It's A Party, Not A Picnic

From The Vault...

alisonoconnor — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:37:00 -0400

So here’s something you might not know: I write a lot of drafts of random things that NEVER make it to this blog. Little bits and pieces really. Just thoughts, impressions. Of course some eventually get brushed off and fixed up and polished and made all shiny with pictures and correct spelling and punctuation and then posted. But many—probably MOST—don’t. Every now and then I find one of these wild gems on my computer and sometimes I just shake my head at it, but sometimes I read through, have a chuckle, and genuinely enjoy its unfinished charm. This is one of those times. And since I haven’t got much new to say right now that’s not related to the trip to Peru I’m taking in two weeks HOLY SHITBALLS OMG HOW DID THAT GET HERE SO FAST, I’m posting it now. Enjoy, and you’re welcome.

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Monday, January 7 2013, 6pm.

The cave was packed. Not tightly, but thickly. There was room to move, but not to be seen. Air to breathe, but no space for anyone to notice if you didn’t. The teacher’s voice echoed out of her little Britney mic as if she were down a long hallway, around a corner, perhaps all the way in the bathroom. I might as well have been taking class outside. In the entrace way where I left my shoes. In the hall where we all came in. In the elevator that brought us up. On the sidewalk in front of the building. That’s how far away I felt. It was no one’s fault really. Some classes are crowded the first week of January, and some rooms are caves. Nothing to be done about it.

It was hard to focus, in the back of the cave. I could see enough of myself in the front mirror, but there was so much going on. So many people, so much movement. Lots of newbies, new years resolutioners that bought an internet coupon for something called Bikram Yoga that promised to burn 230957 calories in just a 90 minute class and hey yoga is supposed to be relaxing right? This wouldn’t be hard, would it? I think we all know how that ends up…

I tolerated the crazyness. It didn’t really bother me, at least not that anyone could see I’m sure. I couldn’t get my mind to focus for the life of me. Something about the air being thinner in the back of the cave maybe? Or something about feeling so alone in the biggest hottest room packed thickly full of people that I became more and more certain I would never be seen perhaps ever again. This was the end. I was going to expire in this cave. Amidst all these people. It wouldn’t be the class—the class wasn’t that hard. It wouldn’t be the heat—it wasn’t that hot. There was air to breathe…. But no space for anyone to notice if I didn’t. And that, frankly, was wildly depressing.

I felt heavy, but nothing more. There were plenty of things to distract me and my mind flitted around like a butterfly, landing on all of them… This mirror makes my ass look huge. THIS mirror makes my legs look great! THAT mirror is just completely distorted and I look like one of those skinny aliens with the long necks. Someone’s sitting down. WHO just kicked my towel? WHY does the teacher keep using the word “perfect”? About EVERYTHING?! Why the hell is the door open? I bet they all think I’m crazy for wearing long sleeves. My backbends are sucking less and less. What was that Britney Spears song where she was an actress or a movie star or something and the video is her walking a red carpet and being followed by paparazzi?

Annnnnd, scene.

But physically I kept it completely together. Strong postures, no fidgeting. Not outwardly anyway. No one would ever have known the crazy and the dark inside. Under all the frivolity about mirrors and Ms. Spears (the song was “Lucky” by the way), I was deeply irritated. What was the point of practicing in the back of a cave? Why was I even here? I came because of my teacher. She’s amazing and I love her. But this place, these people, the vibe here, the packed so full room that I disappeared into? I less-loved all of it. I knew from the start I wouldn’t be seen as more than an afterthought. Normally that doesn’t even bother me too much. I don’t need to be validated. Or criticized. Whatever. It’s fine.

“Alison! Kick.”

I grimaced and gritted my teeth and kicked. The pose ended.

“When my teacher gives me a correction, ” she said pointedly, “I smile. Because I know that means she loves me.”

Ohhhhhh snap. I am an asshole.

Update: Photos And A Little Traveling Music...

alisonoconnor — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:49:00 -0400

Hey guys! Two things…

ONE! I’m on Instagram!

(Click the little camera thingy!)

Ok, I’ve been on Instagram for oh, I don’t know… years? But I’m now actually USING it. So if you’re interested in my super exciting, never dull, thrill-a-minute life here in NYC, follow along! It’ll be so fun, I swear! You guys, I didn’t realize this before but Instagram is just like blogging except without all those annoying words! And with pictures of food and juice and puppy dogs! OMMIGOD SO FUN. Check it out.

TWO! This is a big one… I’ve alluded to it before but will say it outright now…

On May 31 I’m leaving the city for 10 days for a spiritual retreat deep in the rainforest of Peru drinking indigenous visionary plant medicine—aka, ayahuasca—with a shaman.

Wait WHAT.

Yep, you heard it. I’m going to the jungle for some very serious soul searching. This has been bubbling up in my mind for a long time, and officially in the works since last November. It’s a BIG deal, at least to me… And I have LOTS going on in my mind and heart right now, as I’ve been preparing for it these past few months.

Obviously, I have LOTS to say about this… and there will be LOTS of posts about it. So forgive the lack of snappy class recaps and Bikram related banter for a while, I’ve got self-realization on my mind! Also, the nature of the universe. And consciousness. And physical matter. And perception. And psychotropic drugs. And plant spirits. And mosquito repellent… HEY, it IS the jungle after all!

Get ready guys… It’s ALL happening.

Suck it, wall! I don’t need you anymore!!! Could have...

alisonoconnor — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:13:23 -0400

Suck it, wall! I don’t need you anymore!!!

Could have sworn my feet were closer to my head, but HEY, I’ve got a whoooooole summer of inverting outdoors to work on it!

Sound Byte From Class...

alisonoconnor — Wed, 01 May 2013 08:52:22 -0400

During Half Moon…

Teacher: “Dina! DINA YOU’RE NOT WORKING! Push, Dina! Come down and push, push, pushhhhhh, PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, PUUUSSSSHHHH!!! And change…

Dina! Daddy had to get a little firm with you there, didn’t he?

(silence)

(beat)

Ok, that was creepy.”

Creepy, yet debilitatingly hilarious! I couldn’t stop grinning for about two postures after :)

Shingles Update!

alisonoconnor — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:17:00 -0400

So if you’ve been following along for a minute or so, this won’t be news to you, but I’ve been sick. Like, really sick. It’s been about two and a half weeks since I came down with what I thought was the flu—turned out to actually be shingles OMG WTF I AM ONLY 33!—and a little over a week since I was officially diagnosed. Things have been, well… challenging.

Yes, we’ll go with that.

But the good news is, I am feeling so So SO much better than I was!!! I’m not totally back to normal yet, I still get tired very quickly and have some minor pain in the affected area, but really it’s NOTHING compared to what it was! Seriously, I’ve never been SO happy to feel slightly sub-par!

Interesting how a viral infection will put things RIGHT into perspective for you, eh? Related: After a week of wearing a rash on my face that looked more like gunshot wounds, I will never ever complain about the unsightliness of acne again.

The recovery process has been intense, but then I made it so. I’ve been working at it like it’s a full-time job! Which, to be fair, it IS. Healing—physically, mentally, emotionally—is ALWAYS a full time job, and as Kris Carr says, you are ALWAYS at the office! But looks like the efforts have paid off. My recovery is going quicker than anyone expected!

For those unaware (ummmm, like me two and a half weeks ago!), shingles can have a host of nasty-wasty after-effects. The virus itself takes anywhere from 2-5 weeks to run its course. You can have a week or so of flu symptoms (as I did) before the rash ever appears, a rash that lasts about two weeks, and residual nerve pain that can last anywhere from another three weeks to a month to six months to years to THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Not kidding guys. This shit can SERIOUSLY fuck you up. Not to mention if you get it on your face where I did it can cause blindness, hearing loss, and facial paralysis. GOOD TIMES, AMMIRIGHT?!?!?

Praise and gratitude to everything holy, I seem to be safe from all of that. I visited the eye doctor yesterday, and my eyes are good! They even took a cool picture of my optic nerves!

NO, those are NOT my boobs, shut UP, ya PERVERTS!

SIGH.

You might notice the optic nerves themselves are not symmetrical, which I guess is out of the ordinary, but the doc didn’t seem too concerned. Hooray!

I also visited the ENT! They tested my hearing, which involved sitting alone in a tiny silent sound booth that looked like it belonged in a David Lynch movie (cue awkward lighting and eerie Angelo Badalamenti score) in the dark and hitting a button everytime I heard a slight sound pumped into either ear. You’d be surprised, but this shit was NOT EASY! A million times I was all, Ummmm did that sound just happen or am I making this up? OH WAIT, that was just my stomach grumbling, RIGHT.

But somehow, miraculously, I managed a perfect score. In BOTH ears. Holy crap you guys, I am a SUPERHERO!

The ENT marveled at the results (as did I, frankly). Dumbfounded, she showed me the chart and told me she had never seen anyone recover from shingles so fast, and that the disease can REALLY “mess people up!” (I’m assuming that’s official doctor terminology.)

Then, in what may have been the awesomest moment of my life, she—the DOCTOR—asked ME—the patient—what I did to make myself better.

OH. HELLZ. YES. You guys, you know you’re doing something right when the doc has to ask YOU how you got better!

So I was all, Wellllll! Let me TELL you about it sister!

If you’re curious, the list is long; in addition to the anti-viral drugs the doc prescribed, I’ve been taking 1,000-3,000 mg of Lysine every day, a double wheatgrass shot every day, at least a liter of green juice every day, three vitamin C packets every day, a triple dose of multi-vitamins every day, eating super super super clean every day (no high-arginine foods, no processed stuff, no sugary stuff, mostly plants, a little protein, no caffeine, etc.), plus daily Bikram yoga once I felt well enough, callendula on the rash (REALLY helped!), Vitamin E all over my face, meditation, healing art, a little EFT, and of course a steady regimen of Advil for pain.

PHEW! You guys, healing yourself is HARD WORK! But ultimately, it’s pretty awesome work. This has NOT been a walk in the park or a good time by any means, but I’m grateful for the experience of learning to take care of my body, and watching myself heal as a result of my own effort and attention.

And yes, my case of shingles wasn’t as bad as some. And I’m young and strong and don’t have any longstanding immune system problems. Also, I caught it fairly early and was able to start the medication right away. But even so, I feel pretty good about my prognosis.

This experience—while perhaps not the most convenient or pleasant thing in the world—has really underlined for me that we are ALL capable of healing our bodies. But healing is not a passive activity. You can’t just sit by idly and ‘wait for the virus to pass’ (as many suggested I do). You have to be SO proactive with yourself, you have to not just WANT to heal, but you have to be WILLING do the work.

More on all of this later, I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY YOU GUYS!!! For now, my advice is this: take care of yourself, be proactive, and do the work! It DOES make a difference and it—more importantly YOU—are worth it!

TODAY’S HEALING FOOOOOODZ!!! Liter of green juice...

alisonoconnor — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:27:00 -0400

TODAY’S HEALING FOOOOOODZ!!!

Liter of green juice (spinach, kale, cabbage, cucumber, apple, pear!), 16oz of carrot / apple / ginger juice (delicious and sweet!), pineapple (anti-inflammatory!), apple (from the fruit basket my parents sent; pretty sure it has healing karma!), emergen-c packet (the bubbles are fun!), maple almond butter (so delicious it’s stupid!).

Not pictured: the double(!) wheatgrass shot I already had, lemon cayenne hot water from early this morning, and the half sweet potato I’ll probably eat around lunchtime. Dinner TBA.

HEY, this virus is NOT messing around with me, so I am NOT messing around with it! Hippocrates said it best: “Let food be thy medicine.”

HAPPY TUESDAY—EAT YOUR GREENS & LET’S HEAL OURSELVES!!!

"There is no escape. You have a full time job. You are always at the office of HEALING."

alisonoconnor — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:52:54 -0400

“There is no escape. You have a full time job. You are always at the office of HEALING.”

- Kris Carr.

Having Faith And Chocolate Cake.

alisonoconnor — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:34:00 -0400

“That’s it. I’m curing this thing with green juice, vitamins, meditation, and yoga. THE END.”

That was my facebook status update earlier today. I sound empowered, no? And I am! Or at least, I’m trying to be… What’s that they say? ‘Fake it til you make it’ or something?

See, here’s the thing guys. As much as I try to put on all this new age-y, spiritual, nouveau hippy, radical free-thinker, being of light, enlightened, guru-y flower child stuff, the real truth is… well… I have doubts.

Oh, keep your pants on. We all do sometimes, don’t we?

I was talking to my yoga teacher recently—the one that’s particularly new-agey—and I mentioned how sometimes I don’t know if Kundalini yoga is working, and all those intense breathing techniques are leading me to have a true spiritual experience, or if I’m just feeling lightheaded and open because I’m half-asphyxiating myself.

I mean, come on. There’s a fine line between the colors and light you see when the Kundalini energy moves up your susumna and the colors and light you see when you get close to passing out. And really, all this breathing-to-see-things, isn’t it just kind of like playing the ‘pass-out game’ we used to play as kids? But now on a more elevated level? A level with a cause?

“Alison,” my teacher replied, very serious, “I can’t believe you even said that.”

Annnnnnd I felt judged. For being a non-believer. The verdict was in, I was just NOT new-agey enough!

Truth is, I WANT to believe it. ALL of it. But I was born and raised a rational. If you know Meyers-Briggs, I’m an INTJ. “The Mastermind”. That should tell you pretty much EVERYTHING you need to know. I value logic, I live by facts. Believing in anything beyond the factual was always a fascinating novelty, but not much more.

It was only when I started practicing yoga that this novelty took on a new meaning… Suddenly there were all these things: chakras, nadis, energetic lines, channels, gods and goddesses, spirits, things beyond the purely physical, that were available to me. That I could FEEL but not always EXPLAIN. And slowly I started to believe in it, and what I couldn’t believe immediately, I desperately wanted to. Because, well, it was NEAT. And in a strange way… liberating.

Which brings me back to green juice, vitamins, meditation, and yoga. And how badly I WANT to believe that those things can heal me. And I do believe it… about 95% of the time. But there’s still that logical rational voice in me. The voice that says,

“What?! Green juice? Meditation? Vitamins?! Those things don’t work! They’ll never heal you! Statistically, you’re sick and you’re going to stay sick for x many days until you run through yz symptoms. That’s the way it is, always has been, always will be. You’re no different than anyone else. It’s the only way, for everyone, THE END. So who cares about the green juice? Go home and eat a burger. Throw some bacon on it. Wash it down with a piece of chocolate cake, because YOU ARE SICK AND THAT’S ALL THERE IS AND NOTHING YOU DO IS GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE SO WHY STRUGGLE, FORGET IT, JUST GIVE UP.”

And sometimes, sorry to say, I listen. And I eat the piece of cake, because WHO CARES, nothing is going to make any difference.

Now let me take a moment to clarify: NOTHING is wrong with the occasional piece of cake. I freaking LOVE cake you guys. Especially frosting. I freaking LOOOOOOOOVE frosting. But what IS wrong, is eating cake simply because you GIVE UP on LIFE and believe that nothing you do makes any difference. DO NOT EAT THAT CAKE. Don’t let yourself go that route! All it does is cement your disbelief in place. With delicious buttercreamy artery clogging frosting.

No. When the rational little voice starts to get screamy in your head, you can listen to it. Hear it out. But then send it on its way. I think maybe the trick to all this, to believing in ALL these things that seem new and strange and can’t be backed up by science, per se, is to not give yourself any opportunity to think otherwise. If I’m going to be healed by green juice, and vitamins, and yoga, and meditation, then I have to COMMIT, one million percent, not only to believing it but to living that life. And if I really truly one million percent LIVE that life, with no doubting chocolate cake in between, then these things WILL heal me.

I know, it’s a crazy weird matrix-y mind game, but I think this just MIGHT be how it works.

My yoga teacher—same one as above with the Kundalini story—says “When you go to spirit* with your whole heart, you will be given may gifts. Beyond what you can even imagine with your mind.” And like everything else, I WANT to believe that’s true. And how will I know unless I give myself to spirit—or whatever—with my whole heart? Without doubt? Without the overly rational logical? Without giving up, giving in, going back to what’s comfortable (aka BURGERS AND CHOCOLATE CAKE) even if I know it doesn’t work?

Yoga is all about having faith. Learning to believe in something bigger than yourself, and in your connection to it. Something you can’t see or touch, but something you can feel and access if you’re open and willing. It’s a practice of learning to trust. And I’m learning… every day. And this is just an opportunity. A test maybe, to see how much I can believe, and the chance to learn to believe a little more.

And so I’m taking it. Today, I doubted. Tomorrow, I won’t. This is my challenge, this is what I have to learn. I’ve got a liter of green juice and a double wheatgrass shot waiting for me in the morning, and an easy yoga practice after waking up, and a little meditation before going to sleep. And YES, I’m sure there will be plenty of doubt that creeps in too, probably before I even leave my bed. But it’s the doubt that keeps me where I am, and it’s time to move on, time to let it go, time to HEAL.

The time for cake was yesterday. The time for juice is NOW.

*By ‘spirit’, she’s referring to what others call god, universe, life force, prana, etc. Basically, the higher power governing all things. Hey, I told you she was new-agey ;)

Being sick has given me a chance to catch up on some...

alisonoconnor — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:24:38 -0400

Being sick has given me a chance to catch up on some all-important tv watching. Here’s a fave moment from a recent ‘Parks And Recreation’…

Ann Perkins: Do you have any history of mental illness in your family?

Ron Swanson: I have an uncle who does yoga.

Maybe it was the drugs, but I laughed for about 10 minutes. I <3 Ron Swanson!

The Saga Continues...

alisonoconnor — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:23:00 -0400

Sigh.

YOU GUYS. It has been a crazy, weird, wildly surreal few days over here. Remember my last post? Where I was all ‘Ommigod my flu is gone and I’m out of bed and doing stuff again and it feels so GOOD and so RIGHT and OMMIGOD I AM SOOO HAPPPPYYYYY LA LA LA BRAIN EXPLOSION!!!”

Well. I may have been a HAIR premature in the celebration department. Seems there was a LOT more going on in my body than I was aware of… Let me take you back…

(fairy dust, fairy dust, fairy dust…)

So while I was sick with this weird stomach flu-y thing last week, in addition to normal flu symptoms—you know, the good ol’ upset stomach, diarrhea, nauseousness, achy joints, fully exhasticatedness—I had a few more… well, unusual symptoms. Like headaches. Bad ones. And shooting pain up the left side of my head. Pain in my left jawbone. And pain in my left ear. These were all intermittent, so I didn’t think a lot about any of them. Just weird flu stuff! I mean, who understands the flu anyway?!?! VIRUSES! Ammiright guys?!?!

The achy-ness went away, as did the exhaustion, as did the stomach upset, at which point I was all HURRAH, I’M CURED! Except that the weird jaw-ear-shooting head pain never left. In fact, it got worse. I consulted with Dr. Boss (NOT his name, but he is a doctor—albeit a dentist—and my boss) at work on Thursday, and he said it was probably just a virus remnant working its way out. Ok, I’ll buy that.

But then Thursday night I noticed two tiny lumps near my left ear that hurt when touched. The jaw pain was constant by this time, no longer just a once in a while thing. And the shooting head pains were a regular occurrence. Ok, now I was worried…

And of course, where do you turn with a medical question at 11pm on a Thursday night?!? OBVIOUSLY, you go to WebMD and begin spinning the symptom-dial in a SUPERFUN game we call Self-Diagnosis!!! By 11:30 I was convinced I had an infection of my salivary glands. By 11:45 I was convinced I had cycsts. By midnight I was CERTAIN I had the most malignant form of salivary gland cancer imaginable. And by 12:30 I was making out my will.

YOU GUYS. This is lesson number one on why you should NEVER self-diagnose!!! I mean, unless you need motivation to make out your will.

ANYWAY.

Cut to Friday morning. I wake up, pop in to a work meeting, mention my weird jaw lumps which Dr. Boss assures me are just little cysts and I should ignore them, then leave and head to Bikram. I’m in the locker room getting ready and I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and HOLY SHITBALLS, WHAT’S THAT?!?!?!?

That THING! Up at the left corner of my forehead! It’s a red welt about the size of a quarter!

Now I live in New York City. Greatest place on earth, and also bedbug capital of the universe. So obviously I’m like OH SHIT. It’s a bug bite. On top of EVERYTHING else, now I have FREAKIN’ BEDBUGS!!!

I try not to freak out during class. My jaw hurts. The stabby head pain hurts. Even this stupid bedbug bite HURTS. Actually, it BURNS! Seriously, WTF is going on with my body…

(Ok time out. Bonus points awarded to anyone who can make a diagnosis at this point! Any takers? Eh? Eh?!?!)

I go home. Smear anti-inflammatory cream ALL over the giant bug bite, though as I look at it, it doesn’t REALLY look like a bite, more like a collection of tiny tiny blisters… WEIRD. WHATEVER. Smear smear smear, I take a Benadryl, I go to bed (after inspecting for bedbugs, obv).

Saturday. I wake up to throbbing jaw. Burning forehead bug bite… that has now grown to include my eyebrow… and a spot on the TOP OF MY HEAD. Like, UNDER MY HAIR. What bedbug is crawling UNDER MY HAIR for god’s sake?!

Ok, shit has gotten too weird at this point. I forgo ALL yoga classes planned for the day, and head over to urgent care. It’s probably time to see a doctor that’s NOT a dentist, ya know? I’m seen right away by a little Indian doctor who’s probably all of about 19 years old. I explain the symptoms, at which point he tries to tell me I have TMJ from grinding my teeth at night.

DUDE. I don’t know much, but I KNOW this ain’t TMJ!

“When’s the last time you saw a dentist?” he asks. Ohhhh the irony.

“OH, I see a dentist EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE,” I reply, not exaggerating. Come ON, I work with dentists!

So just as he’s about to tell me that the jaw pain is just a remnant of virus working its way out, and I should just take a few advil every eight hours, and I’m JUST about to jump out of my SKIN because at this point I want a DIAGNOSIS, DAMMIT!, he glances up…

“What’s that on your forehead?” he asks. I hadn’t had a chance to explain it yet, since I’d been too busy defending the fact that I do NOT have a night grinding habit.

He goes on right away without waiting for an answer, and in the most matter-of-fact tone of voice says:

“That’s shingles!”

BINGO. Who had shingles in the pool? You win it all!!!

GREAT! A diagnosis! At least now we’re getting somewhere! Even if where we’re getting is a totally unsavory locale…

SO. If you don’t know (because I didn’t yesterday!). Shingles is a mutation of the chicken pox virus. Once you’ve had chicken pox, which most of us had in our younger days, the virus never really goes away. It hides out in your spinal fluid and lays dormant, but can be re-awakened by any combination of: another virus, stress, not enough rest, a weakened immune system, certain drugs. And when it’s re-awakened, it travels up THROUGH YOUR NERVE ENDINGS (eeeuuwwwww) causing ridiculous pain along the way, and turns into a weird creepy blistery rash that hurts a lot. FUN TIMES.

So it would seem that whatever stomach virus I had earlier in the week re-activated the chicken pox virus in me and my weakened immune system allowed the virus access to my tri-geminal nerve (the one on the side of the face/jaw) where it laid down roots and was now making blisters out my forehead. UGH SO GROSS YOU GUYS.

The prognosis is good in the long term. I caught it early. I’m on anti-viral drugs. I’m not contagious. I can go about my daily life. I just need to get enough rest and not let myself get stressed. Honestly I don’t know HOW IN HELLS BELLS to do either of those things, but I’m going to try.

And here’s the real dilemma: I don’t know how to take care of myself. Really. I am BAD at it! I mean, clearly, or I wouldn’t be here. I sleep MAYBE 4-5 hours a night. I eat anything I can shove in my mouth with one hand while standing up waiting for the subway. I work full time. I take a billion yoga and dance classes just because I freaking LOVE it. I’m always reading something or researching something or writing something. I’m always going, seeing, working, DOING. I’m a DOER! Or so I like to think… The problem is, my balance of DOING and BEING is way out of whack. I’ve known it. But… it’s hard to change… especially when you want a LOT out of life.

So perhaps I have this nasty-wasty virus that can take anywhere from 2-5 weeks to heal, so that I can learn to rest. To take better care. To BE and not just DO.

My brilliant teacher Elena says that we all choose our challenges, and our struggles. She says we choose them before we get here, and choose the ones we do because those are the lessons we need to learn, and we need to learn these lessons so we can teach others. I believe that’s true. Or I at least see a lot of beauty in it, which makes me want to believe it.

So somewhere deep down, I suppose I chose this disease, because I NEED to learn to care for myself. I mean, I’m a yoga teacher by trade. Not teaching much right now, but I want to be. In fact, I devoted 2013 as my Year Of Self-Realization (whoaaaa topic for another post!), during which I would learn about and get clear with myself, my issues, and my past in preparation to teach again. Well. This is going to be a hell of a way to do it… I HAVE to learn to care for myself—and I have to learn it REALLY WELL—if I ever hope to have ANY business teaching others how to care for themselves.

And so, here I am. Trying to figure out what to do to take care of me, and trying to be ok with that. With BEING and not always DOING. Honestly, I don’t know how this is going to go… but I have to get well.

I’ve heard that all writers write the book they need to read. Elena wrote a gorgeous yoga book called, “The Art Of Attention.”

Well, my book would be called “The Art Of Self Care.” And it begins now. It has to. And it will be born of my own experience, because it has to be that too. And hopefully, in the end, I learn the lessons I need to know, and integrate them into my life and my self, and can pass them on with the authority that only personal experience can bring. And maybe that’s what was meant to happen.

Or maybe I’m just waaaaay dramatizing this situation I mean it’s a VIRUS you guys, EEEEUUUWWW!

But maybe I’m not… Maybe it was, in a weird way, a gift, a teacher… Or maybe it can be, if I let it…

In either case, stay with me. Wherever we end up, it’s going to be an INTERESTING trip.

YOGA-GRATITUDE!

alisonoconnor — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:57:00 -0400

So last night I took my first yoga class in three days.

Whaaaaat?! Three days?!?! But whyyyyyy Alison?!?! You normally go EVERY DAY!!!!

Totally true. I normally practice every day, some type of yoga, without exception. Because I need it for my health, well-being, and sanity. I know that about myself and as such, I make it a priority! So then WHY have I missed three days in a row? Well…

…BECAUSE I’VE HAD THE FLU.

Ohhhh you guys, it has NOT been pretty. I’ll spare you the details. Just know that I SURVIVED and I hope to NEVER spend that much uninterrupted time in my bed EVER AGAIN. Seriously, it was brutal! I was actually SORE from laying in bed! Did you even KNOW that that’s a thing you can be?! My Mom did…

“They’re called bedsores, Alison.”

“Moommmmmmm, I’M ONLY 33!!!”

ANYWAY.

I realize there are people suffering FAR greater tragedies and more inhumane misery than I, and my confinement to the space between my sheets for the past several days is really NOT the worst thing in the world ever and I should be GRATEFUL that things aren’t worse, and you guys I SO TOTALLY AM. But still. When you’re used to moving a lot every day, being forced to NOT move is NOT FUN.

So yesterday I was finally feeling non-deathly enough to put on clothes and leave my apartment(!) for work, and after work, I was feeling tired but STILL non-deathly enough to (gasp) go to YOGA! Bikram to be exact.

And so I did. THREE BLOODY HOURS OF IT.

That’s right, post-flu, I came out of the gates screaming like a wild animal and did a back-to-back double, right away! And you guys, IT FELT SO FREAKING GOOD.

Ironic in a way. Since I’ve been exploring so many other types of yoga lately, Bikram had started to seem… Dull. Boring. Overrated. Unnecessary. It wasn’t as flashy as Vinyasa, as esoteric as Kundalini, as energetic-spiritual as Anusara/Hatha. And I was starting to see it as a bit of a chore.

But coming back from this flu-y thing, feeling exhausted and weak and sick to my stomach but still dying—DYING!!—to move, Bikram was really ALL I could fathom my body doing! I mean really, you hardly move at all. You basically remain stationary for 90 minutes and sweat like an animal as your heart beats out of your chest and your whole system detoxes from the inside out. Seems illogical, but somehow… it works!

And last night, WHOA, it REALLY worked for me. It felt SO GOOD to sweat. And move. And breathe. After the first class, I wanted more! And the second class was hotter, steamier, and felt even BETTER than the first! No more boredom, no more OHHHH BUT BIKRAM IS SO DULL LET’S GET DO SOME HANDSTANDS AND MAKE THIS SHIZZ FOR REAL! Nope. It just felt GOOD. And it made me appreciate this form of yoga so much. I know not everyone approves of it, and it doesn’t ‘work’ for everyone’s body, but HOT DAMN, it really does for mine! And THIS was a great reminder!

So guys. My message for today: BE GRATEFUL.

For yoga. For your body. For your practice and everything it consists of. Know that every aspect of the practice you cultivate for yourself holds a purpose, whether for your body, brain, spirit, soul, consciousness, or a combination of all of those, and APPRECIATE it.

And be SO SO GRATEFUL that you have this body. That it’s healthy. That it can MOVE. And BREATHE. And FEEL, TASTE, TOUCH, HEAR, SPEAK, EXPERIENCE, and LOVE.

And be grateful for the gift of movement itself. You have no idea how lucky you are that you can even show up to your mat! Forget doing the pose perfectly; be happy that you can DO. It’s really the most remarkable, mystical, awesome aspect of our existence, to experience the joy that comes with moving our bodies through space.

Movement is MAGIC. It is TRANSFORMATIVE. It is our GREATEST TEACHER. And as Ido Portal says, “You either use it, or you lose it… And it is gonna be a BAD DAY when you lose it.”

Don’t ever have that bad day, friends. EVER!

“ON MEDITATION”. That’s the name of the new...

alisonoconnor — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:58:00 -0400

“ON MEDITATION”.

That’s the name of the new documentary currently in production about the topic of (duh) MEDITATION! I know, it seems like REALLY? How are you going to make a compelling film about something as personal and internal as sitting quietly and thinking (or rather NOT thinking) alone for extended periods of time?! And yet, if you watch this trailer, I think you’ll agree this film looks pretty damn awesome. Now I know I usually talk more about YOGA things on this blog, but meditation is a huge part of the yoga practice, not to mention a super important mind-altering tool for LIFE. And while sitting quietly can often seem un-glamourous compared with the more Type-A super-busy Westerner-friendly asana practice, I think this—the sitting practice, a break in the fast go Go GO! pace of everyday life—is what we need even more. And I think ALL of us could use that reminder!

As I mentioned, ‘On Meditation’ is still in production, and they’re currently raising funds to finish the project and get this film into schools, jails, libraries, and all manner of public places where it can do some real good to some people who need it (FYI—we ALL need it). If you appreciate the project and are able to help out, here’s a link to their Kickstarter page. There are some cool rewards for donating, not to mention you’d be supporting a really great and worthwhile project. They’re in crunch time right now, and are looking to raise about $4000 by Friday, so don’t wait.

In any case, I hope you enjoy the clip and it motivates you to sit down in silence for a few minutes today. When the world outside can be such a crazy place, it’s always a comfort to know we can find peace inside ourselves, and that through practice, we can live, breathe, and radiate that peace, passing it along to all those around us. The world doesn’t only change through enormous actions or big gestures, it changes one person, one moment, one breath at a time.

As always, thanks for reading you guys, and NAMASTE!

30 Day Yoga Challenge: Day--Ohhhh, EFF it!*

alisonoconnor — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:31:20 -0400

Ok, yes yes, I KNOW I said I was going to post every day of this challenge but well, things got a little busy. By which I mean a LOT busy. I’m talking four-or-fewer-hours-of-sleep-per-night-CRAZY BUSY. And since I value my sanity (somewhat), when presented with the choice of ‘Blog for 30 minutes’ or ‘Get 30 more minutes of glorious glorious SLEEP!’, I opted for the latter.

Sorry guys, sometimes your health and mental well-being HAS to take precedence! You know… SOMETIMES.

Scheduling be damned, I’m sure you’ll be glad (though not particularly surprised) to hear that despite my radio silence, YES, I’ve STILL managed to get to yoga every day! WOOHOOOO!!!

Again, it’s about health and mental well-being taking precedence!

A LOT has happened in my practice in the last 30ish days. Internally, externally, emotionally, things are shifting bit by bit every day. It’s confusing, exciting, and absolutely awesome, and has given me a new appreciation for JUST HOW MUCH is available to us in the realm of Yoga!

I really SHOULD have been writing every day, because I don’t know now how I can ever catch up with everything, but I’ll try to hit a few highlights…

HIGHLIGHT #1: I went to Kripalu! For those who don’t know, Kripalu is a yoga retreat center in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. Many famous and not so famous teachers host programs there, and hundreds of yogis from across the country may be there to stay on the grounds, participate in the programs, do some yoga, attain enlightenment (or at least get a little closer) at any given time. I would liken it to Hogwarts, but for yoga. I went the fourth weekend of March for Elena Brower’s three-day retreat, “The Art Of Attention” and you guys, it was nothing short of LIFE CHANGING!!! This one bears an entire post (perhaps several) of its own, so I’ll leave it for now, but just know that Elena is AWESOME and you should take class with her anytime you possibly can (she teaches in NYC). And if it’s NOT possible, you should go to youtube and watch ALL (I repeat ALL) of her lectures, video clips, interviews. Start with this one, which was the one I started with. You will be MAD inspired not just to do some yoga but to CHANGE YOUR WHOLE FREAKING LIFE!

Intense, right? MUCH MORE on all of this later… TO BE CONTINUED!

HIGHLIGHT #2: The Yoga Journal Conference! Now I don’t participate in the conference in the traditional sense of buying a pass and taking all the classes/lectures. Because it costs approximately $293,856,901,980,586.99. And you guys, I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONIES. But lucky for the occasionally financially challenged individual such as myself, there are LOTS of free and lower cost things associated with the conference too. So I went to the free class in the market place on Saturday, made some new friends, saw old friends, visited the vendors, bought cute new yoga clothes, ate lots of gluten free cookies, got a henna tattoo, and took the yoga-class-slash-dance-party “Get Your Dance On” on Friday night. All in all, a FUN weekend. And reminded me that yoga people really are the BEST people on EARTH! YEAH!

HIGHLIGHT #3: Kundalini! Ohhhhh man you guys, I’ve started Kundalini in earnest! It is crazy hard fun times! Kundalini is a style of yoga where you don’t really do POSES per se, you do KRIYAS. A Kriya is a motion, repeated over and over, sometimes also with a breathing technique and/or sound/chant, for a given period of time (3 minutes, 7 minutes, 11 minutes, etc.). Sounds not so tough, right? But… it is! Try waving your arms in the air above your head… easy right? NOW DO IT FOR 11 STRAIGHT MINUTES. Yeah. Things start to happen internally when you move in these ways… it’s AMAZING! You really feel your energy start to shift and blockages start to clear! More on this to come too… I’ve only just scratched the surface!

HIGHLIGHT #4: Bikram! Oh yeah, I’m still doing THAT old thing too! My Bikram practice hasn’t changed much externally, but due to all my other explorations in the yoga universe, I’ve been thinking ALL different things about it, so it has changed MASSIVELY on the inside.

EXAMPLE!

I used to think: How can push, force, and muscle my body into submission so I can make this pose perfect?

And now I think: How can I use my breath to make more space in my body? How can I use this pose to strengthen my heart to be able to dissolve negativity? Where can I soften my body to become more receptive in my mind? How can I release judgment? Feel more collaborative? Become more connected?

WHAT?! I know. This is a far cry from the “Come down and push, Push, PUSH!!!” that I used to think during class! And it continues to be a SUPER interesting exploration of new ways to integrate the movement with my subtle body, to achieve a better balance of energy. VERY COOL STUFF!!!

More to come on ALL of this you guys, and there’s even MORE than THAT if you can believe it! But I’ll leave you with this for now…

I want to encourage you—ALL of you!—if you only do one style of yoga or only practice with one teacher, to get out there in the world and EXPLORE! There’s so much to learn, so much to discover, and NONE of it is contradictory to any of the rest! Learning something new in one area of yoga will only enhance your experience of what you already know and practice in another! It’s all about developing your understanding and creating your OWN practice that fully serves and supports YOU, your life, and your goals! The beauty of yoga is that there are as many ways to practice as there are people, and YAY for THAT!

If you have any questions or want to chat more, my ‘Ask Box’ is always open! Hope you’re all happy, well, and getting the MOST out of your practice AND your life!

More to come… Soon… :)

*And if you’re wondering, it is currently Day 26 on the challenge.

30 Day Yoga Challenge: Day 3.

alisonoconnor — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:09:47 -0400

Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 & 8pm.

WHAT the—OH yes, that’s right guys: I doubled it up today!

Actually it’s not that big a deal, I do it all the time, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Bikram at 5:30, and Hot Power Vinyasa at 8. Lest you think I’m a MANIAC, let me ‘splain. The two styles actually complement each other perfectly. Bikram is all about alignment, Vinyasa is all about range of motion (well, and alignment too). So I warm up and get aligned in Bikram so I can work through my muscular system and FLOW in Vinyasa. My body LOVES this process. It finds it DELICIOUS like a dark chocolate bar. One of those Lindt ones. ‘With sea salt…

YESSSSSSS.

Anyway, both classes were fabzzz (teenage girl speak for ‘fabulous’) and JUST what I needed.

Bikram: class was subbed out. OH HEAVENS! But no it was actually a cool thing, because the sub was a teacher I don’t get to take with often, and I like her. She has lots to say but isn’t overbearing. She picks and chooses her moments, and teaches with a sense of ease that’s refreshing. At least to me!

Something that stuck out in an awesome way was that she was TOTALLY silent during all the Savasanas in the floor series. So many teachers, in NYC anyway, have THINGS to say during those quiet moments. Announcements, tips for the posture coming up, corrections for the posture that just was… But I actually prefer the silence, in some ways. It lets you really FULLY relax, and allows your body to absorb the work you just did in the posture, really feeling the ‘sense of completion,’ as one of my teachers calls it. And today, I actually FELT it. And it felt… GOOD. Really good. Most restful Bikram Savasanas I’ve ever had, I think! All just from the teacher being silent!

As Manorama (my meditation teacher/spiritual guide/Sanskrit scholar/all around COOL person to hang with) says, sometimes teaching isn’t about knowing WHAT to say, it’s about knowing WHAT NOT to say. BRILLZ (teenage girl speak for ‘brilliant’).

Hot Power Vinyasa: This one was completely different, but still totally ahmaaaaaaz (teen girl for ‘amazing’). This class can vary a bit in pace and intensity, but the request this evening was for ‘fast flow’. Which was EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TOO! Am I in my Vortex or WHAT, you guys!? So yeah, it was fast, it was flowy, the music was loud, the lights were dim, just how I like it! Vinyasa really is the chocolate cake of yoga. Again, no huge physical breakthroughs, but a good solidly sweaty class. DELIGHTS!

And Here’s What We Learned Today…: Sometimes it’s not what the teacher says, but what she DOESN’T say that makes the biggest difference. Also, I’m too old to be using teenage girl speak. My bad, guys!

30 Day Yoga Challenge: Day 2.

alisonoconnor — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:12:00 -0400

Monday, March 18, 6:30pm

So this class was a bit of a disappointment. Well, I suppose that’s a little harsh. It was a bit of a letdown. And really, it was probably only even that because I had SO overhyped it and built it up in my head. It was a Vinyasa class—

Wait, WHAT?! Alison, you do VINYASA?!?

Yeah guys! I totally do! And I LOVE it! Vinyasa was actually my first introduction to yoga, and I’ve been doing it for six years, maybe seven? Time flies… It’s different from Bikram, obviously. You move a lot more. And there’s music. And incense. And fun lighting. And about a billion more poses, including inversions and all kinds of crazy yoga party tricks where you contort on your hands…

Fun, no? TOTALLY FUN. Basically, Bikram is like eating a big plate of kale. Vinyasa is like eating a pizza. YUMMM!

ANYWAY.

Another way Vinyasa is different from Bikram is that the class itself is always different. The teacher invents their own sequences, and teaches the poses in their own way. So your experience from one class/teacher to another can vary GREATLY. Your enjoyment of the class as a student depends a lot on the teacher and how well you vibe with them, and how their style of sequencing and teaching matches what your body wants and needs. It’s SUPER interesting.

I’m always looking for new teachers and studios, and this one came highly recommended. I was told the class was intense and sweaty, that it would be packed, and that everyone in the room would be able to pike into a handstand. WELL. THAT certainly sounded impressive! Obviously I would have to check this out…

So finally, Monday was my day. Yes, the class was crowded. Yes, the teacher had a lot of information to share. Yes, most of the room (at least the first 2-3 rows) could pike very gracefully into the lightest of handstands, however…. the class was ANYTHING BUT intense and sweaty. If I had to qualify it, I would say it was ‘sleepytime yoga’: gently, soothing, simple. Nothing wrong with that of course! Just… not what I was looking for.

As for all those handstanding girls and guys in front, I’m not sure where they’re learning that stuff—I suspect they’re all doing Ashtanga in the mornings—but it is NOT in this class. Bummer.

Still, even though the workout aspect was negligible (I know you guys, YOGA IS NOT A WORKOUT! But come on, my body likes to WORK!), I still had some lovely restorative opening and a blissful Savasana. Which is really perhaps the more important aspect of yoga: the energetic opening and sense of emotional calm and alignment it brings. But even so, energetically aligned or not, I still had the yearning to hit the gym afterward!

And Here’s What We’ve Learned Today…: You can’t always trust other people’s interpretation of “intense” and “sweaty” when it comes to yoga! And while yoga is CERTAINLY more than just a cardio fitness class, and sometimes the energetic gains outweigh the physical ones… still, go home and do your crunches ;)

30 Day Yoga Challenge: Day 1

alisonoconnor — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:23:21 -0400

That’s right, I’m officially recapping a class! I know, it’s been a minute since I’ve done THAT! But seeing that it’s a new 30 Day Challenge, I think it’s a good time to re-start! So I’ll be attempting to write—no, I WILL BE WRITING a post every day during the challenge, so you can follow along with me. OHHHH LUCKY YOU!!! So here we go, Day 1 (which was actually Sunday. HEY, I’m not perfect!). Enjoy!

Sunday, March 17, 2pm.

Let me begin by saying that this was not my best class ever. It was also not my worst, but it was NOT my best. In my defense, I was sore from dancing like a maniac at a 5 Rhythms event (read: a dance party for new age people) the night before, and tired from going to a pre-St. Patrick’s Day party in Brooklyn afterward… until 3am. And thanks to the AMAZING NYC subway system, which after midnight runs about as well as a one-legged monkey on child’s crutches, I didn’t get home until after 4am, and didn’t get to BED until nearly 5am.

You guys. I am too old for this.

So going into class on Sunday I was a little sleepy, little groggy, little sore, little “Ommigod WHY do I have to do this I don’t WANT to I’m so BORED this is so BORING when will this be OVER I am SO ANNOYED AND JUST DON’T WANT TO BE HERE UGGGGHHHH WHYYYY MY LIIIIIIIIIIIFE!!!!!”

Perhaps you can relate.

Still, I tried to make the best. My postures weren’t great. But I tried to smile. I tried to be grateful. I tried to focus on positive thoughts… Perfect handstands! Avocado cucumber rolls! Cute internet videos of kittens falling asleep! Anything I could think of to keep my mind from going in the direction of the Dark Place (shudder).

It worked. Sort of. ANYWAY.

As I was distracting myself with pleasant thoughts of cute animals and yummy sushi, the teacher said something that managed to puncture my tidy little thought bubble. We were in Standing Head To Knee. Or, TRYING to be in Standing Head To Knee.

“Concentrate on your knee in the mirror!” she said, “Don’t pay attention to other peoples’ knees! Concentrate on YOUR knee!”

Ohhhhhh you GUYS. I spend so much time paying attention to other peoples’ knees. SO much time! Ok, I mean not LITERALLY. In a Bikram class I could scarcely be bothered to look at the person next to me and probably wouldn’t notice if they dropped dead. Sorry, I’m just focused that way. But in life?! Hahahahahah NOPE. ALL I think about is other peoples’ knees! Or rather, their talents, strengths, gifts, privileges, and all manner of advantages they might have—whether earned through hard work or gifted to them by fate, genetics, or the universe—that I am LACKING.

This is a problem. It has been pretty much forever. I compare myself to others CONSTANTLY and always mind myself lacking. Thus, I’m hyper-competitive and seldom happy with myself or anyone else.

I’m painting a sad picture here, aren’t I? Well, for your comfort, it’s been getting better. I’m less competitive than I was a year ago, and MUCH less competitive than I was ten years ago! And I do believe the yoga had something to do with that. Just the fact that we go into the room every day and do the same exact thing—every day!—is helpful. Because hey, if I’m not perfect at something today, THERE’S ALWAYS TOMORROW! Guaranteed I’ll get another shot at it! So in a way, the pressure of time is removed.

Sure, I still get a little envious of a perfect locked out Standing Bow here and there, but not to the point where I would have to cold-shoulder the girl later in the locker room and ‘accidentally’ bump into her and knock her full-of-water water bottle on the ground… NOT THAT I WOULD EVER DO THAT. NO. But you get what I mean.

Yoga has taught me to focus more on my OWN knee (literal)… in class anyway. And as for LIFE, when I find my gaze wandering longingly, competitively, enviously, in the direction of someone else’s knee (figurative—and it OFTEN does, believe me), I try to remember this. It definitely hasn’t been an overnight thing, but just like my Standing Head To Knee, it’s improving slowly… over time.

And Here’s What We Learned Today… : Focus on your own damn knee! Thoughts of cute animals won’t save you in class. And don’t stay out in Brooklyn too late on the weekends.

Thirty Day Challenge--OMG LAST CHANCE!!!

alisonoconnor — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 04:32:00 -0400

Hey guys! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Wishing you all a lovely day of green juice, green beer, green bagels, and all other manner of festive novelty green foods!

But the real reason for this post is to let you know that the 30 Day Challenge starts today! And that it’s NOT too late for you to get onboard! Shoot me an email at iapnap30days@gmail.com to sign on. You do yoga every day for 30 days, I send you positive inspiring emails, we all chat on an internet forum set up just for this event, and at the end of 30 days we’re ALL TRANSFORMED!

Sound fun?! Get on board! Email me anytime before Tuesday and I’ll add you to the list! And remember that today is the first day, so make sure to get that yoga in, preferably BEFORE you start celebrating the holiday…

Happy Day 1, and NAMASTE!

Fashionably Honest.

alisonoconnor — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:38:33 -0500

Took class last night with a favorite super-aggressive, brutally honest, super-hilarious teacher of mine. There were many amusing moments. This was one. During Half Moon…

Teacher: Come down and push, Push, PUUUUUSSSSHHHHH—ALISON! NICE OUTFIT! You look like Coco Chanel!—and change!

Well. THAT was a first! Just call me Coco, guys.

(For the record, I was wearing neither pearls NOR a hat… But I WAS wearing a sheer long sleeve black top over my super cute tiny bra and tiny shorts. So perhaps THAT was was the reason.)

Thirty Day Challenge Update!

alisonoconnor — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 19:51:00 -0500

Hey guys! So as I write this it’s Sunday night, which means that in exactly two weeks, the second ever IAPNAP 30 Day Challenge begins!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!

If you don’t have a CLUE what I’m talking about, here’s the basic idea:

I—and any of you who want to—will commit to practice yoga—any form, any style, any length of time, at a studio, in your home, with a video, with a friend, alone, super hard and sweaty, super sweet and restorative, WHATEVER as long as it’s SOME type of yoga—every single day, for 30 days straight, staring Sunday March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day), and ending Monday April 15 (Tax Day).

OK really Alison? But WHY would I DO this?

Well, there are SO many reasons…

I mean first off, yoga is FUN! You must like it, or you wouldn’t be reading this blog, yes?

Also, committing to something for 30 days is freaking AWESOME and can TOTALLY help you break out of any rut you might be in! Just watch this guy tell you about it…

Inspiring, isn’t it?! You can literally CHANGE YOUR LIFE in 30 days. And who doesn’t want to change their life?! WE ALL WANT TO CHANGE OUR LIVES.

It’ll also change your practice. And I’m not just talking about poses here, although those will most certainly change for the better when you’re practicing them every day. I’m talking about integrating yoga into your life on a permanent basis. It’s a great way to get yourself into a routine, and more important, it’s a GREAT way for you to make getting in touch with YOURSELF and taking time for YOU a priority!

I know, I know, we all have BAJILLIONS of priorities and people who depend on us, and things to do, etc., but taking the time to give to YOURSELF is really the most unselfish thing you can do. When your body is taken care of, and your spirit and soul are fed, you have SO much more to give to others!!!

We ALL have something to give, and often, we don’t even know how much! But the greatest thing we can do for the whole world is to find out, and then to GIVE it. Every day! And it starts with us taking care of US. So really, the 30 Day Challenge is the best possible thing you can do for yourself AND for the people in your life!

So go ahead, sign on, and DO IT!

Further incentives:

Like last time, I’ll be setting up a forum so we can all talk to each other about our classes, progress, amazing life changes that will surely occur over the course of the 30 days, etc. And we can also motivate each other AND hold each other accountable. GOOD THINGS ALL! I’ll also be sending daily emails and writing blog posts to keep you inspired and on track! So you’ll have LOTS of support, which is FUN FUN FUN.

For those of you who have already emailed to sign up, THANK YOU! I’ve read all your emails and stories and I’m so INSPIRED by YOU!!! Your dedication to your practice, commitment to yourselves, and your desire to make yoga a regular part of your lives is AMAZING and I’m BEYOND excited EXTREMELY GRATEFUL to be embarking on this thirty day journey with you! Details will be coming shortly, for now, sit tight and get ready for an amazing and transformative month!

If you haven’t signed up yet, WHY NOT?!?!

Haha, just kidding.

Really though, why haven’t you signed up?

Do it now! Just send an email with the subject line, “I’m In!” to: iapnap30days@gmail.com . Include your name, where you’re from (state, country, etc.) and anything else you want to share—what style of yoga you practice, what you had for breakfast, whether white chocolate should really count as chocolate or not, etc.You know, THE ESSENTIALS.

I’m psyched about this, you guys. I’ve seen firsthand the results of prolonged commitment to this practice, and I KNOW for certain it changes lives. It changed mine. And it continues to, every day. I’m passionate about yoga, and about sharing it. And I could not be more excited to take this trip with all of you in just a couple of weeks!

Get ready—it’s going to fun, and crazy, and amazing, and I guarantee that if you give yourself to it, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

LOVE to you all…. and NAMASTE!

It's That Time Again...

alisonoconnor — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:52:00 -0500

NO, I am not talking about the holidays! Those are over! Or, not started yet… or something. WHATEVER. I am talking about…

THIRTY DAY CHALLENGE TIME!!!!

YAAAAAAAYYYY!!!!

This blog has been around for about two years now, sparked in large part by my very first 30 Day Challenge waaaaay back in 2011! So to celebrate the two years, and because my yoga practice is taking off in CRAZY new directions, I’m thinking it’s time for another one!

AND, just like the last time, I’m asking you—yes, YOU!—to do it with me!

I mean, if you want to… I’m not the boss of you.

But come ONNNN, it would be SO FUN! Here’s how it’ll go…

* We all commit to do SOME kind of yoga (any style you want, any form of practice you want, any length of time you want, in a studio, in a class, at home, mix it up, WHATEVER, if it counts to you, it counts to me!) every day for 30 days.

* I’ll set up an online forum so we can all meet and talk to each other and MOTIVATE each other and HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE!

* I’ll send inspirational emails and post motivational posts every day for the whole 30 days to keep us all going! And you guys, my own practice has yielded LOTS of inspiration lately, so I have LOADS to say about SOOOO many things!

* At the end of 30 days we will be SO INSPIRED and SO EMPOWERED because we did what most mere mortals cannot even fathom!

AND our bodies and minds will be in better shape!

AND we will—without a doubt—have transformed our thoughts for the better, and busted our hearts wide open, and become brighter, truthier, shinier, and altogether WAY MORE BETTER people all around!

ALL OF THESE ARE GOOD THINGS, YOU GUYS!

So let’s do this! It’ll be—wait, what? I’m missing something?

OH YEAH, dates! RIGHT.

I’m thinking Sunday, March 17-Monday, April 15. Which are the exact dates I used for my very first 30 Day Challenge. Starting on St. Patrick’s Day (because I’m Irish and it’s good to do some yoga before you start ‘celebrating your hertiage’ aka feasting and boozing—if you’re into that..!), and ending on Tax Day (because LORD KNOWS we need a reason to look forward to THAT day!).

So guys, whaddya say? WHO’S IN?????

If the answer is YOU (or if you just have questions or just, ya know, wanna say HEY!), send an email with subject line ‘I’m In!’ to: iapnap30days@gmail.com .

Include your name (helpful!), where you’re from, what kind of yoga you’re into, and anything else you want to share or that you think might be interesting for me (what you’re having for lunch, your favorite childhood pet, if you were a salad dressing what kind you would be, etc. NORMAL STUFF). And then GET READY FOR YOUR LIFE TO CHANGE!!!

LOVE to you all….now let’s DO this!!!