Tiffiny's Travels: Seminyak, Bali & #POSEWHENEVER

Hello, from Indonesia! 

I am wrapping up the first leg of my trip here in Bali, Indonesia. I have been at the W Hotel & Spa in Seminyak the last 4 days for a yoga retreat with Tara Stiles. 

This country is amazing. The people here are so incredibly kind and welcoming!

Oh yeah; - and the food. I've been taking snaps of my food because I just love the presentation that is put into it! (We do plan to go to The Suckling Pig in Ubud, an Anthony Bourdain favorite!)

Of course we have been doing yoga here. I won this trip from W Hotels via the #POSEWHENEVER Instagram contest! It has been the trip of a lifetime & my first trip south of the equator and to Asia. We have an 8-hour layover in Tokyo on our trip home, and I cannot wait to explore that amazing city. 

Yoga with Tara has been a wonderful experience. Tara is an amazing human, and super down-to-earth. The energy that vibrates from here is also contagious. Lots of thinking and movement occurred within me on this trip and I'm excited about the future. Movement is happening. 

Stay tuned for another update soon! We are heading to Ubud later today and will be there the next four nights! (I will also have a HUGE photo post after I sort through everything!)

<3 Tiffiny

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Reflection: Guiding My First Yoga Class

Photo: Jenn Calaway

Saturday morning, I woke up at 6am, sat up in my bed and just stared.

I do not want to do this; but here goes nothing. 

Rolling out of bed, I decided not to make coffee. I wanted to be calm, not wired.

The books I was poring over the night before were still open on my bed and so I went back to them, double-checking what I had written down. The queues I needed to call out. The muscles and nerves that would begin to feel better.

Time to teach my first yoga class.

I'm big on inspirational quotes. There are some overused ones, and so I always look for hidden gems to make somebody stop and think, even for just a second in their busy day.

The theme of my class was self-love. I needed a good opening and closing thought/quote. 

"Do your thing and don't care if they like it," - Tina Fey. 

Too cute and short, but I like it. It's just not right fro today. maybe for another day.

"Self-care is never a selfish act. It is simply good stewardship of the only gift I was put on Earth to offer to others." - Parker Palmer

Also good, but maybe not exactly what I'm looking for.

"What lies before us and what lies behind us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

That's a good one. 

Let today be the day you love yourself enough to no longer just dream of a better life; let today be the day you act upon it." - Steve Maraboli 

Perfect. 

 I think words are important, and so finding the right one to share with yoga classes is going to be a new activity I enjoy. 

I packed up, hopped in my car, and headed out to yoga. Riding my bike wasn't going to happen this time, because I'm still too wimpy for the hills out here in Boulder. 

Arriving at Chautauqua Park, I suddenly felt calmness melting over me, and I found myself not worried about who, when, where, why -- not worried about anything. I realized I was truly being present. My mind was here with me, and that was it. Ego wasn't whispering anything to get a rise out of me, Ego was also with me. I was being fully supported and led by myself, in union with The Universe. 

Photo: Jenn Calaway

A couple people with yoga mats walked up, and since the park we were at is popular for trail-running, and not early morning yoga class, I knew they were looking for me. 

Seven people and a photographer showed up to my class. My new roommate, my old roommate, and people from Instagram and Facebook. 

Photo: Jenn Calaway

At 7:35, we hiked up a little ways to a grassy area in Chautauqua Park, with the perfect view of The Flatirons. 

I instructed everyone to get into a circle. I feel like I might always want to guide my yoga classes in a circle, if the space allows, because I feel like the experience has equal input and output from everyone involved. 

We opened with introductions: names, how long you've lived in Boulder, and why you do yoga. I loved hearing what everyone had to say about their reason for allowing yoga to be in their lives. 

"The union of my mind, body and spirit." 

"The calmness it gives me." 

"Stretching feels so good." 

Photo: Jenn Calaway

Photo: Jenn Calaway

As a yoga teacher, it's going to be important for me to remember that everyone has different reasons for choosing to do yoga, and so I cannot force any one way or structure on them. I am here to create the community and safely and calmly guide them through their asana practice. 

The practice lasted about an hour, and then it was time for savasana. I did not participate because I walked around giving a forehead massage, but the  in the tall, cool grass looked amazing! 

Photo: Jenn Calaway

Photo: Jenn Calaway

Photo: Jenn Calaway

I am so incredibly grateful for the people who allowed me to guide them during my first class. Now that I have lead my first class, I feel so much more calm and ready to lead endless classes! 

**If you want me to come guide a free/donation yoga class, please email me at tiffinycostello@me.com.  Currently, I live in Boulder, CO, but I will be traveling and teaching yoga in the future, and need to find out where there is a demand.  

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Milestones: Yoga Teacher Training Graduation!

This past week and weekend, I traveled to Texas to finish up my Hatha Yoga teacher training at Namah Shivaya Yoga in Dallas. 

As of May 18, 2014, I finally became a certified Yoga Adhyapak: Teacher of Yoga.

My teachers, myself and another graduate: Scott, Me, Kasey, Tej, Melissa and Thom were all a huge part of my graduation day and my yoga journey. Many thanks and love to everyone who I met along the way. I cannot wait to cross paths again with these incredible humans.

I started the training in August of 2013, and have been attending classes for 8 hours a day on the weekends every month. Each time I return, I learn something new about myself and about the world. I never leave with anything but love and peace. I feel like many of the answers I have come to over the last few months have happened in the two rooms where I trained at Namah Shivaya.

I experienced my first true meditation experience in the subtle body, and have learned to take the practice home with me. I could go on and on about how much I have learned and how badly I thirst for the knowledge and enlightenment that the philosophy and metaphysics of Hatha & Kundalini Yoga has already given me.

My graduation buddy, Kasey. I love this girl so much and am so happy to have shared our day together! <3

Two of the greatest things I learned during this training was:
1. Not everyone is on my path. Even though this training changed my life for the better and realigned me with the Divine Light of the Universe, other people have different paths they are on that will also lead them to themselves. This also gracefully casts down my plan to "only teach the traditional 8-limbed path of yoga." Some people of other cultures or spiritual backgrounds may not respond to this path, and so what harm is it for me to form to what they will respond well to? If you help lead them to the light and truth within themselves, you have done good. 

“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” - Dalai Lama XIV

2. Intention is everything. I recently read an article where the writer was blasting white women in America jumping on the Yoga bandwagon. There was another article that slammed the trend of people becoming yoga teachers and then knowing nothing. The people writing these articles were yoga teachers or people who had practiced yoga many, many years. It was discouraging, but I gave the fear of what other think away and found that my intention for becoming a yoga teacher is what matters. I do not have to explain myself to anyone and when someone challenges my intention, it is ok. Responding with compassion and love will be key to remaining fearless from others' opinions.

So, now that I am back in Boulder I am settling back into my, "routine." Being able to take yoga off the mat and into my routine is where I put my practice into practice. The calmness I feel about what will happen next is peaceful. 

“We are not going to change the whole world, but we can change ourselves and feel free as birds. We can be serene even in the midst of calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil. Serenity is contagious. If we smile at someone, he or she will smile back. And a smile costs nothing. We should plague everyone with joy. If we are to die in a minute, why not die happily, laughing?” - Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras. 

After a post-yoga-graduation outing with my boyfriend last night in Fort Worth. So happy here. :)

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Scare the Crap Out of Yourself..and LIVE.

Lately, my days feel longer. Time still flies, but I can look back on a day and feel good about how much I accomplished. A year ago, time was flying and I would look back on the day, feeling like all I did was work, and I might as well just go to sleep because it was already so late. I am so glad this is not the case as of late.

(The pictures in this post are from a one-night camping trip I took this weekend with my friend and her family. I got to try out my new Kammok that I won and I LOVE IT! All photos here are shot with GoPro Hero2).

I think part of it is that I have this buzzing energy, constantly reminding me that life should be lived, and lived well. "It" has been dormant for the last few years in my brain; I'm sure poorly managed stress, alcohol, and the normal things that deter people from their purpose caused "it" to hibernate.

I am glad it is awake again.

I am glad I am awake again.

This is not the first time I have been awake.

When I first started college, I felt it. It kept me up late at night, creating, writing, and thinking. It's back again - "it" being something I think everyone is capable of. It is YOU. Your purpose is also you. When you start to uncover your purpose and true calling, you feel it. Every part of your being is buzzing and humming with the energy of being awake.

How do you find "it?" You allow yourself to change. I had to quit drinking, leave people behind, and leave a perception of unhappiness I had created for myself and for others. I simplified my life by simplifying my mind. Nature helps. Travel helps. Adding yoga and meditation to my daily routine have helped me the most.  Getting yourself out of your day-to-day routine also helps. This allows you to look at your life from a distance, and not necessarily a safe distance. You also might not like what you see. 

But you can change it. You are the only one who can. Fill your mind with positive thinking by changing your reactions. Change your scenery. If your job really is awful and there is no way to find any shred of positivity about it, leave it. What do you have to lose? If continuing college is like pullling teeth and you're skipping class more than you're going, quit college. (See previous blog post about quitting college). You do not have to stay in any situation you're in if you don't want to. Free yourself. FREE YOURSELF. You deserve it - this life is yours and you get to live it. 

I'll leave you with this great quote & a link to watch the video on Vimeo. Have a wonderful week, and if you have a blog, link it to me in the comment section; I'd love to read! :)

"If you're living your life where you scare yourself a lot, that's really living. None of us are getting out of here alive so you might as well scare the crap out of yourself and do things that are important to you." -Todd Sanders, Roadhouse Relics in Austin, TX.

Todd Sanders STORYTLD from LUXURY MINDZ on Vimeo.

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Wanderlust Colorado in Photos!

I had the wonderful chance of attending Wanderlust Festival, Colorado, at Copper Mountain Ski Resort last week! 

Climbing up Copper Mountain - BEAUTIFUL fields of wildflowers!

My friend Megan and I drove from Texas to Colorado. We took the route through New Mexico on the way there, and the route through Kansas on the way home. 

Cities we visited: 

- Capulin, NM (We hiked into the volcano!!)

- Frisco, CO

- Pueblo, CO

- Copper, CO

- Buena Vista, CO (We whitewater rafted through Brown's Canyon and rode horses!)

- Vail, CO

- Cakwer City, KS

- Oklahoma City, OK 

Rather than talk about it, I'll let the pictures speak the story! 

Cameras used:  GoPro Hero2, iPhone 5, iPhone 4 w/ Olloclip 

Leaving Dallas at sunrise

9 hours later... 

Capulin, NM did not have a gas station or restaurant; but they  had a working pay phone.  

Inner rim of the Capulin Volcano!

 

 

 Our site in Pueblo, CO

Time for a mountain pass....or four. 

White River National Forest 

Up Copper Mountain we go!

Crow posing on the side of Copper.

 Beautiful Megan and beautiful scenery.

 Half awake.

 

 Phrase most often said by Tiffiny, "We need to find coffee." 

 Best face, Megan!

Breakfast with a mountain. 

Blueberry popsicle! 

 Working my way through the field of boulders. Reminded me of this quote:

“Jumping from boulder to boulder and never falling, with a heavy pack, is easier than it sounds; you just can't fall when you get into the rhythm of the dance.” - Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums

 This is the mountain I climbed. It looks smaller from the highway..

 

 Our site in Frisco, CO

 First horse ride!

Largest Ball of Twine can be found in the middle of nowhere, Kansas. 

  

  

 Channeling Georgia O'Keefe.

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I was able to attend Wanderlust because I received two free Sage passes from So Delicious, simply for replying to a Tweet of theirs. They also gave me these coupons (I used them FAST). Thanks again, guys! 

I also got some free camp coffee for my trip from Nature Coffee Kettle! Their concept and quality is fantastic and I LOVE COFFEE so I can take all I can get! 

Stay tuned for more adventures! I'll be at Wanderlust Austin, the All-Girls Slackline Festival in Oregon, & whatever else I can! 

You can also find me here:

twitter.com/tiffinyepiphany

instagram.com/tiffinycostello

facebook.com/turbotiffiny

<3 Tiffiny

**Clothing/gear/companies that kept me warm, cute, nourished, footed etc:

Nikita Coleman Tents Mountain Hardware Columbia Teva Mountainsmith Sleeping Bags So Delicious

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