The Mama Mantras: workshop

Monday, July 16, 2012

Chapter 2

So my workshop has come and gone and all I can keep thinking is... what now? For months I have been putting so much thought, energy and effort into it. I have been contacting vendors (Quick shout out to all the vendors who participated!! Zoe's Kitchen, Whole Foods, My Fit Foods, European Wax Center, Bare Escentuals, Sports Authority, Massage Envy, FitGirl Casi, Sun Rider, Xtreme Lashes, Jamba Juice) , researching (you would not BELIEVE how many articles I read to get solid facts that I can reference, versus the accumulated information I have stored in my noggin), writing and rewriting my speech, writing and rewriting my flow, scrutinizing over music, trying to make sure that from the moment the women enter into the workshop to the moment they left, they felt welcomed, loved and enlightened.

As with any first event for a company, things of course did not go bump free the day of. For one, the weather was not in our favor and so several ladies chose to not fair the nasty down pour. Yet, the few who did, were so wonderful, sweet and understanding. I was truly blessed to be surrounded by so many women who I felt I probably could learn more from, than them learn form me.

I genuinely hope that each one of them knew how much I loved having them there. That I did, am and will always do my best to be there for them as a resource for whatever questions they may have whether it be yoga, health or just personal harmony.

So, now I can continue with the beginning of the rest of my life on this yoga journey. I do not have a workshop planned for the near future, which is probably good. Sometimes when you give so much of yourself to one thing, you let other things fall behind. I noticed this started happening with me and the family. So, here is to me coming back to my usual routine: spending more giggly, tickling mornings with the little man, tackling new and challenging yoga postures to make me a better instructor and to learning more about myself and respecting my differences each and every day. Sometimes its ok to take a break and let your happiness lead you. Its what we did when we were children and look how great we all turned out :)

Yoga & Happiness

<3 T

Friday, July 6, 2012

Tingling with excitement

Photoshoots! Branding! and Websites! OH MY! I have had such a busy last few weeks its been unreal!

First off, I OFFICIALLY graduated from YTT training!! WOOHOO!! I can't wait to get the certificate in the mail so I can frame it! Second, we got the website up and running, picked up our first shipment of t-shirts, got our business cards delivered and had our first photoshoot! To say its been CRAZY is an understatement!!!

[t-shirt sneak peak!]

But the clock is ticking and we are... SEVEN days away from the workshop!!! EEK! We are so so so so SO excited! We have so many awesome vendors participating with great raffles to boot! And to top it all off, i have an AWESOME group of ladies helping me out that day! Seriously, so much love and support seems un-HEARD of!! But it's real and it's here and I'm being surrounded by it. The only thing I can think to do is stop and thank God for all my blessings!

Unfortunately, with this much excitement, its inevitable for lack of focus to arise. Lucky for me, and those around me, I can always fall back on my trusted meditation. Now, I don't meditate the way many people view it. I don't sit there trying to "empty my mind" and pray that the thoughts will go away. Because if you know me, you know THEY WON'T! My words are a mile a minute verbally and 1000x that mentally. What I have found that works for me is following a prayer meditation. So I sit in a quite place in my house, turn all electronics off, come to my breath and just start reciting verses from the Qu'ran. It's like magic how my body just relaxes into it and calms down and makes me feel revived. Sounds amazing right? Well, it is!! Want to try it? Yoga Journal has a pretty good article on seated meditation. I invite you to read it and try out the technique for a week. You will be amazed at the benefits you feel from just sitting there and cutting yourself off from all the outside stimulation of cell phones, TVs, emails, whatever... Let me know how it goes. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

excited mantra prayers,

<3 T

Thursday, May 31, 2012

My inner yogi...

So to jump start my new life as an official certified yogi, I decided to host a women's only workshop.

Sounds simple enough, right? Wow, I can't begin to tell you how many little things pop up that could have thrown me for a loop. You know what though? Old Tania would have had meltdowns to a sympathetic husband, new Tania is embracing her inner-yogi and going with it. And guess what... I LOVE IT! 

I knew embarking on this yoga journey would be awesome for my soul, but it is doing wonders on my family as well! Better relationship with the hubs-man, happier days with the munchkin and more respect for myself doesn't hurt either! :)

So, as a way to reflect the new me in my everyday life, while still being able to participate in my long-time love of baking, I am now on a journey to redo all my favorite recipes. Thanks to an awesome fellow yogi in my training class I learned that you can substitute 1/4 cup mashed bananas for every whole egg in recipes. SAY WHAT?!?!?!? I tried it out on this awesome chocolate chip cookie recipe I found on Pinterest.

[photo compliments of The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie]

MAN! Not only do I like how bananas taste, I LOVE how chocolate chip cookies taste. So, when you put those two together... well hubs ate 7 cookies in less than 5 minutes if that says anything! Added bonus!!! You can eat the cookie dough to your hearts content! Nasty egg related sicknesses be-gone!! 

Try out the recipe with the mashed bananas OR try the technique in your own fave dessert and let me know how it turns out. Better yet share the recipe and some pics! ;)

Cookie dough smiley faces,

T <3