Manifesting Gratitude

I've been thinking a lot recently about manifesting gratitude and positivity in my life. This of course, is partially to do with my yoga teacher training, but more accurately my yoga training has simply provided me with the vocabulary and tools to make this goal a reality. I think all of us to certain extent have the same priority, the same goal...to be happy. Different things make different people happy but ultimately we all want the same thing.

What I have learned recently through books, and live yoga sessions, and teachers, and independent experience is that there is one thing that makes everyone happy. And that is being grateful. Now, you may be thinking, 'well, being grateful is what happens after you are happy' but I disagree. Sure when something good happens or you are feeling positive and happy it is easy to say that you are grateful for that moment, and that isn't untrue. But I think a lot of people don't realize that starting your day off with a grateful heart for the simple, little things is what builds true happiness.

This isn't always easy to do. We wake up late, our coffee spills, our cars break down, someone we love gets cancer, we have a fight with a loved one, people die. But, there is always something to be grateful for, and if we can just take the time each day to appreciate those things, we will ultimately become happier people and that happiness and positivity will spill over and be shared with those around us. In simpler terms, 'appreciate the little things, because one day you will realize they were the big things'.

One thing that yoga teaches us that I have found profoundly comforting, especially given the current world climate, is that yoga is a deeply spiritual practice that focuses on bringing the individual closer to the divine. Yoga doesn't align with a specific religion or belief system, it aligns with ALL of them. Yoga is a universal truth that applies to every living thing on the earth. Yogic teachings tell us that we are all connected and all worthy of love and respect; whether we are a man, or a woman, or a cow, or the great barrier reef, or a blade of grass. Every single living thing on this planet has a role to play that can not be diminished. Yoga is a unifier.

Basically yoga is the golden rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated. I have started trying to wake up each morning and, before I even get out of bed, I run through a few things that I am grateful for; my family, my health, our home, that my husband is safe, that we live in a country where we can voice our opinions, that I have food to eat etc...It really makes a difference in my mindset for the rest of the day. Everyone knows what it's like to be around someone who is negative. They aren't bad people but somehow their negativity seems to be contagious and you find yourself in a bad mood after being around them. Positive energy works in exactly the same way! We have also all probably been around that one friend who is always happy and smiling and you leave them feeling full and happy yourself. This doesn't mean be fake and pretend to be happy when you are upset, I'm definitely not advocating hiding your true feelings. What I AM saying, is that there is always, always something to be grateful for and if we give more time and attention to those things, our hearts and minds and bodies will benefit in amazing ways :)

What are some of the ways you manifest gratitude and positivity in your life?

Happy Saturday!

April Favorites: Podcast, Book, Show

Every once in a while I remember to jot down a quick post of my favorite shows, podcasts, books, products etc... for the month. And it just so happens that I remembered today, lucky you!

Let's jump right in, shall we?

1. Show:
Black Sails. BLACK EFFING SAILS. Black. Sails. Sails of Black. Errrmahhgerddddd.

I honestly don't even know where to begin. This show is 4 seasons of piratey, swashbuckly, perfection! It is a pre-curser to Treasure Island and is loosely historical. The actors were so dynamic and well-cast, and the show even won a GLAAD award for Best Drama. Let me put it this way, if we were close friends and you couldn't get into this show, we would have to re-evaluate our friendship. Watch it!

2. Podcast:
I've been on a pretty big podcast kick recently, especially while at the gym. I also started getting depressed listening to news every morning so I alternate podcasts in so I don't suffer rage blackouts. My favorite NEW podcast is From The Heart: Conversations with Yoga Girl.

I have been following Rachel for a while now and when she said she was starting a podcast i was really excited but a little bit skeptical. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised because her podcasts are just as authentic and heartfelt as I hoped they would be. If you are interested in yoga, entrepreneurship, meditation, and healthy living you should check her out!

3. Book:
I haven't had too much time for 'fun' reading since I've been so swamped with required reading for my yoga teacher training but I have been really enjoying one of our yoga books a lot. I would honestly recommend it to anyone who is trying to learn more about yoga spirituality and incorporating breathing techniques and mediation into their life. The book is called Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness by Erich Schiffmann. It also goes into detailed explanations and benefits of many poses which has been very helpful.

What have you been reading, watching, and listening to this month?

Em

Dharana, Dhyana, Pranayama Oh My!

Is there anything worse than a Wednesday that feels like a Friday? Except perhaps a Monday that feels like a Friday...

As I write this the rain is pouring down outside in a typical North Carolina spring shower. The windows are open and the smell of the rain is blowing through the house. It is a perfect thunderstorm to fall asleep to, but here I am unable to turn my brain off.

Recently I've been doing my daily meditation practice at night before bed so I can fall asleep easier. I never used to be one for meditation, too hard to sit still and slow my brain down. But throughout my yoga teacher training I have come to realize how beneficial it is. It has helped to learn that it is considered normal to struggle with interfering thoughts during meditation. They teach us to simply let the thought pass through, and go back to your mantra or breath each time one occurs, and that slowly over time that will happen less and less.

Currently we are practicing silent Om Japa concentration (dharana) and silent SO-HAM meditation (dhyana). Basically, you find a comfortable, meditative position and recite the mantras in your head. At first I felt so ridiculous and it was impossible to stop my internal dialogue. But it has gotten easier with practice! Even though I still find my mind wandering, it has now become a matter of getting in the zone and then thinking 'I'm doing it!' only to realize I just ruined it with that thought haha! Oh well, regardless, it has been quite an interesting experiment and I am pretty thoroughly sold on the idea of a nightly mediation and breathing practice :)

I use an app on my phone called Insight Timer, which allows you to set a time and intention for your practice. I definitely suggest it if you are interested in trying to incorporate a structured meditation or pranayama practice into your life. This app also has guided meditation sessions for any number of things; sleep, anxiety, encouragement, confidence. Check it out, its a neat app!

I also use this app for my nightly pranayama, or breathing practice (also required by my RYT200 course). Each night we are asked to incorporate a Nadi Shodana breathing exercise and a basic 2:1 breathing exercise. In Nadi Shodana, you breathe through one nostril at a time using the vishnu mudra. And in 2:1 breathing you inhale for a certain count (say, 3) and exhale for double that (in this case, 6). I have a....complicated relationship with Nadi Shodana since I can't ever breath through my nose, so I usually do it first so I can use my 2:1 breathing time to calm myself down afterwards haha!

All of this would have sounded crazy to me before I started this class! But it has been very eye opening and I recommend researching some of these methods if you are curious because they aren't as crazy as they sound :)

Does anyone else have a nightly routine involving meditation or breathing (pranayama) techniques? What about a nightly asana practice? 

Nighty Night

Em

Oki Doki

Hello friends :)

A lot has been going on over here in the Nardi Morgan household!

Last weekend we all traveled down to Texas for J's Winging Ceremony. It was a wonderful weekend filled with family, friends, and lots of celebrating! And now, my sweet hubby is officially a winged naval aviator.

It is so crazy to think back to when we first started dating and he was just beginning flight school. Since then, we have moved 3 times, lived in 4 different states, bought 2 homes, and gotten married! These past three years have been quite a whirlwind and things aren't slowing down anytime soon because...

At the end of this year, we are PCS'ing to Okinawa Japan for our first duty station!

I'll admit it took me a while to find Okinawa on a world map because it's not exactly close to mainland Japan, but after googling images of the beautiful beaches and learning a little bit about the culture there, the shock has worn off and I'm starting to get excited.

Thankfully we have a few months to get everything organized for this adventure because let me tell you, moving to the other side of the world is no small feat! 

I've been so bad about blogging recently with everything going on, but I'm sure I will be very thankful for this platform once were in Japan so I can share all of our adventures and pictures :)

On an unrelated note, I am going into month 3 of my yoga teacher training! It has been such a wonderful, educating experience and I am falling more in love with my yoga practice every day. It's amazing what incorporating a daily asana and meditation practice into your life can do! I can't wait to share what I learn as I begin teaching classes!

That's all for now...much more to come!

Em

End of the Month Update

Whew! Today is the last day of February and I am stepping out of the whirlwind to breathe for a minute and write an update post since things have been so crazy lately. I don't know what I was thinking when I thought that things would slow down now that the wedding is over. With the combination of work, yoga teacher training, flight school, and every day life things, we have been a bit all over the place. J is in the last month of flight school and I have never seen him so busy, its almost like he's back in TBS, but we just keep telling ourselves that its almost over, its almost over, its almost over. And then we will actually get to live in the same state again! What a concept, hunh?

Thankfully, I have been super busy with the spring real estate market and have had very little time time dwell on the fact that in the next few weeks we will be getting our first duty station assignment; Japan, Hawaii, New River or San Diego...talk about the four corners of the earth! But honestly, it has felt so amazing to get back into the family business and be working 24/7. I forgot how much I enjoy the thrill of writing up offers and helping my clients find their dream homes! It's like a big jig-saw puzzle! It also doesn't hurt that I love bragging about my awesome city to people and helping them to find their place in Durham. The city really sells itself, as is evidenced by the fact that the housing inventory is crazy low right now, but nobody wants to leave and I don't blame them!

I also was able to get into a Yoga Teacher Training Program for my RYT200 through the MyCAA funding for military spouses which is a great opportunity! I am doing my training through Yoga Garden in Apex and even though it is a hike to get out there, the teachers are wonderful and I'm excited to keep learning what they have to teach us. I have definitely had to amp up my yoga practice though, we are required to attend a certain number of classes a week, and keep a nightly journal on our asana, mouna, pranayama, and dharana practice. Meditation has NEVER been my strong suit so I've been putting in some good extra practice on that and it is getting easier to slow my mind down. The trick is to find that happy medium where you are calm and peaceful but still awake...lol, tricky tricky. But apparently it is frowned upon to start snoring during savasana sooooo...yup.

I'm having a lot of fun with my practice though and it has been wonderful to read all of the yoga books we are required to read for class. Being the nerd that I am, I found these amazing asana flash cards on Etsy that show detailed instructions and descriptions of the 108 major yoga asanas. It may have been the highlight of my week, and they have been super helpful in learning the sanskrit names for the poses and organizing class sequences! I 100% recommend them to anyone wanting to gain a more in depth knowledge of the asanas, whether or not you're in a teacher training program!

In the next month or so I will start to teach some little practice classes on my back deck to learn how to vocalize during a class and practice helping others find their flow. I'm nervous but excited because it seems very similar to teaching a dance class but I haven't done that in a while...

What are some of your favorite poses? Sequences you wish were done more in class? Things you don't like in yoga classes? Music preference? I'm looking for any and all feedback so I can take it into account :) Also, any tips from you yoga pros and people who have gone through the training program before!

Lay it on me!
Em

P.S
Here is the Etsy listing for the flashcards I was talking about! #supportlocal #durham

108 Yoga Love

Wedding Thoughts: Vendors!!

I am super guilty of going into this whole wedding business completely blind, with very little concept of how much work actually goes into pulling off a shin-dig of this size. Thankfully, my mom did most of the legwork especially while I was out of the state with J for the first part of flight school.

But let me tell you...holy moly. The number of details and random things you don't even think about is astounding. However, if you are lucky enough to have wonderful vendors like I did, everything will go much smoother! I absolutely loved our wedding team. Everyone worked seamlessly together and I never once felt stressed about anything because I knew they had it under control.

Our Photographer: Jamie Blow
Jamie was a serious blessing! She was referred to us by a family friend whose daughter also used Jamie for her wedding and simply RAVED about her. I was blown away by Jamie's calm and collected personality and her ability to make everyone feel at ease immediately. She even kept our crazy bridal party in check and having a blast while taking photos outside in 40 degree weather! I never felt uncomfortable or silly while we were posing for pictures because Jamie knew exactly what would look good and not hokey. Jamie was also easy to get in touch with, super responsive, and very helpful in the months leading up to our wedding. She was efficient and quick and so great at capturing the love and laughter of our special day. I plan on using Jamie for all of our life events and couldn't recommend her more highly.



Our DJ: Randy Bennett with Bunn DJ Company
Randy was our awesome DJ. He covered everything from the ceremony, to the cocktail hour, to the reception and after party! Randy was very easy to talk to and work with and did an excellent job of creating playlists that fit our personalities. Several people of different ages came up to me after the wedding and remarked on how well he covered music for all generations. There was never a lull in the party and everyone was dancing until the very end of the night! I really enjoyed working with Randy because he was amazing at guiding us through the process of selecting songs and organizing the sound for the evening. He was also an awesome MC during the evening. He was organized and fun and easy going. Randy even provided us with an audio thumb drive of the whole ceremony and a playlist from the night!

Our Videographer: Elijah Nacita with Morgan Scott Films
I did not get a chance to meet Elijah until the day of the wedding. He and his partner (and wife!) came into our hotel suite and immediately put me and my bridesmaids at ease. They were quick and efficient when it came to taking video of us all getting ready and worked perfectly in tandem with Jamie to capture each special moment. I think one of the moments that really struck me with these guys was when they were capturing our first look. I was worried it would be awkward and feel fake but they told us exactly what to do and then blended into the background and it felt like it was just the two of us. Elijah spent the whole day with us from the first look to our sparkler exit and I am so excited to see our film! Everyone should definitely check out their website and watch their work, but don't forget tissues!!!

Our Cake Designer: Jenny Leinbach (Yellowbird Baking)
Jenny was our cake designer and baker! She was so fun to work with and her homemade frostings and cakes were absolutely delicious. I had such a great time trying all of the flavors and mixing and matching different tastes together. Jenny even mixed up a special baileys Irish cream filling for us that was to die for! If you are looking for a beautiful cake that tastes amazing and is from a local Durhamite, Jenny is perfect :)

Hair and Make-up: 140 Salon and Dry Bar 
About 3 months before the wedding I decided that our original salon was not going to work for the size of my bridal party. I was so worried that I had just completely screwed us all over but then I walked into 140 Salon and was immediately put at ease by the wonderful staff there. They set up a hair and make-up trial for me THAT WEEK and the rest is history. Jill, who is the bridal specialist, took the picture I brought her from my Instagram account and made it a reality within 40 minutes. She also did my make-up exactly how I wanted it with complete ease and confidence. She made sure my hair stayed up all night but didn't hurt my head. AND she made sure that my face was flawless but not cakey and overdone looking. I honestly wish I could have her come live with me and make me look like that everyday!! The other wonderful stylists at the salon were just as fabulous and each and every one of us walked out of there on time with gorgeous hair and makeup! Also, the prices were amazing for the level of work these guys did and the environment was absolutely perfect for a bridal party. Definitely recommend this salon for your special day!

Our Venue and Wedding Planner: Sarah Leach at Bay 7 (Angus Barn)
Sarah is the wedding coordinator for Angus Barn at Bay 7. She was the glue that held everything together. Her organization and calm attitude made the day flow seamlessly, but more importantly she was the one who organized everything with us in the months leading up to our wedding. Sarah kept up with me and my mom the whole time and made sure we knew what was happening every step of the way. She helped us organize the menu, layout, flow of the evening, ceremony and everything in between! I never worried about anything going wrong on our wedding day because I had complete confidence in Sarah's ability to make everything perfect :)

A lot goes into making the wedding of your dreams happen but the best advice I can give you is: gather your team of experts early in the process and work closely with them because they are the ones who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that everything is perfect.

Can't wait to share our video and photos with you all as they come in!!
xo em

2017 Booklist: Part One

Every year I try to get my thoughts together and make a list of all the books I want to read in the following year. Now, this list almost always changes as the year progresses, books get added, they fall off the list, I read part of one and hate it, I re-read Harry Potter 8 millions times, but its a good baseline. This year, following the last week of madness in our country, my list has undergone perhaps one of the biggest overhauls ever. I have always been curious and pushed myself to learn about different topics but this past month has scared the crap out of me. Seeing the level of ignorance and fear that is in our world today, and witnessing first hand how it combats love, acceptance, and progress has lit a fire under my butt to learn as much about the state of our world as possible.

With that being said, my book list is basically shot to hell and has now split into two lists (because obviously some 'fun' books will still be required). So here we go...

Learning List:
1. The Shock Doctrine (Naomi Klein)
2. Dark Money (Jane Mayer)
3. White Trash (Nancy Isenberg)
4. This Changes Everything (Naomi Klein)
5. Six Degrees (Mark Linus)
6. Listen, Liberal (Mark Frank)
7. Hillbilly Elegy (J.D Vance)
8. Field Notes From a Catastrophe (Elizabeth Kolbert) She also wrote The Sixth Extinction, which I loved!
9. The Big Picture (Sean Carroll)
10. Strangers in Their Own Land (Arlie Hochschild)
11. The New Jim Crow (Michelle Alexander)
12. Freedom is a Constant Struggle (Angela Davis)
13. We Should All Be Feminists (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)


What are you reading? I would love suggestions on other relevant reads!
Em

The Elephant in the Womb...I Mean Room...

I want to take a minute today to talk about how surprised I was to see that there were several women that I know personally who posted on social media in the last couple of days saying that they didn't feel like the Women's March was inclusive to all women. This honestly shocked me, and also shook me to my core because as much as I try, I can't fathom why a woman wouldn't be able to understand how important it is to have comprehensive reproductive rights!

My understanding is that the real concern some women have about this movement is that is advocating on behalf of those who are Pro-Choice. For a person who is Pro-life, I can see how this would make it seem as though you are not welcome or included in this movement. But I firmly believe that this isn't true. The real issue here is that bipartisan politics have made us all think that being pro-life and pro-choice are polar opposites.

This unnecessary but unsurprising labeling forces us to take sides. But how can we be expected to take such a black and white stance on an issue that is so subjective? Human life is involved and there is no way that one decision can be made in an office somewhere in Washington, that will be effective and right for every situation.

Pro-choice is not anti-life or pro-abortion. Being Pro-choice is acknowledging that abortion is a difficult, multi-faceted, complicated, and subjective issue that should not be regulated by the government. Being pro-choice is being in favor of a woman's right to choose what is best for her and her family in that specific situation. Are you really pro-life if you are in favor of bringing a child into this world where they are not going to be cared for in the best way possible?? What about if the fetus isn't viable or has a terrible illness that would bring pain and suffering to the parents and the child itself? Or if the life of the mother is at risk?? The point is, these decisions belong to the women who are EXPERIENCING them. Who are we to judge and regulate other peoples bodies?? No person has the right to control another persons decision to bring another life into this world.

If you are truly Pro-life, then it should be a priority to ensure that EVERYONE has access to affordable contraception, reproductive education, and healthcare. THAT is being pro-life. Not debasing and judging women you don't know about a decision that is already incredibly difficult.

The biggest difference that I see between people who are Pro-choice and Pro-life is the word CHOICE. I do not judge my friends who believe that no fetus should ever be aborted. But I do disagree with them. Does that mean that I advocate abortion in all situations? Of course not. But I do respect my fellow women enough to know that they know their bodies and their situations better than any politician in Washington does.

I would never judge a woman for getting an abortion, in any situation. I would also never judge a woman's decision to carry a baby to term, in any situation. And THAT is what being Pro-choice means to me. I respect you and your decisions. All I'm asking is that you do the same.

Let's take away the ridiculous coined terms 'Pro-choice' and Pro-life'....what are we left with? Thousands of unique, complicated situations that are being over-simplified, or just over-looked, by a bunch of politicians. We need to slow down, think, and truly understand what it is that we are arguing about.

I would like to be given the freedom to decide what is best for my body and my family, and I want all women to have that same freedom. Simple.

Sunday Routines

For me, Sunday's are a day to prepare mentally and literally for the week ahead. I love to start the week with a clean house and nothing to worry about chore-wise because, lets be honest, if it doesn't get done over the weekend I'm definitely not going to get to it during the week.

Laundry gets washed and folded and sometimes even put away! The dishes are washed, floors vacuumed and swiffered, groceries are stocked up, and I organize my work planner for the week. Is this borderline OCD? Probably. Do I love doing it anyway because I'm crazy? Yep. Does that mean it's definitely OCD? Most likely. Do I have more questions than answers? Always.

On Sundays when the weather is nice enough, I will also wash all of the floor mats and linens and spray them with my home made essential oil blend (usually peppermint, lavender, orange oils) to promote peaceful energy aaaand get rid of any doggy smells. We also diffuse oils and open up the windows to get some fresh air flowing. That always makes sure the house smells clean and homey for the week.

One of the best things I think you can do to start the week off on a positive note is to put clean sheets on Sunday night. Maybe it's just me, but I always sleep better on clean sheets. Lavender pillow spray is also pretty great ;)

The real estate market is so intense this time of year and it makes a huge difference for me to not have to worry about too many chores during the week so Sunday's have become a little refuge for me to sort through everything and plan for the week ahead. Obviously with 4 animals, vacuuming and swiffering are not just a once a week thing, but doing a big scrub down shrinks those dust bunnies down exponentially.

Today I was actually a little bit surprised when I opened up all of the windows because it feels, smells, and sounds like Spring! I know were a couple of months away from the first day of Spring but NC has the weirdest weather. Also, global warming. Anyway, there are birds everywhere and the air feels crispy with not a hint of humidity. Perfect day for getting some fresh air flowing through the house.

Now, I know I'm not the only person with a crazy routine...what are some of the things you do to get ready for the week ahead? I'm always open to suggestions (and ways to make your house smell good when you are constantly surrounded by fur babies)

Kitchen cleaned, & oatmeal chocolate chip cookies in ze oven
 because the wedding is over and I am eating everything.

Thank god for my planner, otherwise I would never know what is happening.
Also, email inbox is empty hollerrrr

Remembering to water the plants is not high on the priority scale but even Fergus the Fiddle Leaf Fig
gets some love on Sundays

Diffusing a blend of peppermint, lavender and sweet orange. Smells sooo yummy!

Clean(ish) floors and some natural light to get some good vibes going ;)

Happy Sunday!
E

Inaugural Blues

In honor of the inauguration of our 45th president today I want to make a few things clear, because I love this country and believe that is is ALREADY great...

1. I will continue to uphold the belief that all men and women are created equal.

2. I will not judge anyone based on their skin color, religion, socio-economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, green card status, or any other arbitrary demographic. 

3. I will do everything in my power to counter hate with love and acceptance. 

4. I will work harder to understand those who have different opinions from me. 

5. I will be more involved in politics and government on a local level. 

6. I will continue to recycle, support the movement towards keeping our planet healthy, and educating myself on ways to be a better earth dweller. 

7. I will hold my representatives accountable for their actions and speak out when they don't hold everyones best interest at heart. 

8. I will speak out for, and stand by those who are attacked and discriminated against by this president and his cabinet. 

9. I will do better about staying up to date on current events locally, nationally, and abroad, because education is the only way we can fight against those who try to keep our eyes shut to the real issues. 

10. I will be marching LOCALLY in Raleigh tomorrow in the Women's March! 

Hope to see you there!

"When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty." -Thomas Jefferson

Wedding Thoughts: My Bridesmaids

Wedding weekend was a success! Everything went so smoothly and felt so completely organic, I honestly couldn't have asked for a better experience. There are so many emotions you go through on your wedding day, and it can be so difficult to stay in the moment and really feel whats happening but thanks to my wonderful bridesmaids, I never felt overwhelmed or anxious (in a bad way).

I keep trying to think back over everything that happened by my brain is completely foggy! My sister-in-law Maggie told me this morning that it will come back to me in a couple of days after I recover! All I know is that I felt surrounded by love and happiness the whole time.

A huge part of what made this weekend so special was having these amazing women with me. I have been very lucky in my life to always have wonderful girlfriends. There are few things more important to me than my support system of strong (independent haha), kind, intelligent, hilarious, and loyal women. These 8 ladies have been with me through ups and downs, highs and lows, thick and thin. I've known some of them my whole life, and some for only a few short years. But each one of them has been there for me countless times and contributed to who I am as a person. 

Getting to share my special day with you ladies was incredible. You reminded me to be calm and enjoy everything. I never felt worried about anything going wrong, and every time I started to get flustered you were there to smile encouragingly and hand me a large glass of alcohol! I love the imagery associated with how we line up and stand during the ceremony, because it is perfectly descriptive of how I always feel like you guys have my back and are standing there to support me and uphold me with your friendship. I can't wait to continue celebrating with all of you over the years as we grow and change <3

These are only a few of the pictures taken on our cell phones this weekend so get ready to be continuously bombarded over the next few days... #noshame