Brenna, my instructor for yesterday's class

Thanks in part to the disincentive bet, I finally made it to a yoga class last night. It was a gentle class, just what I needed to ease back in. When it came time to set my intention, I decided to depart from my usual method of dedication and instead focus on being kinder to myself.

It freed me to honor where I was in my practice, to laugh as I fell out of poses, and learn from the discomfort of poses that used to be easy. I left class feeling energized and joyful, and didn’t berate myself for spending most of savasana dreaming about the roasted garlic gluten-free pizza that I’d be having for dinner.

It also freed me up to re-evaluate my disincentive bet goals. Where they achievable? Absolutely. But they were also a big stretch. More of a stretch than I want right now. So I’m dropping the running piece. Hopefully I’ll slip on my running shoes and get a few miles in, but it feels more like a chore than a joy, and, well, I want to squeeze in as much joy as possible this December.

Since the hubs and I just joined the yoga studio down the street, we were able to take advantage of a new student discount offering two weeks of unlimited classes for only $25. (Bonus: It came with a gift certificate for a free meal at one of our favorite veg eateries, Jyoti-Bihanga.) I’ve learned that when I try to just jump into a fitness goal whole hog, I often wind up sick or injured, and I think it’s safe to say that running a few days a week plus a yoga class almost every day would be too much. So I’m swapping out a brief home yoga practice and occasional runs for a (near-)daily studio yoga practice that I hope will help me really recommit to to time on my mat.

My upper back and shoulders are perfectly sore from yesterday’s class, and I’m looking forward to a Yoga I class tonight to really engage and lean into my practice.

How are you practicing self-kindness this holiday season? What are you doing to nurture your health and wellness, and where are you giving yourself a free pass in the name of sanity? 

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

In some ways I’ve been doing a good job of taking care of myself (I’ve been slugging 32oz of delicious green juice on a pretty regular basis, for example), and in others…not so much. As in, I don’t know the last time I meditated. And my plan to start a regular running routine never really took off.

Then I went back east for two awesome weeks of visiting family, and my (oh-so-tasty) wine and cheese consumption went through the roof. And I caught a super nasty cold that knocked me on my butt. Finally, a week and a half later, feel like I’m thinking clearly and can do more than lay on the couch.

I want to kick my health into gear so I start 2012 feeling like the best version of myself, not bloated and run down.

Which means…disincentive time is back. My girls Paloma & Amanda first introduced me to the disincentive bet when we lived in Seoul, and man oh man I have never been so diligent about meeting my goals! I created a spreadsheet to track my progress, and invite you to join in. It’s an open google doc, so anyone can edit it and add their own goals. (Remember: It’s a LIVE document, so don’t type over anyone else’s fields; just add your own in blank columns.)

I’m being ambitious, but I’m also being reasonable. I commit to:

1. Running a total of four miles a week, broken into at least three sessions. (Baby steps!)
2. Practicing yoga for at least 20 minutes a day, 6 days a week.
3. Doing my favorite ab workout, Jennifer Galardi‘s 10-minute Standing Abs video, 3 times a week.
4. Meditate for five minutes every day.

Dancing with Jen at my wedding last year

Sunset yoga in Wadi Rum, Jordan

As you probably guessed from the lack of posts, things have been pretty busy around here. I’m back in Seoul to work for the summer, and I’ve been working my tail off getting ready to officially launch my business. In the past, summer in Seoul has spelled disaster for my health (crazy hours at work coupled with intense stress will do that to a girl). Fortunately, this year seems to be going a bit better and I haven’t been nearly as sick. I think a big part of this is my commitment to regularly engage in a sampling of quick-action health tips. Every day, I try to make sure I do at least a few of the following, and I wind up doing most of them at least 4-5 days a week. Not bad, if you ask me.

• Make a green smoothie packed with enzyme powder and vegetables
• Crank out a set  of push-ups 
• Go to sleep in time to get at least seven hours of sleep (though more is better)
• Take deep breaths when I start to feel overwhelmed–even if this means doing it conspicuously while standing in front of the classroom (I consider it a teaching moment)
• Keep the apartment picked up so I don’t have to dread cleaning. Dishes get washed right away. All clothes are in the closet or the hamper; nothing draped over chairs.
• Skip the sugar. This was forced on me after a major (MAJOR) candida outbreak, and I’ve just started to reintroduce limited alcohol and very small amounts of sugar in my tea, but that’s it.
• Pass on optional activities that don’t feel fulfilling. No social outings just because I feel like I “should” and no harboring guilt about my long-neglected blog. Sometimes, the extras just have to fall by the wayside.
• Stay hydrated. Guzzle a big glass of water in the morning, and keep sipping throughout the day.
• Practice a few sun salutations in the morning or after work. (OK, I haven’t been doing this…but I’m adding it to my list in the hopes of starting.)

Because I have so much to share and such limited time with the Internet–and, let’s be honest, this is not the time to be glued to a screen–I thought I’d let pictures courtesy of my amazing new Nikon D5000 (thank you, family!) do the talking. (Remember you can click any of the many photos below to enlarge.) Without further ado…

Annual NYE Kiss (I make the hubs take one every year)

Our View in Phoenix

Obligatory Hollywood Shot

Enjoying a French-inspired (read: wine & cheese) picnic at the Getty Museum in L.A.

Having way too much fun falling out of yoga poses in a friend's back yard in L.A.

Lunch at Venice Beach in L.A.

Fireside yoga at the W Hotel bar in L.A. (What--like you've never done yoga at a bar before? Oh...)

Sunset from our friend's deck in Manhattan Beach, L.A.

Wine tasting at Coquelicot in the Santa Ynez Valley, with the brilliant James as our guide

Indoor Pool at Hearst Castle

My very happy husband: campfire, stars, ocean view.

Our campsite at Limekiln State Park. I was still asleep (or, at least, huddled up) in that tent when the hubs snapped this gorgeous photo.

Waking up after my very first night camping. So many layers!

Elephant Seal birthing season north of San Simeon

I am Elephant Seal, hear me roar!

These two mama elephant seals were really having it out.

You can barely see it, but nested at the top of that rear hump is my dream house, overlooking Pfeiffer Beach at Big Sur.

I was mesmerized by this rock at Pfeiffer Beach at sunset.

I was also rather mesmerized by this handsome guy at Pfeiffer Beach at sunset.

The sunset at Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur.

Coastal waterfall at Pfeiffer State Park in Big Sur. This used to be the view from a couple's private home. Can you imagine?!

View at the top of our hike of the Buzzard's Roost loop in Big Sur. We saw a rainbow on our way home.

Whew! I know that’s a lot of photos (and golly if that didn’t take a long time to load/caption!), but I hope you liked seeing what we’ve been up to so far. And to think–we still have San Francisco, the Redwood National Forest, and Portland on our itinerary!

For all my international travel, seeing my own country is somewhat new to me–and I’ve been awed so far. Have you done much domestic travel? What were your favorite sites?

We’re on the road this month (San Diego–>Phoenix (where we are now)–>L.A.–>Santa Barbara–>Portland–>San Francisco–>San Diego), which means I’ll likely have spotty Internet access. Plus, with an itinerary like that, I think life calls for lots of time outside living, and less time inside staring at a screen. Which is all by way of saying that posts will be spotty, but I’ll try to hop on to share photos and reflections on a semi-regular basis. I have tons of ideas and inspiration to share, and you know I have trouble keeping all that goodness to myself.

I’ve been thinking back on 2010, and what an absolutely amazing year it’s been. There have been some hard times and serious frustrations, but all in all, I have to say it’s been my most blessed so far. On facebook, I posted my top five moments of 2010, and things I’m looking forward to in 2011, and I thought I’d share them again here with the hopes that you’ll share yours in the comments.

Top 5 moments of 2010

World's best kiddos

*welcoming Ronan Axel to the world
*marrying the most awesome guy I know
*finishing paying off my debt
*discovering Catan
*deciding to give the whole entrepreneur thing a shot

Looking forward to in 2011
*record usage of my passport
*finding a place we want to call home
*making my yoga practice a priority
*spending more time with family
*being surprised

We spent New Year’s Eve visiting with Mike’s grandma, a woman I love dearly, before coming home to great conversation and just a little champagne with her brother. Today (Sunday) we went to visit her again (I brought my green smoothie whipped up in my brand new Tribest blender–thanks, Hubs!), then came home for some quiet time before I unfurled my mat for my first yoga of the year. While I might not greet every day in 2011 with green smoothies and yoga, I have to admit, it feels like a positively blissful way to have begun the year.

How will you bring a little more bliss into your life in 2011?

And it’s been wonderful!

I popped on Yelp and looked at reviews. Unfortunately, the studios within walking distance from our (borrowed) apartment didn’t seem like a great fit, but then I found Yoga District. The hubs has to drop me off and pick me up (saint!), but YD earned incredibly positive feedback and offers awesome deal for new students: $10 for three classes within one week.

Last Thursday I dropped in for an hour-long lunchtime session, knowing full well that this would be an exercise in setting aside my ego at least as much as it would be a physical practice. Despite practicing on and off for a decade, when I got to the studio, I could barely touch my toes and seemed to have lost nearly all my arm strength.

And yet: it was an awesome hour.  The class was small (only four people) so the instructor, Paul, was able to give us each adjustments in almost every pose. I felt comfortable honoring where my practice needed to be on that day, and when I d9d start to feel frustrated, I would review the yamas and niyamas posted at the front of the room to help me refocus. By the end of the hour, I was one blissed out girl lying there in savasana.

When I returned to the studio today, I marveled at how much a practice can change from one day to the next. Paul led us through an almost identical sequence, and it was still quite a challenge for my untoned arms and legs, but the difficulty felt so different. I was dripping in sweat, and while my flexibility seemed improved, my sense of balance seemed off. And you know what? I loved it. I loved observing the shifts that can occur even in a fairly controlled situation. It helped remind me why I love to practice in the first place.

Do you have a yoga practice? What are your tricks for sustaining it? If it’s lapsed, do you have any desire to resuscitate it? What’s your favorite yoga memory?

This time around, I thought I’d try my hand at creating a gift guide for you. I tried to select products that were made by small, U.S. based companies and reflect my passion for travel and healthy living. That said, some things are listed just because they’re fun, not because they have a truly green component. Here are some of my favorite finds this year.*

For the Travel Nut

Last spring, I splurged on LuluLemon’s The Mat after I wore through my last yoga mat. I love it, but it’s too heavy and bulky to bring on my travels. That’s why I’m recommending The Mat-Travel ($38) for your favorite passport-wielding yogini.

I haven’t used it yet, but the Tribest Personal Blender ($69.99) my own wish list this holiday season based on rave reviews by the likes of Ani Phyo. Powerful enough to whip up a mean green smoothie, and small enough to fit in your luggage. Win-win!

Most travelers I know love having a slick camera to record their trips. What they don’t love is constantly worrying that their precious DSLR is going to break or be stolen. Enter the Crumpler 5 Million Camera Bag ($85) from REI. It can fit a camera body, an extra lens, and a few small accessories, but the best part is, it looks more like a messenger bag than a camera bag, so the person carrying it isn’t an easy target.

A hilarious friend gave us a few of these Inventive TravelWare Luggage Tags ($4.75 each) as part of our wedding gift. They make me crack up every time we pack our unpack our bags (read: all the time), and I’m never afraid someone’s going to accidentally walk off with my bags.

Still not finding the right thing? Maybe your friends and family should set up accounts at WiseGifter.com. This company is run by Bessie and Kyle, a wonderful, nomadic, husband-and-wife team currently living the dream in Thailand. (They also just happen to be friends of mine.) We used WiseGifter for one of our wedding registries, and got everything from food and drinks on our honeymoon to financing for a hike to Mt. Everest Base Camp. In a word: Awesome.

For the Eco-Conscious Fashionista

I bought one of these Envirosax ($8.95) years ago. It lives in my purse and has hauled countless heavy bags of groceries, all with no visible signs of wear and tear. Love them so much, I bought them for my mom and bridesmaids. Perfect stocking stuffer.

This Philadelphia-based company makes me drool. And Bario-Neal has amazing ethical practices. If anyone wants to buy me that ring, it runs around $154…

TranquiliT, which is based in D.C. and makes clothes from organic bamboo, discontinued my favorite dress (boo!), but they still have lots of great choices, like this 3/4 sleeve wrap dress ($108). (For the record, I don’t think that photo does it justice.)

I always feel good buying presents from Ten Thousand Villages, and this Recycled Silk Scarf ($18) from Nepal would make any woman smile. In fact, wouldn’t it look cute with that TranquiliT dress?

Amira Mednick is another friend of mine whose work I go gaga over. Now based in Portland, OR, all of her work is made by hand. Stock up. Wear often. Savor. Those Buddha Earrings ($30) are a great place to start.

*Of course, I couldn’t post some of the really great stuff I’m giving to people I love; I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise.

My new husband, and my new expanded family.

A picture of my family at the beach three years ago.

The family I’ve grown up with.

This might be only picture from my bachelorette party I will ever release. Yup--singing karaoke with my mom and mom-in-law.

The amazing people around the world I share friendships with.

Farm Sanctuary does beautiful and important work.

Being pescatarian, and the amazing joy I now feel when I look at animals. (I’ve always loved animals, but it’s evolved since I quit eating meat. More on this another day.

Velma, the turkey we adopted in honor of the holiday. Please consider adopting a turkey or making a similar donation as we give thanks for our joy, our freedom, and our right to live.

My yoga practice, even if I’ve been neglecting it.

My passport, which ties me to this amazing country, and gives me the freedom to see the world.

Books, the beauty of words, and the fact that I was raised in a family–and country–that values education and literacy.

Bicycles, kayaks, and hiking shoes. Anything that gets me out into nature and doesn’t require a motor.

At Fenway with my friend (and officiant) Scott.

Lastly–the Red Sox, even if they blew it last season.

As I mentioned before, I needed a little extra nudge to overcome the post-July lethargy. I kept meaning to do yoga/go for a run/pump iron and get really huge at the gym/eat my weight in veggies, but those Law & Order episodes always just seemed so much more appealing.

It’s all well and good to veg out and recover, but I wanted to get back into good habits before I returned to the States. (I admit, there is added incentive because I still have to find my wedding dress; I suspect that trying on a fitted white dress under fluorescent lighting is not going to be the most forgiving experience–though I’m majorly looking forward to it.) Once we land, our schedules are packed full of wonderful things, including two weddings of friends and a family reunion. In other words, there is lots of food, booze, and celebration in my future, and I wanted to make sure I don’t wind up run down and not feeling my best.

So…Sarah Palin to the rescue! No, don’t worry (or rejoice, depending on your political leanings): I’m still a bleeding heart liberal. But Palin does help me achieve my goals. In the spring, I teamed up with the lovely Paloma and Amanda for our first disincentive challenge. We each set a series of measurable goals and logged the day’s progress in a shared google doc. If, at the end of the month, someone had fallen short, she had to pull out her checkbook and send a big ol’ check to Palin. Thankfully, we all pulled it off and got to keep our hard earned cashola.

This month, I’ve set three goals:
1. Do yoga for at least 15 minutes a day, six days a week.
2. Run at least three times a week for a total of 8 miles.
3. Eat at least 8 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, with more veggies than fruits.

The yoga and produce have been the easiest, but running has definitely taken some willpower. Fortunately, when my choices are a) run, stimulate my lymph, increase my fitness, and get some endorphins pumping or b) sit on my duff and send Sarah Palin a check…the choice is pretty easy.

So far, I’m right on track,* though I’ve had to make a few adjustments to my initial goals. For this challenge, it was important for me to choose things that could form a foundation for healthy habits I want to maintain, rather than meat some overambitious goal and burn out.

Have you tried a disincentive bet? Want to join ours? What goals do you need a little kick in the pants to make a reality?

*Whoops! Update to that “So far I’m right on track” bit: that’s only because I apparently couldn’t count the days in a week or # of miles I’ve run…despite logging it in a spreadsheet. Yeesh! I wound up only logging 5.5 miles last week, which is still 5.5 more than I did in the many weeks before. And I already have 2 miles to count towards this week’s tally; the funny part is, I tied on my shoes despite feeling sick and having work to do because I want to make my totals. Ah well–it all counts in the end!

With that, I give you a fabulous finale, the final installment of my interview with Bonnie Schmidt of Anxiety to Zen!

5.     Do you like the atmosphere created by most of your colleagues in the industry?

Yes!  I adore the yoga community.  I approached yoga as a way to help my anxiety, but I found so much more.  I found love and acceptance and empowerment.  Positivity was something I was desperately missing in my life and all my teachers have touched me in a way that not only made me believe I could heal myself, but that I could help others with my story. When I shared with a teacher my dream to create Anxiety to Zen and workshops geared towards helping people understand how to incorporate yoga into their lives to help alleviate anxiety, it was that teacher that gave me the confidence to jump in and do it.

6.     Would this career work well as a part time gig?

Sure! I host most of my workshops on the weekends and when I work one-on-one with clients we work out a system that works well for both of our schedules so there’s lots of flexibility.  Teaching yoga can fit into most schedules.

7.     In your opinion, is this a good career for a working mother?

Again, there’s a lot of flexibility so I believe so.  I’m not a mother yet, but teaching yoga and working with clients and students allows me the opportunity to continue this when I choose to start a family.  And even if the yoga isn’t catered to those with anxiety and the desire is just to teach yoga, most classes can easily be taught on weeknights, weekends or around a family’s packed schedule.

8.     Generally speaking, how is the earning potential?

This has a lot of variables.  It depends a lot on how many classes you teach, if you work with private clients, if you conduct workshops or week long intensives.  The more you do or teach the more potential you offer yourself.

9.     Any words of wisdom for someone interested in following this path?

Absolutely!  Don’t let insecurity or doubt hold you back.  I’ve met people that won’t step in a studio because they can’t touch their toes or think they have to be in amazing shape to be an instructor.  All you need is passion.  I never dreamed I’d be where I am today, but I was passionate about my mission of giving a voice to anxiety, helping people though it and sharing the gift of yoga. If it’s your dream to share yoga, get out there and do it!

10. Anything else you’d like us to know?

I think one thing I’d like to share is the power of being open about what you are going through. [Emphasis Olivia's.] I spent many years pulling away from people, ending relationships and keeping people at a distance because I didn’t want them to know my “secret.” And all it did was cause massive frustration and sadness for all of us. Once I opened up about my struggles, what I was going through and how I was helping myself, people became a lot more receptive. My husband made an effort to learn about anxiety and I actually learned that a family member was struggling with the same thing! We bonded on a deeper level and experimented with holistic healing together. My relationships became stronger and I felt more confident because I didn’t always live in fear of someone finding out what I was going through. I even told my boss! The amount of support was overwhelming and really helped empower me. So don’t hide what you’re experiencing or going through. Support is a powerful tool and one that you definitely want with you on your journey.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this series, and that you will check out Bonnie’s powerful work on her website. I may be posting updates to Careers in Holistic Health on occasion in the future as I come across new talented people with a story to tell. As always, feel free to share your stories and experiences in the comments.