How to lose your phone and not lose your shit

About a month ago, I found a phone at my work building. It was brand new and clearly forgotten in the washroom.  So yes, I brought it to the security guard and left it along with my phone number making him promise me that he wouldn't steal it for his babymama. A couple days later I got a text saying "thank you for returning my phone, may God bless you"

I was so happy I almost cried. I didn't even reply to the text... I was just happy that I put out some good karma.

Now fast forward to Christmas eve, my iPhone goes missing without a trace. It's more than just a little heartbreaking.  But I sat hoping for a Christmas miracle.

So here it is in all its sappy glory. I am so blessed for a) NOT getting yelled at for losing my phone b) having someone to give me a phone without a second thought...I love you my handsome boyfriend.

Not only did I get a beautiful phone to use, I got a date on Christmas eve followed by unlimited family time and unlimited food and unlimited love.

I wish the same to whoever has my phone. I hope the little device is not the only thing that brings you happiness this Christmas..  In my mind this is like the movie "crash" mostly because it makes me feel better. Hope you save a life because of that phone or something along those lines.

Merry Christmas everyone!! I'm off to India for newyears tomorrow. God help me.

Stay tuned for adventurous posts.

XO

How to eat a cookie.

Christmas is here.

It's 11.30pm and I'm sitting here on my bed, trying my best to imprint this day into my memory.

warm hugs.
old printed photos.
sunshine.
familiar faces.
laughter.
homecooked meal.
freshly baked cookies.

and my everything beside me.

What else can I ask for on the 22nd of December?










 

How to be.

Friday night; and I stayed home to watch the movie "Doubt". If you aren't already in deep and undying love with Meryl Streep, this movie might seal the deal.

"Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty" 

Let that sink in.

The Connecticut shooting has got me thinking so much about North American culture and values to a point that I question my decision to move back. Forget the gun culture, but the social culture of corporate worship, drugs and drinking is enough to make me wonder. Enough to make me doubt. Why is America the superpower? Why do I want to move back?

on another note...

My brother is back home for the holidaysssss!!! We are off to India at the end of the month to spend New Years with my grandparents and cousins. December is probably my favourite month of the year. I enjoy it more than Libra season.

Lots of xo to you. Let the baking begin...

How to refocus

20-something-but-still-too-young

Every time I meet someone who is 30+, they envy me and they think I'm a baby. It starts to get annoying, but...

Regardless of what I tell them I want to do with my 24year old wisdom, I can almost guarantee a "just do it, follow your heart" in return. Alright then....

So if I was to take off and spend a month or two studying yoga,
and then a couple months doing random jobs in Singapore,
and then a couple more months finding myself in New York...

Can I blame it on my heart?

Toronto, you will still be final destination. But sometimes I wonder if I want my final destination already.

How to be fly

Nah boo. U ain't nothin if you ain't got this in Dubai.

How to Calabar

Chilln with the cuz. This is our bar view right now.

Dubai's got its charm.

How to wake up grumpy

This is rare. But lately, it's happening to me way to often. I go to bed with SO much on my mind and I wake up angry. Usually, I can go for a run and wash things away with sweat, but that hasn't been working very well either.

Yea, I guess you can say I'm goin through some shit.

I just deactivated my twitter. Those of you who are big on twitter probably understand why it can get overwhelming sometimes. I want to take December to focus on ME, my family and have a beautiful time with my grandparents to welcome 2013. I just want to be present in the moment and reassess my life without hearing the thoughts and opinions of several social networks.

Hopefully, I never get back on twitter. Realistically, I'll miss some of you... But hey, if you really care, I'm still alive!! And if you wanna reach out to me for anything, I'm here.

xo

This is step 1.

How to hurt

Legit hurting right now.

It's my first day of starting training for a half marathon in February. A simple 6k intervals. I killed it.

Come back home and sitting here recouping on my yoga mat with my iPhone and my stomach is NOT happy. I suddenly have to try to subside a tummy ache. So I obviously tried every damn thing.

1) water
2) small breakfast with yogurt and fruit
3) shower
4) browse the Internet
5) tweet about my pain
6) sleeping in fetal position
7) Imodium
8) crying
9) text my mom blaming her for my existence
10) dying/tweet about the meaning of life

Nothing works. I am now ready to call my grandma to rub my belly and pray for me. You can start the funeral arrangements.

How to drag and nag

I'm always pushing myself to get through November. It's such a tease.

Good things coming up:

1. CHRISTMAS!
2. My students perform everything I've taught them at a CONCERT in 10days.
3. Rugby Sevens! Creamfields! FORTLOM! Concert season!
4. Texas cousin comes to Dubai again!
5. Brother is back for the holidays in exactly one month!
6. Nike10k night race in exactly ... 2 days!
7. Starting training for 22.1km run next week!
8. Planning my move back to Toronto. (this one is bittersweet)
9. SANTA
10. CHRISTMAS!

I may be a Sophia-Grace type child. I'm aware. But I will record all of this and make beautiful posts and pictures of the best times in Dubai as I slowly wind down over here.

xoxo

How to bastakiya

It almost sounds like a bad word. But it's not. It's good! It's an area in old dubai with an ethnic feel to it, but with the most gorgeous interiors. This November 30th, about 30 of my students will be performing their masterpieces at an intimate concert in bastakiya.

Yousef (boss man) and I were here last week to get the ball rolling on some music projects for "Dubai culture" when we found the prettiest courtyard and fell in love with the atmosphere. We hope everyone will like it as much as we do!

I have never been more excited to showcase my "work"

These kids need to step their game up tho! I'm so happyyyyy.

On a side note. I've been spending all my free time at the beach! So much that my already dark skin has tan lines and my hair is sun-bleached lighter. Is this unhealthy? I love this weather!

How to be older

If this pic doesn't tell you enough about how organized my life is at the age of 2X, then I give up.

Heels in hand. Done.

How to mula bandha

It's in your core. Everything you need is there. Mula Bandha is essential especially for arm balances... Once you find it, you will never lose it. You just have to practice enough to know how to engage it.

This week has been phenomenal. Back to being vegetarian, practicing every day and noticing the changes with every passing moment. Now I have to shift my energy to focus on my 10k coming up in November. It's just 6weeks away! This will be my third 10k this year and I know I have it within me. I just have to practice enough to engage.

Love this time of the year. Libra love and perfect weather.

How to get clarity.

You talk to best friends and you are not so alone anymore. You go to the beach and you step into enchantment. I love the morning.

How to MANDI

Man. I am so in love.

Today has been one of those days when everything that could possibly go wrong has been going wrong. Car, work, family etc. but the light at the end of the tunnel, the silver lining, the rainbow of my day was seeing that guy come through.

Mandi is a very traditional style of eating where you basically go cray on a shared plate. Sound familiar? Usually happens with dessert. This is quite literally a quarter goat and half chicken for like 3 people. It's just. Ugh. Rice and meat. Just simple and good. I wanna learn how to make it.

Ps. This is SO not eating clean an healthy. But hey, it's Thursday

How to be unsettled.

2 years in Dubai officially. Hi guys.

Honestly I should have been back to Canada now. Get back to a full time schedule and be making the dough. I'm not there yet and I don't know when I will be anymore. I love Dubai mostly because of my parents and a few good friends that keep me smiling here in the sun.

But every now and then I still have to scream into my pillow to figure out why I don't feel settled or "happy" just yet. Lots of screaming into pillows this past week. Lots of reading, music, yoga and time with myself. I can't put it into words but my appetite is gone and my body feels like its giving my mind the middle finger.

I need a distraction. Or a plan of action. God? Jesus? Anyone?

How to NOT go to Nepal

What happens when China has a baby with India?

NEPAL!

Easily one of the most gorgeous, breathtaking, blah blah blah, I'm going to stop trying to describe it in words now. Nepal is nepal. You should go before you die. And you should go ready to camp out and climb and really rough it out, unlike the way I did.

"Family" vacays are just not the best in Nepal, in my opinion at least. Well, atleast not with kids. We (My dad, mom and bro) are all fully grown adults and we could handle ourselves through the craziness. By craziness, I mean the constant moving/driving, different place everynight, a jampacked day schedule and the unlimited drinking and smoking. I could just barely handle myself.

Cray family bonding. We saw everything from cremations to monkeys to temples, mountains, marijuana and rhinos. BUT, OMG THE SPIDERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I died. If you weren't an arachnophobic before, you will be after Nepal.

 

How to make a change.

The Change Initiative.

I've been seeing this building/billboards/ads/cards around for a while. I know exactly what it is promoting - a sustainable lifestyle. Recycled, homegrown, local suppliers, organic, rah rah rah, bla bla bla.

Finally trolled in there today. Simply put; it's a "sustainable" ikea. A hippie's ikea. No.. actually, IKEA would never sell a 21,000AED couch. So, its like a rich person's pathetic excuse to be eco-friendly. ugh. I don't know. It's so...Hippie Gone Wrong. BUT I guess it's a decent start for Dubai. Possibly the most eco-unfriendly city.

The only thing I thoroughly enjoyed in there was the art. It was pretty raw.

How to embrace the summer.

It's 4am on a monday morning and I have never been more anxious for the sun to come up. So, I figured I'd update y'all a little bit.

It's officially summer, humidity at 120%, I'm basically just swimming though the air on a daily basis. My outdoor activities have cut down drastically and it reminds me of a cold winter in Hamilton. Just a bunch of people getting up to no good.

Today, I went fabric shopping. I don't spend a lot of moneys on clothes anymore and I love being creative, so why not? Found some amazing colors and materials in the heart of the city in Bur Dubai. My kinda shxt.

We weaved through the tiny little streets with the expert guidance of a Dubai housewife (the gurus of Dubai basically). They can literally make or break most businesses around here. You think I'm exaggerating? Read some of the reviews on www.expatwoman.com

But I digress, I am Soooo excited to get a good tailor and get my summer designs made. Look out for the DIY posts comin up!

Now, back to waiting for the sun to rise.

summer fro, bro.

How to be accident prone

I'm always walking too fast and I'm always on my phone. Last weekend at church, I confidently walked into the men's washroom in this mode. The more embarrassing part is that it wasn't the first time. Sigh.

But here's something about #Dubai that makes us all accident prone.

-phones
-no speed limits on inner roads (where most accidents are)
-idiot cabbies.


This one intersection in Barsha has atleast one accident a day. I would go as far as to say that I've seen upto 4 accidents in a day here. WHY?!

My dad says its haunted. I want to believe him.

How to take a breather.

Finally, a day I can sit down and be completely useless.

I just had a complete GTL day. Now i'm sitting here with my hair in a towel and just realized that it's been two weeks since I last practiced yoga. WHAT?!  To be fair, my piano schedule and my yoga schedule have been completely conflicting and there's nothing I can or want to do about it. #firstworldproblems?

Yesterday, I taught two kids (6 and 12), one with the potential to be the next Justin Biebs(but better) and the little one with the face and attitude of a diva. To have the ability to share my music knowledge, talk to them, and teach them things that they will never forget is so friggn NICE. I might not know where all this is going (life) but it finally feels like its heading in the right direction when I have days like this.

Now back to fitness, etc. I made a training plan for a half marathon in the fall. It's 14 weeks long and this week's total kilometers was 18km (6k, 3 days a week). Call me crazy... but eventually I'll be running up to 34kms a week, with long runs of 16kms once a week

With this Dubai heat in mind.... I need to step up my yoga. I can't wait for my girl @jogini_ to get her yoga studio in JLT up and running!!!

.
That's my June update so far. DXB hasn't been so interesting this month to be honest....

xo


For now, here are some pics from around town. The headless skirt pic is a friend who wishes to remain anon. Hilarious pic though. Lols.

How to be cliché

Sometimes, when your not even looking, life gives you an opportunity you can't refuse. Mine came in the form of a music institute called The Music Box led by Yousef Khan.

I will be starting out my teaching career here as a junior teacher amongst three other accomplished pianistas and vocalists. I'm basically a blank slate right now. This summer is going to be dedicated to perfecting my approach to teaching the basics of the piano and sharing my passion with others. I can't wait to get started!!! and I'm pretty sure Yousef's an angel in disguise.

Check out the bio he wrote for me (after I gave him a really lame one lol).






and if you didn't know before, yes.. I play the piano. I've been learning since I was 7 and it has always been a place of solace through all the changes in life. Just like in yoga, I will always be a student to the art. But teaching the art deepens understanding like none other.

This is me playing "Postcards from far away" by Coldplay. A good friend, Warren Garth left this sheet music at my place some time in the summer of 2009 and I am not planning to return it.... Listen and Just love that awkward ending.

 

Now follow me and the music box on twitterrr!! @themusicbox_dxb and @sharonya

How to be "beautiful people"

It came out of nowhere; a studio in Bastakiya with the heart and soul of a thousand angels. You can read all the info at their website, www.mawaheb-dubai.com

I met a guy from Texas there. He said "your like, really pretty" and gave me a hug. He continued to tell me how much he hated the heat of Dubai and the hygienic values of Indian people. He thought I was african. lol.

I have more heartwarming stories from all the students but I need to go back for more. Wemmy and Gulshan are so welcoming and their cause is something that I can honestly say is beautiful.

Some art spotted through the day

How to be a mom.

My very good friend and yoga girl had her beautiful daughter Myah about a month ago. I was over for some cake and cuddles the other day and got to take a peek into her life as a new mother.

Oh. Hell. Cry poop change eat poop wash burp repeat. Cry cry cry cry. Etc. "sometimes I look in the mirror while pumping my milk at 4am and wonder wtf"

Take that in for a second ladies. When is the last time you woke up at 4am for someone?

The physical and mental toll of raising a child is beyond imaginable for most of us childless women. A lot of women in Dubai are here without the support of their mothers and family members to help them through the rough nights. My respect for these women are at a record high right now. Nannies and Grannies are luxuries that not everyone can afford but yet everyone in dubai makes it seem like a necessity. Hell, I know a woman with 3 boys and 4 maids...Y'all need to re-evaluate! Unless you were raised like this and have a perfectly healthy relationship with your mother.... Why?

So here's a huge shout out to all the mommas out there who sacrifice everything and more for their little Mayas. Love you all. xo

How to remember

You know that feeling you get when someone calls you because they are helpless, crying, sick, sad, bored, annoyed, unloved, at the end of their rope; and you can't do a damn thing to actually help?

I hate being in this position of helplessness. I always want to give my ALL, my every last breath to help them through their lowest lows. But all I can do is listen. Listen, and maybe try to cheer em up with my infinite amounts of blonde-stupidness. Maybe a hug.

I can't believe how much I took people who loved me for granted during times like this. When I called, they were always there, in a minute, in a second, in an hour, in a day... they were there. I had to make a couple of thank you calls last night just so I felt better. If you have someone like this, consider yourself blessed and make a quick phone call to hear their voice. Trust me, it feels good.

This is some stuff I painted during a period where music and a canvas literally saved my life, sanity and pride. Trying times really help you find your soul and passion. The colours I used were those that I craved to see in my life.

Note: these are not original artworks. But I def. put my soul/twists on my inspirations..

This post is dedicated to four people..my brother, my neighbour, my beau, and my heart. Y'all got me all choked up this week mannnn. xo

How to "talk like a vegan"

Every now and then, I have moments of incredible gratefulness and grounded-ness. Recently been accused - "you're talking like a vegan" ..lol truth.

First of all, I need to man up and accept the fact that being an accountant and making the dough means i've got to sit on my ass for about 12 hrs a day. I need a job that is resume/CV-worthy asap. But until then, #gamefacetroll.

On the other hand, I have a constant need for passion and love...so, it's time to take my art to the next level too. I'm so excited to start teaching piano this summer! And I'll be stepping up the yoga practice with a goal to get my handstand perfected before heading to our family vacation in August. Serengeti handstand pic is goal one.

The ultimate goal is to be awesome at Kathryn Budig's workshop in November. I will eventually start sharing the yoga love more and more. Teaching is the best way to do this.
Working on my halasana and chakrasana now..

myfeet are ALLwrong. better pic next time :)

Now I just need a plan for all this drawing and painting I crave to create .... Any Suggestions? Hold up. Biz School Brain working. 

How to find community

There's literally a community for everything in Dubai. From Japanese anime culture to bridge clubs to surfers to alcoholics. And when it comes to religious communities; it's unbelievable that a Muslim nation can be this tolerable to diversity. I decided to check out the somewhat new Gurudwara in Jebel Ali since my friend had a business visit there last week and said the construction was beautiful. I've never been into one before and I know little to nothing about Sikh religion/culture, but what convinced me to check it out was the free food!

I walked in at around 1.30pm and got a FULL tour of the Gurudwara, the 411 on the principles of the Sikh religion, Gurus, religious texts/scriptures, and answered plenty of questions about myself along the way. It was interesting to see how dedicated people were to the religion and how rich the Sikh community in Dubai is, since it's completely run on donations. The place is HUGE with 3 floors and a fully staffed kitchen that runs almost 24/7. The food is free and they begin serving tea at 5.00 am after the first "keertan" and they continue with breakfast at 8, then tea, lunch, tea, and dinner.

After the tour, we got to sit down with one of the directors and have a nice Indian-style (on the floor) meal discussing religions and family and life. It was a nice break from the usual and a great meal with good people!

How to YOLO

You only live once. So, when your friend offers to make you some fun art, you say okay and pose! Thanks L xo

How to be inspired. Part 2

I just went for a long, slow, mind numbing run this morning. While I reaped every last benefit of each drop of sweat, I couldn't help but miss my yoga mat. Is there a defining moment when yoga stops being a way of fitness and takes over your entire lifestyle? It's happening to me.

When I say yoga is taking over my lifestyle, I mean it happened (is happening) very unconsciously. Everything I eat, say, do, relates to how it affects my practice and ultimately; life. This is hard for others to understand. Especially my parents, and possibly a lot of you. But then again, if you have found a comparable passion, maybe you do understand.

Generally speaking, I come from a carnivorous, booze guzzling, dancing, Bible quoting, over-educated bunch. You think I'm joking but my next post is about to explain. I hope they, and you, can remotely understand the necessity to break the pattern.

In other news, my yoga teacher is back from Mysore looking like a lean, mean teacup-size version of herself. Happier than ever and sharing with us all the love and light straight from the source of Ashtanga. And I've already caught the India bug. Okay, see? I already sound full-hippie. The fact that she lost 4kgs (10lbs) in a month is just a footnote at this point. How beautiful is this....

This is a photo shot by Christine Hewitt. She is an AMAZING photographer and I'm so inspired by her art. Check out her tumblr.
I can't wait to get my camera out and do this shit around Dubai. Get ready for some yogi-art coming your way :)

How to Auto-friend

Hi everyone! Happy Easter weekend!!

It's just been one of those weekends where I constantly want to escape reality. When is it ever okay to complain without sounding like a completely ungrateful b*tch? Thank God for those friends that are family when family just doesn't cut it.

Thursday night was a time for reconnecting with my girls and concert-ing at Yas. I've known these girls since I was a wee little poop and I haven't been in their lives since '98 or something along those lines since I grew up in Canada. We went to a catholic school together and our parents were BFFs. So we are something like auto-friends. Friends by default. Family. You know, the ones you can't get rid of even if you tried. They are perfect!

We met this Emirati dude at the end of the night who kept me company while my friend went to use the washroom. Apparently he was "high as fuck" and been smokin hash. Alright, so the UAE is probably one of the worst places to be broadcasting this. But he continued with confidence; he worked at one of the leading banks in Abu Dhabi and he got a thrill out of smuggling in stuff. He was so very very keen on taking us to some after parties.

Hmmm I don't know where to begin! We didn't go, duh! And I don't want to make this a judgemental post, so I'll leave it at that. I guess I just wanna share this with my Canadian/American friends because they think Dubai isn't filled with fucktards. But listen, there are fucktards and sketchos everywhere. Thats an auto-unfriend.
Laidack Luke and Mister Outlaw (local DJ) were both on point for the entire night! A huge thanks to my beau for the tickets and chocolate xo

Yes, you heard right.

 

How to backbend

Happy Thursday DXB!

I'll keep this short.
This week has been a whirlwind.. with an ever expanding to-do list and a messy bed. I just want to vent on the topic of health and wellness considering the amount of dumb conversations I've heard this week.
"Are you an a diet?"
NO. I just eat healthy.

"You are young, this is when your body is strong and you should eat everything and enjoy your life"

Oh really? How did that work out for you dear 30year old beluga with arthritis? - I'm not blessed with the strongest metabolism of asian women or the muscle definition of black women. I am willing to work for it and I'll do the best I can to prevent looking like death at 30.

"You should try taking XY vitamins and Blabla supplements"

Don't mess with me unless your a certified nutritionist or a doctor. Nothing works unless you get your ass off your couch.

"Yoga is a hindu practice, I am Christian/Muslim"

Read a book. I can't help you with your ignorant statement. And don't talk to me about Jesus with that KFC in yo mouth.

I'm DONE.

And for those who care - this is what I've been working on perfecting. Eventually I wanna be able to drop back without support and get into a handstand without breaking in half lol. I love inversions! can you tell?? Namaste!

Lifting one leg straight up while in upward bow/full wheel (Urdhva Dhanurasana) will help you work on your core strength! Sorry I had to crop the pics - I didn't realize how short my shorts were lol

xo