A Supermoon, the month of February, & Fibromyalgia walk into a bar…….

If you are looking for an uplifting I am sorry this is not one of them. As we reached the end of January my emotions go all places that are associated with sadness and anything that could make me happy doesn’t….I just tend to go through the motions and hope for the best. So, if you have made it this far and want to continue…sit back relax and figure out how the fuck I make it through everyday without killing everything.

On the last day of Jan 2018 the universe decided to have a supermoon/redmoon/bluemoon/lunarEclipse which sent me into the biggest, most intense, most painful flare up of my fibromyalgia I had ever experienced. I didn’t know my body could revolt this much causing myself and my stressed out mother to contemplate going to the ER. For those who know me personally understand that my pain tolerance is high, higher than most due to the chronic pain I have experienced in and through the passed 3-4 years. But, I have always been able to work through it. This was different. It was a constant burning, aching sensation in my back, chest, and shoulders. My hands were numb and it hurt to move. My mother tried to console me to try and not raise my blood pressure more, but nothing would help. It got to the point it hurt to inhale and exhale. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but finally after 5 hours of this, I fell asleep and woke up 75% of the way better…..and as I finish this post I’m right back on track to being 150% better. But, it was scary. I have never and don’t want to be in that position again. I am 26 years old and should be able to take on the world and the reality is I can’t and I have to come to terms with this.

One of the biggest reasons that I despise the month of February is the passing of my older brother. Three years ago on the 21st of February my older brother Johan unexpectedly passed away. For those who don’t know my older brother struggled with depression, anxiety, and addiction for close to 10 years. He was and will forever be my best friend, the nicest man I know, and the best older brother I could have ever asked for. He was gentle, kind, caring, and just a teddy bear. I was beyond lucky to have him for 23 years of my life and I miss him every moment of every day. The pain of loosing someone doesn’t leave, it doesn’t get easier, time allows us to adapt to the grief and learn what the new normal is. He is fantastic in life and in death. And for everyone that asks if I miss him, here is my response: of fucking course I miss him, I’m a human with feelings (damn this is nice to say).

So, now you know during February when you see me just know I’m trying my best. I’m trying my best to keep it together and moving forward and maintaining some sense of sanity (even though mine is not around anymore). I am trying my best. I am trying to survive each day. And I am just trying to be a normal human (this is forever impossible). Just know I’m putting whatever I have into each day to deal with my life.

I am forever grateful for my jobs, for my life, and for who I am as a person. I wouldn’t change anything even though some days seem impossible. Thank you for reading, know that you are a special human, and we are all just trying to make it this existence.

Until next time, stay bendy.

Leah

A much needed break…

When working at so many places putting in 10-14 hour days and feeling like life has hit you in the face and leaves you wanting to crawl into a hole and slowly whither away…and let me tell you it finally did me in. I was exhausted , overworked, and not making hardly any money after paying bills. So, I had to re evaluate some aspects of my life. What was working, what wasn’t working, and what needed to change so I could be living a more successful life. So, what did I do? I quick one job and got hired at another place, decided to beef up my yoga schedule to try and get more reliable income (still working on that), and decided to just pay off two credit cards in full draining my back accounts. Some things were done in the spur of the moment, others were done with a lot of thought and consideration. I have also had to shift how I think and feel about certain aspects of my life. How I do thinks? Can I do them better? How can I take care of myself better? And the best part is…I still don’t have any answers to any questions, I’m still lost in this crazy thing called life and I have a feeling this is going to be a permanent state of mind for a while. Do I enjoy being in this confusing state, no absolutely not. But, I know that it is necessary for me to be here; even though I may not enjoy any part of it. But, with this weird state, I am in and with myself just working my life into the grave, I know that good things are on the horizon. That if I can hold out for just a bit longer, things will be happier and healthier in my life. I’ll quote journey for a second, “don’t stop believing,” and that is just what I intend to do. Until next time everyone. Light, love, & Namaste.

Leah

Revamp The Restorative

Humans are creatures of habit. We hate change, don’t like to be uncomfortable, and (well in America) we want things NOW!!! Which is not wrong…..our brain chemistry (survival method) tells the rest of our body once we are comfortable we should not change anything because that could eventually lead to us not surviving. So, when you look at this as a survival mechanism humans hating the idea of change is an understandable thing. With that being said, when I went to sequence some new yoga classes….well, I was more than not too thrilled. But, it was a thing that needed to be down. Since my brother’s passing…I hate to say this….but…..I have been coasting……through every aspect of my life…… I can’t really blame myself because I am grieving the loss of my brother, my best friend, and my favorite person. I am allowed to be sad (everyone keeps telling me). So, knowing that I need to get some sort of normal back into my life….I grabbed my notebook, a few yoga books, some of my yoga journal issues I have marked some good ideas in, and I powered up my tablet and I started sequencing. I wanted to focus a class on hips, shoulders, and lower back, once I had that figured out I opened up my favorite yoga book….which is, “1000 pearls of yoga wisdom.” This book is amazing to just have for class inspiration, breathing techniques, break down of some poses, and lots of quotes (my favorite). Once, I had a light bulb moment I wrote down all of the poses as quick as I could. Than I focused on modifications for the poses and finally got the breathing down. The process took a while because I was actually trying to be creative….while trying to be creative. But, at last I was done and happy with what I had come up with. I was proud of myself, I actually sat down and changed something about my teaching and maybe it’s a change for the better….who knows?

I hope everyone is having a lovely Memorial Day!

See you on your mat!

The Curvy Yogini

Zen Up & Shape Out?

As the end of 2014 comes to a fast close (in a few days) we (as a society) start to notice the different highlights of the year. Maybe you try to find one word to summarize up your feelings/experiences/changes that have occurred throughout the last 365 days. Or, maybe you look to the year 2015 start to plan the year out. Figure out your New Years Resolution….which could be anything from the gym, to finding true love, maybe moving out, or start to realize that the 90’s was a long time ago (which is so strange to me, because I was born in the 90’s). I am going into the new year not wishing for things to be different, but wishing that things continue to stay the same and get better. My health is always an issue……relationships with my family are always works in progresses…..keeping my romantic life with my wonderful boyfriend of 1 1/2 years hot and spicy…and continue being myself (which can be difficult). So, maybe just sit back for a second and think what you want to get out of this upcoming year. Maybe you can surprise yourself what you come up with.

Thank you for your eyes and ears…..and of course thank you for being you!

See you on your mat in 2015,

The Curvy Yogini

Find A New Perspective In Each Pose.

All humans have great weeks, eh weeks, bad weeks, and awful weeks. Personally for myself it has been a difficult week. Lots of problems with my health and I have been an emotional ride…it has been a very un zenful week. But, of course being a yogi…I am looking at what can I take out of this difficult week or what are the good parts that I can take out of this week.
Good Parts of the Week
– I’m alive
– I have amazing doctors
– I have my dream job
– I’m lucky to have an amazing boyfriend
– I can practice yoga
– I got to see my amazing boyfriend
– I have an amazing group of friends
– I run my own buisness
– My mom is kickass
– Overall I’m a lucky woman

As I read over this list I feel guilty to even say that I had a bad week. Becuase I am so lucky to have all of these things and people in my life. But…is it bad that I still feel sad about my week? Maybe? I really don’t know. Do I just need to process all the information that has been thrown at me? Do I need to figure out how to fix everyone/everything? Or most importantly do I need to figure out how to make myself happy first? All these questions swarm in my head and as hard as I try to push them out they stay. Let me tell you it’s really hard to cue my yoga students to calm and silence there mind, while mind is running around with thoughts. So for this up coming week, I am going to personally try to find a new perspective in my life. And next post I will give you an update.
Untill next time.
See you on your mat!

The Curvy Yogini