Being a yogini

If someone had told me a few years ago that I would become a passionate yoga teacher and gladly, gratefully, willfully choose not to pursue a PhD before my thirtieth birthday, I would have been offended. Of course, this is now the reality.

Earlier this year, on this blog, I wrote that I felt like this was going to be the year of physical change in my health--that I was going to somehow miraculously become fit (i.e. skinny, though I didn't say it) and abandon any issues I had with food. In many ways, I was correct--in others, so wrong.

I'm still a US size 10--a healthy US 10. This has not changed since the start of 2011. My weight may be a few pounds less. Christmas is coming (to balance the force). My whole-food vegan diet is still healthy, with occasional bouts of a strong sweet (dark chocolate) tooth. While at Kripalu, I had a revelation that I have this chocolate tooth, but each time I buy chocolate, I feel guilty about it. I've given up the guilt. I embrace my love of chocolate. Bring on the chocolate!

What Kripalu has built in me is a strong foundation in myself. I am fit. I have an amazing body that is so beautifully complex, and it does all this incredible work for me. How could I hate it? How could I hurl cruel insults to it? No more. I love my body. I'll even embrace the cellulite (which may or may not be related to embracing the chocolate). Do I still have issues with food? A few, but not as many. I'm learning to witness my thoughts, ask questions, and if I eat when I'm bored and recognize it--well, okay then. I breathe into it. Enjoy each moment. Feel it to its fullest. What else am I doing here if not that?

At the moment, my working life offers me the following: teaching yoga, teaching creative writing, and working with young people at a youth centre. In these capacities, I am able to fulfill so many of my life's passions: teaching, offering love, bringing mindfulness to people, helping others connect to themselves and the greater world around them.... The list goes on... and on... and so beautifully on.


For a long time, I've considered doing a MS in nutrition to become a nutritionist. I'm starting to believe that being a yoga teacher offers me more. Nutrition will follow where mindfulness leads. Helping people to love themselves, in my humble opinion, may help them far more than me offering them advice about diet (though as a yoga teacher, if asked, I'll be more than forthcoming about my love of veganism).

I'm excited. I'm excited for all the possibilities. All the possibilities of just being. 

So far too, it has served me well. My children's book has an interested publisher; I've built two websites, and today I learned I have the opportunity to work with a young women's sexual trauma group--doing yoga. I feel like crying--it is so amazing.

Love to all. More to come. (Have to write about the "mouse family" in the shed... and my attempts to learn to drive a stick shift. I have been in the UK 4.5 years now afterall....)

Om, shanti, shanti, shanti.
Peace, peace, peace.

www.sanctuarygrace.com

http://juliebolitholee.webeden.co.uk/ (Will be www.juliebolitholee.com when some kinks are worked out.)