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How to deal with election anxiety

10/22/2020

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(And, no, it does not involve jumping off a cliff)
​by: Scott Underwood

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The election is rapidly approaching. (I cringe at this expression; I feel like some NPR announcer on Weekend Edition reading my lines. But I stand by my decision to use it like a MAGA Loving/MAGA Hating, Forever Trumper/Never Trumper stands by or against his/her/their hero/villain). Because of this, we are left with a dilemma…where to hide our money should Uncle Joe win or what country to move to after a “The Don” victory.

Now, I am not making some false equivalence between the two candidates. Full disclosure: I did have a “Biden for Prez” bumper sticker taken off my car the other day by who I am assuming is a 1st amendment-loving Proud Boy who took time away from standing by an electric pole, watching a crow go caw-caw, in order to scrape the sticker off. (I mean, really, the President didn’t tell those genius what pole to “stand by” and pole-watch.) But my political leanings are not the point of this post. This is about how to deal with the anxiety that most of us are feeling over this election and how to remain kind to those we might disagree with.

I am as obsessed as anyone with what’s happening. It’s totally normal for me to be sitting on the toilet reading multiple news sources as my son waits outside patiently, wondering when I am going to finish my poop even though I haven’t even dopped my pants.
I try to remember that in my yoga practice not to put too much value on future/past thinking. It causes the anxiety and depression that comes with chitta vittri or mind-chatter. The second sutra of The Yoga Sutras says, “Yogas chitta vittri naruda,” or, “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.” And this requires us to release our attachments to our actions or thoughts. But how to do that? I mean, how frustrating is it when you hear your teacher say, “Just breathe and release your attachments”?

What does that even mean? I am not making fun of your yoga instructor or guru. I’ve said it; I’ve meant it. It feels right. But what does it mean? We are being told that this is the most important election in anyone’s life. Right? How can we NOT be attached to that?
The questions become: Why are you anxious and what are you going to do?

If that sounds reductive, sanctimonious, or pedantic; I did not mean it that way. These are sincere questions that I do not have the answers to. I am not a guru, nor a philosopher, nor a religious man. I don’t know how to help, but I want to help; I don’t know how to rationalize what is happening, but I want to explain what is happening; and I don’t know how to find a deity to thank or blame for what is happening; but I sorely want to scapegoat Somebody…Anybody. 

So, I still have those attachments and they ain’t going nowhere.

I suspect we all want to be facing this time with as much clarity and grace as we can. We are pretending and intending to meditate. We are amending to attending yoga asana practices on-line or in-person. We are doing what we can with the skills we have.
At Home Yoga in Costa Mesa, CA, no matter the political persuasion, I see familiar faces and feel a glow of energy coming from the friends and family we have found here. The amused-adoration that I feel for the eccentricities and beauties of each one of my yogis helps to ground me in the present.

Remember, I am as concerned as any tinfoil-hat wearing, conspiracy-theory tossing, Q-anon acolyte out there. (I would throw in Antifa for balance, but I don’t think they exist…I mean listen, they are anarchists. Anarchists don’t have organizations. If they did, they would not be anarchists. Besides, I am an Anti-fascist and you should be too. I don’t want to make fun of myself or you. Right? Humor and self-deprecation are no longer allowed.) What keeps me from stuffing my mattress with cash or looking for houses in Canada is that I do have a sincere yoga practice, a dedicated community, and a constant reminder of the importance of breath, which is the key to life and the breath of God in so many traditions. All of this gives me a little space for joy and peace. It’s difficult to remember sometimes, but that is why we have this community that does not exclude anyone who comes to us with respect and a willingness to let go of the pettiness of dogma. Although I have never seen the face of God, I am pretty sure that it does not appear in form of Donald Trump or Joe Biden. I do not think that it cares one little bit about what is happening. This is a human-created problem, and we are the humans who are tasked to fix it.
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Here’s my list of maybe cures for our anxiety during this election cycle:
1. Take off those tin-foil hats. You look like a baked potatoes.
2. Breathe.
3. Meditate for one minute or 600 minutes.
4. Treat you neighbor and grocery clerk well.
5. Wear a mask and smile beneath it.
6. Leave other people’s bumper stickers and yard signs alone.
7. Vote your conscious.
8. Do your Sun Salutations before checking your social media.
9. Create a better “New Normal.’ The old one was not that awesome.
 
Namaste,
Scott Underwood (AKA Sri Rama-Dhama-Ding-Dong)
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San Fran GetAway

2/27/2020

 
Hey there hOMies,
In case you didn’t notice Scott and I slipped out of the “office” for a little getaway to San Francisco. This was my first time in the Golden City, and, boy, it did not disappoint. 
We drove up Friday morning after dropping the kiddo off at school. Mickee subbed the 10:30 wall class for me (thanks, girl!). With the mandatory stop at Anderson’s for some split pea soup and the best reuben sandie that central valley has to offer, we proceeded.
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​We made it to the bay in the early evening, checked into our hotel and hit the streets. First stop: Chinatown! With the coronavirus on high alert, the streets were empty and we got a practically private jaunt around the shops, bars, and restaurants. We made our way through Chinatown, and felt the historical magic as we entered Jack Kerouac Alley, ending up in the City Lights Bookstore. As academics and book lovers, this was a must see for me and a favorite spot for Scott. Afterwards, we stopped next door at Vesuvio Cafe, a bar of oddities. We shared a table with a 20 soemthing year old, recently divocee and her gay best friend. (I should interject that it was Valentines Day). We had drinks and eavesdropped on this conversation of young love gone awry! On our way back to the hotel we found Li Po’s, a bar named after the Chinese poet, so, of course, we had to stop in honor of the wine-drinking, ancient poet.

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Flash forward to Saturday. We got up early and hit the pavement. Walking aimlessly with the goal of the Marina District in our sights. With no time restraints we casually walked admiring the architecture and street art till we stumbled upon a poppin breakfast place called “Crostini and Java'' run by a gang of the sassiest Europeans you have ever met. Breakfast and a show! A few miles and bar stops later we found our way to our goal destination the Palace of Fine Arts, a 1915 Panam-Pacific Exposition structure. I had seen a picture of these “ruins' ' several years ago and had always wanted to go, and the experience did not disappoint. ​

From there we walked through the Marina District which to me looked like Long Beach. We stopped at the famous fisherman's wharf for clam chowder and then made the trek back to the hotel. I say trek because, I kid you not, it was straight uphill. We dabbled with ideas of cable cars and uber and, being as stubborn as always, I declared we would walk. Let me tell you I took my picture at the top of that fucking hill, because, legit, it was not easy. ​
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That night we met up with our good friend and former employee, Crissy Bacca. She brings light and enjoys herself wherever she goes and it was great to see her. We ended our night with a hysterical uber ride, a scandalous bar conversation with a newly engaged gay couple, details I will share if you ask in person (hahaha). ​
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Sunday was another beautiful day in the city (BTW did I tell you how amazing the weather is, I got super lucky because it was 65 and sunny the entire time… talking about San Francisco weather always reminds me of the unauthenticated quote from Mark Twain: “the coldest winter I spent was a summer in San Francisco.” We drove to the Golden Gate park and went to the Japanese Gardens. While I was impressed by the location I was most struck by the history behind the history (read more here: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/california/articles/a-brief-history-of-san-franciscos-japanese-tea-garden/)

We ended our trip with a drive around the bay, stopping at a garlicky bbq joint in Gilroy and the San Luis Reservoir for a stretch of the legs.We ended our trip with the meat sweats and  a great podcast about a strip club in Reno. Making it home for an early bedtime. 
Thank you to Mickee, Linda and Jamie for holding down the fort while we were gone, you guys have no idea how much we appreciate you and how much of a relief it was going on a mini vaca and not just holding down the fort but also having one of the busiest weekends so far!

February NEWSLETTER

2/10/2020

 

Hey hOMies,  

We hope everyone’s New Year’s resolutions are still going strong. (Although, as your intrepid and observant yoga studio, we know that they aren't! Not to be throwing out “yoga guilt trips” at you, but you really should be coming to more classes. And you know who you are.) January was a great month at the studio, we had lots of new faces popping in and got to see many old friends. February has been cold so far, with the early morning classes often being 45 degrees. But the morning crew has been nailing it; you’ve never done yoga until you’ve done it in parkas. Come give it a try. Cold Yoga is rapidly replacing Hot Yoga as the next up-and-coming trend. (That might be a hard sell, but we’re selling it anyway.)

To keep the ball rolling at the studio, we are offering a great deal for February. This is your opportunity to “Share The Love of Yoga!” Bring as many guests as you like to share your love for yoga and Home Yoga OC for free. You can bring as many people as you want as frequently as you want! The only catch is that they must be new to the studio. Now that we have found a little stability, we really would love to see more of your family, friends, and colleagues at the studio. All of us have built a community that I am super-proud of and it’s time to share it.

In other news, the Tuesday and Thursday 7pm classes are turning into Karma classes, which means these classes are free. It’s a great way to grow the hOMie community and give back to those who might not be able to afford classes. Pass the word along and let’s grow our HOME. 

Also, we have changed our schedule slightly. Log in to the Mind Body app and check it out. You can also pre-register on the app for future classes or to see if any classes got cancelled or changed. I always love to see who is coming into one of my classes so that I can plan for you. The biggest change is that we are now running classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at  9:00 am

Events: 
-Friday February 21st - House at Home 7pm - FREE event - 60mins yoga, live DJ, drinks and snacks afterwards. All levels welcome   Looking forward to seeing you all in the studio this month.   

Namaste,
​ Scott & Katlyn

January Newsletter

1/1/2020

 

Hey there hOMies,

Your little yoga studio has survived another year and I wanted to send out my deepest gratitude to you for making that happen. Things have been rocky at times, this being perhaps the most challenging year of my life, but we made it through. (Hey, remember when I taught classes for five weeks in a cute, pink cast because I broke my leg taking a romantic walk on the beach? Hahahaha!)

Some cool things: Home Yoga is now officially a Teacher Training school with its first two graduates: Jamie Lake and Katlyn Greiner. The ladies will be continuing their training with a 20-hour mentorship, but already they have taught some kick-ass classes and I am so very proud of them. We will be tentatively scheduling a new teacher training for June. This will have a submodule on how to implement Yoga and Mindfulness into the classroom.

For the new year, we would like to offer any new yogis a week of free classes. Let’s see if we can add a few more members to our family.

Regular classes start back up on 1/3/20.

Until next year, I hope that you have the most prosperous and peaceful of New Years. I cannot tell you how much you are appreciated and I cannot wait to see you in class!

Happy New Year,
S + K

December newsletter

12/1/2019

 

Dear hOMies,

Happy December! As we round the corner of the end of the year we have some very exciting news and events Around the end of the year Home Yoga OC Yoga School will have its first 200 hr teacher training graduates. Jamie Lake and Katlyn Greiner have been doing so fantastically and I have (almost) no doubt that they will pass their final practicum in which they will teach a 60 minute yoga asana class that they have scripted for themselves.

​We will be starting another round of training for future trainers soon. These trainings focus on much of my formal and informal training, but much of our philosophy is the word “Lila.” This sense of “sacred play” is at the fore of my philosophy when practicing yoga asana and I believe it is what makes Home Yoga of Costa Mesa distinct. No “pucker-faced” yogis here, just all of us experiencing joy.

For the rest of the year, we are offering an “Industry” discount to all of you folks who work in the “food” and “retail” service industry. It’s a difficult time of the year for you all and you need some yoga. This is a 50% discount on your first purchase from now until the end of the year. This could be off of your Monthly Package, any Class Pack.  Teachers and seniors, remember that you receive a 20% discount for being bitchin'.

The Home Yoga Boutique is still going strong in the front room. Make sure you check out our repurposed collection! Happy December. We hope that even with the craziness of the holidays you will find time for some self love here at Home Yoga OC.  

Namaste,
​ Scott & Katlyn

November Newsletter

11/1/2019

 

​Hey hOMies,
It’s been a while since we have last chatted via email!  If you haven’t been into the studio for a little bit you may have missed some big changes! We have been hard at work with construction, hiring new instructors, and hosting some cool events! 


Events: 

We have some fun events coming up this week and beyond:  
-This Saturday at 7pm we will be hosting the 6th House and Home event which includes 60mins of yoga accompanied with a live DJ. Shout out to our in house DJ r_33_d. Check out his monthly set on SoundCloud. And find him on Instagram @ r33d_music 
-Our very own Krista Murphy will also be hosting an event this weekend. Join us Sunday at 2pm for a free work on reconnecting with our inner child and learning how to PLAY! 
Construction:  

-We have built a new entrance to the studio through the parking lot door. While it is not 100% finished, it is acting as the main entrance for the studio.  
-We will soon be opening a second smaller studio room in the front which will be used for smaller classes, meditation groups and discussion space.  
-We are still running a small boutique of all second hand products. Be sure to check out the clothing racks for some eco friendly threads. 


New instructors: 
-In September Happy joined the team and she truly lives up to that nickname. She is teaching every Sunday at 4:30pm.  
-In October both Marcella and Kristen became official hOMies. Marcella has taken over the Monday’s and Wednesday’s 5:30pm classes and has a beautiful energetic flow. Kristen is teaching Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at 7pm with a new "Flow and Unwind" class which mixes an intense flow with a long and gentle cool down.  
-Just in case you forgot, we also have Carmela teaching mon/wed 10:30am gentle classes and Mickee has her weekly Healing Yin class every wed at 7pm. Linda has taken over the Mon 6am, as well as, the tues/thurs 5:30pm. 
And of course we can’t forget that Scott is filling in all the other gaps.  


Watch out for more to come!!!!
Keep it real hOMies.  



Namaste, Scott & Katlyn 

Blackies & Yoga Warmup for Surfers

1/17/2019

 
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Only 2.8 miles from Home Yoga OC is one of the iconic surf spots in Orange County, “Blackies”. Located just off Newport Pier and edging down to 28th street, the location was originally known as 22nd street, but later re-nicknamed as “Blackies” as a nod to Blackie’s By the Sea, a bar with a lot of local flare. (We will get back to Blackies…. over and over again.) As a surf spot, it was once known for its 60’s crew: Ron Sizemore, John Peck, Russel Brown, Mike Marshall, are just a few of those early pioneers of SoCal surf culture. Today, it is the mixing ground of groms and pigeons, potato chips and logs, snakes and studs, all trying to catch its famous w-swell.

Today was an unseasonably warm mid-winter day down in Orange County, so, Scott and I decided to take a studio break and head to Blackies for a post-lunch break that might or might not have included a couple of ankle slappers and a cold beer. Beyond the gaze of the statue of Ben Carlson, a local surfer and lifeguard who tragically lost his life on duty, the waves and the wind were in agreement for a beautiful early afternoon surf session. Scott and I headed out to spend some time in the sun, me just dipping the toes in the water and Scott fully submerged, wearing his brand-new, Christmas present wetsuit.
PictureBen Carlson was the first lifeguard to die on duty during the Newport Beach Lifeguard Department’s 100-year history, back in 2014. His 11-foot statue was digitally designed by his brother in law and now stands as a reminder to ocean safety.
​Before hitting the sand and surf, Scott did his usually pre-surf yoga stretch. These are poses that awaken the muscles used when paddling, straddling, and riding. (Sounds a bit racy for a tutorial on surfing!) The main muscle groups used while surfing include the arms (bicep, deltoid), shoulder (trapezius, levator scapulae, rhomboid major and minor), abdomen (rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, obliques) and the upper portion of your leg (quadriceps, gluteal, and gastrocnemius). While these muscles get most of their strength-training in the water, warming them up beforehand and a light stretch afterwards allows for maximum mobility. 



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​ It wouldn’t be a true trip down to Blackies without stopping by Blackies By the Sea for a cold beer after surf. Around since the 1950’s, Blackies By the Sea is a local hangout for the pigeons (old-timer surfer guys who watch the surf all day long and go “Coo-Coo-Coo” at the passers-by), your local Newport/Costa Mesa-ians, and sprinkled with the vacationer looking for an authentic experience. Inside, you will find the TVs playing fishing shows and the walls covered with stuffed sharks, surfboards, silly signs, and stickers from all over the world (see the alliteration…hahaha). Everyone from the bartender to the regulars are nothing but friendly and welcoming. (I mean, come on, there is nothing like being hit on by a guy offering to let you pick out the music on the jukebox.) And, as far as I am concerned, their sign saying that they have the coldest beer in town is a 100% true.
 
Looking forward to the next “midwinter-post-lunch-break” before the summer crowds roll in. 

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Our first video

3/22/2018

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What’s up, Yogis?
In an attempt to express a deeper understanding of Yoga hOMe, we decided to tell the story of the studio through video. The following film was scripted, shot, produced, and directed by Ryan Davis, a talented, short-form filmmaker. We are so proud to be connected with him and we also hope that you get a good idea of what we are about. Everyone in the video either works for or attends hOMe. These are some of the people that you will see at hOMe. Everyone is welcome; everyone is cared for. Check out our new video and then check out your new studio: hOMe.
See you soon.
Namaste!
Scott
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What's up yogis

3/15/2018

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I am so excited for our new studio opening in Costa Mesa, CA!
hOMe is manned (well, mostly wo-manned) by some extraordinary yogis and I would love to introduce myself and them to you.

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Welcome home

2/16/2018

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So here we go!
The team is being assembled, the information disseminated, and the bodies are being buried. Sounds dramatic for a new yoga studio opening smack dab in the middle of the OC. Right? Well, it is dramatic. As Rachel Pedroso wrote about our new studio hOMe: “I expect growing pains in perpetuity! From where I'm standing, you are doing it better than I've seen it done, and you're smiling at the same time.

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