Why You Should Make Time for Savasana, actually…

Posted on May 15, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Alright, I know, before anyone starts, I am aware I’m not doing any form of yoga in this picture. It just took me about eight hours to find an image to match the sentiment of today’s post, a moment in the studio captured by the lovely Mary Lee Shalvoy. A moment between the moments of dancing. This is it, keep reading to figure it out.

I went to a yoga class recently and suddenly had an onslaught of thoughts that I wanted to share with you. You can call this an epiphany, but I wouldn’t really classify it as such, because it’s something I’ve inherently known for a while. I’m not here to preach, just to share an understanding really.

Those of you who know me, know that I’m a sucker for the ridiculous videos of Jenna Marbles. A while back, she posted a video listing the things ” [Jenna does not] Have Time For.” Among the amusing things listed were: making the bed, updating computer software, and receipts. Ain’t nobody got time for receipts. The last thing listed was Savasana, the pose that comes at the end of most yoga classes, also known as “corpse pose;” because that’s exactly what one does: lay there, corpse-like with the exception that one is breathing. Somewhat morbid, actually; it’s frequently touted as the most challenging pose there is. Yes, you are just laying on your mat, in your own sweat. Yes, I am aware that we’re all busy people, but hear me out. I’m going to defend it for just a minute…

Some of my most favorite moments in life occur after something amazing has happened. Dancers will understand this- think of the adrenaline rush you’re accompanied by as you run offstage at the end of a piece. Ladies, have you ever gone out and had a wonderful time, danced in wildly inappropriate shoes for far too long and then felt the contentment in finally coming home? Have you ever come in from a really cold night to somewhere warm and comfortable? That feeling- that’s like Savasana. That’s all it is. Oddly enough, it’s in the moments that you cease doing whatever it is you are doing that you can fully appreciate them. Some people can wax philosophical or spiritual about the whole thing, yet that’s my understanding. Those moments in life are rejuvenating, or else why would we keep going? We would stay locked in our homes and our shells until we wasted away. Sometimes it’s harder than others- on bad days I’ve lain down at the end of class and felt those hollow, face-crumpling feelings that I’d pushed away all day come back to me. I’ve also had many other realizations that have helped me get through those kinds of moments. That’s all we can do sometimes. And breathe. Breathing is important.

….

EVA ♥

Watch Me Juggle…on Instagram

Posted on May 13, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

I’m on the Instagram bandwagon everyone! You can now follow me @Watchmejuggle!

I can honestly say I’m surprised at how much I enjoy this app. Despite my “following” numerous people completely independent of the app itself for a long time, I had lumped this particular application in with the likes of Twitter: primarily overrun with teenagers with a penchant for over-sharing. And, yes, maybe the stereotype of Instagram being the land of selfies, coffee art, and inspirational quotes rings true, but who cares! I honestly enjoy seeing those types of pictures posted by my good friends, and I clearly enjoy participating.

Instagram brings me back to the early days of Facebook, where security settings were straightforward and profiles consisted only of albums and wall posts. Your interactions on Instagram consist only of “liking” or commenting on other users’ pictures, and “tagging” friends in photos. That’s it! And don’t get me started on the wide variety of apps out there based solely on Instagram. Not enough filters for you? Never fear, there’s apps like Photo Editor by Aviary, Afterlight, and countless others to give you more of a variety. Then of course you have your editing apps to “touch up” your photos, apps featuring overlay capabilities to add writing or those hilarious little lights you see on some photos. The possibilities are seemingly endless. If posting your photos publicly isn’t your thing, you can make your profile entirely private or simply use it as a means to follow others. There’s really no obligation to post anything yourself. On the contrary, if you have a passion for selfies go forth! You’ll now be able to bond with others over this odd social trend. Quite a fun, artistic app really.

This world is an interesting place, so why not take photos and share them? Makes sense to me…

EVA♥

On Exhaustion

Posted on May 12, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

I’m sure everyone can commiserate with me when I say that last week was, well, one of those weeks. Despite my usually flexible schedule, I felt a psychotic obligation to cram as much as I possibly could in to each day. I had to do something. Every. Single. Minute. While scheduling as much as I could into each 16 hour period I was awake, proved to be quite productive, it left me with a distinct feeling of mind-numbing exhaustion. The kind of tired-feeling that is so pervasive you’re even too tired to sleep properly. After living in this destructive cycle for a while, I was just going through the motions. My normally perky self was relegated to simply looking for an opportunity to sit down whenever possible. After dragging myself to ballet class repeatedly, I found myself leaving early before the grand allegro (the big, traveling jumps at the very end of class),which is usually my favorite part. Ever watched a small child try to resist sleep? The staggering around, wandering aimlessly, incoherent mumbling- it was a state had become my life all of a sudden. Oh, and any kind of bad news left me on the verge of tears, regardless of where I was or who I was with. That happened too.

There have been many psychological studies done on the link between insomnia/exhaustion and creativity. Proust, Emily Bronte, Vladimir Nabokov, and many others struggled with insomnia that attributed to a few of their published works. While I can’t claim to be even nearly as prolific, you, dear readers, have previously heard about my struggles to create new work under pressure. Miraculously enough, the days that I’m the most exhausted often turn out to be some of my more creative. Despite the fact that I’m teaching more than I’m performing as of late, there is still quite a bit of ‘performance factor’ that goes in to teaching each class. Students will mimic your energy; if you teach a class with the semblance of being “bogged down,” it infects the whole of your work. On the other hand, there’s often this phenomenon of overcompensation that occurs, and you somehow end up teaching the best class of your life or churning out dances like it’s no big deal. This year has undoubtedly been one of the most creatively productive years of my life. Aside from this little blog situation I’ve been nurturing, I have choreographed 8 group dances, a solo, and collaborated on a duet this year- not bad, so far. I’m awfully tired, though. I’m hoping that I can make a concerted effort to relax more this week since my schedule has slowed down a bit. I’m really looking forward to spending a Monday evening in, perhaps with a glass of iced tea, a good book, and an early bedtime. It should clear all manner of ills.

….

Thanks for reading, everyone. I’m still astonished at how many of you do!

Love,

EVA♥

Gentlemen, We Need to Talk…

Posted on May 2, 2014 by 4evamaria

Sorry to start out on such a serious note, but there is an epidemic going around that I need to address before it gets any further.Somewhere, somehow, you’ve started to think that some of the things you’re doing are completely warranted. I am here to tell you, please stop. No one seriously enjoys this behavior. Unless you’re doing it for comic value, and then that’s a whole different story…

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day about her experiences with online dating. She, of course, had read my blog concerning the Tinder App (there’s a Part II to this story, but more on that later) and vented her equally discouraging experiences with dating sites like eHarmony and Match. The disturbing trend that seems to pervade all of the technology based dating methods seems to be the obvious posed pictures- pictures taken in an attempt to directly appeal to women. I’m not saying that women don’t fall prey to taking the same photos; it’s just the lengths that some men go to borders on friggin’ ridiculous.

Take, for example, the proverbial man holding the kitten. Ok, there is a chance that the kitten is, in fact, yours. Or perhaps you’re trying to tell us that you like animals, and spend time volunteering in shelter or some such drivel. The non-cynic in me would almost believe this. But, dear readers, it gets better…

Suddenly we’re looking at the next gentleman who has, for lack of a better expression, taken it up a notch: holding kitten, shirtless. This is, without a doubt, borderline creepy. It starts to get in to “serious weirdo” territory when you have taken said kitten outside, taken your shirt off, and sat on some stranger’s motorcycle. Because we all know that that is not yours.

I’m assuming men like this honestly think that books like this one are to be taken seriously. Ladies, we all know that this man

While adorable in print, would weird the living daylights out of us if encountered in real life. Let’s be honest, now.

This is not the way life is. It’s just not. Which is why you can purchase the book and have a giggle. This is not what we’re expecting you to be. (It’s nice if you like to vacuum, though. The vacuuming part is good.)

Gentlemen, what if women reciprocating this behavior? Would you find it immensely attractive if I stood outside your house in a cocktail dress and platform heels wielding a chainsaw? No, you would call the police. Just think before you post a ridiculous photo, that’s all I’m asking. Don’t even get me started on the “Tigers of Tinder” craze. Google that phrase, I dare you! It’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever encountered in actual life. It’s as if the men of Tinder unanimously decided that kittens were for girls, so the decided to cuddle tigers instead, because that’s so much more manly.

STOP. IT.

Us ladies, we don’t ask for much, really. Take a shower, wear shoes that match each other, and brush your teeth regularly. I feel like a speak for a lot of people when I say being yourself, in your own environment, is so much more attractive. Try smiling too. It really helps.

And some of you need some help, really.

….

Have a good weekend everyone!

Love,

EVA♥

So this is what everyone is doing now, huh?

Posted on April 22, 2014 by 4evamaria

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Apologies for the terribly verbose title. (Newsflash: “Verbose” is one of my new favorite words. I use it often, and it amuses me.) Today, I wanted to write about a little phenomenon that seems to be on the upswing in my life right now. Despite, being 26-years-young, I still feel like a teenager, and yes, when my friends tell me they’re getting married or having a baby, I have a moment of slight panic before I realize this is completely socially acceptable. Are we even old enough to be doing this on our own?! Legally, yes. Socially, yes. But, I have to say, it feels a little strange.

First off, let me start with a disclaimer: I love my married friends. I’m so happy that they’re happy. It makes me feel positive about human relationships in general. And given that I love kids so much, am ecstatic whenever I get the “Baby’s On the Way!” announcement. It means I get a little buddy to play with that I can hand back when I’m done. I get to be the “Cool Aunt.”

But, let’s be honest, I’m closer to being a real life Karen Walker than wearing the big poofy dress. I am more than okay with that. Proud would actually be a better description. “Instead of ‘single’ as a relationship status, I prefer ‘independently owned and operated.'”

http://willandgraceforever.tumblr.com

“Look everyone! Juice boxes!”

Now, I know that I’m not the only one that feels this way, just visit my favorite snarky blogger at #MyFriendsAreMarried. I also enjoy commiserating with my girlfriends every once in a while. Although things may feel a bit strange, it’s important that you go through life with a sense of humor, or else you’re just setting yourself up for failure. Change is a guarantee, and while my life may be all about me at the moment, it won’t necessarily be like that forever. So, if anything, I find myself taking advantage of the circumstances. Go ahead! Make fun of yourself. Be friends with the kids. Go to a concert in the middle of the week and don’t apologize. Buy shoes instead of groceries for a week. Who cares?!

Just be sure to call me so we can gossip about it afterwards.

Love,

EVA♥

Things I Wish I Knew About in College

Posted on April 21, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I hope I’m finding you well on yet-another-Monday.

What’s with the random collage, you ask?

Well, today I wanted to write about a few things that I have discovered in my post-grad years that I wish I had known about in college. I’m convinced my quality of life, while pretty good, would have been exponentially improved with these everyday additions.

1. Lululemon

Now, my identity as a college student was primarily “The Dance Major.” Being a part of such a rigorous program and having multiple dance classes daily, I always found myself dashing off to my academic classes in my dance clothes. I would sit down, sweaty and red-faced in the lecture halls with my hair in a bun, in some sort of leotard-pink-tights-sweatpants-tank top combination. Slap on some Ugg boots and you had an outfit that had most people thinking that I had just run straight from my bed to my seat in class. Lovely. Long story short, I wish I had had the means to discover Lululemon earlier. Now, I know they’ve had a bit of a bad rap as of late, but the many Lululemon pieces I own have undoubtedly withstood the test of time. I’ve had the same little jacket for about 5 years now, wear it sometimes multiple times a week, and it’s still in amazing condition. Even when I’m not feeling my best, throwing on a couple of pieces makes me feel instantly put together. I can’t say how much money I spent amassing cheaper activewear in college, but had I known that investing in what I wore to class everyday would have made such a huge difference in my demeanor, I would have done it in a heartbeat!

2. Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo, without a doubt, is my new must-have product. I hate washing my hair everyday. Not only is it time-consuming, but the consistent blowdrying and styling inflicts some serious damage. Besides, who wants to get out of bed an entire hour earlier than usual just to wash their hair? Not me. To top it off, I have the lovely kind of hair that deflates overnight, even when it’s freshly washed. With dry shampoo (Batiste is my favorite, bonus points for the amazing scents in comes in) all you need to do is spray, run your fingers through your hair and go. It instantly mattifies and gives your hair volume. I’ve even used it on freshly washed hair for a little extra ‘oomph.’ I may have a slight addiction. There are worse things.

3. Target

Ah, Target. Possibly one of my favorite post-grad discoveries. Granted, Santa Barbara did not have a Target readily accessible when I was a student there, but my roommates and I did make the hour-long roadtrip on the weekends simply to shop at the nearest one in Ventura. It’s my one-stop-shop, and I go to it for almost everything. It’s well organized and affordable, and you can find almost anything you might need. Need bandaids, cereal, and a cute new bikini? Target. What about vitamins, the latest bestseller, and a Philip Lim-inspired dress? Target has all those things. Now that they’ve even added a grocery department, I’m able to pick up that milk I keep forgetting to buy as well…

4. Decent Beer

I realize this seems counter-intuitive given that the collegiate drink of choice seems to be beer. You will find beer everywhere, no matter what college campus you are on. The one problem that you will often encounter is that it’s horrible, horrible beer. Beer so bad, so cheap, I don’t think it can even legally be sold under the label “Beer.” Oh, Natty Ice. It’s perhaps the equivalent of drinking Arbor Mist and claiming to be a wine connoisseur. No. Just no. It wasn’t until I was in Seattle for my dear friend Brooke’s wedding that I discovered the more complex subtleties of beer, the varieties, the flavors, the unorthodox ingredients. Yes, some beers are absolutely disgusting, but others are rich and amazing. I enjoy drinking them. Who knew?

…

The list could go on, yet these are undoubtedly the things I find myself coming back to again and again. I could also include swiffer sweepers, bronzer, glass water bottles, and kombucha. And I’m sure next week I’ll have even more additions. Post-grad life can be not so fun at times, but these things are odd concrete proof that things just keep getting better. Or something…

Love,

EVA♥

A Complicated Relationship…

Posted on April 8, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hi everyone!

I guess you could call this post a continuation on one of my previous ventures, “Adventures in Apps.” Today, I wanted to focus on a little thing called Twitter, and the newly complicated relationship I have with it. Undeniably, my experience with this social media oversharer began when my father sat me down, and very seriously asked me what a hashtag was. This was funny enough by itself, but what was possibly even funnier was my explanation. (Note: just because I’m young-ish, doesn’t mean I know exactly how the internet works. You’re talking to someone who is typing this on her HP laptop circa 2008, next to a copy of WordPress for Dummies.) My ensuing diatribe went something like this:

“Well…a hashtag is, like, something that was initially intended to serve as a form of categorization…?

But, now people just start everything with this little pound-sign thing…?

Because it’s amusing…?

Like, if I put #amusing in a tweet…you could look up #amusing…and see my tweet…? As well as all the other people who used #amusing…?

Kinda sorta?”

I honestly don’t think he understood, and I don’t blame him. I’m still not entirely sure I understand myself and am pretty sure I fail at social media. Don’t even get me started on tweeting AT people. Anyway, once I set up my Twitter account, I literally googled “How to use Twitter,” and then read through an entire page entitled “Mom This is How Twitter Works.” It’s filled with great examples and how-tos, but possibly confused me even more than before. There’s also a poignant little section on Twitter vs. Facebook. Interestingly enough, there is quite an existing overlap already, even without Twitter unveiling its new layout, so that it now looks exactly like your Facebook profile. Too bad most of my generation is already over Facebook. Remember when it used to be just for college students to connect with their current and former classmates? I miss those days. You’re lying if you’re telling me you don’t. I’m sure everyone is thrilled to have their mother, their nosy coworkers, and their grandparents on Facebook now. We love you, but we also don’t want you to see our incriminating LasVegas photos taken at 5am that one time on Spring Break.

Anyway…

Twitter itself is quite an interesting concept, and can be a fantastic way to obtain concise information about anything under the sun in a mere glance. My Twitter feed is essentially all my local and world news, consolidated in one long stream. I wake up in the morning, scroll, and read all the headlines in under a minute. Fabulous thing, technology. Being a woman with varied tastes, I enjoy following news organizations, NGOs, and political figures as well as fashion magazines, cosmetic companies, and Youtube personalities. Now, what I find slightly disturbing is that when I scroll through my Twitter feed, I will find the latest on the Syrian refugee situation, right next to an article extolling the virtues of coral lipstick for summer. This phenomenon often makes me feel like the most ridiculous human being. “There’s war all over the world and hundreds died in riots, but OMG those shoes would look great with this bag!” It’s undeniably easier to compartmentalize these parts of your life without Twitter. On the other hand, it’s hard to derive any kind of meaningful perspective from this seemingly random stream of information. You take it with a grain of salt, as it were.

Unfortunately, Twitter can also be a place where the endlessly narcissistic flock to tell everyone what they had for breakfast that day, or share their medical histories. My rule: if you would not say it in everyday conversation, it does not belong on Twitter. Just say no.

In the end, I’m still not entirely sure what I think of Twitter. It’s been a fantastic sounding board for all of the little ideas, pictures, and one-liners that pop into my head at random. I also enjoy connecting with many of my students on Twitter, as it’s perhaps less personally invasive than Facebook. I was, truthfully, it’s biggest skeptic; yet it’s ability to allow its user to customize their preferences makes it a lot easier for those not so keen on sharing their personal lives to enjoy. If you’re on the fence, give it a try. You can always blame me if it doesn’t work out. And then I’ll have something else to write about…

EVA♥

Forced Relaxation

Posted on March 27, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Here’s another poolside shot for you. Not to “humble-brag,” but to talk a little about something I touched on in a previous blog. I have a difficult time relaxing. I can sit and meditate for five minutes, take a nap for twenty, or maybe get my nails done for a half-hour. When it comes to anything more than that, I have to make a concerted effort to stay still. Take my Vegas vacation, for example. Checkout time was 11am, and my flight didn’t leave McCarran airport until 10pm. My plan was to spend the entire day at the pool, which I successfully did, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I constantly fidgeted in my chair. I had to check on my things, apply more sunscreen, and make sure I didn’t fall asleep! I even had to pep talk myself in to staying there: “You can do it! This is going to be amazing! etc.”I felt oddly uncomfortable with the fact that I wasn’t out and about; not wandering up and down the Strip, taking in the sights, but settled poolside.

There’s a little voice in my head that constantly chirps “Go! Go! GO!” It encourages me to make plans and say ‘yes’ to experiences I’ve never had before. On the other hand, I notice that as I’m getting older, I have to be increasingly cautious about the things I get myself in to, and make a concerted effort to take better care of myself. It’s the little things, like removing all traces of make-up before bed, applying eye cream, and taking my vitamins everyday. Living alone has played a big part in this, as I not only worry about maintaining myself but my apartment as well. Now I have concerns of needing to take the trash out, dusting, and making sure that I have enough milk for my morning coffee. It’s silly, I know, but it’s my effort to be conscientious has somehow made me insufferably restless. I never really take notice until it’s time to wind down, or, in the worst case scenario, I get sick. It’s quite a predicament to have, being too excited about things that need doing or what tomorrow might hold to be able to have a quiet moment to myself. The moral of the story is that having those moments are so essential to thriving in a life of semi-adulthood. I keep telling myself this…hopefully someday it will stick.

Love,

EVA♥

An Afternoon with SFB

Posted on March 6, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

(The beautiful San Francisco Opera House)

(My program, in the dark. Yes, my ticket is for standing room. Can’t beat that deal!)

(My standing room partner-in-crime, my mother, on her birthday!)

I first set out for this post to be a review of the recent San Francisco Ballet mixed bill production I had seen this last Sunday. A program in three acts that combined a little bit of everything: Kingdom of the Shades from La Bayadère for the purists, Yuri Possokov’s Firebird for those who love a visually stunning storyline, and Christopher Wheeldon’s Ghosts, for the more contemporary tastes. Days later, all I can think about is Ghosts.

When the curtain was dropped at the end of the piece, my mother and I turned to each other agape, and she exclaimed: “That was it?! I wanted it to keep going!” I felt much the same way, and even a bit of despair when the house lights came up. Undoubtedly, I would have sat through hours of Ghosts had it been longer. It was a contrast to La Bayadère in every way, from the flowing dip-dyed dresses, to the metamorphic set, to the eerie rolling music. It’s temperamentality fascinated me, as did the looming sculpture suspended above the dancers. What was it? The wreckage of a plane, a haunted ship, the ruins of an old building; it could have been anything! I believe this was entirely the point. Like finding shapes in a cloud, we see what we want to see in this ballet.

Without a doubt, dancer-turned-choreographer in residence for the New York City Ballet at the early age of 27, Wheeldon has a flair for harnessing the metamorphic nature of choreography. From the initial process of creating a ballet, to the As Cheryl A. Ossola eloquently put it in the program, Ghosts is Wheeldon’s sixth commission for San Francisco Ballet and full to the brim with “rich […] imagery and connotations.” She describes it as being highly influenced by the poetry of Edgar Allen Poe, all thematically haunting, which Wheeldon used to “create an atmosphere of a mass gathering of souls, such as might occur after a tragedy. ‘It’s more like perfume than a heavy sort of ghost story,’ he says.” Despite Ghosts reveling in the ethereal, the movement is incredibly human; the dancers audibly gasping for air, reaching out for one another, and curling around each other on the floor. The piece went from short well-lit bursts of solos, to suddenly dark, foreboding multitudes of dancers. It never slowed entirely- it’s sections blending effortlessly together up until the moment the curtain comes down over the still moving dancers. In short, this ballet made me a huge fan of Wheeldon’s work. He has won my steady affection, as it were.

“What’s so great about his work?” you might ask. Well, in an effort to locate (and watch on repeat) sections of Ghosts, I turned to the good-old Youtube. While unfortunately not finding concrete clips of the ballet itself (you can see a preview here, however), I stumbled upon a wealth of interviews and rehearsal footage of Wheeldon and the dancers. Give them a watch and you tell me.

Until next time,

EVA♥

Advice for My Younger Self

Posted on February 10, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Today, I wanted to focus a little on the things I wish I knew when I was younger. I try my best to impart everything I’ve learned about life to my students, but there are some days that it’s best to just listen. Or simply to not say anything, as strange as it sounds. I’ve always felt that empathy for other people doesn’t have to be a big display- that you can feel the bond of shared experiences, both good and bad, with those around you even if they choose not to speak openly about them. I would like to say some of those things now, bluntly, if that’s okay.

…..

Life is hard. Some days are going to suck, and things will be a lot worse than your failed algebra final, or that no one chose to eat lunch with you today.

There will be people in your life, at some point and for whatever reason, that are not good. It’s up to you what you choose to do with them. From my experience, I will tell you this:

Those “friends” that are making you miserable, you don’t need them.

That guy who isn’t treating you well, you don’t need him either.

Those invisible boundaries and all the mind numbing pressure you put on yourself to succeed, they’re irrelevant. If it’s not helping you now, it won’t help you in the future.

Surround yourself with people who hold you up and give you confidence. They’ll be your family, if you let them.

The people you look up to, the people whose lives you want, are all fighting their own invisible battles. Don’t presume to know what their lives are like, or that they’re somehow easier than yours.

It’s cliché , but your life is exactly the way it’s supposed to be. However, you get to decide what kind of person you want to be. Focus your energies on the things you can change, try to forget about the things and people you can’t.

…

It’s important to say that I’m still working on all this stuff. So perhaps this post is best entitled “Advice to My Younger Self.”

Just some thoughts for a dreary Tuesday.

Love,

EVA♥