No name blog

It's really warm in the city today and crystal clear all the way to the coast. If it's clear and warm where I live, the rest of the city must be on fire. It's hard to leave town especially when the weather is as prefect as it is. But I'm heading out tomorrow morning with Nandi for some Psytrance in the woods. The Gemini party is where we're heading. I want to lose my mind for a bit, or to go even further into it. I long for that connection to sound as my breath allows my body to become lucid and free. It's that transformation that I am seeking. I want to reach out to the spirit world and ask for guidance and direction while I bare my naked soul to the universe.

I will come back to SF and be the mom that I am.

This will be my last camp out party for the summer. Forest is scheduled to touch down at SFO on Sunday night and will stay with us through August. So for now, I sit and enjoy the silence that is around me.

Forever grateful...

Yoga at the Asian Art Museum

This Sunday at the Asian Art Museum in SF we'll have our first yogi Kids program. I'm thrilled and honored to have been selectived to teach at the museum. The museum is free that day and so is our yoga practice. This free program will run through 6/09. Even if you do not want to practice yoga, the museum is FREE.

If you have children or just want to practice with me, or meet me bring your yoga mat and a smile.

A special thanks to my Synergy School kids Anna and Lucia for coming down and taking photo's with me.

www.asianart.org/family.htm#familyart

My wish....

Let our city be at peace today.

Abducted in the evaluator at the Temple

Here it is, day 6 of my master cleanse for spring. It's been the best fast for me ever. No complications, no trouble... it's been a smooth ride so far. On Saturday evening, day 3 of my cleanse Nandi and I attended the sound healing ceremony at the Temple's Zen Compound. Riding the elevator to leave the building, we intended on going home to relax with a cup of tea. It was around 10:30pm and the club downstairs was starting to fill up. Opel was having a huge party and we thought of going, but fasting and clubbing just don't mix well. I tired that last year and the sensory overload was horrific. So as we are leaving the event, we ran into a friend. Gina from Opel productions and the designer Fatima were getting in the elevator as we were getting out. Gina's eyes locked into mine... the next 5/12 hrs. were surreal to say the least.

I had to decide on the spot if I wanted to be a model. Not even knowing exactly what I was getting into I said "sure". Within a matter of two minutes, we were all riding the evaluator back upstairs. I was to be a model for Fatima. I thought great, we'll take a few pictures and I'll be in bed by midnight. Wrong, when we arrived up stairs, it was a frenzy of people walking around. There were dozens of models roaming around, being photographed, drinking fine champagne and vodka and smoking ganj. When we arrived into our make shift dressing room next to the freight elevator, many of the models where dressing and having their hair and make up done. It was nice to see Sharon Rose doing the make-up for many of the girls. As it turned out, I agreed without knowing that in less then 45mins I was going to walk the cat walk with Fatima's models. It was a crazy ride. The dress that I was wearing was taken off me right away, I was totally bare underneath. Fatima looked at me and found a dress that went very well with a certain neck piece I was wearing that night. Fatima is a master at creating a look around the model, rather then adjusting the outfit to fit the model. My dress was a wee bit large in some places so it was pinned on in place. Make-up was done in less then 10mins.

Show time.

Riding the evaluator to the club, the excitement that filled the elevator was infection. The music was pulsating and the lights were just right. We all fed on each others energy and supported each other. Many of the models like myself never walked a cat walk or modeled in a show. Needles to say, I was fasting which astounded many. It was all so beautiful, when I walked out, I got a few cat calls. It's was a blast. For me it was a celebration on many levels. Being a petite women, I stand just under 5 feet and felt a bit short to be a model. But love came pouring out from everyone. I am approaching my 44th birthday as well, a little old to be a model. Without a smoke or a drink, I was so high riding the energy around me. Not to mention, Fatima gave me the dress I modeled that might.

mvgals.net/gallery/opel_fashion-032208

Warning, ego inflated blog.

It's been a long time since I've blogged. But here I go. Hello tribe community. I've been in hybernation.

I love teaching yoga. I never know who will walk into my yoga world to practice with me or what will come out of it. While teaching I have met many wonderful people from every spectrum of life. I have developed some wonderful, and beautiful, and also some very unusual relationships too.

Yesterday I was offered a teaching position at the Asian Art Museum. This came out of no where. The woman who offered me the job has been practicing with me for some time now. Yesterday after practice she asked me if I would be interested in an in house teaching job at the Museum. She said regardless of my salary she would budget me. Nice work if you can get it!!! :-)

The museum is beautiful, with stately columns, and marble stairs. It is filled with ancient art. Buddha is every where.

So very happy this morning! Maybe it's time to go dancing.

The world of yoga

Did anyone attended the 5th annual Yoga journal conference in SF over the weekend? It was my first time to attend and I feel like a new person. My practice has taken on new dimensions and during my practice today, my students where pleased. Instead of practicing only asana/pranayama, I decided to expand my knowledge on the " Eight limbs of Yoga". ( I have them listed on my home page ). I spent 7 hours with three different teachers and nearly 50 students at the Embarcadro Hyatt on Friday afternoon. The eight limbs of yoga are also the petals of Buddhism. So in other words, it was day of Buddhist philosophy and how to apply them to every daily life and my practice. I needed some clarification to several of the limbs so that I could use them more effectively.

A thousand layers have been peeled back, a weight has lifted... I can breathe now.

I was able to speak to each instructor when they were done, and to my surprise they were excited by me and the questions I asked. I couldn't believe it, out of 50 students I some how stood out. Maybe it was my enthusiasm over all, but what really mattered most is that they regarded me as one of their own.

Frank Jude Boccio, Judith Lasater, Gary Kraftsow, thank you for keeping me on the path. Through Gary, I have found a similar spirit and a parallel in our practices and philosophies. Judith Lasater is one of the founders of Yoga Journal magazine and a master Iyengar instructor, she loved my name. Frank Jude Boccio is a Buddhist and yoga instructor who shared my loved for Champagne beads.

I plan on studying more with Gary when he comes to town in April @ the Yoga studio, Larkspur Landing.

Yoga David, ( David Leary) a burner and fellow tribe mate also taught at the conference. I could not make your class yesterday David, so sorry.


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A word on Gary, this man is far out.

Gary Kraftsow has been a pioneer in the transmission of yoga for health, healing and personal transformation for 30 years. He began his study of yoga in India with T.K.V. Desikachar in 1974 and received a Viniyoga Special Diploma from Viniyoga International in Paris, France. He is a renowned speaker and teacher of the Viniyoga methodology at many conferences and schools nationally and internationally. In 1999 he founded American Viniyoga Institute, LLC. Gary has successfully developed protocol for two National Institute of Health studies: "Evaluating Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain" and "Yoga Therapy for Generalized Anxiety." He is the Director and Senior Teacher of the American Viniyoga Institute; author of two books: YOGA FOR WELLNESS and YOGA FOR TRANSFORMATION;
This man is out of this world.

The simple life on Xmas

Woke up to the brilliant sun on my face, not a could in the sky nor chill in the air to dampen our enthusiam. It was a prefect morning. Meeting up with Rich for coffee @ Starbucks on Chestnut street, we met the most interesting young man named Branden. Forest and I then walked across the Golden Gate bridge and revealed in our day together. After our long walk, hunger got the best of us. We feasted on sushi.

We are waiting on Nandi's plane to touch down at SFO, it has a been a glorious Christmas day. It was a little odd not the do the traditional Christmas dinner with my parents, but what a great day with Forest.

Me so happy!

He's coming home today hooray.

This feels good

In the first hour of the of the Winter Solstice, I am wrapped in my warm fleece blanket which is the color of turmeric, the spice that makes curry yellow. The flat is quiet, all I can hear is my breath. The night air coming through the window is cold, the streets below are quiet. Beams of light are peaking in as the curtain sways, the moon is proud.

As if a thousand layers have been peeled back to reveal my soul, I am present with myself. The energy running through my veins is wild and electric. As if a blocked meridian line just opened in my body. Wonderful sensations, I wish I could bottle them, cork them and share them with you.

Liberation sweeps over me on a grand scale... I don't understand it, but I like the way it feels.


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Art work by Jessica A.