3/26/2020 0 Comments Dance It OutWe are all experiencing the effects of this pandemic in various ways and we all process our emotions differently. Studies have shown the powerful impact that music can have on us in times of stress and we all know that movement is key to a healthy lifestyle. So...I think we should all have a dance party! Solo of course. Hear me out.
Maybe you have heard of this or maybe you haven't...What is Ecstatic Dance? It is a form of dance in which you as the dancer, completely surrender and release yourself fully to the rhythm and flow of the music. It is an extremely effective way to experience profound shifts in your emotional state and to silence your mental chatter. If it is your first time then I would say it is best done alone with a locked door and your eyes closed. Use headphones if you have them. You won't get into it if you think someone will barge in. Trust me. I particularly like to do this in my bedroom with socks on so that my feet can slide gracefully along my hardwood floors. (Bathrooms work well too for privacy and smooth floors, although the dance space is limited.) With the music turned up, I extend my arms out to the sides to evoke my mystical charm and awaken my inner Stevie Nicks. That Gold Dust Woman doesn't have a thing on me as I shake off and dance loose the tension that my body tries to cling so tightly to. These are 3 of my favorite songs to "Dance It Out". 1. Most recently, Dance Monkey by Tones & I 2. Always a favorite, Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield 3. When your feeling particularly emotional, Shake It Out by Florence & the Machine If you have never tried Ecstatic Dance than this is my invitation to you now. I even provided links to the songs...I have made this practically effortless for you. C'mon, try it. You're welcome, Stevi
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3/20/2020 0 Comments carina's trip around the worldThis is my story of Carina. I wrote it in an effort to gently explain to little kids what is going on right now. As it turns out, the little girl inside of me needed the story just as much so maybe it’s really a story for us all. Much Love, Stevi Carina's Trip Around The World
Copyright © Stephenie Hauk 2020 Her name was Carina and she wanted to see the world. She packed her bag and on her tag it said “Adventure Girl” In the tallest building in China, she met a man with a bright red tie. They admired the view from the top! You should have seen how high! He spent a lot of time there. He was a busy man. Conferences, phone calls and meetings. He had lots of business plans. Italy was beautiful. Oh the ancient sights! She met a lovely family. They were such a delight! It was Nonna’s 80th birthday And they had made her favorite treat There were endless bowls of pasta, enough for 50 to eat! The family had gathered. They shared hugs and kisses on cheeks. So much fun, so many giggles. She hadn’t laughed that hard in weeks. In Germany she met a lady riding on the train She took a seat along her side as they rode along the lane. This woman was a teacher making her way to school. Carina would tag along for the day. She thought it would be so cool. She waved to all the children as they left from a fun filled day. They had taken a field trip to the zoo and then to the park to play. Wandering around the world to her heart’s content, New adventures were in store for her so on her way she went. She met jolly Grandpa Murphy at his favorite music hub. He played the fiddle and the whistle at his local Irish pub! He danced with the ladies turning on his golden charm. Everyone called him “Lucky” just like the tattoo on his arm. New York City was amazing! She met a group of pals. Best girlfriends from college! Vacation for the gals! Coney Island, Times Square, all the Broadway shows. Everywhere they went….Say cheese and strike a pose! In Australia, she met a surfer who owned a souvenir shack. You could rent a surfboard or borrow a snorkel, you just had to bring them back. All day at the beach! What a life he had! Selling beach gear on the seashore. She thought that was pretty rad! In every place that she had been, she was unaware That even when she traveled on, somehow she was still there. Little did she know, she was leaving quite a trail She waved goodbye to her new friends and bid them all farewell. Carina’s new friends didn’t feel too well after several days A little cough, a little fever, maybe it was just a phase. When everyone started to feel this way, they knew something was wrong. They had to find out what had caused it. They couldn’t wait too long. Call the doctor. Ask an expert. Can someone get a nurse? We have to find the problem so it won’t get any worse. Carina continued with her travels, around the globe she roamed... Meanwhile everyone around the world was told to stay at home. The man came down from the tower and cancelled all his business plans. He played at home with his children making bubbles while washing hands. The Italian family stayed at Nonna’s and sang all her favorite songs She loved to see her family gather right where they belonged. The teacher and the children no longer went to school. The zoo was closed. The park was closed. This was the new rule. Grandpa Murphy’s favorite pub was closed. Where could he play his tunes? His grandson taught him to record his songs and now he’s famous on YouTube. The girl trip gals were home now from their NYC vacation. Turns out they were all nurses so they set up testing stations. Her surfer friend closed up his shack. There were no tourists on the shore. He volunteered to stock the items at his local grocery store. Carina finished up her travels, this world was so diverse. And as magically as she appeared, she vanished from the universe. Her trip had changed the world. A lot of chaos she had caused. But maybe it was necessary for us all to take a pause. The people were united. The earth itself was healed. There was compassion, hope and love. Faith in humanity was sealed. May we forever be reminded that we are one across all lands. Be kind to everyone and always wash your hands. Copyright © Stephenie Hauk 2020 3/13/2020 0 Comments Thoughts from a cluttered mindIn the last week, I have felt a wave of emotions surrounding the constant updates and news coverage surrounding Covid-19. I felt like we needed to be proactive and stay informed so we stocked up on some extras at the store and followed the suggested precautions. It is difficult to know what news sources to trust so like you, I was reading what I could and remaining optimistic.
Last week, my husband was sent home from work because of 2 corona cases in his building. They are now being told to avoid public transportation and that they will be working remotely for the foreseeable future. I am currently working in a salon part time and teaching a few yoga classes. It has been advised to limit face to face contact with others and practice social distancing to avoid unnecessary exposure in order to keep ourselves and others healthy. I understand this completely and feel like it is my responsibility to be conscious of these advisories. I will not be working in the salon and I am not teaching or attending any yoga classes for the time being. I can practice at home. Yesterday, I woke up to a message from my best friend who is supposed to visit me in Berlin in 11 days and she shared the news of the European travel ban. I was heart broken. I am still in awe that Italy is in a state of complete lockdown. The Italian border is as close to Berlin as Dallas is to El Paso. It is not far fetched to assume that 2-3 weeks from now Germany could be on lockdown as well. All of this sent me on a spiral of researching, crying and trying my best to process the new information and stay calm. In the likely event of a lockdown, where do I want to be? In Berlin with German officials telling me I can’t leave the country or in Texas, in closer proximity to family? The travel ban doesn’t apply to U.S. citizens who need to get back so if I did get a flight back to Texas, I would have to go through the screening process upon arrival and if I tested positive, I would be quarantined. Where would they take me? If I tested negative, I would be advised to self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor for symptoms. Obviously no one wants to be sick but I am not as concerned about that. I know that I could rest and recover but I am afraid of potentially being responsible for the spread of the virus to those who are not as healthy as me. I literally don’t know what actions to take at this point. To stay or to go? There is a lot of misinformation going around so instead of being judgemental of others and how they are handling this crisis, can we just admit that we don’t actually have clear answers and we are all in this state of confusion together? I like the idea of sending good vibes, thinking happy thoughts or saying a prayer while you’re washing your hands for 30 seconds. I can support this. Those who know me well know that I would be one of the first to quote phrases like “You can’t live your life in fear“ and “Ignorance is bliss“ At this point it, these statements feel morally irresponsible. I don’t want to participate in the chaos of what this has created in our world but I am at a loss today. This feels like a bad dream. I am going to do some Yoga with Adriene on YouTube and hopefully find some peace, calmness and clarity. Be nice to each other guys...Let’s all practice compassion. May you find peace in the chaos. With Love from Berlin, Stevi 3/1/2020 2 Comments Our First Year Abroad365 days ago, we loaded up 10 boxes and 2 suitcases and were dropped off at DFW airport. 30 hours later we arrived by taxi at our apartment in Berlin, Germany. Of course, this is the perfect time for a review. What do we love? What do I miss? What have we learned from this experience? Berlin is a very international city. I love that we have the opportunity to meet so many different people from around the world. Basically we live and work in a melting pot of cultures. We love the ease at which we can travel in Europe. In the last year, we have been to Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Ireland, and Italy. I also attended yoga teacher training in Southern France and Drew took a company trip to Ibiza, Spain. The ability to so easily travel around is one of the main reasons we said yes to this opportunity. I love that we are both growing in our own ways. Drew is developing his leadership skills while I am exploring my yoga practice as a teacher. Growth is not always comfortable but we are eager to gain more experience and see where this path may lead us. I think it goes without saying (or maybe I do need to say it...) that I miss my family, friends and clients so aside from that, there are some other random things that I miss. This list alone is evidence that no matter where I may go, I am a Texas girl at heart. 1. The vibe of a perfectly crowded bar with live country music and a dance floor full of two-steppers. Big surprise...There are no Honky Tonk bars in Berlin. 2. The slow progression of dark rolling clouds and the moment the lightning strikes and the thunder shakes the ground as if cueing the rain to intensely fall from the sky and continue throughout the night. They simply don’t have storms like this in Berlin. 3. Endless baskets of complimentary chips and salsa. Let me go ahead and add to that “Ich hätte gern ein BeerRita bitte!” That means I would like to have a BeerRita please! Since I’m on the subject of food, I’ll keep going...Whataburger, late night Waffle House, Goldfish crackers, Fritos & Bean Dip and of course, Ranch dressing. Don’t judge me. Last night we celebrated our first year in Berlin with a fine dining experience at SkyKitchen, a beautiful restaurant located on the 12th floor of a Berlin hotel with views of the city. The experience was a first for both of us. Incredible food tastefully paired with red wine in a posh and relaxed atmosphere. I have a diverse palette and a broad sense of taste. This is why I can enjoy Waffle House and Michelin Star restaurants. My mom came out to visit last fall and can’t wait to return and we are expecting more rounds of visitors this spring. Sharing our new life with those we love helps us to feel more grounded and at home. Somehow it makes it more real. My German is not where I expected it to be at this point and that is because my interest in learning the language depends on the content we are covering in class as well as how much patience I am willing to have with myself on any given day. My vocabulary is pretty good but honestly I feel like I would benefit from a 3-year old study buddy so we could practice the correct grammatical structure together. I love that visitors think we know so much German but locals would definitely tell you otherwise. (Ich lerne. I am learning.) There have certainly been moments of struggle living abroad but overall, Drew and I can agree that this has been a positive experience for the both of us. Sometimes we feel out of place here but we have decided that we’re okay with that. If you’re not out of place than you’re commonplace and we want to remain open to the newness of the city and embrace the magic of unexpected adventures.
With Love From Berlin, Stevi |