Yoga Blog

Tricks to Treat Myself

By Laura Mills

Okay, September’s here. Fall has barely begun, but before we blink Halloween will arrive. Not far on Halloween’s other side: the winter holidays. These thoughts scare me, for along with celebration comes miscellaneous commotion that flusters me so much I end up exhausted and cheerless. So this year, I hope to rise above the holiday mayhem with the help of a few intentions….

First, I will pick up my phone and actually call someone with it. I have several old friends whom I regularly email but whose voices I haven’t heard in years. How cool to un-electronically chat like we used to! Second, I will sort through my kitchen cabinets. Not only have I not cleaned them in ages, but also I can’t even remember what’s in some of them anymore. I don’t believe a faster way of cultivating both gratitude and humility exists than to immerse myself elbow-deep in my own stuff. Then third, I will donate all I can spare—which I already know is a lot.

Fourth, I will dedicate at least ONE day during the season to just staying home, wearing my sweatpants, playing with my daughter, catching up on magazines or watching a movie, and doing whatever else feels good that day. And fifth, I will create something I can give to someone else. I don’t know what yet—some kind of recipe or craft, perhaps—and I don’t know to whom I’ll give it. But sometime before the season ends I’ll think of something and someone, for sure. And hopefully when I present the gift, I’ll do so with a genuine, full-of-holiday-cheer-like-never-before smile, too!

9/6/2012 Tags: Laura Mills, holidays, intention Direct Link

That August Feeling

By Laura Mills

No matter how much I complained about school any given year, I always adored the first few days. Early on, I loved entering my classroom, finding my desk and greeting my friends; later, I was always excited to receive each class’s syllabus and meet teachers and professors. Then as a schoolteacher, I eagerly anticipated getting to know new students and parents as well as diving in to fresh material.

I know I’m not alone in my thoughts about August’s end. Whether we ourselves go back to school, or we have kids that do, or we just nostalgically observe the busses lumbering through our neighborhoods, this time of year is abuzz with starting over. Wouldn’t it be great if we could cultivate that positivity—that “first day of school” excitement—for other, more every-day moments?

This year, as the last few days of August pass, I invite all of us to make this our intention. Perhaps it’s far-fetched, the idea of awakening daily as excited as a kindergartener with a new box of crayons, but I don’t think it’s impossible. True…thoughts of work, chores, obligations, appointments, and everything else often dishearten. And yes: it’s usually difficult to be excited about traffic, bills and grocery shopping. But we can start simply. We can consider each day as a whole, at first, and practice seeing each as a chance to start over. With time, positivity may flow more smoothly into a greater number of moments; eventually, the most seemingly insignificant moments may resonate with newness. And from there, our entire perspective may change….

8/23/2012 Tags: Laura Mills, starting over, positivity, intention, perspective Direct Link

An Exercise in Awareness

By Laura Mills

For several years I made a habit of drinking one diet soda every afternoon. It was my pick-me-up, my simple indulgence in the middle of the day to add a little flavor to the hours that followed. I enjoyed diet soda and never considered my one daily can a terribly unhealthy habit. But what bothered me is that I often pulled one out of the fridge just because the clock said 4:00 pm. I didn’t contemplate whether I wanted it or not; it was just something I had gotten used to doing.

Completely eliminating my afternoon pick-me-up just left me irritated, so to remedy the situation I sought a more gentle approach and switched from diet soda to something less automatic: tea. I had always kept a few varieties of tea on hand, but now I stocked up. I reasoned that tea requires intention, that I would never be able to pull a hot, ready-to-drink cup out of the cabinet at 4:00 pm or any other time. I would instead have to gather the tea-making items, wait at least a few minutes for the water to boil, and then wait another few minutes for the tea to brew. In other words, I would have to REALLY want that tea.

So far, my new approach is working well. I still keep a few emergency sodas in the fridge and pull one out every now and then, but I’m noticing that the more I drink tea the more I enjoy it. In addition to tea’s flavor and warmth, I appreciate the experience of consciously choosing my afternoon pick-me-up, another small way of savoring even the simplest moments.

4/3/2012 Tags: Laura Mills, habit, tea, intention, consciousness Direct Link

Is It Time to Remodel?

By Laura Mills

With the approach of spring it’s usual, I think, for us to establish a new course for ourselves. Almost like re-opening our lives after a renovation, we set an intention to change our outlook or update our approach. Then, we seal that intention with rituals that refresh: cleaning out closets and garages, rearranging desks and living rooms, scrubbing kitchens and floors, and, of course, shopping.

As yogis, why not include among our projects a renewal of commitment to our practices? Recommitting honors the distances we’ve traveled towards this moment in our yoga journeys; it also blesses the courses that stretch ahead. And though the prospect of recommitting—whatever it might entail for each of us—might seem daunting, no yogi practices alone. After all, while our individual experiences on and off the mat vary, we all share the openness of heart and mind that brought us to yoga in the first place.

So whatever your yoga practice is and has been in the past, celebrate it this spring. Be renewed and refreshed as you recommit, buoyed by the knowledge that an entire community of yogis stands behind you.

Congratulations to us all for arriving here, and best wishes as we move forward together!

3/13/2012 Tags: Laura Mills, spring, intention, rituals, commitment, community Direct Link

YOU ARE SPECIAL

March 16, 2011. Yoga is a journey into our own uniqueness. It is a story of rediscovery for most of us. What with all the noise, busyness and stress of daily life we often lose track of what is most special about us. Fundamentally, when we practice I try to share that there is a difference between fitting the pose to the person or the person to the pose. I want you to feel like your best self, not trying to look like anyone else in the asana. For this reason I teach in a way that always emphasizes the person in the pose, whereby we Feel rather than worry about what we look like. Yes our bodies are our instrument to help us navigate more internally. However that journey into our essence (rasa) will look differently person by person on the outside.

We may share the same intentions related to turning on to the beauty and power within our hearts but how we get there is unique.

In fact everything about you is unique, not just your finger prints. The way you breath is part of your specialness, your nuances, your quirks and your individual expression create an alchemy that make you an Individual. You are different so why not celebrate that? Like the song goes, God made us funky. Be that. Be you. Be your best.

In this way yoga is non competitive (yeah we hear that yoga cliche a lot) but more importantly yoga is noncomparitive.

No one has your unique features, your exact background, your personality. Your essence is your most valuable gift. And my greatest teaching intention is that you rediscover or discover this sweetness of you and bring it forth into the other 23 hours off the mat day in and day out. It is in giving ourselves our own permission to be who we are that we by example give permission to everyone else to be themselves. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

3/16/2011 Tags: You, rasa, personality, special, unique, yoga, self-discovery, intention, acceptance, self-love, love Direct Link

STOKING THE FIRE: YOGA FOR ENERGY!

February 11, 2011.

Set your life on fire.

Seek those who fan your flames. - RUMI

I read somewhere that “no one is born with healthy self-esteem” we must learn this quality as we face our challenges. In the energy system this is the work of the 3^rdchakra, the solar plexus, or Manipura. The energies of this chakra have at their heart the intention to help us mature in our self-understanding like how we feel and take care of ourselves. This spiritual quality is about self-respect. How we feel about ourselves, whether we have a strong sense of self-esteem determines our quality of life, our capacity to succeed in relationships, and our overall vitality.

The spiritual truth here is that if we don’t like ourselves our energy sags. And the lower our energy the less able we are to attract healthy relationships and job situations. To know if your 3^rd Chakra is in balance take a moment and honestly ask yourself: are you choosing situations, people, & things that drain your energy or grow your energy?

For meditation ask yourself these questions:

· Where were you last February 2010?

· Where are you now?

· Do you have more energy today?

· Where do you see yourself February 2012?

From this practice of yoga I want us all to keep stoking the fire! I want for you to feel energized and excited about your life. And if you aren't feeling that way then the time is now to set an expectation for yourself – to your own growth and evolution – and surround yourself with those that seek to fan your flames. You are all amazing and as we continue paying attention to the health of our 3^rdchakra please know you have all come a very long way already and let's take it to that next level. SET YOUR LIFE ON FIRE! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

*Join me with Alchemy Tours www.alchemytours.com to set the fire ablaze full blast!

2/11/2011 Tags: SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-LOVE, SELF-RESPECT, solar plexus, hip hop yoga, CENTERING, love, energy, rumi, fire, BALANCED, INTENTION, 3RD CHAKRA Direct Link

11 WAYS TO SAY YES IN 2011!

JANUARY 31, 2011. MORE YES! Here we are in the beginning of the year. Eleven months more to go which means there is still plenty of time to set the foundation of YES in your life in 2011. Let's start by saying YES to a little quiz. First question to ask yourself is (1) are you conscious and alert to your Yes choices? (2) Do you say Yes more than you say No? (3) What do you say YES to?

In Tantric philosophy we start with "yes". It is our first choice. We say yes to opening, softening, receiving and lay the way in understanding that YES IS DOING! Or as is written in the Alchemist, "There is only one way to learn, it's through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey." You see Yoga is learning to align with nature rather than resisting it or trying to over control it by saying No all the time. This spiritual practice is about saying YES as the immediate response to life. Wayne Gretzky is so right on "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Yes means taking the chance, risking it all for love, for a happier life, for a happier YOU. Will you get hurt? Maybe. Is it worth it? YES! So join me in aligning 11 INTENTIONS to 2011, in these eleven remaining months of the year.

So here are 11 things to say YES to in 2011

Yoga, Cycling, Culture and Wine in Tuscany, Italy June 19-26, 2011 or October 16-22, 2011
10 minutes of meditation 5 in the morning and 5 in the evening
Practicing patience with the one person you love
Walk or ride a bike for 15 min a day
Yoga, Mountain Biking and Adventure in Moab, Utah April 16-19, 2011 or Oct 27-30, 2011
Take a Private Yoga Session
Taking a few deep breaths before sending an email, text, or phone call. What is your intention for communication and does it come from love?
Start reading the Yoga Sutras (Secret Power of Yoga is one of my favorites!)
Get some Beach Therapy. Yoga in Xinalani Mexico Feb 26-March 5, 2011 or Big Island Hawaii Dec 18-23, 2011
Practice gratitude daily. Write or think of 3 things you are grateful for each morning or before bed.
SMILE more!

Take to heart that doing something is the Yes. And when you decide you are clear on what you say YES to, then everything is there to support you. It is as is written in the Alchemist "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." At the end of the day what you say YES to isn't even as important as just doing it! Love yourself, love your day, love your life, Silvia

PS - Join me on retreat www.alchemytours.com or www.silviamordini.com

2/8/2011 Tags: yes, doing, italy yoga, moab yoga, action, meditation, alchemist, effort, happiness, love, intentions, 11 ways to say yes Direct Link

YOUR LIFE GPS: WHERE ARE YOU GOING THIS YEAR?

February 5, 2011. Just a year ago I used GPS for the first time. I get the idea. You plug in where you want to go and it helps guide you there. The key point being you KNOW where you want to go. Yoga to me has been that which helps us ask the question “who am I” and eventually we get to the “why am I here” and even further down the path “WHERE THE HELL AM I GOING?” So this concept of GPS is pretty vibrant.

If you can get to the point that you know where you want to go then you know your spiritual maturity is evolving in the right direction. Until I finally decide to go to Tuscany on a Yoga Retreat one year I just played at entering a real GPS for my life. Then from that point forward I got clear. I want that for you. Get on the mat, do the practice, get your destination in gear and watch what happens. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

PART OF MY PLAYLIST TODAY 2/5/11

Hard Sun (Main), Eddie Vedder
Nogo, Issa Bagayogo
Break Your Heart, Taio Cruz Feat. Ludacris
Vamos A Bailar, Gipsy Kings
Tighten Up ,The Black Keys
Express Yourself, Mocean Worker Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street
Mr Big Stuff, Jean Knight
Dedication, Kirby Shelstad
AMAZING GRACE

Join us on an amazing spiritual adventure www.alchemytours.com or come take class with me www.silviamordini.com

2/5/2011 Tags: ALCHEMY TOURS, GPS, INTENTION, FOCUS, GOALS, DESTINATION, yoga playlist, yoga music, vinyasa flow, vinyasa yoga, silvia mordini, hip hop yoga, hauteyoga queen anne Direct Link

PUERTO VALLARTA TRIP FAQ - BEACH, SPA, WEATHER AND MORE

PUERTO VALLARTS XINALANI YOGA RETREATS USEFUL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FEB 26-MAR 5, 2011

XINALANI BEACH?
Is the beach swimmable? Is it safe to swim??
Yes the beach is swimmable and safe most of the time. ??

Is the beach sandy or rocky??
We are very fortunate at Xinalani because we have immediate access to two wonderful beaches. The one in front of the resort has both sand and great inspiring animal-shaped rocks. It also has private natural coves.? The other beach on the left-hand side when facing the ocean is pure sand. That beach gets a very nice surf break in the winter, surfers enjoy that beach a lot.??

Are there long chairs and umbrellas on the beach??
Yes, Xinalani has a nice beach club with long chairs, and umbrellas. Ask our waiters for the Bar Menu, and enjoy our special cocktails, while relaxing.

YOGA FACILITIES?

Where is the yoga space?
The yoga space is a 1,300 sq ft palm thatched room set on top of the hill. A short rejuvenating walk in the jungle will take you there, and warm you up before practice. ??

How many people fit in the Yoga Studio??
The Yoga Studio can host comfortably up to 40 people.??

Is the yoga space totally open??
The Jungle Yoga Studio has 4 walls built for handstand and headstand asana practice. The corners of the room are open to the elements, to enjoy the beauty of the jungle and the ocean while practicing. However, no risk of falling thanks to the wooden railing.??

Do you have mats, props, etc??
The Yoga studio has a wide array of sticky yoga mats, as well as blankets, blocks, stripes, meditation cushions, and chairs.

Do I need to bring my yoga mat?
It is up to you, mats will be available.

FOOD & BEVERAGES?
We need animal protein; we like to eat meat, is that possible at Xinalani??
Yes, if advised with enough anticipation, we can include chicken in your menu, as well as fresh fish, and seafood, or even red meat if you like. Please note that there might be a supplement.??

We are vegan, raw foodist, etc? How’s your menu??
Although we try to cater to mainstream yogis (vegetarian, vegan, raw, live superfoods), the food is totally adaptable to our guest's needs, please send us your specifics at least two weeks before your arrival.?Ask us for a sample of our Menu to have an idea of what we cook.??

I’m allergic to gluten, mushrooms, peanuts, etc..?
We can help you, let us know of your food allergy 2 weeks at least before your arrival to the retreat, and we’ll make sure your diet restrictions will be catered to.?

Is there electricity in the rooms??
Yes, all rooms have very low consumption LED spots that give a nice dim ambar lighting at night time, there’s also a reading area.?There are two 110 V outlets to plug cameras, cell phones and battery chargers. Xinalani does not allow the use of hair dryers or other high intensity electric devices that could damage the electric installation.??

Do rooms all have their own bathroom??
Yes, all rooms have their own bathroom, the Big Palapa (dorm) has two bathrooms.??

Is there hot water in the rooms??
Yes.??

Can I use my own soap and shampoo??
In an eco-friendly effort, we recycle all water for irrigation so we kindly ask you to use only biodegradable soaps and shampoos. The ones we provide you with are all organic and biodegradable.

ACCOMMODATION?
How many rooms do you have??
There are fourteen rooms in total, 2 Eco-chic suites, 7 Eco-Premium suites, 5 Petite Suites and 1 Big Palapa.??

Which rooms have king size beds??
Suites 2, 4, 6, 14 and 15 have king size beds.

WEATHER?

What’s the weather like??
If you wish to know the average temperatures and rain statistics, please visit this page:http://www.puertovallarta.net/weather/index.php Or run a Google search with the words Weather+Puerto+Vallarta??But in general in February expect of high between 77-80 degrees and a low of 60-65.

What about bugs and mosquitoes??
There are very little bugs and mosquitoes (except during the rain season which is July to September). If you are worried about bugs, rest assured that you will feel protected at night by the splendid veils on top of the beds. Most public areas at night are lighten by lemongrass candles that repel bugs, and if you need an extra protection, you can purchase eco-friendly mosquito repellent from our boutique.

SPA & OTHER ACTIVITIES
What is the cost of massages?
From $70 to $130

What other activities are available at the resort and what are their costs?
There’s a wide array of activities available from the resort, surfing, snorkeling, horse back riding, eco-discovery boat excursions to remote beaches and islands, or simply lying on the beach. The prices for activities are around $50 per person.

Do you have wine on the property or do we have to bring our own?
Yes, we serve wine, beer, and a selection of delicious fresh hand shaken, stirred or mixed cocktails.

How’s the surf?
Quimixto is a very nice left surf break, perfect for intermediate riders.
To get frequently updated surf reports and swell statistics, please visit www.buoyweather.com or any other qualified swell forecast website.

What else do I need to bring?
We recommend you bring a camera, a journal, toiletries, an extra pair of contacts if you wear them, sunglasses and sunscreen. For hiking, be sure to have a lightweight backpack to carry your personal belongings.

HOW DO I GET TO XINALANI RETREAT?
Upon arriving at Puerto Vallarta International airport we have organized group transportation to and from the resort. If you choose to you can also get to the resort on your own.

When will I need to arrive and when do I leave?
You will need to arrive by 4pm on February 26 at Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) where we will meet you and bring you to the resort. We will have transportation first to a little fisherman town called Boca de Tomatlán south of Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) where we will take a boat from there to Xinalani

Departure Location:
At the end of your trip, you will be shuttled back to Puerto Vallarta International Airport. We will arrive at the airport by 2pm on March 5th.
www.alchemytours.com

1/28/2011 Tags: Alchemy Tours, relaxation, xinalani resort, xinalani, yoga vacations, Mexico, Mexico Yoga, intention, puerto vallarta vacations Direct Link

IMAGINE OF WEEK OF RELAXATION: YOGA IS THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS THAT RENEWS AND REJUVENATES US

Dear Yogi Friends,

Imagine a week of.....

relaxation, spa treatments, lounging on the beach, taking long naps, reading a good book, eating fresh, healthy gourmet food, doing yoga by the ocean twice a day, exploring waterfalls, watching the sunset, hiking in the jungle, whale watching, shopping, meeting new friends, unplugging from your cell phones and computers, fully living life and returning home amazingly renewed.

I would love to share this experience with you. It promises to be a vacation like no other. You will come home feeling like a million bucks!

To register to join me Feb 26-March 5 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico staying at Xinalani Resort please call me at 847-772-9642 or www.alchemytours.com or visit www.silviamordini.com or email me at info@totalbodyyoga.com.

And let's say your passion is yoga but your spouse is new to it,no worries. They could still try as little or as much yoga as they want, go golfing in Puerto Vallarta, whale watching, get a massage, nap in a hammock or take a 10 min boat taxi to Yelapa Island and relax on the beach. Retreats are a great time to bond with a friend, family member or come alone and rediscover yourself.

Don't miss this amazing experience!!

Going to Yoga class is like a mini-one-hour-retreat! It works because fundamentally Yoga is the science of happiness. We walk in stressed out, upset, negative and we leave the practice renewed, refreshed, more positive, and in a nutshell, happier! I can't say that even after all these years, over 7,500 hours of teaching, and gosh who knows how many hours of practice that I fully understand the alchemy. It's like magic. And I love it! Love yourself, love your day, love your life, Silvia

PS - Would love to have just 5 more Yogi Friends come get out of the snow and into the SUN in Puerto Vallarta! (only 12 total in group for more personal attention) See photos at http://www.xinalaniretreat.com/

PSS - If someone you refer comes on the trip you get another $100 OFF!

1/27/2011 Tags: Alchemy Tours, relaxation, xinalani resort, xinalani, yoga vacations, Mexico, Mexico Yoga, intention, puerto vallarta vacations Direct Link

CYBER INTERVIEW WITH WORLD TRAVELLING COUPLE SILVIA MORDINI AND JACOB YOUNG ALCHEMY TOURS

FROM XINALANI RESORT WHERE OUR YOGA RETREAT FEB 26-MAR 5 WILL BE HELD.xinalaniretreat.com/Alchemy Tours: Interview with Silvia Mordini and Jacob YoungSilvia Mordini and Jacob Young, owners of Alchemy Tours, are busy getting ready to escape the wintry Chicago-land area for a luscious tropical escape to Xinalani Retreat in sunny Mexico.In between planning workshops, classes, and music play-lists, we were able to conduct a cyber-interview with them so you can learn more about this world traveling couple and the amazing upcoming retreat they have planned. Xinalani: Where did the idea and name for Alchemy Tours come from? Jacob: It really branched from two things. 1) One of our favorite books is The Alchemist. With that as the somewhat obvious backdrop, it made sense that the alchemy of Silvia's and my background would blend to create a sort of super trip for people unlike others out there. The yoga and active travel vacation being the alchemy that turns to gold. Xinalani: How did the two of you meet? Jacob:We met on a train in Italy...yes, it was one of those romantic things you read about in books, and yes, we get asked every trip about it. Perhaps that is one of the incentives for coming on one of our trips? Silvia: The way Jacob tells the story makes everyone cry every single time. It was exactly as Rumi writes, Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” In that moment of meeting I was returning from a Yoga Retreat in Tuscany where I had found much healing and growth. I had ever more fully let go of the barriers to loving myself. I was truly awake and more openhearted than ever before.  And that is when Jacob found me.  Xinalani: What came first your love of travel or movement (yoga, cycling, hiking)? Jacob: Certainly, for me, it was the movement that came first. Growing up in small-town New Hampshire was not confining to me, because it was all I knew. But from the moment I learned to ride on two wheels, I was gone. I stretched my boundaries constantly, and when I moved across the country my senior year of High School, I became aware of a bigger place around me. Living in Europe the past 8 years (Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain) and guiding in those regions really expanded upon that. Silvia: For me it would be travel although from an early age my parents tell me I could ski before I could walk, I danced formally and for the pleasure of it, and I was always doing something active Tennis, Swimteam, Biking, Hiking, Running. But even so travel was my greater influence and first love. My Father, Enrico, was at heart a pure adventurer and my Mother's parents were serious spiritual seekers. I grew up traveling all over the world with my brother and parents from the time I was an infant. I guess the fact that I love to show other people the beauty of the world through Yoga Retreats and Active Vacations shouldn’t surprise anyone since I was born in Ecuador, South America and my Father is from Northern Italy near Modena, and English was my third language. One could say being a citizen of the world is in my blood. And I learned from my Father, this spirit of Don Quixote, Man of La Mancha, to dream the impossible. I saw with my own eyes, touched and tasted new flavors, experienced new landscapes and as a result I learned about myself. Every time I traveled somewhere I came back different, I was changed and knew that anything was possible. Xinalani: What is your favorite part about going on retreat? Jacob: Getting past the small talk and really getting to know people. Then, sharing with them the best parts of this new region they are visiting is fulfilling in a very unique way. Silvia: I am always humbled by the ways our small tribes of Alchemy Tours grow fond of one another and unconditionally supportive of each other’s growth. In the corporate world we used to talk about teaming together, but you wouldn’t often really see it. Experiencing the loving group dynamic gives me great hope that little by little all people everywhere will one day be able to share this same yoga, or union of spirit and respect. Xinalani: Describe one of the funniest adventures you've had on one of your trips? Silvia: You will find us always laughing on our trips. When people feel safe and nurtured they are their funniest selves! Xinalani: How do you see people changed by going on retreat? Jacob: Without fail, people change after our retreats.  Mark Twain sums it up when he says, "The enemy of prejudice is travel." People learn more about themselves, and the yoga that Silvia teaches while on retreat is her to the max. If you have never experienced a Silvia class, you are in for a treat. Xinalani: Describe a perfect day at home and then on retreat? Jacob: A perfect day at home is waking up and enjoying a neighborhood run or a group ride. Coming home to relish in a relaxing brunch. Heading down to the farmer's market to dream up an elaborate dinner, then going home to cook and enjoy quality time with those I love. On retreat, my perfect day is showing a group of people my favorite place in a given region...I am blessed to do this regularly. Xinalani: When did you last have the most fun? Silvia: Today. Without a doubt, I wake up and say to myself and all those around me “this is the best day ever”. And it is. I can make fun out of anything and anywhere, even chair pose or going up a crazy steep climb on two wheels. Xinalani: What do you do when not guiding or leading a retreat? Silvia:I own a successful yoga studio in Chicagoland Total Body Yoga, named the best Yoga Studio of 2010. We have over 50 weekly classes and a team of 15 teachers in 3,900 square feet of wellness space and have happily welcomed over 8,000 students in 8 years. And as a studio owner I have always been a full-time yoga teacher as well.  And most of all, when not on retreat I dive deep into being the best student of yoga. I take daily classes and live by the words of Michelangelo when he was in his nineties, “Ancora Imparo” (I am still learning.)  However my greatest joy when not guiding others comes from being a good friend, partner, lover, daughter, sister and one day a mom too. Xinalani: How important is music in your life? What music do you play in yoga class? Jacob: Music for me is life. I love music because it can not only infuse emotion to a situation but can also be a very powerful tool and motivator. Silvia: My life is constantly flowing with a soundtrack. My yoga has a soundtrack too.  I take great pride in putting together a gourmet experience of sound in creating a new and unique play-list for every class to complement the mood, the time of year, day, bhava (feeling) of the experience. And I love receiving and sharing new music with friends! Here are two play-lists I just created for our Xinalani Retreat. PLAYLIST: Om Shreem Shriyei, Steve Gold Count Your Blessings, Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley The Ave, Blue Scholars POWER, Kanye West Miss Teardrops, Felix Laband Govinda Fly, Sharon Gannon (Mixed By Mike D) Alors On Danse, Stromae Trapped In My Mind, Kid Cudi Motion Movement, Blue Scholars What a Feeling, Collie Buddz Meditate, (feat. Gabriel Teodros & Khingz) Suntonio Bandanaz Hey Baby, Stephen Marley featuring Mos Def Afterlife, Glorybox PLAYLIST: Flip Ya Lid, Nightmares On Wax Under Pressure, Queen & David Bowie Diarabi, Issa Bagayogo Mamacita, Collie Buddz Clothes Drop, Shaggy Breathe, Stretch, Shake, Mase Breathe, Alexi Murdoch Twist, Xavier Rudd Jamaican In New York, Shinehead The End, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Drive, Ziggy Marley Enchantment, Corinne Bailey Rae Something So Right, Paul Simon Purnamadah, Shantala Shavasana/Deep Relaxation, Shiva Rea Xinalani: How did you first hear about Xinalani Retreat in Mexico, and why did you choose  Silvia: I have been traveling to Puerto Vallarta with my parents and brother since I was a little girl.  I love it there! I find the energy of the people and the place so deeply generous that when Yoga Journal named Xinalani one of the top 10 yoga retreat centers in the world I knew I had to bring folks there.  I saw myself doing something like this in Puerto Vallarta in a dream many years ago.  And now the dream is coming true! Xinalani: Where do you go next? What comes next for Alchemy Tours? Silvia:  We have 11 retreats planned for this year.  Our schedule is: April 2-5, 2011 Pagosa Springs, Colorado - Yoga, Skiing and Snowboarding April 16, -19, 2011 Moab, Utah - Arches National Park Yoga and Mountain Biking June 19-25, 2011 Tuscany, Italy - Yoga, Cycling and Cultural Adventure July 2-9, 2011 Dolomites, Italy (Sellaronda Bike Day is 7/3/2011) Yoga, Hiking and Cycling August 4-7, 2011 Seattle, Washington Wallace Lodge - Yoga, Beers and Bikes Oct 16-22, 2011 Tuscany, Italy - Yoga, Cycling and Cultural Adventure Oct 28-31, 2011 Moab, Utah - Canyonland National Park Yoga and Mountain Biking Sept 2-5, 2011 Sonoma, California - Yoga, Wine & Cycling Nov 24-28, 2011 Sayulita, Mexico Yoga & Surfing Retreat at Haramara Resort Dec 18-23, 2011 Big Island, Hawaii, Yoga, Kayaking and Cycling We hope to meet new friends at one of our upcoming retreats!

1/25/2011 Tags: Alchemy Tours, xinalani resort, xinalani, yoga vacations, Mexico, Mexico Yoga, intention, puerto vallarta vacations Direct Link

CYBER INTERVIEW WITH WORLD TRAVELLING COUPLE SILVIA MORDINI AND JACOB YOUNG ALCHEMY TOURS

1/25/2011 Tags: Alchemy Tours, xinalani resort, xinalani, yoga vacations, Mexico, Mexico Yoga, intention, puerto vallarta vacations Direct Link

AFFIRMATIONS WORK

January 11, 2011. I cry at movies and commercials and youtube videos and people hugging at the airport and puppies playing and...well you get the picture. Even though I am not part of the action or in the movie to the brain it doesn't matter. The mind will fool us because our brains don't really work with the concept of reality. That's why we can upset ourselves just by demoralizing thoughts or catastrophizing what can go wrong.

So as Dr Dyer says, "as you think, so shall you be." You become what you think, in yogic terms you create your own reality from the inside. In other words, the world is not created "out there" and then experienced internally.You can tell yourself what you want to believe and this in and of itself fools your mind into wanting it and believing it to be real. And your mind will find a way to make it happen (because it thinks it has). As Einstein says, the predecessor to every action is a thought.

Affirmations work! Pick one of these each day for the rest of the month and just say it to yourself all day long, write it down, email it to yourself, post it up. Surround yourself with it for one day, each at a time. And see for yourself that Affirmations are what yoga talks about in harnessing the power of minds, or our intentions and directing them in the direction of our best selves. Love your day, love yourself, love your life! Silvia

JANUARY AFFIRMATIONS

* I am a radiant being filled with light and love.

* I love and accept myself exactly as I am.

* I now express love to all those I meet.

* I am radiating love.

* I bathe in unconditional love

* Love radiates from me at all times.

* I love myself completely.

* Love comes to me easily and effortlessly.

* I give and receive love easily and joyfully.

* Others love me easily and joyfully.

* I now feel loved and appreciated by my parents, my friends.

* I express love freely

* As I give love, I am instantly supplied with more.

* I radiate love to all persons and places and things.

* People are just waiting to love me, and I allow them.

* I breathe in universal love.

* I attract loving, beautiful people into my life.

* I always deserve love.

* I am attracting loving relationships into my life.

* I project love to everyone I meet.

* I love and approve of myself.

www.silviamordini.com and www.alchemytours.com to join me and work on the power of intention while on retreat with me in 2011!

1/11/2011 Tags: power of intention, affirmations, love, self-love, brain, silvia mordini, www. power Direct Link

DO SOMETHING JUST FOR YOU BECAUSE IT FEELS GREAT!

JOIN ME DECEMBER 8-12, 2010 FOR A 5-DAY YOGA RETREAT DESIGNED TO HELP YOU REDISCOVER YOUR BLISS. JUST YOGA, YOU, ME, BEACH, LUXURY, PRIVACY, TIME.

TAKE $250 OFF!! AS MY STUDENT.

Integrate Spirit and Nature as you practice yoga, hike, swim, lounge at Haramara private beach, enjoy meditation beach walks with a group dedicated to doing the same.
Fully discover (or rediscover!) the Joy of Yoga.
Experience a place filled with serenity for those looking to reestablish balance.
Enjoy exceptional yoga, hiking, eco-adventures and camaraderie, connecting with pristine beaches, gourmet vegetarian meals, relaxing jungle spa treatments.
Take advantage of opportunities to experience epic surfing, fun zip lining, horseback riding, whale watching, snorkeling and more!
Recharge, refresh and renew, leaving totally more inspired about your life!

WHERE IS HARAMARA?

Haramara (a sacred Huichol word for "Grandmother Sea") is located amid the mountains in the most beautiful coastal region of the state of Nayarit in Mexico. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madre mountains, perched on a pristine natural beach, Haramara is an idyllic retreat offering outstanding serenity, stunning beaches and awe-inspiring scenery. The surroundings are marked by volcanic highlands, lakes and rivers, as well as innumerable beaches, many of which still remain untouched. The Pacific breeze keeps the climate deliciously mild.

ACCOMODATIONS AT HARAMARA

Breathtaking views and untouched tropical vegetation embrace the charming and cozy palm-thatched "cabañas" (bungalows). There are some beautiful photos on the resort’s website Each cabaña has been carefully designed to subtly merge the internal and external environments while meeting strict ecological standards. The cabañas feature comfortable beds, with hand woven sheets, and carefully designed bathrooms. The folks at the retreat center have graciously arranged for two lodging choices. All lodging choices are inclusive of tax, gratuity, meals and use of the facilities.

HEALTHY NATURAL CUISINE

Enjoy delicious gourmet meals served in a spacious open air palapa roofed restaurant overlooking the jungle and ocean. Meals are tastefully prepared and served with beautiful and artistic presentations. Our wait staff is friendly, well trained, and attentive to your needs.Haramara acknowledges that good nutrition and well balanced meals are an integral part of yoga, meditation, a good mind-body learning experience, and overall health and well being. You will be served 3 complete gourmet vegetarian meals per day.

YOGA STUDIO

Come and enjoy the beautiful 1,300 sq ft yoga deck set uphill amidst the deep jungle vegetation. It can comfortably hold up to 40 students. Practice and learn with a panoramic view to the jungle and ocean, ideal for group practices.

SPA

An array of treatments, massages and facials will help you relax, detox, heal, and reach a greater sense of mind- body balance through your stay.

INVESTMENT:

$700 for Dorm shared
$850 for a double room
$1200 for a single room

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR INVESTMENT?

4 nights of accommodationat Haramara Retreat
3 complete gourmet vegetarian meals per day.
A social hour on select evenings
8Yoga classes with Silvia Mordini
Yoga clinics and mini workshops with Silvia Mordini
Sunset Yoga Ceremonies
Private Dharma talks facilitated by your Guides
A special goodie bag with loving gifts

NOT INCLUDED?

Airfare to and from the trip, transfers, gratuities for your guides, and spa services.

PAYMENT POLICIES:

Deposit: A $500 dollar deposit will reserve your space. Balance must be received by TBD

TIPS AND GRATUITIES

Gratuities for your guides may be given at your discretion in response to their leadership and professionalism throughout the trip. We suggest 5-10% of the trip price per individual to be divided between the guiding team as an industry standard.

TO REGISTER AND SAVE YOUR SPOT:

You can pay with check, direct bank deposit, or credit card or Paypal on line but we most prefer checks. Please send checks to Alchemy Tours c/o Total Body Yoga, 210 Terrace Drive, Mundelein, IL 60061.

CONTACT US

For more information contact: retreats@totalbodyyoga.com or visithttp://silviamordini.com/yoga-retreats.asp (530) 408-6877.

TRIP ITINERARY:

REDISCOVER YOUR BLISS HARAMARA DAILY AGENDA
8:00am - 9:00am Breakfast
9:30am - 11am Vinyasa flow yoga
11am – 12pm Yoga clinics, mini workshops
12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch
1:30pm - 5:30pm Daytime Fun (Beach, Spa, Hiking, & More)
6:00pm - 7:00pm Vinyasa flow yoga and meditation
8:00pm Dinner
9:00pm Dharma talks

11/11/2010 Tags: HARAMARA, MEXICO YOGA, YOGA VACATION, SILVIA MORDINI, ALCHEMY TOURS, BLISS, POWER OF INTENTION, VINYASA YOGA, DISCOUNTS ON TRIPS Direct Link

DISTRACTION MOAB MUSINGS FROM ALCHEMY TOURS

NOVEMBER 8, 2010. As I returned from Moab Sunday evening with Carol and Rich we left behind the undistracted energy of the rocks and desert and mountains and as soon as we got off the plane in Denver were hit with the reality of distraction once again. The lights! The noise! The volume of people! The buzz in the air! It hit me with such force I felt a little sick to my stomach for a moment. And a lot confused. I thought hmmmm so that's what we live in day in and day out?

Sometimes we don't know what we don't know until we know something different. To be in Moab on a Yoga retreat with Alchemy Tours (www.alchemytours.com) mountain biking, hiking, bouldering is to be in a new world devoid of all distractions apart from our little tribe. The spiritual progress we make in this situation far surpasses what is allowable on most "normal" days when surrounded by noise, people, business, worry, speed, and anxiety. There in Moab on the rocks, there is quiet and we can all finish the conversations we start with ourselves but never seem to finish while at home because something comes up and distracts us.

"I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment." --Hilaire Belloc

Going on a yoga retreat is an experience of fulfillment. It is done with purpose and the guidance we offer is focused whether on a mountain bike or hike or practicing yoga. Whereas distraction is that feeling of being lost. And we've all felt lost before. Using this practice to help concentrate allows us to organize the energies around us, inside us and turn them into undistracted energy which is quite powerful. We need that laser like focus to accomplish our intentions. On the mat we take one part, one stage (krama) at a time to help achieve amazing experiences. We place our hands, lay our foundation in a downward dog, direct our energy from the focal point of our hearts to our legs and arms, feet and hands. It is bringing the macro of our life into the micro of full detailed attention.

While in Moab Geology Joel, our personal friend and ranger, guided us in Arches National Park Fiery Furnace. He had us at the end stop and look at the vista of beauty before us and passionately implored us to not just see the bigness but to get down there and touch feel be part of the detail. And that in and of itself will help us be less distracted or overwhelmed.

Today, do something that draws your energy back to you. Take time to calm the chaos and move from distraction to center. And in that center is love. So love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

FOR FUTURE TRIPS TO MOAB WITH ALCHEMY TOURS PLEASE VISIT www.alchemytours.com or www.silviamordini.com save the date of April 16-19 2011 Moab, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Yoga Adventure or Oct 27-30, 2011 Moab Mountain Biking, Hiking, Yoga Adventure

11/8/2010 Tags: distraction, alchemy tours, confusion, silvia mordini, moab yoga, focus, concentration, fulfillment, intention, attention Direct Link

REDISCOVER YOUR BLISS KEEP BACK WINTER BLUES

HARAMARA MEXICO YOGA BEACH RETREAT WITH SILVIA MORDINI DECEMBER 8-12, 2010

WHY SHOULD YOU GO ON RETREAT WITH ME IN MEXICO BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR? Because by the time we get to December it feels like we've exhausted ourselves from the race to the finish line of the year. Then we get too tired to devote ourselves to our 2011 Intentions. I can't think of anything I'd like to do more to keep back the Winter Blues and rediscover BLISS than going to a gorgeous, tropical place on the beach with beautiful accommodations, sunny days and yummy food. If you are a regular yoga student who wants a vacation with lots of yoga, complete relaxation and transformation then keep reading... this is for you!

Think of this as a deeply transformative retreat for those who love the beach or like to surf and also want lots of yoga to strengthen the body, tame the mind and open your heart! And this whole experience can be fun and funny and joyful along the path to finding our bliss.

COST:

$700 for Dorm shared with 6

$850 for a double room

$1200 for a single room

$150 OFF FIRST 5 PEOPLE TO SIGN UP!

FIND OUT MORE:

http://www.haramararetreat.com

http://silviamordini.com/yoga-retreats-reservations.asp

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Everything luxury rooming, gourmet organic cuisine

NOT INCLUDED: airfare, transfers and gratuities

11/3/2010 Tags: Alchemy Tours, yoga vacations, Mexico, Mexico Yoga, intention, puerto vallarta vacations Direct Link

DELIBERATE SELF-STUDY PRACTICED WITH INTENTION

October 23, 2010. Today painting a picture with the words:

Deliberate

Self-study

Practice

Intention

We all had other places we could be today but we chose to be on the mat. This was a deliberate choice. Just like what we say or eat or do or think is deliberate. In yoga we make a deliberate choice to show up and take responsibility for our actions where we place our hands, our self-talk and we study ourselves Svadhaya to learn about ourselves. This may be a huge paradigm shift as most of us go about life studying what everyone is doing to learn about ourselves. Or we are more interested in what everyone else has to think about us than we are of our own opinion.

The practice of yoga is defined in the yoga sutras is something that is practiced over a long time, repeated without break (consistent) and practiced in earnestness. A sort of serous studentship. And behind that practice is the power of intention. Intention is on purpose. It is in other words deliberate.

So you see how this creates a healthy feedback loop and helps to give us the means to end our suffering and come into our true nature which is joy and ever expanding happiness! You have the ingredients in deliberate self-study practiced with intention. Now all it takes is you. Love yourself, love your day, love your life, Silvia

10/26/2010 Tags: DELIBERATE, SELF-STUDY, PRACTICE, INTENTION, YOGA SUTRAS, SILVIA MORDINI Direct Link

WHAT IS YOUR MOST COMMON KNEE JERK REACTION

October 3, 2010:

What is your most common knee-jerk reaction? Is it impatience, anger, gossip, worry, self-cricism? Well through the mindfulness practice of yoga I want to help you replace all that by choosing happiness as your automatic reaction, response to all things, situations and people. How do we do this? The Yoga Sutras tell us. They actually give us the keys to happiness. The Yogic model proposes that the four keys to an open happy heart are to nurture these attitudes:

Kindness and friendliness to those who are happy
Compassion for those that are suffering or less fortunate
Respect and honor for those that who embody noble qualities
Equanimity for those whose actions oppose our values

At first these four keys to help enable us to retain our inner peace in all circumstances seem easy. But applying these in day to day life is more challenging than we think. We often fool ourselves into believing we are kinder than we really are and can use this practice to really see where our actions are not aligned with what we believe ourselves to be. Most of all this teaches us that we are responsible for co-creating our life. We have the four keys to our happiness. Love in all ways, Silvia

So first step is to create some space. Here at the start of a new month let's just empty and let go of all the grievances, grudges we kept up with throughout September. As the bible says Love keeps no records of wrongs.

You have a choice. You can say to yourself "I intend to allow more joy into my life" or "I choose to be happy." Just five words if you want to keep it really simple! And notice the power of intention is not placing prerequisites or conditions but just doing it right now. I know these four keys to happiness seem easy, but applying them to day to day life is pretty challenging because of that knee-jerk reaction, the old way of thinking and doing things. But you have a choice and can change. You are happiest when you think yourself happy. And ultimately you are responsible for co-creating your life. You have just this one lifetime and there are no do overs. So why not choose happiness starting right now? I know you can do it! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

PS - We practice Mandala Namaskar 1 (Salutation) to help us see the power of our own choices!

Mandala Namaskar I

INHALE -- Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana (1 Leg Downward Dog)

EXHALE – Anjaneyasana (Lunge)

INHALE – Parsva Anjaneyasana (Side Lunge)

EXHALE – Skandasana (Transverse Lunge)

INHALE – Ardha Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge)

EXHALE – hands down

INHALE – Ardha Plank (1 legged Plank)

EXHALE -- Chaturanga Dandasana

INHALE -- Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

EXHALE -- Chaturanga Dandasana

INHALE -- Plank

EXHALE -- Adho Mukha Svanasana

(To create circular pattern, Mandala, go through series right foot, right foot, left, left)

10/3/2010 Tags: vinyasa, vinyasa yoga, 4 keys, silvia mordini blog, power of intention, responsibility, choosing, choice, creating, yoga sequencing, happiness, mandala namaskar, Direct Link

GREEN LIGHT YOUR LIFE, STORMS AND MAGNETS

SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 (the night the lights went out)

“In a plain piece of metal, all the molecules are in chaos facing every which way. A magnet is a similar piece of metal in which all the molecules are perfectly aligned – the north pol,es facing one way, and the south poles facing in the opposite direction. Because of this alignment, the magnet gains the power to attract and hold other objects. If you stroke the ordinary metal and the magnet together in one direction only, the magnet will align all the molecules in the plain metal with itself, causing a second magnet to emerge. The power to attract and hold has been transmitted from one to the other, while amazingly enough the initial magnet retains its full strength. As we align our energies this way through regulating our breath we maintain calm through the ordinary emotional rollercoaster rides we encounter each day. We find that when we are upset, everything around us reflects the same disturbance, as if it is somehow contagious. When tranquility prevails, it magnetizes everything with the same sense of calmness.” (Story from The Secret Power Of Yoga.)

I teach yoga to be a magnet for all my students. I pass on to them what has been shared with me by my teachers who served as my magnet. I want all that come to my classes to feel the power they hold within themselves to attract their best life ever. We accomplish this by organizing our breathing, our thoughts in a way that designs the future that serves our truest potential. In my classes you do NOT hide from who you really are or your untapped strength, courage or visions for your life. I don't teach a physically challenging class I teach a mentally and emotionally challenging coaching experience.

Is this for everyone? No, not everyone is ready. Some people in our lives will never be ready and will leave this earthly body thinking it was all just some rehearsal. Those are not my students. You are my student if something I say resonates with your most authentic self from my most authentic self. And you leave inspired to gain back your power to do good in this world, to live kindly, to be your most extraordinary self on even the most ordinary days. Yoga helps us harness the power of intention. Infinite love and gratitude as Dr Darren Weissman speaks about is universal energy. In other words as is written in the Alchemist, the universe is on our side. So as the wind blew a mighty storm this night and we practiced in candlelight, me and my 30 yogi friends tapped into what it means to be driving along in life and see up ahead of you a stop light and intend it to be green, then to drive further and see that one is green, and by golly if every single stop light you approach is green.

You know you are a magnet when you "green light" your life.

And no one wants that more for you than me. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

9/22/2010 Tags: secret power of yoga, green light, The Alchemist, yoga student, power of intention, intention, yoga teacher, magnet, silvia mordini, potential, truth, authenticity, Direct Link

POSSIBILITIES FOR YOUR LIFE

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. "The moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours. No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen. The possibility is always there. ~Monica Baldwin

Nothing has expanded, bloomed or grown from contemplating the impossibility of things. If you tell yourself something is impossible the law of attraction will deliver this to you. This practice reminds us to be careful for what we ask for in our thoughts and even more fundamentally that you are responsible for the quality of your life, the quality of your intentions. This currency of believing in the impossibility of things sets humans apart from other creatures. And the fact that all in all we don't have that long in this earthly body is a pretty solid boundary. Robert Braul says it like this, "Life is short, God's way of encouraging a bit of focus."

"Waste not the smallest thing created, for grains of sand make mountains, and atomies infinity. Waste not the smallest time in imbecile infirmity, for well thou knowest that seconds form eternity." ~E. Knight

When we practice breathing and moving through the poses we start from small and simple movement to larger and more complex recognizing how we can create art, movement, sensation, and emotion by our own efforts. And the more heart and practice we put in the more we expand and we see the changes within us. The back of our eyes start to see the external world as filled with potential. For how we experience the world is based on how we see it on the inside first. And then all of our breaths become yoga whether on the mat or off. And then from there the eyes of our hearts open slowing and we proudly stand up in the world with heart wide open to the possibilities that exist to "make a new happy ending."

I used to say I could never bend my knee parallel to the ground in Warrior poses. Then the universal intelligence that is embracing us had me see that I was doing it. And just like that my disbelief vanished!

“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” -Frank Lloyd Wright

I stopped backing off from life and realized how precious it is to have this one chance. And that being human like this, right now may never come again. And every time I step on the mat I am reminded of this gift. I hold to the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year." And how do I translate this yoga into the yoga of life? I kiss more, I hug more, I enjoy the beauty of food more, I explore more and I say I love you more. I keep expanding....and the thing is I want that for you too. So what are you waiting for? Start now. Believe in the endless possibilities for living the life of your dreams! It is possible. Anything is. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia (PS Read the book A Year to Live by Stephen Levine)

9/14/2010 Tags: possibilities, beauty, love, choices, intention, mortality, focus, potential, disbelief, heart, loving your day videos, Direct Link

PLEASE SUPPORT MY INTENTIONS TO MAKE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

Super Namaste!

Happy National Yoga Month! What a perfect time as we head into Fall and re-establish healthy routines of school, work, family and daily yoga to recommit ourselves to living our best lives ever.

So to celebrate guess what I‚m doing? You guessed right! I'm doing a whole lot of yoga. And great news is that at TBY we have more classes and more awesome events than ever before!

Here's my personal yoga schedule of fun yoga stuff I am signed up for and hope we can enjoy together (PS I need a partner for partner yoga if you‚re thinking of coming but wondered if you should come on your own)

9/11/2010 (Saturday) 2:00PM Healing Crystal Bowls Concert

9/17/2010 (Friday) 6:30 PM Eat, Pray, Love Workshop

9/18/2010 (Saturday) 2:00 PM Partner Yoga Workshop

9/19/2010 (Sunday) 6:30 PM The LifeLine Technique

9/25/2010 (Saturday) 2:00 PM Yoga For Runners

10/2/2010 (Saturday) 1:00 PM Teaching Yoga to Kids

10/2/2010 (Saturday) 4:30 PM David Romanelli Yoga for Overcoming Fear

10/2/2010 (Saturday) 11:00 AM Mommy and Baby Yoga

10/3/2010 (Sunday) 12:15 PM David Romanelli Yoga for Social Network Slaves

10/25/10 (Sunday) Tuscany Yoga & Cycling Retreat

11/4/2010 (Thursday) Moab Yoga & Mountain Biking Adventure

And of course I am gearing up for Teacher Training starting October 13th! And the more Yoga I do the more clear I become on what my intentions are for the Best Life ever. A fundamental intention I am rededicating myself to this Fall is participating more directly in making the world a better place. As such I am donating part of the proceeds from all my classes this week to an event I am participating in virtually, Bike MS, sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. They remind me that it takes only 1 person to inspire hundreds!

Every hour of every day, someone hears the words "you have multiple sclerosis." So for many personal reasons this is something very close to my heart. And my Team Mile'n for Myelin is working hard to meet our fund raising goals so no one else ever has to hear the words, "You have MS." If you'd like to donate $5 to me directly please visit here http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/WASBikeEvents?px=8721783&pg=personal&fr_id=13100

This Fall as you set up your intentions as part of your Spiritual Routine (lose weight, sleep better, decrease stress, exercise more, be more patient, gossip less, love more) I encourage you to think about being more involved with your community because to me the most important thing you can collect at TBY is friends, not poses. Please take a moment to check out all the great stuff we are offering to help you connect with yourself and with others. May this earth be blessed with your peaceful contribution! With lovingkindess, Silvia

9/7/2010 Tags: yoga, yoga newsletter, routine, intention, Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS, Bike MS, community, manifestation, mile'n for myelin, silvia mordini, yoga workshops, Direct Link

WHY DO YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010. Why do we do the things we do? Why do you think the things you do? Why do you feel the way you feel? All of these most essential human questions. Yet to be honest, before stepping fully into spiritual practice I had either not thought about these questions or I certainly didn't spend much time thinking about them on a day to day basis. Through the cognitive behavioural therapy that is Yoga that all changed. Even if you don't want to at some point while breathing on purpose and practicing the poses these questions get so loud that you have to address them heart first.

Senior Yoga Teacher and a personal hero of mine Donna Farhi has said “In truth, it matters less what we do in practice than how we do it and why we do it. The same posture, the same sequence, the same meditation with a different intention takes on an entirely new meaning and will have entirely different outcomes.”

Whatever habits of the mind, that lead to actions, that establish our feeling state bubble to the surface of our consciousness during yogic practice and only then can we start to be honest with ourselves about why we are doing the things we are doing. This is what is behind then the idea of INTENTION.

So right now ask yourself, WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF YOUR INTENT?

It doesn't matter if you are eating, drinking, reading, kissing, working, breathing what is the quality of your intention behind doing what you are doing?

Thurgood Marshall said, "Certain people have a way os saying things that shake us at the core. Even when the words do not seem harsh or offensive, the impact is shattering. What we could be experiencing is the INTENT behind the words. When we intend to do good, we do. When we intend to do harm, it happens. What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through. We cannot sugarcoat the feelings in our heart of hearts. The emotion is the energy that motivates. We cannot ignore what we really want to create. We should be honest and do it the way we feel it. What we owe to ourselves and everyone around is to examine the reasons of our true intent. My intent will be evident in the results." Renew your commitment this Fall to pay attention of the quality of your intent (is it honest, is it authentic, how does it feel) and stay mindful of your intent in all you do! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

9/6/2010 Tags: questions, intention, quality, feeling, donna farhi, mindfulness, goodness, doing, honesty, silvia mordini, yoga Direct Link

DOWN WITH PROCRASTINATION ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT

SEPTEMBER 4, 2010: From the teachings of yoga a teacher shared with a teacher that shared with a teacher that shared with teacher Pamela Bliss who shared with me, "One of the most profound bits of wisdom shared with me in a teaching yoga is that procrastination is severely detrimental to one's development on the spiritual path." For me the truth of Yoga is that if you practice regularly you see swift changes mentally, emotionally and physically. And if you step away from your practice chances are inertia takes over and it is epically difficult to get back on the mat again. Or as Jon Kabat Zinn says, "not practicing is a form of practice." And the follow up from my friend Dr. Gregg "so how's that working for you?"

"The fault is in the one who blames. Spirit sees nothing to criticize." RUMI

This is not about blaming ourselves for our shortcomings. Not at all. Instead just think of yoga as TRUTH SERUM (SATYA SERUM). The body doesn't lie. When you are on one leg balancing and your mind is in a million places you will fall out of that 1 legged balance for sure. If you are in a warrior pose and your leg is shaking after not practicing yoga all summer well, not doing something has resulted in your muscles responding by shaking when they didn't do that when you took action and came to class 3 times per week. On the other hand your life is not a dress rehearsal so be happy you are pushing all your poses to that point you call the soft edge.

To me there are 2 kinds of procrastinators: (1) those that have gotten off the couch and attempted and (2) those that have never fully tried. Interestingly, just because you might fall into category #1 of procrastinators doesn't guarantee you momentum. For that you have to stay engaged. So whether you've tried a little, a lot, or not at all procrastination in any of its forms will stunt your spiritual development. You will forever stay a Spiritual Baby and never evolved towards spiritual toddlerhood or adolescence or adulthood. The path is sequential.

I have healed myself of procrastination is through yoga and my spiritual practices that support my yoga, because I grew up enough to ask for help from the universe. The reason I would often get paralyzed by procrastination was I was afraid of having to do everything by myself, I even felt like I had to always offer my prayers for others but never for me. "Where did you get that idea you aren't allowed to petition the universe with prayer? You are part of this universe. You're a constituent - you have every entitlement to participate in the actions of the universe, and to let your feelings be known. So put your opinion out there. Make your case. Believe me - it will at least be taken into consideration." -Elizabeth Gilbert from Eat, Pray, Love

So start now or reboot, or restart today. Stop blaming, stop waiting for everything to be perfect, stop postponing your happiness and just ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT! And keep asking, continue the momentum. And if you want a really easy way to to keep up with yourself and your intentions well then make regular, consistent appointments with your yoga mat and I promise you will see your life blossom beyond your wildest intentions! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia
PS if you need a quicker kick off then join me on Retreat for a 4 day adventure in Moab, Utah or Pagosa Springs, Colorado this Fall come November and December. www.alchemytours.com

9/4/2010 Tags: Rumi, procrastination, truth, satya, prayer, elizabeth gilbert, ask, intention, www. spirituality, jon kabat zinn, pamela bliss, Direct Link

DIRECTING AND ALLOWING YOUR LIFE

“The art of living does not consist in preserving and clinging to a particular mood of happiness, but in allowing happiness to change its form without being disappointed by the change, for happiness, like a child, must be allowed to grow up” - Unknown author

AUGUST 30TH, 2010. Today my meditation focused on what combination it takes of Directing and Allowing in your life to achieve ordinary happiness. To me it is like Alternate Nostril breathing. The inhale is a directed effort but then we allow the exhale to empty and there is that pause at the end of the out breath that purifies that allowing. You must wait for it to occur for extraordinary change is within that pause. Now at the same time we surrender to the changes that are outside our control we exert effort in directing our lives. This is a nondualistic happening: one not more important than the other. Directing and allowing, allowing and directing. Inhale, exhale.

"One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular." -Tony Robbins

The challenge is the constant sensitive adjustment necessary to manage especially the directing side of life. It is too easy to let life be done to us and give up all control of plans for the best life ever. I know this, we get on the treadmill of daily life (work, home, sleep, work, home, sleep) and convince ourselves to not make time to focus our attention. The time on the mat in yoga class or going on retreat is that period of directing our thoughts and processing what we are allowing for in our lives. So today engage more directly with yourself. You are the audience and the actor on the stage of your life and this is on a daily basis the performance of your life! "In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently." -Tony Robbins

And just like we learn to refine our awareness of breathing we can refine the consistency of how we direct our lives. Go big, dig deep and go for it! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

8/30/2010 Tags: directing, allowing, surrender, intention, focus, yoga retreat, consistency, yoga mat, adjustments, alternate nostril breathing, breathing Direct Link

INTENTION WITH FULL AWARENESS PRESENCE RESPONSIBILITY

"Prayer is a relationship; half the job is mine. If I want transformation, but can't even be bothered to articulate what, exactly, I'm aiming for, how will it ever occur? Half the benefit of prayer is in the asking itself, in the offering of a clearly posed and well-considered intention. If you don't have this, all your pleas and desires are boneless, floppy, inert; they swirl at your feet in a cold fog and never lift." — Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)

AUGUST 11TH, 2010. In a phone interview a couple days ago I was explaining to a TV producer the purpose of yoga in 100 words or less. And what I shared with him is that yoga practice makes us stand up with FULL awareness to be FULLY present to our lives and take FULL responsibility for the quality of our existence right now.

It is all about the FULL spectrum of who we really are. Not who we were yesterday or who others want us to be but harnessing the power of our minds to focus on being in charge of our own lives. This means we stop blaming others for what our lives were or are like and stop making excuses for delaying the next steps of our lives. We accept that the job of being ourselves is ours alone. And Elizabeth Gilbert speaks to this in this quote. Hey if you can't bother to show up and speak your truth about what you want for your life then how will you ever achieve it? The thing is you won't. So yoga is a way of praying with our bodies, meditation in motion so to speak. And grace shows up to be co-caption but at the very least the universe is expecting you accept the other half of the job.

Today get clear on what your intention is for your life. Let go of the kinda, sort of statements even remove the I will statements and just make it more direct. I AM CONFIDENT, I AM ACCEPTING OF MYSELF, I AM BEAUTIFUL, I AM COURAGEOUS.

And yes from there the inertia that comes from not taking responsibility for your intentions will disappear. TAPAS, the engagement of discipline and effort in yoga will burn off the self-doubt, worry, apathy forever. Start now....and repeat throughout the day your intentions. I AM AMAZING! Love your day, love your life, love yourself! Silvia

8/11/2010 Tags: tapas, eat pray love, elizabeth gilbert, inertia, transformation, intention, fullness, full spectrum, responsibility, Direct Link

REFLECTIONS AND INTENTIONS

Dear Beautiful Friends,

Today is my birthday! And just this week my friend Steve and I were reminiscing about the lovely birthday party my friend Diana offered me last year. The point of the conversation was looking back at the past year at how much things had changed.
This is a powerful yogic lesson. Change is an inherent part of life. The less we fight this truth and align with it, the easier it is to "Be the Change We Want to See in the World" (Ghandi)

Our birthday's really serve as our personal New Year's. They remind us to look back at how far we've come appreciate it and endeavor to be clear about our intentions for where we are going. Join me today in taking 5 minutes to reflect on all you've accomplished since this day a year ago and write down 3 things you want to experience in a year from now. Then every year on my birthday I will remember to think of not only my own reflections and intentions but yours as well. This will remind us all to keep tapping into our most unlimited potentiality for the best life ever! Love yourself, love your day, love your LIFE! With immense gratitude and love, Silvia

7/15/2010 Tags: change, intentions, journaling, birthday, ghandi, reflection, potential, love Direct Link

REFLECTIONS AND INTENTIONS

Dear Beautiful Friends,

7/15/2010 Tags: change, intentions, journaling, birthday, ghandi, reflection, potential, love Direct Link

I CAN DO ANYTHING GOOD, THE POWER OF POSITIVE AFFIRMATION AND INTENTION

May 24, 2010. I started class by showing this youtube clip of advanced Yogini Jessica starting out her morning with her own affirmation ritual. She explempifies the power of intention! She clearly is setting a high expectation for her day, herself, and her life. You can’t help but be inspired by her. The Yoga practice teaches us that YOU ARE ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT THROUGH YOUR DOING. This life we are living right now is NOT as mere participants. This is not a passive endeavor where life is being done to us. Instead it requires active living where life is being done FOR US. If you start the day and intend for it to be amazing, you offer gratitude for everyone in your life and say to yourself I CAN DO ANYTHING GOOD, well that is you telling the universe what you want and because your message is so clear the universe will deliver. Here is what Jessica had to say:

I CAN DO ANYTHING!

I LIKE MY HOUSE!

I LIKE MY MOM!

I LIKE MY DAD!

I LIKE MY COUSINS!

I LIKE MY SISTERS!

I LIKE MY HAIR!

I LIKE MY HAIRCUTS!

I LIKE MY PAJAMAS!

I LIKE MY ROOM!

I LIKE MY HOUSE!

MY WHOLE HOUSE IS GREAT!

I CAN DO ANYTHING GOOD, YEAH YEAH YEAH

I CAN DO ANYTHING GOOD!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg&feature=player_embedded

Dr Wane Dyer says, “Change your expectations for yourself: Expect the best, expect your fortunes to change, expect a miracle. Reacquaint yourself with that vision." So today how did your thoughts and actions and THIS YOGA CLASS INSPIRE YOU TO BE MOVING TOWARDS MEETING YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

This is behind the idea in yoga of Tapas. Tapas helps us to take action to fully participate and be awake to our lives. To be active means we must articulate our intentions and practice with a solid determination to hold true to our dreams and visions for ourselves. Through yoga which is a system for mental, physical, and spiritual health we have full, democratic participation. On the mat we don’t even have to push ourselves to excel, all we have to do is show up and do the practice as best we can with full hearted effort. Just take part in your life make it active, keep it active and forget about over perfecting it. Remember YOU CAN DO ANYTHING GOOD! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

5/24/2010 Tags: Tapas, power of intention, affirmation, expectations, love, positive thinking, self-love Direct Link

NO MORE PROCRASTINATING SET YOUR GOALS TODAY

May 16, 2010 Finally after 3-4 years of procrastinating I set out to finish up a project yesterday and I did! It took all of an hour. Yup. That’s right. I spent years worrying about, putting it off, debating it, starting and stopping it but when all was said and done it took one hour. Spiritual practice has taught me that procrastinating is a perfectionist tendancy. And as one psychologist I read years ago put it, “perfectionism is the worst form of self-abuse.” So I am back on track and went back to basics asking myself “what are my goals: personal, professional and health related”? What are your’s? In class we wrote them out for ourselves. I would love for you to do this now in 5 minutes.

Then consider what is it that prevents you from going for your goals more fully and making them and keeping them important enough to check in on week to week? I would hazard to guess that the traitors of self-doubt and fear influence us to procrastinate. The antidote is to stay actively involved in your life yet slowing down enough to remember to wake up to what improves the quality of your life. What if everything you ever wanted came true? Yogic practice stands up to say of course that is not only possible it is your birthright to co-create with the universe the life of your deepest dreams, to tap into your greatest potential. So why not start today?

To help us take a moment to write in your Accomplishment Journal about all the things you’ve accomplished this week. Use this in tandem with your goals and intentions to see how far you’ve already come and to provide yourself the validation you need to know you can do this! Don’t put anything off a moment longer that holds meaning to you. Heed the words of Danna Falds and FALL AWAKE to your life! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

Soul Prayer by Danna Falds

“Lord, grant that I may fall awake, and not miss a moment of the mystery.

Dancing with the dawn, may I draw this day to my breast like a lover.

Rocked with laughter, let me lay waste the fields of doubt and fear,

finding there nor more substance than dandelion seeds flying weightless on the breeze.”

5/16/2010 Tags: goals, procrastination, intentions, awake, be present, self-doubt, fear, perfectionism, journaling Direct Link

INTUITION POWER OF INTENTION AND VISUALIZATION

May 14, 2010, “It is dark. Eyes closed, we lie as if asleep, dreamless, ignorant of all around us. Floating in a sea of emptimenss, we are cradled in darkness – unseeing, unknowing, at peace. We breath slowly, in and out, in and out, stretching and relaxing our bodes as we settle into the warm, peaceful darkness inside. We are home. We are safe. We are deep within ourselves, feeling, hearing, being – but not seeing.

Somewhere in the darkness, we hear a sounds a distant note, a voice, a scuffle of movement. We feel the flutter of a breeze upon our face, feel a warmth upon our shoulders, feel the pull to rise and flow and follow but we know not where. Our bodies cannot see and dare not move. They are dark and still. They call to use for direction, wisdom, guidance. They call to intelligence, they call to memory, they call for clarification of the pattern. They call to light.

We hear this call and our own mind hungry for answers, quests outward. We long to see, to know, to behold at once the wonders that surround to. To fill our minds with recognition, the certain steps of knowing, the safety and the peace that light, too, can bring.

WE OPEN OUR MIND. WE OPEN OUR EYES. WE LOOK ABOUT. THE MIND OPENS AND RECEIVES.

But there is too much and the light is blinding. We call to the dark to shade us, to temper, to bind the patterns into meaning. And the dark comes softly hand in hand and shadow to the light, defining, shading, intertwining, ordering. What do you wish to see? What do you call forth to your inner vision?

From inner vision, insight revealed, nothing can remain concealed. From inner vision reaching out, seeing truth, removing doubt. Inside we open, watch, and wait, while wisdom’s visions spin our fate. Illumination shows the way, our inner light turns night into day. Within our minds, we light the way!” --By Anodea Judith, Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System (and one of my favorite books of all time)

If you take one thing away from this practice of Ajna is that once you start paying attention and honing the power of intuition, this inner seeing, then you understand how to influence your reality through creative visualizations and meditations. You create your reality. While holding a difficult pose you create a story in your mind of easeful power and then the pose becomes what you want it to be. And even taking this a step further. “To hold an image in our mind increases the possibility it will materialize.” Think about that. Say it aloud, write it down, repeat it. If you see something in your mind you will manifest it. But if you don’t know how to harness the power of your mind into that image and stay with it then you water down the opportunity to tap into your greatest potential. Today, tell yourself the story of the next chapter of your life, outline your intentions but then talk yourself through what that looks like in your life and see for yourself the magic of the 6^th chakra at work! Love to you, Silvia

5/15/2010 Tags: 6th chakra, ajna, intuition, manifestation, intention, Anodea Judith, visualization, opening, receiving, meditation, light Direct Link

UNCONDITIONAL HAPPINESS

May 3, 2010: At all times you have the potential for great joy in your life. You just need to find it within yourself and bring it into consciousness. This understanding is the first step. If you don't buy into this then what happens for many of us is that we convince ourselves we have to EARN our happiness. And we place all sorts of conditions and prerequisites on ourselves before we can be happy.

I know about living with conditional happiness.

I was really good at this from childhood. I would demand that I earned certain grades before I could be happy, or went to a particular college or in college got pinned, engaged, bought a small house, bought a big house, got a great job got promoted to a better job...it never stops. In the meantime life is just going by.

Happiness is not a paycheck you have to earn. There are no prerequisites to happiness just like going to yoga class requires nothing more than showing up.

Once you let this reality set in everything in your life gets easier. Happiness is the goal of all other goals. It is our birthright and here right now. Happiness is the purpose of my life! The universe wants this for us unconditionally. So go on, be as happy as you want to be...Love in all ways, Silvia

5/3/2010 Tags: happiness, unconditional love, love, goal, intention, purpose Direct Link

SPRING INTO NEW BEGINNINGS

MARCH 22, 2010

March 20th was Spring Equinox, and we know intellectually this means that the shadow of Winter moves on. But still that lingering bit of heaviness continues to remain, we are still wearing all our layers of warm clothing and you can feel the tiredness in the air. We have had a 2009 that was colder than usual, a lost summer and finding the getty up and go this Jan/Feb/Mar may have seemed insurmountable because of the record breaking number of grey days. So let's acknowledge the darkness and see it as the fertilizer making our souls more fertile for the new beginnings of Spring. We only make a new beginning by acknowledging the endings in our life.

Often/sometimes/who am I kidding most always challenge rides along side positive change (paraphrased from Sadie Nardini). Instead of denying we still feel a bit peaked let's stoke our fire gently. Think about how you want to share in the new beginnings of Spring. Do you want to see your life from a new perspective? Do you want to make a fresh start of things?

On the mat we practice in waves that each have a beginning, middle and end to feel this natural cycle. For many of us endings are harder than beginnings. Or maybe you think they're both hard. I get that. We have even in each breath a CLEAN SLATE to breath in fresh air and rejuvenation. And yet so often our human tendancy is to RECREATE THE PAST (breathing in an old way, thinking in old paradigms, living the old stories). Just know you don't have to.

To begin again, to start afresh isn't always popular. As you change your energy impacts those around you and if they are resistant they may not see you as the superstar you are. This doesn't mean we have to keep doing what everyone else is doing and letting your life decisions be made by default. That way of life is staying in the Dark. It is living life unconsciously. Let go of making the opinions of others more important than your own. You're never going to get everyone to agree on how you should live your life anyway.

I didn't transition into teaching yoga to be popular or to be controversial, I simply taught because doing so brought me into full alignment with living a more loving life. When I made this new beginning one Spring many years ago I certainly was going against the grain of popular opinion (why leave a highly paying, glamourous corporate job with international travel for less money, less time, less travel?) But I had to follow the light and make my own choice. Our lives belong to us and so do our decisions. And eventually friends/family who really love you for you will appreciate any new beginning you wish to make.

Know this, when you come to TBY, we come together in Satsang (community) that is like minded. You will be with other people who want to make richer discoveries into who they are and through this self-discovery make more conscious choices. And that is the well-spring of all new beginnings! Love your life don't wait. Peace out, Silvia

3/22/2010 Tags: beginnings, future, intention, past, light, spring equinox, popularity, conscious, Direct Link

INTENTION SANKALPA GROWTH AND EVOLUTION

MARCH 10, 2010: As you know I just put my house on the market. As part of this process the experts encourage you to simply, streamline, neutralize and otherwise declutter your living space. So I had this big indoor plant that got moved into the garage, then a week later I felt bad so moved it into the basement from the garage (mostly because you know plants do like light) well then I forgot to water it because it was now in the basement. This all went on for a month, just last night with the help a dear friend finally moved it outside in our 60 degree temperatures today. It finally got light, water and is not forgotten.

This plant had a strong intention and desire to LIVE! After all I put it through and changed about its surroundings it kept steadfast to the intention of surviving and thriving. I have to believe that if a plant can stay single minded in its intention we can too. So today ask yourself: HOW DOES THIS CLASS INSPIRE YOU TO BE MOVING TOWARDS MEETING YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

When we begin class and take our hands together at our hearts we create SANKALPA MUDRA a Mudra of internal commitment, a gesture of commitment in outer form and everything that goes into it is our intention. Intention is defined as setting an expectation for yourself, an expectation to your OWN GROWTH AND EVOLUTION.

Take a moment to think about deepening your breath into the commitment you've made to grow. The breath expands our connection to this promise we have made ourselves. And what I wish someone had told me a long time ago was to expect that there will be times that will be a little challenging – this is part of the growth process. Spiritual maturity comes as a result of using our expectations as little markers demonstrating our progress. And we have all COME A LONG WAY ALREADY. So on the mat we keep breathing to deepen our commitment and our intention whether the poses are easy or hard or whether we hold them a breath or a long time. We stay focused on experiencing ourselves.

The power of our intention is that focus on one clear thing. Not 50 things at the same time. It is like the Buddhist parable of how to dig for water: it is not fruitful to dig 100 holes when instead we should focus and dig 100 times in the same place and then for sure we'll strike water. So we took time to think about one pose from this practice that we woudl want to develop mastery of and promised to do it for 1-2 minutes per day for 28 days, a minimum of 28 minutes total to see if we could develop mastery in this pose and stay with one intention for this period of time.

So today, refocus your promise to yourself and the kind of life you want for yourself. And with Spring approaching let's really grow in our lives what is most important to us, to our health, to our hearts, to our peace of mind. Love the day! Silvia

PS - My plant is doing great!

3/10/2010 Tags: intention, sankalpa, growth, evolution, expectation, promise, breath, commitment, Direct Link

HANDBOOK 2010 CHECKING IN ON NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

February 28: Here is a wonderful contribution from Ingrid about New Year's Resolutions. As we finish the 2nd month of the year it is time to revisit these things. How are you keeping up? Love the day! Silvia

From Ingrid Sjorslev Prate

HANDBOOK 2010 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need...
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it..
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

2/28/2010 Tags: NEW YEARS DAY, SELF-REFLECTION, INTENTION Direct Link

THE EXPECTATIONS TRAP

JANUARY 6, 2010: It is easy to fall into the Expectations Trap this time of year. You know what I mean? That conversation we have with ourselves where we set up totally unrealistic expectations (resolutions) that would be impossible to keep. This leading us to disappointment. So right now begin to drop the heavy expectations and ask yourself what is most meaningful to you?

Allow what you care about most to shape and influence your intentions more gently. And take the time on the mat to soften the hard edges or extremes of expectations you have of yourself pose to pose. Let your heart feel the lightness and freedom of letting go of the weight of heavy expectations. This freedom is about soft expectations so we find:

Freedom to be happier than ever before
Freedom to try new things
Freedom to not play it all so safe
Freedom to do the unexpected
Freedom to just see what happens!

This is the decade we hold ourselves more gently and live more fully! Peaceful blessings to you, Silvia

1/6/2010 Tags: peace, expectations, intentions, freedom, love Direct Link

CANDLELIGHT YOGA NEW YEARS EVE 6PM-8PM WITH SILVIA:

Now is the time to clear out the past and get ready for the year to come. During this practice we will start by nurturing self-reflection: learning the lessons of the past and then letting it go. The the second half of the practice will plant seeds for the future. Join me on the mat for this special time dedicated to focusing on setting positive intentions for the New Year.

12/26/2009 Tags: new years eve, self-reflection, self-love, nurture, intention Direct Link

FULL PARTICIPATION ACTIVE LIVING

NOVEMBER 23, 2009: This practices teaches us that YOU ARE ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT THROUGH YOUR DOING. This life we are living right now is NOT as participants. This is not a passive endeavor where life is being done to us. Instead it requires active living where life is being done FOR US.

This is behind the idea in yoga of Tapas. Tapas helps us to take action to fully participate and be awake to our lives. To be active means we must articulate our intentions and practice with a solid determination to hold true to our dreams and visions for ourselves. Through yoga which is a system for mental, physical, and spiritual health we have full, democratic participation. On the mat we don�t even have to push ourselves to excel, all we have to do is show up and do the practice as best we can with full hearted effort. Just take part in your life make it active, keep it active and forget about the over perfecting it.

So where in your life have you been less than active or just plain stuck? I can tell you I came to realize this week for me it is in my extended family Thanksgiving. I am still at the kids table which I never want to leave. I�ve lost two cousins to the grown up table already through the years and don�t want any more to go. At the grown up table a lot more is expected of you. You are required to be more active so I�ve been hanging back. Now I like the kids table with my adult cousins, its cool, its casual. But this year I am thinking I might ask my Aunt and Uncle who host Thanksgiving for the Mordini�s every year about what I can help with. Now don�t get me wrong they will have to take me kicking and screaming away from the kids table when I�m ninety-five and not a moment sooner but I can still take a more active role.

You see this practice readies our bodies, hearts and minds for the deep work of active living. Yoga gives us the energy and clarity we need to create the lives of our dreams. And I�ll tell you as we go into the home stretch of the year and need the yoga the most, that�s exactly when many of us will fall away from active practice. Well that�s not good enough. To receive the benefits you have to keep showing up and doing the work. Living in alignment is not passive. Just like conscious breathing is not passive. We have to breath on purpose. We have to live on purpose. Life is active, Love is active. On the mat when we inhale we prepare, as we exhale we deepen our pose. Off the mat our active living requires we inhale fully and as we exhale we wake up to the best parts of ourselves moment by precious moment. Join me for more yoga, stay active. Big love! Silvia

11/23/2009 Tags: active, tapas, full, purpose, intention, love, stuckness, inhale, exhale Direct Link

RECEIVING: WHAT DO YOU WANT?

OCTOBER 29, 2009: This morning I was having a little talk with myself during morning meditation about giving and receiving. I actually reached out to a dear friend about this topic as it relates to putting on hold things in my life I�ve deferred for a while. As I wrote to her I realized that what I was focusing too much on was what �I don�t want� when as I�ve said to you all many times �stop majoring in minor things� or �stop putting energy into what you don�t want.� Oh yeah, that�s right.

As soon as I realized what I was doing then I felt a total shift in energy. I needed to focus more on RECEIVING. Spiritual maturity has us focus on What We Do Want, not the other way around. So I ask you What Do You Want to Receive in your Life?

� Acceptance

� Love

� Success

� Wisdom

� Grace

� Joy

� Money

� Freedom

� Peace

� Healing

� Inspiration

� Creativity

I bet if I took a survey of us all asking �are you better at giving or receiving?� Most of us would consider ourselves best at Giving. But hold on there...Are we really that good at giving if we so often don�t make time for our own well-being. We have to learn to be brilliant at giving to ourselves which means we have to allow ourselves to receive. So instead ask yourself, HOW GOOD A RECEIVER ARE YOU? Could you be more open to the opportunities, jobs, people, places you experience? Because the spiritual law is this: when you are more receptive to life itself, the more wonderful your life appears to be (Robert Holden, Be Happy)

What we can do to become better Receivers is as Robert Holden writes:

Give up the struggle; to receive is to be willing to give up all unnecessary struggle

Give up resentment: shift happens when you let go

Give up fear: stop worrying about the unknown

Give up pride: release your ego

This is not asking us to change anything. This is just a simple recognition (like what happened to me this morning). A realization of asking the universe for what we want and that is enough to make us better receivers and welcome all that we desire in our lives! Now may we have the courage to Ask for what we want to receive. Love in all ways, Silvia

10/29/2009 Tags: receiving, intention, let go, realization, recognition, love, freedom Direct Link

BREAKFAST FOR THE MIND: GUEST BLOGGER MARA CAMPBELL

OCTOBER 21, 2009: I am pretty good at eating a good breakfast each morning as I know it sets the stage for the day for me as nutrition for my body. But what am I feeding my mind each morning? Well I began to think about this last night as I am rereading, Peace is Every Step, by Thich Nhat Hanh, one of my all time favorite books. He encourages us to wake up each morning excited that we have the gift of a new day. Now I know this in my head and I do try to say a prayer and tap into my blessings each morning, but by nature, I am just not a morning person. I do not wake up feeling refreshed, limber or ready to bring peace and joy into the world. In fact, I can be a bit of a grump....can any of you relate?! So how do I cultivate that peaceful gratitude that Thich Nhat Hanh says is imperative to start our day with? Well, yoga has taught me we have choices, options and the ability to create the life we desire. Or as Thich Nhat Hanh writes, "We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others."

So this morning as I groggily get my shoes on, put on my dog's leash, and go outdoors, suddenly I find I am awake, I am aware and I find I am in the present moment. I begin to feel the blood pumping through my body and I look out to see what the day holds. Today, the air was damp and fresh, there was a cardinal singing and more leaves had fallen to the earth than yesterday.Suddenly, I am more open to what the day may hold and I begin to think more positively. So I think for me, it really is getting outdoors that helps me come into the day on my own terms instead of coming into the day from the grump who met me in bed. What helps you consciously connect to your day? Perhaps it is a prayer to wake up with, setting an intention for your day, saying a mantra, meditating, doing a few simple stretches or maybe, like me, you like to get out for a walk or run first thing. What I do know is that we can make the conscious choice to be present in the world, to be grateful, to have a sense of wonder and to smile for our day that we have been given.

For Thich Nhat Hanh, it is going into his meditation room each morning where he connects to his breath. In his small room, he has created a beautiful sign, written in calligraphy that says, "Breathe, you are alive!"

10/21/2009 Tags: Thich Nhat Hanh, intention, Mara Campbell Direct Link

THERE IS A POINT LIVING ON PURPOSE: CONNECTING THE DOTS

OCTOBER 8^TH, 2009: Steve Jobs gave this commencement address talking about connecting the dots. It is a long time favorite. He gave this address in 2005 if you google it there is more to the speech but this is what I want to share with you today. On the mat there is a point to everything we do. It is on purpose. Robin Sharma says a life of purpose is one lived on purpose. Yup I keep figuring that out. So the alignment both energetic and physical is with great intent. It�s not haphazard. It also works as part of an evolutionary experience or what we might call kramas or waves. That by laying the foundation of a pose we build upon that. We learn through yoga to educate ourselves about our bodies and minds and each class grows this awareness from the previous class. Now of course things happen in life that we don�t see or understand why they are happening, like when I lost my dad when he was only 59 years old. But at some point I had to say ok enough already there must be a greater purpose behind this experience of being fatherless.

You see in times of doubt the key thing to know is that there is a point to it all. Even when we don�t understand why things are happening in our life we can rest assured as Sadie Nardini says, �alongside positive change, challenge appears.� Yes. So what is the greater point to spiritual practice? To help us PAY ATTENTION.

The Yoga Sutras say �enjoyment is the sweetness of noticing your life right now � smell, taste, feeling, sensation� This is the answer to why pay attention, in that we don�t get to do today over again. Therefore as a result of your intention you can begin to connect the dots which as you�ll read below is done not in the past. Once we realize that the point of the practice is to pay attention, to be present we stop trying to redo the past. We see we are here and now just all doing our best in appreciating how precious life really is. So tune in, love your life and trust in the process. Love to you all! Silvia

�The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5� deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, its likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something � your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.� (Steve Jobs)

10/9/2009 Tags: steve jobs, purpose, intention, doubt, sadie nardini, pay attention, be present Direct Link

SPIRITUAL HEADLINES OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT JOY

SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2009: I wake up in the morning and I journal in my mind or on paper. Either way I think about what is important to me on that day. Then recently in the book Be Happy by Robert Holden I found a metaphor that best describes what I�ve been doing. In the book he talks about a great daily spiritual practice to help us focus on what is most important to our happiness. He describes, �The Spiritual Front Page�. The idea is that each morning you visualize the front page headlines of what is truly most meaningful to you to living the most joyful day ever. This helps us figure out and articulate our Truth. It gives positive intention to our actions.

Instead of focusing on what is unimportant (our headlines would not read Do Laundry, Dishes Put Away) we�d share the real important stuff with not just ourselves but these front page headlines would like a newspaper be easier to distribute to our friends, colleagues and family members so they know our big news. How often do you major in the minor stuff? How much of your time is spent hiding the big headlines (focusing on what really matters) until the very end of the day when tired and out of juice? I know I�ve been there.

So for me this time on the mat in yoga class helps me to make sure that the Spiritual Headlines I�ve chosen reflect the TRUE me. And once I�ve written them for the day I stick to them. It�s too easy with technology these days to keep changing it up or giving up. Instead we maintain the discipline that once its in writing we will do our best on this day to follow through.

Equally, once the day is done, the newspaper gets recycled. What�s done is done. And tomorrow we have another �24 brand new hours� to live in JOY! Love your day, Silvia

*Reference to Thich Nhat Hahn

9/2/2009 Tags: spiritual headlines, intention, meditation, journaling, joy, truth Direct Link

TAPAS: SHOWING UP FOR YOUR LIFE

JULY 23RD, 2009: I have been meditating on the word RESOLVE this week. Like what does that mean exactly? In yogic terms it is Tapas. What is Tapas? I would in practical terms define it as relaxed sustainable determination with consistent undertones of passion. Or simply put it means SHOWING UP. It may so seem easy to show up for our life but how often do we get so busy, worried or afraid that we aren�t really attending the life story where we are the star. When I did theatre in High School and College there were moments in a couple shows that by the end of the run I would be acting on stage but sort of on autopilot (not really aware that I was totally there). I�ve found that to be true in regular life early in spiritual practice. Like we are the actor on the stage we are also the audience but neither as actor or viewer would I be tuned in.

So TAPAS helps us to be awake to our lives and articulate our intentions. In practice the determination to hold true to our dreams or visions for ourselves is Tapas in yoga. It is like this poem below:

"Only as high as I reach can I grow,
Only as far as I seek can I go,
Only as deep as I look can I see,
Only as much as I dream can I be."
-Karen Ravn

So today challenge yourself to show up. Whether this means showing up for yoga class or just showing up for what makes you excited about your life. What is your vision for your life? Not just the idea but what can you resolve to make happen, to be with day after day until you see the fruition of your dream. Leonardo Da Vinci once said, "A good painter has two main objects to paint, man and the intention of his soul. The former is easy, the latter hard."

Ask yourself: If he would paint your portrait would DaVinci see that fire in your eyes?

Resolve starting now to find the inner strength and quiet determination to hold true to your biggest dreams. Big Love! Silvia

"Let no doubt into your dreams and intentions. The dreamers are the saviors of the world. Be one of those dreamers." (Dr Wayne Dyer)

7/23/2009 Tags: tapas, doubt, dreams, intentions, RESOLVE, DaVinci, passion, consistent Direct Link

YOU MATTER!

Hi You Guys,

I want to thank you for all the amazing conversations I have each day with you. Please keep the emails and calls coming. I thoroughly enjoy every interaction! And I wanted you to know that I recognize what it takes to reach out. I see the effort on your part to talk, to get to class, to write a note. Every single one of us matters. Sometimes we think we don�t but we truly do matter. And I am paying total attention.

Yoga teaches us that we are all looking for something that will connect us more deeply to ourselves and through that knowing the truth of the spirit self (Atman) there is a recognition that we all leave an imprint on everyone we meet. When you think of it, in all the random meetings we have with folks each day we can be the ANSWER or BLESSING for another person. That�s a powerful responsibility.

What imprint are you making on the world? What is your legacy? Can you take five minutes today to make a conscious effort to consider how you can connect to others in such a way that you can make a positive difference? I would love for you to join me for FREE tomorrow night July 9^th, 7:30pm-9pm for Yoga and Journaling where we�ll have time to reflect on the things we�ve done this week to uplift another person (an email, a call, a card, a compliment, giving up your parking space etc). This time to meditate on how we effect others, the �ripple effect� speaks to our greater Intention or personal mission statement. And every time we align better with our intentions we magnify our efforts. Moving the body and then journaling is a wonderful way to connect to our true desires, passions and dreams!

You deeply inspire me, your life stories make me cry, make me laugh, humble me to no end. And for all of that I thank you for letting me serve you. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia (2009)

7/9/2009 Tags: yoga, inspiration, gratitude, yoga workshop, blessings, intention Direct Link

POWER OF INTENTION

JULY 7TH, 2009:

�Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.�

It is great to spend time in self-reflection looking back at our lives but equally as important is looking forward. And it is through the Power of Intention we realize our dreams! It all starts with a thought. Here are four key elements in forming strong intention for yourself. To begin just bring your hands together in SANKALPA MUDRA (a Mudra of commitment with everything that goes into it as the intention). So just begin to breath here and as you breath in setting this intention know in some sense you are setting an expectation for yourself - an expectation to your own growth and evolution. As you deepen your breath really deepen your connection to the promise you are making to yourself.

FIRST � DEFINE YOUR INTENTION. Use the time in Yoga to go inside yourself and explore the hidden chambers of your heart to find your TRUE self. This is really the 1^st step in yoga. From there the next step is bringing forth from within our highest potential our best self that we discovered within and sharing it with the world. So right now through your attention and breathing do the following no matter where you are:

� Give your heart attention

� Give your heart nourishment

� Give your heart energy

SECOND � EXPECT BEAUTY. Show reverence for all life by expecting kindness and love along with beauty in your life. This is different than habitually looking for ways to be hurt, angry or offended. You can�t access your intention if you�re thinking about the impossibility of what you want to manifest.

THIRD � MEDITATE ON APPRECIATION. Cherish your body, your breath. Really acknowledge that you were chosen to breath today and having another day to be alive means another chance to focus on our intentions. Take a moment to appreciate your life and use this practice to deepen your commitment to promise to grow.

FOURTH � BANISH DOUBT. Doubt diminishes our creativity and potential. Shakespeare said, �our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.�

7/7/2009 Tags: SANKALPA MUDRA, TRUTH, INTENTION, SELF-DOUBT, APPRECIATION, BEAUTY Direct Link

SELF-ESTEEM, CENTERING, INTENTION: 3RD CHAKRA

JUNE 29, 2009: I once read somewhere; I can�t remember where, that �no one is born with healthy self-esteem� we must learn this quality as we face our challenges. In the energy system this is the work of the 3^rd chakra, the solar plexus, or Manipura. The energies of this chakra have at their heart the intention to help us mature in our self-understanding like how we feel and take care of ourselves. This spiritual quality is about self-respect. How we feel about ourselves, whether we have a strong sense of self-esteem determines our quality of life and our capacity to succeed in relationships (both personal and professional). For instance, do you believe that you deserve to be loved well by others? This is demonstrated by the self-love you are able to generate for your own heart.

The spiritual truth here is that if we don�t like ourselves we won�t make healthy decisions about our lives. People with low self-esteem attract relationships and job situations that mirror and reinforce this. So if you don�t like YOU others will walk all over you, taking advantage and bullying. Your physical and emotional strength to set healthy boundaries are from this chakra, your personal power center. To know if your 3^rd Chakra is in balance take a moment and honestly ask yourself: are you choosing situations, people, & things that drain you or empower you?

During class we used poses to build physical strength and core awareness to help all of us strengthen our Third Chakra.

The other aspect that we spoke about in class was how a balanced third chakra aids our ability to feel more centered. When our 3^rd chakra is out of balance our thoughts are all over the place. And if our thoughts are unfocused then it is more difficult to handle the crisis that life might put in our path. We used the centering breath to return our minds to that place of peaceful balance, sama breathing, no matter what pose or discomfort we faced in a hip opening sequence. We also learned the solar plexus Mudra called Rudra Mudra with the tips of our thumb and index finger and ring fingers together while extending the other fingers out in a relaxed way. Our mantra was �I rest at my center and draw joy from my center, I love myself.�

For meditation we asked ourselves these questions as part of our practice:

� Where were you last June 2008?

� Where are you now?

� Are you able to see how much you�ve grown and give yourself credit?

� Are you on the right path?

� Where do you see yourself June 2010?

I promise I will check in with everyone June 29, 2010 and hold everyone accountable for deepening their commitment to give birth to the life they really want. That this practice reminded us to set an expectation for ourselves � to our own growth and evolution � and remain centered enough to meet our ambitions. You are all amazing and as we continue paying attention to the health of our 3^rd chakra please know you have all come a very long way already and with a courageous sense of self-respect and self-esteem little by little we will travel very far by this time next year! May your thoughts, feelings and actions find alignment.

Love yourself, love your life! Silvia

6/29/2009 Tags: SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-LOVE, SELF-RESPECT, CENTERING, BALANCED, INTENTION, 3RD CHAKRA Direct Link

EXTERNAL OBSERVATION, INTERNAL REFLECTION

JUNE 1ST, 2009

6/1/2009 Tags: reflection, self-observation, intention Direct Link

RELEASE, REMEMBER, RECYCLE

MAY 6th, 2009: We are experts at Resistance. We are actually well trained in resistance, in fight or flight response. The thing is when feeling resistance to life due to fear or anxiety or stress we are not able to either release or remember. We just stay in this state of fighting and doing battle with everyone and everything. We make war with what we think we're supposed to be doing with our lives and from there resentment towards others builds even more strongly. We even get mad/angry at ourselves for making other people's opinions (or societies perceived opinions) more important than how we know we feel. For prolonged periods of time this will make us either dumb down, lose hope, flame out or give up. This is toxic. And no one need live like this.

This practice of yoga psychology can help us to put aside the old habit of Resistance and begin the focus on Releasing, Remembering and Recycling.

With this or any spiritual practice we can not do multiple things at the same time. Often energies are mutually exclusive, they play together but as counterparts not occupying the same space at the same time. It is just like the fact that constructive, healthy dialogue between adults means we can�t all TALK at the same time. Healthy conversation means one person talks at a time and the other person listens, with both people breathing. Once we put aside our resistance and fear monsters then we can begin to RELEASE and let go of those things that no longer serve our lives. Ask yourself right now what do you want to let go of that is not helping your life evolve? Can you use even the most challenging pose or moment or person in your life to release some of the crap that holds you back?

REMEMBER: Once we do Release the negative then we create clarity of mind and heart to remember those qualities of ourselves that have made our lives better. Think back on your 5 year old self � remember that ease of not having any burdens, think of your 10 year old self � remember the endurance you had to play for 8 hours in a row, think of your 13 year old self � remember that thirst for adventure, think of your 23 year old self � remember that desire for new experience. So take what qualities you remember from your life that you want to bring with you into the next chapter of your life.

Essentially what do you want to RECYCLE as part of a healthy life?

Bottom line is if we don�t stop RESISTING and continue to make war with life then we will Fall Apart. If there is no Release of pain or frustration we will remain Angry, if we remain angry we cannot have the clarity of mind to REMEMBER to choose love.

This and all spiritual seeking is not about seeking love and happiness but about seeking to REDISCOVER that happiness and peace exist within us already. We are seeking to remember to remember. Once you remember you can than decide the qualities you want to recycle into your next moment and keep making each and every consecutive moment more delicious, more amazing, more loving! I wish you all the courage to stop fighting (out of duty, out of fear, out of anger) and just start loving yourself more and life more, Silvia

5/6/2009 Tags: release, recycle, remember, resistance, meditation, intention, discovery, love Direct Link

DREAM WITHOUT LIMITS!

APRIL 16TH, 2009: Lately the dreams I have in meditation are getting BIGGER and BOLDER all the time. Many things I've put off thinking about doing I am going for and doing them this year. I feel this amazing YES inside that I want you to feel the vibration of so you too can say yes to life and DREAM WITHOUT LIMITS. Yup that's what the theme is tonight. A very special class from my heart.

And just so you know, next Thursday through Sunday April 23-26 I am out of town on a Spiritual Adventure pursuing one of my dreams. So if we don't have our regular Thurday night date together I won't see you for two weeks.

In preparation for tonight's class please watch this clip below (3 minutes long). I want to thank Ned Miller for sharing this clip with me yesterday and changing my life with the creation of our own inspiring video collection called "Loving Your Day". It helped me shift even more brightly towards dreaming without limits, it is NEVER TOO LATE. I know it will inspire you, make you laugh, make you cry, make you clap your hands like it did me! What we can take away from this clip is that it is never too late. You deserve to materialize your dreams. So "Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going." - Rainer Maria Rilke. Do not let the Kleshas, the veils that hide our true potential and beauty yoga tells us from speaking your dreams to yourself! Love you all, Silvia Mordini

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=haxa_popt00us00

4/16/2009 Tags: Dream, power of intention, love, inspiration, courage, loving your day, co-creating, action Direct Link

OPEN UP: BLOSSOM NOW NOT LATER

APRIL 6, 2009: Anais Nin writes, "and then one day the risk it took to remain tightly in a bud was more painful that the risk it took to blossom."

Think back to your original intention for starting yoga? How have you seen this intention blossom and evolve, what parts of it are still in today's intention for living and loving your life? It is essential we see where we came from to better appreciate how far we've come. And you have come very far. We keep awakening ourselves to ever more amazing inner radiance each day of our practice.

We are always evolving in the direction of happiness all that we need to do is not block the flow forward. So you see there is no reason to wait to be happy or more loved or more cheerful. BLOSSOM NOW NOT LATER. This isn't a rehearsal for your life. Spring doesn't say, ok let me hold back and I'll do this next year.Nope Spring goes for it NOW. Just like we must do too.

And so, keep making the soil of your heart and mind more and more fertile by practicing yoga each day. And take to heart the words of Jose Saramago who says, "every man has his own patch of earth to cultivate. What's important is that he dig deep."

Dig deep, blossom big, love your day! Silvia

4/6/2009 Tags: OPENING UP, intention, anais nin, spanda, love Direct Link

THERE IS A POINT TO ALL THIS

APRIL 2 2009: One of the first things we do to begin class is often take a comfortable seat. It is on purpose. There is a point to how we sit so as to improve the ability of the body to breath better. Then we bring our hands together, palm to palm in prayer. This is known as Sankalpa Mudra or Anjali Mudra. Mudra means gesture of commitment. We are doing something with our hands on purpose. There is a point to Sankalpa Mudra, it is our opportunity to set an intention, a dream, a wish, a vision. Really when we set our intention it is setting an expectation of ourselves. There is a point to our practice. And each time we rejoin our hands we remember to remember the promise we made to ourselves as to how this time for us is meeting our expectations.

It is like a commitment ceremony at the start of every class. And every breath will deepen your commitment to your intention on and off the mat.

The key thing to know is that there is a point to it all. Even when we don�t understand why things are happening in our life we can rest assured as Sadie Nardini says, �alongside positive change, challenge appears.� Yup. So what is the greater point to spiritual practice? To help us PAY ATTENTION.

The Yoga Sutras say �enjoyment is the sweetness of noticing your life right now � smell, taste, feeling, sensation� This is the answer to why pay attention, in that we don�t get to do today over again. Therefore as a result of your intention you can observe your progress towards the promise you made to yourself. And know you have come a really long way already before you even step on the mat. So once we realize that the point of the practice is to pay attention, to be present we stop trying to redo the past. We see we are here and now just all doing our best in appreciating how precious life really is. So tune in, love your life and trust in the process. Love to you all! Silvia

4/2/2009 Tags: HAPPINESS, INTENTION, Sankalpa, yoga sutras, love, pay attention Direct Link

HEALING YOURSELF

MARCH 26TH, 2009: Yoga for me from the beginning, after coming to it seeking physical healing from injury was about self comforting. I wanted to heal. I intrinsically did not want to accept what life had served me as a car accident and major life change. I just was not going to accept limitations! I now know this was the universe whispering to me to dream of optimal health and to not give up.

In the Yoga Sutras HEALING is written about as: A process of rejoining; A rejoining body to heart; A rejoining of spirit to consciousness.

What does HEALING mean to you?

What it means to me is a letting go of hurt or angry feelings, an absence of conflict, relief from pain, and a belief in miracles - that things WILL GET BETTER. Too often we get bogged down in thinking we are alone and stuck in the pain forever, or as Author Alice Walker says "we are being consumed with our suffering." But we don't have to be. Yoga gives us that opportunity to realize the healing for ourselves, to self-comfort. Even right now take 5 breaths and use your thoughts to keep your energy on healing whether it be directed at physical or emotional healing or both.

This will go far to remind us that miracles are happening all the time.St Thomas Aquinas writes "MIRACLES ARE SIGNS NOT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE, BUT TO THEM THAT DISBELIEVE.

So where does healing come from? It comes from that still place inside, in the quiet chambers of our hearts. This time on the mat helps us to hone our visions for our lives. Ultimate healing is that feeling that we are co creating with the universe and are partnered together in all good things. At the end of class we then ask ourselves from our own healing, what do you want to bring out into the world?

How do begin the healing process? Join me tonight on the mat. We will start with the breath, as we inhale we will say to ourselves inside LISTEN, LISTEN and in the exhale we will start to hear ourselves respond with healing intentions. A very sweet practice, perfect for you to realize your dreams of peace. We all deserve a life of serenity and please don't think this excludes you.

Love and peace to you all my dear, dear friends,

Silvia

3/26/2009 Tags: healing, yoga sutras, tantra, peace, co-creating, vision, intention Direct Link

FREEDOM

MARCH 16TH, 2009: The first week of the year I passed out raffle tickets and during meditation I asked what single word came to mind. That would be the focus of our practice and our intention for the year. So tonight we checked back into this. How are we doing?

For me the word on my life ticket was FREEDOM. This means a number of things to me such as:

Freedom to be happier than ever before
Freedom to try new things
Freedom to meet new people
Freedom to make happy failures
Freedom to not play it all so safe
Freedom to do the unexpected
Freedom to just see what happens

So as you close your eyes and turn inside to your most loving self what sense of freedom to you experience in your breath right now? The breath, the air element that of the fourth chakra. This is the heart chakra and perhaps that�s why one of my favorites quotes from the book Immunity to Change is �Happiness is really freedom from unhappiness.� What does FREEDOM mean to you?

Ultimately freedom means that we are living on purpose or as Robin Sharma writes, THE PURPOSE OF LIFE IS A LIFE OF PURPOSE. Everytime we come to the mat we have the right and freedom to explore ourselves more deeply. This cultivates an intimate connection with who we really are and can we live with what life is offering us right now. For its about whether life gave us what we wanted today but the fact we have the freedom to respond rather than react. We don�t have to struggle, fight or become disappointed. We can empower ourselves to make the experience (even if it is painful). In the book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Robin Sharma writes, �People who study others are wise but those who study themselves are enlightened. Those we are truly enlightened know what they want out of life, emotionally, materially, physically and spiritually. Clearly defined priorities and goals for every aspect of your life gives you direction. The real source of happiness is stated in the word Achievement � lasting happiness comes from steadily working to accomplish your goals and advancing confidentily in the direction of your lifes purpose.

Here�s the coolest part! You get to choose your life�s purpose. And you can readjust as your intentions evolve. So take to heart the words of John Wood from another all time favorite book �Leaving Microsoft to Change the World� who writes, �If you are thinking about making some adjustments in your life my heartfelt recommendation is not to spend too much time thinking about it. Just dive in. I know that all kinds of practical considerations make this advice difficult to embrace. The need for advice from friends and family, and the desire to write a business plan. I am not saying you should not do any of these things � just that you should not spend too much time on them or you will lose momentum. The biggest risk is that a lot of people will try to talk you out of your dream. The world has too many people who are happy to discuss why something might not work, and too few who will cheer you on and say, �I�m there for you.� The more time you spend navel gazing, the longer you give those negative gravitational forces to keep you in their tether. So sometimes, it�s really important to just dive in. If there is something out there that you want to do, don�t focus on the obstacles. Don�t ask for permission. Just dive in.� FREEDOM MEANS YOU CAN DIVE IN TODAY! Wishing you courage to do so, Silvia

3/16/2009 Tags: Freedom, Happiness, Robin Sharma, John Wood, obstacles, courage, intention Direct Link

ARE YOU AUDITING YOUR LIFE

FEBRUARY 19, 2009: As you know I worked for a well-respected consultancy for many years, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and part of the firm was auditing. You might know of PwC as they are the auditors of the Academy Awards Show this Sunday. So this morning I was reflecting on my time at the firm and what it means to audit. In business this is good, in terms of living life not so good.

Put simply: are you Auditing life or are you a full-time active player.

There are really only two teams: WHICH TEAM ARE YOU PLAYING FOR?

Yoga teaches that LIFE requires active participation. Instead of watching folks dance on tv, why not dance? Instead of watching folks on TV sing, why not start singing or playing guitar yourself. Instead of watching folks take great adventures in the amazing race, why not have an adventure of your own? That's the inspiration I hope you find from tonight's class at 7:30pm, Level 1. That you show up and participate more fully in your life, that you don't just audit it watching others live. When we do this, I see it as a WIN for life itself. This is a true victory of spirit! This is a victory for life itself!

Take to heart the words of Jon Kabat Zinn, "When you quit working at life, life stops working for you." Yup. So engage your life right now, get in the game! Love and courage to you all, Silvia

2/19/2009 Tags: Courage, determination, tapas, shakti, intention, auditing Direct Link

CURRENCY OF YOUR THOUGHTS

JANUARY 12TH, 2009: We have 60,000 thoughts per day. If I said to you I'd give you this much money each day and you'd have to spend it that same day with no carry over how would you spend it? Would you buy things that didn't fit you, purchase furniture you didn't like, buy a car that wasn't your taste, order food you were allergic to? Of course not!

So why then would we ever spend the currency of our thoughts on things we Don't Want?

Today, practice spending your currency of thought and energy on what you want MORE OF IN YOUR LIFE. Spend wisely, you don't get to do today over and once today's currency is spent it's gone. Peaceful courage, Silvia (May the pretend money I gave you in class today serve as an ongoing reminder, or if you missed class take a dollar bill and write yourself a note on it.)

1/12/2009 Tags: Thoughts, Brain, Mind, Meditation, Intention, Discipline Direct Link

THE POWER OF INTENTION

DECEMBER 30TH, 2008:

12/30/2008 Tags: intention Direct Link

GIFTS AND THEIR MEANING

DECEMBER 23-24TH, 2008: It may not be pc to say but I LOVE GIFTS! I really do. I love the gift of your time over tea, I love your gift of a sweet email, I love your gift of friendship, I love your gift of being in class, a great book, a hug, music, a kind word.

Being in yoga class is a way to learn to gift ourselves the time to be with our own hearts and desires. As we all know there is a balance between giving and receiving. We are both. We are Shiva and Shakti. We are givers and we are receivers. We even see this pattern in nature. When we breath in we are receiving clean air from the trees on the earth. When we breath out we give trees life as they are the lungs of the earth. When we find the balance between giving and receiving all is good!

And the hardest part is not about finding this balance but about maintaining it. So in this time of the year with great focus on gift giving consider are you giving back to the Earth as much as we are receiving from her? How meaningful are the gifts you've prepared for loved ones? I would love to hear your favorite stories about gifts you've received! Just email me at silvia@totalbodyyoga.com

My favorite gifts this year are when I received the gift of something well-loved, worn, experienced and then shared. It was really a REINVENTED gift which I loved because it was just like how yoga Renews, Refreshes, Reinspires, Renergizes us. It was wonderful! Another amazing gift I received was a dear one's master storytelling over a cup of tea about a grand adventure they had culminating in a vivid description of sunset at the Grand Canyon. And of course my all time favorite gift, a HUG. So more hugs for everyone this year! And thank you deeply with all my heart and soul for all of your gifts and loving intentions. I love you guys! Silvia

A hug is a perfect GIFT, one size fits all, and nobody minds if you exchange it." - Unknown

12/24/2008 Tags: giving, receving, intention, love Direct Link

CEO OF YOUR OWN LIFE

DECEMBER 21ST, 2008: Congratulations you�ve all been promoted! You are now officially the CEO of your life. First step we set about creating a plan to take care of our employees and make this a successful endeavor. Your employees are your thoughts, your breath, you�re spirit and your body parts, some small some big, all equally important to forwarding your personal enterprise towards success. Let�s take inspiration from Dr Seuss,

"Congratulations! Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.�

ABOUT CHOICES

We all have choices to make. Being CEO of our life means we accept responsibility for making the best most wise choices. What is wisdom? WISDOM is avoiding all thoughts that weaken you. Each thought you have can be assessed in terms of whether it strengthens you or weakens you. So it is your call on whether your thoughts are making the organization of yourself stronger and happier. Think of it like this, your heart is a muscle that�s weakened by thoughts that disempower you. Your kidneys, liver, lungs are all surrounded by muscles that are affected by your thoughts. First thing to ask is are my thoughts showing love for the person I am always alone with, ME?

Dr Deepak Chopra says it like this, �Happy thoughts create happy molecules.� Or Dr Wayne Dyer says, �Your health is determined largely by the thoughts you have. Passionately think that you won�t get a cold, and your body will react to your thoughts. Refuse to entertain thoughts of fatigue, jet lag, headaches and your body responds to your thoughts. Your mind tells your body to produce the drugs it needs to keep you healthy.�

Healthy, empowering thoughts are those of peace, joy, love, acceptance and willingness. I hold dear the words of Rabindranath Tagore, "Ecstasy is our very nature; not to be ecstatic is simply unnecessary. To be ecstatic is natural, spontaneous. It needs no effort to be ecstatic, it needs great effort to be miserable. That's why you look to tired, because misery is really hard work; to maintain it is really difficult, because you are doing something against nature. Existence is not a problem to be solved, it is a mystery to be lived. And you should be perfectly aware what the difference is between a mystery and a problem. A problem is something created by the mind; a mystery is something which is there, not created by the mind. A problem has an ugliness in it, like disease. A mystery is beautiful. With a problem, immediately a fight arises. You have to solve it; something is wrong, you have to put it right; something is missing, you have to supply the missing link. With a mystery there is no question like that. The moon arises in the night.... It is not a problem, it is a mystery. You have to live with it. You have to dance with it. You have to sing with it, or you can be just silent with it. Something mysterious surrounds you."

So as CEO of your life I wish you to see your life as a wonderful mystery, not a problem and to see your essential nature as one of joy! Live life as big and delicious as you can! Silvia

12/21/2008 Tags: courage, determination, tapas, intention Direct Link

PLAYING IT SAFE: ARE YOU RUNNING FROM LIFE?

DECEMBER 19TH, 2008: Have you ever felt like you were running away from something? I have. My friend David Romanelli inspired this contemplation as did something a conversation with another friend who shared the following with me this week. They basically said to me, I think you've always done what was most expected of you, except they used the word "conform". Yuck, a big yuck. I don't like that word or any variation of it, conformist, conforming, to conform.

Me? Come on. But they did say that they could see that I had been breaking out of that conformist box by leaving the corporate world and living life doing what I love most, teaching yoga. YES! That's much better.

So I ask you, are you running from life or for life right now? When I looked up conform in the thesaurus it said stuff like: be conventional, kow tow, measure up. Yup, that's why I did run away in the past - thought it would help me be more accepted and I wanted to know from others that I measured up. It all looked good on paper but wasn't making me very happy.

Here then is inspiration from Osho to think about: Osho said that when you are seeking freedom from life, you are always on the run, being chased by your finances, fears, and worries. He said that when you are seeking freedom for life, you are diving headlong into the journey. Chasing your dreams. Pursuing your passions. So join me, but know it�s not always easy, and really run for life, not from it. If I can do it, anyone can do it. And I know YOU can do it. Peace! Silvia

12/19/2008 Tags: courage, determination, tapas, intention, conform Direct Link

PASSION!

NOVEMBER 5TH, 2008: In watching the election returns last evening what struck me most was the passion with which all that participated brought to the process. Passion which sometimes gets linked only to romantic relationships is equally as powerful and necessary in all aspects of our lives.

This to me is the ultimate definition of yoga: anything that wakes you up to who you really are, that makes you more aware of your life. Coming to class and surrounding ourselves with like minded folks that are living the path only helps us grow our passion. Why? Because PASSION IS CONTAGIOUS! Or in the words of Philosopher Hebbel, �Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.�

YES! So whether you personally agree with the outcome of the election or not let�s not forget to honor all candidates that devoted themselves to making democracy come alive for you and for me and for all those that come after us. Let�s follow their lead and get fired up about something, anything. Or as Alan Armstrong says, �If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.�

WISHING YOU BIG LOVE, BIG DREAMS, AND IMMENSE AMOUNTS OF PASSION TO ENJOY LIFE! Silvia

11/5/2008 Tags: Passion, Intention Direct Link

LIFE ON PURPOSE - A LIFE OF PURPOSE

SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2008: By coming to class today you made a choice, you did something on PURPOSE � what does that mean to you? And the bigger question is WHY did you make this choice?

How do you figure out the WHY? In other words, how do we know our own minds? An easy answer is to sit in meditation and find out. There is power in silence and stillness. This reminds us that our minds can hold only one thought at a time. My Father liked to show slides for fun on a Saturday night at our house so we still to this day have multiple old fashion slide projectors. They are brilliant! What I like most is that they can only show one slide at a time. In these days of picture in picture, scrolling news and 5 things going on in the same screen this is pretty refreshing. Now think of your mind as a giant slide projector with every thought in your mind being a slide. Whenever a negative slide comes up on the screen, take immediate action to replace it with a positive one. DO THIS ON PURPOSE.

�Self knowledge is the stepping stone to self mastery.� Buddhist philosophy

In practice we have the opportunity to learn about ourselves and really do things ON PURPOSE. So we step forward on purpose, breath on purpose, think on purpose (how many times do you let gloomy thoughts enter? Replace them with cheerful thoughts). Ask yourself right now why are you breathing the way you are? What insights are you gaining?

Robin Sharma writes, �People who study others are wise but those who study themselves are enlightened. Those we are truly enlightened know what they want out of life, emotionally, materially, physically and spiritually. Clearly defined priorities and goals for every aspect of your life gives you direction. Lasting happiness comes from steadily working to accomplish your goals and advancing confidently in the direction of your life�s purpose. So may you all use this practice to discover your purpose, Dharma, and work towards it! Take to heart the words of Playwright George Bernard Shaw

�Life is no brief candle for me. It is a sort of splendid

Torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want

To make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it

On to future generations.�

REMEMBER: THE PURPOSE OF LIFE IS A LIFE OF PURPOSE

9/5/2008 Tags: PURPOSE, DHARMA, INTENTION, GOALS Direct Link

KICK START YOUR DREAMS!

AUGUST 6TH, 2008: Every time you come to class, send me an email, or call me, you make my dream come true. My greatest aspiration is to help you articulate your dream and encourage you to go for it! I wholeheartedly believe in the words of Don Miguel Ruiz, �Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art. And this is the main art that we have: the creation of our story.�

VOICE YOUR DREAM � YOU HAVE CHOICES!

In every pose we have choices to make�how we breath, how we unite breath with movement into a happy marriage, how we place the body, how much effort we make, how efficient the effort, how much we let go at the same time we make the effort. We constantly get to choose for ourselves. Are you making the most of your options? Are you open to choosing what might be deemed by some as "mission impossible."

Today do me this favor: Create a list of one or more dream projects that you would love to complete. Then take the first step in your own great adventure � BEGIN. In Yoga we call this your "intention" or Sankalpa. As sweet motivation take to heart the inspiring words of Louisa May Alcott �We all have our own life to pursue, Our own kind of dream to be weaving, And we all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing.� So my friends I hope the time on the mat gives you each the opportunity to further refine your dreams and strengthen from within your resolve to become immune to the opinions of others so that you never, never, never give up! BIG LOVE! Silvia

8/6/2008 Tags: DREAM, INTENTION, sankalpa Direct Link

CLAIM YOUR DREAMS POWERED BY SOLAR ECLIPSE

AUGUST 2ND, 2008: How cool is this from my Yogitoes Friends which inspired my meditation today? Solar eclipses occur when the orbital paths of the moon and the earth align precisely enough for the moon to block the light of the Sun. For a few moments, the normal flow of solar radiation is interrupted... Energetic matrices are opened, reorganized, and reconfigured, creating new patterns and pathways.

New Moon - 5:12 AM CST

Total Solar ECLIPSE - 5:21 AM CST

Because of this total eclipse of the sun the new moon in LEO this month will be exceptionally POWERFUL. As you may know the ruler of Leo is the SUN...

The star at the center of the universe that encourages our creativity, self expression, and authentic heart felt desires!

So, this new moon time is an amazing opportunity to CREATE our hearts desire! But it takes courage, willpower and heart (just like the lion in the wizard of oz) to walk our own unique path to our ultimate destiny! So this month is a great time to fiercely claim your dreams, creative inspirations, and soul intentions... and the universal power of the eclipse will move you forward at quantum speed!

8/2/2008 2:28:08 PM Tags: solar eclipse, dream, wizard of oz, courage, intention Direct Link

YOUR HEART'S INTENTION

JULY 14TH, 2008: Coming to the mat is an opportunity for us to open up space to really feel: sensations, breath, emotions - all of it. This is the doorway to asking ourselves:

"How do I want to engage my life?" "Am I aligning with my heart's innermost intentions?"

Once reconnected to your intention the practice of poses and breath allows you time to focus on the details. You get to ground in your physical body and try out how much you really want your intention to become the reality of your life. You learn quite quickly how to expand your vision to ever expanding levels of worthiness, happiness and peace! I hope this practice facilitates the most nurturing, supporting and uplifting relationship with YOURSELF. Peace to all people everywhere! Silvia

7/16/2008 10:01:02 PM Tags: healing, hearts intention, joy, tolerance, peace Direct Link