Welcome Twenty-Ten

It has been a while since I've written here and I need to reverse that trend, starting now! Those who know me know that I usually never have a lapse of commentary or just talking in general. And, I love to write. I'm not quite sure what has held me back writing every few days on my blog. Perhaps I felt that I had to have a "message" each time I wrote and that was a little too much pressure.

2009 was quite a year. I sat down and wrote out a monthly list of all the changes, accomplishments and cool events. Whew!! I love to have lots going on but, even for me, it was non-stop. I quit my corporate job forever on January 16, 2009! Thanks to all who celebrated that event with me. It has been a wild ride, with my focus shifting 100% to wellness.

I began working with www.active.com and their amazing group of ActiveX employees who motivate me with their dedication to fitness. I love teaching yoga there! Another goal was to start publishing articles on fitness and wellness and I'm happy to report that I published 6 articles on www.active.com about Yoga for Athletes. I'm looking forward to writing more articles and parlaying the experience to the national magazine level.

I moved in with my boyfriend in May and this was a huge deal for me. I've lived alone for a long time and I had to learn how to share my space all over again. Life is good.....his love and support give me strength and happiness.

Pilates has become a bigger part of my wellness career and I love it. Fusing yoga and pilates in a unique way is part of my long-term plan.

On a health note, this was Year One after my neck disc-replacement surgery. For the most part, I've felt fantastic but, I overdid it a few times and suffered from setbacks. I'm trying hard to follow my advice to others about taking it slow. It has been quite a learning experience trying to be patient with my limitations. I will be healthy and regain strength in 2010!

Another long term goal that I achieved was to be selected as a Lululemon Ambassador for the Carlsbad Lululemon. I'm so excited to be able to work more closely with them to spread the message of wellness in our community.

2010 is going to be filled harvesting all the plants sown in 2009. I am so excited to live each day to the fullest and really begin reaching a broader audience.

Thank you to all of my family and friends who made 2009 a beautiful year. I am grateful and humbled by the love and support.

ActiveX: Getting out of my comfort zone

For the last few months, I've been involved with an amazing company, Active.com. I teach yoga on-site to members of the ActiveX team. Arch Fuston leads the ActiveX team in all kinds of intense boot-camp style workouts, in addition to mentoring employees who are training for anything from a 5K to a full triathalon. The camaraderie is fantastic.

I'm not a runner, due to all kinds of old injuries and lack of cartilage in the knees but, when I was invited to join one of the ActiveX "lite" workouts on Friday morning, I figured what the heck? I was constantly encouraging them to get out of their comfort zones and see how yoga could benefit their chosen sports so, why shouldn't I get out of mine?

I must admit: I was scared. I was dreading it.

We met at La Jolla Shores at 7am and proceeded to complete a series of drills designed by Arch to challenge everyone and did he! Can you say creative? Wheelbarrows, hopping over walls, alligator crawls, running and leaping through the sand and the grand finale: 3 people dragging a 4th through the sand clinging to a large rope. I must say, I enjoyed being pulled along on the rope!

The best part: it felt like playing with your friends. Well, your crazy hyperactive friends but, play nonetheless. The worst: the sand wanted to stay with me all weekend! I left the beach feeling like if I didn't do anything else for the rest of the day, I'd accomplished something. Fun!

The Health Care System REALLY Does NOT work...how it home personally again this week.

I thought it was bad when my sister lost her health insurance back in 2005, through no fault of her own. The non-profit foundation that she ran decided to close and she was suddenly unemployed and without insurance. This may sound like a common story these days but, there was another element involved: my sister was in treatment for Breast Cancer. She'd already completed horrendous chemotherapy that caused her to feel like her bones were breaking each time she moved, the nausea, not to mention the hair loss. She was finishing her radiation that left horrible burns on her breast. She was now told she had to take medication for the next 10 years, or she would die.

Said medication cost $899 per month, without insurance. My sister could not obtain health insurance anywhere because....drumroll...she had cancer and the insurance companies, in their underwriting wisdom didn't want to take that risk.

As a result, my sister moved back to Israel, where she lived in her 20s, in order to get health insurance. She didn't really want to move back but, she had no choice. As a newly unemployed non-profit executive director without insurance, she didn't have any options in the U.S.

So, some of you who know me know that October 30th marked the 1 year anniversary of my neck surgery. I was in a car accident in December 2007 and as a result, had to have cervical disc replacement surgery. I tried everyting in 2008 to avoid surgery: physical therapy, rest, more rest, acupuncture, massage, epidural injections....I did avoid all of the pain pills and muscle relaxers that the doctors wanted to give me. I didn't want to mask the pain, I wanted to be pain-free.

Finally, the head of neuro-trauma at Scripps informed me that surgery was "semi-urgent," meaning that if I were hit again or fell or did something to tweak my neck, I would have serious spinal cord damage. So, what were the options? Surgery.

So, after a year or almost non-stop pain, I am the proud owner of a bionic disc at C5-6. I am finally pain free and have remained so a full year. I quit my corporate job in January and pursued my dream of teaching full-time. It is better than I could have imagined.

One issue, however, is health insurance. I'm paying $450 per month to continue my old insurance through COBRA. This is only a temporary fix because you can only participate for 18 months. As a full-time yoga and pilates instructor, I must say that $450 a month is really tough. So, I finally decided to pursue some health insurance as an individual.

I received my first declination letter from Anthem Blue Cross. Like my sister's case, this is rather ironic as well. Apparently, they declined me because I had disc replacement surgery. Of course, there is no consideration put into the fact that it FIXED my neck, that I've been pain free for a year, that I haven't had to have any treatment for my neck since the surgery. No, that would be too logical.

They turned me down because, "Once there is a disc replacement surgery, we will not insure you." Ever. So, am I supposed to take out the healthy artificial disc to get insurance? How will I get coverage?

Something really needs to be done. These two examples are within one family. How many millions of stories are there out there? The insurance companies won't underwrite you and give you insurance if you've, gasp, actually had to use your insurance in the past. Go figure.

Yoga for Runners, Yoga for Triathletes......more coming!

Wow, how can it be so long since I've blogged? Hmmm, I think it is because I'm smack in the middle of writing a series of articles for www.active.com. This series is very specific, short and sweet, with a recommendation for three poses to try to enhance your sport.

The first article gives some suggestions for runners. Try them!: http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Yoga-for-Runners--3-Poses-You-Should-Practice.htm


The second article does the same thing for the triathlete:
http://www.active.com/mindandbody/articles/Yoga-for-Triathletes--3-Poses-You-Should-Practice.htm

Yoga for Tennis should be coming out this week. Look for it on the website. Yoga for Cyclists, Yoga for Golfers, Yoga for Surfers, Yoga for Football....any other ideas?

Thanks for checking them out!

There are two ways to spread light; to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it." - Edith Wharton

Another amazing quote that says so much with so little.

For me, this quote reminds me of why I love teaching yoga. I feel that I alternate between these roles when teaching. Sometimes students come in to class seeking solace from difficult situations going on in their lives. They are in a darker space and their light is hidden for a time. In that scenario, I try to be the candle and share some light to remind them that theirs is inside of them, just dormant for a little while.

At other times, students come in with a true glow that only grows brighter as they practice and find their peace on the mat. Then, I just try to be the reflection back to them of their inner beauty and light.

I love it.

High-top Reeboks, Lycra and Big hair=.Mind-Body?

There is so much focus on the mind-body connection in exercise these days. Yoga, pilates, you name it. It is awesome that this vital connection is being recognized and publicized.

For me: I had no idea why I always worked out. In high school, I was obsessed with the latest classes, at-home workouts, dancing, just movement in general. In college, I found weight-lifting and was hooked. I also happened to be in school in the heyday of "high impact" aerobics and had to teach it. I loved the high I felt after leaping around in my high-top Reeboks, my ponytail and let's not forget the lycra. The shiny lycra thong leotards. With belts. I'm blushing remembering it. But, I must confess, I thought I looked fabulous in these get-ups. But, I digress.

I had a challenging home life in those years, who didn't? I was intense about my school-work and loved to read, to learn, to excel. I definitely had my bookworm side and wanted to develop and push the boundaries of my learning and intellectual capacity. Often, the bookworms look down on the "jocks" because the focus should be on higher learning, not building muscles, right? Wrong!

Sometimes I felt like I didn't fit into either category because I couldn't figure out why I always wanted to sweat. Some critics thought it was because I wanted to be skinny, to fit into my jeans, to look good. And, of course aesthetics matter! We all want to look our best. I did not exercise to be skinny, however. I exercised because it made me feel peaceful. It calmed me down. It made me feel happy. I just never made the connection. I didn't know why I did it, I just did it.

These days, there is tons of information about the endorphin effect. How even a short 20 minute stroll will change your mood, boost your metabolism, etc etc. It is so true. One of the few things that has kept me sane through tumultuous times is exercise. Plain and simple. No matter how I feel, no matter what is transpiring in the world around me, I feel better after I exercise. No matter what. Move your body and calm your mind.

Join me at Lululemon in Carlsbad, Ca, Saturday September 19th at 9am for a complimentary yoga class. http://www.oceansoulyoga.com/

My Retreat to Nicaragua: January 2010

It is finally becoming a reality! I'm hosting my first yoga and pilates retreat and I am doing it in a big way! I am so excited, I wish it were happening tomorrow instead of in January!

I've always dreamed of going on a yoga retreat. When I lived in LA, one of my favorite teachers, Tom Morley, used to lead retreats to Tahiti and Santorini and I could only dream of going. Unfortunately, it wasn't a reality for me at that time.

I feel very blessed that this opportunity to actually host and create a dream escape, an amazing retreat came to me. Adrienne Ward, founder of BigWorldSmallPlanet, sets everything up from Nicaragua. She knows the best spots, is in the know with all of the locals and coordinates incredible days ranging from sailing trips along the coast, 90 minute massages at the spa, trips to local schools, surfing lessons with local gurus in the best breaks, meals, and the list goes on. I'll be leading workouts twice a day: dynamic, energizing flow yoga in the mornings and core-focused pilates workout and restorative yoga in the late afternoon, designed to leave students feeling strong, centered and calm. Most of all: it will be fun! Days will be filled however one wants. Lazy days by the pool or in the spa or adventures ziplining (definitely for me!!)

I've been lucky enough to travel the world extensively but, I truly feel that this trip will be a life-changing experience for me and the group who joins me.

To learn more, check out www.bigworldsmallplanet.com. Click on Retreats and you'll see my name! Claire Petretti