Hello beautiful people,

I have been so busy with getting my kids to school, construction in the house, relatives visiting my dad, dealing with my father's illness and visiting a festival.  I am just getting back to writing again with some fresh inspiration.  I was able to meditate again in my pool house right after I dropped off my kids.  It was settling.  I feel calm.  I don't always feel calm, just so you know, especially with the hustle of getting my kids to school on time and running into issues like they left their shoes at daddy's house and they have to wear an old pair that is tight.  It's a crisis for the kids and I try not to let it get to me but it did this morning, just for a moment.  Needless to say meditating was a pleasure and it reels me back.

I recently went online to start dating again.  Let's face it, I work in a yoga studio around women all day and when I'm not doing that then I'm with my kids.  I decided to go online.  I have dated online a few times and each time I've gotten a little more comfortable with it.  The first time that I was online, I had negative feelings like, "I'm a loser for doing this" or "I feel pathetic, why doesn't anyone want me" or "I must be desperate".  I'm here to tell you that all this simply isn't true.  We live in a busy world where people spend a lot of time at work.  If they are not working then they may be with their families.  Life gets even busier if you have kids.  We would have to become experts at introducing ourselves to strangers at the grocery store or some place like that to break out of our circles.  Yes, obviously meetups are helpful.  Any situation that puts you in front of new people helps.  If you feel uncomfortable then I encourage you to embrace it.  Do it more so that you can challenge yourself out of your comfort zone.  The soul wants to grow so learn to face your fears.  For me I learned to face online dating.  I think there are lots of people alone and we simply don't know who is out there, so put yourself out there.  Take a risk and see what happens!  Yes you may have to filter through some people but if you are not meeting new people on a regular basis then you might want to consider going online.  While in the process of online dating I learned a few tips that may help you in the future.  Here they are:

​Tip #1: Make sure the person is really single, available or you know the status of their situation and are ok with it. 

Sometimes people are separated but not legally divorced yet.  Yes this shouldn't matter for the most part but the ex can make it difficult for you for your new budding relationship.  When legal finances are on the line, I recommend waiting until someone is legally separated.  Save yourself some heartache and don't be afraid to ask the tough questions.  Also, some people are in open relationships online.  Ask and get involved if you are still interested.  Simply make sure you know what you are getting involved in.  Communication is king.  Ideally, it is attractive to for me to see that someone isn't afraid to be alone for a short period of time to heal after their last relationship.  It shows me that they are whole, independent and they've had some time to work on healing their hearts.  It also tells me that if they have some fear then they are not going to go running back to their ex.

Tip #2:  Make sure the person really exists.  Don't get Catfished!

There are people who go online using fake photos and or they are still married and looking to get off on a phone sex relationship but if you actually ask to meet up then they will never meet up with you.  The technical definition is :

Catfished:  lure (someone) into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona.

It's easy to think that when you have a texting relationship that you know someone.  You don't and you won't until you actually meet them.  There is something about actually meeting someone and looking them in the eyes that tells me if they are a sincere person or not.  Let's face it, if someone has shame or fear about something then they won't tell you the truth.  They are scared.  You have to be a little bit of a detective to filter through people to see who is really available and honest.  I personally like to meet up right away.  It tells me if it is convenient enough to meet up with them and if they are a real person.  It will also tell you if they really look like their photos! 

Tip #3:  Ask for a recent photo! 

Lot's of people use photos that are 10 to 15+ years old.  It seems obvious to put a recent photo but many people don't.  They don't especially if they gained weight or went gray or some other reason.  It's simple enough to ask so you don't waste your time.

Tip #4: Make sure they have a job and can take care of themself

There are some people who say they are in between jobs.  Lots of time can go by and they may still be in between jobs.  You don't want to be taking care of someone else.  Life is hard enough.  Ideally you would like to be running with someone in life verses carrying them.  If they have financial problems then it is a sign of a spiritual problem that they may feel like they are not worth it.  They also may be supported by their parents and while they may say they want a future with you, the chances of them leaving that comfortable nest egg at home is rare.  If you want a partner then you have to talk about finances as tough as it may be.

Tip #5: If they have children make sure they have an amicable relationship with the mother

You may be thinking they are an ex, who cares.  Well it won't matter much until they are passing the kids back and forth between houses and the children report about how their visit went.  I personally found myself in a situation where the guy ended things because the baby mama was jealous that their child had a blast with my children.  All of a sudden this guys court hearings for child support are more demanding and he asks for space for things to "blow over".  I also know friends who are in relationships and their partner's ex's are trying to make their lives miserable.  I'm not saying don't get involved in this type of situation if you really love someone but make sure you are aware of what's going on.  It may save you some time.

Tip #6:  Don't go for addicts

It is hard to meet someone who has absolutely no addictions like coffee but definitely stay away from alcohol and drug abuse.  If you don't do it and they do then there is a good chance that it will drag you down with them.  If they are using their addictions to comfort themselves then maybe they are not a truly happy person.  Addictions are a spiritual problem and it says that their soul is wounded.  I'm not saying that these people don't deserve and need help but you may be better off waiting until they deal with their issues before getting involved.

Tip #7: Look for people who have done some work to heal their soul and do the same

Finding a mentally stable person is not as easy as it sounds.  People hide their pain and for good reason, people are wickedly judgmental.  In a perfect world you would meet someone who has done a self study of some kind to raise their vibration.  If they know anything about meditating or higher consciousness then you are know they are a more grounded person.  Unfortunately self work means that you have to do the work yourself!  No one can do it for you because you have to go inside.  Only you know your pains.  Only you know the things that make you feel hurt, fearful or shameful.  Only you know the grudges you are holding and the people that you have not forgiven yet.  What have you done to be the best person that you can possibly be?  Now look for someone who has done the same.

Tip #8: Don't be afraid to say no thank you

If you are not interested in someone then it should be that simple.  You shouldn't have to come up with a million excuses to explain yourself.  Don't worry about being a people pleaser, even if you really like someone as a friend.  If there are no romantic feelings there then there aren't.  Don't deny your truth and allow yourself to have healthy boundaries.

I wish you all the best on your searches for love.  I hope this helps and of course I would love to know your online dating tips, do's and don't as this topic fascinates me.  Who doesn't really want to be seen, known and loved unconditionally?  We all want to be loved and I think you all deserve it.  Now for the fun part, how to match yourself up with the best fit/person for your life.  Follow your joy.  Life is supposed to be blissful.  Find someone who wants to share this blissful journey with you.  Much peace, love and light!  I love you all:)

Hello everyone,

I have been working a lot lately and I've felt tired.  I teach yoga and TRX and yesterday I subbed 3 classes which is unusual for me.  Whenever I feel tired I make sure I am getting a lot of rest to recover.  You don't often think about how important rest is in the training process.  I am willing to say it's critical.  You are not going to have excellent workouts when you are tired and run down.  My workouts of choice are hot power yoga and TRX.  It's mostly body weight except for a pair of 5 lb dumbbells.  I don't spend all day working out.  Most days I work out between 45 to 75 minutes a day.  When I work out then I like to have quality workouts.  I like to do a little extra in my TRX classes opting for the advanced options if presented.  I'm trying to shoot my heart rate up to get the best caloric burn for the time that I'm exercising.  When I go to a power yoga class then I know how to add advanced options into the routines so even if I go to an intermediate class then I know how to make it challenging for my fitness level.  I love going to advanced hot power yoga flows as my first choice if available.  I like to get in, have a killer workout and get out.

I used to spend 2 hours at the gym in the past and I didn't have the fitness level that I do today.  I was still a little chubby.  I knew it wasn't my workouts, it was my diet but I didn't want to admit it at the time.  I eventually changed my diet to a whole foods plant based diet.  I am high raw on this diet following a book called the 80/10/10 diet by Dr Douglas Graham.  This book has changed my life.  I eat a lot of fruit meals, especially early in the day.  For example, today I ate 1 pineapple and glass of orange juice (the real kind that is freshly squeezed).  When I eat easy in and easy out foods they use less nerve energy to digest which means that I have more energy for my workouts.  Heavier to digest foods use up a lot of nerve energy to digest and assimilate into the body.  Nothing is more readily accessible for the human body than fruit.  Every cell in our bodies eats glucose and fruit is already in a monosaccharide form, meaning that your body doesn't have to use any nerve energy to digest it.  Yes, I gave up ALL animal products and processed foods but I don't miss them!  I feel so amazing now that I never want to lose this feeling.

The other key ingredient in my workouts is REST!!!!!  I make sure I am getting lots of rest and recovery in between workouts.  If you are feeling tired and run down the only way to rebuild that nerve energy is through sleep.  You can't oversleep!  Sleep as much as your body is asking for.  Eventually your body will get enough and you'll be laying in bed wide awake ready to do something.  If you feel tired then listen to your body and sleep.  It is so important for a good workout.  When you have plenty of rest,  then the next day you will have lots of energy for a quality workout. 

When you sleep, make sure you are in a serene environment.  It should be quiet and dark with a comfortable temperature.  Stop eating at 8pm or 2 to 3 hours before bedtime for better sleep.  You want  your body resting and going into that deep REM sleep instead of digesting food while you sleep.  Stop drinking alcohol and caffeine for better sleep as well.  I know this one is easier said than done but I have given both of these things up and I feel better than I ever have.  Most importantly, I sleep like a baby!  If you can get to bed early enough so that your body wakes up before your alarm on it's own then that's ideal.  Excellent sleep will improve your moods, your workouts, your energy levels and your life.  Seriously think about how happy sleep makes you feel.  Most people can benefit from an extra hour of sleep a night.  Try it and see how your energy and moods shift for a more positive outlook on everything.  

I hope this article helps you improve the quality of your workouts and your life.  I'm available for private health coaching and private yoga personal training so if there is an area of your life that you need help with then call me!  352-603-0025.  Much love, life, health and that precious SLEEP!  

Hello everyone!  Let's face it, guns scared me!  When I was young, about 12, my dad took me hunting.  He gave me a rifle to use and we took our hunting dogs out to the Wisconsin wintery fields to hunt pheasants.  When our dog scared the bird into the sky, I was standing behind my dad.  I shot the rifle before and there was such a strong kickback that I was scared that I would accidentally shoot my dad, so I never pulled the trigger.  He shot the peasant.  Afterwards we tried shooting clay disks and the gun really hurt my armpit as it kicked back.  Another time, my older brother had a pellet rifle in our finished basement in Schaumburg.  He used to shoot into a target that had a catch behind it.  I picked it up and aimed it at the bathroom mirror and pulled the trigger and it shattered the mirror.  OMG, I didn't know it was loaded!!!  I was around the same age.  That really scared me and I didn't shoot a gun since until now.  

I have a friend who I am encouraging to be healthy.  He has made a lot of lifestyle changes and he has put himself outside of his comfort zone in order to make changes.  I'm really proud of him as he is facing his fears.  I told him how my son is really into Halo video games and how my son likes guns because he says they save people.  I said that I like that he's into video games but I wish it wasn't so violent and I was scared of guns.  When he found out that I was scared of guns then he said he would take me out shooting.  Everyone should know how to shoot a gun he says, because you never know.  Not only that, guns are dangerous if you don't know anything about them.  Learning about them and educating yourself is much safer.  I resist but I tell him ok because I see his point.  If he is going to face his fears then so can I.  Waaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!  I also think, I have a son, maybe I should learn something about what he likes.

He knows a retired police chief and we go out to the police range in Ocoee, FL.  We have to drive down a sandy road to get to the bunker.  There are targets lined up and a big sand hill behind it.  I shot a Ruger 22/45 mark III .22 Caliber pistol with a suppressor from SWR (spector model) on it so it was really quiet.  I pulled the trigger and looked at the target and couldn't see a bullet hole anywhere.  It's really hard to make an adjustment when you can't see where it landed!  I completely missed but I thought I was aiming right at it!  We were about 15' back.  His police chief friend proceeded to ask me which eye am I using as I aim, the right eye, the left eye or both?  Wow, when I played with this then the target seemed to move.  Sometimes I used my right eye, then the left and then I would go cross eye.  I shot again and I hit the paper but not the target, there is a person and a bulls eye on his chest.  I hit the white part of the paper.  There are about 10 bullets in the gun and I shoot them all.  None of them hit the person, all hit high on the paper to the left.  What the heck!?  How is that possible?  I'm aiming right at the target and still missing!  This frustrates me because I like to be good at things.  There's some skill to this.  We walk closer to approximately 7 feet.  Yay, I am consistently hitting the target but but I'm still high and left of the targets neck.  I make super subtle adjustments pointing the barrel of the gun down a little and I hit the bulls eye target!  Finally!  This is fun!  I always love a challenge:) 

I learn how to load the gun.  There is a knob on a spring that I have to pull down as I diagonally insert the bullets.  That knob is hard to pull down.  I think about if I was really in a combat situation, how long it would take me to load my gun.  Right now it's taking forever so I probably wouldn't last long.  When I put the chamber in the gun I have to wiggle it a little to get it lined up right.  I'm not smooth about it but I learn.  Then I pull this button down and it releases the back of the gun.  I hold the gun in my right hand while my left hand cups underneath the gun.  I stay at 7" so I can get more consistent.  I play my eyes as I aim,  right eye, left eye, both eyes.  It seems simple but it's not.  The police chief and my friend tell me to get consistent up close and then slowly move back.  I shoot for about 3 or 4 more rounds.  By the time that I got to the 4th round, I was hitting the bulls eye target consistently.  We don't have much time.  The police chief demonstrated shooting a can with a gun without the suppresser.  It's way louder and the can bursts open.  I'm glad I had ear muffs!  They have V8 cans, soup cans, etc to shoot so create and explosion effect.  Yucky!

I ask my friend, if I really was a bad guy then why would I ever shoot a gun without a suppressor.  The suppressor is the barrel on the tip of the gun that muzzles the noise of the shot.  It sounds like a pellet riffle when shooting.  I would want to be stealth like if I wanted to get away with something.  He said there is an 8 month wait period after you apply for the suppressor.  It costs like $700-$800 dollars and then you have to have another machine to thread it on the barrel of the gun.  It has to be put on straight or the bullet can hit the wall of the suppressor.  He says he has another friend who is a machinist who builds all these custom guns for people and loves it.  Wow, I avoided that whole world for so long that I didn't even know a profession like this existed but obviously it does.  I went out with someone who was carrying a gun and I accidentally felt it and stopped seeing him because on of it.  That's how much guns kinda freaked me out.  In the past I was an actress and I wanted to learn about guns simply so I could get cast in different roles.  I was willing to face my fears for that but never did, until now:) . Thank you Gary for pushing me outside of my comfort zone and getting over my fear of guns.  There is a lot of skill to shooting !  Learning how to use a gun can avoid accidents.  Peace, love and light to you all.  Be safe!