Fifteen years ago, my son was born. In addition to the birth of his older sister, this was one of the happiest days of my life. Nevertheless, as happy as I was, I also knew he had been born with a heart challenge called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. (HLHS). This challenge could only be corrected with three open heart surgeries. Before his third birthday all 3 had been performed successfully. The best medical attention along with a great deal of love and prayer gave us a miracle...Connor.  Connor in gaelic means "fighting spirit", and a fighting spirit he is.  He is a true warrior, authentic and pure of heart. Wisdom way beyond his years, a spirit much older than 15 years. 

He is my sensei, my teacher and I am blessed to be able to hold him and feel him with all that I am.

I share this with you to remind you..... to remind me : always keep first things first.

 as our days turn into weeks and weeks into months and months into  years we sometimes forget to count our blessings, we forget our strength, we forget that there are things worth fighting for and things worth dying for...... we forget who we are and why we are.

 As I prepare for Connor's annual cardiology visit he once again gently reminds me. 

love

An evening watching my daughter on stage. Seeing her filled with passion and present moments.

 Feeling the passage of time as I watch my "little" girl perform in her high school play.

 Knowing that the love I feel for her will last forever. 

 Knowing that love makes it all worthwhile. 

 have you loved today?

"It is love alone that gives worth to all things” St. Teresa of Avila.

in light and love,

isauro

Timeless Tobias

This past weekend I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a very special wedding.  The bride and groom were both in their late 60's. My aunt, the bride, had lost her husband to cancer close to 30 years ago. The bridegroom, a widower, had also lost his wife to the same disease.  They had found each other, fallen in love and were excited about sharing their abundant joy and love with  family and  friends.  Their passion and love for one another reminded me of love's timeless quality. 

The reception was filled with dancing, laughter and light. When not on the dance floor myself, I would sit back and watch these two newlyweds. As they flowed with grace, clarity and abundance I noticed a much older man out on the dance floor.  Slower than the rest, but filled with joy and enthusiasm, his moves were unique. Soon many fellow dancers began to dance with him as he freely shared his authentic expression of movement.  He worked the dance floor, dancing with all those he encountered on his path. 

Towards the end of the party I introduced myself. He told me his name was Tobias, but that I could call him Toby. He was 95 years old and had lived in this area all his life. "What is your secret dear friend?" I asked.  He looked me in the eye and said, "......every day, dance alittle, laugh alittle and love alot..." 

Tap into the timeless spirit within. Every day dance alittle, laugh alittle and love alot.

in-light,

Isauro

Their passion  

The Power of Love

Yesterday's class was packed, focused and energizing. My heart was on fire and exploding with emotion. I can truly say that I am in love with what I do. We must incorporate more awareness of love into our lives. My summer had been filled with a heightened awareness of this powerful force. A successful retreat in Spain, filled with yoga, hikes, meditations and connections. A glass of wine, a peaceful valley, breathtaking mountains and the song of a gentle breeze filled my soul once again with awareness of abundant love. Love of self, love of family....love of simply being.

Slowing down and appreciating the love that is all around us. Slowing down long enough to feel the power of something the mind can not understand. Being so present and absorbed in the moment that you lose yourself, but in the process find your self. You find self when you find the present moment and you fill that moment with energy when you fuel it with love.

what is it that you love to do? what fills your heart with fire? what simple heart felt moment can you take right now.

find love everywhere and watch your life transform.

con mucho carino,

Isauro

Nothing is Something

Last week a student asked me the following question, "... how we can think of nothing?" The student posing the question was a special needs child that I have been fortunate enough to be working with for the past two years.

I looked at him and offered my standard answer of how we have to focus our minds on something specific like the sound of our breath in order to slowly silence our minds, and as he said "think of nothing." He accepted the answer, although as his teacher I struggle with that question and know that silencing my mind is easier said than done.

A few days later at Judo class wih my young son, I asked my Sensei the same question. My Sensei is a 70 year old Japanese master who has been my Judo teacher since I was 6. Under the word Zen in the dictionary you would probably find his picture. He looked at me, paused, and before I could think, I was in mid air. As soon as I hit the mat I got it. No mind, mushin..... how can we think of nothing?..... to be so total in the doing that there is no room for cluttered thoughts, to be so in the moment that all there is, is the moment. I knew this, but had to feel it again.

After the class was over my son looked at me and told me that he now knew what nothing was. "Yes", I asked...
"nothing is something" he answered.

feel everything, force nothing,

Isauro

The Warrior Way Weekend Intensive

Back in New York from a yoga weekend intensive on Miami Beach. It was a weekend filled with meditation, movement, mantras and metaphors. The small group of yogis that joined me on this inaugural Warrior Way Weekend filled their weekend with 5 two(2) hour yoga classes, massages, meditation, spa and water therapies, and of course delicious healthy food.

We focused on being present, and the clock literally stopped.

We focused on the power of intention and the size of the room changed.

We focused on being still and calm regardless of the circumstances, and while a tropical storm made its presence known, we rested outside by the bay in savasana.

Surrendering to something greater than ourselves, I believe we all uncovered a little more about ourselves.

Although our journey together was short ....it was heartfelt, true, authentic and empowering......in short, it was everything I knew the warrior way would be.

Feel everything, force nothing,

Isauro

Learn to Fall by Falling

It is one thing to say that falling is a good thing..... It is quite something else to actually experience the fall, and know that falling is a good thing. In my experience, no one, including myself, likes to fall. During yesterday morning's vinyasa class, I had the opportunity to fall... not once or twice, but three times!! Once from handstand, a second time from forearm balance and a third time from a flying bakasana. My mind immediately judged my fall...."you can't do handstand...", "what kind of teacher falls..." "your not strong enough...", but I honored the moment, took a deep breath in and tried again. Afterwards, I rested in childs pose and came back to my breath.

Honor your journey by honoring the moment. Fill your moment with clarity and courage. Learn to fall by falling and when you find yourself heading down towards your mat or the floor, let go and know that falling is a good thing.

Isauro