The Giving Keys

After recently finding an antique skeleton key amongst my parent's knick-knacks, I have become slightly obsessed with the intricately made keys from the good old days (this also around the time I saw Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close for the first time - a story of a boy whose discovery of a key in his deceased father’s belongings sets him off on an urgent search across NYC for the lock it will open).
I've started collecting them, for no known purpose yet, other then to marvel at what may have been their history. I like to believe these are keys with a story. Keys that have been carried by one or many that have unlocked places we call home or trunks filled with keepsakes or forgotten doors. I like to think by holding on to these keys, I hold on to their memories...and maybe even keep the memories a live.

Then I found The Giving Keys. A pay it forward type of company. Love those. The Giving Keys exists to employ those transitioning out of homelessness to make jewelry out of repurposed keys that get sold and shared around the world. They are hand stamped with a one word message of hope. I've been wearing the key of "health" for my father...to remember just how delicate our health is, just how quickly disease can take over the body, and maybe in hopes that he holds on to what good health is left in him.
If you're on my Christmas list this year, you might just be getting a Giving Key. Create a little history of your own. Wear the key for as long as you need. When you encounter someone that needs the message on the key more then you do, give it away and keep it going. Share the love.

"Like old keys, we might feel used and discarded, but we all have the ability to unlock potential. Potential to transform our pain into stories of redemption."

Elf on the Shelf

It's that time of the year where the Elf on the Shelf comes out to watch our kids (not creepy at all!!)! I've seen numerous Facebook posts of all the trouble those elves are getting into these days...making snow angels in the sugar bowl, having snowball fights with marshmallows, building igloos in the ice cube tray...these elves are out of control! ;-)
I recently came across a positive spin on the Elf on the Shelf that teaches kindness, gratitude and love...and well, I'm all about teachable moments in our every day lives when it comes to our kids!
Check out the Kindness Elves at The Imagination Tree:
Start sometime new this year!!!

• They will arrive in our home and have been sent to share some love and magic at Christmas time.
• They will only be sharing kind ideas and noticing things that are lovely. There will be no focus on negativity, but they will still be lots of fun and silliness too!
• They will be moved somewhere different each morning, sometimes in funny situations and positions, often next to an item that we need for that day’s kindness activity e.g. inside a mixing bowl ready to bake some cookies as a gift.
• They will be holding little suggestions for acts of kindness, love or helpfulness that we can do together that day for e.g. “Let’s collect some of your toys and give them away to the children’s hospital”, “let’s make some cookies for the neighbors”, “shall we visit an elderly friend/ relative?” etc.
• When they see the children doing kind and lovely things, they will leave a little note for them to find in the morning e.g. “Oh I loved it when I saw you sharing your new book with your little sister” or “you were very kind to help your Mommy load the dishwasher!” etc.
• Some mornings they may wake up to find the elves have lined up their shoes, tidied their coats, got the breakfast things ready or fixed a broken toy etc. Modelling direct ways to be kind and helpful as a prompt for the children in the day.    

Read the whole article here: Kindness Elves

Winter Family Yoga

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Never Give Up.

I've never seen a 5 year old try so hard to get herself into pose. Peacock is not a pose I've ever taught to anyone under 10, but while waiting for class to start, she began trying to make herself float! You go!!

"Fall down 7 times, get up 8." - Japanese Proverb

Embody Love Movement

Since attending the Yoga, Purpose and Action Intensive with Off the Mat Into the World in 2011, I have been continuously inspired by the Off the Mat community. Every leader and beautiful soul that emerges from this community never ceases to do anything but amaze me...each with his or her own story and light. I had not known Melody Moore at the time, but her story, that I read in an online article a couple years back, really hit home. I was captivated by the Embody Love Movement she spoke of and was thrilled to hear that the integrative treatment approach of psychotherapy, yoga and nutrition for eating disorders was being combined into one facility. Having gone through my own recovery process using the same treatment means, I could not even begin to imagine how wonderful it would be to head to one center where I could feel safe and understood and where all my needs could be met. What a gift this is for girls who struggle the same.

Most recently, I had the honor of meeting Melody and attending the Inner Beauty Shop Facilitator Training which was held at the Embody Love Center. The training offered me something I didn't know I had inside of me...and that was a voice for change. I had immersed myself into this weekend long training where I would leave feeling empowered and completely prepared to be part of this revolution Melody and her team are creating. The vision of unconditional love and acceptance and living a life of meaning and purpose that Melody has set out to bring to her clients, is now spreading to the people she is training to share the Embody Love Movement to thousands of girls across the nation. I am honored to know Melody and to be part of this movement!

I am even more excited to be bringing the Inner Beauty Shop to Alluem Yoga next month for girls ages 11-12! Space is limited so sign up today on the website: www.alluemyoga.com (click on the workshop tab and scroll down).

Registration is open for the Fall Session!

Hoop Yoga!

Hula Hooping is a great tool for connecting with your body, which is what we strive to do in yoga! Grounding your feet into the earth for stability, being mindful of your surroundings, utilizing core strength, and feeling the hoop rotate the circumference of your body - all aids in achieving body awareness. And what better way to teach a child about body awareness then through play! The Alluem Kids had a great time hooping it up at this year's Hoop Yoga Workshop!