Yogi Luv

Bob Marley, Cooking, and Wine...

... Make the perfect evening. Well, I should clarify that it is actually the Pandora Bob Marley station which still cranks out awesomely chill tunes but switches it up. As I alway say, I gave up cooking for awhile but once I get back into the groove, I realize how much I missed it. One of the things I looked forward to most moving out here was year round farmer's markets. My marketing was non-existent the past month and I made a commitment to get back into the fresh produce game this week. I went to two markets including the famous Little Italy mercato which led to plenty of Cali grown organic concoctions. Tonight my new favorite recipe, Zucchini Lasagna, is in the oven. Check out the recipe here from Skinny Taste. Another culinary delight that Matt would have never tried, go figure. And as I was cooking, "Don't Worry be Happy" by Bob came on. Always an appreciated tune that no matter at what point I am in my life, teaches me something new.

namaste

Melissa 

Yogi Problems

Not surprisingly another hilarious yogi event has occurred. I slept in this morn as I was tired out from all of my rigorous outdoor activities this holiday weekend but was still able to catch a late morn yoga class. As usual the schedule was abbreviated and I everyone else at my studio decided to take a longer snooze and attend this slower paced class. I noticed that the class was packed and quickly threw my mat down to secure my usual front row diva locale. Then they started pouring in and everyone looked very confused. We all slightly moved our mats in hopes of avoiding touching anyone to make room the best we could. Of course there was still a spot up front and the teacher encouraged a stranded yogi to come on down. The woman obviously a back row lurker, was not pleased and stomped up front with all of her belongings including a dinging cell phone. I felt the stink eye exchanged between the couple in prayer position next to me. There were a few more minutes of awkward shuffling before class began. My spot wasn't too bad and I was comfortable although I typically avoid practicing next to men  because they sweat like crazy and stink but sandwiched between two attractive older men, I was fine. The back row lurker converted front row dive loudly asked how to get into child's pose as the teacher pursed her lips and gave her the silence gesture like a kindergarten teacher during nap time. After about five minutes, the couple next to me shot up and announced they were leaving because they are six feet tall and it was cramped. I smirked and scooted my mat over to get away from the hot sweaty forty something. Finally, the yogis settled into the practice and an enjoyable slow flow kept on. As class ended and I lay in sivasana listening to someone's cell phone go off, I pondered doesn't this class describe life perfectly?  Half the journey is getting to your half the mat and about forty five percent is off the mat the rest is the just the postures. 

namaste

Melissa 

Yogi Luv

Yogi Problems

I thought it would be fun to start a regular post called Yogi Problems. Kind of like first world problems but of course pertaining to the yoga world. Sometimes people get so serious in their practice and the light heartedness of it all is lost. Yoga isn't that serious people! It can be fun! You have got to smile about it all sometimes and laughing at yourself is a necessary skill.

This afternoon I headed to my normal hot yoga class to enjoy a sweaty session. In my quest to become a complete California sun goddess, I frequently use self tanner. Yes it's faking it but it's saving my skin from cancer and that is no faux paus. So as I was sweating it out, I noticed that my sweat was also bronzed! Pools of sweat is hardly ever pretty but with a golden hue it's even more disguisting. I had to laugh at the whole predicament and of course try not to let my fellow yogis see the tan melt off my body. Below are the products I use to achieve this sun kissed yogi glow.

St. Tropez by thewidowedyogi featuring spray makeup

St Tropez spray makeup
sephora.com

St Tropez sun care
nordstrom.com



namaste 

melissa 

Rejection

In my younger days, I used to have a faux phone number that was intended to be given to creeps that were hitting on me. In my phone it was listed under Rejection. In fact, I just checked my phone and it's still there. Good to know that's in my back pocket.

Last week, I got handed that number a few times. Not literally from guys I was hitting on (I am a lady after all) but various sources that I have come in contact with trying to start anew here. I won't divulge my sources to protect the innocent (or to save my ego just a little bit). It was a week of rejection it sucked. It's easy to be at peace with your journey until you are served a giant helping of things aren't going your way.

As I was wallowing in my mellow drama of whoa is me, an article from MindBodyGreen entitled, "25 Habits of People Who are Happy, Healthy, and Successful" showed up in my feed. I love a good list and this website serves them up yogi style so I am frequently checking out their posts. This particular article came at the exact right moment. All of the bullet points are good but check out this one...

8. They consider handling rejection a skill and are resilient.

Really? You don't say? I am trying. This Monday I scrubbed the hell out of my apartment to start fresh and told myself I rocked, let's do this again! But as a widow there is an additional pain in all this rejection. I don't have that person who would never reject me by my side. I remember telling Matt various work, friend, etc. stories and he would get downright mad if someone was upsetting me. You know that look guys get when they want to beat someone up because they made their woman cry. It's so stone age but it's hot and I miss it. He had such a unique confidence that never seemed to people please yet was so pleasing. He would have gotten agitated at me being upset but would have reminded me what an idiot they were and if they didn't see how wonderful I am, well then f*#k them! I miss his confidence in me. I think I even mentioned this in a post a few days back when I started my new position (that may or may not have something to do with this rejection). 

Although I miss him so much especially in a time like this, I am picking myself back up and staying positive. I mean really, if you don't know how awesome I am, then I have no time for you. I am not perfect but I do kind of rock. Behold the power of positive thinking. 

namaste

melissa 

Yogi Luv