Tag: self love

Posted on

Yoga for the People

YOGA FOR THE PEOPLE. 

Rise_Resized_BaseRes_KatieLali-03

Yoga is not a work out, but a work in.

We practice yoga to awaken parts of ourselves that have fallen asleep.

We practice yoga to breathe more smoothly and joyfully.

We practice yoga to move fully and experience our bodies within our complete range of motion and expression.

We practice yoga to free ourselves from both physical and mental blockages and return to our pure, peaceful, and divine original wholeness and oneness. 

Yoga is not something we do, but something we are. 

Yoga cares not if you touch your toes. Yoga cares only how you let life bring love into your heart.

Through yoga we cultivate courage so we can walk bravely towards the unknown with curiosity;  an open heart, strength of mind and a grounded sense of stability within ourselves is what we building within this practice. We are not walking blindly but empowered to humbly accept the cosmic forces beyond our control the mighty, infinite, vast matrix of life in its entirety. (Ok.. now it’s getting exciting 😉) 

We are seeking connection far beyond what the eyes can see. We seek experience and acceptance fo the mystery of life. Life in all its totality… 

Embracing what was, what is, and what will be.

We practice yoga to release our grip on life and move with more ease and fluidizing through this delightfully beautiful, bizarre and challenging human experience. 

We practice yoga to connect our bodies, our minds, and our spirits – this is the foundation of our freedom, or our peace and of our joy.

In this union we are able to gracefully remove obstacles that life has grown around our hearts and our physical form. In the gentle removal of these physical and mental limitations we are able to return to our original pure-ness. A place void of judgment, fear, anger, jealously, greed…

In this place that yoga brings us to we learn to be content with ourselves regardless of outside circumstances. Yoga teaches us, that we are indeed, enough. 

Yoga helps us to breathe into all the parts of ourselves, and soften to be strong. Letting go, only creates more space to fill.

Yoga teaches, surrender and discernment. What to let go of, and what then, to bring in.

Yoga is a container to discover, explore an experience our bodies in deepest and most intimate ways, it is an invitation fall in love with all our perfect imperfections.

Nature grows, lives, thrives and blooms without agenda, or apology. And so should we. We are, after all, children of the Earth. When we can live in harmony with ourselves, all rives flow outward from there. 

Yoga teaches us that we are whole, complete, loving, dedicated, capable, truthful, kind, pure, brilliant and divine.

I invite you to take my hand and play and skip and dance and bend and breathe (and sometimes even cry and crawl) down this path of life with me. I invite you feel empowered within your own skin, simply because you exist. And that is the miracle in itself. I invite you learn, how the practice is the reward. How the journey is the destination. 

With the wild in our spirits, it should certainly be fun. 

Being human is not always going to be easy because let’s admit it, being in a human body, is really cool, but also really fucking weird.

I know not much beyond myself. But yoga has taught me life is not always going to be easy, but we can at least make it as beautiful🖤 

Join me, sweet loves. Join me in the bliss. 

Photo cred by the beautiful beings at https://www.myriselife.com GO check them out for all things health and wellness.

 

 

Posted on

Love in the time of COVID-19

Hi sweet souls,

I come to you all with nothing but love in these challenging times. Our world is on the edge of a crisis or, perhaps we’ve already crossed the street to greet it… Either way, I believe this global shift we are experiencing will linger on for a while, there is no quick fix when the wounds of societal progression, and its environmental, health and financial impacts run deep within our global, interwoven lives. Although the virus will sicken, and end in death for many, we will find a vaccination and many will heal or not experiences sickness at all. I think the greater implications will run deep with financial burden and a crippled health care system.

With that being said, I trust in our human capacity for kindness and our capability to lift one another through difficulties. We have powerful ability (as a humanity) to shift our focus away from the heaviness, fear and uncertainty of the current state of affairs, towards the positive (the helpers, Mother Nature’s beauty, creativity of community, etc) happening all around us. Our dedication towards personal responsibly to help one another and think collectively will be a huge indication of how the quality our individual lives, national lives and global lives move forward. We have to come together in community (of course while practicing social distance) more now, than ever before. I’m not a scientist, I’m not a doctor, I’m not an economist and my words may hold little weight in the public sector. By no means are my words intended to diminish the incredible collective effort going on by our health care-professionals, first responders, and politicians trying to combat this virus on the ground level. These people are hero’s who I deeply honor and respect.  But for the sake of the rest of us, my intention is that these words inspire hope – I am  a human, just like you, with a perfectly normal appetite for health and wellness, with a desire for nothing more than to feel safe and secure, to love and be loved.

For “work” I do lots of things. One of my favorite and most fulfilling hats I wear is that of a yoga teacher. I am a yogi in my life walk, and far from perfect. (I cuss, I sometimes drink too much and I have a sweet affection for all kinds of play – surf, ukulele, hula hooping, blowing bubbles, traveling… you get the point). And often wish that could be my work. I know my purpose here in this life is to help others heal, feel joy, and guide them back to love. As a carrier of light, I feel this is my time to hold space for everyone. Teaching yoga in its entirety brings me a bit  closer to myself and others with every exchange, whether it’s a hug, a helping deed, or teaching a yoga class in the studio (or now online.)

I have spent a small amount of time diving into studies about eastern religions and yogic philosophy. By no means am I a philosopher, a theologian, or an expert in religious studies, so please receive my interpretations that follow, as my own. The first rule of buddhism states that life is suffering. The second rule, then says, to suffer is not enough. So although life will bring us hard times, it also gives us the tools to cope, and a guidelines that state, if we want to feel joy, that we must rise above the suffering. These wisdoms I have found repeated across many religions and spiritual texts.

This is where my yoga practice and my connection to self, and an ok-ness with all the fear, uncertainty and unknown come into play. I have learned from my own life experience, the more open we keep our hearts, the more we lean in to what we can not control, the more we accept and surrender to what we do not know or understand (which is just about everything) the more freedom, harmony and peace we feel. As humans we are taught and programmed to attach to what we know to be real. So at a time in our lives where everything feels so surreal & so uncertain, we are perhaps being given a massive, unprecedented opportunity to learn. An opportunity (presented in a really fucked up package- as often the great teaching moments are) to practice more acceptance, more patience, more kindness, more love. Life is asking, practically begging us to dedicate our choices to bettering ourselves, and as a result, inspire others, to do the same.

Now is a time to focus on you and cultivating a strong(er) sense of self. What a sweet opportunity for growth, to get to know yourself in new and wonderful ways. What makes you feel alive? Not by outside circumstances, but by hobbies, likes, and simple joys. You don’t have to take this path, you can sit around, bored, frustrated, upset. But think for a second, the possibility that could come in to you life if you chose to open up, instead of close down?…

So in these times I encourage you to sit with this stillness, and pause. Explore it with curiosity. Soften to the untold. Do not resist what is happening, (ultimately causing more friction and suffering) but stay open to receive what is. Gently try to step into the flow, and see where it takes you. Yes this is scary, but fighting upstream will eventually wear you down, and not get you far from where you started.  I do believe what is meant to happen will always find a way. So how gracefully (or not) that way happens, exists in the power of choice. A choice that is ultimately up to you. Let your mind rest in your own personal ability to control yourself, what you think and how you act and treat others.

Also, remember it’s okay to not feel okay. These are indeed stressful times. So continue to greet yourself (and everyone else you pass along the path) with love and compassion. Stay hopeful and engage in positivity every chance you can. We are truly all in this together. Maya Angelou said “every rain storm runs out of rain.” I have faith in this truth. This time will pass, and despite hardships, we will be okay. Stay connected to each other anyway you can, and when this has all passed I hope we’ve learned the beauty of a more humble, gentle and simple way of living and existing – with ourselves and others. From my heart to yours – I hope your days to come find you with feelings of happiness, gratitude, calmness, freedom and peace.”

cropped-cropped-8be737b6-f418-4e69-845c-953bbb9626cd.jpeg
Photo by @KarsonCoastal

xx

Wander with love sweet beings,

Katie

Posted on

Confessions of a Single Girl

You’re single so you date.

But then dating gets tired.

You get on  the  “Im a Queen kind of train.” (Empowering for sure, love to date myself – I’d recommend it at least once if your life if you are a woman and have yet to indulge in the magic of self.)

Okay, but then, sometimes with this single thing, you get bored. Or have needs. So you date. And every once in a while (cause you are for sure picky, and you deserve to be) you meet someone you like.

But, do you sleep with them just because your horny? 

Or because you actually like them?

Or, do you hold out?

Cause society says you should.

You wonder why there are so many rules. Because you don’t like rules. Why can’t you just do what you want?

Well, you can. But then, what exactly is it that you want to do?

Dating is fun, especially, like I said,  when you find someone you like to date. But then, the feelings thing. You love to love.

You fall in love every day.

With the clouds and the trees, and even him. Well, not completely him. But he is lovely. But it’s just fun right? Even though you kind of (really) like him. And games, are fun.

But you’ve been there. Done that.

So you wonder, is your free wild spirit ready to be tamed? 

And even if it is.

It’s only fair to ask yourself…How can you dive into a relationship again, just when you are about to launch off to foreign destinations. And you know how that goes.

Same song, different dance.

When you leave to these far off place, the romance of the journey becomes our love, and your heart goes right along with you. It takes no prisoners in this journey of gypsy fun.

SO how then, can you ask for more – when you don’t know what it looks like to give that of yourself.

Maybe this is what your tender wild heart really dreams of…

A safe place to always call home. Not in a location, but someone one on board, to hold your hand, and your heart on this magnificent cosmic ride.

Then you wonder.

Is any man going to rise to the challenge (and reward) of loving such a bold, free, untamed and sensitive soul…

And then this dating thing again.

You wonder again, should have slept with him so soon?

Well. yes. duh.

He make you feel so good. Those yummy lips, his manly body, his manly everything. His sweet smile. But there are 7 million people on the planet.

SO many more to meet in this life.

But you like this one. Right now.

So what do you?

Put yourself out there.

What have you got to lose? Dignity isn’t measured by times you’ve been turned down. And courage can be defined by how brave you are, especially when you are afraid.

Not of being vulnerable no, that’s the easy part. So – you go for it.

But. Well, your dating right? And alas, you learn. So is he. And not just you…

Even though he tell you he loves your energy. Maybe that’s what he says to the other girls too?? Or maybe he just wasn’t ready for someone so wild and refreshingly vibrant to enter his space.

Well fuck him you think?!

Yes. But no.

Cause he actually seems genuinely sorry to know he hurt your feelings.

It’s this dating thing…

Being together is lovely. But so is being alone.

NO feelings get hurt when you date yourself. No hearts get broken when you’re out on your own. So you straighten up your crown (the one he knocked sideways when fucked you like he owned you.) Which, let’s admit it you liked.

But that still does not mean he deserves your body or your time.

Because you know you know your depth, and your worth.

It extends far deeper than the soft spots he found inside of you.

Respect is just the minimum. He clearly still has much to learn.

And sex with yourself is uber fun too…

So, off you go. You stand up tall. You own your power. You keep on shining your magnificent bright light. That bright light that oozes out of your pores when you know the magic you hold in your bones.

You know, that his days a better with you around. Because you infuse life with generous, abundant love.

But you are happy to return to yourself.

You focus on you. And what makes you feel alive. Back to the waters of expansion and creativity. Masterfully crafting this path of your own. Boss babe shit. Is back on a roll.

You fill your days with indulgent self love.

No better time than now, to stay (or fall back) wildly in love with yourself.

And that’s why your own days are better with you around. In making your own company, the best there is, then everything else, is just a bonus gift.

So you stay single. And not a victim to this single life, but proud – that all you need is you.

And when he calls you again, you are have the power. To wish him away, or invite him along.

But there are no regrets when you stand in the radiance of your own divine self.  

solo.travel.love

Posted on

THE GRIND.

.The grind.

I’ve been spending time recently  focusing on clarity, alignment, and how I can manifest a life that makes me feel fulfilled and satisfied. Again, and again, I’m learning and seeing that in our achievement driven society people often seem over worked, under appreciated, and perhaps not so content. People are constantly being told they are not enough, they need to do more – have more, therefor leading to a lifestyle that I find ultimately leads to discontent. I’ve been thinking about “The grind” of modern life, and some possibilities we can choose to or consider to reverse this trend that has become the norm.

.The grind.

An idea we are all so very familiar with. As I imagine this “grind”ing, My brain instantly thinks of an aggressive, destructive process – a blender slicing/ dicing breaking down things- changing their form. And composition. A meat grinder… to get the point across.

And yet somehow, as a society. This grind. Is something we sign up for. We do this break down to ourselves. 

This is a contact I’ve decided not to sign.

I’d rather be, a little broke, talking story with the trees, diving into the adventures of nature, then drowning in a sea of possessions. There is a novelty in the mystery of the wild earth. Deep satisfaction is waiting in places where life is thriving in the canopies of the trees and dancing with the wind of curiosity. Places where the grind is sunrise churning of coffee beans and their sweet savory smell is the alarm of the gods.

Or if the tropics don’t excite you in the way they do me, maybe take 5 minutes at the beginning of our day to simply sit and breathe or stretch. Take time to go on a walk in nature or through your neighborhood. To practice active gratitude and appreciation for ourselves and all that we are. The idea here is taking time to connect, and cultivate a joy and peace in the wild simple bliss of simply being alive.  

In the dictionary- grind means 

“reduce (something) to small particles or powder by crushing it.” – “reduce (something) to small particles or powder by crushing it. Hard dull work.”

Crazy. Right? This is self prescribed madness.

Now in a yogic mind sometimes- this friction – this “tapas” as we call it – this determination to build heat and fire for transformation is necessary. BUT the key word here being. -sometimes- 

This grind my friends. Is exhausting and in my humble opinion over rated. Work is important. Contributing to society is important. Making enough money to take care of yourself your family and your basic needs is important.  But again. What is enough? 

In an achievement driven society once you’ve gained everything society said you need to be happy – will it be enough? Or will marketing, commercials, Black Friday deals – all the outside forces and influences around you tell you, N e E D more. Buy more. Have more… But for what? 

This is wild to me. Let’s try to slow or reverse this trend. After all, we are born not human doings, but human beings. And contentment comes from within. 

Why do we celebrate busy? What is it about our possession that gives us value? When you are rich in spirit, when your pockets are deep love, with stories and experiences, when connection to others runs through the veins of society- we will then be successful. Maybe then we will have a better understanding of how we can be content 🙂

Take a minute my loves. And ask yourself. Is all this grinding building you up? Or breaking you down? Where in life can you simplify, shift,  or let go, so maybe you can work a few hours less, and go on a walk. Go the gym. Or better yet, surf, hike- bike, practice yoga or get outside, play music, make art. Where in your life can you cultivate more joy that has nothing to do with things? There is a sweet luxury in looking within and finding all the richness money will never buy you. 

Take a minute my friends, for you, for your family, to do what bring you joy. Life keeps moving and will move right past you, if you are not awake enough to savor the moments now. If you slow down enough, you might  catch up to yourself and see what a glorious life that is thriving all around you: when you slow down. You will be able to see all the sweet details you miss when you move so fast. Maybe in this space you will find everything you are working tirelessly to achieve. Maybe the secret is not more things, but less.  Love yourself in new ways. Try new things and get new results- that’s how it works. 

Maybe not, but if you’re finding yourself overworked and worn out.

Maybe give it a try. I know being vulnerable, dipping your toes into the pool of the unknown can be scary and intimidating, but I also know, that we never learn what we are capable of if we never try. So give it a try, maybe you will learn things about yourself you’ve never dared to think before. What have you got to lose?  Maybe I’m wrong.

But maybe I’m right. 

Wishing you a peaceful week. Full of love and a slower pace of life. Even if everything around you moves fast, you can cultivate this peace within and shine it out to others.

surf-slowdown-travel

All my love,

Katie Mermaid

 

Posted on

Fear and Freedom in the land of Pura Vida

Time spent traveling invites us to be a different version of ourselves.  It gives us an opportunity to do new things, rad things, to experience life outside our bubble, to live beyond our comfort zone, to meet new people and learn about our strength of character.

On Monday I left the town of Liberia and set off to the jungles. I cruised along familiar roads for an hour or so, and then I felt tingles of excitement as I took a left into unfamiliar territory. The excitement left as quickly as it arrived when I realized I was about to leave the land of paved paradise and enter into savage landscapes. The blissful free feelings turned to oh shit feelings in a fast heart beat. And of course, I had to pee. No bathrooms on the horizon or any sign of humanity – aside form the casual construction worker or massive tractor along the way I was mostly alone.

Maybe the best part of this whole incredible 1 hr of life was the great little spot I found to pull over and relieve myself,  I hopped out of the car, enter here the vision of naked muddy feet, and an Austin Powers epic pee. It was so peaceful outside of the car, with the pause from  the rubbing and jumbling, squishy, mucking noise of  mountainous terrain battling with the car below me. Then, back to it. A bit more thrilled about the drive at least knowing I’d solved one small problem.

So I’ve driven through many potholes and rainy jungle roads before, but this day wins in the competition of driving adventures. It was rainy and wet, and for about an hour I was on a muddy, slippery, rocky construction site of a road defined by steep inclines, declines, and blind turns… By myself, with out cell service, not in a truck or vehicle that gave me confidence or the support I wanted in this kind of terrain. The sides of road often lacked railings and muddy tires slide going down hills, and rocks below the tires often slip on the way up… 

Anyway.

I think you get the point. 

It was and incredibly beautiful jungly drive aside from that, just terrifying.

When I finally returned to the safely of normal roads, I definitely let out a big breath of sigh. As I navigated these roads I found a sense of confidence and assurance that I am brave and capable. None the less, as I drove away from this stretch of road I was definitely relieved to see paved roads and resemblances of little towns. Ironic part is remember saying to myself, with a mental check “that was cool, don’t ever need to do that again” and as I’ve tried to brain storm a different way to leave Santa Teresa, I have found no better option but that hellish road. It is actually the best way to get out of town. Joke is on me. As the rain pours down right now, my heart smiles, and cries at the same time, how wonderful the rain, but how extra fucked the roads will be tomorrow. ha ha ha…

this is where I knew I was in for it
yep. wtf. haha. forward I supposed is the only direction to go
It sure is beautiful out here though
just a bit of mud
happiest sign I’ve ever seen
Rental car Im going to take back to the city. haha

It’s funny though, I’m not looking forward to it – But when we do things that make us feel scared and get through them, we learn, of our own resilience. We get stronger sense of self every time we persevere. 

Experience like these help me understand the importance of trying new things and keeping an open mind towards moments that may feel awful. These moments are here to teach us something. How do we ever know what we can do if you don’t ever chart away from our routines and do something that makes us scared ? 

I arrived in safety in Santa Teresa just in time for birthday lunch with the sweet brilliant queen of http://www.tarantulasurf.com. Tara. We became friends when I slid into her DM’s on IG. Lol sound familar. Yep, that’s how I met you too right ;). When I was living in Costa Rica I’d always see her posts, full of gorgeous images and pared with heartfelt captions to match. Words, stories and poems of women, nature and empowerment. I knew we needed to be friends, so I reached out, we made attempts to connect in person for a while but a tender sisterhood began to grow. We met in Nicaragua two years ago, the friendship has continued to bloom in such beautiful ways since then.  

One love
Birthday feast. So yum!

 

Friendships like Tara’s and adventures like this validate my belief of the reward that comes when we go beyond our comfort zone.  When we make ourselves vulnerable, sometimes there is rejection of loss, but from these places we are able to transform, we create our own recipe for infinite possibility. The adventure it’s self it the reward, and everything else gained along the way it just the bonus.

The last three days here unfolded into complete magic. Surfing. Check (biggest waves I’ve paddled out in since the injuries – little victory dance for self here- they were breaking pretty far out and overhead) yes I was scared, yes I stepped on a bee and got stung on the way into the water and yes, once I was able to silence the self doubt and enjoy the majesty of the jungle lined tropical ocean I was floating in,  I scored some killer waves. The lightening storms, beachside-palm tree-waterfall lined jungle roads, home made dinners, conversations about love and light and consciousness have been full on. I’ve laughed non stop. I’ve made flows to beats (watch out- little miss lyricist here- haha- white girl can jam) perched on the hillside, on the porch of a perfectly place jungle cabin, with an epic million dollar view of the pristine jungles and uninterrupted sprawling beaches. Talking story has spanned the spectrum of heavy and deep and playful, but the mood has remand light. Life, just as it is, is really sweet. Real connection away from cell phones with people who are on a similar path to mine is something I’ve been missing. I feel validated, like my dreams, aren’t so wild or far out there, but, that naturally this is what people like us do. We choose the mud, and the nature, and the lack of amenities because we feel so much joy without it. Life full of modern luxuries often feels overwhelming and full of distractions away from the peace of simplicity.

The view from the road
Just a million dollar view and a perfect jungle bungalow
Afternoon hours
friends and lots of love

My life in the states is so blessed, and so abundant, but sometimes I feel like I have to do as much as everybody else to keep, up or else I’ll get left behind. And I find the pace of life absolutely exhausting. Are we living if we are working all the time? For me, the answer is a hard no. I don’t desire to have things, I crave experience my wants and needs walk a different road.

So, to be here, around people who live, and breathe, and move at the same gentle pace as myself; People who want to spend the days engaging in life, enjoying good company, savoring books, and adventures, and the bliss of the warm sea, well,  feels like home.

We all work, but we don’t live to work. Our emphasis is different. And I think that’s the whole point. When we finds what sets our soul on fire. What bring us peace. We should stop at nothing to live that life. It looks different for everyone. I can’t emphasize enough, the idea of “many paths, one truth”. We all end up in the same place, but how we get there may look different, and that’s the wonderful part, the journey of finding your own magic way.

To me it feels and looks like this. I am so inspired by being here, my heart beats more fully in this environment. I’m so happy to be in communion with the people and places that make me feel so whole and complete.

Costa Rica Magic
Sunset in Playa Hermosa, Santa Teresa
Stay stoked
At home with the trees =)

My point of writing it to inspire you to follow your heart. To find your voice, your song, that you create, and could play on repeat from here until forever and never get sick of. My wish for you is to fall in love with life. My wish for you is to seek. Seek your deepest desires, travel, embrace newness, find adventure, live your truth, and if you don’t know what that looks like, don’t stop searching. Dedicate yourself to you, and everything you find along the way, no matter how scary or challenging the way, will deliver you the greatest rewards. I can’t promise it will be easy, or always good, but it will be worth it. A million times over again, it will be worth everything you compromise to live your hearts desires, life is out there waiting for you to embrace it.

Tomorrow I head back on the road, and to another place that feels like home, and actually was for a while. Nosara. A place where I encountered countless waves, enduring friendship, and the biggest broken heart and deepest debt I’ve know to this day. I love this place, and if I could go back and do it all over again, I’d do it the exact same.

So tomorrow awaits – through those damn hills of mud and rock and slippery sludge. Also hills, of magical jungle trees, fresh air, and the excitement I seek. And I’m scared. But the hour will pass, white knuckles and all and I will be fine. I suppose if I asked life for adventure it is giving it to me. (ON a side note, know this, be clear in your intentions and what you ask for, haha. Cause you will get it. We are powerful manifestors in that way. Suppose on this path to enlightenment I too have a lot to learn.) 

And in an attempt on playing with perspective, if this “horrific” hour of my day tomorrow, driving through the beautiful jungles of Costa Rica  is as bad as it gets, this week, or even this month, then my life is pretty damn good…

Off to enjoy the songs of rain. Sleep sweet my loves, I’ll talk to you soon

Xo

Katie 

Posted on

To those who like to wander…

To those who like to wander,

I hope you know what a treasure you are and how brilliantly rare your free spirit is. In a world where comfort is often found in the security of routine and the known, you unapologetically seek the mystery of life. You move with fluidity that sets you apart, and in this motion, you often flow, to oceans and pastures away from the herd.  I hope you know to endlessly nourish this untamed spirit. I hope you know what a gem you are and how truly bright you shine.

Your ideals that rest and waken in the discovering the depth of self, is a quality to cherish. Life for you is a continued exploration of what exists beyond the edge of the visible eye. You sweet soul, finding comfort in the solitude, and joy in the lonely;  you’ve learned through it all, this is where you grow. You love the way new places and foreign culture can snuggly tuck you in at night. Your passion to experience the totality of existence is not be ignore.

In your endless pursuit to truly feel alive you’ve humbly come to know rejection as the hand that holds success. In this vulnerability you’ve learned what a powerful force you are. There is no stop to what you can dream sweet child. There will be no denying your radiance, your dedication to love, forever prevails. Even if sometimes you feel sad or alone, you continue with dedication to creating a greater fabric of inspiration.  To be knocked down is only an opportunity to get back up. You’ve learned that kindness and a smile can soothe even the angriest of hearts. You know now that your laughter is the pulse on which the tradewinds blows. There is nothing a sense of humor cannot solve. 

You sweet child are pure and vibrant. Your failure has come to teach you, that failure is not what they say, but simply a nudge in a different direction. Success lives in the breath and energy of how you believe you can. Infectious is your wild spirit that refuses to behave in any way but free. The way you bravely embrace the unknown with curiosity love is an endless ray of sunshine. I hope you know to never diminish the fire that burns inside of you. Because with your audacious capability to abide in a journey that satisfies your deepest truths, you give others permission to do the same. 

With love,

Someone who understand your wild urges

 

free-spirit-travel-surf-writer-yoga-teacher-nicaragua-inspiraiton

Posted on

Honor Yourself

Honor Yourself

Life moves in continuous motions. There will be times of inner conflict and times of inner peace. So honor yourself, dear one, as you flow in and out of these phases. When you find yourself in moments of question. Moments where the wrong thing feels so right (or the right things feels so wrong) and life has you questioning your own morality. 

Know that you are okay.

Stand strong in yourself and honor the divine being that live inside your skin. You are so human, so divinely perfect, so divinely flawed. You are learning and growing in all the ways you need to in all due time. 

I understand that it may not always be easy to stay on course of choosing correct actions. And as I recently stood in solitude, surround by deserted beaches and stoic cliff sides, under the sticky air, on the jagged jutting rocks, below the stormy gray salty skies; I stood in stillness, watching the waves crash with reckless abandon into the black sandy shores. And there I knew. I knew the ocean was telling me struggle is okay, and I am not alone. And neither my friends, are you. On the days where the salt is as decadent as the sweet. And questions and answers do not feel aligned. 

Honor yourself in this space.

It is this space that is gently molding you into the being that you are meant to be. A beautiful complex being that is transforming and growing right as I speak. On these days or times when emotions can run unsettled like stormy seas…

Close your eyes and gently inhale into the mystery.

And with your eyes closed release the uncertainty as you empty yourself of breath. 

Let the tension ease out of your body and be absorbed by the earth below. There are things that are beyond our control. You are here and happening, and living and breathing with the orbits of the planets and the pull of the moons. If you want to slowly settle in the comfort of your infinite endless eternity, then I give you permission. I give you permission to honor your deep conflicts as well as your flickers of peace and know that in these fluctuations, that you sweet soul, are perfectly whole, and perfectly complete. IMG_2036

Posted on

Humaness.

I can’t tell you how many times over the past months I have asked myself

Who am I?

As I look down and my nikes ( yep,  haha, not only has life gotten me into shoes, but nikes…woah)

My no longer sun kissed skin (white as a ghost, uhhhhgggg the crime…

Or my sad salt-less hair (these mermaid locks have not tasted the salty sweet waters of the sea in months…) 

And, ya know, it’s funny.  Because in this journey of living and loving – healing and growing I have realized that these things outside of me like shoes or clothes (or no shoes and bikinis) do not define who I am. Life is happy regardless.

On the inside I am the same.  We are all the same. 

I am not these clothes or these circumstances.  This accident and the injuries have essentially forced my life to go in one direction (at least for the time being) and defaulted me to a (short term) stagnant place. A physical place of not allowing me to choose the activities of surfing or yoga or traveling, or walking down the street or driving, or so many of the everyday things we are able to do when our bodies are healthy and well, this experience has violently shoved me in a direction, a direction that has led me to like myself even more than before. Even pale, and in shoes, and clothes, and layers, and broke… but smiling, always smiling.

So who I am has as nothing to do with anything external. I am someone who has seen a bit of a detour, a setback as some may call it, and learned to love myself even more. I am now, deeper, kinder and more compassionate. And that’s that thing about life. We have no control over what happens to us. Only how we choose to respond. We are truly not a reflection of our outside circumstances, and I don’t say this from preaching – I say this from my heart. I say it to remind you that if you find yourself faced with a challenging times, you yourself have to power to shape how you experience it. My hope for you is that you find the tools and see the benefits of taking the path of positivity. I’m not saying be happy all the time, cause even I lose my shit every now and then, but it’s about more than that. It’s about finding a way to enjoy life.

 

San Diego Christmas. Enjoying the waves in my mind =)
little bits of life’s sweetness outside the realm of normal activity
Mermaid loving
Birthday Party fun
New Years, and a gazillion reason to celebrate another day of life.

Speak to me only with your eyes…

–

Oh the ways Robert Plant can sing to my soul. I love this set of lyrics from Led Zeppelin. It’s always stirs a visceral reaction from me, but even more so now, that I have been pushed to  examine life from such a different perspective. For me it alludes to the magic mystery that exists beyond the physical – beyond the surface of clothes and shoes, skin color and accessories… it awakens our awareness to a Self that lives deep within. Words like this, and a seeking for greater awareness, that sparkle that lives in the eyes of awakened beings – is an invitation to find and  to live with joy. A joy that is so available in all of the everyday things we see – to me that’s exciting part about self discovery and a spiritual journey. Nothing has to change for this to happen, only the way you look at things =) 

And when you begin to look at things differently, the things you look at begin to change. You just have to be willing.

 

As FDR said. And which I know in my life to be very true.

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” 

–

Music, wisdoms like the one mentioned above, and the mystery of looking into someones eyes evokes so much meaning,  if we let in these vulnerabilities in we arrive in places of empowering awe and wonder, places we can only arrive to if seek what is beyond the surface….

–

There are so many things In life we can and will miss out on because (or if) we are afraid to look beyond the flesh. It is a fear. A fear that we will find something we are afraid of within ourselves. Fear of inadequacy, of unworthiness, of self doubt, or maybe the fear is even bigger than we can comprehend, so instead of diving in and finding out what vastness lies beyond, we choose to stand safe on the surface and wonder, but that unsatisfied wonder, only leads to more fears. We fear limitations, or perhaps the opposite, we fear the enormity, of the spirit, or the soul of life in its entirety –  it can be crippling. Or mind blowing. To really begin to imagine how very small yet simultaneously powerful we are. 

When we look within and see wounds to unwrap – know that these traumas are there to guide you to the parts that need to heal- they are not going to kill you, they are challenges that live has given you  to help you grow. They are there to teach you. Life is a students game. 

A quote I found through my spiritual studies, a quote that I return to often when I am feeling overwhelmed by the unknown is this. 

“In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts mid there are few.”

Shunryu Suzuki

To me this quote offers a perspective about not knowing, a perspective that says in the not knowing the possibly to learn is endless, and that potential is where all the magic of growth is waiting for us. Perspective is powerful. And there is another yogic practice called pratipaksha bhavanam. (That I’ll talk about soon, but its about our ability to cultivate the opposite of a situation when we don’t like how it is going or making us feel) =) …. Soon, i’ll share that soon – OR – ( The beautiful people at http://www.rebelandmuse.com have recently invited me to be on their podcast, and we chat quite a bit about this idea there….. go check it out! ) ANywho

We will only benefit from the continuous exploration of self. This injury, in my perspective, has only been good. Painful and life changing, yes, but ooey gooey dripping in epiphanies that take place driving on the freeway or by way of the hot steamy shower, at the gym of all aweful places, or sitting in my car in a parking lot in the rain…kind of good. Pain is a part of life, choosing how we respond to this pain is what dictates the quality of our lives. I absolutely had moments like this before the fall, but these are different. These come on the dawn of a cold dark night, and for some reason to me that makes them more profound. Maybe I guess then, the way I see it is, this experience has deepened my understanding of things that only have light shown on them by looking over the edge of darkness and sinking right into it.

And then coming up smiling. Because well, it’s fascinating down there, deep in the depth of our wounds, it’s a vast majestic an if we dare to go there (with an open and positive mind set, of what can come from this situation)- anything is possible. I believe now more than ever in the power of our minds. This power is the same way people like Nelson Mandela survive lock up or humans survived the holocaust. And although I am no comparison to these kinds of hero’s maybe my journey can be an inspiration to other ordinary people like me and you. Maybe I can be a reminder that we are all capable of greatness, and that “greatness” doesn’t look the same for any two people. That’s the greatest part. As we change and grow our best also transforms day to day, and season to season. But believing in a bigger something, anything, the possibilities to overcome, to create, to learn, to forgive (ourselves and others), to grow, to let go, to thrive are literally infinite.

Being injured has given me an opportunity to be with myself. It has given me time to explore me. My thoughts, my feeling, with out interruptions to the things we as humans normally do to fill our days. And this opportunity has allowed me to fall even deeper in the love with with who I am. It has showed me parts of myself, sad parts, strong parts, injured, humble, simple gentle unadorned with life’s decorations parts…

(Below, the documentation of my knee’s sweet journey =) I am proud of what a healing machine it is!!)

Post Surgery. This is all it will bend.
And a leg that feels like the weight and pulse of a thousand raging, rushing furious waterfalls
and the bruising..
a struggle to bend this much continues,
and the wound =)
eeeeep! progress, painful process, but yay.
the journey of the knee, inside there are Malcom and Archie. My new MCL and ACL. yes i named my ligaments, it makes the process more fun!! =)
and here….
look at those beauties. heheheh.
and dang girl. look at that bend! Simple pleasures in full effect

 This essence of self, of life that maybe is only revealed in times of challenge , of woundedness, is what makes us strong. This injury has been a beautiful opportunity to see my body broken and in pain, but capable of healing, capable of finding the light, the positive, and what a miracle it is to see the body heal. To see myself in my lowest time, and still find the beauty in who I am, this my friends, is a truly humbling and empowering  lesson to learn. And for that, this process, this experience, maybe I will go as far as to say this gift of a different and deeper, more simple (even more simple than I already was) approach to life – well for that i am extremely grateful. I

Diving head first into the belly of injuries and recovery is honestly anything but cool. It’s not glamorous. But it is real. It is a process, it is a time to really sink my teeth into all the things I preach when life is healthy and thriving. It is truly a time to digest what exists beyond the physical world we live in. It is a time of letting go, of surrendering, of shifting the energy away from negativity and back towards gratitude. It is a time of patience, of acceptance, of love. Of looking myself in the eyes, and loving what I see. It is a path of gentleness towards self, of not judging the days when I want to be anywhere but here. And knowing that as a human, a spiritual beautiful divine being, but a human non the less, that it is okay to struggle. I am not any less of a yogi, a teacher, a leader a light bearer or a guide because I too face demons, demons that can paint even my light and sparkly  sky with darkness. And you sweet person are the same. Remember that with impermanence comes happiness and sadness and if you can just stay afloat when the seas are the roughest then that is enough. Not only is it enough, but it is a sweet victory when you rise to meet the new day, maybe naked, and battered but resilient, stronger and ever so beautiful 💙 so I send you this message,  to you inviting you join me on this humble journey to discover the limits of the universe, a reality juicy with life’s subtle joys, full of adventure and full of  love.

This idea of the mind and greatness and how no two things are the same from person to person, has been a duality I have been applying to the idea of success; and how it’s come to look and taste In modern society but that maybe that’s not actually what “success” is at all…

I feel good about it:) got that coming to you nexts

I hope my story inspires you of what greatness you have within you – as a human – as a divine magical being living inside a bag of flesh, stacked with bones, wandering freely on this planet. Trying to make sense of this wildly joyful life experiment.  Life’s great mystery is our prize.

Be well my friends. Be kind, Be love.

xo

Mermaid

ps. im also helping host an epic event tomorrow. here in the link =) if you are in town, come join us!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yoga-daytreat-live-music-soundbath-energy-healing-vegetartian-lunch-tickets-52180804190?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

 

Posted on

Cultivating positivity- even when life gets all kinds of crazy. Staying humble and grateful amidst the madness.

Hello loves!

What a wild life it is. More delightful and beautiful everyday.  I’m not really sure where to start, so maybe that is exactly where I should begin. Over the last few months, since I was in Nicaragua frothing over life in the tropics, everything has changed.

But let’s backtrack a bit.

First and foremost, Nicaragua is in the midst of the worst political violence (and devastating oppression) it has seen in the last 20 years. I could go on for a while about the heartbreak and injustice happening to these beautiful people in this wonderful country. The reality is that when I bought my property, I could not have known that within two weeks of my signing date, the country would experience an uprising and peaceful protests that have resulted in over 300 innocent civilians dead in the streets and caused an exodus of expats and travelers alike. As the people push for a democratic solution, the economy has tanked and the tourism industry, in which I had hoped to thrive through my boutique surf bungalows, has crashed. My heart goes out to my friends and the Nicaraguans fighting this fight. I am fortunate to have other options and places to shift my focus and energy, as I hope and pray for a quick and peaceful solution for our neighbors down south.

After the realization that my Nicaraguan dream was on hold for a while, my mind shifted back to a free, gypsy lifestyle. I’d accepted, and quite frankly, was feeling stoked about traveling to new parts of the world, (South East Asia, Australia, Maldives, here I come) scoring waves, teaching yoga, and working in boutique hotels across the globe. In the meantime, I was trying to keep up with the American machine, working all the time, squeezing in surf when I could, and trying to grind out the summer months as I planned my next move.

My birthday was in June and if you asked me how I thought I’d spend the summer of my thirty second year of life, I probably would have shrugged and let a little grin dance across my face – let my eyes illuminate a little extra twinkle, as I fantasized about the limitless opportunities of where I might find myself on this gypsy trail, traipsing about this beautiful, magical planet.

Fast forward to now. (how about the “knee-kini” and the one piece?! lol

(and now meaning this time period form Accident unit today…Things have finally  started to heal a bit and I’m feeling like I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I visit my knee surgeon Tuesday- Ive been charging the PT hard just trying to regain mobility prior to surgery, fingers crossed we’ll set a date for incisions and things this week. As for the wrist, its on the mend. Casts are off, and Ive been graduated to being allow to carry what they ca;; “coffee cup weight” haha. Big things are happening! As for the smiles and this lovely salty hair!… I got I the ocean yesterday- first time in two months and if you know me- that’s like, LIFETIMES… (by getting in, I mean I sat in the shoreline with my arm above my head and let the waves wash over meeee. but oh the sweet giggles and  bliss of magic mama ocean. I feel like I know who I am again. Its certainly not surfing. But it will do =)

So I know for a fact, when musing about how I’d spend this summer, I wouldn’t have predicted surf-less days, left handed teeth brushing, complete immobility in my knee, lizard skin hands, torn ligaments, 7 screws in my wrist, family Costco adventures (I, for one, am not a Costco fan), puzzle night as my Sunday Funday, and for icing on the cake, sitting in the bathtub singing Al Green and Sade laughing so hard I can’t stop crying, as my mom washes my naked body. Yep, humble pie, served up whole. I told my mom it was bathtub music. Haha. A sense of humor is certainly a sweet medicine. And something I’d recommend you never leave home without. It’s been comedy hour around here… But check out these.. eeeep

 

In my dream-world/part-time reality, I spend my days surfing, teaching yoga, working in restaurants, traveling, playing my ukulele, painting, blowing bubbles, hula hooping, dancing, staring up at the clouds, writing blogs, and poems and short stories for my upcoming book (that will be published soon!), creating future surf/yoga retreats and last but not least, planning my big move to Nicaragua where I’ll be building those boutique surf bungalows. Whew… and when I say I’ll do all these things it mostly just boils down, once again, flirting with complete burnout and too much work. When I’m spending my days in Central America, time, freedom and play consume my soul. However, here in the States (even as a yoga instructor and restaurant server- fun right?), I often find myself overworked and uninspired. I would imagine that many of you can relate? 

As of recently ALL OF THIS (play and work) has been sidelined. For the short term, life has a different plan for me. LESSON ONE COMING IN HOT: we have no control- so let go. Release your grip on life. Whatever I thought I was going to do took a bit fat detour.  Plans are great, but sometimes they change and it’s far better to let the currents take you where they want rather than fight them all the way to shore. Cool?! =) I have learned, and am forever learning, that we don’t have control over what happens to us. We only have control over ourselves and how we choose to respond. And with this new found free time I’ve been enjoying, said activities (from Central America days…)

So I had a gnarly “skateboarding” (and when I say skateboarding, I mean I was trying to ride a one wheeled motorized skateboard thing) accident at the end of June, resulting in a severely displaced, broken arm requiring surgery, screws, plates, learning to move my wrist again and lots of recovery time. In addition to injuring my arm/wrist, in the same accident I completely blew out my knee, tearing both my ACL and MCL (on which I am still currently awaiting surgery, fingers crossed it will be soon.) I’m out of the water for up to 9 months, when it’s all said and done. No surfing, no yoga teaching, no working, no dancing, no driving, not too much individual freedom at all.  Though at least I can use the toilet by myself- hey- it can always be worse right? And, as I sit here and type this, I realize despite all that, one thing I have continued to do non-stop, is smile. If you know me, you know this to be true.

I suppose all those little whispers life was giving me to slow down should have been heeded. But being a believer that everything is unfolding exactly as it should (assuming you show up and do the work- which I do), should have, would have, and could have, are not parts of my vocabulary. Had said accident not happened, I would not be sitting here today, writing this to you. =)

Nobody wants to be injured, but injuries aside, life has given me a gift. Yes, I said gift, and again, I default to focusing on the positive, returning my awareness to all that is -good- in my life. And occasionally breaking down into tears, but if you want the rainbow, well…you need the rain!

Injuries are a beautiful time for growth, self-reflection and discovery. Right? (And what I really mean is more time for selfies and wine?!?! haha…) Jokes aside though, because now I do have more time to spend in good conversation, painting, making music, creating all kinds of projects, and enjoying friends and family. Everyday I am more aware of this opportunity to enjoy a different path that life is taking me on. A path, that I would have not chosen for myself, but here I am, embracing all the madness with a happy heart and an open mind. Humbled and awed by the magical mystery of this human experience. The blessings and lessons that continue to reveal themselves are abundant.

Obviously injuries do suck, but how you choose to experience life, the injuries, the heartbreaks, the ups and downs, is completely up to you.

LESSON NUMBER TWO

(Maybe a bit more subtle with this one, but your mind is a powerful tool, so use it. =) )

With that being said, and I say this a lot, we -always- have a choice. And you can choose to be grumpy, or the opposite. My mom used to always say “choose your attitude” and as a sassy, stubborn, know-it-all adolescent, this drove me nuts, but she’s absolutely right. If a situation isn’t ideal to begin with, why choose to make it worse with a shitty attitude. Instead, I encourage you to find the blessing. And it’s wild, and at first I thought, weird, but it’s not weird, it makes perfect sense. Where you focus your energy is where your life flows. So in looking at this accident as opportunity, in graciously and humbly receiving, surrendering to, and trusting what life is giving me – my mind has been blown by what has come in my direction. (Once again, coming back around to the power of positive thinking.)

In case you missed it, I’d like to say, I would not have chosen this for myself. But the lesson, one of many here, is that life is what you make it. And less than awesome things happen everyday, so it’s up to you how you choose to experience these situations. In yoga well call this Pratipaksha Bhavanam. Cultivate the opposite (If something is bad, your mind and attitude CAN make it better.)

But if that’s too far out there for you…winky face, kissy emoji…I get it.

I just wish you all were close enough to come to some of my yoga classes (and not the extreme pretzel, literally make-you-sweat-your-face-off classes, but the body, mind and spirit, slow-it-all-down, enlightening breathwork classes) so I could shower you with the  ancient wisdoms I have learned, that make my heart feel happy, my soul feel peaceful, and my face smile. But for now, one-handed and chicken-pecked stories on my computer will have to do. =)

I’m aware this might sound like being positive is easy for me, but it’s work, it’s a daily practice, one that I absolutely love and is as necessary as breathing. I’ve come to learn that the practice is the reward. If I can advise you in any way, add some tools to your tool box, help you cultivate a better attitude, might I recommend meditation, some restorative yoga, a slow walk in nature, a self-help book, listening to music, painting, ecstatic dancing, cooking yummy meals, trying a new hobby, whatever it takes. But you deserve a life that makes you feel drunk on the delight of both the challenges and the rewards. A life full of joy.

So, if I can sum it all up with a little lesson number three, it would be to emphasize an awareness around the importance of slowing down. Live a mindful, conscious life. Society moves fast and our time here is precious. Enjoy where you are at. Embrace the moments as they come. Make happiness a priority- and whatever road that is to you- take it. Listen to your heart; the longings never stop. Greet yourself and others with compassion and love. Everyone has a story. Focus on the positive; it is forever present. We are beautiful beings on a cosmic journey, all doing the best we can to make sense of this incredible human experience.

Namaste. Aloha. Pura Vida. Blessings.

Your Mermaid,

Katie

IMG_5630

On a side note, my friends, these beauties above (you can find them at) http://www.thiscolorfulworld.com have brought me on board to help them out with all kinds of fun communication specialty tasks and I’m just beyond stoked to be a part of their powerful, uplifting, conscious lifestyle community. They run a video production company, and have an have a beautifully amazing youtube channel as well! So wether you have video production and photography needs, or just enjoy learning about life hacks for topics ranging from relationship maintenance – self care- mental health –  and so many more… check them out! xoxoxoxo

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7oNjpoRhx2OY0VTGGHEsFQ