Lands’ End Labyrinth, San Francisco, 2007

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This weekend I decided to dedicate my entire Saturday to working on my GLOW.
I started my day with a carrot, apple, parsley, ginger juice! YUM! Have you guys discovered the joys of juicing yet? I got a fabulous juicer a couple of years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since. Of course, I owe it to him, my “Juice(y)man” who bought me the machine, and who is sweet enough to treat me to his specialty elixirs every weekend. I’m afraid not all these machines come with a “Juice(y)man”… But perhaps could attract one? =)
After my energizing drink, I went on a healing walk starting at the Sutro Baths and ending at Eagles Point. I highly recommend this walk if you are a visitor looking for a less touristy view of San Francisco, or even if you’re a local interested in some moderate exercise and fresh air. This beautiful 2 mile road starts at the north end of Ocean Beach and goes along the water all the way to Land’s End (on the west side of the Golden Gate Bridge). About half a mile in, you get to Mile Rock Beach, which is a quiet spot surrounded by cliffs and trees. On low-tide clear days, it is possible to walk by the water, sit on the rocks and gaze at the Marin Headlands.
Thankfully, I was able to do just that. It was kind of an overcast morning and everything looked rather silver and mysterious when I arrived there. I walked towards the south of the beach and sat on the tallest furthest rock I could find. One of the special features of this walk is the fact that even though you are technically inside the city, you don’t hear any traffic whatsoever. So I took the opportunity to be alone there, to slow down and listen to the continuous sound of the waves gentling rolling in and out… I tried to match my breath to it and relax deeply. After about 30 minutes in the chilling air, it was time to start walking again to generate some heat. I noticed a path leading to a plateau over the water, which I had never explored before. To my surprise, there it was: The Land’s End Labyrinth. The Labyrinth was created in 2004, but I’d never heard of it until recently, when she mentioned it to me… What a pleasant new discovery! After I walked my way in and out of the Labyrinth’s center, I climbed the hill behind it and watched its magic from above. I finally witnessed why Labyrinths are considered a shrine to peace. In order to go through it, everyone gets into somewhat a meditative state. It was fun to watch people walking through it with a smile, taking their time to figure it out and paying attention to their every step. For more information (and photos!) on San Francisco Labyrinths go here.
Following my wholesome morning, I headed to Cafe Gratitude for a nutritious and delicious meal. Meggy says “nobody cares what you had for lunch”. But I suppose that when your lunch is called “I’m flourishing” you must mention it. Check out the menu to get an idea of what to expect from this alternative cafe. Definitely not an option if you’re a big meat eater or seeking pub grub. Instead, be prepared for a very (I mean VERY!) “new agey” vibe and tasty healthy food.
My next stop: Mani and Pedi. How can you glow without them? Here is my favorite salon for those special days when you’re willing to pay what it takes to feel like a princess. More importantly, it is right next to another haven in the city. Ladies and Gentlemen (Yes! Gentlemen too!) I’m thrilled to present the best massage spa in town. Therapeia is the place where I indulge ocasionally, in the hands of my beloved therapist, Jeannelle! How can you not melt? Byzantine chants creating a soft mood in the background… And among other treats, an eucalyptus scented hot towel placed slowly on your face, right before your head-face massage. Ahhhhhhh…
You might be wondering… Is that day over yet? Well… I warned you that this was about glowing! So for the “grand finalle” and for the good night of sleep that followed it: hot tea, sake and sushi! If you live in the city, check out Sunset’s best kept secret: Goemon! Here you’ll have an authentic sushi bar experience and perhaps a few too many sake cups…
Needless to say… I started my week GLOWING!
How about you? Is it time for you to dedicate an entire day to “working” on your GLOW?

New beginnings, Black Rock City, NV, 2005
“Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
First of all, I wanted to thank you for your comments and e-mails regarding my last post. I appreciate you taking the time to write and offer your support. You are the best! =D
This week I came across a couple of articles in the Yoga Journal magazine, discussing intentions and the process of starting over. These articles totally changed my attitude. In fact, they brought me the first sunshine after the monsoon!
In one of these articles, Phillip Moffitt described the means of setting an intention as “aligning with the deepest part of yourself while surrendering to the reality that you often get lost in your wanting mind.”
This was such an eye opening phrase to me. How often do we make resolutions and fiercely go through our lists until suddenly, life happens! At first, our “wanting mind” sets targets that are crisp, clear and very ambitious. Soon, reality kicks in and we get overwhelmed, we miss our marks, we become frustrated and possibly even give up on our dreams.
I certainly have done this in regards to the gym, yoga, relationship, savings, eating habits, work and my art. I’ve set unrealistic goals at pretty much every area of my life and got disappointed when I couldn’t cope. It is hard to keep up the good work 24/7, isn’t it? And for me, it’s even harder to deal with the notion of failure. I never surrender and forgive myself right away.To the contrary, I am fast to judge myself and complain. Does this happen to you too?
When I fail a couple of times in a row… My God! I start feeling like I don’t even know who I am anymore. I allow ‘purple gremlins’ to quickly gather around to tell me the craziest things: “You’ll never pull that off. What a fraud! Maybe just give up. This is stupid. Why bother? You can’t change, silly!”
But what I realized (thanks to Phillip Moffitt!) is that I’m just resisting the best part: I CAN start over anytime! What if instead of reacting emotionally, I could just notice that there is need for re-alignment? Doesn’t it feel much more positive that way? It also implies that I do know where my center is. All I have to do is reconnect with my intention. From that perspective, I can start over joyfully every time, because it really isn’t a brand new start, it’s the continuation of my practice. Ahhhhh…
If I’m meditating and my mind starts wildly jumping away… I can refocus on the breath and… Start over. If I’m loosing my patience at work and getting frustrated… I shall step back and… Start over. If I have been missing yoga and feeling unbalanced… I can show up and… Start over. If I am not eating healthy this week… I can grab an apple and… Start over.
This was such a revelation to me. We can start over, guys! It’s okay. We all do it, right? So we might as well enjoy the opportunity to try once again, and re-discover the truth and beauty in our hearts.
I’m hoping that this exercise will lead me to more acceptance and self knowledge. I’m also getting the feeling that if I’m connected with my intentions and willing to start over, I’ll stay on the right path, and therefore, I’ll more likely achieve my goals.
How about you? Are there any areas where you need to start over?

Monsoon, Kerala, 2004
“You are all drenched for it is raining hard. In my world it is always fine weather. There is no night or day, no heat or cold. No worries beset me there, nor regrets. My mind is free of thoughts, for there are no desires to slave for.”
sri nisargadatta maharaj
We had lovely weather here in San Francisco this weekend. However, I chose this image and quote for my post, because together they combine successfully, a couple of ingredients I am struggling to balance in my life: softness and strength.
I reflected on the areas of my life where I’ve had lots of “rain” lately. Why am I feeling drenched?
The truth is that I’m striving for a work life that will nourish and support me on my inner journey. I am a little hesitant to discuss my professional life online, but it’s been very hard to steer away from it, when so much of my time is devoted to my job. So, without getting into the specifics, I decided to raise here some of the questions I have, to see if any of you out there would relate in any way.
I currently have a leadership position in a field where most of the “creatives” and decision makers are older and male, or else, very aggressive females. I feel constant pressure to prove myself through my assertiveness. I feel a huge challenge to keep my guard up on negotiations. I don’t like having to expect the worse from people. I like to believe they will be honest in their part of the transaction. I find it really discouraging when trusting is not an option. I dislike seeing individuals call out weakness in others, in order to make themselves look good. Witnessing the “finger pointing” instead of team work. I don’t like being on defense/offense mode all the time either. And I feel horrible when I find myself slipping into these sort of actions as well. Does anyone out there feel the same? Is this a common scene in business relations? It seems like the ego is ruling the workplace. Men and women alike are letting their competitiveness win over their core values. I am also afraid that the corporate system is encouraging this destructive behavior, with their uneven compensation and benefit system. Is there a way to be strong yet gentle, in this kind of environment?
I’ve given this a lot of thought and a major part of me just wants to develop my own “soul supporting” business. In the meantime though, as I was discussing with a dear friend yesterday, how can we all help to reverse this formula? Could it be our purpose, to help change this business model through developing our own inner strength?
As you can see, I have a lot of questions, as usual. =) But at yoga the other day, I had a little epiphany (or at least an idea!). When we are holding a pose and we start perfecting it, we ground ourselves through our feet and at the same time, lengthen through our arms and the crown of our heads. This beautiful concept of opposition creates more stability from our center, and allows us to hold a stronger pose in balance. Would it be possible to apply the same theory at work?
The process would be similar to the practice on the mat, I think. We would need to take a breath first, before reacting. Once we knew clearly where we wanted to go, we would ground ourselves in our thorough knowledge of the situation. We would initiate the move with intention from our center, and not from our ego. Then, consciously, we could perhaps expand and offer a firm solution with a soft heart. What do you think? Something to try out…
When I was taking the boat ride above and it started to rain, I was a bit upset and thought the weather was ruining the experience. Instead, the simplicity of the man above, changed my point of view with his very clever insight and bright attitude. He calmly opened his umbrella and cheerfully continued to guide us along the backwaters. He did not feel bothered by the rain at all. He told us stories about the monsoons and countered my whining, with a very confident lesson. He said: “Every experience is an opportunity for devotion, madam. This is the point of living: to find God and good always and everywhere.”
The practice continues…
Can I gracefully open my umbrella at work and sail through the storm?