Om Hop Yoga

Om Hop Yoga in Boston Area Schedule

Welcome to Om Hop Yoga.  Please find our schedule for August in the Boston area below.  

All classes taught by Karoline Barwinski.  

All yoga classes take place on Tuesdays 6-7 PM. 

                                  

Tuesday, August 2 : Boston Public Garden

Tuesday, August 9 : Ramler Park near Fenway

Tuesday, August 16 : Esplanade

Tuesday August 23 : Radcliffe Quad

Tuesday, August 30 : TBD 

                                  

I'll send a reminder every week so please sign up if you are new to Om Hop.

I'm so excited to practice together.

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LOVE & LIGHT

begin it now

It's been a little while again.  Lots going on.  I read this quote this morning on Commitment and I think it's so dead on.  Enjoy.  

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

Process of Rediscovery

Sometimes, all we want is a quick-fix, a situation to improve overnight.  While possible and appropriate in some circumstances, the changes whose positive impact we feel most deeply are always worth waiting for.  They're worth the pain, the agony, the breakdowns, the revelations, and the patience that we inevitably have to muster.  Discovering your authentic self is a process, and most of the time a painful and arduous one.  We shed layers of outside influences, interactions that engrained certain reactive habits, but that no longer serve who we truly are in our adult lives.  This cannot happen over night.  In fact, it can take a whole lifetime.  The influences of the outside world have a profound effect on us and while they can shape our personalities and our perspective on the everday world around us.  The way we react to these influences can shape our habits, preconceived notions of those with whom we interact and how we should react in various situations, but there are a thousand other perspectives and reactions that we can take. The outside world is a reflection of what is going on inside of us, the shape of our souls.  It may also cloud our authentic selves and a conscious, introspective journey can illumniate our paths and help us rediscover our souls. This is what I'm learning.  

If I want to embark on a transformative journey, I have to trust the process.   

 

Setting short-term goals & developing a daily meditation practice

Have you ever struggled with developing a meditation routine?  Do you feel strongly in your heart that a daily meditation practice could help your soul grow  and in the least help you cope with daily stresses, but can never seem to make it a habit? Have you ever wondered what it will take to fully embrace it and make it part of your life? So have I.  For me, the motivation to meditate everyday lasts for a day or two, but vanishes thereafter.  I personally either find an excuse - usually that I don't have time - or I simply forget.  And then I start over.  It has been an endless cycle. 

There are myriad ways of developing a habit and I think Matt Cutts in this TED Talk is on to something.  Wouldn't we all benefit from and have fun with doing something new for 30 days? Why can't meditation be one of these ideas?  

Perhaps when thinking about implementing a life-changing practice, a new habit, a hobby, it's important to begin in increments.  As fervently as we may want to make a positive habit become a daily practice, it is overwhelming to the brain to motivate everyday not knowing when the effort will stop - it is naturally difficult for anyone to consciously sustain an exertion of effort, whether mental or physical, for an endless period of time.  So when we break that effort down in increments, knowing that there is an end in sight, we are able to sustain it for that period of time and along the way we may even be able to develop a habit.  

Armed with this motivational idea, I am trying meditation for 30 days.  My goal is to meditate for at least 20 minutes per day, but I won't feel defeated if life only allows 5 minutes on some days.  

I would urge any of you to also watch Matt's TED talk and think about what you'd like to try for 30 days and go for it.  It's such a brilliant concept.  Even if you fail, you can start over, and I'll bet you will learn something just from the attempt.  

After all, as R. Sharath Jois said, "Yoga is not doing, yoga is what happens."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New year, new beginnings, new opportunities

Hello again. I know it’s been such a long while. Here I am though, recommitting to this journey in this new year and excited to see where it leads. And I can’t help but notice that this is a perfect time to begin, again.

........

 

What a beautiful time of year to set our sights on and prepare ourselves for renewal. The longest and darkest day of the year is already behind us and so we have the support of the universe to make room for change, improvement, and shine brighter. Whether it’s putting together a manageable list of New Year’s resolutions, observing some habits that perhaps need to be refreshed, or simply allowing yourself to ponder what you’d like to change in your life, Winter and the transition into a new year is a beautiful time to do so.

My personal transformation began this summer when we decided to make the move to Boston and has continued and evolved in so many ways since. The toughest, yet the most rewarding aspect of the transition was moving from a city I’ve become deeply familiar with and facing the prospect of being unemployed for an uncertain period of time. I know, however, that this is when the magic happens and it's a wonderful opportunity to explore and pursue new ideas, passions and dreams. This period is affording me the gift of knowing what it’s like to be somewhat uncomfortable with a certain situation and work through it gracefully. While life grants long-stretches of contentment and stability, change and periodic discomfort are inevitable. It’s the only way we grow and evolve as human beings. Otherwise, living feels static.

Yoga once again is a metaphor for this experience. There are poses that cause intense discomfort (Note: discomfort in this sense is not pain, you should never work through pain in any fitness routine) and while the first reaction is to either give up, get frustrated or have our minds wander, facing it, breathing, and consciously attempting the pose is the space within which transformation happens. Transitions and transformations are never easy, but trusting yourself and believing you need to experience them in order to grow and get where you want to be is rewarding.

In my Facebook post on New Year’s Eve, I wrote that my wish in 2014 is for myself and others to be deliberate in every aspect of life. It is so easy to become complacent whatever our situation; to stick with the status quo may seem more comfortable than taking a leap and facing the unknown. But, as C.S. Lewis once said, “There are far better things ahead, than any we leave behind.”

Here’s to new experiences, deliberate decisions, and paving our paths in a loving and compassionate way. May you begin the year with aspiration and hope and may you feel the support of the universe in every step of the way. Happy, healthy, fulfilling 2014!!

Curious about Gratitude

Have you ever just Googled a random word for the sheer curiosity of what comes up?  I Googled "gratitude" today mostly because it's been on my mind lately.  While I know what it means and how nourishing it is for our souls I was curious about what would come up.  Of course nothing too out of the ordinary appeared except for the Psychology Today quote below that made me think, but it made me wonder how many people in the world are thinking, reading, talking and writing about "gratitude" and how that changes the vibrational freqency around us.  (Have you ever encountered one of those digital art installations that shows floating baloons with data on the number of people with sad, happy or angry emotions in certain parts of the world at a particular time?  It made me wish I could see how many people are feeling grateful at this moment in time, and whether it increases during parts of the year like around Thanksgiving or Christmas.  But I digress.]  Have you ever been around someone whose energy is so positive it raises your spirits and makes you want to be around them?  And alternatively, have you ever encountered someone who is so negative or angry that you all of a sudden feel as they do? Imagine if you could motivate yourself to cultivate gratitude for someone or something everyday.  How much more positive would you feel?  And I'd be willing to bet that you would also rub off on others.  

Psychology Today has the following definition for "gratitude:"

Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has—as opposed to, say, a consumer-oriented emphasis on what one wants or needs—and is currently receiving a great deal of attention  as a facet of positive psychology. Gratitude is what gets poured into the glass to make it half full. Studies show that gratitude not only can be deliberately cultivated but can increase levels of well-being and happiness among those who do cultivate it.  In addition, grateful thinking—and especially expression of it to others—is associated with increased levels of energy, optimism, and empathy.

I think that's pretty awesome!  It actually reminds me of a quote by Zig Ziglar on motivation, "People always say that motivation doesn't last. Well neither does bathing.  That's why we recommend it daily."  It's so right on.  Replacing motivation with gratitude yields a similar insight.  Routines and habits form when there is a reward.  If we can cultivate positive habits such as expressing gratitude or feeling grateful on a daily basis (just as we have developed the habit of showering on a - I hope - daily basis), imagine the reward for your well-being and for others' well-being if we all like being around positive people!  What a challenge!  

I'm going to find time to be grateful everyday no matter how difficult it may be to think of something! Again, I'm just curious!  

Reflecting on the meaning of success

I stumbled upon this quote by Marianne Williamson recently.  Ponder it a while and have a beautiful and meaningful week!

"Success means going to sleep at night knowing that our talents and abilities were used in a way that served others."

 

Making the morning a little more special

How often do we wake up in the morning and simply roll out of bed, brush our teeth, eat or skip breakfast, get dressed and run out the door?  Where's the fun in that routine?  Of course there are days when we have an early meeting or are rushing to take our kids to daycare or school after a long sleepless night, but when possible a special morning ritual, whether just fifteen minutes or an hour and fifteen minutes can truly set the tone for our day mentally, physically and spiritually. 

When our days are consumed with deadlines, obligations and being tethered to all forms of communication technology we forget to allow ourselves to stop and smell the roses for a brief moment and give ourselves a little love.  I'm talking about real love in the form of a few moments of pleasure whatever that may mean for us.  The morning is the perfect time to embrace this because it's when our minds are most clear after a deep sleep.   Garnering just enough willpower to wake up a tiny bit earlier can give you something to look forward to at the start of the day.   The peaceful tranquility of a meditation, the warming citrusy water stimulating your digestive juices, or the invigorating run or yoga practice with which you gift yourself can make all the difference for the rest of your day.  And who knows, perhaps you'll kick more ass in that business meeting or let the stress of one roll of your shoulders a little more effortlessly!

Drinking warm water with lemon and a yoga practice (and lately physical therapy exercises due to a hamstring injury I'm still nursing) has become part of my morning routine and I honestly believe that my days are so much more fulfilling and productive now than they were when my mornings were more mundane and less thought-out. Why warm water with lemon?  The warm water helps stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and lemon helps flush out toxins.  (For more info on the benefits of drinking warm water with lemon, check out this MindBodyGreen article). Then, the physical yoga practice/ workout gets the blood flowing and wakes me up.  I used to dread waking up earlier than I had to, but exercising a little willpower and sticking to the routine has made it easier especially because I look forward to it.  I feel immense gratitude the entire day when I perform this ritual because I know it makes me healthy from a variety of different reasons. 

So I encourage you to think about how you can envelope yourself in a little self-love and stimulate your mind, body, and spirit for the next month or longer.  The ritual should bring a smile to your face and have positive effects that make you look forward to it every morning.  

For a little inspiration, here are some fun ideas:

- a glass of warm water with lemon,

- a 10 minute meditation after a 20 minute yoga practice

- rolling over next to your partner and giving him a warm loving embrace

- breakfast in your living room or outside on the porch or balcony to experience the sun rise

- reading a news story in the morning paper while drinking a cozy and stimulating cup of coffee or tea

 

Feel free to share yours!  

Enlightened Bread-Making

I work in sustainable investing and part of my job is encouraging companies we own to be more transparent with their operations, workplace practices, supply chain management, etc.  A transparent, environmentally and socially responsible company creates greater value for itself and its employees as well as its stakeholders.  Meeting the baker of the Berkshire Mountain Bakery, Richard Bourdon, on our recent trip to the Berkshires made me contemplate the real value of transparency and honesty when it comes to running a business.

The approach the Berkshire Mountain Bakery takes in running it's business is simple:  it's bread-making with integrity.  It is evident the process is authentic and based on the way bread was traditionally baked before mechanization.  Further, they explain exactly why they use this process and break it down in layman's terms for any interested customer.  You also get to know Richard.  His bio is a story at the end of which the reader feels like she knows him.  Here's a short excerpt:

"If you have the opportunity to meet Richard Bourdon you will be struck by his energy and drive. You can find him on any given day doing any of the following: mixing the dough, shaping the loaves, stretching the pizza, sweeping the floors, bagging the cookies or helping out a customer at the counter. If you are lucky enough to have him help you, you will discover a man who still speaks with a gentle French accent who is passionate about the food he produces. His knowledge and enthusiasm will leave you wondering if this man is a baker or a teacher and philosopher. For those of us who know him well, we know he is all of the above. We invite you to taste the bread baked by a man who is truly committed to bringing better food to this world."

Even in the brief moment that Aran and I met him, I can attest that every word of that bio is true.  I think every business, service, product, or idea has a story and this website made me realize the importance of sharing it.  Since I've become more attuned to how I nourish myself I love knowing what it took for the food to arrive on my plate.  Who picked the apples, or raised the animals?  Did they raise them in a humane and sustainable way?  What is the story of the farmer or baker or chef?  This knowledge enriches my experience of eating because food doesn't just give us strength and energy to go about our days, it supports our life force and has incredible healing properties.  

Richard helped me realize that perhaps I am not allergic or sensitive to all bread.  Perhaps I can actually have bread when it's made as it should be - using the sourdough or fermentation process that makes the whole grains in the bread digestible.  When I look around, most of the business ideas and start-ups these days are centered around solving our environmental and social challenges, making our lives easier and more productive or efficient, and bringing together people who are driven to make a positive impact.  And those creating these ideas, for the most part want to do so with integrity and many are even radically changing out-dated workplace practices and being mindful of the dynamics of the business as a whole - the operations, employees, community, environment, and products or services being offered.  It's not just about the bottomline anymore.  The approach is more holistic and more and more companies that are operating this way are finding they achieve greater successes and find more market opportunities than those who are less transparent and more narrowminded about what they do and offer.  In this way, this little bakery out in the Berkshires enlightened my thinking around what is good for my body and gained a loyal, supportive customer who has been telling all her friends and family about this gem.  

Thank you Richard and Berkshire Mountain Bakery for your authenticity!

 

Food for Thought. Quite Literally.

I am off sweets/ fruits for a little while for a reason related to my health & well-being.  Naturally, during the day I wish I could have a date or a piece of dark chocolate or even a tangerine!  Thankfully, I've strengthened my willpower muscle enough over the last couple of years that I can resist the temptations, but tonight's dinner made me realize something else. 

Aran made a divine grass-fed burger (to which he mixed in aleppo pepper, a jalapeno and of course some salt and pepper).  He laid it on a bed of beet greens that he sauteed in sherry vinegar and some-left over root veggies from last night.  He completed this intense flavor profile with a spicy calabrian chili yogurt.  I honestly didn't want the meal to end.  I ate it as slowly as I could savoring every succulent mouthwatering bite.  While I was washing the dishes he offered me a date.  It typically would make me cringe knowing I can't have something I really want especially when someone is offering, but this time, somehow, it was much easier to turn it down.  Perhaps it was my willpower, but perhaps the meal was so incredibly satisfying, that my psyche, brain, body, whatever is triggered by temptation wanted to keep luxuriating in the flavor complexity of the dish I just had.  

I think there are studies that indicate we reach for sweets or simple carbs because we are not satisfied in other parts of our lives or we're stressed out. These sudden bursts of sugar in our bodies trigger a chemical reaction in our brains that gives us that much needed boost of stimulation.  What if we can learn to cook (and lead our lives!) in a way that doesn't lead us to succumb to these habits of reaching for things so perfectly salty, sweet, and fatty that we cannot resist their temptation, and then end up suffering health consequences?  What if we learn to cook (and again lead our lives!) in a way that truly satisfies us so that unhealthy, addictive food is not a constant substitute?

I dream of being able to make a difference in someone else's well-being by changing the way they look at food and everyday living, as much as this process of reading, experimentation, and curiosity about food and health has made in mine.  

[Photo from a day trip to Governor's Island.  Thos cocunuts were darn good and the left over coconut meat we blended into a delicious smoothie the next day!]