Peace

Bakasana Family Love

The other night when my entire family decided to practice yoga together; I was very touched. It wasn’t a pre-planned event where I laid out mats and we had instructional time. It was spontaneous, challenging and fun. I felt love and warmth in my heart and soul for this bunch as they practiced Bakasasna (crow (crane) pose).

I have been teaching yoga, weekly, for about 6 years now.  I have really tried to not push yoga on anyone in the house. I do have my own practice, so, of course, throughout the years they have watched, participated and even inquired about it on their own. My two older boys have even taken classes that I have taught for kids. In yoga the boys giggle and enjoy it but are not serious yogis. My husband has back issues and visits the masseuse and chiropractor often. They always tell him to do more yoga and he tells, ‘them my wife teaches that”, and they just give him a crazy look and ask him why he doesn’t do more yoga. He then comes home and we will do some yoga. We do yoga every now and then, and I show show him things to do to help him out. We even do a little couple yoga now and then, but no consistent practice. So we aren’t the “yogi family”, or  so I thought. Being with three boys and a man-child has makes us a football and baseball family.

Now, don’t get me wrong my family knows the importance of a yoga practice especially with the type of sports they are engaged in but, they need a little prodding and I already nag about  enough stuff (chores, homework, etc.). So imagine my delight when it hit me that my family is a “yogi family”.

The reality hit me the other night when my oldest (11 yo) showed me he could do Bakasana. He struggled a bit and was getting frustrated so I then got on the floor and just talked him into being calm and focused and trying again.  He began to  look to me for more guidance so I then did Bakasana.  He tried again and then hubby wondered if he could do it so he got onto the floor with us. He was so surprised and excited that he had the strength to do it! My middle son happened to walk in on us and jumped right in with confidence and an attitude of  ”let me show all of you how its done”. He dropped on the floor and did it with ease (he has always been able to do this). Now all four of us are on the floor practicing our Bakasana together and then trying to go into other asanas (postures) as well. The little one (5-year-old) even jumped in!

The entire J5 (our family nickname) is all into it. I sat back and just watched and it hit me, I do have a “yogi family”! Look at my little brood, practicing together, finding their strength, being challenged, laughing, goading each other on to just try again, and just having fun doing what Momma does all of the time. All these years I didn’t need to nag, or push them into it, it just happened. I guess I do have some influence over these bodies filled with testosterone and they do see the value in what I do and how valuable it will be for them in their own personal journeys as well.

Peace, Love and SOOOUULLLLLLL Train

I am a 70′s baby. I grew up in the 70′s, from the very start of the decade, so the name for my blog has many meanings for me and one is the obvious, Soul Train. That phrase is forever engrained in my brain, “it’s gonna be a stone cold trip honey”, “peace, love and Soul”. I actually had a very short stint on Soul Train! LOL! In 1986 I was a student at Hollywood High School, a performing arts school. Somehow, I got an invite to be on  and my mom was so excited. She took me to my cousin’s house and they clothed me in a light pink spandex outfit. The shirt was off one shoulder, and the outfit was very 80′s. I even had braids in my hair! It was so funny. At the time, I appreciated it but not like I do now. Prior to the 80′s, in the 70′s was when Soul Train was HOT! They really showed the world black culture. Beautiful afro’s graced the screen as well as bell bottoms, brown hues and funky moves. It was a celebration of being an African-American in a society that looked down on our features, our culture and our expression of ourselves. Even though many emulated our music and looks, it somehow just wasn’t acceptable for “us” to express it. Soul Train made it ok. Losing Don Cornelius is a loss for the music industry and its rich history, for black history, for American history.

So, as an homage to Soul Train, last week in my class (Latin Fusion which is really ZUMBA) I had everyone do a Soul Train line. We had sooooo much fun! I should have taken pictures or a video but I was so busy grooving down the line I forgot. Having 60+ people go down a soul train line, in a studio, is no easy feat to organize. BUT! Here is a taste of the real deal and of a flash mob done in New York in honor of Don Cornelius.

This week gather some of your friends and family and bust a move down a soul train line. You will have MUCH fun!

Love, Love,Love

Today is a day to share your love! There are so many ways to express love to your loved ones, your pets, your neighbors and most importantly yourself! If you have no one to share it with do it for yourself! Here are some ways I shared love today.

Hubby left to go out of town yesterday so I stuck a card in his bag and this morning I called to tell him to look for it. This morning, I woke up early enough to make heart pancakes for my three boys. Chocolate chip for my middle son, blueberry for my oldest, and regular ones for the baby (well he is 5, not such a baby anymore).

heart-shaped blueberry pancakes; made with fresh blueberries

I made a “love” playlist for my cycle class. We had class this morning at 9:45am and what better way to love yourself than taking a class to improve your health. This is one of my FAVORITE love songs, which I played in class:

I also gave them dark chocolate heart-shaped pieces of goodness! I have never done that before;  we all need a treat sometimes. Not all 45 took it, but some did and appreciated it. I appreciate them for working so hard. Some of my students work harder than I do and I love them for always coming back to my class and working hard with me and inspiring me to be better ( a better teacher and better with my own work out routine)!

There are great things you can do today and everyday to show love. Today, I have a friend who is going to write a letter to God, and express her love for Him! WOW! I think that is beautiful. SO, see today need not be a downer day. Give love, give it to a friend, a neighbor, your family, yourself. No greater gift is there that love. As Stevie says:

“Did you know true love asks for nothing?

Her acceptance is the way we pay.

Did you know that life is giving love again

To last forever, another day?”

Yummy Side Dish

I know it is Winter,not Fall, but a Butternut Squash is always a yummy side dish. Last night, I made baked squash with cinnamon, nutmeg, a little ginger, a tad bit of sweetness and viola! Within an hour I had heartiness along side some fish for my brood. My oldest son (who has a strong disdain for anything squash) said it was good! Well, he said it was “alright”! I’ll take that!
Here’s to eating healthy, quickly and taking care of the family!
I’ll post recipe too.

I used a veggie peeler and peeled of the tough outer skin and the first outer layer of the squash. It was very easy to cut up afterwards. You can also go to Trader Joe’s and buy it already cut.

 

 

I dressed the squash in a little olive oil, sprinkled cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and a little turbinado sugar and mixed it all up.

Baked at 400 until it filled our house with a delicious smell and was tender when poked with a fork.

This was a great side, and cured everyone’s sweet tooth too!

It’s Our American History, Celebrate it!

Are you worth it?

Found this on a friends FB page. It is my mantra for the week. What is yours?