Reflection: Change is the Only Constant

Laura Mary • April 27, 2014

Do any of you have a friend that simply rocks at giving advice? I do. Her name is Jackie. We grew up living three houses away from each other. We hung out almost every day, we would meet each other one house over at a house we dubbed the “Scary House,” simply because they never had lights on and it was set back far away from the road.

We spent many hours of our childhood together, and through tears, laughter, fights, challenges, she was always there. We would connect daily, to either kick the soccer ball, throw the baseball, play flashlight tag, bike ride, and eat handfuls of chocolate chips, and plums, like it was our job. We have been best friends since kindergarten. I am blessed with an amazing group of friends back on the east coast.

Whenever I needed an ear to listen to the dramas of my life, Jackie was my girl. She would patiently listen, and offer her truthful advice once I was ready to hear it. One of the best pieces of advice she ever gave, and still gives, was “change is the only constant.” The only thing you can be 100% sure of is that life is constantly changing; your world on a micro and macro scale is in constant flux.

Accepting Change

This week, I have been reminded of Jackie, as I am practicing both on an off of my mat accepting change. Rather than run the other way in the face of uncertainty, Jackie has instilled in me the beautiful reminder to embrace, and more than that to expect change. Change, for better or worse, is a part of life.

“The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with the qualifications for adaptation, the ability to accept the inevitable and conform to the unavoidable, to continually harmonize with the existing and changing conditions of the universe.”

Yoga offers the opportunity for us all to hone in and practice this skill of adaptation. You never know when you will be faced with change, but by practicing on your mat the acceptance of change, you will prepare yourself for real change off of your mat. For example, if you show up to class and your favorite teacher isn’t there, suit up, let go of the expectation you had, and get ready for a refreshing change and experience in class with someone new.

Practice acceptance on your mat, as some days you will be tighter than others, and some days you will be able to hop through to seated from downdog and other days your will find no space to do so. Change, happens everyday on your mat. Rather than judge yourself for those moments when certain postures just aren’t happening, find acceptance in knowing that this moment is just as important as the one where you make a leap forward in your practice and hold your handstand for 10 more breaths than usual.

Welcome Change

Change is not something that we should fear. Rather, it is something that we should welcome. For without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom, and no one in this world would ever move forward to become the person they’re meant to be. - Anon

Practice non-judgment, you are exactly where you are supposed to be, and in the end, it will all work out. If it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end.

Namaste,
laura mary

YouTube Channel: Laura Mary Flynn

Laura Mary • April 23, 2014

Please, check out my YouTube Channel for yoga inspiration, tips, practice, videos, and lots of love!

Here are a few, enjoy!

Downdog to Handstand to Headstand: Saturday hiking and some celebratory yoga with Derek!

Handstand Supta Claps!

Handstand Dropback & Over

Late Night BackBending

A Full 30-Minute VInyasa Flow

With Love,

laura mary

Intention: I will start today.

Laura Mary • April 21, 2014

Have you ever had the experience where you are doing what you love, feeling peaceful, and happy, and suddenly you are flooded with brilliant ideas and you feel you can solve all of your problems, no scratch that, the world’s problems? I often have this feeling after a great yoga practice, while I am in meditation or savasana. Sometimes it even distracts me and makes me want to come out, so that I can take action, write my thoughts down, and make something happen. When the time to come out of savasana or meditation arrives, suddenly, you just feel peaceful and no longer do you have those brilliant and peaceful plans to disseminate and share.

What is the lesson here?

The lesson is to do what you love, whether it is practicing yoga, running, surfing, rock climbing, painting, cooking, or playing soccer, do it. Whatever it may be for you, the more you do that one thing you truly love, the one thing that floods you with inspiration, calm, focus, energy, and happiness, the more at peace, connected, strong, whole, and vibrant you will feel.

Your problems will suddenly seem manageable; your life will fall into place, in a manner that makes sense. Where you know that you can take the appropriate action steps to get to wherever it is you want to go.

More than that, by doing what you love, those around you will feel inspired by your presence. Subconsciously, they too will do more of what they love and their light will shine brighter in harmony with yours. In essence, by doing what you love, the world will feel the effects and be better off.

Today, go do what you love. Commit to it, with your intention: I will start today.

With Love,

laura mary

Gratitude, Thank you.

Laura Mary • April 8, 2014

Everyone has someone in their life that has transformed them and changed their life forever. I was touched to hear that my favorite Skidmore College professor is retiring. Hearing this news, has re-inspired me to reach my highest potential and beyond. Mary Ann had (and continues to) inspire me. Who can you reflect on today? Who in your life has left an imprint on your heart? Reach out to them today and express your gratitude.

A tribute to Mary Ann,

In all my time as a student, I have never come across such an influential teacher.

I feel so fortunate to have met Mary Ann during my junior year at Skidmore. I needed her signature as the chair of the psychology department, because I was applying for the American Psychological Association (APA) Summer Science Fellowship in Washington DC. During the following semester, I was placed on the waiting list for her Cognitive Psychology course, it was reserved for seniors. I was quite eager to take a class with Mary Ann, I saw her in the hallway before the first day of class and thankfully, she let me in!

Class after class, I listened to her in awe; she was (is) so brilliant. She would break down and describe scientific studies with such ease and made complex studies comprehensible to students. It was crystal clear to me that Mary Ann was passionate about her research and her teaching.

Out of all of my professors at Skidmore, I felt the strongest connection and bond to Mary Ann. I knew that she really wanted me to learn and succeed. With the help of a strong letter of recommendation from Mary Ann, I was awarded the very competitive APA Summer Science Fellowship.

I was completely honored that Mary Ann wanted to work with me on a senior honors thesis project. Mary Ann believed in me and that, more than everything I learned in college, was the most valuable lesson. By believing in me, she instilled within me a sense of confidence, that same confidence that she held while lecturing in class. She believed that I was smart and could conduct high quality research. I thank Mary Ann from the bottom of my heart.

My favorite academic memory from Skidmore was the completion of my senior honors thesis. It was hard work, but I completed it with the help of a strong, compassionate, and brilliant mentor, Mary Ann. Skidmore will be losing one of their greatest professors.

I am very excited to see what is next for Mary Ann, but more than anything, I would like to see her take time off to enjoy life in all its glory. I know that her next steps will be nothing short of brilliant, I have faith that she will continue to affect and shape the lives of everyone that comes across her path, just as she did to me.

Mary Ann and I have kept in touch since my graduation in 2009, even though I now live in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mary Ann’s interactions and emails with me were always so pleasant, she was extremely positive, and taught me that I have within me all the tools I need to succeed.

I was (continue to be) completely inspired by the fact that Mary Ann had found a life’s work that she was passionate about, and as a young graduate, I was eager to find my passion in life as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mary Ann!

More than anything, I would like to tell Mary Ann, I believe in you.

With Love,

laura mary

Poem: We Have Come to be Danced

Laura Mary • April 1, 2014

Go Out There and Live

Happy Monday everyone! I hope this poems stirs you the same way it does me. It gets me going, I read it all the time. But seriously, go out there and live and be real and be you. Be as true to yourself as you can be, through the good, the bad, and the ugly - go out there and live. <3

We Have Come to be Danced

We have come to be danced

Not the pretty dance

Not the pretty pretty, pick me, pick me dance

But the claw our way back into the belly

Of the sacred, sensual animal dance

The unhinged, unplugged, cat is out of its box dance

The holding the precious moment in the palms

Of our hands and feet dance.

We have come to be danced

Not the jiffy booby, shake your booty for him dance

But the wring the sadness from our skin dance

The blow the chip off our shoulder dance.

The slap the apology from our posture dance.

We have come to be danced

Not the monkey see, monkey do dance

One two dance like you

One two three, dance like me dance

but the grave robber, tomb stalker

Tearing scabs and scars open dance

The rub the rhythm raw against our soul dance.

We have come to be danced

Not the nice, invisible, self-conscious shuffle

But the matted hair flying, voodoo mama

Shaman shakin’ ancient bones dance

The strip us from our casings, return our wings

Sharpen our claws and tongues dance

The shed dead cells and slip into

The luminous skin of love dance.

We have come to be danced

Not the hold our breath and wallow in the shallow end of the floor dance

But the meeting of the trinity, the body breath and beat dance

The shout hallelujah from the top of our thighs dance

The mother may I?

Yes you may take 10 giant leaps dance

The olly olly oxen free free free dance

The everyone can come to our heaven dance.

We have come to be danced

Where the kingdom’s collide

In the cathedral of flesh

To burn back into the light

To unravel, to play, to fly, to pray

To root in skin sanctuary

We have come to be danced

We have come.

Jewel Mathieson

With Love,

Why Yoga?

Laura Mary • March 26, 2014

Purpose

The purpose of stepping onto your yoga mat is to feel good. Yes, there is also the mind-body challenge, but ultimately the hope is that when you roll up your mat after practice – you feel better. It’s really that simple.

Hope

The hope is to leave your mat feeling better, lighter, and happier. Your practice puts those heavy problems in your life into perspective because for 75 minutes of your day (or however long your practice might be), you can’t think of them; you are focused on much more important things like how to balance on one foot or float from down dog to crow. You know you can get through whatever it is you are going through because you just held a handstand for 60-bleeping-seconds.

How often is it possible to completely clear your head of the frenzy of thoughts, to-do-lists, and worries that generally take over your mind? Well, if you are breathing deeply, in the moment, in a handstand, I assure you – your to-do-list will be waiting for you when you are done.

This is why, initially, the postures are so important. You learn the alignment and postures, so that you can arrive to the place where thoughts and worries are no longer holding center stage. Only after the postures are learned and this space and freedom in the mind is felt can you find the space, calm, and focus to surrender in savasana or find a seated mediation.

In essence, your yoga makes you feel strong, whole, beautiful, and full of love, from the inside out. Starting from wherever you are today, you know that in one week’s time, however small the progress might be that it is there. Breath by breath, posture by posture, you are healing, growing, and nurturing your entire body, mind, and soul.

All at once, you face head on your toughest critic and your biggest advocate. And as the weeks pass, you really do begin to feel lighter. You walk with a little more pep in your step. You stand a little taller. You begin to see more love around you and feel even more love within you. Your practice transforms your life. Your practice becomes more about nurturing your trust in love, kindness, and acceptance. Your practice builds trust from within. And as months pass, you begin to realize, to know, from the bottom of your heart, that you yourself are a gift. No one else in this world is exactly like you, and for this reason alone - find a smile and run with it.

Enjoy your next practice, because you can!

With Love,

“So become more and more loving, and you will become more and more joyful. And don’t be bothered about whether your love is returned or not; that is not the point at all. Joy follows love automatically, whether it is returned or not, whether the other is responsive or not. If you are loving, you are joyful, and that is more than enough, more than one can expect. That is the beauty of love – that its result is intrinsic, its value is intrinsic. It does not depend on the response of the other. It is totally yours.” -Osho

Reflection

Day after day, flowers share their beauty with the world. They blossom full of grace and love, regardless of whether or not we stop to admire their perfection. Their scent smells just as sweet, even if their presence is taken for granted.

Trees continue to do their thing even if we forget to bow down in gratitude for the oxygen they provide (because we all bow down, right?), and stars shine bright even if we fail to gawk at them.

Similarly, we share this unlimited capacity to love. The good news is that you can love just like a flower. Your love is not dependent on the admiration of others. Yoga invites the practice of opening your heart completely, celebrating, and living joyfully, without expectation or reciprocity from others. The experience of love, of joy, is yours and yours alone. So why hold back?

There is no such thing as offering too much. Writing this even makes me smile, today make a point of not holding back in this department. Share smiles with strangers, tell your family, your friends, your boyfriend/girlfriend how you feel about them. Offer up lots and lots and lots of love, start NOW! 🙂

My Life These Days

Pretty flowers in unexpected places...

My <3...

<3 is all around you...

Just <3...

With Love,

Recipe: Rainy Sunday Tofu Scramble!

Step One: Wash all of your farmer's market veggies. And if you have an awesome "farmer" boyfriend who grows rosemary, tomatoes, and bell peppers, wash those too!

Step Two: Slice baby portabella mushrooms in half.

Step Three: Add one tablespoon of extra virgin cold pressed coconut oil to your pan.

Step Four: Chop your zucchini and broccoli and add vegetables to your large pan.

Step Five: Add the spices 🙂

...and your organic kale!

...add your tomatoes and rosemary last!

Step Six: I cooked the tofu in a separate pan with coconut oil, only because I have no pan large enough to fit the veggies and tofu. Make sure you add plenty of turmeric (color and taste) and course pink himalayan salt!!

Step Seven: Bon Appétit! I add nutritional yeast to everything, sprinkle some on top to taste!

Enjoy! If there is anything you would like me to write about related to food, yoga, or life, please let me know!

Now, let me tell you a bit about me.

I have been wanting to get a blog started for years. Mainly because I feel I have something to share, but the timing has never quite been right. I feel now, more than ever, that I not only have the time to maintain a blog, but the ideas, and a beautiful setting, Hawaii.

When it is raining in Honolulu, no one really knows what to do. If you are anything like me, your free time is typically spent outdoors, either hiking mountains, swimming in the ocean, spending time at the beach or yoga-ing in the park; however, many people choose to stay inside, watch movies, and veg out in this "guilt-free" manner because the sun isn't shining. On Saturday, I chose to visit the KCC Farmer's Market, make a scrumptious breakfast, do laundry, practice yoga, and spend time with Derek. And most importantly, I chose to take these photos of my tofu scramble ingredients, so that I could share this post with all of you lovely people.

I adopted (I cannot even believe that is the term) a vegan diet in 2008, at the end of my junior year of college. It was not easy, but it just felt right for me. At the time, I was learning about how to eat a well-balanced diet and still maintain enough quality nutrition to play soccer and lacrosse; there sure was a learning curve. While vegan cookies and muffins are certainly delicious, let me tell you, if you are an athlete, you need to eat way more than these sugary-salty treats to stay healthy. Thankfully, there was a wonderful shop in Saratoga Springs (Four Seasons Natural Foods) where I was able to eat healthy vegan meals almost daily. Also, it helped that I went to a hippy-dippy liberal arts school in upstate New York where an entire section of the d-hall (Emily’s Garden) was stocked with plenty of vegan options. Six years later, I can say that I have finally figured out how to eat and feel great as a “vegan”.

Which brings me to my next point, I despise the term “vegan”. I really dislike that we have to label everything in our society, particularly because there is a stigma attached to being “vegan”. Please allow me to clear the air and say, that I do not and will not judge you for eating what you eat. I eat a vegan diet, because it is the food I want and crave. By ALL means, continue to eat what makes you feel happy and healthy. However, I plan to share lots of yummy vegan recipes on this site, which I hope appeal to both meat eaters and non-meat eaters.

In addition to my hippy diet, I am a lover of yoga. I love yoga for the mind-body benefits. Eckhart Tolle said it best ”Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside. If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place.” Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness play a huge role in my life. My blog will share bits and pieces of my thoughts on life and yoga. I plan to write the blog, as somewhat of a stream of consciousness, where the ideas, the flow, and the content will be similar to what I write in my journal.

I wear another hat, as a researcher at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Science plays an important and necessary role in our society and in my life; I will try my best to incorporate scientific research findings into my blog posts, though many of my thoughts on life, love, and happiness are not found in published research papers. My thoughts are felt, observed, experienced, and perceived truths that I hold.

Without further ado, here we go! Now, go get your tofu scramble eat on... 🙂

With Love,