Emily's May Inspiration "There Goes The Hood"

It was more than a restaurant, it was a symbol. And in the past decade, the last man standing in a sea of homogeny brought on by outsiders visiting the East Village on the weekends; dabbling in the hip, artistic, and edgy. Fact is MAMA'S was the neighborhood. At ten dollars a plate with a choice of meat and three sides, MAMA's was the spot you went for down home comfort. Nestled on 3rd St btw A & B, I walked past this soul food spot daily back in the nineties, sometimes stopping in just for a side of mash potatoes when the city got rough. They had the best veggies too, and if you didn't want meat you could get an extra side with their mac and cheese rivaling no other.

I encourage my yoga students to embrace change, to accept the only constant in our lives is just that. But as my old street in Alphabet City morphs into more and more sameness - that chain store, homogenized look that plagues our country - I have to cry out, 'Why this hood!?' Why the spot where artists flocked to so they could be different and accepted? With the fortune tellers, druggies, and performance artists singing their tunes, graffiti walls and dive bars that embrace all kinds... Why must the demographic who desires sameness, who feels more comfortable in an OLIVE GARDEN than an authentic Italian dive invade the one place on the planet where we screwed the Man?

Those who infest the East Village on the weekends are in no way supporting the community and those who inhabit it. They leave and go back to their commutes and cubicles, and tell stories about how they had a 'crazy' weekend in the village. We lived there, many old-schoolers still do. It's our home, and place's like MAMA'S, or the old KING'S PHARMACY replaced by a DUANE READE were our pride, our joy and choice to remain original, authentic to ourselves. Most moved to the East Village against their society's wishes. To a far away land where parentals did not understand paying a thousand dollars a month for a shoebox apartment on Ave C, but we did and sacrificed to be there. The natives know the secret to Alphabet City is its character, its funkiness, and constant groove we so adore. With the closing of MAMA'S, I dare say...there goes the hood.

PEACE,

Archived Inspirations

on Juice

THANK GOD FOR YOGA

I found it when I moved to New York, at Jivamukti Yoga back in the Lafayette days. It was right around the time where what they were doing became huge; which is integrating God-- the spiritual chunk of yoga some centers bury beneath the asana/pose. But that’s what got me. The union of movement and opening to grace-- got me. I dived in. I practiced yoga through my fiercest battles in Manhattan, my rocky road through L.A., and my incredibly grounding time spent here in Santa Fe.

Of course it’s beautiful here. And I must admit the mountains do remind you to breathe-- to have a larger perspective on a daily basis. However, we aren’t immune to stress in beautiful places. We all move through it the same no matter where we thrive. And time and again when things get overbearing, when it feels like something’s just not right-- I hit the mat. I bow down really in gratitude for my beautiful life. I thank Spirit for my space, for the people who show up huge in my world, for the talent and interest and fervor I have for art. And for this universe that simply asks us to play.

And usually…it works. Usually within minutes of my breath, my movement, my letting go-- everything is brighter. Everything has space now to see for certain that all is good. All is divine…and unfolding right along. And that’s the union between grace and movement. The Yoga.

My Eastern teacher reminds me that not everyone practices the way I do. That there are many ways to be spiritual-- observed in the kindness of strangers, musicians married to their instrument, and a political movement working to change.

Whatever the method, a strong connection to breath and compassion in every moment can allow you to weather through the most challenging of times. And even more, through the times in your day when you just need a moment. Just a moment. To get it together again; to find your flow, catch your breath, and participate happily, once more-- in life.

With Love,