little blog