Yoga Love

I'm so in love. In love with life, my friends, family and all the beauty that surrounds me.

This morning, after leaving my yoga practice. I thought, wow. I feel so amazing. Sure, waking up early isn't always easy, but I know how sensational I will feel after practice.

I won't go into detail about all the health and healing benefits yoga can give you, but I wanted to share and try to explain how I feel about my Hatha Ashtanga(Mysore) yoga practice I get from The Yoga Shala in Winter Park. I can't explain it all; for its very personal, but below are some aspects of why I adore my practice.

"Practicing builds strength of character, confidence, self-esteem, will power and building your inner fire. As your practice becomes stronger, you become stronger. And you take that strength off the mat and into your daily life. With each session on your mat, you are building the strength to break through old habits and past conditioning.

Yoga feels so good you will want to return to your mat. The self-discipline evolves out of your practice, not the other way around. The self -discipline you are evolving on your mat will flow into your daily life.

It fuels the desire within us to reach for our highest potential. Constant effort and self-discipline is required to feed the fire.

The desire to create, experience and to expand is an innate part of each one of us. When we tap into our passions but don’t have the discipline to commit to them, we become internally conflicted or complacent. Whether our goal is a good relationship, a strong healthy body, a new home, a successful business, or to create art, we must tap into this fire; the gut desire to remain steady and focused on the goal. When our will is strong we make choices that lead us toward our higher purpose rather than instant gratification or immediate comfort. It is our passion and desire for self-evolution and transformation that will keep us committed. "

My Hatha Ashtanga (Mysore) yoga practice at The Yoga Shala in Winter Park has truly changed me. I am so very grateful that I can practice at such an amazing studio with even more amazing instructors. I'm also grateful for the friends I have made for life from The Shala.

I constantly rave about the studio to all my friends, acquaintances and people I just meet.

Being present with the challenges and successes - now that is something to experience daily.

Having commitment issues? Can't find the balance? Just give it a try. And when you do, you can honestly say you are giving yourself the best gift you have ever received.

More info about The Yoga Shala in Winter Park

Namaste :)

Walking in love bubbles...

Found some interesting quotes on love. It got me thinking. It seems every single person is in a moment of love. Whether we are in love, recently just out of love, looking for love or giving our love.

It seems no matter where you are in your life (sometimes we say we aren't ready) we are in some sort of love bubble. I didn't realize this till recently how much energy we put towards love. Humans need love.

I think love, love; you just cant explain it. Its something you feel differently each time and varying in each instance. I find it more fascinating that we cant seem to live with out it (walking in love bubbles)....

"The love in our hearts wasn't put there to stay, for love isn't love until you give it away."
- Unknown

"Love is the extremely difficult realization that something other than oneself is real."
- Iris Murdoch

"Well, it seems to me that the best relationships--the ones that last-- are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is...suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with."
- Dana Scully (The X-Files)

"To be loved, be lovable."
- Unknown

"Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to Love."
- Virgil


"The greatest happiness of life it the conviction that we are loved."
- Victor Hugo


"You don't get to choose, you just fall."
- Unknown

" If love is a sin, punish me by kisses. And if love is a crime, I wanna be your victim."
- Julie

"If I know what love is, it is because of you."
- Herman Hesse

"Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it... It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more."
- Erica Jong


"No man is worth your tears, and the one who is won't make you cry."
- Unknown

"If you spend your life trying to find the perfect 'one', you'll find it too late. True love comes when you least expect it."
- Francesca R. Aguado

Some Asanas - January 2011

I decided that maybe every 3-4 months I will record myself to see the progress I am making in my practice. I am not trying to compete with myself at all (thats not the point of this), I just want to see what I am capable of doing with my body and how its progressed over time in some asanas that are and have been challenging for me. I am so grateful that I am able to do this for me and my body.

I owe much of this experience to my friend kate (that introduced to The Yoga Shala) and of course all my wonderful Yoga instructors and mentors at The Yoga Shala in winter park

Thank you all!

Spicy Coconut Butter Pan Seared Cod with Herb Pureed Cauliflower

yum, yum, yum and oohhh sooo healthy. super easy and fast but you do need a blender or food processor for the cauliflower

I cooked a wild caught Cod lion laid it over shaved red onions and diced tomatoes and topped with jalopeno to give it that kick. I decided to pair it with an already favorite cauliflower recipe but I want to enhance it and green it up. The cauliflower recipe came from an online article and suggested to use a the food processor to sort of blend it to a chunky puree. I took it one step up and blended it with Cilantro and Parsley. Fresh Herbs make such a difference!

So here are the ingredients :)

For the Cod:

- 4-6 oz piece Wild Cod Loin
- 2 garlic cloves
- coconut oil (and coconut butter if you have it)
- some shaved red onions (very little amount)
- some diced tomatoes (again, little amount)
- a lemon wedge
- jalapeno pepper or some kind of hot pepper
- 1 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar

Directions

get a skillet/pan and cook cod in coconut oil. Add garlic and some of the jalapeno pepper diced. Go ahead and get your plate and lay and spread out the the shaved red onions, diced tomatoes and top it with that splash of apple cider vinegar. Once Cod is cooked lay it out top of the red onions and add the rest of the jalapeno pepper and squeeze the lemon wedge. (optional: I also topped with shaved coconut butter)

Cliantro & Parsley Cauliflower Pureed ingredients:

- head of cauliflower (I used half for 1 -2 servings)
- 1/4 cup of diced white onion
- 1/16 cup of parsley
- 1/16 cup of cilantro
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp of butter or vegan/vegetarian butter
- optional chopped walnuts for a topping (which I didnt show in the pic but later added)
- cumin spice
- salt

Directions:

- put cauliflower in food processor with the cilantro and parley and blend away. while that is blending, get a skillet out and heat pan with butter. add the white onions and then add the pureed cauliflower herb blend. crack the egg and add that in and stir away. just add cumin and salt to taste.

and WHALA! yummified healthy tasty food!!!

ENJOY!!!! I know I did :)

Also, every single ingredient I used was Organic ;)

Maybe I should start a blog called the Healthy Organic Pescatarian? What do you think? :)

Smoked Oysters in Olive Oil over Baby Spinach and Arugula Recipe

Easy, simple, quick yummy smoked oysters over baby spinach and arugula makes a tasty lunch or light dinner!

Low in carbs, high in protein, low in calories, nutritious and best - very flavorful :)

Ingredients:

- 1 can/package of Crown Prince Naturally Smoked Oysters (I dont think they carry it at publix. But should be able to find at any healthfood stores)
- 1 cup (or more depending on how hungry you are) of baby spinach & arugula mix
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/16 of a jalapeno pepper (or any hot pepper you want to use)
- 4 almonds
- tiny splash of apple cider vinegar, like 1 tbsp (or any white vinegar)
- Fresh herbs optional

Directions:

Just put the oysters in a skillet (no need for any oils since the oysters are packaged in plenty of olive oil) set to a medium heat and let it heat up. Dice up and add the garlic and jalapeno. Let that cook for about a few minutes.

Put baby spinach and arugula on bowl or plate and just lay oysters on top of salad. Then add that splash of vinegar

Crush the 4 almonds and sprinkle on top

EAT and Enjoy :)

More photos from photographer Brian Storey

more pics from a fabulous shoot with Brian Storey. There were so many good pics. he rocks! so im sure i will be posting more soon :)

for rates go to his site
to see pics larger and more of his work go here

oh and he has excellent taste in music as well. see his tumblr

Surrender all your love

my talented friend chris kelly wrote and sang a wonderful song. one line - the chorus line is "surrender all your love." the song is so beautiful to me in so many ways. i felt inspired to dance to it. no set choreography, just movement i felt at that particular time and i recoreded (no second takes). here are some snap shots.

i truly believe if we all would just surrender to love. our love. the love around us. we are love. this brings honesty and vulnerability. peace and love! thank you christina for writing such a powerful, meaningful, inspiring song! love you to pieces babe. MUAH!

stuff im working on...

just started messing around with choreography. more to come :)

But what is love without lust?

Woah. i wrote this below exactly one year ago and never posted it for some reason. sometimes i think i am brilliant. ;) enjoy :)

been pondering about the difference between lust and love.

some people have said to me "oh thats not love, thats just lust." like lust isnt a valid true honest form of love and that you shouldnt get confused with just physical attraction compatibility compared to love/romance.

but i have been thinking. how can you even have love without lust? who made up that rule? and yes i am aware of the love we have for our children, family and animals is a love without lust, but i am talking about the physical feeling/emotion you share with someone when you are intimate with them.

i read that one person thinks that there must be lust. Love is nice, but you must want that person in every way, ie - lusting.

Lust means an intense longing, a craving, intense or unbridled sexual desire, pleasure and delight.

Lust is nature's way of bringing the opposite sexes together to mate. In fact, without lust, it's doubtful that love would have a chance to prosper at all. So if we are physically attracted to someone and lust for them just like nature intended us to be, then why do some relationships sometimes not work with such a key instinctual element all good and set to go?

would you consider lust some sort of sexual bond? in this case, bond meaning an attractive force that holds together or a binding agreement? can it be so simple as an set physically attracted agreement and from there all you really need to do is work on the easy parts like compatibility? (if that is an easy part)

i mean you certainly can be compatible with someone and dont want to have sex with them and definitely dont lust after them. but how can we lust with with someone and not be compatible in other aspects?

some would say the difference between love and lust boils down to compatible brain styles. but if the brain is telling your body and hormones from lust that this is right, feels right, looks right, then how could the brain not automatically calculate that as love as well?

we would like to think we are smart and have evolved from just baby making machines and i do believe we have, but maybe lust leads to love? its something we cant explain, our bodies and minds just tell us its right. so if someone feels and looks good, what happens after that? dont just tell me it either works or doesnt. cause our bodies are telling us its right. we were designed to know when it feels right.

does lifestyle, education, religion, morals and viewpoints, etc weigh out to be more important than what our internal natural lust detector tells us? would one actually not consider a future partner they have been lusting with because of these differences? when our are bodies and brains were already designed to detect a lust match instantly and easily?

i am not siding with one view or the other. merely pondering about the science behind it all. why do we fight what feels natural to us? has society really shaped us to go against what naturally feels right (at least in this context)?

interesting stuff and on a side note -

i like this quote someone said and it has nothing to do with lust :)

"There is only one love, that is love for ones spirit. And when we see that spirit in another person, we love, we give, we detach while attach."

i like it and it has nothing to do about lust! aaaaaggghhh!!!! :/ ?!*?!

Best shoot to date! with Fob Photog: Brian Storey

yay! yesterday i got to shoot with the amazing brain storey oh and you can see more of his marvelous work here

this is i think the 3rd time i have shot with him and we are always bouncing ideas back and forth. im super comfortable around him and hes a great mentor! i know how to move and pose but he comes up with great ideas and together we make "fried gold" ;)

we found an awesome location (top secret, lol) and had a blast. wrapped it up with some soft, subtle and simple shots at my place and whala! i think we done good.

thanks brian! xo!

check out his site for prices if you need an updated port, special occasion, or hey - even want to surprise your lovey with something nice :)

Here are some photos. much more to come...

tumblr is addicting...

ok tumblr is facebook on crack. its basically another blogging platform that allows users to post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio to their tumblelog - (thanks wiki)

but! i must say, it really is quite addicting for someone like me who loves photography, new inspiring photos that i can use for photoshoots, fashion, quotes, poetry, and hip music. its a quick, easy, systematic way to showcase who you are as: a person, your personality, an artist or even your secret online fantasy character, lol (ie fantasies, obsessions, hobbies, your darkest thoughts, etc)

I LOVE IT. yes, its one more thing to spend countless hours away online, but i really do feel like you learn a lot for this sort of online pop culture social media cool community. one person quoted it as the “easiest way to express yourself" and a "powerful blog."

when my friend jessika told me about it, i wasnt too interested in it. but give it a couple days. as another user mentioned, if you were one of those passionate day dreamer teenagers that was always bored to death in school and during class would sit there doodle instead of take notes, then this my friend just be a little slice of heaven. no actually it would probably be more like finding a new band or song you just fell in love with and listen to over and over again :)

its love <3

www.tumblr.com

and in case you ever want to follow me :) my tumblr page

My experience with renowned oil painter Stacy Barter...

last week i had the pleasure to pose for a painting. the oil painter, stacy barter contacted me after a session i posed for at Creadle Art School Open Studio: Life Drawingwith Paul McNear (i pose there from time to time). i agreed, but i really didnt know much about her or her work. i figured i would enjoy the experience regardless...

stacy was very polite and professional when i spoke with her on the phone before we started our sessions and she also suggested i take a look at her website stacybarter.com. Wow, i was blown away. stacy barter has been the to numerous exhibitions, one in particular (the big one), Winner of the Prestigious Best in Show $25,000 Award 2007/2009 Competition, Exhibition and Tour of Blossom - Art of Flowers!

so i am kind of nervous/excited as i show up to her beautiful home in winter park where she lives with her husband terry (whom was a joy to meet and was also very kind), i got to meet the great herself. she is beautiful inside and out. stacy and terry made me feel so comfortable. beautiful people they both are - yes!

she liked my costumes from the crealde class (i usually pose in all kinds of costumes but the popular ones seem to be the tutus/costumes i kept from my days of ballet recitals - somehow i still squeeze into them, lol) and she decided on a white long flowy tutu; and i posed lounging out her couch.

here are some of the photos (from the first painting, there is another i will post later) she let me take through the few days i posed for her. they arent finished, but you will get the idea of what a remarkable oil painter she is. getting to work with a true, talented, articulate artist was an experience i will never forget.

thank you stacy (and terry)
see more of her work here

Baby Kanga Pix Photography

fantastic photoshoot with the fabulous photographer Joey Thomas and most talented hair stylist and makeup artist Jessica Velez.

thanks guys! what a transformation eh?

more photos to come!

Brian Storey Photography

shoot with Brian Storey
MUA Jacqueline E C Ford
Kelci for hair and styling

stock photography fun by Felix Mizioznikov

so i found some old photos i did from a shoot awhile back. this was actually my first photoshoot i ever did! no hair stylist. no makeup artist (i hardly put on any makeup - i didnt understand the concept yet, lol)

we shot at lake eola in front of people and some stopped to watch so it was very intimidating. great photog, Felix Mizioznikov. he was super nice and made me feel comfortable.

i believe he does a lot of stock photography. i have seen my pictures on shutterstock and such. its kind of awkward to know that people download your photo to use on their website, online articles or any kind of print collateral. not too shabby for the first time eh?