“Gratitude is the discipline of happiness.”

As Thanksgiving nears, it seems only fitting to focus on being grateful.  Most of us know to count our blessings– to be grateful for the good things, the happy events, the kindnesses of loved ones, the joy that we receive in our lives.  What about the failures, the fights, the metaphorical falling down that we all encounter?  

There is a gift in every moment.  It is hard to see the blessing in a difficult moment that is causing us pain.  We often turn to anger, so that we don’t really have to experience the hurt.  But, on the other side of hurt lies compassion and grace.  

So, I challenge you to embrace resilience and to be thankful for all of your experiences, the victories and the perceived failures. They make you unique and very, very special.

xoxo!  Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Red Lotus Hawaii.

Kick for a Cure is back!  Join us on November 2nd and kick breast cancer in the booty!  

Everyone is welcome.

There will be a $5 donation at the door or you can donate directly to our team at Susan B. Komen Passionately Pink:

http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR/PassionatelyPink/HeadquartersSite?team_id=281048&pg=team&fr_id=3715

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” –ee cummings

The best and hardest advice i’ve received in my life is this:  Just be yourself!

As my birthday approaches (eek!), I find myself reflecting on who I am today.

In my twenties, I was all over the place, dyeing my hair a different color every week and constantly wondering what everyone thought of me.  In my thirties, I was figuring out how to be a mom and an “adult” with a real job and responsibilities, too sleep deprived to wonder what anyone thought of me.

Now, in my forties, I’ve given up wondering what anyone thinks, and I’ve learned to focus on what I think is important.  Now, I’m old enough to consider all the times “two roads diverged in a wood,” and appreciate where my choices led me.  I’ve learned that there is no joy or passion without sorrow or pain.  We have to own our choices and get through it– hopefully with some grace and style and a loud ki-ai.

Does this mean I’m finally growing up and being me?  It’s about darn time.  Those birthday candles take up the whole cake these days.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” –Gandhi

Oh my gosh. It’s September.  How did that happen?

Our annual September Challenge is on!  During the month of September, choose something that you can practice mindfully every day (even for a few minutes) that will bring increased happiness and health to your life.  You get to reward yourself at the end of the month for your commitment to improving your well-being.  It’s a win-win!

Come get your goal sheet.  I love watching the wall get wall-papered with your good intentions.

Happy Fall:)

“leap and the net will appear.”–zen proverb

It’s easy, in the chaos of daily life and pitfalls of parenting and relationships, to forget one simple truth:  You are perfect.  You don’t need fixing.  Your core/ soul/ spirit/ heart is unchanging and beautiful.  And when you remember who you really are, bliss is possible.  Attaining joy is sometimes as simple as recognizing who you really are and taking a leap of faith.  It’s time.

As Deepak Chopra, one of the coolest men on the planet, puts it: “Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.”

Time to be you.  Time to let go.  Time to leap.

This is a shout out to all the teachers, mentors, parents, and friends in the world.

This past weekend, a teacher and mentor of mine passed away.  We didn’t keep in close contact over the years.  I saw him now and again at various shows or events.  However, when I learned of his passing, a flood of vivid memories washed over me in an instant. I felt like laughing and crying at the same time.

Sometimes, in the moment, it is difficult to see the profound affect we have on one another.  We take the mundane for granted.  We can’t imagine that our words or actions could shape the future or people around us for better or worse.

But this I know:  I am the product of the amazing teachers, role models, friends, and even adversaries, that I have had in my life.  I carry them with me, and they are present in every word that I say and every step that I take.

In the words of one of my favorite poets, e.e. cummings:

Aloha to my dear teacher and director, Glenn Cannon.  Mahalo nui loa.

You will be missed.

So, I’ve been thinking about the daily grind.  We’ve created a society that values novelty and quick fixes.  Instant gratification and fast food.  Everything needs to be convenient and stress-free, or we feel disgruntled and unsatisfied.  This applies to our food, our bodies, our jobs, and our relationships.

Yet, we all know that real, meaningful results require real, meaningful effort and time.  How do we put in the time required to achieve excellence, but still keep it fresh?

Be present. Live in the moment.

It sounds like a bumper sticker cliche, but the practice of mindfulness is one of the foundations of Buddhism. And it keeps everything fresh.

I throw hundreds of kicks training and teaching each week.  I estimate that I threw over 500 roundhouses alone last week. Roughly multiplied, I throw about 24,000 roundhouses every year. Multiply that by 25 years… 600,000 roundhouses. You would think that I would be bored by the repetition.  But I still love it.  When you are kicking, you are required to be entirely present.  I breathe, focus on a single point, balance, contract my core for acceleration.  I appreciate every nuance of breath, the movement of my muscles, and the moment of freedom and power when I make contact with the bag.  I try to make every kick count.  And that love for every kick has parlayed itself into a life and career.

Focus on the moment.  Every moment is new, and the moments will create your future.

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness.  If you are attentive, you will see it.” –Thich Nhat Hanh

Happy Chinese New Year!  

On February 10th, we usher in the Year of the Snake. “This 2013 year of Snake is meant for steady progress and attention to detail. Focus and discipline will be necessary for you to achieve what you set out to create.”

I like it.  If we are mindful and work hard, we will reach our goals.  

While some of those goals may be physical or career driven, I have been thinking about emotional goals.  Reaching new emotional goals requires one to filter through past pain and slough off unnecessary baggage like the proverbial snake sloughing off its skin when it outgrows it.  Sloughing off one’s skin is never an easy task!  It also requires that you are brave enough to feel raw and new for a bit.

Evaluate if you’ve outgrown some of your emotional baggage.  And if you don’t need it anymore, it may be time to let it go.  Wriggle out of those old emotional habits and embrace some new perspectives.

I think a fresh new skin will look fantastic on you!

The holiday season is upon us! We have a whole month before our 2013 arrives. There are 26 workout days at the dojo before the new year, so here’s the challenge: 25 workouts before Jan. 1, 2013. We are making JARS of FITSPIRATION at the studio. For every workout you complete, you get to put a dollar in the jar. The $25 you save can be put to something special for yourself or you can keep saving…

Bring your jar to the dojo with your name on it. Or I can make you one! We start our Fitspiration challenge tomorrow.

Let’s all start the new year feeling happy and healthy!

I just had “one of those” months– the kind that make you evaluate who you are, where you’ve been, and where the heck you are going.  I wanted to throw in the proverbial towel.  Then, Oprah spoke to me.

Yes, yes, laugh.  It was Sunday morning.  I was in a dark place.  I turned the television on.  There she was, in all her OWN Network glory.  And here is what she said: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them. And move on.”  Chorus of angels.  

Sometimes, we can’t let go of the past, because we simply don’t want to believe that the relationship/job/friendship could end like that.  Could he/she really be so selfish/narcissistic/mean?  So, we belabor the point and stay in relationships far longer than necessary.  We are afraid to move on.

Here’s what I know.  We are meant to be happy and healthy.  And we always have a choice.

Why do we choose to be unhappy, stressed, or unhealthy?  No idea.  Let’s choose happiness, clarity, and health.  

This past weekend, 18 Red Lotus students were tested and promoted for new belts.  As a group, they were focused, determined, and amazing. They demonstrated their passion for being martial artists and their support of each other as an ohana.  When people show you who they are, believe them.  Chorus of angels.

They reminded me that there is goodness and joy.  They reminded me to choose happiness and move on.  I am very, very grateful.