Fresh out of college and fresh into life! Yep, that's me. Thrown into the tremulous waters of the adult world...without a clue. With 23 years, a degree in acting, and a '98 civic, I decided to make Los Angeles my gateway into society. One word to describe such a leap: Scary. Daunting. Biggest mistake of my life. Okay, those are a few words, fair enough. Yet the more I realize it, the more I realize this initial reaction to be a falsehood. In reality, taking the plunge, so to speak, simply meant battling fear, risking failure, and seriously going for what I want.
...it doesn't get better than that. However, I only just realized this, like, yesterday.
Fact was, I thought I was done being a student. Fact is, I've only just begun my education. The most depressing days and waits outside of a casting room door, the worst of traffic and Teenage Dream yet again on 102.1, and the dwindling bank account all have taught me such an important lesson: Extraneous mishaps and (what I like to call) "clutter" makes little difference in a life that's filled with presence, compassion, and honesty.
Yes, I know, you can read this in a book on display at Starbucks, yes, I know. Just like Oprah's "The Secret" isn't really much of a secret. But it's all true: finding the places where I can find presence, giving gifts of compassion, and being painfully honest with myself have not only helped me survive this new chapter, but has allowed me to come out on top.
My three remedies: Yoga. Food. Art. Seriously.
I am an avid yoga practitioner at CorePower Yoga (let's hear it for the Sherman Oaks studio!), currently becoming a certified instructor, and part of the first ever marketing team on hand. This place in particular has changed my life. The energy, teachers, and entire CPY community is incredible, accessible, and expanding like wildfire. Moreover, Yoga is absolutely and undeniably healing. From the lovely caloric perspective, a great work out. From the psyche's take on things, a calming and joyous rejuvenation of spirit. My advice: check it out.
Food. Oh, food food food. I've had so many relationships with this word, let alone the actual good stuff. Do I eat the right things? Should I eat more, less? What's good? What's good for me? What's bad? Why is what's good to taste actually what's bad for my body? What's got the most nutrients, the less amount of fat, the right amount of del-i-ci-ous? Lots of questions. Lots of concern, uncertainty, freak-outs. My answer: veganism, the one and only plant based diet. It's been over ten years, and I am still absolutely amazed at how great I feel. Granted, I started at age 13, but in the last few I've begun understanding all the benefits. With no cholesterol, animal fat, and (I'm being truthful, not facetious) fermenting flesh in my system, I am more alive than ever. Which makes sense, because death comes nowhere near my dinner plate.
Finally, art. The reason I moved to LA. The reason I spent over 33,000 dollars a year in college, the reason why I now pluck guitar strings and sing into my MacBook Pro (and feel like recording a label). There's nothing so transcendent as the artist at work. Well, maybe there is, I haven't found it. If you're an artist, you know what I mean. If you're not, I think you might be in denial. Art is everywhere, probably one of the most human forms of expression we've come to embrace. So however we do wander museums, peruse a novel, write a song, belt a note, speak a line...there is transformation and (no piety intended) enlightenment.
So here I am, a yoga-bound-health-food-junkie-artsy-fartsy. You'd think I was from Berkeley. Oh, wait. I am. Forgot to mention that. Well, let me redeem myself. I am actually an Oakland native, spent four years in Chicago, love New York (and Sex and the City...aren't they one in the same?), and have lots of high heels. So in the clear, right?
This blog is meant to inspire, encourage, inform. I'll choose a theme or topic and go into it based on what I've learned. No guru here, I am passionate about spreading good words about the aforementioned three things that have kept me going and going and going.
I'm calling this blog Just Asana It mainly for the meaning behind the word "asana". Having to do with each "pose" in any particular yoga practice, "asana" is the constant change and shift from one landing spot to the next. It's taking action to move forward, yet requires patience to investigate and explore. So whenever there's a question, or a moment of uncertainty, I like to think about "just asana-ing it". Just becoming curious, taking action, and moving forward.
...You could also take the literal translation and "just pose it", which is perfectly fine. I mean, whoever said just striking a pose was a bad idea?
Namaste,
Simone
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