Random Realization

As much as I find the idea of working from home quaint, novel, and highly desirable, I now realize that I need a physical office away from home in order to keep my beauty copywriting career at its full and optimal potential. The only things that I find that I'm able to do sufficiently well at home are the following:

- Cook
- Eat
- Write about what I cooked and ate
- Browse the internet (because believe it or not, I rarely leisurely browse when I'm at work)
- Plan a yoga class
- Do yoga
- Write about life and yoga
- Nap and sleep

So, unless I take steps to make some of the above become my full-time occupation—food blogging, yoga teaching, and yoga/life blogging—I shall continue to be part of the daily hustle and bustle of working in New York City, being a copywriter in the fabulous world of beauty.

Now, getting to the office is one thing. I do love and enjoy having an office and being among coworkers (surprisingly, what with my social awkwardness). My ultimate goal/dream/wish as a professional is to be shuttled back and forth via car service. I want to work as hard as Bloomberg, but not have to be in a jam-packed train during rush hour. But then again, the mayor himself takes the subway—and so do CEOs, Julia Stiles, Scarlett Johansson, Jay Z*, et.al.—so touché!

(*Maybe Hova doesn't count, probably had a full security detail in tow, hah!)

Yoga Journal

Tuesday night reading; channeling peace, kindness, and relaxation: #yogajournal #magazine (free, w/ my teaching liability insurance!) 

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 26

"Be kind to your body… Do what you want to do, not what you think you should do." 

—heard in yoga class earlier; sound advice also applicable to life! :)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 19

Meta Kindness

At my previous job, I had the following inspirational quote from Dr. Wayne Dyer running along the bottom of my daily task sheet, which I blogged about back in September:

SUCCESS IS AN INSIDE JOB. 

Being relaxed, at peace with yourself, confident, emotionally neutral, loose, and free-floating—these are the keys to successful performance in almost everything you do.

At my current job, I have the words META KINDNESS on my Copy Project List on Excel.

According to Wikipedia, “Mettā” translates to “loving kindness,” which means, I have to edit my note to correct the spelling :)

Kidding aside, this is a wonderful type of meditation wherein you start by radiating ‘metta’ toward yourself, and then passing it on (in thought) to someone close to you, and then to a person you know, and then a stranger, or even someone you’re at odds with—expanding the ‘circle of kindness’ outward. [“The cultivation of loving-kindness (mettā bhāvanā) is a popular form of meditation in Buddhism.”]

First, you say the following phrases to yourself. Or, if I understood this correctly, any positive, loving and kind thought would also suffice:

“May I be filled with loving kindness. May I be well. May I feel peaceful and at ease. May I be happy.”

Then, think of someone you love.

“May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well. May you feel peaceful and at ease. May you be happy.”

And then keep going as you ‘radiate’ out, wishing people kindness and wellness along the way.

Try it! See if you like it :)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 15

"In life and in yoga, we can choose to adopt an accepting, in-the-moment outlook that lets us flow through any challenge or discomfort with grace; breathing smoothly and staying rooted in our peace, knowing that everything happens for a reason."

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 13

Yoga Saturday

Flow 1 observation, then Flow 2 “solar/fire + earth” yoga class: My batteries are officially recharged. :) #yoga #energize #stressbuster 

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 9

Believe it or not, it took me a good two years (or even more) to finally "fly" into Bakasana, or Crow Pose the other day. I can now do it for about three seconds—versus not being able to lift both feet off the ground at all, or collapsing on my wrists. I've also never fallen forward, because I scare myself pretty easily and get into my head that I never fully go for it.

This video is what sealed the deal for me. What she said about going "in a horizontal plane" and "swimming in a lake" (1:22), instead of looking down, unlocked the pose for me. It was that one final element and tip that clicked, so now I am working towards truly embodying this pose and being able to spend more time to BREATHE into it.

Here's what she said:

"It's mostly a posture for your mind… because your arms will be sort of trapped from underneath you, and you have to lean forward to find the balance of this pose and sometimes that is the biggest hurdle to get over for this pose."

"As you come forward it is important to find a flat back in a horizontal plane. A lot of us get into Crow Pose and we think 'get your hips really high and set yourself down into this pose' …which is a lot of pressure going down. You want to be able to find, like you're swimming on a lake, or [going on] a horizontal plane.

"Keep your gaze up, keep your eyes up, and let the heart lead you forward. You will coast forward and you have to lean past the part that feels safe. You gotta lean like an inch past your fear and that's the part where your body will balance, and you'll see."

(I tried finding the name of the teacher in this Howcast video but it wasn't available. Sending many thanks to her, nonetheless!)

Interestingly, the same advice also applied to my rock and sportclimbing days: When I was afraid of heights, I found that looking up and focusing on the route—and not looking down—helped me get to the top of a wall.

Don't you guys think that this applies to life as well?! :)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 6

New Moon, New Blog (Repost)

As part of my 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification, I am embarking on a 30-day personal “sadhana”—or practice.

According to bluesage-sanctuary.com:

A sadhana can be any one of a number of rituals that you personally feel drawn to and are comfortable committing to on a daily basis. Sadhana, known in yoga as the “Path to Self-Realization,” is time taken each day (usually in the morning) to meditate, practice asana (yogic postures) and/or mantra. However, a personal daily sadhana needs not adhere to only these activities. Even a simple contemplative or meditative walk each day can be a sadhana ritual. 

It’s ideal to start one’s personal sadhana on a day that is quite meaningful: that could be the start of the month, a significant personal day, or the start of a New Moon (hence, why I chose today). 

In my original blog, NyMinuteNow.com, I did a 30-day Blog Challenge every year from 2009 to 2011. I didn’t do it in 2012 because of a hectic work schedule. Work is still pretty busy these days, but having studied and embraced yoga for three months straight, what better way to jump back into the blogging game AND fulfill one of the last few requirements towards being able to apply for the certificate than starting a 30-day Blog Challenge once again.

And this time, I’m doing it here on Tumblr, as a spin-off of my home blog! [And I'm reposting everything here on Ny Minute Now as well ;)]

I’m curious to see what the features here are and how the interface works; hoping the new space will inspire me to stick to the plan.

Blogging for 30 days straight is only one part of my personal sadhana. I also plan on doing the following:

1) At least 10 minutes of meditation daily and doing Nadi Shodhana or alternate-nostril breathing—a ‘cleansing’ and ‘purifying’ pranayama or breath.

2) Wait for it…

30 days of NOT BUYING ANYTHING!!! 

Bet ya didn’t see that coming, did you?:)

Of course the essentials such as food, groceries, and basic necessities do not. I am talking about my Zara-online-shopping habit and buying random things.

I still have to fill out the personal sadhana form from one of my teachers at Sonic Yoga here in New York (the sheet should include a personal intention and other aspects). Will most likely talk about it in further detail as I go along.

For now, here goes: I hope the next 30 days of blogging, meditating, and not-buying-anything prove to be meaningful and fulfilling!

Cheers!

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 1