Congratulations to author, psychotherapist, yoga teacher and my dear friend, Erin Mason, for publishing a tender and heartwarming story, Growing Grace, about adoption from the biological mother’s perspective.
Tola also Talksabout America’s obesity epidemic and how it affects 36% of all adults and nearly 20% of all children and adolescents, and more specifically, how I would financially reward everyone for being fit…If I Were President. Not to mention fitness tips for losing that unwanted weight.
Thank you Seattle, for a wonderful six months of teaching yoga to well over 1,000 students in exactly 136 classes. Because as you may already know, I’ll be returning to my beloved Los Angeles (aka Home) where I first began teaching my fitness style of yoga in 2007 before it was even known as Tola Yoga.
And who says you can’t have a blast walking around and exploring Seattle in the rain? Plus, you never really get those torrential downpours like Chicago does, so who needs protection? Seattleites with an umbrella, that’s something you rarely see. I guess that’s why people would always ask, “You’re not from around here, right?” With my black leather jacket and biker boots and carrying a red umbrella, go figure. Or maybe it was just my California tan 🙂
Relaxing in Martin Luther King Jr. Park looking North
And what a great place to stay in shape and to keep moving forward, or I shall I say, upward…on the plethora of hills that traverse the Emerald City.
No doubt your butt works overtime in this town. I should know, I’ve walked more neighborhoods than Oprah has houses (well, maybe not) and loved every minute of it!
But what I’ll miss most – other than my yoga students, especially Charisma, Jodi and Sallie who never missed a class – are the amazing views of downtown Seattle you get just by walking around or lounging in Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, including my three favorites you see here.
40th & Stone Way in Fremont looking South
So thanks Seattle, and until we meet again I wish you the very best. Continue growing and providing your good citizens with more great buildings, parks, restaurants, culture, grunge-free fashion and of course, a Tola Yoga studio in the near future.
LiveWhatYouLove and happiness will follow you everywhere.
I wrote this in yesterday’s blog and I’ll reinforce it again today. Because no matter what your current profession or your life’s passion – hopefully they’re one in the same – living what you love to do is something everyone can accomplish. That is to say, if you’re willing to make some sacrifices in order to achieve it. Because just like it was nearly 300 years ago and succinctly articulated by renown Scotish economist Adam Smith, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Case in point: 12 years ago I fell in love with Yoga and soon thereafter I became a certified teacher. Since then I’ve taught more than 25,000 students in over 2,000 classes throughout the United States, produced more than 30 hours of instructional videos including my Yoga-inspired film, Boulevard Zen, created my own style of Tola Yoga, and posted exactly 500blogs since I started my website on December 9, 2010 (with Welcome to a new Fat Burning lifestyle!).
It’s also my birthday today, so here’s a little Tola Yoga treat to help center yourself and improve your balance. Enjoy and keep rockin’ your passion everyone…and live what you love! Peace – R
I’ve keep it by my bed ever since, to remind me of what should be. For everyone on the planet.
Because it’s all about shining your light – coming from your heart, that is – out into the Universe in the most positive, truthful and heartfelt way.
Hey, what do you expect coming from a Yoga dude who’s been practicing and teaching this mind-body-spirit, self-love and self-respect, “it’s a lifestyle” practice for over twelve years.
Think about it. Wouldn’t life be grand If you shared the very best of you…all the time. You know the one: upbeat, positive, smiling, confident, respectful and considerate. To name a few.
Never judge yourself when it comes to fitness. Just forgettaboutit, and keep moving forward. Because what you did or didn’t do yesterday – or last week – or last year – makes no difference when it comes to exercising today. Because each dawn brings a new day, and with each day brings another opportunity to reward your body with fitness. With an emphasis on reward.
Case in point: Yesterday my friend says to me, “OK, this week I’m going to start working out every Tuesday and Friday for the rest of the year, because it’s two weeks into 2017 and my resolution to workout twice a week is, well, failing.” This coming from a woman who worked out 4 times a week for the past 20 years until last year, when an injury put her on the sidelines for nearly a year. Now she’s completely healed but just can’t seem to get started.
Is this you? Or perhaps you’re someone who’s never been into fitness and wants to start? No worries.
Really. Because each dawn brings a new day, and with each day brings another opportunity to reward your body with fitness. You get the picture.
And if you don’t already know it, then repeat after me: if I workout on a regular basis, I will look and feel younger. Just like I said to my friend lamenting over her inability to re-start her engines, look at it this way: if you workout twice a week for 30 minutes each for the rest of the year, by New Year’s 2018 that’ll be 50 hours of fitness. Better yet, if you can make it one hour and then turn that second hour into a Yoga class, that’ll be 100 hours…a helluva lot better than Zero.”
No judgment over failed resolutions people…just more resoluteness. You can do it.
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day everyone! Peace – R
Never underestimate the power of your thoughts, and without question, never ever underestimate The Power of One.
For the third time in 20 years I’m reading Bryce Courtenay’s , The Power of One. An amazing tale of a young boy’s travels and heartfelt metamorphosis – not to mention his spiritual influence on everyone he meets – that’s “part Charles Dickens, part Horatio Alger”, as described by the Raleigh News & Observer. More specifically, this magical journey filled with heartache and pure elation inspires anyone really listening to its deep-rooted message…to always listen to yourself and believe in the power of one: one idea, one heart, one mind, one plan, one determination.
Before I leave you with a paragraph from the novel that rings true no matter what your occupation or calling, take time to reflect on 2016 and set your thoughts on an even better 2017! Mine was quite amazing, with several milestones that set the course for my one idea:
Created my unique style of Tola Yoga after 10 years of teaching 2k classes & 25k students,
Produced the original Reality TV series pilot, YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous,
Celebrated 50 years of fitness – 40 years of weightlifting plus over 10 years of Yoga,
Celebrated 10 years as an Entertainer/Producer and Yoga Teacher (and Yogatainer),
Lived in three amazing cities: Chicago, Las Vegas and Seattle (love it here!)
And whatever your goals are for the New Year, remember to respect yourself with a daily fitness program. And just like young Peekay says, dare your courage to follow your thoughts:
“The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further, or box better. Hoppie’s dictum to me, “First with the head and then with the heart,” was more than simply mixing brains with guts. It meant thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts.”
Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone! Peace – R
Another day, another workout has been my motto for the past 40 years. Now how about a new one for the next 40 years…Another week, another Tola Yoga class!
That said, here’s another challenging 45 min Yoga class from yesterday LIVE on Periscope with my lovely student Stephanie Loo. Have an awesome week everyone, and see you next time!
Check-out Movie Monday’s review of the new Shailene Woodley & Theo James film, Insurgent. Plus, a celebrity shout-out to LeBron James and a cool cop story about a good samaritan police officer helping out a 10k runner in Louisville. Weekdays on youtube.com/tolatalks.
It’s Movie Monday on Tola Talks and we’re talking all good stuff about the Disney blockbuster, Cinderella. Plus, get the latest scoop on today’s free ice cream at billionaire Warren Buffet’s company, Dairy Queen (for DQ’s 75th Anniversary) and the 20 year-old man caught for the recent shootings in Ferguson. Weekdays on youtube.com/tolatalks and all social: @richtola
Do yourself a favor and go see this film, McFarland USA. Heartfelt, inspiring and a Truly Moving Picture that’s makes anything seem possible. That’s all we’re talking about today on Tola Talks – my 30th film review and one of my most passionate shows. Kudos to Director Niki Caro and the cast & crew of this wonderful Disney classic. Weekdays on youtube.com/tolatalks& @richtola
Congratulations to author, psychotherapist, yoga teacher and my dear friend, Erin Mason, for publishing a tender and heartwarming story, Growing Grace, about adoption from the biological mother’s perspective.
