'Enlighten Up' a review

When I heard that someone was making a Yoga documentary I freaked out. I was so excited to think that maybe someone could show how cool yoga really is. Maybe even get some new interest from people. The movie was never released in theaters here in Oklahoma so I never got to see it till DVD. By that time I had heard a lot of other opinions about the movie. Usually mine isn't the same as everyone else's.

The movie was decent. It was a great idea but I think that Katie tried to hard to make a transformation come out of someone that really didn't give a damn about the spirituality of yoga and the process. It was almost as if she was trying to push him into it. Every famous Yogi that they sat down with said that it cant be forced. Katie even appeared to be mad at him at some points cause he didn't care.

I think Katie herself is looking for something and was hoping through their journey they could help each other get there.

A different subject would have had a different outcome too though. Maybe if she had gotten a student that had been practicing for about a year and was really curious about it would have had a more spiritual awakening or one at all. There was a few moments where you could tell that he was opening a little but yoga does that and it takes time.

Anyhow if you love yoga like I do then watch the movie. Its good to see major Guru's like Inyengar and Jois.

Metta

Metta Meditation
Blessing of Loving Kindness

May I be happy, may I be peaceful, may I be free from suffering.
May no harm come to me, may no problems come to me, may no difficulties come to me, may I always meet with success.
May I have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.

May all my family(name them aloud or silently)
May they be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.
May no harm come to them, may no problems come to them,
be happy, may no difficulties come to them, may they always meet with success.
May they have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.

May all my teachers(name them aloud or silently)
Be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.
May no harm come to them, may no problems come to them,
be happy, may no difficulties come to them, may they always meet with success.
May they have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.

May all my friends
Be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.
May no harm come to them, may no problems come to them,
be happy, may no difficulties come to them, may they always meet with success.
May they have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.

May all my enemies
Be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.
May no harm come to them, may no problems come to them,
be happy, may no difficulties come to them, may they always meet with success.
May they have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.

May all sentient beings, seen and unseen, born and to be born
Be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.
May no harm come to them, may no problems come to them,
be happy, may no difficulties come to them, may they always meet with success.
May they have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.


I do this every morning before meditation. Then I do a few rounds of a mantra to help quiet my monkey mind.

Hopefully this helps you as much as it helps me. I got this at Yoga teacher training in January of 2009. I try to do this every morning at least. My swami does this every morning with his wife.

His wife wrote this one.

Namaste
AshD

Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies

Found this recipe and made these for my Cookie Exchange at work. I tripled them and they are fantastic.

makes 2 dozen


* 7 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate
* 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
* 1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
* 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
* 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
* 1/2 cup dark-brown sugar, packed
* 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar


Directions

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Chop chocolate into 1/4-inch chunks; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and cocoa.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and grated ginger until whitened, about 4 minutes. Add brown sugar; beat until combined. Add molasses; beat until combined.

3. In a small bowl, dissolve baking soda in 1 1/2 teaspoons boiling water. Beat half of flour mixture into butter mixture. Beat in baking-soda mixture, then remaining half of flour mixture. Mix in chocolate; turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Pat dough out to about 1 inch thick; seal with wrap; refrigerate until firm, 2 hours or more.

4. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Roll dough into 1 1/2- inch balls; place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Refrigerate 20 minutes. Roll in granulated sugar. Bake until the surfaces crack slightly, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

I love to bake and these were fun and very time consuming to make.. Baking is a mediation to me and I love to do it. The holidays just give me another excuse to do it.. Hope that you enjoy them too.

Zucchini & Feta Muffins

Zucchini & Feta Muffins

2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup of virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 1/2 Tbsp grated lemon zest

Preheat oven to 375. Grease 6-cup muffin tin.

Sift the dry ingredients together in A medium bowl, beat eggs and oil with electric mixer until smooth.

Stir in the zucchini, feta cheese, and lemon zest. Add the dry ingredients, and stir until the mixture is just combined.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cool on a rack.


Variations:
Carrot & Zucchini muffins-- prepare the basic muffin recipe substituting 3/4 cup finely shredded carrot for 3/4 cup zucchini.

Zucchini, feta, & olive muffins-- add 3 Tbsp finely chopped olives in muffin batter.

Orange & Zucchini-- add 1 Tbsp finely grated orange zest to the muffin batter.


Store refrigerated in an air tight container for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.


FYI: Hubs even likes these.. so they are good. he doesnt like anything.

Friends with 'Me'

OK so I have been reading and its really been getting to me. I have noticed that somehow the right book seems to find me when I need it the most. The Namaste Book club has been great for me for this reason.

I'm reading books that i may have never heard of or never would have picked up to begin with.

I have been having a hard time mediating lately. I have been find things about myself that I either A)didn't like B)didn't want to deal with or C) just sucked in general to deal with.

This book has made me realize that I'm not a "bad person" no matter what has happened. That I can love myself and its OK to not be the "best person" all the time.

My past isn't to fantastic but I'm trying really hard to be the best person that I can be now and in the future. I want to like me for me, not the person that I want to be or that someone else wants me to be. But the person that I AM right now, right here.

Through my yoga practice I have become more aware of these issues and have really started to want to make a change in all things that I do. Love, life, teaching, working, whatever it might be. I want to be a better me doing it.

The things that I hate to do the most are the things that I am making a moving meditation on the Daily.

So I guess I'm working on the now and the me part. I need a book to help me with the us part now too.. lol

Namaste
xoxo
AshdYogi

wow I need to do this more often..

OK making myself a deal.. Im going to do this at least once a week.. for me not you guys. But I would love for you to read it please. Thanks AshD

What I Learned Out on the Road

Well things are differently changing in my life I can say that. I have had a very trying past couple of weeks and learned a lot about myself and other people. Maybe it just took me leaving here to see that fully.

I know now that I must watch what I say/write/or even think more than i thought to begin with. People take many things the wrong way. I know that my opinion is my own and some share it but the vast majority does not. People that I have looked up too aren't the same people that they were and I am not the same person I was.

Life is one of those ever changing things that I can not control nor do i want to anymore. I excited to be a part of it and I know that some of the people that i was friends with 10, 2, or 6 months ago I may not be friends with tomorrow. Life is just like that. Sometimes they out grow me sometimes I out grow them. Sometimes people just don't grow at all and that's OK. Being a good friend is accepting people for who they are not who I want them to be or expect them to be.

I know that i must still work on my path and what i want to achieve in this life. all of this is not in Oklahoma. I love this state but i know i don't want to be here forever.

SO i guess that I'm trying to say i must work on me and my family and not worry about what is beyond that. I know what i put out i get back.

I have to live the life to teach the life.

I will never quit learning and life will never quit changing.. All is good though.

Namaste
xoxo AshD

TheDemon

Here is the story. I have had the nickname 'Demon' since i was very small. I was very spoiled, always got what i wanted and didn't really care about anyone or thing but myself.

From the time of about 13-26 i was evil to my family. I know we were all bad to a point i was stupid bad. My ex-boyfriend started calling me AshDemon when we broke up and towards the end of our relationship. It kinda stuck.

Lately since i have moved to a new town few people know about that nickname. Now in OKC I'm known as AshDemon. Here and for the past 5 yrs its been AshD or Ash. I have been wondering why this keeps popping up.?

I was thinking it was because of all the bad shit that i use to do. I don't think so anymore. I think it has something to do with the way that I do the things that you know you shouldn't do but would regret if you didn't? if that makes any since.

I just think that the demon could be a good demon. One thing that triggered this is when i was at my yoga teachers house her boyfriend put the word 'demon' on my picture on the fridge. Everyone else had words to and I don't know if she told him about my past but anyhow i thought "geez I'm never going to get this name away."

I know through yoga and meditation im a better person i ever was before. I only want to get better too. but there comes a point when i just need to be me too. THere has to be a balance between the yogi and the demon.

I'm going to embrace the demon though. Know I'm the girl you call when you want to do some thing you shouldn't but really want to anyhow. But also the girl tht you can trust to be there if you need something serious. I love my family, friends, and teachers.

Sometimes i miss the old me.. But I LOVE the new me. I'm happy most of the time. I will embrace the Demon when she presents her self.. and be OK with it.. Not think I'm a bad person cause people see this in me.

PS.. or side note to all this.. on the yoga retreat I met a Mexican woman that called me El Diabla. Never met her before ever. she just saw it. freaked me out then too..

xoxo

AshD

why all at the same time.?

Well this has been one hell of a summer so far. Im glad that its almost over. Time to go back to Cali and do something different for a while. Life has been throwing me some crazy curveballs here lately though. Things that I didnt think I was ready for somehow I now know I am.

One thing for sure was my dad. I knew he wasnt doing well. Growing up in a small town people always seem to know your business. I knew that he had, had a few heartattacks and that he wasnt doing good. Me being hard headed, I didnt wnat to pick up the phone and make the call. It was his turn this time. He did last friday. I was very upset at frist always assuming the worst. So I went to see him to put aside our differences. Regaurdless of our past I dont want to not be there for him when he needs me.

This has been diffucult to juggle and explain to my mom. O well. I know that I have to do what I need to do to make this better for me.

Im thinking that this maybe my lesson in forgiveness. Its hard to be mad at someone when they cnat change the past. Im taking this as my cue to do what I think is best. I have been sitting and meditating about it. I know i cant be angry cause thats just lost energy.

I know that thru my pratice and meditation all well be fine. Life just has to run its course.

xoxo
AshD

Inglourious Bastards: A Review....

Quentin Tarantino has done it yet again. I'm my eyes he can do no bad movie. By far I think that this is one of the best films to date. I'm still partial to Deathproof and Kill Bill cause they are such empowering female movies and Pulp Fiction of course.

All actors in the movie were very on point as well. I do believe that it was one of Brad Pitts finest rolls to date as well. BJ Novak and Eli Roth were both fantastic.

I really didn't even notice that the film was 2 and a half hours and I'm one of those people that generally gets up to pee.. I did not move one time.

This is a must see in my opinion. I see several movies at least one a week and this is one that is guaranteed not to disappoint. Holds true to Tarantino films of the past. I just wish that we could get them more quickly.

Also doesn't disappoint with the gore from prior films as well. He still keeps everything as real as possible.

GO SEE THIS MOVIE IF ITS THE ONLY MOVIE YOU WATCH ALL SUMMER...

xoxo
AshD

Something is fishy.. or maybe its Me?

I usually know when something is a foot. I think that theres something a foot now. Don't know what it is but. I will figure it out. Maybe I'm paranoid but hey. Its better to be aware of whats going on the oblivious.

I'm going to go do some yoga on that note and chill. I need some good music as well.

I always seem to think that when things are going well that the bottom will fall out and everything will go to shit. That's just how it has always been in my life.

Now that I know that things are OK I don't know what to do. There is no need to fight or anything. Life is fantastic. So why is it that i still feel that thing that makes me think it will all fall to bits.

That's that whole being present thing to me.. I will go and do just that.

xoxo
AshD

Those Dang Chest Openers...

Yoga has helped me in so many different was it has helped me to quiet my mind and learn to be still. Its also helped me learn from myself and care more for other people around me.

I think that I have noticed the most is that I have become more sensitive towards other people and myself. I was always the girl that was to 'tough' to cry or for anyone to see upset.

Within the past year I have noticed as my chest and my upper shoulders have started to open so has all the 'crap' that I have been carrying around with me as well.

I haven't been the best or nicest person throughout my life. I know this. I am now trying to be a different more caring person towards myself and others. I think that it has been harder to forgive myself than it ever has been to forgive anyone else. Actually I know that it has because I work on it everyday still. I haven't forgave myself.

I know that holding on to things only hurts me in the end. So I'm trying really hard to forgive myself so that I can move on.

For some reason I seem to think since I have done some pretty shitty things that I am a shitty person. I know (I think) that I'm truly not a bad person.

I know the more chest openers that I do the more it will all come out.

Its weird to me to know that once i start to open my body up physically then emotionally it just follows. Pretty neat too. I love Yoga and all the things that I learn and grow from it daily.


Sit more is what I have to do. I don't know about anyone else but the sitting helps me the most.

What I learned on the mat today...

Wow just when you think your day is shit and all you want to do is go home, but you make yourself go to yoga hoping that it makes you feel better is some way or another. Be if I'm stressed or down or what ever I good Yin class always does the trick.

I have the most kickass teacher and mentor a young yogini could ask for. Bonus shes also a fantastic friend. Anyhow on to my point.

Today we had a great seated class. All of it was reclining and legs in the air mainly. For me its been getting that lower back on the floor and making it stick. That deep hollowing.

Before class started I sat and brought my awareness inward and thought 'What is my intention to day? What is wrong with me and why am I all blue for?'.

For some reason I automatically thought breathe through your heart..... sit... be aware of your body and breath and it will all be fine..... be present.. now...

Through most of class I practiced with my eyes closed and felt it all.

Point is I worry to much.. Don't sit enough.. Don't listen to my heart enough.. and should trust myself and others a lot more..

I think a lot of people do though.

so SIT more, Breath deeper, and just be present damnit..

xoxo
AshDYogi

Empathy

Since Thursday I have been with my husband at home. He had shoulder surgery there is the link if you want to know all about it. He had the a similar thing done in 2002. Anyhow hes been in a lot of pain and I thought that it would be a chore to take care of him but I have found it to be very good for me..

I have never been a very empathic person. At least I know that though and I have been trying to work on it. This has helped me tons and tons.. Its actually felt really good not thinking about myself for once and being able to put someone else need before my own.

I love it though and haven't realized that when i stop caring about myself so much and put someone else up there it makes it much easier to not care about anything else at the moment but that other person.

I'm just glad that I have been given this opportunity to show my husband and hopefully his family that I do love him a care about him and can also take care of him when I need to.

Hes amazing and always takes care of me. I'm just happy to give back to him finally.

xoxo
ashd

Its offical Im a Yoga teacher now..

I offically have my own yoga class to teach now. Yay. Im so excited.. I have taught 1 as of now but I cant wait for next Sunday to teach again. This is one of the best things that I could have ever done for myself. Im so happy that I got my CYT.

Im working on my 100 hours that I have to have to have to get my EYRT now and im pretty confused at the whole process of how to do that now. Yoga Alliance is like trying to speak a different language to me..

I will keep teaching and trying though.

Life is all about redue's so i will keep redueing till i get it right.

ashdyogini

Touch your Toes

One of the main topics that we discussed was how we work the spirituality into our classes. Me being here in the BIBLE belt buckle OKLAHOMA. I know that you have to be very careful how you approach the subject. The rest of the teachers for the most part said the same thing. I don't teach much at the moment but I think that having spirituality in your practice is important.

This is in fact why got my CYT in January. To deepen my own practice not just the physical but the mental. That is one of the reasons why I love yoga. Its something that I can never learn everything about. Which I think is awesome! I love something that keeps me going and wanting to learn more.

I think that it is important to keep the foundations on which yoga was built and for the most part students that are wanting to know about the spiritual part will generally ask. Nobody wants things shoved down their throats. Let it come.

The search is the fantastic part to find what fits for you. Yoga has helped me to search for that something that I need right now. I know that I need to sit more meaning meditate I realized that last week. Hell I knew it. Its making the time to do it for me.

Yoga isn't about touching your toes or putting your toe in your ear. Its what you learn on your way there. That's what my teacher always tells her classes and to lead with your hear.

It has taught me so many things about myself and life in general. I love it.

xoxo
ashd

home again home again.....

I am soo happy to be home. Being away always makes me realize just how much just how lucky I am ot have such an amazing foundation here at home. I love my husband and I am working on just being happy.. I know that this past week has really helped me with getting rid of all the crap around my heart that's been built up for years.

I did happen to notice somethings about the retreat and I am working on a blog on my opinions on that.

A lot of this past week dealt with spirituality and that's what I need right now.

The thing that draws me to Yoga is the fact that I can NEVER learn everything about it. There is always something new you come to every time to the mat.

I wonder if my husband would dig on some NOBLE SILENCE at nights after like 9???..

xoxo
AshD

Taos and My Yoga Retreat

A little late.. But I figured what the hell?!

Well it has been one hell of a week in a good way. I had one of the most amazing times this. I think that I cried more than I have in a few years but that's OK.

First of all it was an Advanced Teacher Training so that means that everyone that was there had been also been through The Yoga Institutes Teacher Training program or was an CYT to begin with and also knew Lex Gillian to even be invited. Lex only teaches teachers now but has owned the Yoga Institue since it began. Lex is an amazing person and I love him.

On to the retreat...

One of the main topics that we discussed was how we work the spirituality into our classes. Me being here in the BIBLE belt buckle OKLAHOMA. I know that you have to be very careful how you approach the subject anywhere from what I got from the rest of the teachers there as well. I dont teach much at the moment. I think that having a spruituality in your pratice is important. Funny thing

Anyhow.... Most of the women in the class were highly flexible which is good but I dont think that they were very strong. I'm glad that my teacher does both. It's not always about putting your toe in your ear.

I thought going to be around a lot of teachers would be a fantastic experience and it was. Even the ones that turned out to be 'Yoga Snobs' and/or 'Guru Groupies' I learned something from. FYI 'Guru Groupie' is something that I came up with while at the retreat. Same idea as any groupie someone that just wants to be around someone that's famous for something that they enjoy.


For one there was maybe 10/30 males/females. Which doesn't surprise me but the guys that were there were amazing. I love them all.

This was a fantastic experience all of it.. I will go next year and I cant wait to be on Lex's mountain this time..

Namaste..

ashd

I love cali.. i think its fanastic that they can do things like this.

First Blog...

Well I have been trying to set this thing up for 2 days now. I'm such a perfectionist when it comes to how things look this has been quite a task for me.

This has been one of the main reasons that I have not liked Face Book. The fact that there is no spot to blog. Plus the fact that I have been on My Space for 5+ years now. I just thought I would say Hi! for the moment to get started. I'm home sick from work and thought that this would be the perfect time to set this up.

I hate being sick almost as much as I hate missing work. Unless its vacation. I hope that you all find me interesting. Sorry that this first post is so boring. But hey I have to get started somewhere don't I?

xoxo ashd