Hope is always alive as long as you believe that anything is possible.  Hope is defined as a belief in the positive outcome in relation to events.  Basically hope equals positive thinking and begins when you have faith in your heart that good things are to come.  There are many ways to keep hope alive from daily prayer, meditation to positive thinking.

I have also found that keeping a journal helps keep my hopes alive and in focus.  Every day during my meditation and yoga practice I always renew my hopes and dreams fueled by love, peace and happiness.  As long as there is a positive energy flow hope can become reality at any given moment in life.

Awhile back my friend Macha Einbender asked me to be a guest on her blog talk radio show called Overcoming Negativity Addiction. It empowers positive living and airs every Thursday night at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/profile.aspx?userurl=denisecoates It was a great experience and I loved being part something that is truly helping people. That night we had a blast talking about self-love and why it is so important.

With the Holidays coming we are always reminded to take time to express gratitude for those around us and for what we have. It is also such a busy time that we often neglect our selves. It is important to remember that we are all wonderful unique individuals that deserve to be celebrated. There are many ways to love ourselves such as keeping a list of qualities and accomplishments to remind ourselves how special we are. I also find keeping a daily journal is a great way to reflect on what is good in life. Meditation and yoga is a perfect time to review how we are all loving creatures with a purpose in life. Repeating affirmations like I am positive, I am peaceful and I am strong while doing yoga poses helps pus us in good place.  More Importantly take time for your self on a daily basses with activities from exercising, reading, taking a hot bath and just relaxing. So for this holiday season take time to thank and honor yourself.



This week marks the first year anniversary of my blog.  I committed to writing a blog entry at least once a week.  I am so excited to contribute to the online dialogue with the purpose of helping and inspiring others.  In the past year I have written about some of my favorite subjects such as disability issues, yoga, self-improvement and fitness.  I have truly enjoyed sharing my ideas, views and experiences.

I am also thrilled to be part of two amazing social networks where I can interact and be inspired. The first one is http://www.yogajournal.com/community/, a wonderful place where yogis can come together to share the love of yoga and to learn from each other.  The second one I just love is http://www.herfuture.com/, a place where women come together to be empowered and inspired.  I am honored to have shared my blog there weekly and have enjoyed them both.  My blog has also helped me make connections with other amazing bloggers through Facebook and Twitter who are my teachers in the blogging world.  I am looking forward to another fun year of blogging my thoughts with you.

During my morning yoga practice I was thinking about how I was feeling during and after my practice.

These feelings and emotions stay with me in every moment of the day.

1.   I feel love and peace flowing within me

2.    I feel centered and focus

3.    I am energized and flexible

4.    I feel spiritually connected

5.   I feel healthy

6.   I feel happy

7.   I feel positive energy

8.   I am ready to face the world

Cyber bullying is a growing problem that affects people of all ages.  It is defined as a way to hurt someone through the Internet, computers or cell phones by posting texts, emails and images to embarrass some one.  There are many harmful effects of cyber bullying such as emotional damage and suicide, and adults may suffer lost revenue, lost earnings and defamation individuals through electronic means.

No one should ever have their personal life made public without their consent.  We are all unique individuals who should not be judged by sexual orientation, disability, gender, race or religion.

We as individuals have a responsibility in how we act when emailing, texting and posting because it represents who we are.  When using social networks it is important to be aware of what we share online because anyone can access and see it.  In other words, keep in mind in how your actions will affect yourself and others.  It is better to play it safe then be sorry later.

When I started practicing yoga in my twenties using Seane Corn’s DVDs, I heard about her Off The Mat And Into The World charity.  I was curious and wanted to learn more.

Through my research I was inspired to take the ideas of using my yoga practice to define my purpose of being a disability rights advocate.  This empowered me to use my passion for writing to achieve my goal of eliminating the stigma that disabled people face in our society.

It is my yoga practice that keeps me focused and centered.  Karma Yoga, the act of giving, is the path I have and will always follow in my life.  I am proud of and inspired by Off The Mat And Into The World and the work that it does.  It shows that yoga is the practice of working to make the world a happier, more peaceful and loving place.  http://www.offthematintotheworld.org/

feel there is a spiritual connection between my two passions in life: my yoga practice and my writing career.  My yoga practice helps me stay center and focused on my writing goals and my purpose.  My column and blog allow me the opportunity to share the joy of yoga while advocating for disability rights.  I am proud to be a yogini, writer and activist.

Very recently I had an email interview with one of my favorite writers and yoga instructors, Kathryn Budig.  She writes for http://www.yogajournal.com/, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ and http://www.elephantjournal.com/ .  Visit her site at http://www.kathrynbudig.com/ .

How did you discover yoga?

I was a student at the University of Virginia getting my BA in English (literature) and Drama (mainly musical theatre).  One of my dance girlfriends from the theatre found yoga over her summer break and told me we HAD to start doing it.  She did all the heavy lifting, found an amazing ashtanga studio downtown and I was hooked.  It became the highlight of my week.

What does yoga mean to you?

Yoga is how I live my life.  In the beginning it was about how consistent I could be in my asana practice.  I was a dedicated ashtangi, and I put all my focus into improving my strength and practice.  As the years passed I started to see more and more yoga off the mat—in my decisions, in my friendships, my relationships and especially in my heartaches.  Yoga pulled me through hardships and showed me that I already possessed all the tools that I need to be present, happy and of service.

How did you begin writing about the yoga practice?

My father was/is a journalist, so I believe it runs in my blood.  Also, as I mentioned in question one—I have a BA in English.  I’ve written many a paper in my day, and to my teachers dismay, I love to write the way I speak.  When you’re writing about “The Moonstone” that doesn’t fly so well.  Fortunately, my style works well for my audience now and I do so in the hopes that people will be entertained as well as motivated.

What is the connection between yoga and writing?

Writing in yoga is simply another vehicle to help the community understand what yoga is and what it has to offer.  Personally, writing is incredibly cathartic for me and allows me to shed any facade and just show up.  My writing won’t let me hide or come up with flowery excuses.  It forces me to place my truth on the page and shape it in a way that resolves my issues while showing people that we’re all going through the same thing—just in different shades of colors.

What is your purpose?

Ah, I love the light hearted questions.  Well, aside from eating as much good food as possible and nuzzling my dog. . .wait, there’s more? 🙂

My purpose is to show people there’s so much more.  I want people to believe in themselves again.  We have this tendency to live our lives ruled by fear.  I want people to know they can choose love over fear.  I want them to know that they don’t need anyone else to make the happy because they hold everything they need within them.  I want people to laugh and not take everything so seriously.  I want people to know they can enjoy life, eat amazing food, indulge and be merry while still maintaining a conscious and healthy lifestyle.  At the end of the day, my purpose is to remind people to always choose love.

What are your future plans and goals?

I’d like to reach a platform that will help me in taking my answer to question #5 to the masses.  I have a pretty good idea of what that is, but a girl’s gotta have some secrets:)

Are you planning on doing any yoga DVDs, books or CDs?

I’m in the middle of talks about creating a DVD and there will be books in the future without a doubt.  I have online content up weekly on Yogaglo.com and just created a Poses for Paws sock for ToeSox that benefits my animal right’s charity.

The yoga community has been abuzz about how yoga is being portrayed, ranging from sexy to nude.  It has left this yogini blogger’s head spinning and wanting to share her opinion.  Yoga is universal with different meanings for everyone. For some yoga is an exercise for flexibility or for releasing stress, or for those like myself it is both a mind and body exercise connecting myself to a higher power.

Yoga is different for everyone because we are all unique individuals with different needs that should be respected.  I see yoga as way of life from a spiritual connection, keeping me fit and balanced to instill values into my life.  Being the free spirit that I am, I take in what I read and learn to incorporate in my own life.  I applaud and celebrate what yoga brings to our lives.

In a flash time moves past us so fast that at times we don’t even realize it.  We often don’t take the time to enjoy the simple things that life has to offer from inside of ourselves to those around us and our natural surroundings.  Yoga teaches us to slow down while paying attention to what is happening in the present from feelings, to events and our actions.  The more we stay in the present the stronger and more grounded we will get. One of my favorite websites   at http://www.artofattention.com teaches people to being more attentive to themselves, others and their surroundings. I have incorporated the five-step process to train us to be more attentive in my own life . The first one is to pause and take into account what is happening to us from the inside to the outside.  The second step is to accept who we are while acknowledging the beauty that is inside us.  We also must learn to accept and respect people for who they are because we are all unique in our own ways.  Once we start the practice of paying attention we will experience the awakening of what we are experiencing at that given moment.  As always, express gratitude to yourself and others for what we do have. The website was created by Elena Brower, a yoga instructor based in New York City surroundings. I had an opportunity to interview Elena about her website.

1.  How did you get involved with yoga and open your own studio ?

A friend took me to a class in the early 90’s and I was immediately hooked.  I had no idea HOW hooked.

After working for several years after college as a textile and apparel designer, I met Cyndi Lee of OM Yoga and took her second teacher training, and that is where it all began.  A couple of years later I met John Friend of Anusara Yoga, and became certified as an Anusara teacher 4 years later.  In the middle of that, in 2002, I opened up Virayoga in NYC, and it’s still going strong.

2.  What is Art of Attention?

Art of Attention is a vision that I have for all of us. It’s all about using our attention, our only real commodity, towards creating and cultivating more presence, more gratitude, more respect, more elegance in everything we do.

3.  What is the purpose and goal of the site?

The purpose and goal of the site is one and the same; to introduce and/or remind us all (myself included) of our inherent grace.  The introductions and reminders come in the form of writings, practices, video practices and eventually, a book.

4.  What are your future plans?

Future plans: more of the same.  Traveling, writing, practicing, teaching; becoming a more honest human being, loving my child, my family, my friends; serving my teachers and their teachings.

There are several things that can be done every day to reduce stress such as having a healthy eating plan, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep.  Yoga and meditation are excellent ways to relax the mind and release tension from the body.  Deep breathing exercises and visualizing peaceful settings is a great way to calm down.  In my opinion laughter is the best medicine for almost any situation that brings about stress.  Whenever I laugh I can actually feel the stress decreasing with happiness increasing inside of me. Practicing reassuring self talk helps with keeping a positive attitude during every day life.  Over the years I have developed my own techniques to use when dealing with stress and anxiety.  My oldest and most reliable is journaling.  I have always felt that once it is written down it is over.  I always carry a small comforting object that I can draw strength from.  I use to carry a small angel with me to give me support to contend with any situation.  But today I draw power from my wedding ring because I know I can handle anything with my husband at my side.  I have practiced yoga and meditation every morning for as long as I can remember and it has always helped me stay centered and focused in life.  During my meditation practice I like to create a safe, peaceful place in my imagination such as the beach and the woods.  When I close my eyes while taking slow deep breaths I can actually visualize the sights, sounds and smells of the location, which can be a very relaxing.  More importantly I just take one day at a time and live happily in each moment.