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All kids will love it at the Dallas Zoo

Whether you’re a big kid, little kid or forever a kid at heart like me, you’ll love it at the Dallas Zoo!

Since my childhood days plus our time filming Zoo Yoga in LA for my Yoga Survival Guide, I’ve always been a fan of zoos. So to all you thrill seekers and families looking for some good old fashion fun in Dallas, get your butts over there and you won’t be disappointed.  From Hippos to Cheetahs to Elephants to Crocodiles, you’ll find all types of animals that will surely impress.

And since I’ll be leaving this blazing hot town for another great American city (hint: it’s a mile high), I spent the past few days as a wide eyed tourist visiting world class destinations like the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Reunion Tower, the Dallas World Aquarium and Klyde Warren Park. Not to mention revisiting a few of my favorite spots including the Dallas Farmers Market and of course, the funky streets of Deep Ellum.

So until we meet again, I’ll miss you Dallas. All the best to everyone who braved a super hot summer and to all those returning from Montana!

Get your workout in y’all…and I’ll see you in Denver.

Peace – R

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Excellent teaching moments

You may already know that my charity, The Boulevard Zen Foundation, teaches yoga to kids and moms living in domestic violence shelters (www.BoulevardZen.com).  I was inspired to start the nonprofit after visiting a shelter upon completion of my film, Boulevard Zen.   My experience with domestic violence comes via the domino affect abuse has on families as my father was a victim of child abuse until the age of 12 when his father left for good.  I have also befriended women in my lifetime that have experienced some of the most heinous crimes imaginable.  Domestic violence and child abuse unjustly robs its victims of self-confidence and oftentimes prevents kids from experiencing what we at the foundation call excellent teaching moments.  So when our yoga teachers find a unique opportunity during class to go beyond an actual yoga pose and teach meaningful life lessons, we all succeed.  And the kids remember those lessons and bring that knowledge into their lives while impacting the lives of everyone around them.  Which is why I get excited every time one of our teachers writes to me about an excellent teaching moment. Like today from Carolyn in our San Diego shelter.  It’s what we strive for and are committed to doing:  to be more than just yoga teachers and to impact lives forever. Because those lives are the future of our Nation and of our World.  Namaste – R

 

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External motivation

Let’s face it.  Sometimes you need a little external motivation to get you going to the gym or yoga studio, or for that power walk around the neighborhood.  Take me for instance.  In six weeks I turn 48, which makes it 31 years since I started driving and began my daily workouts at Man’s World gym in Trenton, NJ.  But even today, after all those years, I often require that external motivation to keep me interested and to give me that little extra something to work towards.  Fortunately, in my gym there’s this guy who’s built like Adonis, and like me, works out every single day.  Yesterday I asked him his age thinking “if this guy is anywhere close to my age I’ll retire”.  Luckily he said 31.  That makes me old enough to be his father, and since he was born the same year I started working out, I felt relieved.  Because we all know the powers of Father Time and Mother Nature, and how your body certainly slows down as the years click by.  So in the gym this guy’s my motivation.  As for the yoga studio, I started practicing in 2005, so let’s just say my internal motivation kicks in at all times!  So if you need a little external motivation to get you going, pick someone who’s got that rockin’ bod, or better yet, find that beautifully sculpted body in a magazine and post it our your vision board.  And if you don’t have a vision board, then post it on your bathroom mirror.  Because when if comes to anything fitness, sometimes we can all use a little help.  Enjoy your workout – R