The Excited Life

Changing Education Paradigms

2011-08-12T12:06:00.002-04:00

I love the RSA- the Royal Society of Arts. They put together fantastic videos, give talks that you can find online, etc. Interested in them? They are "an enlightenment organisation committed to finding innovative practical solutions to today’s social challenges. Through its ideas, research and 27,000-strong Fellowship it seeks to understand and enhance human capability so we can close the gap between today’s reality and people’s hopes for a better world" (from their webpage). Check them out!

A Long Overdue Update!

2011-08-05T13:57:00.000-04:00

So, it's been quite a long time since I wrote an update. Many apologies, all! It's been a busy summer and I've had a number of projects going. I'm hoping to get back on track this fall and write more about DIY, yoga, and gardening!

First things first: an update. I'm taking a break from teaching yoga to reconnect to my own practice and get back into the swing of things. Since my shoulder injury, I haven't had a consistent practice and feel like I need to get back into that. I'm also looking to find some really good teachers in Miami to practice with and learn from. I feel like my own teaching, while good enough, wasn't progressing or growing since I don't really have a mentor down here. So no classes from me for a little while, though I'll try to write about teachers that I discover!

Second- even in the midst of the heat, I've been trying to keep the garden going. Some things have done better than others, and so I thought I'd share a little. South Florida gardening is a rare beast. Though I suppose this summer has been hot all over, I've found that the general gardening guide with seasonal planting information doesn't work so well down here. I've experimented with a lot of things, though, and some have done better than others.

This summer, my rosemary and oregano have done outstandingly. I have them in old recycling bins, and they've taken over. This photo was taken in the middle of the day, and I clearly need to mow the grass as it's as tall as the bins, but I still wanted to share these guys. The oregano is a little needier than the rosemary, but both have thrived.

I have a cantaloupe vine! With cantaloupes! This was the biggest surprise. I bought some seedlings from Home Depot, not expecting them to thrive, but I figured it would be fun to try. They've taken over my raised bed and I'm getting baby cantaloupes! Something is munching on my leaves, alas, but the flowers and fruits seem fine. I think I might try ladybugs for the pests and see how it goes.

Some of my succulents are blooming, and they're lovely. I'm not sure what this kind is called, but they are hearty as heck and grow really quickly. I bought these last year and they were less than 1/3 of the size they are now. Plus, I have a million of the babies. I highly recommend succulents for anyone who doesn't want to worry about their plants too much. Mine have been a dream and really lovely. There are many kinds- the one in the bottom right is a new one I got about a week ago. It needs to go into a pot!

So that's all for now- but I have some beans sprouting, cherry tomatoes, and some squash seedlings. I'll update soon with the status on those guys!

New Class

2011-06-25T17:04:00.004-04:00

I have some good and bad news: I've temporarily given up my Saturday class because of a shoulder injury (I'm in physical therapy now and hope to get better soon!), but I have a new class series on Sunday mornings at the Shala.

The Saturday class is still there, being taught by other Free Yoga Foundation teachers, so check it out if you're interested on Saturdays at Margaret Pace Park.

In the meanwhile, if you're looking for an intro to yoga or want to deepen your practice, I'm teaching a six-week Yoga asics Series at the Shala, Sundays from 10 to 11:30. I'd love to see you there!

A Project

2011-06-07T12:30:00.002-04:00

My boyfriend and I have been needing something for our front porch, a little table or something to rest drinks and books on when we're out there. So we decided to build one. It's really simple, made from fir two by twos and one by twos for the top. We simply made 18" cubes and attached them, and placed the slats on top.

We just winged it, mostly, and it came out really well. I'm very happy with it. It's painted an awesome shade of teal, though it looks more blue in this photo. We only spent a few hours on everything, so it's definitely rough- not overly sanded, the holes from the screws not filled in, etc. I like it that way, though.

Exciting Things to Listen To

2011-04-29T16:27:00.003-04:00

I'm on a roll today- three posts! I'll stop after this, I promise. But I had trouble falling asleep the other night, and this new album by Fleet Foxes put me in just the right mood for bed. I mean that in a good, soothing way, not a boring one- the folky harmonies are wonderful night-time or rainy day music. It's a lovely album that you can hear in its entirety here, thanks to the ever-wonderful NPR.

New Classes

2011-04-29T16:12:00.004-04:00

So, where am I teaching these days? In addition to my Thursday night class at the Shala in the grove (7 to 8:30 p.m.), I'm teaching a new class Saturday mornings at Margaret Pace Park, in the Downtown Miami area. Check out my teaching calendar, our facebook group, or the Free Yoga Foundation webpage for more info!

And if Saturday mornings aren't your thing (I feel you- I can barely do it myself!), the Free Yoga Foundation (FYF for short!) has classes all over, mornings and evenings. Check us out if you want to take a sweet class with some great Miami teachers.

Partner Yoga

2011-04-29T15:53:00.004-04:00

I've always been fascinated by partner yoga. I haven't had the chance to do much of it, but I've always wanted to. It seems like a great way to get and give adjustments all at once, and to do something fun and light-hearted. There's a bunch of examples here, if you're so inclined- some of which look more feasible than others. The double plow just looks messy, to be honest.

Exciting Thing to Do: The Borscht Film Festival

2011-04-20T14:17:00.008-04:00

So the Borscht Film Festival is this weekend! It's also, coincidentally, the reason I've not been blogging much lately: I've been working at their offices, getting stuff done. If you don't know about the festival, you should definitely check it out. From their webpage: "The Borscht Film Festival is a quasi-yearly event held at iconic Miami venues that commissions and showcases films created by emerging regional filmmakers telling Miami stories that go beyond the typical portrayal of the city as a beautiful but vapid party town, forging the cinematic identity of the city."

I'm really excited to see the films, and (best of all) it's a free event! It'll be at the Adrienne Arsht Center, Saturday April 23. Doors open at 7, show starts at 7:45, I think. Here's a link to their facebook event page, where you can get more details. Oh, and here's some trailers for the movies- don't they look awesome?

Pining for Chocolate & NYC

2011-04-08T12:49:00.004-04:00

The Mast Brothers from The Scout on Vimeo.

Mast Brothers Chocolate was right up the street from where I used to live in NYC, and it's strange- I don't think I ever went in, even, but this video made me so homesick, if you can be homesick for a place you only lived for a few years. But, it's also a lovely little video documentary piece about creativity, chocolate, and these two dudes in Brooklyn.

Radiolab

2011-04-08T12:36:00.010-04:00

The NY Times just published a wonderful piece about Radiolab, the quasi-science radio show on NPR. It really makes it clear how much work goes into the show, how meticulously planned and well thought-out it is.

If you've never listened to it (or not much), it's hands-down the best show on NPR. This American Life might win in my heart for favorite show, but there's no one doing what Robert & Jad do on the radio. It's creative, glorious, interesting, occasionally heart-wrenching, and like the NY Times piece points out, "it wrestles with big, serious ideas like stochasticity, time and deception. It ignores the news cycle completely. And it expects you to stop checking your inbox, updating your status or playing Angry Birds and spend a solid hour listening."

So stop and listen, if you're not already. The episode below is called "Falling," and one of the segments made me cry so hard while I was listening to it in the car that people in traffic next to me were staring.

Birth of a Chair

2011-03-27T01:07:00.003-04:00

A lounge, to be precise. A gorgeous little film below.

(Man, do I want to be part of a super-cool design husband and wife team like the Eamses were!)

Todd May on Deleuze

2011-03-27T00:51:00.014-04:00

This passage from the introduction to Todd May's book on Deleuze gets me every time. It's, quite possibly, the best first page of a book that I have ever read. I've got a lot of reading left to do, I know, but this is really wonderful.

How Might One Live?

It’s an odd question, in some sense; a question we don’t ask ourselves very often. We get up in the morning, we brush our teeth, we crawl into our clothing, and burn our days as though it were impossible to live any other way, as though this particular life were the only one to be lived. As though the universe were so constructed that it required our lives to unfold in this way and in no other.

Of course that isn’t what we tell ourselves. Our stories are always filled with choices, with crossroads and tangents and directions of our own making. Our lives’ narratives, when we tell them to ourselves or to others, are steeped in the discarding of certain futures and the embrace of others, in the construction of a world that is to each of us uniquely our own because each of us has chosen it. But is that how we live? Is that how our lives, so often conforming, so often predictable, so often disappointing, come to be what they are?

How many of us ask ourselves, not once and for all time but frequently and at different times, how might one live? How many of us embrace that question, not only in our stories but in our actions, our projects, our commitments? How many of us open the door to the possibility that, however it is we are living, we might live other- wise?

What May's getting at, and points out shortly after this, was that Deleuze was someone who never stopped thinking this question, that his work was always in some way connected to it. If you've not read any Deleuze it's highly recommended, if on the dense side of things.

An Exciting Song

2011-03-27T00:47:00.001-04:00

My amazing friend Lindsay is hidden in this wonderful music video directed by the talented Ben Dickinson. It's a heck of a song, too!

Oof.

2011-03-21T17:10:00.003-04:00

I am in a dessert mood kind of day. Check out this chocolate pudding pie! Oh, do I love pie.

This Is Your Life

2011-03-21T16:55:00.003-04:00

I know, I'm a sucker for big wordy inspirational quote posters. But this is lovely, and true, and something that we should remember much more.

Seasonal Food Map

2011-03-21T16:52:00.002-04:00

Interested in finding out what's in season in your state? Check out this map from epicurious.com. It's pretty neat. It won't tell you what you should be planting right now, but it's a good indicator of what should be local in the grocery store, I think.

Technology, Sharing, Yoga, Love.

2011-03-13T23:05:00.003-04:00

I know this blog has many directions- I talk about art, film, media, DIY, yoga, and even a pair of chickens living in New York City that I had the privilege of knowing. The thing is, I'm increasingly aware that I'm not one thing: not just a film-maker or an academic, not just a student or a teacher.

It can be overwhelming at times, but it's amazing to be alive right now. I know, I know. Don't groan, though: it's true. Right now, I can pursue much more with the help of technology than I ever would have been able to before. My garden wouldn't be nearly as successful without a simple google search for "gardening in South Florida." I've transferred projects I shot on 16mm film to tape and then imported them to my Mac so I could upload them to vimeo. Heck, the Dalai Lama twitter feed I mentioned in my last post always makes me feel more thoughtful and appreciate my blessings when I want to curse the world. I can watch yoga videos for free all over, download podcasts from amazing teachers. How much better can it get?

I don't mean to devalue time spent off-line, or a good old-fashioned book for close reading and deep thinking. (This NY Times article is a poignant reminder of just how our constant computer use might be changing us. A quote: "And scientists are discovering that even after the multitasking ends, fractured thinking and lack of focus persist. In other words, this is also your brain off computers.") That's why I practice yoga, I think- it was in a yoga class that I first felt a connection between my mind, body, and spirit, where I first felt that all the parts of me could work as one. That's why I garden, meditate, even ride my bike. But there's a middle path. There must be. Because the benefits of living in the information age are never more clear to me than at a time like this: when I can be many things, with a little bit of help from the internet.

2011-03-13T22:52:00.003-04:00

South by Southwest (SXSW for short) is this week in Austin, TX. If you're not familiar, it's a music and film festival combined with a media and technology conference. It's apparently like no other and I'm wishing I were there right now. But I'm here in Miami, keeping track of the Dalai Lama on Twitter, and watching Google's Marissa Mayer give a presentation on the future of search and mobile possibilities. Check it out!

Seth Godin on Media and Mass-Marketing

2011-03-12T14:04:00.003-05:00

I just came across this video (I'm a little obsessed with Ted Talks, in case you hadn't noticed!) in which Seth Godin (who is a really cool guy, look him up) talks about the internet and how it has implemented a change in the way ideas are spread. That's not exactly a new idea, in and of itself, but he argues that the internet has revived a tribal model: shared ideas and values organize us into tribes, rather than just being masses. It's entertaining, educational, enlightening... watch it!

The Practice of Yoga begins NOW.

2011-03-06T21:50:00.007-05:00

At www.athayoganusasanam.com, you can browse all of Patanjali's yoga sutras and their various translations. What a great resource! It's interesting to see the distinctions between Satchidananda's and Iyengar's translations, or other versions I hadn't come across yet.

The homepage displays a random sutra and its translation. I just got this one (Ch. 2 V. 46):

Sanskrit:
sthira sukham asanam

Iyengar's translation:

Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence and benevolence of spirit.

How perfect is that? Just what I needed.

2011-02-24T11:36:00.002-05:00

Derick Diedricksen, of Massachusetts, makes these spectacular mini-houses that are profiled in the NY Times. They're not only really charming, but made almost entirely from scavenged or recycled material and generally cost less than 200$. I love them!

Chickens in Bed-Stuy

2011-02-21T13:06:00.003-05:00

Check out this NY Times blog/article about two chickens I know and love from my time in New York City. Gertrude and T-Rex lived with two very dear friends of mine, and Gertrude's theft (and return!) makes for an awesome story. Keeping chickens in New York City is rare, but in this amazing house in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, I'm pretty sure anything is possible.

An Exciting Chart!

2011-02-17T00:57:00.004-05:00

Does the lineage of yoga sometimes get you all confused? Can't figure out your Krishnamacharya from your from your Yogi Bhajan? Maybe this super-awesome handy chart I found on the amazing yogadork.com (and re-posted from alisonhinksyoga.com) will help set you straight. I'm pretty amazed by it, actually.

My Heart of Hearts

2011-02-14T19:05:00.004-05:00

In honor of Valentine's Day, I'd love to share some of my favorite anatomical heart drawings. Now, I know that we're not used to thinking of anatomically accurate hearts and love in the same breath, and that the cutesy symmetrical ones are a much more common symbol.

But think about it- the human heart pumps your blood all through your body, even when you're resting. On average, it moves about 5 liters of blood through your body per minute. (The average body contains about 5.6 L of blood, btw.) Your heart will beat about 100,000 times in a day, and more than 2.5 BILLION times in your lifetime. So give it up for your heart- it works for you, all day every day. So I hope you and your heart have an awesome Valentine's Day no matter whether you're attached or single. All my love.

An Exciting Recipe

2011-02-12T18:00:00.003-05:00

While I remember, I'd like to take this opportunity to share this amazing mac and cheese recipe that I came across some years ago. It's mac and cheese with a broccoli and arugula cheese sauce. I modified it to use whole wheat pasta and made it without the sausage, I think. And it was delicious.

I know, you might be thinking, "look, I don't really want all this green stuff in my mac and cheese." BUT YOU DO. You really do.

Carl Sagan is a Genius

2011-02-12T17:34:00.007-05:00

Earth is that tiny blue/white dot on the right about 2/3 of the way down.

Carl Sagan requested in 1990 that the Voyager 1 take this photo of Earth as it was leaving the solar system, then wrote these AWESOME words about it that I will just quote, since there's not much I can add.

From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of particular interest. But for us, it's different. Look again at that dot. That's here, that's home, that's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.

It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.

e.e.

2011-02-11T13:16:00.003-05:00

I'm into E.E. Cummings lately. I never studied much American literature, even as an English major, and I'm finding that I have a lot to explore these days. I probably also wouldn't have been so fond of these explorations in line and punctuation when I was younger (I was such a stickler!), but they're charming and unexpected now. I know, I'm late to the party on this one, but how could you not love this poem? In general, I have very mixed feelings about transcendence, but here it's sweet.

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Yogic Discourse

2011-01-24T22:25:00.004-05:00

What's Wrong With How We Talk About Yoga?

I just read this article in Jezebel about yoga and I enjoy some of the questions it posed and the assertions (yoga is for lithe, bendy former dancers!) that it challenged. A good read, overall. I think I'm most impressed that it doesn't try to argue what yoga is or should be but looks at the ways in which yoga is talked about, what kinds of stereotypes and assumptions are associated with it, and the consequences of the current popular media portrayal of yoga.

An Exciting Film

2011-01-12T12:14:00.003-05:00

It's been some time since I was able to catch a movie or two in the theaters; I've been spending more time than not at home and using Netflix. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy going to a theater and watching something on that huge screen where I can't pause or get a phone call or wander off for some reason. It's that experience of time that is so amazing: a movie makes you adjust to it's pacing when you see it in the theater.

And last week I finally got back into it with Tamara Drewe, a wonderful little satire about writers and the British countryside. I won't say much, except that it's funny and surprisingly charming from beginning to end. The pacing is spot-on and characters are great. It's sometimes hard to get invested in characters in a film like this: they end up being shallow or breezy. But in this case, the acting and script are done so well that the characters are easy to identify with and are parodies without being too one-dimensional. And it's based on a graphic novel- neat, huh?

In short, highly recommended little gem.

Exciting Talks

2011-01-02T16:47:00.004-05:00

So I just found out that the Dalai Lama offers many of his talks on his website for free. Which is amazing. I've started watching them, and he's really wonderful and touching. I'd read his words but never heard him speak before. Highly recommended- and some of the clips are shorter than others, if you need some inspiration on the go!

Music in Yoga Class?

2011-01-02T13:59:00.003-05:00

This article from the NY Times blog section is a great exploration of music and modern yoga classes...

How do teachers use music thoughtfully? Is there a place for contemporary music in a yoga class? Hm... I think so, at least. But I do appreciate silence, or chanting sometimes. I remember very clearly my teacher Summer playing the audiobook version of Ruth Lauer-Maneti's An Offering of Leaves during specific parts of her class and was blown away by how much it worked, how touching it was. But I've been to classes, too, where the music is jarring, or obnoxious. I tend to prefer a silent savasana with very few exceptions, and music in that context tends to annoy me. But maybe that's just me?

As Walt says...

2010-12-22T19:32:00.005-05:00

Clear and sweet is my soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul.

Isn't that nice? It's from Walt Whitman's Song of Myself.

An Exciting Adventure

2010-12-22T19:22:00.002-05:00

I biked the Shark Valley trail this past weekends, in the heart of Everglades National Park. It's a 15-or-so mile bike ride in the wilderness, alligators at your sides and birds overhead. It's truly breathtaking, and there's an observation tower out there. The view is incredible, but what really got me was this group of alligators all sunning together. Aren't they spectacular?

I hope the New Year brings everyone love, light, and peace. Om Shanti, if that's your thing.

Exciting Umbrellas

2010-12-12T22:44:00.002-05:00

How cool is this art project in Chile from last year? I just discovered it and I'm in love. I do have a thing for umbrellas, to be fair.

Yoga with Elena Brower - Online!

2010-12-12T22:01:00.003-05:00

I've had some difficulty getting to yoga classes lately due to some insomnia issues and general business. But I try to practice almost everyday, even if it's just a little bit at home (or sometimes if I'm lucky I can do most of the Astanga Primary Series).

I found this awesome series put together by Adidas (I know, I know... but!) that features one of my favorite teachers. I had the privilege of taking Elena Brower's Anusara class in NYC when I was living there, and I have to say that it's fantastic and amazing and wonderful and even life-changing. So if you, too, want to take her class, albeit online, check it out. This is part one of 9, all available on the adidas youtube channel.

Yoga Journal Conference

2010-12-04T13:49:00.009-05:00

Kino MacGregor demonstrating Flying Crow Pose!

I didn't take too many pictures at the Yoga Journal conference in Hollywood, FL, but that's because I was too busy taking everything in. It was a truly amazing experience, and I got to learn from and alongside some truly amazing yogis.

I attended the conference as a volunteer, working doors and answering questions. I met some fantastic people; I took some glorious classes! Some standouts were Seane Corn's all-day intensive on Teaching Vinyasa Flow, Kino MacGregor's Arm Balances for Everyone, Desirée Rumbaugh's Anusara Workshop, and Loren Russo's awesome outdoor Jivamukti class with live music and a mudra practice.

Here's the thing- from each and every one of these teachers I got the idea that teaching and practicing from your heart, with authenticity and love, is really what's important. Of course, all the teachers had different styles, but I found that as a whole they all emphasized that idea. Seane focused on simplicity in teaching vinyasa, and finding that place from where you can talk about spirituality without forcing it and without being afraid that you might seem ridiculous. Kino really focused on the anatomy and preparation for arm balances- the class truly was for everyone! She broke each pose down into steps that made it readily available to everyone practicing. Desirée, too, used anatomy and alignment to help make backbends and inversions more accessible, allowing us to open our hearts and practice with love and surrender. And Loren Russo (who is a local teacher) taught a beautiful class full of grace to end the conference (and gave me some fantastic assists!).

The work, the practice, the interactions were all wonderful. I don't know that I'd do it again: it was completely exhausting, working sometimes from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and driving an hour to and from the conference, but I learned so much and had such a beautiful experience that to do it at least once was a blessing. So that's that!

The beautiful Westin Hotel where the conference was held.

Rod Stryker's Kundalini and Subtle Body workshop

I know, I know...

2010-12-04T13:04:00.004-05:00

It's been a busy few weeks- a computer crash, then thesis work until the wee hours of the morn for a while, then giving thanks with the family, but I'm back and around.

Thanks to Pandora, I discovered this song today, and it's awesome. No official video, but it is available to listen to on YouTube, so here you go!

And just a reminder- I'm teaching at the Shala all through the month Thursday evening 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 and Saturday afternoons 4:00 p.m. to 5:30. We have lots of other great teachers, too, if you're free a different night! Classes with the Free Yoga Foundation at Coral Reef Park will begin as soon as the permits go through!

Reflections on my time at the Yoga Journal conference, coming up soon!

Yoga Journal Conference

2010-11-08T13:04:00.002-05:00

Some exciting news- I'm working at the upcoming Yoga Journal conference in Hollywood, FL this week/week-end! I'll try to take lots of pictures and blog about it as much as I can. I'm so excited to help out, take lots of classes with some amazing teachers, and meet lots of fellow practitioners.

If you're in the area, they are offering free community yoga classes and events! Check it out on the yoga journal webpage (http://www.yjevents.com/florida/).

Thursday Yoga

2010-10-30T18:20:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone! Just a quick announcement. Starting in November, my Thursday evening classes will be moved from 7:30-8:45 to 7:00-8:30. An earlier time AND fifteen extra minutes! Yay!

And Happy Halloween, everyone! Stay safe and have an amazing time.

On Motivation

2010-10-28T10:52:00.002-04:00

So I have a confession to make: the fall has kind of taken me by storm and I don't quite know what to do about it. For one reason after another, I've been totally and completely unmotivated to finish my thesis. There's a lot going on, so some mild procrastination is to be expected, but this is the kind of thing I've never dealt with before: an almost overwhelming desire to just quit, be done with it, etc. I've never really thought about myself in this light before, especially in reference to academia (which is my thing! The thing I'm really and truly good at!) and so feel completely at odds with everything I thought I knew about myself.

It's funny how that kind of thing happens, isn't it? We reach some kind of point, some crossroads or block or event that forces us to take stock of who we are, what we want, etc. I don't mean to sound dramatic, I know it's just a thesis (I call these kinds of things first world woes; in a way I feel blessed to have them because it reminds me that I'm really quite lucky if these are the extent of my problems), but just because it's small and only important to me doesn't mean that it doesn't affect me.

I'm trying to take comfort in the idea that I am not my thesis, I am not my writing, I am not my research. And if it's a little more impersonal maybe I can grapple with it without being so distraught.

I guess writing about it here is more catharsis than anything else, but if anyone is reading and has any words of wisdom for all of us in need of a hand, please do chime in. What are your tactics? What do you do?

The Gardening Adventure...

2010-10-22T18:27:00.008-04:00

Some of my plants are sprouting beautifully, and I thought I'd share some quick photos. It's about to storm, it seems, so it's a bit dark, but it's clear that the plants are coming along really well! These are the zucchini, beans, and kale. I have heirloom tomatoes and tomatillos that are doing well, too- they're just not as photogenic yet.

I'm pretty sure Walt Whitman was a yogi...

2010-10-21T17:17:00.002-04:00

Hulk Smash!

2010-10-20T17:18:00.005-04:00

Buddhist Hulk is one of my favorite things on twitter right now.

Some Gems:

IGNORANCE TAKE MANY LIFETIMES TO SMASH

HULK SMASH OBSTACLES TO HAPPINESS

...and my personal favorite:

HULK KIND OF ENJOY SHOUTING. IF IT TRUE, WHY NOT SAY IT LOUD?

p.s. Kale sprouted today! It's going to be delicious!

An Exciting Project

2010-10-19T12:58:00.002-04:00

This father and son sent a camera into space with a home made balloon craft! This is so cool, and one day I hope to do something similarly awesome when I have kids!

Yoga Shmoga

2010-10-18T16:51:00.004-04:00

This article on elephantjournal.com is such a gem. Teacher Michelle Fajkus outlines the amazing tenets of what she calls yoga shmoga, including such favorites as "perfection is a myth" and "all you need is metta (compassion)."

Highlight: "Relax. It’s going to be okay, if not better!"

Check it out here.

More of My Exciting Garden!

2010-10-17T18:16:00.003-04:00

Separated my succulents, started some of the veggies for my gardens in pots on the back porch. I'm on a roll! I planted zucchini, kale, beans, purple tomatillo and heirloom tomatoes.

Next weekend: The Edible Garden Festival, where hopefully I'll pick up some more stuff for the growing. I'm keeping my eye out for a mint plant and a chamomile for a container I have, and if I'm really lucky a rhubarb. I doubt it though- I don't think they're grown much down here.

My Exciting Garden!

2010-10-16T22:57:00.009-04:00

So I made a little garden... I need some more soil (I bought 30 bags and it wasn't enough! eeep!), and I need to get around to planting stuff, both of which will happen tomorrow with any luck.

Here are some photos I took on my phone, guest starring Seven. More photos to come, and hopefully soon I'll have wonderful things growing to show!

P.S.: Thanks to Whit for cajoling me into posting.

What If...

2010-10-13T22:43:00.000-04:00

What if our religion was each other
If our practice was our life
If prayer, our words
What if the temple was the Earth
If forests were our church
If holy water- the rivers, lakes, and ocean
What if meditation was our relationships
If the teacher was life
If wisdom was self-knowledge
If love was the center of our being.

-Ganga White, Yoga Teacher.

Isn't this a lovely sentiment?

Exciting Things to Do

2010-09-29T12:00:00.004-04:00

I've been looking for a desk lamp for quite a while (there was a spray paint disaster recently, and I ruined one I was fixing up), and this project caught my eye. Neat, huh?

2010-09-28T11:38:00.003-04:00

This is one of the most fascinating and uplifting videos I've seen in a long time. Author/economist/political advisor/activist Jeremy Rifkin investigates and outlines recent neurological research on empathy and how that could affect the entire human race. Check it out- it's worth 10 minutes of your time.

Exciting Photographer

2010-09-27T12:34:00.003-04:00

I found this photographer on flickr, gosia janik is her username, and she's taken some of the loveliest and most creative yoga photos I've ever seen. Check her out.

I wish I could show them to you here- but no linking allowed, so you'll just have to see for yourself!

2010-09-27T12:13:00.003-04:00

I went to Miami Beach for a yoga class the other evening, and had a little bit of time to sit in a park by the water before it started. I got to see this lovely sunset. I'm pretty lucky, I get to enjoy this year round!

I have to start taking my camera around with me instead of relying on my phone all the time. I love this toy camera application, but I do have a real one too... Speaking of- anyone know where to get negatives scanned in Miami?

Some Blog Updates

2010-09-16T12:23:00.002-04:00

I just added some links to the left side of the page to my favorite teachers and studios. If you're looking for a beautiful place to practice or a wonderful new teacher, check these places out. I've had the good fortune to practice in all of these wonderful places, and they are truly glorious.

(Not that practicing at home is bad either, but sometimes a good class is just the thing.)

Exciting New Class

2010-09-15T18:38:00.003-04:00

Good news everyone: I'm teaching a yoga class on Tuesday evenings, from 6:30 to 8. It's an alignment-based vinyasa class (like all my other classes!) and suitable for all levels.

For more info, check out my calendar, available on the left side of the page.

Hope you're all having a beautiful week!

Bande à part

2010-09-14T11:05:00.003-04:00

There's pretty much nothing like a good French New Wave film, and Godard's Band of Outsiders is one of my favorites. With a scene like this, how could it not be?

Sorry there's no subtitles for all those who don't speak French, but don't worry about it. Watch it anyways.

The Language of Gestures

2010-09-13T17:43:00.003-04:00

If at large gatherings or parties, or around people with whom you feel distant, your hands sometimes hang awkwardly at the ends of your arms-- if you find yourself at a loss for what do with them, overcome with sadness that comes when you recognize the foreignness of your own body-- it's because your hands remember a time when the division between mind and body, brain and heart, what's inside and what's outside, was so much less. It's not that we've forgotten the language of gestures entirely. The habit of moving our hands while we speak is left over from it. Clapping, pointing, giving the thumbs-up: all artifacts of ancient gestures. Holding hands, for example, is a way to remember how it feels to say nothing together.

-Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

I've been reading this passage in my classes lately, it's just such a nice thought. If you haven't read it, The History of Love is excellent.

Also, new classes on Tuesday nights! More info to come soon.

Cowboy Yoga

2010-09-07T09:56:00.003-04:00

Morning all- this video I found about cowboy yoga is really quite funny! (Tip: If your dog is being a pain in the ashram, put him away!)

Exciting Things to Do

2010-09-06T12:39:00.003-04:00

I'm really into interesting light fixtures and ways to recycle household stuff into lamps. These two projects really inspired me, check them out! (And if you drink plenty of coffee like I do, start saving up those cans!)

You can find the plans for this coffee can lamp at the Ready Made webpage.

And these amazing lanterns are a design sponge DIY project.

If I get the chance to make some of these I'll post pictures!

And hopefully soon I'll have some other projects to post- a dear friend is teaching me to crochet, though I can't say I'm very good yet!

Exciting Plants

2010-08-28T23:31:00.005-04:00

I thought I'd share my new succulents with you all. I got them and separated them out into planters the other day, I'm so excited about them! I also finally got around to transplanting some little cacti I grew from seeds in a mini-terrarium I got as a gift. They're pretty much the most adorable little guys ever!

There's more photos on my flickr.

Exciting Classes

2010-08-28T22:58:00.004-04:00

I've just updated my September/October Yoga Calendar! I'm now teaching the following classes at the shala in Coconut Grove:

Thursdays 7:30 p.m. to 8:45: Open Late-Night Vinyasa (all levels welcome!)

Saturdays 4 p.m. to 5:30: The Big Sweat: a fun, intense, relaxing class with a great soundtrack. Start your Saturday night right!

Stop by and take a class!

I'll also be doing the Green Monkey Mat Crawl, a local multi-studio challenge to take classes with as many teachers as possible in the month of September. If you take 30 teachers in 30 days you get a year of free yoga at Green Monkey! I think it's at least worth trying, and I've carefully planned out my 30-day schedule. I'll blog with my progress. Wish me luck!

Exciting Things to Do

2010-08-20T10:40:00.002-04:00

So this amazing and exciting project just caught my eye- a living succulent frame! It's pretty much the coolest, and once I can afford all the succulents needed to make such a frame, I'm totally gonna do it! Isn't it neat?

It takes the plants a little while to root in the frame... something like 1-3 months before you can hang it on a wall, but until then it just looks like an amazing planter, right? And the process seems simple enough, given that you have enough plants to do it. Maybe I'll start with a little one since I don't have any succulents now and then expand from there.

Yoga EVERYWHERE

2010-08-20T10:14:00.003-04:00

So, these days, I haven't had as much time as I'd like to practice yoga, considering the move and adjusting to a new city and getting unpacked and put together!

So I take comfort in this idea: I can do yoga anywhere. In New York City, I'd often practice tadasana (mountain pose) while waiting for the train, or casually do urdhva hastasna with my fingers interlaced while standing around somewheres.

Now, I'm not saying you've got to start busting out urdhva danyurasana (Full Wheel) everywhere you go. But it's been nice to know that I could get a little practice in wherever I am- In the car I can stretch my arms, leaning on a counter I can stretch my hamstrings... you get the idea. And when we get really busy, sometimes even us yoga teachers can't practice as much! And there's the added bonus that you are kind of a yoga ninja. And everyone knows ninjas are really cool.

(The opposite post to this one that I could equally have written goes something like "making time for the things that are the most important to you," which is equally true, just not the point I'm trying to make at this exact moment.)

Exciting Order!

2010-08-17T11:28:00.002-04:00

I just ordered business cards- I can hardly contain my excitement, and I can't wait to show you all! I'll upload photos as soon as I have them, which will be sometime around the end of the month.

In the meanwhile, Lara Cameron is the artist whose work I chose for my cards. Her webpage is super cool, check it out!

She designed this ginkgo pattern (which, incidentally, I used on my cards, in brown and teal). Isn't it neat? I'm pretty much in love with all of her illustration work.

2010-08-15T16:18:00.002-04:00

So I hate to compose a blog entry entirely out of links, but I've taken ill and sitting upright is, quite frankly, a struggle at this point so you'll (all 3 of you, my readers) have to make do.

This amazing NY Times article talks about recent consumer spending and the growing body of evidence that more stuff will NOT, in fact, make you happier.

Another article chronicles the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) in modern urban society- there is simply too much going on, so more and more of us do as much as humanly possible, for fear of missing out on something amazing. It's clever and funny.

And this, well, it just makes me happy.

Amazking Kindness

2010-08-10T09:49:00.002-04:00

This girl is on a secret mission to spread kindness by randomly doing things for people. Check out her interview on CNN, she's a real swell gal.

Exciting Project

2010-08-10T09:29:00.006-04:00

Now that I'm back in Miami I'm all rarin' to go and do things. Teach yoga, check! Build a magnificent garden? Not quite yet.

But this project I found on Ready Made's webpage has totally inspired me.

Isn't it neat? And the directions aren't difficult either. Just might make a cooooool project! I have some bottles kicking around and this might be the perfect job for them. If I do, I'll be sure to post pictures up as I go!

2010-08-08T15:24:00.002-04:00

I keep seeing images of this graffiti slogan from my dear Williamsburg, BK. I'm sad to say I never saw it in person (looks like it might have been on Kent somewhere?) but I love it nonetheless. I found this particular photo on a photographer's flickr.

It's a nice reminder... something to think about as I get angry at the drivers around me or frustrated with things. We are all buddhas <3

New Class!

2010-08-04T00:44:00.004-04:00

~~Hey y'all, I'm teaching a class thus Sunday, August 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 at Aum Home Shala in Coconut Grove! All levels are welcome, come on by!~~

Scratch that- I'm teaching Sundays at the shala all this month, 11 a.m. to 12:30, and the next two Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8:15 also!

All levels are still welcome, come visit! The suggested donation is 10$ for students and 15$ for adults but whatever you can afford is juuuuust fine. Check out my calendar for details.

Exciting Changes

2010-08-02T10:52:00.003-04:00

This past week I've made the long trek down the coast to make my new home in Miami, FL. Stops along the way in Richmond, VA & Charlotte, NC reminded me how beautiful this country is. I know the scenery on I-95 isn't always the best, what with billboards, rest stops and big hotels lining the highway, but sometimes it was just beeeeautiful.

(Note: I must thank my generous and wonderful boyfriend who was kind enough to drive to NYC to help me move and then drive back down with me and all my stuff!)

At any rate, I've got a lot of work ahead of me (moving in and cleaning house, not to mention that little thesis I've got to write!). Entries will probably be sparse for the next few weeks as I adjust, but I'll try to post here and there. ...Now that's a thought- adjusting to life's little changes. I can do my best to remember my yamas and niyamas (from yoga, for all my non-yogi friends on here-- the yamas and niyamas are basically observances) to get me through this with a little grace! Aparigraha (non-attachment), Santosha (contentment), and Tapas (zeal, austerity, commitment!) are the ones that immediately come to mind as I transition from one place to another. Anyone have any thoughts or ideas for getting through the big move?

Exciting Moves!

2010-07-24T16:10:00.002-04:00

These yogis are so amazing and strong! I've got a long journey ahead of me and I'll get there one day...

Production Work

2010-07-19T17:32:00.002-04:00

Hey look! I finally uploaded some short films I made for a class last fall. I shot them on a Bolex with 16mm film.

The first is a short project combining rack focus and stop-motion, starring my fantastic sister (who does fantastic photography you can check out at Whitney A. Photo!) and the second is a sort of oral history/documentary piece piece that combines some of the footage from the first project with additional footage and interviews I took.

2010-07-18T21:05:00.002-04:00

I'm co-teaching a donation Vinyasa class this Tuesday, July 20th at the East River State Park, from 6:30 to 7:30 with the amazing and wonderful Amy Faust!

Drop by if you can! And if you haven't already, check out the Yoga for Charity Network.

Exciting Updates!

2010-07-18T17:22:00.004-04:00

I've updated my portfolio page with some of my work- you can see photography, film, design and craft projects up there now! And I added a lot of stuff to my flickr, too.

Oh, and my bio now includes photos taken by my good friend Stephanie Conway. She's an amazing person and I can't thank her enough for taking them for me.

A Thought on Practice

2010-07-18T15:20:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite teachers, Amanda Capobianco, shared a beautiful story at the beginning of a class I took with her yesterday. She told us of a friend of hers who was studying and working at an ashram in upstate New York. While he was there, he found his yoga practice to be very different than it was in New York. He wasn't spending hours a day meditating like you'd expect or doing hour-and-a-half asana classes like most of us are used to. Instead, he found his practice in the everyday: in gardening, cooking, even sweeping.

It really reminded me that everything can be practice, you know? We don't always have to go to advanced, vigorous classes to be yogis, or sit and meditate for hours on end. We can imbue all that we do, every minute of our day with our practice, by staying mindful of our thoughts and in the present. We can garden with love, cook with love, ride our bikes... you get the idea. That effort towards stillness can come anywhere. Of course, it is helped by asana and meditation, either at home or in classes. But it's a nice reminder that even if you can't make it to a yoga class one day, you can still practice.

Exciting Things to Do

2010-07-17T14:26:00.003-04:00

I'm teaching a class at Chez Bushwick to benefit the Bushwick Food Cooperative! Check it out. I'll be teaching on 07/25 at 10:00 a.m. Mats will be made available and the class is open level, which means anyone can come!

Check out the flyer or Chez Bushwick's webpage for directions. And if you're looking for a food co-op in the neighborhood, the Buswick Food Cooperative is a great little group who are getting things together and trying to involve the community. They also do film screenings, dance nights, etc.

Exciting Films

2010-07-17T03:20:00.005-04:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I love stop-motion animation? I'll post a short I did for school that incorporates it soon, if I can find it and upload it and all that business.

But, for now- here are some of my favorite stop-motion videos. They're creative and wonderful in all different and beautiful and innovative ways. I think they're tops. (Clearly.)

2010-07-13T14:05:00.003-04:00

I've always loved this Jarmusch quote. (Not that I advocate theft, but you get the point I am (or Jim is) trying to make here, I hope.)

Mmmm...

2010-07-13T13:57:00.004-04:00

One day, I'll make beautiful, glorious, buttery, flaky, delicious croissants.

When I have the time, skills, and patience, that is...

An Exciting Film

2010-07-08T14:53:00.006-04:00

Sita Sings the Blues is an animated extravaganza written, directed, produced, AND animated by Nina Paley. It's sort of a contemporary version of the Ramayana, an ancient Sanskirt epic, interspersed with things from her own life.

The amazing thing is that Paley has decided to make it freely available to everyone. It's played in some theaters (it was recently at the IFC Center in NYC) and there's a DVD, but you can watch it in its entirety online here. And it's under creative commons licensing, too, which is a whole other thing and equally amazing.

So check it out. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. Let me know how it is.

Oh, and...

2010-07-04T21:01:00.003-04:00

In celebration of the 4th, here's some NPR Tiny Desk Concerts from my two most favorite (very) American bands. Have a wonderful, beautiful, amazing holiday, everyone. The Avett Brothers & Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. If you're not already in love, you will be. (Or maybe not... but I think you should be, at any rate!)

Happy 4th

2010-07-04T20:41:00.004-04:00

Happy 4th of July to all ya'll out there, wherever you may be. I think a celebration of freedom and summer is definitely in order.

And I recently came across this video... I don't remember where I saw it but I was reminded of it today, when I was thinking about the kinds of things I think Independence Day and this country (can and should and often do) celebrate- intelligence, ingenuity, integrity. (Lots of words that start with i, there!)

This amazing girl wore the same dress for a whole year, differently every day, and raised over 100,000$ for charity doing so. An exercise in sustainability, style and philanthropy. What an amazing project.

An Exciting Project

2010-07-02T13:58:00.004-04:00

I'm so very pleased to be able to share something I've been working on with a group of gorgeous, talented, amazing ladies for the past few weeks. The Yoga for Charity Network is a project we've been putting together, offering donation-based yoga classes around NYC and donating the proceeds to local, national, and international charities.

So check out our webpage, and maybe take a class! There's a lot lined up for this month!

Hammocks Are Exciting!

2010-06-29T17:09:00.002-04:00

You'd better believe that making a simple hammock is on the list of things I'm gonna do as soon as I get down to Miami this August. Can't you just see me, lounging on the porch with a glass of iced tea, reading something super in my new homemade hammock?

Did I mention- it's a hammock! You can make it! I'm gonna swoon. And then get a subscription to ReadyMade.

An Exciting Event

2010-06-27T12:10:00.005-04:00

So I'm lucky enough to have gone to the Yoga at the Great Lawn class in Central Park. (The link is to an article about the event.) Yes, I waited in line for close to two hours. Yes, the class was over almost before it began due to rain. But it was lovely anyways- a group of 10,000 people coming together for what eventually became the biggest registered yoga class ever, though the instructor, Elena Brower, only had time to lead us through a sun salutation or two before the parks department shut things down due to the thunderstorm.

They're looking to schedule a rain date in September, though- so if you're in the city, check it out! Here are some quick cameraphone photos I took at (and outside!) the event.

This in no way conveys the hugeness of that line. It wound in every direction and spiraled this way and that before making it to the Great Lawn. It was kind of insane. But it was a sort of happy line... no one seemed too exasperated by it, or upset about having to wait to get in. There was some worry we wouldn't make it before the class started, though!

Look at all those people! There were lots behind us, too. It was nuts. But awesome, in its own way. I'm not really all about the commercialization of yoga, but it was this beautiful communal thing. As long as you ignored the helicopter noise.

Exciting Project

2010-06-21T17:15:00.002-04:00

So I was cleaning today, and I had all these pebbles that I didn't know what do with. So I made a simple incense holder, with those pebbles and an old, empty jam jar.

Isn't it cute? All you have to do is soak an empty jar in some soap water & get the labels off, then add whatever you'd like and shove a stick of incense in there! I'm sure this has been done a million times but I wanted to share it anyways.

An Exciting Beginning

2010-06-21T15:35:00.002-04:00

So I finished my yoga teacher training this weekend, and as of today I am officially a certified and insured yoga instructor!

I'm truly grateful for the support of my fantastic teachers Summer Quashie, Paul Manza, and Leigh Evans, and the wonderful group of people I trained with. Not to mention those who have put up with me for the past few months as I went through this journey and was insanely busy. Thank you all. I'm so thrilled, humbled, and thankful.

Here's to new beginnings! I have quite a long way to go and I'm excited to undertake this path. More info to come soon on classes I'll be teaching, podcasts, and more!

For the next three weeks, I'll be assisting Summer Quashie's Basic Vinyasa and Open Vinyasa classes on Wednesday and Thursday at Greenhouse Holistic in Brooklyn at 12:00 p.m. Come on by if you can!

Another Article

2010-06-11T15:17:00.003-04:00

I'll be posting more than links soon, but I wanted to share this article from the Huffington Post- about why dudes should do yoga.

Yeah, you heard me. Dudes.

Have old injuries from competitive sports? Looking for a community? Want to tone that core, or stretch your hamstrings? Or, even, looking to meet the ladies? This article talks about some of that.

(Note: No, I don't condone going to yoga just to hit on the hot yoga ladies. But you know, it's a bonus: maybe you'll meet a like-minded individual keen on meditating and flexibility, right?)

Brief Hiatus

2010-06-08T20:44:00.002-04:00

Sorry about the lack of posts these days. Things have wrapped up at school, and in a few short weeks I'll be a certified yoga teacher! I'll be up and running again soon, I promise.

In the meanwhile, I'll leave you with this neat article about a free vinyasa yoga program in Kenya that strives to help "empower communities and change lives."

Mark Rothko

2010-05-12T23:59:00.006-04:00

Mark Rothko, Red on Maroon, 1959. At the Tate Modern, London.

This in no way compares to sitting the the Rothko room at the Tate Modern. Do it.

Mini Yoga Classes

2010-05-07T16:17:00.001-04:00

So if you don't have the time (or the money- yoga is so expensive these days!) to go to a yoga class, these 20-minute mini-classes from Yoga Journal might be just the thing if you want to do something at home.

Polaroid Land Camera

2010-05-06T11:31:00.008-04:00

So I want one of these polaroid land cameras real bad.

Just look at these photos! Aren't they magical? (The links will take you to each photographer's flickr account.)

Exciting Things to Do

2010-05-04T00:15:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Little Me, Big You, I have a new project I'll be working on one of these days...

Mason jar lights! Oh my god.

No, seriously, oh my god.

I love you Nadia.

Le Petit Prince

2010-05-03T23:59:00.004-04:00

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about my perceptions and decisions and thoughts. When I was young, I thought about outer space all the time. When I learned that there were planets and suns larger than our own, I extrapolated that the beings living on them must be enormous; they would be much bigger than us tiny humans.

I began to watch the buildings.

I thought that if I looked closely and often enough I'd find evidence that they were aliens sent from outer space to study us and our planet.

Eventually, I grew out of it. Buildings became just buildings; I learned the definitions of words and concepts and applied them familiarly. I think that, though I'll never look at buildings the same way I did when I was young, that maybe I can (or need to!) stop defining things so strictly. Trials and tribulations, looked at in another way, can be the needed impetus for change; we all know sometimes an accident is exactly what's needed.

It reminds me of this passage from the beginning of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, a favorite from when I was young.

I'll leave you with the English translation:

I showed grown-ups my masterpiece, and I asked them if my drawing scared them.

They answered, 'Why be scared of a hat?'

My drawing was not a picture of a hat. It was a picture of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant... Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is exhausting for children to have to provide explanations over and over again.

Exciting Photos

2010-04-28T00:59:00.003-04:00

Taken with my iPhone, Hipstamatic application. I know, it's an unfortunate name, isn't it? At any rate, it does the filter work for you so you don't have to spend any time in that pesky Photoshop actually working on your photos.

I know, it's lazy. Still, highly recommended.

Bright Star

2010-04-26T00:24:00.007-04:00

So here's the thing. Historical films, and biographical films are not, in general, particularly good films. Sometimes they're compelling stories, but a compelling story doesn't make a good film all by itself. Sometimes it's like a boring history of someone's life; all the important bits strung together. Anyways, point is, these kinds of films are generally not thoughtfully made.

Bright Star, on the other hand, captures the beauty and swell of first love perfectly. It's about Keats, but not just about Keats. It tells you the story of part of his life (though I can't vouch for its historical accuracy), but isn't one of these boring, uplifting, "insightful" biopic things. It's a good film. It's a film I've been thinking of often lately... of the softness of the textures, the overwhelming sunlight, the delicate and thoughtful framing, the way it made me wistful and thoughtful and nostalgic. Mostly, I remember how very quiet it was in some parts, which is so wonderful. It's not unilaterally wonderful, and sometimes falls victim to this film "necessity" of an interesting plot to move things along, but I think that it's really lovely, for the most part.

So, if you've not seen it, hop to it, ok?

Exciting Music

2010-04-23T10:07:00.004-04:00

So I saw this video some time ago and decided that I wanted a theremin. Let me tell you- they're intensely difficult to play! Maybe someday I'll practice a little and learn how to manage it. But this video is so wonderful. This girl is so very talented. The ephemeral and unearthly sounds this instrument makes are so fantastic. I want to play things and record sounds with it!

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T15:40:00.006-04:00

In honor of Earth Day, I have a huge post for you all today!

I wanted to share the links to my favorite places that share environmental info and issues. They're interesting, informative, ingenious, even!

Tiny Green Bubble: "Tiny Green Bubble is the online destination of anyone who is interested in living green, living fair, and living aware - but still living fun."

Inhabitat: Green Architecture & Industrial and Interior Design.

Farmgirl Fare: Documenting rural farm life... with recipes!

Lots of Life in One Place: Permaculture, growing, sustainability.

Greener Miami: Events, ideas, etc. For all my hometown homies. :D

Plus, since it's Earth Day, I thought I'd remind people of some things to do that are good for the planet. Conventional wisdom dictates that if everyone did these little things the world would be so much better off, but I think that making the decision to do something and not participate in the creation of waste in some way is a worthwhile one even if you're all alone. I know that there are things that I do and buy that are not sustainable choices, but I try to think about things, where they come from, what they're packaged in, how I'm getting them home...

1. Using recyclable bags for shopping is an amazing thing. You don't even have to buy fancy new canvas ones, chances are you have some at home somewhere. Tote bags, backpacks, even old purses.

2. Turn off your lights! The sunlight makes your room so much prettier anyways.

3. If the distance is a short one, why not walk instead of taking your car? Plus, it's good for YOU.

4. Shop at farmer's markets or join a CSA! Not only is it good for the environment (especially if you are getting organic goods) but it's good for your local economy. You are putting your money back into your economy. Plus, they're really awesome places where you can get all sorts of new and interesting things and have fantastic adventures! Just check out these photos...

If this all comes across as kind of preachy, so be it. It's important to live mindfully, and I know it's not always possible and even I don't do as much as I can, but there are things we can all do. Anyone have any good ideas?

Octopus Film-maker

2010-04-21T17:04:00.003-04:00

No kidding, this octopus takes some of the most breathtakingly beautiful close-up shots I've ever seen. He has a real sense of texture and lighting.

Posts will consist of more than YouTube videos soon, I promise, but this was too spectacular not to share!

Exciting Song

2010-04-20T23:32:00.002-04:00

The new Kate Nash. Love this girl.

Short Morning Yoga Sequence: Sun Sallys!

2010-04-19T11:37:00.007-04:00

Sometimes when I get up in the morning (i.e. every single morning) I don't want to get out of bed, and when I do I spend all morning wandering my apartment in a daze, unable to summon the energy to do anything. So, in order to get my energy up, I'm committing to doing (at least!) some sun salutations in the morning so I feel energized for the day.

What are sun salutations, you ask? Well, they happen to be yoga's way of warming up your body. They're a great preparation for more vigorous poses (which is why the Ashtanga Yoga and many other sequences start with them) or good as just a stand-alone if you don't have much time. If you're doing a class later this is a good way to get warmed up without overtiring yourself so you can still practice later. Or at least that's what I think.

So, I like to do (according to this handy image chart below) one Surya Namaskara C (also known as Classical Sun Salutation), then 5 Surya Namaskara A, then 3 Surya Namaskara B. Then I finish off with some forward folds (I like standing but seated is good too!) and a short sivasana. Click the image below for a bigger version for you to follow if you're not familiar with sun sallys. (I wish I knew who made this chart! It certainly wasn't me- if I ever find out I'll be sure to give credit!)

So if you're short on time in the morning you can do this really quickly- like under 20 minutes for the whole thing. I think I did it in about 15 minutes this morning. If you do one breath per movement (breathe in: arms up, breath out: fold fwd., breathe in: prepare and plant hands, breathe out: hop back and lower in chatauranga, etc.) you'll get a nice little workout and get your blood flowing, or whatever the expression is.

If you have shoulder injuries, no hopping to chatauranga, and careful in plank and lowering! Be sure to listen to your body.

Updates on my morning energy level soon! We'll see how this works out...