 |
| Supported Fish/Matsyasana pose |
I've been an East side girl all my life, so I always felt this deep rooted connection with NYC. Within an hour and a half, I could land in the center of the Universe. There's an undeniable force of energy that you feel when you hit the Big Apple. As a fashion capital, it's edgy, fast-paced, impatient, full of personality, but can be mean - sounds so relatable to me! California, on the other hand, is West Coast 's source of well-being. Healthy food grown locally, vineyards, beaches, and palm tress are the key elements of goodness. Away from the superficial Hollywood hills is Santa Monica. A haven that's calm, laid back, patient, mind-body-spirit conscious, and just light - summing up how I aspire to live. There's a strong sense of peace that comes with living near the beach. The air is pure, the sound of the waves soothe the soul, even the seagulls are inviting. Six hours away is where daisy dukes and surf boards meet red carpet mayhem and paparazzi.
In honour of my five year wedding anniversary, my husband surprised me with a trip back to LA. This time though, instead of Rodeo Drive, Melrose and celeb sightings, I was excited about driving along the coast to Malibu and trying innovative yoga classes. I needed an escape that would lift my spirit and crank up my energy. Although the highlight of my trip was being part of The Ellen Show audience, I was on a mission to explore yoga in a holistically advanced city.
My research took me to Yoga Hop (vinyasa yoga accompanied by loud Top 40 music). I went into this class thinking this was yet another marketable exploitation of yoga...perfect to shake things up on my mat. The class started fast, without the usual 'OM' chanted at the beginning. I was pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome the teacher gave me, after recognizing I was a newbie. The whole idea of commercial music blasting from speakers, in yoga class, is so foreign to me. Yet as toxins melted away through my sweat, I found strength through the songs I usually sing along to in my car. Michael Jackson's uplifting voice guided me through my 20th vinyasa and just when I thought I couldn't hold Warrior III anymore, Kelly Clarkson convinced me that what doesn't kill me makes me stronger!
Your mind plays such a big role in yoga and although I prefer classes with spiritual ties, the addition of familiar music accompanying my practice, pumped up my spirit. I made it through an intense "Summit 2/3" class at Yoga Hop thanks to its unconventional method of connecting mind, body, spirit. My body was sore, but my spirit soared, and that's the high you want to leave with.
This 4 day getaway was like a spiritual cleanse that I could never get in a city that never sleeps. I'm converting to Team West Side as I hope to bring that same spiritual hype to my yoga classes. Whatever style of yoga you practice, remember that what matters most is how you feel after the class. Once your muscles settle, it's how your spirit settles that defines the essence of your practice. I love the NY part of me, but to be balanced and a better me, my other half is all West Coast!
A shout out to my husband for the opportunity to relive a part of our honeymoon. This time the view was even better!
