10 Things I Learned This Weekend

Hey lovelies. What are you up to on this fine fall Tuesday?


I have a little list to share (idea via Apartment 513). What have you learned recently?

We could be in Taiwan visiting beautiful countryside like this before long! 

See #10 for more on learning from Asian friends, and a life filled with  love and peace.

10 Things I Learned This Weekend

1. Nature's beauty is meant to be cherished, and it's rather hard to do that from your apartment porch in an urban environment. Find time to get into the woods, to jump into the lake, even just to walk by a park near your neighborhood. And then sit there, with nothing to do, and enjoy the fresh air! The sky. The clouds buzzing by. During the hubbymoon, one of my favorite moments included hugging The Hubs tight around his life-vested chest, cruising at quick speeds over the lake water in a jet ski and looking up at the beautiful sky to witness what's always there, but usually goes unnoticed: the true earth.

 2. The Bikram blogging community rocks. So awhile back I posted a lengthy review of my thoughts on the state of the blogging industry as it relates to yogis at their keyboards, and I have to say I've expanded my perspective even more since then. Especially since I started Tweeting I have come into contact with a great group of Bikram regulars who are so passionate about the yoga and about living like true yogis. It means a lot to know you can connect with other yogis around the globe simply by signing on to the Internet.


3. It's not all about the challenge; it's about the yoga. So I have a short story for you. Sunday afternoon I missed class. It was so, so sad: I was riding my bike too fast on the way there, desperately trying to make up time, and I almost crashed. My sexy black leather bag got caught in my tires and I somehow managed to keep my balance and make a hard stop, but it was scary! Anyway, I race to the studio, throw my bike lock on, and run over to the front door to the building and of course, it's locked. I may have just been able to swing in to the studio if it had been open but alas, no answer to the phone either. Class had already begun and here I was, coughing, cold, and on what would have been day 20 of the challenge. Boo! I was sad and frustrated. So I rode home, drew a hot bath with my new epsom salts, and proceeded to realize: it's more important that I do this yoga because I love the yoga than just to complete a 30-day challenge. 


Isn't that a crazy and cool thought? I realized I had been putting so much effort toward getting to class every day just to get there and check it off the list...I was starting to forget the real meaning behind the challenge. So now I've had time to reflect, renew my excitement, and plan for a challenge starting in Oct. Plus now I can finish it during the same time frame as the rest of the studio, which will be super motivating. It's so important to dedicate yourself when it comes to your personal health and spiritual fulfillment...but not when it starts to get in the way of your sanity (and in my case, safety!). Be conscious. Be realistic. Do a challenge for the right reasons!


4. Bundle up. So it's starting to be chillier here in the Chicago area, and that means scarves and cozy blankets! I absolutely love cozying up at home. I recommend sea salt baths (and I'm going to be reviewing a brand I'm just about to try soon!), tea (chai is our home favorite), and warming up my hot beans (a bag of rice/beans covered in cloth that you can use to soothe your neck, back or tummy). So relaxing!


5. Pumpkins are the best. I went to the farmer's market on Saturday and found a small, wonderful pumpkin. Then I steamed him up, processed in the food processor, and baked some tasty pumpkin bars! The best part? Cream cheese frosting. Homemade. So, so tasty.


6. I love creative film projects, the city of Chicago, and my loving husband. Saturday we had an adventure down in Hyde Park shooting our friend's jazz concert. Although it was a little overcast and cold out, we had a blast photographing the talented musicians as they grooved and improvised. It was so fun seeing the colorful crowd, too! Then after a bus ride through downtown (one of those huge, double-length buses!) we hit up Billygoat's Tavern for some cheezborger, cheezborgers! Delicious and classic. I love you, Josh! Had such a great time :)


7. Bikram has quite a story. So I recently purchased Bikram's book and am loving his intriguing tale of growing up with yoga, learning from his guru, ending up in the United States, and transforming many lives through his 26-posture series. Bikram is an interesting guy -- and much more complex than you'd first think from hearing his crazy English and seeing his numerous luxury cars. He really has a passion for the spiritual and health-based side of the yoga, and I totally respect that. I'm so stoked about furthering my understanding of the class, the foundations, and the philosophy at work behind it all. And I can't wait to meet you, Boss!


8.  Sleep more, sleep better, live happier. I am head-over-heels in love with the meditation CD I was recently given (full post coming soon!). Holy Moly Julie Rader is talented and so soothing. Her simple tracks focus on breathing techniques, controlling the mind, and relaxing so fully that it changes your sleep for the better. Can't wait to share more about this with you soon. And if you're in CA, get to her upcoming workshop! I wish I could be there.


9. It's good to mix it up. I'm a complete Bikram addict, but I'm starting to realize the awesome benefit of doing other types of yoga and exercise along with my practice to give my body a wake up call and keep things fresh. Not only is it great to move around the Torture Chamber so we get varied experiences in the hot room, but it's also great to change up our fitness routine in general, too. Pilates, at-home practice, a bike ride to the park...these are all great ways to help your body benefit more from Bikram.


10. Love those around you. Sometimes we are tired, defeated, worrisome, concentrated on ourselves. This doesn't mean we can sacrifice our willingness to forgive, cherish and help those around us! In the book of Malachi, God tells us: "Return to me, and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7). He means that we must run with open arms and open hearts toward His way -- toward the practice of selflessness, generosity, and love for our neighbors -- and our blessings will be many. This week the Hubs and I are hosting a couple of exchange students from Taiwan at our place and although it was a bit of a challenge to work out the logistics and a bit of a sacrifice to give up our personal space (and couches ha!), we did it anyway. We opened our home and our hearts to visitors, and we have been so blessed by the girls. We have enjoyed fellowship and fun and sushi with them, and now we have a reason to come visit great friends in Asia sometime in the future. It just goes to show: if you open up to the possibility of being generous, you never know what goodness will come back your way.