Last few weeks

I don't know if its just part of being in my 20s but lately I seem to be re-evaluating my life, what I want, and what the heck I'm doing approximately few hours.

California has not been the friendliest towards me. Great jobs have fallen through and all the California yoga studios have not exactly welcomed me with open arms. I have zero connections here and I'm constantly reminded about the sacrifices I made to be here. And not having a job yet has made things worse.

I am not the kind of person that does well without a job.  Although I probably should, I don't see being "between jobs" as an opportunity to explore the neighborhood, read, practice yoga all I want, and relax.  I see it as a time to not get out of bed until way too late, then spend hours browsing every job website online, and refusing to leave the apartment because leaving the apartment pretty much means spending money I don't have.

I know this isn't forever, and before I know it I'll be wishing for some more free time so I should probably try to enjoy it.  Throughout my weeks of unemployment I have done a few things:

• Nate and I activated our Costco membership I got for Christmas! So exciting!!!
• I met my new baby cousin, William. 
• I went to San Diego for two weeks to visit Nate on travel. 
• We ate a ton of Mexican food and met my good friend Lyndee and her boyfriend Ray. 
• We saw the bonobo monkeys at the San Diego zoo - I am obsessed with them. 
• I had pretty business cards made. 
• We toured wedding venues with my parents and chose one. 
• I found a wedding photographer who I can't wait to work with. 
• I went to tea with "The Honorable Lisal", which she insists on being called ever since I asked her to be my Maid of Honor 
• I discovered that Hollywood and Highland is just like Times Square but SO MUCH WORSE. 
• I went on a handful of interviews, one of which I was actually offered the job then before I could officially accept, they made me go on another 2 hours of interviews only to eventually decide on "another more qualified candidate", and another where a woman opening a new spa spent over an hour getting all my great ideas for ways to promote and then never called me again leaving me feeling more than a little, what's the word? USED. The world is tough, what can I say? 
• I made home-made pasta and home-made apple pie. 
• I've been going to the gym, running 3 miles, and then practicing yoga under the stars next to the pool. 
• I've done yoga on our balcony. 
• I've discovered that when I am my own yoga teacher I get to do WHATEVER POSES I WANT! AND THERE'S ALWAYS TIME FOR MEDITATION AT THE END! So exciting. 
• I've learned that we get coupons personally delivered to our mailbox for free every week.  I clip them like a pro. 
• I've painted the bedroom and kitchen, bought my dream table and a couch. 
• Nate and I went for a hike in the hills by our apartment. 
• Nate and I made each other Easter baskets and I made quiche and strawberry cream cheese scones with lemon glaze. 
• I've gone to the new self-serve frozen yogurt place by our apartment approximately every other day.  They have a "thin mint" flavor. SO GOOD. 
• My mom got me an AWESOME Smith & Wesson rainbow knife for safety which has lead to Nate and my new saying "I'm going to Smith & Wesson you!". 
• I looked at tons of bridesmaid dresses with my friend Kate and ate burgers with her in Santa Monica. Umami Burger. I was impressed. 

And here's all that in pictures:

My cover-alls which I inherited from Nate. 

The AWESOME Easter basket I made for Nate

My Avocado-inspired kitchen

Homemade apple pie. :)  

The new couch

My little cousin William 

The view from our hotel in San Diego 

Pumpkin on a hike

Pumpkin sun-bathing on the balcony

Serra Plaza where we're getting married 6 months from yesterday! 

Mission Statement

While organizing my computer this morning I found:

                                                            My Mission as a Teacher

"I want to teach intelligently sequenced Vinyasa Flow and Restorative classes.  It is important to me that I lead a safe, specific, and alignment based classes.  My favorite teachers have emphasized that yoga is about moving gracefully and with specificity, this is important to me. 

I also want to be a yoga teacher who offers students yoga in a complete package, not limited to just asana.  I want to incorporate meditation, pranayama, and yoga philosophy, particularly the sutras - which have become a personal love of mine, directly into my classes.  Emphasizing that the physical practice is just a small part of many limbs of yoga is essential to me.  By creating a non-competitive environment, I want my students to be challenged both physically and mentally.  It is important that I challenge students to examine their thoughts, the way they relate to themselves and the world and emphasize that their yoga doesn’t end when they leave their mat.  I want to empower my students by encouraging them to make their yoga their own, to develop personal practices, and to realize their best selves.

My goal one day is to specialize in sharing yoga with those suffering from anxiety and depression.  I believe yoga, in its nature, is healing and therapeutic.  It has brought an undeniable peace to my life and I want to share this with others.  I want to give my students the tools to help them through the uncomfortable times in life.  I want to encourage my students to be present with what is.  I want to be a teacher who leads by example, in all areas of my life, who not only has a personal practice but who has made the conscious decision to live my yoga everyday. "

I wrote this last August right before the start of my 300 hour and after reading it now I feel more than a little insufficient.  This is still the teacher I want to be and I wish I could say I was closer to her than I currently am.  So this is my way of putting it out there, of holding myself accountable, and of announcing to the universe that I'm ready for some doors to start opening. It's time to get my shit together!