TinavsTree 1yr Anniversary

This is going to sound cliché, but stick with me here. One year ago today my world was rocked when, while skiing, I hit 2 trees and was impaled by a branch in the chest. Thankfully the impalement was more of a surface wound, but the accident’s ‘scars’ run deeper than the eye can see; and the lessons learned from that day, and the events following are significantly life altering.

Listen to your intuition; it just might save your life. Seriously, had I not listened to my intuition telling me to ‘slow down’, the higher speed may have flipped me at a fatal angle. Mere inches separated a crazy story from a tragic one. Two inches north would have hit the clavicle arteries. Two inches south could have punctured a lung. Lucky Lady? I think so.

You are stronger than you think, mentally and physically. Somehow I knew that everything was going to be ok, even after I realized I was impaled. Here are my immediate thoughts following the accident: F#*@. Oww! I broke my kneecap. Oww! Where’s Dan? I have a stick in me. Shit. Patrol. Hospital? This is going to be expensive. Just breath. It’s going to be ok. Breath.

When things get overwhelmingly tough, just breath. Once I realized what had happened and knew that I needed to wait for help, I closed my eyes and focused on my breath. Ujjayi breathing (common yoga breath) took my mind off the pain, the situation and the consequences. By consciously monitoring my inhales and exhales I avoided going in to shock. The pain levels, though high, became physically and mentally tolerable.

I might be crazier than the average bear.

Doctor: We need Life Flight!

Me: Really? Are you sure?

Doctor: You have a stick in your chest!

Me: Yeah. I know that. And I’m fine.

You are surrounded by an amazingly supportive community. When friends found out about the accident, and that I did not have health insurance they banded together to start a donation website. TinavsTree.com reached across the country to friends, family and strangers alike; it raised more money than any of us imagined. The response to the site was, and still is, incredibly humbling; I will forever be grateful to everyone who donated their time, resources and money to my cause.

Dedication, perseverance and work ethic are game changers. These pertain to life in general, but these attributes definitely aided me post accident, in dealing with medical bills and recovery. Each day was treated as a new day. The motivation to persevere, jump through hoops, and do the legwork all paid off in the end.

Be thankful for what you have, and what you are able to do. It is easy to take everyday tasks for granted, until you can no longer do them. I was not completely incapacitated, but I was out of commission for a while. Rehabbing from an injury is always difficult, and it makes me thankful for the times when I am healthy and fully able. Not everyone is as lucky as I was. Less than a month ago a family friend’s 15yr old daughter hit a tree across her chest, immediately collapsed her lungs, later she died of internal injuries. RIP Hannah Rudolph.

Today I ask you to take the time to look around, be thankful, and give thanks. Hug a tree. But if you do hug a tree, make sure you approach slowly, they don’t move, and tend to bite at high speeds.

Why do we fall sir? So we might learn to pick ourselves up - Alfred from Batman

Skipping, Singing and Swinging

What do these three activities have in common? You partake in them as a child, and they typically correlate with good times.

Skipping: Lately, on my walks with my dog I've found myself engaging in the school yard activity of skipping. I dare you to go outside and skip without laughing; it's impossible. Seriously even in college when we skipped as part of our pre-sprinting dynamic warm-up it put a smile on my face. Now a days I thoroughly enjoy skipping for the sake of skipping, and I've found myself doing it more and more because it makes me happy. Typically when someone catches me skipping, either they're in shock and stare or they too smile. Word to the wise, skipping is contagious those around you just might join in and you'll all be forced to laugh and have fun.

Singing: I have always loved to sing, and do so loudly and proudly, mainly as solos performed at my house and in my car. Singing is an outlet for emotions, and words unsaid; it is a way to express yourself at your most vulnerable. Words put to music are more than just words, they are poems and stories, that convey experiences that one day the listener either will or will not relate to. These words put to music can have massive emotional ties to the goods times and the not so good times. But I could go on and on about music, I love it. I surround myself with music that portrays my current mood, and I love to sing along, even if I don't always know the words; that's what humming and whistling are for.


Swinging: I feel that this is a lost art. Honestly, other than the spontaneous late night swing sessions in college, who after junior high school gets on a swing? Today I was at the park with my dog and out of boredom with throwing the tennis ball and sheer curiosity I jumped on a swing. I was immediately smiling from ear to ear as I pumped higher and higher. It brought me back to the swing set I grew up on with my brother and sister. I anticipated the centripetal acceleration on the down side and giggled as the chains slacked then caught on the up. I seriously swung for 5 minutes and it was great!

The pure enjoyment and happiness brought by skipping, singing and swinging could quite possibly cure depression, or at least a bad day. So the next time you're feeling down go out and skip, sing or swing. It will make you smile or at the least laugh; at yourself.

Ode to the MAT

Tonight yoga reminded me that no matter what is happening in life, my mat is constant. It is a place where walls disintegrate, and I can simply be me.  The mat will always be there when I'm ready; encouraging me to find me. It's comforting to roll out, and step on to, a familiar mat. It allows the mind to quiet with an exhale and invigorates the soul with an inhale. A good mat always provides stability and support.

Ode to the yoga mat on which I've laughed, cried, sworn and sweat. At home or hotel, on mountains or in the desert, here's to you yoga mat that doesn't judge or play devils advocate; it simply is. And simply being can be the best companion.

I encourage you to roll out your mat in good times and in bad, to practice in sickness and in health and care for it to the end of its days. Namaste

Starting From Scratch

After a ski accident that involved 2 trees, 1 impaled branch, the ER, stiches, and plenty of couch time, coming back to my yoga mat felt like starting from scratch. Determined to use yoga as the main source of rehab, every minute spent on the mat was a challenge. Poses that I had thought as basic had to be modified for shoulder, chest and knee injuries. Every practice became a learning experience, rich in patience and personal acceptance. It made me appreciate the poses that I could still do or had once done with ease. Coming to the yoga mat under the physical circumstances made vinyasas more creative and thought provoking. It made little advances feel like large victories.

The advances in physical recovery encouraged the removal of the pose modifications. One day, about 5 weeks into rehab, my chest and shoulder were feeling strong; I decided to try headstand. Slowly at first, I tested my shoulder and chest in making the triangle base. The foundation felt strong so I continued into the pose. It felt so amazing to be unsupported and fully inverted again! Best of all my body felt great. To this day, and most likely forever, that headstand will stand out as one of the most memorable. A pose that I had always taken advantage of became special because I truly appreciated the time and effort leading up to physically being able to do the pose.

Rarely do we get an opportunity to start from scratch in an activity such as yoga that we've practiced for years. If you are ever gifted this opportunity, embrace it.

Listen to your Intuition, it might save your life

Intuition is a funny thing, some of us acknowledge that we have a sense called intuition, but we don't listen to it. Some don't even know it exists...others live by it.

A few months back I went to an energy worker for some body work, also to learn things about my life and personal energy. A friend mentioned that this lady was amazing, that 'she'd tell you things about your life that no one knew'; she was spot on! This lady told me so so many important things about myself! One important detail was about my intuition, I never fully listened to it. So I decided from that day on that I was going to honestly listen to whatever my intuition told me.

Shortly after that day I was skiing at Snowbird, when I got this odd feeling that I needed to slow down, accompanied by a flashback to mtn biking when I hit a tree. I decided to listen to this odd feeling and I threw in a quick speed check (as much as the tight conditions allowed for). Around the next the turn my left ski went rogue pointing me straight at some trees. I hit the first tree with my knee, it flipped my body perpendicular to the next tree where one of the branches impaled me in the left shoulder. Thankfully the branch only hit soft tissue, missing my clavicle arteries, lung, nerves, muscle, and shoulder joint.

Obviously I am still here, but had I neglected to listen to my intuition telling me to slow down, I could have been flipped at a different angle, potentially puncturing a lung or my arteries. Two inches is the difference between my life, death, and a collapsed lung...

Moral of the story? Listen to your intuition, it might be telling you some very important (life altering) information.

Injuries

Injuries happen, and they happen to some more often/severely then others. None the less an injury is an injury and they have more then physical impacts on us. Thankfully in the 21st century most people are aware that sports are as mental as they are physical, therefore an injury will affect our mental state as much if not more than our physical body. And the question is how long after our physical body has healed do we harbor these mental injuries? 

Have you ever felt: anxious, hesitant, or fearful post injury when you encounter a situation similar to the one in which you got injured? Who hasn't. This is your mental body interfering with the physical, saying 'what if 'it' (injury) happens again?'. Your injury has left a mental scar that runs much deeper than the skin level. There is nothing to be ashamed of here, anyone who's experienced an injury, then gone on to do that same activity again has felt this, though maybe you weren't aware of it. Over time if you continue to be active without re-injury this mental anxiety, hesitation or fear to such situations will diminish, but like a physical scar will always be there.

Think about a time when you were injured and how you felt when you got back into action, how did it make you feel mentally? Physically? Were you able to continue with the activity, or did you stop? Have you ever put yourself in the same situation since then? If so how did it make you feel?

So get back up and do what you love to do, but sometimes it's a great idea to also be aware of what your body AND mind are telling you. When you should continue, and when you need more time to heal whether it be physically or mentally prior to getting back out there.

Slow it Down

As one who is an avid Power yogi, using it for as much of the strength training as mental training, lately I've been taking Restore classes. I have also found that my personal practices are geared more towards restorative properties than power poses. At first it was because I'd always be too sore from biking or climbing to take a core class, then I'd be too stressed out, and now it's just because that's all I want.

It is important to listen to the body and respect what it wants to do, verses what we think we should be doing. Typically whenever we think we should be doing something, it's never the right thing. Attempting to be more intuitive with myself I've found when I force myself into a power class when my body (and usually mind) are tired, my practice is very pieced together. I find myself unable to clear my mind even at the end of a 90min class lying in svasana.

It is the times when I am respecting my body and going to that restore class, that I find the calm clarity throughout practice, and even bliss in svasana. Slowing your practice down and holding poses can be mentally challenging for most, but when your body craves it you'll see the ability to find peace is easy. Next time you find yourself dragging to that power class think about slowing it down and trying the restore class instead.

Sunrises are Transformational

The other night I decided, at 11pm that I was going to drive out to the Bonnevile Salt Flats to 'get away from it all'. A friend and I packed the car and Hobbes happily hopped into the back. A quiet two hour drive later we arrived on the Salt Flats. The moon was so bright there was no need for lamps and we spent the next hour running around the amazing nothingnes.

When it was time to sleep the moon was so bright it almost made it difficult to fall asleep. After only an hour of sleeping the moon had set and I woke up to the vast sky of beautifully sparkling stars. As someone who absolutely misses seeing stars this sight literally took my breath away and almost moved me to tears. Drifting in and out of consciousness I tried to absorb as much of this experience as I could.

Shortly there after I hear "Tina you need to see this". I open my eyes to another beautiful sight, the vibrantly rainbowed skyline spanning as far as the eye can see. The sun was still 40 minutes from cresting the horizon, but damn if it doesn't make an amazing preshow production. I had planned on setting up my tripod and documenting this, but instead I just laid there in awe of the vast beauty I was witnessing. As the next 40 minutes or so flowed by I lay there marveling at how transforming a sunrise can be. There is just something about welcoming the day with such beauty, it's spiritually cleansing.

With that I say get up and watch a sunrise.

Time Passes Quickly

Life always seems to get in the way of living....think about that for a minute.

OK so I haven't written in a while because, like most I tend to get caught up in the little things. The changes that had been an undercurrent of my spring grew into a tidal wave this summer, crashing and dispersing any sense of stability that I was foolishly grasping on to. The finer things in life, like yoga were unfortunately lost in the storm. I am not teaching yoga, I am at a job that I enjoy, but it's not teaching yoga. I have been caught up in my life, aka trying to get through each day, verses living life. How can you lose yoga in such an unstable part of your life? Well sadly it's way too easy to do so. I knew I needed to practice, and that I should be practicing more so because of my situation, but the heaviness of self inflicted negative emotions kept me in bed many mornings. Finding opportunites to teach (and put myself out there for potential failure again) proved much more challenging than I ever expected.

Time passes quickly and before you know it its been months of this same old, same old. The beautiful thing is all you need to do it stand up and say I'm not going to go to that class tomorrow, I am going to do it today. A little bit of self tough love is just what will get you back on track and next thing you know its been another month, but this time you've been proactive in living your life.

With every valley there is a mountain to climb, and it is not the destination but the journey in which we'll learn. Thank you for sticking with my through these tough times.

Finding the Blank Spaces

(a long lost post from May, but an important one to post I think)
There's something about being alone that makes you more in touch with everything. I've recently spent some time in the desert hiking with my dog Hobbes. Now he isn't much of a talker, but that doesn't stop me from talking to him, and sometimes creating responses for him. More often then I should admit..and I mean full conversations...but I digress. We camped by the Colorado river and spent hours lounging around watching the afternoon flow by. We watched as the sun became lower in the sky, the long rays enhancing the red glow of the rocks to the east. We were lulled into peace by the ebb and flow of the river. Time was not an issue, and that was a wonderful thing.

Sitting by the river I meditated for a while. Like many I struggle with meditation. I have a difficult time quieting my mind, and I easily become restless, even anxious if/when my hips are tight. Using my mala beads, I am able to quiet my mind simply by focusing on one breath per bead. Meditation is something that I know needs to be a part of my practice, but it's always overlooked. A book that I recently read, The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho put it all in perspective for me. The main character, Athena was always busy doing and trying new things. Always filling her days with constant activities. Her calligraphy teacher told her in order to flow from one word to another she needs create and understand the blank spaces between them. And in order to do that on paper she needed to do that in her life. Athena knew that she kept herself busy because she was afraid of the quiet times, or blank spaces.

Now I am not sure if I would go as far to say that I am afraid of my blank spaces, but I tend to over schedule my life in general. Which gives little time for exploration of those blank spaces. Meditation is almost like living in those blank spaces. Are you able to quiet your mind and be present in the nothingness that comes in the blank spaces of your life?

Try quieting your mind, and be present for a blank space or two. A great way to work on this is with breath. Focus on every single breath. Inhale fully and completely then hold your breath at the top, take a few seconds before exhaling, then exhale fully and completely and hold your breath at the bottom. See how difficult this little exercise can be, but be mindful of how the blank spaces make you feel.

Seeker of Truth

Thought I'd share a great poem by E.E. Cummings titled Seeker of Truth.

Seeker of truth

Follow no path
All paths lead where

Truth is here

No One's Going to Die Here Today, So Breath

I never really learned how to breath until I became a regular at my friend Lissy's yoga classes. She teaches yoga for climbers, skiers, bikers, core, and well no matter what class it is she'll kick your butt! One day, in a particularly hard skiers class, made significantly harder than usual because it had been dumping all weekend and of course we had all skied like mad and had tight legs and backs to show for it, Lissy said something along the lines of: 'no one's going to die here tonight, so breath....just suck it up and breath'. Lissy's never one to sugar coat it, but when you're in pigeon after frying your hip for the last 30 minutes (or so it feels) focusing the mind only on the breath, and not getting up kicking and screaming like a spoiled child, can be quite challenging.

But I took Lissy's comment to heart; no one is going to die today, so breath. Honestly have you ever seen someone struggling to stay in a deep forearm lunge just fall over and die? Joking aside this idea struck me deep and it changed my practice. Now I go to class and even when my IT bands are so tight you could strum them like a guitar, no matter how much my body screams, all I have to do is breath more. Inhale a little deeper to create space and exhale a little stronger to hug into center. It's amazing how the simple act of focusing on the breath can keep you present and in your body during the most hot and sweaty internal struggle fest that some yoga classes present.

When focusing on the breath in intense poses you should note the following: yes, you will feel your body and the deep sensations, but no you won't care because you're not allowing your mind to focus on anything other than breathing.

So how can we bring this lesson off the mat and into the world? No matter what the world throws your way, how can you use your warrior within to help you realize that no one it going to die here today? Just breath.

This too shall pass

It's April now and even though it's still dumping snow out here in Utah there are the signs of Spring. With Spring comes the budding of flowers, the hint of warm weather, and the reality of change. This Spring many things are changing in my life, and I have been trying to embrace them with open arms versus denial and repression.

For many reasons I have been veering in another direction from the path I had tried so carefully to lay out. Unfortunately veering can sometimes feel more like leaping off the deep end. Thus with this new direction my life has become as unsettled as a freshly shaken snow globe. In these times of the unknown I keep reminding myself that 'this too shall pass'.

'This too shall pass' is a proverb conveying that material things and events in ones life will come and go. This is a great phrase in times of despair or frustration, but it is also supposed to be used in times of elation and good fortune. It is a way for us to grow through our interactions with life. And a reminder that nothing is forever. Do not get attached to what you had or where you were going, do not dwell on the past or dream of the future. Be thankful for the present and whatever it brings.

Change can be a beautiful thing, scary, but beautiful. Embrace both.

Great song by a fellow VTer Bobby Kendes Things Are Changing  (song is in the right hand corner)

Arm Balances Anyone?

Photo By:JPenacoli 

Have you ever been at a party watching people do silly tricks showing off their often odd talents? Well now you can learn your own party trick, and maybe a little bit of inner balance while you're at it.

This is Bakasana (aka crow). First find yourself in an area without any sharp objects within rolling distance. Then come into a squatting position, big toes touching, knees flaring wide. Place your hands shoulder distance apart on the mat / floor. Piking up your hips bending into your elbows place your knees on the outside of your triceps (ideally put them up in your armpits). Hugging your knees into your arms engaging your core, rock your upper body forward starting the titter totter effect. Lift one foot at a time, and if you are able to get both feet off the ground keep that hugging into center with the legs and core.

Practice this a few times prior bringing this to your next gathering. And if you want a standing ovation practice chutting your legs back into Chaturanga.   ENJOY!

Some Yoga Comedy

OK, so lately the winter blues has been floating around town. As laughter is always the best medicine I thought that everyone would enjoy this short video:  http://bit.ly/9mXeSb

Barefoot Yoga Schedule

Like I mentioned, I am teaching yoga for Barefoot Yoga at Vitalize in Sugarhouse (2154 S Highland Dr). Check out our classes, your first one if FREE!! And prices are very affordable.

Can You Find Balance During the Holidays?

Every year when this time of year rolls around I say, next year I am going to start shopping earlier, I am going to purge on food and goodies less, not let the stressful shoppers add jet fuel to the already stressful ship flying through the holidays. Well, once again this idea has seemed to fail, or at least the priority fell by the wayside for one more year. Do you feel your days are crazed and the rushing around has up-heaved your inner balance and feeling of stability? How can we regain this balance and inner peace during such crazy times of the year?

Adding more grounding poses to our practice will aid in bringing us to a more rooted, and stabilized being. While you are in these poses, or any pose for that matter breath from the ground into the body through the rooted body parts. (ex. try breathing through your hands in down dog) Hold these poses for 5-10 breaths or so, moving slowly and deliberately, using your core for stabilization focusing on establishing a solid foundation prior to flowing into the next pose.  For example when flowing into Virabidrasana I (warrior I), bring the foot between the hands, and root down the back foot. Breath into this foundation, establishing your core engagement, maybe bringing the hands alongside the ears while keeping the chest glued to the thigh. With this strong foundation of the feet and core engagement, on a long inhale slowly lift the chest off the thigh, reaching the hands towards the sky. On your next exhale feel the feet rooting into the mat. Inhale, isometrically pulling the heels of your feet towards each other. While hugging in towards center breath into this pose. How can you find a peace and relaxation in this active pose? Can you keep the feet grounding while extending the arms towards the sky? Are you able to get the quality of Tadasana (mountain pose) in this Virabidrasana I? Meaning the feeling of stability, comfort, ease and rootedness. Now continue to flow through your practice in this mindful manner and see how stable and balanced you feel.

If you only have a few minutes: simply take your shoes and socks off, pressing your feet into the ground, maybe massaging them one at a time. Just by removing the barrier between our feet and the ground can be such a revelation in feeling inner stability, comfort and ease.

Happy Holidays! I hope you may stay balanced through this season.
Namaste

Exciting News!

I mentioned earlier that I will be teaching in Sugarhouse come January, well here is a teaser of info.

There are four of us who have come together to form a group that will be offering classes at a new space in Sugarhouse called Vitalize. It is directly west of Whole Foods on Highland, on the north end of the building closest to the Sugarhouse hole-in-the-ground.

Our company is called Barefoot Yoga LLC. I will be teaching on Monday and Tuesday evenings as well as Wednesday mornings. Other members of Barefoot Yoga will be teaching Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and Wednesday evenings. We are getting together punch pass gift certificates for you to buy for yourself or for a loved one this holiday season. It's a great way to start off a new year with a new yoga space!

Also we are going to be holding parties on the 3rd and 4th of January for meet and greets of the instructors of Barefoot Yoga. We are going to have finger foods, a free yoga class, local clothing companies and more! So pencil us into your calendars for the 3rd and 4th of January (times TBA).

Please stay tuned for more info on this. If you would like to be on our newsletter distribution or to get more info on gift certificates for classes email me at warriorwithinyoga@gmail.com

Be Thankful

Thanksgiving has come and gone, the big day full of friends, family and food.  As this time of year usually does, it got me to thinking of what in my life there is to be thankful for.  Given they are much different than they were last year, and most likely will be different in the future, but it's the idea of taking the time to actually do this simple task that is important.

We live in such a nonstop society it is easy to let the present moment slip away. We are constantly looking into the future, seeing and hoping that it will be better than the present. Even if something great happens to us it is hard to be still in the present moment; to be thankful for it. I urge you to take the time right now, stop reading and reflect on what you are truly thankful for in your life, and smile. (I mean it, try to take a few moments for this)

Now that you have reflected on you life's gifts, keep them close to you and remember these gifts at least once a week. When the day, or week or person standing in front of you is stressing you out, take a deep breath in, focusing on the inhale from start to finish, exhale it out completely, and bring your awareness to the present moment. There is always something to be thankful for, what can you be thankful for here?

In our physical yoga practice when the legs start burning we think, what is here to be thankful for, my legs are killing me! Immediately the mind goes from the physical sensation to other thoughts, robbing us of the present moment. A lot of energy, emotions and memories are stored in our legs, which explains the desire to be anywhere but in the present moment feeling this intense sensation. If we are going to try and reflect on what we can be thankful for in our lives, being present is the best way to do it. What is more amazing than being alive, and having the ability to feel our body? Warriors are stubborn people, but aren't we the most determined and dedicated as well? What we learn about ourselves on the yoga mat directly correlates into our everyday lives. I challenge you to be present in your practice, learn from yourself, and take it off the mat into your life.

Presence brings the awareness of the Warrior Within strength