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Thank You. More Please.
I recently watched the indie flick, “HappyThankYouMorePlease.” The title was thoroughly confusing and odd but also very intriguing–>hence why I decided to watch it. The movie follows a group of young New Yorkers trying to find happiness. Cliche? Yes. But, it wasn’t trying to be some great, huge success. It was just a small movie spreading an idea. The theme throughout the movie was happiness and how we all deserve it. We need to allow ourselves to have happiness rather than run away/hide from/deny it. So, thank you more please, means any time you say thank you for something just ask for more afterward….ask for more of the love, joy, gratitude, and bliss that was just given to you because happiness begins when you open your heart to the world and the people in it. Some things that have made me happy lately? My family and my yoga practice.
My baby!
My pappa, who will be missed and loved forever.
xoxo,
Lo
Dear Yoga
I remember walking into my first official yoga class when I was 15. My mom and I went to what would now be considered “hot yoga flow.” Back then I just thought it was called torture. I was close to passing out halfway through too many of what looked liked push-ups and I hated the fact my mother looked more flexible than me–a 15 year old Varsity swimmer. In fact the only memory I have of that class was the foot long turkey sandwich from Subway which I ate in less than 5 minutes immediately after because I was that hungry from the physicality of the practice. Who knew yoga was hard?
Fast forward 6 years. I was a Senior in college and running 30 miles a week. I read that yoga was a great way to stretch after a run so I began doing a few at home sessions from this website called, Yoga Download. Besides the sparce class at home, I also enrolled a class in college which focused on Anatomy, Yoga and Pilates. However, yoga still didn’t keep my attention and I seriously hated/ dreaded the ab portions of the classes. So instead of continuing with yoga, I stuck with running. Running was familiar and I loved improving with each mile I ran. To me, yoga would never be my thing.
Now here I am. It is 2012. I am on my way to finishing yoga teacher training and going to yoga 4-5 times a week. I don’t run anymore. SHOCKER! I know, right? I was a running junkie. You know the type: runners who purchased new shoes every season, only wore Nike outfits, and ran in sub zero degree Chicago weather because I “couldn’t miss a workout.” I ran a half marathon, a 15k, a 10k, and six 5ks. I ran so much that it stopped being fun and started becoming a chore. I got anxious if I missed a run. I would knock out HIIT (high intensity interval trainings) in 20 minutes on a treadmill, if that’s all the time I had. My life revolved around running and not in a good way. Last year, when I was visiting my parents, I couldn’t work out in any of the neighboring gyms because I had used up every single guest pass possibility that was offered. All that was left for me was either a Jillian Michaels dvd or a yoga class. I figured, what the hell, I’ll try it again and be open to the possibility. That is when my life changed. I went to a yoga flow class and got my butt kicked (in a good way). I walked out feeling lighter, happier and confident. I was smiling ear to ear. It didn’t matter that I had no clue what a Namaskar A was; I just followed along. This was the moment I stopped allowing running to rule my life and I finally let yoga into my heart. Once back in Chicago, I began working at a studio in order to take classes and build my practice. SO now here I am. A yoga junkie for a year. Now, the only working out I do involves Surya A’s, B’s, Inversions, Backbends, Balancing postures and Savasana. I feel stronger. I feel healthier. I don’t base my plans or day around whether I got a workout in, because now I choose to do yoga when I want, where I want.
My journey to yoga wasn’t easy. It took many tries and a lot of patience. But, I am in a happier place than ever before.
Thanks yoga for everything.
Shanti!
Lora
