tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10292733308899505882024-03-13T19:43:47.336+01:00Des hauts et des bananesWhatever works for me!Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-83170311597313754322010-12-17T17:11:00.002+01:002010-12-17T23:22:57.998+01:00I'm moving!People, it's time I moved to a bigger house, so I'm going where the cool kids are. Follow me on wordpress -> <a href="http://deshautsetdesbananes.wordpress.com/">http://deshautsetdesbananes.wordpress.com</a>/<br />
<br />
Bye old home!<br />
<br />
Thank you,<br />
<br />
;)Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-10671389476775730492010-12-17T13:54:00.000+01:002010-12-17T13:54:36.685+01:00Lesson learnedPrompt of the day: lesson learned - What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?<br />
<br />
Mmmmh, er, well, quite a few things actually, but my sick body and brain are too tired to think too much, so I'll just write what I remember and then I'll go back to doing nothing if you don't mind.<br />
<br />
I learned that I could write.<br />
I learned that I could care.<br />
I learned that I could not care.<br />
I learned that I could run.<br />
I learned that I had more resources than I thought I had.<br />
I learned that I could bend my body in ways I'd never imagined before.<br />
I learned that I was clinging to a vision of myself that is no longer accurate.<br />
I learned that I was enough.<br />
I learned that I could do whatever I wanted.<br />
<br />
What choice do I have but to keep going?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjws5-HCKgKrmNLm7ObPpmXUIqF0PIAexiYBpUd2Q4mpyU8oREqK9-X9Xakw48a8qk7xbnF7JnpGz8zG-yhOZcwLKhHrXaVtLI1GPRaB8rZifHR31PP21mVTYauSP6CsbXsKJcy08Wu6nRC/s1600/website-bw-peaceful-warrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjws5-HCKgKrmNLm7ObPpmXUIqF0PIAexiYBpUd2Q4mpyU8oREqK9-X9Xakw48a8qk7xbnF7JnpGz8zG-yhOZcwLKhHrXaVtLI1GPRaB8rZifHR31PP21mVTYauSP6CsbXsKJcy08Wu6nRC/s400/website-bw-peaceful-warrior.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theblevinsblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/website-bw-peaceful-warrior.jpg">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-51763161982316252952010-12-16T11:48:00.000+01:002010-12-16T11:48:45.273+01:00FriendshipPrompt of the day: Friendship - How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?<br />
<br />
Let's reverse the proposition: everyone who's had an influence on me and my perspective on the world this year has become a friend, whether they know it or not, whether they like it or not.<br />
<br />
'nuff said.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-91100805509901915132010-12-15T12:34:00.000+01:002010-12-15T12:34:25.844+01:005 MinutesPrompt of the day: 5 minutes - Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010.<br />
<br />
o_O again.<br />
<br />
Allow me to set an imaginary timer, as I am not in a location particularly prone to setting alarms, go figure.<br />
<br />
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!<br />
<br />
The email confirming I was accepted on the YTT: I was off sick that day, needless to say it made my day.<br />
Exams for my business course, the feeling of being a student, and graduating.<br />
A yoga weekend in London in May.<br />
The night of Earth Hour.<br />
Another yoga weekend in London in July with my YTT teacher.<br />
The trip to Tokyo, a dream come true.<br />
Whole Foods London (yeah I know...).<br />
The YTT weekends.<br />
The trip to Montreal, kind of a "let's do it" idea, the colours of the Parc Mont-Royal.<br />
The writing.<br />
The gut-wrenching fears, the painful and joyful path leading me to where I am now.<br />
The support.<br />
The love.<br />
<br />
You know what? I'll take everything.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-46921035512634652442010-12-14T22:36:00.000+01:002010-12-14T22:36:12.499+01:00Nothing better to do - take 2Wanna get some yoga? Wanna get creative? Wanna do something nice?<br />
<br />
So check out my new blog, <a href="http://www.thecreativesadhana.com/">www.thecreativesadhana.com</a>, and join me :)Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-56408805177471290642010-12-14T13:55:00.000+01:002010-12-14T13:55:43.645+01:00AppreciatePrompt of the day: appreciate. What's the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?<br />
<br />
I can think of not one thing but two: being able to travel far far away, and being a student again.<br />
How I express gratitude for it? By making the most of it, enjoying each and every moment, and working my a** off of course :)Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-90711299251812763742010-12-13T10:50:00.001+01:002010-12-14T00:22:59.938+01:00ActionPrompt of the day: Action - When it comes to aspirations, it's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen. What's your next step?<br />
<br />
ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME? THAT'S THE HARDEST PART!<br />
<br />
*Inhale exhale*<br />
<br />
Ok rewind: once upon a time, I used to believe I had no idea. Now I'm starting to realize I had ideas, I just kept burying them with a nice "that's impossible" epitath engraved on their tombstone.<br />
Now I'm starting to realize I have loads of ideas, that are not necessarily utter c**p, that might actually be worth exploring.<br />
<br />
So the first step is to acknowledge the idea and listen to my intuition and creativity much more. And give the ideas a go.<br />
<br />
The next step would be, well, I can't say right now, that would be revealing my plans for world domination and I can't do that. Call this superstition (am I the only one who will now sing Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" all day long?).<br />
<br />
But change there will be :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjw4RhcRkIO972N7U7mret4s6to4NwHUSdwB9TzQZghXrtF6F2PeNUlcY42raiWWY4KBQ1rThjI917u-3Ov1KwRX4diU-ckWRyRJLnlIsJoU_gkPUeQIyMlTSEfV0_r2q8uEHws1sZYxOD/s1600/pinky_brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjw4RhcRkIO972N7U7mret4s6to4NwHUSdwB9TzQZghXrtF6F2PeNUlcY42raiWWY4KBQ1rThjI917u-3Ov1KwRX4diU-ckWRyRJLnlIsJoU_gkPUeQIyMlTSEfV0_r2q8uEHws1sZYxOD/s400/pinky_brain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://beerepiphany.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/pinky_brain.jpg">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-25742872032793483562010-12-12T22:12:00.000+01:002010-12-12T22:12:18.203+01:00Body integrationPrompt of the day: Body integration - This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn't mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present?<br />
<br />
Man, it's Sunday and I haven't stopped one minute. It's 10:08 pm, and I'm finally sitting down with laptop on, well, lap. Maybe it isn't such a great idea actually. So I'll make this one short, because, ya know, I just wanna sip my cup of organic nettle and peppermint herbal tea (happy hippie me!) and surf the net and do nothing.<br />
<br />
One moment?<br />
1. Yogaing<br />
2. Running<br />
3. Sleeping (yes I'm alive and present, thank you very much).<br />
<br />
Hasta la vista baby, I'll be back, present, alive and kicking!Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-21337059215753127352010-12-11T21:37:00.000+01:002010-12-11T21:37:22.651+01:0011 ThingsPrompt of the day: 11 things - What are 11 things your life doesn't need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?<br />
<br />
I don't need lack of time, I don't need multiple pair of shoes, I don't need self doubt, I don't need people getting poorer, I don't need clothes I don't wear, I don't need war, I don't need clutter, I don't need watching that much TV, I don't need chains, I don't need disrespect, I don't need giving up. Never.<br />
<br />
Donate, empower, give, open, free.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5pw2Rwo2qFKy-_Aw0huTpXsZcuwgLjBTAptGwfLCvMotO_SozDw-gcfzAXv-mqYGXH5V4_mVsc_-gNehfxKR8QQMKQYwWE70LOK0PIpEftS-FNRbYNomaYCl0aTSXEZ6yEglQg5Vg9MX/s1600/freedom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5pw2Rwo2qFKy-_Aw0huTpXsZcuwgLjBTAptGwfLCvMotO_SozDw-gcfzAXv-mqYGXH5V4_mVsc_-gNehfxKR8QQMKQYwWE70LOK0PIpEftS-FNRbYNomaYCl0aTSXEZ6yEglQg5Vg9MX/s400/freedom2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://isagenix2010.yolasite.com/">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-30169198399375107872010-12-10T12:06:00.000+01:002010-12-10T12:06:39.078+01:00WisdomPrompt of the day: wisdom - What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?<br />
<br />
Let me pause and reflect... This year I have been doing a lot of things, according to my own standards. The key word here is "doing". Because it all boils down to one thing: this year, I have decided that it was time to stop thinking and start doing.<br />
<br />
Which is why you have seen on the blog a wide variety of activities such as:<br />
- taking a course - evening classes - in <a href="http://deshautsetdesbananes.blogspot.com/2010/03/economicsasana.html">business management</a>. I guess deep down I've always known I was not made to sit at a desk all day every day, working for someone else, and I've been preparing... My fear has been keeping me chained to this desk, but its voice has been slowly fading...<br />
- travelling to Japan and Canada after years of dreaming about it;<br />
- signing up for yoga <a href="http://deshautsetdesbananes.blogspot.com/2010/05/no-words.html">teacher</a> <a href="http://deshautsetdesbananes.blogspot.com/2010/09/ytt-weekend-1.html">trainings</a> and not chicken out;<br />
- actually agreeing to teaching a one-on-one and not chicken out;<br />
- writing - a lot;<br />
- attending the <a href="http://www.europeansummit.org/">European Summit for Global Transformation</a> in Amsterdam and launching a <a href="http://thechangeuwish.blogspot.com/">second blog</a> right away;<br />
- new: applying for a freelance translator job with a translating agency - ok that was yesterday, so maybe it will work out, maybe it won't, but at least I've tried.<br />
<br />
Now let's see how all this will play out in 2011!<br />
<br />
For those of you stumbling upon this, playing catch up, and not knowing what I'm talking about, check this out, you might even want to join :) :<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Q5ZmVEnZZ8kzRtOst4PB1JmtRb6Yigvi-97WjyyfbOr4VWLCoJt1ZsNVIVoQid3hChjuLJGNeIfEHTpqrWGAc2WFSIqNYFrFB7M7GMzIzjDoyPHfy-_kA4EqHNggWlc8T_ixzRsDyQft/s1600/reverb10story.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.reverb10.com/">http://www.reverb10.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>HTML linking has been playing weird lately on this little blog, can't seem to be able to link directly, but that's better than nowt :)</i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2525; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_929492843"></span><span id="goog_929492844"></span></span></span>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-7044923914797660212010-12-09T15:19:00.000+01:002010-12-09T15:19:33.258+01:00PartyPrompt of the day : Party - What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.<br />
<br />
Do satsangs qualify as yoga parties?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Yeah, thought so too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Then I've been partying all year long.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXyoDajWLUfD31nSOYkxnVeL2ldTKcmiovvP-ftI-ECbr585cA-znwU6YqIgtr-ggi01uCNvpD4tF_srT9BgvSzGDE0nldPHRcpk4LmgyrVpU3JMWi4jFtVp6slMv4UebTNlOEr70TxNh/s1600/Gujaratmitra-Satsang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXyoDajWLUfD31nSOYkxnVeL2ldTKcmiovvP-ftI-ECbr585cA-znwU6YqIgtr-ggi01uCNvpD4tF_srT9BgvSzGDE0nldPHRcpk4LmgyrVpU3JMWi4jFtVp6slMv4UebTNlOEr70TxNh/s400/Gujaratmitra-Satsang.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gujaratmitra.in/web/GujaratmitraWallpapers/tabid/246/Default.aspx">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-15655457500520819912010-12-08T15:49:00.000+01:002010-12-08T15:49:09.988+01:00Beautifully differentPrompt of the day : beautifully different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different - you'll find they're what make you beautiful.<br />
<br />
<br />
o_O<br />
This has been my secret facial expression since I read this prompt this morning. For my American readers: the morning has been over for 3 hours here. And this is still my secret facial expression. Secret because I obviously can't walk on the street and go to work looking like I've just seen E.T. and been hit by a truck simultaneously.<br />
<br />
Anyway this is not an easy one. There's "beautiful"and there's "different" in there....<br />
<br />
Ultimately, I am as unique and similar as anybody else. We are all, in the end, beautifully different :)Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-25876285835663769522010-12-07T11:00:00.000+01:002010-12-07T11:00:07.479+01:00CommunityPrompt of the day: community - where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create, or more deeply connect with in 2011?<br />
<br />
Community - such a great discovery this year for me, threefold:<br />
<br />
- online: helloo, reader :) I can't begin to say how grateful I am for all the amazing bloggers out there, I have learned a lot - and that's an understatement - connecting with you all, so thank you!<br />
- offline: satsang in London, with my fellow YTT trainees. We are all so different, yet we connect during these intensive weekends in a way I've never thought possible. Compassionate, supportive, great teachers in the making, I love them.<br />
- offline take 2: the community of changemakers I met at the European Summit for Global Transformation in October. Nonprofit grassroot activists, social entrepreneurs, people of service to others, working in collaboration because, let's face it, that's the only way to go.<br />
<br />
In 2011 who knows what will happen? Not quite sure as I'm typing this...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2bY5gbSxAf-X1n8QjkmHUN2DPAmZZqlHsHjlVvQJrKuXpLjdTlH6SGMp5GxIJEu4Om0Mn4baEm-WVjBXQCjVSRAEujTkUsgSpyOq9yeupHguCa3dAl6w096IVDStbvVAPRatexc0pUCR/s1600/Community+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2bY5gbSxAf-X1n8QjkmHUN2DPAmZZqlHsHjlVvQJrKuXpLjdTlH6SGMp5GxIJEu4Om0Mn4baEm-WVjBXQCjVSRAEujTkUsgSpyOq9yeupHguCa3dAl6w096IVDStbvVAPRatexc0pUCR/s320/Community+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.haywoodemc.com/assets/Community%202.jpg">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-32358281954514383822010-12-06T21:14:00.000+01:002010-12-06T21:14:44.042+01:00MakePrompt of the day: Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?<br />
<br />
Oh I make a lot of things. For instance I am a skilled builder. I build great mind constructions.<br />
For the foundations I use mainly Whatifs and Maybes materials, but I'm trying to switch to something else, as I found out these are porous and tend to crumble in the rain.<br />
There's some new material available, I'm trying to get my head around using it, it's called "Letseffingdoit", heard great things about it but I'm a bit nervous. Anyone there that could give me some feedback?<br />
<br />
I am the Queen of the land of Mindsandcastles.<br />
<br />
Serendipity: next YTT weekend is end of January. Meanwhile we have to do a 30-day Sadhana project, meaning practicing anything for 30 consecutive days, and journal about it. I see creative journaling in the near future, sounds like fun :)Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-19007075056588876492010-12-03T11:52:00.000+01:002010-12-03T11:52:28.237+01:00MomentPrompt of the day : "Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors)".<br />
<br />
I've been staring at this prompt for an hour. My mind went blank when I first read it. I'm going back and forth with this one, so I'd better start typing and see what comes out of it.<br />
<br />
I could write about <a href="http://deshautsetdesbananes.blogspot.com/2010/05/no-words.html">this yoga weekend</a>, the one that changed my life, like an earthquake in my foundations, where I broke down in savasana.<br />
<br />
I could write about going back to school for evening classes, feeling and feeding my brain, <a href="http://deshautsetdesbananes.blogspot.com/2010/07/end-and-start.html">graduating</a>.<br />
<br />
I could write about <a href="http://deshautsetdesbananes.blogspot.com/2010/08/tokyo-part-1-modernity.html">travelling</a> to <a href="http://deshautsetdesbananes.blogspot.com/2010/08/tokyo-part-2-tradition.html">Japan</a> with Lovely Boyfriend, making a lifelong dream come true.<br />
<br />
Or the moment I started <a href="http://deshautsetdesbananes.blogspot.com/2010/09/freshman.html">my yoga teacher training</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
But truly, now is when I feel more alive. I'm sitting at my desk, struggling with my work, searching for any and every excuse not to do it, instead searching the net to check if it would be possible to work as a freelance admin consultant / translator - proofreader / yoga teacher (yes, all in one - and that's only a brief summary - office yoga classes for the well being of employees, oh yeah!), wearing countless layers in this freezing office, and I can hear my soul screaming. I hear it telling me it's alive and that we need to get out.<br />
<br />
My soul is still here, it's alive, I'm alive.<br />
<br />
Now I need to give me that slap in the face and that kick in the ass ;)Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-28787066017853948472010-12-02T18:21:00.006+01:002010-12-02T18:26:23.728+01:00Writing<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Prompt of the day : "Writing - what do you do each day that doesn't contribute to your writing - and can you eliminate it?"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">I could write a novel on writing. I won't, you would be snoring by the end of paragraph 1. So let's get to the point:</span><br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Day job: feels like I'm wasting my time at my desk while I could be doing something else more meaningful. Oh wait, I am sitting at this desk. But time will come, peeps, time will come... Or maybe it already is time, I just still need that slap in the face and that kick in the butt. I'll be the one giving them, nobody's gonna do that for me;</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Self doubt: am I a writer? I have 2 <a href="http://thechangeuwish.blogspot.com/">blogs</a>, I write on <a href="http://themagazineofyoga.com/blog/author/emmanuellelambert/">several</a> <a href="http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/731849">websites</a> and <a href="http://pages.videojug.com/users/EmmaInBxl">platforms</a>, does that make me a writer? Is my level of English good enough? (told you I was crazy, I'm not even writing in my mother tongue, le français) I don't know. What I do know though, is that I love it. Ain't gonna stop. So there.</span></span></li>
</ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMIFPsqLI52l7phRp63n4s6eNIhZczrK1flGdTklTDZdxXL6TZJORjpkrvUmkcS84EpUKTxT1127oP7wYYZlfotNmxOD3kizt3GO2deelkvy4YeESDCI1os1LJAjdM8Ol_2UuYVdE2Bu_/s1600/reverb10story.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMIFPsqLI52l7phRp63n4s6eNIhZczrK1flGdTklTDZdxXL6TZJORjpkrvUmkcS84EpUKTxT1127oP7wYYZlfotNmxOD3kizt3GO2deelkvy4YeESDCI1os1LJAjdM8Ol_2UuYVdE2Bu_/s1600/reverb10story.png" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2525; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-15671195161294749182010-12-01T14:28:00.004+01:002010-12-01T14:32:21.192+01:00Music Wednesday - One Word<b>2010: change</b><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mFqvIUcfBcw" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="480"></iframe></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blind Melon, "Change"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"keep on dreaming, boy, 'cause when you stop dreamin' it's time to die"</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> </i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b>2011: freedom</b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> </b></span><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/diYAc7gB-0A" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="480"></iframe></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">George Michael, "Freedom"</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But today the way I play the game is not the same, no way, think I'm gonna get me some happy"</span></span></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.reverb10.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OoyArV2JqPzI3VQRHnvRvotnOZqIu2LdozmT9zkyO2PGHEZFv7K5K40iYqISrJQzR6DMbQdJedoFE4L20t6zEZ96WlzhTVCdYxvie5ByCln-lHEi7Sk5678lyNKWECBdcb2MiHZfuxfN/s1600/reverb10joinme.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.reverb10.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.reverb10.com/</span></span></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-76705795004965318582010-11-30T16:38:00.000+01:002010-11-30T16:38:10.086+01:00Reverb10 : reflect and manifestI must be crazy. That's it. I've gone complètement folle (ooooh, helloooo French, long time no see!).<br />
<br />
As if I didn't have enough on my plate. And yet, I've added something. Something I first heard of about two weeks ago, something that appealed to me but I feared I would not keep up.<br />
<br />
And yet... See that new lovely button on the right? Yes, the one tagged "Reverb 10". I gave in, I signed up for <a href="http://www.reverb10.com/">#reverb10</a>, launched by <a href="http://www.reverb10.com/the-story/">the amazing Gwen Bell</a>. For one month, starting tomorrow, I will reflect on the year 2010 and manifest what's next.<br />
I know why I finally signed up: because I need it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9jgdjyyBRwwpFgCf_V7Zh4H5UWfshlbswuGSIQ_Y5Pb5ssbc1yBMWAUoS6X0oh8vfY4JyZ_EAlJnhtb3Q6oR1EVH2cOjChCMvsCtCMZ8weRenLX3CVRuj685VOppoS1ym3W7XWrehbDA/s1600/reverb10button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9jgdjyyBRwwpFgCf_V7Zh4H5UWfshlbswuGSIQ_Y5Pb5ssbc1yBMWAUoS6X0oh8vfY4JyZ_EAlJnhtb3Q6oR1EVH2cOjChCMvsCtCMZ8weRenLX3CVRuj685VOppoS1ym3W7XWrehbDA/s1600/reverb10button.png" /></a></div><br />
This year has been fabulous, this year change has begun, in waves and with an impact I can't even assess myself at this stage. As you all know I've been struggling a lot in my "day job". Calling it my "day job" is not a good sign in and of itself, is it? So I hope that next year, change will manifest in the form of a way out of this situation, and a way in to freedom and to the life I KNOW I'm worth living (I'm not saying "I deserve", that would mean we have to work to deserve a worthy life, while we're all already gods and goddesses, our worth is innate. Oops, sorry, I digress).<br />
<br />
Aaaaanyway, I need the writing, in English, and why not take this opportunity to reconnect with my mother tongue (even if only I understand)? Every day of December, daily creative prompts will be sent, and every day, every participant will respond, in form of blog posts, via Twitter of Facebook, or simply journaling, whatever suits your fancy.<br />
<br />
I won't share on the blog every day, I'll be away for a week end of December (family time!), but I WILL do something every day. Along with the 30-day sadhana project for my YTT. Yeah I'm a goddess AND a warrior.<br />
<br />
I can't wait.<br />
<br />
Interested? Check out the <a href="http://www.reverb10.com/">reverb10 website</a>, and sign up too! :)Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-27089112402899835162010-11-28T22:10:00.000+01:002010-11-28T22:10:42.709+01:00Do you remember the first time?Do you remember the first yoga class you took?<br />
<br />
I kind of don't, actually. I mean, I can't remember what we did exactly. I don't remember thinking that it felt like coming home, it felt more like "what the hell have I got myself into?!".<br />
It was hard, my whole body was tight and not flexible at all, I couldn't follow the sun salutations despite all the pre warm-ups and all that leg stretching, that "your-body-should-look-like-an-inverted V" asathingy was bloody hard, I mean how is that supposed to look like a dog stretching?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZNon3DC2rDN27InPnyoTWliDmL6mfcNb83f4Fh2k5rUCF2oxG_agCxq02BcFS42JmT3YXBE0pbTAVSP0P-wgzgNDYNgDKQo_Y4DKVMFNAGxS_v0nMFpCqwKbGgBS2Xpy6bzzCMitxdhI/s1600/downdog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZNon3DC2rDN27InPnyoTWliDmL6mfcNb83f4Fh2k5rUCF2oxG_agCxq02BcFS42JmT3YXBE0pbTAVSP0P-wgzgNDYNgDKQo_Y4DKVMFNAGxS_v0nMFpCqwKbGgBS2Xpy6bzzCMitxdhI/s320/downdog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I remember missing the second class I was supposed to take, thanks to starting a brand new job on the other side of town (yes the one I still have today) and not knowing how easy it was to walk back home (yoga was literally 5 minutes away from home) when there was a public transportation strike.<br />
<br />
I remember going the week after though, because then I remembered how I had felt AFTER that first class. Yes it was hard, and I was never going to put my foot behind my head, but I felt good. I could live with that.<br />
<br />
Do you remember the first class you taught, one-on-one or group class?<br />
<br />
I remember. Mind you, I would be worried if I didn't, as it happened yesterday.<br />
I remember being more excited than scared the days before, then slightly nervous 5 minutes before. And then really good :)<br />
So I thank my first official student for trusting me and letting me guide her, and for showing me I could do this.<br />
<br />
Wanna know the best part for me? In savasana I covered her with a blanket. She said afterwards that she loved it, because since her husband left her with their 2 daughters almost 2 years ago, nobody had done that for her. Such a simple thing.<br />
I guess that was as much yoga as giving her hands-on assists in that "your-body-should-look-like-an-inverted V" asathingy.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I learned as much as I taught :)Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-88309500696983878102010-11-24T13:06:00.000+01:002010-11-24T13:06:10.577+01:00Music Wednesday - I'm gratefulToday, although we Europeans don't celebrate Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for songs that can be sung everywhere and anywhere, no matter what language you speak.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7DJv0rx5g-c" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="480"></iframe></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(and come on, an all-girl Japanese pop-rock band? Bring it on!)</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(oh, and please check <a href="http://www.epicthanks.org/">www.epicthanks.org</a>, and my latest post over at <a href="http://thechangeuwish.blogspot.com/">http://thechangeuwish.blogspot.com</a> - yep that one's mine too :))</span></span>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-31463002233785548222010-11-22T12:10:00.000+01:002010-11-22T12:10:00.674+01:00A Manifesto*WARNING = this post is kindly brought to you by Full Moon Angst, available worldwide for free*<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctVZNVSsfEENEv9UggPTrFODMFpWAq0RPXDUYUrA_QP8UonK-fmL0R_VaUyZ3-uQUfA4XyMfkA1oQtt8Z_xGqpFoN0sdj152yihNiV-PACeU-vIz5p-1OiRHVavGq0GFf5RePGqcEx3sB/s1600/Fight%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctVZNVSsfEENEv9UggPTrFODMFpWAq0RPXDUYUrA_QP8UonK-fmL0R_VaUyZ3-uQUfA4XyMfkA1oQtt8Z_xGqpFoN0sdj152yihNiV-PACeU-vIz5p-1OiRHVavGq0GFf5RePGqcEx3sB/s400/Fight%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ROAR! Like me, except I wear no mustache and my armpits are less hairy. And I'm no man either.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyz/19971426/">Source </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Dear peeps, I am tired, in a way. I am tired of reading or being told how and who I should be as a yoga student and teacher trainee. I am tired of reading or being told that I should act in a certain way as a yoga student and teacher trainee.<br />
<br />
I live by and respect mostly the yamas and niyamas, which has been a natural process anyway. I don't always *think* about them when I do something, thank whoever or whatever you believe in!<br />
<br />
But.<br />
<br />
Yes there is a but, and here's how it breaks down:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li>I am by no means a CareBear, and that's fine. I claim my right to be a b**ch sometimes;</li>
<li>I claim my right to be my grumpy cranky self and not wanting to hear to "look at the positive side and send good vibrations to the Universe" flowery talk;</li>
<li>That said, I claim my right to sometimes be in the mood to accept the flowery talk too, and utter it myself;</li>
<li>I reclaim my right to cry when I listen to the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, as cheesy as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgcoBKWTW14">that last song</a> may be;</li>
<li>I claim my right to have my own discipline, and I would appreciate if people would stop calling me crazy. Only *I* am entitled to call me crazy, muahahahaha!</li>
<li>I claim my right to be who the f*** I want to be, I guess that sums it all.</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><div>I've written countless times about change, hell I wrote about it yesterday. But again, it's been a long, sometimes painful, but completely natural evolution. </div><div>Getting guidelines and structure is good, but then it's a question of balance and acceptance, first and foremost of who you are and what you are ready to take in.</div><div><br />
</div><div>No one holds the universal truth. Only you do own your own truth, sometimes you don't know what it is yet. It requires some soul searching and study, but in the end, you're the one deciding for yourself. And if something doesn't feel right for you, then it's not right for you now.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I guess this is me, then, round 2 :)</div><div><br />
</div><div>And in the words of the famous (!) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Generation_X">Degeneration X</a>, "if you're not down with it, suck it!" (no shame, told ya)</div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-3734377291208922042010-11-21T16:28:00.000+01:002010-11-21T16:28:13.860+01:00Who am I? - Sunday thoughts part 4("Oh no, here she is again with her ramblings *sigh*" - yes, I know what you think! But it's my blog, my own, MY PRECIOUS, just like my yoga mat :D)<br />
<br />
Aaaanyway, I had an interesting conversation yesterday with a dear friend of mine, and she made an interesting comment that got me thinking. Again.<br />
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Here is how this part of the conversation went:<br />
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Me: I'm teaching my first yoga class next week.<br />
DF (Dear Friend): wheeeee! so exciting!<br />
Me: yeah, and the fact that I'm more excited than scared by it means it must be right, knowing the coward I usually am.<br />
DF: well you might have been, <b>but you're not anymore. You still view yourself this way, that's all.</b><br />
Me: ... o_O ...<br />
She had a point.<br />
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I've been clinging to old patterns, still viewing myself as the 20-year old me, but that's not who I am anymore. Which is not a bad thing if you ask me, except that my 20 years old are gone forever but hey, nothing I can do about it!<br />
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You know what I used to believe?<br />
- I used to think I was that shy girl who would stand in her corner of the room in social gatherings and wish she could teleport home; I used to be that girl, but lately I found out that I can be a chatterbox if no one stops me, and that includes talking to people I just met. Oops.<br />
- I used to think that safety and staying in my comfort zone would be just fine, why bother taking risks? Answer: because you die inside and your brain shuts down from boredom, that's why. There is so much potential within a human being!<br />
- I used to think I could't run, turns out I can. I'm no marathon runner, but the thought of running half an hour doesn't make me want to pull out my hair one by one, make a rope and hang myself anymore;<br />
- The one you've been waiting for: I used to think that because I couldn't touch my toes, then I couldn't "do yoga". You know where that one's got me.<br />
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<b>Take a look at yourself: what did you find out about yourself lately that you did not know / suspect? what is it you think about yourself that is really not true anymore? </b>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-22810189449047324332010-11-17T23:59:00.000+01:002010-11-17T23:59:06.922+01:00Music Wednesday - dance and be happyOk, technically it's more of a performance, and it's been around for ages, but it still makes me warm and fuzzy inside (and not because it happened in Belgium, honest)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Best.flashmob.ever.</span>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-16848536684753708132010-11-15T11:41:00.002+01:002010-11-15T16:29:34.241+01:00Yoga 101 - Kleshas illustratedHello dear readers, today we are going to review the kleshas with a couple of real-life examples directly based on my own experience.<br />
For non-yogis / -yoginis, the kleshas are afflictions of the mind, they cause an agitated mind and in yoga, quiet mind = good, agitated mind = bad.<br />
But let's take a closer look, shall we?<br />
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<b>The 5 kleshas</b><br />
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<ul><li>The first klesha is avidya, or ignorance. Example: "oh, I didn't know I could do that. Well for someone that takes pride in knowing herself, that's not very good is it? Hold on a sec... I know myself from 15 years ago, isn't it time to move on and check out who is "myself" today? And let go of the perception that others have of me? Yes, let's do that".</li>
</ul><div><ul><li>The second klesha is asmita, or ego, as in "I am". Example: "I can't get into pincha mayurasana, I am not good enough (to be training as a yoga teacher, to be on this course, etc etc)". (Beating yourself up then because you think you're not good enough, thus making things worse, is a nice one too: "I shouldn't think that I'm not good enough, therefore I'm not good enough")</li>
</ul><div><ul><li>I'll take a detour before getting to the third one by illustrating the fourth one (you'll see my point), dvesha, or aversion. Example: "that girl is STEPPING ON MY MAT, I mean, excuse me?!?! Argh, I HATE that!"</li>
</ul><div><ul><li>And so here is the third one, raga, or attachment. Example: "Bloody hell this mat is my private space, my sacred space, MY PRECIOUS *gollum cough gollum*". (see why the third before the fourth now?)</li>
</ul><div><ul><li>The fifth and last one is abhinivesha, or fear. Example: "Holy Shiva, this taxi driver is driving way too fast, he's going to KILL ME! Oh dear that was close. Ok breathe, this is your fear of dying manifesting here, and typically you can't control the way you're going to die, so if that's your way to go then so be it. Ahh, feels better now. And if we make it home, I'll tip him for making me reflect on abhinivesha and breaking a record, Brussels station to home in less than 10 minutes is quite impressive, even on a late Sunday evening". I think I got that one covered (and that's how you can tell I spent a weekend totally immersed in yoga, I guess my thinking otherwise would have stopped at "KILL ME!").</li>
</ul><div><i>Disclaimer: I didn't use the proper Sanskrit spelling, but my computer doesn't want to cooperate with me and put the dots and accents where they should be. </i></div><div><br />
</div><div>I'm curious peeps, what is your take on kleshas? :)<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Edited to add</span>: for those of you who are wondering "OMG did she tip the taxi driver? What a cliffhanger, I'm biting my nails now!" - well obviously I made it in one piece, and the experience's given me writing material. I guess I should've given him more...</i></div></div></div></div></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029273330889950588.post-28726367272927567292010-11-12T15:14:00.000+01:002010-11-12T15:14:08.707+01:00A Friday before Yoga Teacher Training in the life of...Today I'm going to London again ("yes we knoooow, stop it already!") for yet another YTT weekend. You have no idea how much I need this. Truth be told, I may have no idea myself how much I need this!<br />
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The last YTT weekend was 5 weeks ago. Only 5 weeks, and yet it feels like it was in another life. So much has happened between then and now, I even don't see everything clearly yet. A trip to Amsterdam for a life-changing weekend, a trip to Canada, more yoga off the mat clearly, and a whirlwind of things-to-do-I-can't-just-sit-here-and-wait.<br />
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I have seen, heard, felt a lot of things. My perceptions have changed, or have evolved more like. I have chosen to have a closer look at the world we're living in. I have dug stuff from inside of me that I thought were no longer there, I've been experimenting, I've been learning, I have opened up. A whole lot.<br />
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Now I have to pause and reflect, carefully considering what is important. To me.<br />
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So yeah, I need a weekend full of yoga, it will be like a retreat, except yoga-study-bootcamp style. I need the satsang, I need the community, I need the focus. But you know what? I also need time on my own, with nothing else to do than watch X-Factor munching on dried mango (is X-Factor still on by the way? Oh well...). My London hotel room is my take of a cave in India. Honest. Except way more expensive. And there's song-butchering involved.<br />
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I feel somehow that everything will make more sense, everything will tie in together, everything will fall into place. Or maybe not. Que sera, sera :)<br />
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(What a year it's been, franky I can't wait to read my end-of-year recap post :D)<br />
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Have a great wonderful enlightening joyful weekend!Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107667731238394598noreply@blogger.com3