Author Archives: Ilene

Ten Reasons Why Being A Yoga Teacher Rocks

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Ah, the midlife crisis.  That moment in time that when certain people approach the age of forty, with as much grace as a rhinoceros trying to walk a tightrope.  Some leave their marriages, while others go out and buy a Maserati, while others take on the task of making over their bodies or redesigning their homes.  As for me, I ran off for six months and studied yoga. I use the term “ran off” loosely.   I still lived in my house, but for the amount of energy and time away from my family that it took to get through those … Continue reading →

Love Letters Part 2

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I didn’t want a puppy.  I told them I didn’t want a puppy, but when you volunteer to foster dogs being rescued from shelters where they would otherwise be killed, it’s hard to say “no.”  It’s painful to imagine that alternate ending, when that puppy has no foster home to take it. The puppy comes to us with the name Tracey.    She’s cute!  But she’s a puppy.  She nips at my running shoe, she punctures a hole in my tank top.  She pees on the floor.  She nibbles at our wrists with her pointy puppy teeth.  She follows me … Continue reading →

I Believe In You

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“Mom!  Mom, you’re never going to guess what!”  I shouted excitedly into the phone. My mother was my second phone call, right after my husband with the news that one of my screenplays had made it into the semi –final round of what was arguably the most prestigious screenwriting competition in the United States. It was 2002, and I felt unstoppable.  I had used every spare moment of my life to write fiction, and my writing had begun to harness attention from literary agents and other players in the industry. “Oh, that’s nice, honey,” my mother responded, in the same … Continue reading →

My Almost Meet-Up With @acctodenise

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Earlier this week, joking around on Twitter, I fabricated a fantasy meet up among some of my favorite blogging girlfriends, people I’ve never met in person, but all who have a special place in my heart. In my fantasy, Christine, Michelle, Mary, Kristen, Denise and I all meet up in Maryland, where three out of the six of us live.  In the Twitter conversation, Michelle even offered me a place to say, saying that I could bunk up with her visiting in-laws (you were serious, Michelle, right?  I’m a very low maintenance house guest.  So long as I have access … Continue reading →

The Secret Life of Dora the Explorer

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It seemed innocent enough. She overcame challenges.  She was bilingual.   She exceled at sports.  Dora, the star of the Dora The Explorer TV series, was a decent role model for my young children.  It was a TV program with educational value, along with well-intended, clean cut characters.  But then, it started. “Can we get that Dora beach towel?” “Honey, don’t you think we have enough towels?” “Look, mom! Dora’s in that Lego set!” “We have plenty of Legos at home.” Dora dolls, Dora purses, Dora sippy cups, Dora puzzles, coloring books, watches, nightgowns, stickers, and the list goes on. I … Continue reading →

The First Rule of Fight Club

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  Contrary to myth, we don’t meet in abandoned buildings.  We don’t punch each other around until our faces are bloody, and I don’t make soap for a living.  However, I do run a weekly fight club.  A yoga fight club, to be specific.  When the owner of my yoga studio asked if I was interested in teaching Yoga Fight Club, my knee jerk reactions, was, “No!  I can’t do that!” Yet, I know myself well enough to realize that when I resist something so impulsively, it usually means that it’s something I need to embrace.  To be honest, I … Continue reading →

Setting Goals: The Power of “Why”

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Last week, I used the principles of fiction writing as an analogy for creating well focused goals. I invited you to explore the idea of creating one primary goal for you "story" and formulating secondary goals that support your "plot line." This week, I introduce another element of fiction writing to help you examine your goals:  Outer motivation versus inner motivation. If you examine a work of fiction closely, you will see that most main characters have a tangible, specific goal they want to accomplish by the end of the story.  For instance, in the original "Rocky" movie, Rocky wants … Continue reading →

The Green Ribbon

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Months ago, Miss F. told me she wanted to be on the summer swim team, sponsored by our town pool.     Miss F. wants to try everything, which is good and bad, when you’re her mother.     “You have to go to practice every morning, “ I warn.  “And practice starts early.”    “That’s fine, she says,” shrugging nonchalantly.     “You’re not just splashing around the pool playing.  You’re swimming laps.  It’s tiring.”   “Mommy I know that,” she responds, getting annoyed. “You’re treating me like a baby!”  Then came the first day of practice.  When it was over, she dragged … Continue reading →

No Excuses: 20 Ways to Find Time for #plankaday

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Confession:  I have been coming down hard on my plankaday participants lately. Some of you have fallen off the radar.   I don’t know if you are planking or not.    And while you don’t need to give me a “shout out” every day, an occasional “I planked today” would be a great indication to me that you are still on board.  Yes, I am a drill sergeant, and a relentless one at that, but not necessarily because I enjoy being tough.  It is because I want you to succeed. Success takes persistence, discomfort, and at times, monotony.  I am shouting at … Continue reading →

Rebel Ted

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"How much do you weigh?" "Excuse me," I ask, pretending not to hear the question. "This posture has got to be easier for you than it is for me. You're tiny."    I am in front of my yoga students, demonstrating how to push up into Chaturanga Dandasana from the floor (which can most simply be explained as a yoga push-up) while Ted carries on his inquisition.  "Plus, not for nothing, look at those guns on you.  You lift?" Ted just called my arms guns in the middle of my yoga class.  Oh, that Ted.  "No," I smile.  "I just practice … Continue reading →