Horses for Happiness

LET'S PLAY AGAIN...Tennis

Many of us played and loved some kind of sport as children and if we didn’t probably at times wish we had.  Well it’s not too late you know.  Why only sit around watching sports on TV when we can get out there and reap the benefits of playing ourselves.

I played Tennis when I was younger and remember having a great time, and I love watching the major Tennis tournaments on television now.  I have been saying for years that I would love to start playing again, but just hadn’t gotten out and done it.  After watching the U.S. Open this summer, I finally got inspired to get out there and go for it and I’m so glad I did.  I have been having so much fun and feel like I’m getting a great workout, meeting cool people, staying connected, and it’s helped me to feel great about myself.

According to an article released by the Cleveland Clinic, one can burn between 330 and 600 calories per hour of playing tennis.  The article also states that tennis can be fun and  “offers a great diversion from life’s stresses as well as a great opportunity to socialize, particularly if you join a local tennis league or club or frequent public courts. Tennis is invigorating, and, once you get the hang of it, tremendously satisfying.”

We are so fortunate to have so many great opportunities to get out and play tennis in our community, here are some ways you can get involved...

Check out the section on tennis City of Santa Monica's website for a wealth of information about places to play, available lessons and clubs and tennis events going on around you.

Follow local Tennis pro, Zeke Hindle...he will keep you updated on Tennis happening in the community and give you tips for improving your game and having fun doing it.

Take a look at the Santa Monica Tennis Club

Or just grab a friend a couple racquets and some balls and head to those courts you always drive past, and get started and see where it takes you.



If Tennis isn’t your thing, fear not, there are plenty of other sports you can get involved with in your community.  We will start exploring those soon.  Please post and share about tennis or other sports programs you know of and would like to recommend.  Let's get out there and start playing again!

YOGA YOGA YOGA!!!

Yoga is an excellent way to tune up your body and your mind and a consistent practice will definitely lead to a healthier, happier you.  Yoga has become very popular and there are many great places to practice around here. 

A regular yoga practice can also provide and excellent sense of community, practicing with a like minded group of others will give you so much support and positive energy to help keep you committed and having fun.

There are many different yoga styles and it is a good idea to try as many as you can to figure out which works best for you.  Also keep in mind that yoga can be tough at first, you may not fall in love with it after your first class.  However if you stick with it and stay open to the experience you will have found something that can transform your life.

I started practicing yoga about seven years ago and am getting more and more from it all the time.  I am constantly discovering new inspirations, truths, and joy through my yoga practice. 

My start was mainly in Hatha and Vinyasa flow styles, which are great.  I feel they provide a great physical workout as well as skills for overcoming challenges using the mind and breath. 

My most recent discovery is an absolute love of Kundalini yoga.  I did not like this style much at first but started taking classes with Collin Kim, at Crunch a few months ago and am absolutely hooked.  I try to practice at least once a week and through this class have gained a ton of confidence, and learned to feel secure and joyful even when things are going crazy around me.  This practice is a large contributing factor, to my life in joyful light and I would 100percent recommend it to everyone! If Crunch is too far you can check out Yoga West.

CREATIVITY IS KEY

A great way to become involved in inspiring community and learn to create more joy in your life is to take a creativity workshop.  This experience can give you so much more than you would ever expect…at least it did for me when I took the Artist’s Way workshop.  We are all naturally creative even if we don’t think we are, and an important part of happiness comes from being in touch with our true self and being able to express that.  This is why finding ways to express our creativity is so beneficial when it comes to creating more joy in our lives.

Taking a workshop will also give you a chance to be with others of a similar mind set and see that many of you have similar experiences.  This also gives you the opportunity to support one another.   There are many different workshops out there and several in your community. 

The Creativity Workshop - creative arts and healing

I highly recommend the Artist’s Way workshop, which has a session coming up starting Oct. 3^rd.  It was a truly amazing and transformational experience for me.   I started to see myself as a truly creative person and learned tools to help me look deep within and discover my true passions. I met great people made many friends and as a result do feel a part of a truly inspiring community.   It is very beneficial that the workshop takes place over the 11 week time period, creating structure and an opportunity to stay involved with the community and work through the tools you will be learning together, even as things come up in your life.

Kelly Morgan has been facilitating creativity workshops for over 15 years now, and has witnessed the transformation in countless people through this process.  When asked why a workshop like this works to help create more joy in a persons life, she said, “Children are naturally creative, and generally happy and when adults tap back into their creativity they can find a more natural childlike happiness.”

So why not give it a shot, express your creativity! find childlike joy!www.creativelife.com