The Yoga Journey

Be well. Be strong. Be empowered.

[rabottyoga-blog]

Our plans don’t always flow as smoothly as we’d like them to. If you’re like me, and every other human being on this planet, you are all too familiar with this fact. Every single person experiences let downs, bumps along the road, and diversions from the plan. However, a very small percentage of people deal with this well. Why is that? We go through life, knowing to expect diversions, bumps, complete redesigns of the intricate visions and plans we draw up for ourselves. Time after time, we experience this happening, and yet when it happens again, we act surprised, we get angry/stressed/upset, we complain, we cry that “everything is ruined now!” And then we get back on track, we figure a way through, we realize that the diversion wasn’t all that bad, and we chug along smoothly until the next time something goes left when we wanted it right. Yesterday, I had plans to travel home to Baltimore. For those of you who are new to me - I have been traveling for the past 5 months - primarily in Bali, Indonesia. My husband had to travel to Kenya for work so I decided it was a great time to head to the states and visit the fam! I’d heard there was a snowstorm coming but brushed it off saying, “It’ll probably blow over.” All packed up and ready to rock ‘n roll, I waltzed up to the check-in counter, only to be turned away with a canceled ticket. My initial reaction was one of fear, panic, anxiety. I was supposed to fly the first leg of the trip with my husband (whose ticket was not cancelled), I had already rented out my apartment, and it was 11:00 at night. After a tearful goodbye with my husband, I moped outside, grabbed a cab and had him take me to a nearby hotel. My moping and anxiety continued for the entire next day. I desperately tried to get in touch with the airline to rebook my ticket. When that failed, I searched and searched for a new ticket myself, with no luck. I resigned to being stuck for days. I’d be alone, unhappy, and bored in that hotel room for the whole week, probably. Maybe I'd have to cancel my trip altogether. What if I can’t make it home at all?! What if I NEVER SEE MY FAMILY AGAIN?! (Ya...slight flair for the dramatic here.) And then...I prayed. I took some slow, deep breaths, and asked God to help me get home soon. And then I thanked Him for it. I thanked Him for it, even though it hadn’t happened yet. An hour later, I decided to check for flights one last time, and a flight appeared that hadn’t been there all day. I don’t know if it was cancelled and then re-scheduled, I don’t know if it was a system glitch - but there it was! And IT LEFT IN 3 HOURS! I held my breath (because for some reason that helps) and typed in my information and credit card as quickly as I could. I hit “Book” and then stared anxiously at the screen while it loaded. “Your trip has been booked!” Holy mother of pearl! I not only had a flight home, but it left in less than 3 hours!!!! From there, everything went ridiculously smoothly. I threw all my crap in my bag, ran to the hotel desk, got in a taxi that just happened to be outside already, checked in for my flight, and was onboard and heading home that night. If I had trusted that things would work out, I may have enjoyed my extra day in Bali instead of spending it wallowing in self pity. If I had let faith guide me, I may not have shed so many tears that day. If I had let go of the specifics of the plan I had in mind for my trip and accepted that another plan could be possible (and maybe even better), I would have flowed with it contentedly. The next time things go differently than you expect, try these things instead of following your usual pattern of letdown/anxiety/disappointment: :: Let go of the plan. It’s important to have a plan, it really is. But when things go left when you expected right - go with it. It may even be better that way. Everything is as it should be. :: Have faith that God has your back. If you don’t believe in God, have faith that the Universe has your back. If you don’t believe in any higher power/universe/supreme being, have faith in yourself. Trust that your intuition will guide you. Everything is as it should be. :: Be in the present moment at all times. Don’t stress about what you’re missing, about the “what ifs”, about what could be if your plan had gone perfectly. Instead, what do you notice about the present moment that’s beautiful? (For example, my hotel had a gorgeous pool, spa, and fairly fast wifi). If you can remain in the present moment instead of regretting the past or being anxious about the future, you will flow with diversions beautifully, instead of using up all your hotel room’s tissues. Everything is as it should be. I hope my lessons learned from this experience are a help to you the next time your plan doesn't go perfectly. Trust that everything is exactly as it should be, you are exactly where you should be, and the “plan” is going exactly as it is meant to right now. Lots of love, Rachel

[rabottyoga-blog]

There is ONE more day in 2015. I am SO excited for the new year and what it has to bring! Before I start looking ahead, though (ok so I’ve already done some looking ahead and goal setting for 2016 - couldn’t help myself!), I want to reflect on this past year. 2015 was the year that everything changed for me. January: Started teaching at my favorite yoga studio in the Lehigh Valley, PA. Otherwise felt super blah about work and spent all my time planning and dreaming of vacations. February: Traveled with my hubs to Turks & Caicos. The trip that started it all! Sitting on the beach in T&C (in the rain, might I add) we decided that we were not going to wait any longer to pursue our dream of living abroad. Feeling inspired and empowered, we committed to ourselves and each other that we’d make it happen THIS YEAR. March: Had a huge breakthrough moment realizing what I wanted to do with my life, what my true purpose is, and what my dream career truly is! April: Did a ton of research on global destinations and were led to choose Bali, Indonesia as our new home. May: Started teaching a free outdoor community class in my town - this was 100% in line with my recently discovered purpose of empowering others to find strength, confidence and clarity to live their true purpose. June: Announced to the world (aka our family, friends, and place of employment) that we were moving to Bali in a few months! Boldly shared what I believed, what I felt passionate about, and what my plans were. Moved out of our apartment and into friends’ extra bedroom to save some funds! July: Continued planning for the big move, spent lots of time with friends and family, and enrolled in a wellness coaching certification program. August: Officially registered my business! Taught my last free community yoga class in Bethlehem, said our farewells and we were off to Bali! (With a week-long pit stop in Hawaii!) ARRIVED IN BALI. September: SO much learning and growth happened this month. Our explorations of Balinese culture began, I started to learn how to drive a scooter (tricky since I had never ridden a bicycle!), began to gain some clarity on my coaching biz and we signed a ONE YEAR lease for an apartment in Ubud. October: Continued working on my wellness coaching biz...but not too much progress happened! Felt confused about what exactly I wanted to do and who I wanted to do it for. Nonetheless - I did start working with my first few clients who were searching for health and wellness improvements! Got some incredible feedback and watched them begin to see big progress. November: Signed up to work with my coach!! HUGE turning point for my personal and business growth. Gained tons of clarity on my business, my programs, and my ideal clients. Officially shifted my business to empowerment coaching. December: Continued to see amazing progress and leaps forward. Launched my new website (www.rachelabott.com), ran my first Facebook challenge, coached over TEN women in one week. Knew for certain, after receiving feedback from women I coached and watching their growth, that I was now truly living my purpose. This year, I have had so many incredible and life changing experiences, grown so much both personally and professionally, and launched my own business! I cannot wait to see what 2016 has in store for me. I know for certain that we will do big things together in the coming year! I am so grateful to have connected with you and hope you have a very happy and blessed new year. xo Rachel PS - I was inspired to do this month-by-month reflection by a fellow Femmepreneur. It’s pretty cool to reflect on the year and see the progress you’ve made - I definitely recommend you try this!

[rabottyoga-blog]

Making Room for Big Love

If I eat dinner out once a week, at an average meal cost of $25, I spend $1,300 a year at restaurants. If I buy coffee twice a week at a local coffee shop, I spend about $315 a year on coffee. If I go out with friends once a week - to a bar, a pizza place, a movie - I spend at least $800 on social activities per year. If I go shopping once a month for new clothes, shoes, accessories - I spend at least $2000 per year on buying things for myself. These are all fairly low estimates, that still add up to almost $4500 a year spent on frivolous things for myself. Things I don’t really need, but are enjoyable. Things that allow me to have a social life, get out of the house, and look and feel good. I probably didn’t think twice about spending money on any of these things over the past year. If a few girlfriends wanted to have a girls night - I’d jump in right away and offer to bring wine and pitch in for pizza. If I felt sleepy mid morning at work - I’d buy a coffee without remorse. If I was at the mall and saw a $40 dress that I adored that fit me well - I’d buy it without blinking twice. I deserve it, I’d tell myself - I work hard. Why could I so easily spend $4500 (most likely much more - possibly even double this amount) over the past year on these things for myself, and yet this week when I considered working with a success coach who charges $4000 for her coaching program, I thought “no way can I spend that much”? Why is it so easy to spend money on things that might make me happy for a few hours or days, but so hard to spend on something that could alter the course of my life? I’ve spent a lot of time over this past week asking myself these questions. Why do I feel guilty for investing in myself, my career, my future? Why can I so easily pay for something to make me surface-level happy for an hour or two, but not be willing to pay for something that could make me deeply happy for the rest of my life? And I believe I have come up with the answer: fear. Fear that I am not enough. Fear that I will not be successful. Fear that I will invest this big chunk of money into myself and not be good enough to make it back. Fear that even though this coach has had success with other women - she will not be able to with me because I am lacking in something that they have. These negative, self-doubting thoughts exist in my brain because there is room for them there. There is room for them there because my brain is not full of positive self-thoughts and self-love. My brain is not full of self-love because I do not make loving myself a priority. I’m not talking about the kind of self love that makes me say “yes, I deserve to buy this $40 dress for myself because I work hard, I like it, and makes me feel beautiful.” I’m talking about the kind of self love that makes me say “I am enough. I am worth investment of my time and money. I will do, pay, give myself whatever is needed to achieve my goals because it WILL be worthwhile, I WILL meet my goals, I WILL be wildly successful. I am enough. I am enough. I am enough.” Creating space in my head and heart for this kind of self love, what I call Big Love, requires a lot of hard work. I’m not going to sugar coat it - it’s tough. It takes time, devotion, persistence. But all of this is so worth it. I am so worth it. My goals, my future, my passions and desires - ARE SO worth it. So, dear readers, I am telling you that today, I am choosing myself. I am choosing self-love. I am choosing to believe that I am enough. I am investing $4000 in myself, because I choose to deny the self-doubt, the thoughts of failure, the negativity that keeps trying to creep into my head. I choose to believe that I am enough. It’s time to get out of my own way, to become the empowered and wildly successful woman I know I am meant to be. Ladies, does any of this sound familiar? If so - make the decision now to choose yourself. Be willing to invest in yourself and show yourself some love. What’s one simple thing you can do today to begin to shift your thoughts about yourself towards more positive, self-loving thoughts? How can you create some space in your heart and mind for Big Love? I’ll be making some announcements soon about how you can join me on this journey towards Big Love. Because you are so deserving of it, because you are enough.

[rabottyoga-blog]

No Time to Exercise? Three Tricks for Squeezing a Workout Into a Busy Schedule

How often do you exercise? If you’re like the majority of people I know, the answer to that question is a lot smaller of a number than you’d like it to be. Busy lifestyles, work, family commitments, the need for time to relax - all get in the way of fitting in your daily workout sessions. Setting aside 30 minutes to go for a brisk walk, or even 20 minutes for a fitness video can seem impossible at times. Here are a few tricks to fit in your workout throughout the day, without needed to set aside a large chunk of time.

1. Squats. Squats are your tush’s best friend, so take some time to get to know them better! Squats can be done anywhere, anytime. Waiting for water to boil? Squats. Heating up lunch in the microwave? Squats. Standing in a long line at the grocery store? Squats. (Ok, this one might be slightly embarrassing. But hey - no shame! Maybe you’ll even provide inspiration for someone in line behind you.) You could even do a few squats in the bathroom stall every time you go at work. They’re easy, quick, and require no equipment. Just make sure to do them in good form to protect your knees and low back:

Stand with feet hips distance apart, toes pointing straight forward, arms down by your sides. Bend your knees, reaching your hips back and down, while simultaneously bringing your arms straight out in front of you (if you’re in a tight space, like a bathroom stall, just bend your elbows). Make sure to keep your knees behind your ankles, and engage your abdominals by pulling your belly button in and up.

2. Increase your steps. I’m sure you’ve heard this one before, but it’s one of the best tips for getting and staying in shape. Even if your schedule is jam packed, you can probably take 2 extra minutes to walk from the back of the parking lot instead of choosing the closest available space. Take stairs instead of elevators. If you feel an energy slump mid-afternoon, take a quick lap around the office building. Use a bathroom that’s farther away from your desk. There are lots of creative ways to increase the number of steps you take each day.

3. TV commercials. This is an awesome way to mix your relaxation time (e.g. “I need to catch up on Grey’s Anatomy”, or “my team is playing tonight”) and your workout time. TV commercials are getting longer and longer, and are mostly horribly done ads for things that you don’t need. Take advantage of this time to get your workout in. The best exercises for this use only body weight, so that no extra time is taken up by looking for equipment, setting things up, etc. Some good examples include: Jumping Jacks Lunges Squats (see tips above) Push-ups (keep your knees on the ground until you build up enough strength to keep your body in a straight line while lowering down and pressing up) Crunches or sit-ups (keep your belly button pulling down towards the ground the entire time for most effectiveness) Plank …and so many more! For a customized TV commercial workout that focuses on the areas you want to work on most, email me at [email protected].

These are just a few great ideas for increasing your daily movement and fitting more workouts into your busy schedule. Try some of these out and the next time someone asks you the question: “how often do you exercise?” you might be able to respond “every day!”.

For more tips and ideas on exercise and wellness contact me at [email protected].

[rabottyoga-blog]

10 Things I Miss From Home After Living in Bali For 6 Weeks, and 7 Things I Don't Bali is seriously a paradise island. It's incredibly gorgeous, the weather is wonderful, the people are so warm. I'm loving life here! And yet, I still find myself feeling a bit homesick lately. This is officially the longest consecutive period of time that I've been outside of the U.S., and as of right now I have no plans to go visit home for another 6 months. While I am still thrilled to be here and wouldn't change anything about this, there are a few things that keep creeping into my thoughts that I would love to have with me here in Ubud right now! 1. Mamma (and sure, dad could come along too ;) there are just some moments in life when all you need is a hug and an "it's going to be ok" from your mamma! Then dad could follow it up with one of his super corny jokes that no one quite gets, but makes us laugh anyway. Plus I think they'd really love this place and I want to share it with them. 2. My closest friends! I am making new ones here, which is always wonderful, but I miss my peeps. Every weekend I find myself wanting to call them up to have a game night or to go out dancing. 3. Goldfish crackers. Yes - they really do rate this close to the top of the list. It's probably a good thing I have no access to them, maybe my incredibly unhealthy and uncontrollable addiction to them will finally be stopped. (Although I secretly hope it's never cured!). 4. The beginning of the fall season. Everything feels so fresh and the air is crisp and light, the colors start to become richer, the food starts to become richer...and that brings me to number 5... 5. Pumpkin season!!! Pumpkin coffee, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin beer! 6. My car. I still have not quite gotten the hang of two-wheel transportation. (Side note: I did, however, graduate from Made's scooter school! He gave me a 95%, so I guess it's that pesky remaining 5% I need to conquer to feel comfortable on the roads). 7. Fast wifi. Even the places here that advertise "fast" internet are about 20 times slower than the slowest internet at home! It can get pretty frustrating at times for someone as patient as me ;). 8. Good red wine and cheese. No further explanation needed on this one. 9. Lack of wildlife. Yes, the monkeys are cute. Even the little lizards are kinda cool. But I miss being able to walk outside without fearing stepping on a snake or frog, being able to go to sleep without drenching myself in mosquito repellant, and resting safely in my own home without worrying about bats falling into the room from the roof! 10. Being at home. There's just a special feeling, a certain level of comfort you get when you're at home. Whether it's curling up on the couch, snuggling under the bed sheets, gathered with friends around the kitchen, or taking a walk through the neighborhood. Everything feels safe and familiar - and that is a comfort we often take for granted. I know it won't be long before I find that feeling here, but until I do it might be one of the things I miss most right now! There are certainly other things, foods, people, and places I miss tons - but I am surprisingly doing just fine without most of them. In fact, I am even better off and thriving without some of them! The following list includes things I do NOT miss at all, and would be just fine living the rest of my life without. 1. My cubicle. I am a free woman! No more staring at grey walls, dedicating 40 hours a week to someone else's dream. Now it's all about pursuing my passions and goals, spending as much time as I want on my dream career. And the best part - I sit outside with fresh air, birds chirping, roosters crowing, and sun shining. I will never go back to working a corporate job! 2. Formal clothes. I spend the majority of days here in yoga pants. Every now and then, when I feel like "dressing up", I'll throw on a pair of shorts, jeans, or extremely comfy Balinese pants and a tank top. The only other outfit I'll frequently wear is a bikini. It's fantastic. 3. A schedule. I try to set some sort of routine for myself here, but it's nowhere near as strict as it had to be there. If I'm working, and feel like taking a break to do yoga - I can! If I start feeling sleepy and have trouble concentrating mid-afternoon, I'll take a break and go practice driving. If I spent too much time during the day doing yoga and driving a scooter, I'll put in a few more hours of work after dinner. Setting my own schedule is so much nicer than having someone complain that you're not at your desk by 8:02 or that you leave work at 5:01. 4. Weather extremes. Here it's in the mid-80s every day. Sunny 99% of the time. And even though the rainy season is coming - it won't even begin to compare to winter in Northeast Pennsylvania. 5. The cost of living. I get by here on a fraction of my what my budget was in the States. Food, entertainment, rent, even luxuries like massages - everything is much less expensive here and a dollar goes a lot farther. 6. My pasty white skin. Having access to the sun every day, and the time to actually enjoy it, is by far one of my favorite things about living here. 7. The city soundtrack. I much prefer roosters, birds, and even the odd chirping of the lizards over sirens and screaming neighbors. I have a feeling that the longer I am in Ubud, the shorter my "things I miss" list will get and the list of things I love about living here/don't miss about living in the U.S. will grow and grow! It's so exciting to move to a completely new place, new culture, new way of life. It's inspiring and I learn more about myself and what makes me thrive every day.

[rabottyoga-blog]

Energy Healing By Franco Abott Energy healing is moving the energy of the 7 chakras to create balance in the body. A few people are gifted with being able to read the energy signature of these chakras (much like you would read a facial expression). I met one such special individual who took me through a session. Through the session I learnt that my spirit wanted to jump. I need a trampoline. My energy healer would see kangaroos and trampolines when she touched my ankles. I learnt that I have a strong warrior guide. My energy healer could only sense static energy for the first few minutes of our session. I am a very open individual, so much so that some will consider me naive. However I have always felt this acute watchful sense behind the scenes that would stay alert behind my openness. Needless to say, I often get into trouble when I ignore this gut feeling. I also learnt that I have a strong energy field. My energy healer could sense my energy without even touching me. My healer told me that I have a strong digestive system, but I am deficient in hydrochloric acid. What does this mean? I can eat Burger King every day and not get fat. Lol. One of my best friends used to call me “Fat man inside”. Good thing right? Except this perpetuates bad eating habits and, although my system breaks down food fast, it does not absorb the nutrients effectively. So I will change my eating habit, and eat some olives while I am at it (olives are a good source of hydrochloric acid). Save the rest of the world some food by effectively absorbing what I need from my fair share. My healer confirmed something about me that I already knew: I burn with a lot of passion. Catch me at Yoga Barn Ecstatic Dance and you will know what this means. Better yet, find me talking about DreamAfrica, the company my co-founder Brian and I started to bring people together through authentic cultural stories. I also learnt that despite my passion sometimes my 3rd chakra, Power, is deficient. It manifests itself in lack of self confidence, especially when surrounded by people I consider superior to myself. My energy healer shared some of the energy from my passion to balance my 3rd chakra. When I get stressed my skull bones move. The sensation is like someone putting a helmet on my head and shrinking it. My energy healer explained to me that tension can move our skull bones causing pressure that can lead to headaches. She moved my bones back to literally give me some head space. After my session, which was almost an hour and a half, I felt light headed. My energy healer explained that this related to the energy movement and that my body was trying to regain balance based on the new configuration. Consider balancing on one foot and imagine someone moving your body weight from one part of your body to the other - your body will have to adjust. Now consider the body weight is energy. I have child-like curiosity about other people and, as I recently learnt, about myself. I am glad I took this chance to become more self-aware. I plan to draw from this new self knowledge strength to become closer to others with the hope of inspiring them.

[rabottyoga-blog]

11 Benefits From A Simple Trick: Be Healthy, Fit, and Energized

On May 1st of this year, I began a new daily habit that has drastically increased my energy, decreased my intense reliance on coffee (I refuse to call it an addiction), regulated my digestive system, and strengthened my immune system. “Wow! What is this new habit? It must be something complex, something difficult to force yourself to do everyday. Some magical, but disgusting elixir that you choke down, or an expensive pill or tonic that you have to special order online.” I imagine you’re thinking one, if not all, of these things right about now. We are conditioned to think that being healthy always requires hard work and suffering, that we must give up something we love or hold our nose as we swallow something that makes us gag.

Today, I want to share an incredible notion with you - healthy is not a synonym for sacrifice! Being healthy can be enjoyable and does not always require compromise. I wholeheartedly believe this and have found ways to prove it in my lifestyle. This habit has caused so much improvement in my personal wellness, and I have not once had to squeeze my nose, gag it down, or fork up tons of money. What is this new habit that I started 5 months ago and have consistently upheld every single day? When I wake up every morning, I make a mug of hot water with honey and lemon. That’s it. Simple, inexpensive, delicious. Seriously - thats it: one mug of hot water with one tablespoon of honey and the juice of ¼ or ½ lemon squeezed into it.

Here are 11 benefits of drinking honey lemon water first thing every morning:

Strengthened Immunity and Overall Wellness: 1. Lemons are a good source of Vitamin C and honey contains antioxidants, contributing to a strong immune system and prevention of illness 2. Honey is a natural antibiotic 3. Honey is anti-inflammatory and can alleviate seasonal allergies, especially if locally-sourced honey is used 4. Lemon and honey soothe a sore throat and reduce coughing 5. Lemons are a good source of Potassium, nourishing brain and nerve cells, which could contribute to stronger memory

Weight Loss: 6. Lemon juice stimulates the digestive process 7. Honey helps to digest fat stored in your body

Hydration and Energy: 8. Honey is a natural, unprocessed sugar, making it a good energy booster 9. Lemon juice also provides an instant increase in energy

Workout Recuperation: 10. Lemon helps replenish body salts and rehydrate the body 11. Honey regulates insulin and blood sugar levels and aids in muscle recuperation, improving athletic performance and speeding recuperation from a tough workout

Believe it or not, this is just a sampling of the health benefits provided by this drink. I encourage you to have a mug of warm honey lemon water every morning; try it for a week and see how you feel! It’s such a simple, inexpensive way to improve your health and wellness.

Questions? Feel free to email me at [email protected].

[rabottyoga-blog]

Driving Lesson In this picture, I am smiling, but internally I am shrieking, hyperventilating, crying, and hysterically laughing all at once. Every fiber of my being is tense, every muscle tightly engaged. My breath is shallow and uneven, my eyes blink twice the normal amount, my heart races faster than when I've just finished a 3 mile run. Ladies and gentlemen - let me introduce you to my first motorbike driving lesson. My teacher, Made, picked me up from our Villa shortly after lunch and drove me to his beautiful home. I met his wife, Mrs. Namo, who spoke very little English but made me a delicious cup of coffee and a sweet, crispy rice cake. A tonic to calm my very evident nerves. As we drank our coffee, Made asked me if I ride a bicycle, and started laughing when I said I have never done so. We then headed out for the lesson, beginning in a small soccer field surrounded by trees and bushes. Made showed me how the bike operates, pointing out at least 5 times where the hand brake was, and then climbed on behind me and said "Ok! Go!". I looked back at him with an expression that must have reflected how terrified I was, so he told me that he would control the gas and steering for the first few laps around the field. All I had to do was sit there, hands on the handlebars, and get a feel for being in the drivers seat. Sounds easy, right? Simple. As soon as we took off, my fear instincts immediately took over, completely forgetting that I was not actually driving. My arms tensed, breath quickened, and I began to try to steer the bike, quite erratically, even though Made was doing a perfectly good job of driving. My movements were jerky and completely nonsensical, and Made kept telling me to "relax the body". After a few ridiculous laps around the field we took a break. My eyes filled with tears and I said to Franco about 50 times, "I don't like this. I don't want to do this. I don't like this at all. I want to stop now." Franco, ever my rock, said "Just give it a few more laps. If you really don't like it, we can stop. But give it a little more time - for me." Those of you who know Franco will know that this was all said with his warm, sweet smile, arms embracing me in the most comforting hug possible, so I sniffled an "ok" and got back on the bike with Made. This time, Made told me that he would control the steering, but he wanted me to control the gas and brake. At least - that's what I think he told me. His English was conversational, but at times I got very confused about what he wanted me to do, which I'm sure contributed to my already lacking skills in this lesson. We took off again, making several more laps around the field, jerking forward as I pulled too hard on the gas, barely creeping around the corners as I let off the gas entirely. He then started taking one hand off of the handlebars at a time, at which point we'd either immediately veer off towards the trees or start to topple over. This resulted in almost the exact same reaction every time - me shrieking and Made laughing and telling me "we not drive into jungle!" After about 1 1/2 hours, I was on the verge of getting the hang of it. We were able to make a few laps around the soccer field in a row where the acceleration was relatively smooth and steady. We didn't get to the point where Made could remove both of his hands from the handlebars at the same time and let me steer, but I did manage to retain a bit more control of the steering when he'd take one hand off at a time. The number of occurrences when Made would exclaim "Yes! Yes!" began to outnumber the times he would cry "No! No! Brake!". And best of all, by the last few laps I even found myself genuinely smiling and laughing with Made as we looped around the field. I was exhausted by this point, physically and emotionally, so we decided to call it a day. With a huge smile on his face, Made said "you are at 30 percent!". My next lesson is tomorrow, hopefully I will get to 80% - the point at which Made says I'll be ready to graduate from the soccer field to back roads! We've only been in Bali for 3 weeks, but I already know that one of the biggest lessons I will learn here is how to face my fears. To not give up immediately when something seems difficult and out of my comfort zone, but to give it a little more time, trust my teachers, and find confidence in myself. Knowing that I am capable and strong, able to learn and adapt and even thrive in a situation that may have initially terrified me. So tomorrow - I WILL go back for my 2nd lesson, I WILL get to 80% and drive on the roads, and I WILL improve enough to drive alone on the bike. I will conquer this motorbike-driving feat - no matter how long it takes!

[rabottyoga-blog]

"Life has many ways of testing a person's will, either by having nothing happen at all or by having everything happen all at once." #Ubud is working its magic on me. Everything is happening, everything. My practice these days is to open my mind and heart to all of it. #heartopener #backbend #igyoga #practiceandalliscoming #paulocoelho (at Dragonfly Village)

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I have become one with nature, loving and accepting all creatures as they are... I know you're all hysterically laughing right now. Go ahead - laugh it up! The above sentence does not describe me AT ALL. When I was a kid, I'd scream at the top of my lungs if I saw a bug in my room. My mom would come running in, thinking something was horribly wrong with me - I was sick, I was being attacked, I had fallen and hurt myself - only to find me quivering in the corner pointing to a tiny black spec crawling across the room. Well, I have to report - not much has changed. In Bali, I've had a good dose of interactions with critters of many shapes and sizes. Most bugs that I've interacted with haven't been too horrifying so far (the Mosquitos were fairly pesky at first, but my homemade repellant of essential oil blends seems to be working very well!). There are frequent run-ins with lizards, spiders, rats (I'm still angry at the one who ate half of my banana earlier this week), chickens, roosters, and many many stray dogs. The most exciting critter encounter, however, happened just a few nights ago. Franco had run to the grocery store to buy more fruit (we go through fruit like crazy here, it's so fresh and delicious), and I was relaxing on the bed reading a book. It was completely silent except for the sounds of crickets chirping. All of a sudden there was a loud thud from the ceiling, and something was flopping around on the shelf in the corner! My first instinct was that it was a rat. The Villa we are staying in has a thatched roof that doesn't quite meet the walls, and I've seen several rats running along the ceiling boards before. So my heart was already racing, wondering how big it was and how I'd get it out of the room - when it started FLYING AT ME! A flying rat?!?! No no, that's not logical. Then...a BAT! Naturally, my instinct was not to run out of the room, or to grab something to try and shoo it out the door or window, but to frantically close the mosquito net around me, creating a small shield and fortress against the creepy thing. I hid there, stock still except for my eyes which followed the bat flying in circles around the room, for about 15 minutes. Franco came home from the store to find his oh-so-mature wife clutching mosquito netting and whimpering, "mpenzi? Help!". As traumatizing as this experience was, I survived. And we did eventually get the bat to fly out of the room and into the night. I'm sure this won't be the last time something like this happens, so my goal is to handle the next one with a little more grace. We always have something to improve on, something to strive towards to grow as a person, all part of the practice of yoga. So in case anyone was curious about the fastest way to get a flying creature out of your room - I can confidently advise you that the answer is not to hide in a fortress of mosquito netting.

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Bali: Week 1 We've been in Bali for a full week now. Part of me feels like the week has flown by and that we must have just arrived a day or two ago, yet another part of me feels like I am too familiar with the place to have only been here for a week. We are currently staying in Sanur, a southern beach town, for a few days. The majority of our first week was spent in Ubud, a culturally and artistically vibrant town in the middle of the island. I just said to Franco this afternoon, "I can't believe I'm feeling this way after only a week - but I actually miss Ubud! I keep finding myself thinking that I am excited to get back 'home' in a few days." Those of you who know me well understand how unlike me this is - it usually takes a verrrrrry long time for me to feel comfortable and at home in a new place. So this is a very encouraging and exciting sign! Ubud is unlike any place I have been before. Before arriving someone described it to me as a "sensory overload" and I'd have to agree with that. There's so much to take in. The scenery is incredible; there are beautiful, intricate temples everywhere you look, the rice paddies are expansive and breathtaking, the jungle is exotic looking, there are fantastic shops and restaurants every 10 feet. More than once, I've almost fallen flat on my face while darting my gaze back and forth between a million different things at once, when it should be focused on the very uneven sidewalk beneath my feet. There's incense burning almost everywhere you go (luckily I love the smell!), and the streets are alive during the days with motorbikes, taxis, and tourists. At night in Ubud there are always ceremonies, traditional dances, and other cultural events going on. It's really an incredible place. Our days have been a mixture of exploring our new home, getting ourselves set up with the necessities (a place to stay longer term, cell phones, a rental moped, etc.), and working. We're trying to put in at least 8 hours a day of work - which is SO hard when all I want to do is explore! I have to keep reminding myself that I have a year to do that, so I don't need to see everything in the first few weeks. We've also spent a ton of time meeting people and having great conversations. Everyone we meet is so willing to take time to really get to know one another, have deep and meaningful conversations, and share their life stories. The people are definitely the best part of Bali so far. Many of the people we've met are fellow expats or travelers from Australia, Europe, a few from the U.S. They all seem to have a very similar mindset of exploration, pursuing passions, starting their own business. The local Balinese people are incredibly friendly, as well. We have another two days in Sanur before heading back to Ubud. I can easily see Sanur becoming our "get-away" place. It's very laid back, with beautiful beaches. The town is much quieter and less busy than Ubud. It's a place to refresh and rest. The theme of our time here so far has been keeping an open mind, stepping out of our comfort zone, and allowing ourselves to fully experience everything that this beautiful place has to offer.

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I'm writing this on a plane from Hawaii to Taipei, Taiwan. I managed to sleep about 8 hours of the flight (thank you, Dramamine!), so I'm in a much better state of mind than when this long trip began at 1:00 in the morning. I'm feeling excited and antsy to arrive in Bali - but a 3 hour layover and another 5 1/2 hour flight stand between me and that moment. Patience - a lesson I think I will have to learn quickly this year ;). Our time in Hawaii was absolutely incredible. After a stressful and jam-packed last few weeks of wrapping up at work, packing and planning for the trip, and saying our goodbyes, a week in laid-back, friendly Kailua was exactly what the doctor ordered. We stayed in a small apartment attached to a beautiful, 2 million dollar home on the river. (Keep in mind that a $2 million home in Kailua looks like an average, three-bedroom house in the suburbs of Maryland or Pennsylvania). The apartment was within a mile of downtown Kailua and a within a half mile of one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The best part of the rental, though, was our host, Amy. A mother of 3 kids close to Franco and my ages, Amy was so accommodating and friendly. The morning after our arrival, she took us with her to a yoga class in a really cute studio in town - which immediately made me feel at home. Throughout the week she gave us several rides to places downtown, provided us with laundry supplies, gave us the best recommendations for places to eat and things to do, and checked in on us daily to make sure we were doing ok. She also introduced us to a few people who have ties in Bali. One of these contacts owns a shop in Kailua and offered us a job helping her find nice things in Bali for her importer to bring to her shop. That's right - I will be shopping in Bali and getting paid for it! We spent several days on the beach in Kailua (I actually got a little tan!). It was gorgeous: calm, warm, turquoise waters; mountains in the backdrop; and hardly anyone there most days! We rented a car one day and drove around the perimeter of the island. We saw a ton of beautiful beaches, pineapple fields, a really cool Buddhist temple in the Garden of Temples, and Pearl Harbor. It rained for most of this day, so we didn't spend much time at each of the stops, but it still helped us get a good feel for the rest of the island. Oahu is so beautiful and, with the exception of Honolulu and Waikiki, has a great laid-back island vibe. Our last full day there was a really active one! We woke at 5:30am and walked to Kailua beach to catch the sunrise, ran 2 miles on the beach (running in sand is SO much harder than running on pavement), braved the local bus system to go to Diamond Head Crater and hiked to the top, walked several miles to downtown Waikiki, and danced to live music at a beachfront bar. It was probably my favorite day of the trip. We're feeling refreshed and ready for the next part of our journey. Anxious to arrive in Bali and explore our new home. Love and namaste to all of our friends and family. 💛

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Packing in 2 suitcases and 2 carry ons for a year - not easy!! And I still feel like we're traveling heavy. Guess I didn't HAVE to take 3 yoga mats 😁.

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Goodbye, cubicle! This Friday will be my last day at my corporate job. The last day I will sit at a desk for 8 hours straight. The last day I will wake up at 6:30, put on formal clothes, and spend the majority of the day on something that my heart and soul are not 100% behind. Giving up my full-time job is scary. There are so many uncertainties. But I know it will feel so freeing to know that I can now devote all of my time and energy to what I truly love and feel passionate about. My days will soon be filled with yoga, exploration, studying, building my business, and helping people become healthier, more inspired, and empowered to pursue their dreams. My uniform will be yoga pants, shorts and sandals, bathing suits. I won’t be sitting for 8 hours, but will be flowing, stretching, pushing my muscles to their limits, traveling, meeting clients, connecting.

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Why I'm Quitting My Job and Moving to Bali

I believe that inspiration is empowering. I find an incredible amount of inspiration through practicing and teaching yoga, through people that I have been blessed to come in touch with, through witnessing how strong and impassioned individuals live their lives. In February of this year, Franco and I traveled to Turks & Caicos. It was a fairly spur-of-the-moment trip, driven by our need to chill for a few days, get some quality time together, and hit the reset button on our plans and priorities. It ended up raining 2/3 of our time there (which we heard over and over “never happens here!”), so we didn’t get nearly as much beach time as we had hoped. But after 4 days of turning inward, really listening to our hearts and desires, focusing on what our future could hold and defining what inspires us – we decided that the time was right to put a plan in motion that we have discussed for the past 6 years: move abroad. Why Bali? It’s got a very low cost of living, it’s a safe and friendly environment, the weather is tropical and warm year-round, there is a HUGE yoga and wellness culture there, it’s close to many other places we are excited to visit, there are more beaches than I can count, there are cute monkeys running around everywhere, they have volcanoes and jungles and over 6000 temples and some of the most beautiful sights in the world…...do I need to keep going? This will be a year of adventure. A year to explore, meet new people, learn new cultures. A year to focus on my goal of inspiring and empowering people. A year to kick-start my career as a yoga teacher and wellness coach. A year to live freely and fully. A year to spread love.