Hi everyone! Sorry to have fallen off the planet for a short while but I thought that this would be a good forum to let y’all know that I just got engaged this weekend to the man of my dreams! I’ve never been happier in my life. But, like most girls …I too have had my share of hard relationships that I had to go through before finding the one that fit like a glove.

A good relationship with another human being begins first by being built on a foundation where
you have a good relationship with yourself first. What was different about me before going into this relationship with my fiancé Mac is that I fell in love with myself before he and I even met.
In my teens and in my twenties, I was too busy trying to be what others wanted me to be. This took a lot of energy and often I ended up in relationships with people that others wanted me to be with. Not a good foundation for a relationship of your dreams, right? Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to get all fairytale on you and force the “happily ever after” promise pills down your throats. Personally, it’s that “happily ever after” that really kind of messes us girls up. We think that as soon as we find a flaw in a guy that he must be broken and not capable of giving us that forever and ever feeling of happiness.

But, the truth is that happiness and confidence begins inside of YOU. You’re the only one who can create that. No one outside of you is going to give you that. You already got it. Once you realize it, life becomes so much easier. Now, I know it’s not always easy to create feelings inside of you. But, that’s where yoga comes in. I‘m so passionate about teaching yoga because of the very nature of what yoga gives people. It allows them to create their own feelings of peace, happiness and calm.

Maybe, you’re in a relationship right now? Maybe, you’re not but are eager to have a good relationship with a parent, sibling, colleague or a friend. Try this chanting exercise and feel your heart open up in a way that will feel make you feel like one of my kids at the Boys and Girls Club (where I teach) said to me after doing it…
“I feel like giving presents to everyone!” 

Sit in easy pose with your legs crossed. Make a heart shape with your index fingers and thumbs and hold that hand pose in front of your heart. Close your eyes and hum “Har” over and over again while you visualize your own heart getting bigger and bigger as you shed love and light onto yourself till it overflows and gets so big that it can only move outward onto other people. Do this for 5 minutes and then inhale deeply. Hold for five seconds and release.