Embracing My Journey ~ Living with passion & purpose!

About 5 years ago a little idea was nagging at Elaine Masters and she couldn’t let it go. She was a commuting Yoga teacher and mom who drove far too much for comfort. Over time she developed a head to toe series of small, safe stretches and breathing techniques to help me feel better. Especially on the days I couldn’t work out before sitting in the car for an hour, the moves helped me arrive feeling great. It was during that drive that  Drivetime Yoga was born.

Elaine is the author/owner of Drivetime Yoga, primarily a little, illustrated book and award-winning CD that has catapulted her into a life of teaching, speaking and writing. She had no idea this would become a business but her passion for service and the wonderful testimonials keep her going. She feels blessed to be living her dream and driven every day to growing the business and reaching more weary travelers. She also feels that she’s being guided and this may not be the end point but it’s wonderful to feel propelled in the right direction.  Today, Elaine is here to share her story…welcome Elaine!

Living the life of one’s dreams is something many people believe to be a myth….yet; you are living proof that one can achieve this goal…: I’m more surprised than anyone that my life is turning out the way it is. Sure, I’ve planned for the future but also I’ve stayed open and asked my higher powers, doesn’t matter what they are – God, my higher self, my guides – repeatedly to help me. I’m not religious but whenever I hit a wall or wake up worried, if I take a moment and open to Grace, then I’ve found what I needed. I’ve learned to listen deeply, some would say to intuition, and then I’ve acted on what felt was right. I wouldn’t second guess and sometimes that meant going against a ‘rational, linear’ path. Sometimes it means taking more time with decisions but it’s taken me to closer to success and fulfillment.

Tell us about the path you traveled to arrive where you are today: I’ve had three distinct careers: as an Actress in the NW in commercials, voice over and theater. Before acting I’d been working in Public Radio. I’d started in Ketchikan, Alaska as a volunteer announcer and ended up Program Director at KTOO fm in Juneau. While there I’d started a Radio Drama group and continued with radio drama when I moved to Portland, Oregon after graduating from Cornish College of the Arts. I was the ‘Children’s Producer’ at KBPS am and later won the American Women in TV & Radio National Commendation for a short radio play I directed and produced at KBOO fm. During all that time and before I moved to Alaska, I was working as a graphic designer. All those experiences have made my current work in Drivetime Yoga possible. It’s amazing how often I tap into those experiences.

What kept you moving forward on the days things were not going exactly the way you were hoping they would? I believe in balance. If I don’t take care of myself – eating well, sleeping enough, exercising regularly, I suffer. As a Yoga teacher, that means doing some, if not a full Yoga program daily. As a Chair/Office/Travel Yoga teacher and author – I do little stretches during the day too.  When things aren’t going well, I step aside and take a break and get some perspective. Either that’s on the Yoga mat or more often by taking a walk outside on the beach or the lagoons of North County San Diego.

I have a lot of trust in my path. So, if things don’t work out as expected and I don’t get all personally involved in the trauma / drama of it, I usually look for what the lesson is or what’s the opportunity.

What piece of advice would you give to someone who has decided they would like to live in a world of their own creation? Make sure you know what’s propelling you forward. You need to have a clear idea of why – to make a million dollars might not be specific enough. To make a million to be able to send your kid to the college of their choice might work. The desire has to be very strong because if you’re going to take full responsibility for your future, not working for a paycheck, you’ll have to work very hard and you have to love it or at least want it badly enough to make the personal sacrifices or to be nourished by the mission of what you’re creating. I guess that means your internal motivation is key.

What special things do you do for yourself daily to maintain your momentum and energy levels? As I mentioned – I hate to suffer. That means I watch my diet, work to get enough sleep, exercise regularly and I also meditate twice a day. I’d be lost without that and Yoga. I’m no angel though – there are a couple of local Starbucks servers who know me by name!

If you could spend 3 days on a deserted island with two people of your choosing, who would they be and why? I have a girlfriend who now lives on the other side of the country. She would be so much fun to visit with for three days. We have a lot of catching up to do since she had her daughter and went into a new career. Also I’d love to spend time in the presence of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Just his darshan would be the greatest gift. It would be blissful.

What is your favorite audio material and what do you enjoy most about this material? More often than not I listen to music and have been very fortunate to discover a radio station and one dj in particular who is always wonderful to listen to. I listen online to KCRW in Santa Monica and Chris Doridas is my favorite, and sometimes I’ll listen to Tom Schnabels’ World Beat programs. Otherwise I start my days listening to NPR’s news on the local PBS station, KPBSfm.

What is your favorite reading material and what gives it that special place in your heart? I enjoy good writing and don’t read enough lately. Right now I’m reading Salman Rushdie’s The Enchantress of Florence. That’s one I’ll be sorry to finish. I also read Internet marketing books like Corey Perlmans’ eBoot Camp. Eckhart Tolle is another I dip into often and I’m slowly reading and re-reading A New Earth.

Who has inspired you and what is it about them that you found inspirational? There is a Toltec teacher who is an elder of don Miguel Ruiz’, Victoria Allen. She has been a blessing in my life and has helped me work through and heal so much old wounding. I would never have had the courage to do what I’m doing if it hadn’t been for working with her and for the Four Agreements.

What do you see in your future? I’m moving into the National arena as an author and speaker. I love to travel and see myself doing that with my Travel Yoga and especially the Drivetime Yoga message. I want to help relieve suffering around the world for those stuck in horrible daily driving situations. We are so lucky in this country, even in the worst of L.A. gridlock. It’s still nothing compared to New Delhi or Mexico City. The U.N. has a new initiative to help the victims of road violence and I’d love to be one of that program’s ambassadors.

Where is your favorite place in the world to spend time, what is special to you about this location? I’ve always loved swimming in the ocean and just had a chance to scuba dive in Fiji. I’d really love to spend time in Bali and diving in that area where there’s so much culture as well as exquisite underwater life.

Who has been your greatest support system and how have they shown you their support? My greatest support system has been my friends. They’ve spurred me on when I needed to keep going against hard odds and helped me gain perspective. I’m very fortunate to have some strong connections and also to connect deeply with strangers who are on the same wave length.

What / who are you most thankful for and why? I’m a woman of a ‘certain age’ and divorced. I never thought that I’d find love and passion in my life again, but it’s been the greatest gift to have a new companion to share so much with. We honor one another’s independence and path and have so much fun. What a surprising blessing!

What is your favorite way to contribute or give back? My favorite way is to be as completely open with people as I can. I support causes monetarily and sign petitions too, but on a daily basis if I can connect in conversation, to really witness someone eye to eye, we both seem to be happier for the exchange. Sometimes I’ll be at events and come home exhausted from it, but usually just buzzing with the shared energy. I don’t even know what to call it but it’s been delightful. I’m also there for my friends and all they need do is call.

Please share the top three things you feel people would benefit from doing if they truly desire to create the life of their dreams?

Find a way to clear your old blocks and heal the old wounds, it releases energy, creates clarity and allows new creativity to manifest.

Become fearless, or at least hold that as a goal. There’s always a certain level of discomfort with the unfamiliar, but that can be where the edge of growth and great possibility lies.

Be gentle with yourself. There’s no rush. Have patience and enjoy the process of becoming. Welcome grace.

What products and services do you offer to assist others on their journey? I sell my Drivetime Yoga book and CD on my website: www.DrivetimeYoga.com. There’s also aromatherapy for the car, for general stress release and an Easy Rider Kit with the Drivetime Yoga cd, aromatherapy, Gin-Gins Travelers candy and a cd of Mark Romeros music. You can also sign up for a free test drive and receive my bi-monthly YogaNotes.
The Drivetime Yoga blog is: www.drivetimeyoga.wordpress.com.

Thank you Elaine for taking the time to share your story with our readers.
I encourage everyone to visit http://www.drivetimeyoga.com/ and connect with Elaine today!

Be healthy, be focused and be the best you that you can possibly be!

In gratitude,
Caryn Gottlieb FitzGerald

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Caryn Gottlieb FitzGerald has been a network marketer and connector since 1990. She is a published author, her passion is writing and she spends much of her free time meditating and connecting with like minded individuals.  Caryn walked away from Corporate America in 2003, she continues to achieve the goals she sets for herself and has created the life of her dreams.  Today, Caryn assists others in creating the lifestyles they desire through network marketing, privately owned businesses and spiritual lifestyle coaching. Ready to move forward in your life?
Connect with Caryn at: http://www.carynfitzgerald.com/contact.htm
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This entry was posted on Friday, September 4th, 2009 at 5:30 am and is filed under Caryn's writing, Living the life of my dreams. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.