Yoga indoors and other news

Happy Sunday!  Here is to another absolutely gorgeous day in Denver/ It's remarkable, truly.  How the weather has held up, inspiring me to get outside and enjoy it.

I taught yoga indoors at a local bar yesterday for the first time.  I had arranged this opportunity by chatting with one of the bartenders about the fact that I teach yoga.  Ironically,. he is not the bartender who hosts the sessions. That duty fell on another guy who is gracious, kind and does yoga.  

We planned on a 9 a.m. class.  I arrived fifteen minutes early with no sign of Jordan.  I was a little skeptical.  I don't really know him that well and I didn't want to hassle him.  I sent him a text then called.  I considered my options and realized that we could go back to the park if need be.  Seriously, the weather is that good.  No wind yesterday and the sun was out sharing its brilliance.  Thankfully, he answered and problem solved itself.  

All of my clients moved the tables out of the way to make space and we waited while Jordan set up the space.  He offered to play music and so we listened to 80's music.  He knew that I listened to Prince earlier in the week and was being respectful of my music choices.  

Three men and one woman attended the class.  I loved it!  The music was sort of all over the place but it worked and we created this fantastic energy and heat.  One of my clients commented that it felt like he was taking a heated class and that he wasn't sure he signed up for that.  Opening the front door alleviated stress of that.  I believe we will develop a following and eventually, I will need to find a new space.  Fun times and all because I finally acknowledged my dream.  Of course, there are challenges and hiccups.  I am committed to working through them.

Outside of that, my weekend has been chill.  I had no plans for Thanksgiving except working.  That is the default way of how to spend the holiday.  Seriously, holidays only exist for me after working at whatever restaurant I am working at.  It is fine and I am thankful for work.  I will be fed which is a benefit.  Less need for me to shop and prep.  I made the mistake of going to a market earlier and it has started.  Already people are scrambling to get the goods for Thanksgiving.  I was a little claustrophobic and annoyed.  Quick trip for me!

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your Sunday!  Mine was great.  Unexpected news, gifts and invitations.  I will be heading to a Friendsgiving on Wednesday.  I cannot wait!  Some of my other friends are hosting on Thursday.  I will figure out something to make for Thursday lunch and then head in to work.  I am hoping for good weather and kindness.

Enjoy your Sunday.  Cheers!

Friday, movement and ramblings

Happy Friday!  It is a beautiful day in Denver!  Sun is shining and there is so much possibility in the air.  I love seeing the sun shining bright.

I have a few classes today before getting outside and incorporating movement into my day.  My mood improves and I feel better when I get movement.  I know that I am my own biggest enemy.  The overthinking, constant inner monologue and doubt.  Wouldn't it be easier to return to what I know?  

Baby steps and remembering that each day is a new opportunity to be better.  Today is truly gorgeous outside.  I am trying to met my sandwich digest before heading out to City Park.  I am trying to cook more instead of ordering take out.  Take out is super convenient but I struggle with the portion sizes and ingredients.  I am trying to eat cleaner and dining out defeats that purpose.

I had been pretty consistent during the Pandemic.  I had a walking partner where we walked three to five times a week.  It was fantastic.  We would talk politics, current events and other occurrences in our lives.  I really appreciated those walks with Christine.  Sometimes we would conclude to her patio and enjoy some wine.  I suppose the pandemic enabled more focus on quality time and conversation.  During that time, I think, I saw maybe five people consistently.  And that could be a stretch.  I did have zoom yoga classes but the in person meet ups were confined to maybe five people.  And mostly geared at being outdoors.  Seemed safer to meet people and get movement.

I have kept up the habit, somewhat.  I always feel better when I am consistent with movement.  There is so much transformation going on right now.  I keep telling myself to continue on this path and not fall back into learned habits.  I know it is the right thing for me.  

Maybe I should be meditating more.  Could that help?  At least twice a week, I have restless nights.  Nights where my mind refuses to shut off.  I have listened to a few podcasts where people speak of being able to shut down the brain and enjoy pure sleep.  Like 9 hours of sleep.  I could use that!

Topics swing from finances, work stress, relationships.  All seems to create anxiety for me as of right now.  The work stress outweighs the others but each day, I wake up, and believe it's going to be a great day.  And I have had some fantastic opportunities and new clients in the last month.  I think the holidays are off putting me.  People's schedules are all over the place.  It can be challenging.

I do believe in what I am trying to achieve.  Working for myself and bringing yoga to people.  I hope you have a wonderful day. I am finally ready to get outside and enjoy the day!

gratitude and other reflections

 Gratitude....focus of this month.  

I think I am most thankful for my body scrub this afternoon.  It enabled me two hours of bliss and self-care.  When I arrived, there was one other woman in the facility.  We alternated between the dry sauna and cold splash.  Somehow we managed to avoid the other before my number was called for the body scrub.

I had a moderately productive day before letting it go. This evening was a loss. I dropped flyers off to the bar regarding yoga and then headed to pick up food at one of my favorite italian spots.  I showed up, early, to ensure that I would be able to get a seat at their bar.  Ironically, there were no spots.  The manager offered me a seat and I watched him carry a bar stool across the restaurant with a child in his arms.  The things we do, lol.

I ordered take out and went out fairly early.  I set up my activities to achieve and fell asleep.  I hope it doesn't interfere with my night of sleep.  The last week has been crazy.  Waking up, hourly, or every hour and a half. It is messing with my routine.  I think I am overthinking which is normal.  Typically, I can shut this off but the last few days it has run wild.  I need a switch or way to regulate this.  

Tomorrow there are a few classes and then work.  I am thankful for both.  The classes allow me to express my creativity and build on my dream. I want to share movement with people.  I was working, steadily, until the last month.  The holidays are proving to be a challenge.  Still there is opportunity out there as I am finding.

Working enables supplemental income.  I have struggled to make it work due to my own issues.  I want to work but I want it under ideal circumstances.  That is on me.  I will continue to work on myself as I navigate working.

Blogging is helping me be consistent and thoughtful.  I need both right now.  I am continuing on this path wherever it leads.  As noted, it is easier to fail.  I refuse to do that this time.  Gratitude for life, people, food and water.  I am hoping that yoga this Saturday will be a success!

Double up

 Two posts today.  I was doing well.  Then, yesterday I got a little sidetracked.  Lunch with Roxie, followed by a meet up with Jordan to coordinate Saturday yoga which derailed me.   Originally, Jordan and I texted about meeting at a coffee shop in the morning.  I walked over to the coffee shop at said time and waited.  

Eventually, I reached out to see if he remembered about our meet up. I didn't want to suffocate him but I had cleared my morning to be able to meet with him.  He called me and seemed discombobulated.  He said that he had been covering shifts and so his sleep schedule was off.  I can respect that.  I remember working at bars and getting off at 3 a.m..  You aren't quite ready for sleep and so you stay up.  Maybe have a beverage or two and wake up the next day at noon.  I cannot live like that anymore.  It is way too hard on my body!

He called me after I had arranged a meet up with Roxanne.  We were planning on walking in her neighborhood with their foster dog.  We could day drink at Postino and get Teddy more exposure.  I texted Roxanne that I needed to postpone for an hour or so. Jordan offered to come to my apartment with wine to chat about the Saturday sessions.  I told him I could meet him in 20 minutes and not to worry--I had wine.  I went downstairs to my front porch and waited.  I had my calendar, my phone and a book. Thirty minutes pass and he has not shown up.  I figure he fell back asleep.

I text him to suggest meeting later that I needed to run some errands and get stuff done.  He calls me to see where I am and when we can meet.  Seriously, I believe he was sleep walking.  I do get it.  Sleep deprivation is a real thing.

Eventually, we meet but it threw off my day.  It threw off my desire to write.  Instead, I met him, we ended up bar hopping in my hood (which was fantastic by the way).  We stopped by the Middleman and To the Wind.  I miss the impulsiveness of going to a random bar or restaurant.  I am conditioned to make reservations, post pandemic.  It ensures getting a seat, lol.  

Last night was fantastic!  We stopped into To the Wind and tried to get a seat at their bar.  They told us we had 10 minutes but to sit down and they would take care of us.  I miss that!  I love the spontanaeity!

I have some things to attend to.  I did manage to make my new flyers for Saturday yoga events.  I will drop them off and figure out the rest of my day.  I feel blissful and free.

definition of success

I listened to a podcast earlier and the guy was questioning how people define their success.  He laid out ten principles that made him feel successful.  Financially, family, health and wellness, etc...I can maybe think of five.  Perhaps more, but definitely five.  

It sparked inspiration.  How do I define success?  
I do not lead a conventional lifestyle. I suppose that would be a tenet for me.  The ability to navigate life without adhering to the traditional garb--marriage, kids, white picket fence.  Upon reflection, I realize that my first belief of success relates to being able to purchase a beverage with a meal.  I grew up in a family of six.  Rarely did we go out to lunch or dinner.  If we did, we could order water.  More often than not, we would share items (for example, chinese food) and our choice of beverage was limited to water.  Dining out was the treat. We didn't need to spoil it by having a soda.

When I went to college and was able to order a glass of wine with lunch ***when I was 21*** I felt like I had arrived.  I was successful.  I could rely on myself.

Second tenet of success--my health.  I have good health and can enjoy it.  I am fortunate in this arena and I work at it.  I wake up, hydrate massive amounts of water and try to eat clean food.  Of course, I have cheat days and meals.  I drink wine.  It doesn't contribute to my success but it helps with my stress level and overall well-being.  Drinking wine is social, connecting people and enjoyable.

The ability to travel has always been a way I measure success.  Travel has been and will continue to be essential in my life.  I have slowed down due to the pandemic.  I haven't flown since March of 2020 which seems strange.  Just haven't been that inspired to go fly somewhere and encounter restrictions of where to go or where to eat.

I am successful (I think) with my friends and family.  I try to communicate as effectively as possible.  Most of the time, it isn't easy.  Hard conversations have to be had though if you truly want a friendship and/or relationship.  You cannot gloss over things that are important to you.  

Financially, I am healthy.  I could be better.  I know this.  Still, I have the flexibility to choose the path I am on.  Currently, a touch of struggle due to the uncertainty of where this leads.  But isn't that what makes it exciting?

I listened to another podcast and the guy mentioned that we all limit ourselves when we allow doubt to filter in.  It is so true and difficult to not let it filter in.  It starts small and sort of festers.  This pertains to my financial health.  I need to recognize that I am in a good place and can get better.

I believe in giving back to the community.  It is more rewarding to give anonymously or so I think.  Doing it with no tit for tat.  

How do you define success?  What inspires you?  How are your tenets of success unique to you and your lifestyle?  I could think more on it.  I am a tad bit distracted by my event this evening.  I wanted to write.  My morning was incredibly productive and then it slowed down at lunch.  I have tasks to manage before hosting a happy hour.  I need to focus on that!

Happy Tuesday.  As always--celebrate, enjoy and taste life~

Gratitude and other reflections

 I love November.  I always have. To me, it represents gratitude and a reason to express gratitude.  Maybe even be kinder, nicer, more gracious.  

I wrote about consistency the other day.  In one area of my life, I have been consistent with my Monday Motivation posts.  I started them during the pandemic as a way to hold myself accountable for pursuing being my own boss.  I could share stories, ideas and thoughts every Monday.  As that has evolved, it has taken on a life of its own.  This month, for example, I am posting about things I am grateful for--friendships, my new metal butterfly and wine lunches with friends.  I feel I am finding my voice and feel more comfortable sharing it.  I am not so concerned about what other people think or what they will say.  I am trying to be honest with where I am at in life.

Sometimes it feels like one step forward, two steps back.  Why is it so much easier to self-sabotage than to keep momentum going?  Is it all related to fear?  Or doubt?  Or guilt?  I really don't know. I do see some patterns emerging currently.  I need to set healthy limits so that I do focus on what is important to me.  And I need to continue to be positive and honest about what I want.  If I need to say no to a lunch date because I don't feel going, I need to do it. Or, if I pick up a book and know that it isn't for me, I need to put it down instead of forcing myself to read it.  This current book I was gifted is awful.  Run on sentences.  Run on sentences and I still cannot get into the story.  I think I have slogged through forty pages.  I need to release it to one of free libraries in my neighborhood.  I just don't think I can do it.

I have gratitude to realizing my boundaries. Better yet, my need to establish boundaries.  Save my energy and focus.  I have my final yoga happy hour tomorrow and I cannot wait!   I went shopping for supplies this morning and will be able to do the prep work tomorrow.  I am relying a little more on dips and charcuterie than I had in the past.  I also had a partner that was creative and mindful about dishes he prepared.  

I am learning to be more confident in this arena.  The group yoga does not terrify me like it once did. I hope to teach more group classes as a matter of fact.  Something to focus on for 2021.  Finding a space to offer groups classes and happy hour.

 Now, I am worried about the appetizers I bring.  I am bringing foods that I think are tasty and a little diverse.  More cheese than I would like to offer but just because I don't enjoy dairy doesn't mean that other people do not.  I have my standard veggie tray and a few other easy creations.  Wine and tequila to distract if the food is not adequate.

Only time will tell.  Tomorrow will be fantastic. I am thankful for the place that I am in right now.  Thankful for the opportunity to reflect and be tranquil.  What are you thankful for today?

Sunday reflections

Each day, we choose how to spend it.  Positively or passively. For me, positively translates to being active, productive and mindful.  Passively isn't necessarily negative but it is more of an existence setting.  I tend to do an in between mix of the two some days.  This morning, for example.  I woke up with the intention of meditating, reading and reflecting.  I got sidetracked while making making my smoothie.  New smoothie combination--pineapple, blackberry, pear, cucumber, beet, kale, turmeric and yogurt.  Not the prettiest color but tasty.  

In the last few weeks, I have been utilizing my blender. I feel healthier when I begin my day with a smoothie as opposed to eggs.  I go through phases where I make the same things for breakfast.  For some time, I have been relying on scrambled eggs, corn tortillas and salsa or chile of sorts. I do love green chile!  However, I am trying to change up my routines and alter my caloric intake.  I have felt sluggish since my birthday.  Perhaps due to wine lunches or eating things I had cut out of my diet in an attempt to maintain my weight.  Almost five years ago, I found a trainer that I adore.  She is a great balance of nutrition and working out.  She inquired about eating habits by having me journal for five days.  I was surprised by how crappy I was eating.  I would make a salad with avocado, blue cheese crumbles and dressing.  I wasn't really concerned about the amount of cheese or oil I was putting in the salad either.  Courtney suggested being moderate and eating clean.  She also always harps on me about drinking wine.  I am unwilling to give that up so I made modifications with food.  I decreased dairy.  Initially, I thought it would be difficult to give up cheese but found it easy, surprisingly.  I hesitated to cut out half and half for my coffee.  I didn't like rice milk.  Soy milk was tolerable and I was having difficulty embracing coconut milk.  After a time, I found I enjoy almond milk and the combination of coconut and oat or almond.  

Cutting out cheese was easy.  I could make modifications while dining out with others.  If they wanted a cheese tray, I could graze on the almonds, fruits or whatever else was included with it.  Don't get me wrong, I still do eat cheese at times.  I like caesar salads--so there is that.  I cut out my love of lobster mac and cheese and other comfort food driven sides.  I feel better and do not feel guilty drinking wine.

I was making progress until the last few months.  I have eaten pizza, scalloped potatoes, mashed potatoes, etc. recently since that is what is being offered at the restaurant.  It is more convenient to eat what is made after working a shift then go home and try a healthier option.  Typically, I am tired and just need some fuel. The pizza last weekend was a huge mistake.  I woke up to a food coma!  I will not make that mistake again.  I will force myself to abstain.   Choosing a smoothie to start my day offsets (a little) if I do eat something that I normally wouldn't choose due to convenience.  And not every day does the restaurant make foods I don't want to eat.  Many nights, they will make a salad with salmon for me.  I love that!

I have some show on in the back ground and am uninspired to read.  My friend, Adriana, gifted me a book that she had read.  When I asked if if was good, she hesitated. I suppose that is all I needed to know.  As much as I want a new book to delve into if the writing isn't good, than I struggle to finish it.  I picked it up to read a few pages and I think I am not going to be a fan.

I am trying to reflect (be consistent, so far, so good.  day #4).  I think it is helping me reset my mindset and keep my energy up.  Keep moving forward and avoid being stagnant.  Money will always be there.  I cannot get back time.

Have a wonderful day!  Maybe do a mix of positive and passive.  It is Sunday!