SUNDAYS at 4:15pm I will be teaching Yoga Basics at Mindful Matters Wellness Center in Kailua. This hour long class will focus on the introductory postures (asanas) of yoga in a beginner vinyasa style, breath work, postural alignment, and relaxation techniques. This is an all levels class catering to all shapes and sizes. If you have any questions before attending your first class, please feel free to contact me here. $15.00 *First time student discount is $10 for your first class.
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We just had an exciting two weeks filled with adventure and family! We saw lots of creatures in the ocean, ate a bunch of local fruit, drove around the island, and finally got my husband to like paddle boarding. Hoping to buy one soon. Anyway, it has been a great couple of weeks and I thought I would share this turtle with you. :)
Hoping your weekend was filled with laughter and fun! Hasta luego! -Lorel It's that time of year again! We are all rushing around buying presents, making gifts, and thinking about ways to make others smile during the Christmas season. There are many ways to make a difference in someone's life. You can help someone in need directly, or through a great non-profit organization specializing in helping those in need. When I was a child, there was a short period in our lives when we were a family that was in need. We had the pleasure of experiencing a wonderful Christmas morning because of the charity from other people. Our local church knew we were having tough times, and they came by and brought presents over for me and my sister. I will always remember that random act of kindness from people who barely knew us, and that has made an impact on me as an individual today. When you are in a position to give or help someone in need, then we should always step forward and give with an open heart. So if you are looking for a way to help a family or group of people in need, then please check out whatever local things might be going on in your neighborhood. Churches are a great place to start, or a soup kitchen, and even the Salvation Army. If you want some ideas for helping those in need via online donation, then here are some organizations to consider: Hopefully this post inspires you to give to those in need. A financial donation can go a long way, and volunteering your time and energy can warm your heart and impact someone's life in more ways than you might realize. Spread the gift of love this season.
There are so many different things that I love to create! Jewelry, photography, drawings, ceramic sculptures, polymer clay goodies and several other things peak my interest. And what I have noticed over the past couple of years is that I don't have one set focus. One minute I love this, the next minute I love something else. However, all of my different hobbies, interests, and skill sets always have one common denominator...Mother Nature! The Great Outdoors have inspired me as far back as I can remember! I remember being 7 or 8 years old and spending hours upon hours playing outside, and I was completely mesmerized by all of the interesting creatures outside. I would climb this huge tree next to our house, and watch all the bugs crawl on or around me. I felt ONE with my surroundings. I felt like I truly belonged in that tree. I wanted to live among the animals and wake up with them by my side. We lived in front of a field, and occasionally horses would trample by or cows would look over at me from the other side of the fence. I always wanted to have conversations with them, and I wished they would talk to me about anything. It's not like I didn't have friends or was a lonely child, because I had a playmate 24/7 if I felt like playing with my sister. I just wanted to be out there with all of the creatures. There was also a very large turtle that had an underground home in the sandy yard of our Florida home, and I used to sit outside of his buried home and patiently wait for him to emerge. Even though my presence kept him down there, I was still hopeful to just catch a glimpse of his big smiling face. I remember being very curious about where all the underground holes led to. I imagined tiny underground lunchrooms and play areas for the baby insects or animals, and little home-made beds for them to sleep on at night. I tried to camp outside at night all the time, but was constantly reminded to come inside to sleep so I wouldn't get eaten alive by mosquitoes.
What is the point of all these memories? Well this is a realization for me. I have finally realized that my yearning to be one with nature, always surrounding myself with beautiful hidden getaways, and this huge desire to connect with the Earth serves as my MAIN inspiration for my art. I have always known that Mother Earth has served as a major inspiration for me, but I am just now realizing that it is the driving force for almost everything I do in life. I love our life here on Earth, I love all of it's creatures, and I plan to share my reflection of this wonderful experience with you. Please keep your eyes peeled for my ART section to become filled with more Art from the Earth. There is something to be said about losing a close family member, and it is usually something like "it gets better" or "they are in a better place" or something to that nature. But for the person who is actually experiencing it, we usually have a different take on it. It never really goes away or leaves you. That person's existence and connection with us remains in our hearts forever. Our life is never the same without that person around, and we just have to learn to deal with it and move on. I personally have lost a lot of close family members in my life, but the one that holds true and dear to my heart is the loss of my mother. My brief memory of her lives in my heart and mind through stories, pictures, home videos and some of her personal belongings. I was only 10 years old when she passed, and it hasn't really gotten any easier. Maybe because I was so young, or maybe it was because she was such an amazing person, or maybe it's because everyone says how much I remind them of her as I get older... whatever the reason, she is still very close to my heart. And my heart still hurts without her here by my side. But this blog post isn't about me and my personal experience of having that void in my life. Today's post is about the things I hold close to me to make it all ok. I have some of my mother's jewelry that I keep in a jewelry box. This jewelry is a constant reminder for me about her interests, sense of style, her personality, and what was dear to her. It tells a story, and in a way it helps me feel like I can connect with her still today. On the days I miss her the most, I will wear one of her necklaces. And as minor as this seems, it helps me tremendously in a way I can't really describe. I've never talked to a shrink, or had any professional advice or counseling on how to cope with a loss in the family. So maybe my means of coping is not "healthy" or maybe it is. Who knows. All I know is it's the small things like this that can make a difference in someone's world. My mother has been gone for 22 years, but I love her so much for being the best mother she could be to me while she was alive. And I am so grateful for the time that she was in my life.
Nobody is perfect, and we all have problems or issues that we need to work out with certain people.. but please remember that we are not on this Earth for very long. And while we are here let's try to make an impact on someone's life.. or everyone's life for that matter. Try to love all those that surround you, because they won't always be there. Any act of kindness can go a long way, so please take a moment to step outside of yourself and reach out to someone else with love and compassion. This advice I offer to you are the beliefs I have tried to live by, and to help me cope with the losses in my life. If you love someone more than anything else in the world, please give them a reminder. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today. Much love to all of you. -Lorel Last weekend we hiked near the Waihe'e Stream, just outside of the Ewa Forest Reserve. It was a humid morning full of sunshine, due to the fact it rained all night and earlier that morning. We parked our cars and met up with several other friends and their dogs at the entrance of the hike. We headed up hill and through the woods for about 3 miles. At the 3 mile point we were greeted by a lovely waterfall that was refreshing for everyone. The mist off the waterfall cooled our skin, and the pools of water below filled the bellies of our pups. My German shepherd/ husky mix was so happy to hike with her new doggie friends! She has only been here on the island for about a week, so it was good for her to get out and socialize with some other dogs. The hike was beautiful, in fact, I wished I had my Canon the whole time we were hiking. This trail is very close to our house, so we plan to head back out again soon. I will probably make the husband take the leash so that I can snap away with the ol' camera. It was a really green hike with lots of open areas to look around and explore. It was our first real hike since we moved here, and it revved up my need to go on more hikes. When I lived in Alabama, I used to go for hikes ALL the time with my friends. It is so nice to live somewhere that has an unlimited supply of hiking trails and other fun adventures. Hawaii is definitely a constant source of inspiration for me, because it really connects me back to the Earth and mother nature. During the hustle and bustle of everyday chores, duties, errands, and work schedules, it's so refreshing to escape the chaos and connect with a more serene environment. I am feeling so blessed right now to be surrounded with such beauty. Please take time for yourself this week to explore some place new and leave your cell phone at home so you can really be present in that moment. Embrace the beauty. -Lorel In case you are wondering what on Earth this is a picture of.. it is a sea turtle that I saw while kayaking this past weekend! This time I brought my waterproof camera on our weekend adventure, and whenever I saw some amazing underwater spectacle I just dunked the camera underneath the water's surface and hoped for a great shot. Unfortunately, this time I only captured a small portion of his shell and his foot. Once I build up the courage to go snorkeling, I should be able to capture more underwater footage with my new GoPro! First, I need to figure out how to use that camera, then I will combine it with snorkeling. So we rented kayaks and parked near Kailua Beach to set off to sea. I have never kayaked before, so I was really excited about this new adventure. I have been on a canoe before though, so I figured it would be something like that. So we push off the beach and head out on the Pacific Ocean, and not 5 minutes into our journey another sea turtle comes to greet me RIGHT NEXT to my kayak! I could've reached over to pet his shell, but I will never touch a sea creature on purpose. I am starting to think these turtles are trying to tell me something, because with every new adventure they appear right next to me! It's really amazing and intriguing to me. For the past few weeks, I have been reading up on yoga and yogic traditions. It's always refreshing to me to brush up my knowledge on the things I embrace in my life. Ever since the move here, I have been inspired to read more, research more, and try new things. It's amazing how certain places or things can inspire us. Anyway, today I stumbled upon this youtube video that was posted by one of my favorite Art History professors. I really was pleased to see this newly discovered form of art. It took me back to my middle school days of being bored and class and drawing pictures and designs on the edges of my books. Of course, my drawings were not anywhere near as elaborate as these paintings, but I felt like I could relate to those artists. Were these artists so inspired by what they were reading that they felt the need to reward the book with some artwork? Were these artists taking reading breaks from a wondering mind or tired eyes? Or were these artists just poor and in need of some free canvases? Whatever their reasons, no one will ever know why they decided to paint on these specific books. It is interesting to say the least. Books contain such powerful words to help inform, entertain, inspire, or to help us escape our own realities. What a beautiful setting for inspired imagery! This video really makes me wonder what inspires me and why? What inspires you?
← First off, I have to tell you about the Green Smoothie I made this morning! I finally received all of my personal belongings from our cross-country move, and one of those items that I was thrilled to unpack was my VITAMIX!!! It has been a long 2 months of me living without my precious blender. Once you get used to drinking Green Smoothies 4-7 days a week, it is not the same without it. So, let me share with you my creative blend of the day: |
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February 2015
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