In one week I begin teaching an intensive four-week Yoga Teachers Training here in Playa del Carmen. There are between 8-11 people signed up – the numbers keep changing daily – and I’m buckling down to get grounded before take off.
To be responsible for teaching people how to teach yoga is something I consider an honor, and it makes me a bit anxious as I want to do a good job as well.
I give it over to the divine to be there for all of us.
Teaching, giving, receiving, communicating, moving, breathing the light.
Ommmmmmm

“Embracing Meditation—the only way ‘out’ is to go within.”

I admit it – I’ve been an astrology junkie for years. I like the idea of peaking into the future, especially for 2009 with a new president of the United States and so many changes emerging.
I also know that we create our own reality – by our thoughts, reactions, beliefs, and actions.

When I read Alice Inque’s newsletter for 2009 (www.astrology-fengshui.com) it was full of down-to-earth practical advice – no matter what the year. As a yoga teacher, checking in with our inner self is something my students and I do throughout class. Awareness of our breathing the way we connect to the inner self while we’re moving and when our bodies are still in mediation

I love Inque’s statement about meditating – that the only way out is to go within. How true for this year ahead! Inque urges us to stay focused, grounded and centered.

“When we are able to think positively and handle our emotions in a wise and detached manner, we can also be a guiding light for others to do the same. Choose peace and wellbeing and use meditation to help you,” states Inque.

“Listen to the voice of love within. Arrange your life now so that you are in a peaceful environment where you can make spiritual growth your top priority.”

I found her following suggestions particularly helpful. I printed them out and put them where I see them often to focus my energy in a direction that is beneficial for me, my teaching, and my relationships.

This year, inspire yourself to:
• Consciously choose to change negative thoughts about your life, the conditions of the world, others, and especially yourself.

•Take action for change. How can you expect things to change when you don’t take action to achieve that change? Don’t wait around. Patiently take one realistic step at a time. Progress happens incrementally. Just do something. Waiting is wasting.

• Take time for yourself, specifically to connect to your “self” in a deeper and new way. Allow a new awareness about your life to emerge so that you can find a new purpose in all you do.

•Don’t get overwhelmed. Just keep going. Keep up with what you can. Be patient with yourself and your situation will pay off. You can only do so much. Determine what is truly important.

•Don’t waste your time on false illusions and mental fears. Do your inner work so that you can free yourself from the role of being your own worst enemy.

• Keep your focus on your life and what you want. Don’t waste time focusing on what you want to “let go” of; instead, focus on what you want to create more of. Point yourself ahead and the old will not be able to keep up.

• Listen to what you say, because it will reveal what is going on inside of you. Are you saying things such as “i don’t have time” or “I’m always so tired” or “things are so challenging,” etc.? Be conscious of what you are saying and do not say things that you don’t want to create more of.

• Be strategic. Don’t fight trivial battles. Use your energy to overcome obstacles that are critical to your success. We do not have the luxury of time as we did in the past.

• Remember that we are all in this together—as human beings living on this earth, as team members working together in a business, as members of the same family.
Let go of the need to be “right” and let’s keep our egos in check as we open our hearts to a new way of being.

ALICE INOUE • WWW.ASTROLOGY-FENGSHUI.COM

Arielle’s Book Recommendation
A New Earth
Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

By Eckhart Tolle

This is a seminal book for those on the path seeking inner growth. If you have ever suffered from malaise or depression, Tolle’s explanation of the “pain body” can kindle a paradigm shift in you that will help you to disconnect from your habitual storytelling about your discontent. In its place, Tolle urges us to move into awakened doing, which he describes as acceptance, enjoyment, and enthusiasm.

I particularly liked the following quote as it reminded me in a new way, of how we’re all part of the same fabric of the cosmos:

“Once there is a certain degree of Presence, of still and alert attention in human beings’ perceptions, they can sense the divine life essence, the one indwelling consciousness or spirit in every creature, every life-form, recognize it as one with their own essence and so love it as themselves.”

You can download Tolle’s Chapter by Chapter discussion with Oprah about his book by clicking here.

Smoothie Plus Lifestyle Cafe
1st Av. between Calle 16 & Constituyentes
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
(984) 803-1328
Monday through Friday 6 am-10 pm
Saturday & Sunday 7 am-7 pm
Home delivery available

Torre & Mauricio Andrade from New Orleans, Louisiana have opened a great new spot called Smoothie Plus Lifestyle Cafe.

In addition to protein and fruit smoothies, (my favorite is the Angel Kiss with strawberries), their bright air-conditioned restaurant offers salmon on a bed of mixed greens with quinoa, rotisserie chicken, soups, sandwiches, and a great vegetarian lasagna with a rich tasting but light white sauce.

They even make hand-pressed wheat grass juice – a perfect green drink for detoxing after a late night dancing on the town. Ingredients are fresh and they use organic produce when available. Service is friendly, there’s  free internet, and there’s an area with books on health, cooking and nutrition.

When I first walked into the restaurant, I felt like I was in a cross between the film set of a hip space-age Austin Power’s flick and a trendy LA beach club. Mauricio Andrade, who worked as director of operations for Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans, brings over 25 years of fine dining, hotel and hospitality experience to his newest venture. With its clean lines, bright colors, and modern décor, it has every indication of success.

“We are passionate about what we do,” said Mauricio. “Most importantly, we are creating an environment of courteous service and hospitality for our customer, all in a modern and comfortable setting.”

When I stopped by to pick up an order to go, his co-owner wife Torre said “Smoothie Plus Lifestyle Cafe is born out of the consciousness that consumers world-wide are increasingly aware of their personal health and well being, taking care of themselves and knowing more about diet and nutrition.”

Menu items are designed to keep calories, carbohydrates, fats, sugars and salts low while keeping flavors high. Local products are used whenever possible such as those from Manantial de las Flores, Aires de Campo, and The Greenery in Cancun, Mexico.

“We offer a variety of healthy sandwiches made fresh with whole grain breads custom made for us by Hot Baking Company,” commented Torre. She added that the restaurant works hard to be environmentally responsible by using recycled/recyclable products to keep their garbage footprint low.

“Our French Basque chef Federique creates nutritious and healthy soups du jour and daily specials,” stated Torre. “We are proud to have a full time nutritionist, Celina Trejo on staff as our manager and to answer questions and offer advice about our menu and nutrition in general. Our team has been handpicked for their positive attitudes, knowledge, bilingual abilities and other Smoothie Plus characteristics.”

If you are en una prisa (in a hurry) you can call ahead to place your order. Or ask about home delivery. The cafe also carries healthy packaged snacks, protein powders, and espresso from Caffe Buono. A New Orleans 12-hour cold brewed coffee is also available plus a wide selection of other beverages.

Health, Balance, Happiness, Well-Being, Environmental Conscience = the Plus in Smoothie Plus Lifestyle Cafe.

Moving To Mexico
A Tale from the Reluctant Adventurer™

When my husband and I moved to Mexico seven years ago, it was a transition full of chaos for me. Even though we had actively visualized living near a beautiful ocean, when we actually created the life we envisioned – it came as quite a shock to my system!

My former life was filled with friends, yoga, writing, gardening, choreography, and the arts. My new life was challenging. Yes, there was the ocean, this cool international beach town Playa del Carmen, and the opportunity to continue to teach yoga, (this time with a sea view!). But in the beginning, we didn’t know Spanish, weren’t familiar with the customs, and had no cable, internet, nor car.

Thank God for Bobbie Martin, the guest author for my first issue of Catch the Wave Newsletter. I knew Bobbie as a counselor/adviser in Kansas City before moving to Playa del Carmen. Her steady guidance helped me to step through my fear and into enriching new life con gusto!

Bobbie does private and group sessions in Kansas City, Missouri and phone sessions from anywhere around the world. Contact her via her web site: www.bobbiemartin.com

The Gift of Chaos

by Bobbie Martin

Many of us think of chaos as a catastrophe or at the very best, something to be fixed. We ask for new things, relationships and opportunities in our lives and then are surprised when everything seems to unravel in disarray and bedlam. As a counselor, I’ve seen that when that happens, it’s a sure sign that what you want is close at hand. Like the Hindu God Shiva, the destroyer and creator of life, the gift emerges after structures have been dissolved, and room is made for the new to emerge.

When we say “I wish our relationship had more spark,” or “My job doesn’t challenge me anymore, I need something that lights my creativity,” we instinctively know that we are ready for the next stage of growth. When the Universe, (which is constantly listening and responding), starts to rearrange the molecules of “what is” to give us what we want, we get frightened. We say, “Oh no, that’s way too scary and uncomfortable,” and we put the brakes on, impeding our own evolution.

Our fear causes us to try to hold onto our present reality and accept things that are no longer satisfying because we’re afraid of the new. We end up stuck in a limbo of chaos – wanting to release the old but afraid to do so, ending up staying in the discomfort even longer than was needed.

The book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach is a classic example of embracing and struggling with chaos induced by desire.

Jonathan is a seagull who starts dreaming of flying higher than he had ever gone before or had ever seen any other seagull go. When he shared his desire with his friends, they said, “That’s dangerous…you can’t do that.”

He listened for a while and yet could not resist the temptation, fueled by his desire, to go beyond where he was accustomed to flying. He made the attempt, ascended higher, and then hit an unexpected down draft of air and plunged lower than he had ever been.

When he recovered, he was shaken and all of his friends commented on how lucky he was to still be alive. He agreed and thought, “I will never do that again.” However, he found himself looking up and wondered if he handled it differently, could he try flying higher once more?

Eventually he did fly higher and discovered that he could stay longer because he was more prepared. When he hit something that altered his course, he recovered faster and eventually had the joy of flying at a whole new altitude. Eventually all of his friends found their way there too, because of his example.

Anytime we ask for change we have a choice as to how we respond to the chaos that ensues. We can either hold onto what feels safe and predictable, get tumbled around in the chaos more, and eventually give up on the excitement of our lives. Or, we can take a quantum leap off the ledge and fly into our future towards the changes that we want.

So the next time chaos presents itself, pause and give thanks because the gift you have been asking for is just around the corner.

Web Site: www.bobbiemartin.com