Movement

It's summertime and it's hot, especially here in New York City. Although I love the heat and love the sense of freedom that comes with it - like vacations, increased flexibility (i.e. finally getting into that yoga pose), and less clothes- summertime can be a little tough. Particularly on days like today, one can feel stagnant, stuffy, or stuck. It's important, when feelings like this come up, to realize that nothing is ever stagnant. We are all in constant movement, growing and changing with every breath...

In pursuit of…

I can honestly say that one of my favorite things to do is travel. I've been all over the world- India, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Nicaragua, Turkey, and Egypt, to name a few. I find that traveling opens me up in interesting ways. I "open" to the experience of new people, new places, and new foods. I soak in every bit of it. I want to be immersed in the new place that I find myself. Also, when I'm traveling there is always a personal lesson to be learned. Through the act of letting go of boundaries while traveling, I find that little bits of myself come to the surface. During my last trip I found out that I really enjoyed talking with folks about their story. It's surprising how similar people are...

Life, Style

There was a time when healthy, conscious living was reserved for non-conformists and folks living off the grid. Times have changed! Now, healthy lifestyles are more in vogue than ever and increasingly relevant to all. From the First Lady to the man on the street and everyone in between, "wellness" is hot. What does this mean? Think beyond restrictive calorie counting, diet pills, and endless treadmills. Instead get creative, what does a healthy lifestyle look like for you? For me its yoga, clean food, and time with myself everyday. I'm feeling better my way, rocking this healthy life with style.

Who me?

I came upon this installation while viewing the FLUXUS collection at MoMA. I was completely drawn to the intensity of the piece. Maybe because in some way, at one time, I could identify with the cardboard cutout who was overrun by seemingly important, non-sensical items. It also reminded me of many clients that I've worked with who'd struggled with a fixed two-dimensional view of themselves as workers & doers. These clients were overwhelmed by expectations, work/social responsibilities, titles, and "To Dos". The missing dimensions in their lives were self awareness, enjoyment, space, freedom. I absolutely love working with clients to break out of their two-dimension view, to find clarity, and and to reconnect with themselves.

Yoga

Intense pose? Yes. Impossible? No. I began yoga 6 years ago without the ability to touch my toes. Through this rigorous discipline that is steeped in tradition I was able to progress steadily to where this picture was taken. Yoga is strength. Yoga is flexibility. Yoga is awareness. Yoga has a transformative effect on not only your body but your mind as well. My personal practice is Ashtanga. Ashtanga is a system of yoga introduced by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. This method involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures that produces intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation...

Letting go

Detox is a form of letting go. Letting go of the foods that we cling to out of comfort or familiarity, letting go of the toxins that have accumulated in our bodies, letting go- in some cases- of our identities as smokers, meat eaters, daily drinkers. The act of letting go of all of these things for a day, a week, or a month allows us to see what we truly need. It can provide us with a sense of freedom of non-dependence on our vices. I have been detoxing 4-6 times a year for the last 5 years. Although it may be difficult at times it is always, hands down, worth the struggle. Because when I ask myself do I truly need that glass of wine after a long day? I can say, no not really, but I am CHOOSING to have it because I want to.