A yogi makes the front page of The Chicago Tribune

I woke up with the strongest desire to be at the beach . To plant my feet on the earth and feel the sun on my face . I made a detour before teaching my class so that I could spend some time at the lakefront , reflecting and sneaking in a short yoga practice .  I knew it wouldn't be the easiest to achieve as I would have my two youngest children with me, yet I also knew that they would enjoy playing at the beach . 

They played in the water and in the sand while I sat in solitude and did a short yoga practice . And slowly I began to feel at ease , reconnected to the divine . The water brings me peace , calms me in a way that nothing else can . It's these moments that make me appreciate living  just  blocks away from Lake Michigan .

A gentleman approached and asked if he could photograph the kids and I for an article he was working on and said to just keep doing what we were and to ignore him . As I once again got lost in my practice and my children played , he snapped away and captured my soul .much to my surprise  I woke up the next day to see ME on the front page of the Chicago Tribune . 

Humble , grateful and thankful . 

-A

I Got Lost

July 1st, 2015 - journal entry

I have been anxious for a few weeks. This is a new feeling for me, the uneasiness, the lack of sleep, my mind constantly racing. I am human and one little detour off of my path,one day of not taking care of ME, made me lose my way. 

 I have always been so grounded, faithful, patient and full of gratitude. Knowing and allowing the universe to guide my way and allowing my heart to know what it is that fuels me.

 For the last couple of months I have been bombarded with 3 deaths in the family which meant lots of last minute travel, a diagnosis for my son that blind sided me and financial repercussions from my divorce that I wasn't expecting. I started wondering where we would be living next year instead of just being grateful for where we are living now. I worried about my son day and night and worried about my finances.  What else did I do? I  stopped my daily routine. My routine of reading, writing in my journal, creating art, meditating and practicing Yoga and I got lost in day to day life. I stopped hanging with my "tribe", those women that support me and fuel me.  I stopped living in the present and allowed stressing over the past and worrying about the future to take control. I let worry, fear, stress, anger, insecurity and  uncertainty become the primary forces in my day to day routine. Racing through each day without focus and intention, without gratitude, without love left me empty.

I am thankful for those in my "tribe" that notice when I get quiet. That hear my silence and come to get me and pull me up for air. Reinforcing to me that I know what to do, that the power is within ME to get back to that place and space of beauty, gratitude and abundance in my life. 

We are all the same and divinely connected to one another and that , to me, is one of the most amazing things ever. The knowing that we are not alone. The ability of placing our hand over our heart and feeling the beat of our own heart, yet also the heartbeat of others.Being Present. Being Connected. Deep Gratitude.

I found my way back, I am Present. I have my routine of Self-Care that grounds and guides me and allows me to Just Be.  Although we all may get lost at times, the most important part is finding our way back.

In love and gratitude.

-A 

Avon Walk Chicago 2015 / Reebok

I was so extremely grateful to be asked to teach yoga again this year at the Reebok wellness tent for the Avon Walk Chicago.

There is something truly magical about the day, the intense energy of love abound. I have walked for many years, for friends and family and it has been a goal of mine to always stay involved. To continue to help raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer prevention is a passion it is a cause that is dear to my heart.

I taught 4 classes this year for Reebok, and although it was chilly out, each class was full . I met women walking for women in their family, women walking for themselves, first time walkers, volunteers and even had some of the youth crew (who i fell in love with ) stop by. Yoga unites the body and mind, and that is exactly what these ladies needed after walking 26.2 miles . We talked, laughed and even shed some tears as the ladies unwound with me and allowed their hearts to be exposed.

I AM grateful beyond measure to both Avon and Reebok, for allowing me to be a part of this amazing program.  Here are a few photos from the day.

In Love and Wellness,
-A

Mistakes

We all make mistakes yet how we deal with them is most important . For me , sometimes I want something here and now and loose the concept of patience and faith . I slip up, I make a mistake, I do something that is spur of the moment yet if I'd thought about it, I wouldn't have done it. I AM HUMAN . 

I sit and reflect and learn and know in my heart that things happen when and how they are supposed to. Nothing I do or say will rush things along, at least not with ease . There is power in letting go, in trusting, in having faith and patience .

Thank goodness for mistakes as its how we learn , how we grow and gives us the ability to move forward from a place love. Making time each day to sit quietly allows my thoughts and answers to flow freely. Forgiving , trusting and having faith in all things to come .

There is power in allowing things to Just Be. 

In Love

-A

I run

Why I run.

Running for me is therapy of sorts.. I don't run a certain distance, I run until my head is clear. I run and laugh, I run and cry, I run to let go. 

Last year I ran 3 half marathons ,a 9k, a 10k, a mud run, a 5k and a Girls on the run 5k with my daughter .. Each race had its unique challenges: extreme temperature , 80 degrees and humid in 

Florida to 30 degrees and rainy in Indianapolis . I ran through Disney, through the Indy 500 speedway, along the lakefront in Chicago as well as through the city streets, I ran through mud, climbed walls and ran thru bubbles, I ran the color run and came out full of laghter and completely tie-dyed.  

I run each race in complete quiet.. No music blasting in my ears, just me , the sky above and the earth below. pure divine connection. I don't run to beat a particular time, I run to finish and to finish without injury. I run for me,I run to Just Be.

Hot chocolate 10k in Chicago

Indianapolis 1/2 marathon

Disney Princess 1/2 marathon 

Giving Thanks Today and Everyday

A gentle reminder to practice Gratitude and Thankfulness Each Day. I give Thanks to those sharing in this beautiful journey of Life with me. I AM GRATEFUL . 

A little music for the soul.

"And these happy feelings, I'll spread them all over the world...from deep in my Soul"

Peace and Love.
-A

Wanderlust

I have always loved to travel, it's one of the reasons I became a flight attendant after college. Seeing the world thru my own eyes and heart is an experience that can never be replicated. For me, travel is not for a vacation , travel is something that makes me come alive, something that nourishes my soul. Something that I need to experience on a regular basis to feel connected and whole. It doesn't take a trip around the world to satisfy this need to travel, a simple road trip to a new  destination brings the same amount of fulfillment.

I have traveled to Hawaii where I rode down a volcano at sunrise, I snorkeled for the first time and felt incredibly humbled at what I had seen below me. I have traveled to Mexico and Canada , London and Paris and have gone horse back riding through the hills of Jamaica. it is not the act of a luxurious vacation, it is the act of exploring the unknown and soaking in the sights,sounds and culture. It is about becoming submerged in a different place.

I recently traveled to Denver. I had forgotten how beautiful it was, how the mountains were breathtaking and how the mountain air would fill my lungs with such ease. I had forgotten how overwhelming it would feel to see all of this divine beauty and how my heart and soul would be filled with so much joy that it would take my breath away. 

Oh but it hit me, and my first morning as I took an early morning walk, I cried. The universe sent me a sign.. This time a physical sign that stopped me in my tracks and made me say " ok, I hear you, I get it and I am listening !!" 

I'm in the middle of Colorado taking a 6 am solo walk and run into this sign .. Purdue ..The college I attended in Indiana, the place that I left my heart, the place that always brought me such comfort , the place that I always stop at and sit for hours at a time to clear my head and listen to my heart. A place that I will forever be connected.

I cried out of comfort and connection. It was something I needed to see to know that we are all connected and even thousands of miles away, one little reminder can bring such peace. 

 

I immediately knew that my trip to Denver would open my heart even more, guiding me to pay attention to every sight and sound . Allowing me to Just Be present in each and every moment .

Here are a few more things that let me know that I was exactly where I needed to be:

Wanderlust: the strong desire or need to travel the world 

I have so much to share about my time spent in Colorado. Day one let me know that this was all divine timing.

-A