Ahem....

OK so It may seem like I totally gave up on the 365 days of gratitude but...I did not. I opted to only write about it in a journal and not blog about it as well because it became way too cumbersome. Maybe when I hit a milestone like 50 I'll do a recap of the topic I chose for each day. But life just got way too nuts to write about it twice.

ANYWAY....lots to look forward to in December!

Day 3 - Horse Back Riding

Even though I don't do it nearly as much as I used to, today  I am grateful for horse back riding. Owning horses and horse back riding is something that I will forever be grateful for. It is something that no matter how long I go without doing, I will be able to get back on a horse and know what to do without even thinking. I was so fortunate to have parents who were willing to dish out the cash to allow me to carry out my dream of riding. They paid for the horses, saddles, blankets, feed, board, show fees, lessons, and countless other expenses (the farrier and the vet!). I learned so many valuable lessons and an insane amount of responsibility from horse back riding. I had the pleasure of interacting with and riding some of the most amazing horses on the planet. I consider myself very luck to have been able to ride for 10+ years!

Day 2- LOVE

Today I am grateful for the insane amount of love that surrounds me. Not only by my wonderful fiance ( I don't know why but he still puts up with me), but by my amazing friends, and my insanely awesome family! This move and transition to Florida has made me feel like there is a serious void in the love department. But I keep on reminding myself that although I am almost 1300 miles away from the place I called home the last 25 years, I am still surrounded by an over abundance of love. No matter what happens or where I am I will always be surrounded by LOVE (even when I feel like the grinch).

Day - 1 YOGA

Today I am grateful for my yoga practice. Yoga has become something that I turn to in the deepest darkest times. No matter what, It has an amazing way of changing my mood (even if getting up for class was the hardest part of my day). I always leave class feeling refreshed and rejuvinated. Many times I welcome a good cry, before, during, and/or after class. It is an unbelievable release and changes my entire mood. Yoga has not only made me physically stonger but mentally stronger. My mind has learned to block out the mindless mind chatter. It has learned how to settle down and calm itself even in the most stressful of times. There is nothing that a solid practice, breath work, and meditation can't take care of.

Project: 365 Days of Gratitude

So in an attempt to start journaling/blogging more I have decided that I will take on the 365 days of gratitude challenge. Lately since my move I have been in a pretty insane "funk". I just haven't been myself. Hopefully this project, along with picking back up on my yoga practice hardcore, can help me workout all my kinks that have found their way into my mind, body, and soul lately. 

I found this awesome quote this morning by Robin Sharma (aka The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari...put the book on hold at the library and can't wait to read it, haha) and it really sparked something that made me want to work out the kinks for real and get myself back to where I was before I left Long Island. 

"There ''are'' no mistakes in life, only lessons. 
There is no such thing as a negative experience, 
only opportunities to grow, learn and advance along 
the road of self-mastery. 
From struggle comes strength. 
Even pain can be a wonderful teacher."
— Robin Sharma

This just sparked something and it kinda felt like the pieces just fell into place as I was laying in bed...so strange and hard to explain. 

Feel free to join in as well! Even if you do it once a week or month it'll probably feel good!

The first gratitude post will be posted later today so be on the lookout! 

I'll also be posting little blurbs on my instagram account so be sure to follow there as well ( @thatslinkygirl). If you do choose to participate feel free to tag me @thatslinkygirl and hastag #dailygratitudewithslinky long I know but it'll help me see everyone's posts! Tag it even if you dont participate everyday!

Much love and GRATITUDE on this Sunday morning 

<3 Jess

Wanderlust - Yoga in the City - New York City (better late than never...)

A few months ago I had heard about Wanderlust's Yoga in the City event and some friends and I decided to sign up for the nearest one in the ever enticing NYC. Being that it is only about an hour and a half (on a good day with no traffic...) from us we were insanely excited for this event...even though we signed up what felt like months before it...and almost forgot about it until 4 or 5 days before it.

On our way into the city, while cruising through the busy NYC streets, we were involved in a little bit of a fender bender where someone rear ended us. This made us late for the session that we were supposed to taking. After the whole ordeal was done and we finally found a parking garage, we arrived at Hudson River Park to check in. The women working the gate were so understanfding and allowed us to take the 4:30pm class. HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF! We began to walk around and check out the vendors. Awesome jewelry, tons of freebies, and tonsssssssss or sparkly, shiny, happy yogi/yogini faces!

After the class before ours ended, we found spaces on the grass for our mats (somewhat close to the stage). We were lucky enough to take class with Dana Flynn or Laughing Lotus Yoga (AMAZING), Raghunath (also AMAZING), and David Romanelli (again...also AMAZING). I had heard such amazing things about Dana Flynn and was so excited to finally be able to take one of her classes. Here energy is out of this world and he mantras were something that will stick with me forever. David Romanelli's personality was also amazing, his voice was soothing, and I loved how many quotes he infused into class. Last but not least Raghunath was also just so inspiring. He subtly pushed you to push your limits.

Overall, the whole experience was amazing. We all left feeling totally blissed out and happy!
Be sure to checkout their website for future Yoga in the City events http://nyc.wanderlustfestival.com/

Now....for some pictures!

 The banner welcoming you to YITC

Tons of people having fun in the sun

Acro yoga demo!

People playing around after the acro demo

Rocked my All you can yoga ambassador gear

 My tote bag, too...

 Assisting in a little pincha fun!

Shot of me and my friend Sarah on the YITC page

We decided to have some acro fun

Group shot after class!

Playing Catch-up!

Wow it's been a while. Since the last time I actually had time to sit down and write a blog entry so much has happened and changed!

Let's start with the fact that in March I started my first real yoga gig at a studio called Om Shanti Om Yoga Center in Sayville, NY. It's a beautiful studio with such great ambiance. If you are on Long Island and are looking for a new studio to practice in, I highly recommend it...and not just because I work there. Before I started teaching there I used to take classes there. They also offer FREE yoga in a park in walking distance from the studio on Sunday mornings starting on June 30th from 9:00-10:00 am. (click here for more info). Worth checking out for sure. Also this summer there are a lot of fun workshops being offered! Check out Om Shanti Om's website for more information on events/classes/packages/etc.

Instagram!
This app on my phone has been more addicting than Facebook! For those of you not familiar with Instagram, it's an app like Facebook, but instead of posting "statuses" you post pictures. When I first got one I wasn't quite sure what to post pictures of besides the typical foodie shot or "selfsies", until I discovered the immense yoga community on Instagram. I also discovered these monthly challenges that people will either work on their own, or a group of a few dedicated yogis/yoginis will team up to produce these challenges. There is also a company called Grow Soul Beautiful that has set up an Instagram (@growsoulbeautiful) and they put out a great monthly challenge!
If you happen to have an Instagram here are a few great yogis/yoginis with awesome challenges

• @stretchloveyoga and the #smilingyogis challenge
• @laurasykora , @masumi_g , @beachyogagirl , and @gypsetgoddess and the #maytheforcebewithyogis challenge
• @fitqueenirene , @cheryld126 , and @yogitoes123 and the #bendyyogis challenge
• @sequellife_bp , @humblebeginningsyoga , @treehouseohm , and @shauna_harrison and the #springbalance challenge
• @growsoulbeautiful and the #YogaADay challenge 

I highly recommend checking all of these guys out...even if you don't participate in their challenges they are all awesomely inspiring!
P.S. these are only SOME of the challenges not all of them...feel free to post a comment of any other challenges you know of or might have even come up with on your own!

P.S.S. Feel free to follow me on instagram @thatslinkygirl

Last thing on my agenda to write about is All You Can Yoga. I recently stumbled upon their instagram account and fell in love with the concept of this company. They help promote teachers and their classes as well as connect with fellow teachers. I finally figured hey what they heck I'll apply to be an ambassador, not thinking I'd get it. But sure enough I got an email saying I had been accepted to be an #aycyambassador ! It was like opening a college acceptance lettter! Such an exciting endeavor. You can check them out on their website, their facebook , or check them out on Instagram @allyoucanyoga ! Thanks to Vanessa Birnbaum for setting up such a wonderful community :)

Until next time...

Namaste

~Jess