Enjoy Less

some words from my favourite blog: mnmmlist

...Stop buying the unessesary
toss half your stuff, learn contentednesss
reduce half again
list 4 essential things in your life, do these first
stop doing the non-essential
clear distractions, focus on each moment
let go of attachment to doing, having more.

fall in LOVE with LESS.

Love, Ashley

I don't think i'm a "yoga person"

To start things off - you are not alone. So many people out there do not think that they are the “yoga type”, but the reality is that there is no real “type” of yoga person.
As the picture above is alluding to - anyone can do yoga. You do not have to wear lululemon, have dreadlocks, wear birkenstocks, or any of the other stereotypical yoga type associations. All you need is an open mind to try something new, something that may prove to inspire and empower you!

How awesome is that!?

Yoga is not just about bending and stretching the body, it is about opening yourself up to the even greater possibility of knowing yourself better. Who wouldn’t want that?

Okay - so you think you are fine the way you are and you will stay the same for the rest of your life? Great! Maybe you do not need yoga...but for most of us out there - we find ourselves searching for answers in life...how to be the best at our job - how to be optimally fit - how to be totally happy - how to de-stress - how to have a great relationship...the list goes on...but more specifically searching for tools to achieve them!

Life is always changing, always challenging, and let’s face it - most of the time extremely stressful...BUT what if there was a way to be able to better manage and navigate through all of these things in life?

Like a magic potion perhaps? :)

When people reveal, “I don’t think I am a yoga person” - I get excited to talk about why they should try yoga and then they can make their choice again as to whether they think they are or not.

You see - yoga is a tool. Take away the fancy studios, the ladies with the green tea lattes in one hand and lululemon mat and bag in the other...and there is just YOGA.

Pop culture has jumped on the Yoga bandwagon and turned it into a bit of a fad. BUT...

Yoga is simple really and can be done anywhere, wearing anything.

As you bend and stretch the body, focus on the breath, you are practicing mindfulness - being in the present moment and better being able to deal with any frustrations that arise (like perhaps if you hold a posture for an extended period of time and get angry about it but you use the focus of the breath to calm the mind). You get to almost prepare yourself for real life situations - by practicing how to de-stress in a non-harming, non-aggressive environment first.

By practicing yoga you get your hands on simple tools that can make a world of difference in your happiness and the way you live your life!

Get your a*s on the mat - 7 Reasons why you should TRY yoga if you think you are not flexible

So often I hear, "I am not flexible enough to do yoga!"

Most often I want to respond by saying, "well get your a*s on the mat and you will get flexible" jokingly of course :)

In fact - it is true you will become flexible as you start to incorporate a yoga practice into your life but many people are in fact very hesitant to try a class because of this common misconception.

Personally I believe that yoga is for anyone; and will be beneficial to everyone!! But I also believe, as a teacher, that it is important to introduce beginners in a way that they will understand, giving them certain tools to slowly discover the benefits for themselves.

I have heard stories about people that try a yoga class for the first time and get discouraged for one of many reasons: the teacher moves too fast and it is hard to catch up, or they don't understand how to calm the mind because the teacher keeps saying "calm the mind" but doesn't teach essential breathing techniques that facilitates this "calming", or better yet the teacher start talking in a foreign language (sanskrit - and on a side not it's not weird...but i'll get to that on another post) that is really "out there" leaving the student thinking WTF?!

Look no further --> I am here to help you and you will get as flexible as you want to be!

For those of you who really want to try yoga and haven't yet...this is for you:

Get your a*s on the mat: 7 Reasons why you should try yoga if you think you are not flexible

1. You will GET flexible if you start. Flexibility is a product of Yoga = not a prerequisite!

2. There is always someone out there less flexible than you...(and once you do a few classes, you will realize no one is looking at how inflexible you are - because they are so focussed on their thing. Yoga is NOT competitive)

3. The least flexible people will probably benefit the most

4. A well trained body will help you to train your mind so you can be physically and mentally FIT

5. In yoga philosophy it is said that "age is measured by the flexibility of your spine" - so to stay feeling young - start bending!

6. As one of my teachers always says "The power is in the Process!" (Baron Baptiste). Flexibility is not going to happen overnight - but trust that it will in time.

7. It's not really about touching your toes...but what you will discover about yourself on the journey down there!

I teach classes designed for beginners and I will show you the ropes so you of yoga - so you can start to discover your body and mind in a new way!

Much love to all the soon to be toe touchers,

A

The “no cell phone” Experiment.

I recently returned home from vacation in the Caribbean…it was everything the Caribbean is and should be; a relaxing, tropical haven to unwind, relax and take time away from the “real world” (ie. Sans the Cellular phone that is more often than not attached to my ear...).

Before I left, Bell Mobility decided to disconnect my cell phone – it’s a long story and I will not bore you with the details, but it has brought me to now, currently without a working phone. This will probably (I can almost guarantee) be the only time in my life I will say a very small thank you, to Bell for their services – or lack there of.

Typically after a holiday or stint away from my beloved iphone, I cannot wait to get back to the daily texting, emailing, calling, etc. This time was different and I am surprised and pleased to say I enjoy the freedom of not being “connected”. Some of you are thinking how stressed out this would make you – unable to be in touch at every minute of the day! Let me assure you – I actually thought I would have this reaction! My dad will support that statement – he used to joke about me having a phone growing out of my head. Like I mentioned I was surprised to enjoy this time without a cell phone; I didn’t have to check it every other minute to see if I missed a text or a call, no interruptions while writing, driving, or enjoying other daily activities. (The worst was bringing my phone to the gym – definitely gave that up a while ago – I would recommend it!)

No cell phone = freedom.

Why are we so attached to our technology, our little devises? Can we find more freedom if we give them up?

Now – to set the record straight, I am not blind to the fact that we live in a society that is very comfortable and dependent on these “devises” – especially for those of us in the business world…BUT what if….even for one day, we did not have our phones? Do we have the ability to tune out from the external distractions?

If so, does it more easily enable us to tune into the internal? Into our own bodies, minds, dreams, and arguably our LIFE?!

As I write this post I will let you know that I am still without a phone. It actually feels very liberating, but more importantly it was the reaction I received to my lack of phone connection that triggered the idea for this post.

“Why don’t you have a phone? When are you getting your phone back, this is weird! Get a phone already? You know, you really should get your phone back so you can be in touch.”

Haha, the fact that I was without a phone actually stressed other people out more! It was a very funny realization. Three days ago I was hanging out at the yoga studio in Waterloo when a girl came in and the first thing she said to us was “I think I left my cell phone at home today – I don’t know how I feel about that”. So interesting. How would you feel?

Being completely content without a phone this last week has changed the way I feel about my connection to “THE WORLD”. I can survive some days without one. I am already getting more accomplished because I am not checking it every five seconds.

So I conclude the following:

I will be activating my phone probably in the next week or so (for emergency purposes – and not to mention my boyfriend is in Afghanistan and I have an obligation to be available for him. He’s been bugging me about not having a phone), but I will be scheduling “no phone” days. Or at least turning my phone off for a few hours per day to tune out and zero in to be completely connected with what I am working on or experiencing.

Do cell phones take us away from really being “present” to our life as it happens in front of us – not somewhere off in digital land?

How would you feel if you didn’t have a phone for a day, a week, a month?

TRY IT!!

The secret of happiness you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less. - Socrates

Love, Ashley

City vibe & big ideas & TED.com

Well - I have officially moved out of Waterloo! Yay. Happy and excited to report that I will no longer be a 51niner. As much as Waterloo is a wonderful place...it is just not the place I want to be right now.

I am simply choosing to be in a booming city where the possibilities and opportunities are just that much more large scale than Waterloo. Although I do thank Waterloo for all of the awesomeness it has presented to me for the past 7 years....

I have been seeking the city vibe. I am thinking BIG. Wanting to be surrounded in culture, innovation, people - gaining inspiration from the outside - in.

Interestingly enough I watched a video online today that sums up exactly why I am seeking such change. More on that shortly.

Just returning home from being away on vacation I had time to really reflect on what drives me in life - what do I enjoy most about my days on this earth and what do I really want to spend my time doing. There is definitely one common denominator that continues to hold true to my visions in life - and that is my interaction with people and facilitating experience for myself and others. I can only speak for myself (though other artists will definitely concur) when I say that experience/interaction with people keeps me driven and sparks creativity. Learning from others, hearing their ideas, observing their quirks or traits, sharing and engaging in life with them. This fuels the fire of my writing. Regardless of the situation, there is always something I will learn or take in. I have touched on this concept in my other postings and today I share with you a link from an awesome website called TED.com

Steven Johnson, an acclaimed author speaks to the notion of ideas as "networks" rather than "eureka" moments. That the cumulation of information from people, experiences, books, tv, anything external - is processed and all plays a role in the formulation of internal ideas in our mind that help define creativity. Innovation is spawned from external networks (experience) that are processed in our brains creating new neurological networks (our great ideas!).

Steven Johnson: Where good ideas come from

This website TED.com is a forum for the sharing of ideas or as they have coined "ideas worth spreading". It is fantastic. Simple really and fascinating. I highly recommend watching it! You never know what new ideas is being formulated in your mind...maybe one of these videos will help it come into fruition!?

I do not believe a day that goes by where I do not brainstorm. I am always thinking about new projects, ideas etc. Definitely can be exhausting this "Inventor Explorer" personality type of mine...that fallback being so many ideas I could act on any of them...but continue to bounce back and forth between them instead. I know that some of the "ideas" I have had lately have been years in the making, they have formulated and now here I am...more ready than ever. Putting myself in Toronto will definitely allow me the freedom and opportunity to let it all come together.

...stay tuned ;)

Think BIG, 'tis the season.

A

and what a perfect metaphor...if I had never gone to that coffee shop and met the person that introduced me to TED.com then I would not have seen this video and been inspired to write this post. Ah, life.

Words from the soul and faces of the mirror

I spent last night at the Toronto Poetry Slam (http://torontopoetryslam.com/). Truly inspired by the insane talent amongst these young poets as they passionately share their accounts of life in beautifully constructed rhymes and verse.
My new friend Eytan...a very talented and delightful person - totally rocked it on stage. I appreciate his energy and the undying passion he puts into his work. He knows what it means to work hard - as he visits as many open mic nights around the city after 8 hours at *ahem* a boring day job...he keeps at it. He is part of a comedy troop called The BOOM, and writes constantly.
Keep rocking buddy - and LOVE the journey.

Great conversation with him and another friend at a little pizza place on Queen after the show. Each of us...artist, entrepreneur, navigating...we find our way.
We spoke of how important it is to live authentically. Everyone has their own journey. Has a path. Life unfolds the way it is supposed to. Everyone comes from a different background. We learn from one another.
Do we judge other's path's too often? Do judgements come from a place of fear? Is our path more easily validated by putting down that of another? Can people from completely different backgrounds end up in the same profession?

Sometimes I think people are quick to judge other's when it comes to what they think they "should" be doing with their life.
Who is anyone to say how another "should" be living?
When we pin people, stereotype or cast them - we really are looking at them with such limited perception or scope. Do we miss out on opportunity to learn from them?

The three of us spoke a lot about actors - as Eytan and Suzie (both actors) know each other from a school for the arts - and as they caught up - it was a natural evolution of our conversation.
But - Actors though - what is the typical personality type of an actor? Is there one? Really - can't anyone act? What makes an actor good?
Who would make a better actor?
a.) girl with straight A's through school, part of a theatre club, degree in fine arts theatre, various local talent shows and then cast in a professional show directly out of school
or
b.) guy who dropped out of high school, abuses drugs, back and forth between jobs, various acting gigs between rehab stays
(loosely based on real life people haha)
I think the question need not be who is the better actor, but rather, how can these two people learn from each other.
Two polar opposites, with extremely different life experiences have come into the same profession. If two such people were cast together in the same production, would they be judged by their accomplishments, or lack there of?
Perhaps they would.
Maybe they would even judge each other and again, try to validate their place in life by putting down that of their cast mate.
Girl thinks she is better because of her credentials and guy is insulted that girl thinks she is better than him because she is "professionally educated".

What can we learn from this?
It will do neither of them any favours - nor will they learn anything while BOTH carry on with a limited perception of each other.
let's say both of these people are equally gifted actors.

Girl actor - and guy actor - yes, have extremely opposing backgrounds - but what if they can learn from each other while they work together?
Leave out the judgement, the pre-conceived notions and pressure to be the best. Communicate.

All she must do is be authentic for her, from what she knows and vise versa, he for him. They share stories and experiences, as colleagues do, and maybe they do not need to immediately understand one another, but all is perfect in this moment, as they each do what they know, and are equally content with themselves. Take time to appreciate this connection with another, even in the face of fear or uncertainty.

Did they want to listen to the experiences each other was sharing? Perhaps not.

BUT - are they glad they did?

Do they understand with a little more ease, this real life experience that was shared by their colleague?

Maybe one day one of them will be cast in a new part where they are to play a character that is reflective of the other guy or girl actor's real life.

Will they now know how to navigate themselves better if such happens? Will their new character depiction come from a more authentic place within them because they took the opportunity to learn from this person's story? Or simply just to listen to it?

Simply listen. Listen and learn. Learn to know yourself better with help of others. Help others know themselves better.

We have all come from various walks of life. We have pasts that make us who we are right here - in the present.

Such is life.

Continue to carve the path, live from the soul, from what we each know and feel is right for us. How can we go wrong?!

Let go of judgement. Judgement of Self. Judgement of Others.
Take each moment to learn and continue to live authentically.

act from the soul.
right from the heart of you.
Recognize other's authenticity.

Do not judge.

...and as we do that, others will learn.

always remembering that the people who cross our path in life - mirror back to us - what we must truly learn about ourself.

In this great exchange of life.

From the soul,
Ashley

music to my ears

music...my great soundtrack to life. I listen to it for inspiration, in times of sadness to lift me up, to energize myself during a run, to relax, to be present and for simple, PURE, enjoyment.
Words do not do justice the feeling my body gets when music hits my ears, touching my heart and soul.


This is a glimpse into my life's soundtrack...for the past week :)

The Fray - absolute
Hot Hot Heat - goddess on the prairie
Runaway - happiness
Phoenix - lisztomania
Broken Bells - the high road
Trevor Hall - lime tree
Deuter - Illumination
City & Colour - Sometimes
Jay Malinowski - there's a light
Metric - collect call

Mood Ruff - rocketship
The Shins - pink bullets
Atmosphere - reflections
Owl City - vanilla twilight
Jay Z - heart of the city
Imogen Heap - first train home
Bedouin Soundclash - mountain top
Muse - city of delusion
Jack Johnson - crying shame
The Used - the taste of ink
K-OS - the love song
The Beatles - a day in the life
Billy Talent - line and sinker
David Usher - surfacing
Eminem - going through changes
Hans Zimmer - black hawk down soundtrack
IllScarlett - life of a soldier
The Used - light with a sharpened edge
Millencolin - no cigar
The Fray - look after you
Rooney - here today, gone tomorrow


…and so much more xo.

Bedouin Soundclash, new friends, late night coffee beans...and dreams

...so I just had the most fantastic day on set filming the new Bedouin Soundclash video for "Mountain Top"!

what I loved most about the day - music aside - were the people I met. Dancing, talking, singing, laughing - just playing around having a great time. SO much you can learn about people when put in a scenario such as this.
Just simply "enjoying" a life experience together. People really shine.

...now I sit up at my computer - wide awake - probably a big mistake to eat 8 chocolate covered coffee beans at 11pm - oops! I don't know what is so damn good about those little balls - let me tell you they are addictive. Brings me back to those late night library study sessions in university!
But anyway - I am here working on my computer... - okay, truthfully i have been on facebook (for probably WAY too long) - but its quite great actually and I have allowed myself to enjoy it for the last hour or so.

Today, I met a group of wonderful people; we all came together and touched each other's lives. I know i will never forget it. So, as I let myself cruise around on facebook, upload photos and video from the day, add/accept all my new found friends, it is kind of a tribute to the fun times had.
Maybe some of these people I will never talk to again in my life (that being said we will probably remain FB friends forever haha), maybe one or two of us will share an experience again one day, perhaps even I come to know them and they play a significant part along my own path....who knows.

That is the beauty of the present time - we do not have to know what the future holds for us. We can enjoy making these bonds, forming connection, experiencing life, and letting ourselves shine in each moment.
It is also important to remember today - so we can dream for tomorrow.
I have wanted to dive into the film/tv/creative industry for a long time - today was a step in the right direction - and really reaffirms that I am on the right track with my life right now. I am following my dream - making shit happen.
(for those of you who are like, well, aren't you a yoga teacher - where is this coming from?!) oh my friends, I am so much more than just a yoga teacher - I LIVE yoga, I will continue to teach people from my experiences and although being a teacher helps to define me - by no means must it limit me.
Maybe my interest in the film industry will lead me to producing more yoga videos...hmmmmm!?

I am so thankful for this wicked experience...only more good times to be had.

The time is now, so as of recently, I have decided to move to Toronto to expand, grow, create more opportunity and LIGHT IT UP in the city I have missed for too long. (102.1 the edge - I love you so much)
More on my Toronto transition soon ;)
Make YOUR dreams happen people - you only live once!

“anyone who lives within their means, suffers from a lack of imagination” – Oscar Wilde.


much love,
Ashley