Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Yoga Teacher Training Fundraiser

Hello friends. Thank you so much for taking a moment to read this. I am taking this opportunity to teach myself to overcome fear and say the three words I hate saying the most. I. Need. Help. Those words... never easy to say, but they open our hearts to love and kindness. 

I may have used these words with a few of you in the past and for your understanding and kindness, I thank you.  When I was in high school, my mother helped me drag my butt to a performing arts school... NOCCA. I went to study to learn about acting and how to make it in the crazy world of performing for money. It was there, down in New Orleans that I discovered my true love: Yoga. To be completely honest, I was horrible when I first started. My drama movement class focused on yoga as a way to move the body and free yourself. I wasn't the most bending friendly person in the class. It wasn't until a year later that I was awarded best in class; an awarded I never thought would be given to me. Shortly after I finally felt that I belonged in the yoga world, I broke my left foot. Which left me in a cast for about 8 months. I had to relearn how to do everything... walk, move my toes, and most importantly, retrain my left foot to love yoga again. My physical therapist promised me I would never step foot on a yoga mat again (No pun intended, laughs, laughs). Unlike the promise my therapist made me, I also made a promise to myself that I would not stop working my bad foot until it was screaming to bend upside down again. It took me about 2 years before I could make it through an hour yoga class. But I could do it and that was enough motive for me to push on. I have been opening my heart to yoga for 5 years now. My foot is a thing in the past and he was wrong (my physical therapist), I am not only able to practice yoga but I'm now ready to become a yoga instructor. I should invite him to my first class (laughs, laughs). 
This is something I've considered and wanted for years but have never been able to afford the training. I recently found out the yoga studio I practice with actually holds a teacher training course (Yoga Bliss in Baton Rouge). It is a 200 hour course that is Yoga Alliance approved. I missed the January dead line to sign up for the course running through April (my partner and I could not afford it). The next teacher training course for Yoga Bliss will begin right after the January students finish up in April (the course will begin in March). It is my goal to be one of the few blessed yoga students in training with Yoga Bliss this March. Once completing the course, I would be a Registered Yoga Teacher.

For the past year, my partner and I have been saving up so I could afford to attend the Yoga Bliss Teacher Training course. One week before Christmas, I lost my job working for a well known company that I was so proud to be working for. The money we saved up had to be spent on paying our mortgage and other bills. So, now I am back to square one with my savings account. I am still searching for another job (mostly so I can start saving again!!!) This is why I have turned to asking my friends to help make my dream and career a reality. I was so sure I would be able to sign up for the the next teacher training course, but without a job.... it is looking like I will have to push it off another six months. It has been extremely hard bouncing from job to job trying to make it work. The end result has always been the same... my heart just wasn't in it. I am more than ready to start the career I am passionate about! No more dreading the alarm clock, no more counting down the hours until the day is done. Just loving life and loving what yoga can bring into a life. I am extremely excited to begin my life as a Yoga Instructor... to be able to give back and teach people what yoga can really do. To make a difference in someone's life just by sharing what I know about yoga-- That's when the day is done.

I am asking you all, my friends, to give anything you can, anything at all.  I am extremely grateful you all are in my life and just the act of you reading this is a gift to me. I greatly appreciate any help I receive in becoming a better woman and a better friend. I know that times are hard and most of you have families and obligations so know that your encouragement is a gift in it's self. 

If you are able to give, I would be more than happy to pay it forward and lend an hour of my time to you, your families, or any organization of your choosing. Whether it may be time at an animal shelter, helping to clean your home, getting involved in a youth program at a church; anything! The sky is the limit! Once your donation is made, please contact me via Facebook, the comments on this site, or email to arrange my pay it forward.

I have included the link to the Yoga Bliss Teacher Training website, if you would like more info about the program.   

Again, Thank you for taking the time to read this! 

With all my love and gratitude,

Annie 

Monday, January 26, 2015

Cheating and Facing Facts

Hello everyone and welcome back to Project Health!

Today's post is going to be a little different-- instead of recipes or tips, I actually wanted to give an update about how my vegan lifestyle is going. To start, I should put out the disclaimer that this lifestyle is not easy. As I'm sure most of you know. I got to this journey in my life because I went to my doctor with an issue and my partner and I came out with an answer. I often think back to that day. Maybe I'm being a little dramatic... but this was no joke. It was sad, scary, and horrible. I remember sitting on the cold table, waiting for the doctor to figure out what was wrong with me. Results showed there was no lump in my breast and this news came with relief. As soon as my mind stopped rushing with thoughts of the C word... Cancer... a new fear became present--- if it's not breast cancer, then what the hell is wrong with me? After many more appointments, my doctor finally stated the most scary statement of all... "I don't know what's wrong." My heart dropped... I remember thinking, "How hard can this be to figure out?" and of course, "What's going to happen to me?"
There were no more test that could be preformed, there were no more results that could show sunlight. They really didn't know... and neither did I.

"No soy, nothing that contains hormones, like meat, dairy, or anything that comes from an animal for that matter." My response to this was of course true to form, "What am I suppose to eat?!" And then the doctor said the most strange word of all; "Vegan". The only true answer the doctors could come up with.... Vegan lifestyle.

After I got dressed and left the Cancer Center, I felt lost. What was a girl like me doing at a Cancer Center. I felt so lost in fact, I couldn't even find my car. I began looking around at the mostly full parking lot and wondering what all these people were here for... and if maybe someone had my same problem. Then maybe I wouldn't be alone.

I battle with myself every single day about my diet. Wondering if it really makes a difference. Wondering if that one slice of cake will really cause me harm.
Back in October, my partner and I traveled to Arkansas to get married. On this trip, I put my cake theory to the test. At first I didn't feel any different. But I can honestly say, sitting here at my computer today, I know the doctors were right. I have been stabled with a vegan lifestyle and I just have to come to terms with that.
The more I cheat my diet, the worse I feel, the more damage I am doing to my body. So, here's to no more cheating! Vegans of the world, Take me away!!