Finding My Yogi Niche

Yoga and Surfing

2011-01-23T10:03:00.001-08:00

I began my morning kayaking the La Jolla Cove in CA, where I was able to see the national wildlife in its natural habitat. I could not believe how friendly see lions were as they allowed me to glide my kayak within 2 feet of them. The waves would crash up against their bodies as they rocked back and forth on the shoreline. People would swim by them barely looking as I would be taking photo after photo of the wild creature.

After taking my very first surf lesson I was exhausted. I have yoga to thank for my perseverance through out the surfing lesson. I was able to relate everything the instructor was showing me to a different asana. My patience was tested during the lesson, because all I wanted to do was stand on the board. The instructor, Cocoa was patient with me and actually told me I was a natural.

When the instructor would say push up, I would think of an Ashtanga push up. When she told me to arch my back I would relate the posture to high cobra. Because of my yoga background I had decent balance for a first comer to the surfing world.

Although insanely sore the following morning I pushed myself to a Kundalini style yoga class where the teacher read my body and guided me through gentle meditation. I was relaxed and could almost fall asleep. We practiced our breath of fire and breathed in the sun lit air.

Between the surfing lessons and great yoga, I do not know how I will leave the city of San Diego. Each venture out into the world here leads me to a different reason to why I should lay my head here.

Native New Yorkers

2011-01-21T07:40:00.001-08:00

When I first became a teenager I would fantasize about moving out of my parent’s home and becoming this big shot attorney. Now at age 26, I am debating on moving back home with my parents in order to save money and start my own business. My parents are less then thrilled about the new venture but are trying their best to be supportive.

Last night I watched the sun set over Pacific Beach in California. I stayed in the same spot for about 30 minutes taking photos and talking with people passing by. The sun set was magnificent with its bright array of colors varying in pinks and oranges.

With my feet stuck in the sand and my camera by my side, I met a peer who had just moved to San Diego about 4 months ago. Another person looking to find his niche in the world. Jeff, born and raised, in Staten Island NY lives off of his earnings from playing poker. On a day to day basis he wonders up and down the shoreline of Pacific Beach. He randomly chooses people to talk too. When Jeff first approached me, I was taken a back by his forwardness to meet new people. We quickly struck up conversation about being native New Yorkers and how much we both loved the ocean view in San Diego. Jeff never wishes to return NY and highly suggested me making the move to Cali.

I went into deep thought watching the sun go down. My life has changed dramatically in the last six months. I am not in the place where I thought I would be today. And although I am nervous about what the future holds for me I am still excited to go forward. Like Jeff I hope to bring my New York pizzazz to California.

A Holiday

2011-01-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

In the words of Florence and the Machine, The Dog Days are Over. This is me letting go of my past and letting go of those memories that I so long to forget. Some would say to not forget the memories and to understand that this is where they brought me. I would say, this is what the memories taught me. They taught me to be who I am now and to live for the moment.

I have been living every second to the fullest in San Diego. I have never felt more present and more aware of who I am as a person, as I do in California. This is where I plan to call home and where I plan for my next journey to begin. The next journey of Liz begins at this moment, this second, this now …

Kevin, a local bartender of San Jose’s in La Jolla, CA, recommended me not going to LA for the day tomorrow. I thought this would be a great excursion for me to experience. His words of wisdom were to live in the present of San Diego. If San Diego is where I initially felt my presence than I should be experiencing it to the fullest. I agree with Kevin. Tomorrow I will go by Kevin’s recommendations and explore the coast. I go where my heart leads me.

Kevin moved from Seattle, WA to San Diego, CA looking to find his so called niche in life. I was explained the correct pronunciation by a British native yesterday, she explained to me that people in the UK find their niche by exploring the world and taking a holiday. I am on my current holiday finding my niche. This could be it.

Korean Day Spa

2011-01-18T21:51:00.000-08:00

Tonight I went by the recommendation of the bar tender last night, to a Korean Aqua Day Spa. The spa was setup in disarray and chaos. Massage tables lined up one after the next and open shower heads in the most random spots. If you are uncomfortable with nudity I would not recommend this type of spa. This was my first experience in a spa like this.

I received a dead sea salt scrub and oil massage. My masseuse was strong and forceful but used the utmost care in spots of tenderness. She wore exfoliating gloves and scrubbed my whole body from head to toe. The scrub is meant to strip your body of any excess dead skin. The feeling was rejuvenating.

As my masseuse scrubbed me down for the next 80minutes I could not help but think, that this massage is symbolic for me. As she scrubbed away the dead skin, I wondered could this be me letting go of the past. Each layer of skin that she removed represented a different age in my life. I keep telling people that I meet here in California that I am going through a transition period in my life. Everyone just nods there head, I must have a transition look on my face.

Could the masseuse have been scrubbing out past relationships? Previous confrontations? Or could it be a past that I would like to forget; or a past that has brought me to where I am today? I like to think of my past as a huge learning experience. This spa was a learning in itself that I know I have to be getting more comfortable with my body to be massaged in a room full of naked women.

After a long while waiting, I am finally starting to feel comfortable in my own skin again. This massage stripped me of the shell I was protecting myself in. I was cleansed and renewed. I stepped out with my fresh skin breathing in the San Diego air. I never felt so clean. This is the start of my new beginning.

Kindred Spirits

2011-01-17T20:36:00.000-08:00

As I landed, I could feel the grin sweep across my face. This is the first time I have ever been to San Diego, let alone the first time I have ever been to California. The feeling was new and exciting. I could feel the fire from my toes to my lungs and across my scalp. I could see the mountains below pass by as the plane prepped for landing, “This is it,” I thought. Would I one day be able to see myself living here?

Since I was of the age of 13 I could remember wanting to live here. I wish for this city to be as much as I hope it for. I ventured out to the streets of San Diego to find out if this city was suitable for my living expectations.

When I walked into a local winery I found three locals there sipping on a mix of pinot noir and Riesling. The recently newly married bride said to me, “Kindred Spirits come to San Diego wanting to find a home, a niche.” Little did she know that this sounded utterly perfect to me. In my current transition in life I am looking to find my so called niche, my groove in life. I want to be able to excel in life where ever it takes me. I want to excel at my job and in my personal life equally. I want to come out on top for both.

The recently newly married bride, Kendra went on further to explain, “that people from NY are only looking to get out of those nasty winters.” This is true; I have longed to get out of the winters of NY. The sound of its always sunny in San Diego does seem appealing. Who could argue about flip flops in January? I will wear those flip flops in January with pride as I walk the streets of San Diego.

The transition that I am currently going through is constantly reminding me to stay present and enjoy the journey of life. At times this is so difficult. Kendra brought it right back to reality, “Take ownership to your life!” she announced to me with a sip of wine. I have to learn to take ownership over my life. I have to live the life I want and be the life I want to live. I don’t think even Kendra in her state of mind knew how powerful her words were.

Whether it is San Diego or another near by city to call home, I know that this is my journey and I only need to learn acceptance about this journey. My life is exactly where it needs to be…

1st Headstand!

2011-01-10T16:56:00.001-08:00

For the first time ever today I was able to get into a headstand! I felt so accomplished! It was like I was on cloud nine when I did it. I was so excited that someone even had to take a picture of me while I was in my zen moment. After I did this for the first time, I kept doing it over and over again.

I was studying this morning with a man named Set from India who is an Ayurvedic Medicine specialist. He asked me, “What does yoga mean?” At first I didn’t know how to answer him. I starred at him; there isn’t a real definition of yoga. I gave him the generic answer, “Mind, Body and Soul.” He responded with yes that’s correct but yoga is what you make of it. For someone to truly understand the art of yoga they have to attend a class and try it, he further explained.

What you put into your practice is what you’ll get out of it. Someone who practices only once every two weeks will not receive the same benefits as someone who practices 7 times a week. I can treat myself to about 3 classes a week and the rest of my practice is spent on my home mat in the mornings and evenings before and after work.

Little by little I know I will eventually reach myself off of the wall when doing my headstands. This is a huge goal for any yogi. Getting into a headstand is challenging and argues the laws of gravity. What a feat when you do finally get into one though. For the me one of the meanings of yoga is taking the risk and challenging your mind, body and soul.

Comfort Zones

2011-01-08T15:49:00.000-08:00

I was given feedback at work yesterday, to be more chatty with the people I meet in yoga classes. While in Florida I have attended three different yoga classes so far. Each class being different than the last. New York has challenging yoga classes but it was nice to get out of my comfort zone and try new studios. Today during my third class I was much more talkative and was able to understand the community more that I am staying in.

After my yoga class this morning, I attended a music festival at a winery. The music was a mix of bongo drums, guitars, and a male vocalist. What a feeling to be out of the snowy area in NY and be in the glowing sun of FL while sipping wine to live music. I took the feedback given at work and applied it to this social event. And I’m glad I did.

My grandmother and I met two people on a blind date. The man a retired NYPD detective named Rich. Not much older than 45; the two looked like they had been dating for years. We discussed speeding tickets, the latest in local news and today’s job market. I graduated from SUNY Newpaltz with a dual degree in Journalism and Public Relations. Today I am the Ast. Manager for a retail store that focus on yoga apparel. I love my job, I’m constantly meeting new people and having new life experiences. My job has taught me to be more confident in the person I am today. This retired detective’s advice was to go where the job takes you and to never stay in your comfort zone. Get out of the small town I grew up and travel with work.

I have to learn to take risks. I am the type of person who stays in her comfort zone. I want to stay working for the company I love so much. I hope in the new future that a new position will open for me that I can get off of the retail floor and focus more on my passions in life like writing. Rich was right when he said, “Liz, you just need a little push off of that cliff!” Maybe he was the inspiration I needed to challenge myself more.

My Grandmother

2011-01-06T17:12:00.000-08:00

If at age 76 my little old Nanny can get up for a yoga class than I believe anyone can. She gives me inspiration everyday to push myself further on my mat. Every other morning she starts off with a private yoga instructor who is well cultured in Ayuvedic medicine and Ashtanga Yoga. She lives down in central FL and has really found her niche in life.

I find this incredible that my grandmother, at her age finds the time and motivation to take a class. I admire her for her commitment. I believe strongly that this will help to lengthen her good health. She values her body and understands that it is her temple. She eats healthy and continues her workout with a long a walk around the neighborhood.

When I talk to my grandmother she is happy and present. I respect her for her being so grounded in life. I hope one day that I am able to be as well grounded as her. At age 76 I know that I am destined to maintain being the yogi that I am. With my Nanny as inspiration I will continue to strive at my practice and find my niche.