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Bring Back the Balance: Top Takeaways from our Amsterdam CRAVE Chat

February 3, 2012 by Nicole S. | Comments (0)

We are all constantly seeking balance—in our daily life, work, family, and also with friends.  In January, CRAVE explored this theme with other entrepreneurs.  For many of us who attended, we concluded that “finding balance” is really an awareness in ourselves and allowing ourselves to recharge.  Some of us recharge through fitness or yoga, others watch TV or volunteer their time. Whatever you do, enjoy those moments.

Here are a few key points from our speakers.

Speakers: Athalie Stegeman (eBusinessBooster)
, Daniella Rubinovitz (Atelier Molenpad), and Kyrin Hall (Health Consultant)

Athalie Stegeman: “You having no clear proposition can be translated into many opportunities”

• As a working mother, wife and entrepreneur, it is important to keep track of your thinking patterns and how you position yourself in all your roles.
• Be aware of your priorities and do not overload yourself.
• Encourage a sense of who you are in all that you do and make sure that what you do coincides with your principle goals as an entrepreneur.
• Always touch base and reconnect to re-energize: Take a day off if needed, organize that filing you have been procrastinating on and don’t forget to spoil yourself sometimes.
• To be an entrepreneur, it is important to be innovative and think of ways to improve your reputation by outsourcing services that you have no knowledge of instead of doing it yourself. It takes time and you lose revenue in the process.
• Trust people enough that they will do the job well for you.
• Do not reject your interest in many things; it is always good to play around with your different passions.

Daniella Rubinovitz: “Balance is Dynamic,” “Action breeds more balance,”  ”Online Media has no borders,” “I work best visually”

• Combine creational play with rational must-do’s and keep it in the flow.
• The shape of the infinity symbol represents the flow of balance and the dynamism. It is the combination of the left and the right brain that makes it possible to think (if you are a thinker) and to be creative (if you like to let your creative juices to flow).
• Just play to regain your balance at times.
• Visualize your actions.
• Set yourself free by discovering new ways to make space for new things, e.g. Utilizing folders to categorize your priorities – From most important tasks for the week to future plans. In this way, you are able to keep track of your actions.

Kyrin Hall: “Visualize your body as a Ferrari and Food as the fuel,” “When wearing many hats, key value is good health”

• Begin to see your body as a balance of hormones and when you feed your body certain food, it gives you the energy of the food you have eaten.
• For some, yoga allows you to keep the flow in your body and keep your mind focused.
• Once your mind is focused, the body follows.
• Longevity and a balanced mind are related to eating breakfast, having 5 meals a day (each meal with 3 hour intervals), keeping away from stimulants such as coffee, cigarettes, minimizing sugar and keeping active.
• Imbalance occurs when your actions are not in alignment with your values.

How do you handle balance?  Feel free to share your thoughts and tips.

Whatever your Balance is, make sure its true to you!

Pin Your Cravings: Pinterest Contest!

February 1, 2012 by Nicole S. | Comments (3)

We can admit it, we love Pinterest. In fact, here at CRAVE it is our latest obsession. Pinterest is an online pinboard. Organize and share things you love. Comment. Repin. Like. Find inspiration and community!

We love Pinterest so much that we’re having a “What Do You CRAVE” Pinterest contest! Pin your cravings to win 1 free CRAVEguide for the city of your choosing*!

Here are the steps:

1. Join Pinterest (If you need an invite, simply email info@thecravecompany.com to request one, and we’ll invite you)
2. Follow @cravecompany on Pinterest
3. Pin images of things you CRAVE (exotic destinations, desserts, DIY spa treatments, anything!)
4. In the description, include “@cravecompany” and “#whatdoyoucrave”
5. The more you pin, the more chances you have to win
6. We’ll choose 3 random winners on February 15th

Happy pinning!

* Choose from the selection of CRAVEguides listed in the CRAVE Store

Work Life Balance: Fact or Fiction?

January 31, 2012 by Amanda | Comments (0)

The truth about work life balance is… well, you’ve got to watch this video by Jamie G. Dougherty of Jamie Living to find out!

Jamie G. Dougherty is the owner and founder of Jamie Living, Health and Lifestyle Coaching and a food guru extraordinaire. She is a certified Holistic Nutrition Coach with a private and corporate practice that offers assistance nationwide. She is the author of the wildly popular e-cookbook, Spring Forward to the New You: 30 Delicious and Cleansing Recipes for your Fabulous Figure, and is the food guru to busy, frustrated women ready to let go and become healthy, fun and fabulous! Be sure to join Jamie on Facebook and Twitter and get your free 5-Step Guide to Fabulous.

Bring on the Balance: January 2012 CRAVE Chat Recap

January 24, 2012 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (0)

We know that women entrepreneurs can have a lot on their plates. Starting 2012 off with a CRAVE NYC Chat about how to balance it all was such an inspiration that we wanted to share some tips with those who were unable to make it.

Check below at the end of the post to find an upcoming chat in your area.

We are so grateful to our speakers Jordana Jaffe, Juli Oliver, and Kavita J. Patel; Michaela Potter, a special guest we were honored to have; our lovely photographer Emily Dewan; the Wix Lounge, who was not only a gracious host, but is also an amazing FREE work space perfect for women entrepreneurs; and of course all of the women who came out to the CRAVE chat.

“What are some things someone can do on a day to day basis to get organized and maintain balance?”

1. Having a schedule and writing everything down is a great way to get organized.
2. Sometimes to-do lists can get overwhelming. To avoid that, break them down day-by-day, and only tackle the few that hold most priority.
3. Kavita shared that she makes a list of 3–5 things that will make her money, her revenue-generating items.
4. Jordana shared the idea of a funnel system with priorities and goals. It is important to get clear on why you set those priorities and goals.
5. When the task of cleaning or de-cluttering seems overwhelming, Juli advised to focus on one specific section. You will be surprised by how much difference it can make to dedicate 15 minutes each day.

“How can someone maintain work/life balance if she works from home?”

1. Juli’s response: Instead of burning yourself out from working around the clock, establish specific zones for work and living and set specific hours for work.
2. She also emphasized the importance of not letting calls and email dominate your life. Setting specific times when those are done keeps it structured.
3. In discussing work space, Juli emphasized the importance of placement. For example, a desk phone should be on the opposite side of your writing hand so that you can write while on the phone.
4. Michaela from Meet, Plan, Go! shared how she uses the same notebook for business and pleasure. She flips it over and starts on different ends of the book so that everything is in the one place, but the two don’t interfere with each other.

“What do you when it all feels like too much? How can one handle feeling frustrated and/or overwhelmed?”

1. Sometimes we can get overwhelmed by all the different things we want to do with our lives. Jordana likened this to having too many best friends. Having too many compromises focus and the notion of “best” loses its weight. She advised to get real with yourself.
2. One woman from SheFinds.com shared how she had to manage her “yeses and nos.” She learned that she had to say “yes” to the right things and “no” to the things she didn’t really want. (No isn’t bad). Sometimes saying “no” to others means saying “yes” to yourself.
3. Juli also reminded us that habits do not change overnight. It takes time to change current habits into new ones. Do not get frustrated. Just continue to practice those new habits, and they will stick eventually.
4. Jordana shared that when she’s stressed, she forces herself to write what she is grateful for in that specific area of her life that she is frustrated about. “You experience what you choose to see.”
5. Michaela from Meet, Plan, Go! recommended travel and career breaks. Having the opportunity to recharge and grow from an enriching travel experience can really help your business life.

“But I feel like I just don’t have enough time to do everything.”

1. Jordana offered such a valuable nugget: Think about it. Everybody, including Donald Trump and Oprah, get the same 24 hours as we do. Imagine what they have been able to accomplish. You can too. If you tell yourself you have no time, that’s what you believe. Switch your thinking to realize that you do have time. Look at time (and each moment) like a gift, and you will see a difference.
2. Kavita pointed out that we sometimes drive ourselves crazy striving for balance. It is important take a moment out to stop and celebrate yourself. Schedule in “me” time to make yourself a priority .

“What are some ways for women entrepreneurs to maintain relationships, whether romantic or social?”

1. Kavita talked about women entrepreneurs who are used to controlling situations and making decisions. She advised women (in dating situations) to sit back with a receiving posture and mindset and allow yourself the opportunity to go with the flow and enjoy each moment.
2. She also recommended using one’s gut and intuition in decision making. If there is a feelings of expansion, or it feels good, that is a yes. If there is contraction or doesn’t feel good, that’s a no.
3. She explained that there must a be a middle ground between business and relationship. One must take a leap of faith on both to find a nice balance between the two.
4. Kavita encouraged us to take the time to get vulnerable and genuinely share with someone close to us about things going on in our lives. It is a way to balance that aggressive “go, go, go” energy.
5. Working with a spouse/partner can be difficult but Kavita shared strategies that help. For example, it can help to stay out of each other’s space at times; or switching attire to distinguish different roles (business vs personal) can set boundaries.
6. It is important to be aligned with a partner with the same purpose. Working towards a common goal can actually strengthen the relationship.

Take Away Tips:

• “Be honest with yourself.” —Jordana
• “Get clear on what you want your priorities to be.” —Kavita
• “Where there is balance there is success.” —Juli
• BONUS: “Don’t be afraid to be selfish.” —Michaela

Get involved with the CRAVE Community 
Attend one of our upcoming CRAVE Chats below, and sign up for our contact list to be notified when an event is taking place in your area!

AMSTERDAM – Tue, Jan 31st, 6:30–8:30pm – Register

CHICAGO – Sat, Jan 28th, 2–4pm – Register
Bonus: Create a Personal Vision Board!

PHOENIX – Sun, Jan 29th, 2–5pm – Register
Bonus: Stay after the chat and join us for some sipping and painting

PORTLAND – Tue, Jan 24th, 7–9pm – Register

SEATTLE – Tue, Jan 31st, 6:30–8:30pm – Register
Bonus: Create a Virtual Vision Board!

TORONTO – Thu, Jan 26th, 7–9pm – Register

VANCOUVER – Thu, Jan 26th, 6–8pm – Register

How do you bring on the balance in your life? In your work? Let us know in the comments!

What tip would you give women who are starting a business?

January 24, 2012 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (14)

Where Does Balance Come From? Start at the Bottom.

January 19, 2012 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (1)

This post was written by Christine Chen Velazquez, certified yoga instructor and communications consultant.

Every morning, I walk my golden retriever in Central Park; off leash time is before 9am and after 9pm. Sometimes, when it’s 20 degrees or stormy, I really don’t want to go, but she loves it, and I’m always happy when I get there. The other day, the winds were so strong, whipping so quickly down Central Park West, leaves were hitting me in the face and I was nearly blown off my feet four or five times (no exaggeration here). Wow, I thought, what an inspiring moment to consider balance and grounding, because in life and in yoga, things have a way of knocking you off your feet – physically, emotionally and in all other conceivable ways.

How many times are we, in the business world as women, confronted with the term “work-life balance“? Instead of “work-life balance”, how about: stability, steadiness, evenness, consistency and/or harmony?

After doubting flexibility, one of the top desires from my students is to improve balance in standing postures. They often get frustrated when they fall out of the frequently visited Half-moon (Ardha Chandrasana) or wobble in the supposed-to-be-peaceful Tree (Vriksasana).

How do I perfect these poses and balance, they ask? Okay, I’m certainly not the guru of balance, but first, I’d like to suggest that we think of falling/wobbling/struggling in a few different ways: 1) these are signs that you’re challenged (not under attack, okay?); 2) this is a good opportunity to observe what is happening to you; 3) you might discover something new (and better!) in that place of falling/wobbling/struggling.

Second (and humbly), I offer this: Start at the bottom.

You might try this little exercise at home, but make sure nothing sharp or delicate is around you.

• Stand with your feet together, toes and heels to touch.
• Relax the arms at either side of the body, palms facing forward.
• Close your eyes.
• Lift all ten toes off the floor and lay them down slowly, pinky toe to big toe, creating the largest foundation possible in your own feet, and feel the connection between your feet and the earth.
• Begin to sway, gently, side to side, and notice how this shifting affects your balance.
• What helps you stay on your feet? Your breath? Adjusting your sway or parts of your body? Your core? A positive thought?
• What distracts you from staying on your feet? Wandering mind? Lack of trust in your strong, grounded feet? What else?
• Begin to minimize the gentle sway. How are you able to do this?
• Come back to center and breathe.
• Be still. Notice. Don’t judge.

Perhaps that physical exercise will translate into figurative awakenings for many of you. Maybe it will do nothing for you at all. However, here’s what I remind students in every class: embrace that space where balance is challenging, because it’s great information. Ask yourself the same questions in the exercise when there’s a person, a situation, or challenge that seems to come out of the blue and knock you off your feet, setting off a battle, stressful moment or freak out session. Did you set up a foundation from the beginning? What gives you stability and harmony? What brings you back to center?

This idea of balance has even been the butt of jokes; I’m reminded of the classic V8 commercials and out of balance people due to veggie deficiency. So, try not to take it all too seriously. Just take it day by day and consider cultivating balance in all pieces of your life as a way to grow.

For each of us, balance is personal. There’s no magic formula. For many, the key can often lie in slowing down just enough to notice that we’re off balance in the little things. In that space, we can make adjustments or use the tools within us to bring us back to a good place.

For a tree, when the roots are solid and deeper into the ground, it takes a tougher wind or a bigger snowstorm to knock it down completely. A strong foundation allows it to stand strong, maybe leaning a little or losing a few leaves or branches. Otherwise, it is stable, steady, even, consistent and harmonious while life swirls around it, and it continues to grow in its place on earth… for a long time to come.

Christine Chen Velazquez is a Yoga Alliance RYT for Hatha, Vinyasa and Restorative styles. She offers consulting, private instruction and teaches group classes at two studios on Manhattan’s Upper West Side: NY Loves Yoga and Life in Motion. More than a decade ago, she turned to yoga to manage a spine condition and stress from her high impact career as a broadcast journalist. Today, as an instructor, she shares her experiences, knowledge and training to help others find overall wellbeing. She received her teacher training at Yogalife in Seattle, where she practiced for 10+ years. Each day, Christine continues to share her passions of Ayurveda, the Chakras and the Sutras in a variety of practices.

Follow Christine on Twitter: @christinechen_
Share with Christine on Facebook: Yin Yang Yoga with Christine

What do you CRAVE?

January 11, 2012 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (12)

What motivates you on a daily basis?

January 6, 2012 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (3)

The Relationship with Self

December 28, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (1)

This post was written by Christine Chen Velazquez, certified yoga instructor and communications consultant.

Recently I revisited the last episode of Sex and the City, and was reminded of Carrie Bradshaw’s poignant closing monologue. After six groundbreaking seasons examining relationships from a single, professional woman’s perspective, she concludes that the most “exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself.” I agree.

The show’s finale is ranked by TV Guide Network as one of the Top 20 Most Unforgettable Finales of All Time and won the series’ highest ratings of any episode. Ergo, this message landed on a huge audience of largely women who continuously explore all relationships in life. It’s who we are as women, let’s be honest.

Yoga, loosely translated, means “union”… a union of the mind and the body, the self and the spiritual. In other words, yoga (although perceived by many as a “good workout” or crazy poses done by incredibly flexible people) can be a journey to know yourself better and cultivate the relationship you have with yourself.

The yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the ancient text from which many modern yoga classes derive, states early on: Yogas citta vritti nirodha. This sutra (I.2), calls upon the student to practice the process of ending the vibrations or modifications of the mind, which prevent us from seeing clearly.

When your own mind is modified or shaken up by things like bad memories or stress-clouded judgment, the sutras say there is usually an inability to observe what is really happening, aka “the truth.” When the truth is clouded in your own mind, you’re often stressed out trying to figure out what is going on, rather than having the ability to just deal with something head on.

Often simply labeled “stress” in our society, this state of mind often causes unnecessary suffering for yourself and those around you. More commonly, when we feel stressed in situations, we blame something/someone, or we might even ask, “Why me?” Short answer: maybe this is accurate, maybe not. However, yoga can be a process of examining existing actions and patterns in the body and mind and moving toward a different, potentially more enlightened, place. In other words, less “Why me” and more “What about me is happening in this moment?”

Once in this different place, you might see things differently and/or apply a transformed perspective to a situation. The physical poses are just one part of yoga practice, generally meant to clear stiffness or holding in the body to reduce distractions for meditation, or at least provide more space in the mind to think, or to see, with the best parts of yourself.

This is where you can give yourself permission to be your highest self. Here, maybe you notice that you can let go of things that have been holding you back from the life that is waiting for you. This is where you can strengthen your “most important relationship.”

When you are more unified in within yourself, you have more clarity and can take proper action that is good for you. You are more at one with who you truly are. And, that is good for all the relationships in your life.

Christine Chen Velazquez is a Yoga Alliance RYT for Hatha, Vinyasa and Restorative styles. She offers consulting, private instruction and teaches group classes at two studios on Manhattan’s Upper West Side: NY Loves Yoga and Life in Motion. More than a decade ago, she turned to yoga to manage a spine condition and stress from her high impact career as a broadcast journalist. Today, as an instructor, she shares her experiences, knowledge and training to help others find overall wellbeing. She received her teacher training at Yogalife in Seattle, where she practiced for 10+ years. Each day, Christine continues to share her passions of Ayurveda, the Chakras and the Sutras in a variety of practices.

Follow Christine on Twitter: @christinechen_
Share with Christine on Facebook: Yin Yang Yoga with Christine

Happy Holidays from CRAVE!

December 22, 2011 by Amanda | Comments (0)

Happy holidays! We wish you an abundance of friends, happiness and fun this holiday season.

Love,
CRAVE

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