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A Welcome Back, and Where I’ve Been

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Two years ago, Rebel Yogi first saw the light of day — what started as a January 2014 “lightbulb” moment took shape as a first post on March 19th and my teacher training that spring, with all the pieces falling together at what felt like lightning speed.

Yoga has always been a guiding marker in my life, a stake in the ground while the rest of the world spins wildly around it.

In the time since I wrote here last, I taught in yoga in three different states during a transition back to the east coast to be closer to family, and did my “best” to keep up with my meditation practice.

And during this time of transition, life happened, as it usually does. Finances, the day to day… and a decision.

Putting an intention out into the world, I announced that there were big changes coming to Rebel Yogi that fall. Little did I know how literally those changes were going to take shape.

I like to think that the universe has a sense of humor; while I intended to take a break from writing on the site while I made some changes, I didn’t intend for what happened next.

With the financial belt tightening to a point where I couldn’t ignore it anymore, I took a job. I don’t regret this choice, because it taught me more than I could have ever imagined, but it pulled my focus almost entirely away from anything and everything else.

There’s a balance to life, and I had let mine get all kinds of out of whack. When you’re in debt with no new funds coming through the door, there’s no possibility of balance — there’s only the stranglehold that it puts on every aspect of your life.

So with this decision, I spent the next year bringing my finances back into balance… while pretty much ignoring every other facet of my life.

Long story short, and with a fast forward to the end of last year (because really, all I was doing was sitting in front of my computer working), I reached another decision.

This time the transition was to work that (so far) seems to fit really well into the rest of my life, as well as the opportunity to finally put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and start writing again.

I’ve missed you all dearly, and have so much that I want to share with you from my time of silence — including more mistakes that you can learn from (I seem to be pretty good at making those) and some pieces of wisdom that I’ve gleaned along the way.

So sit back and relax, and let’s take a trip down “lessons learned” lane.

Nourishment is a cycle

We all know that we need to eat, to fuel our bodies and replenish our energy — same thing goes for our cars, our electronics. But do you ever think about the fact that so many pieces of our lives require a cycle of nourishment?

Not only food, but also our sleep patterns, our exercise… and even our finances.

I’ve come to realize that my time away was an opportunity to replenish my financial nourishment, which had almost dried up. Every business has to bring money in the door, so that they can continue to provide their products or services to the people they serve.

It was the same with me. I had spent too long without focusing on the inward cycle of financial nourishment, and it took some time to bring myself back from that point.

Even the “right” thing can be wrong

And yet, even though I was replenishing my finances by taking that job, I was also swinging the pendulum to the extreme opposite end of the spectrum.

Yes, now I was bringing money in the door, but at what cost? When you spend so much time working, under a heavy load of both work and stress, you’re still out of balance.

The time I spent in that high-octane environment just reminded me that at this point in my life, I need to pay far more attention to my stress levels than I was able to in that situation.

It’s easy to come back too fast

I think we all have this tendency — we think that we can accomplish far more in a short period of time than we actually can.

And when we’re starting something new, it’s easy to get really excited and try to take on ALL THE THINGS at one time.

I had spent so much of the previous year since my diagnosis being careful about how much I took on, that when I finally decided to come back, I just jumped in the deep end. I survived, but I didn’t do myself any favors in the process.

Looking back, it would have been far more beneficial to ease in a little slower, rather than my dramatic cannonball reentry!

We only have 100% to give

I was at a writing workshop with Jon Morrow last April, and one of the things that he said really stuck with me.

He was talking about how becoming the best writer you can possibly be meant that there would be some kind of sacrifice — was it going to be your relationships, your health, your job, or your hobbies?

It might feel a little extreme, but he hit on something important: we only have so many hours in a day, so much focus, so much energy. Where are you putting yours?

So many of us (myself included) think that we can sacrifice our health, without actually realizing that’s what we’re doing.

  • We sleep too little, because we don’t have time for sleep, and it’s an easy thing to sacrifice in the short term.
  • We don’t eat well, because cooking takes time that we could better spend elsewhere.
  • We don’t exercise… because? Time!

Our bodies are smarter than we are

In doing all of this, we start to cause long-term damage to our bodies. We give up something that’s really important, without noticing.

But here’s the thing:

Your body knows better than you do. And it’s generally giving you lots of signals when you’re doing things it doesn’t like.

The problem that we run into is that our society moves so fast that we don’t actually take the time to listen to what our bodies are saying. It may have to scream at you before you even notice.

That’s where having a regular exercise program and doing something every day to be mindful comes in handy — it starts to tune us in to what our bodies are telling us.

You have to give yourself permission to take it slow

In this mad dash of a society that we live in, it’s easy to get swept away in the current of “go-go-go”.

Distractions are everywhere. It’s so easy to fall into a rut and let your health be your last priority.

And time passes by so quickly that the times where you think, “oh, it will be okay. I just have to deal with this for a little while” can turn into a significant amount of time before you realize it.

It’s not an easy thing to do, but there comes a time when we have to say “enough” and give ourselves a break. Despite what society says, we don’t have to do it all. We can step away from the mad dash.

Yes, we might miss out on some things, and we’ll figure out that the world will keep spinning without us (which can be quite damaging to the ego).

But when we take the time to slow down and be in the moment, choosing our actions with intention, we have the opportunity to really start to enjoy the things we choose to experience.

So I’m back. Now what?

I’ve been doing a lot more here in Charlottesville over the past few months – teaching yoga at a local studio, doing more festival yoga – and I have some more fun events and workshops up my sleeves.

And like I mentioned in the beginning of the post, I’ve picked up a whole bunch more “wisdom via mistakes” to share with you as we continue down this path together. That means I’ll be writing regularly again on the blog. (I promise!)

If you’ve been here with me since the beginning, thanks for sticking around. And if you’re new here, welcome!

I’m so grateful to be traveling the path (again) with you.

Changemaker Q&A with Muffadal Saylawala

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This month, I am super thrilled to bring back both activity on the Rebel Yogi blog and the Changemaker Q&A series with a friend of mine that I met at last year’s… wait for it… World Domination Summit. Muffadel is one of those people who capture you, pretty much instantly upon meeting them, with their deep sense of the world around them and their place in it. When I put out a call for people to share their stories here and got a response from him, I knew that this was a story that you would all love, and that would resonate deeply with the Rebel Yogi community.

So, welcome back after a winter’s hibernation! Let’s shake off the weight of a season past (and passed) and open our eyes to the beautiful spring that is unfolding around us. I’m so happy to be back – I’ve missed you all dearly!

Without further ado… Muffadel Saylawala!

 

1. What is the world changing work that you are bringing into existence? (Tell us a bit about what your work means to you and why you think it’s important for the world.)

I am working on creating a regenerative ecosystem. It will be an eco-lodge that grows its own food and is built from natural/recyclable materials. I’m creating a space where can learn about living a holistic life through experience. My hope is to integrate all things good, sustainable, green, eco under one roof. I’m building a bridge between ecology, business and society. A place where hippie types and discerning parents co-create.

2. What was the moment or situation that made you realize the way you were previously approaching your work was unsustainable? And, how did you find your way back to balance out of those challenges?

I’ve been preparing my entire life, unconsciously. Consciously, I’ve been studying this idea for two years. I was stuck in a rut before this, a really bad one. Everything I tried failed – from startups to relationships – and I couldn’t stop beating myself up about everything. I couldn’t shake it, until I reached a breaking point.

I let go of all the expectations. I let go of trying so hard to make something fit, to impress someone. I was just going back to my own element. I was escaping into my ‘comfort zone’ which is ironically a journey to a foreign country to purposefully stretch my comfort zone. It fucking worked like magic.

I let myself wonder. We stayed at a few eco-lodges. It was something I had heard about before, but wasn’t so familiar with. Eco tourism began in Costa Rica. I was confused though, I didn’t understand what ‘eco lodge’ actually meant. I couldn’t figure out what was so eco about the places we saw. It started to bug me more and more, I felt like people were using this term eco and cheating or something. I started wondering about what it would be like if I made my own eco-lodge. I thought we’d grow our own food, have tours that connect with people in the community and be a place that serves travelers, decidedly not for tourists.

This seed had been waiting for me. It made so much sense. This is what I was meant to do. I was meant to become the person that created such a space. It was my unique calling. I had the business acumen, the passion, the green heart, the travel experience and the hippie life experiences. I stepped into my personal legend.

3. What are you doing differently now – how are you maintaining a balanced place moving forward?

I’m going with the flow. I’ve opened up into this space of perpetual happy coincidences. The more I let it happen, the more it keeps working.

One thing led to the next to the next to the next and I’ve been dancing my way through a synchronicity slipstream for the last two years.

I’m happy. Like really, truly happy.

I’ve stepped into myself. I’m not as ashamed anymore. I don’t raise my voice; I don’t get angry. I’m dancing around naked at the top of Maslow’s box for self actualization. I feel blessed every day. I gave it to myself and I let myself have it.

4. If you could give that past self one piece of advice or guidance, what would it be? Or, if you wouldn’t change anything, why not?

Who you’re going to be ‘when you grow up’ is not the same as a job or even a livelihood filled with passion. You will be remembered not for the things you were supposed to do, nor the things you ended up creating, but rather, for the human that you became. The key is wanting to be who you already are.

 

Muffadal Saylawala believes there are too many broken systems in the world and we, as a society, continue to perpetuate them because we don’t know any better. His purpose is to leave the world better than he came into it. Business is the greatest tool we have to create lasting change that makes a difference. He’s especially into things like permaculture, organic farming, urban farming, sustainable building, off the grid living, travel, exploration, experiences and slowing down to smell the roses. He can be found online at msayla.com

Changemaker Q&A with Amy Angelilli: The Adventure Project

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This month’s Changemaker Q&A comes to us from Amy Angelilli, Chief Adventure Officer of The Adventure Project. Amy also runs in the World Domination Summit (WDS) circles, and she and I connected online. Her dedication to making the world a better place through adventure and play, while also creating a sustainable life balance, means that hers is a story that I wanted to share with you.

Without further ado: take it away Amy!

 

1. What is the world changing work that you are bringing into existence? (Tell us a bit about what your work means to you and why you think it’s important for the world.)

When I was a kid, I was told I needed to major in accounting, graduate in 4 years, and get a desk job with benefits. I knew this wasn’t me, but I didn’t know what other options existed. Eventually – as my journey unfolded – I found my way to myself.

My message to a person, unsure of a path, is to find your own adventure. And by adventure, I don’t mean doing something that is the stereotypical definition of adventure – please no jumping out of airplanes! (Unless you really want to!)

I invite people into the adventure discovery process so as to open them up to authenticity with themselves, their relationships and their travel experiences. I do this via the simple tool of play. When we play, we are completely in the moment and we are our truest selves. Once we find this place, we’re able to interact with the world in a much richer way. And the end result is that goodness happens when we have meaningful interactions!

2. What was the moment or situation that made you realize the way you were approaching this work was unsustainable? And, how did you find your way back to balance out of those challenges?

It was when I was with a group of strangers revealing our lightness and darkness at Life of Yes! Sleepaway Camp. I am my own worst critic. I constantly compare myself to others. I’m never satisfied with my own output and want more and/or better. This is not sustainable.

If I chose to sabotage myself, how can I move forward and have a successful adventure? I can’t. I am enough. I am good enough. Because in reality, let’s remember, we’re all finding our own adventures. No one will be able to execute my adventure as my adventure is mine and mine alone. Only I can create it, so I need to be kinder to myself and practice better self care and acceptance. I am now dedicated to this practice although I may not always be successful.

3. What are you doing differently now – how are you maintaining a balanced place moving forward?

I’m not only putting together a self care plan for personal and professional development, but I’m also saying these pieces of the plan out loud so there’s accountability. I’m spending time with people who can validate my feelings, and also encourage me to continue forward on my journey … on my adventure. Being around positive energies spreads that positive energy. Sometimes we need more than what we are able to feed to ourselves.

I’m also seeking an accountability partner – this would be someone with whom I can have a weekly check in, so that both of us are supporting each other in personal and professional growth and development.

4. If you could give that past self one piece of advice or guidance, what would it be? Or, if you wouldn’t change anything, why not?

Yoga is a practice – so is self care. We will never be perfect. We can only be kind. Keep practicing what you want to be, do, achieve – and realize that practice may never make perfect … it can only make better. As long as we continue to move forward, we are succeeding.

 

Amy Angelilli’s own “Adventure Project” began when she turned 40 while on safari in South Africa. Realizing she had veered off the path of her “right life,” she returned determined to make major changes both personally and professionally. In the first half of 2012, she left her relationship, her house and her job. In the second half of 2012, she married the love of her life – one year to the day she unveiled an authentic, heartfelt profile on a dating website.
Her latest creation is The Adventure Project, which offers relationship, life and travel adventures to the “Every Person” via play. When not navigating adventures, she can be found enjoying meaningful travel, restorative yoga or improvisational theater. Her greatest performance is as herself in “It’s All About Amy” – the unscripted story of her life. She also created and produced the theater experience “3 Blind Dates” – Denver’s only unscripted romantic comedy that showcases the phenomenon of modern dating.
Follow her authentic adventures on twitter or via her personal essays.

Changemaker Q&A with Lisa Bryan: Downshiftology

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This month, I am honored to bring you another amazing edition of the Changemaker Q&A series, featuring Lisa Bryan of Downshiftology. I was introduced to Lisa completely by chance during the closing party at this year’s WDS by a fellow attendee. I was standing in line for food, and had a great conversation with two of the people standing in line with me; it turned out that as I was talking about the work that’s going on with Rebel Yogi, Chad thought to introduce me to Lisa, who he had just met that weekend. In a word: serendipity.

It turns out that Lisa and I have quite a bit in common, and as I heard more about her story, I knew that I wanted to feature her for this series. The work she is doing is SO necessary, and so inspiring. I am seriously looking forward to following along as she brings Downshiftology to life, because I know that we can all gain real benefit from her work.

Take it away, Lisa!

 

1. What is the world changing work that you are bringing into existence? (Tell us a bit about what your work means to you and why you think it’s important for the world.)

My passion is to help busy women “take it down a notch” in our overloaded world. To simplify both their food and lifestyle choices for improved health and greater happiness.

I believe there’s a silent health epidemic among women today. We’re smart, educated and driven… but also working long hours, enduring high-stress, sacrificing sleep and making poor food choices. We look at sleep as a luxury and stress as a necessary part of life. We’ve forgotten how to prioritize self-care or sadly, feel guilty when we do.

And the statistics are staggering. Of those with autoimmune disease, more than 75% are women. That’s a whole lot of us! And that number does not include other general health issues such as depression, infertility and skin disorders.

 As science and research increases in the field of genetics, microbiome, hormones and immunity – we learn more about potential triggers of disease. I won’t deep dive into geeky science talk, but remember this one important fact: just because you have a gene for a disease (a predisposition), it does not necessarily mean you will get it.

Why is this great news? Because many times our triggers are related to diet, environment and lifestyle. Things we can control! And that’s why I’m so darn passionate about Downshiftology!

2. What was the moment or situation that made you realize your previous work and lifestyle was unsustainable? And, how did you find your way back to balance out of those challenges?

Starting at the age of 35, I received my first autoimmune diagnosis (Celiac). Within two years, I received three more autoimmune diagnoses (Hashimotos, Psoriasis and Endometriosis). At the time, I was heading up marketing for a biotech company and had high-stress, long hours and a horrible commute. In short, I was completely burned out!

But for far too long I wanted to blame my genes. I kept telling myself that my body was somehow a little mis-wired and that I wasn’t really that stressed-out. I minimized all the internal red warning lights that were flashing.

But soon, the lights became too bright to ignore. So I remember telling myself, with 100% certainty, that I would leave my job within the year to take some much needed time off.

And instantly, that one internal declaration altered me profoundly. I Immediately felt the enormous weight lift from my shoulders. The incessant jaw cracking I had been doing for the last year stopped. And I slept the best I had in months that night.

I should also mention that at the time, I had been battling scalp psoriasis for two years. Yet after making this internal declaration (and with making no other dietary changes) my psoriasis had virtually disappeared within 3 weeks! That was the first light-bulb moment that my body and brain were inextricably connected. And that my mental stress was affecting me physically.

But two months after my light-bulb moment came the real kicker – I was unexpectedly let-go from my job. Talk about the universe giving me a nudge!



So being newly unemployed, I had free time on my hands to figure out my next path. That’s when I felt magnetically pulled to leave the corporate world behind and start Downshiftology. To help other women restart their lives for improved health and happiness.

3. What are you doing differently now – how are you maintaining a balanced place moving forward?

I quickly learned after starting Downshiftology that I could replicate my burn-out pretty darn easily if I wasn’t careful. Even though I was now a passionate entrepreneur (and no longer a corporate warrior), my biggest challenge was me.

As a type-A, driven personality, I tend to push myself hard to succeed. And even though I had been eating a healthy, paleo-based diet for more than a year, I needed to do more. I needed to make self-care priority #1.

For me, self-care includes things like exercise, getting outside, meditating and traveling. It’s my time to completely disconnect from technology and gain clarity. But to ensure it doesn’t fall through the cracks, I now schedule my exercise and meditation on my calendar, just as I would a business meeting.

Travel and adventure are also big for me – I’m a heart-driven explorer and seeker. And this was one area that was massively compromised in my former life. But I’m happy to let you know I’ll be spending a few months in Southeast Asia later this year! I’m super excited. So watch the blog for some fun, crazy and global-paleo adventure posts in the near future!

4. If you could give your past self one piece of advice or guidance, what would it be? Or, if you wouldn’t change anything, why not?

Gosh, I would definitely say to not be so hard on myself. To be more kind and gentle. And to not worry about perception and perfection. Life is short. Embrace simplicity and live your one amazing life doing things that make your heart sing. Because life is way more fun when you’re healthy and happy!

 

Lisa Bryan is a writer, entrepreneur, real-food eater, world traveler and motivator for vibrant living. She believes that wellness is a journey and simplicity is not boring. After being diagnosed with four autoimmune diseases in two years, Lisa became an impassioned advocate for health and lifestyle transformations. She left her former life as a biotech marketing executive to inspire countless women to restart their lives, take action for positive change and make each day count. She can be found online at downshiftology.com

7 Self-Care Hacks: An Insider’s Guide to Political Action

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In honor of the People’s Climate March taking place this weekend in New York City and around the globe, I want to share some tips I’ve learned in my years of being involved with large-scale political action. (A note for those of you who don’t get involved with this type of thing, you can also use these same ideas when you’re traveling to large conferences.)

Let’s face it: being involved in days of large-scale action doesn’t exactly lend itself to an environment that is beneficial or conducive to self care. In fact, it’s often exactly the opposite. Long days, most often outdoors, with a stressful lead up… that often end up with us crashing afterward. We push ourselves so hard getting to the finish line that our bodies often collapse right after, leading to sickness and general exhaustion.

But what if there was a way to alleviate some of this stress, and make our participation in days of action a little bit easier on our bodies, and a little bit more fun in the process?

That’s where I’m headed with this post today, and I hope that you can make use of some (or all) of the ideas below as you head to New York or one of the solidarity events this weekend (or the next time you’re out getting your world-changing on).

Plan Ahead!

1. Do your research. Find out how you’re getting to the event, and give yourself plenty of time to get there. Maybe even build in some extra time. When large groups of people converge on an area, there’s often traffic congestion – and that includes not only traffic on the road, but public transit and pedestrian traffic as well.

Giving yourself extra time will help to alleviate our number one issue: stress. Less stress getting to the event = a good start to the day!

When you’re making your travel plans, also make sure to do at least a little bit of research about the area you’ll be in. Take a minute to see where things like restaurants, coffee shops and grocery stores are, just in case you need to make a pit stop at some point during the day.

Along these lines, it may help to have a plan that’s just slightly off the beaten path. Have you ever tried to stop at a coffee shop where thousands of other people are converged? Sometimes walking half a mile can make the difference between standing in line for an hour; plus as an added bonus, you’ll get your body moving!

2. Dress appropriately. Check the weather forecast. Several times. Plan your clothing for the most likely possibility, and then check the weather again the night before you leave. You want to have a raincoat if it’s raining, or sunscreen and a hat if it’s going to be hot and sunny. And, you don’t want to have a whole lot of unnecessary gear to lug around – taking the minimum amount that you need is a careful balancing act, but it’s totally worth the extra planning time.

Wear comfortable shoes. Plan for how much walking you will be doing, between getting from transit to the event area, during the event itself, etc. How many hours will you be standing on your feet? This single item may very well make or break your day.

3. Be Flexible. You know that saying about the best-laid plans? Well, yeah. Having a plan is good, but being okay with that plan changing is a must in situations like this. If you’re the uber-planning type, have a backup plan, or a plan A, B and C. But again, be prepared to improvise. Again, we’re aiming for keeping the event as low stress as we can.

And, sometimes the unexpected adventure that finds you is exactly what you needed. Be open to serendipity!

Sleep

4. Get enough sleep before the event. Hopefully you’ll be able to get in solid nights of sleep in the week leading up to the event. (Organizers, I know you’re laughing uncontrollably right now, but hear me out.) I know that there are only so many hours to get a million hours worth of things done in the lead-up, but also remember how much more efficient you are when you’re not running on empty.

Getting a good night’s sleep can mean that you’re more efficient in your execution of the things you have to do – rather than running around in a fog, you can keep a sharp mind, and the hours you have can be more effectively used.

5. Sleep on the way to the event. I know, I know – it’s hard to do, especially if you’re traveling with other people who are also super excited about the event that you’re headed to. That being said, taking a couple of hours to catch some zzz’s on the bus, the train, or in the back seat of the car you’re carpooling in can be really beneficial. Even a 20 minute nap can help.

I would recommend bringing along a travel pillow – one of those that you can roll up or squish into a tiny little bundle and strap to your backpack. They’re low weight, and take up hardly any room, but they make your travel napping so much more comfortable, and probably a lot more restful. No one likes the neck stiffness that comes from falling asleep with your head against a train window.

Or, take along the Yoga Nidra recording I made for you, and do a modified session. You probably can’t find a perfectly quiet place to lay down, but you can still do a good bit of the practice during your travel time. And think how awesome it will be to arrive at your destination all relaxed and recharged!

Nutrition (Fuel for the Body)

6. Take water. Either carry a couple of water bottles with you, or maybe a single water bottle that has a built-in filter. (I don’t travel without my filter bottle.) Staying hydrated is super important to our health, and especially when we’re outside, or traveling, or a combination of the two. Yes, it probably means having to stop by a port-a-potty during the day, but those couple of minutes aren’t worth getting dehydrated over. Seriously.

7. Take snacks. I don’t know about you, but I get seriously cranky if I don’t eat. I never, ever leave home without at least a few granola bars in my backpack when I’m headed to a direct action or large event. Even if I can’t find any other food to eat during the event, I know that I have enough in my backpack to keep me going during the day.

 

How many of these things do you usually incorporate into your routine when you’re traveling to events? Do you have any tips to add?

I’d love to hear them in the comments, and I look forward to seeing you out on the streets!

Calling Bullshit: Changing the Conversation Around Worldchanging

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Last night I was tagged on Facebook by a friend, inviting me to join an environmentally focused activist group that is looking for volunteers. While I believe 100% in what they are doing, there was a line in that call to action that pissed me off. (Enough, in fact, that I pushed the post I was supposed to publish this week to make room for this topic.)

Clear your calendars and keep ’em clear. I don’t care if it’s goddamn yoga night- if you flake out our wells get poisoned.”

I get where they are coming from; wanting to make sure that people are committed to the cause is perfectly acceptable. And sadly, there is a very real tendency for people to enthusiastically overcommit to many projects and then later drop a few balls. However, it’s the way this statement is worded that really gets to me.

So I’m calling it:

BULLSHIT.

This is the root cause of so many of the problems we face as worldchangers – the expectation that we have to martyr ourselves for the causes we believe in, sacrificing ourselves for the greater good. Look, I get it. I know that the work, the cause, the fight are all important – imperative, even.

That being said, I wish to counter: the work is important but, damn it, YOU are just as important.

It’s time to change the conversation. It’s time to start standing up for ourselves and our needs as adamantly as we do for the subject or objects of our work. It’s time to cut the bullshit.

And, it’s not going to be easy. This particular mindset has become an expectation, and has almost become a cultural norm. By stepping up and declaring that you’re opting out of this mentality, you challenge the system and the status quo. You become a rebel against the rebellion.

I don’t see that as a bad thing. The revolutionaries in our world have always seen a better future, and have been willing to step forward and say “enough”. It’s time that we honor ourselves – our health, our bodies and our minds.

It’s time.

We are worldchangers and our time has come.