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It's Just you...Always.

4/17/2016

It has been two weeks since I have slowed down from the Southeast Asia lifestyle. Adjustments and harsh changes are hard on the entire human body system. My first week unfortunately was spent being very sick and allowing my body to do its thing. I say let my body do its thing because I truly feel there is a lot of feedback given in those times of sickness and despair. We try to often to get rid of the feedback and surpress it with drugs and other false cares. We totally miss out on a real connection with our bodies, For the first time in seven months I found myself left alone, feeling shitty and a lil depressed because I was no longer frolicking on islands but in a cold, gray city. I had zero appetite and after completing a body scan was so unhappy with what my tone had become while traveling and being away from my Pilates practice. So one day when I was feeling better and could actually function like my norm again I stood naked in front of the mirror and this is what I told myself.

" Hannah, first of all you are fine and its going to be okay, you are beautiful and strong.... so if you don't like what you see fully, do something about it, hello you know what to do ,to get you to where you love feeling and love looking so do it, you know what to do!" haha something pretty close to that and then I had a dance party because those always make me feel better:)

So that was it, I just made the decision alone, without anyone else's input or opinion, I know what I wanted to see and how I wanted to feel, and lucky for me I know exactly what to do to get me there, so it began. I wrote out a morning ritual to follow for myself and everyday this past week I stuck to it as best as I could. I made it a point to eat clean foods, and did not touch sugar, meat, or gluten once,I did have eggs. This is what I follow for myself when it comes to nutrition ...If I feel good eating it, I eat it, if I don't, I dont eat it, pretty easy, same goes for drinking.  I practiced and did a Pilates workout Monday through Friday and took saturday off. That first workout was embarrassing for me and I was the only one there hahah but by mid week I was feeling strong and already seeing some of that tone I love so much on my body, It was a conscious decision everyday , it took pep talks and rallies somedays to get me in the studio or to get me on a cushion to mediate or not shove a muffin in my mouth but to make a juice or salade , but I did it and the more I did it the better i felt. There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving yourself this much, it is a great pleasure and joy to be so full of ones self. I have gained some much needed clarity on some concerns in my life, I have re connected to my joy, I even just laughed outright out loud on a train because I noticed how amazing I truly felt.

  One of my great challenges is to hold onto that love when it's not just me, like when you get a partner or have a baby or something along those lines. When I am left to my own devices I am like Wonder Woman, but then fucking superman comes flying in and suddenly my power begins to drain and suddenly I'm not flying out saving the day anymore ,he is and instead I'm home folding laundry, WTF!

To all the Wonder Woman out there who might struggle with this as I do, you are worth fighting for! There is a great power in asking for what you need , in the word "NO" and in you being a hero, if not only for yourself. If its not a full body "YES" for you don't do it, do what your crying yes to do. For if we want happy, healthy, sex filled relationships that is the only way we are going to achieve and maintain them, goes for you men out there too.

   So here is to us , for loving us, for giving, listening, and loving, here is to us for knowing that even when we stand in a room full of a thousand people it's still always just us. If we can remember that we will be able to shine and be a guiding light to the 7 billion others.

   If you want daily updates go to my instagram profile inplaypilates and follow along:)

Much Love and Gratitude,
   Hannah

I want to present you with a challenge? Below is an image...see the words on the image? Great! go to a mirror and say those three words until you actually believe them...if you don't come to that place there is your feedback (why not?) make the needed changes and try again tomorrow and the day after etc...because honey you deserve you own love, it will take you on the best dates!!

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I'm Back!

4/11/2016

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Did you miss me? :)

It's been three months and four countries since my last post. I have had some of the most amazing adventures a girl could dream of, witnessed some of the most stunning sunsets, sunrises, full moons, and landscapes, befriended magical people everywhere, ate delicious ridiculously good foods and kissed in some of the most romantic backdrops...but alas that is not what this post is about.

I am transitioning my focus back into my love of Teaching/Practicing Pilates. While teaching in India I was able to practice consistently in the studio and felt strong and completely embodied, then I began my Asian journey with my partner David. Three months later I have found myself teaching in London living in a grand apartment with a home studio attached, I have zero excuses now to kick my butt. While traveling I tried to maintain a constant practice , but then I let it go and dove fully into a nomadic wanderlust life...ah it was great! I stretched after long journeys and inverted myself to clear my head, but really I just gave into the nomadic lifestyle. I was happy, I was traveling with my love and eating so much amazing food and swimming in beautiful waters, I was even able to continue teaching at points in my journey. David is a chiropractor and traveled with a collapsable table to adjust on. There were many times especially in India where together we would journey around to locals houses . David would give them Chiropractic Care and I would give them healthy movements to practice on their own. It was so amazing to spread this love and care for people in this way. In Thailand we stayed at a farm where every morning I would teach a Pilates mat class and then David would spend some time seeing those who needed some extra attention, it was such an amazing experience, so much love surrounding us.

Today, for the first time in three months I completed an apparatus workout on the Wunda Chair! It felt amazing yet I was also...and I don't know why really...amazed at how much muscular tone and strength I had lost in the three months I left my self practice. I mean I surfed almost everyday for two weeks in Sri Lanka and worked on a farm hauling rocks and digging in the dirt in Thailand, where had my strong low belly gone? and why are my hamstrings like tight rubber bands again? haha I only have one answer to those question...Mango Sticky Rice and lazy hammock days:) poor me I know:)

So, today I decided and with some embarrassment put myself out there as an example of what a dedicated Pilates practice can do for your body, mind state, and overall vitality of living. It is easy to have the latter when your in exotic places but as I look out my window into the gray ,rainy, cold day that is London, my Pilates breath is the new force behind my creative genius. Without it I might curl up and watch rom coms the rest of the day:) one might still happen :)
Follow my instagram (inplaypilates) for daily updates on my progress, as I won't blog on this everyday. You can also follow hannahgraphic for traveler updates of my time abroad.

I will leave you today with some fave times from my Journeys, a few from each of the countries visited! India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia