How You Show Up

People ask me all the time, “How can you have such a positive outlook on life? You’re always so happy!” I usually am laughing inside because they haven’t seen me in every moment of every day, that’s for sure!

What I can say is, it’s NOT about putting on rose colored glasses and looking at life as a Polyanna Princess story. And it’s not about turning the other cheek when times get tough. It’s definitely not about saying “I’m FINE!" (frickin’ incapable of normal emotion) when you’re NOT fine! And for sure, it’s not about being so tough that you “suck it up” every time things get hard.

Nope, my belief is that it’s about facing your life … dead on … with a knowingness that it’s all FOR you.

It’s about embracing your strength when life seemingly kicks you in the ass. It’s about how you react in tough situations. It's about falling deep, deep down into your fears and examining them for what they are… illusions.

It’s about loving those people and situations that hurt you so badly instead of SCREAMING at the top of your lungs and lashing out at someone or something just to make you feel better. It’s about falling to your knees in complete surrender … asking for help in your deepest, darkest hours … knowing it will come; even if it comes in a form that you don’t expect or understand. It’s about following that call with a blind faith that is solid.

With all of that though … it’s about letting go with compassion, gratitude and true love for what is showing up… KNOWING it’s for you.

I first heard this concept from Michael Beckwith and I thought it was ridiculous to be honest.

However, in the past two years I have closed a business, filed bankruptcy, gave up my home that I loved and cherished, got a divorce, went from being a stay at home to working full time, moved my business twice (only to end up next door to my very first yoga studio which by the way they tore down..wall by wall!), moved to the other side of town with my two young daughters and finally changed my name….to something brand new that means the world to me.

It hasn’t been easy. But I also don’t think that life is hard.

This is what I know:

• Connection to others, to Self and to Source is the key to flowing with your life.
• Movement with breath actually moves stuck energy helping you to heal on all levels.
• Knowing that YOU created every single event in your life will give you the space you need to fall into those challenging times and understand WHY you created them and WHAT you are meant to birth from that situation.
• Being vulnerable and humble to what shows up for you REGARDLESS of how hurt you were in the past, heals the heart.
• Feeling every single emotion as it’s happening and then allowing it to move through you with breath gives the body freedom from those emotions so you don’t carry them around.
• Letting go with love, compassion and SINCERE gratitude allows those magical moments to show up for you after the hurt, after the pain and after the challenges. Holding onto them only brings more of the same…

When I talk to people sometimes, especially in our Teacher Training program, I get asked, what does inner peace feel like? I can only share what I know … which is always evolving by the way! But this has been ringing in my ears so loudly I can’t help but share….

Inner peace for me means being able to look at my ex-husband and feel pure gratitude and grace for every minute we spent together. Even the ones when I saw red and wanted to kick and scream like a little kid.

Inner peace means knowing that the “other side” brings truth and joy but truly… equanimity in all situations will allow truth and joy to shine on BOTH sides.

In order to move forward, we must understand how to let go with love and grace …TRULY feeling that love and grace on ALL LEVELS of our being… it can’t be fake … not even one bit. Otherwise it will kick you again and again. After that true release happens you are able to bear witness to complete equanimity without attachment.

What a gift...what a ride.

Whoosh….

I don’t know about you, but so far, 2012 is proving to be quite an INCREDIBLE year! It’s like the dust has settled and the mission for us all is so very clear. It’s time to wake up to our purpose and finally, USE our gifts! It’s time to share what we came here to do…without fear or doubt.

For me personally, I feel like I just woke up from a very deep and intoxicating sleep. I kept pressing the snooze button, hoping to get more sleep, more guidance, more understanding. But that understanding and direction didn’t come completely until last year. 2011 was a year of shedding all that did not serve my higher purpose. Job change, relocation, divorce….all shook my world to it’s core. At times that shedding was very traumatic and scary. But the other side, the next “phase”, already is like waking up in Oz. My life is full of vibrant color and some seriously quick manifestation of joy and abundance.

We have the power to create that which we truly desire. And we do that through our thoughts first, then our speech and then our actions. But how do we know what we want? How do we make an authentic, soul-based decision about what we desire if we are in constant motion, trying to “keep up” with the world?

The answer is we don’t.

However, my firm and steadfast belief is that we CAN make soul-based decisions. IF we breathe, move and awaken to our power and really begin listening to that internal guidance. Our answers come from within…you all know that…I KNOW you do! For me, it starts with the power, art and science of yoga. YOGA mean to yoke, to unite, to marry together. So to marry our thoughts, words and deeds …that come from a place of love, authenticity and spiritual guidance is the ONLY way to transform and heal ourselves and then our world.

It’s all starts with YOGA… moving on your mat. Sure, the postures are fun. It’s great to “master” something you couldn’t even consider doing yesterday. However, it’s truly about quieting the mind so you can hear what to do next; whether it’s in a posture or in an uncomfortable, stressful situation. I’m telling you, it starts with yoga.

And to be able to not only DO yoga, but SHARE yoga is the way this world will shift. But it HAS to start with you.

The Zen Flow Yoga Teacher Training program, takes you on a journey to the center of yourSelf. It’s the gentlest way I know how to get to the root of your purpose so you can truly share that which you came here to do. At the end of the training, not only are you spiritually alive and connected, but you have a certificate to teach yoga! Which is a powerful gift in and of itself.

The training begins February 6, 2012 and goes for three months. It’s going to be AmAzIng and I would love for you to join us. We have 5 spots left as of today. If you are interested …. call or email me if you need more information or want to register. I am capping this one out at 10 people.

My email is dana@danadamara.com or you can also email info@zenflowyoga.com

The site, for all the information is www.danalayon.com/tt.aspx

Time to wake up and play...full out!

A New Year, A New You

Personally for me, no truer words have ever been spoken. For those of you who know me, you know that this past year has been quite a spiritual ride. And I know it's not over. It's never over until you're dead from what I can gather.

This year has offered me lessons in courage, grief, compassion, love, joy, fear, anger, friendship, family, commitment, letting go, God, Buddha, Krishna, laughter, choice, patience, truth and any other virtue that comes to mind. Those were just the ones that flew from my finger tips.

Choosing to get divorced is not an easy process as some of you know. And once the choice is made, you can't really go back. People are going to get hurt, you are going to experience doubt and shame, you are going to feel alone. It becomes especially challenging when your ex-spouse is really a kind human being. And it becomes very complicated when you have little children who love the hell out of both of you.

There are a multitude of things that got me through this year, and I want to express gratitude for them right now...publicly.

First is my yoga practice. Had it not been for my dedication to the practice, this year could have gone terribly wrong.

Second, is my belief and faith in a Higher Power. You can call it God, guidance, Spirit, Source...it's a Higher Power. It's Faith.

Third are my kids. Without the innocent honesty of our children we are lost.

And fourth are my friends. Want to find out who your real friends are? Dismantle your life, create chaos and change it up a bit...they will still be left standing there....in many shapes and forms. They will show up EXACTLY as you need them to be.

This is life people. It doesn't come wrapped in some shiny paper with ribbons and goregous tags. It sometimes kicks your ass and leaves a mess. But guess what? The gift is IN the mess! It IS the mess!! And it's how you clean up and handle the mess. I have cleaned up many messes this past year. But they needed cleaning. The space under my rug was getting very cramped, if you know what I mean.

And now, new year, new me, new life.

Scary, yes. But living in in-authenticity and lies was sure scarier.

So now I ask YOU....

How can you clean up your life so you can move forward?
What can you leave behind in 2011?
What do you want to birth in 2012?

Be honest...be real...be full of life!

This experience has inspired me to do and be so many things! It has brought so many new, AMAZING people to me! It has brought back the lust for life I always knew I had!

Join me in the New Year...leave your mess behind.

ps...be on the lookout for a new blog...."Taking the High Road: One Woman's Spiritual Journey Through Divorce".... It's time.

Honor Your Inner Soldier

As we celebrate and honor our Veterans today, we come together collectively with the same intention. Powerful thoughts of admiration, appreciation, love and respect resonate and vibrate across our nation. The power of coming together in prayer, meditation, and affirmation is extremely powerful and can make changes on a level we ourselves are not even aware of.

Gathering in groups is powerful, but the pure notion that across our nation, we are all thinking similar thoughts is amazing to me.

So then today, this November 11, 2011 I invite you to think even beyond our nation's definition of "Veteran's Day". I looked up the word veteran and it is defined as "One who has served in a war - most likely a soldier". Without disrespecting our veteran's in any way, aren't we all veteran's?

Ask yourself...what war have YOU been battling for years prior today? Are there inner struggles that you can honor with love, respect, forgiveness and compassion? Are there conflicts that you can surrender to today and wave your white flag this last time, so you can move forward in peace and joy?

What tightly wound contractions of spirit and inner turmoil can you unravel today so you can blossom into who you truly are? Beyond judgment, fear, guilt and shame. What solider like qualities can you relinquish so you can feel the energy of love and peace run through you like a wave of breath and inspiration?

Those feelings that feed your inner-soldier keep you bound but they need to be embraced and honored in order to fully release them. They are a part of who you are but they need not direct your life. How DO you want to lead your life? What feelings DO you want guiding you as you move through this world?

Today I invite you to let go, open your tightly wound bud and allow your faith in God and your own Divine Guidance lead you to the new you. The one that is full of purpose, service, love and joy. It is time... it is time to rise and shine to your most high Self.

Let today, 11.11.11 be that day.

In peace and powerful blessings.

Hari Om, Hari Om, Hari Om

Dana Layon-Damara

Please say YES....

Upon returning "home" from Wanderlust, I couldn't help but immediately realize the infusion of love, magic and intuitive guidance the trip to California offered me. Being away from my "real" life of kids, indecision, responsibility, divorce and my own internal struggles gave me the space that was much needed to manifest my new life.

The trip to Wanderlust that seemed "unnecessary" and "irresponsible" actually dumped me dead center on the path to my most purposeful life. In five short days, Wanderlust offered me the clarity I needed to take that leap forward. Had it not been for that time away, I may still be drowning in my own thoughts, choking on the limiting beliefs of my past life and hanging myself in indecision, fear and guilt of things not working out like I had planned.

This trip was a gift in many ways. It reminded me that we ARE powerful beings. And that we ARE creating the movie of our own life....full of EXACTLY what we want to show up on a daily, if not hourly basis.

It reminded me the importance of saying YES to life without always having to think through to every last detail. Lately I have been feeling like someone has been pinching me on a daily basis...reminding me that this is not a dream and that everything I needed to move forward, I already knew.

The minute I returned back home, I truly felt ushered into my new life...full of synchronicity, excitement, love, truth and passion. I felt alive again...in ways I hadn't felt in over 15 years! It felt like God was in my pocket and whispering in my ear, telling me exactly which way to go. I needn't worry about a thing.

And guess what? I still feel that way. Since returning I have made many important decisions in my life that will steer me to my next road. These decisions affect not only my future but the future of my daughters. I could have stepped into this with fear and self-doubt. But after time alone I know, beyond all knowing that my decisions are based on love and divine knowledge.

So I ask you....what risks are you taking to move forward? On the flip side, what are you passing up to remain safe and secure in an illusion of what is real? Life is not always going to hand you the life you "dreamed" of exactly the way you envisioned it. However, it can be quite a gift if you are willing to say YES.

Wanderlust

After arriving in Tahoe yesterday, and witnessing countless numbers of yogis and yoginis practicing yoga, dancing, connecting and scurrying about, I was inspired beyond words. It was interesting to me that so many people, ourselves included, would travel such a great distance to practice yoga with well known yoga instructors, listen to great music and spend time amidst one of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth.

I realized though, during that first evening that I had no idea why I was here. I am all about intentions and motivations. Kind of like a "life mission statement" if you will. It creates purpose and direction with any decision we make.

It became clear to me during my first class with Giselle Mari, and then hit me like a ton of bricks during my class with Johnny Kest. I witnessed such personal growth, remembering how far I had come along my own yoga journey, when I took class with Shiva Rea, my very first yoga "teacher". It enveloped me under the Gaiam Tent, lying in Svasana with the warm breeze washing over my face. It landed in my lap while having lunch with an old friend in Squaw Village, sharing space with yogis, families and people with their faithful dogs. It tickled me while hanging out with some amazing girlfriends, laughing so hard my cheeks felt as if they would crack, tears rolling down my face. It really got me this morning when I woke up, a tiny bit sore but very focused and clear. (blue skies and high altitude helps....)

Connection...inspiration...love....There aren't many places that you hear meditation, elevation, levitation, rejuvenation and inspiration all in one day...Wanderlust has been that place and it's only day one. If the definition of Wanderlust is "A very strong or irresistible desire to travel", then it's obvious why we yoginis and yogis come here every year.

The view...yes. The yoga...yes. The people and connection...yes. But more than that, the travel to the Self is completely irresistible. Eckhart Tolle said in A New Earth, "Human beings love traveling because everything is new. You are most conscious when you travel because it's like seeing everything around you for the first time". (something like that anyway)

Combine that with movement, meditation, breathing, happy, if not BLISSFUL people and you got yourself heaven on Earth.

What inspires you like that? Where do you FEEL your soul? When have been awakened and literally pushed onto your life path? When has your life become so clear you could almost taste it?

That's why we are here. Find your heaven on Earth and say YES to it...if only for a day.

What Is Love

Ok so I KNOW I have not blogged in quite some time. Honestly it has not been a priority lately. Finishing the books, connecting with friends and family and giving myself some time has been much more important to be honest.

However, I was posed a question last night that really got me going. And when I woke up this morning I was inspired to toss it out to you. I was asked, "What is Love?"

Before you are quick to answer, sit with it for a moment. Take at least a moment and feel it. It's a big question.

Personally I use the word love loosely. I LOVE my family, I LOVE the holiday season, I LOVE yoga, I LOVE puppies. Maybe I do that because I'm a passionate person; maybe I don't understand the power of LOVE. Who knows.

But I am asking you, today, to answer this question by responding to this blog.

What Is Love?

Insight on this single topic can help so many people. Especially in times of despair, lonelieness or isolation. Love IS the cure-all but what is it?

Tell me your insight about love......respond here or on my Facebook page.

Universal Guidance

Whew....the Off the Mat, Confessions of a Yogini books series is done! All those Weekly Oms, all that late night writing and editing...done! Documented, in a series of 7 books. Amazing.

People ask me questions like, "How long did this take you?" "How did you know what to do?" "What are your books about?" And I seriously want to crack up. It is just so surreal and ..... crazy! Me, an author! Living my purpose!

Let me be clear, I know this is my purpose. I live my purpose when I write, I LOVE what I am doing but I can't help it: every time I answer a question about my books, it's like having an out of body experience. Really? I'm an author!? Really Universe? How did I get here?

Don't mistake this post as me being ungrateful...it's just... well..it's a testimony to every single thing I have written about. It's a testimony to the power of yoga and all it's magic. It's a testimony to the law of attraction and the power of your thoughts. And it's a testimony to trusting the Universe and not asking how. And while I continue to breeze through this life, I still stop when things manifest ... exactly as I intended and I am in awe. In awe of how it really all just works...effortlessly.

I have to be honest and admit something: there is still tons of work to do with regard to this book seris and admittedly, I don't know what I'm doing! I have no idea how this series of books is going to magically appear on Amazon! And even more mind bending is how are my books going to get to the bookstores, how are they going to be accounted for, who is going to keep track of it all and how DOES it all work?

All these questions that run in the background of my mind could have been debilitating. It could have halted me in this process. But I am living this experience as I have lived every experience in my life. With intuitive guidance and universal trust. With an openess to all the gifts that life has to offer. With a willingness to walk blindly and courageously toward my purpose; knowing that everything will be alright!

Life is about living guys. Get out there...love every minute. Go for what you love and stop and breathe it all in from time to time. Know what you want and just...DO IT!

Living My Yoga

As I sit here at home, listening to my kiddos argue, getting ready for Sausage Festival, I have to laugh. In fact I have been laughing for a few days now. I mean, I'm a vegetarian for heaven's sake! Sausage Festival? REALLY?

Honestly, ever since the time "I would have" been driving to San Francisco to see my two favorite people in the world...Michael Franti and Seane Corn, I have been giggling to myself at random times of the day. And I must admit, when my best friend Jacque texted me a photo (real time) of her and Michael Franti last night, I did shed a little tear.

For those of you who know me, you know that the turn of events from this past week really did affect me. For those of you who don't and are thinking, "what the hell girl, get over it", let me shine some light on this...because it sure woke me up!

These two fantastic individuals are serving the world with their gifts. Name it, social justice, yoga, spiritual activism, music....it's something much bigger than me and dammit, I wanted to be a part of it. I kept envisioning myself doing yoga with 40,000 other people and breathing collectively with all of them. I saw myself hugging Michael Franti and saying "Nice job big guy! Keep up the good work! And thanks for acknowledging my little girl in Medford." I wanted to hug Seane Corn again and just a little of her amazing energy.

But then wow, I woke up this morning to this little angel (my 5 year old) staring at me with her little, soft hand on my face. As I opened my eyes she said, "I love you so much mommy" and I felt an all over body sigh that came from deep within my heart and I realized....I am part of something much bigger than me....I am. And I don't have to go any further than my bed to recognize it.

So, as I mingle with new people today at the Sausage Festival and watch my kids get jacked up on sugar and rollercoaster rides I will know, deep within my heart that I am such an important piece of serving the world...right here with my family.

Rock on Michael, Seane, Jacque and ALL of you at Power to the Peaceful! I cannot wait to see you all next year, when my kids are one year older and I am one year wiser.

Peace to all!

ps - and yes Michael, Jolene and the rest of the band, remember my yoga practice is Seane Corn inspired.....mmm hmmmmm...you know it...you love it! See you Saturday!

Summer's End

Wow....what the heck happened to summer? I mean really? The weather never really got "summer-like", the kids were busier than I can remember, and I feel like all I did was empty clothes from their suitcases, wash them and repack!

What happened?

Now it's uniforms and homework...ALREADY?

I promised to write a blog every week; I had a list of projects I wanted to do outside; I told Isabella I would teach her how to tell time finally (hey no judgments....I have an issue with time as it is!). Seriously...now what? Is there a way to press pause on the life button?

The only thing I can honestly say about this summer is that we were all very present. This was the first summer that I actually stopped to smell roses, looked at a grasshopper up close, played a silly made up game with my kids and chased the ice cream man down the street. There was nothing else going on besides whatever it was that they were doing.

So why am I so sad to see it end? Well, for the obvious reason like the change in the weather. I love the sunshine.....But beyond that I know that these two little angels will be very different kids next summer. And every moment, even the ones when I argued with those two, were priceless. They will never be the same kids and before I started living in the present, I don't think I really recognized that reality.

Summer will be very different next year and it's crazy to actually understand that. I keep asking myself "Did I take enough photos? Did I spend enough time individually with them? Did I teach them anything good?" So what did I learn and FINALLY in my life abide by?

Live in the NOW... not in the past, not in the future...but the NOW. That's all we have and man....the now is so dang cool.

I may NEVER get those scrapbooks done but livin' it is really where it's at!

Peace everyone!

Untitled

The words I search for now are words I have used before. However, to describe this experience with Off the Mat and Into the World really is challenging because the words ring more truth and speak to the depths of soul much more than I could have ever imagined.

Affirming is a word that comes to mind. Spirit awakening; truth excavating; illusion shattering are all phrases that have flown across my psyche this week. To say I have grown my community exponentially is an understatment. To recognize that I am an agent of global change is illuminating. To FEEL like I have met these people before, the people enrolled in this program alongside me, tells me that Divinity exists and that we are all a part of it - should we choose to get out of our own drama and self-loathing and wake up.

I have spoken these words for many years but never truly embodied them as I do now.

I could not have imagined what my path would be until now. I could not have recognized that my lovely mission was right here, under my nose from the very beginning.

Esalen has been the most amazing gift thus far in my life. To say I have found heaven on Earth would simply begin to encapsulate my experience here. Every fear I have ever had presented itself to me this week and I took each challenge on with vulnerable, child like grace; erradicating that fear and finally recognizing that it has never been who I am .... only a part that can no longer define me.

I am excited, my soul is inspired, my heart is clear and clean....Life is abundant.

Thank you for listening to these simple words spoken from my soul. I am ready to share to much with this world. I am grateful for the courage I found and the amazing friends who have encouraged me this past week. I see the light within my mentors and it shines ever so brightly within mySelf.

peace.

Seems as if my blogs are always about my children....that's because they are my yoga practice....daily.....all day....every day during the summer. Sometimes we have a nice restorative practice together and other times it's a hot yoga practice day. With two girls who are mini-me's...in every sense of the word....I am reminded every second of every day about where I came from, where I am and where they could be headed.

It becomes quite a challenge to stay centered, without judgment or expectation, while just "being". And somedays it seems much easier to be asleep (unconscious) then awake (conscious)....somedays I wish that I would go back to my "before yoga" Self but I know that is not ever possible.

Once you wake up, you can never go back to sleep.

I starting beating myself up the other day for not "keeping up" with all my photos and memory boards of our escapdes over the years. I have a dining room table that will never be used for eating because it's covered in photos of our life from 3 years...yes I know...disgraceful. My mom would be disappointed I am sure.

But I started thinking about how to be in the moment. How can we be in the moment if we are forced to look at the past and put it in books, in order, labeled and out for everyone to see?

We can't. (And if you know how to do this, please, by all means, let me know! I am not opposed to be proven wrong here!) So I have decided to simply keep up with our life of (currently) lemonade stands, fairy house building, water balloon fights, dolls having breakfast with us and or course the almost daily time outs in our own rooms (yes me included!) I order photos as needed and keep them in some order while living life.

I can't pause life, I wouldn't want to. One day my house will be quiet, I will be bored, I will have more than enough time on my hands and I will have enough money to enjoy it fully. So for now I live life, breathe, notice and just be in this moment, right now.

Oh....I love yoga, meditation, my yogi friends and inspirational guidance ......

Have a goregous day everyone.....notice something incredible today...RIGHT NOW!

Steppin' On Toes

I spent the weekend at the beach with my husband and had many opportunities to just be. We were able to talk without being interrupted, take naps AND I didn't have to repeat myself one time!

While eating lunch one afternoon at a little outdoor cafe, I noticed a little boy crying. He was clearly having a hard time expressing himself. I know all too well, how many times these situations can really get out of hand. My heart went out to the little tike as well as the tired parents, trying to be patient in public.

And then I thought a little deeper...like always. When we are little, we just say it like it is. We cry when we need something, we cry when we are frustrated, we kick and scream and fall on the floor for intense affect. We don't know how to hold in our feelings; we don't know how to "suck it up", we don't know how to "deal with it".

And while I agree these are important things to learn as a growing human being, I do have an issue with just how much we have been trained to hold in and "deal with".

Think about it...this is a learned behavior. To hold your true thoughts in; to stop crying; to hold back tears. What happens to all those held in feelings? I can tell you, they manifest as anger, fear, resentment, greed, despair, attachment and other debilitating feelings as an adult.

So how can we stop this cycle? Let them talk. Comfort them when they are having a tantrum. Ask them how they are feeling. Tell them it's ok to express themselves. Maybe it can be in private later, but it's still ok to say how you feel!

A great friend of mine told me once, "If you don't let your kids step on your toes as children, they will step on your heart as an adult."

Gulp....

If anyone has any comment or outlook on this, I would LOVE to hear it! Hope you all have a great day! I'm going to get my toes stepped on!

Welcome to summer

Finally the sun has come out and I really feel like it's summer. What a change....from working all day while the kids are in school to being home all day, everyday with my "angels".

This year really is a little different. Their independence level is so drastic from ages 4 and 6 to 5 and 7. They don't need help outside, they want to ride their bike to the park ahead of me, thye make their own lunches and get what they need without me.

It's kinda sad really.

Then I received this email today:

One of life's great ironies, Dana , is that very often the "stuff" you're trying to avoid right now is the same "stuff" you're going to miss most once you move on.

Wow....hit me like a ton of bricks. Reminding myself of the times I have wanted time alone and quiet.....it will come, soon enough. In fact it's here already when I think about it. It's only going to get worse! I bet I will want that noise, that chaos, that challenge of keeping it all together amidst it all.

I say now, Bring it On! Bring on the noise, the challenge, the tough stuff...I'm ready.

What a delight it is to be a mommy....thank you girls.

Morning Meditation

Who has time for a morning meditation...really? Honestly...it's the best way to start of you day. Setting intentions, giving thanks before you step out of your bed, marveling at the stillness in the morning.

Some days I wake up and I have so much time; I sit and gaze at my now very green backyard and give thanks for everything. I ask questions of the heavens; I dig deep into the heart and heal old hurt; I visualize myself centered. And some days I just breathe.

Time goes by fast when we are still.

However today was different. Ava, my 5 year old, stumbled into my room before my meditation time. She crawled in next to me and molded her little body right up against mine and I literally melted. I fell into so much gratitude for that moment, I thought I might levitate.

And all this, written above, came to mind.

What was my morning meditation today? Giving thanks for having a healthy child; looking around my own bedroom and noticing the gifts bestowed upon my family; allowing my breath to synchronize with my daughter's breath; marveling at how soft her skin is and how at 5, she is still such a small person in a big world.

Give thanks today everyone. Take a moment, just a moment to really see what's around you.

Peace.

When Isabella taught class yesterday, I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. I didn't have a camera which was sad at first but then I realized I had to totally tune in to what was happening and become completely present so I could burn this memory on my brain.

I was amazed first when her teacher asked her on the spot to teach the class and she accepted. I was even more amazed as I watched her create a class without a plan. Even more impressed when she directed and led the class when they started to get out of hand.

This whole experience reminded me just how much our kids pay attention to us. I didn't recognize it as first but she was speaking and acting just like me! Even her little facial expressions and the words she chose - it was like holding a mirror up to myself at 7 years old.

Or better yet - a slightly more confident and evolved version on myself at 7 years old.

I have to admit that I am not sure what prompted me to post this blog. Pride in my daughter or an awakening of how important our jobs are as parents. They really ARE watching us - every minute. (gulp) Thankfully, this time, Isabella displayed some of the better qualities I have shown her!

I was also deeply reminded that our kids choose us to be their parents. They choose us for a reason. THEY actually have something to teach US. I know - goes against everything most of us learned as kids. But it's true.

This little angel reminded me of all the good and wonderful gifts I offer as a mom when sometimes I beat myself up for being less than perfect.

She reminded me of a side of me that is there, all the time but sometimes gets lost in tasks and "stuff".

She reminded me of how important my job is and to stay on my toes and be the best I can be as often as I can be.

And she reminded me about the wonderful gift of unconditional love every child has to offer.

Parenting can be challenging and daunting but when moments like this happen, it really affords us the opportunity to appreciate the gift we have been given.

Thanks Isabella for choosing me to be your mommy.

I love you!

Another call to awakening

I wasn't surprised by the recall on Tylenol, Motrin or Benadryl for kids. In fact, I wondered what took so long. Yes, I have given my children these medications countless times. In fact, my youngest is deathly allergic to nuts so I carry Benadryl around with me all the time.

But instead of being a shocker this was a complete wake up call. How many more wake up calls do we need really before we stop with the pharmaceuticals? Now it's not just the adults with health warnings, it's aimed at our kids which to me, is much scarier and it definitely makes me take notice.

I don't read the news - ever. It clouds my mind, but when something like this comes up I read it in it's entirety. The article said that the meds were not "up to American standards". My question is for how long has this been going on and why not? And how is "American standards" comparable to standards across the world when we are talking about medicine for children? I mean if we are America - big brother - how ARE we setting our standards? And why aren't other children afforded those same standards when it comes to medicine?

This is boggling my mind.

So I've attached a link to an article I found interesting that really made me wake up and do some research. But the one thing I couldn't find was a whole lot of information on natural alternatives. I'm not too worried about letting a fever run it's course. But when it comes to my daughter who is deathly allergic to nuts, I have got to have a reliable natural alternative.

So everyone out there, if you are reading this, and you know of some natural alternatives to allergy medicine for children, I would be so grateful to hear from you.

For everyone else, this is a wake up call in so many ways. Take a look at what you are giving your kids. They the future of this world. It saddens me to see the pharmaceutical companies have so much power when the power truly resides within us. Do yourself a favor, pick up a book on natural remedies....get as far away as you can from the drugs you don't REALLY need. Take back control people.

Thanks for your input.

Oh Shift - how to change your life with one little letter

I just finished reading the most amazing book! "Oh Shift!" by my new friend, confidant and coach, Jennifer Powers.

You HAVE to read this book! It's super simple, to the point and REAL!

Ready for a real shift in your life? Tired of agonizing about the past, the future and crazy thought patterns? READ THIS BOOK!

This book makes you authentic. Written in a way where anyone could read a passage and have "ah ha moment" after "ah ha moment". If you are lucky enough to meet Jennifer Powers, she's a New Jersey native, residing in Portland, Oregon, your world will change! Mine did!

You can order it on Amazon...... or right from my website

She is AMAZING!

Watch out for her upcoming book signing....Portland venue!

Summary from my trip

A Trip to Remember
Inner Peace from Karma Yoga
Dana M Layon, ERYT
www.zenflowyoga.com


As I summarize my first mission trip to the Dominican Republic with Evergreen4Kids, I feel like the trip, only 4 weeks ago, was some sort of dream. I have been struggling with how to explain an experience so amazing because it jolted my focus back to my very soul.

After starting this summary over 3 weeks ago, I had to think back to the beginning. Why did I yearn to travel to this small island in the middle of nowhere? Was it because I needed some excitement? Or be reminded about how good I had it? Sure – but beyond that, I have always known that although the world is a big place, we are all interconnected; we are all One and not one person or country is better than the other. We are all here to serve…that’s it.

I have also jumped into my life with both feet; not always looking first. When I was young this created a lot of pain for my mother. Not to mention many trips to the principal’s office and to the ER. Now that I am older, I still jump in with two feet but my landings are much more graceful and meaningful.

As the departure date drew near, I became very nervous about my trip. The days prior were filled with a whirlwind of tasks, scheduling, follow up, cuddling with my kids and deep, emotional outbursts. All the false ideas, concepts and beliefs I held about the world around me began stirring: Why am I doing this again? How could I be so selfish? Leaving my husband home alone with two kids for 10 days! What if someone needs to contact me? No one will be able to get a hold of me! The voices kept bothering me until I boarded the plane!

Considering the life I lead: busy and full of drama, chaos and the normal day-to-day crisis of a family with two young girls, it may seem crazy to travel half way around the globe to serve a village of children I have never met. In fact, one may question if I neglected my own family by doing such a thing.

After a lot of meditation and contemplation I can whole-heartedly say I most definitely served my own family by participating in this trip. A natural phenomenon of the human spirit is that when we serve others, we are actually serving ourselves. When we serve, we cultivate gratitude and appreciation for our own lives. We step out of our life and into others so our life becomes much clearer.

At our deepest level of being, we are meant to serve. It’s a fact that we are more alive and aware in unfamiliar situations, foreign places and when we are learning something new. We dump the robotic state of being and we shine like the individual we are meant to be.

So as I sit here to recap my trip in one article, know that an experience as this one - that speaks to your soul - is challenging to recap. The days’ events are a blur of consciousness and aliveness. This was the first time I didn’t run around taking pictures of everything hoping to “capture” the moment. Instead I practiced mindful yoga each day and captured every moment as it was happening. Allowing my heart to seize the presence and burn it into my memory – speaking directly to my soul.

February 11, 2010: As we land in Santo Domingo, I am immediately overwhelmed by the heat. It’s muggy and the airport smells of sweat. The sun hits my face and warms my skin once I get outside. All the fearful, conditioned thoughts I had prior to leaving becomes a silly memory.

The six hour bus ride to Habanero is an interesting “tour” ride. We zip past bananas trees, sugar cane fields, mountains that reach past the sky and all the while, the ocean guides us to our destination.

Once we arrive at the outskirts of the village, the children notice our bus. They run after us and follow us all the way to the school. We park the bus and are greeted with smiles, love and hugs.

Brenda Backes, the founder of Evergreen4Kids, really never gave us specifics about what our mission was. She had the idea for a new Health and Wellness Team. Our job was to teach the kids about personal hygiene and basic principles like where to urinate, when to wash your hands, how to brush your teeth and how to keep your germs to yourself.

She encouraged us to connect with our surroundings so we could make specific decisions once we were there. In hindsight, this was probably one of the greatest things she could have done. We were given the opportunity to get to know the kids and then create a program that would speak to them.

Our Health and Wellness team, made up of myself and two other yoga instructors, are only a small part of the Evergreen4kids mission. This organization was founded over 5 years ago when Brenda stumbled upon Habanero quite by mistake and was horrified by the conditions. She decided to retire from the corporate world and build a school in this tiny village in hopes of raising their awareness. After two years she partnered with Dentus Dental in Vancouver, Washington and now this tiny village and beyond, receives excellent dental care once a year; all volunteers, all donated equipment. While the Americans are there, her school is transformed into a major hub of action and purpose.

Habanero is a village of people who truly are destitute. Their homes are made of sticks and aluminum “siding”. Some have brick but not many. There are no doors on most homes and the windows have no screens. Their toilet is a cement circle, placed strategically between two or three homes and empties into the ground. Most of these people do not have running water; they rely on the river.

Most of the children wear the same clothes every day. Their toys are sticks, rocks and garbage. Rarely do you see any parents but oddly, at dinner, the children wait for the adults to finish eating before they have any food. They wake us in the morning, hang out with us all day and stay into the evening. They crave attention and love. They are usually seen walking to school, playing in the polluted river, or eating sugar cane.

After two days I surrender to the reality that there is too much to do in the time that we are there. I completely connect with these children and begin seeing life through their eyes.

We spend our days teaching our hygiene curriculum, painting their playground, and traveling to other villages to give away hair accessories, clothes, food and blankets. Some of the children who attend school are home now, almost naked while their uniform hangs outside for the next day. In the evenings we do yoga with the dental team, teach yoga to the kids, play baseball with them, watch a movie on the side of Brenda’s house and one night, we go dancing.

What can I say after 10 days living in a village with barely any running water, sporadic electricity, dirt floors, mosquitoes, flies, mean and hungry dogs, roosters that crow at 3:00am and so much work to do you can’t even imagine where to start?

I say when can I go back? My heart sings to be there again.

What did we accomplish? We planted an idea about how to stay healthy. We dropped a seed about the importance of clean water and clean hands. But these lessons won’t be remembered unless they are consistently taught and nurtured. This is a challenge. Some parents aren’t around; some kids have no running water and some homes have no toilet.

We taught the children why it’s important not to suck on sugar cane. But how do you tell a child not to suck on sugar cane when they haven’t had anything to eat for an entire day? You don’t. You teach them to limit their intake of sugar cane and you teach them how to brush their teeth the best with what they have.

We painted a few game boards on the patio of the school and taught them how to play 4-square, hopscotch and duck, duck goose. We ended up teaching them about how to wait in line and take turns.

This experience really has left me speechless and that does not happen to me often. But I was so moved by the simplicity and presence of this village it astounded me. In our culture, we only talk about living with less and living the simple life. We still grasp and cling to so many material things. Hopelessly tied to our technology, our schedules, our image and what other people think.

So then the question for me is, does our presence in Habanero, help or create greed and separateness among this village? Ignorance is bliss right? Answering these questions require clear intentions. What is our ultimate goal? How can what we are doing be grown and nurtured? Traveling there once a year is not enough, but giving them everything at once isn’t beneficial either.

We can’t do much about the polluted water or the poor economy. We can hope that the new pipe delivers clean water to Habanero as well as Barahona. We can only pray that one day the prices of everyday necessities like gasoline, diapers and milk can come down to meet their cost of living.

So what do we do? We build a fence around Brenda’s school so we can teach the kids how to respect and take care of their own space. We plant banana trees and other self sustaining garden plants. We incorporate daily hygiene lessons into the school curriculum so kids can understand and really adapt these procedures at home. We teach the parents the same things so they understand. We turn Brenda’s school into a community center where people can come for so much more than just an elementary learning center.

We invite more kids to the school! We educate this new generation in hopes they will make change in their community and beyond. Attendance is free and the kids get two meals a day, a uniform and mutli-vitamins in addition to their education. What about a secondary school that is closer than the nearest city, Barahona, which is 8 miles away? A goal is to motivate these kids to continue so they have somewhere to go after Brenda’s school. My personal goal is to teach these children how to dream big while staying awake just as they are.

From what I witnessed, these kids were happy. They were not lacking for anything because they knew nothing different. But I also saw a lot of beauty, talent, promise and love. Those attributes, I’m sure could be utilized in their own community but I did observe some children who had the heart to serve elsewhere. My intention is to help some of these kids understand they have opportunities that they haven’t even been able to dream up yet but that the sky is limitless.

We all see the same moon and the same stars. The world is a big place and if we remember that the small things we do really make a difference, this world will finally realize the true meaning of interconnectedness. We are all connected and we are all here to serve.

If you are interested in knowing more about Evergreen4kids and want to help our Health and Wellness Team, you can go to my website www.zenflowyoga.com. I will be posting a page dedicated to Habanero and the efforts of Evergreen4Kids. You can also go to www.evergreen4kids.org for general information and to contact Brenda directly.


Be well, laugh often and give much.

Beach Day in the DR

Our last day in the DR. What a ride this has been. Brenda has decided to take the kids to the beach for the day. This is a big deal to the kids ... it's a trip on a bus, with the Americans, to the beach to play in the ocean. Now, not everyone can go. The bus is only so big. So the teacher decides who can go and who has to stay. This is heartbreaking for most of us watching it happen. Especially when one sibling is chosen and one is not. This moment in time showed me how true the bond between siblings really is down here.

So we are packed in the bus, riding along these super-windy roads to "the beach". The music is blaring Antony Santos and we are all in awe of the beauty that surrounds us outside of Habanero. The ride is over an hour and most of the children take a nap. Actually, a good portion of the adults take a nap too.

We arrive and the kids run, immediately to where the ocean meets the surf. Now, Brenda had decided not to go with us. She went to Haiti that day instead. But she left explicit instructions for us not to let the kids go into the ocean. There is a pool they could swim in - a man made pool that they actually made themselves with sandbags. Crazy. ( see the photos on the FB Fan page) Anyway, so we are watching these beautiful white, foamy waves crash onto the beach and we are all wondering how are we supposed to keep the kids out of the water? WE want to be in the water!

Now the beach here is very different from the beach here. The coastline isn't sand, it's teeny-tiny rocks. And it goes for miles. There's literally nothing but rocks and water.

I'm watching the kids strip down, run into the water and ride the waves back. I head down near the water to make sure they are ok (yah right) and decide to get in with them. How FUN! I swear, all that dirt, sweat, sand and muck from Habanero that was on my skin and my feet...gone! I think how incredible this would be to have a spa similiar to this in the states. You don't need all those chemicals...just a some smooth rocks, salt and water. (anyone care to partake?)

The kids are loving this. WE are loving this. We watch the locals begin building their "pool" - building a sort of make-shift damn from a river that runs down through the beach area to the ocean. It's quite surreal really.

Carmen, the lady who has been feeding us all week long, with the help of Ramona and Ioti, begin making our lunch. Same wonderful thing every day....perfectly cooked rice, beans, chicken from Manco's chicken stand, beets, tomatos and cabbage. This claudron they bring to the beach is huge and they make an incredible bonfire and begin make our lunch/dinner. These ladies have been so amazing.

It's a lazy day ... one that all of us will remember. I watch the kids make toys out of the garbage on the beach. They chase after each other and bury each other in the rocks. They let their hair down. The olders ones watching out diligently for the little ones. Bliss comes to mind. Perfect place to sit and meditate but instead of isolating myself on a rock somewere, I get in with it all. Wrap myself in their energy, their vibrancy for life, their love for this moment. It's amazingly wonderful.

As I sit on the bus, heading back to Habanero, listening to the children sing, watching some of them sleep, I realize just how wonderful this time has been. It's been like stepping outside myself to see my Self.

How fortunate we are to experience such eye opening experiences in our life. Thank you Brenda.