New space.

Playing with peacock pose at new South Philly studio.

It's been too long, my friends. And I have no good reasons for why I have not posted anything on this here blog other than that I've been practicing balancing on my forearms a lot lately (I've posted this picture as evidence, taken with a 10-second self timer, so be nice!) which makes my writs a little tired, which keeps me away from the computer keyboard.

And also, I suppose I was hibernating this holiday season, pretty much held my breath and waited for it all to be over, while seriously considering taking action to become a Buddhist Jew. Not even kidding. You'd think with a name like Holly I'd at least have a bit of reverence for the yueltide, but alas: I spent the day solo with peanut butter, flannel pjs, champagne and bubble bath, with nary a Christmas bauble in sight. L'chaim!

So, I'm back now. I promise. I won't disappear on you again, though it is a good experiment to see who, if anyone, reads your blog. I am most grateful to those of you who have been prodding me to get back in the saddle.

So, ye-haw, full speed ahead in 2008.

I don't do resolutions, but I do throw things out at the start of a new year. But this year, I didn't discard so many physical objects as I did attitudes and relationships and attachment to personal history that was weighing me down. Too bad you can't actually take these things to the dumpster, but you can commit to chuck the parts of yourself that are habitually damaging to your ability to move forward, to create, to live your best life and inspire others to do the same. It's about creating new space in your head, new space in your heart. It's a kind of tilling of your emotional soil, churning the healthiest parts of you to the surface to create fertile ground where you can stand tall.

Of course, there's always a feeling of loss that accompanies getting rid of things, parting with the old patterns, detaching from the stale vicious circles of unhealthy attractions and addictions. And there's nothing we can do avoid the inevitable pain of loss, try as we may. People leave our lives and no doubt we experience something missing, a piece of ourselves gone. But rather than find a quick fix for the anguish this absence creates, it's best to just sit with the discomfort and amble aimlessly around the new spacious landscape of your life. It's a bit scary, but creating new space is necessary for any real growth to take place.

That's all for my New Year's schpeel. The story of the moral is simply this: throw shit out.

As my exceptionally resilant and wildly ambitious friend (see why: http://phillyfit4life.blogspot.com/) Bobby says, "Clean the Slate in '08". Keep what works, toss what doesn't: clothes that never fit when you bought them, a boyfriend who never fit since you met him, a self-defeating script of negativity that has gotten you nowhere fast, a broken lamp that you've been meaning to fix since 1995, old love letters. Yes, old love letters. Toss 'em. Then read this poem by Derek Walcott:


Love after love

The time will come
when with elation
you will greet yourself
arriving at your own door
in your own mirror
and each will smile at the others welcome

And say. Sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was yourself.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.


Ok, dry your eyes. Keep it together.

Now, down to business. In terms of actual new interior spaces in my life, I have one very important one to share with you. Philly Power Yoga (http://phillypoweryoga.com/) has opened a beautiful new studio at 1241 Carpenter Street. It's a gorgeous converted artist's loft space ( the above picture was taken there), with warm orange walls, high celings and hardwood floors, decorated with spectacular sacred treasures from India and Tibet from one of my favorite Philadelphia stores called RUKA (http://www.ruka.com/). It's a most inspired space for practicing yoga and meditating. I hope you all come and visit. No mirrors, either, so the ego can really relax. I teach on Thursdays and Sundays, so come and play! Classes are only $5 for the month of January. Hope to see you there.

One more commercial announcement....
FREE CANDLELIGHT YOGA with on Sunday, Jan. 27 th!!
Philly Power Yoga is Lululemon's "Studio of the Month" and the lovely Lululemon ladies are hosting a FREE!! Candlelight Yoga classes taught by PPY instructors. Yours truly will be teaching on Sunday, January 27th at 6-7pm!

For more information check out Lululemon at:http://www.lululemon.com/philadelphia/philadelphia/events

Be well, my friends. See you on the mat.

Om, shanti, shalom.