Yes please - with Amy Poehler - not intentional book review

''Yes please'' is not a type of a book I would chose to buy right now. Not because I would not want to please :), but these days I read more selectively on ''who are we, why are we here, where are we going...'' - the mystery questions that always interested me but I get easily distracted by all other super interesting things ones life offers. 

But... We have this sharing table at work where you can share biscuits, chocolates, books, even cosmetics, basically anything that fits on a shelf and you think someone else might find useful. I can't refuse a bit of chocolate, but so I also can't refuse a reasonably interesting book if it offers itself just like that for free. I thought I will browse through it quickly on my train journey as knowing the name Amy Poehler as an american comedian made a promise of an instant american Yes Please laugh. 

But... It wasn't like that. At first I felt a bit disappointed and thought about giving up - there was another colleague that wanted to read it, so I could please her quickly. 

But I didn't. 

First it was because of curiosity about growing up in the US - Amy is describing her childhood, than as a young adult she would walk a very slow path for over 10 years to finally open her career into what it now is: A well recognised comedian. That is truly inspiring for someone that also has one career to financially support herself and another in a long evolution process.

I also got to laugh, there was a very amusing part about George Clooney. 

Yes Please - Amy Poehler

All in all, I did enjoy this book, it is an inspiring story of doing what you love, overcome challenges, and make it into a rewarding career. 

Lunch in Paris - Love story with recipes by Elizabeth Bard

Majority of my blog posts from 2013 – 2015 are about meditation and personal growth work. These days, my morning routine consists of 10 – 15 min of working out on a small size trampoline (the exercises are the same as my Chinese meditation teacher had taught, although because of my teenage car accident injury I now need to be more careful with my hips so I’m using a bouncy and soft surface to jump around on), and 10 – 15 min meditation. Today’s post is about a different type of ’’meditation’’, it is my reflection on the book I’ve recently read on my daily train journeys. Since I’ve moved to zone 6 in London almost two years ago, I read books daily as my commute companions so I will post my comments about them probably pretty often.

Now if anyone finds this post but is looking for meditation support please start reading this blog from the beginning, or if you need more instructions do let me know if the comments below.

Lunch in Paris

If you’ve read any of my previous posts you know I have an affection towards French language and culture. There is something in this flirty language that immediately makes me smile although that might have also been a result of being very susceptive to the marketing of anything French as exciting and super sexy. These days, I try to read books that expand my mind from authors like Yuval Harari or Yanis Varoufakis, but for a change and brain relaxation I found the ’’Lunch in Paris – Love story with recipes’’ from Elizabeth Bard in my ’’bought but not yet opened’’ books boxes. There are a few boxes I'm afraid, my appetite for reading exceeds my reading speed for quite a bit.

I thought the book will be easy, cheesy, flirty, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The American author Elizabeth Bard has shared quite intimately about how she actually really felt once she moved to Paris, to her gorgeous French lover (I googled and found his pic on the net - can't help my nosiness), but with no work visa for at least the first year and no previous friends. She loved to lose herself on the market and shops of her local neighbourhood and she obviously has a big passion for cooking (recipes look very yummy, I haven't tried them as my partner mostly cooks these days, but if I was into cooking I would :). First year she spent most days alone (he was full time employed), so she had time to think about her life, and about what makes her really happy and fulfilled. This search gave the book the depth I haven't expected and it made it an even more enjoyable read. 

Recommended to anyone who wants to lose herself a bit on the streets of Parisian markets, loves cooking and romance.  

    

Meditation with Psychiatry masters students

I've been meaning to write my blog posts again for a while, but the pressure of almost 2 year gap was sitting on my shoulders. Today we had a really sweet and fulfilling meditation session with masters's students from our psychiatry department so carrying this energy I can't resist not to share it.

My meditation practise now beside morning meditation consists of leading staff meditation twice weekly at an Institute of Preventive Medicine I work for, shivasanas after weekly yoga classes, and meditation with my partner before bed, or sometimes during the weekend. 

I've shared about my beginnings with the students and how meditations helped me not just with pre-exams stress, but with relationship stress which is what stressed me out the most in those days. Students nodded their heads and smiled agreeing relationship troubles are a source of big stress. I'm still working on my book describing everything I learnt in meditation schools that helped me go through the times of troubles so I can now have a beautiful, balanced and supportive relationship. 

Will write more about everything I've learnt in the past two years in the further posts. 

Take care

Tara Stiles in London next weekend

Tara Stiles

Tara is coming to London next weekend to BeFit women's fitness event. I've started to stretch and centre in the morning with her short videos again. Her voice is very melodic and creates a pleasant flow: Tara's Inspiration Flow perfect to be completed with 10 min mindfulness meditation after.

Looking forward to see her pretty face live :)

My first meditation teacher Veronica from Planet Ease

My first meditation teacher was a feisty short haired lady called Veronica. She would start her sessions religiously at 5am and explain the early hour as the best time to recharge. Writing about my time in her school made me check-in to see what she is doing now. I know she lives in Arizona and has an energy centre there. Planet Ease is the name of her place and the link also tells you more about her and her quest for spreading inner peace. 

Staring...

Staring at the empty page. Can I do that? Can I start writing from scratch for the 3rd time? I finished the structure, it looks good. But I know what kind of commitment is that. It might take me again a year to complete. Although maybe I am now better prepared and it will be done faster. I'm helping to ease my anxiety by listening to instrumental relaxation music. And thinking of my ancestors that fought German soldiers in resistance movement in Slovenia during second world war. Living in the woods. Every day could have been your last. Your brother was shot dead. Your friends were shot dead. But you kept on going. Freedom fighters. Crazy believers into brotherhood among people living on this planet. People living united, in peace with one another. I can write it for them. I have to write it. Inner peace for all!

Third attempt

Haven't finished working on the book structure yesterday despite beautiful encouragement by Lao Tzu. Keep eating madeleines and danish cookies, until my stomach is full enough to roll into bed. Third attempt at completion tonight.

Horta and chickpea soup at The Greek Larder, London

The Greek Larder, Kings Cross, London

I've explained to my dear Greek neighbor Evi what I am going to do regarding my writing progress. She will be checking on me as well.We had some delicious greek food: horta - type of greek leafy vegetable with feta and chickpea soup for me. Very happy. Evi - filo pasty, same as her mum makes for Sunday lunch.Today I came across what Lao Tzu says when someone complains she is tired and can't pursue her mission:  As you consider the many excuses that are dominating your life, look carefully at them—you’ll see that they’re all focused on the ego: I can’t do this. I’m too busy or too scared. I’m unworthy. I’m too tired. Now imagine shifting your attention off of yourself and asking the universal mind: How may I serve? When you do so, the message you’re sending is: I’m not thinking about myself and what I can or can’t have. Your attention is on making someone else feel better.

Going to finish my structure now. 

Writing procrastination cure

Visualizing my book 

This blog helped me to get back into daily meditation habit, and now there is a new habit I want to create. I want to write again daily so I can complete my first book till next year. I lost the momentum as I went to a writing course and with all that knowledge ringing in my brain I just didn't move much as it felt difficult beside other things that are currently occupying me. So this space will be a touch base for me before or after writing. Blog posts usually motivate me to move and stop procrastinating. Shopping online, furnishing my not yet found  flat, browsing through events I could attend, attending events but feeling bad that I am not writing... Let me get back on track. If you are writing or wanting to create any other habit you find it hard to keep focus on, you are welcome to join.  

Final meditation at Golden Lane

Hi!

Classbase gym is going to close down end of February. The venue owners are going to refurbish it and charge a swanky inner city rent. 

So the final two meditation sessions are going to be 9th and the 16th Feb 2016.

Tickets to be booked on the link below, first time it is free.

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/morning-meditation

London - the kingdom of landlords. Hopefully I soon become one of them too.

PS: I've started to write the 3rd version of my masterpiece.  

Private meditation coaching sessions

Energy Clinic London

Hi!

If you are struggling with your meditation practice, can't find motivation to practice regularly but want to and it is hunting you as an unfulfilled resolution, don't know how to start, or would like to deepen the practice and take it to another level, I have something for you. 

For a limited amount of time I'm offering support to help you develop your meditation practice, get you on the track, help you overcome any difficulties you might have with it.

As some of you don't know me yet that well, I've started practicing 18 years ago and was hooked so badly that I was at meditation school every morning and evening for the next five years. During the second year I got to assist and lead my own classes at a school of a very energetic lady that was a natural PR talent and she made the school very popular in my hometown in Slovenia. After I finished studies in economics, I went to New Zealand to an academy that was teaching natural health methods, and meditation was an important one of them. I met a lady there that said: Vesna, I would need someone like you for my centre in London. Someone that could lead meditation classes and do the bookkeeping. That's how I started to work at Energy Clinic London, the place filled with celebrities, models, city executives, and me with my no make up/all natural philosophy at the time. 

I've worked there for seven years till some strategic problems caused the place to shut down. As I was in love with a handsome Englishman I decided to stay in London and at the moment I'm writing a book describing all my experiences with meditation and leading a class per week for Classbase.

Email me if you need help to: vesnaflo@gmail.com 

Prices are not excruciating, for a 30 min skype coaching session the price is £29, and for 10 half and hour sessions it is £199. Only 15 of these available, so do get in touch soon. 

Living with the flow

Kaprije, Croatia

''After our last meditation I had an interview and I got the job! The meditation that we made to attract prosperity, definitely worked!'' Marilyn, London UK,  regular attendee of Barbican meditation group 

Details on the link: (next session Tuesday 1st Dec at 8am)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/myevent?eid=19165092307  

People do get jobs every day. Yet when I've practised energy flow meditation with a big group of people in Ljubljana daily for five years I did notice our lives were running more smoothly. You relax deeply and receive health and wellbeing benefits and day by day you develop a feeling of what is really good for you, what is your direction and which steps you are to take. Your life flows. Come and join us, every Tuesday 8am London, Barbican.   

Meditation in Golden Lane community centre, Barbican, London City, UK

Classbase - Tuesday morning meditation

Dear all

I've disappeared for really long. Still working on my book, have a second draft coming together. I would like to invite all of you to a class that I am now leading every week on Tuesdays 8am in Golden Lane community centre for the Classbase gym. The class is open to everyone, you don't need to be a gym member. More details on the eventbrite link: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/vesna-florijancic-8400521889?s=43155963 

Regular clients feedback:

''I feel really light each time I leave from here''

''I feel the flow, much stronger energy flow, like that I am connected to something bigger...''

''I can relax really well here''

My feedback : When I lead meditation for a group, it feels as if something is pouring energy down through me and according to feedback most people in the room feel it and it helps them relax. Though meditation and deep relaxation with it has an effect on you even if you don't feel anything special. When I practised daily with a group in Slovenia my dear friend had Chron's disease, felt nothing special during sessions, but cured through it, although she would before tried lots of other official and non official medicine methods. Luck? Maybe. Though for me this is the best stress release technique I found in 18 years of my interest in the field. 

Welcome!     

Chiropractic adjustment with Paul McCrossin

Sailing Adriatic sea - Hvar, Croatia

Deep breath in, expanding your diaphragm, deep breath out... and the diaphragm relaxes. Deep breath in, repeat and out...

I've been having tense and at times quite painful upper belly for months - since April. I haven't talked about it to my chiropractic as he works on my spine and I didn't think his methods would work on my belly. Yet tonight, after I last time told him about my issue and worry that something might be seriously wrong with my stomach, he gave me an amazing strong upper belly massage. Really deep release. 

And he showed me how to breathe. With life expanding breaths. And he showed me:''You are mostly like this... [slouching] and your diaphragm is contracting.''

And I got it. I organised myself a really sweet, small, protected life. I manage my job well as it is small, small responsibilities, maybe being smiley a bit and I go by. I do not open up for a new man with a good excuse of being too busy, yet I do not open up as a man in my life means a threat to my organised lifestyle. I don't finish my book writing because ''what if a book is a disaster'' - it will make me feel miserable, but even more ''what if my book is a success'' - and I will be exposed to lots of stress and facing the unknown...

My Serbian coffee cup reader says: ''This scenario that you are writing... do that, this will be a success.'' It makes me feel excited, yet also paralyzed.

I am slouching, protecting my littleness. Little lungs, little heart, and now my stomach says it doesn't want to be little. Let's eat big!

I am going to write tonight, forgetting the healthy sleep hours. I need a breakthrough of the slouching littleness.

And if you live in London, a visit to a chiropractor Paul McCrossin http://www.finchleychiro.co.uk  is highly recommended. I spend 45 min on a tube each way to get to him. 

           

Chopra Centre Miraculous Dynamism mp3 meditation

Hi! :)

Hope you've found plenty of ear pleasing meditations on my blog. Here there is one introduced by Oprah Winfrey and led my Deepak Chopra. Enjoy: Chopra Centre mp3 meditation. I am seeing a healer John Vesey in Teddington again tonight. Looking forward to my growth and healing. Bisous 

Living Passionately

Last evening of my Living Passionately course tonight. It was great to meet up all these interesting people there, as well as more advanced writers and get feedback from one of them. I also got that I am more vital if I am active than when I hold myself back saving energy for ''important'' work. I did practice to live every day in the same gorgeous feelings like being on a retreat - it went well for a week... I guess I need to make a conscious decision to do it daily. And I did get practical tools to navigate the beginnings of my new relationship. Redesigned relationship better said, as we know each other with my sweetheart for many years. I guess I've learned many other little extras on the way, looking forward to conclude my journey and continue in more relaxing healing waters for a while.  

Pilates class - twice today!

Talked today to my colleagues at work how bad is our posture during 8 hours a day computer focused job. I've showed them the exercises my chiropractor asked me to do to even out my right shoulder as the effect of holding to the mouse is making one of my shoulders be higher than the other. The thing is I know the exercise but I do it very rarely. We do a lot of these stretch ups at pilates class so I've decided I will attend two today - one happened at lunch time and running to another one now. I feel so fabulous in my body when properly stretched! :-))  

Au revoir x    

Richard Gere on Meaning of Life

Richard Gere

We were discussing our purposes with my neighbor last night and I got her thinking with something I've just discovered for myself. Of course I have the grande purpose of ''inner peace for all'' and than even more grande one: ''I inspire people to grow'' but how I am really living shows: My life is simple, easy to manage, small. Because I like to have an overlook, control, feeling safe. 

Researching other people's meanings of life, came across Richard Gere: Richard Gere on Meaning of Life

What is your life's purpose? 

Simple

Easy times

Wonderful long weekend. I've sunbathed in the park and decluttered one third of my home. Feels much fresher and can't wait to finish the rest next weekend. I've recharged and am back to normal energy levels after a period of feeling really drained. 

Thinking about how to continue with my meditation/living inside out explorations. One major portion of my time will be for a while invested in studying how to write: structure, language... I thought I can write well without it but after I got a very sharp feedback from one of the guys reading my work, I've realized he has a point. I am going to go back to regular simple posts of my meditation practise and will not pressurized myself with too deep stuff, except if I get really inspired by it. So my hanging out with all of you meditators will be like hanging out with good friends with a bottle of something that makes you happy. 

Au revoir x

  

Self-worth?

So much soothing and nurturing energy at our women's meetings... I always get to relax way deeper than normally. We discussed self worth  - when do we feel that we have it and when do we lose it. 

I still feel the burn in my stomach so I think I will first dedicate myself to heal this, before going into other ''deep'' topics.

Hope you are all well and enjoying the lovely Chopra Centre meditations x