Gussying Up The Tuttle

monday moment of zen

2012-01-16T01:44:00.000-05:00

"i have decided to stick with love. hate is too great a burden to bear."
~ mlk, jr.

monday moment of zen

2012-01-09T19:02:00.000-05:00

"when you're deluded, every statement is an ulcer; when you're enlightened, every word is wisdom"
~ zhiqu

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word of the year

2012-01-03T22:04:00.003-05:00

welcome to 2012! i am more excited for this year than i have been the past several years. there's just something about 2012, i have a gut feeling that this year is going to be awesome!

for the past 4 years, i have chosen a word of the year. a word that is my collective overall goal for that year. let's take a little jog down memory lane to see where i've come from.

2009 my word was "focus." i was laid off from my accounting job and knew the accounting field just wasn't for me. my soulful, creative self was dying inside everyday i was in that office with my green visor on and counting on my abacus (HA!! ok, clearly this wasn't exactly what i did, but it sure felt like it!). :)

i need to focus in on what made me tick, what i loved, and what my purpose was. during my stint of unemployment, i really took time to explore myself (swadhyaya for you yogi(ni)s out there). i was seeking my authentic self.

2010 i couldn't decide on just one word, so i went for two: abundance & positivity!
i was changing my life, getting rid of negative situations, relationships, etc. i filled my life with an abundance of positivity. i started my massage therapy career and becoming a better yoga teacher.

2011 my word was manifest. and i did. just. that. i switched gears from massage into bowenwork. i manifested an amazing bowenwork practice and now i'm looking to open the morgantown bowenwork clinic. i'm still working on my website but i've got a sweet little facebook page here and a twitter account already set up. :)

and so, my word for 2012 is.....

because i'm going to make all of my visions, dreams, goals, and planning into a huge success!!

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monday moment of zen

2012-01-02T01:20:00.000-05:00

"move and the way will open."
~ zen proverb

monday moment of zen

2011-12-26T05:22:00.000-05:00

"if you can't find the truth right where you are, where do you expect to find it?" ~ dogen

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monday moment of zen

2011-12-19T03:58:00.000-05:00

"if you've lost focus, just sit down and be still. take the idea and rock it to and fro. keep some of it and throw some away, and it will renew itself.
you need do no more."

~ clarissa pinkola estes

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be the change

2011-12-13T14:14:00.000-05:00

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monday moment of zen

2011-12-12T04:08:00.000-05:00

“health, wealth, beauty and genius are not created, they’re only manifested by the arrangement of your mind.”

~ neville goddard

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monday moment of zen

2011-12-05T04:31:00.000-05:00

"true warriors become legends; thus, they do not truly die, but inspire others to carry the sword of strength that made them achieve greatness."
~ valerie goodman

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monday moment of zen

2011-11-28T05:48:00.000-05:00

"a question not asked is a door not opened."
~ marilee adams

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thankful thursday

2011-11-24T01:37:00.000-05:00

"maybe we're not supposed to be happy. maybe gratitude has nothing to do with joy. maybe being grateful means recognizing what you have for what it is. appreciating small victories. admiring the struggle it takes simply to be human. maybe we're thankful for the familiar things we know. and maybe we're thankful for the things we'll never know. at the end of the day, the fact that we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate."

~ meredith grey, grey's anatomy

thanks to you my dear readers, i am ever grateful!

hugs & namaste

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monday moment of zen

2011-11-21T06:03:00.001-05:00

“if you truly learn something, how you express

it is different than how

you learned it.”

~ krishnamacharya

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bowenwork 4 part series - part 4 - sessions, what to expect, other details

2011-11-17T14:01:00.000-05:00

lower back procedure

thanks for your continued reading about bowenwork. if you are just tuning in or need to catch up, you can read:

part 1 - what is bowenwork?
part 2 - how does bowenwork WORK?
part 3 - my transition from massage to all bowenwork

and to put the finishing touches on this bowenwork 4 part series, today i'll tell you in with some more details, like what to expect during a session, frequently asked questions, etc.

upper respiratory procedure

how long does a session last?

the length of a session is completely dependent on the unique individuals needs for that session. usually a session lasts between 30 - 90 minutes from start to finish.

do i get completely undressed like i would for a massage?

no, bowenwork practitioners can work through light clothing (think t-shirt or tank top & shorts or yoga pants). personally i prefer to work though light clothing unless the clothing hinders the movement.

is there any oil used like massage?

no oil, creams or lotions are used in a bowenwork session. this makes it super easy for the office professional to slip out for a longer lunch to get a session and go back to the office completely relaxed without a head full of oil like sometimes happens with massage.

how often will i need to come in for sessions?

again, this is something that is entirely dependent upon your unique situation. we will book 2 sessions approximately a week apart from each other to set the foundation of the work. during this time frame, the body will begin the healing process and a lot of symptoms will diminish in severity or completely.

if there is an injury and you have a bowenwork session right away then maybe only two or three sessions will be needed. the first two to help the body to prevent from compensating for the injury and initiate the body's healing mechanisms so that the healing process isn't as long. a third session may be needed a few weeks later to do a tune-up just to ensure the body is healing properly and that chronic issues will not be formed.

if you have been dealing with a chronic issue then more sessions may be needed as you have been dealing with your illness or disease for a length of time. the first two to three sessions are structured similar to what i mentioned above but we may need to continue for several more weeks to help the body get to the root cause of your illness/disease.

upper back procedure

can bowenwork help me recover from a recent surgery?

yes! it is optimal to see a bowenwork practitioner for one or two sessions before going into surgery to relax and prepare the body for what's to come. the body interprets a surgery as a trauma and by receiving bowenwork before can help ease the trauma that is to come. getting bowenwork after a surgery is hugely important to help your healing process. try to schedule your bowenwork session approximately 3-7 days after your surgery (depending on how invasive the surgery was).

how soon should i notice results?

most people start to see results after their first session. it may not be the exact results that they are looking for but the body is doing the best that it can to heal. somethings need to be eliminated or diminished before the body can heal the condition/illness/disease you are seeking relief from.

what if i don't notice any results?

some results are happening but they may be on such a smaller scale that you may not be able to recognize them immediately. that is why bowenwork practitioners will ask that you give it at least 3 sessions before making a decision of whether bowenwork is working for you or not. after 3 sessions if you don't see any results then bowenwork might not be the therapy for you. we don't claim to fix, cure or heal anything and we are not claiming that bowenwork is for everyone. we are only giving your body the messages that it needs to initiate it's own healing. there are plenty of modalities out there and i am sure that if you keep looking you will find the right one for you.

shoulder procedure

what do i expect to happen in a session? do i need to bring anything?

your first session starts with an intake form and we will discuss the issues that you are trying to resolve. each session afterwards we will talk briefly about any changes you've noticed from your last session and see if we are still on target with the goals we set.

you need to bring some light clothing (as previously mentioned), some water to drink after your session and an open mind. try to let go of any expectations you may have and let your body do the healing.

ok, so you've definitely piqued my interest, how do i find a bowenwork practitioner?

if you are in the morgantown, wv or surrounding area, you can contact me directly. my email is melitamollohan@gmail.com.

if you are not in the morgantown area, but are in the united states, please visit the bowenwork academy usa page.

if you are not in the united states, you can still visit the bowenwork academy usa page to search the country you are in.

if you have any questions, concerns, comments, please don't hesitate to let me know in either the comments below or send me an email.

hugs & namaste!

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monday moment of zen

2011-11-14T18:10:00.002-05:00

"only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have."
~ jim rohn

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bowenwork 4 part series - part 3 - transitioning to all bowenwork

2011-11-09T10:21:00.001-05:00

thanks for following along in my bowenwork 4 part series. in case you are just tuning in, you can catch up on part 1 - what is bowenwork? and part 2 - how does bowenwork WORK?

part 3 is all about the transition i am currently is of converting my massage therapy practice into an all bowenwork practice.

i remember being in ohio during my first bowenwork training back in january and calling my boyfriend ryan and excitedly telling him that i was switching my massage practice over to bowenwork. his first response was, 'you mean you aren't going to do any more massages?!' i had to laugh because i knew my transition would be slow but the ultimate answer was yes. absolutely yes!!

i knew then what i know now, even though my vision is more clear than ever.

respiratory procedure

so, why switch from massage therapy to bowenwork?

first of all, i have to say that i am not knocking massage therapy or massage therapists at all! i mean no disrespect at all. remember, i am a massage therapist too. but there are a few reasons why bowenwork works better for me than massage therapy.

for the reasons mentioned in part 2. there are some diseases, disorders, chronic pains & problems that massage doesn't address.

from my own personal experience of working with clients. i have seen clients make huge improvements from crohn's, celiac, TMJ, migraines, infertility, fibromyalgia, and many, many more. bowenwork never ceases to amaze me. some of the best results that i've seen is a client who had crohn's disease who wrote me this beautiful testimonial: "Having suffered with Crohn's disease since the age of 9, it has been an ongoing struggle to maintain a healthy, normal lifestyle. Attempts to control symptoms with corticosteroids and 5-aminosalicylates were mediocre at best, with debilitating side-effects. Since beginning Bowenwork I have seen remarkable improvement in symptoms, especially with gastrointestinal health." ~ T. D. and another client was a 10 year old girl with aura migraines. aura migraines are the hardest to predict and prevent. that sweet girl was put on medication to help prevent her migraines but unfortunately it didn't work for her. i saw her for a session and didn't see her for a month & a half. when i checked in her mother reported that the girl only experienced one migraine since her last bowenwork session. the mother thought this was amazing. she explained that the girl usually gets migraines in clusters but she only had one in a month and a half!

knee procedure

from my own healing experience from receiving bowenwork. i have si joint problems and my hips were killing me. i tried everything from massage to chiropractic visits to reiki. these modalities helped for a little while but the problem kept coming back. after my first bowenwork session my hips felt 75% better and that lasted for about a month an a half. i have only had 4 bowenwork sessions for my hips and they are back to normal. i do need occasional tune-up visits to make sure that my hips stay functioning order without pain. but trust me, after my bowenwork session, i was a believer!!

as my mentor told me, i can do this until i'm 80 years old if i want to, because it doesn't hurt my body. i was experiencing more pain in my hips as i was giving massages than an any other time (except deep hip opening postures such as firelog). not to mention the pain that i was getting in my hands and wrists from doing several massages in a day.

as a massage therapist i was getting frustrated because i was seeing the same clients every week or every other week with the same issues. i was a temporary fix to a deeper problem that massage therapy wasn't getting touching. sure, this is great for job security but that is not what i am in it for. i want to see people get out of pain, heal, and get on with their lives! no body should have to live with pain!

perineal procedure

thought the transition has been slow, i am always keeping my end goal of doing only bowenwork at the forefront of my mind. i believe in the work that much!!

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what i'm currently reading

2011-11-08T11:04:00.002-05:00

babaji the greyhound

here are the two books that i am currently reading. each one is focused on a passion of mine: bowenwork and yoga.

what are you currently reading?

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monday moment of zen

2011-11-07T07:03:00.000-05:00

'normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them....'
~ alan watts

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bowenwork 4 part series - part 2 - how does bowenwork WORK?

2011-11-06T12:03:00.004-05:00

continued from the bowenwork 4 part series. read part 1 - what is bowenwork?

so, interested in finding out more about bowenwork and how it exactly works and what it's good for? welcome to part 2 of 4 where we will discover exactly that!

upper back procedure

how does bowenwork work?

there are many theories about the physiological mechanisms by which bowenwork brings about the results for which it is famous. in addition to the rebalancing of the ANS, autonomic nervous system, bowenwork moves and procedures may reset the body to heal itself by activating, through the nervous and endocrine systems among others, the following mechanisms:

stretch reflex: most moves are done either at the origin, insertion or belly of muscles where receptors are located, informing the nervous system on the state of tension, length or stretch in the musculotendinous tissue. these receptors are stimulated during the ‘challenge’ and the ‘rolling’ part of the move, which changes the stimulus received by the nervous system. this can change a pain/muscle spasm loop.

joint proprioceptors: all moves done around a joint directly affect the joint capsule and ligaments that are richly innervated with proprioceptors. here again, stimulus will be received by the nervous system, inviting normalization of the joint function without the need for forceful manipulation.

fascia: each bowenwork move is done at the level of the superficial fascia and affects the relationship between the fascia and the nerve, muscle or tendon being mobilized. fascia plays a major role in muscle co-ordination, postural alignment and overall structural and functional integrity. all of these are negatively affected when the fascia stiffens, contracts, torques or dehydrates. following a bowenwork session it is not uncommon to see adhesions loosen up, scar tissue soften and posture and mobility improve without harsh mobilizations or stretching.

segmental viscerosomatic spinal reflexes: several bowenwork moves engage these reflexes. they produce referred reactions to the internal organs through stimulation of the skin, muscles and nerves.

acupuncture points and meridians: most moves overlap acupuncture points and some actually cross two or three acupuncture meridians at once. acupuncturists have correlated the indications and effects of bowenwork moves with the corresponding acupuncture points. they have also commented on the immediate changes of the acupuncture pulses in response to moves or procedures. the overlap of these two systems could explain the very strong vibrational component of the technique and its effect on the internal organs.

harmonic vibration or resonance model: bowenwork moves set up vibrational patterns which bring the body back into balance and harmony.

lymphatics: some bowenwork procedures activate draining of the lymphatic system, stimulating the immune system.

detoxification is often initiated during a session, thereby improving the body’s ability to function at a cellular level.

TMJ procedure

what can you use bowenwork for?

bowenwork can be beneficial in a wide range of situations. it can assist recovery from many conditions, from traumatic injury to chronic illness, depending upon each individual’s capacity to heal. many clients report that bowenwork is THE most relaxing modality they have ever experienced.

some of the conditions that often respond favorably to bowenwork are:

· back pain and sciatica

· digestive and bowel problems

· earache and TMJ problems

· migraines and other types of headaches

· fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

· hip, knee, ankle and foot problems

· menstrual and hormonal irregularities

· neck, shoulder (including frozen shoulder), elbow and wrist problems

· groin pain, pelvic tilt and uneven leg length

· respiratory problems and hay fever

· repetitive strain injury, carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow

· sports and other traumatic injuries

· pelvic, low back or sciatic pain during pregnancy

· colic, feeding problems, asthma symptoms, or unsettled or distressed babies and children (including neonates and infants as well as older children)

· regular tune ups, stress relief, anxiety, sleeplessness and for relaxation

if there is something you can think of that isn't on the list above, please don't hesitate to ask. i will be happy to let you know in my professional opinion if i think bowenwork will be able to help.

read here if you missed part 1 - what is bowenwork

read the rest of the series:
part 3 - converting my massage practice into all bowenwork practice
part 4 - sessions, what to expect, other details

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bowenwork 4 part series - part 1 - what is bowenwork?

2011-11-01T01:11:00.002-04:00

as most of you know, i'm a licensed massage therapist. and you've probably seen me mention bowenwork on a number of occasions as well. some of you are probably wondering "just what the heck is bowenwork?!"

welcome to my bowenwork 4 part series where we'll delve deeper into bowen. i hope to answer some of your questions. but if for some reason you have more, don't hesitate to ask!

so, first of all, what is bowenwork?

bowenwork provides gentle and profoundly effective signals to the brain for healing and recovery through the stimulation of special receptors in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerve bundles of the body. these stimuli can result in deep relaxation, resetting of muscular tension and range of motion, lymph drainage, pain and inflammation reduction and pain relief. (more details coming in part 2 of 4.)

where did bowenwork come from?

bowenwork came from australia. tom bowen developed it over a period of several decades by working with athletes and injured laborers. it arose from his study and profound understanding of the structural and healing mechanisms of the body and his interest in osteopathic principles. tom bowen practiced in australia from 1958 until his passing in 1982.

how did i find out about bowenwork?

lucky for me, i have a fabulous mentor that lead me in the right direction. my mentor, kate, is a massage therapist and a yoga teacher like myself. i originally asked for her to become my mentor when i started massage school. she told me about bowenwork pretty early on, saying that i needed to check this out, that it was fabulous work. of course i said i would, and i did, briefly... but after a couple of months go by she reminded me again. that was in december of last year and after doing more in depth research, i immediately signed up for the first two training modules in january of this year. at which point i knew i had found my home in the bodywork world!!

my beautiful and talented mentor kate in action

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monday moment of zen

2011-10-31T06:24:00.001-04:00

"either the goal of yoga is to be free, or the goal of yoga is to get it right. you can't really have it both ways. because if you choose freedom, you have to divest yourself of that crazy idea that you have to get it right."

~ leslie kaminoff

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perfect morning

2011-10-26T21:24:00.002-04:00

my day started out with being gently woken up by a thunderstorm. i love thunderstorms! i woke up feeling great! i immediately rolled out my yoga mat, sit on it and began to breathe deeply. i moved my body gently to stretch it after my long sleep. and after waking, i took another seat to meditate. after sitting for a little while i got up and made a mug of jasmine green tea.

now that's the kind of wednesday morning i love!!

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monday moment of zen

2011-10-24T01:05:00.000-04:00

"the secret of attraction is to love yourself. attractive people judge neither themselves nor others. they are open to gestures of love. they think about love, and express their love in every action. they know that love is not a mere sentiment, but the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe."
~ deepak chopra

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weekend warrior series offered at blissblissbliss

2011-10-19T21:19:00.002-04:00

Spend part of your weekend progressing through a blissful blend of Vinyasa, Yin and Restorative Yoga.

9:30-10:30am Get started with a dynamic Vinyasa practice. This flow will challenge and heat the body and burn away anything you no longer need.

10:40-11:40am Melt into a Yin practice. Yin is a series of poses, held for a longer period, while one sends their intention, breath and consciousness to the bodily sensations. This draws the life force (prana or chi) into the deeper meridians which stimulates the immune system and rejuvenates the whole body.

11:50am-12:50pm Completely let go with a Restorative practice. Indulge in an hour of held, supported postures to facilitate deep relaxation and bring the body back into balance. This is the antidote to stress!

12:50-1pm End your time on the mat in a meditative state with a FREE 10 minute guided meditation.

Weekend Warrior is a dynamic balance of both yin and yang: action and repose, activity and receptivity, movement and stillness. And since these classes are separate you can mix and match (or stay for all 3) and choose what kind of Warrior you want to be!

Class dates are November 6th & 27th.

(Please note that all 3 classes will end in Savasana so if you are only able to get in one class you will have a complete practice. Use your blissblissbliss yoga pass - one punch per class.)

monday moment of zen

2011-10-17T01:43:00.000-04:00

“in the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.”
~ deepak chopra

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monday moment of zen

2011-10-10T01:11:00.000-04:00

"when we are in pain, we become self-centered and myopic. when we heal, we become more empathetic, self-less, and sympathetic to the pain and welfare of others. it is our gift to others to heal ourselves."
~ max strom

monday moment of zen

2011-10-03T11:46:00.002-04:00

"it is how people respond to stress that determines whether they will profit from misfortune or be miserable." ~ mihaly csikszentmihalyi

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monday moment of zen

2011-09-26T03:31:00.000-04:00

"the secret of attraction is to love yourself. attractive people judge neither themselves nor others. they are open to gestures of love. they think about love, and express their love in every action. they know that love is not a mere sentiment, but the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe.”

~ deepak chopra

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Women's Creative & Healing Mini-Retreat

2011-09-23T07:38:00.000-04:00

the end of the week is here and boy what a crazy week it's been. between work and school i've had so much stuff stacking up i sometimes didn't know where to begin. i have to remind myself daily to take care of most important tasks and let go of what can wait until tomorrow.

this weekend i will teach some yoga, see some bowenwork clients, catch up on some school work and take a breather. what are the weekends for, right?!

if you are local i wanted to send out an invitation to join me for a mini-retreat i'm leading at blissblissbliss. below are the details. hope you can spend an afternoon relaxing and rejuvenating with me.

what's on your weekend to-do list?

hugs & namaste!

Celebrate your Autumnal Equinox with Melita for an afternoon mini-retreat just for women. You are always rushing around taking care of others so take this time to care for yourself, to let go and just "be." Take time to rejuvenate and reflect through meditation, yoga and creative play all while being around other like-minded women. Spend part of your day basking in a slow, yet energizing flow topped with a Yin & Restorative Yoga practice all while receiving some hands on healing therapy provided by Melita. You will also spend some time doing some art journaling (making a inspiration board) and Autumnal goal setting. Please bring a journal, an assortment of favorite images pulled from magazines, your tea mug and your intentions for the remainder of 2011. No yoga experience necessary, all levels welcome and the perfect opportunity to share some quality time with your bff's. Leave feeling lighter and restored with ideas abound for Autumn. Tea, light snacks and inspiration will be served. Please reserve your spot by emailing Melita at melitamollohan@gmail.com.

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tea trade winner

2011-09-20T21:47:00.000-04:00

thank you to all who participated in the 3rd annual tea trade.

we had 39 women in total:

two from france, one from slovenia, one from the netherlands, a couple from the united kingdom, several from canada and a smattering of the united states!!

every year i giveaway a prize to one person from the tea trade. this year ryan picked the winner and the winner is....

elizabeth of morgantown!!!

congrats elizabeth, you will be receiving your tea trade gift soon!

thanks again for joining and making this years tea trade a huge success. if you joined the tea trade and blog, i am looking forward to reading your posts! feel free to share them in the comments below so others can check them out as well.

hugs & namaste

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monday moment of zen

2011-09-19T06:25:00.000-04:00

"fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more, and good things will be yours."
~ swedish proverb

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tea trade - last call

2011-09-14T16:55:00.002-04:00

ladies & gentlemen,

tomorrow, september 15th at 11:59pm est. is the last chance to enter the 3rd annual tea trade.

details can be found by clicking on the above link.

i'm happy to say that we have 35+ traders from all over the globe. some tea traders are as far as way as the uk, 2 from france, one from slovenia and a smattering over canada and the states. this year is going to be the best yet!!

so if you know someone who loves tea, please share the word, share the tea, and share the love!

hugs & namaste!!

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monday moment of zen

2011-09-12T04:26:00.000-04:00

"yoga is about clearing away whatever is in us that prevents our living in the most full and whole way. with yoga, we become aware of how and where we are restricted — in body, mind, and heart — and how gradually to open and release these blockages. as these blockages are cleared, our energy is freed. we start to feel more harmonious, more at one with ourselves. our lives begin to flow — or we begin to flow more in our lives."

~ cybele tomlinson

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friday evening practice

2011-09-09T22:27:00.004-04:00

i almost started typing "furday evening practice" which would totally be true. this is me and the clan sharing practice. hugs & namaste!

monday moment of zen

2011-09-05T05:59:00.000-04:00

'it is our dedication to living with open hearts and our commitment to the day-to-day details of our lives that will transform us. when we are open to the present moment, we shine forth. at these times, we are not on a spiritual path, we are the spiritual path."
~ judith lasater

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monday moment of zen

2011-08-29T03:29:00.000-04:00

"behind the strength of the body, there is an energy that is spirituality, and that is what keeps us alive."
~ pattabhi jois

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what i've noticed

2011-08-24T15:36:00.004-04:00

wvu in front of the mountain lair

starting this past monday, i have re-entered wvu once again.

apparently a lot has changed since i graduated with my accounting degree back in 2005.

somethings i have noticed since being on campus:

- return of 'kids' smoking... what's is this about?! seriously, i have never seen SO many college kids smoking. did this suddenly become cool and i'm just now hearing about it??

- what happened to all of the starbucks cups and kids drinking coffee? when i was in college everyone used drink coffee and always had a coffee cup attached to them (what seemed like permanently).

- one last thing... what's up with the 80s style side ponytails?! i guess that's now fashionable as well?!

being a "non-trad" aka a non-traditional student, i'm SO outta the game. :)

image credit my android phone

monday moment of zen

2011-08-22T03:48:00.000-04:00

"drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.
~thich nat hahn

join my 3rd annual tea trade - details here

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3rd annual tea trade

2011-08-20T15:29:00.003-04:00

can you believe that it's almost time for the 3rd annual tea trade!! last years was a blast and again, my thanks to all who participated.

how it works: tea traders will send a sampling of 3 - 4 ounces (85 - 113 grams) to another participating tea trader. (most boxes of pre-bagged tea is usually between 1.8 -2 oz or 51 - 57 grams). to participate you must be willing to ship your package internationally. (we usually have a few lovely ladies from the uk and from france that participate!!)

details: please send an email to melitamollohan@gmail.com with the subject line "tea trade." in the body of the email please share your address . i will then match up people round robin style and give you a name and address of where to send your teas packages. all of your personal information will be kept strictly confidential. if you feel more comfortable providing your work address rather than personal that is totally fine. also, if you do not wish to provide your name please make sure you let me know in the email and who ever will be sending your tea package will label the envelope "tea trade" and your address.

special prize: i will award a special prize to one lucky tea trader. winner will be chosen at random. special prize will be announced soon (i'm still working on gathering a few goodies for the lucky winner).

due date: please email me your information by thursday, september 15th at 11:59pm est so that we can start tea trading at the end of september!

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monday moment of zen

2011-08-15T16:10:00.002-04:00

"a gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles."
~ william hazlitt

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monday moment of zen

2011-08-08T03:11:00.000-04:00

"nothing can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness."
~ leo tolstoy

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monday moment of zen

2011-08-01T09:24:00.002-04:00

"when the student is ready, the teacher will appear."
~ buddhist proverb

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baby doll's skin care giveaway winner

2011-07-26T13:01:00.006-04:00

thanks to all who entered my latest giveaway.

and a big congratulations goes out to aly!!!

aly, please email your snail mail addy to melitamollohan@gmail.com so that we can send your package right out!!

if you didn't win but still want to check out this stay cool spray, michele is offering a 50% off sale right now. check out her etsy page for more details and promo code.

hugs & namaste!!

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monday moment of zen

2011-07-25T03:27:00.000-04:00

"insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
~ albert einstein

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monday moment of zen

2011-07-18T20:08:00.002-04:00

"travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience."
~ francis bacon

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baby doll skin care giveaway

2011-07-12T13:42:00.000-04:00

i'm excited to announce that i'm doing another giveaway.

this time you get a chance to win an awesome product from the baby doll's skin care line to help keep you cool this summer.

lemon twister peppermint spritzer

i've had the pleasure of trying this spray for a couple of months now and i love it. it not only smells good but does help keep me cool. it's a refreshing blend of lemon and mint. it's made by a local artist here in west virginia and it's made with all natural products!

you can even stick it in the fridge and spray it on when you need cooling off. also, think perfect for after hot yoga!! :) and it even works as a natural insect repellant! what more could you want?!

all you need to do to enter to win is....
leave a comment about how you stay cool in the summer. you get 1 entry per comment - so enter as many times as you wish!! (comments MUST be made on the blog to gain entry to win the giveaway.)

deadline to enter is july 20th at 11pm, est.

"like" baby doll's skin care on facebook, check out their blog & etsy page for other fantastic products!

hugs, namaste & good luck!!

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monday moment of zen

2011-07-11T04:34:00.000-04:00

"climb the mountains and get their good tidings. nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. the winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."
~john muir

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monday moment of zen

2011-07-04T03:12:00.001-04:00

"when time comes for us to again rejoin the infinite stream of water
flowing to and from the great timeless ocean, our little droplet of
soulful water will once again flow with the endless stream."
~ william e. marks

yep, that is me in the pic. i've been pretty sick with a nasty sinus infection/summer cold. but on saturday i had this overwhelming sensation that i needed to be some place i could at least put my toes into water. this gorgeous location is in white park, literally 5 mins from my house.

the water temp was perfect, so perfect in fact, that i jumped in completely before we left. it felt amazing - very healing!! i have a feeling that i'll go back to that place again & again before the summer is over!

hugs & namaste

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sunday surprise

2011-07-03T18:38:00.015-04:00

if you follow me on twitter then you might have saw my 4 tweet post about the little fledgling visit. sometimes a girl needs more than 140 characters!! so, i decided to share the pics and make a nice post of it. (warning, lots of absolutely adorable pics!)

i had trouble sleeping last night due to some meds i've been put on because of my nasty sinus infection. i got all of 1 hour sleep before a thunderstorm rolled in and scared my little pup, cadyn. so i stayed up and consoled her but well after the storm had passed, i couldn't get back to sleep. that was somewhere around 2am(ish). so around 6am i figured i'd take another pass at getting some zzz's and managed successful for almost another 3 hours.

i was tweeting back and forth with fran sussman and keishua about not getting much sleep and the possibility of trying to take a nap later in the day. and here's where the fun begins...

during my nap, i woke up to more thunder. knowing that i didn't want to over-nap in hopes of good sleep tonight, i decided to get up and go watch the storm. i grabbed ryan & we headed out to our back (uncovered) deck. wanting to get a better view of the storm that was swirling around us, we headed out to the front yard. once it started to rain we hung out on the tiny front (covered) porch and watched it rain. the porch is currently home to my scooter (which is for sale by the way - cute little thing isn't it?!) and ryan's bicycle. and on ryan's bicycle spokes was this adorable little fella.

it startled me at first because i hadn't realized it was there. so i called for ryan to come back out with some blueberries and bread.

loves the blueberry

but the bread, not so much (although you can't tell by this pic)

i truly enjoyed playing mama for a little while. :) after feeding time (aka 1 blueberry) it was time for a nap.

he could barely keep his little eyes open

a power nap is just what was in store

~a few more pics after nappy time~

ruffling his feathers

some nice stretching

taking care of an itch

after his little nap, we heard him chirp. the sweet thing!! then we notice that mama is starting to come around too.

a first further away

and then a little closer

we listened to them both chirp and yep, that was mama. she was probably yelling at him for talking to strangers. ;)

and so, as much as i would have liked to kept him, i sent him back to his real mama.

the sweet thing! such a treat to experience nature that close and personal!!

hugs & namaste

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monday moment of zen

2011-06-27T01:59:00.001-04:00

"every day, think as you wake up, today i am fortunate to have woken up, i am alive, i have a precious human life, i am not going to waste it, i am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, i am going to have kind thoughts towards others, i am not going to get angry or think badly about others, i am going to benefit others as much as i can." ~ h.h. the dalai lama

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5 things

2011-06-22T13:32:00.000-04:00

5 things to make your wednesday more wonderful

send a friend a snail mail card to let her know you are thinking about her

offer to walk your neighbor's dog

start an art journal

take an hour or two to browse a bookstore by yourself

set 1 monthly goal & stick to it

image credit, credit, credit, credit, credit

monday moment of zen

2011-06-20T17:00:00.001-04:00

"peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding."
~ ralph waldo emerson

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5 things

2011-06-15T05:29:00.000-04:00

5 things to make your wednesday more wonderful

enjoy a picnic underneath a very old tree

volunteer your time

give a stranger a compliment and mean it

do a household chore without being asked and without seeking a pat on the back

donate your old clothes to charity

image credit me, credit, credit, credit, credit

monday moment of zen

2011-06-13T04:00:00.000-04:00

“yoga is the human quest for remembering our true nature, our deepest selves. since the dawn of recorded time human beings have sought to transcend the human condition, to go beyond ordinary consciousness. basic questions such as who am i? and why am i here? have driven mankind’s spiritual pursuits for millenia. in every human heart lies a deep longing to connect to something bigger than oneself, to find a sense of belonging and meaning to life. at the core of this longing is a basic human desire for happiness that transcends culture and time. every human being wants to find happiness.”

~From Hatha Yoga Illustrated by Martin Kirk, Brooke Boon, and Daniel DiTuro

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yoga in the park

2011-06-10T04:11:00.000-04:00

(photo from our last yoga in the park session)

hey there local yogis & yoginis,

i hope your summer is going swimmingly with lots of activities outside in this beautiful weather!! one of the things i love most about summer is doing yoga outside! i am inviting you to join me for yoga in the park all summer long!!

our june meeting dates & times will be:
sunday, june 19th 9:30-10:30am
sunday, june 26th 9:30-10:30am

please note: if it IS RAINING then class will be canceled. if there is a CHANCE OF RAIN class will still be on until we get rained out. :)

yoga in the park this summer will be held in the beautiful jack roberts park on the corner of madigan ave and leonard st in the first ward of morgantown. (see attached pic to see location.) there is plenty of parking - in the parking lot & also free street parking. there is a playground so if you have kids they can play while you play. :)

these all-levels classes are FREE to all. donations are greatly appreciated but never required.

please bring your mat (or towel if you don't have a mat) some water and anything else you need. be sure to pass this email along to your friends and family - the more the merrier!!

and yes, you will receive my signature neck massage during your savasana!!! :)

if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. i hope to see you on these sundays!

hugs & namaste,
melita

image credit me

5 things

2011-06-08T05:28:00.000-04:00

5 things to make your wednesday more wonderful

take a walk thru nature

enjoy a mid-day nap

cuddle on the couch with your favorite furry friend

surprise your neighbor with flowers

don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it

image credit me, credit, me, credit, credit

monday moment of zen

2011-06-06T05:50:00.000-04:00

“all blame is a waste of time. no matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. the only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. you may succeed in making another feel guilty about something by blaming him, but you won’t succeed in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy.”

~ dr. wayne w. dyer

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5 things

2011-06-01T10:26:00.000-04:00

5 things to make your wednesday more wonderful

drink a mug of tea as a form of meditation - savor each sip

give one of your favorite books to someone you love

try a new recipe

explore a new store in your town

invite a friend over for a few hours to catch up

image credit me, credit, credit, credit, credit

monday moment of zen

2011-05-30T05:48:00.000-04:00

“the truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.”

~ pema chodren

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5 things

2011-05-24T12:04:00.001-04:00

5 things to make your tuesday more tranquil

surround yourself with like-minded spirits

drink enough water

do yoga (not just on the mat)

write out your thoughts and dreams

tell someone thank you

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monday moment of zen

2011-05-23T04:44:00.000-04:00

"the dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called 'truth.'"
~dan rather

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yoga in the park

2011-05-21T03:16:00.000-04:00

hey there morgantown yogis and yoginis!!

i am starting my second annual 'yoga in the park' and wanted to extend an invitation to you to join me!!

our first outdoor yoga adventure will happen this coming sunday, may 22nd 10-11am.

i am hoping to meet at least twice a month for the rest of the summer (or until it gets too cold outside!). if it IS RAINING then class will be canceled. if there is a CHANCE OF RAIN class will still be on until we get rained out. :)

yoga in the park this summer will be held in the beautiful jack roberts park on the corner of madigan ave and leonard st in the first ward of morgantown. (pics are of actual location.) there is plenty of parking - in the parking lot & also free street parking. there is a playground so if you have kids they can play while you play. :)

these all-levels classes are FREE to all. donations are appreciated but never required.

please bring your mat (or towel if you don't have a mat) some water and anything else you need. be sure to pass this email along to your friends and family - the more the merrier!!

and yes, you will receive my signature neck massage during your savasana!!! :)

if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me at melitamollohan@gmail.com. i hope to see you on sunday!

hugs & namaste,
melita

image credit me

bed day

2011-05-20T14:26:00.004-04:00

yesterday my body screeched to a halt. i knew that at around noon when i wasn't out of bed (and wasn't planning to leave my bed) that i needed to make a decision that i didn't want to make.

i cancelled my yoga class & my clients.

i. hate. doing. that.

but i knew, it was for the best. for days on end (and yes, weeks on end as well) i've been pushing my body & pushing and i knew that eventually she was going to push back. yesterday was the day.

so aside from feeling like crap, i laid around, enjoying the comforts of my bed - with pets joining in on the bed day as well. i've written about having bed days before, but this one was very different as i wasn't feeling well at all.

nonetheless, rest was exactly what my neglected body needed. and that is what she got.

i continued to stay in bed until just now (yep, am writing this from bed). i've gotta pull myself up now and get ready to go give a bowenwork session. and then i'm onto lakeview resort & spa for the monongalia county child advocacy center's "girls' night out" event.

if you are local you should come. indulge yourself on some chair massage, bowenwork, reiki, yoga, meditation & much more. and it's all for a good cause. not to mention good karma!!

hugs and _/\_

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the wise woman's stone

2011-05-18T05:10:00.002-04:00

the wise woman's stone

a wise woman, who was traveling in the mountains, found a
precious stone in a stream.

she reverently placed the gem in her bag.

the next day, she met another traveler, who was hungry.

the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. the hungry
traveler saw the precious stone in the wise woman's bag,
admired it, and asked the wise woman to give it to him.
the wise woman did so without hesitation.

the traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune.

he knew the jewel was worth enough to give him security for
the rest of his life.

but a few days later he came back, searching for the wise
woman.

when he found her, he returned the stone and said,
"i have been thinking. i know how valuable the stone is, but
i would like to exchange it in the hope that you can give me
something much more precious. if you can, teach me the
secrets about the power you have within you, the power that
enabled you to, without hesitation, give me this precious
stone."

~ author unknown

i can't get enough of this. as you all know, i love quotes (hello monday moments of zen!!) :) i always share a quote as students are rousing from savasana and lately i have been sharing this. i hope you all enjoyed as much as my yogi(ni)s do.

hugs and _/\_

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5 things

2011-05-17T06:36:00.001-04:00

5 things to make your tuesday more tranquil

adopting a greyhound (or any pet you wish)

a car ride after a nice hike in the woods with these two beauties - ok, 3 if you count ryan ;)

taking 5 minutes to meditate. using a meditation cushion like this one makes it more fun - i love mine!!

stopping and smelling the flowers

tell someone you love them

hugs and _/\_

image credit credit credit (rest are by my phone)

monday moment of zen

2011-05-16T04:44:00.000-04:00

"yoga is seeing life the way it is."
~ patanjali's yoga sutras

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dogs on parade

2011-05-11T11:57:00.001-04:00

enjoy my silly little video of us taking our dogs out for a run (while we are being lazy on our bikes). :)

namaste!

monday moment of zen

2011-05-09T05:52:00.001-04:00

"there comes a time in life when you have to let go of all the pointless drama and the people who create it, and surround yourself with people who make you laugh so hard you forget the bad, and focus solely on the good. after all, life is too short to be anything but happy."
~ karl marx

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mother's day

2011-05-08T12:42:00.003-04:00

happy mother's day mom. i am eternally grateful to have you in my life! i love you!!

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necklace giveaway winner!!

2011-05-02T12:02:00.004-04:00

thanks to all who entered my first ever giveaway!!

and the winner of this beautiful handmade necklace is.......

the analyst

congrats!! i know you will enjoy your beautiful necklace!

please remember that mandy can do custom jewelry. please visit her etsy account and peruse what she already has made up or send her a message to create a one of a kind piece as per your specifications!

hugs and _/\_

monday moment of zen

2011-05-02T02:57:00.000-04:00

"always give from the overflow of your well, not from its depth."
~ sufi saying

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monday moment of zen

2011-04-25T10:47:00.002-04:00

"in the end we are all separate: our stories, no matter how similar, come to a fork and diverge. we are drawn to each other because of our similarities, but it is our differences we must learn to respect." ~anonymous

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handmade necklace giveaway

2011-04-21T11:45:00.006-04:00

this is my first ever traditional giveaway (besides my annual tea trade giveaway) on gussying up the tuttle and i'm so excited that it's from my very best friend, mandy!!

this handmade necklace giveaway is just in time for mother's day (or you can keep it for yourself!)

necklace is 19 inches in length

there are many different ways to enter - each way gets you one entry:
remember, leave a separate comment on this post for each entry. if applicable, please leave the link to your facebook/twitter/blog in the comment you leave me. only the first entry is required. all the others are optional but increase your chances of winning:

1. visit mandy's etsy page and leave a comment telling me which is your favorite piece and why.

2. become a follower of gussying up the tuttle with google friend connect (choose to follow publicly). you get 2 entries for this so leave 2 separate comments.

3. follow me on twitter. you get 2 entries for this so leave 2 separate comments.

4. friend me on facebook. you get 2 entries for this so leave 2 separate comments.

5. spread the word about the giveaway. share on twitter, facebook or your blog. leave a comment for each.

note: if you already follow me on twitter or facebook or google connect, you can still use those entries, i.e. you do not have to be a new follower to be eligible. be sure when you enter that there is a way for me to get in touch with you – i.e. whether through your blog or email.
DEADLINE TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY IS SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2011 AT 11PM, EST.

winner will be announced, sunday, may 1, 2011.

mandy can also make custom orders as well so please be sure to contact her if you want something specific made.

good luck!!

hugs and _/\_

monday moment of zen

2011-04-18T07:52:00.000-04:00

"the first duty of love is to listen."
~ paul tillich

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thankful thursday

2011-04-14T12:24:00.003-04:00

today i'm thankful for:

getting the majority of my taxes done yesterday (with the help of my friend tamara who is a godsend!! thank you tamara!!)

still feeling awesome from a 90 minute massage yesterday - i especially enjoyed the reflexology part

gearing up to go teach a hot vinyasa class 6-7pm tonight at blissblissbliss

as well as give a few bowenwork sessions

and seeing my favorite flowers blooming all over morgantown

what are you thankful for on this beautiful thursday?

hugs & _/\_

image credit credit credit credit credit

monday moment of zen

2011-04-11T15:07:00.002-04:00

"our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self-hood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to be. as we do so, we will not only find the joy that every human being seeks -- we will also find our path of authentic service in the world." ~ parker j. palmer

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monday moment of zen

2011-04-04T10:36:00.004-04:00

"the ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned."
~ maya angelou

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monday moment of zen

2011-03-30T11:45:00.003-04:00

oh please do forgive me. i was out of town and i missed my monday moment of zen post. so here it is, better late than never. :)

"if self-responsibility is not at the core of healing a person's situation, then the method being applied is just a bandage over the wound".
~ geoff gluckman

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monday moment of zen

2011-03-21T12:19:00.001-04:00

it was one of those march days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.
~charles dickens

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monday moment of zen

2011-03-14T01:45:00.000-04:00

"life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized."
~ leo buscaglia

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meditation during negative times

2011-03-11T03:15:00.001-05:00

the other day i had a comment on my blogging in waves post about how meditation is the last thing on your mind when you are in the thick of a negative situation or crisis.

do you, lovely readers, also feel this way and have any thoughts and/or suggestions as to how to get back into the groove of meditation when your mind doesn't seem to be in the right space?

merci in advance!!

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for a friend

2011-03-10T09:28:00.000-05:00

hey all you fabulous people out there!!

one of my dear friends turned 39 last month and made a "39 things to do before turning 40" list. one of the things on her list is to receive 40 post cards by the time she turns 40.

well.... we can help her with that now can't we?!?!

please send a post card to:

"Carrie McCarthy"
1425 Cedar Lane
Green Lane, PA 18054

and hey, while you are at it, tell your friends. i'm sure we can surpass 40 before she turns 40!! :)

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blogging in waves

2011-03-09T04:28:00.000-05:00

it seems as if i've had a lot to say recently. :)

sometimes my blogging comes in waves - a whole lot at once and then it goes down to a trickle (aka only monday moment of zen posts).

just like the moon has an impact on the ocean, it also has an impact on us as well.

last friday, march 4th was the new moon. with the new moon our energy can also be slower and we can be more reflective and pensive. the new moon is the perfect time to create new goals or dreams for yourself. it's also a time to give up anything that no longer serves you.

in my yoga classes last week i asked my students while they were lying on their sides, before coming back up to an easy seat to end class, to think of one thing that they want to get rid of. it could be anything from a negative relationship, to a job or project that they no longer want, to that last 5 pounds. i asked them to imagine that as they sat up that was left behind on the floor. to actually picture whatever was no longer serving them being left behind so that something newer and better could come in it's place.

i also showed them the shivalingam mudra.

the shivalingam mudra is an energizing and powerful mudra when your energy is down, when you feel as though you need more power over a specific situation or just in general, to help break negative thought patterns, and to help boost self-confidence and self-esteem. perfect for the new moon!!

image credit, credit

to always look on the bright side?

2011-03-08T07:38:00.001-05:00

first off, i want to thank you guys SO much for reading and for all of your comments on the blog recently. you guys make my heart swell with joy & gratitude!!

secondly, happy fat tuesday everyone!!

and now onto the situation at hand...

blogging is a peculiar thing sometimes, isn't it?

it's as if sometimes we feel the need to only share or blog about the bright side of things. we don't want to let people know about the messy little situations that come up in our life for several reasons; you might be embarrassed about your situation, people will think you are complaining, people won't care cause they have their own shit to worry about, etc, etc, etc...

but indeed, we are human, we ALL have good days and we all have bad days and we all survive both!

just as there is no need to dwell on the negative, there is no need to only focus on the positive. that makes us seem less real. good or bad, i'm about as REAL as it gets.

i try to find that middle ground.

i try to see both sides of the coin.

do you?

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foot in mouth, almost, but not quite

2011-03-07T16:38:00.006-05:00

my "un-yogic" blog post caused quite a stir. i got a lot of comments on both the post itself and on my facebook page.

while i was writing this from a point of view of me being un-yogic some others feelings got hurt in the process.

this was not my intention - ever!!

when i started this blog (3 years ago the 16th of this month!!) i laid some very basic ground rules:

would i want people to read this if is published on the front of the new york times??

** yes - proceed ** no - definitely do not publish ** maybe? - still, do not publish**

and i still stand by this today.

when i re-read what i wrote for the umpteenth time i thought that maybe something that i had written might be taken wrong. but as always in the publishing world, it was too late...

so, i say this out of complete sincerity - i never meant to hurt anyone's feelings and since that i know i did, please know that i am very, very sorry!!

it's not about one specific person, incident, situation, etc. it's about the shifting of energy as a whole. i am reminded of the quote i put up a couple of monday's ago for the moment of zen.

"in the entire world, there is not one human being who is free from pain. even in favorable conditions, a person encounters struggle. the external form of struggle appears to be cruel. some describe it as a horrible demon, but its nature is not malicious. in fact, it is proper to welcome struggle, for its arrival is always auspicious. struggle keeps us from growing sluggish. it changes an animal into an ideal person. it transforms an ordinary human into a spiritually-awake person respected by the world... it is alright if we cannot receive struggle with love, but struggle should never be discarded. to discard struggle is to discard god's grace."
~ swami kripalu

although it may be hard to welcome struggle when you are in the midst of it, try to remind yourself that it is there for a reason. you will take away a lesson from it. for each time there is struggle there is also a shift of energy that helps us grow. and yes, i have to remind myself of this exact thing when i'm in the midst of struggle. :)

one of my favorite mantra's is lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu

which translates to "may all beings everywhere be happy and free. may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all."

with an emphasis on the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life being key.

so what about you guys, any mantra or quote that you go to when in the midst of struggle?

image credit

introducing babaji bones

2011-03-07T13:00:00.002-05:00

i've tried to keep this one under wraps but with only 1 week left i can't keep it secret any longer!!

i went with a dear friend to wheeling to check out the retired racing greyhounds because she was looking to adopt one. while i have always wanted to get a greyhound (one of the many dogs on the list of must-own before i die) i went not with the intention of bringing one home but just the opposite. i said to several people "i will not bring a dog home!!" HA!!!

i was saying that out loud to try to be strong. oh sure, i knew i was weak but i didn't realize how weak until one look at this face....

i sent ryan a photo text of this pup with "gotta be bold" as the title. that was his racing name however ryan told me i was getting weak as he thought i was the one that had to be bold. :)

and so, you know where the rest of this story goes...

next monday, one week from today, the lady from the greyhound rescue/adoption will make a home visit with him and if all goes well, he will get to stay!!

and so i know you are thinking to yourself 'why in the hell did she name that dog babaji bones?!'

well... babaji is a beloved yogi who is known as "the deathless avatar." he learned to overcome all physical limitations. and babaji was the one who encouraged paramahansa yogananda to teach yoga to the western world as a way to spread enlightenment. pretty cool, eh?

and... bones comes from a cute name i had picked out for a future adoption of a pit-bull (which is just a silly name). i thought, why wait?!

so there you have it - babaji bones. you can look forward to reading more about babaji in the future. :)

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monday moment of zen

2011-03-07T09:05:00.002-05:00

"we all seek happiness and shun suffering, but as human beings we are distinguished from others by our intelligence. if we allow it to be controlled by negative emotions like hatred, the consequences are disastrous, but if we use it positively, we can not only recognize our predicament but also train our minds and ways of thinking, which enables us to transform ourselves into better, happier people."
~h.h. the dalai lama

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un-yogic

2011-03-03T06:55:00.001-05:00

do i.....

cuss (sometimes like a sailor)???

occasionally eat meat???

speed thru yellow lights (or even occasionally run red lights)???

vent to my boyfriend about how frustrated i am over how un-yogic some things are at my yoga studio???

get angry or defensive over stupid shit???

have to have things my way???

be sarcastic so much so that sometimes it seems rude???

sometimes have a short temper???

get selfish and put myself first???

you betcha!!!

so tell me... what sort of un-yogic behaviors do you sometimes indulge in?

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thoughts

2011-03-02T13:50:00.002-05:00

in a recent yoga class that i was lucky enough to attend focused the class on half asana and half meditation. the teacher (and a dear friend of mine) had us to set in a circle for the meditation portion of the class. as she was leading us to our find our stillness she said something to the effect of not letting other people put us in boxes that label what we are, that we are much more than that. while at the time it didn't really sink in until after the mediation was over and we shared any experiences we had and spent a little time talking. it was at that point another student said she really enjoyed what she had said about that. and i thought to myself, "yeah, exactly, why do we let other people dictate what we do or who we are?!"

sure we all have labels of what it is we do: mother, daughter, friend, lover, accountant, lawyer, landscaper, cat person, lover of frogs, francophile, and on & on. but those labels are just that... labels. they can describe us but they aren't who we really are. and why do we feel the need to fit into these labels or boxes that others put upon us? sure, we want people to like us but you can't make everyone happy all of the time. and if you try you will certainly go mad!

so why not be who you are and own it?! it will make things a lot easier in the end, don't you think??

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monday moment of zen

2011-02-28T04:40:00.001-05:00

"the only zen you find on tops of mountains is the zen you bring there."
~ robert m. pirsig

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monday moment of zen

2011-02-21T04:30:00.001-05:00

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monday moment of zen

2011-02-14T10:21:00.004-05:00

"you must love yourself before you love another. by accepting yourself and fully being what you are, your simple presence can make others happy."
~ anonymous

happy valentine's day everyone! may you love yourself as much as you love everyone else.

hugs & namaste!

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life lessons from being sick

2011-02-12T20:25:00.004-05:00

hello loves! you might have been wondering why i haven't been blogging recently or have noticed my absence on my beloved twitter. well, i've been down and out with some sort of silly bug. it's been going around and just when i thought i had skirted around it... it got me.

in fact, i'm blogging from my comfy bed with homemade chai, pets, pillows, books, magazines and my trusted vic mac-key nearby. (yes, i was a big fan of shawn ryan's the shield. therein lies the name of my macbook pro.)

i've had to cancel massage clients, bowenwork clients, yoga classes and the end all - be all my yoga & creativity workshop i have scheduled for tomorrow. (sigh!) it's given me a chance to catch up on some things though (between bouts of sleep that is): some fabulous articles online, and the 2nd & 3rd of this trilogy (love!).

but in ways, i guess i had this little life lesson coming. i've been going non-stop for i can't remember how long. with a long line of "yes, i can fit you in" "sure, tomorrow is fine" "it's ok, don't worry about it." and the list goes on & on. but one thing you have to remember is if you don't take care of yourself first, then you can't take care of others. at least not properly anyways.

so life's little lesson has made me slow down even though i didn't want to. but i can say that i've taken a lot away from this lesson. just to name a few:

#1 take care of yourself first
#2 learn to say no when it's best for me
#3 learn to better prioritize tasks (and people for that matter)

i'm hoping that you stay healthy & well.

hugs & namaste

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monday moment of zen

2011-02-07T03:46:00.000-05:00

"i still find each day too short for all the thoughts i want to think, all the walks i want to take, all the books i want to read, and all the friends i want to see."
~ john burroughs

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monday moment of zen

2011-01-31T22:29:00.002-05:00

"no one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. "
~ lin yutang

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bowenwork training

2011-01-28T19:39:00.002-05:00

before i started massage therapy school i got myself a mentor. that was one of the best moves i have made. it's so wonderful having a mentor who has taken the path i have and can help lead me in the right direction.

and thanks to the wonderful advice my mentor gave me, this weekend i'm here in cincinnati, ohio doing modules 1 & 2 for bowenwork training.

today was my first day and i. am. loving. it!

i can't wait to share more with you as i learn.

hugs & namaste

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monday moment of zen

2011-01-24T07:13:00.001-05:00

"when you practice contentment you can say to yourself, 'oh yes i already have everything that i really need'."
~ hh the dalai lama

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blissblissbliss open house

2011-01-22T10:25:00.001-05:00

if you are local (or even semi-local) consider joining me tomorrow for our open house at blissblissbliss. here are the details of all of our free events:

A Day of FREE Bliss for ALL!

OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATION

Sunday, January 23, 9am - 5pm

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Free Informational Classes:

11:30am – 12:30pm Essential Oils and Mixology (Lela)

12 – 1pm Ayurveda 101 (Elizabeth)

1:30 – 2:30pm FYI: Ayurvedic Massage (Elizabeth & Melita)

3:30 – 4:30pm Essential Oils and Mixology (Lela)

Free Mind/Body Classes:

9 – 9:45am Hot Vinyasa (Melita)

10 – 10:45am Gentle Yoga (Laura)

11 – 11:45am Partner Yoga (Heidi & Mary Jo)

12 – 12:45pm Ashtanga Yoga (Mary Jo)

1 – 1:30pm Meditation (Lela)

1:45 – 2:15pm Belly Dancing Demo

2:30 – 3:15pm Restorative Yoga (Heidi)

4 – 5pm Shine On: Sun Salutations (Heidi) *active, flowing class

Free Body/Energy Work:

10 minute Chair Massages (9-10am, 10:30 – 11:30am, 12 – 2pm)

15 minute Thai Yoga Bodywork (9 – 10:30am)

20 minute Energywork & EFT for Pain Relief (9:30 - 11:30am, 3 - 5pm)

10 minute Reflexogy (10:30 – 11:30am)

20 minute Cranio Sacral Therapy (11am – 1pm)

20 minute Reiki Sessions (1 – 3pm)

friends sharing yoga

2011-01-18T11:11:00.004-05:00

here is a video of my friend lela and i sharing yoga practice. we were each doing our own thing yet loving practicing together. we are in the namaste studio of blissblissbliss where i teach.

hugs & namaste

monday moment of zen

2011-01-17T07:54:00.001-05:00

"peace can be reached through meditation on the knowledge which dreams give. peace can also be reached through concentration upon that which is dearest to the heart."
~ patanjali

"peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal."
~ martin luther king jr.

happy mlk day everyone!
hugs!!

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rest

2011-01-16T09:07:00.005-05:00

yesterday i read from "meditations from the mat" about rest in yoga. all of the yoga teachers i know (including myself) urge students to take a rest whenever their body needs it. after all, we are not your best teacher, you the student are! you know your body better than anyone else!

sometimes, myself included in this, will push ourselves through postures only to do half as well as we would have if we would have taken a few resting breaths in child's pose or an equivalent resting pose.

as you become more familiar with yoga and the poses you can learn to take a quick rest during the posture. you do this by softening some muscles that aren't required to hold that pose. for instance, you don't need to clinch your jaw in order to get into your best virabhadrasana 1. clinching your jaw doesn't make you any stronger as a warrior so let it go and maybe smile a little. :)

so now that you've given yourself permission to let yourself rest when you need to during your yoga practice, let's look at how we can take that practice off the mat.

especially during this time of year when colds & flues are getting passed around like candy at halloween we should take care of ourselves so that hopefully we don't get sick. and if we do get sick then by resting properly will allow our bodies to heal more quickly thus getting you out there faster to do the things that you do best!

here are a few ways you can take your rest off the mat:

~ take a bed day, half a bed day, or even a few hours to rest in bed either before your day begins or after it ends

~ sit by the fireplace and let the warmth and magic surround you

~ sit down with a mug of hot tea (or coffee) in hand, feel the warmth against your hands, and sip slowly

~ take time to snuggle with pets or loved ones - this is welcomed and enjoyed by everyone

~ call up a friend that you haven't talked to in a while and reminisce about something silly that you did or happened in the past - laughter is medicine for the soul!

i am taking my own advice today. i am writing this post from bed with a mug of honey lemon ginseng green tea on one side of me, my kitty (pictured above) on the other side and my pup in between my feet. :)

may you find your rest on and off the mat!

hugs & namaste

image credit and me