One Year Ago...

Denise and I celebrating our one year anniversary!

Steph, Me and Denise.

It was just one year ago that a woman named Denise contacted me about some private Yin yoga classes on the beach in Avalon. She had somehow found me online, and then got into my blog, and then was following me on facebook, and before we even met she pretty much 'knew' me. I hadn't realized that this eager-for-yoga, super-stoked-on-avalon-vacation-time chicky had actually NEVER DONE yoga before! And it was her classes with me on the beach that set her passion for yoga aflame, and she hasn't looked back since. Though she lives down South, I have been following her on facebook, and have seen her (very) many posts about everything yoga. I have seen her physical body change, her emotional body change, and I have seen her come into a beautiful spiritual being. And now - she's back! For round two! It feels like only yesterday that we were saluting the sun together, and it's great to have her back....the teacher within me is beaming with pride! 

Beth

Only one month left of beach yoga!

Hafiz

Manic Screaming

We should make all spiritual talk simple today

God is trying sell you something but you dont want to buy

That is what your suffering is:

your fantastic haggling

your manic screaming 

over 

price.

--Hafiz

May Cause Miracles

I have been diving into this book randomly, and I love it. I got hooked on Gabby Bernstein during her amazing "speak easy" @ Wanderlust Vermont. This book is a more digestible, accessible version of the profound "A Course In Miracles". I'm inviting you to join me as I go on this 40 day journey with this book, and the "Ego Erradicator", beginning this MONDAY August 5th. If you order the book on amazon right now (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0307986934).  you will have it in time. So what are you waiting for....lets have this radical change together!

Me and Gabrielle 

Dead Sea

"Like the Dead Sea,

You'll never sink when you are with me,

I'm your Dead Sea." --the Lumineers

Team Serwatka...they're my "people". And they swooped me up just in the nick of time (as they always do). Brookie had bought me a ticket for the Lumineers way back in march while I was in India as my birthday gift. Well, now in July- at the end of two loooong months of work - I wasn't feeling so excited about the tiresome drive to Philly. Sleep deprived and slightly run down, I literally drug my corpse into the car when it was time to go. (Big props to Paige and her dad who let me hitch a ride up with them...!). As soon as I saw Mama Lorraine I snapped out of my sleepy funk and knew that I was where I was supposed to be. Even Papa Serwatka was there, and Tommy's girlfriend Tori....twas a proper "family affair". Dr.Dog opened and they were ammmmazing, and Lumineers...ugh, sigh, gasp...outstanding. I got into their music right when my Dad was really getting sick...right when I realized that he was actually dying, as I was coming to terms with what lie ahead. So needless to say, hearing their music so loud, profound and crystal clear- well, it moved a fair bit of emotions. Tears were steady rolling down my face during their song "Charlie Boy", and I clenched Brookies hand in mine as he belted out "Dead Sea". I'm so grateful for music- for the power and healing that it holds. And I'm grateful for "my people", like the Serwatka's, who are my Dead Sea....never letting me sink.

HipToDaHop

I love teaching yoga.
I love laughing.
I love dancing.
I love hip hop.
I love combining all of the above.
Bliss.

"Kindness created me kind. I come from love and kindness, and I know this is who I am. Today I choose to remember my truth and share it with the world. Today I will spread loving-kindness to all those I encounter." Namaste. 

(Gabrielle Bernstein "A Course In Miracles")

'twas a busy day...teaching 4 yoga classes and giving one massage. But I managed to get some free time in the afternoon to soak up some sun and eat some healthy delicious food with the Croce-Sorg clan. There were 6 crazy screaming children and chaos all around, but it was just what I needed to break up the day. So grateful to have moments free here and there to share with friends.

Sunset Surf

My shoulder has really been killing me lately. Shaine (my massage therapist) says that it's all grief...lots and lots of grief. I had committed to going to a workshop we were having at the margate Zen Den, but I knew that the waves were good and the water was warm- so I headed to the beach where I met two of my best buds, Luther and Paisley. Surfing didn't aggravate my shoulder as much as charrarunga would have, and I felt no pain because I was so happy to just be in the water and be with my good friends. So grateful for a beautiful healing evening....

Beach Yoga Bliss

Now that I'm not waitressing, I have really been enjoying beach yoga. I get to bed (relatively) on time so I totally welcome and love my early mornings along the seaside. Here's a shot of the sand, after a crazy moon tide, as well as a shot of Stef doing her Instagram #yogagangster day 24 pose....

For any interested, there's only one month and one week left of beach yoga!! Tuesdays and Sundays 7-8am @ 41st street beach in OC.

Monday Night!

Chakra workshop! Tomorrow! 6-8pm @ OC Zen Den.

Families, Friends and Babies.

Eileen, her son Brian, and his two beautiful little mermaids Lola and Zoe. 

My beautiful, amazing, supportive, spectacular friends (and baby Isla). 

Lately I have been so caught up with work that I haven't been able to give much time to the people I love. Yesterday may have been crazy (waking up long before dawn to finish a huge catering order for the Borgeious family party), teaching two yoga classes back to back, followed by massages and then Night In Venice parties - but I managed to catch up with the Borgeious family for a bit at their NIV party - and then this morning, after teaching THREE yoga classes back-to-back, I made it to Bridgets Baby Shower!!! I may have had sand in my unbrushed hair, was without a bra, and was slightly smelly - but I made it!!! It was great to wrap my arms around Bridget and her amazing beautiful belly - and it was great to catch up with my girls. And that is the beauty of true friends...it doesn't matter how long you go without seeing one another, you always just pick up where you left off! 

Good Days, Busy Days, Sweaty Days.

I have been working like a lunatic. It's all been good...because it's just yoga, massage and music (and a bit of catering...). But the other day I was feeling a bit exhausted, and I've been struggling with some shoulder pain lately that has really been raining on my parade. Anywho, my friend Erika sent this to me, and it was really the "pick me up" that I needed. I decided to share it with my classes that day - and it certainly resonated with them as well. Sometimes the "difficulty" that we overcame was waking up and not having enough creamer for our coffee. Sometimes the difficulty is the death of a loved one. Our traumas can be major or minor - and the heartbreak can be sharp and clean or long and drawn out. No matter what phase or pain we have experienced - guess what...we are still here. So, go us! There are challenging days, always, but sweating it out on the mat with my fellow yogis always helps to put things into perspective. I particularly love it when vacationers come back for a week and we get to reconnect. Julianne and her man Greg popped in the studio, after one full year had past, and Jules shared with me that my classes changed her life. She'd moved from being a person who lived and moved from a place a fear- to someone who is now powerful and amazing. Yep, you can bet that turned my day around. I am so grateful to be working so hard at a job that I love. Go me. I'm awesome. Boom. 

After a crazy long day I met up with my mom for dinner at Main Street Cafe in Cape May Court House. There food is freaking ammmmazing, and the place itself is exactly what I want in a restaurant - beautiful, cozy and dimly lit. We split oysters on the half shell and their salt-hay oysters as an appetizer...and then pretty much worked our way through their menu (with me only eating candida-friendly, of course!). I'm so grateful for such a delicious meal, some one on one time with my Mom, and the amazing service that is offered up at this little gem of a restaurant. 

ITALY and ME.

So, it's official, I am now a part of Paraiso Adventures team! The trips that are set in stone are September 22nd - 28th in Uccella, Italy and Tayrona, Colombia from December 2nd - 8th. I'll be leading two yoga classes a day...one invigorating flow in the morning, and a restorative class in the evening. The packages are amazing, the locations are amazing, and the amenities are amazing. Need I say more? So book your spot...not now, RIGHT now.

Uccella, Italy

The Italian Paraiso Villa is 150 km from both Florence and Rome, and is located in a small valley below the medieval town of Ficulle. While more adventurous souls are welcome to train, those arriving on a long flight can relax, we will have a private van service for airport transfers. The villa and its surroundings offer the prefect pace for rest and relaxation, or serve as a base for exploring the Umbrian and Tuscan countryside. Umbria is called the Green Heart of Italy, with beautiful natural landscapes, food, art and people.
Umbria is quiet and open, it is far less populated than its neighbor, Tuscany. The nearest village is 5k through the Umbria countryside and 20k from various Etruscan sites and medieval hill towns. Winding through vineyards, passing by lakes and waterfalls, you will find the quaint, neighboring towns of Orvieto, Montepulciano, Perugia, Lago di Bolsena and many more. There are castles to explore, hot springs to relax, vineyard bike tours, horse back riding, tennis lessons, trekking and hiking. Also, indulge in your creative side, taking a culinary or painting class from local talent. Perhaps you’ll join us in the fall for the Autumn Harvest Vineyard festivities, when the locals celebrate Italian grapes in true style, touring local vineyards!
Suitable for adults and children, there is an amazing organic garden and orchard, a swing set and also bocce grounds. Babysitting available upon request. The pool overlooks the green vineyard in the valley below the Paraiso Villa, boasting privacy and space in which to settle. The pool house has a sauna, a full bathroom, lounge and bar. Also a Paraiso favorite, the property produces organic olive oil and marmalades from the orchard and gardens, there’s even an area with hens and ducks.
Leisurely dining outdoors is encouraged, with multiple areas to enjoy the fresh, healthy local cuisine. The beautiful, massive kitchen has space for many chefs to learn the local art of culinary perfection in one of our classes. This is a fantastic kitchen to learn in, with local guest chefs available anytime for additional guidance or an extra hand. You will find anything you need here, a gas range, fridge, freezer, dish washer, oven, microwave, ice maker, coffee machine, boiler, toaster, juicer, and more. Also fun is the barbecue by the pool, perfect for casual evenings outside. There is ample space for everyone to get comfy in one of the three big living rooms, or lounging around on the abundant outdoor furniture.

For more info about the Italy trip, click HERE.

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Tayrona, Colombia

Embrace your wildest dreams, and travel with Paraiso to our most remote and exotic location yet! We promise to bring thrills and views far beyond your imagination, as we guide you through a week of wellness and adventure in the jungle…Caribbean side.  Tropical doesn’t begin to describe these beaches; lush and scarcely populated, while ruins and boulders tower in the mountains behind.  Jurassic park comes to mind, so does Paradise.

When I first visited these shores, I knew I had to bring some very special people here some day.  That day has come, and these Colombian beaches await.  The location, is amongst many things, safe.  The Paraiso lodge is located on the brink of nature and glamour, in a fantastic retreat setting, where both jungle, and river,  meet the sea.  Santa Marta is on the Caribbean coast of Colombia.  Tayrona is a national park remotely located about an hour outside Santa Marta, one of the most beautiful Latin cities I have seen.

Trip add-ons are available in Santa Marta if people wish to extend the trip and see more, something I highly recommend.  I have traveled here with locals many times and have been introduced to an amazing culture, one that is very prideful and hospitable.  The scenery is unparalleled by any other sight I have seen.  This national park holds many treasures that are meant for the eyes of only those willing to go the extra mile to discover something marvelous.  This place is far from any tourist destination, instead, this side of Colombia is for the eco-aware, venturesome jungle type.  One that is very international.  This exploration is certainly beyond regular lifestyle and leisure trips.  This trip combines raw and rugged adventure, dressed in glamour and bliss.  Take a jaunt on the wild side!

This retreat incorporates wellness into invigorating activities, making for an unforgettable experience.   This is one of the most innovative, unique retreats available.  This profound involvement with nature will leave everyone exhilarated and wanting more.

Accommodations:  Six suites tower over the Caribbean; each with ocean view.  Four additional twin beds are available to be partnered with other suites, or for the sleeping porch.  Infinity pools, multiple yoga deck locations, as well as private beach galore.  This location boasts agility, giving the teachers a chance to take the yoga off the mat, and into the wild.

Getting there:  The closest international airport is Barranquilla, followed by Cartagena, domestic connections are available to Santa Marta by plane, also bus and taxi.  Transportation is provided in the retreat package from the town of Santa Marta.

What’s Included: 7 nights/6 days in a luxurious jungle eco lodge just outside Tayrona.  All meals are included, with fresh, local cuisine to satisfy your hunger after our yoga and activities.  Yoga twice a day, with more intensive practice in the morning, where yogis of every level will benefit from the personalized instruction meant to compliment our activity.  In the evenings, we will unwind, exploring soothing, restorative yoga practice, finding a peaceful, meditative state.  Three scheduled activities are included, both ocean and beach excursions, as well as guided hikes into Tayrona to visit ancient cities, rivers and the flora and fauna of this untouched paradise.  Also included are taxes, round trip transportation from Santa Marta, Colombia to the Lodge.

Candida Kale Caesar Salad

This is so easy and delicious. It is Paleo, Candida, and Vegan friendly!! There are a few variations that can take this salad different places, so here are your options:

Kale Caesar Salad (for 4)

• 1 Head of Kale, de-stemmed, washed, and cut
• 3 tablespoons Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar (or Lemon Juice...if you are on the Candida or Body Ecology Diet though the ACV is better because it has live cultures)
• 1 clove of garlic, pushed through a press or run over the grater
• *good quality* organic unrefined oil, drizzled generously overtop
• Shake, Shake, Shake and Shake some more of Braggs Nutritional Yeast (this is fine for people on Candida or B.E.D. because it is not live active yeast) *the more cheese that you want on your salad, the more nutritional yeast that you'd want...
• Hard boiled egg (optional): to take this salad to the next level you can dice up a hard boiled egg on top. Make sure you do so before you massage it with your hands, so that the cooked egg yolk can act as a thickener for the 'dressing'. 

Massage it with your hands for about 5 minutes, softening up the tough kale and integrating all of the flavors together. Warning: this salad is freaking delicious. And crazy insane healthy. 

AUM

Workshop #3 was om-mazaing! Thanks to everyone who came out! 

THE POWER OF SOUND:

Everything that exists in the physical,mental, emotional and spiritual realms does so on a vibratory basis (sound waves). So our universe is created through patterns of frequency. Our bodies are made of frequencies, which is why sound, light, music and chanting have the power to change our vibration (and heal an individual). Ancient teachings and modern science agree: all living things, all things in existence, are made up of vibrating, pulsing energy.

(From the story of creation from the Bible "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God (John 1:1) both Christianity and Hinduism agree that in the beginning there was the vibration through which everything was brought into being). 

^^^ The sound OM most closely resembles this cosmic vibration. "The whole universe comes out of a single vibration … whether we call it the 'Big Bang Theory' or we call it 'AUM,' it's the same thing. There is a single vibration that went forth from pure consciousness and elaborated itself so much that, eventually, it created the impression that there are solid things here, physical things here."

Our sound absorption is similar to our digestive system. Whenever sounds enter our ear it meets our eardrum creating a vibrating effect. The sound then moves through our bones and tissues and reaches every cell in our body. Our brain then analyzes and processes the sound. These vibrations created by sound move through the whole body, releasing (pent up) energies and negative emotions. Just as a sound can disturb someone, sounds can also help us to relax, soothing the nerves and generating positive endorphins- cleansing the mental and emotional systems. 

---------------

MANTRAS / CHANTS :

Mantras, when repeated, help 

-the mind to achieve a sense of balance

-produce certain positive vibrations 

-elevate the mind to a higher level of consciousness

-cleanses the system of its negative energies and vibrations 

"Contemporary medical research has shown that chanting and other forms of vocalization actually oxygenate the cells, lower blood pressure and heart rate, increase lymphatic circulation, increase levels of melatonin, reduce stress-related hormones, [and] release endorphins19." 

By chanting this great mantra, we can better align ourselves with the energy of the heart; as with a finely tuned instrument, we can then offer ourselves more fully from a place of clarity and connection."

The Sound OM:

-considered to be the manifested sound of the Divine, it is the most holy sound of the Sanskrit language. 

-to be healthy means to be "whole" or "holy", and it is said that this can be achieved by continually chanting OM, bringing perfect wholeness to each cell

-one of the best ways to *bring the vibration of unity into the diversity of creation* is to chant OM (this is why we begin and end class with OM)

Sounds are usually created when two objects come together, hitting one another (cymbals, drums, vocal chords, waves against the shore). OM is not, and therefore is known as the "unstruck sound", the sound of primal energy. 

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MANDUKA UPANISHADS and AUM:

Upanishads are a collection of philosophical texts which form the theoretical basis for the Hindu religion. There are more than 200 knowing Upanishads, and the Manduka Upanishad contains the first and most definitive explanation of the divine syllable AUM, the cosmic vibration that underlies all existence. 

The Manduka Upanishad is the shortest of the Upanishads. It's only 12 verses long, breaking down the mystic syllable Aum. 

The four elements of AUM represent the four planes of consciousness:

-the 3 psychological states of waking, dreaming and sleeping

-the transcendent 4th state of illumination

There are 3 letters in the word AUM:

A: stands for a state of wakefulness, where we experience externally through our minds and sense organs 

*pronounced "ah" as in father

U: stands for the dream state, in which inward experiences are available

*pronounced "u" as in who

M: stands for deep sleep, where there is no desire and consciousness is gathered in upon itself. THIS IS LIKE LOCKING THE DOOR TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND REACHING DEEP INSIDE OURSELVES

*humming with lips gently closed 

Silence ("Turya"): the fourth, transcendent state: 

neither inward-turned nor outward-turned consciousness; neither knowing, nor unknowing; invisible, ineffable, intangible, devoid of characteristics, inconceivable, indefinable; it's sole essence being the consciousness of its own Self; utterly quiet; peaceful; bliss; without a second; this is the Atman, the Self. This is the silence at the end of the sacred syllable. WHEN YOU REALLY FOCUS ON THE SILENT SOUND, YOU COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF STILLNESS, PRESENCE AND PEACE. 

"creation, sustenance, dissolution, and reabsorption"

Realms of Experience:

A: jagrat (waking state/ conscious state)

U: swapna (dreaming state/ subconscious state)

M: shushupti (deep sleep state/ unconscious state)

Three Gunas (according to yoga the human body and mind are made up of three gunas, which are principles or tendencies):

A: rajas - passion and dynamism

U: sattwa - harmony, clarity, light

M: tamas - ignorance, darkness 

*the silence represents the transcendence of all three Gunas-- pure consciousness. 

Three principles of existence:

A: Brahma (creator)

U: Vishnu (sustainer)

M: Shiva (destroyer)

*the silence represents the underlying reality which underlies and is beyond that which is created, sustained and destroyed. 

Sent from my iPhone

Eat Your Eggs!

Hard boiled eggs...one of my staples.

YAY AMAZON!! So pumped on my box of goodies that arrived today!!

LUNCH. 80% Veggies, 20% protein. Boom.

DECADENT. Seriously though - this stuff is crack. WOODSTOCKS Smooth Raw Almond Butter is the BEST almond butter that I have ever tasted (like a landslide win against any nut butter you've ever had). And Artisana's Coconut Butter is simply the best thing I've ever had in my life. Hands down. Put it in smoothies or shakes, raw treats or for cooking - but my favorite, just eat it with a spoon.

Eggs have gotten a bad rap somewhere along the line. And though I love every*single*page of Donna Gates lifechanging book, "The Body Ecology", I am most excited about what she says about my beloved eggs....

"Eggs help strengthen the thyroid. ...the cooked egg white has less nutritional value. Contrary to popular belief, it is the egg yolk that is most healthy. Eggs have cholesterol, but this is an important fat. The yolk contains lechtin, which aids in fat assimilation. Eggs actively raise the level of HDL, which is the good cholestorol, and they have the most perfect protein components of any food."

End of an Era.

 

Dad's best friend Gary, driving the Native Guide, with Mom and me in tow...

A day on the bay....

Franks has moved to Whale Creek.

Well, my Mom said today, "Cailin, It's the end of an era". I went out on my Dad's boat for the first time since he's passed. It's been ten months now and the sadness fluctuates between happy memories and some pretty heavy emptiness. His best friend Gary was our 'captain', so Mom and I just enjoyed the ride. I kept it together while we were on the boat but then cried the whole way home. Mom and I had hoped to keep the boat and use it - going on fishing, clamming, and 'minnow hunting' adventures. Unfortunately I just haven't had the time to take the required boating course, and Mom hasn't had the time for the boat either. Change is a hard thing to accept, and I'm finding it difficult to 'detach' myself from my Dads beloved "Native Guide". Even the marina next door to our slip, Franks Boats, which has been around foreeeever, is no more - all of the boats now belonging to Whale Creek up the road. It has been a difficult time for me adjusting back to South Jersey without my Dad being here - quite frankly, it's just not the same South Jersey as it was when he was around. Though his physical presence is no longer here, I try to remind myself that he is still all around me. Yesterday I had a good cry in the surf. I couldn't shake the funk I was in so I paddled out for some less-than-stellar, chilly-water, sloppy-south-jersey surf. I couldn't breath for a few minutes, having another one of those weird mini-anxiety-attacks that have popped up since arriving back Stateside. Missing Dad, not enough sleep, a strong emptiness and a feeling of discontentment overwhelmed me -- and it was topped off by the shit cold surf which just reminded me of how much I'm missing Sri Lanka, and the people I'm missing so much in Sri Lanka. And so, hysterical tears...as I floated, waiting for a wave to come push some sadness out of me. Then - I spoke. Out loud. To my Dad. Like a crazy person. I babbled about missing him, and feeling lost and lonely - and I ended with "And how about some fucking waves?!". As soon as I finished my run-on-rambling-cry to my deceased father - BOOM. My cousin paddled out. BOOM. I had the one and only perfect wave in the ocean. BOOM. He was there. And so I'm holding that in my heart, gently.

And as always, the Universe knows what you need...arriving home today, I was greeted by a card in the snail mail from my best friend Julia out in Oregon - reminding me of how much she loves me. It's the little things, like a good card, a good cry, and a good wave......

 

I can feel things on the horizon...

Beautiful.

Partners help us to twist...

The message from last nights workshop...

Beautiful practice.
Beautiful day.
Beautiful life.

I just added in Wednesday and Thursday mornings, 8-9am. I knew that it was going to be a bit slow, so I took advantage of the small classes to do some "partner" work. We lined up in two rows, facing one another, and helped eachother through balancing poses and into deep assists. It was a beautiful class and I was so grateful to share the practice with a great group of individuals. Later in the night I finally got to be the STUDENT! I went to Maura Manzo's workshop, "A Hustle and a Prayer", and it was about turning your hard work into heart work. I personally feel that I've already transformed the hard work into heart work, but a lot of what she was talking about was empowering me and my path. At the end we all picked out hearts from a bag and my message totally spoke to me: it said, "You have everything you need. BEGIN." And so, I've begun...