thankful thursday

"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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5 things

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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5 things

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)

thankful thursday

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 & _/\_


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to always look on the bright side?

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

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?

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friends sharing yoga

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

nightly routine

since the beginning of the year i have fallen into a nightly routine. my pre slumber time consists of reading from each of these books, sipping hot tea, reflecting on my day and be grateful.

do you have a highly routine?

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FREE vinyasa class

i am teaching a FREE all levels vinyasa yoga class this sunday, january 9th at blissblissbliss 11am-12pm. i hope you join me!

in case you weren't aware, blissblissbliss has moved to greenbag rd in morgantown. unfortunately for those of you who are a fan of gps you are going to have to do this one the old school way as gps doesn't recognize our address :)

if you are on greenbag rd at the 4 way stop where the kingwood pike crosses it then drive toward sabraton. here is what you will see on the left in this order:

wonder bread store
mountainview elementary school
richard drive
a house
clinton water association building

and we are the next left - there is a business plaza that has beautiful buildings that look like houses. up front you'll see an insurance company and about town realty. we are in the back building, on the left. there aren't many visible signs but i assure you, if you follow these directions it will lead you right into blissville. :)

if you have any questions or concerns about the class or how to find us, please don't hesitate to email me: melitamollohan@gmail.com.

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end with a bang

this past wednesday was the perfect day off.

one of my good friends lela & i started the day with breakfast at one of my favorite local cafes, the blue moose cafe. we then headed to pittsburgh to do a yin yoga workshop with richard gartner.


we then headed back to motown and met up with ryan at our favorite place to eat, mother india before dashing off to watch true grit.

while i'm not a western loving girl i have to admit this was a pretty good movie. good enough in fact that i asked ryan to watch the original this evening. i definitely enjoyed the newer edition. no offense to "duke." :)

i'm enjoying my new year's eve at home with ryan & the pets. i wish you a safe and happy new year!

if you are local (and not too hung over) consider joining me tomorrow for a new year's day yoga practice. details here.

hugs & namaste

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what if...

what if...
today you look at the world from another person's point of view?

what if...
today you say thank you and really mean it?

what if...
today you give someone a compliment?

what if...
today you say hello to a complete stranger?

what if...
today you give your seat on the metro to someone else?

what if...
today you give a stray dog some food or a home?

all of these are small ways you can show someone you care. so why not use today to make a difference in someone else's life?

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40 days of yoga - days 23, 24 & 25

i am writing this from in front of my fireplace. i had my first fire yesterday and i sat in front of the fire in meditation for about 45 minutes. it was mesmerizing.

although i got behind on blogging, i did not get behind on my 40 day yoga challenge. tuesday, day 23, i was able to squeeze in about 15 minutes before i taught yoga to the local bank employees. it was a blessing in disguise because i just assumed that i would be doing yoga at home once i finished my long day but i had a last minute client and didn't get home until around 9:30pm. i was thankful that i got my practice in when i did so i wasn't completely exhausted when i did my practice.

day 24 was a practice of yin yoga. if i haven't mentioned this before, i've been experiencing some pain in my hips, especially my right hip. so i did held some poses that helped open my hips.

day 25 - ryan and i (ok, mostly ryan) made thanksgiving dinner for my parents. this was our first thanksgiving in the this little house that heals and we were grateful that my parents were willing to drive up here to celebrate. today's yoga practice is a healing, heart opening practice by the fireplace.

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40 days of yoga - day 14

oh glorious day off!! i am so stoked to just be chilling in my house & staying in my pjs all day!! i haven't had a day off in a long while i'm afraid, so i'm not taking this one for granted.

i had a leisurely breakfast and have been snuggling on the couch with my pets and reading 168 hours. it's really amazing to see where all of our precious time goes. before reading this book, i've stopped using the excuse of "i don't have the time for (insert activity of choice here)" now i just say "i haven't made time for (insert whatever here)."

my yoga practice today included the 3 poses that i've been working very hard at recently - headstand, crow, and wheel. all of which i am slow achieving. i'm such a pitta when it comes to um, lots of things and i'll challenge myself to achieve certain postures. for example, 2009 was the year of chaturanga dandasana and i was hell bent on accomplishing it. so i would practice it until my arms burned and were sore for days. yes, you could say i'm a pitta for sure. ;)

now it's time to make my self a little lunch and resume my chill time some more. i hope you are having a wonderful sunday loves!!

hugs & namaste

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thankful thursday

my thursday gratitude list includes:

- getting to send the entire weekend here at the lovely olmsted manor in pa (sans cell service and internet) for a yoga retreat as part of my additional training

- feeling quite refreshed this morning after my lovely massage yesterday. i didn't realize how much i needed it until i was on the table. yes, us massage therapists get knots too :)

- for a new yoga teaching opportunity that i have embarked on. i'm teaching employees of a local bank (the majority of which have never done yoga before) - we are having so much fun!

- for patricia harman attending the bliss book club meeting last sunday and getting to ask her all sorts of questions about her book "the blue cotton gown." which, i can't recommend highly enough!

- for new and old readers alike, thank you for reading my blog. if you are a new reader or an old reader who's never commented please consider leaving a comment this time so i can check out your blog.


have a spooktacular weekend everyone & happy halloween!! hugs!!

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traveling that same stretch of road

last week as i drove down the same stretch of road that i've traveled hundreds, probably thousands of times before i felt nostalgia wash over me. i went back to the place where i grew up. where my parents still happily live.

i thought about all of the things both good and not so great that has happened to me and that i dealt with growing up. driving down certain stretches of this road my heart pinged with pain from the thought of a fight with a former lover or i giggled to myself in remember something silly that my best friend and i did.

i come from a very, very small town. in fact, it really isn't a town at all. there is only one little country grocery store that also sells gas. a couple of stop signs but no stop lights. there aren't many people. and as the saying goes, if you don't know what you're doing at least your neighbors do. :) yes, it was a small town indeed.

when traveling with my parents as a child, i used to be ashamed of telling people where i was from because i thought people would look down on us "west virginia hillbillies." but once i got older and started traveling more on my own i realized that it wasn't so bad. there were places and people just like us everywhere.

now i am proud to call west virginia my home. we may not be a rich state and our politics may be a little skewed but really, who's isn't?? i have not always called west virginia home. i have lived elsewhere before and will probably live elsewhere again. but i will always call west virginia my home.

since i unfortunately didn't get a photo of my own: image credit

pittsburgh bound

by the time you are reading this ryan and i are probably already headed to this lovely old late 1800s house in the west end of pittsburgh for the night to celebrate our 5th year anniversary.

we had planned on going to frank lloyd wright's fallingwater home on saturday (technically our anniversary) since neither one of us has been there. but that will have to wait for another time.

we are cutting our trip short because ryan's dad is coming down to motown on saturday to help us get into the closed up fireplace in the house we are going to move into. why anyone would close a fireplace is beyond my imagination - they are so beautiful and add such an ambiance to the house!

i hope you all have a lovely weekend! hugs!!

morning and afternoon delight

i woke up naturally around 9am this morning. feels good to let my body decide how long it needs rest. i have been in quite a bit of pain since tuesday afternoon. i'm not sure exactly what has happened but i have a pain in my rhomboid/trapezius/latissimus dorsi region. say whaaaa?? see lovely image below:

due to the severity of this pain, i have had to turn down some massages and cancel a yoga class - boo!! i was scheduled to give the owner of blissblissbliss a massage today at but being the kind, considerate and lovely lady that she is, she is going to give me a massage to see if she can help relieve some of my pain.

now this isn't going to be a nice, sweet, relaxing massage (although i am sure there will be some of that love in there somewhere) but the focus of this massage will be harsh elbows and trigger points and who knows what else! but it is exactly what i need to get whatever the issue is out!! and hopefully out for good!!

so i've been spending my cool, crisp, autumn-esque morning snuggled up in bed with my laptop, cup of coffee, pets coming and going as they please, and my visual journal.

my visual journal has been rather neglected as of recent and i plan on changing that. this morning i have been incorporating my 2010 vision board/wheel of life into my visual journal.


so even though in pain, i am grateful for the opportunity to be able to take it easy when my body demands it.

what are you thankful for on this lovely thursday? hugs!!

image credit ici and moi

happy holiday & yoga flash mob

what a weekend already! yesterday i taught a free yoga class in the park. it was the most beautiful day for yoga in the park. love doing yoga outside!! i have one more free yoga class in the park scheduled for september. if you are local please consider joining me!

ryan & i went to check out a little 2 bedroom house to rent. we are going to get the fireplace working again (yay!! always wanted a fireplace!!) and paint a couple of rooms and hopefully get moved in by oct 1st!

later in the day we headed to chestnut ridge park for the last of the summer concert series to watch the hillbilly gypsies and to perform our yoga flash mob. it was SO much fun!!

have a safe & happy holiday weekend where ever you are! hugs!!

mornings

as i sit in front of my laptop writing this, i am enjoying a cup of coffee made from a french press. while i am definitely a lover of tea, i still love & enjoy coffee as well. from my desk i have a lovely view of this:

my beautiful morning glories

i also have a lovely view of this:

my lovely potted herbs and flowers (sanjay is on herb patrol here)

i believe he's asking me "why didn't you plant cat nip?!" :)

so, tell me, or better yet, show me, what is your morning view?

have a lovely weekend! hugs!!

thankful thursday

this thursday i am thankful for:

• all of you lovelies who have responded to the 2nd annual tea trade. if you haven't signed up yet, please consider doing so.

• enjoying my beautiful roses (see pic above) that ryan planted for me last year. i've enjoyed plenty of fresh cut roses all summer long - thank you sweetie!!

• getting together with the bliss book club to watch eat pray love together & then gathering at the kenyan cafe afterwords to enjoy each others company, dine & discuss both book & movie. we had a wonderful time together! if you are local, consider joining our book club, we've got some exciting events coming soon!

• finally getting to meet long time bloggy friend jessica and having her in my yoga class. :)

• teaching yoga to puppy parents at this years splash bash at marilla park - bring your pup, do some yoga & play in the pool sunday august 29th 10am-4pm

i hope you have a thankful thursday as well. hugs!!