#61 Life is fleeting

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Yesterday I learned of a friend's passing.

On Christmas Eve, when many of us were celebrating the holiday with family, she left us. Finally she had found peace from a body which had treated her worse than anyone could deserve. I always wondered how life could be so unfair to one person, how someone so young could be dealt such a raw hand. Through it all she managed to maintain her strength, courage, and fierce love of life. She was an inspiration to me. My only hope is that everyone could be lucky enough to know someone as special as her.

Goodbye, dear Salima. I'll miss you.

Namaste, K.

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# 60 Yoga rooms are like a box of chocolates

Yesterday I went back to teaching one of my favorite classes after being off for a couple of weeks for the holiday break. I returned to find...an empty studio. What the @#$!?

Apparently without warning*, my class of 5+ years of which the last three had been taught in the same room had been switched locations. You can imagine the confusion: Students new and old were scattered around the large fitness facility. Half were waiting in the new room, half were aimlessly walking the halls like Lycra-clad zombies not knowing where to go. What an enlightened mess.

I fought the change tooth and nail while still trying to set a good example for my students . I wanted to do what every good yogi should do and go with the flow.

Because with yoga rooms as with your yoga practice, you never know what you're gonna get.

*To be fair, I had been told in advance about the change in a mass email sent prior to the holidays. I didn't read the fine print in the email, and thus didn't know of the change.

Photo credit: David Blaine of Voyager Photography taken at the beautiful Soul Connexion Studio in Calgary, AB.

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#59 You don't need to go to a studio to teach

In a perfect world my students would always attend my classes in person. Why wouldn't they? I'm such a charmer. Better yet, if money were no object all my students would receive one-on-one personalized classes in the comfort of their home. In the real world, time and money are reasons for why yogis can't always make it to the studio. But fret not, there's another choice.

In comes YogaVibes.com, online resource to high-quality yoga instructional videos and classes. I'm proud to announce I'm now part of the YogaVibes team. *insert applause here* Now I can harrass my students in the comfort of their livingrooms.

"Sit straight, shoulders back, lift your chest!" Yoga instruction with me will never be the same again.

Enjoy!

Lesson Learned: There's no excuse not to practice.

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My favorite things: Laughter

What's better than a good 'ol fashioned, do it 'til you crying and your face hurts laugh? Nothing. I dare you to disagree. My greatest friends and best relationships have been with those whom I can bust a gut laughing. If I'm not laughing within the first few minutes of meeting you, we probably won't "click". Nothing personal, I simply need to be given the right to laugh long and hard, even it it means laughing at myself.

Videos are a perfect way to share and re-live your favorite funnies. Watch a few of my favorites below. There's something for every taste.

Enjoy....and keep laughing.

~ K ox

Meet Dug - Up



Ricky Gervais and Jon Stewart on The Daily Show

Rolling a Reliant Robin - Top Gear - BBC



Hugh Grant Dancing in Love Actually

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: Steve Carell

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: Steve Carell from Between Two Ferns

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My favorite things: Cookies

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I love cookies.

The End.

P.S. This week I will be taking part in a serious-as-hell cookie bakeoff with a group of my greatest friends. Points are awarded for taste, originality, and overall holiday style. The prizes aren't substantial but what's really on the line is pride. I need your help finding the BEST holiday cookie recipe. Post your favorites here or send them to me via Facebook or Twitter.

Ginderbread yoga people by Patti Paige of Baked Ideas.

Update (Dec 16th): And the winner is....not me. Well, that's not exactly true. My cookies won the "Most Creative Cookie Award" but alas did not grab the most coveted prize of placing No. 1 overall. My cookies tied for second, not that bad for only my second time entering the contest. Watch out next year, dear competitors. I'm coming back stronger than ever and with more icing sugar.

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My favorite things x 2: The Montreal Canadians & the Heritage Classic

Only in Canada will you find 45,000 people whilling to sit outside on a bitterly cold February day to watch a sporting event. I'm one of them.

Unfortunately, I wasn't on the ball keeping up with ticket release dates. %$#@!!!

I've missed out on getting tickets to see my home team the Montreal Canadians play in the 2011 Heritage Classic in my current home base of Calgary, AB. In the spirit of the season, a girl can still wish for miracles. Anyone wishing to sell their tickets for a resonable price (obstructed views not included) can contact me here or via info@kimmcneilyoga.ca. I promise to provide fellow nearby seat holders in-between period yoga sessions to keep the body loose.....and coffee with Baileys.

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My favorite things: Pets

I don't have kids so having pets is the closest opportunity I've had to parenting. The similarities between parenthood and pet ownership don't elude me though: the messes, the tantrums, the numerous dollars spent on weekend visits to the doctor, er, vet. Being responsible for other little beings is something not to be taken lightly.

Like parenthood, I wouldn't give it up for the world. My pets make me laugh and teach me important life lessons like unconditional love and acceptance. Plus there's the "Don't get attached to material things and cry over the seatbelts and headrest your dog just ate" lesson.

This Christmas I'm thankful for having my pets to keep me warm and fuzzy on the inside and out.

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