How do you deal with difficult people?

Sometimes taking the high road is very difficult lets face it. It isn't always easy to get through sticky situations with peace and grace.We're human and each one of us is so different.

We are all a work in progress and none of us are getting out of here alive. I'd like to believe that each of us is basically good. Relationships can still be tricky though. Very tricky. Not to mention painful.

We may never understand another's behavior, ever. And we may not have any other choice but to deal with it, and ultimately relationships can sometimes be a source of very real pain.

Sometimes you may wind up feeling used, tricked, or that you were never loved at all.That hurts. Big time :(

It is in those moments we may lose track of our higher selves (especially if we should feel an urge to protect ourselves or others, when being attacked). None of this crap is any fun. Maybe we ourselves are viewed as the difficult party at times?

Do you turn to your mat or meditation cushion during these times?

Yoga, meditation and pranayama are powerful tools.

Meditation shows us that we are so much more then those hurt feelings and thoughts running through our heads. It can really help you to move past the pain. I am also a fan of good 'ol fashioned Psychotherapy. There is professional help out there should you need it. Never feel ashamed! Its nobody's business and life can get very complicated at times for the best of us.Find a friend to listen, get on your mat, sit with the pain, (order some pecan pie like I did last night haha) have a good cry, go for a run...do what ever it takes. Just unload.

It might be something that takes a long time to heal from.

Give yourself the time to heal and remember that you are never alone. Chances are the person who hurt you is suffering at some very deep level themselves. Or maybe they are afraid? Afraid of what, you may never know. Sadly some deeply unhappy people want to bring you down emotionally so they aren't alone. Us humans act in strange ways sometimes. Lets face it we all do.

Relationship conflict and stress have been shown to have a clear negative impact on health, affecting blood pressure, contributing to heart disease, and correlating with other conditions. That’s why it’s in your best interest to minimize (or sometimes sadly) eliminate negative relationships in your life. We aren't going to change anyone. We can sometimes "influence" another person but in the end we can only change ourselves.

Be good to yourself and to the good people in your life and remember that line that rings so true..

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

And always remember that there is help out there and you are never alone.

And people do love you, just as you are ♥

With such a small life, with such a small energy source, it is simply stupid to waste it in sadness, in anger, in hatred, in jealousy. Use it in love, use it in some creative act, use it in friendship, use it in meditation: Do something with it which takes you higher. And the higher you go, the more energy sources become available to you. At the highest point of consciousness, you are almost a god. -OSHO

Giant Bubbles on the Beach

Prenatal yoga at Mt.Pleasant is drop in only the next 4 weeks...

Prenatal Yoga at Mt.Pleasant is drop-in only the next 4 weeks...(Aug 18, Aug 25, Sept 1 and Sept 8) *$12

The new session begins Wed Sept 15. (Weds from 630-745pm)

New Fall sessions for all classes are about to begin so I can't recommend enough registering. (this class in particular generally has a waiting list so I highly suggest registering).

Prenatal yoga-wise I also have two classes per week at the Roundhouse in Yaletown Tues and Thurs evenings from 545-715pm.

(and of course there is baby & me yoga for after baby arrives at both places as well as Mixed levels classes..) Lot's of affordable yummy yoga for all stages of your life.

Looking forward to seeing you on the mat!

♥ Namaste, xo

Laughter. let 'er rip! and often...

I once read somewhere that a child laughs 300X per day and an adult laughs 15 times per day.

Whether the numbers are true or not there is always room for more laughter in all of our lives! This baby reminds me of a very sweet little fellow named Zak who comes to one of my baby and me yoga classes. He was laughing like this non-stop, and for so long the other day that my cheeks and jaw hurt before the class even started! (and he is much younger than the baby in this video ) Ahh..blissful, magical, pure and completely unconditioned babies.♥

I learn a lot having these wonderful little humans in my life on such a regular basis and am so grateful.

Do you eat local?

This morning I read that around 900 million tons of food is shipped around the planet each year. Thats 4 times the amount that was shipped in 1961. Wow. That is staggering.
Do you try and eat local? As much as I have been slacking in my garden this year our little household really does try. We grow some of our own food and do our best to eat food that is local and in season as much as we can. I try and keep the exotic foods to a minimum (although I do love my olive oil and bananas and can not lie).

If you haven't really thought much about it before start out small. Just do what you can do, and thankfully there are farmers markets galore, community gardens, organic food delivery programs and resources of all kinds out there. And luckily for us Vancouver not only is yoga land, but it's also organic food land! Eating local is even better then buying organic food from somewhere else so why not buy fresh organic local food? Growing your own is very fun too!

Eating local not only is delicious and healthful for the environment (helps in the fight against global warming), but eating in season is really good for us from a health standpoint as well... not to mention sooo delicious.

Plus, it keeps us in touch with the seasons!

When we eat local we're helping to support our local farmers, and we're putting money back into our own economy. As well, local food is fresher and at a much lower risk of contamination due to not having to travel some crazy distance from farm to plate.

Give it a whirl and you'll see how amazing it is. The food is loaded with nutrients, delicious, and surprisingly not costly at all. You'll be doing something wonderful for you and your family, the environment, your community and your taste buds. yum!

For more information (local farmers market locations, whats in season, gardening resources etc.)

you can click here

Bon appetit!

"The greatest gift you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention." Anthony J. D'Angelo