Good Morning, Family

Photo via Our Labor of Love.

Photo via Jaquilyn Shumate Photography.

I'm up early today. Whispers of spring are here, just outside the window.

The sun breaks through, the sparrows flit and emit their fleeting chirps. I've got the radio on with the kinds of songs I only listen to when I'm alone. 

I've been thinking about family lately. The progression of love. The meaning of the relationships we build, and how we sometimes tell ourselves we don't really need them, and then realize how much we do.

I think of my girls. My bridal party. Grandmothers. Cousins and friends. Mom. Stepmom. The women I've spent my life looking up to, the women who have looked up to me over the years, the women I couldn't be me without. 

All subsequent photos via Jaquilyn Shumate Photography. 

I think of siblings. How precious the bond between a brother and a sister, a sister and her twin, a bond that would be suffering to lose. Stretched so distantly from each other; needed so much. I think about the joy of a phone call with my brother or sister, how hearing about their lives always cheers me up.

Who wants to come visit once spring hits Chicago, eh?

I think too of my husband, my Only, my everything.

I think of friends who are about to get married, to start their own little families. I think of my nephew and how every time I see a new picture, it feels like I've missed years.

Families are precious these days, it seems. Sometimes in the early morning, the house quiet, I think of the family I have and the ones I hope to one day grow in a world of love.

How have you loved your family lately? Any of you out there starting your own little families?

Hug Your Love

All images by the lovely and talented Sarah Rhoads.

On Valentine's, give your love a hug.

It might be your spouse or partner that needs a squeeze.

Or someone in your family. A sibling, daughter or son, cousin, grandparent.

Maybe you need to wrap yourself up in a hug today, too? Love yourself. You're beautiful.

Military Man

Photo via the Dudes Doing Yoga Tumblr.

I couldn't help but think of my awesome older brother when I saw this on Yoga Dudes today. He used to be in Army R.O.T.C. and I could totally picture him smiling at this pic. Want me to help you do that pose, bro? :)


I imagine that yoga would be a wonderful way for military guys to relieve some of the stress and tension that comes along with their territory. A while back I found this NY Times piece on army recruiting programs that incorporate yoga into the fitness routines. It's reassuring that they can take some of their experiences to the mat, too. And build some great flexibility!


Anyway, I'm thinking of you, brother. Lots of love from (about to be snowpacalypse-d) Chicago! XO


PS Readers, do you know any military men who practice yoga? Get them to write in for the Real Men Do Yoga series!

Help an Awesome Blogging Couple Adopt

Video from adopt rinah from VsTheBrain on Vimeo.

Andrew + Carissa is one of my favorite blogs. I love their creative vision, amazing photography, and the sense of love they so obviously have for each other.

Andrew and Carissa are hoping do adopt a beautiful girl from Africa, Rinah. Watch the video above and consider donating your prayers or a few bucks to help them make a huge difference in her life. 

Sending my love to all three of you, and wishing you best of luck with the adoption process!

XO

Marriage on the Mind

Noah + Courtney Love Story//Same Day Premiere from AQUA VIVUS on Vimeo.

So yesterday I posted about this lovely ranch wedding, and then today I went back to the post on Sloan Photography and realized there was this amazing video to watch!

The interview is fantastic. Noah and Courtney tell their adorable and sometimes whimsical love story for about the first eight minutes, and then the rest is footage from their wedding day. I was totally moved, and couldn't stop smiling as I watched them together. He reminds me of Ryan Gosling and she has a natural beauty and effortlessness that is captivating. And you can tell from the video that they are made for each other.

It's great to see real couples who have a strong sense of why they are meant to be together, and how fully they want to spend their lives together. I love their thoughts on trust, caring for each other, and growing old together :)

I've also been reading Simple Marriage lately, a blog on ways to survive the ups and downs of marriage, how to keep things happy and healthy, and just fun ideas for dates with your spouse, or ways to get a break from the humdrum of everyday life.

I especially love their post on planned spontaneity, which you will totally appreciate if you are married! Sounds silly, but sometimes we have to schedule time with our spouse (and it rewards us greatly!).

There's also some great reading on setting reasonable goals together as a couple, what to do if things aren't great and you're just coexisting, and how to give a genuine apology.

Have you considered your relationships lately? Maybe you're doing your yoga and you've set personal health goals for the year, but haven't had the courage to look at where you are in relationship to others.

What can you give?

What can you let go of?

What haven't you addressed because it's hard, or holding you back?

Go ahead: decide to be together and to love each other better than you have been. You deserve it, and your partner does too. Sometimes change isn't easy, and sometimes love hurts. But with time and patience, we can change the way we relate to each other and treat each other.

You are in control of your relationships. Decide to love.

Be together; love each other. Photo via Yoganomics, an awesome online yoga community.

Ready for the Impossible?

 

Photo via Pennyweight.

I have a feeling 2011 is going to be an incredible year. Are you ready for it?

I'm ready for quiet moments, full skies and elaborate dreams. I plan to do plenty of yoga, healthy cooking, and reading for fun.

And I want healthy relationships -- with my Hubs, my friends, and myself -- to be at the top of the list.

Photo via Andrew + Carissa.

Photo via Atlantic Tree Fox.

Now is one of those times of year I feel pretty reflective. I find myself reminiscing about my favorite memories -- which means reliving the Big Day over and over. Anyone else wish they could enjoy their wedding day all over again just because it was so wonderful?

Before we left California, I was also helping my mom pack up a few boxes and get rid of some of my old stuff. I spent a few hours going through old papers -- birthday cards, love notes from my lunchboxes as a kid, letters from penpals, journal entries, high school essays. I found myself feeling strangely sentimental, and sad to leave my family. The cards from both of my late grandmothers almost brought a tear, and more so they have inspired new poetry.

Photo via A Desert Fete. 

Photo via Oh Happy Day!

Getting back to our wonderful little apartment has also inspired me. Hubs and I endured a particularly long and ridiculous journey home (delays at the airport, delays for our bags, delays for the cab) so we were pretty happy once we made it to our bed last night.

We spent the whole day today cleaning, organizing, and getting rid of old stuff. The perfect New Year's purge!

It felt great to free up some space and tidy up. We still have a bit to do -- and I have big plans for my own new planning schemes to keep things easy to find! 

Photo via David and Sarah.

Photo via Stephen Beadles Photography.

At the start of January, it's easy to look forward and think how lovely and open the new year is. It's just as easy to look back at the year behind us and get overwhelmed by how much we had to do to survive it.

Are you busy looking forward, or looking back?

At this very moment, I am equally at peace with my goals for the new year and my accomplishments from the past year. I feel prepared to do better, to grow, to let go. I'm as ready for the impossible as I can be.

Photo by Jose Villa.

A final quick note: I'll be featuring a new series here on Alive in the Fire very soon! It's called:

Beyond Childhood (How to Love Your Kiddos Better) 

Get excited; you're going to be seeing a lot of adorable baby pictures, parenting advice, thoughts for expectant moms-to-be, reviews of green products, and ways to make family your top priority in 2011! I hope you'll follow along and consider contributing your comments and ideas.

If you know of a mom who might want to share her story, please have her email me here: aliveinthefire at gmail dot com.

I'd also love to hear from you with ideas about:

• Family-focused companies
• Eco-friendly and green products for babies
• How to put family first
• Raising kids with love, hope and spirit
• Eating well for you and your family

Thanks and namaste!

I Love You Still

Taken on the night we got engaged! July 4, 2009.

I'm feeling nostalgic as I sift through old photos on my computer tonight. Hubs, I love you more than ever. As much as I did the night we got engaged, both of us smiling the whole way home from the fireworks show. Don't we look like happy college kids in these shots?

Looking out over the lake.

I can remember cracking up right before we took this one.

A snuggle.

Change Your Life

Photo by the one and only Cassi Saari.

Anyone know this famous Rilke poem? I was reading it over again today, trying to inspire up some poetry, and I fell in love with the last line all over again.

Plus, it's an all-around fantastic poem to be reading as the year draws to a close.
Archaic Torso of Apollo

by Ranier Maria Rilke
We cannot know his legendary head
with eyes like ripening fruit. And yet his torso
is still suffused with brilliance from inside
like a lamp, in which his gaze, now turned to low,

gleams in all its power. Otherwise
the curved breast could not dazzle you so, nor could
a smile run through the placid hips and thighs
to that dark center where procreation flared.

Otherwise this stone would seem defaced 
beneath the translucent cascade of the shoulders
and would not glisten like a wild beast's fur:

would not, from all the borders of itself,
burst like a star: for here there is no place
that does not see you. You must change your life.

These beautiful words are based on an unfinished statue, and the way it took the breath away of a poet as he viewed another artist's work. Have you ever been blown away by art so fully that you feel you must change your life?

Now is the time of year that I think about the transformations we go through, the way our art changes, our circle of friends shifts, our time spent moves toward new activity. 

This is definitely the time of year when I look back, and there's a lot from 2010 to remember.

A year ago my sister had a newborn; now she smiles at a little boy and prays with him and teaches him how to speak.

A year ago the Hubs and I were stressed-out students, dating and longing for marriage, trying to plan the details of our Big Day. Here we are now, enjoying the holidays together and getting ready to return to our urban apartment life and full-time jobs.

A year ago today I was about to experience a panic attack, a tough bout of depression, and a long haul climbing back to my usual energetic, well-slept self. Today I feel amazing, so much more in tune with my personal needs and capabilities, and now I know that I have the power to avoid ever slipping into such a dark place again. I'm well-armed with family and friends that mean the world to me, with my yoga practice, and with a life spent doing the things I love. (And a blog where I can write about them and share them with you, dear readers!)

I couldn't be happier to be here, guys. Thanks for reading!

A year ago I didn't know the joys of Bikram or whether I'd have a steady job that I liked after graduating from Northwestern. Today I work full-time at a company I love, and I have plans to complete Bikram Yoga Teacher Training and fulfill my dreams of sharing this yoga with others.

A year ago none of us were who we are today.

It's been a crazy year, yogis! It's been an awesome one, too. Hope you are having fun taking a glance back at where you've been, and getting pumped for what's to come. Here's wishing you a wonderful close to 2010, and please share your stories past, present and future!

As for the Winter Extravaganza... a big congrats to Emily. You win the NYE giveaway! Please contact me with your mailing address so we can get those goodies shipped.

And speaking of shipping, if there are any winners out there who are still waiting to receive loot (and who have been waiting a while), please contact me ASAP. I want to make sure you all get your gifts in a reasonable amount of time. 

A big thanks to all our wonderful Alive in the Fire partners, too. You guys are some of the most generous people I've ever encountered (honestly!) and I hope you've enjoyed the exposure to the lovely Bikram community here at the blog. 

Namaste to all, and happy impending 2011!

Photo by the tall and talented Cassi Saari.

A quick and final note on partners: I will be posting more in-depth in the next week on what it means to partner with Alive in the Fire, how you can get involved, and the benefits of getting exposure to this Bikram yoga and blogging community. If you've got a small business -- yoga related or not -- and want to promote your goods through a lively, green, and growing outlet, please contact me today @ aliveinthefire at gmail dot com. I am looking forward to collaborating with you!

Last Look at Christmas

Merry Christmas! A little look at our 2010 celebration.

I figure I better post these before it's New Year's, right?

Merry Christmas! It was a lovely day filled with family, food, laughs, and relaxation.

Grandma and Z playin' with some toys.

Mom and Dad are napping on the couch, which means prime time for playing with Auntie!

Candles and a fire in the fireplace. Mmmm.

Sis and Brother-in-Law toast!

It was super fun having Brother and Kelly around for opening presents.

Mom, you made amazing turkey!

Love you, twin sis! 

Uncle Josh and Z get some quality Lincoln Log time in after dinner.

Zeke the puppy! One of his favorite games to play :)

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!  


Love you, family. Thanks for such a wonderful Christmas.

Real Men Do Yoga: John Low

Bikram men, are you practicing through the holidays? Here's another entry in the Real Men Do Yoga series to inspire you to hit the hot room this week.

And here's some inspiration to submit your story to the series. If you do, you win a prize! Simply email a few paragraphs about your practice and a photo or two to aliveinthefire at gmail dot com and you will get a tasty treat.

Now is the time to let yourself indulge -- just a little! -- especially after you've earned dessert by practicing for 90 minutes. And if you prefer something a little less sweet, just let me know. We've got a variety of prizes available.

You can choose from incredible Etsy bakers who make tasty and tiny cupcakes, divinity fudge, and gourmet cookies. Or you might want to spice it up with a jar of hot mustard. Homemade salsa and handmade soaps to come!

 

Win any of these tasty snacks simply by submitting your story! Note: not exact pictures.

Today's featured Etsy donations are from Cupcake Tin 2010, a bakery shop where you can buy adorable single cupcakes in a tin and send them to your friends and family as unique gifts. The shop's most popular flavors are chocolate, red velvet with cream cheese frosting, and funfetti (white cake with sprinkles baked in).

Photos via The Cupcake Tin's Facebook page.

Check out Cupcake Tin 2010 on Twitter and Facebook.


As a new customer, you will automatically save 1o to 15% on your order. Check out the awesome selection today and place an order with Nicole for a delicious holiday treat.


Now, introducing John Low, a regular Bikram yogi at Bikram Original Hot Yoga in Malasia. This is his story.

John Low works hard to balance his Bikram practice with home life and time with family.

Years ago, I damaged my left knee after doing squatting exercises at the gym. More recently I curled my leg to pull myself closer to the office desk on my wheeled-chair, and my knee popped.

Now, it hurts like hell now at the point of the common angle of climbing up stairs. This also means I can't play tennis. 

A mutual friend on Twitter read my whining about the pain. She happens to be a qualified trainer, and was just returning from Texas then. "Why not come give Bikram yoga a try?" she asked. Little did I know, the simple question would lead to personal transformation.

My mum used to teach yoga to her friends at home. She had started practicing at home when my older brother bought her a book titled Yoga for Health. Since I was the youngest and had already started high school, my mom had more time and thought to teach it. I think she was proud of how many people had complimented her on how young she looked for her age; she's always attributed it to yoga. Whenever she was teaching upstairs, I'd be downstairs watching either The A-Team, Airwolf or MacGyver, to give you an idea when this was.

Sometimes Mom was practicing, I'd join her. Not for all the poses, only what I thought was challenging for someone my age then. The Bat was one posture I would always try, where one sits on the floor with legs straight and wide open, and chin to the floor, finger grabbing the toes. If I recall, the advanced version would involve proceeding to a complete side-split, with the stomach on the floor and rolling forward and end-up on the stomach with legs behind and flat on the floor.

Years after that while I was growing up, I'd still do that for fun, on the floor while watching TV, or reading the newspapers. I always felt better after a stretch. It also helped balance out the karate and kung-fu classes I used to take. Boarding school bullies who try to challenge me would think twice when I "show off" warming up for the "duel".  To be honest, telling a story about how I had given the karate instructor a bloody nose during sparring also helped.

Since those years, I took up the usual sports like tennis and gym, never at all giving "real" complete yoga classes any thought. I was in all ways, a typical bloke.

So I accepted the invitation to give Bikram class a try this past April. I was not happy with my weight and, truthfully, my image, my puffy face. I could only wear my two largest-sized pants in my wardrobe. I had also just done a medical exam and my cholesterol levels were frightening. 

At the first class, I could do most of the stretch-related poses, but no way till today could I keep my endurance up for all the pose-holding. 


In May, I took a three-week-long work-related trip away from home. Since this was my first time to the United States, I tried a lot of new foods including American-portion-sized fast food. When I returned, I felt even more motivated to practice the yoga.  

I have been trying to go three times a week since then. Most weeks when I couldn't keep this routine, it was due to my daughter's whining. Since I have a full-time job, I could only go to yoga after work, which meant no time for her and family, or our trips to the playground, dinners together, or simply just hanging out. During periods of lull in the office, I have gone for the early morning classes to improvise. I have been lucky with this arrangement this year.

Around July or August during a family dinner, my older sister, whom I don't see regularly, commented that I have lost weight "and look better this way." Her teenage daughters and other nieces, being something of activity-junkies themselves, were asking which studio I attend. I had even brought one of them along once for her to try. And as expected, it is too slow for her. Though she enjoyed it, she is back to her usual bouldering and cheer-leading activities, "for now," she says.

So, I'm still attending Bikram as regularly as I can. I do feel more energetic, and am more noticeably able to keep up with the kids. I am getting back some definition, an image which I wasn't so conscious about at our recent family trip to a water park. I am sure the wife has also had some secret thoughts though she hasn't shared much (!), and I do know she is happy for me too.


These days I can chomp down the nieces-made cheesecakes and rebut the wife when she says I would put on weight. "Don't worry, I now know the formula!" I tell her.

Thanks to Bikram instructor Mei Ng, for encouraging me in the Hot Room and inviting me to submit to Alive in the Fire :)

Namaste,

John 

 

John spends his early mornings and late nights in Bikram's Torture Chamber, getting energized for time with family.

John first posted this story about his Bikram practice here. His blog, Daddee Yah!, is named after his daughter's first words. Contact him on Twitter here. 


Thanks, John, for submitting your story! If you want to submit yours, yogis, you know who to email. A few paragraphs and a few pictures to aliveinthefire at gmail dot com, and you'll win a prize!