travel inspiration

weather we like it or not...
this is what we (new yorkers) have to look forward to...

source: weather.com

so...i can't help but reminisce about warm, sunny belize. i wish i could click my heels and open my eyes to sun, sand and ocean.

photog: brandis russell

tuesdays at "tue"

                                                                                   design by: kenya (robinson)

tomorrow and every tuesday at "tue," i'll be teaching a vinyasa-based yoga class in the months of may & june at om factory. come join me and "just breathe"...that's the only requirement. :)

i know for some, yoga can be intimidating.
here are answers to a few faq's.

what made you start doing yoga?
yoga was recommended to me years ago because i used to have major anxiety issues. i was at the university of virginia and had just been accepted into the mcintire school of commerce. my grades were slipping fast: the coursework was no joke, there was a great deal of required outside group project work, i was the head resident assistant for a first-year dorm, and i was pledging the kappa rho chapter of delta sigma theta sorority, inc. the pressure became too much for me. being the self-willed person that i am, i dismissed the recommendation and struggled through the stress without giving yoga a second thought.

i didn't take my first yoga class until i had graduated college and was living in cambridge, ma while in the cambridge publishing course (now it's the columbia publishing course). the scenery in cambridge was very beautiful and what i remember most was how "still" the area was. i randomly decided to take a class because i saw a studio by the campus. the rest is history.

from that point, i practiced here and there, not really sticking to a weekly or even monthly routine. but the seed had been planted. i left the publishing industry full-time to work as a freelancer while i pursued a career as a host/actor. movement and energy work were a fun part of my actor training at the william esper studio. at that particular time, i didn't grasp just how important breath work is not only to the craft of acting, but to the craft of living. in january 2010, i became a karmi at om factory at the suggestion of an actress friend who worked there. a karmi is one who volunteers a designated amount of hours each week in exchange for free yoga classes. by way of working at the studio, i was in the space physically and mentally to practice yoga more regularly. then this past february, i enrolled in om factory's teacher training program which has brought me to this point today.

what do you get from practicing yoga?
i think yoga is a great compliment to life. you can live your life without yoga and probably be just fine. but once you start practicing, you won't want to live your life without it. yoga makes life a little bit easier and more vivid. life becomes more crystallized. emotionally, you get more in touch with who you are and you're more honest about it. mentally, you feel good because you're shaking up those endorphins. physically, you're stretching and lengthening different parts of your body that aren't activated in regular day-to-day sedentary living (sitting at a computer all day, driving in a car, etc). however, the most beautiful gift of yoga is that you're giving yourself permission to "just breathe," something we hardly pay attention to or let ourselves indulge in as we run around tending to the business of our lives.

do i have to be really flexible?
no, not at all. in fact, you will become more flexible the more you practice. you don't have to show up as a contortionist. i used to run track&field and play field hockey as a teenager. i'm not nearly as flexible as i'd like to be. i'd venture to say i was the least flexible of all the girls in my teacher training program. i definitely felt vulnerable in this area in the beginning. the program has ended, and i'm still not that flexible! hopefully that'll evolve, like everything else. come as you are and notice the increased flexibility as more time goes by...within your body and outside how you move through the world.

how would you describe your yoga class?
this is a hard one because i just began teaching in march, so i'm still a newbie myself and testing out different learnings from my training. so i'm a work-in-progress. i like to incorporate a breathing exercise (pranayama) or color/energy work (chakras) at the beginning of class, move into the poses (asana) and then end with a nice cool-down (something a bit restorative).

how much is it?
$7 is the suggested donation. this is an open-level class perfect for everyone.

i hope this is helpful. please feel free to post additional questions in the comments section.
see you in class. :)

quote unquote

when you choose to follow your dreams, you must become the person your dreams needs for them to come true.
- the daily love

come flow with me...

for the past 5 weekends, i've been in a yoga teacher training program at om factory here in new york city.  starting out i wasn't sure if i necessarily wanted to teach, i was more so interested in deepening my own practice.  since embarking upon the journey, i can't quite fully explain how amazing it's been thus far but i'll try.  i feel my hips starting to open up more along with my heart...which means i'm more connected with what's going on in my body.  i'm more honest with myself about my goals, dreams, relationships with people, and even more so...my relationship with myself.  some days are bright, some days are not so bright.  i can say for sure that i'm becoming more of me, grounding more into my being and for that i am very grateful.  that's what i think the main gift of yoga is.  it's a great companion on this unknown journey called life, a trusty friend who helps you navigate the way a little easier.  i'd like to share this gift with you.  come check out my class.  i'll be there every wednesday in march from 4-5pm.  

om factory

265 w 37th st b/w 7th & 8th ave, closer to 8th ave

17th fl

*class is donation-based 

the studio is beautiful as well as the community of people there who make it so.  

thank you amanda and holly as well as the other 14 goddesses with whom i have the pleasure of spending every weekend.  

check out om factory at www.omfactorynyc.com, on facebook and/or follow @omfactory.

see you in downdog. :)

quote unquote

one of my favorite quotes this week:

between stimulus and response, there is a space. in that space is our power to choose our response. in our response lies our growth and our freedom.
-victor frankl, author of "man's search for meaning"

Happy Birthday Martin Luther King Jr.

"Directing Actors" workshop

One of the exciting projects I'm working on is with writer/director Ela Thier.  I'm a writing student of hers as well as her casting director for The Independent Film School.  I'm fortunate to be able to see casting from the other side of the table, i.e. what stands out when looking at other actors' resumes, which headshots really stand out, how actors handle the communication process, what's deemed as prepared vs unprepared, and the list goes on.  I especially take pride in being able to give my opinion and suggestions for how to make the process a more positive one for actors since I usually share the actor side of the table.

Our upcoming workshop will help directors create a safe, inspiring and creative environment that will only support actors in their quest to bring truth to their work.  If you're an actor or a director interested in learning more, visit http://www.theindependentfilmschool.com/directing_actors.html.  Also check out Ela's work and words at www.elathier.com.