Subtractive Universe.

The other day when I was sitting with Erica Taxin Bleznak , she was talking about how the path is *subtractive* : We always want to add, but rather it's in the stripping away that you find the path- bliss- peace- joy. Most believe that by adding more you'll have more - but really you'll only have more to carry around with you. Abraham-Hicks said that : "You don't have to work at being in the high vibration that is natural to you, because it is natural to you. But you do have to stop holding the thoughts that cause you to lower your vibration. It's a matter of no longer giving your attention to things that don't allow your cork to float or don't allow you to vibrate in harmony with who you really are." What could you strip away? How can you simplify? What is keeping you from your innate bliss and perfection? How exciting that there is nothing more to add! You are already perfect....always, all ways! Pattahbi Jois said that "With practice, all is coming", and I agree but I also believe what my tantra teacher told me, which is that "With SURRENDER all is coming." Have a beautiful day friends!

BHUVANESHWARI

Aum Aim Shrim Hrim Shrim Bhuvaneshwari Namaha

Sydney and Lainey embracing the partner yoga practice theme of the night

Love and Laughter

TWINSIES!!! Jennifer and Indira!

Card-Making, Love-Sharing

BHUVANESHWARI is the Queen Goddess of the Universe. She helps us to create space, hold space, and share in love. I have been enjoying both series that I've been leading this year. I love working TOWARDS something, with a collective, consistent group. I especially like the challenges that I've given to myself as a teacher - which makes for lots of work, but the payoff is Divine! Thanks to everyone who has come out this summer! This week will be the 6th and final series for Yin and Devis! 

Climbing Mountains...

Well, what a challenging day. Literally, on all planes...physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally.....there were tears, lots of em. I woke up exhausted. My challenge in this lifetime is learning how to say NO, but as of lately I have not been succeeding with this. My body was tired...every limb. My heart was feeling depleted and I was just foggy. Then, I had to have a small procedure in the morning which left me in way more pain than I had anticipated. I drove away from the doctors nearly doubled over in pain. En route to meet my lovely accountant, I ran into an old flame - which rocked me (more than I had anticipated). For me, there was still a lot of love there despite the messiness of it all. It brought up all of my relationship fears

• not being lovable
• not being beautiful
• not being worthy of love, and
• rejection

Bleh. Add onto that I felt like my uterus was falling out, and I spilled the (delicious)(extremely hot) coffee on myself when I got back into my car. Get it together Cailin. Okay, then with my accountant - whom is my dear friend Pam Tracey, thank GOD for that. We spent three hours together, and the information was a bit more confusing, involved, and complicated than I had anticipated (are you noticing the trend here...). She might as well have been speaking fucking Chinese. It brought up a lot of fears for me....

• I am not strong enough to carry my own company
• I am too disorganized
• I'm not smart enough
• I have bitten off way more than I can chew
• I'm going to end up in the poor house

I got into my car and cried the whole way to my Aunt Megans house. I cried into the delicious eggplant parm that she'd made for me, and then I got my shit together and cried a few tears on my way to teach my evening YIN workshop. Go figure, we were working along the Kidney + Urinary Bladder Meridian, which is associated with FEAR, and it's counterpart....WISDOM. When you shift into your wisdom, your perspective shifts and you are able to move out of fear. I love teaching....because it teaches me. Thank you to the Universe for guiding this lesson plan into my path, and for providing me with all of the books, teachers, quotes, poems and bits of inspiration that were able to add to, inspire and invoke my inner WISDOM.

"If you knew of a spectacular mountain that was very, 

very tall, yet climbable. And if it was well established 

that from its peak, you could literally see all the love that 

bathes the world, dance with the angels, and party with the gods. 

Would you curse or celebrate each step you took

 as you ascended it?

Right-o! 

life is that mountain and each day a step. 

Perspectives change everything,

Love, The Universe

PS: Fear not. Last time I checked,  you were so close to the top 

they were taking your toga measurements."

(Mike Dooley....Notes from the Universe)

GOOD GUYS.

A good guy is hard to find.
I know, I've been looking for one for a long.ass.time.

And though I have been open to having a partner, I can honestly say that I have been content (for the most part) being single (most days). Over the past few years I was never that impressed with the quality of love, affection, dedication or fidelity that was being given to all of my beautiful goddess girlfriends. But now, I have to acknowledge, that there are some STELLAR men out there that are taking GREAT care of all of the Divine ladies that I love. This morning I went out to breakfast with my darling Daniela and her husband, Drew. He treated all of us ladies like princesses, but you can tell by the way he talks, interacts, and cares for Daniela that she is truly his Queen. My best friend Bridgets husband, John, told her that she should do the month long teacher training in Mexico (despite the fact that they have a 10 month old baby), and that they would go down and figure it out as a family. He watches Isla on Fridays so that we can have "girl time" and always makes sure that his ladies are taken care of. Jimmy Bourgeious is ALWAYS treating his Queen Bee, Eileen, like the goddess that she is....Bill is tender and fierce with his love for Deb, and the list could go on....

Drew treated his ladies to an EPIC breakfast at OC Surf Cafe. 

Drew + his Queen Daneila...and his two other hot dates, me and Jennifer Kirch!! 

In a time when I thought that Chivalry was dead, there are a few men who are stepping up and showering their women with the love, respect and admiration that they deserve. It gives me hope...and makes me feel excited about partnership. Thanks guys for being such GOOD GUYS. 

Golden Buddha Gear

I came into class today and nearly half the class had GBY gear on!!!!! It was so awesome!!! The gear is going fast so get it while the gettin' is good!! 

Nourishment.

nour·ish·ment

ˈnəriSHmənt,ˈnə-riSH-/

noun

1. the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.

   "tubers from which plants obtain nourishment"

   
   

   

   
   

   

The things that nourish me the most are....

1. Yoga

2. Fresh vegetables

3. Salt water + Surf sessions

4. Music

5. Good Friends

I am especially grateful that my friend Kat made it down this weekend and we got to spend some quality time together. My heart is feeling stronger after just a few hours reconnecting with my dear friend. 

Yoga in the Vines

I taught this morning at Willow Creek Winery. We all practiced amongst the vines and then Bridget and I had our own little photo shoot afterwards! Every Friday 10am!

HipHop Yoga!

Crazy successful night of HipHop Yoga!!! I love my job, I love my community!! Thank you Thank you!

Friday Fun!

Two times to have fun with me this Friday!!!

Every FRIDAY at Willow Creek Winery....a soothing flow in the vineyard followed by a glass of sangria. I hope to see you!!

This FRIDAY August 1st at Yoga Dog in Linwood....HIP HOP YOGA!!! Booty pop, hip hop and holla your way to pure bliss!!!!! This will be my last HipHop workshop of the season (except for August 15th down in north wildwood atItswell Yoga). Please reserve your spot by messaging Steve Mullen at YogaDog or messaging me! Class is 6-8pm and $30 <3 span="">

Dhumavati...

DHUMAVATI.

Last night at Dragonfly Wellness Studio in Week 4 of the Devis + Dharma series we invoked the goddess DHUMAVATI...exploring the power of suffering, sucking and sadness as a means to step into your highest self and continue along the path of a higher spiritual evolution. Why is everyone so fearful of failure? What does it even mean to fail? How do you talk to yourself when you are in the vibration of failure? Can you meet yourself with compassion? Love? Thanks to all of the epic ladies that came out, you are POWERFUL AND AMAZING.

DHUM DHUM DHUMAVATI SVAHA  Last nights meditation altar for Dhumavati: the goddess who manifests through disappointment and frustration, whose gifts can show us the path to higher awareness that comes in times of disappointment and loss. The Bhagavad Gita says "Peace follows renunciation". Normally though the renunciation is, in a sense, forced on us by having things we counted on fall away. A relationship ends, a child leaves, a job dissolves, you lose your health. But sometimes in a moment when the worst happens, you discover an enormous dignity and peace in simply standing in what you are. (Big thanks to Sally Kemptons book "Awakening Shakti" for the inspiration for this series!!!). Next week is BHUVANESHWARI)

Saturday Donation @ Dragonfly!

This SATURDAY June 28th I will be teaching a one-time-only DONATION class at Dragonfly Yoga + Wellness at 9am. I am super excited to be teaching on Monday nights at Dragonfly this summer 6:30pm, along with some cool workshops and my 6-week Devi + Dharma series! After this Saturday I will be teaching 7:15am at Grace and Glory Yoga. Yeeew look out, it's gonna be a great summer!!

Devi + Dharma Series at Dragonfly

Week 1: SARASWATI

Week 2: LAKSHMI
Week 3: KALI
Week 4: DHUMAVATI
Week 5: BHUVANESHWARI
Week 6: CHINNAMASTA

A six week series of two hour explorations of six profound Devis. Asana will be woven with storytelling of hindu mythology, and we will use pranayama, meditations, inquiries and so much more to explore the goddesses and tap deeper into our highest self!!

Dragonfly Yoga + Wellness 

4 Clermont Drive, CMCH, NJ

Wednesday Nights 6pm-8pm

$150 Series/ or $30 Drop In

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY!

Yin Series at Grace + Glory Yoga

This 6-week YIN series at the Northfield Grace + Glory Yoga studio will take us on a journey through the mind, body, and spirit! We will work along specific meridians to explore our anatomy, emotions and thought processes using asana, pranayama, meditation, inquiry and more! 

Week 1: Liver/Gallbladder Meridian :: Anger + Compassion

Week 2: Heart/Small Intestines Meridian :: Hate + Love 

Week 3: Spleen/Stomach Meridian :: Anxiety + Equanimity

Week 4: Lungs/Large Intestines Meridian :: Grief + Courage

Week 5: Kidney/UB Meridian :: Fear + Wisdom 

Week 6: ....surprise ;)

The series is open to drop-in, but works beautifully as a consecutive series!! 

July 8th - August 12th, 7:30pm-9:30pm! Reserve your spot today!!

Midsummer Night

Golden Buddha Yoga ITALY RETREAT June 2014 ......

Midsummer Night...

The summer solstice, "Midsummer Night", is today and in honor of that shift we made hippie flower headdresses and homemade Epsom salts. This auspicious day is about checking in, taking inventory, and seeing what you need to "wash away"....

Here is what I have...

Clarissa Pinkola Estes is a truth speaker and a total inspiration. Anytime I need a slap upside the head, I open her book "Women Who Run with Wolves". Like most women, I STRUGGLE with my body image. Especially since I have broken my year long strict candida cleanse, I have put on a few lb's. I am nice and soft and round and...soft and round. Ha! All of the women on this retreat are true goddesses, and we all share a similar fight, that against the mind and ego telling us that we are less than, not enough, or too much. I read this passage from WWRWW and it really hit home for us all...

"The body is like an earth. It is a land into itself. It is as vulnerable to overbuilding, being carved into parcels, cut off, over mined, and shorn of its power as any landscape. The wilder woman will not be easily developed by redevelopment schemes. For her, the questions are not how to perform, but how to feel.

The hips, they are wide for a reason, inside them is a satiny ivory cradle for new life. A woman's hips are outriggers for the body above and below; they are portals, they are a lush cushion, the handholds for love, a place for children to hide behind. The legs, they are meant to take us, sometimes to propel us; they are the pulleys that help lift us, they are the 'anillo', the ring for encircling a lover. They cannot be too this or too that. They are what they are.

There is no "supposed to be" in bodies. The question is not size or shape or years of age, or even having two of everything. But the wild issue is, DOES THIS BODY FEEL, does it have right connection to pleasure, to heart, to soul, to the wild? Does it have happiness, joy? Can it in it's own way move, dance, jiggle, sway, thrust? Nothing else matters."

Can my body move, dance, jiggle, sway and thrust? NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

After class we did a journaling exercise and wrote a poem based on one by Ntozake Shange. Shanges' goes...


HERE IS WHAT I HAVE...
POEMS
BIG THIGHS
LIL TITS
&

SO MUCH LOVE.


To write your own....

Line 1: "Here is what I have..."
Line 2: Insert noun (yoga, dances, knowledge, etc)
Line 3: one body part (that frustrates you)
Line 4: one body part (that you love)
Line 5: &
Line 6: blank
Line 7: "and so much <insert word>"


My poem was...

Here is what I have...
Yoga
Big ass
Huge smile
&

So much fucking joy.


Namaste beautiful people !!

Wine Tasting!!!

Our group of 14 took VITALONGA winery by storm yesterday! We had the BEST evening of wine tasting and then came home for a kickass dance party. Yoga this morning was painful for most the girls, but they did it!!! Yay for hangovers that let us know that we are alive and how important it is to take care of our bodies hahahaha !!!

SUMMER SCHEDULE

Siena and Aperol Spritz!

Golden Buddha Yoga ITALY RETREAT June 2014....SIENA. 

Today our group of 14 split up and cruised the streets of Siena. We were on our own for lunch, so Cass, Sarah and myself stumbled into a side street restaurant and ordered ourselves a meat plate, a cheese plate, and some porcini mushroom risotto. We sipped on Aperol Spritzs which came with a "warm appetizer"....a soft chewy bread, rolled with delicious ham and fried. GAH. Heaven. 

Cailin Callahan

www.goldenbuddhayoga.com