Journal: One Of The Most Important Things You Can Do In Your Life

I never was the "Dear Diary" type. Once in awhile I would write in my diary. It never really became a regular habit.

Not until I graduated college...

I noticed that putting down my thoughts and ideas was a great way to release anger or secrets I didn't feel like sharing.

As the years have gone by, it has developed into something even more meaningful. It is now my life documented in a book. With all of my traveling, I make it a point to jot down the days events. I have also been carrying around a Travel Journal. To date, It has been to 7 countries with more than 50 passages of people from around the world. People I may have just met for 2 days in a hostel or someone I had a 2 hour flight with.

I have now been encouraging my students to journal. On our Panama Yoga Retreat, I got everyone a journal. It was so great to see everyone taking time out at the end of the day to journal their experience!

And what do you do when you are too tired from surfing, zip lining, or volcano hiking??

Simple

Two Words.

Thats It

Two Words.

You take your days experience and write down the center of the page with just two words to describe the experience.

Here is an entry from my personal journal when I was in Africa:

Nairobi Kenya

Slum Visit

Surf Board

Meet Stephanie

Almond Butter

I Cry

On Bus

Arm Pit

High Five

Lasagna Dinner

Couples Mission

Leading To

Am I

Being Set

Up For

This Path

Relationship Hope

Man Voice

Coyote Pee

Essential Oils.

I know none of that made sense to you, but those quick phrases, brings me right back.

I encourage you to start a journal and maybe even a travel journal.

“For any writer who wants to keep a journal, be alive to everything, not just to what you're feeling, but also to your pets, to flowers, to what you're reading.” 
― May Sarton

That Moment When You Want To Give Up...

How many times have you been in plank and wanted to get out of it, and just give up?

Or how about when you are instructed to "Find a Comfortable Seat" for seated meditation. And all the sudden you need to fix your hair, fix your shirt, or check to see when the last time you had a pedicure.

Those little moments when your body tells you to get out of the pose, is actually a cue to your mind, to get IN to the pose.

We all have these moments, even in life. When we are placed in a position where we are forced to sit and be patient (and then we think of Jack Johnson "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing").

And what do we end up doing??

Crying and complaining because we didn't get the call in time or we didn't get the job we wanted. We just give up.

But as in yoga, there is ALWAYS childs pose. As in life, you can always find a childs pose.

So next time you find yourself writing the next lyrics to Jack Johnson's new song, take it as that physical cue to be patient so the mind can rest.

Remember, at that very point where you want to give up, is the very point where the lesson is to be learned.

A Mountain Of Respect

In the past 3 months I have been to Panama, Costa Rica, Africa, Canada and Vermont. Holy crap that looks crazy in writing! Each country, a different experience, different people, and different emotions.  I just recently got back from Canada/Vermont and that is what I will focus on for this article.

Vermont.

That's when it hit me. I used to live in southern Vermont for a short period of time. The town was Ludlow. Awesome area, right by the Okemo Mountain. This time I was in Stowe for a 2 day visit. I decided to go there after doing my SUP Yoga certification in Canada. YEH I LOVE SUP!! I wanted time to reflect and spend time in nature. I decided to go on a hike. I spent the first day researching and then going to outfitters talking to locals on where to go. Seeing as how I am a solo traveler, hiking by yourself is not the brightest idea. And I didn't want to do anything to hard because, well, IM BY MYSELF!

What do I end up doing... The Hellbrook Trail! Look it up...It's crazy. When I went, it was raining. So there were a lot of muddy spots, creeks to cross, slippery rocks to climb. All this equals scariness for me. Well, at least it used to. When I hiked the trail, I felt like new pathways were being formed in my brain. I had to think in a whole new way that I had not been thinking in a long time. "Put hand here" "Move foot there" "Watch for the edge". These thoughts ran through my mind constantly all while gasping for air in the elevation. But I didn't want to stop! I am a goal orientated person and a long distance runner...so I don't think I would ever stop.

After finishing the climb...it was 3 hours. I came down with a massive grin on my face. And then, the sun came out. Wait, no , that was just an awesome thought I had:

"Brianne, look what you just did, BY YOURSELF!! You are amazing, do you realize you are starting to  overcome your fear of falling? Way to go!"

And that's when it hit me. For the first time in my life, I actually Respected myself. Who knows, I may have prior, but never really acknowledged it. What a feeling it is, to truly respect yourself. Like, I still can't even put the feeling into words how amazing I feel about myself. This is a big deal for me because I come from a place of abuse and low self esteem/confidence. So I literally have a mountain of respect for myself in what I do in life and how I treat myself. Making sure I'm eating properly and keeping up my fitness and yoga.

                   Be Honest And True With Yourself: Do You Really Respect Yourself?

                                                                 R.E.S.P.E.C.T 

                                          FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS, TO YOU

The Start

Still Have No Idea How I Climbed That!

Post Hellbrook Hike at Moss Glenn Falls..Just Getting A Drink Of Water.

I'm Not Good Enough..

I'm a little nervous about posting this article. It will be my most vulnerable piece to date. But for some reason, I feel a call to write it. I believe in being yourself 100% pure and whole all the time. And what Im about to share is an in depth, truly vulnerable, and honest look  into a yoga breakthrough....It may read choppy, I purposely left it that way. This is direct from my personal journal:






This is what I realized in my self practice today. Of maybe why im not advancing in my asana or why I'm not losing weight.
 Why I'm not advancing in asana....I have categorized my self into the "I'm not a good enough yogi" meaning that I haven't spent 5 years in India or I will never be able to do all those crazy poses because of a physical issue or I don't deserve them...im not good enough and I don't know enough about yoga, so those poses are only reserved for those who know all 7 chakras in Sanskrit...so I keep myself back. And maybe that is why I back out of poses because  its like right at the brink and the breaking point where the pose gets to tough I think "I cant do this" "that's not me" I'm Brianne who cant do cool yoga poses.
Or even with the weight, I had been physically  broken down and mentally abused, I feel I'm not good enough to treat myself right or even eat right. Because again, its right at that breaking point that where I start to lose weight this thing clicks in my head "oh no, you need to keep that layer of fat, That's who you are now, you don't deserve to feel comfortable, the only way to deal with pain is to over eat. So go ahead binge on that pizza and cake. "
It only gets me back to where I started. Back into this place that I had been put in after an emotionally abusive relationship. In that relationship I got a physical injury ( from snowboarding, falling on my tailbone I still have nerve issues) and emotional/mental abuse. Two big abusive factors back to back that has me stuck in the "I'm not good enough rut"
And yes, I have grown leaps and bounds since then!! I have lived abroad and in the jungles in Panama and Nicaragua by myself. Traveling through these countries solo without speaking the language, I have and Immense about of Self Esteem and Self Confidence. ...but i notice when I'm beginning to turn a new leaf, I feel a rope tied around my waist connected to the "Tree Trunk" of 2011.

But I must understand that i deserve the best in EVERYTHING. And have a DEEP AND MEANINGFULL Yoga practice. It is a process..and since august 2013, I have created a mantra:
Being Patient and Aware of the Process.
And now is the turning point where I understand that to cut the rope off the 2011 "Tree Trunk" I must find that edge in yoga. Find comfort in the discomfort of a pose. Try those poses that I've always felt are reserved for the cool yogis or the yoga journal models.
And instead of reverting to food for comfort, revert to my yoga practice. And find comfort in whatever discomfort I am feeling that is making my reach for another pound of cake. Because every time I become a witness in those moments of discomfort, I can grow. And that growth will help me to cut that rope of the "Tree Trunk"
So its time to take more challenging yoga class. And find a proper nutrition plan that I can stick to.
Because I Deserve It Dammit!!

7 Life Lessons From A Jungle

In 2013 I spent the year living in Central America. I lived on a private island off of Panama, the highlands of Panama, and Nicaragua. What I have experienced is something I still have a hard time putting in words. And maybe that is why I have put off writing this blog. I think I also put off writing this blog because it is a summary. A summary to me would signify an end to my past year. In which, I do not want it to end. But then I realize that it has not ended, it has just begun....

1. Be You..... 100% of the time. You know, 60% of the time it works, every time

"The Privilege of Being Of A Life Time Is Being Who You Are"-Joseph Campbell

I have always been myself. No matter what. I am not fake for others to like me. I do not wear designer clothes to fit in. I am me, well , 60% of the time.

Until I moved to the jungle, I had no idea what true freedom it is to be your authentic self.

The joy it brings to move, breath, think, BE you 100% of the time. Not until I came to the states for a holiday visit did I realize that 40% of myself was hidden away somewhere. I was not in an environment that supported being weird and different. We are taught to have 2.2 kids, a white picket fence, and live like millionaires with our average income. And Dear God, if you step outside that box, I hope you are wearing armor, because you are going to be shot down and not supported.

Now, not to say that I don't have support from family and friends that do matter, its just my environment does not support independent/ out of the box thinking.

Im not saying you have to go to some fancy island or some desert to enjoy this experience. What I am saying, is grow some cojones and be YOU!

I was nervous as to how people would receive me in the states. Especially my style of yoga. But you know what, I DONT CARE ANYMORE!! This is who I am..AND I LOVE MYSELF! 

2. Hurry Up and Have Patience

Hey, how many times did you just read that heading? For real? You laugh and think "Haha, hurry up to have patience , isn't that the opposite?"

NO...ITS FOR REAL!
HURRY UP AND HAVE PATIENCE

What if you had no other choice but to be patient? That's all that the jungle gives you is time.

T.I.M.E

And a boat load of it. Days can drag, hours can feel like weeks.

But why is that?

Because we are so consumed and preoccupied by getting it done yesterday, being 3 hours early, or better yet, missing the moment because we want to get to the next.

A key way to understanding patience is realizing, you are not in control (oh so taboo, tisk tisk). When you release that desire of control you become relaxed. By becoming relaxed, you have patience.

With patience comes enjoyment.

3. Communication

Pretty much...

Funny that Im writing advice on this when Im not that great at it. But it's not that Im about to give you tips, Im telling you how important it is.

Living in Central America, I have been exposed to different cultures. And not just the latin culture.

We really are in a bubble until we are plucked out and become a minority. You realize that your way of doing things may not make sense to someone else. Or, the way you explain something can seem completely off the wall. It's always a good idea to repeat things after they have been said. I sometimes even do this in emails.

In my teacher training we learn a technique called co listening. Where you let the person speak and do not interrupt... Just let them speak. When they are done , you can respond "What I heard you saying is...."

Not only is it important to listen with your ears, but listen with your eyes as well.

When I moved to Panama, I think I only knew "Hola" and "Como Estas". I really had to work on watching peoples gestures and watching their body language and emotion.

4. One Parasite is one too many....



"Aww man, did she really have to post this gross picture?"

While living in Nicaragua, I was sick for a month. First with food poising and then with a parasite. Oh, that parasite was such a charmer...

Eating healthy has pretty much been part of my whole life. In 2012 I had a major health scare and that kicked me in the bum. I became vegan for 6 months...although that did not last, I still apply a lot of the vegan principles. I will refrain from telling you what type of eater I am now, because there is just no need for label.

What I can tell you, is how important it is to pay attention to what you eat. It's always good to ask yourself:

-Where did this come from?

-Is this the original form?

-What type of energy will it provide for me?

-How will I feel after I eat this?

-Do I really need to go for more?

-Can I pronounce all 250 ingredients that were used to make this granola bar?  

5. You Should Have One Good Friend....Not 1,379 Fake Facebook Friends

I've never had a boat load of friends. I am a shy introverted person so having 3,000 people around me at all times I guess does not seem appealing.

I am so touched and so blessed to have a handful of friends that I can truly depend. Blessed to have them in two countries even (thanks God!!).

 It is SO important to share this life  with someone else. That is where growth and development begins.

We are not meant to be solo, but to have a partner.

6. Live Life On A Limb

If you want something that bad, you will go out and get it.

Wishing about it, will never make it happen.

There must be action steps to the dream.

Many people have told me they wished they could do what I do.

If you really mean it, you would find a way to do it.

Simple as that.

I have been traveling since 2008, on my own, to foreign countries. The people I have met had crazy cool stories of living in Australia or South America. I would always be so jealous of  these people.

But, as I learned in a bible study, instead of wasting your emotions being jealous (which is toxic), try to figure out how someone got to the point to where they are at.

This life is not easy. You must work hard.

What I am doing, did not get handed to me. I am not "Lucky" , I am Blessed.

I have also worked REALLY Hard to get to this starting point.

And the first step I took, I went out on a limb..

7. Punch Fear In The Face!

This is such a hot topic and really one of my favorites. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret..

I Have A Lot Of Fear!!

-I'm afraid of water, but lived on an island

-I'm afraid of flying, I flew 25 times in 2013

-I'm afraid of heights, I went sledding down an active volcano

Notice a pattern?

I have fear...BUT IM STILL LIVING MY LIFE!

It's great to have fear. That is a mechanism that will keep us out of danger. But, sometimes fear gets mixed in with low self esteem and low confidence and we blame our lack of trying due to fear.

The quickest way to get over fear, is to go right through it.

The longer you keep dipping your toes in the pool, the longer its going to take you to jump in.

Take a CANNONBALL leap toward your dream.

The only thing that will stop you, is you.

Thank you so much for taking time today to read this article. It was a lot of fun to write!

I would love to hear from you!!!

If you have a life lesson you would like to share, let me know.

Learning from each other is how we can grow!

Why Practice Yoga? Really, What's The Point?

Take These Next Few Moments , Look Away From Your Computer, And Think About Why You Practice Yoga....

 

Now Look At All Those Amazing Reason You Practice Yoga:

~ Decrease Stress

~Improve Balance

~Become Flexible

~To Find Peace

~Find Stronger Self Confidence

~Fun

 

So Now Ask Yourself,

 

Why Don't I Practice Regularly?

 

Really? Why Don't You? Wouldn't You Want To Feel Those Benefits Everyday?

 

The Key Is To Be Consistent In Your Yoga Practice...NO...MATTER...WHAT.

Even If It Is Raining, Sunny, Snowy, or You Are On Vacation.

When You Were In School, You Did Not Just Attend The 5th Grade Once A Week Or Once Every Few Months. You Went 5 Days A Week.

A Solid Yoga Practice Consists Of Practicing 3-5 Times A Week.

So Dust off The Mat, Toss Out The Excuses And Get Back To Your Yoga Practice!

 

What Would You Do For Love?

Would you quit your job? Would you move out of state, maybe out of the country? Could you leave your friends and family behind? Would you be willing to leave all that is familar and step into the unknown?

You can ask all of these questions to Lindsey Parry, and she will answer you yes!

While teaching a yoga class that I wasn't even supposed to teach, God had placed Lindsey in my class. It was a friday night class that she does not normally atend. We knew we were supposed to meet. Lindsey and I quickly became friends and bonded over our love for God and our departure from all things familar to pursue our dream.

Spending time with Lindsey, I learn that she is in fashion. Her clothing line, 4Love, is centered around traditional Nagua made by  the indegiounes women of Panama. This Nagua is then embellished on  dresses. These dresses are truly unique, hand made, one of a kind works of love. Each dress takes 17 hours to create.  I have seen first hand the intricate work of the Ngobe Bugle women and it is like none other!

 

Being behind the scenes of 4Love, I see how hard Lindsey works. What she does is not an easy task. All you see is the finish product, but what you don't get to see is the love and dedication she puts towards  4Love. All this self-less work Lindsey does day in and day out is empowering the women. Lindsey puts the needs of the Ngobe Bugle women ahead of her own. 4Love is a fair trade company and is helping the women provide for their family. Giving them a sense of purpose and pride in their culture.

 

They say that the true definition of love can be defined by 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

 

If you replace the word "Love" with "Lindsey" you will truly see what love is.

 

To Find Out More About 4Love Please Visit:

http://www.4loveclothing.com/

http://sowingseedsoflove.org/

http://designgood.com/4-love-clothing/

 

4Love on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/4loveclothing

 

 

The Women Of 4Love

Boquete, Panama

 

4Love

 

Lindsey and I on an Island Off Of Panama

 

My One Of A Kind 4Love Dress Made By Juana