some uncomfortable advice

I've debated for a long time if I should write this post. I think anyone who has written a post like this feel that way. These days it's hard to determine what creative work is worth with everyone having VSCO, boomerang or any other "design" app, just about anyone can call themselves a designer. And while I don't subscribe to the "you have to go to college to get a good job" mentality there is something to be said for creative worth. Be it your years of experience, the extra things you have gone out of your way to learn about, apprenticing or just simply working your way through the rungs of bullshit to get to where you are today. Those experiences, challenges and years all add up. It's important to know our worth!

I recently had an experience that put this all into perspective for me. Watching another creative ask for services without reasonable compensation and then being rather rude about it. Now there's a lot of places I want to go with this and I guess the first one is don't be rude. The world is a small place and chances are that those six degrees of separation will one day cross your path again. It's been said that you attract a lot more bees with honey than you do vinegar. 
The more important part here is if you are going to ask someone for a service you should expect to pay them what they are worth and if you can't or don't want to, then move along. This should also apply to your friends. Say if your friend is a photographer it would be rather presumptuous to assume that they would photograph your wedding for free. Working out deals and asking for favors is totally up to you, but recognize what you are asking for - this is how they make their living. Friendships and businesses should stay separate if you aren't willing or can't afford to truly support their craft. 

I think it can be really hard as a creative to know what we're worth or if we're worth it. Sometimes we feel like we should take on a free project for a friend, family member or someone else for whatever reason...it's hard, but I often err on the side of don't take these projects. Most of the time they end up being more headaches they we initially anticipate and that can lead to all kinds of disasters. But taking on free projects or not charging what we know we're worth really damages the whole creative world. Selling ourselves short or thinking we're not worth what someone else is worth cheapens all designers. People will become accustomed to great work for great discounts and when they go to find another designer and are quoted much higher will feel like that's outrageous and could even end up being a dick to the designer over it. As humans it's part of our nature to want to feel needed, important and valued. By constantly offering discounted work, or never charging what you really should be you are making it that much harder for all designers. So charge what you're worth!

There are so many more things I could say about worth and value which would probably ultimately lead to respect, so I'll leave you with respect yourself, respect others and respect what you do. You're a representative for more than just yourself, don't be the reason someone has a sour experience. 

Injury

Alright, here's the truth...I think I'm actually suffering from an injury. WAMP WAMP! Ok, not like a really big one (I don't think) but I'm like 90% sure it's there. I can feel it when I'm in Warrior 2 for too long on my left side, or if I come down into Extended Side Angle. Its not a super sharp pain, but I can definitely feel it, almost like maybe all my other muscles around my butt cheek are working way harder than they normally would. It sucks. It like really sucks. I like most other yogis love to mess around, take my postures and practice further but lately I find myself backing off. Opting out of the deeper binds or even skipping a peak posture all together. 

It's been really humbling for me. I have progressed rather quickly with my practice and this silly ouchy is really getting in the way of me moving forward...or is it? With having to slow myself down and actually listen to my body be like "yeah right girlfriend, maybe you used to do that but not today" has brought a whole new element and awareness into my practice. It's forced me to use my breath a LOT more. I'm that student next to you in class that's really using my full inhales to get into posture and I'm slowing down my exhales so that I don't rush myself through a posture and aggravate my hip. It's forced me to be aware of my side much more and now is asking me to practice what I preach- listening to your different sides and honoring them equally. Damn taking my own medicine can be a real kicker sometimes!

I'm seeing a few massage therapists in the next few weeks to see if I can get some answer about what's going on in my body, but until then. I'll just be over here breathing and reminding myself that each posture will come...on it's time line, not mine.

Socially Inclined

So I've been debating if I should write about it, if this is the correct platform for me to express all the stuff that's going on inside...and then I realized that's what it's here for. Since the election things have been crazy. I feel like sometimes I'm living in an episode of the Twilight Zone or maybe even Outer Limits (here's looking at you dad). People have gotten so mean and rude, they've stopped listening to reason or logic and have become so reliant on their emotions to make decisions for them. I don't need to go into the details of my own politics (you'll see where I stand soon enough...), but I feel like there have to be ways for the little folks like me to make ourselves heard, to stand up with the bigger cause even if we cannot be physically there or provide as much financial support as we wish we could.

Last week I taught on Saturday January 21st when the women's march in DC and many other state capitols happened. I was originally planning to join the march in Denver, but with class I was unable. To show my solidarity I created playlist features all bands that are all women or at least female fronted and had us do some gnarly core! Listen to the playlist here.

And here's the core section of my flow:

Patience, you little...

I'm pretty sure everyone has the same hard time that I do when it comes to remembering patience. We probably notice it the most when we're driving, or the kids are screaming, or our partner says something just wrong. In a yoga class you often hear teachers say to be patient with your body, to allow yourself the space. I never really understood this until recently.

If you're like me- a little Pita, and therefore a little competitive, getting on your mat can be a real test of all your patiences. I've been trying lately to slow life down all around and one of my favorite ways is to slow down my practice. We all know that breath is key in yoga, movements are usually attached to our inhales and exhales. The deeper our breaths the more our intercostal muscles are activated which then activate our parasympathetic nervous system. Which causes us to literally calm down. Hi, we can (in theory) make ourselves more patient. Super cool.

Ok, back to my breath...I've been working on five count inhales and seven count exhales, especially during my sun salutations. As I work through my practice and the kramas build, my breaths usually become shorter and shallower. To avoid this I've been choosing to not go as deep into postures, or using my breaths to pull me deeper. If I end up totally off, I find that I can use my count to return to my mat and recenter my focus. It's a practice for me to remember to stay present and patient for my depth to come to me, but on the days I do I find myself surprised by how clear my practice can make me feel. 

So its all well and good in a yoga class when you're surrounded by a room full of similarly minded humans, but what about this real world stuff? You know, that whole taking your yoga off your mat. Here's where it all clicked...If I'm all stressed out and worrying or in a mood, all I have to do is count my breath. Hello- duh! Sure it may not make everything melt and fall away the same way it does when I'm in down dog, but it will activate all the same muscles which has all the same effect on my nervous system. Alright, you probably knew all that good stuff, but we all need a friendly reminder that hey, this isn't permanent, not even the good stuff. So stay present and stay patient. All is coming in due time.