16 going on 17. September 18, 2009

So I went to acupuncture the other day. No particular reason. I was just in the neighborhood and I thought about it. One thing that I’ve been doing during my 30 days is listen to my intuition more and pay attention to synchronocities. Why not?

I felt pretty good talking to the acupuncturist because I’ve been taking good care of myself. It’s cool how much they can tell about your body by taking your pulse and looking at your tongue. She was immediately concerned when I told her that I practice bikram yoga regularly. Sometimes 3 or more times a week. (Like times when I don’t have a job.) She said I was warmer than I should be. I actually have noticed that I am much more warm-natured than I used to be. She said that’s an effect of the bikram. And when I told her I have some stomach pain she said that the heat can get trapped in a person’s belly and mess with digestion! Ah! No good. And the kicker: She asked about my metabolism. I’ve actually gained about 10 pounds since I’ve started doing yoga. That doesn’t make much sense! I assumed it had to do with being one year older, and gaining muscle. But, maybe that’s not it! WELL, turns out that for some people, bikram speeds up your metabolism. For others, it slows it down. I guess I am one of those “others.”

WHAT AM I DOING? All this yoga so that I can gain weight? That’s weird….

But I’m addicted. It’s been wonderful for me mentally and emotionally. Like, I can be a little crazy. But I have felt so much more balanced since I began this yoga. And physically, every bone and muscle feels completely worked out after an hour and a half of bikram. And I love leaving the studio, completely refreshed, ready to take on the day! That’s my favorite feeling. Then I’m ready to take on the day.

So I am wondering if I should try another type of yoga. I am actually a little scared. Going into a new studio, doing poses I’m not used to, without extreme heat to warm up my muscles! I have the studio I go to, I have the workstudy hookup, I have friends there. I know the teachers and the managers. There are people there I look forward to seeing. And, I have gotten better at it. Lately, there have been a couple of poses in which the teacher used me as an example for!

It sucks to think that it might not actually be the best thing for me.

Anyways, that’s just one opinion. But checking out a different type of yoga would be worth a try.

What does that have to do with my 30 days? Well, I am trying to create the lifestyle I want for myself. I have found that with free time, I am drawn to going to (bikram) yoga, I am drawn to regular shopping at Whole Foods, and I’m reading book after book about well-being. I really do think it’s possible to feel 100% all the time. So I’m trying to do that for myself.

But this also is a pretty big indicator of where my interests lie.

So I have been looking into various fields in the well being area.

You know what I haven’t done? Audition.
Wait—I did have one audition. I went in for a commercial. I stood there and slated my name. The role was for a nurse that points to a piece of paper and smiles.
I didn’t book it.

…

Yeah. So.

I really would like a skill to offer the world. That would provide for my food and shelter needs. That wouldn’t have anything to do on whether my look works.

It is interesting to me that with all this free time, I have not picked up a backstage. I don’t really want to audition for a play! I mean, I’d love for someone to pay me to do the shows that I’ve created with friends. Yeah, sure! But I have no desire to work on a monologue. I would rather read a book about vegetables.

I saw some music this week. And I realized that this is one of the best things I can do for myself. It is in no way related to work, to growth, to my own self. It is something that takes me outside of me. It is FUN, it is INSPIRING. And, just going to see a band took me out of my regular world. That’s the best thing about New York. I met some interesting people and had one of those nights where you don’t know what will happen next.

I saw this quote somewhere, “You need this magic right now.”

I’m in the middle of my month, enjoying the magic. and the vegetables. and music.

Maybe I will get the courage to check out a different yoga studio tomorrow! And you know, see what happens.

whatever strengthens that life force May 12, 2009

My friend Anna is in acupuncture school. She’s the one who got me to go to acupuncture, which was probably the first step I took towards taking better care of my health. Anna is learning so much interesting stuff about Chinese medicine, which she shares with me. (Like the Five Elements. They believe that each person’s personality is dominated by one of the elements: Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, or Metal. Knowing which is your dominant element can give you a little insight about your health. Here’s a Chinese element personality type quiz.)

Well, when you dabble in lots of different forms of thought, at times they will not quite merge. We were talking about yoga. I haven’t done much regular yoga since starting Bikram. Chinese medicine has some issues with Bikram. She was telling me that all that sweating is thought to deplete your yen, your life force. Yikes! I don’t wanna lose my life force!

But, the thing is, it has taken me 26 years to discover a form of exercise I enjoy enough to do regularly. So, Chinese medicine says I shouldn’t do Bikram and Bikram teachers say I should do it every day. And I’m pretty sure there are schools of thought out there that will tell me that I should stay away from both yoga and acupuncture!

Well, I feel pretty darn proud of myself if I can make it to Bikram 3 times a week. Often it’s just two. Or, one! And, even if it’s just one day I week, my life force feels strengthened by going.

So, I’m gonna keep going! I’m listening to my body on this one. Interestingly enough, my dominant element is fire, which may explain why I enjoy doing yoga in a 100+ degree room.

The Holistic Spring Fling! This Sunday, April 19. April 17, 2009

If you have interest in learning about various holistic health practices, there is a great event going on this Sunday afternoon. The Holistic Spring Fling is happening from noon to 5 p.m. in midtown Manhattan. A variety of services will be offered, including body work, feng shui, community acupuncture, yoga, energy healing and more.

The event benefits the volunteer organization New York Cares. Pre-register for $25 or pay a $30 donation at the door.

My wonderful friend Jamie will be in town, and we’ve got a date! It’s going to be a great afternoon. Maybe I will see you there!

Let’s move a little chi. March 26, 2009

I may completely botch this up, as I am relatively new to Chinese medicine, but my understanding of acupuncture is that it all comes down to the movement of energy; of chi. That’s why heating pads are good for sore muscles or cramps—heat creates movement. There’s all sorts of stagnation in our chi and the needling is what helps the chi to move.

Here’s what I’m getting at: I’m looking at areas in my life that are stagnate and trying to metaphorically needle them to create some energy flow! One of these areas in my core thinking. I’m in a process of trying to shift my entire belief system. I am realizing that my biggest limitation that I have in my life comes down to my mindset. I’m used to not having much money, to working too much, and to the level of success that I have found in my life. Well damn! I’m ready to have money! To work less! To have awesome success!

I am starting to understand the idea of putting things out into the universe. A few months ago, I did an activity from The Artist’s Way: Write down 10 wishes in 7 different categories: health, leisure, possessions, career, spirituality, relationships, and creativity. Dreaming in some of these areas was easy. Some of the areas took more prodding. My thinking was stuck. I had to really push myself to claim some wishes. UMM… A commercial. Yes, I would like to book a commercial. YES, this is attainable!

As I was creating a wish list, my mind already had limits on what I could wish. No way—That one is too big! You’ll never do that. You’ll never follow through with that. Pick something more attainable. Come on, self! Just DREAM for a minute. Put it out there!

One of the wishes on my “possessions” list was shelves. I’d wanted some shelving in my apartment for the three years that I’d lived here. But the task had always been daunting to me. I didn’t know if shelving was allowed in my building. I am not very good with a drill. I also did not have said drill. I didn’t know how I would even find money in my budget to buy shelves! But, I wanted them. I wanted to see my books. I wanted to display all my baking supplies and my lovely tea pots. I wanted a place to put some flowers. So I put it on my list. Hey, universe! Could you throw me a bone with these shelves?

It was my mom’s idea to come visit me and help redo my little studio. Then my dad decided—what the heck—he’d join too. They bought the shelving, and my dad put it up in about 15 minutes. Done. A little present from George, St. Clair, and the universe.

I didn’t know how I would get the shelves up, and I certainly foresee my parents coming all the way up here and helping with it. It just started with writing it down and claiming what I wanted.

I think that there are some wishes on my list that I still don’t believe that I deserve or could achieve. But still, it is powerful to just have them all down on paper. Some part of me must believe that these wishes are attainable. I just have to keep needling away, trying to move some of that chi until the rest of me truly believes that I can have every wish on my list.