My Bible: Don Miguel Ruiz’s Four Agreements

I’ve had this book, The Four Agreements, for over 10 years now. I’ve given it to every person I love to read- either the physical copy or suggesting them to go buy it for themselves. If everyone had a copy in their bedside table (like I do, my bible!) I think the world would be a prettier, nicer, more mindful, kind place to exist. I have a small mini copy I keep in my car for quick reminders when I get discouraged. It’s a beautiful, simple read and I highly suggest it for anyone and everyone.

Here they are! The Four Agreements:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.”

– Don Miguel Ruiz in The Four Agreements

Here’s a list of things I want to always remember to do, continue to do… as often as possible! Create your own list, too!

*Love. Love. Love. Love.

*Love and appreciate my body, even when it’s changing or different than what I wish it were.

*Get outdoors, in nature, even for just 10 minutes.

*Continue to inspire myself while inspiring others.

*Pamper myself in some way: a bath, a massage from my hubby, paint my nails, mini facial

*Get exercise, get the blood flowing, sweat.

*Make love, with my partner or with myself!

*Have quiet time where I shut down from the world, for even 10 minutes. Meditation, or just a time when I put my phone on silent and take deep breaths and appreciate.

*Read something that brings me pleasure.

*Eat something that brings me pleasure.

*WRITE IN MY JOURNAL! OR DRAW! express myself.

*Be forgiving: with myself and others.

*Snuggle with my dog. Let him lick my face. Life’s too short to care.

*Speak up for myself.

*Ride my bike.

*Be playful. Laugh. Giggle.

*YOGA. live it. LOVE IT. do it. on and off the mat!

*Eat beautiful, organic, natural foods. As many colors as possible!

*Take too many pictures.

*Keep learning and growing. Evolving is what life is about!

*remember it’s OKAY to be WRONG.

*Share with EVERYBODY.

*Express gratitude, send thank you cards. Remember Birthdays.

awe-some!

I met Krista 5 years ago while in school at UCLA. I found her teaching challenging, familiar and full of love. She inspired me and made me come back for more, time and again. Since then I’ve become a teacher myself and continue to practice with her in Santa Monica. Learn more about her in this fun interview we had! She’s featured on the cover of OM Magazine this month-check her out!

“I look forward each day to the possibility that my practice both on and off the mat can promote a greater awareness in our immediate need for global peace and unification. ALL is ONE.”- Krista

1. Where are you from? San Diego
2. When did you start practicing yoga? I was a dancer and my teacher recommended I start yoga to bring balance and get grounded. I began in Tim Miller’s teeny tiny 1 room Ashtanga studio, went every day for 3 months straight and was addicted right off the bat!
3. What did you want to “be” when you grew up? Jockey or ballet dancer. I’ve always been physical, since I was little.
4. Where and when did you meet your husband? I met Brock in Venice, CA in Annie Carpenter’s yoga class… practicing together in a teacher intensive, and that was it. <3
5. How did the awesome Hardtail connection happen? My good friend Courtney’s parents own Hardtail and we take pictures together for the ads, it’s an amazing opportunity. (we love your pictures!)
6. What is your overall intention when you walk into a yoga room to teach? Inspire the people in the room to do yoga the next day to give them enough passion to want to show up tomorrow. (she definitely accomplishes this!!)
   
7. What keeps you balanced? My yoga practice keeps me balanced, my husband, every day reminding myself how lucky I am to be a yoga teacher and that I realized my path so early.
8. What throws you off center? Hectic travel schedule, human characteristics…that we are fallible and attracted to things that are imbalanced.
9. Who inspires you? My husband inspires me. My students inspire me and teach me so much. Other yoga teachers who contain the professional fortitude and discipline to do what they do everyday.
10. What inspires you? Music. all music. Every kind. Where we live… the weather!!
11. What advice do you have for a beginner yoga student? The first day is the hardest. The more you practice the easier and more inspiring it gets.
12. What advice do you have for someone who’s practiced for years? Never stop seeking to learn, there’s a depth in the practice that you can’t see
    
13. what is it about handstands that you love? It’s fun!! Having fun makes people want to do yoga and trying knew things makes people want to do yoga! For me, it gives me always something to come to class for because there’s always something to develop to show my students.
14. What do you think about energy? It’s the reason we do yoga. It feels good to have energy moving and it feels bad when it is stagnant.
15. Do you eat raw food? salad.
16. What’s your favorite food (doesn’t have to be healthy or raw!) chips and salsa definitely number one on my list!
17. You’ve mentioned you’ve done a cleanse before. What do you think about cleanses? Great!! Not only does it clean out and inspire your body, but your mind too. Everything you procrastinate with in day to day life comes forward and you accomplish all your goals… it’s definitely not just physical.
18. Do you have a favorite quote? “Those who say ‘It Can’t be Done’ should get out of the way who are doing it!”

“YOGA IS REALLY CHANGING THE WORLD”-Krista Cahill

Krista teaches workshops and retreats around the world and has regular classes based in Los Angeles (yogisanonymous). Krista teaches a vigorous Vinyasa Flow class filled with challenging arm balances and inversions. She believes that our obstacles are our greatest blessings. Krista and her husband Brock Cahill live their Yoga together in Venice Beach, California. Email Krista at: krista@kristacahill.com

Today, in honor of the day devoted to love, take the love promise:

“I open my heart to more love today, more love of myself and those I meet in my day. I commit to giving without worry about receiving.”

Lay down on a yoga mat or the floor.

Take a moment to put your attention on your heart;

expand the space around it internally as you inhale,

and perceive the vastness of that space even as you

exhale.

Each time you manage to do this even for a few moments,

you’ve healed something within yourself, you’ve

slowed down time for yourself and likely others around you,

and you’ve most likely selected a response

(rather than reacted) to a pressing situation.

Then notice what changes in your life as a consequence.

I interviewed Tamal Dodge, owner and founder of YogaCo in Santa Monica, CA. I received my 200 hour Yoga Alliance teacher training from Tamal last year.

Where are you from? The north shore of Oahu.

When did you start practicing yoga? I started from birth as my family raised us in a donation based yoga ashram.

What did you want to “be” when you grew up? I wanted to be a rock star and I pursued it for a while in my high school years. I was signed to MM Records and toured the country. It was an interesting time.

What is your overall intention when you walk into a yoga room to teach? I want to teach the best class possible. If I feel it was an okay class I feel I some how didnt deliver to the students. That I didn’t give them 100%. I want to give them something special every time.

What keeps you balanced? Mediating every day and spare moment.

What throws you off center? Well everyone gets those curve balls in life. The unexpected. But when I find myself in those situations I have to meditate and reset my intention for life. Because usually when you are in distress it’s because you wanted something to go your way and it doesn’t. So you have to be able to eat humble pie and move on.

Who inspires you? This may sound cliche but its the way I truly feel.

I am inspired by Buddha, Jesus, Alaha, Arjuna, Ghandi (left)… as they made significant change and didnt care what other people thought. they just wanted to speak “Truth.” Not to mention they lived and breathed what they taught. It’s inspiring.

What advice do you have for a beginner yoga student? like anything in life the first time you do it your not gonna get it perfect. I encourage students to go slow and do what they can and try to make it fun vs something your trying to get something out of.

What advice do you have for someone who’s practiced for years? The word Yoga means to Yoke or unite with God. So for someone who is practicing the asana for some time would be to take there practice to the next level of yoga. To mediate and start on the process of yoking with the higher being.

what is your favorite yoga pose or series and why? I love A and B series in sun salutes. Its so balanced. If you can only do A and B series in a day thats all you really need!

Do you eat raw food? Yes I love raw food. I was a raw foodist for 1 year in high school. Now I just eat the yoga diet (i.e. no meat, fish or eggs) lots of greens and and whole grains. Water is my beverage of choice.

What’s your favorite food? (doesn’t have to be healthy!!!!) I love veggie burgers, sweet heart fries and a oogave root beer.

Do you have a favorite quote? “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” ~Ghandi  These are words to live by.

This is the first in a series of interviews.