Ahhhhh, spring is approaching. Although the weather stays nice throughout the year in Los Angeles, each season brings forth a different energy. I love it when the sun stays with us longer and the flowers bloom. Ever since January you probably have been on the grind. Many of us have been plugging away at our jobs, working on our New Years goals, and making plans for our future. Maintaining high levels of intensity can feel productive. However, if we don’t take time out for ourselves to slow down, we can destroy everything we have worked so hard for. Our bodies become ill, our relationships suffer, and our jobs are nothing short of miserable.
When you live in a big city like Los Angeles, I find it essential to periodically get away. This is called a pattern interrupt. These breaks often give us much needed rest and bursts of inspiration about our life vision. It is easy to pluck away at our To- Do lists and lose sight of our true path. Follow your heart.
I have lived in LA since 1999 and my students have been telling me about Ojai for years. For some reason it sounded like it was far too away. Of course I was simply making excuses about my busy schedule. This year I am determined to check out areas of California I have not taken the time to visit. I am going to start from the areas that are closest to LA first.
My boyfriend and I decided to take a long weekend and go to Ojai. I had to laugh at myself for not taking the hour and a half drive sooner. Precious Ojai is such my kind of place (my boyfriend took one for the team). Ojai feels like an extension of Los Angeles. I call it LAish. Ojai offers a lot of yoga, meditation, hiking, and healthy food. Yet everything is in walking distance or just a short drive away. Plus, there is no traffic and the air smells clean!
We enjoyed the mom and pop restaurants, organic wine tasting, hiking in the orange groves, sleeping in, and having long over due conversations. We stayed in an affordable boutique hotel, the Blue Iguana. Of course I loved practicing yoga at the local studio, Lulu Bandhas. I reconnected with a fellow teacher, Winifred Wilson, whom I had met a few years ago on an flight to Chicago. We also went to a friend’s home. They just so happened to have a great view of the mountains and huge oak trees in their backyard.
On our last day we went back to our favorite bakery, the Knead Bakery. We pick up a late breakfast to go and headed to Meditation Mount. Seriously, Meditation Mount is glorious, a piece of heaven nestled in the foothills. I found myself gravitating towards a huge rock with a flat surface on the ground. I sat on the rock and meditated for a few minutes. As I connected with this sturdy part of nature, I intuitively started to practice yoga. We walked around the grounds first so I felt physically warmed up before practicing asanas (yoga poses). The rock was my foundation. What a metaphor for life. Having a sturdy foundation is key to moving through life successfully. After spending an afternoon on Meditation Mount, I drove back to LA feeling strong and open.
Yoga Tip:
If you are feeling stuck and perhaps pissed off at the world, get out of your house and take a few days to visit Ojai.
There are many opportunities to get out of your head and to connect with nature. From the healing yoga, the local food, the beautiful hiking, and the much needed rest, you will feel the good vibes from the inside out.
Cindi’s List of Favorites in Ojai
- Meditation Mount
- Knead Bakery
- Hiking around Orange Groves
- Blue Iguana Hotel
- Farmer and the Cook Restaurant
- Barranca Organic Winery
GET 3 ESSENTIAL (AND FREE) YOGA VIDEOS THAT WILL INFUSE ENERGY, CONFIDENCE AND CALM INTO YOUR DAY SO THAT YOU NEVER COMPROMISE YOUR WELLBEING… OR YOURSELF!
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