One year, one challenge, one success

After one year of sweating, studying and contemplating, I can proudly say that I completed my yoga teacher trainings with Sadie Nardini today: the Evolution and the Rockstar training!

My intention was to blog about my experience as I went along with the courses, however, I realized that that was impossible to do. In order to do the training, you need to dedicate a full day of class, yoga and contemplation. Usually the discussions are about 1.5 hours long and there are two in a day. I took lots of notes and sometimes paused the video and replayed parts of it. Then there is the practice, two sessions, between 1.5 and 2 hours each. I usually did the practice session once while doing yoga and then I played it one more time to take notes about Sadie's instructions. This helped me a lot as her words really sink in this way and her language becomes very familiar and easier to replicate.

Whenever I practice now, I hear Sadie's voice in my mind as I know what she would say. This should make it easier to teach as well. Theoretically anyways. I think I would be able to teach yoga classes after this intense training and after having been practicing yoga for about 10 years. However, I would have a hard time finding students who would want to practice yoga with me and listen to my English instructions. I live in Italy and the language might be a problem. Before I can acually teach I would have to translate Sadie's instructions and get my anatomy vocabulary in Italian straight. Who knows how long this will take me to do. 

However, I will not give up as this is what I learned through the training. Baby steps can make the difference and here I am. Done with the courses.

Thank you, Sadie, for this beautiful experience and for sharing your knowledge with me. 

If you are interested in Sadie Nardini's courses, books and wellness tips, please check out her lovely website: www.sadienardini.com

Itali-awesome... is what I am

My yoga idol and teacher Sadie Nardini actually did it. She posted a link to my little blog on her facebook page. How amazing is that?! The ultimate wellness expert from Brooklyn actually liked my blog and wanted her fans to read about my yoga experience. Here is what her facebook post says:

SEE WHAT MY 21-DAY YOGA BODY COURSE DID FOR ONE FABULOUS CHICA! And what it could do for you!! Plus her blog is Itali-awesome! Get your tips today!
http://www.myitalianfairytale.blogspot.com/

Itali-awesome! Wow! That's what I am?!? 
Thanks to Sadie I have had literally thousands of visitors to my blog, people I have never met wrote positive comments and sent me e-mails and facebook messages in which they let me know that they were inspired by me. I feel very fortunate to be able to make a little difference in someone else's life and I am more motivated than ever to continue writing my little blog, taking pictures and remain a dedicated yogi. Once more I would like to say: Thanks, Sadie, you totally rock!

Links to:
Italian fairy tale faceook page 
Sadie's facebook page
Sadie's website

Humbled by so much kindness

This headline says it all. I am really humbled by the kindness that Sadie Nardini, the world famous  Yoga teacher from New York City and the inventor of Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga said to me in a tweet:

@maryjanawege love your blog! I'll soon be sharing it on FB, I'm honored to be your teacher for realz! #YogaRockstar Warriors unite! Xo

Positive responses I am getting not only from Sadie but from friends, family and strangers are really overwhelming and encourage me to move forward with this blog. I love writing, taking pictures and share with you all the things that inspire me such as healthy food, a yoga pose or a new item in my closet. Watch out for more healthy recipes and engaging photos.

One more word concerning my 21 day yoga challenge. On day 22 I participated in the whole 1.45 hour course that Sadie Nardini provides at the end of the transformation program. I was a bit intimidated, doing all of the poses, but I feel greater than ever and cannot wait to set extra time aside to work through it again tomorrow and hopefully many more times in the future.

Tweeting Rockstar Warrior - Thanks Sadie!

What a wonderful day today! A beautiful morning, a sunny afternoon and a lazy evening made this day unforgettable. Today marks the last day of my 21 day yoga body transformation program with Sadie Nardini. This girl from New York City has developed by far the most effective, fun and engaging yoga practice I have ever encountered: Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga. As I mentioned before, I am convinced that I will engage in this particular yoga practice for the rest of my life. After just 21 days of step by step practice my body and soul feel wonderful, light, healthy, in charge and very much transformed inside and out. If you want to make some time (about 1.5 hours a day of reading, yoga and engaged thinking) I can highly recommend the DailyOM 21 Day Yoga Body Course!

I am so proud of myself for completing it and am committed to continue the practice because it makes me feel like a rockstar warrior!

My yoga block was always by my side during the 21 day challenge.

Along the way, something amazing happened: I was so excited about the course that I not only blogged about it here, posted comments on facebook and even launched my facebook page linking to this blog, no, I also started to use twitter. Why am I so excited about this? Because not only some people around the world encouraged me in my adventure by tweeting, but Sadie Nardini herself, the super busy yoga queen, who is known all over the US and the yogi world, took the time to respond personally to my tweets! Not once but four times!
I tweeted tonight: @sadienardini I completed my 21 day yoga body transformation, feeling wonderful, in charge and transformed. Thank you Sadie! You rock!
Then Sadie actually answered me by tweeting: @maryjanawege incredible!!! I am so impressed & happy that you completed the challenge. We rocked it together!
I am in awe. How great is that?!

• My body feels lighter
• I have been drinking more water than ever
• I ate healthy meals
• I have been setting personal goals
• I let go of irritating and negative thoughts
• I did not crave chocolate
• I lost 3.1 kilos (6.8 pounds) 
• I joined the twitter community with more than 500 million users
• And Sadie Nardini personally encouraged me in this experience and is impressed with me! (If you want to read all of her tweets to me, click on the twitter button on the right or visit: www.twitter.com/maryjanawege to get to my profile.

All I can say is this: click on the following link "DailyOM", pay honestly what you can (it is worth every penny), start your 21 day yoga challenge today and become a "Rockstar Warrior"!

Waterfall pigeon and challenging crow

I wish I had the right word to express how much I love the 21 day yoga body transformation course from DailyOm that I have been taking for the past 19 days. I love it. I love it and, oh right, I love it! I must say I do not even feel bad about quitting my other 21 day yoga challenge from the Yoga Journal. Yes, this was supposed to be a double yoga challenge, doing two programs for 21 days simultaneously. Along the way, however, I realized that I not only love Sadie Nardini's lesson much more than the other one, but I acknowledged the fact that Sadie's course was also much more effective - and on day 16 I quit the other program. Why do I not feel horrible about quitting? That's because I have transformed not only my body but also my ways of thinking thanks to the course. I managed to follow through the one yoga challenge that I really like and in fact, I have been feeling even more than satisfied these past few days, because I listened to what my body wanted: Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga by Sadie Nardini!

Sadie's program is very challenging though, the crow pose is impossible for me to do, but I loved the waterfall warrior and my favourite of all times is the waterfall pigeon! Two more days to go. Cannot wait for the next lesson tomorrow!

Craving carrots and cucumbers

I have been practicing yoga for almost a decade, but I must say that yesterday's session from Sadie Nardini was the most challenging yoga practice I have ever had. The lesson is part of my 21 day total yoga body transformation from DailyOM and is titled "Finding balance". Well, whatever I tried during that session, I did not find my balance to say the least. Thankfully, Sadie mentioned in her video that yogis don't mind falling. So, you watched me Sadie?
I practiced the same poses again today and I must say that it was a little less disastrous, although not really balanced either. That's the fun of it though, trying hard and harder and feeling the body transformation slowly but continuously.

Add colour to your water with grapefruit and oranges.

Sadie's yoga style is so very different from all the other yoga practices I have tried and by far my favourite one. After the 35-40 minute training I am soaked, exhausted, satisfied and feel lighter all at the same time. Anyone reading this might think that Sadie Nardini is my cousin or pays me to be her biggest advocate, but that's not the case. She is simply amazing and her yoga style is the one I love and will practice for the rest of my life. Yes, that's quite a statement, but I am totally convinced.
My body is transforming, that's for sure. Without any effort, just by following Sadie's eating tips, I have shed 2.4 kilos (5.29 pounds) until today. I have not been craving either chocolate nor potato chips but healthy, whole foods such as apples, carrots, almonds, my healthy muffins (see recipe below) and even cucumbers (no kidding). I drink only one coffee per day and have not touched a diet coke in twelve days. This transformation program is totally working for me. Here are the recipes of some tasty infusions I made. Follow these recipes or simply be creative!

Tangerine grape infusion

one liter water

freshly squeezed lemon juice from half a lemon

tangerine pieces (cut up the slices) from two tangerines

a handful of cut up white grapes

Grapefruit orange infusion 

one liter of fresh water

one freshly squeezed grapefruit juice from half a grapefruit

orange pieces (cut up the slices)

add some ginger for extra spice

Tasty tangerine water with grapes and a hint of ginger.

The secret lies in the water

On day 7 of my yoga challenge, I must say that I really feel the difference. I sit up straighter, my mind is more rested and, yes, I did lose weight: 3.75 pounds (1.7 kg). I see a more glowing Mary-Jana when I look in the mirror. This might be due to the little changes in my eating habits which are recommended by yoga teacher Sadie Nardini during the course - the secret might also be in the water of which I finally manage to drink a lot of.

Drinking more water used to be so difficult to me. I just forgot to drink during the day and I am not fond of the plain taste of nothingness. Thanks to Sadie I have been drinking about 2.5 liters every day - without any effort. The secret is: infusion! I simply throw some berries, an orange, some ginger slices or a lemon in fresh water. I keep the drink in a pretty glass container with a lid. Since I like my drinks at room temperature, I place the water bottle on the table where the floating fruit looks pretty. Every time I look at it, I pour myself a glass. Thank you, Sadie for helping me drink more water!

Just throw a handful of raspberries in your water; the outcome is pretty and delicious.

Making time for yoga every day means to show a lot of discipline but the reward I am getting is worth it! Plus, I learn to be organized. Sadie Nardini is so motivating and inspirational, although she is only present on the screen of my i-pad, it seems as though she goes through the transformation process with me. Knowing that she lost 40 pounds doing yoga and making little changes in her life gives me energy to reach my personal goals. During her course "21 day yoga body on Daily Om" (http://www.dailyom.com/cgi-bin/courses/courseoverview.cgi?cid=167) she encourages the participant to keep a journal, list transformation goals and get negative influences and thoughts out of my life, mind and body forever.

The other yoga challenge from the Yoga Journal (http://www.yogajournal.com/21daychallenge/) takes about 30-40 minutes a day and is mainly focussed on yoga poses but not so much on overall transformation. After one week I would totally recommend Sadie Nardini's course over the Yoga Journal one, but taking both of them, makes the experience a true challenge!

New Year - New MJ

New year resolutions are lame to some. Why change on a specific date? Why not change on a specific date? That's my opinion. If you want a transformation, the date is today.
There are not many things I would like to change about myself. I am a loved member of my family and my wonderful boyfriend makes me feel like a princess every day. I am healthy, I have a wonderful home and my life in Italy is sunny and full of little pleasures. What would I want to change? Well, there is always something: discipline and patience for example are two things I would like to show more in my every day life. In order to work on my inner self and get back into shape after all the Christmas cookies and German nut triangles I ate, I decided to to start a transformation by doing more of what I love to do: yoga.
I took on not one but two yoga challenges. I am already on day 4 of both programs and I can feel my body and mind have changed already!
Both courses are taught online. The first one I chose is the 21 day yoga challenge from the Yoga Journal. It is completely free of charge, so no excuses. Here is the link: http://www.yogajournal.com/21daychallenge/. I am participating in the intermediate program. The lessons are quite intense but the teachers explain each pose really well. This program compliments the other challenge I took on: 21 day yoga body by Sadie Nardini and DailyOM and I must say: this program rocks! Here is the link: http://www.dailyom.com/cgi-bin/courses/courseoverview.cgi?cid=167. You can pay as little as one dollar, but I suggest you honestly pay what you can, these lessons are definitely worth every cent. Sadie Nardini teaches a great yoga style which I have been practicing through her online lessons for a while: Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga. The poses are challenging and highly intense and that's why they are really effective. I can feel my body changing already!
What's more, Sadie gives great tips on how to incorporate little changes in your life to become the person you want to be by making healthier choices when it comes to inner thoughts as well as food.
She gives practical advice that I do not want to all share with you as I believe you should really take the course yourself and follow the expert. However, I will show you how some of her recipes turn out and how I changed them to fit better into my lifestyle and diet. Change today. Take the 21 day yoga challenges and tell me how this works for you! Namaste.

one lulu girl amongst many

The the first lululemon item I have ever owned. I still use it once in a while.   (maryjanawege via instagram)

Really? No way! I had to read the newsfeed twice on the lululemon facebook page before it registered and even now 30 minutes later I still cannot believe what I discovered: my favourite brand of all times will launch a European website in a few weeks time; all prices in euros and free shipping guaranteed! Where is the huge smilie button with an open mouth laughter when I need it?

Lululemon Athletica has been my favourite brand for many years. I saw the little omega logo for the first time when I was a student at Dalhousie University on Canada's east coast. Only the girls from the big T.O. or from out west wore these amazing jogging pants that seemed sporty, yet super-trendy and so comfy at the same time. The pants would hang really low on the waistline of the Torontonian girls. In the back, just above their bums, there it always emerged: the mysterious omega sign. I felt too uncool to want to ask what brand that was and despite my journalistic skills no google search could solve the mystery of this cool logo that all the stylish girls obviously knew about - but me. Until one day while I went shopping in a little boutique called Wildflower in downtown Halifax, just off Spring Garden Road, when I saw the logo on a little red and white clutch. There was the word "lululemon athletica" written on one side and on the other "friends are more important than money".  I paid 48,00 Canadian dollars for the wallet, way more than I could afford at the time.

Years and many, many, many shipments later, my closet is full of lululemon gear. Not sure if that little Wildflower boutique still exists, but after I had moved back to Germany a large lulu store opened right on Spring Garden Road in Halifax. I am convinced that there are no better clothes for yogis. Not a day goes by I don't wish I could wear lululemon to work. That way, I would never have to dress in anything else since I already have on my lulu hoodies when I go grocery shopping, when we go drink prosecco at a local bar and when we have friends over.

With lululemon launching the European website, the novelty will be gone soon. This is kind of what happened with Abercrombie & Fitch. I bought my first A&F jeans and shirts in 1997 when I lived in Florida and when I moved back to Germany one year later nobody even knew what that brand was let alone that I spent half of my paycheck on a tank top. When Germans started noticing the brand years later, they had to order jeans and hoodies in the States to get them. Not only did they have to pay a fortune for a t-shirt bearing two letters and an ampersand but also did they have to pay international shipping fees as well as local taxes. However, the more European Ebay shops specialized on Abercrombie gear the more its wearers lost their cool.

Is that what will happen to me wearing my lulu hoodies in a year from now? No more strange looks from girls trying to figure out what the omega sign above the ankle stands for but instead I will spy more and more girls with lulu tea cozies and yoga mats?

I could be sad about the fact that I'll be loosing my niche status as a lulu girl here in Europe but the truth is, I am happy that I will have easier access to the fabulous clothes I love. The launch of the lulu online shop might even give yoga a boost in Italy, since it is not a common activity here, yet.

To say the truth, I cannot wait for the launch and I for sure will be amongst the first loyal clients to order off the new site. And since I have known for many years, thank to my lulu clutch, that "friends are more important than money", I might even spend a fortune!

If friends are more important than money: shop on, girl!   (maryjanawege via instagram)